IdahoNYer vs LST (J AAR): GAME OVER!

[Capt. Harlock]

Ed calls the results "fairly historical for this time of the war".

I'm not so sure - in 1945 maybe, but in 1942 ?

I have to agree with you -- it's only early November. The Allied pilots shouldn't have fully mastered the P-38 yet.

[FeurerKrieg]

I see Nicks destroyed on the ground, but none in the air? 1E fighters from Japan are dismal against the big bombers, and sometimes struggle even against the 2Es, but Nicks tend to do better. Why didn't your Nick's fly CAP?

[LargeSlowTarget]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

Did Haruna take any additional damage at all? Otherwise, it seems your crippled ships have been very fortunate so far.

I was suprised as well that Haruna survived. System and float damage has increased a bit but far from what I would expect from three torps. Major float damage is 56, overall flooding 80+. She is disbanded at Broome, together with some other cripples in a similar state. I have a Naval HQ and an AR at Broome, to pump-out and trying to get system damage down before risking a "dash" (at 4 knots) to Koepang and then on to Singers. Oscars and Nicks on CAP / night CAP. Ed has massed subs in and around Broome - have sent some ASW TFs to hunt them down, but one DD promptly hit a Mk 10 mine at Broome and joined the cripples in port. Ed knows his stuff...

ORIGINAL: Feurer Krieg

I see Nicks destroyed on the ground, but none in the air? 1E fighters from Japan are dismal against the big bombers, and sometimes struggle even against the 2Es, but Nicks tend to do better. Why didn't your Nick's fly CAP?

I use Nicks for night CAP since they do poorly in daylight against the sweepers preceeding the bomber raids. Ed is bombing my airfields every night, with uncanny precision and too much damage for my taste for the few bombers involved. Not that my Nicks achieve much on night CAP, apart from providing target pratice for the Allied bomber gunners - those guys must have x-ray view like superman! The bombers' accuracy seems to decrease when CAP is present, but not by much.

Here are the results from last turn - note that moonlight for this turn was 0% (!) and that I have flak at each base.

Of course, when I try night-bombing myself, I rarely get hits (not even with full moon) but always have at least one bomber shot down...

Night Air attack on Broome , at 62,127

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 17

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
Port Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (3 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes



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Night Air attack on Wau , at 98,126

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 1 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 3 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
13th Sentai/C with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes



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Night Air attack on Lashio , at 62,46

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 5

No Allied losses

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Blenheim IV bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb



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Night Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6

No Allied losses

Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

[Mike McCreery]

I love it when Japanese Zero's go up against my B-24's. The Zero's just do not have enough punch to bring down those big planes and the return fire trashes a lot of Zero Groups.

You need bomber killers to put a dent in those 4EB's.

[LargeSlowTarget]

Some good news to post about a minor success - by sheer luck, but I will not complain.

Ed has been bombing Nauru and Ocean Island with a few B-24s for some time. Having no AV support and LBA fighters to spare, I have sent a small carrier force (Junyo & Hiyo) to loiter between Nauru and Ocean Island, trying to catch some unescorted bombers with leaky CAP. No contact - so I decided to try again near Tulagi, also bombed daily by Ed.

I got lucky - my carriers had just vacated the Nauru / Ocean Island area during the night when next morning at least two US fleet carriers appeared off Nauru and started bombing air and port installations. My naval search (Mavis from Tarawa, and Kates on my carriers) had not picked them up. Luckily the same can be said the other way round - my carriers must have escaped detection and destruction by a whisker!

To add injury to insult, my carriers arrived off Tulagi at a point six hexes (Val normal range) from Kirakira on the second day (two-day-turns)- just when Ed decided to invade that base. What a lucky coincidence!

I got in two strikes. Ok, overall I am not too happy with the results, esp. with the Kates. Too many bombers did target lowly PT boats instead of the bigger game. But some Vals made for the fattest target available :

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 26, 42

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kirakira at 116,140

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 108 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
B5N2 Kate x 18
D3A1 Val x 18

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Long Island, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CA Salt Lake City
DD Bancroft
PT-154
CA Indianapolis, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
6 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
6 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMF-124 with F4F-4 Wildcat (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 5 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
VMF-224 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
49th FG/9th FS with P-38G Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 24000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 24000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes

Ammo storage explosion on CVE Long Island
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Long Island

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kirakira at 116,140

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 115 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 43 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 28
B5N2 Kate x 24
D3A1 Val x 36

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 8 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 11 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Long Island, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Salt Lake City
CA Indianapolis
DD Bancroft
AP President Jackson, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CL St. Louis
AP Heywood
CL Nashville
AP President Adams, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
11 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
12 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
11 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMF-124 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 2 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
VMF-224 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
49th FG/9th FS with P-38G Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 24000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 24000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Long Island

Yeah, burn baby flattop burn!


Other developments of interest :

Heavy fighting in Burma continues. My air refuses to fly ground support, unlike the Allies... Nonetheless, I think have stopped the Allied advances. The Brits near Akyab show movement arrows pulling back to the North, probably supply issues. I keep them motivated with bombardments and the occasional deliberate attack, own supplies permitting. At the other locations, the Allies are contained or even slowly grounded down. I expect to clear the road to Katha and to break the siege of the 48th Division in the jungle NW of Shwebo within the next turns, and then I will deal with the Chindits at Mytkyina.

