obvert
Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011 From: PDX (and now) London, UK Status: offline
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May 26, 1942 The Japanese pulled out instead of seeking combat on the 26th. I sent USN cruisers through the straits from Singers to Palembang to protect the amphibs loading there, but no need. The IJN managed to dodge the many subs in the area and the KB ends up about 4 hexes off of Malaya even with Mersing. Any direction she moves now there are patrols, and CAP will tighten up over Singers and Batu for the next turn. The Ashigara and company are attempting to extract the regiment from Langsa, which fell today to the Indian Armored Brigade there. I thought of meeting them while they're in fast transport mode around Georgetown with a larger RN cruiser force, but decided to be prudent instead. The KB is in range and there are other well escorted strike planes close by, plus there is no need to lose ships fighting this TF. It's increasingly trapped, with mines and CD guns now in place along the retreat path toward Singers, and a long way around Sumatra to any kind of safety. I'll just wait and pick my time once I find out where they're holing up. Air combat was intense over Malaya, with zeros jumping our bombing runs to Kluong. The Allies lose about 19 2E on the day which sucks. All bombing is temporarily halted. I don't really need it now anyway, as shore bombardment to Johore and Singers can work on supply while troops are now entering Kluong to fight for the place. Our sweepers also took out almost an entire IJAAF Oscar Sentai at Georgetown. Unexpectedly easy. The pilots must not be great. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 26, 1942 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Air attack on Kirin , at 108,42 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-27b Nate x 12 Allied aircraft SB-2 x 28 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SB-2: 6 damaged Light Industry hits 4 Runway hits 2 Aircraft Attacking: 6 x SB-2 bombing from 5000 feet City Attack: 6 x 100 kg GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Time Surface Combat, near Langsa at 46,74, Range 23,000 Yards Japanese Ships CA Ashigara CL Sendai DD Kawakaze DD Shinonome DD Minazuki DD Minekaze DD Yukaze DD Karukaya DD Susuki Allied Ships MTB 12 Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards Range closes to 22,000 yards... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Georgetown , at 49,74 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 28 Allied aircraft P-40E Warhawk x 20 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 7 destroyed No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 6 x P-40E Warhawk sweeping at 20000 feet CAP engaged: 70th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 14 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 25000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Georgetown , at 49,74 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 13 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 21 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 20 x P-39D Airacobra sweeping at 20000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on 55th/C Division, at 50,82 (Kluong) Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 37 Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 21 B-26 Marauder x 9 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged B-26 Marauder: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged Japanese ground losses: Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled) Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Kluong , at 50,82 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 13 Allied aircraft Blenheim IV x 3 B-25C Mitchell x 3 Hudson I x 4 Hudson III (LR) x 12 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged Hudson I: 1 damaged Hudson III (LR): 2 destroyed, 4 damaged Airbase hits 2 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 3 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
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