Pathos in the Pacific - Yubari`s Humiliation

[yubari]

Theatre by theatre roundup.

New Caledonia and Solomons.
Since the huge battles of March and April 1942, this theatre has been fairly quiet. As in history, the Solomons and Lunga in particular are Japanese controlled, and New Caledonia is Allied held. See picture below. In mid November, a small Australian cruiser force bombarded Lunga, destroying a number of planes on the ground. On the 1st January, the fast battleships North Carolina and South Dakota attempt the same thing. Fortunately for the Japanese, they are spotted the day before, and are attacked by 13 Nells which are based at Lunga. The North Carolina takes 2 torpedo hits, but does not appear to be seriously damaged. The two battleships reverse course back to Noumea. It is just about the first time that I have seen an allied battleship since Pearl Harbour.
On the 6th January, a sub spots a task force of APs heading north from Noumea. If this is indeed the first major allied counter attack, then it has come at just about the worst time possible for Japan. Shokaku, Zuikaku, Soryu and Hiryu are all in Japan for repaars and upgrades. Hiyo and Junyo are heading to Singapore in an attempt to surprise the Dutch navy which recently sortied at Port Blair. Only the Kaga and Akagi plus a number of light carriers are at Truk, and they can hold fewer than 300 planes between them.

Australia.
Allied Liberators are attempting to attack patrol craft at Thursday Island, but are having little luck hitting the small craft. At this stage in the game, I am glad that the 4Es are being used in such a way. Submarines are now being used to supply the outpost at Portland Roads, and they are resupplying at Thursday Island. In Northern Australia, the 4Es keep attacking the disabled at Tennant Creek, while 2Es attack the troops there. The Japanese are continuing to build forts in the bases further north. Daly Waters is now at level 6 forts, and Darwin is at level 3.

China.
The Chinese bomber force has been attacking the Japanese held resources in China for the last month now, and so the IJAAF attempts to attack their base at Chingking. The AVG are based there, as well as a couple of weak Chinese fighter groups. In a day of heavy fighting on the 5th January, both sides lose roughly 20 planes. The land war is still stable.

Burma.
2 massive fighter forces are sat almost next to each other. The allies have at least 200 Hurricanes at Mandalay. The Japanese have 150 fighters at Meiktila, some two hexes south. Neither side is willing to attack at the moment. The Japanese are busy building Meiktila airfield up to level 4, so they can stage 200 planes there, and make a final attempt to knock out Mandalay.

Aleutians.
After a brief flurry of Japanese activity in November 1942, the theatre seems to have become a side show. Japan has three squadrons each of Zeroes and Bettys, and they attack Umnak most days, meeting small CAP most of the time. The allies have based what looks to be around 100 planes at Umnak, and a further 150 at Cold Bay, but have made no attempt to progress along the chain.

[yubari]

Burma.
Meiktila, a size 3 airfield which is currently 65 percent of the way to level 4, and has size 5 forts is currently the site of a major battle. On the 10th, 117 4Es based from Chittagong attack the airfield, meeting 111 Japanese fighters on CAP. 16 of the attacking bombers are shot down in the battle, but around 40 of the Japanese fighters are damaged in air to air, and 5 are destroyed, and a further 20 damaged on the ground. This leaves just 70 or so undamaged fighters at the base. The base is left at 27 system, 55 runway damage.
On the 11th, a massive force of Hurricanes takes off from the base at Mandalay. The following carnage happened.

Day Air attack on Meiktila , at 32,31
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
A6M3 Zero x 10
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 10
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 10
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 11
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 11

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 170
Hurricane IID/IV x 96

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 9 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 7 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 18 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 11 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 10 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 14 destroyed, 73 damaged
Hurricane IID/IV: 19 destroyed, 58 damaged

Total losses were; Japanese fighters 62, allied fighters 40. There is some consolation in that the number of pilots killed and wounded is relatively low. For the IJN, 8 are killed and 2 wounded. For the IJA, 13 are killed and 8 wounded. In the long run, pilots are far more important for the Japanese. Hopefully, the RAF lost at least as many pilots. Surprisingly, there was no bomber attack; there are a large number of B-25s in the region.
Tomorrow, all of the bombers in the region will attempt to hit Mandalay to destroy the damaged fighters there. However, realistically, control of the skies over Meiktila has probably been lost, especially as Spitfires will surely soon arrive at the front lines.

Australia.
This has remained mostly quiet save for the occasional raid over Tennant Creek, and the training runs by Airacobras over Coen. Submarines are continuing to supply Portland Roads, and to evacuate the construction units there.

China.
Again quiet, although there are two rather menacing Chinese stacks in the country. In the north of the country are 26 units, and at Changsha there are 21. There maybe a Chinese offensive in the next few months, as they seem to be fairly well supplied at the moment, the Burma Road having held for the whole war.

New Caledonia, New Guinea and the Solomons.
The spotted allied APs immediately turned around, and so it seems as though the invasion was a fake, possibly trying to lure my carriers into the range of LBA in the region of New Caledonia. It seems likely that the US carrier fleet is based somewhere in the region. The South Seas Detachment has been sent to Lunga to bring the total AV to around 400. Port Moresby and Milne Bay are still continuing to build their forts.

Aleutians.
Little action up here. Adak Island is still completely inoperable, base repairs are crawling along at a snails pace. The allies are using barges to bring supplies to Dutch Harbour, and I think that Dakotas are taking supplies to Umnak Island. I have set a Zero squadron to LRCAP over the base to see if this is indeed the case.

