Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Can anyone confirm for me that units due to arrive at Madras (Japanese occupied), or for that matter any occupied base in India, will arrive at Aden instead?

I think they do appear elsewhere, but there is always a delay of a week or two before they appear. Try checking your ground reinforcement queue to see if they have been put back there.

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

A couple more things of note. Two U.S. Marine Paratroop units will arrive in India within two weeks. These units will allow me a deep exploitation threat. I'd really like to somehow move towards Ledo and threaten to open up a supply source for China. There are a few dot bases that appear to be unoccupied along the rail line to Dimapur. I'll assess things over the coming weeks to see if anything is feasible.

On another note, turn rate has increased as expected, and I think we are both into the game right now with all the recent action. I mentioned in my last e-mail to Andre about my growing tension regarding the VP situation. He says it's mutual, he's been nervous putting together his orders of late with the increasing pressure on him in India. I think the raid on Colombo definitely caught him of guard and it's rattled him a little.

Always nice to get into your opponents kitchen and upset their comfort level.

A caution about the bases along the rail line - they are nasty for malaria effects until built to about level 7. You also need to build them just to get supply to flow adequately on the minor rail line. Don't come without adequate support for this venture!

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

A caution about the bases along the rail line - they are nasty for malaria effects until built to about level 7. You also need to build them just to get supply to flow adequately on the minor rail line. Don't come without adequate support for this venture!

Duly noted. I hadn't considered the malarial effects, but I definitely am ahead of you in terms of thinking logistics. I'd be prepared to rail in large numbers of engineer and AA units to get those bases up and running quickly, with adequate defences in place.

Another thing to consider would be monsoon season as well. I need to double check when that occurs.

July 26/42:

Costly error on my part. I've allowed a British Armoured Bde. to move too far forward and alone in clear terrain southeast of Benares and it got whacked by Japanese bombers. AAR follows:

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Morning Air attack on 254th Armoured Brigade, at 52,29 , near Benares

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 72
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 25
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 28
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 23

Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied ground losses:
160 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 26 (6 destroyed, 20 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
23 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
23 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
15 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
19 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

In another air battle, P-38 sweeps have some initial problems against some Japanese LRCAP consisting of Tojo's and Oscar's flying cover over IJA 90th Inf. Rgt. I'm not quite sure why though. The P-38's were at 25k, the Oscar's at 25k and the Tojo's at 20k. I think the first 4-5 passes were Tojo's and Oscar's getting the jump on my fighters, but then when things settled done my Lightning's consistently got the bounce on the Tojo's. As much as I don't understand why my fighters were at such a disadvantage initially against the lower flying Tojo's, they end up downing 13 Tojo's and four Oscar's for the loss of five Lightning's. Total air losses on the day were 28 aircraft, 19 of which were Japanese. I'll take it.

I'm afraid the 254th Armoured Brigade is on it's own again tomorrow. I've stopped it's movement to allow follow up troops to join it to offer some protection, before resuming the advance again. One of the reinforcing units is British 23 AA Bde. which packs some serious punch. Let's see what happens to Sally's at 6k when that unit arrives on the scene.

It's probably somewhat predictable on my part, but I've ordered all the 4E's to target Ranchi tomorrow. It's the base the Tojo's are flying out of. Andre could be expecting just such a move, but I've also sent sweeps in to try and make it easier on the bombers who won't have an escort this time around.

In China, I withdraw all but one corps from Kweilin and Andre takes the base with a deliberate attack. My forces are attempting to withdraw in good order up the secondary road. Japanese units are in pursuit, but I've dug in troops all along the route of retreat so that the withdrawing troops are shielded by well dug in units with high fort levels. I'm curious to see how well it works out.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

Can anyone confirm for me that units due to arrive at Madras (Japanese occupied), or for that matter any occupied base in India, will arrive at Aden instead?

I think they do appear elsewhere, but there is always a delay of a week or two before they appear. Try checking your ground reinforcement queue to see if they have been put back there.

