Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, Docup(A)-Koniu(J)

[Crackaces]

As soon as Darwin will be lvl 7 allies will be able to use extended range of Liberators to attack Makassar AF I thik thre is ~20 of them in service.

Ahh I hate to burst your bubble but level 5 fields are quite adequite to launch B-24's ... level 7 is required to launch B-29's without penality ...

Right now in my game I am quite successfuly using B-24's from level 5 bases ...[;)]

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

As soon as Darwin will be lvl 7 allies will be able to use extended range of Liberators to attack Makassar AF I thik thre is ~20 of them in service.

Ahh I hate to burst your bubble but level 5 fields are quite adequite to launch B-24's ... level 7 is required to launch B-29's without penality ...

Right now in my game I am quite successfuly using B-24's from level 5 bases ...[;)]

That very bad news. I have no more that few weeks and air will be full of those bastards[:@].
And I should already know that, as B-17 flying over Kendari from Darwin and Darwin has lvl 6 AF only.

[koniu]

18 June 42

Burma
Lots of air actions.
Japanese bombers attack enemy ground troops in Katha (Australian ID). They try to move by rail to Myitkyina.
I try to stop them from that. In return allied medium bombers attack troops in Bhamo.

I was unloading supplies in Moulmein. TF was attacked by strafing bombers. 4 Lima class xAK sunk.

Allies have huge numbers of troops in Burma. I give good bottle of sake for intel about supply situation there.

I have 4 ID, fifth ID I will rebuild in Rangoon in two weeks. Six will land in Rangoon in week. Right now i accumulating PPs to buy Tank Div from Manchuria.

Ambon Battle
B-17 attack Kendari again. This time A6M from KB intercept them. 3 bombers damage, two M2` lost by ops. 1 polot KIA.

Navy bombers attack Ambon. Flak is stronger right now. But that mean they using lots of supplies.

KB is now 120nm east of Kendari. Tomorrow will join invasion fleet near Ambon. I want to allies think they are Ambon reinforcements. and in last big jump move to Saumlaki hex.
2 CL spoted in Saumlaki port.

Almost all dive bombers from KB sanded to Makassar. I replacing them with fighters. I will need lots of CAP as Saumlaki is operational AF (reckon showing lvl 1 but prabably 2 or 3).

EDIT: Saumlaki invasion will be bloody on invasion day. As ID that will land there was preparing to different target. I do not expect heavy resistance later as reckon is showing only 4k man in base and most be of them must support troops. So if everything will go OK and i will not lost many troops in D-day a hoping for short battle.

After that i will try to take Ambon by hunger.

This is my main campaign right now. I cant llose there if i will i will open south approach for allies and they will cut me from DEI. So all forces are now focusing on that Battle. I needed i willing to send reinforcements from Burma but right now i thin i will be ok.

Sooner or later i think i will see US CV but i hope i will have 7 CV in KB. Shokaku and Zuikiku will end refit in 6 days so in two weeks they should arrive and make KB stronger.






Coral Sea
Many Many ships in Lugaville.
Subs redirected. First arrive today and prabably sunk allied xAK.
Reckon is showing xAK, xAP, TK but no combat ships.
BB TF sailing south from Rabaul. If I will have chance i will tray to attack allied forces there but i will not risk to much.

Pacific
SS I-7 sunk after being hit by bomb 4 days earlier.
Another xAKL sunk in Hilo hex (Hawaii) No ASW, strange.

China

Kukong surrounded, all hex side are now red.
50k chines troops cross river south of Hengyang. I have 4 ID waiting for them and fifth will arrive in one day. Air force in Full alert in Hankow.

Fuel
Finally first time from war start fuel stock start grove. every day it is +10k.
Fuel in HI also is slowly groving, also first tankers with oil arrive to HI today.

[Crackaces]

After that i will try to take Ambon by hunger.

I find this game to be interesting in this respect. You will have to eventually attack, but you can wait until l supplies and morale hit zero, and then they will surrender. But as you know you have to attack to intiate the surrender algorithum. Depending on supply ,

I suspect Alfred will have the exact scoop for planning purposes .

