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Good luck on your recovery!

Wish you a speedy recovery!

It is being a while, thanks for your good wishes regarding surgery. Everything went well and I am now almost fully recovered

the date is now April 25th; the game had been advancing slowly, and regrettably, there had been some important reversed, mainly in China.

I will be posting region specific posts, as I want to discuss on all the important one. Lets start with China

China
This theatre is a disaster, a complete mess. If this game was called "War in China, AE" then I would had declared defeat. the good news is that this is not going to be a China game. Once I am ready to advance, all the Japanese gains here will be irrelevant.

What is the situation? in one word = "starvation"
- I recently (1 turn ago), lost Sian. The key issue, of course, is that there is little to no supply:
heavy industry already run out of fuel.
Burma road closed, with Japan in India.
Japan is always attacking, always bombing. so the end result is always a Japanese victory, I can have very good rolls, destroying multiple enemy devices, but at the end of the day, he can replenish, I can't
I see no point in trying to withdraw troops, simply because I have nowhere to withdraw, Kumming and Chungking areas are already low in supply and full of troops from all those useless reinforcements I get.

Supply situation:
Chungking = 11,500 and yellow
Kunming = 5,800 still OK
Changsha = 11,500 and still OK... but completely isolated, so there will be another long siege ending in defeat
Yenan, Lonyang, Chenchow = 0 and isolated
Wenchow = 4,000 and yellow... another siege

Daily bombings all over the place, he just started with Chungking, where I have 1 squadron of AVG (27 H81-A3); they will give me some turns of peace, until they are gone by attrition

DEI
Batavia fell last turn, I have nothing to complain here, as it was a miracle that it remained for so long.
Last Allied base is Soerabaja, he will likely need a little more than a week to move all his troops from Batavia, then Soerabaja will fall, likely after few assaults as it is in clear ground.
I am now starting to think about withdrawing the bombers and patrol planes to Australia; I am still debating if it will make sense, as the cost will be high:
- 330 PP if I choose Geraldton
- 130 PP if I choose Carnarvon
In the 1st option, I can take both bombers and patrols (Geraldton had an airfield), and more important, the base is a lot safer, being closer to Perth and with access to rail.
Safety is a big issue as Japan is already at Broome, and he will of course notice a sudden change in flag in whatever port I pick.

I still have another 3 or 4 turns to decide, in the time being, my bombers are destroying Tjepoe's oil and refineries (currently at 2/34 and 4/27 respectively)


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Ground combat at Batavia (49,98)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34892 troops, 342 guns, 180 vehicles, Assault Value = 837

Defending force 17062 troops, 163 guns, 27 vehicles, Assault Value = 155

Japanese adjusted assault: 394

Allied adjusted defense: 163

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Batavia !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 3 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
961 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 73 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 19 (1 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
23474 casualties reported
Squads: 279 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1104 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 213 (213 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 40 (40 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 19

Assaulting units:
41st Infantry Regiment
14th Division
10th Division
56th Engineer Regiment
146th Infantry Regiment
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Bn /3

Defending units:
Lijfwacht Cav Sqdn
1st Cav Regiment
I Marechausse Cdo
I Landstorm Cdo
1st KNIL Regiment
4th Cav Sqdn
A-I-Ld AA Battalion
KNI Zeemacht
VLG-III Sup Groep
KNI Leger
Batavia KM Base Force
PBg-Ld AA Afd
ML-KNIL
IV Landstorm Cdo
A-III-Ld AA Battalion
ABDA
Batavia Defenses
HQ I KNIL Division
VLG-V Sup Groep

Australia
Key update here is that Pt. Moresby will fall very soon. Between daily bombings, very effective naval bombardments and at least 2 good deliberate attacks, the position is already hopeless, with fort level at 1 and horrendous damage: runway 85, service 100, port 66 preventing any fort construction.