It's a month and most appear at Karachi. Some at Aden. A few have to be bought out which is wierd.

Isn't air combat like ground combat in that there is a random roll to see which side gets the initiative (if both are in attack mode)?
So the Japanese fighters simply see the Lightnings first and begin their attack, and the Lightnings have to use their speed to get away before setting up their own attack.

ORIGINAL: obvert

It's a month and most appear at Karachi. Some at Aden. A few have to be bought out which is wierd.

Thanks Erik. I just received a British Armoured Bde. that was scheduled to arrive at Madras which just arrived at Aden. Now that I know there is a month delay I can plan appropriately. I'm just relieved to know I will eventually get these units even those Madras is occupied. Madras is still a priority in order to get the reinforcements immediately.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Isn't air combat like ground combat in that there is a random roll to see which side gets the initiative (if both are in attack mode)?
So the Japanese fighters simply see the Lightnings first and begin their attack, and the Lightnings have to use their speed to get away before setting up their own attack.

I really have no idea, but that certainly sounds plausible.

I don't sweat the air model like I used to. I think I have a much better grasp of the tactical possibilities within the air model than I ever did before. Always learning.

Some more thoughts on India.

The last turn recon indicated only 11 Japanese units now at Bezwada, down from 20 a few days ago. I currently have two Indian divisions moving on Mangalore and one advancing on Bangalore. This frees up Australian 6th and 7th Divisions to advance on Bezwada. I could add British 18th, U.S. 27th and 32nd Divisions to the assault as well. If Andre continues to redeploy troops from Bezwada, I'll definitely attack as soon as possible. In the meantime, I will continue to advance on both Patna and Ranchi to tie down Japanese forces.

With August quickly approaching, the heavy bomber groups will be expanding to 12 aircraft each. Increasing my heavy bomber by 1/3 will allow me the flexibility to bomb multiple targets in strength rather than having to concentrate on just one. I currently have 65 B-17's in the pool and I will use up 40 of them expanding squadrons and leaving myself 25 for replacements. I want to insure I can maintain constant pressure and degrade Japan's capability to perform an effective air defence.

A week long delay due to life issues, but the game resumed today.

It was a good day for the Allies in India, but a bad day for CA Canberra. The heavy cruiser is sunk by SS I-9 near Addu, putting the ship out of its misery.

In India, the bombing attack against Ranchi goes better than expected. P-40's sweep the base and clear out a number of Oscar's and Nick's on CAP. No bombers are lost and decent damage to the airbase is inflicted.

East of Benares, the IJA's 90th Inf Rgt. and 7th Ind. Tank Bde. are out in no man's land and getting hammered. Recon indicates the 90th is down to less than 500 troops remaining. The attacks are destroying squads and vehicles consistently. It's not a cake walk for Allied aircraft. The British lose six Hurricane's and three Blenheim's. On the American side, one P-40E is lost. Japanese fighter losses include 11 Oscars, eight Nick's and 7 Tojo's. Four of the Tojo's were destroyed on the ground at Ranchi. That's 10 Allied aircraft lost to Japan's 26. I like it. [8D]

The 4E's get the day off tomorrow as do the Blenheim's. American 2E's will continue to pound IJA 90th Inf. Rgt., heavily escorted with LRCAP assigned.

Bezwada is down to only six ground units now, Mangalore has only two (four previously) and Bangalore shows three (down from five). I do notice that Andre continues to prep units for an assault on Hyderabad. I don't know if this is bluff, or if Andre is trying to suck me into Southern India for a massive counter-offensive. I have four divisions available to act as a strategic reserve: U.S. 27th, U.S. 32nd, Indian 14th and British 2nd.

A couple of quiet days. We are about to run the July 30th turn.

