Matrix Games Forums

Posted: **Thu May 21, 2015 4:50 pm**

Forgot to mention.

Monkey intel of Ceylon:

1943-01-03 3/19th Ind.Mixed Brigade is loaded on AK Sagami Maru moving to Colombo -
1943-01-05 4/19th Ind.Mixed Brigade is loaded on AK Sado Maru moving to Colombo -
1943-01-07 5/19th Ind.Mixed Brigade is loaded on AK Hirokawa Maru moving to Colombo -
1943-01-08 3/19th Ind.Mixed Brigade is loaded on AK Sagami Maru moving to Colombo -
1943-01-10 18th JAAF Base Force - - is located at Colombo 29,48
1943-01-11 4th/A Division - - is located at Colombo 29,48
1943-01-13 SS I-23 is - - moving to Colombo 29,48
1943-01-19 34th Field AA Battalion - - is located at Colombo 29,48
1943-01-23 19th Ind.Mixed Brigade - - is located at Colombo 29,48
1943-01-24 a Type B1/B2 class SS is - - moving to Colombo 29,48
1943-01-29 18th JAAF Base Force - - is located at Colombo 29,48
1943-01-31 18th JAAF Base Force - - is located at Colombo 29,48
1943-02-03 34th Field AA Battalion - - is located at Colombo 29,48
1943-02-03 SS I-32 is - - moving to Colombo 29,48
1943-02-14 19th Ind.Mixed Brigade - - is located at Colombo 29,48
1943-02-16 18th JAAF Base Force - - is located at Colombo 29,48
1943-02-23 Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions - - detected at Colombo 29,48
1943-02-27 Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions - - detected at Colombo 29,48
1943-03-05 18th JAAF Base Force - - is located at Colombo 29,48
1943-03-10 19th Ind.Mixed Brigade - - is located at Colombo 29,48
1943-03-11 22nd JAAF AF Bn - - is located at Colombo 29,48
1943-03-11 4th/A Division - - is located at Colombo 29,48
1943-03-23 18th JAAF Base Force - - is located at Colombo 29,48
1943-03-23 4th/A Division - - is located at Colombo 29,48
1943-03-26 22nd JAAF AF Bn - - is located at Colombo 29,48
1943-03-27 34th Field AA Battalion - - is located at Colombo 29,48

1943-01-04 Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions - - detected at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-01-07 26th Fld AA Gun Co - - is located at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-01-10 22nd JAAF AF Bn - - is located at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-01-13 4th Ind Engineer Regiment - - is located at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-01-13 Radio transmissions - - detected at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-01-26 35th Field AA Battalion - - is located at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-01-28 22nd JAAF AF Bn - - is located at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-02-02 5th JAAF AF Coy - - is located at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-02-10 22nd Air Flotilla - - is located at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-02-14 5th JAAF AF Coy - - is located at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-02-17 5th JAAF AF Coy - - is located at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-02-21 4th Ind Engineer Regiment - - is located at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-02-22 Radio transmissions - - detected at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-02-25 4th Ind Engineer Regiment - - is located at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-03-11 5th JAAF AF Coy - - is located at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-03-15 Radio transmissions - - detected at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-03-16 5th JAAF AF Coy - - is located at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-03-16 Radio transmissions - - detected at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-03-19 Radio transmissions - - detected at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-03-20 Radio transmissions - - detected at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-03-21 5th JAAF AF Coy - - is located at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-03-25 Radio transmissions - - detected at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-03-26 22nd Air Flotilla - - is located at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-04-15 35th JNAF AF Unit - - is located at Trincomalee 31,47
1943-04-16 35th Field AA Battalion - - is located at Trincomalee 31,47

Posted: **Thu May 21, 2015 5:18 pm**

Any chance you could shift to attack the airfield at Columbo and shut it down? It would be sweet if you could keep up the pressure and basically make things unlivable for the Japs on Ceylon.

Posted: **Thu May 21, 2015 6:40 pm**

The Val is not comparable to any allied DB IMO. It was modeled on the Stuka, and the fixed undercarriage makes is a slow, easy target. The Japanese also made it as light as possible to get range, but it torches very easily. Allied DBs are much more robust. In carrier attacks on Japanese bases I see more TBs shot down than DBs.
I agree that using naval air to attack airfields and ground units should not be routine, but I don't think the losses are unacceptable given normal flak levels.

Posted: **Thu May 21, 2015 6:46 pm**

jwolf, that's next after I have time to recoup my losses. I may pair that with a landing.

