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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 01, 43.

Disaster at Gasmata , the raiding force on both APD's were sunk by Japanese air approaching the shoreline, no survivors have been found despite submarine searches of the area. Basically this was a bit of a gamble and seems the nips were not asleep in Rabaul as was hoped. Loks like we will have to do this the old fashioned way now. No freebies for the aussies today.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 103,127

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 24
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 11



No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
APD Alden, Bomb hits 9, and is sunk
APD John D. Edwards, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk


Allied ground losses:
166 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Additionally an AGP was sunk just south of Milne bay by Japanese sub , it was travelling alone to PM as a spare so no great loss incurred.

Burma

the RAF and USAAF have flattened the airfields at Magwe and Mitilinka overwhelming Japanese repair efforts completely and will switch to ground attack duty now all the tanks have assembled in Mandalay. Para drops will occur once the siege of Mythilinka is under way or Japan is seen to be withdrawing by rail.

will do a screenshot of the rather large CW army in Burma next turn as well as more detals on the papa drops (no change from posted a while back , but saves you all scrolling back).







Its hard to spot but look to the base just West of Lae , B Brigade of Aussie 2nd Division will attack tomorrow and vut off the retreat path of the units fleeing buna.

Meanwhile the World Wonders:

The last recon flights over Shortland indicate that Mike pulled back. Only a few CD guns are left,
everything else seems to have moved northwest to the base whose name I always forget.

This is an invitation to fastgrab it, I got a fully prepped div and a NZ tank brigade, initially
I expected a long fight.


Now, what I´d like to know is:
WHY? What could motivate a Japanese player to pull back from Shotlands except being physically forced to
do so?

Losing Shortlands gets Allied medium range fighters in range of Rabaul and provides a good forward port.
Basically it renders Rabaul untenable as a naval base as the air superiority will be lost quickly.

Personally I have two theories:

- I am overestimating the importance of Rabaul as a guarding base to the Bismarck Sea, the Admiralties and
Northeastern NG, it is much less important than I think. Mike is also under pressure from the west,
so he might just want to consolidate his frontline.

- It is an (extremely obvious) attempt to catch a couple of USN ships in a trap. I doubt this, I have
already displayed the ability to unload troops in a single night and bring enough minesweepers and BB
cover to prevent desaster, also I got a sub screen I can simply move northward, so even if its a trap I am
confident this would be a bloody affair for both sides, which always favors the Allies.

If you look at Rob´s map, am I missing something or is Mike just doing something he doesn´t like to do
but simply has to do?

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 05, 43

slight delay from my side this time as I was away for a long weekend. but here is a list of copy n paste combat reports. not my usual style i admit but just to show the effectiveness of the allied bombers in Burma more than anything.

Initially though the attack on Goodenough island with yet another heavy shelling from BB Maryland and DD's walloped too this time as no mines detected upon landing. nor any CD guns worth talking about.

Night Naval bombardment of Goodenough Island at 101,131

Allied Ships
BB Maryland
CA Australia
DD Nestor
DD Sterett
DD Frazier
DD Barton
DD Grayson
DE Edsall

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



Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 9
Port hits 2


The disruption more than any damage is bad for the defending japs. Allied normal attack took on one fort. I do have many more men and material in Milne but none really prepared for the target apart from some CD guns for defence once its taken. this will take a while i think , but if Japan does not incrcede with its navy or air-force it's just a matter of time.




Ground combat at Goodenough Island (101,131)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5327 troops, 70 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 200

Defending force 2499 troops, 46 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 62

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Allied adjusted assault: 143

Japanese adjusted defense: 64

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 4

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)
preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)


attack 2


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Goodenough Island (101,131)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5340 troops, 70 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 201

Defending force 2441 troops, 46 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 55

Allied adjusted assault: 189

Japanese adjusted defense: 109

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(-), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
82 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:
5th Australian/B Division
5th Australian/C Division

Defending units:
Maizuru 4th SNLF
Yokosuka 7th SNLF
6th Naval Construction Battalion

meanwhile here is one day in Burma :- !!!!