I lost seven Hurricane's the other day when Tojo's swept Warangal. Unfortunately, I had my Hurricane's set to LRCAP over Hyderabad. Apparently, despite being ordered to patrol over Hyderabad, they were redirected to Warangal. At only 18k they were slaughtered by the high flying Tojo's at 25k. No Tojo's were lost. I hate LRCAP sometimes and have been burnt by it more times than I care to remember. Use it at your peril I say to myself. [:D]

In a more positive light, Allied 2E's completely destroyed the remaining remnants of IJA 90th Inf Rgt. near Benares. Scratch one elite unit from the Japanese OOB.

The Japanese have completely withdrawn from Patna and an Allied base force previously routed from the base has moved back into position and will hopefully take control of the base this turn. I expect the British BF to get heavily bombed today though, and it could be wiped out itself from Japanese bombers. I've a number of units all set to strategic mode and will decide whether to rush reinforcements to Patna after it falls. It's rather exposed and I totally understand why Andre decided to abandon it. However, if I can hold and get enough units in place it could be developed into a major airbase allowing me to dominate the approach to Darjeeling.

Indian 14th Division has reformed at Bellary and 2nd British Division has done so and could be one of the units railed to Patna.

Recon indicates the 28 Tojo's that swept Warangal are based at Bezwada. I've ordered a series of sweep missions supported by LRCAP to attack the base. They will be followed by the B-17's. I'd prefer to sweep and degrade the CAP first, but I also want to knock this airfield out as soon as possible and move on Bezwada. I'll see how it goes today. The good news is I'll soon be expanding the bomber squadrons to 12 aircraft each in August, giving me a lot of punch to hit Japanese airbases in the area hard.

July 30/42:

A good day for the Allies in the air over India.

First up, Japanese bombers target U.S. Americal Division and friends in clear terrain near Benares. Losses are moderate and disruption is manageable. The Japanese bombers attacked at 6k and got a nasty reception from 23rd AA Bde. Nine Japanese bombers were lost on the day from FLAK and OPS losses as no Allied CAP was present. AAR follows:

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Afternoon Air attack on 24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment, at 52,29 , near Benares

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 62 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 63
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 56
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 19
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 20 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 5 damaged
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 3 destroyed by flak

Allied ground losses:
134 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
17 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
16 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
14 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
17 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 254th Armoured Brigade ...
Also attacking Americal Infantry Division ...
Also attacking 19th Indian Division ...
Also attacking 24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment ...

My sweeps did not fly from Hyderabad to degrade CAP over Bezwada, but the escorts and LRCAP performed great, keeping the Tojo's away from the bombers. On the day, nine Tojo's were lost compared to three P-40E's and one B-17. AAR follows:

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Afternoon Air attack on Bezwada , at 39,36

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 18

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 11
B-17E Fortress x 54
P-38E Lightning x 16
P-40E Warhawk x 32

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

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 33

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (2 airborne, 5 on standby, 11 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers

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Afternoon Air attack on Bezwada , at 39,36

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 4

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 17
B-17E Fortress x 16
P-38E Lightning x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 124 minutes

I've ordered a second day of attacks with the same settings. Hopefully my sweeps fly which should soften up the CAP, which I expect to be heavier second time around. Allied tactical air is also ordered to attack a number of Japanese units exposed in clear terrain. These units are rather far from the nearest Japanese airbases and opposition could be light.

While the air force carries the load, ground forces continue to move forward towards their objectives in India.

July 31/42:

July ends with more air action in India. Both air forces are active and targeting bases and ground units.

