Thinz2 vs Zuluhour

[DOCUP]

Are you still in control of the southern most islands of the Gilberts?
 
Are you in position to make attacks in Burma?

[zuluhour]

DOCUP: I will answer shortly; I have the turn in hand.

India: Enemy carriers spotted! Any thoughts on this?

[zuluhour]

SitRep: Gilberts:

[zuluhour]

SitRep: Burma:

[zuluhour]

October 19th 1942

India: Full KB spotted. IJN TF moves due east from previuos spot. Eludes all SAGs (4). RAF puts up the good fight over Columbo. CVTF moves east as large IJN BBTF bombards the Akyab.


First the Zeros sweep

Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 21 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19



Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 16
Hurricane IIc Trop x 5


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed

Then the raid.

Afternoon Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 109 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 38
B5N2 Kate x 66
D3A1 Val x 54



Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 5
Hurricane IIc Trop x 11


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 14 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 20 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Valiant, Bomb hits 11, on fire
AMC Cornwallis, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage



Repair Shipyard hits 6
Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 2

[zuluhour]

October 20th 1942

Game notes: The Emperor contacted me via email tonight. Apparently the search aircraft aboard the Kido Butai were on 10^ arcs and pointing in an embarassing direction. This most likely led to the failure to spot the RN for the past two days. I hope he is retiring as I informed him the entire Royal Navy passed through the Kido Butai during the night on the same hex row.

India: off Ceylon: The only TF without destroyer support makes contact at night with Kido Butai:


Night Time Surface Combat, near Koggala at 29,53, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku, Shell hits 10, on fire
CA Myoko
CA Nachi
CA Ashigara
DD Kuroshio, Shell hits 1
DD Oyashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Natsushio
DD Yukikaze
DD Hayashio

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
CA Exeter



Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 82% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 82% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
CA Cornwall engages CV Zuikaku at 1,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CV Zuikaku at 1,000 yards
DD Kuroshio engages CA Cornwall at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 2,000 yards
CA Exeter engages CV Zuikaku at 2,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CV Shokaku at 2,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages CA Cornwall at 2,000 yards
CA Cornwall sunk by DD Oyashio at 2,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

Pacific note: The Yamato still shows sunk by torpedo (she was torpedoed off Australia) off Truk. Soryu also shows sunk by torpedo off Truk.

Royal Navy: India: Ordered to break off pursuit of Kido Buati and retire to blue water. One small TF (CLs and escort) will try and close if the KB U-turns during the night.

SoPac: Much needed aircraft mechanics and ground personel report for duty in theater. I wish I could take advantage of the KBs absence more however my carriers are in no position to put to sea. Even the slow BBs are on the west coast.

[DOCUP]

10 shell hits thats nice.

[koniu]

Congratulations. That will eliminate CV Zuikaku for at lest few months. Long ans slow return to home to CV. I hope they are big guns hits.

[zuluhour]

October 21st 1942

Bay of Bengal: IJN SAG: BBs: bombard islands SW of Rangoon. Kido Butai vanishes. RN CVTF makes for Indian coast. If I had her on the original plot she may have intercepted the BBs. I did not want to risk her to the KB.

Comments: General: Night bombing around the map to little effect for either side.

Orders: Large air raid scheduled for tomorrow.

Koniu: Yes I believe we got some big rounds in her. fingers crossed. Wish we could have hit her below the belt!

[zuluhour]

October 22nd 1942

SoPac: After a long slow trip from Cairnes, CL Perth is lost to a sub just 60nm from Sydney. The largest four engine raid to date took place over Lunga Point; the objective: kill Japs. We get 7 reported nips with over a hundred bombers. They are ordered up again: lower alt and split between airfield and port. Night raids do nothing to Port Morseby, Ndeni nor Luganville. More triple A moving to forward areas as well as air group ground personel. Mitchels ordered to hit Gasmata at low alt.

CenPac: I-168 reported leaking fuel from two hits from the MacDonough.

West Coast: IJN sub claims another victim.

Bay of Bengal: Looks like the "all clear" for now. No sign of Zuikaku.

Burma: Liberators and Mitchels ordred to hit Mandalay in broad daylight. A small sweep will precede the raid, we hope.

[zuluhour]

ooops, forgot:

China: A Four Corps assault is ordered NE of Ichang.

[zuluhour]

October 23rd 1942

SoPac: Liberators and Fortresses hit Lunga Point. They will get 48hr shore leave.
Morning Air attack on Lunga , at 114,138

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M3 Zero x 36



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 27
B-17F Fortress x 33
B-24D Liberator x 46


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged

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



Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 12
Runway hits 52
Port hits 13
Port fuel hits 2

[zuluhour]

October 23rd continued:

China: The assault NE of Ichang does not go in our favor, but I believe the 59th IJA Div is moving east:
Ground combat at 83,47 (near Ichang)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 49426 troops, 223 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1621

Defending force 9102 troops, 56 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 337

Allied adjusted assault: 797

Japanese adjusted defense: 1765

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
753 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Allied ground losses:
1248 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 149 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled


Assaulting units:
41st Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
22nd Group Army
26th Group Army

Defending units:
59th Division

The Chinese will rest several days and hit them again before they can move out of the hex.

Burma: We meet Nicks and Tojos over Mandalay. The Liberators do little, but escape with all crews and aircraft.

[zuluhour]

October 24th 1942

CenPac: Wasp undergoes refit with escorts. CVEs continue to arrive. B17 group begin airframe fit out on the east coast. Hawaii now has veteran pilots.

SoPac: Raid scheduled on the port at Lunga Point today by heavies. Marauders stage in to theater for tomorrow and a follow up raid. More forts train (full group) in the rear. Yorktown puts to sea as does a two SAGs from the dry docks. Best raid of the war carried out by small squadron of Mitchells out of Port Morseby on Rabaul.