Naval actions.
A transport fleet is heading towards Port Blair in an attempt to lure the Dutch out to attack again. In support are the Nagato and Mutsu as battleships, plus the Hiyo, Junyo and Ryujo who will head around the coast of Sumatra. The supply fleet should arrive in a week.
The 11th was a particularly bad day for shipping, as SS Peto torpedoed 2 large tankers on the same day. 1 is almost certain to sink, and it will be the first Japanese TK or AO that has sunk so far. Many others will follow, as the allied submarines are becoming increasingly dangerous.

[yubari]

Burma.
Burma has been the sight of several massive battles in the past week and a half. There were no major actions on the 12th, but on the 13th and 14th, small allied raids directed at Meiktila fail to do a significant amount of damage, and around 20 planes are lost, mostly to the heavy flak at the base. On the 15th, 16th and 17th, there is no major action, but the Japanese fighter force, heavily damaged from the recent battles is allowed some time to rebuild.
The 18th sees the Japanese launch a major attack against Mandalay. Three major waves come in. The first sees 135 fighters from Meiktila attack the 64 Hurricanes over Mandalay. Next is 124 bombers with 65 escorts from Ranhaeing. The third raid sees 65 bombers with 50 escorts. Total losses for the battle are; allies 92, Japanese 37. For the allies, the vast majority were Hurricanes, and 35 or so were on the ground.
The 19th is quiet, but the 20th sees the allies launching medium bomber strikes against Meiktila once again. Total losses for the day are allies 53, Japanese 14.
By the 21st, all damage from the raids has been repaired, leaving Meiktila 95 percent of the wat to a level 4 airfield. The base is wonderful to defend, as it has a railway link to Rangoon and Moulmein and hence any particularly damaged squadron can be railwayed out and fresh planes brought in. This is particularly important with our house rule of 50 planes per airfield size. At the moment, some 148 planes are there, but only twenty of those are damaged. With no major attacks, the airfield should reach size 4 in a couple of days, and with 200 fighters on the base, it should be secure until the later allied fighters such as the Thunderbird arrive.

As a side show to this, the Japanese have been running in a major supply convoy, under the escort of the Nagato and Mutsu, and the so far undetected Junyo and Hiyo. The allies failed however to take the bait and didnt send any force to try and attack it. Aditionally, allied submarines torpedo the Nagato, leaving it at 28 system damage. The supply convoy is now at Rangoon, under the protection of a large CAP.

Aleutians.
The allies have begun to fly bombing missions against Adak Island. The airfields there havent been repaired since the island was invaded two months ago. At some point I will have to withdraw the forces based there, as the island will gradually become untenable. There are apparently no significant allied naval forces in the area.

Australia.
SS I-2, a large capacity transport sub is hit by bombers and sinks four days later. Roughly 6 subs are running from Thursday Island to Portland in an effort to supply the beleaguered base. The allies are continuing the regular bombing of the airfields at Portland Roads and Tennant Creek, there is little other action.

China.
Very quiet.

New Guinea, New Caledonia and the Solomons.
Very quiet.

Naval forces.
Shokaku and Zuikaku, along with Soryu and Hiryu are in Okayama for upgrades due at the start of February (March for Hiryu). After these upgrades are complete, they will head for Truk, and Akagi and Kaga will head back to Japan for upgrade. With no American attacks, currently expected, now is the time for upgrading in preparation for a major carrier battle , which I will try to initiate near the start of 1944.
Most of the battleships are at Truk, and in good condition. Yamato is under repair at Tokyo at snail pace. She has repaired 4 points in the last month.

[yubari]

22nd January to 31st January.
Burma.
Quiet has returned to Burma with the Japanese still firmly controlling the air over the crucial base of Meiktila. Meiktila has upgraded to size 4, so 200 fighters remain there on high alert but they havent been attacked in the past ten days. 100 fighters are at Rangoon and also havent been attacked. Fortifications at Meiktila are at level 6, and are growing steadily. I hope that they will reach level 9 within the next six weeks to two months

Australia.
The past two days have seen large battles over Tennant Creek. The allies had this base completely closed down, but then almost stopped attacking it, allowing me to repair it. On the 29th, I flew in 150 fighters, and on the 30th a large battle was fought. Losses totalled 22 allied planes (15 of them P-38s) to 15 Japanese (7 on the ground). Only 3 pilots were lost.
Today, the 31st, the allies threw everything they could at the base.
Total losses were Allies; 10 fighters, 8 bombers. Japanese; 21 fighters on the ground. 8 in the air. Crucially, only five pilots were lost. Holding air superiority over this base is absolutely crucial, since it is 6 hexes from Alice Springs, and hence outside of Corsair range. I am more than willing to trade one for one losses against the Lightning, but not willing to lose 2 or 3 to 1 to the vastly superior Corsair. After the arrival of the Corsair, the war becomes one of keeping the best Japanese pilots alive as long as possible to fight the battles of 1944. Tomorrow the allies will surely attack again with as much as possible; it is an absolutely crucial day. In the unlikely event of winning that battle, the war could be extended by two or three months.

Aleutians.
The allies have massively reinforced this area since the Japanese attack of November 1942, the first Corsairs arrived there around the 20th of January. Their arrival means that Adak is untenable, and so a large evacuation will take place around the end of the month.

Elsewhere all is quiet. The Nihon Kaigun has been refitting and upgrading for about two months. Entering February 1943, the Soryu, Zuikaku and Shokaku will get a small AAA upgrade. The other carriers all upgrade in March or April. The Kaigun will make its final offensive action of the war towards the end of the month; recon indicates a large number of submarines and repair ships anchored at Luganville. It will then take part in the evacuation of Adak, and then retire to Japan, where it will not sortie again until early 1944 with the Grace on board. With 500 kg bombs, a normal range of 7 hexes and an extended range of 10 hexes, it is an awesome plane, and leaves me confident of being able to significantly hurt the USN even in 1944. Holding a mighty navy as a Fleet In Being will also compel the allies to advance at a very slow pace, under massive land based air cover.

