Speedy vs Swift - Jap perspective. Fight to the death

[DuckofTindalos]

But not unheard of. I had one of my battleships hit by a Jap aerial torpedo once to 10 or 12 sys and something like 2 flt...

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

A good day for F1/Yamada Daitai based at Akyab. They had been ordered to ambush enemy Hurricanes and Wellingtons bombing 33rd Division positions outside Kohima. 9 A6M3 met the enemy late morning. They had a field day. 9 x Hurricane and 1 x Wellington were shot down for the loss of 1 x Japanese machine. CPO E. Nakasawa achieved his 6, 7, 8 and 9th kill in 1 day!

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A quiet day everywhere else.

Enemy submarine spotted near Victoria Point. 5 x DD en route.

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Mandalay is to launch it's first raid in a long time on enemy airfields at Kohima. 2 x Sally, 1 x Helen Sentai will be escorted by some new toys - 2 x Tony, 1 x Tojo Sentai. Recon indicates only a few Hurricanes on CAP.........

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

An I-boat finds a convoy inbetween Jarvis Island and Canton Island. I-31 slipped through the escort and hit troop carrying AK Murzim with a torpedo[:)]

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As planned Mandalay launched against Kohima. Only 1 x Hurricane was found on CAP. This git was SLDR I. Davies who despite facing over 100 enemy fighters shot down 3 x Tony before being shot down himself (fate unknown). A couple of Wellington were destroyed on the ground.

Werner launched heavy attacks against my division outside of Kohima. As such i'm resting my fighters tomorrow and will then LRCAP on 9th.

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Noumea hit again.

In total today:

Allied lost 28 planes.
Japanese lost 7 planes.

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4th Mixed Rgt. Embarking heading for Rangoon and ultimately to be flown into Imphal once captured by parachutists.

CV Kaga upgraded today.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Well bad weather prevented Noumea being bombed. Werner bombs my troops at Kohima again. Just thought my Tony/Tojo can't LRCAP there from Mandalay....it's too far. They are ordered to escort LBA to Kohima's airfields tomorrow.

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AK Brazil Maru hit a sub laid mine at Takamatsu. She'll be fine once in Osaka's port.

SS Sailfish was intercepted by 5 x IJN DD's near Victoria Point. Slight damage.

SS Truant hit the empty transport Manzyu Maru near Georgetown. She will reach Singapore and repair.

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AP's continue to bring men towards Rangoon - Rgts, Para's, Aviation Support etc.

CV's continue to rest and upgrade in Japan.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

A series of fun air battle over Kohima.

A large army raid hit Allied airfields late morning. 9 x Spit and 7 x Hurri were on CAP. My 110 escorts shot them all down for the loss of 6 x Tony.

Laster on in the day Allied attacks tried to bomb 33rd Division positions around Kohima. 6 x A6M3 Veterans were on CAP throughot the day and they performed well. They shot down 6 x Hurricane, 2 x Spitfire, 1 x SB-2 and 1 x Mitchell for the loss of 3 Zeroes and only 1 pilot[&o]

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Noumea was hit heavily again from Lugaville. Only 2 x Mohawk on CAP.

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ASW Forces tried to attack SS Pickerel NW of Victoria Point. Unknown damage.

Here's the air losses for the day:

[pauk]

good work with your Air force! Keep the good work... what is the status of your IJN/IJA AF? .. Could you post a map with borders of the Empire?

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi Pauk - sure can. Will do next turn. My AF is in GOOD shape in general.

IJAAF is doing ver good with units in China/Burma and South Pacific in good shape nd ready for action.

KB is a mixed bag - i've not lost a CV but I lost a lot of trained Val/Kate pilots when I attacked Auckland (AI sending unescorted strikes[8|]). I DON'T do bombigntraining though so am training normally.

IJNAF is also in good shape. I am doing well in keeping him surpressed.

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SS Pickerel was located again by my ASW TF NW of Victoria Point. After DC attacks debris
surfaced and the sub was reported heavily damaged.......

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Kohima was attacked from Mandalay again. For once here's a CR:

Day Air attack on Kohima , at 34,25

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 63
Ki-21 Sally x 33
Ki-49 Helen x 27
Ki-46-II Dinah x 5

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 2 destroyed

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 34

Aircraft bombing at 12000 feet

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Pauksan the map of the Empire is attached. Next area for conquest - New Caledonia. Once my CV's have finished upgrading/repairing we move.

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Bad weather prevented LBA from Luganville taking off to attack Noumea.

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DD Shikinami hit a mine at Georgetown. Moderate damage.

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35th Bde arrives on the Dacca Rail line to strengthen positions there - 19th and 20th Divisions are marching from Akyab:

Ground combat at 31,25

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3152 troops, 113 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2752

Defending force 89564 troops, 896 guns, 270 vehicles, Assault Value = 1809


Japanese ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

A submarine attack!

