Matrix Games Forums

I think he is now realizing how weak a position Cuttack is; it is a clear hex without any close supporting base. As you can see from the map, there is nothing closer than 4 hexes, which means that once the bombers "close" Cuttack's airfield, he will need to use costly, inefficent/ high fatigue LRCAP against hordes of P-38s and B-17s.
I am actually surprised on how good were the B-17s against Tojos. I am happy to keep sending them unescorted, this of course on the afternoon phase after P-38 sweeps to soften it

I can see around 20K troops there, what is he withdrawing? I have no clue of course, but I won't be surprised if he moves out good troops and leaves a sacrificial rear guard... at the very least he will move out air support. In any case, the tanks will manouvre to cut the rail hex east of Cuttack; while infantry slowly reaches assault position. The aim will be to trap and destroy anything left at Cuttack.
And if he decides to withdraw completely, then it is still a great win as I will get a level 5 airfield built with Japanese supply [;)]


Same will be achieved at Patna: first trap, then destroy.

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury
I am happy to keep sending [B17s] unescorted, this of course on the afternoon phase after P-38 sweeps to soften it.

(emphasis added)

Dumb question: how do you make sure the B17s go in PM instead of AM? [&:]

Not dumb at all... it is a trick

select "naval strike" mission, with range 0; secondary mission airfield attack

naval strike forces the group to be ready for attacking ships on the AM phase, and only attack the secondary in the PM phase


EDIT: Main disadvantage is that you get only one chance against poor weather; normal missions will give two chances (AM and PM) against it

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

Not dumb at all... it is a trick

select "naval strike" mission, with range 0; secondary mission airfield attack

naval strike forces the group to be ready for attacking ships on the AM phase, and only attack the secondary in the PM phase

How are you getting it to fly to a range greater than 0 on the secondary mission when you have set the range to 0?

I have never known the game engine to allow the player to set different ranges for primary and secondary missions.

It also only flies the secondary mission in the afternoon if there are no viable primary targets in that phase.

Range only works for the primary mission; it won't make any difference if you select a target for secondary mission. Of course range = 0 is key for this to work, as you mention it will only setup secondary mission if there are no viable primary targets... which is always the case when you select naval attack range zero from a non port base [:)]

Same goes for any strike type of mission; as long as you select a target, range won't do anything.. Of course if you don't select a target, the AI will pick one base within range.

Open question: do you think it is gamey to do this ??

Well I am a rookie player so I am not in position to judge "gameyness" or not. But I am interested in the answers to be given by more experienced players.

I don't think it is not gamey for the following reasons:

- benefits both Allies and Japan equally
- won't completely eliminate CAP: some planes damaged on AM phase will get repaired on the PM phase
- more suceptible to weather relates mission cancelations (one chance instead of standard 2 chances to fly)


EDIT: by the way, this was the setting used:

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

Range only works for the primary mission; it won't make any difference if you select a target for secondary mission. Of course range = 0 is key for this to work, as you mention it will only setup secondary mission if there are no viable primary targets... which is always the case when you select naval attack range zero from a non port base [:)]

Same goes for any strike type of mission; as long as you select a target, range won't do anything.. Of course if you don't select a target, the AI will pick one base within range.

Open question: do you think it is gamey to do this ??

No, just an astute exploitation of the mechanics.

Just shows to go ya that we never stop learning something new in this game.

Been playing since the UV days and never knew that target selection causes the squadron to ignore the range restriction setting.

Well there is another of these "tricks" that looks more like a bug to me; there was a thread somewhere, but I don't know where to find it:

The trick is: Lets say you set up 100% LRCAP mission on target destination "hex X"... and assume "X" is 5 hexes away from home airfield.

Range will be set to 5 hexes by default once you select LRCAP to target "X". However, if you change the range to zero... then you will be forcing the entire squadron (30% to be more precise, as per CAP rules) to do LRCAP on this destination instead of the typical "spread" that you get when you keep range > 0.