[yubari]

1st to 5th February.
Burma.
Very Quiet.

Australia.
As expected, the allied heavy bombers did attack again, and defeated the Japanese fighters, all fighters were withdrawn on the 2nd February, and sent to Daly Waters. There are now some 220 fighters and 190 engineers at that airfield, so I expect it to be able to hold up against the enemy heavy bomber threat.

The reason for the defeat at Tennant Creek was a small airfield (only size three) and insufficient engineers (only around 100). When facing the large hordes of heavy bombers, I like for the number of engineers to be twice that of the number of heavy bombers. That number of engineers should be able to repair enough damage for about four days worth of attacks. Attacking constantly for four or five days over long range should be enough to wreck the bomber groups morale, although very few of them will be shot down in that time.

Aleutians.
The number of planes at Umnak Island is steadily increasing, and on the 5th, they launch a major strike against Adak Island

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 9
Kittyhawk I x 24
Beaufort I x 16
P-38G Lightning x 9
B-26B Marauder x 45
B-17E Fortress x 15
LB-30 Liberator x 12

I am beginning to suspect that the enemy will be advancing along the Aleutians chain, and that this area of the map will be the site of our Solomons-style campaign in the spring and summer of 1943. I will be happy to fight a major carrier battle when the enemy has Wildcats but I think that the enemy will try to avoid it, but at all costs I want to avoid a battle against Hellcats. Such a battle would wreck my air groups and merely sink ships that will respawn later on.

It is hence imperative that I can hold onto the islands of Attu and Kiska until at least mid-October 1943. As I discovered, invasions in the cold weather period, and the amount of system damage that the ships take is fairly crippling, so the enemy will be unlikely to launch major offensives in that time, which should give me until March 1944 to build a large number of the excellent Grace carrier planes in preparation for the decisive battle.

China.
Fairly quiet, although the enemy are launching large bombardments at the hex (47,36). The purpose is as yet unknown, they dont have enough troops to take the wooded hex.

Marshalls, Solomons and New Guinea.
Quiet. Recon now states only one submarine at Luganville. Maybe I will switch targets. Bases in Western New Guinea such as Biak and Sorong are building up quickly.

I made a graph of the Japanese industry, with points at slightly irregular, but roughly three week intervals. It is healthy looking. Overall, resources have been steadily increasing in the past few weeks (although the graph doesnt really show it yet), and a slight stockpile is being built up in the home islands. The HI base is also increasing at quite a rapid rate (again the graph doesnt really show it yet, the reason for the decline of the last two months was a short term lack of resources in the home islands, and the start of the reconstruction of the two BBs, and two new CVLs).

With enough APs to last me until the end of the war, I have switched off all of them in the production line, and have switched off around half of the merchant shipyards. The 2 reconstructed BBs arriving in July 1943 will allow me to similarly slow down naval construction.

Supply in Japan and at most of the outer points of the empire is healthy. Fuel has been steadily decreasing throughout the game, but the rate of decrease is acceptable, particularly since the Nihon Kaigun will shortly face a long wait in port.

[yubari]

Burma.
All quiet on the Western Front. Meiktila is now 4% of the way to level 9 fortifications.

Aleutians.
The Allies now have around 40 4E bombers at Umnak island. This, combined with the fact that Corsairs were spotted first at Umnak, and that there is now a transport fleet at the island leaves me fairly certain that the allies will be advancing along this route in Spring. With this in mind, A large reinforcement convoy is has set sail from Ominato, hopefully to arrive at the end of February. The Kido Butai didnt attack Luganville, and will escort this large reinforcement fleet. It is currently in a position about halfway between Marcus Island and the Western end of the Aleutians, and is I believe unspotted.

Included in the reinforcement fleet will be two divisions, two large base forces and three coastal defence regiments. Although it has no fortifications and a heavily damaged airbase, I will try to keep troops on Adak island as long as possible as it is a mountainous hex. If the enemy hasnt occupied the island before then, the troops will be withdrawn in June, just before the arrival of the Hellcat.

Australia.
On the 17th, 120 Liberators hit the size four airfield at Thursday Island. At 22 airbase, and 44 runway damage, and with over 100 engineer squads the airfield is still operational, but there were no follow up attacks on the following days. This is really surprising, as three days of continuous attacks could close one of the small bases like this, which would then make it far more dangerous to attempt to supply my beleaguered troops at Portland Roads. There is also some kind of surface fleet at Cairns, but recon only shows there to be an APD, an SS and a CA. Not particularly helpful. I think that this is some kind of decoy to get me to bring the KB down to attack them, and then attack in the Aleutians as soon as March gets under way.

Solomons, New Hebrides.
On the 18th, what seemed to be a fast transport fleet of heavy cruisers and destroyers operating Luganville dropped a unit off at Ndeni in the Santa Cruz Islands. A Japanese cruiser fleet with 3CAs, a CL and 4DDs left the Shortland Islands to attempt to attack it. The fleet was gone by the 19th, but A-29 Hudsons operating from New Caledonia hit the CL Yubari with a bomb, a rather ominous sign for me. Is this another decoy fleet, or is it heralding the battle of Lunga?

Elsewhere, all is quiet. The 20th February had not a single event in the combat report file. The past three months have been an eerie kind of phoney war. By now, the US fleet must be massive, and there are surely hundreds of thousands of Marines ready for action but I have yet to see any of it in action. The allies have been masterful in hiding their troops away from the action, and keeping me confused as to their true intentions.

