TURNING POINT: Japanese Version - Tanaka smashes US Ships @Attu

[Coach Z]

The Peninsula is what Floyd and I called the hex west of Canton where many of his corps' retreated after I forced them out of Canton. Additionally he at one time had over 17 Combat Units (mostly Corps') in hex 43,40. As you can now see that is no longer the case. It looks like he has begun to reshuffle them to attempt to stablize his lines in central China.

[Coach Z]

November 14th, 1942

The turn starts out most promisingly with an air raid on Changsha:
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Day Air attack on Changsha , at 47,36

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
D3A Val x 15
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 21
Ki-21 Sally x 41
Ki-48 Lily x 19

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 2
Spitfire Vb x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed
Ki-48 Lily: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 64
----------------------------------------------------------------
And an even more successful raid on Kweilin (most of the TOJOs here, were bombing-training)
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Day Air attack on Kweilin , at 44,38

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 60
B5N Kate x 50
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 35
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 36

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 9 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 42
--------------------------------------------------------
Then the raid I had hoped for yesterday flew today, though without the preliminary fighter sweep (which didn't fly at all today). Plus unfortunately for me there are two sections of the AVG here today(B & C).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Dacca , at 31,24

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 67
Ki-21 Sally x 19
Ki-49 Helen x 45
Ki-15 Babs x 3

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 6
Spitfire Vb x 12
P-40E Warhawk x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 15 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 5 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 8 destroyed
Wellington III: 8 destroyed
LB-30 Liberator: 3 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 4 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 47

While at least 50% higher loses were taken by the Allied bombers on the ground (Air Loses screen). The loss of 15  TONYs in air-to-air combat was a miserable preformance. Especially considering we outnumbered the Allies by over a 2:1 margin and that 3 of the Allied fighters were destroyed on the ground!
======================================================

Floyd launched some small air raids on Efate and Luganville.
Then 21 B-24's attacked 2 IJN DDs in an ASW TF, no hits were registered but a TONY which flew CAP over the TF was lost...not a single bomber was shot down.
Luckily these TONYs were more effective during the next strike:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 93,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 7

Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 7 (bombing)
Kittyhawk I x 4
P-38G Lightning x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger: 7 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
----------------------------------------------
The TBFs are the remnant of VT-8 from the Hornet (which is in Davey Jones' locker).

Then at the end of the turn the K XIV suffered three hits from an IJN ASW TF in the Malaccan Straits.

[Coach Z]

November 15th, 1942

The I-166 torpedoes the AK San Vicente up in the Aleutians just east of Adak Island.

The S-47 torpedoes an IJN DD Shikinami outside of Rabaul.
 
I almost have a heart attack when the SS Whale fires a spread of torpedoes at the KAGA just outside of Tokyo harbor. Luckily for me ......THE TORPEDOES FAIL TO DETONATE!!!!!!!!!!! Whew!

Then to add to Floyds aggravation, the I-166 finds the North Carolina limping towards Dutch Harbor, puts two torpedoes in to her sinking the US Battleship!

I plan a huge air raid at Kweilin and was a little disappointed with the results...no planes destroyed on the ground....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kweilin , at 44,38

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 58
B5N Kate x 47
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 36 (OK a whole sentai of Tojos were bombing; a chutai were on escort)
 
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 3 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 2 destroyed

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 35
=========================================

Floyd makes his typical raids at Luganville (45 x B-35's) and Efate (10 x Hudson and 10 x B-24).

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Day Air attack on 1st Chinese Cavalry Corps, at 36,28

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 29

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 7  (51st Pursuit Group I think)
P-38G Lightning x 5 (AVF/A)

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed
===============================================
I thought he'd like this rate of excchange over Myitkyina considering he's outnumbered more then 2:1 but he complained...so I told him then don't fly LRCAP over places that you know I am constantly sweeping...or put like 200 planes on LRCAP. Ok I know that was a cheap shot, but come on if you're going to keep flying that mission, you've got to expect the loses.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Kiska Island at 92,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 6
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 28

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
         The remaining B-24's turn and run
=============================================
Then I attack Changsha...I am so close now,  I can practically taste it!
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Ground combat at Changsha

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 110525 troops, 1105 guns, 447 vehicles, Assault Value = 2266

Defending force 43778 troops, 231 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1214

Japanese max assault: 2303 - adjusted assault: 1663

Allied max defense: 1073 - adjusted defense: 430

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Japanese ground losses:
1202 casualties reported
Guns lost 41
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
784 casualties reported
Guns lost 20
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On the road from Derby to Perth, my 2nd Army Area HQ unit stops for some unkown reason. It lets itself get caught by the pursuing Australian forces? Very strange considering the other units which moved in to the next hex were order to follow the HQ! Well anyway see following pic to see what units have pursued me north...oh and by the way I've been striking them with TOJOs, SALLYs, BETTYs, and ZEROs from Broome and Derby.

