Speedy vs Fabertong - time to smack back the Penguin

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

A big day of combat focussing mainly around Sumatra.

Sumatra:

Faber launched a maximum effort on my naval forces off Sumatra from Java and Malaya. I won't list all of the combats other than to say my fighters performed miracles but were overwhelmed in some parts of the day.

The most important battle was:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Benkoelen at 44,91

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 103 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 11
G4M1 Betty x 18
P1Y1 Frances x 36
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 42



Allied aircraft
Corsair II x 60
Hellcat I x 20
Seafire IIC x 10
F4U-1A Corsair x 3
F6F-3 Hellcat x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak
P1Y1 Frances: 16 destroyed, 6 damaged
P1Y1 Frances: 3 destroyed by flak
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Corsair II: 4 destroyed
Hellcat I: 1 destroyed
Seafire IIC: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Begum, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Unicorn, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
BB Valiant, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CV Illustrious
CVE Battler, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

BB Valiant should be fine. Both of the CVE's are in the 30 SYS, 60ish FLT and 30 ENG. I'm routing to them with Illustrious providing a bit of CAP to Siberoet. Shame I lost CVL Unicorn. The only other ship hit was an AP off Padang which is now in port.

Have to give Faber credit for massing so many planes. The cost was heavy though with over 200 enemy planes being claimed for 15 friendlies over Sumatra. Will this break 'his back' locally though with fewer than 70 planes reported at Batavia now and only 160 at Singapore.

My 4E destroyed 39 planes on the ground at Oosthaven. They'll target Batavia tomorrow.

I've attached a screenshot of the full butchers bill!

My transport TF will remain at Benkoelen unloading vital material and support personnel.

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

Burma:

Usual stuff. My Hurri's sank a DMS in Rangoon harbour.

B29's damaged 19 of 21 Refineries at Bangkok. Enemy CAP encountered but no losses sustained.

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SoPac:

2 x weak Nav Gd units are at Milne Bay. My 2 US Rgt's are low on supply but will attack tomorrow.

An ASW HK group attacked 3 enemy subs off PM sinking 1 and damaging another. In return a DE was sunk.

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Submarine Warfare:

No contacts.

[Q-Ball]

Speedy, I haven't been following your AAR, though am catching up. Good read.

I probably don't have the full picture, but it seems like you should be further along territory-wise, given your early naval superiority. That CV loss list is chilling, you basically smashed to pieces every IJN CV (he may have accelerated a couple more UNRYUs, but that's it), and whats more you did that early.

Seems like you should have been able to exploit that more in late 1942/early 1943. Don't get me wrong, that campaign in Sumatra is good, and you'll likely win, but I would look for something really deep toward Japan with that type of carrier advantage early-on. Seems like you are still nibbling at the edges in mid-1944, when you can basically sail right up to Tokyo if you want to.

Just my uninformed 2 cents......

[Speedysteve]

Hi Q-Ball.

Good to hear from you.

Good discussion.

I do feel I've been lethargic in some ways and probably should be where I am about 3-4 months earlier.

However, there's more to the CV's battles than meet's the 'ships sunk list eye'.

To explain.

October 1942 - CV battle in the Kuriles. I got the jump (and luck) on Faber's CV's smashing the 6 PH ones. However, 4 of my 6 CV's did sustain damage and took between 1 and 4 months to repair. That only left me with 2 x active CV's at that point which is not enough to go up against a deep Jap base when he'd have LBA and Junyo/Hiyo.

March 1943 - by this stage my CV's had repaired and I was aiming for Wake (which I took) and Marcus (which I took). However a sub sank Wasp.

April 1943 - I'd detected Jap CV's around the Mariana's and I was preparing to launch an operation against them. Once more the battle (and luck) went my way with me sinking 3 x CV and 1 x CVL. However, once more 2 of my CV's were damaged and BB North Carolina as well. That left me with 4 x CV's. CV Hornet sank as she almost reached US West Coast. I didn't feel comfortable going up against massed LBA from Saipan, Tinian and Guam. As such I decided to retake NW Aus (as it wouldn't be as risky as a remote island invasion.)

As I had success in NW Aus I decided to focus on Sumatra for an invasion. This led to a further CV Battle.

October 1943 - My invasions of Christmas and Cocos Islands led to the last CV battle. Once more I did well (and had some luck) and sunk 2 x Unryu's but lost CV Enterprise.

