Summary of last couple of days; caught a cold and not been in a great shape to write up the AAR.
In my last game against Andy I lost Burma and he moved into Malaysia, took Bangkok, Singapore and moved on.
This was a serious situation I couldn't control. Do NOT want this to happen in this game. Think I have to compromise; already pulled out most good troops from the interior but can find a few more on Luzon. A crack regiment is moving in from China as well. One of the shattered regiments from the fighting around Perth is moved to Singapore and will rebuild.
Never started defensive preparations this early before, but in Oz and Burma I don't have further offensive goals and the defensive is therefore the only option. We have to stay on the offensive at sea for the next 6-12 months.
Tried to intercept a huge convoy sailing from Perth with merchant men, troop ships and the 2 Allied carriers.
Somehow the enemy TF only move 1 or 2 hexes and avoid our surface group consisting of 1 BB, 1 CA, 1 CL and 4 DD.
- I think Andy used the TF as a trap for our bombers by providing a strong LRCAP, but I've evacuated our ac because I'm afraid we may loose the base to Allied ground troops soon as they now field over 2100 AV. I therefore decide to bombard enemy troops in Geraldton with our surface ships next turn.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jul 13, 42
Night Bombing
Andy is intensifying his night bombing - but to little effect!
At Magwe we're well dug in with heavy AA defenses.
Night Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 5
Wellington Ic x 6
Bolingbroke IV x 2
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged
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Night Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 6 damaged
Runway hits 1
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Andy is using standard fighters as night-fighters; they actually shot down a bomber a few turns ago!
Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 24
Allied aircraft
Hurricane I Trop x 8
Hurricane IIb Trop x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 10 damaged
Runway hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
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Air Combat
An air offensive then commense; the one by one units sweep is easy to repel as our defenders steadily rise up into the air!
Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 36
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 Det B with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 8 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 23000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
12th Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 25 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 22 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
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Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 11 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 34
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 2 destroyed
CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 Det B with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 8 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters to 32810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
12th Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 24 scrambling)
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 32810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (8 airborne, 2 on standby, 14 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 35200.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
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Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 34
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 5
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 Det B with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 8 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters to 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
12th Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 20 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (11 airborne, 2 on standby, 6 scrambling)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 11 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
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The Aircobra may be good in a defensive role and against bombers...in this sweep 14 of them are gunned down
without friendly losses!
Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 30
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 23
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 7 destroyed
CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 Det B with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
12th Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 20 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 1 on standby, 6 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 17 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 30000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
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Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 24
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 3
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 Det B with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 9 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
12th Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 9 being recalled, 12 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
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After the sweeps 23 B-17's arrive; we still field 59 fighters. Only 2 B-17's are shot down, but more
are damaged.
Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 37
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 22
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 23
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 14 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 9
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 Det B with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Raid is overhead
12th Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (26 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
26 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (20 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
20 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
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Ground Combat
2271 AV...that's serious firepower, almost a 1000 vehicles.
I can't evacuate, will take too long time to get KB and transports here and it will take forever to march nort.
For now we need to stand and fight!
Ground combat at Geraldton (49,141)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 13897 troops, 277 guns, 977 vehicles, Assault Value = 2271
Defending force 26779 troops, 278 guns, 189 vehicles, Assault Value = 928
Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Assaulting units:
2/9th Armoured Regiment
192nd Tank Battalion
2/11th Armoured Car Battalion
1st Motor Brigade
159th Mot Infantry Regiment
10th Light Horse Battalion
40th Infantry Division
Americal Infantry Division
194th Tank Battalion
255th Armoured Brigade
41st Infantry Division
27th Infantry Division
7th Armoured Brigade
2nd Medium Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
226th Field Artillery Battalion
21/22 Field Regiment
2/13th Field Regiment
III Indian Corps
13th Australian Hvy AA Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
Defending units:
2nd Tank Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
2nd Recon Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
II./124th Infantry Battalion
1st Engineer Co
65th Brigade
6th Guards Division
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
40th Field AA Battalion
26th Air Flotilla
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Army
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More night attack with little effect - no further day attacks.
- I've now replaced our own Sally's with a crack 36 ac Tojo unit; more than 110 fighters now defend Magwe
together with a dozen flak units.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jul 14, 42
In anticipation of enemy ground attack we unleash a rain of shells over the Allied troops in Geraldton!
Bombardments
Naval bombardment of Geraldton at 49,141
Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
CA Atago
CL Tama
CL Kinu
DD Hasu
DD Asagao
DD Hayate
Allied ground losses:
87 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 6 (0 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (0 destroyed, 11 disabled)
BB Haruna firing at 41st Infantry Division
CA Atago firing at Americal Infantry Division
CL Tama firing at 27th Infantry Division
CL Kinu firing at Americal Infantry Division
DD Hasu firing at 27th Infantry Division
DD Asagao firing at Americal Infantry Division
DD Hayate firing at 27th Infantry Division
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Air Combat
More and more air attacks on Geraldton from Perth, no great numbers though.
Afternoon Air attack on Geraldton , at 49,141
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 2
F4F-3A Wildcat x 1
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
SBD-3 Dauntless x 16
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 20000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 20000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 20000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
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Afternoon Air attack on Geraldton , at 49,141
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 3
Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
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Afternoon Air attack on 6th Guards Division, at 49,141 (Geraldton)
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 3
Hudson I x 3
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-25B Mitchell x 3
P-38E Lightning x 8
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25B Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Also attacking 65th Brigade ...
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Ground Combat
And so the attack goes in! Maybe because of our bombardment, maybe because of a lack of supplies, low experience; don't really know - but Allied AV is reduced by almost two thirds and Andy only achieves a poor 1-2 odds by a small margin [8D] 218 vehicles destroyed or disabled. Good, this buys time!
Ground combat at Geraldton (49,141)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 57646 troops, 1065 guns, 2360 vehicles, Assault Value = 2265
Defending force 26312 troops, 278 guns, 189 vehicles, Assault Value = 924
Allied adjusted assault: 818
Japanese adjusted defense: 836
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), preparation(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1423 casualties reported
Squads: 32 destroyed, 58 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 113 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 70 (15 destroyed, 55 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
941 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 275 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 218 (8 destroyed, 210 disabled)
Assaulting units:
2/9th Armoured Regiment
194th Tank Battalion
27th Infantry Division
2/11th Armoured Car Battalion
40th Infantry Division
192nd Tank Battalion
1st Motor Brigade
10th Light Horse Battalion
159th Mot Infantry Regiment
Americal Infantry Division
255th Armoured Brigade
41st Infantry Division
7th Armoured Brigade
2/13th Field Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
III Indian Corps
21/22 Field Regiment
226th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd Medium Regiment
13th Australian Hvy AA Regiment
8th Medium Regiment
Defending units:
16th Recon Regiment
2nd Recon Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
65th Brigade
II./124th Infantry Battalion
20th Infantry Regiment
1st Engineer Co
6th Guards Division
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
26th Air Flotilla
40th Field AA Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
21st Army
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Geraldton - Perth