[yubari]

A couple of months of calm is about to be broken.

21st to 27th February
Burma.
Very Quiet.

China.
The Chinese Liberator squadron attacks resources at Hankow on the 25th, destroying 34 resources out of the 200 total there. the two squadrons of Oscars stationed there dont manage to shoot down any of the enemy planes. In retaliation, the IJAAF launches major attacks on Chungking airfield, their base on the 26th. However, bad weather grounds all of the bombers, meaning that only two fighter squadrons go in on sweep. 14 allied planes are shot down for 11 Japanese.

Australia.
Very quiet, with just the occasional raid against Portland Roads, and Tennant Creek.

Solomons, New Hebrides.
The Allied build up continues at Ndeni. There are now P-38Gs from Luganville providing LRCAP, and a cruiser task force at the island. I am more convinced than ever that this is just a feint for the operation in the Aleutians, as there is no evidence of the US carrier fleet in the area.
Ndeni is 7 hexes from Lunga, so it would be relatively safe from bombardment, but is in B-25 and P-38 range of the Japanese airfield at Lunga. Lunga is currently a size 5 airfield with 50000 supply and around 100 planes based there.

Aleutians.
The Japanese fleet is now in the area just outside of spotting distance of the major American airfield at Umnak Island. On the 28th, the Japanese carriers will head to within 7 hexes of Umnak Island, and at the same time, all of the transport ships will head to their relevant islands. Hopefully the majority of the allied bombers will be destroyed by the large Japanese CAP, and hence wont be able to do much damage to the transport fleet. Any of the carriers which are hit have the luxury of a size three port and AR at Attu Island. See the screenshot for more details.

[yubari]

28th February to 21st March.
The war has continued at a very slow pace. The allies are continuing to build up in preparation for their first offensives.

Aleutians.
The Japanese operation to land more troops and supplies in the Aleutians went off well and with only a couple of cargo ships being damaged, when dropping off supplies at Amchitka Island. There are now 60000 supply points at that island, and some 200 engineers are rapidly building the fortifications. They are now at level 6. Attu Island now has some 40000 supply points. Adak Island is within 5 hexes of the major allied airbase at Umnak Island, and supplying it is more difficult. 2 Topsy groups, along with fast transports and barges are supplying the base, but only 2000 supply points are there, barely enough to feed the two divisions there. Allied bomber power at Umnak has increased massively, and they are now launching 150 plane raids over Adak.

Australia.
The allies have at least two fleets now based at Cairns. Recon shows a fleet of at least 10 APs, and a group of three or four APDs. I am unable to determine if it is a decoy, or the preparations of an invasion fleet. On the 18th March, a fighter sweep of around 70 Lightnings, followed by 129 Liberators closed Thursday Island and the Japanese fighter planes there withdrew. However, the allies havent attacked further, and the base is now operational again.

Solomons, New Hebrides, Santa Cruz Islands.
The allies still have three small units at Ndeni, and they have managed to build the base up to a level 1 port. However, there has apparently been no progress towards an airfield. If this base is to be a springboard to an invasion of Lunga, then it will only provide a small bounce. Allied troops have also landed at Vanikoro, another of the Santa Cruz Islands, and are presumably building a small airfield there as well.
There is apparent calm over the rest of the Central and South Pacific.

Burma.
Very quiet. Japanese troops are building fortifications in Burma and Moulmein.

China.
Very quiet. It is now about a year since the frontlines have moved even a hex.

In summary, there seem three probable routes for the allies to advance. Them being overland to Coen, and then invasion of Portland Roads, Thursday Island and then Merauke. The second would be an historical march up the Solomons. The final one is the northern route across the Aleutians. My Navy is now mostly in Japan, repairing and upgrading. I will be content to see it remain as a force in being, and force the allies to advance slowly and with meticulous preparation.

[yubari]

Burma.
On the 5th April, the allies launch a major attack against the level 4 airbase at Meiktila
Day Air attack on Meiktila , at 32,31

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 11
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 18
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 23
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 31

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 46
Spitfire Vb x 43
Liberator III x 58
B-17E Fortress x 24
B-24D Liberator x 92
Hurricane IID/IV x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 13 destroyed
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 24 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 4 destroyed, 30 damaged
Spitfire Vb: 8 destroyed, 22 damaged
Liberator III: 9 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 8 damaged
Hurricane IID/IV: 15 destroyed, 18 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
351 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 71

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 15000 feet

As a result of this battle, the Japanese lose 74 planes, and the allies lose 42. 32 Japanese planes were lost in air to air combat, or as ops losses and 42 were on the ground. All 42 of the allies were lost in aur to air or to ops losses. With a large supply of Oscars and Tonys pre-built (more than 400 of each), the number of pilots lost is the more important factor. 13 IJA pilots were killed and 6 were wounded. Only 1 IJN pilot was killed. Hopefully, the British lost around 30 pilots. Damaged planes were withdrawn from Meiktila, and fresh squadrons were brought in to fight what is sure to be another major battle tomorrow. Airfield damage is currently 42, 60.

China.
Very Quiet.

Australia.
Very quiet. The bombing of the outposts at Portland Roads and Tennant Creek continues.

Solomons.
The allies are building up the islands in the Santa Cruz chain. There are now three of them with a level 1 port. Additionally, Banks Island also has a level 1 port. These are all level 0 airfields, and so building them up will take a considerable amount of time. The next post will show a map of the area.

