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It's April 21, 1942. As IJN I began my invasion of Trincomalee a few days ago. It's been going pretty well. Hundreds of Allied A/C have been destroyed on Ceylon, at Madras and at Akyab, for the loss of perhaps a third as many of mine (mostly LBA based at Rangoon). I'm building up my force ashore quickly, and last turn my first deliberate assault got a 1-to-1 and took the forts down to 4. So now I'm going to do a shock attack; Halsey (my evil opponent) has cleverly stationed two brigades of the 18th British division in between Trincomalee and Colombo, ready to move either direction. I don't have to be a genius to figure out which way they are going to go. I turn one of my SCTFs into a bombardment mission; another SCTF is on its way back from Rangoon after replenishing there. For this one turn I will only have a single CA-based SCTF to anchor my forces on. But I'm not worried; after all, I've got KB.

The only thing that is nagging me is reports of subs, and the weather. I've been stuck in pretty much the same spot for the past 4 days: Trincomalee and the few hexes adjacent and two hexes away. Subs have been spotted. I have two ASWTFs deployed already, but I weaken my screens to create a third. The weather is atrocious. Thunderstorms for days. I have plotted 14 air missions since DDay; only one took place, the rest rained out.

I reorg my TFs and plot movement. Since I only have one SCTF, I set the CVTFs to follow ASWTFs instead. For the first time since arriving off Ceylon, I separate CVTFs into two separate hexes in an effort to dilute the enemy airstrikes. Unfortunately, I am not as careful as I should have been. My last SCTF is still set to follow its leader from the previous turn, a TF that now no longer exists.

The stage is set. Here is the result.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/21/42

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TF 92 encounters mine field at Trimcomalee (15,25)

TF 92 troops unloading over beach at Trimcomalee, 15,25


Japanese Ships
PG Kanko Maru
AK Huzikawa Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire
AK Kohuku Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 2

Coastal Guns at Trimcomalee, 15,25, firing at TF 92
330 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Sangetsu Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
AP Oridono Maru
PG Kanko Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
AP Nissho Maru

Japanese ground losses:
477 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 8

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TF 18 encounters mine field at Trimcomalee (15,25)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.4
MSW W.5
MSW W.6
MSW W.8
MSW W.9
MSW W.11
MSW W.1

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TF 84 encounters mine field at Trimcomalee (15,25)

Japanese Ships
PG Yoshida Maru
PG Nagata Maru
PG Ikunta Maru
APD APD-31

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TF 1029 encounters mine field at Mannargudi (16,23)

Allied Ships
PT PT-48, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

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TF 1040 encounters mine field at Mannargudi (16,23)

Allied Ships
PT PT-40, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

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ASW attack near Bali at 24,68

Japanese Ships
DD Oboro
DD Amagiri
DD Sagiri
DD Shikinami
DD Yugumo

Allied Ships
SS O21, hits 2, on fire

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Sub attack at 18,32

Japanese Ships
DD Isokaze, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Truant

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Coastal Guns at Trimcomalee, 15,25, firing at TF 34
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TF 34 encounters mine field at Trimcomalee (15,25)

TF 34 troops unloading over beach at Trimcomalee, 15,25


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TF 84 encounters mine field at Trimcomalee (15,25)

TF 84 troops unloading over beach at Trimcomalee, 15,25


Japanese Ships
PG Yoshida Maru
PG Sozan Maru
PG Nagata Maru
PG Ikunta Maru
PG Kaiun Maru

Coastal Guns at Trimcomalee, 15,25, firing at TF 84
580 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
PG Shinko Maru #2, Shell hits 6
PG Kaiun Maru, Shell hits 6
PG Yoshida Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
PG Sozan Maru, Shell hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
APD APD-31, Shell hits 1, on fire
PG Ikunta Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
2570 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 1

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TF 92 encounters mine field at Trimcomalee (15,25)

TF 92 troops unloading over beach at Trimcomalee, 15,25


Japanese Ships
PG Kanko Maru

Coastal Guns at Trimcomalee, 15,25, firing at TF 92
15 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Yoshida Maru #3, Shell hits 6

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ASW attack near Bali at 24,68

Japanese Ships
DD Oboro
DD Amagiri
DD Sagiri
DD Shikinami
DD Yugumo

Allied Ships
SS O21, hits 2, heavy damage

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Day Air attack on Trimcomalee , at 15,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
D3A Val x 54
B5N Kate x 79

