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Operation Hound

Australian tankers supported by the medium bombers continue their advance. I understand that the remaining slow battleships will need to be withdrawn to Sydney to make good their damage. Would it be possible for them hit Cairns once before they withdraw?

******************************
Ground combat at 86,137 (near Normanton)

Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 4680 troops, 7 guns, 339 vehicles, Assault Value = 206
Defending force 1028 troops, 14 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 11

Allied adjusted assault: 256
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 256 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
445 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (3 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (10 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
1st Tank Battalion
8th Cav Recce Regiment
12th Armoured Regiment
3rd Tank Battalion
13th Armoured Regiment

Defending units:
16th Recon Regiment
85th Naval Guard Unit
1st Sasebo SNLF Coy

The Singapore Issue
From VADM James Somerville
to Office of the Prime Minister

Burma

The 16th Aus Infantry Bde Arrived and we help, barely on the 1st attack. In two to three days additional forces will arrive allowing us to hold the base but it is not clear if we can hold for this two to three days. The air force will fly for a second time to see if we can shift the odds further in out favor.

***************************
Ground combat at Prome (55,50)

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 24893 troops, 311 guns, 140 vehicles, Assault Value = 606
Defending force 16579 troops, 194 guns, 217 vehicles, Assault Value = 176

Japanese adjusted assault: 363
Allied adjusted defense: 254
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
497 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
955 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 26 (1 destroyed, 25 disabled)

Assaulting units:
28th Division
4th Brigade
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
15th Army
9th RF Gun Battalion

Defending units:
16th Australian Brigade
2nd Burma Battalion
51st Base Group
106th RAF Base Force
107th RAF Base Force
104th RAF Base Force
108th RAF Base Force
222 RAF Base Force
221 Group RAF
100th RAF Base Force
103rd RN Base Force
22nd Light AA Regiment

Burma

The situation in Burma is growing dire quickly, the question is do we get out of the trap as Prome Fell two days ago? Supply is coming now only from the air transport for the most part. The only good news is that he does not seem to have any Aviation support at Prome.

1)
* Level 3 Forts, Six BR AF Base Forces, HQ-A, Light AA Rgt, Burma Inf Bn and one USA Base Group.
* 16th Aus Bde (26/46 miles, move mode) & 1st Burma / B Div (0/46 Miles, move mode).
* 17th Ind Div, 17th Aus Bde, two AA Light Rgt, one AT Rgt, HQ-C and two Base Forces.

2) 1st Burma /C Div, 334th Cavalry Rgt & 7th Armored Bde.

The Medium Bomber force is slowing down the units trying to move out of Prome......

Images and Notes from the Front: Singapore

We still hold Singapore, but not for much longer. The Odds have been 1:1 in the last two attacks, supply is gone and forts are at 0.

----------------
Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 68196 troops, 818 guns, 776 vehicles, Assault Value = 1848
Defending force 52103 troops, 545 guns, 599 vehicles, Assault Value = 432

Japanese adjusted assault: 943
Allied adjusted defense: 727

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
2212 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 179 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 79 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 20 (4 destroyed, 16 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (4 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2337 casualties reported
Squads: 82 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 151 disabled
Engineers: 13 destroyed, 27 disabled
Guns lost 58 (26 destroyed, 32 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (3 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Assaulting units:
12th Engineer Regiment
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
56th Recon Regiment
114th Infantry Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
55th Infantry Regiment
56th Engineer Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
5th Division
1st Tank Division
148th Infantry Regiment
113th Infantry Regiment
4th Division
14th Tank Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
31st Field AA Battalion
35th Field AA Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
56th Field Artillery Regiment
1st RF Gun Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion
25th Army
11th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion

Defending units:
22nd Australian Brigade
27th Australian Brigade
11th Indian Division
9th Indian Division
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
Malaya Army
2nd ISF Base Force
1st Mysore Battalion
109th RN Base Force
Malayan Air Wing
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
AHQ Far East
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
111th RAF Adv Base Force
Singapore Base Force
Singapore Fortress
FMSV Brigade
III Indian Corps
223 Group RAF
SSVF Brigade
110th RAF Adv Base Force
113th RAF Adv Base Force
3rd Cavalry Regiment
224 Group RAF
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
112th RAF Adv Base Force
3rd Heavy AA Regiment
2/17 Dogra Battalion
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
2nd Loyal Battalion
3rd SSVF Battalion

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Operation Hound

The overall operation has ground to a temporary halt, while we could begin to grind down Cairns in a battle of attrition we will proceed differently. In less than one month VADM Willis will have reconstituted the Allied 1st Bat Division around the Pennsylvania, Nevada, California and Idaho. Once this forces is assembled at Townsville (with AKE support) we will begin almost daily bombardment of Cairns from the sea and air. This will be the 2nd Australasian Army, while Team "A" advances back to Coen.

