Matrix Games Forums

6 – 7 Aug 42

6 August arrives and it’s again time to take a look at air to air fighter losses for the game. To date 632 allied fighters have been lost in air to air battles. Japan has lost 155 fighters in air to air battles so far. That’s a net gain of 54 for the allies and 22 for Japan for the past months fighting.

This gives Japan a kill ratio of 2.45 – 1 for the month and 4.07 – 1 for the game. Here’s a screenshot of air losses sorted by air to air, I’ve snip'd out the airframes that had no losses due to air to air.



Sub ops today consist of 3 Japanese ASW attacks, all of which miss their targets. One sub attack is made by the SS Sailfish at Palembang and an AK gets hit by a single torpedo.

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Sub attack near Palembang at 20,55

Japanese Ships
AK Yamagiri Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Satsuki

Allied Ships
SS Sailfish
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Hudsons and Beaufighters hit Tennant creek today and cause heavy damage to the base. Chinese bombers conduct a port attack at Takao on the island of Formosa, but no ships in port are hit and only a single port hit is scored.

It looks like the AVG ambush earlier has prompted my opponent to consolidate his airforce in China. A large Japanese raid hits the 3rd New Chinese Corps at Ichang.

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Day Air attack on 3rd New Chinese Corps, at 47,36

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 18
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 29
Ki-30 Ann x 39
Ki-51 Sonia x 46
Ki-21-II Sally x 28
Ki-49 Helen x 15
Ki-48-II Lily x 24

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
197 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing at 2000 feet
<snip>
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17 Bettys hit Adak Island, but cause no damage to the base. A small raid of 9 Bettys then makes an attack on allied shipping at Umnak Island and gets intercepted by allied CAP. The inexperienced allied fighters manage to shoot down a single bomber, but lose a fighter to the Japanese escorts in return. No hits are scored against the allied ships.

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Day Air attack on TF, near Umnak Island at 101,37

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
G4M1 Betty x 7

Allied aircraft
P-36A Mohawk x 11
P-39D Airacobra x 7
P-40E Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Northern Sword
AK Nabesna

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet
<snip>
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Japan conducts three land bombardments in China at Ichang and the two defensive positions east of Changsha. My opponent had goaded me about bringing in reinforcements to the forest hex last turn in an attempt to reveal some Intel to him about the movements he was observing east of Changsha, but I remained mum about the moves. Today’s bombardments are obviously recons to try and figure out what I’m doing.

7 August is the busiest day we’ve seen for sub ops this game. A total of 5 Japanese ASW attacks are made resulting in the sinking of Dutch sub KXV in the Malacca Strait. A total of 6 allied sub attacks are made resulting in 3 APs being hit by torpedoes and 1 sub is damaged by escorts in return.

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ASW attack at 49,99

Japanese Ships
DD Minekaze

Allied Ships
SS S-36
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ASW attack at 21,47

Japanese Ships
PC Shonon Maru #3
PC Kyo Maru #7
PC Kyo Maru #6
PC Fumi Maru #3
MSW Togo Maru
DD Hayabusa
DD Asagao
DD Hatakaze

Allied Ships
SS KXV, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage sinks
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Sub attack at 48,97

Japanese Ships
AP Nichiryo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PC Shumshu
DD Arashi
DD Isokaze

Allied Ships
SS S-35, hits 1
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Sub attack at 49,99

Japanese Ships
AP Teikyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PG Ikunta Maru
PG Hong Kong Maru
PG Uji
DE Patrol Boat No. 46

Allied Ships
SS S-36
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ASW attack near Cooktown at 48,100

Japanese Ships
AP Sanura Maru
DD Karukaya
DD Fuyo
DD Tsuga
DD Minekaze

Allied Ships
SS Bass
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Sub attack near Cooktown at 48,100

Japanese Ships
AP Toko Maru
AP Ryujo Maru
DD Karukaya
DD Hasu
DD Minekaze

Allied Ships
SS Bass
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Sub attack near Palembang at 20,55

Japanese Ships
AK Kansai Maru
DD Satsuki

Allied Ships
SS Sailfish
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Sub attack at 49,100

Japanese Ships
AP Awajisan Maru, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
PC Shumshu
DD Arashi

Allied Ships
SS S-18
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Sub attack at 57,91

Japanese Ships
AK Taki Maru
AK Yae Maru
PG Tamo Maru #6

Allied Ships
SS Pompano
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ASW attack at 49,100

Japanese Ships
AP Tsutsukami Maru
PC Ch 31
PC Ch 28
PC Ch 6
PC Shonan Maru #17
PC Shonan Maru #1
PC Kyo Maru #13

Allied Ships
SS S-18
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ASW attack near Cooktown at 48,100

Japanese Ships
DD Minekaze

Allied Ships
SS Bass
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Japan started moving south towards Cooktown with his transport fleets and my wolfpack of subs really shinned today. Too bad the APs were all empty. Hopefully my subs will do just as well as the fleets leave the area laden with Japanese combat units.

Allied troops land at Luganville today and 553 casualties are reported. I though a unit with 100% preparation for a base wasn’t supposed to lose so many men during landings. I’ve set the regiment for deliberate attack, the empty base will be in allied hands tomorrow.

Japan launches a deliberate attack at Ichang today and gets a 1-1 odds ratio. While Japan’s casualties are high, the fact he got a 1-1 odds for his first attack confirms he’ll eventually be able to take the base.