Aleutians.
Efforts to supply the beleaguered troops at Adak Island continue. Fast transport groups, Army Topsys and a barge group are currently attempting to perform this operation. US PT boat groups cocasionally sortie from Umnak Island, sinking the occasional barge. The DD Hayate, operating as a fast transport was sunk by submarine on the 4th April.

The American fleet received a major bunch of upgrades at the start of April. Maybe we will see the first major US offensive operation fairly soon.

[yubari]

The action is all in Burma at the moment.
On the 6th April, a mis-coordinated strike from allied airfields at Mandalay and Imphal arrives at Burma. Most of the escorting fighters get lost, and the allies fighters are pummeled. In the battle, 3 Japanese fighters are shot down, but 55 allied planes are shot down, roughly 40 of those being Hurricanes or Spitfires. 23 Japanese planes are lost on the ground. Only 3 Japanese pilots are killed, but the airfield damage increases to 50 base, 81 runway.

On the 7th, a huge allied fighter sweep from Mandalay hits Meiktila. Either due to bad weather, or runway damage, the fighters based at Meiktila dont rise, leaving only LRCAP fighters from Rangoon and Moulmein to intercept the enemy. The Japanese fighters, outnumbered more than 2 to 1 suffer badly, and are shot down almost to the plane. 57 Japanese fighters are shot down, for the loss of only 14 allied fighters. Runway damage at Meiktila is down to 57, and so my planes should be able to fly tomorrow. They will stay there for the moment, hopefully to inflict some damage against enemy bombers. The battle for Meiktila has however been lost, and I shall withdraw those fighters to Rangoon and Moulmein. Keeping Rangoon operational is the next main priority.

Solomons.
Here is a map of the region. You can see the number of bases being built up in the Santa Cruz Islands. All are currently airfield size 0, and can only be built up to a size of 3. Lunga is currently size 5, and can be built up to maximum size 7. Currently, there are only 94 engineers there, I want to increase it to at least 200 to give it a chance of standing up against the allied bombers. Engineering squads are to be brought in from Deboyne Island (near Milne Bay), and further along the New Guinea coast.

The main part of the Japanese navy remains at anchor in Japan. Only a cruiser squadron is active in the Solomons, and is currently based at the Shortland Islands.

[yubari]

Burma.
The 8th saw no attacks against Meiktila, and engineers were able to repair the airfield up to only 3 runway damage. Roughly 140 operational fighters are now at the airstrip.

On the 9th, bad weather prevented fighters from Mandalay taking off, and so the bombers operating from Imphal went in without fighter protection.

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 14
A6M3a Zero x 11
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 14
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 76

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 12
Blenheim IV x 12
Wellington III x 11
Hudson I x 13
Beaufighter VIC x 12
Beaufort V-IX x 43
B-25C Mitchell x 53

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 6 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 5 destroyed, 29 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIF: 11 damaged
Blenheim IV: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
Wellington III: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged
Hudson I: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged
Beaufighter VIC: 3 destroyed, 6 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 9 destroyed, 25 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 17 destroyed, 19 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
214 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 65

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet

In the afternoon, the enemy 4Es then attacked. 135 of them escorted by 25 fighters meet 64 Japanese fighters on CAP. More heavy damage is done to the airfield, leaving it at 74 airbase, 67 runway damage. More importantly, only 49 undamaged fighters remain at the airfield. All are then withdrawn at the end of the day. Today, the Japanese lost 51 planes, 45 of those on the ground. The allies lost 58 planes to air to air, and a further ten to flak. Only 5 Japanese pilots were lost. The allies probably lost around 45.

On the 10th April, a fighter sweep of over 200 Spitfires and Hurricanes attacked Meiktila, but the base was empty. Engineers and base forces are retreating back towards Moulmein and Rangoon. Four Divisions and a HQ unit, along with two AA units will remain at Meiktila behind level 9 fortifications. 200 fighters will base at Rangoon, and 150 at Moulmein, both with large numbers of engineers and base force units. The other key base in the area is Hanoi. This will be reinforced in the coming weeks. Less important and/or vulnerable bases are Luangprabang, Bangkok and Rahaeng.

The fighting of the past week has cost the Japanese more than 200 planes, but more importantly only about 50 pilots. The allies have lost about 180 planes, and have lost an estimated 130 pilots. With the vast majority of those being British pilots, the pressure should continue against the British fighter and pilot pools.

Aleutians.
A real mixture of planes, including Venturas, Beauforts, Avengers and B-17s. attacks Adak Island on the 10th April. Escorting them are Lightnings, Corsairs and Kittyhawks. Supply is now getting to be a critical issue, and so a large and heavily escorted supply convoy shall make the journey from Japan to Adak in the next couple of weeks. I want this crucial base to be able to hold out until at least early July, but the troops there are already running short of food.

Elsewhere, all remains quiet.

[yubari]

Burma.
After the major battles at Meiktila of the past two weeks, quiet has returned to the Burma theatre. The Japanese have retreated their air groups, engineers and base forces from Meiktila back to Moulmein and Rangoon, and are gradually rebuilding their depleted fighter groups. They should be ready for action in about a week or so. The allies have also stopped attacking. With Mandalay completely secure, and covered by massive numbers of anti-aircraft guns, maybe their next move will be to Akyab, which is currently empty of aircraft.

Aleutians.
The Allies continue their attacks against Adak, which is now very low on supply. The supply group will be ready in about a week or so.

South and Central Pacific.
No significant action.