Allied aircraft
Sea Gladiator x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 8 destroyed, 6 damaged
B5N Kate: 11 destroyed, 37 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Sea Gladiator: 4 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port hits 22
Port fuel hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
19 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
20 x B5N Kate bombing at 2000 feet
24 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
23 x B5N Kate bombing at 2000 feet
19 x B5N Kate bombing at 2000 feet
12 x B5N Kate bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on Iloilo , at 42,56

Japanese aircraft
C5M Babs x 4
Ki-27 Nate x 30
Ki-21 Sally x 20

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 19

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-27 Nate bombing at 2000 feet
12 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
5 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Ki-27 Nate bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 16,26

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 49

Allied aircraft
Walrus x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Walrus: 5 destroyed

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Day Air attack on TF at 17,29


Allied aircraft
Walrus x 4


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
MSW W.2
AP Victoria Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Walrus bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Walrus bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Trimcomalee at 15,25


Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 5


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Yosyu Maru
AK Takao Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Beaufort V-IX launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Beaufort V-IX launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Trimcomalee at 15,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Hiyodori

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Blenheim I bombing at 3000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Trimcomalee at 15,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IV: 5 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AK Ryoka Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Blenheim IV bombing at 4000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Trimcomalee at 15,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 31

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 12
Wirraway x 14
Buffalo I x 21
Blenheim I x 12
Blenheim IV x 26
Beaufort I x 15
Beaufort V-IX x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Wirraway: 1 damaged
Buffalo I: 18 destroyed
Blenheim I: 11 destroyed
Blenheim IV: 4 destroyed
Beaufort I: 1 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 8 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AP Takuei Maru
AP Kikuryu Maru
AP Kaifuku Maru
AP Kuroshio Maru
AP Ryugi Maru
AP Tsuruga Maru, on fire
PG Nagata Maru
AP Sekko Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD APD-31, on fire
AP Nissen Maru #3
AP Shinyo Maru
AP Miyako Maru
AP Yoshinogawa Maru
AP Shoho Maru
AP Shinko Maru
AP Tamatsu Maru
AP Mikage Maru #2
AP Kyuden Maru
AP Shuko Maru
AP Nachisan Maru
AP Yamakisan Maru
AP Neikai Maru
AP Sumiyoshi Maru
AP Tamashima Maru
AP Konsan Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x Blenheim I bombing at 3000 feet
1 x Beaufort V-IX launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Beaufort V-IX launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x Blenheim I bombing at 3000 feet
2 x Wirraway bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 4000 feet
4 x Beaufort I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x Blenheim IV bombing at 7000 feet
2 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
3 x Beaufort I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x Blenheim IV bombing at 7000 feet
2 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
2 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x Beaufort V-IX launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 4000 feet
2 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
4 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Blenheim I bombing at 3000 feet
4 x Beaufort V-IX launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Beaufort V-IX launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Wirraway bombing at 2000 feet
4 x Wirraway bombing at 2000 feet
4 x Wirraway bombing at 2000 feet
4 x Beaufort I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Beaufort I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Blenheim IV bombing at 7000 feet
4 x Blenheim IV bombing at 3000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Trimcomalee at 15,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
MSW Tama Maru #2

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Wirraway bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Trimcomalee at 15,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 2
Blenheim I x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 2 destroyed
Blenheim I: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AP Sangetsu Maru, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Blenheim I bombing at 3000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Trimcomalee at 15,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29

Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Yugiri

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Beaufort V-IX launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Trimcomalee at 15,25

Japanese Ships (this was an ASW TF)
DD Yudachi, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Samidare, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
DD Yugiri, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
DD Sazanami, Shell hits 31, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire, Shell hits 3
CA Cornwall
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 1
CL Emerald, Shell hits 1
CL Glasgow
DD Decoy
DD Electra
DD Encounter
DD Fortune, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Foxhound
DD Griffin
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Trimcomalee at 15,25

