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13 NOV 1942
I-165 and RO-67 DCed by escorts near Cochin and Suva respectively.

Daily bombings of Mandalay continue this turn, Shwebo is bombed just for a change of pace.

14 NOV 1942
S-27 puts one into CL Naka a couple of hexes east of Tulagi.

Sweeps and bombing of Katha on this turn.

Morning Air attack on Luganville , at 120,150 (B-24s of V Bomber Command flying out of Suva hit Luganville in the first offensive mission of the USAAF's 4Es in the PACAO)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M3 Zero x 27
 
Allied aircraft
      B-24D Liberator x 33
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
      H6K4 Mavis: 2 destroyed on ground
 
Allied aircraft losses
      B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
      11 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 89
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       7 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      10 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      10 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
582 Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (3 airborne, 6 on standby, 18 scrambling)
      3 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes


Ground combat at Tarakan (67,91) (2nd deliberate attack on Tarakan defenders)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 6678 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 230
Defending force 1700 troops, 46 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 43
Japanese adjusted assault: 193
Allied adjusted defense: 73
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 3)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), morale(-)
 experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(+)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      152 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
 
Allied ground losses:
      107 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
         Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 6 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Assaulting units:
    65th Brigade
 
Defending units:
    VII KNIL Battalion
    Tarakan Coastal Gun Battalion
    Tarakan Base Force


SUB KILLBOARD (JULY '42 ONWARDS)
Finback – TK Nisshin Maru (13,340)
S-34 - AMC Asaka Maru (6,825)
KXI - AK Takaoka Maru (6,475)
S-46 – AMC Bankok Maru(4,050)
KXIV (SUNK) – xAK Tenzan Maru (2,980)
Tarpon – xAK Seiwa Maru (2,900)
S-47 – PB Hakkaisan Maru (2,780)
O23 – xAKL Arizama Maru(2,050)
S-27 - xAKL Konsan Maru (1,900) O20 – TK Kuremente Maru (1,120)
KXVII (SUNK) – TK Azuma Maru (1,120)
Pompano - PB Yahonui Maru (830)
Greenling (SUNK)– PB Shinko Maru (830)
Silversides (SUNK) – SC Cha-32 (99)

S-23 – xAK Shinwa Maru (26/08/42 probable)
S-37 – CL Tama (10/08/42 damaged)
S-44 – I-170 (29/09/42 probable)
Drum - TK Itukusima Maru (13/10/42 probable)
Grayling – xAK Teikai Maru (22/09/42 probable), xAK Amagi Maru (28/06/42 probable)
Gudgeon – xAK Saiho Maru (31/07/42 damaged)
S-27 - CL Naka (14/11/42 1 torpedo hit - damaged)

15 NOV 1942
I-23 sinks an SC off Pago Pago but suffers 2 DC hits in return while RO-66 is sighted off Gau Island and DCed for 2 hits as well.

Betties out of Koepang sink an xAKL unloading at Darwin, am very slowly building up supply here via small convoys of xAKLs from Townsville before Roel gets around to putting together a SAG to interdict me in a more permanent way. Got about 50 xAKLs that escaped from DEI that I'm using for the supply runs, as you might have noted, I don't really care if I lose 'em all as long as I keep Darwin supplied.

Main focus for this turn will be Mandalay as this turn the IJAAF is there to contest the skies above it. Posting the relevant CRs to give readers a feel for the losses on contested bombing raids as this juncture in the game. Roel and I have set max attitude for fighters on both sides at their best MVR so for the CBI the Allies have the Hurri IIb and P-40E at 15k and Hurri IIc and P-40K at 20k while the IJAAF has the Oscar at 15k and the Tojo at 20k as can be seen from the CRs. I still have a FG of P-40Es but the only IIbs still flying are in the training squadrons, all 6 front line Brit fighters sqds are flying IIcs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 24
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 13
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed
 
CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000
      Raid is overhead
50th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      8 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      5 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000
      Raid is overhead
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      8 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
77th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 23
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 13
 
Allied aircraft
      Blenheim I x 15
      Blenheim IV x 16
      Hudson IIIa x 12
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 30
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Blenheim I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
      Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
      Hudson IIIa: 1 damaged
      Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed
 
Runway hits 3
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      14 x Blenheim I bombing from 15000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
      12 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 15000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
       8 x Blenheim IV bombing from 15000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 81 minutes
50th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 75 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 68 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 18000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 9
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 12
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
      Wellington Ic x 6
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Wellington Ic: 4 destroyed
 
CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 65 minutes
50th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 144 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 24000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 115 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 68 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 25000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 89 minutes
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 4
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 9
 
Allied aircraft
      Blenheim IV x 16
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
      15 x Blenheim IV bombing from 15000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 135 minutes
      4 planes vectored on to bombers
50th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 5 scrambling)
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 24000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 82 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes

B-24s OVER NOUMEA
Morning Air attack on Noumea , at 115,160
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 14

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 9 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 21

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
11th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Noumea , at 115,160
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 5

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
11th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 96 minutes


TARAKAN - HOW MANY MORE TURNS? PLACE YOUR BETS
Ground combat at Tarakan (67,91)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 6572 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 225
Defending force 1619 troops, 46 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 38
Japanese adjusted assault: 89
Allied adjusted defense: 70
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
62 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled

16 NOV 1942
I-29 obliterates PG Indus with 3 fish and gets DCed for 3 in return.

Having suffered some degree of casualty in the previous turn, the Allied bombers of the CBI switch targets to Katha where recon spots 10 ground units. Fighters are tasked to sweep Mandalay but do not fly, I'm guessing bad weather over Mandalay is the reason?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
 
