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First the good news. The allies took Townsville and Palm Island and were able to occupy and entirely undamaged Townsville. No naval attack materialized.

That empire force is not of consequence any longer.

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Ground combat at Townsville (92,144)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 96875 troops, 2184 guns, 7376 vehicles, Assault Value = 3895

Defending force 51828 troops, 567 guns, 785 vehicles, Assault Value = 1776

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 5

Allied adjusted assault: 1744

Japanese adjusted defense: 223

Allied assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied forces CAPTURE Townsville !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
14891 casualties reported
Squads: 167 destroyed, 350 disabled
Non Combat: 381 destroyed, 107 disabled
Engineers: 294 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 255 (230 destroyed, 25 disabled)
Vehicles lost 361 (354 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Units retreated 8

Allied ground losses:
1593 casualties reported
Squads: 38 destroyed, 158 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 93 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 31 disabled
Guns lost 60 (4 destroyed, 56 disabled)
Vehicles lost 227 (17 destroyed, 210 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
Waikito (Mtd) Rifle Regiment
5th Armoured Division
641st Towed Tank Destroyer Battalion
775th Tank Battalion
766th Tank Battalion
Nth Auckland (Mtd) Regiment
6th Armoured Division
Auckland (Mtd) Rifl Regiment
752nd Tank Battalion
41st Infantry Division
756th Tank Battalion
767th Tank Battalion
151st Combat Engineer Regiment
3rd NZ Armoured Sqn
7th Mot Infantry Division
710th Tank Battalion
25th Infantry Division
1st USMC Tank Battalion
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
Canterbury Yeomanry Regiment
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
Nelson/Marlb. (Mtd) Regiment
4th USMC Tank Battalion
Manawatu's (Mtd) Regiment
Americal Infantry Division
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
757th Tank Battalion
44th Tank Battalion
Q Alexandra's (Mtd) Regiment
1st USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
716th Tank Battalion
Well'n's East (Mtd) Regiment
7th Infantry Division
3rd USMC Tank Battalion
13th Armoured Division
194th Tank Battalion
107th Mech Cavalry Regiment
3rd Infantry Division
44th Infantry Division
Otago (Mtd) Rifles Regiment
104th Mech Cavalry Regiment
1st USMC Corps Tank Battalion
115th Mech Cavalry Rgt /1
6th USN Naval Construction Regiment
29th USN Naval Construction Regiment
23rd USN Naval Construction Regiment
Tenth US Army
4th USN Naval Construction Regiment
18th USN Naval Construction Regiment
26th USN Naval Construction Regiment
15th NZ AA Bde
43rd USN Naval Construction Battalion
Sixth US Army
5th USN Naval Construction Regiment
28th USN Naval Construction Regiment
V US Amphib Force
16th USN Naval Construction Regiment
39th USN Naval Construction Battalion
42nd Aviation Base Force
27th USN Naval Construction Regiment
46th USN Naval Construction Battalion
12th Marine AA Battalion
1st USN Naval Construction Regiment
12th USN Naval Construction Regiment
41st USN Naval Construction Battalion
44th USN Naval Construction Battalion
41st Aviation Base Force
I US Corps
17th NZ AA Bde
35th Aviation Base Force
XIV US Corps
48th USN Naval Construction Battalion
2nd Eng Amph Bde
24th USN Naval Construction Regiment
38th USN Naval Construction Battalion
58th Aviation Base Force
IX US Corps
16th NZ AA Bde
15th USN Naval Construction Regiment
31st USN Naval Construction Regiment
X US Corps
Alaska Defense Cmd
E Det USN Port Svc

Defending units:
144th Division
6th Tank Division
288th Division
98th Division
11th/C Division
131st Naval Construction Battalion
3rd FF Const Unit
47th Road Const Co
94th Field AA Battalion
19th JNAF AF Unit

And now the bad news - one TF at Townsville had completed unloading and attempted to return to Noumea. It moved exactly one hex outside the allied CV CAP and was shellacked. With 99 ships at the beginning of the 'combat' sequence, the death toll so far has been CA Boston, CL Richmond and 30 AK types. There are a dozen severely damaged ships trying to limp back to Townsville some of which wont make it.

As is typical in this phase of the war, even our Long War, the empire air does not fare well against late model American fighters. Over the 6 games days of the combat sequence, the empire has lost about 450 planes with experienced pilots to the allies to 100, most of which were operations losses. This turn was as follows. Gotta Love the American CV fighters.

Busy week again...we move slow

Another big turn for air combat. empire sent numerous sweeps and several large uncoordinated air attacks to the allied fleet at Townsville
It wasn't too successful, but total losses were only 4 to 1 in allied favor, which is the best result in many attacks.

