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June 7th was a relatively quiet day:
- Prester John decided to evacuate Vizagapatnam, and therefore, it was bombed unopposed. It is now showing 100 damage. Tomorrow I will start with Coconada

- The battleships that bombed Diego Garcia vanished... I have a feeling I will see them tomorrow, or maybe a new TF

- USN carriers still at DL=0, tomorrow they will strike Wake Island.
Also, Wake Island was bombarded yesterday by the battleship TF while the cruiser TF patrolled there. They were spotted and attacked twice by torpedo carrying Betties. No losses to report, other than 7 torpedo bombers shot down!

- DD Akitsuki is confirmed as sunk. It was heavy damaged on the battle of Andaman sea.


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Night Naval bombardment of Wake Island at 136,98

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Warspite
BB Arizona
BB Oklahoma
BB Nevada
BB West Virginia
DD Clark
DD Balch
DD Selfridge
DD Porter
DD Case
DD Lamson
DD Preston
DD Benham
DD Dunlap

Japanese ground losses:
182 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 7
Port hits 6

BB Warspite firing at 53rd Naval Guard Unit
BB Arizona firing at Wake Island
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Oklahoma
BB Oklahoma firing at Wake Island
BB Nevada firing at Wake Island
BB West Virginia firing at Wake Island
DD Clark firing at Wake Island
DD Balch firing at Wake Island
DD Selfridge firing at Wake Island
DD Porter firing at Wake Island
DD Case firing at Wake Island
DD Lamson firing at Wake Island
DD Preston firing at Wake Island
DD Benham firing at Wake Island
DD Dunlap firing at Wake Island


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Morning Air attack on Vizagapatnam , at 42,37

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 26

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
26 x P-40E Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet *



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Morning Air attack on Vizagapatnam , at 42,37

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 25

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x P-400 Airacobra sweeping at 20000 feet *



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Wake Island at 136,98

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 13 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CA Chester
DD Walke
CA Northampton
CA Chicago

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wake Island at 136,98

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 64 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 10 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CA Chicago
CA Salt Lake City
CA Northampton

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
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Afternoon Air attack on Vizagapatnam , at 42,37

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 14
Blenheim IV x 16
Hudson IIIa x 16
Wellington Ic x 15
Kittyhawk IA x 12

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
14 x Blenheim I bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
16 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
15 x Wellington Ic bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Afternoon Air attack on Vizagapatnam , at 42,37

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 26
B-25C Mitchell x 13

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
12 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
13 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Afternoon Air attack on Vizagapatnam , at 42,37

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 14
Beaufort V x 12

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged
Beaufort V: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
12 x Beaufort V bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Afternoon Air attack on Vizagapatnam , at 42,37

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 16

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

Another quiet turn:

- Carriers failed to strike Wake due to weather; I will try again, then leave as the KB might be getting close

- Cruisers executed naval bombardments, then left to refuel at Midway

- Nothing to report on Diego Garcia

- Coconada airfield was bombed; another day of unopposed bombing; it is at 49 points of damage

- I am getting ready for the true air offensive: Ceylon

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Night Naval bombardment of Wake Island at 136,98

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City
CA Chicago
CA Chester
CA Northampton
DD Cassin
DD Downes
DD Walke
DD Russell
DD Grayson

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

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 9
Port hits 8
Port supply hits 2

CA Salt Lake City firing at Wake Island
CA Chicago firing at Wake Island
CA Chester firing at Wake Island
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Northampton
CA Northampton firing at Wake Island
DD Cassin firing at Wake Island
DD Downes firing at Wake Island
DD Walke firing at Wake Island
DD Russell firing at Wake Island
DD Grayson firing at Wake Island

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Morning Air attack on Cocanada , at 41,37

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 15
Blenheim IV x 16
Hudson IIIa x 16
Wellington Ic x 15

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 27
Airbase supply hits 12
Runway hits 73

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
15 x Blenheim I bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
16 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
15 x Wellington Ic bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Cocanada , at 41,37

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 27
B-25C Mitchell x 13
P-400 Airacobra x 25

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 19

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
13 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
13 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Cocanada , at 41,37

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 13
Beaufort V x 11

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
11 x Beaufort V bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Cocanada , at 41,37

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 4 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 16