This is the phase, if I look back on it, I feel I was lethargic and a little complacent. I could have shifted my CV's back to CentPac BUT I decided to leave them in the Sumatra region, which was useful for protecting reinforcement convoys, but could have been better used elsewhere. As such there's a 3-4 month gap whereby they've been used around Sumatra (of course they accomplished some stuff like sinking a Jap BB and damaging Soerabaya's industry and shooting down a lot of Jap planes as well).

I then decided Id route the CV's back to CentPac to crack on with the Mariana's invasions . En Route I decided to use them for a month or 2 to re-take New Caledonia and a large part of New Guinea. I'm 1/2 way through Phase 2 of 3 phases of this Opp.

As such I'll be 2 months later than history in taking the Mariana's.

Accordingly I don't feel it's late 42/early 43 I could have pressed more in a DIFFERENT area, than what I did, but late 43. I'd ay I've lost about 3-4 months due to this but we live and learn. I'll try not to be complacent again [;)]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Another big day in the air over Sumatra!

Sumatra:

The Japs launched more strikes throughout the day against shipping off Siberoet and Benkoelen. They were in less strength and ferocity compared to those on the 27th though. Allied CAP did well and only a few enemy planes broke through not achieving any hits on Allied shipping.

Whilst this was going on Allied 4E from Siberoet smashed the AF's at Batavia. 20ish enemy Tony's were on CAP but they didn't achieve much. Over 150 enemy planes were claimed destroyed on the ground.

Over 2 days Faber has lost over 500 planes to 40 Allied in the Sumatra region.

Singapore is down to 90 enemy planes now. 4E will target these AF's tomorrow.

My damaged CVE's limped another 92 miles closer to Siberoet. An enemy Sub (I-26) attempted to interfere but DD's located her and claimed her sunk.

The Benkoelen convoy continues to unload material into the small port.

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

Burma:

Usual stuff with keeping AF's supressed.

I'm moving 4000 AV of troops down SW from Taung Gyi to join the Chinese troops there in attacking 1000 enemy AV. It's the weakest part in the Jap line. My troops should be at the front in 3 days time. The good thing is I now have total air control over this region so all assets will be used in bombing enemy troops.

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

SoPac:

My men at Milne Bay routed the enemy. Reports are coming in that the Japs literally ran away when my men advanced and we caused 700 casualties for no loss!

In a few days TF's will head to Buna and Lae and that will end phase 2 of Operation Snowbell.

An enemy sub (I-173) was located and heavily damaged by CV escorts SW of Milne Bay.

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

Submarine Warfare:

No contacts.

SS Golet was damaged by LBA south of Tokyo and returns to Wake Island.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Sumatra:

Faber launched no offensive air missions today after taking serious losses over the past 2 days. A Jap convoy is reported at Oosthaven. I can't wait to close this place once Benkoelen is up and running with a bigger AF.

18 x TBM targeted enemy shipping at Batavia. The did well in reportedly planting 5 x bombs into DD Shimozuki and 1 into Fuyuzuki.

I've created a SC TF from my Brit CV TF. These guys will head down to Oosthaven to investigate the reported enemy convoy.

My damaged CVE's are 3 hexes out of Siberoet. Unless enemy subs or an air attack intervenes they should make port to join the other heavily damaged CVE's there (from the original invasion of Sumatra!)

My 4E hit Singapore hard and with their escort easily brushed through the 30 enemy planes on CAP. They reported destroying over 50 planes on the ground whilst my fighters claimed 25 enemy fighters in the air over Singapore and Sumatra.

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

Burma:

My latest assault force is 26 miles away from the frontline. Faber has spotted them and is sending troops eastwards from the frontline south of Toungoo. I hope I can make it before them and launch an attack!

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

Submarine Warfare:

1 x dud/missed attack.

SS Peto damaged AO Toei Maru with a torpedo off Tawi Tawi.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Burma:

My men are now 24 miles out from the frontline SE of Toungoo. Faber launched 20 bombers against this stack. I was not expecting that and had my planes either on CAP, bombing Jap AF's or bombing enemy positions. I'm capping my men tomorrow and focussing more bombers on enemy positions. Faber's is reacting a troops movements are detected in Rangoon, Pegu and in other Jap frontline positions. Will I reach the frontline and be able to break through before Jap reinforcements arrive? I hope so!

