fcharton
Posts: 1112
Joined: 10/4/2010 From: France Status: offline
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November 20th 1942 No action today except a raid over Manus which sank a destroyer in port. We got one B17-F in return. Morning Air attack on Manus , at 101,119 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 27 Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 8 B-17F Fortress x 30 B-24D Liberator x 18 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged Japanese Ships DD Hokaze, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk Japanese ground losses: 6 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled November 21st 1942 The focus was on Burma today. Oscars and Hurricanes traded punches over Chittagong, which looks like the place to sweep these days. I’m quite happy with the Oscar II models. Against Hurricanes IIc, the IIa stands his own, and the IIb inflicts good damage. On the road to Akyab, we attacked again, inconclusively again. The enemy is slowly yielding, and reinforcements are on their way. Prospects look good. Ground combat at 55,45 (near Akyab) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 33002 troops, 402 guns, 1099 vehicles, Assault Value = 1192 Defending force 14084 troops, 236 guns, 471 vehicles, Assault Value = 501 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 Japanese ground losses: 2107 casualties reported Squads: 15 destroyed, 185 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 43 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 16 disabled Vehicles lost 54 (2 destroyed, 52 disabled) Allied ground losses: 1342 casualties reported Squads: 5 destroyed, 157 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 37 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled Guns lost 26 (1 destroyed, 25 disabled) Vehicles lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled) In Kalemyo, my opponent attacked, apparently with just one small armored unit. I see this as a probe. Ground combat at Kalemyo (59,42) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 1060 troops, 13 guns, 132 vehicles, Assault Value = 756 Defending force 21463 troops, 144 guns, 121 vehicles, Assault Value = 676 Allied adjusted assault: 34 Japanese adjusted defense: 2125 Allied assault odds: 1 to 62 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-) Attacker: Allied ground losses: 14 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Vehicles lost 36 (1 destroyed, 35 disabled) It is something I have noticed in combat reports. Even if you attack with one unit, all your AV in the hex is features under the “attacking force” total. Reinforcements are a few days away. The battle for Kalemyo will begin soon. November 22nd 1942 Indies, today… Near Macassar, a convoy reinforcing Flores was intercepted by a US submarine. One cargo was sunk. Sub attack near Tockangbesi-eilanden at 71,109 Japanese Ships xAK Yamazuki Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires xAK Melbourne Maru DD Tagonami Allied Ships SS Swordfish Japanese ground losses: 22 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Since the beginning of the game, Allied submarines tend to get lucky at times. They are not the major nuisance they apparently were during the real war, but they account for most of my current ship losses, as the enemy navy is nowhere to be seen. Off the coast of northern Australia, a surface task force managed to intercept a small cargo task for, resupplying Darwin I believe. I have more ships in the area, and my be lucky tomorrow or the day after. Night Time Surface Combat, near Truscott at 67,123, Range 12,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Mogami CA Mikuma CL Jintsu DD Satsuki DD Hatakaze DD Fuyo Allied Ships xAKL Coolana, Shell hits 4, and is sunk xAKL Yarra, Shell hits 14, and is sunk November 23rd 1942 As I hoped, there were more convoys along the Australian coast, and a small task force detached from my carrier screen found and sank four ships in three engagements. Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Hedland at 56,127, Range 12,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Kumano DD Samidare DD Suzukaze Allied Ships xAKL Kooyong, Shell hits 11, and is sunk xAKL Burwah, Shell hits 20, and is sunk xAKL Pelton Bank, Shell hits 4, and is sunk AO TAN 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk I understand there is nothing to call home about, but if this could make my opponent prudent, and slow his buildup in Darwin, that would be perfect. And if he decides to visit with a few battleships, I have carriers in the area… Over Akyab, we had a strange battle today. We have two stacks one hex away, and today we apparently both decided to bomb one and CAP the other, but chose different solutions… As a result, over the first hex, escorted Sallies were found by Hurricanes, and we lost a dozen planes. Morning Air attack on 23rd Indian Division, at 56,46 , near Akyab Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 6 Ki-21-IIa Sally x 33 Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 21 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed Ki-21-IIa Sally: 7 destroyed, 8 damaged Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak No Allied losses But then, enemy Mitchells flew unescorted against hex B, and met my chasse. Morning Air attack on Guards Tank Division, at 55,45 , near Akyab Weather in hex: Partial cloud Japanese aircraft Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 12 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 15 Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 31 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 5 destroyed, 8 damaged I still came behind, losing 28 planes to 15 allies. November 24th 1942 Yet another almost empty turn. My opponent bombed Salamaua and Gasmata, for little effect and my sweeps over Burma failed to find the enemy. The current situation is interesting. After a series of successful conquests in the South Pacific in August and September (Buna, Terapo, Merauke and Ndeni), my opponent seems to have given up. I believe he is prepping for a large offensive at the end of the year. Or is he reinforcing India? So far, I have seen regular build up in the Aleutians, but attacking the Kuriles so early, and in winter, looks like a losing proposition. A month ago, some movement was detected south of the Gilbert, but this seems to have ceased, too. And then, there were regular bombardments of Shortlands and Saumlaki, which provide two more vectors of attack, but then, if he wanted to move against Shortlands, he could have done it earlier. My hunch is that my opponent is testing the waters, and bidding his time. I might be in for a nasty surprise, of course, as I have no idea of the strength the Allies can muster in the end of 1942, but I’m still under the impression my opponent is waiting until 1943. I am a bit surprised by his slow reaction. Did the loss of ships during his invasions of Terapo and Ndeni, or the loss of China, make him prudent? Anyway, à cheval donné on ne regarde point les dents, as we say here in Japan, when we speak French, and I am welcoming this prudent approach to reconquest. Thinking about it, I believe I want to use the time to build my second line of defense. I my opponent is careful, there is little point working too much on the periphery, where he will probably land with a spare kitchen sink. On the other hand, I can probably use the respite to build up the rear, and give him a bad surprise later in 43.
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