LargeSlowTarget
Posts: 4443
Joined: 9/23/2000
From: Hessen, Germany - now living in France
Status: offline
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REPORT FOR Jun 21/22, 43
China:
The assorted Combat Eng Rgt have reached the Chungking plain - a week or so to go to reach the capital.
In the meantime, I have launched a flanking movement to encircle the city from the SW.
quote:
Ground combat at 74,45 (near Neikiang)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 28151 troops, 151 guns, 275 vehicles, Assault Value = 1164
Defending force 2671 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 19
Japanese adjusted assault: 819
Allied adjusted defense: 15
Japanese assault odds: 54 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units pursuing 4
Allied ground losses:
1531 casualties reported
Squads: 29 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 63 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 12 (11 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 1
Units destroyed 1
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
15th Tank Regiment
19th Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
64th Infantry Brigade
7th Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
23rd Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
9th Armored Car Co
3rd Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
1st Army
Defending units:
1st Chinese Corps
51st Chinese Corps
Burma:
The enemy carriers off Sumatra are heading NW towards Ceylon.
Almost all remaining submarines have been ordered into the area, including minelaying subs.
Combined Fleet is off Java heading North, air units are flocking towards Burma and base forces are being gathered from all over the Empire to provide support. This of course will take time.
The forces already available launch nuisance raids. My night-bombers actually manage to hit something at Port Blair - amazing, usually they only suffer losses with nothing to show for.
quote:
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 8
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 7 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 8 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 9 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 4 damaged
Spitfire Vc Trop: 4 damaged
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 14
The garrison on Little Andaman is being pounded by heavy bombers and the enemy is landing reinforcements. With Corsairs on CAP nearby I will not risk my precious few Betties on naval strikes outside escort range. If the base holds a little longer, I will try to counter-invade.
Oz:
Sweeps over Port Hedland and enemy minecraft sweeping the defensive minefields - I have left a small cruiser SAG at Koepang and will try to interfere. Not much combat power left in the area to support Port Hedland and Darwin.
PNG /Solomons:
Enemy forces landing at Torokina. My forces play possum.
quote:
Invasion Support action off Torokina (109,130)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Case
AK Beltrami
No activity noticed on shore.
My efforts to provide some air support with a LRCAP trap fail, as usual in this theater:
quote:
Morning Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 7
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 7
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 6
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 13
P-39D Airacobra x 4
FM-1 Wildcat x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 4
F6F-3 Hellcat x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 4 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
FM-1 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
quote:
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 5
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 5
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 5
Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 14
B-24D1 Liberator x 36
P-39D Airacobra x 4
FM-1 Wildcat x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 3
F6F-3 Hellcat x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 3 destroyed
There have been more attacks with similar results. My Rabaul-based fighters are badly mauled, over 100 planes lost this turn - and I'm sure Ed will exploit this with attacks on Rabaul of his own.
Night-attacks by two Val groups on naval strikes (which hit nothing of course) shows the growing desperation - daylight attacks are futile.
Even daylight fighter action is becoming an exercise in futility. 14 P-38G sweep Hansa Bay and encounter 45 Zeroes - 4 Zeros lost for 1 P-38 downed. In follow-ups, 7 P-38 against 26 Zeros kill 5 Zeros for no losses, and finally two (!) P-38s are engaged by 27 Zeroes - and get away unscratched with one Zero kill credited. B-24s follow and flatten the base and destroy 7 more Zeroes on the ground. Finally, B-25 on low naval bomb the convoy bringing reinforcements and supplies to Hansa Bay - the reason I have sent Zeroes to that place. No fighters rise in defense and several ships collect hits. A textbook attack with beautiful coordination - but I was expecting a better defense from my Zeroes outnumbering the enemy from 3:1 to almost 14:1. With these force and loss ratios, it is pointless to continue the air war.