Japanese Ships (this was a transport TF)
AK Isin Maru, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
AK Shinyubari Maru, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
AK Takao Maru, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
AK Tone Maru, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
AP Yosyu Maru, Shell hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
AK Sensan Maru, on fire
AK Tetsuzan Maru
AK Akagane Maru
AK Toyo Maru, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
AK Shoko Maru, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Seitai Maru, Shell hits 19, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire
CA Cornwall
CL De Ruyter
CL Emerald
CL Glasgow
DD Decoy, Shell hits 1
DD Electra
DD Encounter
DD Fortune, on fire
DD Foxhound
DD Griffin

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Trimcomalee at 15,25

Japanese Ships (this was an MSW TF)
DD Hiyodori, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
MSW W.1, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
MSW W.4, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
MSW W.5, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
MSW W.6, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
MSW W.8, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
MSW W.9, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
MSW W.11, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire, Shell hits 2
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 2
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 1
CL Emerald
CL Glasgow, Shell hits 1
DD Decoy, Shell hits 1
DD Electra
DD Encounter
DD Fortune, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Foxhound, Shell hits 1
DD Griffin
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Day Time Surface Combat at 16,26

Japanese Ships (this was an ASW TF)
DD Shirakumo, Shell hits 2
DD Isonami, Shell hits 22, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Murakumo, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Warspite, Shell hits 1
BB Revenge
BB Ramilles, Shell hits 1
CA Devonshire
CL Enterprise
CL Mauritius, Shell hits 1
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Jupiter, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Napier
DD Nestor
DD Nizam, Shell hits 1
DD Norman

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Day Time Surface Combat at 16,26

Japanese Ships (this was an ASW TF)
DD Shirakumo, Shell hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
DD Isonami, and is sunk
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 22, on fire, heavy damage
DD Murakumo, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 21, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Warspite, Shell hits 3
BB Revenge, Shell hits 1
BB Ramilles, Shell hits 1
CA Devonshire
CL Enterprise
CL Mauritius
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Jupiter, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Napier
DD Nestor
DD Nizam
DD Norman
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Day Time Surface Combat at 16,26

Japanese Ships (this was a transport TF)
AP Kozui Maru
AP Achou Maru
AP Aiyo Maru, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AP Akashisan Maru, Shell hits 14, on fire, heavy damage
AP Arugun Maru, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
AP Astuga Maru, Shell hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
AP Asama Maru, Shell hits 6, on fire
AP Ayo Maru, Shell hits 13, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Warspite
BB Revenge
BB Ramilles
CA Devonshire
CL Enterprise
CL Mauritius
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Jupiter, on fire
DD Napier
DD Nestor
DD Nizam
DD Norman

Japanese ground losses:
1591 casualties reported
Guns lost 37
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Day Time Surface Combat at 16,26

Japanese Ships (this was a replenishment TF)
AO Naruto, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
AO Tsurumi, Shell hits 36, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Warspite
BB Revenge
BB Ramilles
CA Devonshire
CL Enterprise
CL Mauritius
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Jupiter, on fire, heavy damage
DD Napier
DD Nestor
DD Nizam
DD Norman
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Day Time Surface Combat at 16,26

Japanese Ships (this was an ASW TF)
DD Shirakumo, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
DD Hatsuyuki, and is sunk
DD Murakumo, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Warspite
BB Revenge
BB Ramilles
CA Devonshire
CL Enterprise
CL Mauritius
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Jupiter, on fire, heavy damage
DD Napier
DD Nestor
DD Nizam
DD Norman

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Day Time Surface Combat at 16,26

Japanese Ships (this was a CVTF)
CV Akagi
CV Kaga
CVL Ryujo, Shell hits 1
CVL Zuiho, Shell hits 4, on fireCS Mizuho, Shell hits 1
CS Nisshin, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 29, and is sunk
CL Oi, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Hibiki, Shell hits 2
DD Kisaragi, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Yayoi, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Kikuzuki, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Nagatsuki, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Sawakaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Okikaze

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 4
BC Repulse, Shell hits 4
CA Exeter, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Birmingham, Shell hits 1
CL Newcastle
DD Van Nes, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Van Ghent, Shell hits 1
DD Tenedos, Shell hits 2
DD Thanet, Shell hits 1
DD Thracian, Shell hits 2, on fire
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Day Time Surface Combat at 16,26