In my other game as the Japanese, I've completely soured on the idea of base attacks with KB. AW1Steve has burned me badly with heavy losses both times I've tried it. Maybe it's better with USN planes, but definitely not the IJNAF.

Posted: **Fri May 22, 2015 11:56 pm**

25 April 1943

The Chinese Army is officially extinct. The last HQ unit succumbed to aerial bombardment a couple days ago.

Subs have been picking up a bit. Two more missed their targets.

Sub attack near Nadi at 129,159

Japanese Ships
AK Tosan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Oite

Allied Ships
SS Gudgeon

SS Gudgeon launches 2 torpedoes at AK Tosan Maru
DD Oite fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Oite fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Oite fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Oite fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Oite fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Submarine attack near Soerabaja at 57,103

Japanese Ships
xAK Yosyu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Mingo

xAK Yosyu Maru is sighted by SS Mingo
SS Mingo launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Yosyu Maru

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

Submarine attack near Soerabaja at 57,103

Japanese Ships
xAK Yosyu Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Mingo

xAK Yosyu Maru is sighted by SS Mingo
SS Mingo launches 4 torpedoes

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

Submarine attack near Soerabaja at 57,103

Japanese Ships
xAK San Francisco Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Mingo

xAK San Francisco Maru is sighted by SS Mingo
SS Mingo attacking xAK San Francisco Maru on the surface

Essex is 19 days out.

Posted: **Sat May 23, 2015 12:40 am**

Mingo must have one heck of a good skipper! Or a boatload of horseshoes!

Posted: **Sat May 23, 2015 7:56 pm**

27 April 1943

Another sub hit.

Sub attack near Djemadja at 52,83

Japanese Ships
TK Kurume Maru, Torpedo hits 1
E Asagao
TK Eisho Maru
TK Toa Maru
TK San Clemente Maru
E Yaeyama
E Hato

Allied Ships
SS Grouper

SS Grouper launches 2 torpedoes at TK Kurume Maru
E Yaeyama fails to find sub and abandons search
E Hato fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hato fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hato fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hato fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hato fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Hato fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Suva received two bombardments, followed by a ground assault.

Ground combat at Suva (132,160)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 39170 troops, 320 guns, 59 vehicles, Assault Value = 1153

Defending force 31134 troops, 478 guns, 284 vehicles, Assault Value = 455

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 7

Japanese adjusted assault: 1069

Allied adjusted defense: 1563

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 7)

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

Japanese ground losses:
3181 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 277 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 62 disabled
Guns lost 30 (2 destroyed, 28 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
694 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Guns lost 24 (1 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
36th Division
71st Engineer Regiment
35th Division
63rd Division
28th Engineer Regiment
17th Army
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
8th NZ Brigade
Fiji Brigade
Rarotonga Det.
34th Infantry Regiment
1st Fiji Commando Battalion
Samoa Det.
41st Base Group
198th Coast AA Regiment
2nd Marine Defense Battalion
12th Marine Defense Battalion
46th Construction Regiment
24th Base Group
216th Coast AA Regiment
13th MAG
33rd Medium Regiment
1st RNZAF Base Force
276th Coastal Artillery Battalion
2nd RNZAF Base Force
7th Port Advn Base Force
134th Field Artillery Battalion
6th Port Maint Engineer Battalion
3rd Marine Defense Battalion
Nandi Base Force

Related to this is some intel from da monkey.

1943-04-26 CV Kaga is - - moving to 135,162

For those without a map handy, this is 4 hexes directly SE of Suva. I guess I won't be testing things there for awhile.

My pilot training regimen in the states is going well. I have half a dozen or so stateside-only squadrons at San Francisco. This turn I dumped about 60+ pilots with a 60+ rating into the system, which can only bode well for me. Army-wise anyway. I noticed that a P-47D squadron is under a month away, fully stocked a bit before the production line starts up. A pre-production squadron, I guess. Portland Roads looks like a good spot for them.

Posted: **Sun May 24, 2015 1:03 pm**

28 April 1943

Cannonfodder decided to retaliate at Cochin for the damage I did.