Allied aircraft
      Blenheim IV x 32
      Hudson IIIa x 32
      Liberator II x 7
      Vengeance I x 15
      Wellington Ic x 14
      P-40E Warhawk x 9
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Blenheim IV: 1 damaged
      Hudson IIIa: 2 damaged
      Liberator II: 1 damaged
      Vengeance I: 6 damaged
 
Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 19
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      16 x Blenheim IV bombing from 15000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
      14 x Wellington Ic bombing from 15000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       7 x Liberator II bombing from 15000 feet *
               Airfield Attack:  4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      16 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 15000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
      11 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
               Ground Attack:  2 x 500 lb GP Bomb,  2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
      16 x Blenheim IV bombing from 15000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
      16 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 15000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
       4 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
               Ground Attack:  2 x 500 lb GP Bomb,  2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
 
Also attacking 4th/A Division ...
Also attacking 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment ...
Also attacking 4th/A Division ...
Also attacking Katha  ...
Also attacking 4th/A Division ...
Also attacking 47th Const Co  ...
Also attacking 48th Field AA Battalion ...
Also attacking Katha  ...
Also attacking 43rd Const Co  ...
Also attacking 4th/A Division ...
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 4th/A Division ...
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 93rd JAAF AF Bn , at 61,43 (Katha)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
 
Allied aircraft
      B-17D Fortress x 12
      B-24D Liberator x 21
      B-25C Mitchell x 47
      P-40E Warhawk x 17
 
Allied aircraft losses
      B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      12 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      12 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 82nd JAAF AF Bn  ...
Also attacking 55th Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 93rd JAAF AF Bn  ...
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 82nd JAAF AF Bn  ...
Also attacking 55th Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 82nd JAAF AF Bn  ...
Also attacking 93rd JAAF AF Bn  ...
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 82nd JAAF AF Bn  ...
Also attacking 55th Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 93rd JAAF AF Bn  ...
Also attacking 55th Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 82nd JAAF AF Bn  ...
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 4th/A Division, at 61,43 (Katha)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
 
Allied aircraft
      B-25C Mitchell x 16
 
No Allied losses
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

17 NOV 1942
I-2 is DCed off Hilo and is listed as sunk but I'm pretty sure she got away

More attacks on Katha, Roel switches CAP to cover Katha and the bombers suffer again this round.

Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 28
 
Allied aircraft
      Blenheim IV x 31
      Hudson IIIa x 32
      Liberator II x 10
      Vengeance I x 14
      P-40E Warhawk x 17
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
      Hudson IIIa: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
      Liberator II: 2 damaged
      Vengeance I: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
      P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
 
Runway hits 6
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      14 x Blenheim IV bombing from 15000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
      10 x Liberator II bombing from 15000 feet *
               Airfield Attack:  4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      14 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 15000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
       2 x Vengeance I releasing from 4000'
               Ground Attack:  2 x 500 lb GP Bomb,  2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
      14 x Blenheim IV bombing from 15000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
      16 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 15000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
       3 x Vengeance I releasing from 2000'
               Ground Attack:  2 x 500 lb GP Bomb,  2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
       8 x Vengeance I releasing from 3000'
               Ground Attack:  2 x 500 lb GP Bomb,  2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (16 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      16 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000
      Raid is overhead
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      12 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000
      Raid is overhead
 
Also attacking 4th/A Division ...
Also attacking 18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment ...
Also attacking Katha  ...
Also attacking 47th Const Co  ...
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 48th Field AA Battalion ...
Also attacking 4th/A Division ...
Also attacking Katha  ...
Also attacking 43rd Const Co  ...
Also attacking 4th/A Division ...
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 4th/A Division ...
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Katha , at 61,43
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 14
 
Allied aircraft
      Wellington Ic x 14
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Wellington Ic: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged

Runway hits 7
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      12 x Wellington Ic bombing from 15000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 101 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 103 minutes
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 4th/A Division, at 61,43 (Katha)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 4
 
Allied aircraft
      B-24D Liberator x 22
      B-25C Mitchell x 32
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
      B-25C Mitchell: 3 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
      11 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 Aircraft Attacking:
      11 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      11 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
 
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 55th Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 4th/A Division ...
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 55th Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 55th Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 4th/A Division ...
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 55th Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 4th/A Division ...
Also attacking 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 55th Mountain Gun Regiment ...
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 93rd JAAF AF Bn , at 61,43 (Katha)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 4
 
Allied aircraft
      B-25C Mitchell x 16
 
No Japanese losses
 
No Allied losses
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 82nd JAAF AF Bn , at 61,43 (Katha)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 4
 
Allied aircraft
      B-17D Fortress x 10
      B-25C Mitchell x 15
 
No Japanese losses
 
No Allied losses
 
Japanese ground losses:
      6 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      10 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
 

EFFECTS OF DAILY MISSIONS ON USAAF 4E AVAILABILITY
I have 4 Bombing Squadrons flying a total of 44 B-24Ds out of Suva (12x3, 1x8), this is their 4th straight day of ops after having started on the 14th. They are flying out of a lvl 9 airfield, are well supplied and there is an air HQ on the hex.

14th - 33 out of 48 flew (target: Luganville)
15th - 36 flew, didn't note how many were damaged/shot down (target: Noumea)
16th - no ops, can't remember if it's due to weather or I stood them down.
17th - as below, 22 flew (target: Noumea)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Noumea , at 115,160
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 16

Allied aircraft
      B-24D Liberator x 16
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 4 damaged
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
 
Allied aircraft losses
      B-24D Liberator: 5 damaged

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 5
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       7 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
11th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (5 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      5 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Noumea , at 115,160
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 6
 
Allied aircraft
      B-24D Liberator x 6
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
 
Allied aircraft losses
      B-24D Liberator: 6 damaged
 
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
11th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes

18 NOV 1942

TLDR VERSION
Jap subs sink a DE and a pair of xAKLs, Jap sub gets DCed.