Oh and the S-47 south of Rabaul, gets HIT by a Helen on ASW!

Adak Island expands airfield to size 4...this means a hell of alot of B-25's and B-26's hitiing Amchikita soon, or the ability to base 200 fighters for LRCAP for his resupply convoys for Amchikita and his future invasion of Attu...whenever that might be.

[Coach Z]

ALLIED FORCES PURSUING MY STARTEGIC WITHDRAWAL FROM Southern Oz!

[Coach Z]

November 16th, 1942
 
Surprise, Surprise, Surprise....Floyd uses Beaufighters for his night time raid on Mandalay (not Blenheims)! No change, no damage.
Followed by several unsuccessful IJN ASW attacks....Fail to Find, Fail to Find, Fail to Find, etc, etc, etc
 
4 US DD s bombard Efate causing minimal damage, with two destroyers being hit 3 times each, and the USS Crosby on fire.
 
25 ZEROs (A6M2's & A6M3's0 sweep Thursday Isalnd, shooting 4 of the 11 Kittyhawks flying (and suffer no loses) Nearly half of the pilots in the 2 groups are young (40s) while the others are all vets and aces (80's & 90's). So I'll keep sweeping Thursday and Merauke against light opposition to hopefully build up the experience of the "younger" pilots.
 
Floyd launches his typical raids againsy Luganville (37 x B-25s) & Efate (9 x Hudson & 9 x B-24s) as wellas an attack on the 33rd Division at Myitkyina (48 x B-25s) ...all cause some damage but nothing extensive.
 
In Australia his Aussie Tankers pursued after yesterdays shock attack and they get punnished by Japanese Air Power:
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Day Air attack on 5th Australian Tank Regiment, at 19,89
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
G4M1 Betty x 26
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 9
Ki-21 Sally x 35
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied ground losses:
215 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 23
WOW Twenty-three tanks AND over 200 casualties! Great Work Fly Boys! BANZAI! BANZAI! BANZAI!!!!
===========================================
Several B-24s sneak by my TONYS at Attu and put a 500 pound bomb in to an AK unloading supplies there.
 
The US Destroyers bombard Efate again and now the USS Ward is hit and on fire...very light damage done.
 
The Aussies now get smacked around again:
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 Ground combat at 19,89
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 37925 troops, 363 guns, 428 vehicles, Assault Value = 959
 
Defending force 29808 troops, 265 guns, 106 vehicles, Assault Value = 755
 
Japanese max assault: 907 - adjusted assault: 372
 
Allied max defense: 705 - adjusted defense: 179
 
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 
  
Japanese ground losses:
1308 casualties reported
Guns lost 82
Vehicles lost 6
 
Allied ground losses:
1165 casualties reported
Guns lost 38
Vehicles lost 11
 
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Changsha
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 108673 troops, 1060 guns, 443 vehicles, Assault Value = 2177
 
Defending force 42756 troops, 196 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1190
 
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2
 
Japanese max assault: 1763 - adjusted assault: 919
 
Allied max defense: 1055 - adjusted defense: 277
 
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)
 
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2
 
 
Japanese ground losses:
1316 casualties reported
Guns lost 41
Vehicles lost 1
 
Allied ground losses:
796 casualties reported
Guns lost 22
 
3:1 ohhhhhhhhhhhhh so close...with a little luck they would have surrendered...eh maybe not they are surrounded they may take longer to surrender then they would have to retreat.
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Allies try again at Myitkyina and fail; but they still take realatively light casualties.
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Ground combat at Myitkyina
 
Allied Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 53498 troops, 304 guns, 980 vehicles, Assault Value = 1308
 
Defending force 32511 troops, 201 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 623
 
Allied max assault: 1306 - adjusted assault: 1225
 
Japanese max defense: 409 - adjusted defense: 2517
 
Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)
 
 
Japanese ground losses:
140 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
 
Allied ground losses:
701 casualties reported
Guns lost 30
Vehicles lost 1 
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[Coach Z]

Novmeber 17th, 1942
 
Aerial reconnaisance confirmed that once again the 17th Indian Division is marching through the jungle track towards Akyab.
 