One thing .. IMHO .. I have played this game only for 330 turns so I am a newbie .. but in looking at the game you are going to "lose" as the IJ. That is get your butt kicked all over the place, especally in '44. But in losing, you can win the game by keeping the victory conditions under 2:1 against until March '46. Then the IJ win the game. In my reading, if the Allies acheive 2:1 by December 45 or 3:1 [highly unliekly in this contest] in December '44 they achieve automatic victory. Once '46 happends victory moves in your direction.

I am thinking the name of the game is to figure out how to make that happen against a soon to be overwhelming force ...[8D]

[koniu]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

After that i will try to take Ambon by hunger.

I find this game to be interesting in this respect. You will have to eventually attack, but you can wait until l supplies and morale hit zero, and then they will surrender. But as you know you have to attack to intiate the surrender algorithum. Depending on supply ,

I suspect Alfred will have the exact scoop for planning purposes .

One thing .. IMHO .. I have played this game only for 330 turns so I am a newbie .. but in looking at the game you are going to "lose" as the IJ. That is get your butt kicked all over the place, especally in '44. But in losing, you can win the game by keeping the victory conditions under 2:1 against until March '46. Then the IJ win the game. In my reading, if the Allies acheive 2:1 by December 45 or 3:1 [highly unliekly in this contest] in December '44 they achieve automatic victory. Once '46 happends victory moves in your direction.

I am thinking the name of the game is to figure out how to make that happen against a soon to be overwhelming force ...[8D]

Bu hunger i mean drooping supply level to 40-60%, at lest to negate fort and terrain bonuses. Probably i will land in another ID and start attacks.

I preparing DEI version of Tokyo Express to Ambon and taking Saumlaki and Lautem will secure that operation from allied air attacks.

I know allies land in Ambon with reinforcements(I had chance to sunk them with ships but i wait one day to long with attack). I have sunk many of support units and guns so probably they do not unload many supplies also. I think soon i will burn base reserve and units will start use his organic supplies. after that i will attack.

As to auto victory conditions. It will never happens. I really do not watch on points, They only are for me another source of information. I planing to fight as long as possible. As this is my firs game, Victory for me will be survive to middle 45 without allied troops on HI.

[koniu]

19 June 42

Burma
B-17 attack Chiang Mai. All bomber evacuated last turn.[:'(]

Situation looks like that. I am rebasing bombers every turn. After attack they fly to another AF. In next turn B-17 attack that base. We playing cat and mouse for some time. I hoping for air trap some day.

China
Oscars sweep Changsha. 20 Oscars lost to 14 enemy fighters. I was hoping for better result.
All loses replaced.

Chinese troops west of Wuchow start marching to city. ID and two Regiments marching to support city defenders.

Ambon Battle
Invasion force near Ambon. KB south of Ambon.

Docup sent two AVDs with FT mission to Ambon. When they where returning home they cross path with KB. Both sides retreated. Bad news it that Docup now know KB have only 5 CV.

On morning bombers from KB found and sunk those AVDs in Saumlaki. Bomber fly without any escort[:-]. Lucky no CAP above Saumlaki.
KB found also xAK in Lautem base and they sunk it also.

At lest 8 US subs in area. They manage to get to shot position few time but they miss or torpedoes where dud.

Reinforcements unloaded in Ambon on 15 June is 8 Austr. Inf Div. Or at lest part of it. Division is still divided on part A and B. Where is C?

[koniu]

20 June 42

Burma
Japanese bombers attack troops in Katha. 2 shot down by flak 3 more crashed on AF.
Main mission of those attacks to slow down 7 Australian ID to move by rail to Myitkvina

B-17 attack Chiang Mai AF. One Ki-15 Bobs lost on ground for one B-17 i air, good trade.

Ground troops(850AV) start moving trough river to Myitkvina, I hope they manage to catch second side before Australian arrive.

China
140 bombers attack Kukong AF. AF is now closed with 80+ damage. Beter news is that they score 22 supply hits.

Japanese troops north of Kukong (2100AV) marching north to meet enemy army on open ground. Tomorrow they will enter enemy hex.

Coral Sea.
Alled DD sunk sub near Luganville

Ambon Battle

Invasion fleet without any resistance in one big jump move 8 hexes south and on morning arrive to Saumlaki. KB take position East of Damar.