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Morning Air attack on Imperial Guards Division, at 58,47 (Meiktila)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 6
Hurricane IIc Trop x 29
Liberator II x 12
Liberator GR.III x 6
Wellington Ic x 14
Wellington GR.VIII x 14
B-17E Fortress x 17


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
404 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Liberator GR.III bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 250 lb GP Bomb
14 x Wellington Ic bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x Liberator II bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
14 x Wellington GR.VIII bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 250 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 56th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 33rd Division ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Imperial Guards Division ...
Also attacking 56th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 33rd Division ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Imperial Guards Division ...
Also attacking 56th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 33rd Division ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking Imperial Guards Division ...
Also attacking 56th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 33rd Division ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 56th Infantry Regiment, at 58,47 (Meiktila)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 29
Liberator II x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 16
P-40K Warhawk x 9


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
122 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Liberator II bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 143rd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 56th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 143rd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 56th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 143rd Infantry Regiment ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 33rd Division, at 58,47 (Meiktila)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 6
Hurricane IIc Trop x 11
Kittyhawk I x 2
B-17E Fortress x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 16
P-40K Warhawk x 19


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
136 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 15th Army ...
Also attacking 33rd Division ...
Also attacking 15th Army ...
Also attacking 33rd Division ...
Also attacking 15th Army ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 15th Army, at 58,47 (Meiktila)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 6
Hurricane IIc Trop x 23
Kittyhawk I x 2
B-17E Fortress x 12
B-17F Fortress x 16
P-40K Warhawk x 9


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

Japanese ground losses:
267 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
16 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 55th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 15th Army ...
Also attacking 55th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 15th Army ...
Also attacking 55th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 15th Army ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 55th Infantry Regiment, at 58,47 (Meiktila)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 6
Hurricane IIc Trop x 18
Kittyhawk I x 2
B-25D1 Mitchell x 11
P-40K Warhawk x 19


Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged

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



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Even with horrific weather the results are great , tomorrow we try a direct attack and paras will deploy on the rail-lines to try and cut off mythilinka for a few days.

also the allies have landed on Port Blair from 2 APD's , a following up AKL dropped off 400 supplies and we will attack tomorrow. unless Japan airlifts in some troops the island will be ours. this is just an annoyance for Japan but if left alone could be a huge threat to Malaya later on. Ramtree island is a waste of time by comparison. maybe later on the airfields will be useful but a port level of 0 (0)is a royal pain in the butt to build up so we can get radar deployed.

Piccie tomorrow as i forgot today (sorry). but tomorrows will show all the landings etc and we'll have a batter idea of Japan's forces defending. With the benefit of hindsight i really should have waited before deploying the paras. we will see anyway. Japan is in for a surprise regardless.

thanks for the update! - was already wondering what was going on [;)]

Thanks for posting SoliInvictus!

Sadly RL is very intense atm.
Be advised that important events will be covered as always though.

Also be advised that the questions in my previous post have been answered to my satisfaciton.
Mike simply has to consolidate his southern frontline as Rob is really putting steam on his
advance in NG! Awesome attacks.

With that avatar sol , welcome to post any-time. [;)]

Lets begin with burma !

ALLIED VICTORY IN BURMA ! screams the headlines around the free world.

Behind the headlines British high command has put on clean underwear and now state "this was the expected outcome" <cough> ..

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 07, 43

the Allied bombers once again caused mayhem for Japan and by a huge stroke of luck we caught them 1/2 leaving Mythilinka and routed them back to Magwe. Japans going to have a heck of a job getting these men back in one piece as the rail line is now severed at Prome with the successful landing of the 77th chindit brigade. Over in toungoo , the other landing met resistance from a transferring jap armoured unit and despite avourable fighting we could not secure the raillines.


Ground combat at Toungoo (57,50)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 295 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 23

Defending force 690 troops, 0 guns, 103 vehicles, Assault Value = 58

Allied adjusted assault: 18

Japanese adjusted defense: 13

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)


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


Assaulting units:
111th Chindit Bde /1

Defending units:
1st Tank Regiment





Nest day a Thai division rolled in and made it worse ! eek !




Ground combat at Toungoo (57,50)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 561 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 41

Defending force 5096 troops, 41 guns, 103 vehicles, Assault Value = 270

Allied adjusted assault: 3

Japanese adjusted defense: 41

Allied assault odds: 1 to 13 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), op mode(-), disruption(-)
preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-), fatigue(-), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (3 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
111th Chindit Bde /1

Defending units:
1st Tank Regiment
7th RTA Division


Further landings of the 111th have been halted and all transports ordered to reinforce Prome , which from the map is ideal to cut magwe supply. Japans in a world of hurt here. FYI Hurricanes from Ramtree island will provide LR cover for the transports.

