Some scenario design help please

[Unhappy]

Hi. I'm working on an Indian Ocean scenario - the Japanese attack on Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in April 1942. I've attached a screenshot of the map. I've added some bases (Trincomalee, Colombo, Ratmalana, Koggala, Addu Atoll, Rangoon) but would appreciate it if anyone could provide me with info on other air/naval bases that should also be included and, if possible, the air assets stationed there. That would be a big help to me. Any suggestions please let me know.

Thanks.

[Stele]

Afraid I can't answer your question, however I have one for you.

Where were you able to get your map? I'm trying to work on a scenario myself, but I need a good clean map.

[Kiwi Red One]

Hi Unhappy

Here is a list of the air assets that I used in my CCAW Ceylon Scenario that I did a few years ago. My main source is Volume 2 of Chris Shores and Brian Culls book "Bloodly Shambles" published by Grub Street.

Firstly can I suggest that you add the following bases (as per the map):

Allied:
Racecourse (at Columbo)
China Bay (main military airfield at Trincomalee)
Bombay (India - use this a destination for convoy traffic travelling round S India from Calcutta to Bombay that the Japanese Malaya Force can try to intercept)
Akyab (On SW Burma coast)

Axis:
Port Blair (Andaman Islands)
Sabang (Northern Sumatra)
Mingaladon (Rangoon)

British Air OOB (RAF unless noted, FAA = Fleet Air Arm, RCAF = Royal Canadian Air Force, IAF = Indian Air Force)

Ratamalana:
30 Sqn - 22 Hurricane II
803 Sqn FAA - 6 Fulmar II
806 Sqn FAA - 6 Fulmar II
11 Sqn - 17 Blenheim IV

Racecourse:
258 Sqn - 16 Hurricane II

China Bay:
261 Sqn - 17 Hurricane II
273 Sqn - 16 Fulmar II
788 Sqn FAA - 9 Swordfish

Koggala: (all Catalinas)
202 Sqn - 1
205 Sqn - 1
240 Sqn - 3
413 Sqn RCAF - 6
GVT-2 (Dutch from Java) - 4

Bombay:
1 Sqn IAF - 12 Mohawk II

Akyab:
139 Sqn - 12 Hudson III

Additionally there were some Indian Air Force "Coastal Defence Flights" based at various airstrips along the Indian East Coast. These each had small numbers (2-4)of obsolete biplanes (e.g. Westland Wapiti) or impressed civilian airliners (e.g. DH 98 Rapide) for coastal patrolling.

Fleet Air Arm afloat:
HMS Indomitable:
800 Sqn - 12 Fulmar II
880 Sqn - 9 Sea Hurricane IIB
827 Sqn - 12 Albacore I
830 Sqn - 12 Albacore I

HMS Formidable:
888 Sqn - 14 Martlet II
818 Sqn - 12 Albacore I
820 Sqn - 12 Albacore I

HMS Hermes:
814 Sqn - 12 Swordfish

It's getting late here so I will post the Japanese stuff tomorrow.

Hope this helps

Cheers
KRO

PS any chance of getting a copy of the map you are using? I'm still working on the two you sent me a while ago.

ORIGINAL: Unhappy

Hi. I'm working on an Indian Ocean scenario - the Japanese attack on Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in April 1942. I've attached a screenshot of the map. I've added some bases (Trincomalee, Colombo, Ratmalana, Koggala, Addu Atoll, Rangoon) but would appreciate it if anyone could provide me with info on other air/naval bases that should also be included and, if possible, the air assets stationed there. That would be a big help to me. Any suggestions please let me know.

Thanks.

[Unhappy]

_Stele,

The map was Ryan Crierie's suggestion - the Space Shuttle Topographic something-or-other. LINK: MAP you need to click on the mercator projection link and download the map (it's 125 MB)

I just highlight (draw a box around) the area I'm interested in and then hit edit/copy image. Then paste it into some image editing software (again - I use MS Paint because it appeals to the simpleton in me). I believe it needs to be scaled to a certain size (1097x1089) for use in CAW. At least that is what I do. Best of luck.

[Unhappy]

Kiwi! Thank you! This is awesome information - exactly what I wanted...if you get a chance I'd really appreciate it if you could add the info on the Japanese side. I'm trying to pay more attention to historical accuracy this time around. The links for the map with and without hexes follow:

Indian Ocean Map
Indian Ocean Map with Hexes

[Kiwi Red One]

Hi Unhappy

Thanks for the map links....downloaded

Here is what I have on the Japanese:

Port Blair: (flying boats only, no airfield)
1/Toko Kokutai - 12 H6K Mavis
2/Toko Kokutai - 8 F1M Pete

Sabang:
1/Mohiro Kokutai - 18 G3M Nell
2/Morhiro Kokutai - 12 A6M2 Zero

Mingaladon:
1/Genzan Kokutai - 18 G3M Nell
1/22 Air Flotilla - 18 A6M2 Zero
2/22 Air Flotilla - 4 C5M1 Babs

