Sand in the Vaseline - Wobbly vs PzB

[String]

hm.. couldn't you rail transport the SDB's out as iirc damaged planes will be transported by rail?

[wobbly]

More landings at Teloekbetoeng in the South of Sumatra - the location the SBDs were put in Batavia to protect.

String - it makes sense. No reason that I can see why you couldn't. But I don't think it is within the game programming.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/05/42

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Coastal Guns at Teloekbetoeng, 19,58, firing at TF 109
TF 109 troops unloading over beach at Teloekbetoeng, 19,58


38 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
124 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
1 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

All the units from Palembang are here now so they inflict a bit of damage on the landings.
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Day Air attack on Batavia , at 19,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Hawk 75A x 2
CW-21B Demon x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hawk 75A: 4 destroyed
CW-21B Demon: 2 destroyed

The constant sweep attacks on Batavia culling my hapless fighters out of the sky. I stop trying to defend the place, they are doing nothing anyway.
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Day Air attack on NGVR Battalion, at 59,89

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
G3M Nell x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 3 damaged


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

It appears PzB does not like the Aussies stuck on the trails of New Britain - he lands troops to clean them up. Unfortunately he took his time taking some of the other base locations and these lost units have managed to accrue some supplies. With them they may manage to repulse the little unit he has so far landed.
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Day Air attack on TF, near Kragen at 22,63


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Kuroshio Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

hells bells!! One of my aircraft hit something!!

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Ground combat at 50,31

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 146824 troops, 1647 guns, 155 vehicles

Defending force 36362 troops, 188 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 41 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1131 casualties reported
Guns lost 29

Allied ground losses:
2569 casualties reported
Guns lost 32

A massive shock attack does not cause the Chinese units to surrender. I have some chinese units in position to try and help get them out - PzB informs me that this is a pipe dream. He is very put out that the high odds have not made them surrender - I think the difference is they have alot of internal supplies.
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Ground combat at 49,41

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13165 troops, 168 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 7911 troops, 30 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 11 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

This unit got caught behind the lines and has been split into 3 to try and cause as much disruption as possible. It is on the south coast of china - could never get them out so tried something different - turned to crap.
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In India the Cornwall and the DD Isis leave Bombay having been suitably repaired and steam south. A CL and a CA at Colombo retire to Bombay to get the same treatment.

An indian tank unit manages to get through the trail section up in the north of Burma and onto the railway. I will move them south to Rangoon to get some RnR in a non Malarial base.

In Rangoon itself I move a few of the infantry units to the hex north of the city - he is reconning me every day and I don't want to make it too easy for him to do his sums.

I have been caught too easily unawares by his units moving, like the Chinese encirclement. I move some Blenheims to Akyab and set them to recon the bases below Rangoon and inland.

With the invasion of Teloekbetoeng being a little under powered at the moment I move a transport sqd there in hopes of getting some of the units out.

Bugger Batavia, despite being left alone this turn, does not manage to repair any Dauntlesses. The port and air services have had significantly better repair than I thought though.

Soerabaja is completely emptied of air units. There is another of his god awful bombardment units heading in the right direction to crap on the place.

The infantry unit sitting in the crossroads hex north of Soerbaja is retreated back to Soerabaja. I cannot afford to have it forcefully moved - that kills them. Next turn the base unit in the base north of this junction will also bug out.

My hapless DDs at Darwin try to do another FT mission to one of the bases in the islands. Last time I tried this I got a CA sunk. I have covered it with some Buffalos and P-40s but I have that very nasty feeling in my stomach. Some posters have rejoiced in the ability of units to get in and out of places without being seen - I don't appear to be amongst them.

More transport units leave the north of Oz in the headlong flight south.

Very little is happening elsewhere. Another fuel transport fleet is put together in SF aiming at Brisbane. Oh and I notice hardly any oil in India for the heavy industry - I thought India was almost self sufficient? My complete inability to get resorces like this out of the DEI has really hammered me. However, Lahore has about 12000 oil and other places down south have zero (while still having Heavy industry to run) I thought it would be run down from the north on the rail????

[denisonh]

I was thinking along the lines of the inital skill levels over 80. But isf they have lowered due to replacement, I understand the excess SBDs available in the replacement pool.

But another thing to consider is that the IJN player knows where and with what capbility your CVs are. That gives the IJN more options, knowing where you is only important as knowing where you are not and cannot get to.

IMHO, uncertainty about the location of your most dangerous offensive capbilites (i.e. you CVs) can sow uncertainty in the mind of your opponent and slow him down more slowly than the act of committing them.

ORIGINAL: wobbly

ORIGINAL: denisonh

What were SBDs doing in Java?

That is the wrong place for valuable aircraft, as the DEI is a deathtrap. Use what is there, but no need to throw away good forces for something you can't hold.

With your CVs denuded, he will REALLY start to eat your lunch. Now THAT is a scary thought[X(]

Simple enough - I wanted to catch his invasion with the only aircraft that could do him damage while not endangering the aircraft carriers.
I wanted one nasty attack and then bug out to Oz where the planes would meet with their flat tops.

Consideration were thus:

He did not appear to have his carriers in the area.

He was using his zeros on escort and sweep missions not CAP above his TFs

If he had been hit with the SBDs he would need to reassess the speed and way in which he was attacking Java.

Where I went really wrong was the location of them - Batavia was the deathtrap more than Java total - his BBs smashed me.

If I can get the remnants of the dauntlesses out via stepping stones down to Oz the SBDs will be replaced very quickly. The plan, after he surmised I was in the Indian ocean anyway, was to have one strike and then move AROUND Oz back to the South Pacific.
The Carriers are out of the fight while they do this anyway - they have suffered a bit of sys damage in all their movement.

As I stated in the AAR - what I need is a bit of down time in Batavia to get at least one plane from each sqd out of this deathtrap.

[wobbly]

Rejoice Rejoice - roll out the barrel - hallelujah.... ahem. This isn't to inform you that I have managed to sink the KB. Nope just a turn where things went better than absolute rubbish!

Denisonh: Very very true. Not knowing where the KB is now is effectively stopping me trying many hit and run raids. Unfortunately I let slip the likely location of my Carriers. He told me as much so I thought I would let them fly and then bug out. In a way this may work for me if my plan - laid out later - can be made to work. He will think my carriers are toothless tigers when the may have units back on deck much faster than he thought.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/06/42

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Coastal Guns at hex 59,89 firing, at TF 56
TF 56 troops unloading over beach at 59,89


Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported

More Japs landing against the remnants of the units between Rabaul and Gasmata
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Sub attack at 30,65

Allied Ships
SS KXVI

This is the only thing I appear to be getting with subs. My british and dutch subs are constantly found by jap ASW assets in a TF. They may not be getting sunk or even attacked but they never seem to get into firing position. Has anyone got any pointers? Jap TFs are definately passing through their waters.
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Naval bombardment of Batavia, at 19,59


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Usugumo
BB Kongo
DD Isonami
DD Shirakumo
BB Hyuga
DD Kisaragi
DD Asagumo
CL Isuzu
DD Mutsuki
DD Asagiri
DD Shinonome
DD Isokaze
BB Ise
BB Haruna


Allied ground losses:
120 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 15
Port hits 9
Port fuel hits 7
Port supply hits 4

Batavia is in for the same treatment. The number of aircraft on the gound there is much the same as the original attack but the results are massively different. I have no explanations as to why.
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Naval bombardment of Soerabaja, at 22,65 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

50 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Ikazuchi
DD Murasame
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Hamakaze
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Atago
CA Kumano
CL Tatsuta, Shell hits 1
DD Urakaze
DD Hibiki, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Fubuki
DD Shirayuki
DD Uranami, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yakaze

Allied Ships
AS Zuiderkruis, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Paz, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Abraham Crijnssen, Shell hits 1, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
71 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 8
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 1

Another large bombardment at Soerabaja. This time the infantry units were not at home to welcome the incoming shells. No aircraft either - what a welcome change. The crippled ships in harbour have nowhere to run so are hammered where they stand. The AS is scuttled

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Day Air attack on 13th Division, at 49,31


Allied aircraft
I-16c x 9
IL-4c x 6
SB-2c x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported

OK so I moved a few Chinese bombers into position to try and affect a breakout for my surrounded troops. Worth a crack, but I am not holding my breath.