My illustrious opponent continued his air onslaught. He broke through the CAP and put a fish in lady lex, but she is still operational. pretty costly. He did do more sweeping, which in general was more successful, but the naval air attack was mauled due to the massed allied CV CAP.

I know we are playing substantially accelerated empire air production, but how long he can keep this up? about 1200 empire airframe losses in the last week to about 300 total allied. I'll take those loss ratios any day of the week.

The allied armies are on solidly and about to own both Townsville and Charter towers. The fleet is pulling out this turn to go back and get invasion 2.

Empire continued his naval air attacks to no avail. Another 150 planes lost to 30 for the allies. wow.

Allied carriers and transports left Townsville and are in transit back to Noumea to pick up the next load of troops. Because of the constant air threat, I still need to move the entire armada as one. Once I can clear out down to Brisbane, there will be no need for carriers, but that is a ways away.

Allies are not conducting any other major amphibious combat operations. Remember we have an HR that states that OZ must be retaken before the allies press further towards the empire. While this may extend the game, it isn't
terribly unrealistic.

The AK's are all embroiled in bringing troops or supplies to hub bases or the front.

Since the last posting, NZ has been conquered, and three bases in OZ have been captured. Not a whole lot of progress, but one of the toughest invasions of the game is in the books as a win.

Attached is a summary of the 3 allies sub zones. Since pulling back from Japan, sub losses have moderated, but then I haven't bagged as many merchants either. I don't really know how many merchants he has left and what he is doing with them, other than he is still using Balikpapan and Soerabaya, where I am getting material success.

I still have the same hub bases for USA, PH and Noumea, I am still clearing out Suva and Auckland and will be doing so for at least a month.

Although I built a supply road into CHina, I still suffer severe supply shortages, as I am replacing my units for a later offensive. I have managed to push 2M supply points to Asia from Aden, but I have another 3 M to go before I have sufficient reserves to launch the campaign I am thinking of. In any event, it will be some time before I can light fires in Asia again beyond air and some minor hex grabbing. probably March 45 or April

I somewhat foolishly sent all my fighters at Townsville on a sweep of Cairns and left the base open. The empire bombed it with everything he had. Ironically, I have so many engineers that the base is undamaged today despite being pounded, but then I lose 69 plans on the ground. With only Townsville with operational airbases in Oz, I am at disadvantage. I brought back a couple dozen CVE's to cover the base until charter towers is ready to go.

Empire also has moved up several dozen MTB SC LB etc. Cooktown and Rockhampton. The obvious use is for a future counterpulse. right now I don't have naval attack airframes to attack them, as the platforms are all covering Townsville or on the back to Noumea.

Empire came back at it these last two turns but hasn't had the success of the last posting. cumulative losses of 300 empire planes to 60 allied. here is an attack that took place last turn. note NO allied losses. WOW!!!!!!!!!![X(][X(]

Morning Air attack on Townsville , at 92,144

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 24
A6M5b Zero x 51
A6M5c Zero x 21
B6N2 Jill x 43
G4M1 Betty x 11
G4M3a Betty x 26
N1K1 Rex x 26
N1K2-J George x 37
P1Y2 Frances x 6
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 22
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 25
Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 4
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy x 14
Ki-84a Frank x 10

Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 31
Hellcat I x 8
Spitfire VIII x 15
P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 122
F4U-1 Corsair x 33
F4U-1A Corsair x 460
F4U-1D Corsair x 128
F6F-5 Hellcat x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M5b Zero: 4 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 29 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak
G4M3a Betty: 15 destroyed
G4M3a Betty: 1 destroyed by flak
N1K1 Rex: 3 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 2 destroyed
P1Y2 Frances: 4 destroyed
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 16 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed
Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 2 destroyed
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 5 destroyed
Ki-67-Ia (T) Peggy: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Runway hits 2[X(][X(]

Here is the MAP. no sizable force coming up to challenge allies. Empire likely is going to mass forces around Sydney and hold it as long as possible.

NOTE the MTB massing around Townsville to scare away the allied CVE's from close in CAP support

Status of fleet getting ready to doc at Noumea for next invasion - probable Rockhampton area

Here are the damaged and losses so far. Acceptable to be sure. - - - - add 4 destroyers too

The battle I am calling the Coral Sea occurred over the last three turns. The empire waited until I had my carriers split and launched his onslaught. Large combats ensued, including a rare mid sea attempt at intercepting my CV task forces. Allies left the field in good order, kept control of Townsville, and got the better of the combats. I believe that will be the last effort the empire makes to retake Townville, but time will tell.

I will provide details after IRL is over for the day.

one acronym........LRCAP

Empire launched massed air raids on Townsville and from extended range, his remaining carriers launched an attack from near Gili Gili. He suffered more than 500 planes lost, and got only one hit on the CVE Battler, which suffered a critical hit.