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Ground combat at 55,45 (near Akyab)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3405 troops, 303 guns, 160 vehicles, Assault Value = 1151

Defending force 30445 troops, 567 guns, 540 vehicles, Assault Value = 660

Allied ground losses:
91 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
5th Division
144th Infantry Regiment
55th Engineer Regiment
1st Tank Division
2nd Tank Division
41st Ind.AA Gun Co
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
23rd Field AA Machinecannon Company
44th Ind.AA Gun Co
2nd Mortar Battalion
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
28th Field AA Machinecannon Company
43rd Ind.AA Gun Co
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Art.Mortar Regiment
42nd Ind.AA Gun Co
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
22nd Field AA Machinecannon Company
5th RF Gun Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd RF Gun Battalion
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
70th British Division
2nd British Division
XXXIII Indian Corps
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Light AA Regiment
7th Armoured Brigade


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Ground combat at Katha (61,43)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10755 troops, 91 guns, 156 vehicles, Assault Value = 307

Defending force 2575 troops, 31 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Japanese adjusted assault: 160

Allied adjusted defense: 3

Japanese assault odds: 53 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
268 casualties reported
Squads: 19 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
4th Tank Regiment
1st RTA Division
2nd Tank Regiment
2nd RTA Division
1st RF Gun Battalion
15th Army
54th Const Co

Defending units:
63rd Indian Brigade


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Ground combat at 60,44 (near Shwebo)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 21306 troops, 158 guns, 73 vehicles, Assault Value = 824

Defending force 480 troops, 0 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 55

Assaulting units:
143rd Infantry Regiment
56th Division
41st Infantry Regiment
77th Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Hyder Lancers Regiment

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Ground combat at Myitkyina (64,42)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 5083 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 164

Defending force 3049 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 117

Assaulting units:
4th RTA Division
47th Const Co

Defending units:
77th LRP Brigade


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Ground combat at 59,43 (near Kalemyo)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 285 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 668

Defending force 14584 troops, 135 guns, 172 vehicles, Assault Value = 458

Assaulting units:
254th Armoured Brigade
23rd Indian Division
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
268th Motorised Brigade
XV Indian Corps
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
8th Tank Regiment
48th Division
14th Tank Regiment

The cripples at Broome have attracted the unwanted attention of B-17s and swarms of subs. I have several groups of Sallies and DD-TFs on ASW duty, and Oscars and Nick on CAP. Nonetheless, I have decided a few turns ago to risk it and make a dash for Koepang before the enemy bombers get lucky, although some cripples still have red damage levels for sys and floatation. They have arrived without incident and will spend some more time at Koepang with its AR, ADs and Naval HQ before being dispatched to various shipyards within the Empire.
At the same time I am running small TFs of fast AKs back and forth between Koepang and Port Hedland, replacing the Imperial Guard Div with a newly arrived (and expendable) garrison brigade and removing a Corps HQ and base forces for use elsewhere. After the "Carnavon carnage", any dreams of an offensive against Exmouth and the Australian West Coast have been abandoned. Port Hedland is now just a speedbump.

[LargeSlowTarget]

Quick and dirty update on the latest turn - Nov 27/28, 1942


China :

Closing-in on Chungking :

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Ground combat at Neikiang (75,44)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12930 troops, 100 guns, 107 vehicles, Assault Value = 448

Defending force 13499 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 494

Japanese adjusted assault: 922

Allied adjusted defense: 155

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Neikiang !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
273 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
6827 casualties reported
Squads: 147 destroyed, 158 disabled
Non Combat: 72 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 19 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 6 (5 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
9th Tank Regiment
37th Division
12th Army

Defending units:
51st Chinese Corps
87th Chinese Corps


Burma :

My big stack near Akyab did not too well this turn, but overall I am pleased with the results in Burma this turn :

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Ground combat at 55,45 (near Akyab)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36529 troops, 699 guns, 1072 vehicles, Assault Value = 1177

Defending force 30392 troops, 565 guns, 540 vehicles, Assault Value = 663

Japanese adjusted assault: 733

Allied adjusted defense: 685

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1568 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 161 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Guns lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
578 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 84 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 27 (4 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Assaulting units:
5th Division
1st Tank Division
144th Infantry Regiment
55th Engineer Regiment
2nd Tank Division
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
28th Field AA Machinecannon Company
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
41st Ind.AA Gun Co
2nd Mortar Battalion
43rd Ind.AA Gun Co
22nd Field AA Machinecannon Company
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd RF Gun Battalion
44th Ind.AA Gun Co
1st Art.Mortar Regiment
5th RF Gun Battalion
42nd Ind.AA Gun Co
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
23rd Field AA Machinecannon Company
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
70th British Division
2nd British Division
XXXIII Indian Corps
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Light AA Regiment
7th Armoured Brigade


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The heaviest action was in the air above the (until now) isolated 48th Division + attached tanks between Shwebo and Kalemyo.

Ed has thrown in sweeps followed by bombers - I had Zeroes on LRCAP from Magwe and leaking CAP by Oscars and Tojos from Mandalay.


Air attacks on 48th Division, at 59,43 , near Kalemyo

No Japanese losses unless specified

Nov 27, 42

First three waves of sweeps :

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 5
A6M3a Zero x 16
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 8
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 27

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 4 destroyed


Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 5
A6M3a Zero x 13
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 13
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 33

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 3 destroyed


Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 3
A6M3a Zero x 10
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 13
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 26

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed


Followed by many waves of mostly unescorted bombers :

Allied aircraft losses
A-29A Hudson: 2 destroyed


Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged


Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 4 damaged


Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 damaged
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed


Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged


Nov 28, 42

Allied aircraft losses
A-29A Hudson: 1 destroyed


Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 2 destroyed


Allied aircraft losses
Vengeance I: 7 destroyed


Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed


Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 4 destroyed


Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged


Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 2 destroyed


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged


If I have counted right, Ed lost 17 fighters and 30 bombers, I have lost 12 fighters - no complaints.

He sould have sent 4Es - than I would have lost 30 fighters and he 1 or two bombers at most...