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Day Air attack on No. 101 RAAF Base Force, at 59,89

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
G3M Nell x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 3 damaged


Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported

Rabaul bombers try to soften up the New Britain refuges.
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Day Air attack on TF at 17,59

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 13

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 4

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
AK De Klerk, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Now this was a hope against hope attempt. I tried to move an AK to Batavia to pick up the dauntlesses rather than wait for them to be repaired. The gauntlet is just too tough.
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Day Air attack on TF at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 37
D3A Val x 8
B5N Kate x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Liran, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

I had also tried to move some of the less damaged ships out of Soerabaja. One was found and sunk. Two remain on the ocean. Clear weather tomorrow though - hummph.
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Ground combat at 59,89

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1903 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 2291 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

4 to 1 odds against the refugee New Britains. It isn't looking good for their continued survival.
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Ground combat at Sampit

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 657 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Sampit base !!!

The last base in Borneo falls.
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Ground combat at 50,31

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 145551 troops, 1610 guns, 155 vehicles

Defending force 32885 troops, 113 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 50 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
928 casualties reported
Guns lost 17

Allied ground losses:
1678 casualties reported
Guns lost 41

Oh boy at 50 to 1 the cut off chinese still are at large...
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Ground combat at 49,31

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 20475 troops, 144 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 19872 troops, 261 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 8 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
216 casualties reported
Guns lost 15

Allied ground losses:
223 casualties reported
Guns lost 14


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Oh my god!!! Look at that! An attack by the chinese with almost identical numbers and we have quite a convincing victory! I think I will send PzB the words to the ditti "there's a hole in my pocket..."
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Ground combat at Teloekbetoeng

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2001 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 510 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

The south of Sumatra is well under-staffed to continue the enemy attack. My units are throwing in a lazy attack next turn. I am not expecting much but it may be enough - who knows.

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To top things off two other wonderful pieces of news. The new bane of PzB's existence: Dornier flying boats, managed to plant a bomb on one of his light carriers, apparently the damage is light. But also another Dauntless is made flyable - from a different group.

I have a plan here that I want to run by you all. It gets nowhere without a single plane form each sqd making it out of Batavia, but one plane from each is all I need. I fly these single planes back to Darwin - they can reach - one is a hop away. The rest of the sqds are withdrawn into a single large group. All the pilots go back into the pool and when the 'accept replacements' switch is turned back on in Darwin I will get the good pilots back into the sqds that are rebuilt... I have to make sure all navy sqds are set to not accept replacements but it should be possible. There will be a huge stash of planes stuck in Batavia but that is the wastage of war. What do you think???

Another move that I am unsure of is the fast transport to pick up the unit at Bulla (from Darwin). It still has the DAF unit in question as its target but it is pointing back at Darwin. Is this a re-run of my attempts to pick up units like in New Britain? I am going to a base this time. If so it does appear Fast transport pick ups are broken. Next turn will be the kicker.

The Royal Sovereign has been chosen to return to the UK it heads north with two DDs as escort. PoW is still making a painfuly slow speed towards Karachi.

Another hapless suicide mission to Rangoon with supplies is cooked up. This time the AVG has topped 40 usable aircraft and should be at about 50 by the time I get there. Still not the 72 of their full compliment but better than the pittance I put up before. It is the 11K supplies that Rangoon has slumped to that has caused this hapless choice. Also the Java assault is likely to be very quick, which means Burma is likely to be next.

In China the units that were surrounded are at 59 miles out of their hex. They should make good progress towards Homan. I think I will continue to retreat from there further back.

Darwin is now a size 5 airfield and as such can accommodate B-17s. I am playing with night city bombing Amboina - we shall see.

Another group of B-17 with a 'south east asia' headquarters is making its way to Darwin to load aboard a transport and then go to India. Once I get Wellingtons there these guys should be able to dish out the hurt.

[Mynok]

Don't pilots stay with withdrawn airgroups? I think disband is what you want, making sure not to disband primary carriers groups, but only partial groups.

[denisonh]

My understanding is that pilkots left with the withdrawn goups. I consolidated and withdrew Dutch units (as well as British at Singapore). I think they leave the aircraft and pilots come back with the untis.

As for Batavia, doesn't look like you will be able to repair and fly that many out. It is probably your best course of action to get the squadrons out and rebuild.

ORIGINAL: Mynok

Don't pilots stay with withdrawn airgroups? I think disband is what you want, making sure not to disband primary carriers groups, but only partial groups.

[mogami]

Hi, The game is not supposed to allow carrier groups to be disbanded. They can be withdrawn and partial groups remaining after the parent CV has been sunk can be disbanded. But active CV groups are not supposed to be able to disband. When you withdraw these groups the aircraft remain behind and the pilots go with the group.

[wobbly]

ORIGINAL: Mogami

Hi, The game is not supposed to allow carrier groups to be disbanded. They can be withdrawn and partial groups remaining after the parent CV has been sunk can be disbanded. But active CV groups are not supposed to be able to disband. When you withdraw these groups the aircraft remain behind and the pilots go with the group.

The partial groups in this case will still be in batavia while the single aircraft still has the designation VB-6. I was looking to disband the 1/VB-6 group.

So I would say I am not looking to disband the 'name holder' but disband the fragment.

Now a fragment does not go into the replacements line - it disapates (especially when the name holder remains) - this is the point I am using. The disapation of the group should drop the pilots back into the pool....?

[wobbly]

Another passable day for the allies. Intelligence sources (codename PzB) tell us that the Zuiho has suffered 46 SYS damage due to yet another Dornier bomb.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/07/42

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ASW attack at 22,62

Japanese Ships
DD Usugumo
DD Isonami
DD Shirakumo
DD Kisaragi
DD Asagumo
DD Mutsuki
DD Asagiri
DD Shinonome
DD Isokaze
BB Ise

Allied Ships
SS Sealion

Once again allied subs do not ever appear to attack ships while escorts are present - is this by design?
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Naval bombardment of Batavia, at 19,59


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Ikazuchi
DD Murasame
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Hamakaze
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Atago
CA Kumano
DD Urakaze
DD Fubuki
DD Shirayuki
DD Uranami
DD Yakaze


Allied ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

He is not letting the sleeping dogs rest - kicking them at every opportunity. No new recovered SBDs this turn. [:(]
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Sub attack at 33,64

Japanese Ships
AP Kansan Maru, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
SS Sargo

Hurrah - a sub intercepts a (unescorted) AP and then suffers torp malfunction. This outcome is better by me - at least they attacked!
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TF 26 troops unloading over beach at Kuala, 20,43


Japanese ground losses:
240 casualties reported

The last northern base will be taken next turn along with 5 damaged planes. My retreating troops could not get there in time.
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TF 42 encounters mine field at Batavia (19,59)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.8
MSW W.7
MSW W.10
MSW Togo Maru

Is this the precursor to an invasion? I have moved the two infantry units to the base East of Batavia. He is not bombarding that. I will have to time returning in time well if I am to hold the place.
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Day Air attack on Madioen , at 21,64

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
G3M Nell x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

PzB has twigged to the fact I am spreading my air assets out. Spread out like they are his attacks don't manage to find many targets.
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Ground combat at 59,89

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1845 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 2154 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 11 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
36 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

I imagine when I loose a fight here (between Gasmata and Rabaul) the men will surrender. Another sub is making its way in tomorrow - hope there is still something to pick up.
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Ground combat at Teloekbetoeng

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2086 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 510 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

And the second bit of good news. I have driven the pittance of an assault farce that tried to take Teloekbetoeng back towards Palembang - aren't I just the hero.
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It is still more a story of retreat than anything else.