This contradicts the logic of range as a measure of number of "hexes from your base"... instead of from target... but you can test it and you will see it works

Steve will be back from vacations tomorrow, so hopefully the turns will flow more often

August 27th:
- several Allied submarine attacks, but only one worked: TK Manei Maru hit by 2 torpedoes delivered from RN SS Truant

- another Tojo sweep near Ranchi; another one side bloodbath: 10 Tojos defeated 14 Hurricanes (II b/c).. 10 Hurricanes shot down [:@]

- Cuttack airfield evacuated; only recon planes left.. so from now on, I have shifted to ground attack

- 21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion destroyed near Sambalpur... LCUs destroyed so far on this operation:
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
57th Field AA Battalion
8th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Moulmein at 54,56

Japanese Ships
TK Manei Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
E Shirataka

Allied Ships
SS Truant

SS Truant launches 4 torpedoes at TK Manei Maru
E Shirataka fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Shirataka fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Shirataka fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Shirataka fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Shirataka fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 21st Australian Brigade, at 52,31 , near Ranchi

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 7
Hurricane IIc Trop x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed

CAP engaged:
No.67 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
No.615 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 21st Australian Brigade, at 52,31 , near Ranchi

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 6

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 2
Hurricane IIc Trop x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet

CAP engaged:
No.67 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 80 minutes
No.615 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 23rd Indian Brigade, at 52,31 , near Ranchi

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 12
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment ...
Also attacking 23rd Indian Brigade ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Cuttack , at 48,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
A-29 Hudson x 3
B-17E Fortress x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-15-II Babs: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x A-29 Hudson bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Cuttack , at 48,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
A-29 Hudson x 8
B-17D Fortress x 2
B-17E Fortress x 53

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x A-29 Hudson bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Cuttack , at 48,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-15-II Babs: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Cuttack , at 48,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 2

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Cuttack , at 48,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 3

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



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Cuttack , at 48,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 6

No Allied losses

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



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Cuttack , at 48,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
LB-30 Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-15-II Babs: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
LB-30 Liberator: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x LB-30 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Cuttack , at 48,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 8

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 4

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

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

Ground combat at 47,33 (near Sambalpur)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 1068 troops, 0 guns, 214 vehicles, Assault Value = 107

Defending force 60 troops, 10 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 162

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 162 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
B Sqn 3rd Hussars Regiment
1st Patiala Lancers Regiment
75th IAC Regiment

Defending units:
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion


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

Ground combat at 46,37 (near Cuttack)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 2654 troops, 13 guns, 249 vehicles, Assault Value = 356

Defending force 465 troops, 39 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 73

Japanese adjusted defense: 8

Allied assault odds: 9 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
109 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
255th Armoured Brigade
16th Light Cavalry Regiment
50th Tank Brigade

Defending units:
3rd Mortar Battalion

OK it took us almost a week to get the next turn rolling.. and it looks like he did a thoughtful review of India.

As you can see in the map, there are several places that simply "lost" their garrison... is he conceding Cuttack and Ranchi?
I can see Patna's garrison (one regiment) will try to withdraw, althought it is, IMO, already trapped.

What else is new?
- I destroyed 3rd Mortar Battalion, near Cuttack. Tally is now
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
57th Field AA Battalion
8th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion


- 9 Blenheims lost to a CAP trap

I would guess that for the Japanese, anything north or west of Calcutta is undefendable. Calcutta, on the other hand ... will likely be very difficult.

Before I start... we don't see this too ofter [:)]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub vs Sub: SS O16 attacking SS I-155 at 42,60 - near Little Andaman

Japanese Ships
SS I-155, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS O16

SS O16 launches 2 torpedoes at 1,000 yards

The advance continues: tomorrow I should get 4 new bases [:)]

... and i lost another 10 Hurricanes... this time to Zeroes

not a lot more to write about

Very good news on the land front.. another bloodbath on the air.

Lets start with the bloodbath, I have kept LRCAP over places I knew he was planning to bomb... the idea was that eventually he would get an uncoordinated strike, and my CAP would slaughter the bombers.
I have tried it at least 4 times and no luck at all; to the contrary, I have been loosing 10 to 15 planes a day... which is not sustainable; not even for the USAAF.

Yesterday I also tried night, fire bombing Calcutta. Altought, I think, results were good (15,000 fires) the cost of 4 B-17s lost due to operational losses made me re-evaluate the wisdom of it.
So no more strategic bombing until I have big airframe pools; B-17s are too precious to waste on secondary tasks. From now on, B-17s will only be used to close strategic airbases.