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More good News - Katha roadblock eliminated :

Ground combat at Katha (61,43)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 10761 troops, 91 guns, 155 vehicles, Assault Value = 306

Defending force 2437 troops, 26 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 10

Japanese adjusted assault: 323

Allied adjusted defense: 3

Japanese assault odds: 107 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
440 casualties reported
Squads: 50 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2nd Tank Regiment
1st RTA Division
4th Tank Regiment
2nd RTA Division
1st RF Gun Battalion
15th Army
54th Const Co

Defending units:
63rd Indian Brigade

Allied Unit(s) surrounded at Katha (the survivors now special guests of the Emperor)


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The lone Cavalry-turned-tank Regiment blocking the rail line north of Shwebo and thus the LOC to the 48th Division has been eliminated as well.

The army got some ground support this time by accident - forgot to switch target hex to the stack near Akyab.

I also gambled by not assigning escorts in order to have maximum CAP over 48th Div as relayed above - low losses probably due to going low under the LRCAP.


Air attack on 2nd Hyder Lancers Regiment, at 60,44 , near Shwebo

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 34

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 1
Hurricane IIc Trop x 1
P-39D Airacobra x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 41 (2 destroyed, 39 disabled)


Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 33

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 1
Hurricane IIc Trop x 1
P-39D Airacobra x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 16 (2 destroyed, 14 disabled)


Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 27

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 1
Hurricane IIc Trop x 1
P-39D Airacobra x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged


Ground combat at 60,44 (near Shwebo)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 25170 troops, 184 guns, 73 vehicles, Assault Value = 869

Defending force 240 troops, 0 guns, 90 vehicles, Assault Value = 41

Japanese adjusted assault: 434

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 434 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 106 (106 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
56th Division
143rd Infantry Regiment
41st Infantry Regiment
77th Infantry Regiment
18th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Hyder Lancers Regiment

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That means the embattled 48th Division and attached tank units are no longer isolated in the jungles between Shwebo and Kalmyo.

There is one small enemy unit left on the rail/road to Myitkyina and the LRPs at Myitkyina itself. One Thai division and two attached tank regiments at Katha have orders to reinforce Mytkyina and to eliminate the Paras. The stack north of Shwebo will split, part going NE to clear and protect the rail/road, part to reinforce 48th Div. Let's kick some pommy basterd!


Solomons :

Our valiant early-warning company at KiraKira holds off two ground assaults, but I expect the base to fall next turn.

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Ground combat at Kirakira (116,140)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3995 troops, 61 guns, 35 vehicles, Assault Value = 138

Defending force 379 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 15

Allied adjusted assault: 51

Japanese adjusted defense: 16

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-)
Attacker:

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

Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
164th Infantry Regiment
3rd Base Maint Engineer Battalion
3rd US Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
7th Indpt SNLF Coy


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Ground combat at Kirakira (116,140)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3988 troops, 61 guns, 35 vehicles, Assault Value = 137

Defending force 361 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 13

Allied adjusted assault: 12

Japanese adjusted defense: 16

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker: fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
64 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
164th Infantry Regiment
3rd Base Maint Engineer Battalion
3rd US Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
7th Indpt SNLF Coy


With construction and base units included in the first wave, the Kirakira operation does not seem to be a hit-and-run affair. The enemy carriers in the Gilberts have been spotted retiring towards Espiritu Santo.

My local naval and air forces have received orders to counterattack while more assets scattered throughout the Empire are ordered to concentrate at Rabaul for operations in the Solomons.

This is starting to get interesting.

[LargeSlowTarget]

December 7th, 1942 - one year of war. I'm not going to write much about it, some screenshots will say more than a tousand words.

[LargeSlowTarget]

North China - showing Chungking garrison

[LargeSlowTarget]

South China

[LargeSlowTarget]

Burma

[LargeSlowTarget]

Northern Oz

[LargeSlowTarget]

PNG

[LargeSlowTarget]

Solomons

[LargeSlowTarget]

Ship losses

[LargeSlowTarget]

AC losses

[LargeSlowTarget]

Industry screens

[LargeSlowTarget]

Slow going at work, time for an update. The game has advanced to mid-January 1943. With Port Moresby, Guadalcanal and Northern Oz still in my possession and KB still intact, I am doing better than history for the moment. But alas, the Empire is facing Allied pressure on five fronts - and has economic difficulties with low fuel and supply levels.

1. North Pacific
In the Aleutians, small-scale bombing of Attu continues from Kiska, doing little damage to the garrison of one Naval Guard unit and an Eng company (busy digging trenches – fort level 4 reached). The Allies are building another base on a small island close to Attu whose name eludes me for the moment. For what I don’t know, Attu is already within fighter range from Kiska and my base has no airfield anyway that would require close observation, LRCAPing or sweeping. The Float-Zeroes and the base force supporting them have been evacuated long ago th the Kuriles, since the Float-Zeroes were no match for the P-38s sweeping and escorting from Kiska and thus they have joined the training command (PDU off leaves little choice here). They will eventually end up as Kamikazes.


2. Central Pacific
Allied amphib operations have captured undefended Baker Is. and for the second time Vaitupu and surrounding bases– after 4E bombers managed to annihilate the weak garrison (one of the splinters of the 81st Naval Guards which start the game divided).
In the Gilberts and Marshalls, I have Naval Guard garrisons on all islands with airbase potential above 0 and Eng units digging trenches and building bunkers – most bases are at fort level 4. Ed will need more than a Fast Transport TF with a Bn of troops if he wants a foothold in the CentPac. No airbase building, I’m not going to waste time, resources and airframes in the defence of atolls, except maybe from the bases in the Marshalls already build-up pre-war. But I doubt that I will have any air groups available for that theatre should Ed move into it.


