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Michael - I think you need to go back and read post # 49 where I outline my offensive plans. [:D]
 
I haven't gotten into India/Burma yet, but plans are there as well (stay tuned). He doesn't like to keep any LBA too far forward as my 4e bombers will come and lay waste to his AF and he has experienced them reaching out as far as Hanoi from Chittagong, Lautem from Katherine, and now Lae from Portland Roads/Cooktown and Lunga from Luganville. I have 3 Allied "Death Stars" - soon to be close to 250 B-24/Liberator IIIs in India; and two smaller one in Australia and South Pacific (about 150 - 200 each). The 2 smaller one's could be combined and will be soon when I try to land in the Solomons and New Guinea.
 
I have only gotten the P-38Gs since 10/42 and after this last KB visit, I am down 1 months production. [:(]  I have Spitfires and Corsairs starting this month. I now have 3 squadrons of them. Next month I get the newer Wildcats and will replace my CV F4F-4s. These are my first second generation figthers. I have Darwin to train my pilots and Burma for them. I have had very little a2a in South Pacific amd Central Pacific. Thus, most figthers are around 60 or below experience. I plan to use the the dot base in the Ellice Islands to train upon before moving into the Gilberts and Solomons.  His A6M3a have done very well to date.
 
Things are in motion.
Be patient my young Jedi. [:D] 

1/27/43 to 2/1/43 KB leaves the scene

India/Burma:
Daily training runs on both Magwe and Myitkyina continue (weather permitting). Most of my fighters have between 65 and 75 experience levels. LCUs from the front lines and western India continue their march to Calcutta and Dacca for final rest and repairing disabled squads. I should be able to march out of Imphal in about a month. A large BF (90 aviation support) is onboard AKs heading for Calcutta and then to Akyab to bring that base up further (only 60 aviation support there now). A large resupply of Chittagong (100k supply) is almost finished unloading without interference. On the 29th, 47 Heavies (B-24/Lib III) out of Dacca swept by the ineffective 58 A6M3a Zeros and hit 5 APs. Nice to see one of those squadrons drop 2000lb GPs on them. [:D]

China: [>:][>:]
Jon Mark continues to send his Zeros, Nates, and Oscars on training runs over Nanyang without interference from me....yet.

Northern Australia:
The POW camp (over 4 divisions worth of Japanese troops) at Darwin is still recovering from their last deliberate attack. Their AV has gone down from just over 2000 to just over 1600 as recent ground bombardments show. He has divided some of his divisions, but my training continues for my fighters. I now have 4 squadrons of Beaufighters VIC (64 planes) at Katherine to hit his barges coming in. I had moved a P-39 sqaudron into Darwin for low level naval attacks and they were greeted by 24 Zeros on LRCAP of his barges 4 hexes out of Darwin on the 1st with losses of 3 for me. Countermeasures have been taken. [;)]

Eastern Australia:
123 B-24s from Cooktown visit Buna on the 27th and leave the AF full of craters. On the 30th, 59 Oscar IIs do a sweep over Thursday Island with him losing 7 and my 22 Kittyhawks (4) 10 P-39 (6), and 10 P-38 (3). Total 7 to 13. Below is a screen shot of my highly trained bombers (fighters to follow) at Townsville. Not much yet, but their numbers are growing.

South Pacific:
Still the main battle, for now. I-178 torpedoes an AK at Tongatapu and I-26 is sighted on the 27th. 1 PC hits a mine at Naura Island. [:D] PT-124 hits a hit at Funafuti and sinks (but lets me know they are there before something more valuable becomes a minesweep for the first and last time [:D]). 7 subs are spotted in this part of the SP. He has upgraded his Glens to Jakes which have more range. [:@]
On the 29th & 30th, I-178 has moved 2 hexes east of Tongatapu and runs into most of the American fleet heading back there for refueling and over these 2 days recieves 3 direct DC hits and is sunk. ASW forces have begun to move around this area. Some with LRCAP from the rebuilding P-38 squadrons as he has some of them on the outer edge of Bettys range from Tarawa and he may hope I didn't notice this. [;)]
On the 31st, a SC TF of 2BB, 2CA, 2CL, 5DD runs into my 5 PT at Nukufetau. Both leaders don't want combat and no hits are scored. [8|] The BBs & CAs hit the base, but again my planes suffer no damage. Part of me likes this, but this base has been protected again. [&:][&:] Two days of sweeps by A6M3a Zeros from Abemama results in 3 lost to my 5. These are followed by unescorted Bettys (over 70 each time) from Tarawa and he loses 9 to my 2 from both raids.

Central Pacific: [>:][>:]

North Pacific: [>:][>:] 2 x SeaBees and 159 RCT are loading up at Seattle for Amchitka Island. Nothing else going on here.

Comments:
Is it common for BB TF to hit a base and not damage and/or destroy planes on the ground??
I have placed TBF and SBD on the Ellice Islands and am planning to form up 1 large TF to resupply these two islands and bring in CD units and more AA guns. Minelaying will now start arriving from Suva/Wallis Island.
From the more experienced players, what is a good combination for a SC TF?? I am getting more and more of my Fletcher DDs. [:D] I have plenty old and new BB in the area.
Most 2e and 4e bombers around the Suva to Pago Pago area on low level naval search. Got to find and kill his subs.

If he wants to fight around the Ellice Islands, I'm game. [8D] He has only 2 bases while I have 6 other bases beside my two there for support. Thus, I should prevail...I hope.

It would seem foolish for him to provoke a fight in this area to me...

2/2/43 to 2/5/43 - Japanese fighter sweeps and Japanese subs over stay their welcome...and pay the price. [:D]

Note: (#) means how many are lost
India/Burma:
2nd & 3rd - 51 Tony sweep over Akyab (no CAP present!). My training runs over Myitkyina continue.
4th & 5th - 59 Tony sweep over Akyab (no CAP present!). My training runs over Myitkyina are cancelled due to poor weather.

China:
2nd & 3rd - Daily training runs over Nanyang by 27 Zeros, 71 Nates, & 35 Tony.
4th & 5th - Daily training runs over Nanyang by 24 Zeros, 190 Nates, 31 Oscars & 35 Tony. [X(][X(] 150 new fighters now in the training loop.

Northern Australia:
2nd & 3rd - 47 Bettys (17) from Broome hit Daly Waters vs 29 Kittyhawks (2) and 5 loss on the ground. 50 Zeros & 48 Helens from Lautem hit Darwin vs. 7 Spitfire (2) & 6 Kittyhawk I (1). Most of my fighters are recently moved in Dutch fighters and were on ground attack to build up their experience levels. 2 squadrons of Kittyhawks with experience near or at 70 are moved in. [;)]
4th & 5th - 20 A6M3a provide LRCAP over barges coming back from Darwin and 120 miles NW of Darwin run into my 44 Beaufighter VIC (1). 5 barges are hit and 1 sunk. However, he suffers 303 casualties and "may" be trying to start an evac of part of his POWs at Darwin!! 3 ground attacks are performed.