Australia.
The allies are making a move northwards. Around 30 [X(]units under the command of the US 6th army are hading towards the town of Coen. With hundreds of heavy and medium bombers at Cairns and Cooktown, there is little that the Japanese can do to stop the advance. At Coen, there is a depleted paratrooper unit, which currently has about 20 AV. Further north at Portland Roads is a large brigade plus another small unit with about 250 AV. Heavy bombing means that there is only one level of fortifications there. Thursday Island has about 100AV behind major fortifications.

The allied units seem to be moving quickly along the trails, and will probably be at Portland Roads before the start of June. Both Coen and Portland Roads can be built to large sizes, so it seems that there will be major battles at Port Moresby and Lae in the fairly near future. A large Japanese transport fleet is on the way to Thursday Island to evacuate the base force and engineer units there and to take them to Port Moresby.

[yubari]

Australia.
The allied advance continues. As can be seen on the map below, the allies are advancing in two columns, one towards Portland Roads, and one towards Tennant Creek. Both of those airfields have been closed down by the allied heavy bombers, but major Japanese airforces are present at Port Moresby and Daly Waters. It seems likely that there will be major battles at both of these bases in the near future.

At Coen, a small unit of Japanese paratroopers has been surrounded by the high-speed allied armour units, and have no chance of survival. I made a major mistake by miscalculating the speed of armour along the tracks. They moved much faster than I expected, and caught me by surprise. The main allied army is one hex south of Coen, and should reach Coen within a week. They will probably arrive at Portland Roads sometime in Mid-May. Submarines and flying boats are currently evacuating the garrison. With low levels of fortification, the town will likely fall at the first major allied attack, so leaving them in position will achieve nothing. You can see the number of troops south of Tennant Creek. If this is all the allies have brought, then it will probably be insufficient to take the city. Two divisions are currently based there, and a third will arrive in a couple of days.
A force of four carriers will head to Kai Island, a little north of Darwin to be involved if the US Navy participates in the attack. There is still no sign of it.

Solomons.
More aircraft have been delivered to Rabaul and Truk in anticipation of the forthcoming battles. Engineers are being delivered to Port Moresby, Milne Bay, Lae and Lunga.

China.
Very quiet.

Burma.
Has settled down into a relatively quiet phase. The only major action was on the 22nd, as 150 Tonys and Zeroes massacred 16 Mohawks which had been flying over Akyab

Aleutians.
Four CVs are escorting a large supply transport group to Adak. With a large number of enemy planes at Umnak, I expect several transports to be hit. They should arrive in a week or so.

[yubari]

In central Australia, the allied armour units have now reached Tennant Creek. There seem to be around 600 enemy tanks. The reconned number of troops have also increased. The mouseover now shows there to be about 85000 troops. After a long pause, I decided to retreat from Tennant Creek. The two divisions I currently have there will probably be unable to hold the town against what looks to be 4 or 5 allied divisions, plus a large number of tanks. The next town along the road is Daly Waters. This is much more defensible, with level 8 (soon to be level 9) forts, plus a size 6 airfield. There are around 180 of the all important engineer squads there, with around 150 fighters. Anticipating major battles here in the future, I am bringing more engineer units, plus an additional three fighter squadrons.
Two bombing raids on the 27th resulted in 9 lost allied, and 7 lost Japanese planes.

In Northeast Australia, the allies are yet to attack the surrounded troops at Coen. They will surely be attacked in the next couple of days, and allied engineer units will then start constructing a major airfield at Coen. With Merauke, Portland Roads and Thursday Island all but abandoned by the Japanese, air control over those bases having already been lost, the Japanese are continuing to build up Port Moresby, Milne Bay and Lae. This is where I want major battles to happen; a long way away from the powerful allied bases on the Australian mainland.

In the Aleutians, a fast transport group somehow attempted to resupply Adak Island during the day. The results were predictable. DD Hiyodori was crippled, and two other DDs were heavily damaged, but have a reasonable chance of survival. It was also the first time during the war that the 2000 lb bomb was dropped.

Little else is going on elsewhere. With the Japanese carrier fleet still at full strength, with massively experienced pilots, somewhat overpowered Zero fighters, and having not revealed its current location, the US Navy is still to make an appearance. Long may that continue.

[yubari]

The 1st of May saw two fairly large air battles. One at Adak Island, and one at Tennant Creek, which is now allied controlled.

Northern Australia.
With the allies occupying Tennant Creek on the 30th April, the IJA bombers in the region now have two responsibilities; to significantly disrupt the allied armour which may try to interrupt the retreat to Daly Waters, and to keep Tennant Creek airfield closed for as long as possible. When this airfield becomes operational, it will give the allies a chance to attack Japanese bases along the northern coast of Australia.

On the 1st May, the IJA attacks the airfield, and meets a large number of enemy fighters on LRCAP from Alice Springs. The Japanese lose 7 fighters, and the allies 6. However, 13 of the bombers are shot down, 10 of them Lilys. It appears that they are too fragile to use in the front line from now onwards. Only 6 runway hits are scored. More and more troops are arriving at Darwin. Currently unloading at harbour are a tank batallion, and two more IJA base forces. En Route are two additional engineer regiments, plus other smaller engineer units. A large Infantry Brigade is at Soerabaja awaiting a transport fleet to take it to Darwin.

Aleutians.
The supply convoy arrived at Adak Island on the night of the 30th April, but for some reason failed to unload any supplies. On the 1st May, the enemy planes at Adak attacked. The first attack was small consisting of 16 Venturas and 9 4E bombers with 2 Corsair escorts. The Zeroes managed to shoot down 2 Venturas, but the survivors put three bombs into the CL Kuma, leaving her a floating wreck.
The second attack was much larger; 39 fighters escorting 93 bombers. 15 allied fighters were shot down (including 10 obsolete Kittyhawks, and 3 Corsairs) for the loss of 11 Japanese fighters, two of which were from the KB elite. The enemy bombers manage to hit BB Yamashiro 3 times, and CA Aoba twice, but do little damage. Two powerful cruiser groups will attempt to bombard the enemy airfield at Umnak and then retreat at full speed back to Umnak.