3. South Pacific
With the capture of Kirakira the Allies are established on the lowest rung of the Solomons ladder. Surely they want to climb further up. Ed is running convoys to Kirakira, I assume with ENG assets, AA and CD units. Readers - if any - may remember from my last report that I have ordered Combined Fleet to assemble at Rabaul. The plan was to nip Allied ambitions in the bud by counter-attacking and liberating Kirakira. However, with only one division and limited LBA assets available (plus huge tanker requirements to ship precious fuel to Rabaul), I have re-evaluated the prospects for success as « slim and probably costly ». Furthermore, a bigger threat is developing in the SoWestPac area. In short, operations against Kirakira have been curtailed and the Southern Solomons won’t be the “line in the sand“ for a showdown. I will delay and deny as long as possible but without engaging major assets in a decisive battle here.

Since a sizeable part of Combined Fleet was already at Rabaul, I have run some interference missions against Kirakira in December 1942 with light forces in the van to deal with the pesky PTs Ed tends to base at each frontline location, followed by bombardment by BBs, cruisers and even a foray by KB in order to slow-down airbase building. I have sunk some small fry (PTs, AM, an AKL or two) and in one clash against Allied cruisers, the CL St. Louis was reported sunk.

The fleet sortie also covered the deployment of a brigade of the Imperial Guard division to Lunga, joining the Navy garrison and constructions units who are digging trenches. The only airbase built-up is Munda, which allows to bring Lunga in range of light bombers. The other two brigades of the Imperial Guards are digging-in at the other size 5 bases in the Solomons – Torokina and Buka to deny them as long as possible.

Now, in January 1943, the fleet is needed elsewhere, and a sizeable part of the light forces is due to for upgrades. The Solomons are left to the mercy of the enemy - who with the option becoming available in 1943 has not hesitated to start an aerial mining campaign against Tulagi, Munda and Rabaul. In the latest turn Ed has unleashed his carriers to hit Munda port in coordination with heavy bombers, sinking an AV, an AGP and a dozen barges (1000-pounders against Daihatsus - a slight case of overkill). Two Oscar groups offered some resistance but were vastly outnumbered, leaving few escorts for Kates counterattacking in vain and getting slaughtered.


4. SoWest Pacific
It looks like my worthy opponent’s strategy is aiming at the liberation of Northern Oz – surely to base heavy bombers closer to the SRA (or worse, advancing into the SRA).
Since the last report, Ed has invaded Merauke by sea - and he must have brought a lot of Eng forces, since an airbase was operational quickly. Counter-attacks by Zero-Betty teams from Darwin on naval attack and night-bombing of the airbase have been ineffectual, subs sent to intercept convoys do not survive long in the shallow waters, and attempts by light surface forces to raid the invasion and reinforcement convoys got turned back by SBDs and medium bombers operating from Horn Island.

With air cover from Horn Island, Merauke and Normanton, Ed recently captured Groote Eylandt by airborne attack against token resistance of some squads from an SNLF dropped off by Mavis-L transport flying boats. Together with Gove and Wessel Islands nearby, Ed can build good bases to threaten Darwin – nothing I can do about it, given the paucity of LCUs and priorities elsewhere.

On the opposite edge of Australia, Ed has maxed-out Exmouth and an overland attack (!) is advancing from Exmouth towards Port Hedland along the coast. Like everywhere else except Burma, my ground strength is weak in the area. Apart from a division at Darwin and a garrison brigade at Port Hedland, there are only some lightly armed paras and SNLF units scattered in the DEI to cover garrison requirements on Sumatra and Java and to provide minimum security on the Lesser Sunda Islands between Timor and New Guinea – most of them are good airfield sites. Hardly a force to impress Ed who must have a bunch of US Army, US Marine and Aussie divisions available by now. Since I cannot allow Ed to obtain bases in the DEI, I must commit Combined Fleet in the Arafura Sea and off Port Hedland in order to discourage further advances.

While KB and consorts cruised from Rabaul to Koepang, a small SAG was sent hunting for the costal convoys Ed is apparently using to supply his overland attack against Port Hedland. CL Sendai in company with two DDs promptly managed to run into a vastly superior Allied cruiser SAG off Broome – and not only lived to tell the tale but sank and with a well-placed torpedo. Next, the retiring Allied force encountered one of our submarines off Exmouth and CA Frobisher took a torpedo as well.

Soon afterwards help did arrive for gallant Sendai and during the last three turns, Combined Fleet has bombed (all available carriers – results are so-so since ground attack skills have not been trained for carrier pilots) and bombarded (BBs rule!) the lead elements of the overland attack two hexes to the west of Port Hedland. LBA from Broome is adding bombs and bullets, despite pesky B-17s attacking at night from Meekwhatever. Apparently the attacks are hurting, since the movement arrow of the enemy stack has switched from straight East in direction of Port Hedland to South-West, away from the coast.


5. CBI
The Allies main effort clearly is in the Burma theatre. From Calcutta to Ledo, enemy airbases are brimming with fighters and bombers, or so it seems. After the destruction of Prome, I have concentrated my IJA fighters at Magwe (build to level 8 airbase for 2xAS – in DBB, Japan does not have enough AS). Even with just Hurricanes, P-40s, Wildcats and a few Spits, the Allies have the edge, and only with numbers I have a chance to inflict some damage (and never more than I take in return). This is scary, since I have most of and the best the IJA has to offer in this theatre. With PDU off, that amounts to 2.5 groups of Tojo Ia and 2 groups of Tony Ia, backed by five groups of Oscars IIb. That means about 50% of all IJA fighter groups currently on the map are in Burma, just trying to hold against the Allied onslaught.