Now the main event , the liberation of Mythilinka.


Ground combat at Meiktila (58,47)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 147279 troops, 2411 guns, 3215 vehicles, Assault Value = 5622

Defending force 60217 troops, 578 guns, 571 vehicles, Assault Value = 1961

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied adjusted assault: 10004

Japanese adjusted defense: 173

Allied assault odds: 57 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Meiktila !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), op mode(-), disruption(-), preparation(-)
Attacker: HQ(+)

Japanese ground losses:
14231 casualties reported
Squads: 525 destroyed, 146 disabled
Non Combat: 839 destroyed, 84 disabled
Engineers: 72 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 252 (244 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 484 (436 destroyed, 48 disabled)
Units retreated 21


Allied ground losses:
5645 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 503 disabled
Non Combat: 36 destroyed, 530 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 47 disabled
Vehicles lost 338 (20 destroyed, 318 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
6th Australian Division
2nd British Division
5th Chinese Corps
150th RAC Regiment
7th Australian Division
70th British Division
254th Armoured Brigade
75th Indian Brigade
9th Indian Division
75th IAC Regiment
39th Indian Division
268th Motorised Brigade
45th Recce Regiment
14th British Brigade
16th British Brigade
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
46th Indian Brigade
11th Indian Division
18th British Division
9th Australian Division
2/11th Field Regiment
28th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Eastern Army
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
77th Heavy AA Regiment
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
43rd Cavalry Engineer Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
XV Indian Corps
14th Indian Light AA Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
2/13th Field Regiment
823rd Engineer Aviation Battalion

Defending units:
21st Infantry Regiment
5th Recon Regiment
56th Infantry Regiment
42nd Infantry Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
33rd Division
Imperial Guards Division
6th Tank Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
55th Infantry Regiment
143rd Infantry Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
2nd RTA Division
25th Army
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th RF Gun Battalion
15th Army
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
10th RF Gun Battalion
11th RF Gun Battalion

Heres a clean pic of the situation as it stands. Allied forces will march on Magwe while 1 aussie div and some armour moves south to try and relieve Toungoo. the "Prome airlift" is underway as japan has troops that can threaten us here. Looks like we took this base just in time.





Allied bombers will attack all visible stacks to slow down Japanese movement, this is rather risky as escorts just aren't available for this duty. most fighters will cover the mass formations that will hammer Magwe while a few will try and cover the airlift to Prome.

Congrats to the CW forces, sincerely hope that Imperial Guards Division lost a few on the way too.
Nice attack.

I only hope that some of the paras will be able to escape.


US side no news except that Op Turnover was completed successfully, the 1st Marines are on the way back
to PH. On arrival the CV´s will partly replace their Wild- with Hellcats and escort a large supply convoy
to Marcus Island.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 09, 43

Busy day .Lets Begin in SW Pacific.

Goodenough island has been flattened by BB Maryland and cohorts for almost 2 weeks now and the landed Aussie militia is getting the upper hand (just).


Ground combat at Goodenough Island (101,131)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5364 troops, 70 guns, 79 vehicles, Assault Value = 204

Defending force 2177 troops, 46 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 42

Allied adjusted assault: 134

Japanese adjusted defense: 73

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
156 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled


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


Assaulting units:
5th Australian/B Division
5th Australian/C Division

Defending units:
Maizuru 4th SNLF
Yokosuka 7th SNLF
6th Naval Construction Battalion


Rest for 2 more days then hopefully we can wrest control from Japan.

In the Indian Ocean search planes from Cocos and Christmas island has spotted a Japanese fleet build-up at Buttenzorg (SW from Batavia in NJava on the West coast ) .. But we did not expect to be visited by heavy jap fleet units during the night. Japanese shelling caused a fair amount of runway damage and some heavy shells landed in the small port blowing the facilities to bits. Only 3 P38G and 1 Kittyhawk were destroyed on the ground. Once the runways had been cleared the expert Dutch bomber pilots made an attack on Butternzorg harbour but only found one small DD and an small mine vessel. The mine ship was sunk for 2 downed B25's. Not a great exchange as the Dutch a/c are rare as hens teeth.