The fast transport HAS managed to pick up the base unit at Barra. It will try and go back to pick up the infantry unit next. I am burning a few political points to accomplish these retreats but so be it.

Another AP leaves Derby to get the Timor Garrison.

I have withdrawn one of the SBD units and it will remain to be seen if it disappears out of the replacements list and therefore releases the good pilots.

I desperately want more dauntlesses to get airworthy.

My transports at Teloekbetoeng manage to get most of the remnant of the Australian battalion out. They will load onto one of the remaining AKs and try to get away.
My Chinese in the North retreat rapidly out of the encirclement and head for Homan and supplies.

[wobbly]

A lull at last in the non-stop storm

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/08/42

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Day Air attack on Tjilitjap , at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24

No Japanese losses

It takes up more time but I am now moving my fighters about and changing their orders. The constant drain on fighters has meant I don't even contest in the skies.
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Day Air attack on TF, near Kragen at 22,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 7
Martin 139 x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 4 damaged
Martin 139: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Surabaya Maru, Shell hits 4
CA Takao

Anti-naval assaults continue but they do me more damage than they do him. I would rather a regiment of dornier flying boats! By the way one of them managed to bomb another AP.
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Ground combat at Kuala

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4858 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 40 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kuala base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 4 destroyed
CW-22 Falcon: 2 destroyed

As I posted last, he has taken all the northern Sumatra bases now. Unfortunately there were no base units located here so damaged planes were lost when the base was taken. Now no aircraft have the range to escape Java towards India - it is Oz or bust.
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There isn't too much to report. My SBD trick seems to have worked! The unit I have rail traveled to Perth now has 8 pilots with an average of 90 experience!!

So I withdraw another fragment. Another SBD was repaired today but unfortunately it was with one of the already reteated units - bah.

The successful fast transport mission rests for a day. In the next turn they will attempt to get the dutch combat unit out of Barra.

Scout planes notice a small transport TF heading south out of Rabaul. I make a small surface strike unit to attempt an intercept. I don't expect this is a trap as the long shot of me scouting him from the range I have would be too small a chance.

[Andy Mac]

Interesting AAR. You really aint getting the breaks

My only comment is as you found to your cost over reliance on one large base is dangerous although I also use the dumping CV gps into air bases for ambush I managed to ambush one of my oponents at Suva that way by dumping 2 CV airgps onto it and then running the CV's the other way.

I like the tactic you should have just dispersed em and maybe evaced one of the Singapore air HQ's to batavia for the 3 command radius effect. But hey he does seem to be getting all the breaks at the moment and that first bombardment attack was just plain nasty !!!

Did you base any PT boats at Batavia or had they already been wiped ?

I find PT boats may not get any hits but they seem to lessen the impact of bombardments on a base i.e soe sort of distraction effect.

Can I ask whats the plan for Rangoon are you going to try and hang on or are you going to run for it ?

One thing I did was I split AVG and only upgraded 1 sqn to P40E as the extra range of the tomahawks is more use than the marginal performance increase IMHO. (also less drain on replacements)

Good AAR keep it up just think Spitfires soon well ....4 months anyway (If you can I would pull one Hurricane Sqn that upgrade to Spits out of the fight and start it on ground attacks or training anything to build exp so that the pilots can take full advantage of the 1st frontline allied aircraft to arrive in theatre)

Andy

[wobbly]

2 days worth of results - first day uneventful - 2nd day find my surface group, on its way to interrupt shipping at gasmata, found by a carrier group -the Australia and the Le Triomphant are sunk.

Andy - The ill luck continues with a carrier strike against my surface units (as written) thunderstorms just don't seem to go my way. [:(]
Yeah I have started to use PTs or badly damaged ships in the harbour that I expect a bombardment group to roll into just to lessen the impact. There are no PTs left in the combat zone though. I have subs in just about every hex in the gap between Java and Borneo, they don't hit or even attack the shipping though.
The SBDs were a case of too long and too many in the same location - as you have written. He is a canny player is PzB but he has also been very fortunate. This is also my first game as allied ( I had tried a game as Japs against the AI) so I am allowed a few faux pas. I think I've had enough now though - time for a bit of better fortune.
I do like the idea you have about straffing with the hurricanes. It is going to be hard with their terrible range but I'll look into that too - thanks!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/11/42

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Naval bombardment of Batavia, at 19,59 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Hurricane II: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Usugumo
BB Kongo
DD Isonami
DD Shirakumo
BB Hyuga
DD Kisaragi
DD Asagumo
CL Isuzu
DD Mutsuki
DD Asagiri
DD Shinonome
DD Isokaze
BB Ise
BB Haruna


Allied ground losses:
109 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10
Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 2

Another thumping for Batavia - 2 days has not seen a single plane repaired. It does not help that I have moved the engineers attached to the infantry units away from Batavia. I don't want them sitting through the bombardments. I think he is contemplating an invasion there now though so they move back. Just give me 2 more dauntlesses - come on!
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TF 99 encounters mine field at Balikpapan (31,64)

Japanese Ships
MSW Kyo Maru #5
TK Manei Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire

The remnants of a minefield I laid at Balikpapan hit a tanker - I hope it had fuel or oil on board!
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Day Air attack on Ichang , at 47,33

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 30
Ki-51 Sonia x 19

Allied aircraft
I-153c x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
I-153c: 9 destroyed, 2 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 17

Well Nates may be rubbish but I-153c are absolute crap!
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Day Air attack on TF at 21,61


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 2


Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 1

Hopefully a bit of fire damage but I wont be holding my breath
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Day Air attack on TF at 60,96

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
D3A Val x 22
B5N Kate x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N Kate: 2 destroyed, 16 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
CL Achilles, Bomb hits 3
DD Le Triomphant, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

And, then the thunderstorms in the South Pacific open up (as per usual) and jap naval attack aircraft pour down on my small Gasmata disruption group. Australia has a magazine explosion and the French effort is plastered with bombs - both sink.
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Day Air attack on TF at 60,96

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
D3A Val x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Australia, on fire, heavy damage
CL Achilles, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
9 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
9 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 60,96

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Achilles, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Australia, on fire, heavy damage
DD Flusser, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Le Triomphant, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Achilles and Flusser are at about 35 sys and pretty bad fires. They will run towards the dubious cover of PM. More bad weather forecast for tomorrow but I don't read the reports anymore.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Homan

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32857 troops, 368 guns, 143 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 815 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Homan base !!!