Thew turn started with two decent IJN ASW attacks, one putting a few hits on the SS Blackfish up north, and a single hit on the SS Skipjack near Rabaul.
 
Another raid on Wuchow and the A6M2's bring down most of the enemy tighters:
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Day Air attack on Wuchow , at 42,39
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 58
B5N Kate x 49
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 35 (only a chutai involved in the air-to-air combat)
 
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 13
Spitfire Vb x 10
 
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged
Spitfire Vb: 3 destroyed
 
Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 22
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A semi-training sweep over Thursday Island achieves success as well.
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Day Air attack on Thursday Island , at 49,90
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
A6M3 Zero x 8
 
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 9
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 3 destroyed
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three seperate sweeps over Myitkyina ny two sentais and one chutai of TOJOs net the loses of 10 Buffalo's & 2 P-38Gs at a cost of three Tojos.
I'm a little confused why each air group flew its own independent sweep, when they are all flying from the same base.
 
Wow even though I had a fairly successful sweep and escorted my transports with a sentai of TOJOs I still had 7 Topsy's shot down!
 
The turn ends with only several bombardment attacks made ny both sides throughout the pacific theater.
 
 

[Coach Z]

Novembver 18th, 1942
 
The day began with an Allied ASW TF locating and putting a few hits on the I-3 off Amchitka Island.
Also the South Dakota and Washington along with the Vincennes and 3 Light Cruisers bombarded Amchitka Island a did some damage.
IJA planes attacked Lanchow and did minimal damage but blew up 1 SB-2C.
The Allies sent small air raids towards Luganville and Efate.
Over 170 4 Engine Bombers hit ground troops at Amchikita Island.
 
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Ground combat at Changsha
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 126773 troops, 1322 guns, 443 vehicles, Assault Value = 2601
 
Defending force 41374 troops, 167 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1141
 
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
 
Japanese max assault: 2189 - adjusted assault: 1117
 
Allied max defense: 1075 - adjusted defense: 436
 
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1)
 
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1
  
Japanese ground losses:
1073 casualties reported
Guns lost 57
Vehicles lost 5
 
Allied ground losses:
978 casualties reported
Guns lost 21
=================================
Changsha will fall so soon I can taste it...but I am beginning to worry about the damage. Please, please, please, just let me take 50/600 of the resource centers intact and I'll be thrilled.
 
 

[Coach Z]

November 19th, 1942
 
As usual an ineffective Allied night bombing run from India starts off the turn.
Then annoyingly another American sub slipped past the 4000 mines at Wake, and laid its own small minefield.
Even more annoying and painful, the S-46 slips past over 3000 mines at Kwajalein and two IJN ASW TFs to torpedo and sink an IJN minesweeper.
 
To keep the Chinese from building their fortifications:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Changsha , at 47,36
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
A6M3 Zero x 6
D3A Val x 16
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 23
Ki-21 Sally x 41
Ki-48 Lily x 20
Ki-49 Helen x 10
 
No Japanese losses
 
Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 74
{hmmm maybe a bit to effective being that Changsha should fall in the next few days}
=================================
Then a raid in Southern China which I may not sure if the air0toair results are that great...good maybe but I'm not sure.
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Day Air attack on Wuchow , at 42,39
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
B5N Kate x 53
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 36
 
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 6
Spitfire Vb x 9
I-153c x 12
 
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 2 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 6 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
I-153c: 8 destroyed
  
Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12
==================================================
A "Training" Sweep over Thursday Island  by 35 A6M3's (a fifth of the pilots were inexperienced...50's)  and 10 TOJOs (Veterans-'70' experience Chutai) is opposed by 10 Kittyhawk & 7 P-40E's. At a cost of 3 ZEROs and a TOJO 9 Allied fighters are brought down.....not that great of a trade for me considering the odds (and planes involved).
 
Japanese Air units in Australia bombard Australian troops which had been pursuing my forces from my Perth misadventure.
 
More Allied attacks are launched versus Luganville, Amchikita Island and Myitkyina.  Including one of over 130 4 Engine bombers versus Amchikita Island. Floyd of course launches several strikes against my troops in New Caledonia.
 
IJA troops drive the Chinese forces into Kungchang to clearinmg the way to lay siege to the city.
 
