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It's been a long time since I did an AAR on the matrix forums. I suspect I won't be updating this AAR often, but will attempt to at least track the larger themes/events. This is the matchup against Loka. He and I are playing a Stock Scenario 2 campaign with stacking limits and no rules.

Currently the date is April 9, 1942. During the first few months, Loka attempted an invasion of Hawaii, which was rebuffed with heavy losses. The Allies also ambushed the IJN in a surface action in the Java Sea where the Japanese lost CV Kaga and CVE Hosho. Loka regrouped after these losses and methodically advanced in the SRA until he captured the entire region, with the last remaining holdout being the Allied forces in Clark/Bataan. Loka is now engaged in his phase 2 operations, which included the full seizure of Ceylon (abandoned) and Diego Garcia (defended). The Allies in the meantime are staging their first invasion of the war, an attempt to seize Midway. Here is the overall score:

I have never lost China before in this game, but I suspect this will be the first time I do so. Given we are playing with no rules, Loka is allowed to leverage the Kwantung Army in China and that's exactly what he did. I am holding up as much as possible, but am facing overwhelming numbers:

Allied naval losses thus far have been relatively light. In addition to the below, I have lost 25 destroyers but no submarines. The Japanese have lost, besides Kaga and Hosho, half a dozen light cruisers and a substantial number of destroyers and submarines. The IJN has still not lost any BBs or CAs however.

April 9

The first Allied invasion of the war is a success. Midway is taken.

April 11, 1942

Loka went for the Indian invasion, but I was prepared. I correctly deduced both the timing and location of his landing attempt (Calicut) and sent multiple task forces straigth at it. The result was pretty devestating with 2-3 divisions plus multipe support units sunk:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Calicut at 29,38, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano, Shell hits 8
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 2
DD Mikazuki, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Yuzuki, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Java, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Tromp
CLAA Van Heemskerck
DD Banckert
DD Van Nes
DD Witte de With, Shell hits 1
DD Evertsen

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Calicut at 29,38, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsukaze
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
APD Aoi
TB Kasasagi
TB Kamo, Shell hits 1, on fire
PB Sozan Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAK Arizona Maru
xAK Kazuura Maru
xAK Shinanogawa Maru
xAK Kaiko Maru
xAK Eihuku Maru
PB Kamitu Maru
PB Sensan Maru, Shell hits 1
PB Taikei Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAK Ehime Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Boston Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Kisaragi Maru
xAK Kureha Maru #3
xAK Misaku Maru
xAK Nichiran Maru
xAK Nissen Maru #3
xAK Otake Maru
xAK Sakido Maru
xAK Nitiryu Maru
xAK Nitiren Maru
xAK Toei Maru
xAK Unyo Maru #2
xAK Yosida Maru #3
xAK Yosida Maru #1

Allied Ships
CL Java, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Tromp, Shell hits 5, on fire
CLAA Van Heemskerck
DD Banckert, Shell hits 1
DD Van Nes, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Witte de With, Shell hits 1
DD Evertsen, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
1006 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 83 destroyed, 80 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 1 disabled

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Calicut at 29,38, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Asagao, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
E Hashidate, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DMS W-9, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DMS W-11, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Awazisan Maru, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Ayatosan Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Yamasimo Maru, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Hawaii Maru, Shell hits 11, heavy fires
xAK Anyo Maru, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1
xAK Kashii Maru, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kano Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Kirishima Maru, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Hakkai Maru, Shell hits 3
xAK Hokkai Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
xAK Hokuroku Maru, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Nankai Maru
xAK Tokai Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Tokyo Maru
xAK Arimasan Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Dauntless
CL Caledon, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Capetown
CL Colombo
DD Vampire
DD Vendetta
DD Piet Hein
DD Van Ghent

Japanese ground losses:
7357 casualties reported
Squads: 319 destroyed, 270 disabled
Non Combat: 183 destroyed, 168 disabled
Engineers: 61 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 188 (179 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 35 (35 destroyed, 0 disabled)