Fragmented Allied fighter sweeps take a toll on IJAAF at a rate of 3:1 in favour of Allies. Every Suva B-24s is shot up by CAP over Noumea but all but 1 make it back to base.

DETAILS
I-169 sinks 2 xAKLs off Horn Island, I was trying to slip some unescorted convoys through to Darwin, guess this puts an end to that bright idea.

I-10 sinks DD Ward a couple of hexes out of PH as she escorts a couple of xAPs in from SOPAC. There have been few ships I've felt bad about losing in the course of this game and I add this one to the list, she stands out because of her part in history and in the game she was there at the start and has provided sterling service in escorting convoys to and from PH.

I-122 damages an xAK off Colombo, been a while since I saw a merchie survive a sub attack.

FIGHTER SWEEPS OVER MANDALAY
This turn sees the bombers resting and the fighters out on the hunt doing sweeps over Mandalay.

Am still trying to figure out what I need to do to get the fighters to go in all together instead of piecemeal. The Americans and Brits are in separate bases but together with their own kind so to speak, they have their respecitve air HQs within range to maximise chances of coordinated strikes and have fatigue in early teens with morale in the 80/90s. Don't know what else I can do really.

Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 9
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       8 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 20000 feet
 
CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 18
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
 
CAP engaged:
50th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (18 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 18 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 12
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       4 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 20000 feet
 
CAP engaged:
50th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 100 minutes
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
 
No Allied losses
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      10 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 20000 feet
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
 
No Allied losses
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      10 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 20000 feet
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
 
No Allied losses
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      10 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 20000 feet
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
 
Allied aircraft
      P-40K Warhawk x 18
 
No Allied losses
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      18 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
 
Allied aircraft
      P-40K Warhawk x 36
 
No Allied losses
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      18 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet
      18 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet

SUVA B-24s IN ACTION FOR 5TH STRAIGHT DAY
Morning Air attack on Noumea , at 115,160
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 16
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 22
 
Allied aircraft
      B-24D Liberator x 18
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
      B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged
 
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       5 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       2 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
204 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (16 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      16 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
11th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (7 airborne, 15 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      7 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
 

19 NOV 1942

TLDR VERSION
Some IJN ships are claimed to be sunk, I don't really believe it.
American subs shoot duds.
It's 19:4 in favour of the Allies in the skies over Burma. I'm beginning to wonder if I've creamed off the more experienced pilots in the IJAAF fighter squadrons defending Burmese airspace or if my pilots are blowing smoke up my ass.

DETAILS
IJN SHIP LOSSES
CL Naka which struck a mine while part of a SAG that raided Yasawa Island is listed as sunk while CA Nachi is listed as sunk near Aoba Island by Mk 6 mine. I don't remember her hitting any of my defensive minefields and I sure didn't set any mines in enemy ports so that one is a question mark, we'll see if they stay on the list, in the meantime, I'm putting the Naka down to S-27.

SUB WARS
Pogy fires a spread of 6 at an xAK near Truk and hits nothing, Tarpon is spotted by some escorts, either that or a Hunter-Killer group.

MANDALAY MAYHEM
First time I've seen such lopsided scores in favour of the Allies, wait till you see the next turn.

Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
 
Allied aircraft
      P-40K Warhawk x 18
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      16 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet
 
CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 9
 
Allied aircraft
      P-40K Warhawk x 18
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      11 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet
 
CAP engaged:
50th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 9 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 15
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
 
Allied aircraft
      P-40K Warhawk x 18
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 4 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       9 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet
 
CAP engaged:
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000
      Raid is overhead
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (15 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 15 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 9
 
No Japanese losses
 
No Allied losses
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       4 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 20000 feet
 
CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      2 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000
      Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 6
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       4 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 20000 feet
 
CAP engaged:
50th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      6 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 75 minutes
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 10
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed
 
CAP engaged:
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 20
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 26
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 7 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       4 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 20000 feet
       6 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 20000 feet
       4 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 20000 feet
 
CAP engaged:
77th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (15 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 15 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 75 minutes
 
SUVA B-24s GO MARCHING ON
14th - 33 out of 48 flew (target: Luganville)
15th - 36 flew, didn't note how many were damaged/shot down (target: Noumea)
16th - no ops, can't remember if it's due to weather or I stood them down.
17th - as below, 22 flew (target: Noumea)
18th - 18 flew (target: Noumea)
19th - 14 flew (target: Noumea)

Morning Air attack on Noumea , at 115,160
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 16
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 26
 
Allied aircraft
      B-24D Liberator x 14
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
 
Allied aircraft losses
      B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
 
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 17
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       5 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       2 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
               Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
204 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (16 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      16 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
11th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (8 airborne, 18 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      8 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes


TARAKAN FALLS
Ground combat at Tarakan (67,91)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 6664 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 233
Defending force 1593 troops, 46 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 36
Japanese adjusted assault: 200
Allied adjusted defense: 46
Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Tarakan !!!
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), preparation(-)
 morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
 
Japanese ground losses:
      29 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Allied ground losses:
      1863 casualties reported
         Squads: 57 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 153 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 52 (52 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 9 (9 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Units destroyed 3
 
Assaulting units:
    65th Brigade
 
Defending units:
    VII KNIL Battalion
    Tarakan Coastal Gun Battalion
    Tarakan Base Force