Second update is Broome; he invaded "light" with only some SNLFs, thus other than having captured a nice level 3 airfield, there is little risk in the short term. I don't plan to fight so far away from my supply sources, so other than Darwin fortress, I won't contest his advances until he reaches Tennant creek

Of course a big problem is that in the next few days (once Soerabaja and Port Moresby are done), he will have around 5 to 6 idle divisions. More than enough to keep advancing. I will keep my policy of not contesting, until he reaches a strategic area; and for Australia, this means the NE from Townsview to Brisbane.


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Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28476 troops, 233 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 756

Defending force 8159 troops, 149 guns, 110 vehicles, Assault Value = 178

Japanese adjusted assault: 272

Allied adjusted defense: 267

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
923 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 126 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1066 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
10th Garrison Unit
21st Division
33rd Division
65th Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
2/4th Ind Coy
2/7th Ind Coy
NG Vol Rifles Battalion
2/1st Ind Coy
Lark Force
30th Australian Brigade
21st MAG
13th Fld RAA Regiment
Papuan Inf Battalion
Moresby RAN Stn Base Force
21/22 Field Arty Regiment
4th Aus Lt AA Regiment

India
Last turn I got disappointing results on Colombo's siege (3-to-1 against), this of course means that here too, another chapter is closing, and another crack division ready for redeployment (assuming of course less experienced troops taking over the garrison duties).

On the mainland, very little to talk about, the front had stabilized, in a line from Bezwada to Raipur to Benares.
I have the advantage of rail, so I can quickly redeploy significant # of troops if he decides to advance in any direction.
I also just recently rebased around 80 B-17s from PH to the East Coast US; they will end in India; likely Bombay as starting base, then Hyderabad, Dehli, Cawpore/ Lucknow as soon as their airfield level is good enough.
he managed to trap the 255th armored brigade (near Raipur); every turn he is pounding it with all his bombers, only good news here is that this LCU is still equipped with improvised AFVs so not a big loss

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Ground combat at Colombo (29,48)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28250 troops, 330 guns, 139 vehicles, Assault Value = 853

Defending force 17023 troops, 120 guns, 83 vehicles, Assault Value = 270

Japanese adjusted assault: 685

Allied adjusted defense: 185

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
703 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 63 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1616 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 119 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 28 disabled
Guns lost 22 (3 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards Division
2nd Division
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
56th Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
16th AA Regiment

Defending units:
100th Indian Brigade
99th Indian Brigade
Colombo Fortress
98th Indian Brigade
Ceylon Command
Ceylon Base Force

The Pacific
This is the only theatre with good news, or no news really which is the same [;)]
I haven't have any trouble with my convoys, and this is great. I have recently started to build New Caledonia and Ndeni, both are now in a reasonably good position, if he decides to pay a visit. Moreover, I have several convoys arriving in the next week or so.
If everything goes as planned, then I will start building Luganville too.

Aleutians very quiet, building airfields and forts. By now it will be a severe challenge for Japan to try to come back, unless of course he decides to go for the very inadequate Attu or Kiska which I haven't bothered building or defending.

The Fleet:
And this of course means the USN at PH/ Australia. Everything is slow as most vessels are going through the 04.42 upgrade. In around 6 days I will have most ships ready. But other than raiding, I haven't think about anything to do with it yet.

Talking about raiding, I have one small British TF (2 CL, 4 DDs) sneaking up into the Indian ocean, between Calcutta and Rangoon; we will see if they fish something!
This TF was handpicked based on "withdraw date"; so I really don't care if they end at the bottom

What else, The British fleet is at Bombay, same as with the USN, other than raiding or convoy escorting, I haven't had any idea of what I can do with them, at least short term.

Submarines
Disappointing results for both Japan and the Allies, to put it in #s, my monthly losses to submarines are 4 ships (all either xAKL or xAK), his tally is similar. My results should had been better, but mark 14 defects are a big issue
And I guess we are both too lazy to keep reshuffling submarine patrol zones in a daily basis [>:]

Good to see you're back in form with some good updates!

Looks like he's focusing on NW Australia. With Broome and Horn/Moresby, he's got Darwin pretty well isolated (as I'm finding out the hard way). Hopefully you've built up the interior bases in Aus (Tennant Creek/Daly Waters/Katherine) to move some supply north.

