- 25 unescorted G3M3 Nells attempted to strike the amphibious TFs at Jaffna.. while 32 Mohawks and 25 P-400s were waiting fully alerted [X(] 25 bombers shot down!

- BB Valiant, CL Caradoc, DDs Tjerk Hiddes, Fortune, APDs Fox and Parrot bombed Colombo.
Valiant was first torpedoed by midget submarine Ha-23, which was then destroyed by DC attack.
Mission proceeded and in the end it was well worth it, as the increase in disruption likely helped the succesful land attack
- Colombo captured in the 1st try

Even with fort level at 3! As BBFanboy mentioned earlier, "clear" is a bad choice for a last stand defense.
Of the 6 original IJA LCUs at Colombo, 2 are already destroyed and the rest will follow soon... I think it is too late now for an evacuation.
I will hold on until the Paras at Koggala reach hex "SE" of Colombo.. then I would had closed all escape routes

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Jaffna at 31,45
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 54 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 25
Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 32
P-400 Airacobra x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 17 destroyed
No Allied losses
CAP engaged:
No.5 Sqn RAF with Mohawk IV (5 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
No.155 Sqn RAF with Mohawk IV (5 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
23rd FG/76th FS with P-400 Airacobra (4 airborne, 17 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
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Sub attack near Colombo at 29,48
Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-23, hits 4, heavy damage
Allied Ships
BB Valiant, Torpedo hits 1
APD Parrott
APD Fox
DD Fortune
DD Tjerk Hiddes
SSX Ha-23 launches 2 torpedoes at BB Valiant
Ha-23 bottoming out ....
DD Fortune fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Tjerk Hiddes fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tjerk Hiddes fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tjerk Hiddes attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tjerk Hiddes attacking submerged sub ....
Debris floats to surface in area of attack!
Escort abandons search for sub
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Naval bombardment of Colombo at 29,48
Allied Ships
BB Valiant
CL Caradoc
DD Fortune
DD Tjerk Hiddes
APD Parrott
APD Fox
Japanese ground losses:
326 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Walrus II acting as spotter for BB Valiant
BB Valiant firing at 53rd Division
CL Caradoc firing at 53rd Division
DD Fortune firing at 53rd Division
DD Tjerk Hiddes firing at 53rd Division
APD Parrott firing at 53rd Division
APD Fox firing at 53rd Division
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Ground combat at Colombo (29,48)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 31799 troops, 550 guns, 309 vehicles, Assault Value = 1001
Defending force 12834 troops, 146 guns, 57 vehicles, Assault Value = 320
Allied adjusted assault: 698
Japanese adjusted defense: 33
Allied assault odds: 21 to 1 (fort level 3)
Allied forces CAPTURE Colombo !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
2146 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 139 disabled
Non Combat: 45 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 35 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 58 (54 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 36 (36 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Allied ground losses:
626 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 49 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Assaulting units:
27th Infantry Division
160th Infantry Regiment
108th Infantry Regiment
145th Infantry Regiment
185th Infantry Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment
IV Indian Corps
30th Field Artillery Regiment
1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
Defending units:
53rd Division
104th Ship Eng Coy
21st JAAF AF Bn
16th AA Regiment
41st JAAF AF Bn