Night Naval bombardment of Christmas Island IO at 45,104

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 2 destroyed on ground
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro
CA Aoba
CA Takao


Allied ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled


Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 30
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 2

Morning Air attack on TF, near Buitenzorg at 48,99

Weather in hex: Light cloud

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 2
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 7



Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DMS W-7
DD Kuri, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Oddly the combat animations showed the DMS getting hammered not the DD. so FOW is alive and well.

Burma

Allied Bombers flew on multiple ground attack sorties joined by some hurricane IIc's , however a contingent of Japanese Tonys caught 2 groups unaware with nasty results for the Chinese SBIII's and some Wellingtons. the rest hit most moving troops casing some heavy losses esp among a RF arty unit and some unnamed tank units.

Tomorrow we'll concentrate the bombers under fighter cover and cancel the Prome airlift which was intercepted by jap fighters despite the hurricane LRCAP (there seemed to be no interaction between the 2 missions).

More tomorrow.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 11, 43

Quick update for today. 3 events of note.

1) Japan has escaped from Magwe although the RAF are inflicting brutal losses from the air.

2) toungoo held a Japanese assault on the basis they have nowhere else to retreat to atm. they survived 2 days but surely cannot last much longer.

3) Prome held brilliantly against 2 Japanese armoured Reece units. with the extra men flown in during the brief but dangerous Prome airlift enough was rapidly fortified behind L1 forts (ie sandbags) . Now Magwe has gone we can try and relieve Prome from the ground and will try and do so. IF we can then Rangoon is looking remarkably untenable as we won't have to fight through the last jungle in Malaya before hitting the Thai border. As an aside Indian Range 9 HQ is restricted so can't be moved outside India. CW need another high level command here as having multiple HQs makes a big difference.


Ground combat at Toungoo (57,50)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1044 troops, 56 guns, 133 vehicles, Assault Value = 983

Defending force 483 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 31

Japanese adjusted assault: 46

Allied adjusted defense: 3

Japanese assault odds: 15 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
55th Cavalry Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
10th Division
1st Tank Regiment
4th RTA Division
14th Tank Regiment
7th RTA Division
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th RF Gun Battalion
10th RF Gun Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
11th RF Gun Battalion

Defending units:
111th Chindit Bde /1


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Prome (55,50)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 2050 troops, 8 guns, 84 vehicles, Assault Value = 76

Defending force 1672 troops, 25 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 126

Japanese adjusted assault: 32

Allied adjusted defense: 99

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
178 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 10 (4 destroyed, 6 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
180 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled


Assaulting units:
22nd Recon Regiment
56th Recon Regiment

Defending units:
77th Chindit Bde /1

With a brief lull in Burma, today's commonwealth report will be on the New guinea campaign.

Goodenough Island finally fell today with the Japanese heading into the hinterland and allowing the brave Aussie militia to take control of the port and airfields. this will be one useful base to press into New Britain (Island with Rabaul at the eastern end).

Piccie shows recent advances towards Lae. the odd M is supposed to represent a pair of wings for the para drop on finchaven (my artistic skills are very limited). Red lines show imminent attacks. I'm taking a bit of a liberty with the US attack as we have discussed it and LoBaron says the US will attack soon. Yellow is for possible future ops once Lae (and therefore aircover) can be established.

Java.

P38G's sweep near Batavia and knobble a few oscars and Zeros for no loss.

Burma.

Magwe falls with relatively intact oil facilities despite allied bombing earlier in the war it seems very little damage was inflicted. We will peruse the Japanese to the next line of bases 9tougoo and Prome)

Tougoo , the advance elements of 111th chindits surrendered today against huge Japanese forces.

Prome, held once again even with an entire Thai division supported by light armour. Its a race now to see if i can reach here before the paras capitulate.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 17, 43

4 turn update today from the 15th to the 18th May.

Japan sent in a swarm of night bombing Helens to Christmas island on the 15th, allied defence had been reduced by the withdrawal of the P38G's but Canadian kitty-hawks were sent up the next night to hamper Japanese operations, only one Helen was confirmed shot down but they seemed to panic and bombed wildly in the ace of opposition.