My bet is a landing at Wyndham is next....

Wish I could offer some help on China, but I hate China and am not doing much better!

Thanks, yes I also bet he will focus on NW Australia; problem is that after Port Moresby (should fall in the next couple turns) and Soerabaja (fall in the next ~10 turns)
he will have a surplus of around 5 divisions; I have nothing like that in NW Australia, Darwin is just a collection of weak troops in a L4 fort. I think I will soon start moving out all non-critical troops down south.

Based on Port Moresby's experience, he will start bombing and naval bombarding Darwin in a daily basis. He has all the Java and New Guinea 2-engine bombers + the battleship fleet + AKEs.
So, I need to define which troops are more valuable in the south. Of course I have nothing to gain or lose, until he reaches the outskirts of Alice Springs, there I can finally fight under relatively equal conditions.

This of course assumes a NW approach. If he tries NE, then I can have a credible defense.

About China; we all know it is the weakest link of WitPAE and that it is an unwinnable, unrealistic JFB wet dream...
my main concern to be honest, is that I don't want to get the record Guinness on the fastest total defeat; you know, being that dude that lost China in 6 months [:D]

More on Port Moresby, this is the kind of naval bombardment I am getting regularly:

Night Naval bombardment of Port Moresby at 98,130

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
CA Myoko
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Yukikaze
DD Natsushio
DD Kuroshio
TB Hatsukari
DMS W-19
DMS W-18

Allied ground losses:
235 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 14 (3 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 28
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 2

BB Fuso firing at Port Moresby
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for CA Myoko
CA Myoko firing at Port Moresby
DD Tokitsukaze firing at Port Moresby
DD Yukikaze firing at Port Moresby
DD Natsushio firing at Port Moresby
DD Kuroshio firing at Port Moresby
TB Hatsukari firing at Port Moresby
DMS W-19 firing at 30th Australian Brigade
DMS W-18 firing at Port Moresby


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Night Naval bombardment of Port Moresby at 98,130

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
CA Mogami
CA Chokai
DD Akigumo
DD Yugumo

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

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2
Port hits 1

BB Hyuga firing at Port Moresby
BB Ise firing at Port Moresby
CA Mogami firing at 30th Australian Brigade
E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for CA Chokai
CA Chokai firing at 30th Australian Brigade
DD Akigumo firing at 30th Australian Brigade
DD Yugumo firing at Port Moresby

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Morning Air attack on Lark Force , at 98,130 (Port Moresby)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 5 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 30th Australian Brigade ...
Also attacking Lark Force ...

I think I am having a synch bug;

I lost Colombo during last turn, this according to the turn file. However, I didn't during the combat replay; is there anything to do about it??
would this fix itself??


Turn file
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Ground combat at Colombo (29,48)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27837 troops, 330 guns, 139 vehicles, Assault Value = 808

Defending force 15930 troops, 117 guns, 83 vehicles, Assault Value = 150

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 621

Allied adjusted defense: 154

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Colombo !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
527 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
20432 casualties reported
Squads: 326 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1270 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 46 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 92 (92 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 96 (96 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 6

Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards Division
2nd Division
56th Field Artillery Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
16th AA Regiment

Defending units:
Colombo Fortress
99th Indian Brigade
100th Indian Brigade
98th Indian Brigade
Ceylon Command
Ceylon Base Force


Combat replay
Ground combat at Colombo (29,48)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27837 troops, 330 guns, 139 vehicles, Assault Value = 808

Defending force 15930 troops, 117 guns, 83 vehicles, Assault Value = 150

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 500

Allied adjusted defense: 239

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
202 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1374 casualties reported
Squads: 49 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 13 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 23 (17 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Imperial Guards Division
2nd Division
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
56th Field Artillery Regiment
16th AA Regiment

Defending units:
100th Indian Brigade
99th Indian Brigade
Colombo Fortress
98th Indian Brigade
Ceylon Command
Ceylon Base Force