Homan had been evacuated - I have reteated to Sian - which already has 10 enemy units located in it. I have put in two fighter sqds and 3 bomber units will try and suppress the Japs on the groud. Currently I have 1500 assault points and forts of size 4. I am not retreating from here - it is up to him to get moe out.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 50,27

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 19230 troops, 219 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 2532 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 585 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
153 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 51,28

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20988 troops, 254 guns, 7 vehicles

Defending force 2405 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 1078 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
51 casualties reported
Guns lost 4


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Two little Chinese 'part' units are forced off the road. They are trying to disrupt the flow of oil and supplies from the North to the south.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Soerabaja

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22859 troops, 256 guns, 17 vehicles

Defending force 3800 troops, 39 guns, 4 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 4


Japanese ground losses:
198 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported

The first attack in Soerabaja. As you can see I am heavily outnumbered. A 1 to 1 on his first try. I am moving the one Dutch infantry unit I have in this neck of the woods back to Soerabaja to try and hold a little longer.

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

Java has to hold on for as long as it can just to get the dauntlesses out. It will take too long to get the dive bomber groups back via the usual channels.

I have lost 145 ships already in this conflict and I am lining up to loose more. 4 ships - 3 AKs and 1 MSW - are about to move into Rangoon. The AVG, with 50 functional P-50Es is set to LRCAP. I can see there are about 50 bombers and 40 fighters in and around Rangoon - it's gonna hurt!

Java continues to attempt to hold. I have 3 infantry units and I want to control them to the point that I retire before they are forced to retreat. Once small unit has already suffered that degradation and is now stuffed - retreating is murder on te fatigue and disruption of a unit. My transport planes continue to slowly move the Zuid garrison unit from the bottom of Sumatra to Tilijap. It is taking quite some time.

I can see a large force of APs heading South West form Singapore and imagine they are loaded with troops. If he follows his usual move he will unload in the hex next to Batavia.

The fast transport unit out of Darwin goes in to Barru this turn.

The revelation of the carriers by Lunga means I have a huge amount of shipping in a vulnerable situation - most importantly is the retreating CL Achilles and its injured DD escort, they, as stated, are heading towards PM. There are also the CD unit loaded into APs heading to PM. There is also so much arriving and returning shipping he could have a field day. Despite the fact I hate loosing the Australia, the early warning it has given me may mean I can give the carriers a wide berth.

There is still quite a dearth of fighter units in the South Pacific. I have a P-40 tomahawk and P-39 airacobra unit about to unload, but this will be interesting with the carriers about. I don't need more planes to be lost - especially in the hold of ships!

[wobbly]

An eventful turn if you were me -not much happening as far as PzB was concerned.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/12/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 6 encounters mine field at Batavia (19,59)

Naval Gun Fire at Soerabaja (22,65) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

80 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Yudachi
CA Nachi, Shell hits 2
DD Oyashio
DD Harusame, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatsuharu


Allied ground losses:
139 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

A bombardment in Soerabaja that nurts the troops on shore bit also causes some heavy dmage to a DD doing the bombarding. I expect him to do the same tis turn and have therefore made a surface combat group of a crippled MSW. Hopefully they can put the big guns off a bit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 25,62

Allied Ships
SS Seadragon

Once again this is the only sub contact I get - very disappointing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Soerabaja, at 22,65 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

40 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Yudachi, Shell hits 4, on fire
CA Nachi
DD Yukikaze
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
CL Nagara
DD Shiokaze
DD Hatsuharu


Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported

Runway hits 2

The same guys strike again and this time another DD takes the lumps.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Andaman Island , at 23,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 17

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 6000 feet
6 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 6000 feet

I think this may be another PzB special. He is either looking to invade or is worried I have ant-shipping aircraft there. The truth is the place is a death trap and can only be used by him at the moment. I did use it evacuate some vilderbeasts ages ago and one was damaged upon flying in. It therefore has a airbase icon at the base. It is this he is bombing.
In case he is looking to land there I have made a small surface group that will sit 5 hexes north of Andaman with react on. I don't want to get too close - still plenty of carriers unaccounted for.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 35th Division, at 47,29


Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Many tiny chinese bombing attacks on The enemy troops at Sian. They all do a little damage - about 80 killed in all.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Teloekbetoeng, 19,58, firing at TF 6
TF 6 troops unloading over beach at Teloekbetoeng, 19,58


53 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
PT Gyoraitei #5, Shell hits 2

Japanese ground losses:
302 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported

A daylight landing at Teloekbetoeng is resisted by the units that evacuated from palembang. The landing unit is quite powerful and likely to make very short work of my defenders. At elast some of them managed to evacuate to Tilitjap.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Merak, 18,59, firing at TF 130
TF 130 troops unloading over beach at Merak, 18,59


86 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Yamafuku Maru
CL Kashii

Japanese ground losses:
304 casualties reported

My infantry unit was still in the vacinity of Merak (the base to the West of Batavia) when the landings took place. Their presence means the landings are not unopposed and PzB does loose some more troops. The infantry are now holed up in Batavia.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Sian

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 89359 troops, 1036 guns, 13 vehicles

Defending force 106357 troops, 501 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
165 casualties reported

The battle for Sian begins. I am not retreating from here. I will have to be pushed out. This is obviously not impossible for him but he will need to bring alot of his aircraft north to make it happen. I have started moving units from Chungking across. The plan is to rotate tired units out for RnR and the new units in.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Djokjakarta

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24386 troops, 252 guns, 135 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 136 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Djokjakarta base !!!

One more base taken in Java. I am not staying to defend, the unit that did that previously were ousted and hurt anyway. I don't need that to continue.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Soerabaja

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22472 troops, 246 guns, 17 vehicles

Defending force 6172 troops, 54 guns, 4 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3


Japanese ground losses:
205 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Allied ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Touch and go in the Capital. I have the most infantry Ican get in the place and he is still getting 2-1. I am going to retreat next turn even if he doesn't force me to. I can't afford to have the units forced to retire.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No SBDs are repaired - I am starting to loose hope here. The two units hat have escaped are in Perth and are set to accept reinforcements. the carriers are 2 hexes out of Perth.

Speaking of Carriers the Saratoga has been released ans is put into a air combat Tf and sent to Pearl. THis will give me 3 carriers in the Central Pacific.

Other reinforcements include two British BBs a CL and 8 DDs in Karachi. The PoW will land next turn and so will the Royal Sovereign. I will then return them with my two flush deck DDs.

In Rangoon I move the AVG back to escort 70%. The weather has been kind to me after my complaining last turn. Both the re-supply TF going to Rangoon and the damaged TF in the South Pacific were covered in clouds.

Speaking of this South Pacific TF. I split the DD from the CL Achilles and head the DD towards PM and teh CL back out into the centre of the Coral Sea. I hope this manouever throws the carriers off the sent of my more importana CL target. the bad side of this is the Nells at Rabaul may still do teh job for him - they are in range. The PM fighters are at 56 fatigue!! I can't therefore continue LRCAPing - at that fatigue they will be smashed out fo the sky. I set up a naval attack instead - Beauforts and Wirriways - escorted by the Warhawks.

All the rest of the shipping around the Coral sea is diverting from likely locations the enemy Carriers may go.

My fast transport mission to Barru did not go. I notice I have not had them set to full speed. I set this up and try again - the P-40Es are starting to hate me.