CentPac:
Maloelap has been invaded and the defenders actually managed to take a few enemy squads down with them.
quote:
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 8606 troops, 113 guns, 136 vehicles, Assault Value = 323
Defending force 2523 troops, 35 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 28
Allied adjusted assault: 237
Japanese adjusted defense: 4
Allied assault odds: 59 to 1 (fort level 4)
Allied forces CAPTURE Maloelap !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
1968 casualties reported
Squads: 81 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 90 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 41 (41 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 3
Allied ground losses:
350 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 11 (3 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (4 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Assaulting units:
37th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
22nd Marine Regiment
151st Cmbt Engineer Battalion
763rd Tank Battalion
226th Field Artillery Battalion
23rd USN Special Construction Battalion
Defending units:
51st Naval Guard Unit
Maloelap Naval Fortress
Maloelap Base Force
Kusaie bombed and running out of supplies. Roi-Namur bombed as well.
Home Front:
Both Zero M5b and M5c models have finished R&D within a few days from each other and are ready to start production next month. M5b is not much of an improvement, losing speed for changing one light against a heavy machine gun - and one wonders why this change requires months of research... I'm just building enough to allow upgrading to M5c - even slower but armored. Maybe the armor will help to survive a little better.
REPORT FOR Jun 23/24, 43
China:
Bombing and bombarding at Chungking and Changsha and the troops keep marching on...
Burma:
Action erupts in the hex east of Akyab with a river crossing by Indian troops. Looks like Ed is sending the cannon fodder first - movement errors indicate that more units are on the move from Akyab and the jungle to the north. I'm sure Ed is trying to tempt me to shock-attack the battered Indians - right into the reinforcements which will arrive a day behind them. Therefore, I will order only a bombardment for the next turn.
quote:
Ground combat at 55,45 (near Akyab)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 16879 troops, 140 guns, 224 vehicles, Assault Value = 632
Defending force 31762 troops, 389 guns, 269 vehicles, Assault Value = 859
Allied adjusted assault: 27
Japanese adjusted defense: 3833
Allied assault odds: 1 to 141
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), supply(-)
Japanese ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
4708 casualties reported
Squads: 42 destroyed, 498 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 62 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 81 disabled
Guns lost 48 (1 destroyed, 47 disabled)
Vehicles lost 35 (3 destroyed, 32 disabled)
Assaulting units:
7th Indian Division
46th Indian Brigade
45th Indian Brigade
Defending units:
5th Division
33rd Division
22nd Field AA Machinecannon Company
2nd Area Army
42nd Ind.AA Gun Co
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Art.Mortar Regiment
41st Ind.AA Gun Co
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
51st Field AA Battalion
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Bombing and bombarding at Little Andaman - don't understand what Ed is waiting for to deliberate-attack the single garrison Bde and single Const Bn. He has 2/3 of a division, a tank Bn, a Cmbt Eng Rgt and three arty Bns on hand. Probably waiting for reinforcements which are reported landing from LSTs. Ed is playing it safely it seems.
My submarines chasing the enemy CV fleet finally have some luck :
quote:
Sub attack near Koggala at 30,55
Japanese Ships
SS I-11, hits 5
Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 1
BB Indiana
CA Astoria
CA Northampton
CL Cleveland
CLAA Juneau
DD Bailey
DD Balch
DD Reid
DD Mugford
DD Bagley
SS I-11 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Lexington
DD Balch fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Reid fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Mugford fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Bagley attacking submerged sub ....
DD Mugford fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Bagley attacking submerged sub ....
DD Bagley fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Bagley fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
Knowing my luck, Lady Lex has probably suffered just a dent in the torpedo bulges...
Closer to Port Blair, I lost a sub, but only after a spirited action. Missing the DD and being damaged and forced to surface by the ASW counter-attack, the sub managed to shell and torpedo the TK before sinking. Yamato-damashii!
quote:
Submarine attack near Port Blair at 46,58
Japanese Ships
SS RO-64, hits 25, heavy damage
Allied Ships
DD Rotherham
TK Pendopo, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS RO-64 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Rotherham
RO-64 bottoming out ....
DD Rotherham fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Rotherham attacking submerged sub ....
DD Rotherham fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Rotherham attacking submerged sub ....