Eastern Australia:
2nd & 3rd - 35 Oscar (3) vs 12 P-39 (6), 6 P-38 (1) over Portland Roads. 11 Oscars (11) escort 30 Nicks (7) in three attacks vs. 31 Kittyhawks (1), 12 P-39 (3), and 19 P-38 (0). My AKs unloading a BF are only straffed.

South Pacific:
2nd - I-36 lingers at Tongatapu and puts in 2 torpedoes in two attacks on an AK and it is sunk. I -23 undergoes 2 separate ASW attacks by 3 PC & 3 SC and avoids any hits 4 hexes due south of Nukufetau. 30 A6M3a Zeros (2) sweep over Nukufetau from Abemama and run into 9 F4F-4 (0)and 14 Kittyhawks I (3).
3rd - 2 Japanese DDs run into 5 PT at Nukufetau and both DDs are sunk!! [&o][&o] Nice to see my PTs be more than just targets. [;)]
4th - I-36 stays one day too late at Tongatapu and is sunk by 7 American DDs.!! I-177 is DC by the same ASW TF, but suffers no hits.
5th - I-177 sinks a TK at Tongatapu with 2 torpedoes, but is unable to celebrate as she is sunk with 3 direct DC hits from my 7 DD ASW TF. [:D] Meanwhile, I-34 recieves 1 direct DC hit from 7 SC 5 hexes NE of this base.

Central Pacific:
4th - 3 B-17s out of Canton miss CL Kinu 5 hexes NW of Canton.
5th - 3 more B-17's miss BB Fuso at the same spot.

North Pacific: [>:][>:]

Comments:
Blackfish puts 2 torpedoes in an AK 7 hexes SE of Tokyo.
9 ships are spotted at 97,93 Spd 14 moving NE from Canton Island - 10 hexes slightly north of Canton. [X(][X(] 4 American CVs head for Jarvis/Christmas Island to follow and the 6 CVE that were going to do a training run on Baker Island are odered to head for the same rondevous point. I have over 45k fuel at Christmas and another 60k of fuel will be diverted there. His "spies" at Tongatapu are no longer there, but I don't know if he has added more CVs to this TF.

Next installment - Fur balls in skies over India/Burma

2/6/43 & 2/7/43 Massive air battles [:)] & Ms Betty hits another TF without CAP. [:@]

India/Burma:
My bombing runs of Magwe and Myitkyina continue.
Imphal - On the 6th, 81 A6M3 Zeros (14) & 54 A6M3a (14) run into 57 Hurricanes (13), 18 P-40E (13), & 12 Hurricane IID/IV (8). On the 7th, the numbers are less. 64 A6M3 915) & 38 A6M3a (6) vs 51 Hurricanes (22), 5 P-40E 91), 7 Hurricane IID/IV (4).
Rangoon - On the 6th, 71 Liberator III (2) run into 38 Tony (3) on CAP. Minor AF damage done. The 7th is a better day. [:D] 17 Tonys rise up vs. 27 Liberator III & 114 B-24s. His losses are 10 Tony, 10 Helens, 2 Oscars, 3 Dinah. AF damage is left at 45.
Akyab - On the 6th, 74 Liz (2)from Bangkok hit AF and a similar force hits it on the 7th. damage is AF runway 28 and service 42.
Cox Bazar - On the 6th, 80 Oscar (20) escort 156 Helens (13) [X(] and my CAP of 38 F4F-4 (7), 43 Hurricane (16), 14 Kittyhawk (1). On the 7th, 49 Oscars (3) & 116 Helens (9) vs. 9 F4F-4 (2), 6 Hurricanes (2), 7 Kittyhawks (3). AF damage is runway at 58 and service at 27.

China:
7th - Nanyang gets its daily training of 26 Zeros, 161 Nates, 32 Oscars, 11 Tojo, 35 Tonys. After the losses of these 2 days, we both need replacments.

Northern Australia:
6 ground attacks happen over both days. My fighters experience continues to grow. [:D]

Eastern Australia:

South Pacific:
6th - 45 Betty (2) hit my 5 MSW minesweeping at Funafuti and sink 3 of them. [:(][:@] I left the TF without LRCAP....again. He can send his A6M3a to Nukufetau at max range, but this base is 1 hex too far for them. I have to learn this lesson now as a major resupply (supply, fuel, SB, AA) for this base is at Wallis Island waiting for the port size to go to a size 2 before moving (this will speed up the unloading process). It is at port 1(1) 71%

Central Pacific:
6th - 2BB, 2CA, 2CL, 5DD run into my 5 PT at Canton and sink 1 PT before bombardment of the island. 6 B-17 & 10 B-24 miss a BB & DD retreating 5 hexes from Canton

North Pacific: [>:][>:]

Japan:
Blackfish get DC by Japanese ASW forces. Damage is 24/69/0. Back to Pearl we go.

Comments:
His CV TF is now 5 hexes NW of Palmrya. Where he is going and what his intentions are unclear?? He had made a previous "tour" with KB (8CV) around Midway, Johnson, and Palmrya less than 4 months ago and lost over 50 Vals/Kates for damaging my AFs. I still don't know what the exact composition is. [&:] I have shifted B-17/24 from Luganville to Canton and then those at Canton back to Pearl. I have almost 200 F/FB at Pearl, but most have less than 60 experience (but he doesn't know that). We shall see what happens.

Air losses this turn were high for both. The silver lining for me was it wasn't my P-38 Lightnings that just got smacked at Suva a week earlier. The damage is spread over airframes I can take the hit with (Kittyhawks, Hurricanes, Wildcats). Most of the squadrons have been moved back to Calcutta for rebuilding and R & R.

The next turn (not yet posted in AAR) has over 300 Japanese planes "training" in China (26 A6M2 Zeros, 201 Nates [X(], 33 Oscars, 25 Tojo, 36 Tony). He has lost over 300 planes in the last 4 days to my 150. My plans to deal with this are months into the future. I get a large BF (aviation support 90) and an Aviation Rgt (270) later this month.
 
For those who have played this far or further, what is the best way to put a serious hurt on this training program??  He is basing them all at Ichang and going to Nanyang. I have all the Chinese fighters in India with most of them engaged in training or CAP in Ceylon and Madras with a few involved in the daily training runs over Myitkyina to get their experince levels up. Ideally, I want them around 65 to 75 before the P-40N arrive in 4/43 at 75 per month. Are the P-43 Lancers and P-66 Vanguards any good to throw that way now??
 
Just found out that my new Australian Boomerang II can be used to upgrade the Wirra "Coffins." [:D]  I have 6 squadrons that will be upgrading to them over the next few months (I get 40 per month). How are they in a2a combat?? I see they have better range and climb than a Spit, but slightly less manuever (by 2), everything else is equal.
 