Japanese Ships (this was a transport TF)
PG Eifuku Maru, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
PG Kaikei Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
TK Amatsu Maru, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
TK Gen'yo Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
TK Toa Maru, Shell hits 5
TK Tonan Maru #2, Shell hits 4
TK Zuiyo Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
TK Okigawa Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 1
BC Repulse
CA Exeter, and is sunk
CL Birmingham
CL Newcastle
DD Van Nes, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kortenaer, on fire, heavy damage
DD Van Ghent
DD Tenedos
DD Thanet, Shell hits 1
DD Thracian, Shell hits 1, on fire

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Ground combat at Trimcomalee

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 60981 troops, 639 guns, 119 vehicles

Defending force 33443 troops, 252 guns, 2 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2


Japanese ground losses:
945 casualties reported
Guns lost 18
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
1915 casualties reported
Guns lost 25


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Ground combat at Trimcomalee

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 20287 troops, 142 guns, 2 vehicles

Defending force 99884 troops, 808 guns, 123 vehicles

==================================================

Never saw them until the shells started flying, and not for lack of naval search; thunderstorms everywhere.

The point, if anyone missed it, is that in surface combat, regardless of the ships involved, non-SCTFs are screwed!

If you are tied to a beachhead, you must make certain that you have strong SCTFs in every hex that you have anything important in!!!

Well done, Halsey (you bastard)[;)]

BTW< I posted this here rather in AAR or War Room so it will drop off the top page faster!

Wow - certainly an exciting turn !!!

Not sure what was in the transports - but not sure it is over yet either ( for the IJN attack on Ceylon ) but "humbled" would at least be an appropriate description !

Obviously Halsey understands the principle of "massive counter attack" !!! Every plane and boat in the theater seems to have come at you this one turn !

Why KB no airstrike on any day time surface forces ?

Why KB no airstrike on any day time surface forces ?

Thunderstorms in every hex. Also, I had no contacts. DL 0 on all allied TFs. The naval combat occurred after both the air phases.

BTW< I posted this here rather in AAR or War Room so it will drop off the top page faster!

Bump [:'(]

Bump [:'(]

See, you aren't so bad, if you were really mean you would wait til it was almost off the page[:'(]

See, you aren't so bad, if you were really mean you would wait til it was almost off the page

Would you like it anchored forever? [:'(]

ORIGINAL: Mr.Frag

See, you aren't so bad, if you were really mean you would wait til it was almost off the page

Would you like it anchored forever? [:'(]

Hey, WTH, I'm sure Halsey will still be reminding me of it 30 years from now when we're both in some nursing home trying to find someone to play BotBulge (AH) with....[;)]

Since this invasion has 30% of all available IJA LCU's reserves in it, it looked like the right place to deploy the RN.

The million dollar question is? Where are the 4 RN CV's at?[;)]

I'm sure Halsey will still be reminding me of it 30 years from now

Thats why we play [:D]

Well, it looks like you certainly screwed up. Where was that SCTF of yours with the bogus orders? In the Trimcomalee hex?

It isn't hard to make the case that in a way you've been fortunate so far. Had either of his SCTFs gotten in amongst your APs at Trimcomalee the wreckage could well have been more severe still. And it still might be if you don't figure something nifty out pretty fast!

It almost looks as if Halsey was intentionally going for your CVs, though if so that was risky as he had to assume you'd be keeping them on the move from turn to turn, so exactly where would they be? If I'd been him I'd have gone for your invasion force at Trimcomalee straight off (this assumes his SCTFs had the movement points to reach Trimcomalee, which I don't know to be true).

I think the cardinal rule for all opposed invasions would be to only go in after you've amassed overwhelming force, and I've got to tell you that even with KB along for the ride you don't seem to have any such thing going for you in this example.

As far as KB is concerned, from what I can tell from AARs and player comments around the boards, there seems to be a general feeling out there that KB represents some kind of magical force that doesn't sail in water like everything else but somehow walks over it!

Wrong! [8D]

CV TFs are always at an intrinsic disadvantage against land-based airpower, especially if it's coming from different bases simultaneously, and if that land-based air power has fighters to act as an escort then those CVs are indeed at very high risk! For in that case any available bombers will simply swarm those carriers. In my PBEM I beat back a similar enemy overture aimed at Port Moresby (this was about six weeks ago game time, and in that situation my opponent wasn't trying to storm PM but just reduce its airpower), which included not only KB but pretty much all his other CV assets as well. My defense was conducted solely with fighters on CAP over the base and B-25s flying off PM looking for trouble over the water. That battle lasted precisely two turns. On the first turn, the Japanese reinforced their CV TF power with land-based bomber strikes from Rabaul. My CAP pretty much slaughtered all comers. On the second turn, the Japanese foolishly moved their CVs into range of my fighters (my opponent told me this was so his dive bombers could fly at normal range and thus with full loads), and now with an escort my B-25s flew into the fray, which resulted in three hits on IJN carriers in short order. The next turn my opponent quickly retraced his steps back to Truk to lick his wounds. And he hasn't been back since.