SS RO-64 forced to surface!
TK Pendopo firing on surfaced sub ....
TK Pendopo firing on surfaced sub ....
TK Pendopo firing on surfaced sub ....
TK Pendopo firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Rotherham firing on surfaced sub ....
TK Pendopo firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Rotherham firing on surfaced sub ....
TK Pendopo firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Rotherham firing on surfaced sub ....
TK Pendopo firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves
PNG / Solomons:
Sure as hell, Ed sent P-38 sweepers after my weakened fighters at Rabaul:
quote:
Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 14
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar x 7
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 7
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 20
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 destroyed
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 30000 feet
Mmh, need to check the mnvr bands, we have a house rule limiting sweeps to the second-best mnvr band.
More enemy reinforcements landing at Torokina (against a few dozen coastal gun shots which do not even annoy the enemy), while LBA continues to pound the base and its defenders. Supply stockpiles are burning and I don't have any hopes for a prolonged defense - Ed has brought too much firepower to the party. But well, the aim was to delay and to buy time by forcing him to conduct sizeable ops. The Kavieng-Rabaul-Lae line should delay some more. With the balance of his carriers supporting the Andamans adventure, I don't think he will try an end-around to capture bases in my rear along the PNG coast or the Marianas. However, new CV and CVLs are coming soon and I have nothing left in the Pacific that could deal with an enemy CAG. But well, there is no oil in the CentPac, so the ground forces available will have to delay as best they can. What limited LBA is left will offer token resistance - like my Vals on night naval attack which attack the convoys of Torokina but never hit anything.
Not much naval action recently, I have few barges left for Ed's roaming DDs to destroy. US submarines have had some success, but there was also a heartwarming little action off Manus by the courageous crew of a xAKL fighting for their lives:
quote:
Sub attack near Rambutyo at 102,122
Japanese Ships
xAKL Suez Maru, Shell hits 19
Allied Ships
SS Plunger, hits 5
SS Plunger attacking on the surface
Alford I. decides to submerge SS Plunger due to damage
REPORT FOR Jun 25/26, 43
China:
My bombers in China are suffering from low moral, although they are doing "milk runs", opposed only by intermittent AA, and are set to 20% rest. I have ordered a stand-down for everything below 60 moral to let them recover for the "big push" when the Combat Engineers finally arrive. Especially the Ki-51 units seem to be uninspired. The only planes that have some effect are the 2E types. The Ki-51s are next to useless (unless the terrain is clear), they rarely hit anything. All they do is make the enemy use supplies for AA. Don't think this is cost-effective, considering supply use on my side for the bombing runs and the replacement aircraft necessary as AA claims victims. I think I will send them all to training bases in the rear and start training rookies in low naval attack skills.
Burma :
Probing bombardments along the Burma front - Ed must have realized I have pulled out and left only speedbumps up front. He will surely start to push soon.
Helldivers from Port Blair catch two convoys hugging the coast near Tavoy - 8 AKs damaged, but only AK Hokkai Maru sunk. The crippled survivors disband at Tavoy for emergency repairs.
THe Allied forces finally attacked and captured Little Andaman with the help of lots of LBA and cruiser bombardment. Remnants of the garrison hide in the jungle.
I wanted to reinforce the island, but too late. Now I am torn - shall I counter-invade? I shouldn't reinforce failure, but I cannot let Ed do what he wants either. My forces immediately available are probably too weak, but waiting to assemble more assets will give Ed the time to consolidate. And of course, all depends on the outcome of the carrier clash that is looming. Against Hellcats, I have little confidence about the outcome. In short, anything I can do will get me killed, including doing nothing. The agony of choice - some more soul-searchign is required.
In the meantime, I try to hurt the Allies with all means at my disposal:
quote:
TF 436 encounters mine field at Little Andaman (44,59)
Allied Ships
DD Redoubt, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
quote:
Sub attack near Port Blair at 45,58
Japanese Ships
SS I-160
Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire, Torpedo hits 1
CA Shropshire
CL Newcastle
DD Nizam
DD Isaac Sweers
Oz:
Darwin repeatedly bombed by 4Es and Bathurst Island is being reinforced.