[wobbly]

The AVG at last show what they can do. His Carriers make an unexpected move and catch a transport TF that just didn't have the legs to get out of the way.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/13/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Teloekbetoeng, 19,58, firing at TF 6
TF 6 troops unloading over beach at Teloekbetoeng, 19,58


41 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 5

Japanese ground losses:
191 casualties reported

More troops joining the party on Teloekbetoeng
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval Gun Fire at Soerabaja (22,65) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

79 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Usugumo
DD Isonami
DD Shirakumo
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 6
DD Kisaragi, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported

Soerabaja gets more attention from the heavy hitters but the CD unit is metting out a bit of pain as well. That is the third DD that has likely worn a 150mm shell and they don't like it. I can't tell the pain they are in but I hope it is mortal.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Andaman Island , at 23,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 19

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 2

He really is interested in the little island off Rangoon. My Surface group is up North of it on react range 6. They are too far out to sea so once again, I cannot give them air support.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 39th Division, at 47,29


Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 5


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Chinese bombers continue to rain bombs on the attackers at Sian. So far it is air attacks and bombardments.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 56,110

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
D3A Val x 21
B5N Kate x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Dorothy Luckenbach, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK K.I. Luckenbach, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Tuscaloosa City, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Henry S Grove, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Poor buggers were just too slow to get out of the way. I thought the sacrifice of the Australia and Le Triomphant may have been enough to let them get away - unfortunately no.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 56,110

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
D3A Val x 22
B5N Kate x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Ensley City, Bomb hits 1
AK K.I. Luckenbach, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Tuscaloosa City, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Dorothy Luckenbach, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Only the Ensley city is in any condition to get away - that depends completely on the direction he takes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
Ki-21 Sally x 37

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 25 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Bordvik, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Cuttack
AK Eidsvold, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

At last AVG show their form. Unfortunately it is at the cost of the Bordvik and Eidsvold. They are both at 99 sys damage having managed to unload 500 supplies. I do not scuttle in the hope of getting just a few more off.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Teloekbetoeng

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14395 troops, 158 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 3463 troops, 33 guns, 3 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 33 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Teloekbetoeng base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
3162 casualties reported
Guns lost 39

The Teloekbetoeng boys had managed to run away from Palembang and repulse the initial invasion of a small Jap unit. But the 21st Mixed battalion makes easy meat of them in its first try - they all surrender.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Soerabaja

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22232 troops, 239 guns, 17 vehicles

Defending force 5980 troops, 46 guns, 4 vehicles

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2


Japanese ground losses:
204 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

Not so in Soerabaja where the forts are allowing me to hang on. However, I have learnt from previous failures that hanging on until all the forts are gone will only mean the retreating infantry become completely ineffective. They are ordered to retreat to the final base in the South of Java - Malang.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Merak

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8111 troops, 128 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 34 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Merak base !!!

Merak, in the North, also falls and Batavia is in dire risk of being cut off.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So the end of Java is maybe a week away. No SBDs were repaired and now I despair of any doing so. Soon he will march his units there and will want to start bombarding again and that will be that.

The AVG continue to defend the ships in Rangoon harbour as they try and unload. It is only likely to be what can be removed overnight that will make it to the coffers. To try and offset the attacks or at least split them so the AVG can get multiple cracks I also split the whole TF - I should have done this as they approached.

A Hurricane sqd is moved to Rangoon and set to strafe Moulmein - I want to follow Andy's advice and accrue some experience.

Java is very much a lost cause. I am fleeing back to three locations: Batavia, Tilitjap and Malang. This means he can defeat me piecemeal, or it means he does not bring along enough to destroy each location - something more likely to happen if I had gone to one location. I would have reduced this to Tjilijap and Malang if it wasn't for trying 'til the last to get my SBDs out.

Another Base unit at Tilitjap is converted to South Pacific headquarters and loaded aboard an AK. All fighters at the airbase are put on LRCAP as it tries to escape.

The TFs I saw to the South East of Java and which I thought were going to invade Bali have gone straight past into the Indian ocean. They cop two hits from the magic Dornier flying boats but I still don't know there target - sigint gives me no clue.

The Fast transport mission to Barru DID pick up the infantry unit there! they should drop them off in Darwin in the next turn.

Darwin now has 5 base units or parts there of and another two on the way. I send two of the tiny ones back towards Brisbane.

In Perth the two SBD squads reload with planes but not with pilots. The Carriers they are to go on, refuel. The tanks were all but dry.

Back in the Coral sea the race to escape the Carriers continues - I should not loose any more ships except the two remain ships in the TF he found today - they are likely to get sunk.

Both the DD and the CL Achilles - found 3 days ago - have probably escaped sinking. The Achilles ends with 51 SYS damage and 9 floatation. She will head to Canton Island to refuel then back to San Francisco to be repaired and updated with better AAA.

There are still many many transport TFs scattered about the South Pacific. He is running rampant because my Carriers are in the Indian Ocean. I will try to ascertain the number of carriers he has in this attack group. If they are about 2 - which feels about right - then my 3 fleet Carriers at Pearl will (when Saratoga gets there) head to intercept. I want to be very careful here as he has laid traps for me in this way before. He knows I will have 2 maybe three in the Central or South Pacific. He may be using these two to bring out what I have, the rest ready to pounce.

In San Francisco 3 air groups are loaded. They are all bound for Pearl - 2 PBY and 1 A-24 sqd.

[wobbly]

AVG smashed for their impudence. Evacuated Soerabaja falls. But the biggest news is another sbd has been made airworthy!!!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/14/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Moulmein , at 29,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Well I tried - I have pulled the tail of the tiger. Now run away!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 43

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 10 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 16 destroyed, 1 damaged

So it begins - this is what happens if you actually manage to surprise PzB
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
Ki-21 Sally x 87
Ki-48 Lily x 38

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 36 destroyed, 8 damaged


Allied ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 75

And
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
Ki-21 Sally x 8

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Eidsvold, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet

And... You will have to forgive me for having a down in the mouth feeling. My carefully husbanded fighters are smashed. 24 P-40Es lost to 8 zeros, 2 Sallies and 1 lilly. I have 14 in the bank and they will be handed out tomorrow. Soul destroying isn't it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 22,69


Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 12
Martin 139 x 2


Allied aircraft losses
CW-21B Demon: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Tama Maru
AP Keizan Maru, Shell hits 4
DD Nokaze, Shell hits 4

Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Hmm this is the TF West of Bali - what is it up to?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 57,111

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 34
D3A Val x 21
B5N Kate x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Henry S Grove, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 58,114

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 22
B5N Kate x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Ensley City, Bomb hits 18, on fire, heavy damage

Unfortunately I can't escape the wrath of the Carriers and both ships that escaped yesterday are sunk.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 33,64

Japanese Ships
MSW Choyo Maru #2
MSW Choun Maru #8
DD Wakaba

Allied Ships
SS Sargo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 33,64

Japanese Ships
PG Hirotama Maru
DD Yayoi
DD Inazuma

Allied Ships
SS Sargo

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Soerabaja

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21982 troops, 235 guns, 17 vehicles

Defending force 1747 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese assault odds: 35 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Soerabaja base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
1816 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Well I managed to retreat the infantry unit at Soerabaja before it was forced to do so but it is only staving off the inevitable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok so the attempt to re-supply Rangoon has meant I get about 3,000 supplies in. Pretty steep for about 26 fighters lost. They destroyed about the same number in enemy ACs but he has so many more it isn't equivalent. Rangoon is left to it's own defences and the shipping there will sink at its moorings.

Tilitjap has been evacuated and the final defensive lines are at Merang and Batavia - size 5 fort. Batavia is open to the sea so will have to put up with massive BB bombardments, but really nowhere is safe.

The size 4 airfield he took a couple of days now has about 250 ACs at it. Time to leave. The Tilitjap garrison is transfered to South Pacific command and sent to the West on the last AK still on the island. All the squadrons head south before the aerial assault sure to be scheduled for tomorrow.

Bali is now LOADED with aircraft.