Screenshot attached.

My B29's smashed Bangkok's LI for no loss to enemy fighters.

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

Sumatra:

A good day overall.

Faber launched 4 night bombing attacks on Siberoet. I had a bunch of Corsair's and Beaufighters on CAP and they shot down 4 enemy bombers.

Other than that there were no enemy attacks.

Recon indicates the Jap TF at Oosthaven has moved away. My SC TF will hold off moving towards Oosthaven for now.

A massive LBA raid from Padang shut Djambi's AF's.

My 4E at Siberoet targeted Singapore's HI as Jap fighter levels are minimal in the theatre at present. Mission accomplished as 95% of the HI is damaged.

A small Jap convoy was attacked at Singapore by 40 x SBD. A good kill was achieved as a Yusen Class AK and 2 x SC were confirmed sunk.

Material continues to be unloaded at Benkoelen. 3 x US ENG Rgt's will arrive tomorrow which should give a construction boost.

My 2 x damaged CVE's made Siberoet and are now in harbour. There's now 5 of them there! I have an ARD moving to the region from Cape Town. She's about 2 weeks out.

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

Submarine Warfare:

No contacts today.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Burma:

As we reach the end of the month the Allies are to renew their effort on the ground in Burma. My men reached the frontline and launched recon's today:

Ground combat at 57,51 (near Toungoo)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 41142 troops, 338 guns, 148 vehicles, Assault Value = 6195

Defending force 26501 troops, 258 guns, 68 vehicles, Assault Value = 931

Japanese ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


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

An all out effort by my airforce will accompany my assault tomorrow.

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

Sumatra:

Faber launched a few night raids against Siberoet but lost 4 bombers for no Allied loss.

On the Allied side my 4E pounded Johore Bharu's AF's and my Mediums against Palembang. I lost 15 planes to over 40 Japs.

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

SoPac:

My invasion forces are moving past Milne Bay for Buna and Lae.

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Submarine Warfare:

2 x dud/missed attacks.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

May has been a big month of air combat across Burma and Sumatra. Losses have been heavy on both sides but the consequence is the Allies have air superiority over Central Burma and for most of Sumatra and now Singapore. This brings with it the usual benefits - bombers can roam with impunity and my troops have little fear of air attack. On the ground it's been frustrating in Burma with the Japanese holding firm. My men have just re-organised and reached the weakest point in the Jap frontline SE of Toungoo.

In Sumatra my men have slowly expanded their reach and have recently taken Benkoelen which is key in closing southern Sumatra and Batavia to the Japs.

In SoPac Operation Snowbell Phase II is 3/4 complete with the SE tip of New Guinea being retaken.

Phase 3 should start to take place in June before my CV's move back to CentPac for the Mariana's invasion.

There's a noticeable change in my Sub campaign as I've had fewer attacks, a lower success rate and lost more subs than any previous month!

June sees some nice additions in the air with new A20H, B25J, F4U4 and new Helldivers arriving.

On sea CV Victorious, Indomitable, CVE Makin Island, Windham Bay, Lunga Point, Bismark Sea, Salamaua, Hollandia and 9 x SS are the highlights.

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

Points:

Allies: +3,242
Japanese: +815


Bases:

Allies: +7 (+383 points)
Japanese: -6 (-457 points)


Planes:

Allies: +829 lost
Japanese: +2,085 lost


Troops:

Allies: +149 lost
Japanese: +207 lost


Ships:

Allies: +17 lost (+294 points. 9 x subs! CVL Unicorn and a few transports and auxiliaries make up the rest).
Japanese: +67 lost (+577 points. 2/3 of these are due to CV attacks against Truk, Oosthaven and Singapore. The rest are by my subs.)

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

Sub Kills:

21 of 42 attacks were successful = 50% success.