Night Naval bombardment of Cochin at 28,40

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Mohawk IV: 2 damaged
P-40K Warhawk: 8 damaged
Wellington Ic: 5 damaged
Beaufighter VIc: 3 damaged
Wellington GR.VIII: 6 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 4 damaged
Liberator II: 4 damaged
A-20A1 Havoc: 1 damaged
Martlet II: 3 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Oi
CL Kitakami
CL Yura

Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 25
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 1

CL Oi firing at Cochin
CL Kitakami firing at Cochin
E7K2 Alf acting as spotter for CL Yura
CL Yura firing at Cochin

This probably says a lot for his naval capacity at Ceylon. For all the flash and fire, I really don't have much damage to my planes, when I checked. Must have repaired quickly. I'm sending two cruisers and a destroyer there to head off any further attempts. I'm toying with the ideal of sending my battleships there also. I have enough fighters there to deal with any naval attacks on them at Cochin.

My daily bombardment at Suva:

Ground combat at Suva (132,160)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 14901 troops, 298 guns, 117 vehicles, Assault Value = 414

Defending force 47417 troops, 431 guns, 565 vehicles, Assault Value = 1301

Japanese ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
Fiji Brigade
Rarotonga Det.
34th Infantry Regiment
8th NZ Brigade
1st Fiji Commando Battalion
Samoa Det.
33rd Medium Regiment
24th Base Group
2nd Marine Defense Battalion
46th Construction Regiment
198th Coast AA Regiment
12th Marine Defense Battalion
3rd Marine Defense Battalion
7th Port Advn Base Force
276th Coastal Artillery Battalion
134th Field Artillery Battalion
1st RNZAF Base Force
2nd RNZAF Base Force
13th MAG
41st Base Group
6th Port Maint Engineer Battalion
216th Coast AA Regiment
Nandi Base Force

Defending units:
63rd Division
36th/B Division
71st Engineer Regiment
35th/B Division
35th/C Division
36th/A Division
3rd Tank Division
28th Engineer Regiment
35th/A Division
36th/C Division
17th Army
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

This is on the high end. I average 2-3 squads knocked out per day, with 2/3 of them being combat squads -- usually with no losses to myself. My fort level is down to about 7 with his last attack a couple days ago.

With no China, turn replays have been moving along fairly quickly, without all the usual bombing going on.

Attu is getting settled in, with a few more big convoys to stock them up. I've got an extra air HQ in Anchorage that I'm shipping there to up the air capacity.

Posted: **Sun May 24, 2015 4:40 pm**

ORIGINAL: Mundy
This probably says a lot for his naval capacity at Ceylon. For all the flash and fire, I really don't have much damage to my planes, when I checked. Must have repaired quickly. I'm sending two cruisers and a destroyer there to head off any further attempts. I'm toying with the ideal of sending my battleships there also. I have enough fighters there to deal with any naval attacks on them at Cochin.

What about destroying the air bases in Ceylon? I would probably do that before bringing BBs here. If I were you, I would use those cruisers to bombard Ceylon's air bases followed by air attacks to destroy the airfield. Then bring your BBs here and bombard with them as well to really rack up the damage. With the Japanese fleet stuck in the SoPac covering the Fiji OP you should have a free hand to really mess up the Ceylon defenses. And once you have disabled both airfields, you should be able to fly your bombers at 15,000 feet with impunity (yes, even crappy British 2E) and indefinitely as to prevent the island from ever basing Japanese LBA ever again. I think Japanese held Ceylon usually falls during the middle of 43 in most games. Even you can do it around that time as you don't need any sort of carrier based planes to pull it off.

Posted: **Sun May 24, 2015 7:46 pm**

That's coming up. My long range fighters got worn down a bit, and as the second day's strikes show, my losses will climb if they're weaker. I can probably do the job in a couple days. I will send the battleships down next turn to join the cruisers.

I wish I had troop transports in the area, as I would be tempted to make a landing. I'll start the prepping process. Taking Ceylon would make the British credible again.

Next turn will be a few days out, as CF will be out of town.

Posted: **Sun May 24, 2015 11:40 pm**

This probably says a lot for his naval capacity at Ceylon. For all the flash and fire, I really don't have much damage to my planes, when I checked. Must have repaired quickly.

Aren't Oi and Kitakami the torpedo cruisers, with not much in the way of guns? If Cannonfodder is sending these, perhaps he's lower on active ships than he lets on.

Posted: **Mon May 25, 2015 12:20 am**

Yeah, glorified destroyer leaders.

That's my feeling. In Ceylon anyway. It comes off a bit as a desperate move.

I've learned not to underestimate him, though. I am confident he probably has no battleships in the area. Pretty much all of them have made an appearance at Suva. The only one I haven't seen is Musashi. For all I know, her build was halted, but I can't be sure.

Posted: **Mon May 25, 2015 1:25 am**

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

This probably says a lot for his naval capacity at Ceylon. For all the flash and fire, I really don't have much damage to my planes, when I checked. Must have repaired quickly.