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Ground combat at Ichang

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 192004 troops, 918 guns, 171 vehicles, Assault Value = 4302

Defending force 76131 troops, 309 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2172

Japanese max assault: 4467 - adjusted assault: 1323

Allied max defense: 2257 - adjusted defense: 1265

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
8889 casualties reported
Guns lost 142
Vehicles lost 9

Allied ground losses:
1316 casualties reported
Guns lost 55
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The only other thing of note to occur today is Japan evacuates Townsville! That’s right, every single unit is fleeing north at full speed to meet up with his evacuation fleets that are now starting to arrive at Cooktown.

I’ve ordered a general advance. Hopefully I can catch a good chunk of his last remaining units as they are loading and force them to retreat so I can destroy them in detail after Japan’s main army has left.

It may still be a little premature to announce it, but I’d say I’ve won the contest in Australia, Japan will never conquer it now. It was just too hard for him to keep his troops fed once I gained total air superiority in the NE.

Central and northern Australia are yet to be reduced and it should prove to be a long attrition fight, but eventually I’ll win there as well. But my biggest concern over losing the entire country can now be put to rest I think.

Jim

8 Aug. 42

Sub ops today are more active than yesterdays sub activity. Japan makes a total of 9 ASW attacks today resulting in SS S-46 receiving 3 hits and SS Bass 6 hits. The bass sunk from the damage it received.

Allied subs make a total of 5 attacks today resulting in 2 APs and 1 AK being hit by torpedoes. One of the attacking subs receives 1 hit from escort counter-attacks. Both of the APs were loaded with troops.

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ASW attack at 57,89

Allied Ships
SS Pike
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ASW attack near Cooktown at 48,100

Japanese Ships
PC Sonan Maru #5
PC Tama Maru #8
PC Toshi Maru #3

Allied Ships
SS Bass, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage sinks
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Sub attack near Kwajalein at 81,84

Japanese Ships
AK Aratama Maru
PG Toyotsu Maru

Allied Ships
SS Tuna
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Sub attack at 49,100

Japanese Ships
AP Konron Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Karukaya
DD Fuyo
DD Kuri
DD Minekaze

Allied Ships
SS S-18

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
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Sub attack near Kwajalein at 81,84

Japanese Ships
AK Aratama Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PG Toyotsu Maru

Allied Ships
SS Tuna, hits 1
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ASW attack at 49,99

Japanese Ships
PG Shoei Maru
PG Nanpo Maru
PG Kogyoku Maru
PG Kanko Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-36
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ASW attack at 49,99

Japanese Ships
PG Idzumo
DD Minekaze

Allied Ships
SS S-36
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ASW attack near Cooktown at 48,100

Japanese Ships
PC Sonan Maru #5
PC Tama Maru #8
PC Toshi Maru #3

Allied Ships
SS S-46
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Sub attack at 49,98

Japanese Ships
AP Jinsan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Higashiyama Maru
DD Mikazuki
DD Minazuki
DD Hibiki
DD Arare

Allied Ships
SS S-35, hits 2

Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported
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Sub attack near Kwajalein at 81,84

Japanese Ships
ML Tsugaru

Allied Ships
SS Tuna
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ASW attack near Cooktown at 48,100

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 31
PC Ch 28
PC Ch 6
PC Shonan Maru #17
PC Shonan Maru #1
PC Kyo Maru #13

Allied Ships
SS S-46
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ASW attack near Palembang at 20,55

Japanese Ships
DD Satsuki

Allied Ships
SS Sailfish
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ASW attack near Cooktown at 48,100

Japanese Ships
PC Sonan Maru #5
PC Tama Maru #8
PC Toshi Maru #3

Allied Ships
SS S-46, hits 3
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ASW attack at 49,98

Japanese Ships
AP Hikade Maru
DD Mikazuki
DD Minazuki
DD Hibiki
DD Arare

Allied Ships
SS S-35
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In China Japan makes three air raids against Chinese units in the forest hex east of Changsha. I guess my opponent assumes I’m building up my forces here rather than pulling troops out. I’ll not dissuade him of this opinion.

At Cooktown my medium bombers from Charter Towers make 3 tiny raids and 1 moderate raid against Japanese shipping located there. The net result is a lot of allied planes are shot down by the 94 zeros flying LRCAP over the hex and the only bomb hit that scores bounces off of a BB.

Although all 24 escorting Kittyhawks were shot down (text is FOW), they did manage to shoot down 10 Japanese zeroes. Not bad exchange rates considering these are KB’s zeroes. Hopefully all/most of his pilots died.

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Day Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 48,100

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 94

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 3 destroyed
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Day Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 48,100

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 94

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 6
B-26B Marauder x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 6 destroyed
B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Sumire Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 48,100

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 94

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 3 destroyed
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Day Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 48,100

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 94

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 24
B-25C Mitchell x 14
B-26B Marauder x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 16 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 16 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 1
BB Nagato
CA Furutaka
DD Ayanami

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
<snip>
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One piece of luck for allied airmen today was that my top ace Davies O. was rescued after being shot down. It’s pitiful that 9 months into the game I’ve only got two ace pilots and both of them have less than 10 kills.

One odd thing to note is Davies apparently should have 9 kills according to the number of kill credit entries in today’s op reports, but his last kill is double counted as kill number 8.