SUB KILLBOARD (JULY '42 ONWARDS)
Finback – TK Nisshin Maru (13,340)
S-27 - CL Naka (7,000), xAKL Konsan Maru (1,900)
S-34 - AMC Asaka Maru (6,825)
KXI - AK Takaoka Maru (6,475)
S-46 – AMC Bankok Maru(4,050)
KXIV (SUNK) – xAK Tenzan Maru (2,980)
Tarpon – xAK Seiwa Maru (2,900)
S-47 – PB Hakkaisan Maru (2,780)
O23 – xAKL Arizama Maru(2,050)
O20 – TK Kuremente Maru (1,120)
KXVII (SUNK) – TK Azuma Maru (1,120)
Pompano - PB Yahonui Maru (830)
Greenling (SUNK)– PB Shinko Maru (830)
Silversides (SUNK) – SC Cha-32 (99)

S-23 – xAK Shinwa Maru (26/08/42 probable)
S-37 – CL Tama (10/08/42 damaged)
S-44 – I-170 (29/09/42 probable)
Drum - TK Itukusima Maru (13/10/42 probable)
Grayling – xAK Teikai Maru (22/09/42 probable), xAK Amagi Maru (28/06/42 probable)
Gudgeon – xAK Saiho Maru (31/07/42 damaged)

[font="arial"][/font]

20 NOV 1942

TLDR VERSION
Fighters sweep Mandalay, lopsided results in favour of the RAF/USAAF, RAF bombers take a holiday, USAAF bombers hit Katha.

DETAILS
Rested the RAF cos the mediums looked like they've been through hell, the Tenth AF was directed to continue bombing ground units at Katha, target practice basically. The real news of the day was the rather lopsided numbers produced by the Allied fighters on sweep, have attached Tracker and ingame numbers in addition to relevant CRs, any way you get it I bloodied Roel's nose today. (For the record, based on following CRs alone, it's 20:5 in favour of the Allies) Now I'm not one to sit through combat animations but I probably have to sit through this round again to see if the dreaded dive is working it's devilry here. Do note though that due to our HR, only the Oscars are flying at 15k feet while everything else is at 20k, I just double checked to see if all the Allied fighters are set to 20k and they are. Most of the losses seem to be Tojos and these guys come in at 20k. I haven't bothered to familiarise myself with the intricacies of the problems associated with sweep and dive so I'm missing a fair few pieces of the puzzle here but on the face of it looks like I won this round fair and square? Early days of course, need to fight more battles to get a good feel of the average numbers.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 29
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 35

Allied aircraft
     Hurricane IIc Trop x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 19 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (16 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     16 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000
     Raid is overhead
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (19 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     19 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000
     Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 26
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 33

Allied aircraft
     Hurricane IIc Trop x 10

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     18 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     15 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     19 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 26
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 28

Allied aircraft
     P-40K Warhawk x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     14 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 89 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     14 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 22000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 7 scrambling)
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     19 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 18000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 15
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 23

Allied aircraft
     P-40K Warhawk x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     P-40K Warhawk: 3 destroyed

CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 14 scrambling)
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000
     Raid is overhead
77th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 10
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 16

Allied aircraft
     P-40K Warhawk x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 4 destroyed
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed

CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 134 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 80 minutes
77th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 1
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10

Allied aircraft
     Hurricane IIc Trop x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 18000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 165 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 100 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 1
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 4

Allied aircraft
     Hurricane IIc Trop x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
      4 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 20000 feet

CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 23000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 241 minutes
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 26000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
     Hurricane IIc Trop x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
     10 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 20000 feet

CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 24000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes


USAAF OVER KATHA
Morning Air attack on 2nd Army, at 61,43 (Katha)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
     B-17D Fortress x 11
     B-24D Liberator x 23
     B-25C Mitchell x 14
     P-40E Warhawk x 15

Allied aircraft losses
     B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

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

Aircraft Attacking:
     11 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
              Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
     14 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
              Ground Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
     11 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
              Ground Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
     12 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
              Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 82nd JAAF AF Bn  ...
Also attacking 93rd JAAF AF Bn  ...
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 82nd JAAF AF Bn  ...
Also attacking 93rd JAAF AF Bn  ...
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 82nd JAAF AF Bn  ...
Also attacking 93rd JAAF AF Bn  ...
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 82nd JAAF AF Bn  ...
Also attacking 93rd JAAF AF Bn  ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2nd Army, at 61,43 (Katha)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
     B-25C Mitchell x 32

Allied aircraft losses
     B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

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

Aircraft Attacking:
     16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
              Ground Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
     16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
              Ground Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 4th/A Division ...
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 4th/A Division ...
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 4th/A Division ...
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 4th/A Division ...
Also attacking 2nd Army ...
Also attacking 4th/A Division ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 4th/A Division, at 61,43 (Katha)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
     B-25C Mitchell x 16

No Allied losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
     16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
              Ground Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

SUVA B-24s
Rested them this turn, so here are the numbers, more for my reference than anything, want to get a feel the operational tempo I can put the heavies through.

14th - 33 out of 48 flew (target: Luganville)
15th - 36 flew, didn't note how many were damaged/shot down (target: Noumea)
16th - no ops, can't remember if it's due to weather or I stood them down.
17th - as below, 22 flew (target: Noumea)
18th - 18 flew (target: Noumea)
19th - 14 flew (target: Noumea)
20th - 18 ready, 16 not ready - total of 34 out of 44 left (10 lost - 7 to A2A, 1 to ground attack, 2 ops losses, 1 written off)

Screenie of the Allied fighters fighting the good fight in the CBI.

21-22 NOV 1942
SUMMARY
A quiet 2 days after the mayhem of the previous 2.
IJN subs suffer a spate of misses as they take shots at escorts and don't connect.
Tenth AF continues ground bombing at Katha both days and sweeps of Mandalay on the 22nd are not enough to tempt the IJAAF to come out to play.