Dutch Boats:

PB - 5 (1 mine)
AK - 34 (-1)
TK - 9 (+2)
CM - 7 (+1)
DD - 4
TB - 1
DMS - 4 (1 mine)
E - 1
APD - 1
ACM - 1
AP - 1
AMC - 1

= 69 ships
-------------------------------

British Boats:

DD - 1 (1 mine)
AK - 9 (1 mine) (+2)
SC - 1
PB - 1
TK - 1
AO - 1
SS - 3 (2 mine)

= 17 ships

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

Fleet Boats:

AK - 238 (+14)
SC - 17
AP - 11 (+1)
PB - 44 (+1)
TK - 62 (+1)
AKE - 1
CM - 6
ACM - 2
E - 19 (+1)
APD - 2
DD - 5
CL - 2 (Oi, Kashima)
AO - 8 (+3)
PC - 1
AMC - 1
AV - 1
AM - 1 (1 mine)
SS - 1
DMS - 2

= 424 ships
--------------------------------

S-Boats:

AK - 21
AP - 2
CM - 1
PB - 5
DMS - 1
SC - 6 (+1)
TK - 3

= 39 ships

= 549 ships = 53.40% of reported sunk ships total.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Burma:

Burma....oh Burma. The pain continues for the ground troops. I seem to be having a run of bad die rolls up here as despite being well supplied, equipped and led by good/decent leaders I never make any positive rolls up here. The attack on the 1st was relatively successful as I killed more Japs than I lost:

Ground combat at 57,51 (near Toungoo)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 151763 troops, 1840 guns, 2516 vehicles, Assault Value = 6202

Defending force 52387 troops, 492 guns, 180 vehicles, Assault Value = 1869

Allied adjusted assault: 3013

Japanese adjusted defense: 3526

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
6819 casualties reported
Squads: 78 destroyed, 520 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 78 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 43 disabled
Guns lost 68 (16 destroyed, 52 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
4054 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 435 disabled
Non Combat: 31 destroyed, 128 disabled
Engineers: 67 destroyed, 161 disabled
Guns lost 79 (4 destroyed, 75 disabled)
Vehicles lost 39 (5 destroyed, 34 disabled)

I re-grouped on the 2nd and attacked again on the 3rd as Faber is bringing in reinforcements from the rest of the Burmese frontline:

Ground combat at 57,51 (near Toungoo)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 146158 troops, 1839 guns, 2520 vehicles, Assault Value = 5445

Defending force 47392 troops, 488 guns, 180 vehicles, Assault Value = 1389

Allied adjusted assault: 2151

Japanese adjusted defense: 5224

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
3758 casualties reported
Squads: 156 destroyed, 183 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 25 disabled
Guns lost 45 (25 destroyed, 20 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
9557 casualties reported
Squads: 101 destroyed, 1248 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 188 disabled
Engineers: 18 destroyed, 167 disabled
Guns lost 158 (3 destroyed, 155 disabled)
Vehicles lost 59 (3 destroyed, 56 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


I'm really at a loss of hat else to do in Burma. Defence in jungle hexes is just silly. Despite being blasted by 100's of planes daily (which cause minimal casualties in the jungle), The Allies having total air superiority, me having better supplied and armed troops I can make no headway.

The same quandary exists I feel in that there's no real benefit for me trying to carry on bashing my head against a brick wall but on the flip side I'm running out of time to get transports over there to move the troops and invade elsewhere. It's likely I'll leave my troops here to keep the enemy pinned down and make Burma a total back water theatre to focus efforts elsewhere from now on.

I've learnt a LOT of stuff about Burma and Jungle use in this game that will come in VERY useful in my future AE games!

In the air the Strategic campaign continues slowly as 1/3 of Canton's HI was damaged by B29's. Hong Kong's HI will be targeted next.

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Sumatra:

Fairly quiet here as my Airforce continue to roam and keep pounding enemy AF's in the area. Base Forces have reached Pakanbaroe NE of Padang and this now houses Corsairs, P40's and Mediums which will target southern Sumatra.

Still unloading material and supply at Benkoelen but there's now no enemy interference of late.

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SoPac:

Both Lae and Buna have been invaded and should fall quickly. Lae contain a Naval Guard Unit and Buna an SNLF Company.

We'll then move back to Aus to load up troops for Phase 3 of the Operation.

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

Submarine Warfare:

0 dud/missed attacks.

SS Mingo heavily damaged TK Tateishi Maru with a torpedo in the middle of the Philippine Sea on the 2nd.

SS Bonefish sank E No.22 off Balikpapan on the 3rd. In return she was moderately damaged by E No.17 and is returning to Carnarvon.