Japan conducted another deliberate attack at Ichang today. Looking at Japan’s AV, I have to assume this was an error made by my opponent who apparently forgot to turn off the attack for these units.

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Ground combat at Ichang

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 152408 troops, 641 guns, 86 vehicles, Assault Value = 3546

Defending force 73281 troops, 246 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2082

Japanese max assault: 118 - adjusted assault: 54

Allied max defense: 2084 - adjusted defense: 2175

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
363 casualties reported
Guns lost 18
Vehicles lost 5

Allied ground losses:
340 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
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My opponent didn’t mention the mistake, but I assume it was a mistake so opted not to try and take advantage of the situation by attacking this turn.

US troops capture Luganville this turn. The first step on the long road to Tokyo has been made. Granted it was an easy step as there were no defenders defending the base, but I’ll take what I can get this early in the game.

Jim

The battle for Oz is won! Great achievement Jim! Now better to start assigning new objectives for the preparation of your SEAC land units in Oz.
I suggest to try not to advance towards Darwin directly. Go from Perth --> Derby etc...and cut the retreat routes from Timor to Darwin...it will take a lot of time but with some strong CV support you should be able to do it by 1943

9 – 10 Aug. 42

9 August is another busy day for sub ops. Japan makes 4 ASW attacks resulting in the SS Barracuda taking 2 hits. Allied subs make 5 attacks but no damage is caused.

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Sub attack at 50,99

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
DD Oshio
DD Hamakaze
DD Shiranuhi
DD Yukikaze
DD Natsushio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Kagero

Allied Ships
SS Barracuda
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ASW attack at 50,99

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsushimo
DD Yamakaze
DD Samidare
DD Yamagumo
DD Urakaze
DD Hayashio
DD Kazegumo
DD Yugumo

Allied Ships
SS Barracuda
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Sub attack near Kwajalein at 81,84

Japanese Ships
ML Okinoshima

Allied Ships
SS Tuna
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ASW attack at 48,97

Japanese Ships
DD Harukaze
DD Yuzuki
DD Ariake

Allied Ships
SS S-36
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Sub attack at 49,98

Japanese Ships
AP Taiyo Maru
PG Shosei Maru
PG Hirotama Maru
PG Heijo Maru
PG Eifuku Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-18
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Sub attack near Palembang at 20,55

Japanese Ships
AK Koyu Maru
AK Aobasan Maru
DD Satsuki

Allied Ships
SS Sailfish
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ASW attack at 50,99

Japanese Ships
DD Yunagi
DD Hayate
DD Matsukaze
DD Kamikaze
CL Naka

Allied Ships
SS Barracuda
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ASW attack at 50,99

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsushimo
DD Yamakaze
DD Samidare
DD Yamagumo
DD Urakaze
DD Hayashio
DD Kazegumo
DD Yugumo
CVE Taiyo

Allied Ships
SS Barracuda, hits 2
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Sub attack at 48,97

Japanese Ships
AP Yamura Maru
AP Atsuta Maru
DD Harukaze
DD Yuzuki
DD Ariake

Allied Ships
SS Plunger
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Allied bombers hit Tennant Creek and cause heavy damage to the base.

Japanese bombers conduct two raids on units in the forest hex east of Changsha.

Japan conducts a land bombardment at Ichang today, casualties are light.

Sub ops for 10 August see a dramatic fall off from the flurry of activity seen over the past few days. Only 3 Japanese ASW attacks occur today resulting in no damage to my subs. However one of my subs is hit by patrolling air today and is ordered to return to port.

In Burma 79 Blenheim IVs hit Meiktila today but only cause light damage to the base. Then allied heavies conduct a tiny raid on a task force in KB’s hex, but all 6 bombers are damaged and turn back without making an attack.

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Day Air attack on TF at 49,101

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 104

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 6 damaged
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During the turn I got a notice of a B-17 squadron unable to locate a target over KB’s hex, so I assume the large strike with the majority of my heavy bombers was going for KB and turned back when the lead squadron failed to locate its target. This is becoming a recurring theme as KBs hex has been attacked several times now but KB has yet to be targeted by a strike that locates its target.

In China Japan conducts three raids on my land units in the forest hex east of Changsha. Then KB launches a large strike against Townsville. My defending P-39s are slaughtered and damage to the base is heavy. The sub SS Shark in port trying to repair floatation damage takes two hits and sinks.

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Day Air attack on Townsville , at 46,105

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
B5N2 Kate x 125

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 16 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 10 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 3 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless: 2 destroyed
Catalina I: 1 destroyed
T.IVa: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
SS Shark, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 58
Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x B5N2 Kate bombing at 18000 feet
<snip>
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The report is partially FOW, as a lot more planes were destroyed on the ground than reported. Very few planes are in an undamaged state when the turn started, but most of the damage to the base is already repaired due to the large numbers of engineers present.

Japan conducts a land bombardment at Ichang.

Jim

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner
The battle for Oz is won! Great achievement Jim! Now better to start assigning new objectives for the preparation of your SEAC land units in Oz.
I suggest to try not to advance towards Darwin directly. Go from Perth --> Derby etc...and cut the retreat routes from Timor to Darwin...it will take a lot of time but with some strong CV support you should be able to do it by 1943

Thanks G.H., but I’m not completely sure he’s done with me in Australia yet. His biggest problem in NE Australia was getting supplies ashore. He may very well be redeploying all those troops to Darwin for a drive down the middle since I cannot interdict his supply convoys running into Darwin.