Numerous Armored forces are moving to reinforce both Combat Teams "A" and "B". Combat Team "B" will advance to Daly Waters. Once Daly Waters is secure these forces will move to take Wyndam and all points west along the road. Combat Team "C" will hold in place.

---------------------------------------------
Team "A" Combat
Ground combat at 91,136 (near Cooktown)
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 896 troops, 4 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 38
Defending force 440 troops, 0 guns, 55 vehicles, Assault Value = 29
Japanese adjusted assault: 35
Allied adjusted defense: 18

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd Recon Regiment

Defending units:
2/6th Armoured Regiment

---------------------------------------------
Team "C" Combat
Ground combat at Cooktown (92,137)
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11113 troops, 102 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 394
Defending force 3758 troops, 13 guns, 278 vehicles, Assault Value = 168

Japanese adjusted assault: 114
Allied adjusted defense: 127

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
882 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 28 (3 destroyed, 25 disabled)

Assaulting units:
4th Indpt SNLF Coy
1st Ind Engineer Regiment
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
24th Infantry Regiment
16th Infantry Regiment
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
42nd JNAF AF Unit
44th Field AA Battalion
46th JNAF AF Unit
43rd JNAF AF Unit
85th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
2/10th Armoured Regiment
193rd Tank Battalion
2/5th Armoured Regiment
25th Cav Recce Regiment

Back to the Indian Boarder.....
From VADM James Somerville
to Office of the Prime Minister

Burma

Simply put the area is a mess, out numbered three to one we will withdraw to a new line closer to the Indian boarder. As he now has the ability to base some fighters at Prome the air force will take a shot as closing the airfield for one turn and the work on slowing his advance so the forces in danger of being cut off can escape. The Forces are assembling for this "Burma Line" now and should be in place far in advance of their forces reaching the front. As long as the Fleet and Air Force and prevent a flanking from the sea this line will hold.

Air War
On all fronts over the last two weeks we have been trading at 2:1 ratio in the air. Given the arrival of one Canadian Fighter ACU and the American Arrival of the P-40K next month we should be able to sustain the pace of operations. We have also been moving the P-40E's out of the line and replacing them with the P-39D or the P-400 with the Arrival of the P-40K the P-40E's will be moved to rear area protection/training.

Burma Corps
All that can be done is being done with air resupply. Only time will tell how many of these forces make it back to the front and how long it takes for them to rest and recuperate.

Force "A"
Most of these forces we just ejected across the river. These forces must hold this hex until the Burma Corps makes it way clear.

-----
Ground combat at 56,50 (near Prome)
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16317 troops, 145 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 472
Defending force 4171 troops, 46 guns, 182 vehicles, Assault Value = 97
Japanese adjusted assault: 323

Allied adjusted defense: 67
Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
333 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
615 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 27 disabled
Non Combat: 59 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 9 (7 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 41 (30 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
8th Recon Regiment
17th Infantry Regiment
1st Raiding Regiment
112th Infantry Regiment
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
III./143rd Infantry Battalion
8th Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
7th Armoured Brigade
1st Burma/C Division
44th Cavalry Regiment

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Perth

We have issued a notice of possible invasion for the Perth area. While the area is not as well defended as it was before the landing on the eastern cost it will not be a free invasion. At the time all centralized reserves in "strategic mode" will be moved from Townsville/Brisbane area to Sydney.

Forces will be moved to Kalgoorlie to ensure the key rail line is held, simply out of an abundance of caution.

Intel Monkey
1942-08-09 - 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion - - is planning for an attack on Perth
1942-08-22 - 45th Field AA Battalion - - is planning for an attack on Perth
1942-08-23 - 14th Army - - is planning for an attack on Perth

The Silent Service Patrols the Coast
Submarine attack near Geraldton at 45,139

Japanese Ships
AMC Kiyosumi Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Sinking Sounds

Allied Ships
SS KXVIII

AMC Kiyosumi Maru is sighted by SS KXVIII
SS KXVIII launches 4 torpedoes

Back to the Indian Boarder.....
From VADM James Somerville
to Office of the Prime Minister

Singapore

It is my duty with great sadness I report the loss of Singapore, on August 28th 1942.