On the other side An Allied ASW TF found and reported sinking SS I-21 off Cairns on the 2nd June.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Burma/Sumatra:

Usual stuff here. Not much to report with the normal numerous and heavy Allied air raids. The only exception is recon spotted a Jap unit moving north out of Oosthaven. I launched my Siberoet 4E to attack them. They hit 74th IJA Rgt hard throughout the day causing over 2000 reported casualties. We go again tomorrow.

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

SoPac:

Both Lae and Buna easily fell to Allied forces. The Jap's at Buna were wiped out and at Lae they retreated northwards to Nadzab. My men will follow them.

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

Submarine Warfare:

No contacts.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Burma/Sumatra:

Nothing major to report other than some housekeeping stuff my end.

I'm re-organising the Frontline forces in Burma and shifting all of my Artillery units to the 'hotspot' eastern end of the line. I'll just continue to bash away here and hope to wear the Japs down eventually. As a minimum I want to keep pressure on here to prevent forces moving to other fronts.

My B29's hit Hong Kong's HI today and damaged 1/2 of the 80ish factories there. 30ish Ki43II's were on CAP but no B29's were lost.

In Sumatra my troops have extricated south of Djambi. I'm routing them SE to then advance into a non-jungle hex (hate jungle!)

4E continue to pound the 74th IJA Rgt north of Oosthaven causing a further 500 casualties today.

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

SoPac:

Supplies and support forces unload at Lae and Buna. My CV's will head back to Townsville in 2 days time and we'll then load up for Phase 3 of Operation Snowbell as I'm conscious I'm behind the curve in CentPac.....

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

Submarine Warfare:

0 dud/missed attacks.

SS Burrfish sank E Oki south of Mindanao.

SS Herring heavily damaged AK Iwaishima Maru with a torpedo SE of Formosa.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Burma:

Little to report overall in Burma.

B29's continue to target Jap held industry and smashed Pnomh Penh's remaining LI on the 6th.

Sumatra:

Allied Airforces continue to keep the Jap held Sumatran AF's closed along with southern Malaya and Batavia on Java.

Heavy air attacks on the Jap Rgt NW of Oosthaven have decimated it with only a few 100 Jap's reported as still being alive. We'll continue the attacks to hopefully wipe it out tomorrow.

My troops have moved to central Sumatra and now have to decide whether to move SE to engage a Jap unit in Jungle or East over the river.....

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

SoPac:

Most ships are retiring back to Townsville from SE New Guinea.

Troops continued to push inland NW of Lae to rout the remaining Japs out of Nadzab.

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Submarine Warfare:

2 x dud/missed attacks.

SS Jack reported sinking AK Seian Maru west of Luzon on the 7th. In return she was moderately damaged by the escorts and is returning to port.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Burma/Sumatra:

Usual stuff here. My 4E wiped out the Jap Rgt NW of Oosthaven! Doesn't feel right that airpower can totally wipe out a unit and Faber says he can't even rebuild it! I've asked if he wants to enter a new HR here.

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

SoPac:

Forces are still heading back to Townsville to load up for Phase 3. A load of air units are moving across Australia for Townsville as well to join the troops there for embarkation!

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

Submarine Warfare:

1 x dud/missed attacks.

SS Guavina had a bumper day sinking 2 x Escorts off Balikpapan. She claimed E No.15 and No.13 sunk.

SS Trepang damaged TK Seiyo Maru off Shikuka with a torpedo.

SS Guitarro sank AK Syunsei Maru north of Okinawa.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Burma/Sumatra:

Faber and I discussed the 4E ground bombing use and he said he doesn't want to implement any new HR at this point in the war. As such we continue onwards!

Much the same with me continuing to bomb enemy AF's in Burma and also across Sumatra.

I won't mention Burma from now on unless something dramatic happens as I expect it to be a backwater area for the rest of the war. I've learnt a lot from this battle and will play Burma differently from now on!

Myy B29's smashed what was left of the LI and Refineries at Rangoon and laid mine's around Bangkok's port. These mine's have done their job in heavily damaging an AK and a DMS clearing the mines!

In Sumatra my troops are heading south into Sumatra (1700 AV worth with a further 200 AV at Benkoelen and a further 500 AV due to arrive within 1 month and a further 350 within 2 months) and will engage an enemy division east of Benkoelen before heading onto Oosthaven. Faber has 24 units and 42K men at Palembang and a further 10 units around Djambi but only a division east of Benkoelen (+ an ART unit advancing west from Palembang) and 3 units in Oosthaven.