The small Fast transport TF previously at Darwin is going to move locations to Derby - I don't want everything in one location - the sparrow force follows. The 2nd Aussie Division is about 2 weeks out - can he move that fast???

In the Coral sea his carriers will cause more problems if they move to Brisbane - I have 2 DDs out of fuel 1 hex out. If he port attacks he will sink or damage shipping.

All in all a pretty bad day. I am just pleased I can withdraw dom emore pilots for my naval aircraft. 18 pilots and 41 SBDs still in Batavia.

[wobbly]

Tilitjap falls, Rangoon gets another aerial pasting, First large japanese attack at Sian.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/15/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 38
G4M1 Betty x 26
Ki-21 Sally x 41
Ki-15 Babs x 1

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
1 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 16
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
Ki-21 Sally x 50
Ki-48 Lily x 12

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 20
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 2

Another bad day for Rangoon. The supply hits get me right back to where I started before I sent in the last AKs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Malang , at 22,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
Ki-48 Lily x 33
Ki-46-II Dinah x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 10 damaged

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 41

yet again PzB picks the right place to bomb but a little fortune shines and he doesn't manage to hit any of the armada on the ground.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Burma Brigade, at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 18
Ki-48 Lily x 12

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
166 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Also a bit of a problem - He is now targeting the troops on the ground in Rangoon. All
pointers are for Burma to be the next area of expansion.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Bali at 24,68


Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 11
Brewster 339D x 6
Martin 139 x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Namikaze
AP Shinko Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kidokawa Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Keizan Maru, Shell hits 8
AP Haisho Maru

Japanese ground losses:
147 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

The last gasp strike from Malang actually manages to hit something! I think the Shinko
Maru may actually sink!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on TF, near Tjilitjap at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
G3M Nell x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Boelongan, Torpedo hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported

My own stupid fault. I had changed the Tjilitjap garrison to South pacific headquarters
and started loading them onto this AK in harbour. Well it didn't load them in the first
phase! So come morning the AK is still sitting in Tjilitjaps harbour prouder than a
honeymooners dick!
PzB makes sure he deflates the ego by putting a Torp into her. There is more to this
little saga though...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Eidsvold, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

Bang bang bang - Poor Eidsvold has been at 99 sys damage for the last 2 turns and now
cops this hiding. The combat replay reports her as sunk. I am pleased to report that as
false. She is still in harbour, with water up to the hatches, unloading what remains of
her 2000 supplies!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TF 62 troops unloading over beach at Bali, 24,68


Japanese ground losses:
186 casualties reported

Oh no - here we go. The Dunkirk of Java is being closed by the Panzers. There are so many planes on the place that it was sinking under the weight of them anyway. But with this invasion I speed up the conversion of Dutch ACs to other HQs and move them South (3 require repair).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 59,89

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2109 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1753 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Still alive between Rabaul and Gasmata.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Sian

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 125691 troops, 1333 guns, 297 vehicles

Defending force 106394 troops, 523 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)


Japanese ground losses:
2928 casualties reported
Guns lost 97
Vehicles lost 10

Allied ground losses:
2424 casualties reported
Guns lost 63

A nasty little attack this one! The worst thing is he removed a fortress level - at 10% return to next level. My bombers have stopped attacking his troops too - weather I think.
I can't fly through thunderstorms like he can.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tjilitjap

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24439 troops, 252 guns, 135 vehicles

Defending force 2857 troops, 22 guns, 6 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese assault odds: 22 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tjilitjap base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139: 4 destroyed
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
1678 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Goodbye Tjilitjap. Here is the continuation of the saga though. The AK loading the
Tjilitjap garrison is never reported as sunk - but come my time to check out where the
transport is, it has disappeared! Turns out it is listed as sunk. I can only surmise this
is because it was still in port when it fell??
Anyway, two ground units were no longer in the hex when the hammer blow fell, they are
retreating towards Batavia without the incumbant morale hit for being forced to retreat.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think he is moving a transport unit up to Andaman Island. Last turn a sub was squarely
on a TF with transports. They had a reported heading towards the Island. My surface group still sits 6 hexes north of this location. PzB has pulled so many traps like this on me
that I set up my MSW (retreating from guard duty in Rangoon) to press its luck by moving south of Andaman. If there are carriers present they should show themselves against my sad MSW. If not I judge the turn after next to be invasion day.

I move all the infantry units out of Rangoon to the crossroads hex to Rangoon's North. He
can chop and change who he'd like to bomb.

The Chinese units I moved to Burma are making steady progress into the country. Also my Indian Tank units are slogging their way through the jungle.

Batavia buttons the hatches as the final act counts down. The fat lady is warming her
tonsils... However - at last a final SBD has been repaired and is sent on its way south.
It has to go to Parkasan Island rather than Bali (which will fall next turn) but if I am
lucky will make it to Oz. There are still 39 SBDs and 18 pilots (avg 89 exp!!!!) in
Batavia.

I point all the subs, that are doing absolutely nothing anyway, towards Malang and
Batavia; lets see what we can evacuate.

Darwin grows and grows. It has 117 air support now and about 95 ACs.

The big news in the Coral sea is the disappearence of the Carriers. I have sighted an AK
TF by Irau in the Solomons so i am picking it has gone over to cover. The Achilles is
going to have to hot foot it out of the way. She should survive to Pearl baring any nasty
incidents.

Saratoga is two hexes out of Pearl.

I am actually running out of transport capacity on the West Coast. I have 1600 Political
points and wanted to buy a 270 air support unit for the south slated for the Northern HQ. But then I noticed I only have 2 AKs left here. Returning ships are a long way away.

[wobbly]

Interesting turn: Bali falls, Batavia is hit hard from the sea, I find his Coral Sea Carriers again.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/16/42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 21,58

Japanese Ships
DD Ikazuchi
DD Murasame
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Hamakaze
DD Urakaze
DD Fubuki
DD Shirayuki
DD Uranami

Allied Ships
SS KXI

Nope once again he finds me rather than the other way around
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 13,23

Japanese Ships
SS I-166, hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
CL Emerald, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Norman
DD Nizam
DD Napier
DD Griffin
DD Foxhound
DD Fortune
DD Decoy
BB Resolution

No problem for his subs - although they do pay for their tenacity. A torpedo amidships and the hounds are closing in. Which way will he retreat - East or West? Emerald is at 23 Sys.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 21,58

Japanese Ships
DD Murakumo
DD Shikinami

Allied Ships
SS KXI

And again
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Batavia, at 19,59


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 4 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Ikazuchi
DD Murasame
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Hamakaze
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima
CA Atago
CA Kumano
DD Urakaze
DD Fubuki
DD Shirayuki
DD Uranami
DD Yakaze


Allied ground losses:
1328 casualties reported
Guns lost 18
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 19
Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 2

Kapow - another brutal bombardment. I have nowhere else to send the troops so they will be smashed where they stand. I do transfer another base unit to the South Pacific HQ and start evac via sub. Next TF of subs is taking the ABDA HQ.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 59,89

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4111 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1722 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 24 to 1



Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported

24 to 1 against the orphans between Rabaul and Gasmata, how long can they hold???
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Sian

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 107835 troops, 1213 guns, 8 vehicles

Defending force 103534 troops, 468 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
135 casualties reported

This turn the Chinese bombers do take part. I have moved some British Blenheims up to join the party. They desperately need some experience.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 39,37

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 50206 troops, 554 guns, 6 vehicles

Defending force 8934 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 88 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
184 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Allied ground losses:
210 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

I couldn't move these guys - they needed to be defeated so they would retreat. Now they are able to move towards a hinterland Chinese city.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bali

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6199 troops, 44 guns, 4 vehicles

Defending force 1018 troops, 10 guns, 4 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 15 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Bali base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Brewster 339D: 1 destroyed
Hawk 75A: 1 destroyed
F.K.51: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
570 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 1

Well it served me fantastically. I loose a few aircraft there but now most have made it to mainland Australia and it is just a matter of taking the lumps when the little islands fall.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In and around India - 3 ASW TFs begin hunting for the sub that is injured in its attack on the Emerald.
Another Blenheim squad is moved to Calcutta on its way to China and some experience.