Ground forces are advancing in the direction of Port Hedland.
With Combined Fleet and most air assets heading to Burma, little support can be given.
PNG / Solomons:
Torokina falls to a reinforced Marine division, aided by LBA and naval bombardments. Being low on supplies did not help either - roaming DDs sink barges left and right and what is left untouched then falls prey to low-level strikes by Avengers, or prowling submarines.
With Corsairs and P-38s present, I have little prospects of helping the defenders at Torokina - for the last tries I have suffered heavy losses with very little to show for. Meanwhile, a hundred airframes of the first George and Jack models languish in the pool, because there are no groups that are allowed to fly them... The only outfit allowed to fly Georges is needed even more urgently in Burma.
Now, with Torokina gone, Rabaul is at the mercy of short-range fighters. I have started to pull-out transport, recon and search planes and unnecessary "eaters" on the ground.
I'm running short of the precious DMS types - SS Plunger sank DMS W-23 at Manus. These ships are very useful in areas with many adjacent dot bases and shipping bottlenecks because they sweep the hex they are in and the six hexes around them when on patrol. Plus they are needed for invasion convoys. I have only two or three left. Furthermore, I have converted too many xAKLs to PBs instead of AMc.
REPORTS FOR Jun 27/28, 43
China:
Efforts to close the last remaining retreat path from Chungking continue:
quote:
Ground combat at 75,46 (near Chungking)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 18547 troops, 179 guns, 674 vehicles, Assault Value = 842
Defending force 19920 troops, 30 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 581
Japanese adjusted assault: 441
Allied adjusted defense: 196
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
222 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Allied ground losses:
5691 casualties reported
Squads: 127 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 225 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 6
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
9th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Division
3rd Tank Regiment
59th Division
12th Tank Regiment
19th Tank Regiment
Defending units:
42nd Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Corps
75th Chinese Corps
34th Separate Brigade
17th Group Army
10th Group Army
16th Construction Regiment
One valiant Chinese unit did not retreat and paid the price the second day:
quote:
Ground combat at 75,46 (near Chungking)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 18335 troops, 179 guns, 674 vehicles, Assault Value = 826
Defending force 822 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1
Japanese adjusted assault: 402
Allied adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 402 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:
Allied ground losses:
1216 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 118 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Assaulting units:
3rd Tank Regiment
9th Tank Regiment
59th Division
3rd Tank Division
12th Tank Regiment
19th Tank Regiment
Defending units:
1st Chinese Corps
Burma:
On the land front, no enemy reinforcements show up the first day - too bad I did not shock-attack the disrupted enemy stack...
quote:
Ground combat at 55,45 (near Akyab)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 27864 troops, 341 guns, 181 vehicles, Assault Value = 860
Defending force 12901 troops, 136 guns, 221 vehicles, Assault Value = 127
Allied ground losses:
242 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 5 (3 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Assaulting units:
5th Division
33rd Division
1st Art.Mortar Regiment
42nd Ind.AA Gun Co
31st Field AA Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd Area Army
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
51st Field AA Battalion
41st Ind.AA Gun Co
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
22nd Field AA Machinecannon Company
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Defending units:
7th Indian Division
46th Indian Brigade
45th Indian Brigade
However, the bombardment on the second day found to freshly arrived divisions:
quote:
Ground combat at 55,45 (near Akyab)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 27864 troops, 341 guns, 181 vehicles, Assault Value = 860
Defending force 36968 troops, 491 guns, 503 vehicles, Assault Value = 907
Japanese ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
133 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Assaulting units:
5th Division
33rd Division
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Art.Mortar Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
41st Ind.AA Gun Co
42nd Ind.AA Gun Co
22nd Field AA Machinecannon Company
2nd Area Army
31st Field AA Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion
51st Field AA Battalion
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Defending units:
45th Indian Brigade
7th Indian Division
20th Indian Division
46th Indian Brigade
18th British Division
Movement arrows indicate more enemy units can be expected. My two divisions have reached fort level 3, I hope they can hold.