British CV fighters - I'm just getting the new Wildcat VI and saw that the reinforcement CVs come with them already. Do I upgrade all my existing CVs (3) to these over Seafire I/II, Fulmar, and Marlet??
 
 
Managing your Allied fighter pools - I'm learning that I "may" have tried to upgrade too many squadrons to newer fighters and don't have the replacments ready to refill fighters after the carnage over India/Burma.   Our a2a has been hit and miss most of the game as he pulled back from most forward bases due to my 4e menace (I could pretty much lay waste to bases to close to the front lines and within range of mutual fighters).  What do most Allied players like to keep for pools on a particular fighter before they upgrade existing fighters?? 
 
I have P-39D forever and want them to go to P-38G Lightnings, but they took a months worth of production away when KB came for a visit. I'm slowly upgrading Hurricanes to Spitfires (only 30 per month), but thankfully I found out the Boomerang II can be used for RAAF squadrons and thus spread out my pool to multiple plane types.
 
Comments, guys??

2/8/43 to 2/13/43
A2A in India/Burma continues to see significant daily losses for both sides
KB, Yamato, & Musashi visit Ellice Islands [X(]

India/Burma:
8th/9th - I get two days of training in over Myitkyina and one day over Magwe unopposed. A combination of A6M3 & A6M3a take on my CAP over Imphal over two days with me losing 17 P-40E. Why is is so hard to shoot down the A6M3a?? I don't know if its the plane or he has his best pilots in them, but they doing the most damage to date. His 4e bombers, Liz, come from Bangkok to hit Imphal. I manage to destroy 10 out of 43. [:D] I've had very little success to date with his 4e menace. [:(] He feels he has too many Betty and they come in unescorted to Calcutta. 27 out of 92 are destroyed with another 45 damaged by my old Mohawks and flak (flak in India is just plan nasty). [:D]
10th/11th - My training runs over Myitkyina are interrupted by 10 Tonys flying LRCAP for Mandalay. I lose 2 planes to 0 Tonys. A heavy raid on Chittagong by 50 (6) Oscars and 155 (15) Helens run into 21 (6) Hurricanes, 7 (2) P-40E, 21 P-38G, 10 (2) P-38F. I lose 6 2e bombers on the ground. The bombers are moved back to safer bases while the fighters duke it out.
12th/13th - Training runs over Myitkyina go in unopposed. Allied "Death Star" of 120 B-24 from Dacca hit Rangoon. I put most of them at 30k (a few of the squadrons at 25k) and am glad to see reports that his fighters (Tony & Oscars) cannot reach them at 30k. [:D] Less damage to his planes and AF, but also less damage to my planes. I may need to do this as my Liberator III need significant rest to recover morale. However, I get 4 more squadrons of B-24 over the next 34 days at Aden. Then, I can combine both 4e bomber types to have a strike of over 200. I have 1 squadron of Spitfires at recovering fatigue/morale with another of Hurricanes at Asanol needing another 4 days before enough Spits are available for upgrade. Both squadrons have experince above 75 (my best in theater).

China:
8th/9th - WOW!! Over 300 planes on a training run over Nanyang.
10th/11th - Only 247 on training runs. Maybe some Nates upgraded??
12th/13th: [>:] Is this a good thing??

Northern Australia:
8th/9th - 5 training runs on the POWs at Darwin. This base is my best training facility as I now have 150 aviation support here and can do daily runs with minimal fatigue and moral losses. [&o]
10th/11th - 7 training runs completed. [:D] Barge busting Beaufighters VIC sink 3 out of 9 barges making the costly run to Darwin from Lautem. This is now the most dangerous job in the Japanese military. [:D]
12th/13th - Helens switch over to night attacks on Darwin and he losses 3 over both days. My NF at Cooktown will get their pilots sober and be moved over. [:D] 5 out of 11 barges are sunk by Beaufighter VIC and by subs (1 4" shell hit = sunk barge). He sends A6M3 on LRCAP and losses 14 of them to CAP over Darwin while 5 training runs are completed on the POWs with 5 planes lost for me.
Rant - I have a squadron of P-38F on escort (no traget selected) to escort my Beaufighters VIC from Katherine (both based here) on their barge busting missions. Only once did they do so, mostly they went to Darwin to add more CAP which wasn't needed. [:(]

Eastern Australia:
8th/9th - 16 B-24s out of Cooktown put 1 x500 lb bomb in a ML (out of 3) that finds itself at Normanby Island. With the future plans of landing at Milne Bay, this is significiant.
10th/11th - RO-64 is hit by patrols 5 hexes east of Cairns. May be a minelaying operation. Emilys start daily recon runs to both Cairns and Townsville.
12th/13th - Oscars and Nicks run into CAP over Thursday Island as 5 small TK unload fuel. Losses are 8:4 in my favor without any ships hit. 2 out of 3 Kittyhawk squadrons now have experience in low 70s. [:)] 3 RO subs end up at Cairns and 7 MSW
from Townville will go up and say hello. [:D] They will probably miss them, but will be used to sweep mines afterwards.

South Pacific:
8th/9th - The first significant BB TF of the war for the Allies leaves the safety of Nukufetau and hit Nanumea (4BB, 2CA, 4CL, 5DD) before returning to Suva.
10/11th - My first "training" run over Nanumea hits the 133 IJN BF at Nanumea (16 SBD, 14 Kitthawks, 6 Beaufort V-IX, 9 P-38G) from Nukufetau. His sweep of over Nukufetau over both days has him lose 9 A6M3a to my 2 Corsairs and 6 P-38G.
12th/13th - Second training run hit Nanumea. Now comes the "big boys."

Night Time Surface Combat, near Nukufetau at 85,107 (13th)

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
CA Takao
CA Maya
CL Kuma
CL Kiso
DD Fubuki, Shell hits 2
DD Oboro
DD Okikaze
DD Kuretake
DD Sanae

Allied Ships
PT PT-36
PT PT-37
PT PT-40
PT PT-78, Shell hits 114, and is sunk
PT PT-126

Next is KB - the 6 original CVs are here
Day Air attack on TF, near Funafuti at 86,108

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 62
D4Y Judy x 114
A6M3a Zero x 90
B5N2 Kate x 55
B6N2 Jill x 23