CARRIERS FORWARD
Lexington, Saratoga, Hornet and Wasp are poised to port strike Noumea on the next turn after having taken a circuitous route to Auckland where they topped up their fuel bunkers. They'll make a speed run from where they're shown below to 6 hexes SE of Noumea where they'll hold for one day after which they'll fall back towards NZ but never docking and instead head back to PH after a rendezvous with an UNREP group.

AIR GROUP TASKING
2 VFs set to sweep, 2 VFs set to escort, all VFs have CAP set at 40%
VSs and VBs have been set to port strike
2 VTs set to naval attack, 2 VTs set to port strike
No scouting flights by VSs to prevent early warning of the presence of the CVs, calculated risk considering there hasn't been much heavy STF activity in the area for a while.

INTENDED OUTCOME
This attack is more a test of what I should be doing on a port strike as I haven't done one this game yet. The VFs set to sweep are probably not a good idea as they'll probably come in *after* the strikes but what the hey, if they go in first as planned that will bloody the noses of the 11th Sentai enough that the following bombers should be relatively unmolested.

I cannot for the life of me remember where I read it, perhaps it was one of the many combat reports in the AARs but I seem to recall that TFs in a base hex would be treated as targets for a port strike which explains the preponderance of squadrons set to port strike, 2 VTs have been set to naval attack to save me from embarrassment if it turns out I remembered wrongly.

Looking at the bigger picture, it is also my intention that unmasking the American CVs in the area would serve to reinforce in Roel's mind that any invasion would fall in the SOPAC area first, of course for that to work ideally I should really leave a CV or two in the area till the invasion of Tarawa/Tabitueuauaueuauaua but I don't have spare decks to do that so this will have to do.

First, TB is indeed hard to spell.

Second, ships at anchor are subject to being hit by port attacks.

Third, consider setting all or most bombers to Nav Atk/Port Atk with target Noumea. If there are TFs in range you'll hit them, if not, you'll attack the port in the PM phase after your sweeps.

Fourth, I'd recommend long range Catalina recon of Noumea to improve detection level. Scratch that, to maintain DL as I see from the screen you're already at 9/10.

Fifth, be damn sure KB isn't in the area code.

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

First, TB is indeed hard to spell.

Second, ships at anchor are subject to being hit by port attacks.

Third, consider setting all or most bombers to Nav Atk/Port Atk with target Noumea. If there are TFs in range you'll hit them, if not, you'll attack the port in the PM phase after your sweeps.

Fourth, I'd recommend long range Catalina recon of Noumea to improve detection level. Scratch that, to maintain DL as I see from the screen you're already at 9/10.

Fifth, be damn sure KB isn't in the area code.

So I was half right then, let's hope the TFs are at anchor instead of being at sea.

I set my bombers to range 6 and port attack Noumea exclusively, based on what I've seen in port I don't want them wasting themselves over a bunch of xAKLs. I know I'm leaving myself open to counterattack from KB but I'm pretty sure KB isn't in the area and the approach run is intended to expose the CVs to one general threat axis, namely from the direction of Noumea itself so unless KB is holding 2 hexes or less north of Noumea I should be able to get in and out cleanly barring some interference from LBA.

To make sure of this, or least as sure as one can be in war, I have had Cats flying out of Suva and Brisbane on naval search and they've reported empty seas since the last IJN STF that attacked me off Yasawa. The fact that I spotted the last surface attack the turn before they made their run in has given me the confidence that no significant threat to the CVs is in the immediate area. A max speed run in by the CVs themselves is the greatest insurance as they start from relatively far out and shoot and scoot.

The stinker is if air recon is correct about the 2 CS in port then KB might well be closer than I thought and I could have sent my CVs to their deaths. Whatever the case, the die is cast, we'll see what the next turn brings.

If you know the disbanded targets are more valuable port atk is the way to go. The split the difference move is basically a force protection play in case unexpected seaborne opposition turns up. Good luck!

23 NOV 1942
SUMMARY
USN sinks some ships in Noumea, not the ones we hoped for but better than nothing. Also put a severe dent in the Betty inventory, lost a few pilots in exchange.
Tojos sweep Akyab in a change of pace, a single Hurricane squadron there can't do much against overwhelming numbers.
Allied sweep of Mandalay comes up empty again and Katha has it's daily visit from the Tenth AF.

USN CVs PORT STRIKE NOUMEA
About the only event of significance this turn really.

(The day starts with a sweep, go VF-2! The presence of the Zero Sentai came as a mild surprise as I hadn't seen it in the previous few turns when the B-24s from Suva bombed Noumea)
Morning Air attack on Noumea , at 115,160
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 10
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 42

Allied aircraft
     F4F-4 Wildcat x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed

CAP engaged:
204 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
11th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 21 scrambling)
     14 plane(s) intercepting now.
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Port strike proper, am disappointed I didn't find any major surface combatants but on hindsight nobody in their right mind would base major surface assets within range of enemy LBA let alone front line bases, still got some nice scalps though, specialist support ships don't exactly grow on trees for the IJN)
Morning Air attack on Noumea , at 115,160
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 10
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 31

Allied aircraft
     F4F-4 Wildcat x 19
     SBD-3 Dauntless x 71
     TBF-1 Avenger x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
     SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged
     TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
     AKE Hakubasan Maru, Bomb hits 5,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     CM Takashima, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
     AD Koshu Maru #2, Bomb hits 4,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     PB Shonon Maru #15, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
     PB Sonan Maru #5, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
     AKE Kashino, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
     AD Shintoku Maru, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires
     PB Takunan Maru #5, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
     ACM Choun Maru #8, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
     ACM Banshu Maru #56, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
     PB Tama Maru #5, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
     AS Jingei, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk