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

Time to review the losses so far; As you can see, losses this month were significant; this mostly due to the Battle of Andaman Sea, a costly affair. Winston Churchill won't be amused as the RN paid a heavy price


Capital ships:
One new Capital ship lost last month, BB Royal Sovereign. The other 2 losses are BB Ramilies, surprised and sunk by the KB near Diego Garcia and BC Repulse, torpedoed by a KB detachment in the Java sea, then lost after a critical flooding event when traveling off-map to Cape Town

Damaged:
- BB PoW is still at Cape Town, it will require a month or so to get back online. It was torpedoed near Pontianak a few days after the war started, it somehow managed to crawl to CT.
- BB Resolution, just arrived to Cape Town, it will need aprox. 148 days to repair. This ship was also surprised by the KB near Diego Garcia, it spent a few weeks in Mombasa to get system fully repaired before the journey to CT
- BB Maryland, the only "almost lost" victim of December 7th, is still at PH, 161 days to repair.

Japan:
BB Mutsu got 2 torpedoes from Albacore strikes at Andaman sea, but there was no significant damage afterwards, still I would guess at least 100 days yard time. BB Nagato and Yamashiro were bombed in Truk, but no serious damage. They will likely require a month or a few weeks to repair.

Carriers:
No Allied losses [;)]

Damaged:
CV Indomitable will arrive tomorrow at Mombasa, damaged but not seriously, it will unload squadrons and withdraw
CV Formidable, seriously damage, will arrive to Mombasa in 14 days, then it will need at least a couple weeks to get damage under control before withdrawal.
CVL Hermes is at Diego Garcia and at significant risk, as Prester John is aware of it. This is the most likely candidate for 1st carrier lost. All he needs to do is send a Air combat TF to finish it. Damage is 48 system, 52 float (all major), 16 engine (9 major) which is too high to attempt to withdraw to Mombasa

Japan:
CVL Shoho sunk [:D]
CV Junyo and CVL Zuiho listed as sunk, but I don't think they did, Junyo was torpedoed close to Japan and it should be in a shipyard right now. CVL Zuiho received a battleship caliber hit, it is likely in Port Blair or Singapore.

Cruisers:
What a painful month for RN cruisers!! I lost one American, CL Trenton near Luganville, courtesy of KB. All the rest (5 cruisers) died in the 10 day Battle of Andaman Sea: CAs Devonshire and Dorsetshire. CLs Hobart, Newcastle, CLAA Van Heemskerck

Damaged: CL Glasgow was heavily damaged, but I managed to withdraw it after fixing some damage.

Japan:
This a a best guess as I don't have any confirmation: CL Kiso should had sunk a couple months ago in the Indian ocean. CL Kinu was torpedoed near Pt Blair and CL Abukuma was torpedoed near Pt Moresby. Also: CA Mikuma is reported as sunk, but I don't believe it yet. it was seriously damaged by battleship caliber hits on the Andaman sea battle

Destroyers
It is painful to watch [:(]. I lost the following destroyers last month: Pillsbury, Arunta, Arrow, Foxhound, Inconstant, Starling, Vampire and Vendetta. Mostly on the Andaman sea or near Diego Garcia

Damaged: Tjerk Hiddes, Nizam, Decoy and Fortune are off map in transit to Mombasa, they should survive

Japan:
DD Karii, Yudachi, Akatsuki sunk, this is confirmed. EDIT: Arashio confirmed on June 23rd report; DD Hibiki confirmed on July 2nd. I also have Kagero and Kazegumo but this I am sure is false

Other categories
Other categories are mostly attritional losses due to submarines, some particularly painful losses were:
Tankers= Esso Richmond and Aristophanes, Transports= xAP Monterey xAP Australia Star, Fast cargo= xAK Doryssa

Japan:
Only interesting ship reported is xAP Terukuni maru, sunk in January.

Submarines: I have no trust at all in the reported Japanese submarine losses

Japan air losses:

Allies air losses:

Second try to strike Wake island was, again, cancelled due to weather. [:@]
And the carriers remained at 10/10 DL, this due to proximity to the base.
Decision was to abort the operation and withdraw; it is disappointing to let AV Kimikawa maru go, but time did run out, I don't know the KB location and I can't fight it with 3 carriers, specially when I am at 10/10 DL.