 
 
 
 

[Coach Z]

November 20th, 1942
 
IJN ASW puts a Direct HIt on the SS SKipjack 200 miles outside of Broome, but then she slips away.
The I-3 avoided one USN ASW TF, but unfortunately was located by a second and hit several times; hopefully she will be able to escape back to port for repairs (again).
 
Another air attack at Wuchow, and this when is far more favorable:
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Day Air attack on Wuchow , at 42,39
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 60
B5N Kate x 48
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 32
 
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 3
Spitfire Vb x 4
I-153c x 6
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 2 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 3 destroyed
I-153c: 4 destroyed
 
Allied ground losses:
56 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 23
----------------------------------------------------
Another raid on Kungchang again causes a small amnount of damage.
 
Two sweeps flown over Thursday Island are unopposed. Aparently Floyd realized is was unwise to oppose my sweeps when he lacked the strength and the will to lose planes in a 2:1 ratio....which considereing my planes outnumbered by at least 2:1 every time wasn't so bad....unless his replacement pools are lower then I would have thought. I thought the Allies had more pilots then they could typically use...maybe thats it, alot of pilots but not enough P-40E's, Wildcats, etc.
 
I fly a TOJO sweep over Myitkyina, and it too is unopposed, no LRCAP.This means I can  continue to fly in supply, and now unopposed. I will still order the occasional sweep (just in case) and designate a sentai of TOJOs to escort my transports.
 
46 B-25s cause over a hundred casualties for the 33rd IJA Division at Myitkyina.
 
We had the typical Floyd sending bombers to attack Luganville & Efate, while my planes hit his forces in Western Australia. ALso several bomber groups in China hit the Chinese in Changsha in preperation for another assault.
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Changsha
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 129066 troops, 1240 guns, 435 vehicles, Assault Value = 2510
 
Defending force 40010 troops, 135 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1082
 
Japanese max assault: 2384 - adjusted assault: 2697
 
Allied max defense: 918 - adjusted defense: 230
 
Japanese assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 2)
 
Japanese forces CAPTURE Changsha base !!!
 
Japanese ground losses:
2023 casualties reported
Guns lost 30
Vehicles lost 2
 
Allied ground losses:
54530 casualties reported
Guns lost 132
 
The 8th War Area, 17th Group Army, 6th Chinese Cavalry Corps, 3rd Chinese Air Base Force, and the 44th, 57th, 80th, 81st, & 89th Chinese Corps ALL Surrender!!
 
BANZAI!! BANZAI!! BANZAI!!
 

[Coach Z]

November 21st, 1942
 
Now that Changsha has fallen I will give several Divisions so time to rest up in CHangsha; a few units have low maoral (30's & 40's).
Others will reinforce Hengchow, while some of my veteran Tankers and a sprinkling of infantry will push accross the river to threaten Chungking form the South.
 
Once more an American sub has laid its own mines at a heavily mined and defended IJN Base, this time Kwajalein.
South of Rabaul the S-41 is hit 6 times (including a direct hit), and later the SS Whale is hit 7 times (including a direct hit) south of Honshu; a good day for IJN ASW.
 
9 Beaufighters make a Night Attack against Mandalay's Manpower Resource, and while 3 hits are registered, there was NO DAMAGE done. Floyd was all happy about this...little does he know, that nothing happened. I on the other hand was a little disappointed that with 3 AA units in Mandalay that not a single plane was hit.
 
5 US Destroyers sink a barge attampting to sneak supply into Amchikita Island.
 
69 4-E bombers and 64 B-25's attack a Baseforce at Efate causing over 300 casualties!
 
134 4 E bombers hit an IJN Baseforce at Amchikita Island causing 269 casualties.....more Blizzard bombers (arrrgggh)....the weather report was a Blizzard for their base and Snow @ Amchikita.
 

[Coach Z]

Wow I keep falling behind. Perhaps its Spring Football Practice or my own personal roller coaster going on with my coaching life.
But let's talk about the game!
 
As usual the turn starts with a Night Air Raid; this thime the Beaufighters go after Taung Gyi, and miss. Not to be out done, IJN ASW makes some ineffective attacks of their own.
An Air Raid @ Kungchang proves costly:
 
Day Air attack on Kungchang , at 46,26
 
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 33
Ki-48 Lily x 12
Ki-49 Helen x 19
 
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 14
 
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 4 destroyed
Ki-48 Lily: 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
 
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 7
-------------------------------------------------------
More Allied Blizzard Bombers, (I hate them) attack Attu; 151 B-24D's and 15 B-17E's attack Attu; also B-26's and Wellingtons from Adak. A total of less then 20 TONYs & TOJOs rise to the air and have little effect.
 