The action starts with Allied sweeps against Bezwada. A sacrificial P-40E squadron was ordered to sweep at 10k to draw down the enemy CAP, but paid a heavy price. The sweep was covered by high flying LRCAP consisting of P-38's, P-40's and Hurricane IIc's. A second sweep of P-38's caught a degraded CAP of Tojo's and shot down a number of enemy fighters for no loss. Next came a series of attacks by the 4E's. No enemy CAP was left to contest the raids. Unfortunately, weather was more effective than the enemy in limiting the damage done. AAR's of the bombing missions against Bezwada follow:

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Morning Air attack on Bezwada , at 39,36

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
B-17D Fortress x 15
B-17E Fortress x 49
P-38E Lightning x 14
P-40E Warhawk x 38

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 2 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Bezwada , at 39,36

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
B-17E Fortress x 6
P-38E Lightning x 14
P-40E Warhawk x 11

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Bezwada , at 39,36

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 19
B-17E Fortress x 13
P-40E Warhawk x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Bezwada , at 39,36

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 3 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 9
B-17E Fortress x 8
P-38E Lightning x 14
P-40E Warhawk x 16

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb


Allied planes also target the IJA 7th Ind. Tank Bde. near Patna and 5th Amphibious Bde. near Sambalpur. AAR's follow:

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Morning Air attack on 7th Ind.Tank Brigade, at 54,29 , near Patna

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 65
P-40E Warhawk x 20

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 16 (4 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
14 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
12 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
14 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
13 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on 5th Amphibious Brigade, at 47,34 , near Sambalpur

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 12
B-25C Mitchell x 21
B-26 Marauder x 12
B-26B Marauder x 8

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
552 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-26B Marauder bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb


Not to be outdone, Japanese bombers heavily escorted target Raipur's airbase. AAR's follow:

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Morning Air attack on Raipur , at 45,31

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 70
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 66
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 11 damaged
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
22 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 11000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
18 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
22 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Raipur , at 45,31

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

In China, the Japanese are pushing hard after taking Lanchow. Today they get a bloody nose east of Tienshui. AAR follows:

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Ground combat at 82,38 (near Tienshui)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 40539 troops, 426 guns, 138 vehicles, Assault Value = 1399

Defending force 35199 troops, 245 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1318

Japanese adjusted assault: 788

Allied adjusted defense: 2206

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
4498 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 426 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 56 disabled
Guns lost 25 (2 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
608 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 76 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Assaulting units:
36th Division
3rd Division
51st Engineer Regiment
37th Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
4th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
59th Chinese Corps
11th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
81st Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
33rd Group Army
36th Group Army

It appears the Japanese are going to cross the river northeast of Tienshui with a shock attack. If I can't hold, I will be in big trouble. I'll provide a screenshot later to explain why.

Air losses on the day were 21-14 in the Allies' favour, with 15 Tojo's shot down against 11 Warhawk's, 1 Lightning and 2 Hurricanes. I have ordered a 3rd day of air attacks against Bezwada for Aug 1st. I may be pushing my luck, but knocking out this air base is imperative. Once I gain local air superiority I will concentrate on hammering Japanese ground units defending the base. Right now it's a game of cat and mouse with the Japanese air force. I've not been contesting any of the Japanese bombing attacks in India. Andre is constantly trying to catch my CAP with sweeping Tojo's followed up by massive bomber raids heavily escorted with Oscar's and Nick's. It's a game that I don't want to play. So I concentrate on what I want to accomplish and let his sweeps whiff and bombers do what damage they do. Their time will come.

August should be a precursor of things to come. There is much in the works on the Allied side.

Looking forward to "the works".

August 1/42:

The 3rd day of bombing Bezwada is uncontested and 4E's hit the defending troops, consisting primarily of IJA 33rd Division. AAR's follow:

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Morning Air attack on 33rd Division, at 39,36 (Bezwada)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 53
P-38E Lightning x 15
P-39D Airacobra x 18

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
283 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

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Afternoon Air attack on 33rd Division, at 39,36 (Bezwada)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 9
B-17D Fortress x 16
B-17E Fortress x 16
P-38E Lightning x 29

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 2 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
220 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled

Not great results, but the weather was bad. I've ordered a 4th strike, with the airbase and troops as targets. After this attack, the 4E's will stand down and the tactical 2E's will take over hitting Bezwada. The 4E's will be assigned another target in a few days. Despite no Japanese interdiction, three Lightning's were lost to OPS and will stand down tomorrow.