Ed is pounding my LCUs in Northern Burma with mediums and heavies and bases like Katha and Myitkyina for supply hits and interdiction, and also LCUs in the jungles between Akyab and Kalmyo. Luckily the jungle terrain keeps ground losses limited. I am hesitant to fly LRCAP in the North – pilots with fatigue fight badly, and knowing my luck, the turn I’m flying LRCAP up there, Ed will decide to bomb Magwe all-out… So, I keep my fighters on CAP at Magwe. From time to time there are air battles when Ed is bombing within 4 hexes of Magwe and “leaky CAP” intervenes. Usually that means that I need to reign-in CAP range to 1 for a turn or two to repair damaged planes and pull replacements before offering resistance again. Highly annoying are the night attacks by Wellingtons against Magwe – each time they destroy between 3 and up to 10 planes per night, even with 0% moon and bad weather. My own night-bombers – I have a Helen group in Burma – cannot hit the side of a hill, although the pilots are all exp50+/ground70+. I must be cursed…

On the ground, I count at least a dozen Allied divisions between Akyab and Mytkyina, plus lesser units. Also a lot of tanks. I can put 8 IJA infantry divisions and two IJA tank divisions plus four Thai divisions against them. That means two/thirds of the unrestricted infantry divisions available plus bought-out tanks and the Thai auxiliaries are needed just to hold Burma! For the moment we have a stalemate, but I am afraid Ed can achieve local superiority in a hex of his choice to punch a hole in the line. I have been able to re-open the rail line to Myitkyina, but the LRP Bde who had dropped onto that base has been rescued by Allied units opening a retreat path to Warazup. Ed has Engineers at Warazup and it has reached airbase level 1 – that is a dangerous situation as he will surely fly-in reinforcements. The Thai units in Northern Burma are probably not strong enough to recapture Warazup, and I have no reserves left and no reinforcements in sight…

Last but not least, China. I have the Chungking plain and Chungking itself is 5/6 surrounded (not sure if leaving a retreat path would make it easier to capture the town) but I will wait for the fall of Lanchow – the last Chinese base in Northern China – to free more troops before attacking the capital. I have all Ki-51 units and four groups of Lilies in the theater, plus one Oscar Iib and one Tojo IIb group. Still, Ed manages from time to time to spring CAP traps which hurt - and indicate that supplies are still ample enough to permit flying ops. Not good.


6. Production / Economics
It’s my first AE game as Japan going past Spring 42, and I’m not using Tracker or any other tool. Considering that, I’m proud of not having crashed the economy within a year. Of course things are far worse than they could be if I actually would know what I am doing….

I have wasted a lot of supplies and time and airframes not produced with the botching of the Zero upgrades / production line. A6M5 production (250 planes / month) has started in Dec 42 and priority is upgrading the carrier air groups, but I hope I can get the IJN LBA back into the fight within three months. For the moment, my land-based Zero groups flying M3 and M3a are seriously understrength (down to 5 to 8 planes each), the groups still flying M2 are now a little stronger due to hand-downs from the carriers). You can imagine that this is a serious handicap for my war efforts.

For other models, aircraft pools are ok, I try to keep a reserve of 50-100 planes in the pools and stop production when the limit is reached. Some pools remain empty however, for example Jakes and Petes (due to systematic resizing) and the Sonia (due to repeated CAP traps).

In the R&D side, nothing spectacular – Jills are due next month, George finally starts research after first factories reached 30. With PDU off, concentration on a few types to get them much earlier is not an option.

Ressources are plenty or so it seems, 18M stockpiled. HI is at 600k and rising slowly. I have read a lot about stockpiling HI for the "end-game" and such. Well, I'm not a numbers cruncher and long-range planning is not my forte anyway. I will see what I can afford to build but I see no point in hording HI points for late-war planes when the war might not last that long enough to get them because I did not spend the HI for mid-war planes to get me into the late war.

Oil-wise I think I am good, with AKs converted to TKs I manage to keep the oil ports pretty dry, and TK losses have been low – thanks to massive ASW and running few but huge convoys with lots of escorts and CVE / CS cover imbedded.

However, fuel production seems to lag - or consumption is too high. With Combined Fleet running around, probably the latter. Every few turns I have some HI factories not producing for want of fuel. It's hand-to-mouth, but the situation will probably get better - because Ed will eventually sink the fuel-guzzlers.

Same for supplies, barely ample. But factories expansions, apart from repairing R&D has ended, so it is starting to look a bit better - Tokyo has 100k and Nagoya, my outgoing shipping center, has 80k.

Boss is coming, gotta work...

[jwolf]

LST, thanks for the great summary you posted a few days ago. It's very interesting to read your analysis of "is this hill worth fighting for" especially as related to Kirakira and your reactions in the area between Australia and Timor. Good luck as you continue this great campaign.

[LargeSlowTarget]

Update - game has reached March 9th, 1943.

North Pacific:

Just ineffective small-scale bombing attacks against Attu. Apart from that, the North is cool and calm - and a so we a gwaan.


Central Pacific:

The IJN has a new hero - but no hero's welcome. I-6 patrolling between PH and SF came across a TF containing a BB, a CL and a CVE plus DDs. In a first attack, I-6 managed to put two fish into the CVE, identified as the Sangamon. The baby flatop was left smoking and listing. The sub escaped the ASW counterattack with only slight damage. Persistent, I-6 then returned to finish off the victim in a second attack with two more torpedo hits, resulting in a secondary ammo explosion. Alas, this time the ASW counterattack damaged the sub and forced it to the surface, where it had the dubious distinction of being at the receiving end of 15 inch and 6 inch shells. You don't see a BB shooting at a surfaced sub every day!

DD Bagley attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-6 forced to surface!
BB Pennsylvania firing on surfaced sub ....
CL Montpelier firing on surfaced sub ....
BB Pennsylvania firing on surfaced sub ....
CL Montpelier firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

At least I-6 took a large CVE down with her. Intercepted communications indicate that the Allied High Command is mourning the loss of the embarked fighter planes much more than the loss of the CVE itself.