In the air, I have tried a sweep against Akyab in support of the ground action.
First came a single group equipped with Tony Ib. Outnumbered, they suffered badly.
quote:
Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 33
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 38
P-39N1 Airacobra x 25
P-40K Warhawk x 60
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 14 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed
Next, my Air HQ managed a beautifully coordinated multi-group sweep - but the anticipated giant fur ball did not happen, apparently the pilots refused to engage.
quote:
Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 154 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 42 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 76
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 108
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 36
P-39N1 Airacobra x 24
P-40K Warhawk x 54
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-39N1 Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 3 destroyed
Finally, the other Tony group I have on the map showed up - to suffer the same fate than the brothers with the Ib model:
quote:
Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 112 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 38
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 32
P-39N1 Airacobra x 23
P-40K Warhawk x 46
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 10 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Tony looks good on the paper, but apparently it is not a good sweeper. Franks are still far away...
On the high seas, a lot of excitement.
Combined Fleet has set up shop at Victoria Point. It is a size-1 port but well-sited to harass the Andamans Islands. Lots of auxiliaries will provide services to the fleet. Singers is too far away, Rangoon too exposed to 4E strikes, so there is not much choice.
This turn the Fleet ventured out to announce their arrival. With Allied carriers last observed retiring towards Colombo, surely to replace losses from the Medan massacre, I expected some easy hunting.
The first night, small SAGs attempted to clear the way to Port Blair and Little Andaman, sinking two AMc.
There were also several encounters with PT boats and MGB, 17 of which were sunk.
Then the big boys moved in:
quote:
Night Naval bombardment of Port Blair at 46,58 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 86 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 6 destroyed on ground
F4F-4 Wildcat: 42 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed on ground
Catalina I: 17 damaged
Catalina I: 1 destroyed on ground
Spitfire Vc Trop: 32 damaged
Spitfire Vc Trop: 4 destroyed on ground
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 50 damaged
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 3 destroyed on ground
Beaufighter VIf: 10 damaged
Beaufighter VIf: 1 destroyed on ground
20 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Fuso, Shell hits 1
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
CA Myoko
CA Atago
CA Takao
CL Oyodo
DD Ushio
DD Wakaba
DD Nenohi
DD Samidare
DD Kagero
DD Akigumo
Allied Ships
AVP Orion, Shell hits 1
Allied ground losses:
625 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 36 (18 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 60
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 2
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Hyuga
BB Hyuga firing at Port Blair
BB Ise firing at 3rd Marine Division
3rd Marine Division firing at BB Ise
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Fuso
BB Fuso firing at 3rd Marine Division
3rd Marine Division firing at BB Fuso
BB Kirishima firing at Port Blair
BB Hiei firing at 3rd Marine Division
3rd Marine Division firing at CA Myoko
CA Myoko firing at 3rd Marine Division
CA Atago firing at Port Blair
CA Takao firing at 3rd Marine Division
CL Oyodo firing at Port Blair
DD Ushio firing at Port Blair
DD Wakaba firing at 3rd Marine Division
DD Nenohi firing at 4th USN Naval Construction Regiment
DD Samidare firing at 3rd Marine Division
3rd Marine Division firing at DD Samidare
DD Kagero firing at 3rd Marine Division
3rd Marine Division firing at DD Kagero
DD Akigumo firing at 3rd Marine Division
The airbase is about 50% damaged - nice.