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Calicut at 29,38, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsukaze, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
APD Aoi, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
TB Kasasagi, Shell hits 20, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
TB Kamo, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
PB Sozan Maru, heavy fires
xAK Arizona Maru, Shell hits 3
xAK Kazuura Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Shinanogawa Maru, Shell hits 2
xAK Kaiko Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Eihuku Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
PB Kamitu Maru, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Sensan Maru, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Taikei Maru, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
xAK Ehime Maru, and is sunk
xAK Kisaragi Maru
xAK Kureha Maru #3, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Misaku Maru
xAK Nichiran Maru, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Nissen Maru #3, Shell hits 2
xAK Otake Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Sakido Maru
xAK Nitiryu Maru
xAK Nitiren Maru, Shell hits 3
xAK Toei Maru
xAK Unyo Maru #2, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Yosida Maru #3, Shell hits 2
xAK Yosida Maru #1, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Dauntless, Shell hits 1
CL Capetown, Shell hits 2
CL Colombo, Shell hits 1
DD Vampire
DD Vendetta, Shell hits 2
DD Piet Hein

Japanese ground losses:
1227 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 71 disabled
Non Combat: 36 destroyed, 115 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 17 disabled
Guns lost 43 (18 destroyed, 25 disabled)

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Calicut at 29,38, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Sozan Maru, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
xAK Arizona Maru, Shell hits 35, and is sunk
xAK Kazuura Maru, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
xAK Shinanogawa Maru, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Kaiko Maru, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Eihuku Maru, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
PB Kamitu Maru, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
PB Sensan Maru, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
xAK Kisaragi Maru, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
xAK Kureha Maru #3, Shell hits 44, and is sunk
xAK Misaku Maru, Shell hits 26, and is sunk
xAK Nichiran Maru, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
xAK Nissen Maru #3, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Otake Maru, Shell hits 30, and is sunk
xAK Sakido Maru, Shell hits 26, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Nitiryu Maru, Shell hits 33, and is sunk
xAK Nitiren Maru, Shell hits 33, and is sunk
xAK Toei Maru, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Unyo Maru #2, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Yosida Maru #3, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Yosida Maru #1, Shell hits 48, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Hobart, Shell hits 2
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 1
CL Concord
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Stronghold
DD Express
DD Isis

Japanese ground losses:
17710 casualties reported
Squads: 471 destroyed, 775 disabled
Non Combat: 725 destroyed, 1164 disabled
Engineers: 184 destroyed, 83 disabled
Guns lost 281 (215 destroyed, 66 disabled)
Vehicles lost 113 (105 destroyed, 8 disabled)

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Calicut at 29,38, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
E Hashidate, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
DMS W-11, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
AK Awazisan Maru, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
AK Ayatosan Maru, Shell hits 39, and is sunk
xAK Hawaii Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
xAK Anyo Maru, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
xAK Kashii Maru, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Kano Maru, Shell hits 26, and is sunk
xAK Kirishima Maru, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Hakkai Maru, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
xAK Hokkai Maru, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
xAK Hokuroku Maru, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
xAK Nankai Maru, Shell hits 27, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Tokyo Maru, Shell hits 21, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Boise
DD Mustin
DD Russell
DD O'Brien, Shell hits 1
DD Walke, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
25954 casualties reported
Squads: 667 destroyed, 1433 disabled
Non Combat: 1149 destroyed, 1586 disabled
Engineers: 127 destroyed, 58 disabled
Guns lost 257 (204 destroyed, 53 disabled)
Vehicles lost 49 (47 destroyed, 2 disabled)

The battle on the air was also intense, with KB strikes on the Allies task forces being intercepted by well positioned CAP:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Calicut at 29,38

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 66 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 41
B5N2 Kate x 13
D3A1 Val x 18

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 13
P-39D Airacobra x 66
P-40E Warhawk x 64