I’ll probably redeploy 2 or 3 divisions to Alice Springs once I retake NE Australia, just in case he makes a drive down the center. If it doesn’t materialize then I’ll consider my options on the re-conquest of Australia.

Right now I’m leaning towards a land campaign up the middle. It can be done with the Australian militia troops under ANZAC command that normally wouldn’t be able to leave Australia without paying tons of political points first.

If I do the naval route you suggest, it will have to be done with SWPAC and Australia Command units, and I have far fewer of those units than ANZAC units. So I’d have to wait a lot longer before I’d be strong enough to launch that operation.

Also you have to consider the time those SWPAC and Australia command units would need to recover after such an operation. That would eat into the timetables for retaking Port Moresby.

Then there is the question of where is he going to take those 10 divisions he is currently evacuating from Australia if he doesn’t take them to Darwin?

Jim

mmmm....for sure you will need the SEAC units, along with some U.S. divisions for the Perth route. However, in the long run, i think it can be a possibility. Your ANZAC units could push northwards from Alice Spring, forcing him to defend the Darwin perimeter far into the south (let' s say Daily Waters), thus leaving his right flank open to a landing operation of your troops... But it's sure that we're talking about sometime in the middle of 1943...not before!
PM it's always risky imho...i'd better chose the easiest route from Northern Oz to SRA and from the Marshalls to the Mariannas...
&nbsp;
Anyway i think it's too late for him to go on the offensive with those 10 divisions...he'd better start to think about setting up a decent defensive perimeter!...if he commits all those troops to Darwin...the better!

11 – 12 Aug. 42

Sub ops for 11 August consist of two Japanese ASW attacks and two allied sub attacks. No hits are scored on any of the targets of the attacks.

Japanese CAs conduct a naval bombardment at Townsville. 5 P-39s (text is FOW), 1 Beaufort and 1 Dauntless are destroyed on the ground. No damage is caused to the bombarding fleet even though there are three units with CD guns in the hex.

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Naval bombardment of Townsville, at 46,105


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 3 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 1 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Kako
CA Kumano
CA Suzuya
CA Mikuma
CA Takao


Allied ground losses:
334 casualties reported
Guns lost 16
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 21
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At Rangoon allied heavy bombers from Diamond Harbor and Dacca fly a coordinated raid on the base at 32,000 feet. Only the Tojos have the altitude to intercept and they fail to shoot down any of my bombers. Damage to the base is light and only a few Japanese planes are destroyed on the ground.

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Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
A6M3 Zero x 11
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 27
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 17

Allied aircraft
Liberator III x 36
F-5A Lightning x 2
B-17D Fortress x 24
B-17E Fortress x 22
B-24D Liberator x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator III: 4 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 4 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 32000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Even though this raid isn’t very effective, the morale for my bombers isn’t shattered like it was after their last raid, which put them out of action for weeks. So I’ll continue high altitude missions until I’ve got fighters with the range to start escorting my raids or until I detect that Japan has reduced the massive numbers of fighter he has defending Burma.

Japan conducts a land bombardment at Ichang.

Sub ops for 12 August see allied subs conduct 4 attacks. The net result is one Japanese AK at Palembang eats a torpedo and the SS Nautilus at Guam is hit hard by an ASW counter attacks. With float damage over 60, I doubt she’ll be able to make port at Pearl. The SS Sailfish at Palembang is also hit by an ASW counter-attack, but its damage is much lighter and it should easily make port at Perth.

105 Hudsons make an air raid on Daily Waters causing moderate damage to the base. My Chinese bombers make a port attack on Samah (island SE of Hanoi) but fail to hit any of the ships in port. Damage to the port is very light.

Japan conducts its routine land bombardment at Ichang. Nothing else of note to report today.

Jim

How's the overall picture in Burma Jim? Do you have any clue about which units he has there?

13 – 14 Aug. 42

Sub ops for 13 August consist of two Japanese ASW attacks and two allied sub attacks. None of the attacks result in any hits to their targets.

78 Blenheim IVs hit Meiktila today and cause moderate damage to the base.

Japan conducts two air raids in China against Chinese ground units, one at Nanchang and the other in the forest hex east of Changsha.

Japan conducts his routine land bombardment at Ichang. I should note that for the past week or so, Japan’s AV for these bombardments has dropped to 3200, down from the 4000 AV he had in the hex before. There is only one less unit in the attacks, so my guess is he’s rotated out some large combat formations for smaller ones. Probably to allow them to refit and repair damage from his last two attacks at Ichang.

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Ground combat at Ichang

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 146713 troops, 659 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 3205

Defending force 72827 troops, 255 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2080



Allied ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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As requested here’s a screenshot of the situation in Burma.



As you can see, there are about 120,000 Japanese troops known to be in Burma. There are also some troops at Moulmein (3 units reported) and along the trail SE of Moulmein (1 unit reported). There are another 4 units reported at Rahaeng.

So it’s possible these units reported between Moulmein and Rahaeng are moving into Burma, but they could also be leaving. I’ll have to keep an eye on things to try and figure out which is the case.