The reward of killing a seaplane tender and/ or a few more floatplanes is too low for the risk involved. There are several AARs that attested that fact

Not a lot more to report, there was a failed attempt to use midget submarines against Brisbane, a very well guarded port

Since you know your opponent is aware of Hermes' location, why not risk it and send her off to a repair yard anyway? If he comes and gets her at DG, you will lose her regardless, because you can't defend her, and I can't imagine him passing up a chance to bag a carrier. By the way, I'm very much enjoying your AAR and I thank you for taking the time to write it.

ORIGINAL: WriterNotViking

Since you know your opponent is aware of Hermes' location, why not risk it and send her off to a repair yard anyway? If he comes and gets her at DG, you will lose her regardless, because you can't defend her, and I can't imagine him passing up a chance to bag a carrier. By the way, I'm very much enjoying your AAR and I thank you for taking the time to write it.

Thanks!

This is not the right time, IMO, to attempt it, not yet. Some points:
- Damage is way to extensive, I have seen many ships going down through flooding with less damage.

- There are 3 submarines, lurking the exit routes like hungry wolves. Originally I had 2 DDs assigned to protect Hermes, but they were sink by the battleship TF that bombed Diego Garcia. Sending Hermes without escort, at 4 knots (1 hex) per phase would be suicide

- But the main reason: I can make him pay for the sinking, I have Martlets and Fulmars in Addu/ Diego Garcia, and I can setup a relatively strong CAP. He will need significant forces to break the CAP, and I am confident I can shot down some Kates/ Zeros if he tries it.
Moreover, I have BB Revenge and all DDs left moving to Diego Garcia, it should arrive in the next 3 turns. Once in station, it will become significantly more difficult to Japan to keep bombing Diego Garcia. We will see

- Last but not least, there are good news on Trincomalee (I will expand soon on that), and I hope this might shift his attention from Diego Garcia to Ceylon

The bombing of Trincomalee went beyond all my expectations, thus the title of today's report... Hope it doesn't hurt susceptibilties [;)]

What a massacre ! [&o][:)]

The day started with a massive "sweep" that included all P-38s + 1 squadron of Hurricanes. They mopped the floor with the poor Zeroes, it felt like infanticide



I counted:
14 Zeros shot down by P-38s
1 Zero shot down by Hurricane IIb
no Allied losses



there was a second sweep of 32 Hurricanes, but the Zeros, wisely, decided not to show up

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Morning Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 32
P-38E Lightning x 52

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Hurricane IIb Trop sweeping at 20000 feet *
15 x Hurricane IIb Trop sweeping at 20000 feet *
25 x P-38E Lightning sweeping at 20000 feet
20 x P-38E Lightning sweeping at 20000 feet
2 x P-38E Lightning sweeping at 20000 feet

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes



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Morning Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIa Trop x 16
Hurricane IIb Trop x 16

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Hurricane IIb Trop sweeping at 20000 feet *
16 x Hurricane IIa Trop sweeping at 20000 feet *

Important to mention the P-38 squadrons are all crewed by the very best pilots, all with experience >65 and skill >70. All hand picked..

Back to the bombing: in the afternoon, there were 4 waves of B-17s, the Japanese managed to destroy 1 bomber and 1 escorting Hurricane I (I am using the worst plane to escort)..

Results according to my personal count:
- Bombers destroyed: 10
- Recon destroyed: 3
- Unidentified airplane destroyed: 7
Total = 20

Grand total of the day: 35 planes!!!! [:'(]


Which is very close to the daily report:

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Afternoon Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18

Allied aircraft
Hurricane I Trop x 16
B-17E Fortress x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane I Trop: 1 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 6 on standby, 9 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes



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Afternoon Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12

Allied aircraft
Hurricane I Trop x 16
B-17E Fortress x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 5 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 2 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 38

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 8 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 58 minutes



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Afternoon Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 8

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 8 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes



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Afternoon Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 8 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes

Tomorrow I will repeat the bombing of Trincomalee, except that Hurricanes I will rest.

Notice they didn't even sweat from yesterday's fight!

My guess is that he will withdraw all bombers/ recon/ float planes to Colombo, and maybe reinforce the # of fighters
Another option is a full withdrawal to Colombo, we will see.

The key to this victory is the simple fact that he didn't invest in building Trincomalee (or Colombo... or anywhere in India really); a level 3 airfield cannot compete with a level 8 (Hyderabad: B17s) plus a level 6 (fighters)... it is simply very easy to overwhelm.