Talking about submarines...

another f-ing disappointment... I think this is the 4th time I have a Japanese carrier on the crosshair.
this was South of Rabaul; the submarine was lost afterwards; this after repeated bombings from Kates

also a tanker in the home islands, both submarines were "good ones"... [:@]

he, in the other hand, sunk 2 small xAKLs close to Perth

I got a consolation prize, with PB Sento Maru eating a fish



Sub attack near Woodlark Island at 106,130

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
BB Hiei
CA Chikuma
CS Chitose
DD Natsugumo
DD Harusame
DD Murasame
DD Minegumo
DD Yamagumo

Allied Ships
SS S-43

SS S-43 launches 4 torpedoes at CV Shokaku
S-43 diving deep ....

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Submarine attack near Perth at 48,145

Japanese Ships
SS I-29

Allied Ships
xAKL Mulcra, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

xAKL Mulcra is sighted by SS I-29
SS I-29 launches 2 torpedoes at xAKL Mulcra

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Submarine attack near Perth at 48,145

Japanese Ships
SS I-29

Allied Ships
xAKL Karuah, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage

xAKL Karuah is sighted by SS I-29
SS I-29 attacking xAKL Karuah on the surface
Massive explosion on xAKL Karuah


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Sub attack near Tokara Retto at 99,63

Japanese Ships
TK San Ramon Maru
TK Nissyo Maru
TB Hato

Allied Ships
SS Grayling

SS Grayling launches 4 torpedoes at TK San Ramon Maru
Grayling diving deep ....
TB Hato attacking submerged sub ....
TB Hato fails to find sub, continues to search...
TB Hato fails to find sub, continues to search...
TB Hato fails to find sub, continues to search...
TB Hato fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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Sub attack near Truk at 111,111

Japanese Ships
PB Sento Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
PB Hitora Maru

Allied Ships
SS Cuttlefish

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

I think I am having a synch bug;

Not sure if there is any sure fire preventive. It happens in my PBEM every once in a while - no idea why. L_S_T thinks it has something to do if he (Jpn) exits out of the replays. In any event the best we've come up with is having the Jpn player send the combat report files as well as the replay and the turn. Once I run the replay, I paste in the combat report files before I run tracker and combat reporter - that at least gives me ground truth at that point.

I've said to myself quite a few times "Man! I hope this isn't the synch bug!" after a good combat result - and of course the opposite for a bad result.

Thanks, I will keep comparing the combat report and replay to watch out for synch issues

Not a lot to say about the last couple turns:

- The British raiders on the Indian ocean found a single PB near Calcutta, which they promptly sunk... Afterwards some Mavis and Sally bombers attempted (and failed) to harm them.
This is of course bad news, as he will now send his hordes to hunt the British. I guess at the very least it will help me identify the forces available in the Indian Ocean and as I mentioned before, I selected all ships based on withdrawal date. Meaning that those that are not sink will withdraw soon.

This is from the enhanced art mod... Although I think, in this case I prefer the old one...



- I started night bombing Coconada; this with 2-E British bombers. Damage was negligible, but I will keep doing so, as this will keep him from building forts

- Got some unescorted Lillies over Soerabaja; nevertheless he managed to bomb the airfield. This of course I don't care, as this will be soon his airfield. In the meantime I kept bombing oil fields in Tdjepoe.
Also, DD Tenedos will try to run away, it was heavily damaged long time ago and system damage is 50... but this is the last chance to save it.



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Night Time Surface Combat, near Diamond Harbour at 51,40, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Kohuku Maru, Shell hits 21, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Enterprise
CL Emerald
DD Pakenham
DD Paladin
DD Panther

Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 96% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 10,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 10,000 yards
CL Emerald launches Torpedoes at PB Kohuku Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Pakenham launches Torpedoes at PB Kohuku Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages PB Kohuku Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Panther engages PB Kohuku Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Pakenham engages PB Kohuku Maru at 5,000 yards
Asada, K. orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Emerald engages PB Kohuku Maru at 2,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages PB Kohuku Maru at 2,000 yards
PB Kohuku Maru sunk by CL Emerald at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...