I have about 1100 AV at Mandalay (6 Chinese divisions, 2 Chindit brigades, 1 CW brigade and 1 British brigade) behind level 9 forts. There is 120 AV at Lashio (1 Chindit brigade) along with 4 baseforce units that are building up the forts there and are 85% of the way to completing level 5. Myitkyina only has 30 AV (Assam Rifles Battalion) and a baseforce unit for defense against paras. Akyab has 230 AV (Rangoon Force CD unit and 1 Indian brigade) defending there behind level 6 forts which are 30% of the way to level 7.

I currently have 5 of the brigades that start in Burma in India. These units are rebuilding losses and disablements as well as recovering morale. Once they are in the 50%+ range for morale, I’ll transport them to Lashio to beef up my defense there.

I think both Japan and I are in a recovery period. He has most of his attacking army in Rangoon under the non-malarial hex there and my units are in India recovering there. I suspect he’ll be launching his next attack in about a month or so after his units recover from their disablements.

I’m now much stronger in India than when the game started, and could afford to send a full division or more to Burma if I have to. I don’t want to commit that much force there yet though, until I see where my opponent is going next. If he simply hunkers down and digs in, I’ll begin planning my counter-offensive in Burma. But for now I’m still on the defensive.

There is only one attack for sub ops on 14 August, and it’s a Japanese sub dong the attacking. MSW Bathurst is torpedoed at Pago Pago as its task force arrives to do a routine minesweeping of the base. The ship goes down and the remaining ships fail to locate the offending sub.

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Sub attack near Pago Pago at 96,113

Japanese Ships
SS I-18

Allied Ships
MSW Bathurst, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Wollongong
MSW Whyalla
MSW Toowoomba
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My heavies in India fly another high altitude mission to Rangoon and note that Japan now as a squadron of Tonys defending the base as well. 2 B-17E’s are lost (text is FOW) in air to air. Damage to the base is light and 9 Japanese planes are destroyed on the ground.

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Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
A6M3 Zero x 11
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 36
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 21
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 15

Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 3
B-17D Fortress x 22
B-17E Fortress x 24
B-24D Liberator x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 9 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed
Ki-21-II Sally: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F-5A Lightning: 1 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 4 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 8 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
176 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 32000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After recovering from their devastating morale hits from several turns ago, my medium bombers at Cooktown finally fly some naval strikes against the Japanese convoys at Cooktown. A total of 4 strikes are flown, one large and three tiny ones.

The recent loss of 35-40 veteran pilots is really telling as a total of just 3 bombs score hits, even though over 70 bombers made bombing runs on the ships of the Japanese task forces.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 48,100

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 60

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 19
B-25C Mitchell x 27
B-26B Marauder x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 6 destroyed, 7 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Genoa Maru
AP Nichiran Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP La Plata Maru
DD Hasu
DD Fuyo
PG Iwate
AP Teiun Maru
AP Yamakuni Maru
DD Minekaze
AP Tanba Maru
AP Toko Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 48,100

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 57

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Kizan Maru
AP Joban Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 48,100

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 57

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DE Patrol Boat No. 46

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 48,100

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 57

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 4
B-26B Marauder x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed
B-26B Marauder: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In China Japan conducts a single air raid against ground units in the forest hex east of Changsha.

Japan also conducts its routine land bombardment at Ichang.

The only other thing of note that occurred today is Australian units arrived at Cairns today. The last division should arrive there tomorrow and I’ll then begin a land bombardment campaign against the 56,000+ Japanese troops reported in the hex.

Once my last division arrives, I’ll have just over 60,000 men, so it looks like Japan plans to leave a strong garrison in NE Australia to hold those bases.

Jim

Jim, with Mandalay still strongly in your hands and with Akyab fully operational, i'd say that in the next 6/8 months you could easily push forward south on that front.
The RAF will increase a lot with all those brand new planes arriving and with the Indian land now secured i'd say that Burma will become an Inferno for him.
Start to train your fighters and force him to always play on LRCAP from Rangoon...this will give enough attrition to the IJAF so that with few months of preparation you should be able to organize a massive bombing raids over Rangoon and so closing the air match in Burma by the beginning of 43

15 – 16 Aug. 42

15 August begins with lots of sub ops due to Japanese task forces now leaving Cooktown laden with troops. A total of 6 allied sub attacks are made resulting in 1 AK and 2 APs being hit by torpedoes. Japan makes only 2 ASW attacks, but it’s enough as the S-36 gets hammered hard. With 86 float damage I doubt she’ll make port.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 48,96

Japanese Ships
AK Urashio Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PG Sozan Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-36
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 49,99

Japanese Ships
AP Daitei Maru
PG Eifuku Maru

Allied Ships
SS Plunger
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 49,99

Japanese Ships
AP Higashiyama Maru
DD Mikazuki

Allied Ships
SS Plunger
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 49,101

Japanese Ships
DD Kagero
DD Oshio
DD Hamakaze
DD Shiranuhi
DD Yukikaze
DD Natsushio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Akigumo

Allied Ships
SS S-40
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 49,98

Japanese Ships
PG Nanpo Maru
PG Kogyoku Maru
PG Kanko Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-36
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 49,98

Japanese Ships
AP Kansan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Igasa Maru
DD Minazuki
DD Hibiki
DD Arare

Allied Ships
SS S-36

Japanese ground losses:
34 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 49,98

Japanese Ships
PC Shonan Maru #17
PC Shonan Maru #1

Allied Ships
SS S-36, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 49,99

Japanese Ships
AP Nichiran Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
PG Shoei Maru
PG Shosei Maru

Allied Ships
SS Plunger
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Allied Hudsons hit Tennant Creek today and cause heavy damage to the base. Then my planes make three weak raids on task forces in KB’s hex. Japanese uber CAP slaughters my planes and no ships are hit.