A large ~AP convoy carrying 3 CD gu units was attacked by land based jill torpedo bombers but the day cap was enough to wipe them out with no allied losses, all 3 units arrived safely.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Christmas Island IO at 44,105

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 8



Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 9


Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 4 destroyed



Over in burma a hell of a mixed air battle in the skies over Prome has seen many mission types interfering and clashing with repeated fighter on fighter clashes, the Allied bombers hit the Thai division badly as one example but was well enough escorted to hit darn hard. Many other smaller attacks seemed to hit scattered pockets of Japanese CAP but all got though to some degree or another and escort from Mandalay with drop tank equipped hurricanes stemmed what could have been a turkey shoot for allied bomber command.

EG.

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Morning Air attack on 1st RTA Division, at 55,50 (Prome)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 14
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 18



Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 13
Liberator II x 27
Liberator GR.III x 11
Wellington Ic x 3
Wellington GR.VIII x 15
Kittyhawk I x 10
B-17E Fortress x 37
B-25C Mitchell x 6


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed
Liberator GR.III: 1 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 3 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
574 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 20 (2 destroyed, 18 disabled)


Japan failed to take prome in an assault too :-




Ground combat at Prome (55,50)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11098 troops, 108 guns, 116 vehicles, Assault Value = 423

Defending force 1301 troops, 25 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 72

Japanese adjusted assault: 69

Allied adjusted defense: 83

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
303 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
300 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:
55th Infantry Regiment
22nd Recon Regiment
5th Recon Regiment
143rd Infantry Regiment
56th Recon Regiment
1st RTA Division
9th RF Gun Battalion

Defending units:
77th Chindit Brigade


The USA is softening up shortlands with B24's but LoBaron will have to drop in to fill you in on later US plans.

TTFN


PS . AC losses aren't this bad as shown in the list attached. Althoguh we are resting the airforce tomorrow and sending in air supply to the marching troops attempting to relieve Proms ( it's looking doubtful we'll be able to make it sadly. )






As a point of interest the commander of the chindits in Prome died today and his kcal replacement was very average at land skill 54 , he's been replaced by a very high skill (69) one who i really hope doesn't die too

While Rob is making noise in Burma and currently forces the IJA to regroup much
further south than they like, the US is planning for late ´43, early ´44.


Until now, with some small exceptions, we failed to draw the IJN into surface engagements,
the long past battle of Ontong Java being the largest fight for the US up to now.
I am not concerned by this, the US is only getting stronger and the chances for
cheap victories for the IJN is dwindling day by day. The only notable disadvantage
is: any future engagements will contain more forces on both sides and so be less
predictable and controllable.

Here is the current major combatant loss list:

Allied losses:



Japanese losses:




Note that all CV losses until now were due to the works of the Silent Service.
In addition no US CAs have been sunk, the CW losses were due to the aggressive
defense in the DEIs and cost the Japanese dearly back then.


US Strategic situation:

SouthwestPac:
The southern Solomons are secure, the Northermost base in Allied hands is Munda,
Shortland is the obvious next target.

CentPac:
Gilberts are US territory and are growing in strenght day by day now, pressure
will increase on the Marshalls.
Marcus Island and Wake are both in US hands, both will need a large invasion fleet
to dislodge, and the USN will oppose any move against the Islands.

NorthPac:
With the recent landings at Attu the Aleuthians are fully in US hands and will also
slowly build up strenght, I will not rush anything there though.



The current plans for the next few months are buildup of the Marianas invasion, while
slowly increasing pressure on the diversionary targets, Rabaul and the Marshalls.
With the next turn regular recon flights of the major bases in the Marshalls will begin.

To enable at least marginal logistics support for the Marianas OP Marcus Island will start
to receive support ships and recon craft. I will now deploy mines there too, an ACM has already
arrived.

The regular bombings of Shortland continues unopposed, it looks like Mike is saving his forces
for a deciding repulse of an expected landing there. To increase the impression that
the focus lies in this area ASW activities will increase north from Munda.

May19+20 1943

slight change of AAR style today as I will do a blow by blow written account of the replay as it happens with no knowledge of the actual losses (usually wrong) listed in the main menu between games.