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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cuttack at 48,38

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
H6K4 Mavis x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4 Mavis: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Emerald

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x H6K4 Mavis launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 45cm Type 91 Torp



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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cuttack at 48,38

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Enterprise

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

On April 29th, a quiet turn, the British raiders escaped all detection; however somehow the next day, 2 cruiser TFs found them without any help from air search.
I guess early war, with a good roll, the IJN gets the equivalent of a phased array radar [:(] I don't think there had been one instance in the whole war where the Allies were capable of raiding + withdrawing; it is always that after one or two turns, the enemy somehow always spot them with multiple TFs, regardless of detection levels!

Long story short, they were massacred; 3 battles against a cruiser TF, followed by 2 additional battles against a second cruiser TF. Only positive was a destroyer getting in a collision, it might or not survive. Everybody else will certainly survive.



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Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 48,52, Range 22,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 2
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 1
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 2
DD Makigumo, Shell hits 2
DD Arashi, Shell hits 1
DD Hagikaze
DD Kasumi
DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Satsuki, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Enterprise, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Emerald, Shell hits 16, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Pakenham
DD Paladin, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
DD Panther, Shell hits 1

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 22,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 22,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CL Enterprise at 22,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CL Emerald at 24,000 yards
Task forces break off...


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Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 47,53, Range 24,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 1
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 1
CL Kitakami
DD Makigumo, Shell hits 3
DD Arashi, Shell hits 1
DD Hagikaze, Shell hits 2
DD Kasumi
DD Shirayuki, on fire
DD Satsuki

Allied Ships
CL Enterprise, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
CL Emerald, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Pakenham, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
DD Paladin, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Panther, Shell hits 1

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 24,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards
CL Enterprise engages CA Ashigara at 18,000 yards
DD Makigumo engages DD Paladin at 9,000 yards
Task forces break off...


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Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 47,54, Range 21,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CL Isuzu
CL Kitakami
DD Makigumo
DD Arashi
DD Hagikaze
DD Kasumi
DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Satsuki

Allied Ships
CL Enterprise, heavy fires
CL Emerald, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Pakenham, heavy fires
DD Paladin, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Panther, Shell hits 1

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 23,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
CL Kitakami engages CL Enterprise at 21,000 yards
CL Kitakami collides with DD Shirayuki at 47 , 54
DD Panther engages DD Makigumo at 16,000 yards
Ichimiya, Yoshiyuki orders Japanese TF to disengage



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Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 46,55, Range 25,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Atago, Shell hits 2
DD Hibiki
DD Isonami
DD Shikinami

Allied Ships
CL Enterprise, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
CL Emerald, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Pakenham, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Paladin, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
DD Panther, Shell hits 1, on fire

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 25,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 25,000 yards
CA Atago engages DD Pakenham at 25,000 yards



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Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Blair at 46,55, Range 24,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Atago, on fire
DD Hibiki
DD Isonami
DD Shikinami

Allied Ships
CL Emerald, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
DD Panther, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 24,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 24,000 yards

The last couple turns have been quiet; some small highlights:

- Port Moresby was reduced to fort level 0; there is a good chance it will fall today.

- Japanese bombing of Soerabaja has almost completely eliminated what is left of the Dutch fighter squadrons

- DD Tenedos, a survivor of Palembang raid, is getting close to Perth. This destroyer was severely damaged in a bombing raid at Soerabaja a month ago, and PresterJohn kept increasing the damage with regular bombings every 5 to 7 days.
Some turns ago, I decided to take the chance; with system at 50, float 12, engine 13, Tenedos left Soerabaja at full speed. It was spotted by a Japanese submarine, RO-34, last turn; near Exmouth... I guess unless it is very unlucky or there is a Japanese TF nearby, it should reach Perth and safety

As predicted and as broadcasted by Tokyo Rose: Port Moresby fell hitting another blow to Allies moral.
All troops surrendered.