Notice all the damaged done with less than 50 B-17s

Very nice result[&o]

You got about 50 runway hits, and if he hasn't built Trincomalee much he must not have many engineers there to repair rapidly. He might not be able to transfer out his bombers by air, but he could rail them to Colombo. You might want to attack there next time - his damaged planes could be there too.

Really good use of your Heavies and Long Range Fighters! Nicely done!

What are your bomber experience levels?

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

You got about 50 runway hits, and if he hasn't built Trincomalee much he must not have many engineers there to repair rapidly. He might not be able to transfer out his bombers by air, but he could rail them to Colombo. You might want to attack there next time - his damaged planes could be there too.

Problem is range! Trincomalee is perfect for B-17s parked in a level 8 Hyderabad, just at 15 hexes... Colombo not so
I will need to figure out the cost of sending the B-17s in extended range, probably without escort as only P-38s can potentially reach Colombo from Madras. I have to be careful with losses, as there are not enough inventories to replace, yet, if there are heavy losses. This particularly true for P-38s

If losses remain "light" and range is feasible, I will do, otherwise I will need to wait a bit until Madras and another indian airbase closer to Colombo (forgot the name) is bigger.

ORIGINAL: IdahoNYer

Really good use of your Heavies and Long Range Fighters! Nicely done!

What are your bomber experience levels?

Yes, I loved the combo!!

bomber experience is much lower, mostly in the 50s as I haven't have enough "war experience" opportunities for USA bomber pilots
All B-17 pilots in front line service are at 70s skill in land bombing

Three interesting news worth mentioning on the last turn;

1st: I have never been as happy as I am today about losing an AO:
today the KB reappeared near Midway island, destroying AO Brazos and KV Quesnel, but the carriers are safe. If you are reading this AAR you will know that I tried twice to strike Wake and both times it was aborted due to weather, then I made probably two of the best decisions of the war so far:
- First decision was to withdraw the carriers after the second failure instead of attempting again a 3rd time.
- Second decision was to avoid Wake and PH for the return leg, or in other words, to avoid using the same route twice.

Had I remained near Wake under DL 10/10, one more turn or had I chosen to withdraw "east" to refuel at Midway, the KB would had caught the 3 carriers instead of the poor AO/ KV.

Staying way too long or getting ambushed in the return leg are the 2 main causes of Allied carrier mortality in 1942... I am happy it didn't happen to me [;)]


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kure Island at 147,91

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
D3A1 Val x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AO Brazos, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
KV Quesnel, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x D3A1 Val bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring KV Quesnel

The carriers will keep going NE on direction to the Aleutians, they will refuel with either (or with both) replenishment TF (I wanted more than one just in case one was spotted/ destroyed). Then they might do a long detour to either reach PH from the east or maybe go to Seattle/ Portland to wait for refit. We will see how things go.

2nd -> Trincomalee was empty, and regrettably only the sweeping fighters flew, somehow the B-17s remained grounded. I might use the 2E bombers to keep pounding Trincomalee while B-17s focus on Colombo (on extended range...)

3rd -> China I was able to maul and kick out two divisions. This in Loyang, using starving troops!


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Ground combat at Loyang (87,43)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 56696 troops, 228 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1635

Defending force 22182 troops, 172 guns, 36 vehicles, Assault Value = 721

Allied adjusted assault: 452

Japanese adjusted defense: 206

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
4727 casualties reported
Squads: 197 destroyed, 174 disabled
Non Combat: 134 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 39 (22 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (5 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Allied ground losses:
3307 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 332 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
80th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
9th Chinese Corps
93rd Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
Jingcha War Area
4th Group Army
15th Group Army
14th Group Army
36th Group Army
4th Chinese Base Force

Defending units:
69th Division
32nd Division

Great result in China! Very nice! [:)]

I wish I had some more cards to play in China; but other than some isolated victories, I am having a serious problem there, it is very likely he will defeat me there before 1943

But a lot better news elsewhere, we reached June 14th and for the last 4 turns, I have been pounding Ceylon's airbases, they should be closed in the next few days. My losses are minimal, while his had been severe; mostly on the 1st day, but also afterwards due to ground bombing.

I think the time has come to plan the 1st Allied major offensive of the war, the recapture of Ceylon. I need to work on the details, but I think it can be achieved before the end of the year