My little MSW has not been blown out of the water south of Andaman Island. The surface unit stays where it is, north of Andaman. The turn after next it will sprint into Andaman to see if my theory is correct.

Java, well, if he can continue to put in BB bombardments like that he hardly needs ground troops. I am also running out of locations any SBDs that get away can go to. Another of the sqds has made it to Darwin and will rail its way to Melbourne where the newly departed CVs (from Perth) should meet up with it. Most of the dive bombers in those units are now functional.

I am just waiting on a small CVL TF to appear down in the sea lanes between Northern Oz and Timor. If they do so they will get some pretty serious sport. AKs and TKs trying to find their way to a safe(ish) home, a few surface ships moving to Derby. Future plans entail picking up the Base AAA units in Lautern, but other than that it is move some of the small Dutch units to the weaker Oz towns and also make some room in Darwin - why? Well 48 B-17Es have just flown in with orders to hit the oil yards in Amboina. PzB is not silly - he has had aircraft in Amboina for ages, but I have not risen to the bait. Well there is nothing there now. Going with the B-17s are 2 sqds of Hudsons. I don't know whether the weather will be as kind to me as it has been for PzB (rain forecast). If they don't fly just don't broadcast the fact they are trying - please!

In the Coral sea I find the enemy CVs. They are way down by Norfolk Island - looking for traffic around Sydney and NZ I think. Well there is nothing other than at Noumea, where a 3 ship Tf has arrived with 2 air units on board, 1 of Bolos and another of P-39s. I split the ships into single TFs, I also scramble the 3 CAs and 2 CLs in port (they head South East). The planes should have been offloaded during the night, but the 20K supplies would also be nice. I think he is after easier prey and if this is the case he will be sorely disappointed - nothing but subs for a 1000 miles.

Knowing the CVs are down south means I am moving the TF with the CD unit (that has been hugging the Northern Oz coast) to Port Moresby. Another CV Tf following the first would make a nasty mess here.

In Pearl The 3 Fleet CVs come together with 11 escort ships chosen for AS and AAA prowess. They make their home base Noumea and start out in that direction. I am loath to do this as an attack on Midway or Johnson would then be impossible to resist, but he is traipsing his coat down the Oz Coast with no care about my Carriers. I don't expect to pull it off but 3 agaist the 2 I think are there would still be an even fight. If I could get Lex and the big E back from Perth that would really put the cat amongst the pigeons. I am not geting my hopes up as that is a long way down the track - he needs to continue with the victory fever for that, and this may also be another trap. Move some CVs deep down south and then put in a very nasty welcome committee for CVs from Pearl. For this reason I am heading quite far south first rather than West.

In other miscellaneous news - Sigint informs me the 6th reserve tank battalion is at Reheng (East of Rangoon). These guys are obviously mobile - is he to try and encircle from here? My Chinese are making good progress into Burma - their job looks like guard duty on the opposite side of the river.

The clock is ticking in Burma and I wont more time...

[wobbly]

Another set of bloody carriers pop up. Another base lost in Java

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/17/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 32,64

Allied Ships
SS Sculpin

I am getting very tired of this. An attack that goes after nothing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Amboina , at 39,73


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 44


No Allied losses

Oil hits 8

A massive raid on Amboina breaks most of the oil capacity there. The planes are rested

and will fly to Sorong - weather permitting, next turn.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 39th Division, at 47,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 13

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 12
IL-4c x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
IL-4c: 7 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

For some reason the 40 fighters with an escort 50% setting decide not to escort these

guys and the pesky Nates manage to knock down a Blenheim, the IL-4cs seem a little

hardier forcing Nates away and damaging 1.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on No. 106 RAF Base Force, at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 36
Ki-48 Lily x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 3 damaged


Allied ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1

The last of five raids against Rangoon today. he at last sinks the hapless Eidsvold which

manage to offload about 3700 of its supplies. He is targeting the airbase units and the

airfield - 2 P-40Es remain damaged on the ground. The AVG, in Calcutta, are up to 35 ACs

again.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 110,97

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29
D3A Val x 19
B5N Kate x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 4 damaged
B5N Kate: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Sarangami
AK Coast Trader, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Boreas, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AK Dorothy Philips, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Barbara Olson, Torpedo hits 1
DD Hull, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD MacDonough, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 110,97

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 19
B5N Kate x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD MacDonough, on fire, heavy damage
AK Idaho, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Dorothy Philips, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Sarangami, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Arcata, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Hull, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Coast Trader, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Well here it is. Both the Hull and the MacDonough go down fighting. The Dorothy Philips

and Coast trader follow her. The Sarangami is a hulk along with the Boreas. They are

separted into separte TFs and are going to be targets. The rest of the ships have

injuries that wont help speed but they split and head in different directions.
Despite this being another gotcha there are a few silver linings:

1. This TF was carrying supplies not troops
2. They were size 4500 AKs
3. There are no other TFs within about 1000 Miles
4. I can tell from the bomber Daitais: B1-2,Bi-3, BII-2 and BII-3 that I am up

against the Hiryu and Soryu.
5. If he doesn't change his settings he has his Vals above 15000 feet - they are

attacking in groups of 9.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Batavia at 19,59

Japanese Ships
DD Ikazuchi
DD Murasame
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Hamakaze
BB Kirishima
DD Urakaze
DD Fubuki
DD Shirayuki
DD Uranami

Allied Ships
SS KXI, hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Batavia at 19,59

Japanese Ships
DD Ikazuchi
DD Murasame

Allied Ships
SS KXI, hits 1, heavy damage

OK, so now my subs wont attack his ships but will be hit by his ASW. Getting grumpy!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 59,89

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4170 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1641 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 20 to 1



Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported

These guys are just awesome - I would love to be able to pick them up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Sian

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 122324 troops, 1221 guns, 285 vehicles

Defending force 103722 troops, 474 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2)


Japanese ground losses:
2175 casualties reported
Guns lost 67
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
1434 casualties reported
Guns lost 42

Another big attack by the Japs. Again I repulse it with more damage to them than to me. 3

more Chinese Corps are on their way there. Unforunately he is knocking down the fortresses. As they get lower though they are being put back up more quickly (it takes less effort at lower levels).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Malang

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22184 troops, 238 guns, 17 vehicles

Defending force 8976 troops, 36 guns, 5 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)


Japanese ground losses:
214 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

His first attack at Malang is a decided slap in the face. Don't think you can just attack

wihout support to take these bases Mr Scandanavian!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bandoeng

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1770 troops, 0 guns, 121 vehicles

Defending force 880 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 72 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Bandoeng base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


No Allied losses


Allied ground losses:
1740 casualties reported

Unfortunately the retreating base units cannot make the speed required to get back to Batavia. They are caught short and have had enough of this contest - they surrender.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hmmmm

In the North I miss the sub I damaged last turn but aircraft notice it on the surface. ASW units chase it down this turn.

My Surface TF goes into Andaman - here's hoping.

Rangoon got a pounding again but there are only 2 P-40Es and 2 recon birds left there.