Of note is the fact that yet again my bombers (probably my large strike given how tiny these three were) failed to locate KB as indicated by messages during the turn replay. This is the 3rd or 4th time my planes have failed to locate their target, and KB hasn't been attacked yet even though it's been within LBA range for over a week now.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,102

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 95

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 16
A-24 Dauntless x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 16 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,102

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 119

Allied aircraft
T.IVa x 3
Beaufort V-IX x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 17 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
T.IVa: 2 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 13 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x T.IVa launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,102

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 117

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-24D Liberator x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 31000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 31000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japan then flies a large airstrike from KB and hits Charter Towers. His timing couldn’t have been better as I had just rebased in some P-38s and everything was stood down to recover fatigue. Over 35 planes were destroyed on the ground, the combat report is FOW.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Charters Towers , at 45,105

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
B5N2 Kate x 115
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 13 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 5 destroyed
P-38F Lightning: 6 destroyed
B-26B Marauder: 7 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
69 casualties reported

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 69

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x B5N2 Kate bombing at 17000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Due to the heavy damage to the base and the fact my planes at Townsville are shredded, I’ve pulled my airforce out of northeastern Australia to recover.

Japan also makes a strike on a Chinese unit in the forest hex east of Changsha.

Other than the routine Japanese land bombardment at Ichang, nothing much else to report this turn.

Sub ops for 16 August consisted of a single Japanese ASW attack at Kwajalein, my sub managed to evade its attackers.

At Adak Island a small task force of 3 PT boats runs into a minefield as they rebase in to the base and PT-36 hits one of the mines and sinks.

Two allied air raids of medium bombers plaster the oil resource at Magwe in Burma today. 35 of the 40 resources are now out of action.

12 Japanese Bettys hit Adak Island today, but fail to cause any damage to the base.

Japan conducts its land bombardment at Ichang again today. My Australian units pursuing the Japanese north from Townsville conducted a land bombardment at Cairns today.



As you can see from the screenshot, it appears Japan is going to leave a very large garrison behind to hold onto Northeastern Australia. So much for a quick victory in Australia, I defiantly don’t have enough strength to overcome 4 Japanese divisions yet.

Also SigInt has detected at least 2 more divisions at Portland Roads over the last few turns, so perhaps he plans to stay for quite a while, as I assume Cooktown has at least a division or two as well. That or he wants to use these units to invade south of my advancing armies. I’ll be sure to keep at least a division in every coastal base along the east coast of Australia.

Given how strong Japan is at Cairns, I may end up pulling my troops back to Townsville. I’m actually surprised how well the bombardment went as I was outnumbered 2-1 in AV. I have one more artillery unit along the road south, so for now I’ve stood my units down to defend. Once it arrives I’ll try another bombardment, but if Japan starts attacking I’ll pull out.

Jim

17 – 18 Aug. 42

Sub ops for 17 August consist of 6 Allied sub attacks which resulted in the AK Kamogawa Maru being struck by 4 torpedoes fired by the SS Trusty in the Malacca strait. The ship couldn’t stay afloat after such damage and went to the bottom.

Japan conducted 6 ASW attacks and the SS Bonita received 1 minor hit when the CV Junyo’s escorts attacked her. Damage was light and the sub shall remain on patrol.

Allied bombers hit Tennant Creek today and caused heavy damage to the base.

17 Japanese Bettys hit Adak Island today, but failed to cause any damage to the base.

I guess I was a bit hasty when I stated Japan was going to leave a strong defense in Cairns. Japan conducted a land bombardment today and only 3 divisions remain at the base now. One is heading north to Cooktown. Given his dismal results with the bombardment attack, I’ve gone ahead and set my units to bombard him again next turn.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Cairns

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 65535 troops, 333 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1440

Defending force 60225 troops, 412 guns, 376 vehicles, Assault Value = 1201



Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japan also conducts a land bombardment at Ichang today.

Sub ops for 18 August consist of 4 allied sub attacks. The net result of which is that the SS Guardfish receives two hits from counter-attacking escorts south of the Japanese Home Islands. With system damage at 7, I decided to leave the sub on patrol for now.

At Mandalay Japan conducts a large air raid against the base as I recently rebased in some fighters. 41 allied fighters rise to defend the base against the hordes of Japanese planes and nik mod rears its ugly head again as the allied fighters are wiped out to a man while Japan is virtually untouched.



I can’t tell you how much I Regret playing this stupid mod now. Allied fighters are so much garbage in this mod, even armor ratings of 3 failed to help the Hurricane IID/IVs survive against the overpowered Japanese fighter planes in this fanboy mod.

I’m going to play to the bitter end in this game, but I doubt I’ll be able to make an opposed landing in this mod, as Japanese air power will shred my carrier air every time. I’ll have to think of a way to play this game without fighters because they are basically useless thanks to nik’s ridiculous mod.