Heavy allied air attack on Invasion fleet start on morning. But CAP do good job.

First on morning three attack on Invasion fleet in Saumlaki from Saumlaki AF. 45 LCAPing A6M manage to shot down most of attacker. Only few get trough. But they only manage to score one shell hit to DD (no damage). Flak was very good they shot down 4 enemy bombers.

In afternoon bombers from Darwin join game. They attack Invasion Fleet and second wave go for KB.
Like in morning CAP was heavy. Only few bombers manage to slip trough it.
No hits

Today loses are:

Allies: ~53 planes (35 A2A, 8 flak, 10 ops)
Japan: 20 planes(6 A2A, 3 flak, 1 ground, 10 ops)
only 4 A6Ms, rest of planes are loses in Burma and China and FP shot down by enemy CAP over Darwin

After air battle invasion begins. ID land in Saumlaki. 1500 man die on beach. 30% of squads is disabled. 80% of division is on ground, they have 190AV. Enemy troops, 4 dutch units 13AV total.[:'(]. Tomorrow base will fall.

During invasion phase one of DD was hit by CD gun. Small damage 22/11/0/23. If he manage to fight fire ship will be safe.
In Saumlaki port, damaged CL(from torpedo hit) presence confirmed. If i capture bas he will sunk?

Invasion Will now disengage( i will not unload all troops) and move north for save distance from Saumlaki (massive counterattack expected). LCAP will be given over base. I will return to unload rest of troops and supplies when base will be secured.

KB in that mission is having defensive duty. I have 200 A6M on decks but only 70 bombers.

In Darwin hex many ships spotted. One of TF showing few CVEs and almost 40 planes.
Probably CV Illustrious but i will not risk encounter with US CV right now when KB is not in condition to fight them. (Pilots are tired and offensive power is limited). I will retreat under LBA umbrella

[koniu]

21 June 42

Burma
Fighters sweep Katha. 19 Oscars lost for 14 enemy planes.
After sweep bombers came but they miss very much. 3 of them newer back home.
Time to rest few days.

China
Bombers attack Chinese troops that marching toward Kukong. 500 KIA, almost 70 squads disabled.
They enter rough hex 90 miles north of Kukong. They are now blocked and can retreat only west to woods because jap tank unit enter hex north of them position and is blocking supply path.
I have 2100 AV there. Japanese forces 4 ID, regimen and HQ. Enemy have 3 ID (AV unknown)

Bombardment ordered for tomorrow.

I am experimenting with AM/PM air attacks. On morning i have ordered heavy sweep above those units. Bombers are set to naval attack as primary and ground as secondary so they should attack in PM phase as there in no ships in china.

I hoping to avoid situation when bombers arrive before fighter sweep.

Ambon

Japanese fleet disengage fro Saumlaki. But enemy counterattack newer came.
6 bombers try to attack KB but CAP shot all of them

Heavy air bombardment of Saumlaki. ID have order to attack and capture base but B-17 make disruption so high that attack was total failure.

Coral Sea
Heavy navy traffic in Luganviile. xAK, xAP, DD no biger ships detected.
I have BB TF near Guadalcanal if i make it to slip undetected to Luganviile to 1 day distance i will attack those enemy ships. Most difficult will be to sneak to enemy base and next day i will need to have proper air cover to that TF.

Weather broadcast is heavy rain, thunderstorms so there is small chance of success.


Tahiti
Japanise sub foun mine. Heavy damage. Small chance to survive.

North Oz

I have invasion rapport of Americal Division landing i jungle hex in north Oz east of Darwin. We are not allowed to land/unload on non dot hex base but at lest i know what unit is sailing to Darwin. And Docup will waste some to load them on ships again.

If KB have more fuel in tanks i would sail there as it is one day distance only. But fuel is on 50% and no refuel in next week.

[koniu]

22 June 42

Burma
Quiet day.
Some units arrive to Myitkvina. Reckon showing 10k enemy soldiers. I hope i will cross river before More troops will arrive to that base. If i will not make it at time i will try cross river through jungle.