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 8 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 10 destroyed

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

Allied Ships
CL Hobart

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Calicut at 29,38

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 53 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 31
B5N2 Kate x 64
D3A1 Val x 28

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 11
P-39D Airacobra x 59
P-40E Warhawk x 54

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 20 destroyed, 2 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Marblehead, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CL Hobart, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Express
CL Concord, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Stronghold

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
9 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
19 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Calicut at 29,38

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 12

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 8
P-39D Airacobra x 53
P-40E Warhawk x 52

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

There were also several CAP traps in India, taking the overall air losses for the day to the following:

The situation around Calicut remains very messy, and I expect to lose several of my light cruisers over the next turn, as they are both out of ammo and several of them are damaged.

I think that the best land battles are when the enemy transports are loaded with troops when they are sunk. I think that sinking ships loaded with aircraft are the best air battles as well.

April 12, 1942

Well, turns out I didn't lose many CLs after all. A couple of damaged CLs will have to be scuttled, but with my carriers brining up the rear near Addu Loka mostly dispersed his remaining transports and flank sped out of the danger zone with KB and company. I did manage to hunt down a number of still partially full xAPs on the way out though.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Calicut at 28,38, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAP Montevideo Maru, Shell hits 23, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Boise
DD O'Brien

Japanese ground losses:
2797 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 54 disabled
Non Combat: 86 destroyed, 73 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 78 (70 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled)

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Calicut at 28,38, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAP Huso Maru, Shell hits 21, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Boise
DD O'Brien

Japanese ground losses:
2885 casualties reported
Squads: 51 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 71 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 83 (78 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 17 (15 destroyed, 2 disabled)

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Calicut at 28,38, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAP Takatiho Maru, Shell hits 19, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Boise
DD O'Brien

Japanese ground losses:
3346 casualties reported
Squads: 32 destroyed, 50 disabled
Non Combat: 126 destroyed, 93 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (9 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (15 destroyed, 0 disabled)

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Calicut at 29,38, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAP Rakuyo Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Boise
DD O'Brien

Japanese ground losses:
84 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

The Magwe hex, with its oil fields, had flipped the turn prior. I tried to have my aircraft strike it last turn but was grounded by weather. This time the weather was suitable though, and my aircraft flew (although some bomber squadrons arrive in the afternoon when the CAP had recovered). We lost an equal number of aircraft, but I did damage half of the oil fields so the operation was a clear success.

April 13, 1942

Expecting Loka to run his ships under Colombo's CAP. I took a big risk by moving up the fleet carriers within range of Colombo and sent out strikes preceded by lots of sweeps. There were also plenty of sweeps launched against Magwe. Following the sweeps, the carriers strike:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Colombo at 29,48

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 9
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 2

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 32
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
SBD-2 Dauntless x 51
SBD-3 Dauntless x 101
TBD-1 Devastator x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 2 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
TBD-1 Devastator: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Abukuma, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Asakaze Maru
xAK Chicago Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Tatutaki Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kinugawa Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Lyons Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Keisho Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Teihoku Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Toba Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kinjosan Maru, Bomb hits 8, and is sunk
xAK Taibun Maru, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
CL Nagara, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAP Atsuta Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Sado Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Johore Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Yasukawa Maru, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk
xAK Kogane Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Terukawa Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAP Manzyu Maru
xAK Mexico Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Kanzyu Maru
xAK Syoan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PB Taiko Maru, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Ayanami
DD Numakaze, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Karukaya, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
360 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 51 destroyed, 125 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 130 (101 destroyed, 29 disabled)

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Colombo at 29,48

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 10
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 6

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 9
F2A-3 Buffalo x 38
F4F-3 Wildcat x 17
SBD-2 Dauntless x 17
SBD-3 Dauntless x 32
TBD-1 Devastator x 30

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 3 destroyed
F2A-3 Buffalo: 1 destroyed by flak
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed by flak
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Abukuma, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Chicago Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Lyons Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Johore Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Karukaya, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Amatsukaze
DD Akatsuki
xAP Atsuta Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Syoan Maru, heavy fires
xAK Lisbon Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Sado Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Asakaze Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Nagara, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Yamakaze Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Mexico Maru, on fire
xAP Manzyu Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires

Japanese ground losses:
398 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)


Other smaller strikes also took place around Ceylon, with Mogami hit by two bombs and a couple more xAKs sunk.