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

Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 1

CAP engaged:
204 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     10 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 25000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 74 minutes
     10 planes vectored on to bombers
11th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 5 scrambling)
     4 plane(s) intercepting now.
     22 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 24000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 71 minutes
     21 planes vectored on to bombers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(The first of the IJN's response)
Morning Air attack on TF, near Isle of Pines at 117,165
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     G4M1 Betty x 24

Allied aircraft
     F4F-4 Wildcat x 37

Japanese aircraft losses
     G4M1 Betty: 12 destroyed

Allied Ships
     CV Lexington

CAP engaged:
VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     (11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
     4 plane(s) intercepting now.
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     (8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
     2 plane(s) intercepting now.
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     (7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
     1 plane(s) intercepting now.
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 11000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2nd wave of Betties)
Morning Air attack on TF, near Isle of Pines at 117,165
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     G4M1 Betty x 33

Allied aircraft
     F4F-4 Wildcat x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
     G4M1 Betty: 10 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied Ships
     CV Lexington

Aircraft Attacking:
      9 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     3 plane(s) intercepting now.
     6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     5 plane(s) intercepting now.
     4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 77 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     3 plane(s) intercepting now.
     1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 20000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     5 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000
     Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2nd sweep of Noumea)
Morning Air attack on Noumea , at 115,160
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 3
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 16

Allied aircraft
     F4F-4 Wildcat x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed

CAP engaged:
204 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 28000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
11th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 11 scrambling)
     4 plane(s) intercepting now.
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 27000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Afternoon pulse starts with a 3rd wave of Betties)
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Isle of Pines at 117,165
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     G4M1 Betty x 8

Allied aircraft
     F4F-4 Wildcat x 41

Japanese aircraft losses
     G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 14 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 11000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 6000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4th and final wave of Betties)
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Isle of Pines at 117,165
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     G4M1 Betty x 15

Allied aircraft
     F4F-4 Wildcat x 37

Japanese aircraft losses
     G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 9000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 14 scrambling)
     2 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 10000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 5000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(STF in the same hex gets hammered)
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 115,160
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 13
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 8

Allied aircraft
     F4F-4 Wildcat x 25
     SBD-3 Dauntless x 50
     TBF-1 Avenger x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
     SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged
     TBF-1 Avenger: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
     CL Abukuma, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires
     DD Yugumo, Bomb hits 3,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     DD Isokaze, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires,  heavy damage

CAP engaged:
11th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     (8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
     2 plane(s) intercepting now.
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
204 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 13 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Abukuma
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Isokaze
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Yugumo

BODY COUNT
This may come as a surprise if you've been reading the combat reports above line by line but Tracker is telling me that I smoked 50 Betties in A2A in addition to 18 Oscars and 2 Zeros. In game tracking claims I shot down 70 Betties, I'm good with 50. The combat reports above don't show it but in the replays not many Betties survived the CAP to make a run on Lady Lex, even fewer survived the egress. In addition the handful of support ships sunk and the possible destruction of the STF makes for a relatively good day.

For the record, Tracker reports I've lost 3 pilots KIA, 1 MIA, 6 WIA. Hardware losses include 27 Wildcats (20 A2A, 7 ops), 10 SBDs (8 A2A, 2 ops), 3 TBFs (1 A2A, 2 ops). The pilot losses don't tally with the hardware loss so I'm kind of puzzled how that works, VF-2 off Lexington suffered the bulk of the casualties as it was assigned to sweeping duties in addition to CAP.

THOUGHTS
FWIW, it's been pretty clear to me for a while now, at least in my game that ground based radar is defintely not working as it should while ship borne radar seems to be doing just fine. Every combat report of action at sea has consistently shown raids being detected at a good distance out while they were inbound, I believe this was also the case in our only CV vs CV battle thus far back in Aug '42. The contrast between sighting of inbound raids vs OTH detection by radar and it's effects on CAP response can be seen in the reports above.

The number of Betties thrown at my ships was frankly quite scary, if Roel had as many fighters as he had Betties I might be looking at a sunk or broken CV or two. Lady Luck was defintely working overtime on my behalf. Seeing as I seem to favour surprise attacks I'm wondering how I can neutralize air bases that could potentially wreck havoc on my invasion convoys without giving the game away, subtlety has it's limits.

The last attack of the day on the STF also involved a good number of SBDs, all of them had been set to port attack so I didn't expect any to join in any naval attack so that was a pleasant surprise.

Definitely a win. Two AKEs and lots of Betties for minimal loss. Plus the bonus of nailing the SCTF.

Indeed, now that the CVs are safely away I can say that I'm very happy with the results, especially the massacre of the Bettys. Times like these I wish I was more imaginative/aggressive with the use of the rest of my assets at hand.

24 NOV 1942
I-28 catches an inbound TK/AO convoy that just left PH for CONUS and sinks an AO.
More sweeps of Mandalay and target practice for the Tenth AF over Katha by the Allies and Akyab is bombed by the IJAAF.

25 NOV 1942
I-122 sinks a TK just outside Colombo, the TK was part of a returning TK convoy from Oz, the convoy runs on it's own unprotected for most of the trip due to the length of the journey (it takes a roundabout route way out from any landmass), the idea was that as it approached either end of it's route local escorts would move out to escort it in on the final leg, I had forgotten about this and as a result the sub had a freebie, considering I've seen subs attempt and succeed at multiple attacks on the same convoy in the same turn losing only the single TK was a good day.