The night over Christmas island was lit up by heavy flak defence as 100 Helen bombers attempted to hit the runways after a dangerous night water crossing. the defending Canadian kittyhawks were swamped and while bravely attempting to counter the attack had little real impact. 2 B25D1 are reportedly KO when a hangar received a lucky hit. the main runway escaped lightly and supply dumps missed by miles. One attacker shot down and many damaged by heavy AAA. Daylight saw large enemy fighter sweeps vs the 25 P40K (USA) defenders. the Warhawks are capable vs the zero and oscar 2 but suffered badly vs the newer tojos. Losses loked about even overall with maybe 1-2 more to Japan. Withdrawing the P38G's might have been a mistake (hopefully more later as they are set to be used in the DEI).

A japanese raid on Ramtree island off the coast of burma was met by 9 hurricanes and the unescorted helens were roughly handled with 3 shot down and more damaged.

US sweeps over shortlands and nearby bases once more meet no opposition (havnt for weeks). Followed up by B24 liberator raids from Lunga (now a major airbase)

the Australian airforce bombers hit Lae once more to reduce supply and prevent fort building as the main force slowly trudges through the jungle with the odd diversion to collect para dropped supplies.

SS Seawolf patrolling off Sakalin island spots a medium AK convoy but is prevented from attacking by some observant ASW escorts which she easily avoids)

Prome Falls ! with the arrival of 3 more IJA divisions the poor paras are pushed roughly out of Prome and head back to Magwe but like arhnem they will go down in history as the few holding out vs impossible odds for over a week.

This is somewhat countered by the Aussies finally finishing off the last pockets of Japanese defence on good enough island , with new CD guns and engineers we will hopefully be operating from here in no time.

20th May

Christmas island night defenders did much better and downed several helens for 1 runway hit achieved, however the sweeps have butchered the P40K's in daylight. I do have some FAA fighters on cocos i can fly in to help but no sure how well old wildcats will cope with the tojos ? we will try though while the P38's return from Darwin. speaking of P38's they did sweep Boela ( small oil facility ) which is in range of the Aussie low nav specialist unit whose job is to hit tankers coming in and out , the results wee inconclusive and frankly i need the P38's elsewhere.

Ramtree island -- the helens returned and this time the hurricanes were ready and willing , only 5 made it through to bomb the base and one of those was shot down by flak , upon egress one more was chased down by eager pilots and shot down, leaving only 3 very religious (holey) helens to stagger back to base.


AFTER TURN ANALYSIS

The planes shot down list shows 49 helens shot down today , 34 in A2a 12 by flak and 3 ops losses. I'd hazard a guess A2A was mostly ramtree island while flak was Christmas island (large flak defences here)
13 P40K's lost , which looks about right and all replaced easily, along with a few pilots.

Royal Navy info for you. CV Victorious will sail to Cape town for a lengthy 75 day refit (cant really find a use for her atm) , and remember the large BB clash off Darwin a long while ago ? BB resolution is only 3 days away from being fully repairs and BB Ramilles 30 days (both in Cape town)

TTFN , and Piccie of Prome , both Thai divs looks to be wrecked as suspected and the main japanese pretty bashed around. We will try and reach Prome ASAP while leaving flank defenders. Hopefully he cant make heavy forts there before we besiege/assault the place.

May 24th 1943

In an attempt to slow/halt fort building at Prome and toungoo B17's bombed both bases after hurricane sweeps from Mandalay had cleared the way vs a few Nicks found orbiting Prome. those damn planes are made of titanium and only 1 was shot down despite the C's heavy cannons. allies lost 2 hurricanes on landing but both pilots survived. the B17 raids went in at medium altitude (11k) as flak was unknown but little was spotted and the runways well cratered esp at Prome when the heaviest attacks occurred. given the lack of fighter defence we will send in the mediums next turn and concentrate our LRCAP and sweeps over toungoo.

Japanese subs have been operating near milne bay for the past few weeks and while the heavy ASW air has stopped them from attacking no actual attempts have been seen to be make to kill them. An ASW group centred on 2 Brit DD's and a DE , all with great ASW and high exp crews, found one RO boat and possibly holed her but nothing confirmed.

American sub Grayling took one for the team by attacking the CA chikuma and possibly hurting her near Truk, she sadly sank with all hands soon after.