We trade Air Attacks in Burma and I attack his Aussies in semi-training missions from Broome.
 
A fairly quiet turn with no major land actions. Just my Tankers crossing the Yangtze River shock attack.....
Ground combat at 45,35
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 4832 troops, 4 guns, 140 vehicles, Assault Value = 380
 
Defending force 25221 troops, 159 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 750
 
Japanese max assault: 76 - adjusted assault: 23
 
Allied max defense: 747 - adjusted defense: 307
 
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1
 
 
Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 3
 
Allied ground losses:
143 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
 
All in all not a bad result; now lets just hope they recover from their disruption quickly!
 
 
 

[Coach Z]

A view of 45, 35 were my TANK RGT just Shock Attacked. Hopefully I can bring up more troops and dislodge him quickly. This will force him to run troops to Chungking and I can take Kweiyang and begin encircling Wuchow & Kweilin.

[Coach Z]

November 23rd, 1942
An American Sub Chaser TF finds and sinks the I-166, the Sub that finished off the North Carolina.
A PT Boat hits 2 mines at Attu and sinks.

Another raid is made on Kungchang and again the only slightly outnumbered Allied fighters got the best of me:
Day Air attack on Kungchang , at 46,26

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 30
Ki-48 Lily x 10
Ki-49 Helen x 18

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 6 destroyed
Ki-48 Lily: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged
 
Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4
---------------------------------------------------
More Blizzard Bombers (aaarrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhhhhhhhh), 8 Wellington and 43 B-26 do marginal damage and are followed by 134 B-24D's and 12 B-17E's who devastate the air field.


The FIJI BGE begins to unload at Efate....hmmmmm.
====================================================
The end is now near in Myitkyina. He has yet to suffer more then 1000 casualties in a single attack. Having trouble understanding how the Chinese can cause so many casualties to the IJA, but the IJA can't return the favor to the Chinese!

Ground combat at Myitkyina

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 53463 troops, 291 guns, 981 vehicles, Assault Value = 1305

Defending force 31296 troops, 176 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 603

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied max assault: 1251 - adjusted assault: 1327

Japanese max defense: 452 - adjusted defense: 1115

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Japanese ground losses:
123 casualties reported
Guns lost 13

Allied ground losses:
736 casualties reported
Guns lost 19
Vehicles lost 2

[Coach Z]

November 24th, 1942
 
The day starts with three very frustrating and totally unsuccesful IJN ASW Attacks.
Then a SALLY on ASW Patrol, hits the O24 south of Shortlands!
 
B-26's and Wellingtons hit ATtu, doing some damage, but then once again the air field is ravaged by Floyd's Blizzard Bombers;
9 B-17E's & 121 B-24D's.
 
At Efate 71 4 Engine Bombers and 24 B-25's attack the 5th YOKUSKA SNLF Detachment, causing over 200 casualties.
 
20 TOJOs sweep Kungchang and are met by 19 British Hurricane fighters. In the ensuing dogfights 7 Hurricanes are downed to only 2 Tojos!
 
Imperial Troops attack the Allied beachhead at Efate, and are greatly disppointed by the result.
Ground combat at Efate
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 12938 troops, 57 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 225
 
Defending force 1168 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 67
 
Japanese max assault: 139 - adjusted assault: 192
 
Allied max defense: 52 - adjusted defense: 13
 
Japanese assault odds: 14 to 1 
 
Japanese ground losses:
229 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
 
Allied ground losses:
179 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
=================================================
IJA troops in China attack Chinese forces who have once again approached the city of Hengchow. It seems this was a bad day for the Japanese Infantry, because they seemed to have been hit by some bad luck:
 
Ground combat at Hengchow
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 63873 troops, 629 guns, 158 vehicles, Assault Value = 1314
 
Defending force 31681 troops, 168 guns, 64 vehicles, Assault Value = 917
 
Japanese max assault: 1367 - adjusted assault: 342
 
Allied max defense: 942 - adjusted defense: 264
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 
  
Japanese ground losses:
1773 casualties reported
Guns lost 55
Vehicles lost 6
 
Allied ground losses:
1041 casualties reported
Guns lost 20
Vehicles lost 15
-----------------------------------------------------
 
 
 

[Coach Z]

Perhaps if my 100+ Bombers would have flown against his troops my attack might have faired better then a 1:1!