The second night, it was Little Andaman's turn to get pounded:
quote:
Night Naval bombardment of Little Andaman at 44,59
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
BB Nagato
CA Kumano
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami
DD Yamagumo
DD Arashio
DD Hamakaze
DD Amatsukaze
DD Naganami
DD Takanami
DD Makinami
DD Yugumo
Allied ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 17
Port hits 14
Port supply hits 3
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Mutsu
BB Mutsu firing at 9th Indian/A Division
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Nagato
BB Nagato firing at Little Andaman
CA Kumano firing at Little Andaman
CA Mikuma firing at 9th Indian/A Division
CA Mogami firing at 9th Indian/A Division
DD Yamagumo firing at 9th Indian/B Division
DD Arashio firing at 9th Indian/A Division
DD Hamakaze firing at 9th Indian/A Division
DD Amatsukaze firing at 9th Indian/B Division
DD Naganami firing at 9th Indian/A Division
DD Takanami firing at 9th Indian/A Division
DD Makinami firing at 9th Indian/B Division
DD Yugumo firing at 9th Indian/B Division
Meanwhile, the carriers were prowling between the Andamans and Ceylon. Numerous enemy TFs have been spotted in range, but only a few feeble raids were launched. First I suspected problems with my orders, but after verification all carrier strike groups had naval attack orders. Strange.
quote:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Little Andaman at 40,55
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 62 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 25
D4Y1 Judy x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 8 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
CA Shropshire
CL Newcastle
CA Frobisher
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
quote:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Little Andaman at 39,53
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 35
B6N1 Jill x 17
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 2 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
16 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
quote:
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Little Andaman at 40,55
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 56 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 12
D4Y1 Judy x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 8 damaged
Allied Ships
CA Shropshire
CA Frobisher
As I said, targets were abundant, in fact there wasn't enough space in the Bay of Bengal to avoid them :
quote:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Little Andaman at 38,54, Range 9,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
CV Akagi
CA Tone, Shell hits 1, on fire
CLAA Tenryu
DD Akizuki
DD Teruzuki
DD Susuzuki
DD Natsushio
DD Yukikaze
DD Hayashio
DD Isokaze
DD Shiranui
Allied Ships
CA Shropshire
CA Frobisher
CL De Ruyter
CL Kenya
CL Newcastle
DD Aaron Ward
DD Nizam
Task forces break off...
quote:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Little Andaman at 39,56, Range 25,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
CV Soryu
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
CV Akagi
CA Tone, on fire
CLAA Tenryu
DD Akizuki
DD Teruzuki
DD Susuzuki
DD Natsushio
DD Yukikaze
DD Hayashio
DD Isokaze
DD Shiranui
Allied Ships
KV Nigella
LSI(L) Glenapp
Both Task Forces evade combat
Next day, a few more air attacks :
quote:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Blair at 45,54
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 12
D4Y1 Judy x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 2 damaged
Allied Ships
LST-21, Bomb hits 2, on fire
quote:
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Trincomalee at 36,54
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 26
D4Y1 Judy x 18
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
LSI(L) Glenapp, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
KV Nigella, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
Furthermore, three strikes were launched against PT boats, for no hits.
The courtesy calls having been delivered, all TFs are heading back to the barn to prepare for the encounter with the enemy who is expected to react violently.
Oz:
My small SAG does not catch the minesweepers at Port Hedland but finds other victims :
quote:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Hedland at 56,129, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu
DD Hibiki
DD Ikazuchi
DD Usugumo
Allied Ships
LST-447, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
quote:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Hedland at 56,128, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu
DD Hibiki
DD Ikazuchi
DD Usugumo
Allied Ships
LCT-146, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
Enemy bombers continue to pound Darwin. An enemy ground unit has shown up at the river east of Nookanbah, I have sent Sally to investigate and it turned out to be the 632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion - remarkable intel from 10k feet up. I will send Sally again next turn at 2k feet to deliver greetings.
PNG / Solomons:
The Allied bases on the islands off Milne Bay are steadily leveling up, but no attacks have been launched from this corner. That smells fishy, something unpleasant must be brewing there. Unable to supply Milne Bay, I have ordered most units to march to Buna a couple of turns ago - slow process but the only way out. A token force remains behind so that level-5 base cannot be grabbed without effort. However, denying that airbase has become pointless with Allied airfields in operation nearby.