The screenshot should emphasise this further.

FWIW my bombers at Siberoet and Padang will target the 8th IJA Positions (in jungle) whilst keeping the local Jap AF's closed.

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

SoPac:

Most of my ships from Phase 2 invasion ships are back at Townsville now. We'll begin loading the assault troops for phase 3 tomorrow and I'll detail the final phase of this operation then.

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

Submarine Warfare:

1 x dud/missed attack.

SS Picuda sank the large AP Kitano Maru with 3 torpedoes over 2 attacks near Cam Ranh Bay.

SS Manta sank PB Yodozo Maru with a torpedo off Shikuka. In return she was moderately damaged and is returning to port.

SS Haddock heavily damaged AK Momoyama Maru with a torpedo south of Daito Shoto on the 10th.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Burma/Sumatra:

Bangkok's mine's claimed DMS W-11 today as she struck 2 of my presents.

Usual AF bombing across Sumatra claimed 15 enemy planes on the ground on the 12th. Interestingly I had a negative air losses score this day. Seems I have 5 pilots back from the dead. My new Ghost squadron [;)] In all seriousness I've never seen this before. Anyone else?

My troops are 23 miles out from the enemy 8th Division east of Benkoelen.

CV Victorious and Indomitable are sailing to the region from Cape Town and Columbo.

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

SoPac:

An over burdened and accident prone railway system has led to a delay of 2 days for Phase 3 of Operation Bluebell. Vital men, material and planes are still travelling across Australia. I'm very aware I'm behind the time curve in CentPac now. Not happy with that but I hope to make it up and claim an auto-victory in early 45.

I'll detail Phase 3 of Bluebell in the next post.

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

Submarine Warfare:

Another productive couple of days.

2 x dud/missed attacks.

SS Scamp heavily damaged AK Daijukyo Maru with a torpedo near Daito Shoto on the 11th.

SS Triton claimed AK Hukuzyu Maru sank in the same area.

SS Baya claimed TK Bushu Maru sunk near Tarakan. She also reported in sinking PB Wa 21 from the same convoy later in the day.

SS Pompon heavily damaged AK Kinshu Maru with a torpedo on the 11th near Cam Ranh Bay. She tracked the limping freighter and sank her with 3 more torpedoes on the 12th.

SS Cisco sank AK Malta Maru over 2 attacks NE of Formosa on the 12th.

On the other side SS I-121 sank AK William W. Campbell over 2 attacks off Siberoet. It's likely she was laying mine's in the area.

[Speedysteve]

Operation Bluebell Phase 3:

Phase 3 of this operation see's the re-conquest of Ceram and the NW section of Dutch New Guinea.

The main aim of this phase is to apply pressure to Japanese held Darwin and more importantly take out some Japanese held Oil production centres whilst applying future pressure to any convoys heading further north of Ceram. It also stretches the Jap defences further from their current engagements around Sumatra and Burma and in the near future CentPac.

I aim for this to be a swift series of invasions. No Jap resistance is expected at Saumlaki, Taberfane or Dobo.

Jap's are present in unknown strength at Ambon and Sorong. The main Jap air bases are at Ambon, Kendari, Flores and Koepang.

I expect my CV's to do their job! 11 x CV and 9 x CVL's will provide cover in 4 x TF's along with 2 x SC TF's.

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

Here's the troop assignments:

Saumlaki

21st Australian Bde

= 153 AV

Taberfane

25th Australian Bde

= 148 AV

Dobo

30th Australian Bde

= 130 AV

Boela

8th Australian Division
4th Armoured Bde

= 506 AV

Ambon

3rd Australian Div
II Australian Corps Eng Bn

= 426 AV

Sorong

4th Australian Division

= 378 AV

I'm bringing along over 600 x Aviation Support and 600 planes to base from my new acquired airfields[:)]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Sumatra/Burma:

B29's hit Saigon's AF's on the 13th and 14th destroying over 70 enemy planes on the ground. I did lose 6 of my babies though to enemy CAP. Faber attempted a sneak raid by 11 x Peggy's on Chittagong on the same day. I had no CAP present so was lucky my B29's were already airborne. CAP is now present.