---------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Singapore (50,84)
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 69572 troops, 819 guns, 776 vehicles, Assault Value = 2060
Defending force 47938 troops, 475 guns, 577 vehicles, Assault Value = 355

Japanese adjusted assault: 1440
Allied adjusted defense: 555

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Singapore !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
585 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 104 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled

Allied ground losses:
61238 casualties reported
Squads: 459 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4533 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 201 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 475 (475 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 715 (715 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 32

Assaulting units:
41st Infantry Regiment
56th Engineer Regiment
1st Tank Division
114th Infantry Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
4th Division
12th Engineer Regiment
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
56th Recon Regiment
5th Division
14th Tank Regiment
113th Infantry Regiment
55th Infantry Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
35th Field AA Battalion
1st RF Gun Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
56th Field Artillery Regiment
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
31st Field AA Battalion
25th Army
11th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion

Defending units:
27th Australian Brigade
11th Indian Division
9th Indian Division
2nd HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
Malayan Air Wing
22nd Australian Brigade
24th NZ Pioneer Coy
223 Group RAF
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
109th RN Base Force
Singapore Base Force
113th RAF Adv Base Force
224 Group RAF
110th RAF Adv Base Force
3rd Cavalry Regiment
1st Indian Heavy AA Regiment
Malaya Army
FMSV Brigade
112th RAF Adv Base Force
3rd HK&S Light AA Regiment
111th RAF Adv Base Force
1st HK&S Heavy AA Regiment
2nd Loyal Battalion
2/17 Dogra Battalion
III Indian Corps
2nd ISF Base Force
1st Mysore Battalion
AHQ Far East
Singapore Fortress
3rd Heavy AA Regiment
SSVF Brigade
3rd SSVF Battalion

Ouch - but you held Singapore six months longer than RL, so that in itself is a victory.
Japan will not be able to expand much further because the Allies are getting stronger.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Ouch - but you held Singapore six months longer than RL, so that in itself is a victory.
Japan will not be able to expand much further because the Allies are getting stronger.

I agree but I was trying to get to September just so I could say I made it into September. Greedy I know.

To the Readers...

Last turn I lost the combat and as a result I fell back into a pocket trapped. Would it be possible to use an amphibious mission to lift some of the troops off the beach in a non-port hex or are the trapped?

------------------------------
Ground combat at 54,49 (near Prome)
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 26104 troops, 220 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 669
Defending force 9566 troops, 127 guns, 113 vehicles, Assault Value = 197
Japanese adjusted assault: 542

Allied adjusted defense: 235
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
322 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 53 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled

Allied ground losses:
2877 casualties reported
Squads: 62 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 94 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 32 (8 destroyed, 24 disabled)
Vehicles lost 33 (20 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Units retreated 5

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
28th Division
33rd Division

Defending units:
16th Australian Brigade
17th Australian Brigade
Burma Corps
221 Group RAF
2nd Burma Battalion

Yes - you can evacuate some troops using a fast transport TF set to "Pick up Troops". You can also use seaplanes like the Catalina to do the same.

Might be risky to send ships close to enemy airbases. How about taking the empty-looking base NW of Rangoon, consolidate all troops from the three cut-off hexes there and airlift them out? IIRC it ia a level-1 airbase. You should at least be able to save fragments for rebuilding. And the hex being surrounded by a river on all sides, an eventual Japanese shock attack across the river should at least extract a price before your remnants go down in defeat. OTOH air transport can be intercepted by CAP, and staying in a coastal hex will allow evac by seaplanes and subs. Tough choice.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Yes - you can evacuate some troops using a fast transport TF set to "Pick up Troops". You can also use seaplanes like the Catalina to do the same.

But, that would implicate having APD's (or warships, in general) available - would it not? Or, for that matter,
Catalinas. Regular transports without naval support in dot hex evacuation would be very slow, vulnerable to air
attacks....?

What about having all those units stringed along that inland north-south road cross over to the coastal road, to
later concentrate in Akyab? It takes time, but....That said, Akyab is a good place to make a last stand. Pour in
whatever you have available in India. Worked for me.

Fred

He cannot get to Ramree (the only dot hex shown), and transports cannot land there anyway. No runway, no LBA.

As LST points out they could be evacuated from the level 1 AF that is 2 hexes directly south of the unit in question. The other two Allied units trapped in that pocket could also get there. It would have at most three days of operation before the pursuing Japanese got there. The problem is likely to be LRCAP from Rangoon intercepting the transport aircraft.