The loss of the CVE has not dampened the ambitions of my opponent. Ed has invaded the Southern Gilberts and the 3rd Marine Division (reinforced) has had no difficulties to capture Tabiteuea, defended by a lone NavGuard unit and some left-behind engineers behind level-4 forts.

The plan was to defend every dot in the Gilberts and Marschalls that has more than 0/0 base potential in order to force the time-consuming assembly of invasion forces, preparation and softeing-up. I have also hoped to cause disruption and losses by maxing fort levels, forcing a lengthy rebuilding period for the assault units. Well, the forts did not help much, the Marines went through Tabiteuea like a knife through butter.

However, after having captured that island, Ed did split the 3rd Marine Division and invaded three of the surrounding dot bases (Nikunau, Onotoa, Beru) held by NavGuard splinters (the 84th NavGuard starts splitted-up) behind level 2/3 forts. The three sub-units of the 3rd marine Div suffered considerable losses in the unloading phases - lack of preparation for the target hex I believe. Of course they overran the NavGuard splinters and took the dot bases nonetheless.

The only naval resistance offered by the IJN in the Gilberts has been a gathering of submarines - resulting in four subs lost and four damaged and limping away for nothing to show for.

With the recent carrier raids in the area, I have been expecting something fishy and have tried to evacuate precious engineering forces to bases to the rear by air transport and small FT task forces. Let's hope I can stay ahead of the Allies offensive and gather the engineering assets at soon-to -be-front bases.


South Pacific:

Allied bombers and cruiser SAGs are hitting everything between Kirakira and Torokina. Munda airbase is closed most of the time and in the last days of January the Allies have invaded Lunga with a reinforced Marine division. Lunga "base" - left largely undeveloped on purpose to avoid handing the Allies a good base (Solomons strategy is to delay, not fight an attrition war to the death) - was defended by a brigade of the IJA Guards Division, an SNFL and two Naval Guard units plus two Eng units behind level-4 forts and in good supply. Still, it fell unexpected quickly after only two deliberate attacks. The garrison did retreat to Tassafaronga, with the Allies in hot pursuit. I have tried to evacuate my forces by air and barges, but the barges got sunk and the Allies have taken Tassafaronga as well before I could pull-out more than a few squads. Remnants of the Japanese forces are still resisting in the jungle.

Tulagi was next on the target list, two SNLF units got pounded to dust by LBA and bombardment TFs and their resistance was short an pathetic. Some dot bases around Tulagi have switched sides as well.


To "do something" against the Allied encroachments, I have launched a raid from bases in the upper Solomons against the shipping off Guadalcanal. A first attempts was thwarted by an Allied bombardment of Munda, just after I had transferred my air striking force from Rabaul. Plane losses have been heavy and the base was put out of action for a few days. Next attempt was more successful. First Oscars from Buin swept Lunga - quickly build up by the Allied engineering wizards - to weaken CAP, then from Munda two IJN dive bomber groups with Zero escorts attacked APs and DDs at Lunga. Corsairs have been encountered for the first time, doing well of course but could not prevent the Vals from scoring hits on at least two DDs and two APs. Alas, my own losses and fear of reprisals (another bombardment against Munda for example, or 4Es) force me to adopt hit-and-run tactics, a sustained air offensive against Lunga is out of the question (and I don't want to be dragged into a war of attrition in the Solomons anyway). MY air force has thus retired back to the relative safety of Rabaul, preparing to counter further movements up the Solomons latter.


South-West Pacific:

The entire IJN surface fleet (or what remains) was and still is engaged in delaying Allied base building in the Gove / Groote Eylandt area as well as harassing the overland attack against Port Hedland. Operating from Koepang and Darwin, task forces are shuttling back and forth through sub-infested waters and under air attacks to bombard Gove and Port Hedland regularly. Merauke and Groote Eylandt also got their share of shells. It is dangerous, but I want to delay the recapture of Northern Oz as long as possible.

For most of January - February I have been lucky with my bombardment runs, only losing a DD sunk and two damaged to subs and mines, and some capital ships and DDs had lucky escapes with sub torps missing. I have encountered and sunk a number of PTs and some small fry (AM, AKLs, LCTs) in return.


But since end of February I have suffered one setback after another:

First, I got too cocky and sent a cruiser SAG to Merauke without air cover from KB. Result was a miniature repetition of the "Carnavon carnage" with CA Kako, CL Sendai and DD Tokitsukaze sunk by air (helped by mines) - but only after their TF gave a good account in surface battles off Merauke :

Feb 25, 43:

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Merauke at 89,124, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CA Kako
CL Sendai
CL Jintsu
DD Isokaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Nowaki
DD Kawakaze

Allied Ships
PT-127, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-187, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT-228, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT-260, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-262, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-298, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Merauke at 89,124, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CA Kako
CL Sendai
CL Jintsu
DD Isokaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Nowaki
DD Kawakaze

Allied Ships
PT-171, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-175
PT-176
PT-177
PT-178
PT-299

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 68 encounters mine field at Merauke (89,124)

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Tokitsukaze, Mine hits 1, heavy damage

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Merauke at 89,124, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CA Kako
CL Jintsu
DD Isokaze
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
PT-68, Shell hits 1
PT-84
PT-179
PT-183
PT-185
PT-186

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Merauke at 89,124, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CA Kako, Shell hits 1
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 1
DD Isokaze
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
DD Sims
DD McCall
DD Sterett
DD Phelps, Shell hits 4, heavy fires

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Merauke at 89,124, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Kako
CL Jintsu
DD Isokaze
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
CL Leander
CL Perth, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Hobart, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hughes, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Blue, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Helm, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Smith


Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 67% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Smoot, Roland crosses the 'T'
CA Furutaka engages CL Hobart at 11,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Leander at 11,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Smith at 11,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Helm at 11,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Blue at 11,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Hughes at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL Hobart at 6,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages DD Smith at 6,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Isokaze at 6,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Isokaze at 6,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages DD Hughes at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Hobart at 3,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Furutaka at 3,000 yards
CL Leander engages CA Furutaka at 3,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Hamakaze at 3,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Helm at 3,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Hamakaze at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
CL Hobart engages CA Furutaka at 5,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Perth at 5,000 yards
CL Leander engages CL Jintsu at 5,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Hamakaze at 5,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Helm at 5,000 yards
DD Hamakaze engages DD Blue at 5,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Hughes at 5,000 yards
Smoot, Roland orders Allied TF to disengage
Kawakami B. orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CL Hobart engages CA Furutaka at 6,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL Perth at 6,000 yards
CL Perth engages CL Jintsu at 6,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Hamakaze at 6,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Helm at 6,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Isokaze at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL Hobart at 11,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Hobart at 11,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL Leander at 11,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Isokaze at 11,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Isokaze at 11,000 yards
DD Blue engages DD Hamakaze at 11,000 yards
DD Hughes engages DD Hamakaze at 11,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Merauke at 88,124, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai
DD Tokitsukaze, heavy damage
DD Nowaki
DD Kawakaze

Allied Ships
PT-175
PT-176
PT-177, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-178, Shell hits 1
PT-299

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Wessel Islands at 84,123

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 6
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12
TBF-1 Avenger x 12

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CL Jintsu
CA Kako

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Wessel Islands at 84,123

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 4 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CA Kako, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wessel Islands at 84,123

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 5
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
TBF-1 Avenger x 13

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka
CL Jintsu
CA Kako

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
2 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 11000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Merauke at 87,124

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 16

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tokitsukaze, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
DD Nowaki, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Sendai
Massive explosion on CL Sendai

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wessel Islands at 84,123

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Bomb hits 1
CA Kako, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Furutaka class CA

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wessel Islands at 84,123

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 1 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Allied aircraft
PBY-5A Catalina x 8

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CA Kako, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Furutaka

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x PBY-5A Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wessel Islands at 84,123

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 5

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Torpedo hits 1
CL Jintsu

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.

Second and third setbacks were "accidents waiting to happen". The waters off Northern Oz are infested with Allied sub. I try to keep my forces in shallow waters, LBA and FPs are flying ASW day and night ASW from LBA and FPs. I have had some close calls, avoided several torpedo attacks and gave some Allied subs a good pounding - but they had to get lucky one day or two.

Mar 05, 43:

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Sub attack near Bathurst Island at 77,123

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Torpedo hits 2
CA Kinugasa
DD Natsushio
DD Nenohi
DD Arashi
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
SS Herring, hits 3

SS Herring launches 6 torpedoes at BB Kongo
DD Nenohi fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Arashi fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Hamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hamakaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Hamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hamakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Kongo will be ok, it happened on the return trip to Darwin and she reached port with just 2 points of minor and 39 points of major float damage. She will head for Singapore under heavy escort, including a CVE pulled from covering AOs on station at Darwin. There goes my last fast BB, the other three are in the yards in the Home Islands for the time being.

Sadly, two days later, CV Hiyo was not so lucky. KB-1 (slow CVs) followed KB-2 (fast CVs) plus a separate ASW-TF of three DDs had just arrived on patrol station four hexes off the contested base, after having replaced plane losses and replenished fuel and ammo at Koepang following a costly and unsuccessful raid against shipping around Exmouth and Carnavon. Until now Allied subs off Port Hedland have been lurking only in coastal waters, but this time USS Shark was waiting in a deep ocean hex and scored heavily:

Mar 07, 43:
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Sub attack near Port Hedland at 59,125

Japanese Ships
CV Hiyo, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CLAA Tenryu
DD Akigumo
DD Ariake
DD Wakaba
DD Urakaze
DD Hatsukaze

Allied Ships
SS Shark

Ammo storage explosion on CV Hiyo
Fuel storage explosion on CV Hiyo
SS Shark launches 6 torpedoes at CV Hiyo
DD Ariake fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Wakaba fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Urakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hatsukaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Urakaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Surprisingly, Hiyo did not sink outright, she is still afloat with 78 points of major damage four hexes from Broome. I will try to get her into port, but air ASW has spotted subs lots of subs between her and Broome. The bombardment runs have been cancelled, the escorting DDs will form pure ASW-TFs and will go sub hunting - I hope with a vengeance!

For the records - Ed keeps mining Broome and Darwin by air, and although I have DMS patrols on station, DD Kawakaze somehow did not get the word and went down after striking a Mk13 mine.

Situation on the ground and in the air :

I was preparing to counter-invade Gove with the 2nD ID at Darwin and a tank Rgt - but a third prong of the Allied counteroffensive in Norther Oz has developed from Tennant Creek in direction of Daly Waters. Sallies based at Darwin have pounded an Australian Armored Car unit east of Daly Waters, apparently the unit has been destroyed by air alone, as well as an Aussie Inf Bde with tank, Eng and AA support south of Daly Waters. A garrison Bde and AT units have been rushed to Daly Waters where they will benefit from level 5 forts.

A part of the Allied Port Hedland overland attack force has reached the destination, forces include the 41st US Division plus AA. Sallies based at Brome have bombed the overland advance for some time with mediocre effect. I have sent the BBs and managed a daylight "nuclear bombardment", but cannot find the combat report at the moment. Allied squads and devices got destroyed by the dozens and disabledd by the hundreds. I will try to keep it up.

In reaction to my air strikes, P-38s are now active over Port Hedland and Daly Waters, fortunately in small enough numbers so my Zeros and Oscars can still handle them. However, last turn for some reason no escorts launched and my Sallies on ground support got severely decimated by enemy CAP.