SS I-5 found ML Prins van Oranje 360 miles WSW of Noumea (they must be rough seas down there!) 2 torpedoes hit home breaking the small ship in 2. Enemy DD's dropped several DC's some near. I-5 is going to truk for repair. Well done boys.

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Mandalay LBA hit Ledo today with good effect.

34 x Hurri were on CAP but 19 of those were shot down for the loss of 4 x Tony. A further 9 x Dakota were torched on the ground. We go again tomorrow.

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Noumea hit again with a small air raid. Very few enemy planes there nowadays. It can rot until KB and 100,000's of troops arrive.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

A bad day for the Empire in Burma.

My follow up raid on Ledo was fragmented and only 4 x Tony kept escorting the bombers. 32 x Spit and Hurri were on CAP and I lost 9 x bomber and 1 x Tony.

Then my 7 x A6M3 on CAP over Kohima found the enemy had retreated his airforces out of China and escorted his bombers with the AVG. All 7 Veterans wee shot down for the loss of 4 enemy planes.

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The saving grace was the smashing of Noumea again which destroyed 25 more planes on the ground.

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1st Av. Rgt unloding at Rangoon. 2nd Para. should be there within 2 days.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

A fairly quiet turn with bad weather preventing all air operations over Burma.

Noumea was bombed and look what I see for the first time:

Day Air attack on Noumea , at 68,113

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 51
G3M Nell x 24
G4M1 Betty x 54
H8K Emily x 4

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 7 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 2 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed
P-36A Mohawk: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 38

Aircraft bombing at 10000 feet

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CV Zuikakau received her 7/42 upgrade today (only leaves CV Akagi to get her 42 upgrade - currently at 33 SYS). Once her and CV Kaga are repaired to 0 SYS damage the fleet will leave Tokyo and troops will be embarked at Truk and Luganville for the invasion of New Caledonia.

[Mike Solli]

That sucks, Speedy.

One P-38 down, about a billion to go.....

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Noumea was pounded during the day destroying 28 planes on the ground for 3 ops losses.

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SS KXV hit the empty AP Asama Maru with a torpedo 60 miles SW of Rangoon. She is to return to Rangoon for emergency repairs.

Within a week Aviation support, Para's and 2 x Bde's will be in Rangoon for the capture of Imphal.

[Rob Brennan UK]

Nice going getting that ML too .. dratted things [:D].

Looking forward to your attempt to get Noumea sometime ..

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi Rob - me too. This sitzkreig is not overly exciting for me. I aim to depart all invasion shipping to Truk within 2 weeks. Then soon after the warships will follow.

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Only notable action today was over Noumea:

Day Air attack on Noumea , at 68,113

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 51
G3M Nell x 27
G4M1 Betty x 53
H8K Emily x 4

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 4 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 2 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 3 destroyed
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 5 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Spitfire Vb: 5 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
46 casualties reported

Airbase hits 22
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 52

Aircraft bombing at 10000 feet

[Mike Solli]

Speedy, where are those planes coming from that are attacking Noumea? Lunga?

[Rob Brennan UK]

Is he just leaving a/c on the runway for target practise ? dont want to lose valuable lightnings like that. very odd.

Edit .. yes they are lunga based Mike .

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi Mike/Rob - they are Luganville based, Espiritu Santo. Rob no ideas. There are fewer planes around nowadays. Today for example I only torched 5 planes at Noumea.

Werner massed his largest raid in Burma today on 33rd Division at Kohima. 100's of planes bombed it from Ledo, Jorhat and Dimapur. Can't wait to take Imphal to have a forward base for Tony's and Tojo's.

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22nd Ind. Mixed Brigade began embarkation at Taan bound for Rangoon.

23rd Aviation Rgt is unloading at Rangoon.

I have started initial movements for the invasion of New Caledonia. 4 x BF are being loaded in Tokyo for Noumea. Also transports and freighters are leaving Japan for Luganville - to load the LCU's based there for New Caledonia.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

2 day updates whilst it is slow....that won't be for a lot longer though.

Usual bombing of Noumea from Luganville torching about 35 planes over the 2 days.....including some precious Spitfire Vb's and P38G's.

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All troops have successfuly disembarked at Rangoon now....just the 22nd Ind. Mixed Brigade travelling from Taan to go.

I will begin paratroops landings at Imphal within a week.

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CV Kaga down to 1 SYS and CV Zuikaku down to 3 SYS.......very soon it will be time for the Combined Fleet to form again.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Preparations continue...........

Noumea was bombed again for 24 planes today.

Heavy Allied bombing strike on troops at Kohima...I hope to stop this soon when Imphal is captured with Tonies and Tojos:

Day Air attack on 33rd Division, at 34,25


Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 17
Hurricane II x 29
Spitfire Vb x 12
Wellington III x 30
P-40B Tomahawk x 36
B-25C Mitchell x 27
SB-2c x 29


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
117 casualties reported
Guns lost 5