Those three units are all cut off from supply and presumably facing stronger Japanese units (remember how dismal the experience and morale of units in India/Burma are at game start?). They are not going to fight their way out to get to Akyab.

APDs or fast minelayer Manxman would be good for FT TFs. I forgot to mention that subs can also extract troops but they might have to be in Move mode (only paratroop units can load in combat mode on a sub).

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy


I forgot to mention that subs can also extract troops but they might have to be in Move mode (only paratroop units
can load in combat mode on a sub).

Another little interesting detail...thank you!

Fred

Thanks Everyone,

Based on all of the ideas and facts here is my plan.....

1) Take Bassien the empty base. Try and airlift as much out as possible.
2) Use the Catalina's I have to pull out as many troops on the coast as I can.
3) Until I take Bassien continue to airdrop supplies so the troops can hold as long as possible.

Fall Back to my Burma Line and wait.

To this point I have been able to hold my own in the air at no worse the 2:3 exchange in the air, sometimes 2:1. I have the slow British Battle Fleet at Chittagong to make an invasion dicey. They will stay in place until he gain control of the air but with the KB out of action I plan on being more aggressive with my surface forces. I will also see what the subs can do pulling troops out of Bassien/dropping off supply.

From
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CIC-PAC

Operation Hound

The overall operation has ground to a temporary halt, with Cooktown and Cairns bottled up. While we could begin to grind down Cairns in a battle of attrition we will proceed differently. In less than twenty days VADM Willis will have reconstituted the Allied 1st Bat Division around the Pennsylvania, Nevada, California and Idaho. Once this force is assembled at Townsville (with AKE support) we will begin almost daily bombardment of Cairns from the sea and air. This will be the 2nd Australasian Army, while Team "A" advances back to Portland Roads.

Numerous Armored forces are moving to reinforce both Combat Teams "A" and "B". Combat Team "B" will advance to Daly Waters. Once Daly Waters is secure these forces will move to take Wyndam and all points west along the road. Combat Team "C" will hold in place.

With Darwin under nearly daily aireal bombadments (along with the occasional BB Bombarment) this is concern if this coast can be held. Team "B" should be able to dominate should they advance inland. To support the supply effoer both Alice Springs and Cloncurry have been ordered to expand their airfields to maxium level. The Aus DH-84 Dragons can fly supply forward from Alice Springs to Tennant Creek. The American C-47's can reach Tennant Creek from Clocurry.

Intel sill notes units preparing to land at Perth.

---------------------------------------------
Team "A" Combat
Team "A" plus air support has wiped out the forces facing it, the will take Coen this turn and then move on Portland Roads.

---------------------------------------------
Team "C" Combat
Is holding in place.


---------------------------------------------
Team "B" Combat
Advances east...... will move to the enemy and form up where the front forms.

To the Readers:Burma

This is still a mess....

Catalina Airlift
To date 92 troops have been lifted out of the pocket. Working to increase this effort.

Supply Airlift
One US Army ACU is airdropping supplies into the pocket, a second ACU will arrive in the next two days.

At this point I still have control of the air over Akyab and most of the front. I suspect the issue is a combination of supply/lack of aviation support at the front for the Japanese.

If he can't break through and bombard the fleet this turn should I risk a bombardment and use my xAP to drop off supplies? Can they do this? Could they move to the hex and then load troops without a port in Amphibious mode?

As a distraction I threw the entire air force at the Oil at Magwe last turn as it appeared to be fully repaired. It is now at 142(159). We are going for a second round to finish the job.

I am unclear about where you want to bombard and where you want to use your amphibs.
If you are talking about the coastal hex above the word "Prome", by all means have your BBs go and bombard the Japanese. I doubt the AI would let you do that in one turn though - just a little to far to sprint to, bombard and get away again. If the AI does not carry out the bombardment it should at least move part way there to set up for the next day (probably 3 hexes out). Start reconning the IJA Unit immediately and if you can assign some recon to night to maintain DL. You need a very good DL to bombard a non-base jungle hex.

You can use Amphibs to load troops at a coastal hex, but I think they suffer the same kinds of losses as dropping off troops at a coastal hex - losses of troops and equipment, severe disruption. Fast transport does not try to lift much equipment and uses boats to bring the troops off the beach, so losses are much less in the loading. Of course you lose the stuff left behind.

I am not sure if Bassein has a port - if it does the BBs cannot go up river to reach it and it is a very risky place to go with amphibs - too easy to get bottled up there by the IJN.