I created a fast transport TF of 1 CL and 7 DDs out of Derby in Northern Oz and they head towards Malang to try and pick up some of the airbase units there. This could be suicide for yet more of my surface ships.

The reinforcement of PM is now 2 hexes out. I have lost the Coral sea Carriers so they could be heading back north. These guys could therefore be about to be shat on. I set the P-40Es to 80% CAP. They wont stop naval bombers but they may make him pay. I think I have 1 day of offloading anyway and the troops are what matter.

Noumea is not hit by his carriers and therefore I now have a grp of Bolos and a Grp of tomahawks at Noumea. If I can just thread the needle and get the size 270 base unit to Noumea then we really will have a better powerbase. So where are they then. Still nothing for them to hit... unless he heads to New Zealand. I move a large re-supply Tf heading there further south.

This of course leaves the new threat: the carrier units that just popped up in the South Pacific. The Air Combat Tf out of Pearl is six hexes on its way south west and is diverted at full speed further south. I have 3 full CVs versus two of the smaller CVs - but with better air groups. I would say the odds are about even - it is unlikely I will get my Devastators close enough to launch. The transports in the death zone have to keep me abreast of the location of his two carriers - the only way they can do this is by dying [:(]. He may think that I had already moved the carriers currently in this TF already to the South Pacific (although if so he was chancing his arm with the carriers that came down into the Coral Sea). I also move two more PBY sqds to the islands in this area to try and get a better chance of hanging on to these wraiths.

This starting to get really interesting...

[String]

but don't your three carriers carry twice as much aircraft as his two?... and with the transports around his some of his aircraft might (and usually will by my experience) attack those as well.. thereby taking away aircraft from attacking your cv's

[wobbly]

More carnage in the South Pacific, but Sian and Java continue to hold

String: yep - my TF carrier 236 carrier ACs, of those though, there are 45 devastators which I'll have to handle very well to get into range. For this reason I have a react setting of 4 hexes on the TF - I hope to close to Devastator range. This should be against his 122 ACs (Soryu and Hiryu hold 61). In fact that is not quite true as he lost 2 Kates attacking the two defending DDs.
As for secondary targets, I have bought along a surface group that may manage to be the targets of an incoming raid, something I don't think he has the luxury of.

Here's the rest of the happenings - enjoy

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/18/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 3
G4M1 Betty x 23

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3

It appears PzB does not like the Fortresses bombing his industry. I set wirriways and

some Dutch Demons to night patrol. The forts are heading to Sorong this turn.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at 74,99

Japanese Ships
ML Yaeyama
PC Sonan Maru #6
AP Dainiunyo Maru, Shell hits 1
AP Hiyoshi Maru
AP Taiho Maru, Shell hits 7, on fire

Allied Ships
CL Achilles, Shell hits 5, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
102 casualties reported

I had hoped that the move I made with the Achilles towards Pearl might intercept the

ships I had noticed 2 turns ago. Against all odds they do indeed find the ships in

question. With the Front turret a smoking ruin it was all about getting broadside on and

hitting the Taiho Maru with the rear turret.
Obviously PzB is looking to move further south in his bid to take more islands. I have

extended the location they were first seen to the location they wre attacked in.

Extrapolation points to Pago Pago!
Another transport Tf is also found by search aircraft in the vacinity of Pago Pago. While

I may have the location wrong, something is definately up in this part of the ocean. I

move more patrol planes into the area, and move 16 kiwi Hudsons to Pago Pago itself. If

he is after Pago Pago he has picked a hard nut. I moved the base unit and CD unit from

the island north of Pago Pago to Pago Pago. I don't have many soldiers but landing is

going to hurt!
As for Achilles, I have to continue in the way she was going before - Canton island then Pearl. There are alot of hostiles out there at the moment - she may not make it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 83 troops unloading over beach at Maumere, 28,73


Japanese ground losses:
205 casualties reported

This is another of the islands I have been using to get planes south. No base unit here

so a few ACs were damaged in landing and will, now, never get into the air again.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 38
G4M1 Betty x 25
Ki-21 Sally x 39

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
CW-22 Falcon: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 26
Port hits 5

One of another 5 heavy attacks on Rangoon - I loose the PT boat I had stationed there as

it is hit in its berth. The airfields are a wreck but my all important infantry units are

not being targeted in their hex north of Rangoon.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on 39th Division, at 47,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 11

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 3
IL-4c x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
IL-4c: 3 damaged

It appears that fighters in a hex, with ground units that are targeted by incoming

bombers, do not rise to defend the approaching raid. This is bollocks for the very short

range chinese ACs. They are therefore not viable for escort duty.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 108,99

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 19
B5N Kate x 17

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Barbara Olson, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

The much vaunted Japanese Naval bombers again hammer my transports. THe information I get

from this is that his carriers are moving South West - and moved 5 hexes last turn. My

Carriers are closing but it will take a couple of turns before combat may be instigated.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 59,89

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4236 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1599 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 43 to 1



Allied ground losses:
855 casualties reported

At last the supplies run out for the troops between Gasmata and Rabaul. With no food they give up the fight.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Sian

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 126933 troops, 1211 guns, 285 vehicles

Defending force 102111 troops, 425 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2)


Japanese ground losses:
2493 casualties reported
Guns lost 77
Vehicles lost 5

Allied ground losses:
1890 casualties reported
Guns lost 35

Sian is still hurting him more than it is hurting me. Of course, when he finshes off Java, he can move alot of the aircraft there back up to China to really turn up the heat, but while the jap aircraft aren't involved I am holding my own. Engineers there also manage to work on the fortifications he is knocking down. In another couple of days I should be back to level 3.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Malang

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21951 troops, 231 guns, 17 vehicles

Defending force 8922 troops, 34 guns, 5 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)


Japanese ground losses:
220 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported

Malang is apparently hurting his very capable 55th Division. He is going to hold fire while he waits for engineers to help bring down the walls. This may give my fast transport guys time to get some of the troops out (enemy airpower permitting).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My surface attack into Andaman Island doesn't net any prey so maybe I misidentified that one. I do have enough fuel for one more try so they go in again this turn - just in case.

Rangoon is not a very happy place to be at the moment, with all the attention it is getting from his air power. As long as my infantry aren't loosing their potency though then things aren't all doom and gloom. There are two remaining P-40Es of the AVG still on the ground there - including these plane the AVG is back to 40 ACs

I imagine Batavia is in for another pasting this turn from the sea. He hasn't managed to send all the troops earmarked for the attack in yet but they are gathering.

The CD unit that has been traveling up from Sydney makes it to PM and has unloaded 3/4 of its strength. Alot of supplies are included in the Task Force and they will have to remain in harms way for a few days before they can fully unload. There in lies the problem. Where is his 1st carrier force? They were last seen in between Norfolk Island and New Caledonia. Two options are the ones finding most favour in my mind at the moment:
1. He is moving back up towards Rabaul, which puts the PM reinforcement in major danger.
2. He is moving towards the other Carrier force North East of Pago Pago. If this is the case my numbers superiority in the coming carrier battle will be lost - and with it any advantage.

There is a third option, he is sitting in between New Zealand and Oz out of reach of my search planes. To this end I have most long range bombers on search missions. I also split off singular transport ships to act as trip wires. Wasteful but ultimately cheaper than loosing whole TFs. If he has taken option 2 he will trip over some more Tfs in the next turn or so. They just can't run away fast enough - but at least I will know where he is going.
The trip wire technique is going to be used to keep touch with the Soryu/Hiryu battle group as well.