I will not shock attack if there will be Australian Div. I will have no chance vs equal forces and jungle+fort will made that attack slaughter.

China
Chinese rescue mission marching to Kukong from north is only 1100AV. Tomorrow i will have 2500AV and i will attack. They where attack by bombers. 300 Chinese soldiers KIA 45 squads disabled.

12 Allied bombers attack Hankow and destroy 48 planes on ground[:@]. Loses can be replaced but t is my foul to leave AF without CAP.

Morning Air attack on Hankow , at 85,50

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Wellington Ic x 6
B-25C Mitchell x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 7 destroyed on ground
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 12 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 5 destroyed on ground
Ki-15-II Babs: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington Ic: 1 destroyed by flak
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged


Ambon Battle

Japanese BBs bombard Saumlaki

Night Naval bombardment of Saumlaki at 78,117 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
CA Nachi
CA Tone
CL Isuzu
CL Nagara

Allied Ships
CL Hobart, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage SUNK
AMc Tjerimai, Shell hits 1, heavy damage SUNK

Allied ground losses:
118 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 13
Runway hits 22
Port hits 29
Port supply hits 2


On morning search planes spotted 5 enemy APD 50nm from Saumlaki.
KB bombers attack.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Saumlaki at 77,117

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 35
D3A1 Val x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
APD King, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
APD Gilmer, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
APD Fox, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APD Sands, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
APD Brooks, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
1282 casualties reported
Squads: 32 destroyed, 32 disabled
Non Combat: 45 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 16 disabled

Probably they sailing to Saumlaki with reinforcements

KB have now 65 torpedoes left in few days i will net to return to Soarabaja to refuel and rearm. But not until Saumlaki fall.

Manchuria
Tank Div. arrive today vehicle pool fall from 11k to 3k[;)] I will buy them in month and send to Burma

Home Island
In 4 days two CV will end his refit and equipped with new shinny radars will sail south. Probably to Truk. They will join there with CVLs.

Akagi in middle road to HI to his refit. Air groups flay today to Tokyo. Pilots sanded to pool, and now they are training groups.
Akagi fighter squadron "upgraded" to A6M3 fighter. I will have enough M3a planes before Akagi end refit and i nedd those M2 as reserve in pool.

After last fights i have 42 M2s in pool and all squadrons are in full strength.

[koniu]

I hope someone is reading this.

Lack of replays make me feel lonely[:(]

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: koniu

I hope someone is reading this.

Yep, every day!

Happy Easter!!

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: koniu

I hope someone is reading this.

Yep, every day!

Happy Easter!!

+1 [;)]

[koniu]

Happy to see You guys and girls reading my AAR.

Happy Easter!!

23 June 42

Burma
Another allied unit arrive to Myitkyina. I think i will cancel river assault.
Allied medium bombers attack troops south of Myitkyina. No escort of Sweeps. Air trap opportunity.

Ambon Battle
Entire ID land in Saumlaki. They attack without success, but manage to reduce fort to one.

Ground combat at Saumlaki (78,117)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9575 troops, 106 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 239

Defending force 3470 troops, 19 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 12

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 28

Allied adjusted defense: 17

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

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

Allied ground losses:
168 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



I need few quiet days in air to ground troop have chance to rest.
Today i made big step to have air superiority above Saumlaki.

Morning Air attack on Imperial Guards Division, at 78,117 (Saumlaki)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 113

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11
DB-7B x 10
Beaufort V x 6
Hudson I x 6
B-17E Fortress x 27
B-26 Marauder x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
DB-7B: 5 destroyed
Beaufort V: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
Hudson I: 4 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
B-26 Marauder: 3 destroyed

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

Total air losses above Saumlaki are:
Japan: 10xAM2 (3 A2A and 7 from ops) 4 pilots KIA (two of them where ace plots[:@] one become ace today and die in crash on landing)
Allies: 10xDB-7B, 6xHudsin I, 6xB-26 Marauder, 6xF4-F3 Wildcat, 5xBeaufort V, 4xB-17E Fortress

I think i will have chance to give some free time to ground troop in base and also CAP over Saumlaki will be not required and pilots will have chance to rest for one day