Japan conducts land bombardments at Ichang and Cairns today. My land bombardment at Cairns is very effective, looks like I may be able to hurt Japan here over time. I’ll keep these bombardments going every turn.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Cairns

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 65592 troops, 336 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1443

Defending force 60370 troops, 411 guns, 377 vehicles, Assault Value = 1200



Allied ground losses:
40 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Cairns

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 45878 troops, 411 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1198

Defending force 68972 troops, 336 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1443


Japanese ground losses:
990 casualties reported
Guns lost 27
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The only other thing to note is I’ve had 3 subs hit by naval air search in the past 2 days and a total of at least 6-8 hit this month now. Looks like our house rule keeping search planes above 6,000 feet is not quite enough to overcome the over-effective search planes vs. subs in the game.

Overall I’m happy with the rule as it has allowed subs to at least be a factor in game, but it appears when you try and operate in waters with many enemy land bases nearby, your subs will get hammered and wiped out eventually anyway.

I’ve only got 3 or 4 subs left in the waters near Cooktown now and one of those is heavily damaged and limping back to port due to a search plane attack. I’ve lost 2 sunk and will probably lose one or two more of the ones that have been damaged. In return they’ve hit about 6 Japanese ships, only one of which has sunk. I’m losing more subs than ships they sink in the duel, so subs are still pretty useless compared to what they historically could accomplish.

Jim

I've found that the Allied "Death Stars" of B-24s to be almost unstoppable and I'm in early 2/43. My opponent is hoping the Jacks do better than everything else which is nothing against these monsters.&nbsp;[:D] So they do off set some poor Allied fighter performance. So putting at least 100 of them in India should pretty much take Rangoon and Moulmein out of the picture. [;)]&nbsp; I'll have over 200 planes worth of B-24 & Liberator IIIs in just over a month in India. Then most bases will go
&nbsp;
I've tried using my subs in the SRA without much success due to LBA killing more than I can get into position to at least take a shot at a TK/AK, let alone sink them.

Yes but this doesn't change the fact that this mod is almost unplayable...Jim's right, it's impossible to stand a fight against the japanese fighters...the Mvr. ratings are completely messed up!
The Nik's experimental mod is completely another thing...they should eliminate this version and keep only the experimental one (which however, after 2 years of testing, should not be called experimental anymore).
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

The other big "rant" I have with this mod is having only 50 Politcal Points per day. I'm hand strung early in '43 as I still have 4 USA division awaiting the ability to change commands on the WC (it takes 1/2 a month just to change a RCT). [:@][:(]&nbsp;
Since this is my first PBEM game to get into '43. I'm using it for a learning experience. We have agreed to end it once AE comes out.
I'm finding out that with high durability rating for the Corsairs, they seem to have more&nbsp;stay damaged then other fighters regardless of the AF size and/or aviation support available.

19 – 20 Aug. 42

Sub activity for 19 August consists of 5 allied sub attacks resulting in a Japanese AK at Palembang and AP near Amboina both being hit with two torpedoes each. The Dutch sub at Palembang receives 1 hit by the counter-attacking Japanese escorts.

Japan conducts 2 ASW attacks and hits one of the subs for 1 hit near Cooktown.

16 Mitchell bombers hit the resource at Meiktila and score 2 hits. 123 heavy bombers hit Cooktown from 31,000 feet and only score 1 airbase hit. With 66 zeroes defending the base and my squadron’s morale still low, I can’t afford an air battle yet to regain air superiority. Once my heavy squadrons have recovered some morale, I’ll send them in at 15,000 feet to smash the base.

KB conducts a port attack on Townsville today and sinks the single sub docked there that was trying to repair flood damage. Damage to the base isn’t too bad and my engineers quickly repair it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Townsville , at 46,105

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
B5N2 Kate x 77

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied Ships
SS S-38, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Port hits 14
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x B5N2 Kate bombing at 18000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here are the land bombardments this turn. I can’t say I’m not happy with the results I’m achieving at Cairns, though I have no idea why I’m hitting him so hard and he’s barely scratching my boys.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Cairns

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 64482 troops, 298 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1409

Defending force 60362 troops, 412 guns, 377 vehicles, Assault Value = 1199



Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ichang

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 149581 troops, 679 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 3368

Defending force 72997 troops, 271 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2088



Allied ground losses:
84 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Cairns

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 45914 troops, 412 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1199

Defending force 67402 troops, 298 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1409


Japanese ground losses:
917 casualties reported
Guns lost 18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub ops for 20 August consist of 2 allied sub attacks resulting in a Japanese MSW being torpedoed and sunk at Truk. Japan conducts 4 ASW attacks and manages to hit two subs, each one hit once.

But today also has another of my subs near Cooktown hit by Japanese naval search planes, which means I’m down to just one sub in that area now. I’ve therefore ordered all subs from the Rabaul and Lunga areas to move towards Cooktown.

99 Hudsons hit Daily Waters today causing moderate damage to the base. 88 Blenheim IVs hit Meiktila today causing another 11 hits to the resource there. That should effectively put that resource out of action as it had had previous damage from earlier raids.

103 heavies hit Cooktown again today from 31,000 feet and only score 1 runway hit. They did manage to destroy a couple Japanese planes on the ground though.