Submarine attack near Truk at 109,115

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma, Torpedo hits 1
CA Tone
CL Agano
DD Kazegumo
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Shiranui
DD Yukikaze
DD Natsushio

Allied Ships
SS Grayling, hits 11, and is sunk



SS Grayling launches 6 torpedoes at CA Chikuma
Grayling diving deep ....
DD Amatsukaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Shiranui fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Yukikaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Natsushio attacking submerged sub ....
DD Natsushio fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Natsushio fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Natsushio fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Natsushio attacking submerged sub ....
SS Grayling forced to surface!
DD Amatsukaze firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Shiranui firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Yukikaze firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Amatsukaze firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Shiranui firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Yukikaze firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Amatsukaze firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Shiranui firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Yukikaze firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Amatsukaze firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

May 25th/26th 1943

The USA had a bit of a ding dong round munda tonight but I'll leave that for LoBaron to command on. The CW ASW around Milne nailed a jap I boat today but the RO boat from yesterday must still be lurking, patrol returning for ammo but still on reaction 3 just in case.

Sub attack near Milne Bay at 101,134

Japanese Ships
SS I-177, hits 9, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DE Edsall
DD Nestor
DD Frazier



SS I-177 launches 6 torpedoes at DE Edsall
DD Nestor fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Frazier attacking submerged sub ....
DD Frazier fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Frazier fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Frazier fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Frazier fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Frazier attacking submerged sub ....
Underwater explosion, debris and oil appear on surface!
Escort abandons search for sub


Also in theatre , Australian troops march into Lae and seem to encounter a larger than expected force of 18k Japanese ! hope my recons wrong. Also /B brigade shock attacked over a river i failed to spot just north of Lae :_


Ground combat at Nadzab (98,125)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3028 troops, 28 guns, 48 vehicles, Assault Value = 98

Defending force 1413 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 57

Allied adjusted assault: 5

Japanese adjusted defense: 11

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
362 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 58 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Assaulting units:
2nd Australian/B Division

Defending units:
65th Naval Guard Unit


Going defensive here and shelling Lae for more recon info , ground attacks ordered on both locations. I really really want a swarm of little LSI;s from America to shuttle men up-to Lae from buna ,esp tanks and arty which cant make it through the jungle all that well. Japan has surface assets round here so i 'might' risk a large push with air and BB cover in a week or so once the situation makes more sense.



Over in Burma , Japan's abandoned Toungoo !!!! WOW , that's a lynch-pin to Rangoon imo and with that gone i strongly suspect Japan will abandon burma entirely .. I'll be careful advancing due to the need of forward airfields for short legged hurricanes and also Japan can turn up with a huge airforce at any-time .. will they fight for Rangoon ? or pull back to Moulmein ? v v interesting here right now.

I would love to sell this as fleet action, but Rob is probably much closer to the truth calling it ding dong.

Munda is our forward base in the Solomons, where we are slowly building up strenght.
It hosts 2 Fighter squads -P40Ks and Corsairs- whose main mission up to now is LRCAP over Shortlands area
to prevent any transports flying in or out.
The 3rd squad is a unit of LowN trained veteran B25 attack bombers to prevent exactly what happened (not that
this was much)

The island is guarded by a Marines Reg (5th I think but don´t bet on it) and in addition only hosts a BF.

The only other current protection for Munda is a squadron of PTs and a DMS Wasmuth visiting from time to time on its patrol.

So you see the setup, the base should invite a counter (which Mike was reluctant to deliver), while also offereing at least a bit
of functionality.
Sadly, since really nothing happened in that are over the last few weeks, my efforts to boost the defenses and reaction forces
started to slack off, I guess now they are all on high alert again.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 25, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Munda at 111,134, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa
CA Furutaka
CL Sendai
CL Naka
CL Abukuma
DD Yunagi
DD Hasu
DD Tsuga

Allied Ships
PT-75
PT-76
PT-80
PT-120
PT-121
PT-122

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Munda at 111,134, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa
CA Furutaka
CL Sendai
CL Naka
CL Abukuma
DD Yunagi
DD Hasu
DD Tsuga

Allied Ships
DMS Wasmuth, Shell hits 8, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Munda at 111,134 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

1 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CA Kinugasa
CL Abukuma
CL Naka
CL Sendai


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


Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Munda at 111,134, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa
CA Furutaka
CL Sendai
CL Naka
CL Abukuma
DD Yunagi
DD Hasu
DD Tsuga

Allied Ships
PT-75
PT-76
PT-80, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-120, Shell hits 1
PT-121, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-122, Shell hits 3, and is sunk

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The above is basically the whole story, my B25s didn´t fly because with the non-action I started some training missions and they preferred
those than an attack on a (probably heavily guarded) SAG, the enemy cruisers retreated North. Two guesses, one is Rabaul, the other on
Northern heading to Truk.