Coral Sea
G3M3 attack Horn Island.
They sunk AO anchored in port

BB TF is in range of Luganville but need find blind spot in his NavS. If I manage to sneak 7-9 hexes from base i will attack. Lots of fughters and bombers in Luganville base. I thinking about three things. Bombardment attack or naval sweep or mix of two


China
I have deliberate attack on Chinese troops. Result was not great but also not bad. Disruption an fatigue is low (below 10). Tomorrow we will attack again.
Ground combat at 79,55 (near Hengyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 59125 troops, 490 guns, 343 vehicles, Assault Value = 2170

Defending force 26207 troops, 159 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1092

Japanese adjusted assault: 1617

Allied adjusted defense: 229

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2774 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 289 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 40 disabled
Guns lost 22 (1 destroyed, 21 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1079 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 274 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 33 (3 destroyed, 30 disabled)

[koniu]

24 June 42

Burma
18 Oscars lost after P-38 sweep near Lashio. We shot down only 4 of those monsters.
After P-38s medium bombers arrive , 8 Blenheim IV shot down.

Entire action cost lives of 5 pilots.

B-17 bombard Rangoon. Two reckon planes lost on ground

I think i will transfer more experienced pilots to poll from sentais.
O do not see any difference when i fight vs P-38 with good(xp70+) or trained pilots(xp50+)
At lest i will save some good pilots when Tojo arrive in 5-6 weeks

China
From Changsha is marching rescue mission to rescue mission that was trying to rescue Kukong.[:D]
Right now in those two pockets i holding 3000 Chinese AV (9 divisions)
It is getting hotter every day. I think they want only open retreat road for those units. I have 2-3 more days before they arrive. Tomorrow i will attack again trying to kill as many Chinese as possible


I will downgrade two of small Sentai (24 planes total) to Oscar Ib this will allow me to replace loses in Burma fast and Ib should be enough in china

Ambon Battle
Ground troops and KB fighters resting today. One more day and i will be in condition to attack in Saumlaki.

I start building AF in Madjene. It will be used by Tojos to LCAP Kendari and Makassar against heavies raids.

Coral Sea
Reckon is showing lots of DDs and transport ships in Luganville. So close of front line can be only one, invasion?

KB is in Ambon area so maybe he will try to land in south Salomon's.
Guadalcanal(ID defending it), Tulagi(eng only), Ndeni(one small unit 60AV).

Or maybe i just overreacting

Home Islands
At lest 10 eng units and small garrison units is sailing to Ambon area. They will be used to capture and hold those small bases around Ambon.

15 new TKs enter service today. They will sail to DEI and some to Pacific.
There job will be to transport fuel an oil between thos small bases. This will allow me to relife some faster TK`s from that duty and use them to ntransport fuel betwin DEI and HI

b]R&D[/b]
I think i will be able to start production of Tojo in 1 August. I need them as Oscars Ic is having problem even with unescorted medium bombers.

I will build 120 Tojos l/month later I will adjust production to situation. After Tojo arrival Oscar will be only use as Escort fighter. As this is suicidal mission low trained pilots only will fly Oscars.

I hope Tojo will have better chance with P-38, because right now P-38+elite is death trap for Oscars.

Good news is that he have limited number of them. I think no more than 20-30. But it is enough to kill my planes.

[koniu]

25 June 42

Burma
Very quiet. Allies sweep air above Japanese troops but no allied bombers.

Another ID unloading in Burma. From tomorrow Burma will have 7 ID, and 4 regiments.
And of course some arty and tank units. In 1,5 month i will have also Tank Division in Burma

TF transporting ID to Burma was attacked by sub. Only single DD in escort but as all my TFs trying to sail on shallow waters he manage to hit SS Finback 4 times, with one critical hit.

Ambon Battle
As quiet as quiet can be. Nothing fly today. ID in Sulemaki disruption 40, fatique 21. AV:260
I will rest one more day.
KB with 210 A6Ms is giving air support to Salumaki

Ambon must be low on supplies. No single shot from flak today. From tomorrow i will fly on 5k ft.
Ambon AF 100 damage, port 40 damage.

In week two Lima class AKE`s will arrive to Manado. I will use that base to rearm combat ships. It will reduce travel time to nearest port and back from 7 to 2 days.