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 15
P-38F Lightning x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 2 damaged
D4Y Judy: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 7 destroyed, 2 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 14 destroyed
P-38F Lightning: 5 destroyed, 9 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Phoenix, Bomb hits 10, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage SUNK!!
CL Boise, Bomb hits 30, on fire, heavy damage She is still afloat with damage at 99/60/24!! Got to say these Brooklyn Class are tough. [&o]
TK D. L. Kruithof
TK Orca, Bomb hits 1, on fire
TK Paula
AK McCormick Terminal, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
TK J. D. Schreijers, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Balch
AK Harpoon, Bomb hits 1
TK Paua, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Tucker, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage at 99/91/24
AK Corrales
DD Selfridge
DD Porter
AK Sawokla, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Roseville, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Reid, Bomb hits 2, on fire
TK B. C. J. Grootes, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Central Pacific:
8th/9th - Mini-KB is spotted moving back "west" and is half way between Johnson and Palmrya. [:)] May have been a ploy to draw my attention and move my CVs to interdict them while he made other plans (KB hitting Funafuti on 13th). Guess what?? It worked!![:(]
10th/11th - B-17s out of Canton miss 3 ships at Baker Island. My 2 AC TF (3 CVE each) leave Christmas Island for a training run to Baker. MY DB & TB both have experience below 50 and need some safe training runs....I hope[;)]
12th/13th: [>:]

North Pacific: [>:]

Japan: no sub or ASW ops

Comments:
Air Losses are Allied - 48, 42, 47 (137) and Japan - 98, 56, 79 (233) for each of these 2 day turns. I'm coming out ahead, but my P-40E, P-38G, and Hurricane pools are dry with many squadrons having more pilots than planes. [:(] I have P-39D squadrons everywhere. Some are trying to get trained up so "if" and when I get enough P-38s they can do so. Part of me wants to ask my opponent if we can arrange a P-39 vs Nates a2a dual in China. Who would win??

I am trying to upgrade my F4F-4 Wildcats to Corsairs in the SP as more Corsairs come in as reinforcements. They will move to my 2 Ellice Island bases (each have aviation support over 200 for them once both go from 3(1) AF to level 4. My depleted P-38G will be pulled back to rebuilding and I'm thinking of sending some to Darwin for "training." 4 Corsair squadrons on both bases with DB/TB is planned with "training" on Nanumea to continue. Hopefully, I can keep him focused here while my fighters in Austraila continue to gain experience for the main push to New Guinea to happen in the next few months

A drawback to 2 day turns is the ability for CVs to come from nowhere to launch attacks. He has done this twice now at Ellice Islands. The loss of 2CL & 1 DD (probably) will hurt, but not as much as it would have a year ago. I have plans working to have an arc of subs 4 to 6 hexes above these 2 bases to hopefully give him pause before this newest attack happened.

Anything I'm overlooking, guys??

2/14/43 to 2/19/43

India/Burma:
14th & 15 - Three training runs over Myitkyina. A sweep by 74 Tonys on both days finds nothing over Akyab.
16th & 17th - Tonys are found over Myitkyina both days and losses are 13 Tonys to 22 Allied planes over 2 days. Mainly P-40E (these are starting to show their age against the Tony regardless of experience levels in the low 70s [:(]) and P-39D are lost.
18th & 19th - Intel on the 18th state that 2 Hvy AA Rgt are headed to Moulmein via APs. 9 Oscar escort over 70 Helens to Akyab over 2 days and 4 Helens are lost. I get in 2 training runs at Myitkyina without interference. [:D] Jon Mark realizes that he has his Tonys at Rangoon set for naval attack, but they haven't flown for a few days. He then realizes that my ships are barges and sets them at 100' and 3 separate attacks by them going between Chittagong and Akyab result in 1 sunk and 1 heavily damaged. I'm trying to run in supplies. Some LRCAP will be sent to help them next time.

China:
14th & 15th - He sends over 270 fighters on a training run to Honan [:(]
16th & 17th - Only 27 planes hit Nanyang. Jon Mark comments that the commander of those LBA based at Ichang was AWOL for 2 days. [:D]
18th & 19th - 117 Zero, 145 Nates, 33 Oscar, 34 Tojo, & 35 Tony hit Nanyang. YIKES!!

Northern Australia:
14th & 15th - 21 Helens hit Darwin at night (a nightfighter squadron is sent to deal with this afterwards). 3 training runs by my LBA hit Darwin. My Beaufighters VIC continue to use his barges for target practice and two are sunk with casualties. Thus, he is evac some of his LCUs. Probably his Aviation Rgt (he isn't going to be able to use it). On the 15th, a BB TF of 2BB, 2CA, 1CL hits Darwin without warning (damn naval search function didn't see it coming at all [:@]) and I lose 18 planes and it leaves the AF inoperable for days to come (damage 36/4). Add in the fact that I can only transfer out planes that are repaired (none move by rail), it sets me back a week to ten days of training those planes that were there. Another lesson learned...the hard way. [8|]
16th & 17th - Helens come in at night followed by 17 Helens with 15 Zeros during the day and 3 planes are lost on the ground.
18th & 19th - 16 Helens at night are meet by 6 Beaufighter VIF on CAP at night meet over Darwin - no losses. He launches a deliberate assault on Darwin with her level 8 forts - 3609 (Allied) to 1238. [&o] Another sign that his supply situation there is not good, but I don't think I have enough AV to take advantage of the situation.

Eastern Australia: [>:][>:]

South Pacific:
14th & 15th - my only ground attack by LBA (78 planes) hits the IJN BF at Nanumea.
16th & 17th - IJN BF is hit again at Nanumea. Big Bad Boise limps into Wallis Island (port 4) with damage at 99/87/0. However, 2 ARs that were almost to Tongatapu from San Fran are sent there at full speed to try to save her.
18th & 19th - Another day of training over Nanumea. Big Bad Boise 99/75/0

Central Pacific: [>:][>:]

North Pacific: [>:][>:]

Sub Warfare:
17th - Kingfish receives no hits from an ASW attack 6 hexes SW of Osaka. [:)] However, a PG receives a torpedo for the "king" on the 18th.

Comments:
To counter another "nuc" bombardment run at Darwin, I look for American AKs. I finally find some between Brisbane and Norfolk Island and 4 are sent back to Townsville to get supplies loaded and try to get to Darwin so I can get some PT boats there.

These 6 days are relatively quite.

2/20/43 to 2/25/43
25 Liz met death by Hurricane IID/IV [:D]

India/Burma:
20th & 21st - Tony's flying LRCAP over Myitkyina intercept by bombing runs. I lose 10 planes to his 5. He uses the now empty base at Imphal for practice as 9 Oscars escort 115 Helens (12 lost with 70 damaged). I have come to the conclusion that I cannot keep planes at each base along the India/Burma border area (including up to Calcutta this means 9 bases) with enough fighters. He just recons the heck out of my bases and then choses which one to overwhelm with Tony/Zero. [:(]
22nd & 23rd - Oscars and Helens hit Imphal again. [:(] Over 50 Liz attack Kohima and by the end of the second day, 25 are shot down by my "Liz killers" - 37 Hurricane IID/IV. [:D][&o] I've been trying to have this happen for months, but he has not hit the base they were stationed at until now. The power of cannon equiped fighters comes through. 3 out of 28 A6M3a are lost to 4 out of 17 Wildcats on a sweep over Dimapur for both days. 3 squdrons of fighters provide LRCAP over barges going to Akyab and 3 Tony are shot down.
24th & 25th - He shifts his Tonys to Ledo and the old P39s lose 4 to only 1 over both days.