With the deteriorating situation in the air, the threat to Darwin from the south and recent naval losses, plans to counter-invade Gove have been shelved. 2nd ID will remain at Darwin, helping a couple of Eng Rgt to dig trenches which will eventually become their graves - they are there to stay to deny Darwin as long as possible.


Burma:

An armoured thrust by the Allied dogs from Kalmyo against Shwebo has been parried by quick redeployment of three Tank Rgts and one infantry Rgt to Shwebo. The enemy has retreated to the open hex to the north-west of Shwebo. At the same time, the Allies have evacuated the jungle hex to the North of the battle zone. This has freed a division and arty for offensive ops and I have ordered them into the open area to block further attempts to cut the rail line to Northern Burma at Shwebo. Problem of course that keeping a force in open terrain within Allied fighter range (Kalmyo is only two hexes away) is an invitation to getting pounded by LBA. I have about 350 fighters at Magwe and Mandalay, so the embattled hex is within "leaky CAP" range. I hope this will suffice, I am hesitant to order LRCAP missions which will only weaken CAP over my own bases - my worst nightmare is a repeat of the concentrated attack that has flattened the big base of Prome in a single turn.

In the Arakan, another Allied offensive has started against Akyab. That base is being garrisoned by two IDs plus AA. Numerous enemy units are at Akyab or on the way to that base. I have sent the two IJA tank divisions as reinforcements - and just as they moved into Akyab, the 70th British Div has moved behind them into the hex east of Akyab and has cut the LOC. Now four divisions plus supporting elements are sitting at Akyab cut-off from overland supply by those Brits. The IJA 5th Division plus arty which are guarding that hex are too weak to deal with the roadblock. Heavy air attacks and repeated bombardments by a CL-SAG are destroying what little supplies have trickled into Akyab overland before it got cut-off. I try to feed-in supplies by submarines and barges, but of course this effort is a drop on a hot stone. Enemy Beaufort torpedo-bombers and Vengeance dive-bombers prevent anything larger than barges from reaching Akyab (although I managed to CAP-trap a raid of those aptly-named dive-bombers - my Zero pilots on LRCAP were shouting "Vengeance for Sonia, Sally and Betty!" as they shot a dozen Allied planes out of the sky).

Trying to save Akyab would require involvement of a sizeable part of Combined Fleet and air assets to cover resupply convoys. Furthermore, any supplies delivered would be at the mercy of Allied bombers and bombardment runs. Therefore it would be necessary to keep a part of Combined Fleet and an Air Fleet on station indefinitely plus LRCAP from Magwe trying to protect Akyab. A meat-grinder!

Is it worth it? I only have enough forces for one major delaying effort. Now, what is more important - Akyab or Port Hedland?

Akyab in Allied hands is just another airbase in an area well-provided with Allied airbases (like Chittagong, Cox's Bazaar, Kalmyo etc.). There is only one oil centre and Magwe is defended by 350 fighters and even if it gets destroyed, I hope I can extract a price. I have good defensive positions in the jungles east of Akyab and the further the Allies advance, the closer they come to my mutually supporting airbase cluster and the farther they get from their supply centres. I do not want to split Combined Fleet to cover Akyab and risk a defeat-in-detail and I do not have the planes and AV support to throw into a battle of attrition from a less-than-optimal position (furthermore, several Netty groups are due to withdrawal this month, leaving only five total).

Port Hedland in Allied hands however is a door to the DEI – which with it plethora of bases and dots is impossible to defend on the ground - and it has a large airbase potential for heavy bomber raids into the DEI. It is relatively isolated, the closest Allied airbase is Exmouth which means Ed must use precious P-38s to cover his attack and ships to supply his ground forces. His attack force and supply lines are thus vulnerable to carrier air and naval interdiction without much danger of LBA retribution. OTOH, it is dangerous to operate Combined Fleet in this area in the face of submarine concentrations – and Ed may decide to throw in his growing Navy.
So, I have almost convinced myself that it makes sense to evacuate Akyab and to keep the focus on Port Hedland. Opinions?


China:

Slow grind around Lanchow continues, the road from Sian should be opened soon and the assault phase will begin when supplies have reached the besieging forces. Chungking attack must wait until forces from Lanchow are available, all combat eng units are prepped for Lanchow s I expect high fort levels. A secondary 3-division attack is advancing from Nanking and Wenchow to Changsha, but that is a “holding attack” to prevent further concentration of Chinese forces around Chungking.

Ed is very successful with CAP traps over Lanchow and Chungking, he seems to sense which base I will target next. The numerous small Ki-51 units often attack uncoordinated and then only one or two strikes have escort protection – if escorts elect to fly – with predictable results for the unescorted strikes. This happens time and again, as if I never ever wanted to learn… Guess I will send some training groups to China whose pilots have reached 50/70/70 skills but need exp.


Economy:

Still not crashed yet, but fuel for the HI in the HI and Manschukuo remains a hand-to-mouth affair and sometimes the biggest HI factories do stop production until the next shipment arrives. PDU off and no tracker > chaos reigns. For example, the first version of the Jack has been R&Ded to production status, but I cannot find any group that is actually using that airframe… The b-version of the Tony is in production as well, but the two a-version groups on-map can upgrade only to the c-version – and reinforcements groups flying the b-version are not due before 1944?!? It’s a mess, but could be worse I guess.





edit for spelling

[Capt. Harlock]

Alas, this time the ASW counterattack damaged the sub and forced it to the surface, where it had the dubious distinction of being at the receiving end of 15 inch and 6 inch shells. You don't see a BB shooting at a surfaced sub every day!

DD Bagley attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-6 forced to surface!
BB Pennsylvania firing on surfaced sub ....
CL Montpelier firing on surfaced sub ....
BB Pennsylvania firing on surfaced sub ....
CL Montpelier firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

Trivial point: the USS Pennsylvania carried 14-inchers.