Then my medium bombers from Charter Towers launch several air raids against Japanese fleets north of Cooktown. In total 4 raids attack Japanese shipping but only one hit is scored and that bomb bounced.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,98


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 14
B-26B Marauder x 7
P-38F Lightning x 12


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Kuri
DD Tsuga
DD Mikazuki
PG Idzumo
PG Iwate, Bomb hits 1
DD Karukaya

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,98


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Ayanami

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,98


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 3
B-26B Marauder x 8


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Karukaya
AP Kuraido Maru
AP La Plata Maru
PG Iwate

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet
<snip>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,99

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 2
P-38F Lightning x 10

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Of note is the fact that at least another 5 or 6 raids failed to locate their targets today. In fact so many raids were flown today, that I lost 6 P-38s to op losses, but they just couldn’t find the ships.

Today’s land bombardments consist of us trading shots at Cairns. My guys are getting better each turn, as Japan is hit hard today.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Cairns

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 63726 troops, 275 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1387

Defending force 60622 troops, 412 guns, 379 vehicles, Assault Value = 1200



Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Cairns

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 45934 troops, 412 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1200

Defending force 66506 troops, 275 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1387


Japanese ground losses:
1348 casualties reported
Guns lost 20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I’m really curious as to why I’m doing so much better than Japan in these bombardments. Perhaps it’s the fact I have three dedicated artillery units in addition to my other combat units, and he just has the intrinsic guns of his three divisions.

Jim

Jim,
One comment on your recent debacle over Rangoon:

I'm playing CHS 155 as Allies and I'm in Jan. '43.&nbsp; I can tell you that your losses over Rangoon are not insconsistent with what I've experienced in CHS 155.&nbsp; Whether or not you agree with the outcome is another matter, but don't think it's the mod you're using.&nbsp;

Your fighters were outnumbered almost 3-1 and he had Tonys and A6M3s, both much better than Hurricanes, and forget about the deathtrap Mowhawks. They only stand a chance agains Nates. Also, I don't know the exact situation, but I would expect his pilot experience to be much higher than yours at this point.&nbsp; In my game, if the same situation arose (and I often got shredded over Burma), I would expect similar results, and I'm not playing with NikMod.&nbsp;

Your best defense in Burma right now is a big LBA bomber stick and lots of flak over your bases.&nbsp; You are playing the right mod to take advantage of flak.&nbsp; Get 4E bombers to Burma.&nbsp; They will cause much havoc, and will have many targets to choose from.

Hi Cathartes,

It’s not that I lost the air battle, it’s that I can’t touch his planes. He is scoring well above 4-1 kill ratios in air to air in the game and it just finally got to me (sorry about the rant everyone). These aren’t regular hurricanes either, these planes have 3 armor (the best in the game) and I had hoped that would help mitigate things some, but no luck.

Scroll back to page 4, I posted a side by side of the maneuver ratings for this game. His Oscars are 13 points higher than these hurricanes were, so I can’t touch them let alone his better fighters.

Also with such high maneuver ratings, I’m not repelling as many of his fighters with my bomber’s defensive fire. So even though I can get through to hit him, he scores dozens and dozens of damaging hits on my heavy bombers which crashes their morale. So they spend a lot of time sitting doing nothing trying to recover enough morale to have a chance to hit something when they do fly.

This is a massively biased pro-Japan mod. I hadn’t realized it when I chose to play it, I was basing that decision on all the praise nik mod got on the forums. My guess is if I were to go back and check it was the Japanese players who were praising it.

Not to worry though, I’ll soldier on and find a path to victory in spite of nik mod.

Jim

Edit: I'd be interested to know the air to air kill ratio in your game. Just air to air fighter kills, nothing else.

Overall, my air-air losses are twice my opponents at this stage.&nbsp; I can get you total air to air, but I can't accurately break out fighter vs fighter.&nbsp; I know I'm not losing them 4-1.&nbsp; It's probably in the neighborhood of I lose 5 for every 3 of his, and that's only after I've tried to frame every air to air encounter to maximum advantage. Things are a little better now that I have P-38s, but they come in at a trickle and I have to use them judiciously. Despite the armor rating, I would not use those Hurri IIc/ds--they are slow, don't climb well, and are easily outmaneuvered compared to other allied fighters. They have armor and decent guns, but overall they are lacking.&nbsp; In my game I use these exclusively for air-to-ground. The tide will not turn in fighter vs fighter until you get better fighters, and more of them in the air to take on the numbers of fighter you are seeing over Rangoon. Be thankful he's not sweeping your bases with those fighters.

You may lament about the morale hit to bombers, but the alternative is to lose the pilots and aircraft completely. In vanilla CHS bombers get shredded by Japanese fighters.&nbsp; Looking at your air attack on Rangoon from Aug 13-14, for example, If I tried that in CHS 155 I would expect to lose about 1/2 my bombers and not achieve the same results on the ground for it. I can only dream of bombing Rangoon by day right now. If I had more bases in escort range for Hurricanes and P-40s, I might have made a serous attempt by now.&nbsp;

I'm not arguing that NikMod is better or worse than stock.&nbsp; It's just different and the grass is always greener and all that.&nbsp;

I'm playing CHS + nik mod, so our games aren't too different.

That raid you mentioned in August was at 32,000 feet, so only a few of his fighters could reach my planes. I too would have lost over half of them at a lower altitude. But as it was several of my squadrons from that raid are only now getting back to 50% morale levels.

Jim