China:
20th & 21st - More training for the Japanese LBA over Nanyang (370 planes).
22nd & 23rd - Ditto [:D]

Northern Australia:
20th & 21st - Helens hit Darwin at night. 9 training runs over the POWs at Darwin. 44 Tonys over Lautem do not deter my 15 A29 Hudson & 8 B24 from Katherine on naval attack from dropping 3 bombs on a DD there (only 1 Hudson lost).
22nd & 23rd - 8 training runs over Darwin. 6 barges are lost to 48 Beaufighter VIC despite LRCAP of Zero out of Lautem. 56 B24 hit Lautem without the 42 Tonys bring any down and he loses 8 planes on the ground.
24th & 25th - Only 2 training runs. However, 9 barges are sunk as my Beaufighters gain more experience. [:D] 10 Zeros are flying LRCAP over a TF of BB Hyuga and Ise when 17 B24 drop their "paint scrappers" 5 hexes north of Darwin hitting Ise with one 500lb. [:(]

Eastern Australia:
24th & 25th - 21 P38 escort 114 B24 to Lae and the 27 Rex are not up to the task. 14 planes are lost to 0 for the Allies over two days.

South Pacific:
20th & 21st - 57 planes train over Nanumea. Big Bad Boise 98/62/0
22nd & 23rd - Nanumea is hit again. Big Bad Boise 97/47
24th & 25th - Nanumea again. Big Bad Boise 97/25 Afterwards, she is sent to Savaii (port size 5 vs 4 at Wallis Island) along with the 2 ARs. Funafuti has a sweep of 48 (6) A6M3a vs. 9 (3) Corsairs and 10 (7) P38G. My sub 60 experienced Lightnings are getting eaten up. Thus, 2 to 3 squadrons will travel to northern Australia for training while my Corsairs hold the line.

Central Pacific:
20th & 21st - 60 B17 & 22 B24 from Canton hit Baker Island along with 10 F4F & 24 TBF Avengers from my CVE. The American CVEs have low experience TB/DB squadrons (below 50).
22nd & 23rd - Baker is hit by the "heavies" again.

North Pacific: [>:][>:] This is the most quite area in the game with me slowing moving LCU west and building up bases. Usually, forts first and then the ports and AF as he doesn't even have patrols up here. I "may" shift some assets here in the months to come.

Sub Warfare:
20th & 21st - Stingray is hit by Helens out of Kendari 3 hexes east of that base. Eventually, she sinks on the way to port. [:(] I-171 is hit by Liberator IIIs flying patrol out of Calcutta 1 hex SW of Akyab. Got to love the fact that those big 4e bombers can hit a sub from 11,000' A thank you to Nordic bomb sight was sent. [:D] Then Blenhiem IV hit I-28 at Akyab.
22nd & 23rd - O24 put a torpedo onto an AK at Johore Bahru while on a minelaying mission.
24th & 25th - Japanese minesweeping along coast of Malaya. Peto puts a torpedo into a TK 8 hexes NE of Palau. Got to keep my subs far enough away from his bases to have a chance to survive.

Comments:
I am slowly winning the air war. Most turns have me coming out ahead. [:)] However, I still have too few second generation fighters (P-38G Lightnings, Corsairs, Boomerang II, Spitfires, FM-2 Wildcats). Their experience is slowly coming up. I get 75 P-40N per month in 4/43. This will help out a lot. The 30 Spitfires per month are being used in India/Burma to replace my most experienced Hurricane II squadrons. The Wirraways in Australia are using the PDU function to go to Beaufighter VICs that are then gaining their experince by barge busting. Then, when they reach around 75 experience, they are withdrawn and changed to Wirraway before they are able to go to Boomerang IIs (30 per month). I feel I need a better pool of over 70 experienced fighters in Australia before moving into Port Moresby and Milne Bay area. Am I wrong to assume this??

2/26/43 to 3/3/43
Intel on 28th states 60th Division loading to move to Truk. Subs from Japan are moved to just north of the Marianas Islands and another to just south to try to interdict. They stay far off shore to hopefully avoid detection.

India/Burma:
26th & 27th - 54 Chinese planes hit Myitkyina to further their training. Cox's Bazar has sweeps by 60 (8) Tonys and then 30 (6) Oscars and I lose 24 fighters (6 Hurricanes, 5 Kittyhawks, 13 P-40E).
28th & 1st - A BB TF consisting of BB Haruna & Kirishima along with 2CL & at least 3 DD bombard Akyab. However, I think Jon Mark forgot to turn off his escorts "not" to bombard and 3 of them hit mines (I had 4600 there). [:D] The morning after, 10 Hurricanes, 30 P-30G, and 11 Lancers escort 36 Blenheim IV, 35 Wellington, 21 Hudson, and 18 B25 to hit the 3 damaged DD that managed to get only one hex SW of Akyab. They are now part of the reef. [:D]
2nd & 3rd - 30 (9) Oscars sweep over Kohima I lose 5 planes. Dacca gets a sweep of 86 (1) Tony and I lose 9 P40E, 11 P66 Vanguard, and 6 Mohawks IV. Dimapur sees 25 (4) Zeros sweep and I lose 1 Wildcat, 3 Buffalos, and 2 P40E.

China:
26th & 27th - 345 planes "train" at Nanyang. [:(]
28th & 1st - Ditto
2nd & 3rd - Ditto [;)]

Northern Australia:
26th & 27th - 2 "training" runs over the POWs at Darwin.
28th & 1st - 7 "training" runs.
2nd & 3rd - 7 "training" runs. 48 Beaufighters sink 6 barges and up goes their experience levels. [:D]

Eastern Australia:
28th & 1st - 103 (2) B-24 hit Lae with 17 (2) Rex as CAP. 24 planes are destroyed on the ground.

South Pacific:
26th & 27th - 33 B17s hit Lunga both days, minimal damage. Big Bad Boise had danage rise to 98/44 after changing ports.
28th & 1st - Big Bad Boise is now down to 98/27. Looks like she should survive. [&o]
2nd & 3rd - Boise is now down to 97/12. [:D]

Central Pacific: [X(][X(]

North Pacific: [X(][X(]

Sub Warfare:
26th & 27th - I-174 survives ASW attack 5 hexs north of Suva. However, she is then hit by a Coronado on patrol. [:D] I-173 is hit once by ASW at Funafuti. I-20 sinks a SC with a torpedo 4 hexes north of Tongatapu.
28th & 1st - Gurnard recieves an ASW attack 8 hexes SW of Osaka without any hits.
2nd & 3rd - Pompon misses an AO 7 hexes SE of Iwo Jima. [:@] Swordfish is hit by LBA at 6 hexes NE of Truk. Damn Helens!![:@]

Comments:
Mr. Churchill "demands" 1CA & 2DDs. [:@] With only 50 Political Points per day, I cannot afford to say "No." [8|] My last two days were not good days for the Allied air force in India/Burma. My P-40E pool is dry and they seem to have out lived their usefulness.