Interesting thing is: the surviving PTs got a whole lot of experience. Nice side effect.

Anyways, in case Mike tries that stunt again, unexpected but ineffective as it was, I have a surprise waiting for him a few hexes down
the road on react 4...

Edit: The real annoyance I totally forgot to tell:

The timing of the bombardement run was perfect. Only day before I released the 4 S-boats which had formed a protective belt North
of Munda from station to return to Noumea for their June upgrades.
One day earlier and Mike would have had to run that sub belt, all subs with high exp, the good reliable torps.
Imagine a burning CA running into the PTs at night and then slow on return lege over the same subs again. Oh well.


Well, for a statement on that, see my sig... [8|]




Other news:

Sub attack near Fukue-jima at 100,59

Japanese Ships
AG Noshima, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PB Menado Maru

Allied Ships
SS Cisco

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 27, 43

Burma

Success at toungoo , allies destroyed a japanese cav brigade as we overrun the last stay behinds ,, now rangoon or pegu to prep for ? interesting tims ahead as we must run into a jap roadblock soon .


Ground combat at Toungoo (57,50)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 21424 troops, 291 guns, 833 vehicles, Assault Value = 877

Defending force 588 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 24

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Allied adjusted assault: 1555

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 1555 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Toungoo !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
752 casualties reported
Squads: 28 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 28 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


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


Assaulting units:
7th Australian Division
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
50th Tank Brigade
23rd British Brigade
XV Indian Corps
6th Medium Regiment

Defending units:
55th Cavalry Regiment



Elsewhere we heavily damaged an I boat lurking near our Catalina base east of Milne bay in the solomon islands .


Sub attack near Rossel Island at 105,137

Japanese Ships
SS I-26, hits 14, heavy damage

Allied Ships
xAK Aldinga
AM Glenelg



SS I-26 launches 6 torpedoes at xAK Aldinga
AM Glenelg attacking submerged sub ....
AM Glenelg fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Glenelg fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Glenelg attacking submerged sub ....
AM Glenelg fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


Finally Lae , WOW .. I was thinking that sending in 2 divisions was complete overkill , it appears not as multiple naval brigades are stationed in Lae , this will take some time to wear down , so watch this space. Think ill set up some LRcap over here to catch any jap float planes bringing in supply or withdrawing troops. .. got a ton of USAAF units in townsville past few days, I downgraded them to P39's so we will have numbers for this at least if not quality a/c.


Ground combat at Lae (99,126)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 19581 troops, 227 guns, 294 vehicles, Assault Value = 757

Defending force 12453 troops, 156 guns, 44 vehicles, Assault Value = 360


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


Assaulting units:
1st Australian Division
4th Australian Division
II Australian Corps

Defending units:
Yokosuka 6th SNLF
43rd Naval Guard Unit
89th Naval Guard Unit
87th Naval Guard Unit
82nd Naval Guard Unit
I/19th Naval Guard Unit
83rd Nav Gd /1
48th JNAF AF Unit
1st Base Force
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Naval Construction Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
42nd JNAF AF Unit /1

End may to 1st June 1943

I think Australian DD's got the last remaining Jap sub near Milne bay on the 27th , with heavy depth charging of RO-?? in shallow water and 27 hits recorded. In Lae a lone AK with Minesweeper Fremantle as escort is dropping off supplies to the 2 Ozzie divisions investing the base, as yet unmolested. However the Japanese airforce showed up on the 29th and 1st to bomb the troops just north of Lae with some success, the allies had their own bombers heading there with hurricanes and spits engaging Zeros and even low lever P39's dropping their ordnance and engaging the unexpected Japanese fighters. Losses were light on both sides with c. 5 fighters shot down and one Aussie Beaufort unit losing 3 a/c as the only successful intercept of the engagement.

In Burma Prome was liberated by a Chinese corps as all Japanese had withdrawn, now its a base build here and toungoo before advancing on Rangoon and Pegu. Recon here will be intensified as will LR flights into Thailand and possibly Malaysia.

TTFN