I've occupied Patna and will begin building forts and expand the airbase. I actually hope to draw Andre's attention towards Calcutta and Ranchi while Allied forces concentrate on liberating Southern India. There's been no sign of the Japanese reinforcing the south, but a large number of units are spotted at Calcutta. I've thought about reinforcing India further with more divisions, but I think it's time to build up troop strength in Australia and begin threatening the Japanese extended perimeter. Allied logistic support for Australia, and to some extent New Zealand, is increasing. Transport shipping is being reorganized on the fly to increase efficiency.

Here's a screenshot showing the Indian Theatre:

The clock has worked against the Japanese. By the time they bring more troops, you should be getting lots of reinforcements and upgraded aircraft and ships.
Your original green troops are now veterans. India is now the classic tar baby for Japan - if it doesn't unstick itself now it will get worse and worse.
Even if you don't bring your new units here, they will push other sore spots on the Japanese perimeter. Have fun!

August 2/42:

As anticipated, Japanese bombers target Allied units at Patna. Damage is moderate. I will rail more AA units and most likely an Indian division to give the base some teeth. I will not contest further raids against Patna just yet. I'm going to have to rely on LRCAP to provide adequate cover, but I'm not in a position to do so yet.

The 3rd day of Allied air attacks against Bezwada targeted IJA 33rd Division and result were poor and two B-17's were lost to OPS. That being said, the next turn indicates a movement tick indicating movement out of Bezwada. There are a total of seven Japanese units at the base, so whether this is a full blown withdrawal isn't known yet. I also notice movement out of Bangalore. I can't believe Andre would simply withdraw from Southern India and give up what amounts to roughly 700 VP's. Just what is going on time will tell.

The 4E's are stood down to rest. The 2E's will take over operations against Bezwada. Once rested, the 4E's will soften up Mangalore and Bangalore.

If Bangalore, Mangalore, Mysore and Bezwada can be taken relatively by the end of August, then the liberation of Madras will be the next objective.

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

The clock has worked against the Japanese. By the time they bring more troops, you should be getting lots of reinforcements and upgraded aircraft and ships.
Your original green troops are now veterans. India is now the classic tar baby for Japan - if it doesn't unstick itself now it will get worse and worse.
Even if you don't bring your new units here, they will push other sore spots on the Japanese perimeter. Have fun!

Thanks for following and commenting BBfanboy. I think Andre is up to something, but haven't figured out what yet. I wonder if he's looking at VP's elsewhere to make up what he will lose in India? It does appear he is beginning to consolidate around Calcutta, but if he allows me to get a solid position in Southern India then Ceylon will be vulnerable. I'll continue to move forward, but something seems fishy.

August 3/42:

An American APD is sunk near Tahiti by SS I-28.

Allied 2E's hit Bezwada again in India while the 4E's take a day off. The airbase is further damaged and the IJA 15th Army HQ takes some losses. Interesting that Andre has an army HQ here, but then again SIGINT had previously picked up 15th Army HQ prepping for an attack against Hyderabad. Something tells me Japan won't be attacking Hyderabad anytime soon.

Thoughts:

There still is no indication that Andre will reinforce Southern India. Mangalore, Mysore, Bangalore and even Madras appear to be lightly held. There's always the possibility Andre could ship in reinforcements rather than use the land route. He does have five divisions available, three from Luzon and two from Northern Australia. There's just something here I'm not seeing. Without holding the bases in Southern India a 4:1 AV isn't achievable unless he expects to harvest all the remaining VP's he needs from China, or elsewhere. I don't know.

For the next turn, I'm turning the attention of the 4E's to hammer the defenders at Bezwada again. Last turn no Japanese bombers attacked Patna, but I expect them to hit the base again soon. Over the next few weeks the ground offensives should be in full swing and hopefully I'll be able to report Allied success in liberating a number of bases in India.