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

The Japanese launched a strike of their own from Trincomalee.
The result in the air for the day:

April 13, 1942

The turn starts with a night naval engagement between Japanese and American heavy cruisers. Portland is sunk and Chicago damaged, but I am pretty certain both Mogami and Furutaka are sunk.

Further surface actions during the night:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Koggala at 28,50, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
MTB G-7, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
MTB G-1, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
MTB G-2, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
MTB G-3, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Canberra
CA Dorsetshire
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Exeter
DD McCall
DD Maury

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Colombo at 29,48, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Asakaze Maru, and is sunk
xAK Yamakaze Maru, and is sunk
xAP Kanzyu Maru, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Manzyu Maru, Shell hits 6, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Anderson

Japanese ground losses:
2494 casualties reported
Squads: 25 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 98 destroyed, 118 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 133 (70 destroyed, 63 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (7 destroyed, 2 disabled)

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Colombo at 29,48, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Shonan Maru #2, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Mexico Maru, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
xAK Lisbon Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Canberra
CA Dorsetshire
CA Exeter
DD McCall

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 31 (31 destroyed, 0 disabled)

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Colombo at 29,48, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Otori Maru, Shell hits 11, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Canberra
CA Dorsetshire
CA Exeter
DD McCall

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Colombo at 28,49, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Terukawa Maru, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Mauritius
CL Newcastle
CL Trenton

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 22 (6 destroyed, 16 disabled)

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Colombo at 29,48, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Kusuyama Maru, Shell hits 22, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Mauritius
CL Newcastle
CL Trenton

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 60 (27 destroyed, 33 disabled)

Bombardment of Colombo:

A Kagero class DD is sunk

I don't think Loka is getting invited to a lot of IJA reunions.

anarchyintheuk wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2024 5:40 pm I don't think Loka is getting invited to a lot of IJA reunions.

There aren't any, because all the alumni are dead.

anarchyintheuk wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2024 5:40 pm I don't think Loka is getting invited to a lot of IJA reunions.

Heh. So, Desert Wolf, you anticipated that Indian invasion pretty well. You must have brought all your CVs and I'm guessing about 75% of your operable cruisers. Can you tell us how you knew it was happening and how much warning you had?

Cheers,
CB

CaptBeefheart wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2024 6:34 am

anarchyintheuk wrote: Thu Sep 12, 2024 5:40 pm I don't think Loka is getting invited to a lot of IJA reunions.

Heh. So, Desert Wolf, you anticipated that Indian invasion pretty well. You must have brought all your CVs and I'm guessing about 75% of your operable cruisers. Can you tell us how you knew it was happening and how much warning you had?

Cheers,
CB

Well let's see, there are a few reasons.

- Timing wise it was close to the end of the amphib bonus period and I was expecting some kind of phase 2 operation
- I knew most of his good unrestricted divisions were around Singapore which pointed to Ceylon/India
- SIGINT showed heavy traffic towards Singapore and Sabang
- Loka was holding back in Burma which pointed to an operation in India (if he was going for Australia he would have built up his defenses in Burma)

The real damage was in anticipating the exact spot where he was going to land (Calicut). That prediction was down to the base having a level 2 airbase + level 3 port already built up, and I further enticed him by placing a single division there so he had the opportunity to land directly on top of it and overwhelm it with numerous IJA divisons. Figuring this out allowed me to flank speed my cruisers into Calicut right as his transport convoys arrived there.