The regular air raids keep Jap AF's closed across Sumatra, Batavia and Singapore. A particularly productive raid took place at Batavia by Siberoet's 4E which claimed 35 enemy planes destroyed on the ground.

My troops have reached the enemy 8th Division's positions east of Benkoelen. They'll attack on the 16th supported by the region's air assets.

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

SoPac:

Men and material are loading up aboard ships at Townsville. Hopefully it will be complete on the 16/17th and we'll set sail!

I've assigned 32nd USA Division to the Ambon invasion force as a backup as this is the most likely place I'll meet heaviest resistance.

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

Submarine warfare:

The good run continues. I wonder if it's 'simply' down to the fact that Faber has now started to activate more convoy's again after deciding the Jap economy is in troubled straits. As such I'm attacking more as there's more ships on the seas.....

1 x dud/missed attack.

SS Herring sank AK Junyo Maru with 3 torpedoes off Okinawa on the 13th.

SS Redfish attacked the same convoy sinking PB Ichiyu Maru.

On the 15th SS KXV sank the tiny TK Nissan Maru with 2 torpedoes north of Miri.

SS Lancetfish heavily damaged AK Siberia Maru with a torpedo near Formosa.

SS Crevalle damaged AP Yoshino Maru with a torpedo east of Cam Ranh Bay.

On the other side 2 of my Subs were moderately damaged by ASW assets.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Burma/Sumatra:

My Bumese B29's targeted Saigon's AF's on the 17th. It led to my heaviest B29 losses suffered to date when 9 were lost due to 50 enemy Zero/Jack's. In return a reported 40 enemy planes were torched on the ground.

In Sumatra the joy of Jungle continues to annoy the **** out of me when my attack east of Benkoelen failed. Frustratingly NO air assets decided to join the party either. Useless. We'll keep trying though as losses were an ok ratio:

Ground combat at 46,91 (near Benkoelen)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 53805 troops, 1130 guns, 706 vehicles, Assault Value = 1729

Defending force 15309 troops, 156 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 585

Allied adjusted assault: 851

Japanese adjusted defense: 1925

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1750 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 132 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 10 (3 destroyed, 7 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
3435 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 482 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 79 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 72 disabled
Guns lost 85 (6 destroyed, 79 disabled)
Vehicles lost 29 (3 destroyed, 26 disabled)


Assaulting units:
2nd British Division
28th (East African) Brigade
22nd (East African) Brigade
18th Australian Brigade
29th British Brigade
209th Combat Engineer Battalion
81st (West African) Division
11th (East African) Division
82nd (West African) Division
23rd Chindit Brigade
76th Coast AA Regiment
608th Coast AA Regiment

Defending units:
7th Guards Inf. Regiment
8th Division


Recon also identifies a Jap unit has moved west of Djambi. Faber may be trying to head towards Padang. Fine by me I have enough AV at these bases behind forts.

My troops east of Benkoelen are rested enough and have been re-supplied. We'll attack again tomorrow and HOPE some airpower takes off [8|]

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SoPac:

All material and men were boarded by the 16th and the various TF's have left Townsville heading north before rounding the NE corner of Aus.

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Submarine Warfare:

0 x dud/missed attacks.

The only success was reported by SS Croaker in sinking E W-34 south of Tokyo on the 17th.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Sumatra:

My men 'failed' in their attack east of Benkoelen but made progress in killing a lot of the enemy which is good. We'll rest for a day or 2 and then attack again:

Ground combat at 46,91 (near Benkoelen)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 56132 troops, 1218 guns, 755 vehicles, Assault Value = 1402

Defending force 13797 troops, 155 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 435

Allied adjusted assault: 561

Japanese adjusted defense: 381

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
805 casualties reported
Squads: 163 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 25 (20 destroyed, 5 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
1310 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 170 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 46 disabled
Guns lost 38 (3 destroyed, 35 disabled)

My LBA also flew a lot of support missions that day so well done boys. Tomorrow they'll target the various Jap AF's in theatre (Singapore, Djambi, Oosthaven and Batavia) to keep them closed.

Recon detected a Jap Transport TF off Oosthaven and Avenger's from Christmas Island reported sinking a large AK. I've a Cruiser/DD TF 9 hexes away from Oosthaven and they'll attempt to intervene with the Japanese unloading process at Oosthaven.