This turn sees a very pissed off IJAAF sweep Kalemyo with 100 Tojos although they find nothing as only Hurricanes are based there and they're set to either sweep or rest so no CAP came up to challenge them. Akyab is bombed for a second day, the Hurricanes have switched sweep targets from Mandalay to Akyab on the next turn, don't know if I can catch the bombers like this but worth a shot.

26-29 NOV 1942
Summary
Generally quiet turns except for the last one where a major furball developed over Kalemyo, more on that later. Roel suspects a bug.

26 NOV 1942
Quiet turn characterised by bombings of relatively unimportant targets by both sides.
The Allies bomb Katha while the Japanese nuke Akyab, Changsha and Broome. I wonder what's Roel up to by bombing Broome.
101 Tojos sweep Kalemyo but my Hurricanes are out busy sweeping Mandalay.

27 NOV 1942
I-174 and I-1 both help themselves to 1 TK each just outside Sydney and Vava'u respectively.
The Tojos come back again to Kalemyo but again no dice, Helens follow up and destroy a couple of Hurricanes on the ground.
Betties decimate a small supply convoy unloading at Darwin, sinking 1 AM and 3 xAKLs.
More bombings of Broome and Changsha

28 NOV 1942
Got tired of being bombed so this turn sees fighters coming up to meet the opposition in the skies over Kalemyo. They tangle with Oscars escorting Helens and both sides down a few, don't have the exact numbers, forgot to lift them off Tracker before the next turn overwrote the figures.

Interestingly enough, the Tojos don't sweep, Roel swears he didn't touch the squadron settings and the pilots in the airgroups even show the green highlight of having gained experience the previous turn but no sweeps either in both the replay or report. I've seen this happen with my Hurricanes before a couple of times  (ie. them not flying) but put it off to weather/coordination/some cosmic misalignment - I'm easy that way), we'll just have to see if this issue crops up often enough for it to be a problem.
More bombings of Broome and Changsha.

29 NOV 1942
Right, the reason d'etre for this update.

This turn saw the Tojos come back and with a vengeance.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kalemyo , at 59,42
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 37
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 93
      P-40K Warhawk x 57
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 7 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Hurricane IIc Trop: 3 destroyed
      P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
 
CAP engaged:
No.17 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      13 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
      Raid is overhead
No.30 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (4 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      15 plane(s) intercepting now.
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
No.67 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      11 plane(s) intercepting now.
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
No.135 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (5 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      16 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
      Raid is overhead
No.136 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (1 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      12 plane(s) intercepting now.
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
No.615 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (1 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      12 plane(s) intercepting now.
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
      Raid is overhead
23rd FG/74th FS with P-40K Warhawk (19 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      19 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000
      Raid is overhead
23rd FG/75th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 19 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
23rd FG/76th FS with P-40K Warhawk (19 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      19 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000
      Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kalemyo , at 59,42
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 75
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 75
      P-40K Warhawk x 50
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Hurricane IIc Trop: 17 destroyed
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       5 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet *
      30 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet *
 
CAP engaged:
No.17 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 23000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
No.30 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 22000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
No.615 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      15 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 23000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
23rd FG/74th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      14 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 76 minutes
23rd FG/75th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      18 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 114 minutes
23rd FG/76th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      18 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 116 minutes
No.67 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      10 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 23000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
No.135 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 24000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
No.136 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 24000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kalemyo , at 59,42
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 55
      Ki-49-IIa Helen x 81
 
 Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 20
      P-40K Warhawk x 50
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 20 destroyed
      Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
      P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed
 
 Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 62
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      25 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 15000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
      25 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 15000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
      31 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 15000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
       8 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet *
 
CAP engaged:
23rd FG/74th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      14 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
23rd FG/75th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      18 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
23rd FG/76th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 18 scrambling)
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
No.17 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000
      Raid is overhead
No.67 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 24000 and 32000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
No.136 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 26000 and 27000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 53 minutes
No.30 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      3 plane(s) intercepting now.
      1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 21000 and 24000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
No.615 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 24000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
 

I lost 43 IIcs (36 A2A, 7 ops), 11 P-40Ks (6 A2A, 5 ops), 7 KIA, 24 MIA (most casualties suffered by the Brits) in exchange for what Tracker reports to be 37 Oscars Ics (31 A2A, 6 ops) and 17 Tojo IIas. I don't have the airframes to go toe to toe with Roel like this, a turn or two at this intensity and my carefully husbanded stockpiles go up in smoke. I've withdrawn the Hurricanes from Kalemyo and moved them to Chittagong where they'll take on replacements. The P-40Ks that were flying out of Imphal and LRCAPing Kalemyo seemed to fare better than the Hurricanes defending their own base but I guess that's cos most of them were out of position when the raid appeared overhead as the interception times show. Probably not a good idea for them to continue LRCAP as they'll come in piecemeal and get chewed up but I'll give it a go after resting them this next turn.

Other than that, Darwin welcomed the arrival of 2 squadrons of Kittyhawks, 1 each from the RNZAF and RAAF, figured might as well make Roel work for it if he wanted to bomb my convoys, they tangled with Zeros and shot down 3 for a loss of 5, not too bad I guess.

Broome still getting bombed, not much I'm going to do about it, he's welcome to invade and take north Oz, more bases for him to supply and cover.

Changsha has been getting bombed relatively regularly the past couple of rounds, the next turn will see the CAF in action for the first time as they CAP Changsha.

30 NOV 1942
SUMMARY
Roel sends a STF to end my attempt at keeping Darwin resupplied by sea.
CAF scores big in the skies over Changsha.