In better news, CL Abukuma was torpedoed by S-42 near Port Moresby.

Also, all CVs ended their upgrades, which mean I can now start thinking on some limited offensive operations. Moreover, I have all surface combatants either already upgraded or in process. There won't be any more USN battles without radar (early radar, though but still),

Only submarines, cargo ships and auxiliaries are not yet up to 05.42 upgrade standards.
Submarines will be upgraded as soon as they finish their patrols, as I want them to have radar ASAP. Cargo and auxiliaries as soon as I can spare them from their duties, here I don't see an urgency as they are getting 20mm AA or small caliber naval guns... and are as helpless with or without them

In China, lost of battles, with inevitably bad results; I won them all, but the lack of supply means he will recover his losses, I won't




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Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27138 troops, 230 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 643

Defending force 6193 troops, 123 guns, 111 vehicles, Assault Value = 96

Japanese adjusted assault: 441

Allied adjusted defense: 89

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Moresby !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
312 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
6186 casualties reported
Squads: 156 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 270 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 154 (154 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 125 (125 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 9

Assaulting units:
10th Garrison Unit
33rd Division
21st Division
65th Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
30th Australian Brigade
Moresby RAN Stn Base Force
21st MAG
Papuan Inf Battalion
21/22 Field Arty Regiment
Lark Force
NG Vol Rifles Battalion
13th Fld RAA Regiment
4th Aus Lt AA Regiment


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Sub attack near Port Moresby at 98,133

Japanese Ships
CL Abukuma, Torpedo hits 1
BB Ise
BB Fuso
CA Mogami
CA Myoko
CA Chokai
CL Nagara
DD Natsushio
DD Kuroshio
DD Yugumo
DD Wakaba
DD Hatsushima
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Yukikaze

Allied Ships
SS S-42

SS S-42 launches 4 torpedoes at CL Abukuma
DD Wakaba fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Hatsushima fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Tokitsukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yukikaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Tokitsukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tokitsukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tokitsukaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tokitsukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Ground combat at 81,49 (near Changteh)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 53355 troops, 457 guns, 68 vehicles, Assault Value = 1293

Defending force 47952 troops, 222 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1250

Japanese adjusted assault: 559

Allied adjusted defense: 1871

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
3451 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 424 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 36 disabled
Guns lost 28 (1 destroyed, 27 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
856 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 85 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Assaulting units:
35th Division
13th Division
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
34th Division
32nd Division

Defending units:
18th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
87th Chinese Corps
94th Chinese Corps


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Ground combat at Wenchow (89,58)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27214 troops, 252 guns, 30 vehicles, Assault Value = 854

Defending force 26131 troops, 94 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 746

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 581

Allied adjusted defense: 1333

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
1974 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 189 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 22 disabled
Guns lost 23 (1 destroyed, 22 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
233 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Assaulting units:
39th Division
116th Division
4th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
28th Chinese Corps
70th Chinese Corps
100th Chinese Corps
25th Group Army
14th Chinese Base Force


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Ground combat at Shaoyang (80,52)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30130 troops, 356 guns, 143 vehicles, Assault Value = 1159

Defending force 26298 troops, 96 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 533

Japanese adjusted assault: 648

Allied adjusted defense: 321

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1369 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 96 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 24 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (2 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1030 casualties reported
Squads: 93 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Assaulting units:
40th Division
22nd Division
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
104th Division
20th Ind Engineer Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
21st Mortar Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
23rd Army
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

Defending units:
46th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Corps
79th Chinese Corps
9th Group Army
2nd Chinese Base Force
7th Chinese Base Force

It's being a while, turns had progressed slowly. Date is now May 8th, and few changes from last post:

India
Some turns ago my subs hit a transport TF near Ramree Island, sinking escort E Ishigaki, this is good of course, but more important was the intelligence provided; look at the TF composition:
E Ishigaki, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LSD Shinshu Maru
AK Yamasimo Maru
AK Amagisan Maru
xAP Naminoue Maru
xAP Kobe Maru
xAP Atsuta Maru
xAP Hakusan Maru
xAP Hakone Maru
xAP Brazil Maru
xAP Kamakura Maru
xAP Tatsuta Maru
E Kunashiri

Allied Ships
SS Trusty

That's a lot of ships, including Japan's best, if not the only LSD. I don't know if he was moving troops to India or returning, but I can now need to assume that at least the equivalent of another full division is operating in India.