One of my Subs (Peto) detected a massive TK/AO TF protected by a lot of escorts heading west towards Soerabaya. I may try to do something about this but I'm unsure what at present as Faber has Soerabaya active and out of Allied LBA range.

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SoPac:

TF's continue to move slowly towards the NE cost of Aus. Still un-detected.

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Submarine Warfare:

1 x dud/missed attack.

SS Peto was sunk by the large TK TF east of Soerabaya.

SS Lancetfish was heavily damaged off Japan by ASW vessels.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Burma/Sumatra:

B29's took out the remaining refineries at Bangkok on the 20th for no loss.

The Allied forces tried to force the enemy lines again in Burma on 22nd June. The Jap's have now been under Allied aerial pressure for over 2 months now but the Jungle terrain offers such darn good defence bonuses casualty losses are normally negligible. The 'only' benefit is increased disruption. The Allied Airforce from FB's up to B29's supported the latest assault SE of Toungoo:

Ground combat at 57,51 (near Toungoo)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 160733 troops, 2408 guns, 2656 vehicles, Assault Value = 6117

Defending force 60401 troops, 630 guns, 806 vehicles, Assault Value = 2006

Allied adjusted assault: 2991

Japanese adjusted defense: 3826

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
5640 casualties reported
Squads: 80 destroyed, 402 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 72 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 67 disabled
Guns lost 102 (6 destroyed, 96 disabled)
Vehicles lost 43 (5 destroyed, 38 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
9203 casualties reported
Squads: 83 destroyed, 1331 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 125 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 178 disabled
Guns lost 123 (8 destroyed, 115 disabled)
Vehicles lost 57 (1 destroyed, 56 disabled

Not great again. The only positive is the Japs lost the same number of permanently lost men as I did. I'll bombard with ART units tomorrow to see what AV level he's down to.

In Sumatra the Japanese 8th Division was finally routed east of Benkoelen on the 21st. Days of heavy air bombardment had weakened the Japanese resolve and an attack on the ground, was fiercely resisted but, was successful:

Ground combat at 46,91 (near Benkoelen)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 54104 troops, 1213 guns, 754 vehicles, Assault Value = 1123

Defending force 11297 troops, 136 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 281

Allied adjusted assault: 603

Japanese adjusted defense: 257

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
3740 casualties reported
Squads: 123 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 134 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 13 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 45 (21 destroyed, 24 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (7 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Units retreated 1


Allied ground losses:
514 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

My more battered units (1 x Bde, 1 x Division) will head to Benkoelen to rest and recuperate.

The rest of my men will head eastwards and either head to take Oosthaven or stay around Palembang. Faber has massed his forces in Palembang and a spearhead of 4 units (1 x Tank Division, 3 x Bde) headed 46 miles SW of Palembang into open terrain. My air forces hit them heavily on the 22nd causing over 600 casualties. Recon now indicates this vanguard are retreating back to Palembang.

A Jap convo was detected off Oosthaven on the 20th and Mediums from Benkoelen attack heavily throughout the day. With the first use of B25G's at low level 2 x AK were sunk and 3 damaged.

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SoPac:

My invasion forces are nearing their destination(s). They're 2 days out from being offshore of Ambon. No Jap recon's have been detected as yet. I would expect planes from Ambon (if they exist) or from Kendari/Manado should detect my forces. Both Darwin and Katherine's AF's have been taken out by B24J's in NE Australia so there's no threat there.

I've ordered my DB/TB's to attack enemy naval forces first and if none are around to target Ambon's AF's and troops tomorrow.

FP's will fly recon over Ambon and Boela.

SitRep attached below.

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Submarine Warfare:

2 x dud/missed attacks.

SS Seal heavily damaged AK Hokutai Maru with a torpedo off Balikpapan on the 19th.

SS Lapon sank TK Yozan Maru near Mindanao but was sunk by DD Escorts in return [:(]

SS Dorado was in action on the 20th (heavily damaging AK Ume Maru with a torpedo) and sinking AKL Gyoku Maru with 3 torpedoes on the 22nd off Ominato (eastern Japan).

SS Pipefish sank AK Hokutai Maru with 2 further torpedoes after her attack by Seal yesterday.

SS Tang sank AK Siberia Maru near Okinawa on the 21st.

On the 22nd SS Redfish sank the troop filled AK Syoan Maru SE of Formosa.