Burma and China.
Fairly quiet. The Japanese launch occasional bombing attacks at Akyab, which holds small numbers of Mohawks, Vengeances dive bombers and sea planes. The allies continue to launch large bombing raids against Meiktila, maybe not noticing that the airfield is already 100 percent damaged. China remains calm.

Solomons.
A bombing run by Nells based at Lunga against Ndeni in the Santa Cruz Islands shows there to be a large amount of flak there. The island is now a level 2 port, but still has no airfield. It would seem to make little sense to build this island up to be a refuge for heavily damaged ships from naval battles around Lunga and yet leave it without an airfield, so I expect there soon to be allied planes there.

Central Pacific.
The allies seem to have no interest in this area whatsoever, with no attempt to land troops at Baker, or any other islands within bombing range of Japanese bases in the Marshalls and Gilberts. Maybe things will pick up after the Hellcats arrive in a couple of months.

Overall.
For the first time, I have divided the Japanese carrier fleet. Half is now in the Aleutians covering the resupply effort. The other half is at Kai Island, slightly south of West New Guinea and will intervene in any allied landing at Thursday Island or Merauke.

In the submarine war, the allies started regularly hitting ships in early 1943, as they flooded the area of ocean south of Japan with submarines. Now all cargo ships to and from Japan are headed along a narrow route to the west of Taiwan. A handful of high-speed empty dummy cargo ships run through the sub-infested waters south of Japan, along with a couple of heavily ASW armed convoys. Hopefully continued sightings of these convoys will convince the allies that this continues to be the main supply route, and will stop the submarines heading to the now densely populated convoy routes near China.

[yubari]

On the 9th of May, A large British fleet, apparently of two CVs and two BBs plus escorts showed up around 7 squares to the south west of Palembang. The Betty squadron at Palembang failed to launch any attacks presumably due to a large number of CAP fighters. On the 10th, they had retreated by around 7 hexes, so it appears that this was merely a feint. The Japanese carriers return to their base at Kai Island.

Northern Australia.
The allies managed to repair the massive damage and increase the airfield at Tennant Creek to size 4 within a week, and so the IJAAF launch a renewed bombing campaign against the airfield. For three consecutive days, 3 squadrons launch attacks against Tennant Creek. On the 10th May, airfield damage appears to be at 27 percent. On the 12th, the Japanese controlled airfield at Daly Waters reaches size 7, and so a further two bomber squadrons are brought in. Now 125 bombers attack daily, and have kept airfield damage at Tennant Creek at around the 25 percent level.

At Coen, the allies finally launch a bombardment attack on the 10th May

Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 83301 troops, 852 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 2079
Defending force 1150 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 31
Japanese ground losses:
730 casualties reported

A second bombardment attack on the 11th shows the Japanese defenders to have an assault value of 1. It is a mystery why the allies havent taken this base yet; it could quickly be built up to be a level 7 airfield, and would vastly improve the allied position in the crucial area around Port Moresby. I smell some kind of trap being planned.

Burma and China.
Quiet

Aleutians.
The Japanese bombardment of Umnak Island was interrupted by a large number of enemy PT boats. 6 PT boats were sunk, and 4 planes destroyed on the ground, but numerous Japanese ships were hit by American bombers during the day. CA Ashigara, CLs Tama, Jintsu and Abukama and DDs Shigure and Shiratsuyu were all hit at least once. However, at least 10000 tons of supplies were landed at Adak.

Solomons.
The area remains quiet for the moment, but I expect an attack at any time. Lunga, the key frontline base now has 400 AV behind level 7 fortifications.

[yubari]

Northern Australia.
On the 16th, there was a large battle over Tennant Creek. 116 IJAAF fighters, escorting 112 IJAAF bombers meet 88 allied fighters on CAP. The battle was a see-saw affair, with the allies gaining the initial bounce and shooting down 6 Japanese for no losses. At this point I was fearing a slaughter of the IJA force. The Japanese fighters then started to perform well, with even the Tojos managing to make 5 kills. Overall losses for this were; Japan 30 fighters and 4 bombers (24 fighter pilots killed). Allies 30 fighters destroyed in air to air combat and 14 destroyed on the ground.
It is worthwhile pointing out that the allies are still forced to use the P-36 Hawk in frontline duty. This indicates a significant shortage of fighter airframes, and so for the moment I will continue this battle by ordering a major fighter sweep tomorrow. I want to keep Tennant Creek airfield out of operation for as long as possible, to allow me to build up the airfields at Katherine and Darwin.

There is still no sign of any allied offensives. I have decided on a more aggressive search policy. Floatplane armed submarines will head to major enemy bases to scout out the number of troops and ships, to attempt to gain some ideas about the future allied offensives. It is more than possible that the allies are waiting for the arrival of the Hellcat, to replace the underpowered Wildcat. If so, then this would mean that the first allied naval invasions would be occurring in August or September, maybe at Lunga, Thursday Island, Adak or Tarawa. This would fit in perfectly with my desire to fight the Decisive Battle in February or March 1944.

[yubari]

Northern Australia.
The continued battle between Daly Waters and Tennant Creek goes on. On the 17th, the Japanese fighter sweep against Tennant Creek is reasonably successful, shooting down allied planes at the ratio of 2 to 1. Allied B-17s however attack Daly Waters, and breeze past a reduced CAP there, destroying a large number of aircraft on the ground.