What else, he has been bombing Madras, and I have good intelligence he would like to get it. The bombing and sweeps were so intense I had to withdraw all my squadrons, but I also move significant AA there and they slaughtered his bombers. To the point that last turn he stopped bombing.
For some reason, he was bombing industry, which kind of puzzles me, I mean I have no need for supply or HI, as I am moving tons from off map... Maybe he plans long siege? if he cuts my supply path, then the light and heavy industry becomes important. Just in case, I have increased the stockpiling rate so it will take a long time to run out of supply. I have also moved some American LCUs there.

I am at 1,255 PP and counting the days until I have enough to buy another USA division

I am doing night bombings at Coconada, I don't think it is doing any damage, but his fighters can't either catch me... Hopefully this will at the very least increase experience.

Forgot to mention: The RN will do a little test near Colombo, details to follow

Also in May 8th:

Soerabaja fell, and with it the entire Dutch East Indies.
Still there are surviving bomber and patrol squadrons plus 2 cruisers, few destroyers and several merchant vessels that will carry the torch during these dark days.

More than 3 IJA divisions are now free to redeploy. I bet he will send them to Northern Australia, where I am slowly building forces.

I am also building the Pacific islands; New Caledonia and Suva are now ready while there is a division + supporting troops a few days away from Luganville.

The USN is iddle, except for escort or distant support to the Pacific convoys... I just don't see where can I use it right now

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Ground combat at Soerabaja (56,104)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 39577 troops, 399 guns, 184 vehicles, Assault Value = 1129

Defending force 12390 troops, 155 guns, 23 vehicles, Assault Value = 187

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 285

Allied adjusted defense: 80

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Soerabaja !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1163 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 123 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
12999 casualties reported
Squads: 343 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 786 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 114 (114 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 23 (23 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 17

Assaulting units:
4th Division
14th Division
56th Recon Regiment
124th Infantry Regiment
10th Division
4th Engineer Co
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
Prajoeda Cdo
I/II Barisan Cdo
6th KNIL Regiment
3rd Cav Sqdn
II Landstorm Cdo
Roodenburg Cdo
Tjepoe Cdo
Marinier Battalion
NI-MLD
A-II-Ld AA Battalion
Madoeng Defenses
Soerabaja Defenses
III/IV Barisan Cdo
Soerabaja KM Base Force
HQ III KNIL Division
III Landstorm Cdo
VLG-II Sup Groep

Here are the losses as of May 8th, almost exactly 5 months after the day of infamy

For reference, also included the last two times I made a summary (end of December and early February)

Capital ships lost are BC Repulse and BB Ramillies
1st rate cruiser are CA and "good" CLs; I have lost 5: Houston, Boise, Pensacola, Mauritius and Cornwalls.
Most of these losses in the early stages of the war. Japan had not lost anything on these 2 categories



2nd rate cruisers are old CLs, WW1 designs, destroyer leaders and those pacifist Dutch government designs. Disposable ships and I had lost many. CL Adelaide, CL Caledon, CL Ceres, CL Danae, CL Dauntless, CL Durban, CL Java, CL Tromp, CL Emerald, CL Enterprise
Most recent losses happened in the Indian ocean during my defense of Ceylon.

Destroyer category includes anything that is or was a destroyer or torpedo boat. My recent losses are mostly Clemson APDs sunk while trying to relief Port Moresby and the Indian Ocean foray with "soon to withdraw" British ships.

Neat utility - what is it?

Am I reading this right - you've sunk a total of 22 DDs or 22 in May? Either way, that's a lot of DDs that will have long term impact!