Coral Sea
Another TF sailing to Luganville. Recon is showing 5 xAP and DD (9 ships total)

China
I am in good way to kill three Chinese ID north of Kukong. In last two battles i have reduced them from 1100AV to 500. As you can sea on picture they cant retreat north as i am owning all hex sides. I thinking about kilning as many as passable of combat squads and allowing them to return north. I do not want that they reborn in 1/3 on size for free. I what to chines pay to rebuilt those units.[/b]

Ground combat at 79,55 (near Hengyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 68937 troops, 592 guns, 249 vehicles, Assault Value = 2360

Defending force 24407 troops, 156 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 860

Japanese adjusted assault: 1606

Allied adjusted defense: 335

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1258 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 110 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
3244 casualties reported
Squads: 56 destroyed, 315 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 42 (11 destroyed, 31 disabled)


Assaulting units:
15th Division
36th Division
104th Division
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
110th Division
38th Division
23rd Army

Defending units:
9th Prov Chinese Corps
60th Chinese Corps
70th Chinese Corps

Tomorrow i will rest as units drop with supplies below 100% and in two day i will attack again.

[koniu]

26 June 42

Burma
B-17 in night attack attack Rangoon port. Wheter help with thunderstorms they do not score any bomb hit.

Allied DD TF spotted N-NW of Port Blair. DD plus two more ships.
Tomarow Naval bombers will have naval attack oder.

ID fully unloaded in Rangoon.
It is look like Australian div. reinforce Myitkyina. Offensive stoped. I will move when all 5 DIV will arrive on battle field

Coral Sea
Still many many transport ships in Luganville.
I need 2 days. After that Lunga fighters will can use drop tanks. Without them i cant give proper air suport to BB TF.

China
Quiet. Supplies are now again above 100%. Tomorrow i will attack again.
Again troops from Hengyang marching south. they need at lest three more days to arrive to battle field in south. I use those three days to kill 3 ID a have surrounded.

Ambon
Very interesting day. KB E of Timor. Interesting thing is that search planes spotted 5 TFs sailing from Darwin north. One of them was in range of KB bombers.
Two TF are build from AMCs. Probably troop transport TFs for Saumlaki. One is SAG (3 CA and some DD). Last one is CV TF - probably with british CV.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 74,120

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 15
D3A1 Val x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CL Glasgow, Bomb hits 3, on fire
DD Express

Bad news:
- KB fuel is on reserve, so no fast moves for now ( AO TF with 50k fuel is 2 days from KB but in need to retreat to safer water to refuel
- KB has only 37 torpedoes
- No BB in KB SAG. Probably CAs will must take some risk and try to stop landing in Saumlaki. I hope nope for allied BB in area.

[koniu]

27 June 42

Burma
Jap ID is blocking Burma Div and some smaller units on road to Akyab. Jungle plus Rough terrain giving x3 to defender AV so both side are in impasse. Burmese troops have 2:1 advantage in AV.
Another Jap ID in marching as support.
I will bombard to sea what those enemy units are worth.

Ambon Battle
Allied ships are gone. I think last day KB action scare them and they back to Darwin.
I send Cruisers to protect Saumlaki but they found no allied ships. On morning they where attack from air. Good LCAP again.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Saumlaki at 78,117

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35

Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 14
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
A-24 Banshee: 3 destroyed by flak
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Takao
CL Natori

Intel is showing that 23 of 30 bombers where shot down or destroyed by ops.
I lost one pilot and plane when A6M2 crash on Akagi deck after taking critical hit from Banshee rear gunner

Saumlaki finally captured.
After three days of resting Japanese troops manage to break allied resistance.
Ground combat at Saumlaki (78,117)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9907 troops, 106 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 269

Defending force 3421 troops, 18 guns, 84 vehicles, Assault Value = 14

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 197

Allied adjusted defense: 41

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Saumlaki !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 1 destroyed

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

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

Allied ground losses:
1962 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 368 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 18 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 15 (15 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 97 (97 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 4

CV Soryu have luck today when Dutch sub fire 6 torpedoes at him
5 miss one hit but no explosion. Lucky me[:D].
I was first sub attack on KB from beginning of that campaign.