Burma: Bomber groups given leave for R&R while the mechanics get to work.

China: Kukong is under pressure from the north and south; there is a fear of being cut off here. 66th Corp ordered to attack north of Kukong.

Afternoon Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10



Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 9


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kashima, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CL Tenryu, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AR Akashi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Furutaka, Bomb hits 1
DD Sazanami, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Kinugasa, Bomb hits 1

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



Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 3000 feet
Port Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

[zuluhour]

October 25th 1942

CenPac: SubDiv II and III are four days out to sea, heading: SoPac: new ports: Suva and Loganville. New SubDiv in blue water heading for PI and beyond on a strategic harrasment mission.

SoPac: Heavies not on shore leave with full complements raid the port at Lunga Point. 18th Squadron RAF never receives orders to stand down and flies over the harbor at Rabaul. Fighter intercept is poor at best and they get through again. While no sinkings are reported the damage by the squadron is huge.


Afternoon Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12



Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 8


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kashima, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Tatsuta, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
APD Nadakaze, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
APD Shimakaze, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Amakasu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Hokkai Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire



Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 3000 feet
Port Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1/A with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
Chitose Ku S-1/B with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes

Massive explosion on CL Kashima

The heavies over Lunga Point score no such degree of success.

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M3 Zero x 26



Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 12
B-24D Liberator x 18


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17F Fortress: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged



Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 1


I am not prone to posting to many combat results but I would like to hear any comments, especially with regards to the Mitchells.

[zuluhour]

October 26th 1942

CenPac: Long Island makes for the west coast with escorts.

NorPac: 88% complete on Dutch Harbor airfield. This will be of little use as I intend no expansion there and Ive seen nothing of the IJN. We are reinforced on Dutch Harbor with ASW and ground assets.

West Coast: Merchantmen being refitted and repaired. The organization of shipping needed for future Ops will take three to four weeks. As CenPac, NorPac and SoPac are well supplied with fuel and supply the sea lanes are emptying.

SoPac: We raid Munda, Lunga Point and Tulagi. We lose no aircraft. Scattered port hits. Yorktown has cleared the Australian coast for blue water.

Burma: small units and one brigade are trying to infiltrate into the IJA lines.

China: Kukong is shock attacled by the 5th Division and repels it. We give orders to launch another attack by Ichang. 66th Corp is under pressure north of Kukong, it was defeated yesterday but still has over 600 squads in good order and will hold their ground pending relief. Chungking has several Corps rebuilding; we would like to hold back anymore reserves till '43.

[AcePylut]

Seems like a great strike by the MItchells.  Came in low, under his cap, and pretty much hit with everything. 

[zuluhour]

Crazy couple of raids...Only half find the target under cloud cover....but the one that do!

[zuluhour]

October 27th 1942

West Coast: DD Hull finds I-8 and report a hull breach but loses her.

Hawaii: quiet, luau s and mai tai s

SoPac: Seabees embark for FA2 (forward area 2) which needs to expand the airfield to hold an additional two groups training at RA3 (PagoPago). Bad news off the Duff Islands 60-80nm from Ndeni as CL Concord eats two torps for major damage from I-17. Destroyers in escort can not locate her. Raid over Madang nets several port hits.

Burma: Imphal: Oscars Ic s sweep and we drop over a dozen. RAF 135 squadron has multiple aces and is competing with VMF221 in SoPac for kills. Raid over Lashio is expensive and nets us little. Air HQ India is training bomber groups hard, we will not release any more south until they are in the 50s avg skill range.

[zuluhour]

October 31st 1942

West Coast: Wasp needs 48hrs more for her refit. The fourth CVE will arrive in 72 hours to join her. The largest group of task forces to date scheduled out of the west coast in one week. Two divisions and support with 100,ooopts of fuel and 100,ooopts of supply will move to the RAs in SoPac. Training for Op Chesapeake began last week for the remaining Arty and Inf units scheduled for our first offensive. I will not lay out the Op or the compositions and objectives until all are in theater and D-Day is under a week away. This is mostly due to my foiled attempts at this before and the changing situation in the theater, ie. KB etc..

CenPac: We have beefed up the front line trace with some ground and naval units but primarily with additional search aircraft.

SoPac: Raids continue around New Guinea and the Solomons. In the past month it is only the allies conducting bombing raids. We continue to pound Tulagi and Lunga Point daily whenever possible. Lunga is at 100% port damage and close to 60% airfield damage. We sink the ACM there as well as we noticed mines sometime back. 18th squadron has been joined by more Mitchels and continue to seek out ships in port from Rabaul to Madang. VMF 221 reports back to station with a full complement of aircraft. The Sqn has been in Sydney for over a month. The first full Spitfire squadron is training up quickly with pilots from the reserve and will relieve some USAC P40s shortly. Dive bomber squadrons on naval attack are at most installations with destroyers and light cruisers to guard against surface groups. CDs are also in place in critical strategic areas.

Burma: We continue to raid from India and have decided to bring in the B24s to take the campaign up a notch. If we can gain some edge and close Mandalay and Prome we may be able to co ordinate a small counter offensive and perhaps draw some larger IJA formations out of China.

China: Kukong is under tremendous pressure. I will post a map shortly. While we beat back the IJA accross the Northern Yangtze, the battle seesaws by Kukong with a large contingent of Japson the outskirts of the city and to the north, engaged with 66th Corp. At the rate the formations take replacements in Chungking it will be 1944 before they get to full strength.

66th Corp puts in work....


Japanese ground losses:
1884 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 138 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 32 disabled


Allied ground losses:
389 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Assaulting units:
38th Division
5th Division

Defending units:
66th Chinese Corps