Over Bougainville, I stup... ehm, stubbornly tried another air attack, violating the principle of not doing the same thing twice in a row. Somehow the first strike finds no Corsairs but only second-line aircraft on CAP. However, my flyboys ignore the transports and attack small fry:
quote:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Buin at 109,131
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 34
D3A1 Val x 24
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 32
Allied aircraft
Boomerang C-12 x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Boomerang C-12: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
Allied Ships
AM Swallow, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
AM Herald, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
Two follow-up strikes found a much more robust CAP with Corsairs, more Wildcats, P-39s etc. The strikes targeted warships, which nimbly evaded the few bombers that survived CAP and AA.
REPORT FOR Jun 29/30, 43
China:
Lucky me - having stood-down the majority of my bombers a turn before has avoided heavy losses to a CAP trap over Chungking. Shocking that Ed has P-38s and supplies to spare for such adventures in China. Not a good sign for my upcoming attack on Chungking.
quote:
Morning Air attack on Chungking , at 76,45
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 30
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 12
Ki-51 Sonia x 29
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 5 damaged
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 22
Burma:
Allied night intruders strike with impunity to inflict painful losses :
quote:
Night Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61-Ia Tony: 3 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 16
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
quote:
Night Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 5
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 7
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 5 damaged
Ki-43-IIIa Oscar: 3 destroyed on ground
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 5000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
They also conduct aerial minelaying with impunity at all bases from Rangoon to Phuket - CAP never engages.
Here is one example :
quote:
Morning Air attack on Victoria Point , at 51,66
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 12
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 10
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-24D Liberator laying Mk 13 Mine from 5000 feet *
CAP engaged:
Yokosuka Ku S-2 with N1K1-J George (4 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 33800.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
The reward (for the Allies) comes immediately :
quote:
TF 149 encounters mine field at Victoria Point (51,66)
Japanese Ships
DD Hagikaze
CVL Zuiho, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
95(76) float damage!!! Zuiho disbanded automatically in the size 1 port, but with fires still burning I doubt she will survive.
Concentrating my remaining submarines in the IO is costly :
quote:
ASW attack near Koggala at 31,51
Japanese Ships
SS I-180, hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
DD Woodworth
SS I-180 is sighted by escort
I-180 diving deep ....
DD Woodworth attacking submerged sub ....
DD Woodworth fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Woodworth fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Woodworth attacking submerged sub ....
DD Woodworth cannot reach attack position over SS I-180
Debris floats to surface in area of attack!
Escort abandons search for sub
SS I-180 is gone of course.
I extracted some measure of revenge - after a small SAG cleared the way and sank a bunch of pesky PTs, these (freshly repaired) big boys sprinted in to give Port Blair another pounding:
quote:
Night Naval bombardment of Port Blair at 46,58 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 2 damaged
Catalina I: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-4 Wildcat: 26 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed on ground
Spitfire Vc Trop: 7 damaged
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed on ground
Beaufighter VIf: 8 damaged
Beaufighter VIf: 1 destroyed on ground
F4U-1 Corsair: 12 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 2 destroyed on ground
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 15 damaged
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed on ground
1 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
BB Haruna
CA Myoko
CA Atago
CA Takao
CL Oyodo
Allied Ships
PT-248, Shell hits 1, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
407 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 26 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 52
Port hits 1
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Kirishima
BB Kirishima firing at 3rd Marine Division
3rd Marine Division firing at BB Kirishima
BB Hiei firing at 3rd Marine Division
3rd Marine Division firing at BB Hiei
E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Haruna
BB Haruna firing at Port Blair
CA Myoko firing at Port Blair
CA Atago firing at 3rd Marine Division
3rd Marine Division firing at CA Atago
CA Takao firing at 3rd Marine Division
CL Oyodo firing at 3rd Marine Division
3rd Marine Division firing at CL Oyodo
Air base damage is up to 80% - that size 3 base will not attack Rangoon-bound convoys for a while.
I plan to put even heavier ordnance on target in the near-future :
BB Musashi arrives at Nagasaki/Sasebo
< Message edited by LargeSlowTarget -- 5/19/2017 7:01:38 AM >
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