3/4/43 to 3/9/43
15 PT boats sunk out of 24 at Darwin [X(]
Zero pilots go on strike...or at least go AWOL. [:D]

India/Burma:
4th & 5th - 66 (0) Liberator IIIs and 112 (8) B-24 bomb Moulmein at 11,000 and are greeted by 36 (4) A6M3a Zeros and 51 (6) Tony.
6th & 7th - 12 Beaufighter VIF fly night AF attacks on Mandalay with minimal success (1 runway hit [:(]). Then, 18 Corsairs and 24 Spitfires do a sweep and find no CAP. Myitkyina has 33 fighters and 38 2e bombers hit it. Chittagong has 90 (2) Tony, 50 (6) Helen, and 3 (0) Nick vs a CAP of 21 fighters and over both days I lose 31 planes in a2a and on the ground. [:(] Mandalay is hit be 26 Hudson, 39 Wellington, and 37 Blenheim IV escorted by 45 P-38s with no CAP rising to defend. 3 Helen are lost on the ground. I think he has a huge number of engineers here as damage doesn't last long.
8th & 9th - Two days of "training" over Myitkyina.

China:
4th & 5th - Training run at Nanyang by 380 planes. He has divided his planes into two groups based at Ichang and Sinyang.
6th & 7th - Only 265 on training runs.
8th & 9th - Only 185 on training runs.

Northern Australia:
4th & 5th - 4 "training" runs on POWs at Darwin.
6th & 7th - A sweep of 24 (1) Zeros down 8 fighters on CAP and then 21 (0) Zeros escort in 38 (3) Betty and 29 (0) Liz on port attack. The 18 fighters remaining on CAP suffer only one plane lose. However, 15 PT boats are sunk. I had sent in a TF of 2 AK close to Darwin, then created PT boats a few days ago to make the final run. Jon Mark wrote that he thought this was "gamey" until he realized that he had stood down his Betty on naval search and then found the AKs. I did not put enough CAP and/or LRCAP over Darwin and paid the price. Again, more learning. [&:] 4 "training" runs over Darwin.
8th & 9th - The first incident of Zeros on strike. 61 (16) Betty and 42 Liz hit the AF with only 19 fighters on CAP [:-] and I lose 15 planes total. Meanwhile, 60 B24s hit Lautem and brush aside the 41 Tonys. He loses 17 planes on the ground while I lose 3 to op losses.

Eastern Australia:
8th & 9th - The CAP at Lae - 19 Rex, 17 Zeros, 11 Oscars vs. 11 (3) P-38G (experience in mid 70s) escort 107 (1) B-24 and he loses 45 planes over 2 days to my 4. [:D][&o] 70 A29 Hudsons hit Port Moresby with only 2 lost and minimal damage.

South Pacifc:
4th & 5th - I have 21 PB4Y Liberators visit Abemama twice. No loses.
8th & 9th - 9 P-38G and 7 Kitthawks escort 18 TBF AVengers and 22 PB4Y Liberators 5 hexes north of Nukufetau and a PG get 3 bomb hits (may have sunk). The second incident of Zeros on strike happens as Jon Mark wrote that a planned sweep of Nukufetau doesn't happen either day and thus this happens. 89 Betty from Tarawa come over Nukufetau and my 19 Corsairs, 6 Kitthawks, and 5 P-38G shoot down 35 of them over two days.

Central Pacific: [>:][>:]

North Pacific: [>:][>:]

Sub Warfare:
5th - Amberjack is not hit by ASW forces 4 hexes east of Iwo Jima.
8th - Salmon puts a torpedo into a DD 2 hexes NE of Nanumea.

Comments:
Air losses are: Allies - 134 to Japan 262 over 6 days. [:D]
The reconquest of Burma has begun as 2300 AV worth of troops for Mandalay and 1900 AV worth for Myitkyina leave Calcutta and Dacca to met at Imphal before the trip over the trails.

3/10/43 to 3/15/43
Super CAP/LRCAP over Darwin [:D]
The power of the PT boat and my opponents brief rant about them.
Tonys make a wrong turn and run into trouble over Imphal.

India/Burma:
10th & 11th - 3 Nicks put 1 bomb in a LCT barge at Cox's Bazar.
12th & 13th - 25 Liberator IIIs out of Calcutta decide to visit Moulmein and push aside the CAP of 44 Tonys to put 2 bombs on 2 AKs.
14th & 15th - Jon Mark wrote that some Tonys have gone rogue on him. They decided to fly over Imphal. 35 (17) Tonys run into my "super" CAP of 14 (0) Wildcats, 11 (0) Corsairs, 22 (0) Hurricane, 35 (1) Spitfires, and 19 (2) Hurricane IID/IV. These are my best fighters in theater and I will try to use them to do this and, if not, then some sweeps over Mandalay to get his attention. He sends 47 Tony and 30 Nicks on a sweep of Kohima and finds no CAP. His other Tonys may have gotten "lost" and paid the price. I have training run over Myitkyina and he has one over Cox's Bazar.
LCUs have met and rested, briefly, at Imphal. They are now marching the 120 miles to be just NE of Mandalay.

China:
10th & 11th - For two days about 100 Zeros, 7 Vals, 65 Oscars, and 35 Nick use Nanyang for training.
12th & 13th - Only 155 for two days.
14th & 15th - Ditto
Operation ChopStick - I have gotten the first of the large American BF (aviation support 90) and Aviation Rgt (270) at Chungking. The Aviation Rgt is on the road to Changsha (AF 8). Meanwhile, 13 squadrons of B-24's (156 planes) are resting at Dacca. Once they get their fatigue down and morale up, they will make a brief 2 day stop at Chungking before heading for Changsha to bomb his fighters at Ichang and/or Sinyang. Hopefully, I can put a small dent into his training program. [:D] He will probably hit this base afterwards and I move them back to Chungking for two days to further the damage before returning back to India. I don't know what the supply cost will be, but it will be worth it. [:)]

Northern Australia:
10th & 11th - After getting punished for "not" having enough CAP over Darwin, I place a lot of fighters from Katherine on LRCAP over Darwin to go along with its CAP. The results are: 26 (16) Zeros and 48 (13) Helen vs. 6 (2) Hurricane, 33 (5) Kitthawks, 6 (5) P-39D, 25 (0) P-38 [&o], 3 (1) Hurricane IID/IV. 29 to 13 in my favor!!
12th & 13th - Back to training runs as fighters recover fatigue and morale from LRCAP missions. 3 attacks on Darwin POWs.
14th & 15th - Exhibit "A" of the PT boats
Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 36,84 on 15th