[Coach Z]

Here's how things look at Efate. Failing to drive the Allies off in this second attack, will probably prevent me from driving them off at all.

[Coach Z]

November 25th, 1942
 
More Allied Troops continue to unload at Efate; a couple of AKs receive a hit and over 600 casualties are taken by Floyd.
There is also a second landing at Amchikita Island and Floyd suffers over 300 casualties there.
 
There are many minor air attacks with  minimal results for both parties except for a Sweep at Kungchang with meets with disaterous results for me:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kungchang , at 46,26
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 18
 
Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 16
Spitfire Vb x 9
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 2 destroyed
The A6M2 Datai was in the high 70's I expected better. Perhaps it was because I didn't come in at 15000 ft or higher; I had been getting good results in my sweeps when coming in at 16,000 or 18,000 ft.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two PGs catch the I-31 off Amchikita and score 6 hits versus my poor sub. Of course all my ASW attacks were ineffective....again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Efate
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 12719 troops, 53 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 210
 
Defending force 2639 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 61
 
Japanese max assault: 133 - adjusted assault: 204
 
Allied max defense: 60 - adjusted defense: 7
 
Japanese assault odds: 29 to 1 
  
Japanese ground losses:
114 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
 
Allied ground losses:
162 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
 Darn it. If I  don't think I am going to be able to drive him off the beaches. He has not taken enough casualties and I fear tomorrow he will fill the sky with 4 Engine bombers over my poor troops. 
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Ground combat at Hengchow
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 62272 troops, 571 guns, 150 vehicles, Assault Value = 1209
 
Defending force 30063 troops, 141 guns, 43 vehicles, Assault Value = 858
 
Japanese max assault: 804 - adjusted assault: 601
 
Allied max defense: 700 - adjusted defense: 140
 
Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 
  
Japanese ground losses:
557 casualties reported
Guns lost 25
Vehicles lost 1
 
Allied ground losses:
1339 casualties reported
Guns lost 35
Vehicles lost 9
  
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
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Ground combat at 45,35
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 17486 troops, 183 guns, 137 vehicles, Assault Value = 379
 
Defending force 35587 troops, 222 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1077
 
Japanese max assault: 320 - adjusted assault: 160
 
Allied max defense: 1071 - adjusted defense: 291
 
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 
 
Japanese ground losses:
484 casualties reported
Guns lost 20
Vehicles lost 5
 
Allied ground losses:
86 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
Honestly I was hoping for a little better, but it seems I miscalculated  badly!
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But the most disturbing news of the day was still to come....
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Ground combat at Myitkyina
 Allied Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 50651 troops, 244 guns, 979 vehicles, Assault Value = 1089
 
Defending force 30514 troops, 153 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 582
 
Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 0
 
Allied max assault: 1048 - adjusted assault: 2664
 
Japanese max defense: 339 - adjusted defense: 691
 
Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)
 
Allied forces CAPTURE Myitkyina base !!!
  
Japanese ground losses:
642 casualties reported
Guns lost 17
Vehicles lost 1
 
Allied ground losses:
607 casualties reported
Guns lost 17
Vehicles lost 2
 
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
 
What made it even worse was that my troops retreated towards Lashio, crossing the river in to a non-road, non-track hex, instead of following my LOC back towards Mandalay. I can only guess that the presence of some Allied troops (with IJA Troops) in one of the hexes caused this retreat path. That really sucked! I still find it hard to beliece that I was never able to inflict similar loses to the ones I took at Ichang versus Chinese troops in a less well defended position.

[Coach Z]

November 26th, 1942

The I-31 was Hit by a searching PB2Y. Drat!

The Raider Bn unloading at Amchikita Island takes another 120 casualties
Allied Troops unloading at Efate take another 75 casualties and the AK Sea Thrush is hit several times by shore batteries and left burning.

Next American Minesweepers sweep mines at La Foa and begin to sweep mines around the Japanese base at Attu Island.
The 4 American Minesweepers at Attu are surprised and destroyed in detail by an IJN TF led by the battleship MUTSU, the cruisers NACHI & HAGURO.
Unfortunatley as the IJN TF leaves another AMerican TF slips into to Attu Harbor and sweeps some mines (Several DMS). On the way in they had hit the I-159 several times, and on the way out they do the same to the I-174.

The American Sub S-43 hit a mine in Kwajalein.... but only after it had laid its own mines.