On the 18th, the Japanese launch a final raid against the airfield at Tennant Creek, destroying five fighter planes on the ground. 68 Hudsons attack Daly Waters and suffer heavily. 10 of them are shot down by Japanese fighters, and a further 7 are destroyed by flak. I am particularly pleased to be destroying these planes in such large numbers; they have been bombing in Northern Australia for the past year or so, and hence are likely at very high experience levels. Daly Waters is at 23 airfield damage, and 33 runway damage, and has 180 operational fighters at the moment. Katherine is also rapidly building up its airfield. Losse for the past two days are; Japan 50 planes (around 35 on the ground), allies 50 planes (5 on the ground).

In the North East theatre, the allies finally occupy Coen on the 17th, and by the 18th have already built it up to a level 1 airfield. At this rate, it will be up to a level 7 airfield by the end of May.

It is also worth noting that even with almost continual bombing by 3 IJAAF bomber squadrons, the allies have managed to repair the massive damage at Tennant Creek, and expand the airfield from a size three to a size five airfield in precisely 20 days. All the efforts of the bomber crews probably added little more than a week onto that time. The high build rates of the allied engineers are one of the major threats, they can build bases quicker than the Japanese player can stop them. If I want to slow even slightly development at Portland Roads, then I will need upwards of 200 bombers attacking regularly, along with frequent naval bombardments. When Portland Roads becomes established, then Port Moresby`s airfield will inevitably come under heavy attack.

Burma.
The allies are continuing to launch massive aerial bombardments against the airfield at Meiktila. At the moment, Japan has just nine engineer squads at the base attempting to repair the damage. On the 18th, 182 2E bombers and 112 4E bombers attacked. They are achieving very little however, beyond small experience increases.

Aleutians.
DD Shiratsuyu sank at Attu, and two other destroyers are still there with floatation damage sustained earlier in May.

Solomons.
A recon Glenn reported 2 CAs at Luganville. More Glenns will attempt to spot at the ports along New Caledonia in the follwoing days.

[Local Yokel]

I've been a long time lurker on this thread, and have got plenty of useful insights for my own game against Cantona2.  Our game is also CHS + Nik Mod, and there are several similarities between your position and mine, particularly in N. Australia.  It will be interesting to see how far the stretch on Allied logistics puts a brake on their operations here.
 
Think the main difference between our games is that you've pushed further up the Aleutian chain, whilst I have cleared much of the Irrawaddy basin and cut the Burma Road at Myitkyina.  Unlike your game, there are signs of a major Allied land effort being made against me in Burma, no doubt with the initial objective of re-opening the road to China.
Keep up the good work!

[yubari]

Ahoy there Local Yokel! I used to live around your neck of the woods, in Bristol. Northern Australia is a wonderful place to defend for the Japanese; large airfields, easy to supply, a long supply line for the enemy, fairly large distance between bases means that the enemy bomber crews tire easily.
I am sure that I will see an allied land campaign in Burma sometime soon.

Northern Australia.
The allies are keeping up the pressure against Daly Waters. On the 19th, a flight of about 30 Hudsons attacked the base, causing moderate damage. However, 9 more of the highly experienced Hudson crews were shot down. On the 20th, the B-17s attacked, destroying 14 fighters and 7 bombers on the ground. In the face of this continued heavy attack, another engineer regiment is moving from Katherine to Daly Waters, to make a total of over 230 engineering squads. On the 21st and 22nd, there are no bombing attacks. Daly Waters is almost completely repaired, and more than 130 fighters are again operational.
There is no action from the 23rd to the 29th. More than 190 operational fighters are at Daly Waters, and the airfield is progressing quickly towards level 8. Behind it, Katherine and Darwin are both at level 5, and are currently building fortifications

The allied tanks are also continuing to move from Coen towards Portland Roads. Japanese bombers based at Port Moresby will continue to attack the tanks. Coen reaches airfield size 5 on the 28th May, and hence has effectively cut the supply route to Port Moresby, Thursday Island and Merauke. Thursday Island and Merauke have already been all but abandoned, and Port Moresby contains some 50000 supply points, and can also be supplies overland from Buna, and by air from Lae.

Solomons.
The Glenn spotter plane noticed 140 ships at Noumea, but was then shot down. It seems inevitable that the allies will be advancing from this direction, almost certainly towards Lunga. The 29th May saw the sinking of S-34, after a bomb hit from a Val, and then a Pete.

China.
On the 21st, a major portion of the Chinese airforce suddenly transfers to Changsha, and on the 22nd, they attack Nanchang. 21 planes are destroyed on the ground. The Japanese had observed this plane transfer, and send attacks against Changsha from three separate directions. In heavy fighting, 48 Chinese fighters are shot down, for the loss of just four allied fighters. No planes are destroyed on the ground. The Japanese attack will continue.

Aleutians.
Glenn spotter planes suggest more than 50 landing craft are based at Dutch Harbour so it appears that my earlier suspicions about the allied Aleutians advance are correct. Aditionally, the allies have started attacking the port at Adak, destroying more than half of the coastal gun regiment I have there.

Burma.
The allies continue to bomb Meiktila, with more than 300 planes hitting it on both the 20th and 23rd. At the same time, the fortifications at Rangoon progress towards level 9, and Moulmein`s progress towards level 7.


I have to be delighted that at this stage of the war, the allied 4E bombers are still largely impotent; on their own, they are unable to close the major Japanese bases. Maybe our house rule of no use below 15000 feet is too restrictive, if they were to attack at lower levels, maybe they would prove far more effective.