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CL Agano
CL Abukuma
DD Akizuki, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Susuzuki, Shell hits 1
DD Ayanami, Shell hits 1
DD Yugiri, Shell hits 1
DD Namikaze, Shell hits 5

Allied Ships
PT PT-169
PT PT-170
PT PT-171
PT PT-172
PT PT-173
PT PT-174

Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 36,84

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CL Agano
CL Abukuma
DD Akizuki, on fire
DD Susuzuki
DD Ayanami
DD Yugiri
DD Namikaze, on fire

Allied Ships
PT PT-158
PT PT-161, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
PT PT-163, Shell hits 6, and is sunk

Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 36,84

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CL Agano
CL Abukuma
DD Akizuki, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
DD Susuzuki, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Ayanami, Shell hits 6
DD Yugiri, Shell hits 1
DD Namikaze, on fire

Allied Ships
PT PT-169
PT PT-170
PT PT-171
PT PT-172
PT PT-173
PT PT-174

Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 36,84

Japanese Ships
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
CA Chokai
CA Myoko
CL Yura
DD Shinonome
DD Usugumo
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Uranami
DD Amagiri
DD Ushio

Allied Ships
PT PT-158, Shell hits 13, and is sunk

Naval bombardment of Darwin, at 36,84

Japanese Ships
CL Yura
CA Myoko
CA Chokai
BB Hyuga
BB Ise

Allied ground losses: Very little damage done!!
191 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Eastern Australia: [>:][>:]

South Pacific:
13th & 14th - Exhibit "B" of the PT boats
Day Air attack on TF at 85,102 - 5 hexes north of Nukufetau on 13th

Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 17
Kittyhawk I x 3
PB4Y Liberator x 21

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 11 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 1
BB Yamato
CA Haguro
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 1
CA Takao, Bomb hits 1

Day Air attack on TF at 85,102

Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 11
Kittyhawk I x 3
PB4Y Liberator x 10

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 1
BB Musashi
CA Maya

Sub attack at 85,104 - picket sub misses on 14th

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
DD Minegumo
DD Naganami
DD Makigumo
DD Akigumo

Allied Ships
SS S-34, hits 1

Night Time Surface Combat, near Nukufetau at 85,107

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CL Naka
DD Akigumo
DD Makigumo, Shell hits 1
DD Naganami
DD Minegumo

Allied Ships
PT PT-151
PT PT-152
PT PT-153, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
PT PT-154, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT PT-155
PT PT-156

Night Time Surface Combat, near Nukufetau at 85,107 APDs pay the price [:(]

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CL Naka, Shell hits 1
DD Akigumo
DD Makigumo
DD Naganami
DD Minegumo

Allied Ships
APD Litchfield, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APD Crosby, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APD Crane, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APD Lawrence, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
AK Hollywood
AK Kohala
AK Liloa, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Mormacrio
AK Mormacsul
AK San Angelo, Shell hits 1, on fire

The 3BBs and 2CAs fail to do a bombardment of Nukufetau....again.
I get both my bases here above 20k in supply and thus able to take replacements for my LBA.

Central Pacific: [>:][>:]

North Pacific: [>:][>:]

Sub Warfare:
10th - RO-103 hits mines at Tongatapu. [:D]
13th - I-123 is not hit in ASW attack at Trincomalee

Comments:
Boise gets damage down to 95/0/0 and stays there for a few days. Thus, she is now headed back to WC for long term repairs along with a slightly damaged DD (sys 22) as escort.

After going back and forth, the American CNO (me!) has decided to send the 13 BB, 2CA, 11CL, CV Wasp, 3 CVE, and Fletcher Class DDs to the WC for their 4/43 upgrades. The other American CVs (no upgrades needed) and the other class of DDs that need a 4/43 upgrade are sent to Sydney. They will get their sys damage down for the rest of the month and hopefully have a short stay after their upgrade. I have 3ARs and 2ADs at Sydney to speed up the process. I should have decided to do this earlier, but I was thinking of landing at Port Moresby and/or Milne Bay for a while. Now, I will wait to get the 2 British CVs and 2 American CVL into the South Pacific. Plus, I still need to get my fighters more experience.

Jon Mark makes a breif rant about how effective, or the PT boats are too powerful, and how most Japanese players want them eliminated from game play. I shoot back that the Allied player has to use them as the Japanese player can use BB/CA making "nuc" runs and get the 5 hexes away by morning and the Allies have no TB with a range of 5 for torpedoes to hit them. I can get to him with LB, but the 500 and/or 1000lb GP just scratch the paint. He agrees to let things go. No harm, no foul.

Now that I have gotten caught up, here is the current score

Here is the first squadron of Boomerang IIs that have completed their training as Beaufighter VIC "Barge Busters." [:D]

The "Hornet's Nest" at Imphal...I hope. [;)]

A Wildcat squadron will be replaced by another Corsair that just got upgraded at Asansol along with another squadron of new Spitfires. Both have experience in low 70s. [:D]

Here is how the naval forces look after my vistors to Darwin. The BB TF is to the left while 10 or more barges are jsut above my subs (both 5 hexes away).
Target practice. [:D]

3/16/43 to 3/19/43
KB and just about every carrier visit the Ellice Islands for four days [:(][:(]
Huge air losses for both sides: Allies - 288 Japan - 256
Jacks arrive [:@][X(][:@]
Intel says 4th Air Division to Moulmein

India/Burma:
16th & 17th - 22 P-40E, 23 Lancers, 31 SB-2c bomb AF at Myitkyina. Over 50 Tony and a handful of Nicks sink about 6 LCT at Cox's Bazar. Jon Mark writes this is revenge after they get smacked the turn before over Imphal. [:D]
18th & 19th - Only 54 (6) Liberator III visit Rangoon (B-24 don't fly) and they see the new Jack fighters [X(][:@][X(] He loses 5 out of 49. 2 "training" runs over Mytikyina. I dared him to come visit Imphal again and he does (might have not been a good thing [&:]). 67 (24) Tony, 30 (8) Nicks vs 12 (1) Wildcats, 10 (1) Corsairs, 21 (3) Hurricane, 50 (6) Spitfires, 24 (4) Hurricane IID/IV in a sweep. Then from Rangoon and Moulmein comes 26 (5) Zeros, 67 (2) Oscar II, 189 (14) Helens vs. 11 (6) Wildcats, 9 (2) Corsairs, 18 (20) Hurricane, 44 (8) Spitfires, 20 (12) Hurricane IID/IV. I more than hold my own against the Tony/Nick combo, but the Oscar II seems to do very well. [:(] The second round over Rangoon results in 2 Jacks, 1 Zero, 4 Helens vs 3 Liberators lost. The second day of Tony/Nick over Imphal see 6 Nick lost for 2 Hurricanes.

China:
16th & 17th - 360 planes "train" over Nanyang while my F-4 recon squadron continues to move around from base to base doing recon.
18th & 19th - 78 (2) Zeros, 33 (3) Oscar I, 32 Nicks visit Chungking (probably looking for my recon squadron) while 190 planes hit Nanyang.