Another Sweep which failed dispite a better altitude setting and superior numbers!
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Day Air attack on Kungchang , at 46,26

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 17
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 35

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 12
Spitfire Vb x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 4 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 7 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 2 destroyed
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Ground combat at Efate
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12637 troops, 50 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 202

Defending force 2505 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 48

Japanese max assault: 133 - adjusted assault: 155

Allied max defense: 38 - adjusted defense: 11

Japanese assault odds: 14 to 1 

Japanese ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
111 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

No attacks by 4 Engine bombers on my troops and I still can not inflict any damaging number of casualties to his troops on the beachhead even after another attack of overwhelming Odds (yesterday was 29:1 and the day before was also 14:1)


Reinforcements crossing the Yangtze River to make a push of Chungking/Kweiyang are forced to Shock attack, so I decided to have my other forces deliberately attack as well. Unfortuantely it was a failure, but the AChinese counter-attack was also a failure.

Ground combat at 45,35 (NW of Changsha)
Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 22383 troops, 292 guns, 283 vehicles, Assault Value = 852

Defending force 35332 troops, 205 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1056

Japanese max assault: 422 - adjusted assault: 94

Allied max defense: 1060 - adjusted defense: 345

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 

Japanese ground losses:
1733 casualties reported
Guns lost 35
Vehicles lost 5

Allied ground losses:
145 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
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Ground combat at 45,35
Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35135 troops, 201 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1049

Defending force 39203 troops, 343 guns, 406 vehicles, Assault Value = 725

Allied max assault: 977 - adjusted assault: 176

Japanese max defense: 439 - adjusted defense: 697

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 

Japanese ground losses:
94 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
1312 casualties reported
Guns lost 39
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[Coach Z]

November 27th, 1942
 
This turn was higlighted by two rounds of Naval Combat at Attu between two significant Surface Combat TFs. Fortunately the IJN came out on the winning end! I was somewhat shocked that my ships fired 94 Long Lance and 9 21" torpedoes at ranges varying between 3 and 9 thousand yards (most rounds were between 6 & 8 thouand yards)and only 3 total torpedoes hit! The Americans fired 40 some torpeodes and not one hit. That hit rate seems a little low...doesn't it?
 
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Attu Island at 92,34
 
Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kirishima
BB Musashi
CA Chokai
CA Aoba, Shell hits 1
CA Kako, Shell hits 1
CL Nagara
CL Yura, Shell hits 1
CL Kiso
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 1
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 1,  on fire
DD Amagiri
DD Kasasagi
DD Kamo
 
Allied Ships
BB Washington
BB South Dakota
BB Indiana, Shell hits 1
CA Vincennes, Shell hits 1
CL Raleigh
CL Detroit
CL Boise, Shell hits 1
DD DeHaven, Shell hits 1
DD Nicholas
DD O'Bannon
DD Lansdowne
DD Edwards
DD Bagley
DD Le Triomphant, Shell hits 1
DD Talbot
 
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Attu Island at 92,34
 
 
Allied aircraft
no flights
 
 
Allied aircraft losses
SOC-3 Seagull: 2 destroyed
 
Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Shell hits 1
BB Kirishima
BB Musashi, Shell hits 1
CA Chokai
CA Aoba, Shell hits 5,  on fire
CA Kako, Shell hits 5,  on fire
CL Nagara
CL Yura, Shell hits 1
CL Kiso, Shell hits 1
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 1,  on fire
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 3,  on fire
DD Amagiri, Shell hits 2,  on fire
DD Kasasagi, Shell hits 1
DD Kamo
 
Allied Ships
BB Washington, Shell hits 4
BB South Dakota, Shell hits 9,  on fire,  heavy damage
BB Indiana, Shell hits 10,  on fire
CA Vincennes, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CL Raleigh
CL Detroit, Shell hits 2,  on fire
CL Boise, Shell hits 6,  on fire
DD DeHaven, Shell hits 3
DD Nicholas, Shell hits 1
DD O'Bannon
DD Lansdowne, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
DD Edwards, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage...(SINKS)
DD Bagley, Shell hits 4,  on fire
DD Le Triomphant, Shell hits 6,  on fire
DD Talbot
 
I don't remember any penetrating hit on the Washington, but the Indiana was hit by a couple of big shells which penetrated and the South Dakota must been in bad shape (hit with 14" and 18" shells which penetrated....with a little luck either she won't make it or I can finish off somehow tomorrow. The HARUNA, though only hit once was hit by a 16" shell which penetrated and did considerable damage (over 30 sys). All in all though, Admiral Tanaka was satisfied with the results, as well as the performance of the IJN Newest battleship, his flagship the MUSASHI.
=================================================================================================
The Americans then Bombarded Efate and came away with a bloody something?
Naval bombardment of Efate, at 73,109 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
 