Next time you attack a base where you expect naval opposition bring twice as many surface-combat ships, better still three times as many. Even then you'll need to keep KB outside of enemy fighter-escort range, and even then pray that some bombers don't fly through anyway to mess up KB's day.

That's my reading of your AAR. [:)]

I can't accept that much credit to this operation. The TF commanders were the ones that decided who was going to be attacked. The IJN just happened to move a CV TF into the wrong hex hex. Oops, bye bye escorting forces.[;)]

This is day 4 or 5 of this operation and the LBA has been slaughtered by the IJN CAP.
60-70% of the Indian RAF is dead. To help the RN accomplish this I had to make sure the big IJN Bombardment groups were done and on there way back for replenishment. Only then was this attempt possible.[;)]

I'm sure the TF commanders don't realize it, but the big kill was taking out the MWS TF. Now my 1500+ minefield is protected a while longer. More collateral damage for the invasion TF's.[;)]

Well, it looks like you certainly screwed up.

You are such a dick.[:'(][;)]

It isn't hard to make the case that in a way you've been fortunate so far.

It also isn't hard to make the case that I was unfortunate regarding the weather.

Had either of his SCTFs gotten in amongst your APs at Trimcomalee the wreckage could well have been more severe still.

They did. There was surface combat in two different hexes.

And it still might be if you don't figure something nifty out pretty fast!

Working on it, thanks.

It almost looks as if Halsey was intentionally going for your CVs, though if so that was risky as he had to assume you'd be keeping them on the move from turn to turn, so exactly where would they be?

Exactly. In that sense, he was fortunate. I moved into the hex where the combat took place.

If I'd been him I'd have gone for your invasion force at Trimcomalee straight off (this assumes his SCTFs had the movement points to reach Trimcomalee, which I don't know to be true).

Again, he did do just this.

I think the cardinal rule for all opposed invasions would be to only go in after you've amassed overwhelming force, and I've got to tell you that even with KB along for the ride you don't seem to have any such thing going for you in this example.

Obviously, I have no argument, other than that the weather was exceptionally bad. I had my flanks covered by several subs south of Ceylon as well as between Madras and Diamond Harbor, and recon a/c from Andaman and Rangoon. I had a 1500+ minefield at Manargudi. I had many many search a/c. And not a single contact. I had over 100 strike a/c set on naval strike. One single contact should have drawn a strike. A strike, even one causing no damage, would have eaten up enemy op points and changed the outcome. But no, I did not have sea control. I was doing two things at once, trying to gain sea control, and trying to use sea control I had not yet gained. But, the invasion is still on schedule.

As far as KB is concerned, from what I can tell from AARs and player comments around the boards, there seems to be a general feeling out there that KB represents some kind of magical force that doesn't sail in water like everything else but somehow walks over it!

Newt: Why do they tell little kids that?
Ripley: Most of the time it's true.

I'm sure the TF commanders don't realize it, but the big kill was taking out the MWS TF. Now my 1500+ minefield is protected a while longer.

This was my thought too. I feel like I'm back playing Minesweeper Tycoon, er, UV. Screwed. [;)]

At least in this game they respawn.[:D]

radio transmissions detected at 16,26

Ooooh, ya think?[:D] Please spare me the transcript.

Intel is on it. They need to pass the word to your recon squadrons.[:D]

Where are the 4 RN CV's at?

If I had to put money on it I'd say with the USN CVs[:D]

Maybe? Maybe not?[:D]

Day Time Surface Combat at 16,26

Japanese Ships
CV Akagi
CV Kaga
CVL Ryujo, Shell hits 1
CVL Zuiho, Shell hits 4, on fire

Oof. I did a double-take at this one. These are words you don't often see in the same paragraph of an AAR: "Surface Combat" and "CV."