Northern Australia:
16th - 34 Liz hit Darwin at night. 4DD & 1 APD take on my 6PT boats at Darwin without any damage. 3DD & APD 2 hexes NE of Darwin see 7 Avenger I/II, 6 Warhawks, 6 Hurricanes, 11 Kittyhawks, and 17 A-24 Dauntless result in the APD getting 3 x 1000lb bomb hits. [:)] 11 (4) Zeros on LRCAP try to protect a CA, 2CL, 4DD from my 4 (1) Brewster, 73 Beaufighter VIC [&o], 8 (2) P-40E, 36 (1) P-38G & 6 B-24. CA Ashigara gets 1 x 500lb from the B-24s and multiple shell hits from the Beaufighter cannons throughout the TF.
17th - 14 P-38G escort 35 B-24, 2 Beaufighters 6 hexes NW of Darwin and CL Abukuma gets 6 x 500lb bomb hits while a DD get 1 x 500lb. The damaged APD NE of Darwin gets hit by a torpedo from an Avenger and sinks. 59 Beaufighter VIC greet the barges at Darwin with 2 of them sunk. 52 barges, yes you read that number right, vs. 6 PT boats at Darwin has 2 of them sunk.
18th - 70 Beaufighter VIC hit the 50 barges 2 hexes north of Darwin with 4 sunk.
19th - 25 Liz at night over Darwin run into 14 Beaufighter VIF without losses. 7 B-24 find the damaged CL at Koepang and puts 3 x 500lb bombs in her. [:D]

Eastern Australia: [>:][>:]

South Pacific:
16th - 5 hexes NW of Nukufetau have a strike of 13 (2) Corsairs, 14 TBF Avengers, 4 (1) Kittyhawks run into a CAP of 46 (1) A6M3a Zeros over CV Hiyo and manage only a 500lb "paint scratcher" hit on BB Fuso. [:(]
17th - 105 (12) Zeros escort 62 Judy, 21 Jill to Nukufetau and my CAP of 21 (12) Corsairs, 11 (10) Kittyhawks fail to slow them down as 2AKs are sunk and 3 damaged, but they had managed to unload their supplies first. Then, Funafuti has 60 (8) Zero, 170 (9) Judy, 61 (6) Kate, 100 (8) Jill hit the AF while my 6 (4) Wildcats & 33 (10) Corsairs are nothing more than a speed bump. [:(] 11 planes are destroyed on the ground.
18th - 27 Zeros from Abemama sweep the remaining CAP of 6 Corsair & 5 (1) Kittyhawks over Nukufetau. Then come 63 Zeros escorting 121 (3) Judy vs 3 (1) Corsair & 2 (4) Kittyhawks followed by 81 (1) Helens. Meanwhile, Funafuti gets 2 waves - 13 Zero, 92 (2) Judy, 46 (5) Jill & 12 Zero, 18 Judy, 46 Kate, 84 (1) Jill and I lose 30 planes on the ground. Prior to this turn, I had flown out all undamaged planes, so it wasn't quite as bad.
19th - DDs hit mines at Nukufetau and at Nanumea. [:D] My brave PT boats run into BB Kongo & Yamato, 3CA, CL, 3DD at Nukufetau and DD Kamikaze gets 1 torpedo. Then the PT boats from Funafuti react and put 3 torpedo into Kamikaze (sunk) while only losing 1 PT. Once the PT SC start, all combat reports are out of sink afterwards. [:@][:@] Nukufetau gets 34 Zero, 45 (1) Judy and then 65 Betty from Tarawa with another 6 planes lost on the ground. Funafuti loses 8 more planes on the ground from two waves of 12 Zero, 68 (2) Judy, 41 (1) Jill and 14 Zero, 19 Judy, 42 (1) Kate, 82 (3) Jill.

Central Pacific: [>:][>:]

North Pacific: [>:][>:]

Sub Warfare:
16th - KXV waste 2 torpedoes in sinking a barge as it approaches Darwin. [:@] 5 hexes NE of Pagan, Gunnel runs into 5 PC, 1DD and get hit once. O24 sinks a PC in the Strait of Malacca before her friends (5PC, PG, DD) have a failed ASW attack. [:D] 1 hex away from Gunnel, Halibut is attacked by 5PC, DD without suffering any damage. An LCT hits a mine at Cox's Bazar. 5DDs escorting his CV attempt to damage S-45 on 16th and then S-37 the next day NW of Nukufetau without success. [:D]
17th - Plunger sinks a MSW 2 hexes SW of Victoria Point.
18th - Porpose puts 1 Torpedo in CVE Taiyo 3 hexes north of Nukufetau and survives the ASW afterwards. [&o][&o]
19th - Salmon put a torpedo in CL Oi north of Nukufetau. [:D]

Comments:
The only carrier that the Japanese have that I failed to ID at Ellice Islands was Hiryu, but that could have been an oversight. [X(]

After the last 2 days of visit by the Japanese carriers, Nukufetau has the AF service damage at 48 with runway at 80 while Funafuti has service at 77 and runway at 99.

I downgraded a Corsair squadron at Canton Island back to Wildcats due to my losses. However, I am still short 24 Corsairs (get 80 per month) and have 5 more squadrons to upgrade from Wildcats. I then looked at some of my other fighter needs and see I'm short 22 Hurricanes, 17 P-38F, 64 P-40E, and 19 Spitfires. [:(] Thankfully, I get the P-40N next month at 75 per month. [:D]

Another area that I seem to struggle with is the lack of recon squadrons. I have one more Dutch that can be upgraded, but it will take about 2 months to get the 12 F-5A needed.

Here is the losses for the last two days. Read it and weep. [;)]

Two turns ago, Jon Mark wrote

busy turn tho and a major strategic victory for you.

I wrote that I was at a lost of what he meant. Then, reviewing everything that is going on, the only thing that makes sense is he is writing off his troops at Darwin (he has stopped daily bombardments). I have 1200 Assauly Value (AV) there behind level 8 forts.

I just started moving and prepping 4 Aus Division at Tennant Creek (417 AV), 6 Aus Cav Bde (88 AV) at Daly Waters, and 2 Aus Div (418 AV) at Katherine for Darwin. This will get me just above 1:1 odds, I hope.

My question is with the ZOC around Darwin (see screenshot) with neither one of us in possession, do I need to move in some LCU to gain control?? Is there a recommendation strategy of trying to take out his forces at Darwin or is too difficult as long as he can run in BB TF and/or even bring in KB and Co. to hit me hard??

Thanks!! [&o]

My opponent, Jon Mark, was in the hospital for about a week in mid-April. He e-mailed on April 25th saying that it may be a week or two before he has gained his strenght enough to resume this game.
 
I have the last 4 days worth of moves and combat to post soon.