First Air Fleet: (figures after / are number of replacements carried on board)
Akagi:
1/AI - 9/3 A6M2 Zero
2/AI - 9/3 A6M2 Zero
3/AI - 12/0 D3A Val
4/AI - 12/0 D3A Val
5/AI - 21/0 B5N Kate

Soryu:
1/BI - 9/3 A6M2 Zero
2/BI - 9/3 A6M2 Zero
3/BI - 21/0 D3A Val
4/BI - 9/0 B5N Kate
5/BI - 12/0 B5N Kate

Hiryu:
1/BII - 9/3 A6M2 Zero
2/BII - 9/3 A6M2 Zero
3/BII - 12/0 D3A Val
4/BII - 9/0 D3A Val
5/BII - 21/0 B5N Kate

Shokaku:
1/EII - 9/3 A6M2 Zero
2/EII - 9/3 A6M2 Zero
3/EII - 10/3 D3A Val
4/EII - 10/3 D3A Val
5/EII - 22/6 B5N Kate

Zuikaku:
1/EI - 9/3 A6M2 Zero
2/EI - 9/3 A6M2 Zero
3/EI - 21/6 D3A Val
4/EI - 10/3 B5N Kate
5/EI - 12/3 B5N Kate

Malaya Force:
Ryujo:
1/CII - 9/0 A6M2 Zero
2/CII - 9/0 A6M2 Zero
3/CII - 12 B5N Kate

Recce Seaplanes:
Mikuma:
II/CD4 - 3/0 E8N Dave
Mogami:
III/CD4 - 3/0 E8N Dave
Haruna:
IV/BD3 - 3/0 E13A Jake
Chokai:
II/CD3 - 3/0 E13A Jake
Kumano:
I/CD4 - 3/0 E13A Jake
Suzuya:
IV/CD4 - 3/0 E13A Jake
Chikuma:
I/CD5 - 5/0 E13A Jake
Tone:
II/CD5 - 5/0 E13A Jake
Kongo:
I/BD3 - 3/0 F1M Pete
Hiei:
II/BD3 - 3/0 F1M Pete
Kirishima:
III/BD3 - 3/0 F1M Pete

I hope that helps....if you need any other info on anything else drop me a line or post something here, I drop in most days.

Cheers
KRO

[Unhappy]

Kiwi,

Thank you again! Think I have now added all the bases and squadrons that you provided (except I am letting Trincomalee, Colombo and Rangoon serve as China Bay, Racecourse and Mingaladon respectively) Quite a few more air assets than I expected at the outset but that is good! Next I suppose I will have to try to fudge some graphics for the allied ships and planes not already included. I have many of them already but I need to add a lot of animations. For the ships I'm using the OOB from this website So many destroyers! You mentioned including a convoy from Calcutta to Bombay. I think that is a great idea - I can set it up as an Allied supply mission. I'm torn over whether to ask for more help or not...I sure need it but I don't want to push my luck either! But if you or anyone else has suggestions on the composition of the various Task Groups that would assist me. Sounds like I should get a copy of the book, "Bloody Shambles", that you mentioned.

[Stele]

Thanks for pointing the site out, Unhappy. Great resource for clean maps.

[Ophion]

Unhappy - I used to have this scenario but its been a good 5 years.
I think you have most of the info I can remember being in the scenario, except I remember the british forces had a decent battleship group as well.

[Unhappy]

I'm making slow progress on this...still a lot of work to do, especially in the warroom. Here is a screen cap showing the main map with allied taskgroups. I'm still soliciting any suggestions. Once I get a working version I think I'll make it available for feedback if anybody is interested.

[Stele]

Looking forward to it, Unhappy.  Keep up the good work.

[Unhappy]

Anybody happen to know anything about the floatplanes that were onboard Warspite, Revenge, Resolution, Ramilles and Royal Sovereign around ~April 1942ish? I can probably just fudge it but if somebody could tell me that would be great.

Thanks.

[Gregor_SSG]

ORIGINAL: Unhappy

Anybody happen to know anything about the floatplanes that were onboard Warspite, Revenge, Resolution, Ramilles and Royal Sovereign around ~April 1942ish? I can probably just fudge it but if somebody could tell me that would be great.

Thanks.

I understand them to be the venerable Supermarine Walrus a strange biplane contraption that looks about as aerodynamic as London double-decker bus, and was probably designed contemporaneously. It would seem to need all of its two wings just to get airborne, but fly it did.

Stats are as follows (in the order in the Editor)

Recon 3 Men 80kts 600lbs Excellent Poor Hopeless 5h 6h 7h 1 2 0 0 Seaplane Allied

Manufacturer: Supermarine
Power Plant: 1-775hp Bristol Pegasus
Dimensions: WS 45.9'; Length 37.2'
Maximum Speed: 117 knots at 4,750'
Armament: 3-Vickers 'K'
Payload: 500 lbs bombs
Total Prod'n: 743
In Service: FAA, RAF (1935-1945)

Hope this helps.

Gregor

[Unhappy]

Gregor, thanks very much. I added the Supermarine Walrus (see below).