I might had destroyed the 5th Mortar Battalion with airpower...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 14

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 17
B-17F Fortress x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged

Manpower hits 2
Fires 990

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
27th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 3 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 9

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
27th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 28 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 3
Fires 2214

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
27th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Manpower hits 4
Fires 3840

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
27th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 1 damaged

Manpower hits 4
Fires 5376

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
27th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 52 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

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

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
27th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 52 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 5

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 3
Fires 6642

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
27th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 4

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 2
Fires 7380

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
27th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
LB-30 Liberator x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
LB-30 Liberator: 2 damaged

Manpower hits 6
Fires 9600

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x LB-30 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
27th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
27th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 3000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 23 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 1 damaged

Manpower hits 4
Fires 11136

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
27th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 2
Fires 11439

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
27th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Manpower hits 3
Fires 12915

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
27th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Manpower hits 6
Fires 15360

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
27th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 25th Australian Brigade, at 54,31 , near Patna

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 12
P-39D Airacobra x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 4 destroyed

CAP engaged:
No.615 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 12 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 2 minutes
51st FG/26th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(24 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 24 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 4 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Chungking , at 76,45

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 9

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet *



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Chungking , at 76,45

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet *



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 5th Mortar Battalion, at 48,37 (Cuttack)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 14

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 2000 feet *



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Cuttack , at 48,37

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 13
P-38E Lightning x 23

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 20000 feet *

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Carabiniers Regiment, at 54,31 , near Patna

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 8
P-39D Airacobra x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 3 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet *

CAP engaged:
No.615 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 188 minutes
51st FG/26th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 58 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Carabiniers Regiment, at 54,31 , near Patna

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 13
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 21
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 3 damaged

Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 23 (2 destroyed, 21 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 25th Australian Brigade ...
Also attacking 3rd Carabiniers Regiment ...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Carabiniers Regiment, at 54,31 , near Patna

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Carabiniers Regiment, at 54,31 , near Patna

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 5th Mortar Battalion, at 48,37 (Cuttack)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 12
Blenheim IV x 3
Hurricane IIb Trop x 12
Beaufort V x 3
B-25C Mitchell x 3
B-26B Marauder x 3
P-38E Lightning x 23

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 7 (4 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Blenheim I bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
3 x Blenheim IV bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Beaufort V bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 5th Mortar Battalion, at 48,37 (Cuttack)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 12
Hurricane IIb Trop x 12
Beaufort V x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 15 (14 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Blenheim IV bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
9 x Beaufort V bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Blenheim IV bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 113th Infantry Regiment, at 54,30 (Patna)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 15
Wellington Ic x 3

No Allied losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Blenheim IV bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
3 x Wellington Ic bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 113th Infantry Regiment, at 54,30 (Patna)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 11
Hurricane IIb Trop x 15
Wellington Ic x 9

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Blenheim IV bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
9 x Wellington Ic bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 5th Mortar Battalion, at 48,37 (Cuttack)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 12
Hurricane IIb Trop x 12
P-38E Lightning x 23

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 5th Mortar Battalion, at 48,37 (Cuttack)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 12
Hurricane IIc Trop x 13
P-38E Lightning x 23

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 20000 feet *


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 5th Mortar Battalion, at 48,37 (Cuttack)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 12
B-25C Mitchell x 18

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 12 (12 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

The good news: Cuttack, Patna, Ranchi and Jamshedpur liberated

the even better news: 113th Infantry Regiment is now beaten and trapped!!!
last turn I had the 25th Australian Brigade and the 3rd Carabiniers Regiment on "deliberate" attack against the 44th Field AA Battalion. This on the hex SE of Patna.
113th Regiment was trying to escape from Patna, which means river crossing... it was forced into a shock attack that went badly and then my deliberate attack left them beaten and with no supply.
It will be destroyed (together with the AA battalion) in the next few turns


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

Ground combat at 54,31 (near Patna)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 3441 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 108

Defending force 4328 troops, 78 guns, 139 vehicles, Assault Value = 156

Japanese adjusted assault: 0

Allied adjusted defense: 233

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99

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

Japanese ground losses:
439 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 92 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
100 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Assaulting units:
113th Infantry Regiment
44th Field AA Battalion

Defending units:
25th Australian Brigade
3rd Carabiniers Regiment


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

Ground combat at 54,31 (near Patna)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4250 troops, 78 guns, 139 vehicles, Assault Value = 146

Defending force 2802 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 18

Allied adjusted assault: 110

Japanese adjusted defense: 3

Allied assault odds: 36 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
334 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
25th Australian Brigade
3rd Carabiniers Regiment

Defending units:
113th Infantry Regiment
44th Field AA Battalion

That's turning into a rout in the area north and west of Calcutta. Will you be able to move all the way around to Dacca so as to cut off Calcutta from the land?