Aren't Oi and Kitakami the torpedo cruisers, with not much in the way of guns? If Cannonfodder is sending these, perhaps he's lower on active ships than he lets on.

I looked these cruisers up one time and found that the torpedo cruiser mod was dropped just before Dec. 1941 and they were given their former configuration with 5.9" guns. They are a bit older than the Nagara class CLs but, I think, similarly armed.

Posted: **Thu May 28, 2015 4:59 pm**

29 April 1943

Another Cochin bombardment.

Night Naval bombardment of Cochin at 28,40 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
A-20A1 Havoc: 5 damaged
Martlet II: 4 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 2 damaged
P-40K Warhawk: 1 damaged
Catalina I: 4 damaged
Wellington Ic: 1 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 4 damaged
Liberator II: 1 damaged

28 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CL Oi
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Yura

Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 15
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 2

CL Oi firing at Cochin
CL Kitakami firing at Cochin Fortress
Cochin Fortress firing at CL Kitakami
E7K2 Alf acting as spotter for CL Yura
CL Yura firing at Cochin

My RN cruisers are about a day away. I've dispatched the battleships there, too.

I'm chipping away at Suva. This has to be adding up.

Ground combat at Suva (132,160)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 14984 troops, 298 guns, 117 vehicles, Assault Value = 423

Defending force 47884 troops, 431 guns, 564 vehicles, Assault Value = 1350

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

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

Assaulting units:
Fiji Brigade
8th NZ Brigade
34th Infantry Regiment
1st Fiji Commando Battalion
Rarotonga Det.
Samoa Det.
24th Base Group
276th Coastal Artillery Battalion
3rd Marine Defense Battalion
46th Construction Regiment
134th Field Artillery Battalion
216th Coast AA Regiment
13th MAG
41st Base Group
33rd Medium Regiment
2nd Marine Defense Battalion
12th Marine Defense Battalion
1st RNZAF Base Force
6th Port Maint Engineer Battalion
7th Port Advn Base Force
198th Coast AA Regiment
2nd RNZAF Base Force
Nandi Base Force

Defending units:
35th/A Division
71st Engineer Regiment
36th/B Division
35th/C Division
35th/B Division
28th Engineer Regiment
3rd Tank Division
63rd Division
36th/A Division
36th/C Division
17th Army
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Posted: **Thu May 28, 2015 10:30 pm**

ORIGINAL: Mundy
I'm chipping away at Suva. This has to be adding up.

Ground combat at Suva (132,160)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 14984 troops, 298 guns, 117 vehicles, Assault Value = 423

Defending force 47884 troops, 431 guns, 564 vehicles, Assault Value = 1350

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

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

Almost certainly not. Japanese have supply here and even if you're able to destroy a couple of squads or guns, it's easy enough for them to replace. Net effect of bombardment is increased supply usage...that is all.

Posted: **Mon Jun 01, 2015 10:55 am**

30 April 1943

A turn of shuffling.

I've moved a bunch of planes to Madras, as the bombardment issue seems to be solved for now. I'm also moving most of the base forces I have at Madurai to Cochin. Air support has been heavily taxed between there and Bombay. Another is headed to Bombay from Aden.

Some transports appeared in Trincomalee, so I'm hoping the Beauforts and Beaufighters pay a visit. With Bombay overstocked, aircraft repairs have been moving at a crawl. The Wildcat squadron I had there has just flipped over to F6Fs, and is fully stocked. They'll be helpful dealing with Colombo's air.

Ta'u reached level 1 airfield. I have supplies headed for there and Savaii. Some VSBs from New Zealand are headed to Ta'u, so I should have about 6 dive bomber squadrons plus fighters between the three bases before two long.

Posted: **Wed Jun 03, 2015 4:47 pm**

04 May 1943

A little bit of sparring off of south India.