BB and CA TFs after rearming in Soarabaja are near Makassar. They will replace SAG groups supporting KB.
KB will refuel in 2 days. And in week he will rearm sorties and torpedoes from AKE.
New rearming base will be Makassar because I have already there good supply reserve.

Coral Sea.
Allied troops land in Ndeni
No US carries detected but heavies close Lunga AF.
Ndeni was forward base. I was newer planing to defend it.

I do not think it is major offensive. Probably Docup is trying to take some of my attention from Ambon.
I do not see any big ships. Only few DDs and CL. I will watch it closely.

In four days Zuikaku and Shokaku will sail to Truk to join CVLs. After that i will decide what to do with those ships. Probably they will sail to Ndeni to investigate situation there

I will make small scale counterattack soon. But nothing major.

China
Another attack on troops north of Kukong.
This time some enemy squads destroyed.
Ground combat at 79,55 (near Hengyang)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 68151 troops, 592 guns, 249 vehicles, Assault Value = 2282

Defending force 21555 troops, 143 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 562

Japanese adjusted assault: 3367

Allied adjusted defense: 329

Japanese assault odds: 10 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2697 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 287 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled

Allied ground losses:
2052 casualties reported
Squads: 170 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 29 destroyed, 152 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 41 (33 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Japanese AV is now 2090. Fatigue and disruption below 10.
Enemy is still marching south with help for those troops. I will attack tomorrow again. This time deliberate.

Allied bombers attack Shanghai port.
They sunk few SCs anf PBs. and damage few small cargo ships. Nice move Docup.
It was blind shot as Shanghai is out of range of allied reckon

Home Island
Zuikaku and Shokaku end refit today. They have new radars now. They will stay in Japan for 4 more days. On 1 July CAGs will resize, after that i will send them south.
Kaga arrive to Japan and is waiting to start his refit

R&D
A6M3a advance to 7/42 in 4 day i will start producing them. But i think no more than 300 will be build as in December A6M5 will enter production.

M5 will be main CV capable plane for big CVs for entire `43. For ground based Sentai`s I will use M3a for his big range. Smaller carriers will use M2 until pool will be empty and then they will switch to M5.
In second half on 43 probably only M5 will be in service.

When next models(M5c) arrive I can`t tell because this will depend of KB situation but not earlier than December `43.

M5 is best what i can get for KB. Range is enough to escort DB and TB and speed 350mph will give them bigger chances vs allied planes.
M5c have armor but he pay for that by range and speed and i think he should enter service when KB will be not as important as in first month of `43. In `44 most of Senatai`s probably will operate from ground and then George will be main fighter at lest until Sam arrive

[koniu]

I have flue so no detail but important thing happen so i need to rapport them.

Ndeni falls. Docup land there with entire ID.

More bad news.
I send BB Fuso , 2CLs and 4DDs to sweep Ndeni invasion force. The where intercepted by enemy cruiser. I lost DD and other ships take some damage. Intel is shown that Fuso manage do sunk allied CL in that battle and damage CA.
After combat they do not manage to leave Ndeni hex. I lose that battle as TF use all ops in that battle and do not attack invasion ships.

Bad news start on AM phase when TF that looks like Transport TF in reality was build from at lest 2 US CVs.
Planes from those flat decks sunk 3 remaining DD and damage 2CLs and BB Fuso. Fuso was hit 16 times by 1000lb bombs.

After taking so many hits he looks very good. No fire, float and engine below 15, sys damage 28
He is capable to move 12 hex tomorrow i will try to run north.
first CL capable to sail 14 hexes tomorrow. Secondone only 8.

I hope i will save at lest Fuso and one of CLs.

[obvert]

Careful if you're moving heavily damaged ships at flank speed. The damage can get out of hand quickly.

[Crackaces]

Fuso was hit 16 times by 1000lb bombs....No fire, float and engine below 15, sys damage 28

And was engaged by 8 inch shells ... this really is good evidence that DB's and 1K pound Anti-ships bombs are not worth attacking BB's .. one has to have Torps .. even at 50% dud rate and poor delivery platforms ...[8D]