How long will it take you to establish your new bases (for example, Patna and Cuttack) so you can keep the bombing pressure on the Japanese?

I think it is a clear retreat; is he leaving India completely?

It is a rout, but a small scale one, only small LCUs had been destroyed or soon will be: one infantry regiment, 2 tank regiments, several minor AA and ART battalions. He should have at least 5 or 6 divisions in the area. Where are they? most likely on their way to East Bengal (what is now called Bangladesh).

In the map you can see only 4,800 troops at Calcutta... unless my recon is poor, it means the division guarding it is gone... if this is confirmed, then it won't make a lot of sense to envelop Calcutta, instead I will assault it directly

In any case, the advance will continue. Tanks are rushing to Asansol, Howrath and eventually they will move to Rajshashi. Most infantry and artillery at Vizagapatnam are getting ready for strategic move to Cuttack. If Howrath i captured quickly with tanks, then I will be in a position to rail significant forces to assault or envelop Calcutta much earlier than I anticipated

Also moving to Cuttack: lots and lots of base force and engineer LCUs, the idea is to quickly repair this 5(7) airbase and build it as much as possible. Note there is no port in Cuttack which is a big bonus as there won't be any risk of bombardment. This will certainly become a level 9 airbase

The other strategic bases are Jamshedpur 4(7), Raipur 6(6) and to some extent Benares 6(7).
The original idea was to make Raipur the main 4E base and keep lots of fighters and few 2E bombers on Cuttack and Jamshedpur... this was to keep some safe distance between the 4Es and what was assumed as a strong air defense in Calcutta.

Quick turn, not a lot happening:

- Calcutta's troop count is still around 5,000 with recon level now at 9/13. He is certainly withdrawing, I will do a frontal assault.
I will find some Indian restricted divisions to do the river crossing. As per our HR, those won't be allowed outside India so they are now disposable. This of course still in the future as I need to grab Howrah first

- Sinking of CA Mikuma was incorrect, ship is still in service

- I found destroyers way too close to Ceylon... what are they doing there? is he testing the island's alertness? if so then they passed the test.
Just to be on the safe side, I increased naval patrols and put all surface forces on TFs.. we will see if this becomes interesting

It had been a long time since the last time I saw Japanese cruisers. Today they paid a visit to Baker Island, with predictable results

I had a small TF unloading 91st Construction Regiment. The good news is that most of it had already unloaded, with only 20 motorized support (trucks) lost

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Baker Island at 149,136, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CL Tama
DD Maikaze
DD Yugure
DD Uzuki
DD Mochizuki

Allied Ships
AM Starling, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
AMC Cap des Palmes, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Poelau Laut, Shell hits 50, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 41 (4 destroyed, 37 disabled)


Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 42% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 10,000 yards
Japanese launch Long Lance torpedoes at 10,000 yards before allies detect Japanese presence
DD Mochizuki launches Long Lance Torpedoes at AMC Cap des Palmes at 10,000 yards
AMC Cap des Palmes sunk by DD Uzuki at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CA Aoba engages AM Starling at 7,000 yards
Massive explosion on AM Starling
CL Tama engages AM Starling at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
AM Starling sunk by CA Aoba at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages xAP Poelau Laut at 2,000 yards
CA Aoba engages xAP Poelau Laut at 2,000 yards
DD Yugure engages xAP Poelau Laut at 2,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages xAP Poelau Laut at 2,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages xAP Poelau Laut at 2,000 yards
CA Aoba engages xAP Poelau Laut at 2,000 yards
xAP Poelau Laut sunk by CL Tama at 2,000 yards
xAP Poelau Laut sunk by CL Tama at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...