This was the previous day.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Colombo at 28,47

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 15
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 18

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 14
P-40K Warhawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIc: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Yura
CL Oi

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Beaufighter VIc bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
253 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (15 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(15 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
15 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (18 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(18 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
18 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead

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

Morning Air attack on TF, near Colombo at 28,47

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 15
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 11

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 destroyed
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed by flak
P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Yura

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Naval Attack: 1 plane(s) with no ordnance

CAP engaged:
253 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
15 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 50 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
10 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 6682.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 74 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers

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

Morning Air attack on TF, near Colombo at 28,47

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 10
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 7

Allied aircraft
A-29 Hudson x 4
B-25D1 Mitchell x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
A-29 Hudson: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 3 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Oi, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A-29 Hudson bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
1 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
253 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 72 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers

This was the return blow.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Trivandrum at 28,42

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 65 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 50
N1K1-J George x 33

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 21
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16
P-38E Lightning x 7
F4U-1 Corsair x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 23 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed by flak
N1K1-J George: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 3 destroyed
Hurricane IIc Trop: 2 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Revenge, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Resolution, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CA Hawkins
CA Sussex

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
22 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
No.888 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(21 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 21 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
VMF-123 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-213 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
No.113 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
No.146 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
23rd FG/75th FS with P-38E Lightning (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 34000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 34000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes

I should have waited with the battleships until I could get the base attack campaign going. I was lulled by the recon readings that only fighters were based at Colombo. The battleship speed was the issue, as they were taking too long to get set up for their run in. Three CAs and a DD will continue with this, as they can make it in and out quickly. I also thought my CAP was sufficient, which it wasn't. Chalk this up a lesson learned. I'm learning lots of them in this game. One BB is at about 85 flt and the other at 55. This will probably consume their time until withdrawal.

A 55,000 ton ARD showed up at Seattle. I was going to send her to Adak, but it seemed overkill for that base, so she's enroute to Pearl for now. An AO and three DDs left Pearl to rendezvous.

Posted: **Wed Jun 03, 2015 4:57 pm**

May 1943 seems early for Georges to show up. Bummer! Your CAP probably would have done well enough against the Tojos, but the George is a generation better.

Posted: **Wed Jun 03, 2015 5:07 pm**

He has Jacks flying at Suva, so Cannonfodder sure knows how to work production. I wish my Japanese game would flow that smoothly.

Posted: **Wed Jun 03, 2015 9:35 pm**

05 May 1943

The Battle of Ceylon continues.

It started off innocently enough...

Night Naval bombardment of Colombo at 29,48

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 46 damaged
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 54 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 destroyed on ground
N1K1-J George: 19 damaged
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
DD Maikaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CA Frobisher
CA Hawkins
CA Sussex
CA Shropshire
DD Isaac Sweers

Japanese ground losses:
187 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Airbase hits 32
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 38

CA Frobisher firing at Colombo
CA Hawkins firing at Colombo
CA Sussex firing at Colombo
Seagull V acting as spotter for CA Shropshire
CA Shropshire firing at Colombo
DD Isaac Sweers firing at Colombo

He had to have known what was in the works, as the rats started to flee.

Sub attack near Koggala at 28,51

Japanese Ships
E Otori, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Kingfish

SS Kingfish launches 2 torpedoes at E Otori
Sub escapes detection

Then he set up something to catch me on the way back. I wouldn't have done this. The guns on the DDs and CLs will barely scratch the paint of a real cruiser. Torps tend to hit so infrequently as to make this risky. On the other hand, Oi must have 8" of armor everywhere, as she was shedding 8" and 7.5" shells.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Trivandrum at 27,44, Range 13,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Yura
CL Oi, Shell hits 13, heavy fires
DD Hagikaze
DD Oshio
DD Arashio, Shell hits 1
DD Asagumo

Allied Ships
CA Shropshire, Shell hits 3
CA Sussex, Shell hits 3
CA Hawkins, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Frobisher
DD Isaac Sweers, Shell hits 2, heavy fires