76 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Crane, Shell hits 2,  on fire
DD Barker, Shell hits 7,  on fire
DD Worden, Shell hits 5,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Downes, Shell hits 6,  on fire
DD Morris
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 4
CL Hobart, Shell hits 4
BB California
 
Japanese ground losses:
86 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
 
Port hits 2
Lousy results for him, encouraging for me; perhaps I can kick him off Efate.
---------------------------------------------------------------
I had been making some semi-yraining runs at Thursday Island. Several of the ZERO groups are mixed with Pilots in the 80's and 90's as well as many rookies in the 40's. Well looks like Floyd figured it out and upped the ante....

Day Air attack on Thursday Island , at 49,90
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 38
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 9
Ki-49 Helen x 38
Ki-46-II Dinah x 4
 
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 8
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 8 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 4 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 7 destroyed
 
Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
 
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 24
Seven of the pilots lost had 50 or less experience. He picked off alot of the rookies...drat.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
25 x 4 Engine bombers and 28 B-25's hit the ground troops at Efate causing nearly 100 casualties. Darn this is what I  was afraid was going to happen.
Then another 45 x 4 Engine bombers and 30 B-25's roar in over the Japanese positions on Efate causing 180 casualties!
 
Then once again my Fighters in Burma go on strike! Two entire Sentais of Tojos were ordered to escort a strike and not a single fighter flew! The bombers launching from the same base with plenty of aviation support, were slaughtered by weak Allied LRCAP.
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Day Air attack on 14th Indian Division, at 34,28 (all of two hexes from Mandalay)
 
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 18
Ki-49 Helen x 20
 
Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 13
 
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
Mohawk IV: 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 11 damaged
  
Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
9/10 precious bomber crews lost....both Bomber Sentais began the turn with experiences over 80.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
arrrrr
Two Allied minesweepers sweeping at Koumac were torpedoed by BETTYS from Lunga (+1 DMS was hit as well). I had hoped these BETTYs wpuld attack the American ships at Efate, especially all those transports which are unloading.
 
Then glory glory Hallelujah! Two IJN Destroyers and Large Minesweepers encounter 5 American PT Boats just outside of Attu Island. All 5 of the American PT BOats are sunk without a scratch suffered by the IJN Forces! At Long LAst a Successful Encounter with US PT Boats!
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Efate
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 11866 troops, 34 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 175
 
Defending force 2409 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 48
 
Japanese max assault: 50 - adjusted assault: 41
 
Allied max defense: 40 - adjusted defense: 41
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 
 
Japanese ground losses:
201 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
 
Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
After the Naval bombardment and the aerial attacks I was fearful that my attack would be unsuccesful. I missed my window of opportunity to drive him off the island. Funny you would have though that after two 14:1 attacks and a 29:1 attack his troops would have been virtually wiped out.
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Ground combat at Hengchow
 Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 59078 troops, 552 guns, 152 vehicles, Assault Value = 1203
 
Defending force 3724 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 109
 
Japanese max assault: 1084 - adjusted assault: 946
 
Allied max defense: 109 - adjusted defense: 1
 
Japanese assault odds: 946 to 1 
 
Japanese ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
 
Allied ground losses:
1505 casualties reported
Guns lost 15
  
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
A lone Chinese unit wandered in to Hengchow. Floyd claimed it was in error, I wonder if he is still probing....seeing if I had weakened the defenses after repealing the other attack.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at 34,28 (The Mandalay-Myitkyina Road)
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 45319 troops, 499 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 948
 
Defending force 29909 troops, 208 guns, 564 vehicles, Assault Value = 733
 
Japanese max assault: 912 - adjusted assault: 206
 
Allied max defense: 721 - adjusted defense: 379
 
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 
 
Japanese ground losses:
1372 casualties reported
Guns lost 53
Vehicles lost 7
 
Allied ground losses:
164 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Shouldn't come as too much of a surprise after my bombers (those that flew) were slaughtered, but disappointing none the less. Had hoped to at least gain a 1:1.
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[Coach Z]

Do you know the way to Mandalay?
Old Song...dont know any of the other words
I believe that the other Tank Bge that was involved at Myitkyina is motoring down to Mandalay.