IJN STF PUTS A TEMPORARY END TO RESUPPLY OF DARWIN BY SEA
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 76,124, Range 8,000 Yards (I was waiting for this, will stop the convoys for a bit till he gets tired of waiting around for me)

Japanese Ships
     CL Sendai
     DD Asashio
     DD Yayoi
     DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
     PG Isabel, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
     xAKL Palawan, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
     xAKL Darvel, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
     xAKL Ipoh, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
     xAKL Soerabaja, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
     xAKL Lematang, Shell hits 15, and is sunk


CHINESE AIR FORCE IN ACTION
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-21-IIa Sally x 17
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 24
     Ki-48-Ib Lily x 3

Allied aircraft
     H81-A3 x 9
     P-43A-1 Lancer x 41

Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     H81-A3: 1 destroyed
     P-43A-1 Lancer: 1 destroyed

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
     14 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
              Airfield Attack:  4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
      3 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet
              Airfield Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th FG/17th FS CAF with P-43A-1 Lancer (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     3 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
4th FG/22nd FS CAF with P-43A-1 Lancer (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     9 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000
     Raid is overhead
4th FG/24th FS CAF with H81-A3 (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     9 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000
     Raid is overhead
5th FG/27th FS CAF with P-43A-1 Lancer (4 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     4 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
5th FG/29th FS CAF with P-43A-1 Lancer (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     9 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000
     Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 10
     Ki-48-Ib Lily x 9

Allied aircraft
     H81-A3 x 6
     P-43A-1 Lancer x 38

Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed
     Ki-48-Ib Lily: 3 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
      5 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet
              Airfield Attack:  4 x 100 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th FG/17th FS CAF with P-43A-1 Lancer (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     10 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
4th FG/22nd FS CAF with P-43A-1 Lancer (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
4th FG/24th FS CAF with H81-A3 (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 138 minutes
     6 planes vectored on to bombers
5th FG/27th FS CAF with P-43A-1 Lancer (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 20000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 94 minutes
     10 planes vectored on to bombers
5th FG/29th FS CAF with P-43A-1 Lancer (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 77 minutes

These guys did better than I expected, Tracker reports 19 Oscar Ics, 3 Sallys and 4 Liltys lost to A2A for the loss of 1 H81 and 1 Lancer. 2 squadrons out of Changsha and 3 out of Hengyang on LRCAP.

Elsewhere, follow up attacks on the now near empty airfields at Kalemyo claim 6 Hurricanes lost to bombing while I lose 2 more Kittyhawks over Darwin to Zeros with nothing to show for.

SUMMARY


2 main areas of action this month, opposing air forces fight for control of the skies over the Indian-Burmese border while SOPAC command tries to keep up the impression that the first hammer blows of the Allied counter offensive will fall on New Hebrides/New Caledonia

Overall am unhappy with my actions this past game month, a failure to adequately plan for the mustering of invasion troops in the SOPAC area within a reasonable amount of time and the subsequent turn around and change of targets to CENPAC made for a massive waste of time, some lessons in organization were hopefully learnt. Some small consolation can be had from a successful US CV port strike on Noumea as well as putting a dent in the IJAAF numbers in Burma although I suspect given the Japanese player control over production and pilot training and the relatively small numbers of Allied replacement/production planes I might be on the losing end of that particular equation.

Will have to step up diversionary actions in SOPAC this coming game month in order to keep up the appearance that I'll be striking there first. The flank speed runs by the USN CVs into and out of Noumea have hurt the ships bad, Saratoga's TF are all spotting system damage in their teens with the other CVs not much better off, being anal, I'll probably patch all of them up before I make an attempt on my CENPAC targets, this will entail a projected invasion date of sometime in late Jan '43 by which time I will have received another 3 CVEs, this time these come with combat squadrons so those will be very much welcome.

01 DEC 1942
Quiet turn.
Sweeps of Darin and Kalemyo.
Broome and Akyab bombed.

02 DEC 1942
O20 puts one into the side of a TK off the north coast of Borneo, suspect the TK was part of a regular run to HI from Palembang/Singapore. Am putting the TK down as a probable kill.
Sweeps of Hengyang (Roel seeking blood for that ambush I pulled on him a few turns back) and Chittagong, the latter one hurt cos I had a squadron of older Hurri IIa up on part CAP/part training, lost 6 of them, fortunately, all the pilots managed to have come back alive.


SUB KILLBOARD (JULY '42 ONWARDS)
Finback – TK Nisshin Maru (13,340)
S-27 - CL Naka (7,000), xAKL Konsan Maru (1,900)
S-34 - AMC Asaka Maru (6,825)
KXI - AK Takaoka Maru (6,475)
S-46 – AMC Bankok Maru(4,050)
KXIV (SUNK) – xAK Tenzan Maru (2,980)
Tarpon – xAK Seiwa Maru (2,900)
S-47 – PB Hakkaisan Maru (2,780)
O23 – xAKL Arizama Maru(2,050)
O20 – TK Kuremente Maru (1,120)
KXVII (SUNK) – TK Azuma Maru (1,120)
Pompano - PB Yahonui Maru (830)
Greenling (SUNK)– PB Shinko Maru (830)
Silversides (SUNK) – SC Cha-32 (99)

S-23 – xAK Shinwa Maru (26/08/42 probable)
S-37 – CL Tama (10/08/42 damaged)
S-44 – I-170 (29/09/42 probable)
Drum - TK Itukusima Maru (13/10/42 probable)
Grayling – xAK Teikai Maru (22/09/42 probable), xAK Amagi Maru (28/06/42 probable)
Gudgeon – xAK Saiho Maru (31/07/42 damaged)
O20 - TK Ogura Maru #3 (02/12/42 probable)