Reduced visibility due to Rain
Maximum visibility in Rain: 15,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 13,000 yards
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 13,000 yards
CL Oi launches Long Lance Torpedoes at CA Frobisher at 13,000 yards
CL Oi fires at CA Hawkins at 13,000 yards
CL Oi fires at CA Sussex at 13,000 yards
DD Arashio launches Long Lance Torpedoes at DD Isaac Sweers at 13,000 yards
DD Hagikaze launches Long Lance Torpedoes at DD Isaac Sweers at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CL Oi engages CA Frobisher at 9,000 yards
CL Oi engages CA Hawkins at 9,000 yards
CL Oi engages CA Sussex at 9,000 yards
CL Oi engages CA Shropshire at 9,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Isaac Sweers at 9,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Hagikaze at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CL Oi engages CA Hawkins at 5,000 yards
CL Oi engages CA Sussex at 5,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Isaac Sweers at 5,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Arashio at 5,000 yards
DD Hagikaze engages DD Isaac Sweers at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CL Oi engages CA Frobisher at 7,000 yards
CL Oi engages CA Hawkins at 7,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Isaac Sweers at 7,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Isaac Sweers at 7,000 yards
DD Hagikaze engages DD Isaac Sweers at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Sussex engages CL Oi at 10,000 yards
CL Yura engages CA Hawkins at 10,000 yards
CL Yura engages CA Sussex at 10,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Arashio at 10,000 yards
DD Arashio engages DD Isaac Sweers at 10,000 yards
DD Hagikaze engages DD Isaac Sweers at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 14,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages CL Oi at 14,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages CL Oi at 14,000 yards
CL Oi engages CA Sussex at 14,000 yards
CL Yura engages CA Shropshire at 14,000 yards
CA Shropshire engages DD Hagikaze at 14,000 yards
Range increases to 15,000 yards
CL Oi engages CA Frobisher at 15,000 yards
CL Oi engages CA Hawkins at 15,000 yards
CL Yura engages CA Sussex at 15,000 yards
CL Oi engages CA Shropshire at 15,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Oshio at 15,000 yards
DD Hagikaze engages DD Isaac Sweers at 15,000 yards
Warwick R. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 19,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages CL Oi at 19,000 yards
CL Yura engages CA Shropshire at 19,000 yards
CL Oi engages CA Shropshire at 19,000 yards
DD Hagikaze engages DD Isaac Sweers at 19,000 yards
Range increases to 20,000 yards
CL Yura engages CA Frobisher at 20,000 yards
CL Yura engages CA Frobisher at 20,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Isaac Sweers at 20,000 yards
CA Shropshire engages DD Arashio at 20,000 yards
DD Oshio engages DD Isaac Sweers at 20,000 yards
Range increases to 21,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages CL Oi at 21,000 yards
CL Yura engages CA Hawkins at 21,000 yards
CL Yura engages CA Sussex at 21,000 yards
CA Shropshire engages CL Yura at 21,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages CL Oi at 20,000 yards
CA Shropshire engages CL Yura at 20,000 yards
CA Sussex engages CL Yura at 20,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages DD Arashio at 20,000 yards
CL Yura engages DD Isaac Sweers at 20,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages DD Hagikaze at 20,000 yards
Range increases to 21,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages CL Oi at 21,000 yards
CL Yura engages CA Hawkins at 21,000 yards
CL Yura engages CA Sussex at 21,000 yards
CA Shropshire engages CL Yura at 21,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages DD Hagikaze at 21,000 yards
CA Shropshire engages CL Oi at 21,000 yards
CL Oi engages CA Hawkins at 21,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages DD Asagumo at 21,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages DD Oshio at 21,000 yards
CA Frobisher engages DD Hagikaze at 21,000 yards
Range increases to 22,000 yards
Range increases to 24,000 yards
Range increases to 29,000 yards
Task forces break off...

I was happy to live with this until his sub covering the whole affair chimed in.

ASW attack near Cochin at 28,40

Japanese Ships
SS I-157

Allied Ships
CA Shropshire, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

SS I-157 launches 6 torpedoes at CA Shropshire
I-157 bottoming out ....
Escort abandons search for sub

Shropshire should make it back. Flt was over 50, but she's close enough to Cochin. I'm wishing that RN carrier was around at this point.

Elsewhere, my first squadron of P-47D2s arrive in Eastern USA, fully stocked. The production line doesn't start up for another two months. I thought about going to India with them, but the drop tanks aren't available yet, so range is the same as a P-40E. I'll eventually get them over to one of the Samoa bases.

An Indian division arrives at Aden. Not enough xAPs to send it all, so I'm debating doing it in chunks.

I'm launching a massive airfield raid on Colombo next turn. Lots of B-24s, B-25s, Wellingtons and the like. Escort will be handled by two squadrons of P-38Es, one of P-38Gs, Two F4U-1 and a little group of Boomerangs, which can just make it from Madras, with tanks. Hopefully CAP is weak after the bombardment. If it works well, I'll keep it up for a week.

Forgot to mention... I caught his CL/DD force with some A-20s, but like a dummy, I didn't watch the altitude and they bombed from 9,000 ft, with predictable results.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Trivandrum at 27,44

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
A-20A1 Havoc x 16
P-38E Lightning x 17

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Oi, heavy fires
DD Asagumo

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x A-20A1 Havoc bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Oi

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

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Trivandrum at 27,44

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
A-20A1 Havoc x 15
P-38E Lightning x 16
P-40K Warhawk x 19

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Asagumo
CL Oi, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x A-20A1 Havoc bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Oi

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