26 - 27 July 42

26 - 27 July 42 (Full Version)

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Jim D Burns -> 26 - 27 July 42 (3/12/2008 12:11:05 PM)
26 - 27 July 42 26 July begins with a lot of Japanese mine clearing operations. Of note is this report, I can’t tell if the ship that sunk was sunk due to a mine or simply sank from previous damage. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 132 encounters mine field at Rangoon (29,33) Japanese Ships AP Tientsin Maru, and is sunk MSW Mejima Maru MSW Bisan Maru -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub ops today consist of 2 Japanese ASW attacks, but both miss their targets. Then Dutch sub KXVIII, located in the Malacca Strait, fires two torpedoes at a loaded AP and both fish find their mark. The sub pays for its attack and is hit by the counter-attacking escorts, but damage isn't too severe. [image]local://upfiles/5815/23DBE4D8718748169368CB5EC9886438.jpg[/image] Japan launches an air raid against Akyab today, but all but 4 bombers fail to locate the target. Damage to the base is negligible. SigInt reports another Japanese brigade is preparing for Geraldton. Given my opponents troubles in NE Australia, I’d be surprised if he commits a large scale landing in the west now. But it could turn the tide for him in the NE if it’s large enough, so I’ll still send the Americal Division to the west when it gets relieved. Japan conducts land bombardments at Townsville and Ichang today. 27 July starts with US sub SS Pickerel launching an attack on a Japanese ML at Rabaul, but the torpedoes miss. A Japanese ASW attack against the Pickerel later in the turn launched by the same ML it just attacked, also fails to hit its target. Some good news occurred today during the turns processing, reports flashed by of the AP hit in yesterdays torpedo attack in the Malacca Strait sinking and survivors were being rescued. I hope a good chunk of a strong unit went down with that ship. Japan then launches a large port strike on Calcutta with 70 Nell bombers. My Hurricanes do a good job and actually achieve a 4-1 kill ratio against the zeros flying the long range escort mission. Flak then tears through the bombers and no targets are hit in port. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 32 G3M Nell x 70 Allied aircraft Hurricane IIb x 29 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged G3M Nell: 8 destroyed, 26 damaged Allied aircraft losses Hurricane IIb: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged Allied ground losses: 11 casualties reported Guns lost 2 Port hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 8 x G3M Nell bombing at 14000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My opponent informed me via email his recon had spotted some juicy targets in port at Calcutta. All I have there is a single coastal sub (endurance 3500) that is repairing some system damage. All other allied shipping left the Indian ports along the east coast of India as soon as Rangoon fell. 31 allied Liberator III’s hit Port Blair today and again failed to cause any damage, what the heck is up with that base, I’m not even scratching it?. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Port Blair , at 23,34 Allied aircraft Liberator III x 31 No Allied losses Aircraft Attacking: 9 x Liberator III bombing at 15000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Medium bombers from Umnak Island hit Amchitka in the Aleutians. Japan conducts land bombardments at Townsville and Ichang today. Jim

Gen.Hoepner -> RE: 26 - 27 July 42 (3/12/2008 1:22:43 PM)
I'd bet 50 euros that the unist prepping for the western coast of Oz are only a decoy...he cannot really commit there at the moment. He has to save his army stuck in the eastern coast! If he really goes for Perth...i'd say dont' commit much more of 500 AVs...fortify at K. (don't remember the name of that base some 10 hexes east of Perth) and let it come...as long as the lanes from Us to Oz are open, Australia is a big trap for him....

Jim D Burns -> 28 – 29 July 42 (3/13/2008 3:47:40 AM)
28 – 29 July 42 Sub ops for 28 July start off with the SS Trout slamming a torpedo into a Japanese AK at Saipan. The skipper of the Trout manages to evade the escort’s counter-attacks. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Saipan at 64,64 Japanese Ships AK Kagu Maru, Torpedo hits 1 DD Fumizuki Allied Ships SS Trout -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two other US subs make attacks this turn, but both miss their targets. Japan also conducts two ASW attacks but no hits are scored. 99 Hudsons and 16 Beaufighters hit Tennant Creek today and cause heavy damage to the base. 9 of the planes are damaged by flak, but none are lost. Japan conducts land bombardments at Townsville and Ichang today. As you can see from the screenshot of the Ichang attack, Japan now has over 4,000 AV in the hex. [image]local://upfiles/5815/D6790EF171744DD587C0D6AEAA19E6FC.jpg[/image] After looking over the situation, the only benefit I see Japan gaining from this move is if he plans to continue west from Ichang after driving out my units. It’ll take him about a month, but he can flank Changsha to the north and basically force me to withdraw from my two defensive hexes east of Changsha in the forest and at Nanchang. I’m going to mull things over for a while and see if I can come up with a plan to counter such a flanking move by Japan. The only sub activity for 29 July is an attack on a Japanese CA at Truck by SS Triton. The sub scores a hit but it’s a dud torpedo. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Truk at 66,78 Japanese Ships CA Haguro DD Michishio DD Tokitsukaze DD Amatsukaze Allied Ships SS Triton -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At Ichang Japan conducts two air raids on my land units there. I notice he doesn’t have a lot of fighters flying as escort. I’ll spend some time trying to recognize any patterns to these raids and set up an ambush in the future with the AVG if I spot the pattern. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 75th Chinese Corps, at 47,34 Japanese aircraft Ki-27 Nate x 9 Ki-30 Ann x 27 Ki-51 Sonia x 26 Ki-21-II Sally x 13 Ki-48-II Lily x 11 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 34 casualties reported Aircraft Attacking: 13 x Ki-21-II Sally bombing at 7000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 94th Chinese Corps, at 47,34 Japanese aircraft Ki-30 Ann x 3 Ki-51 Sonia x 4 Ki-21-II Sally x 6 Ki-48-II Lily x 4 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 32 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Aircraft Attacking: 4 x Ki-48-II Lily bombing at 7000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Japan conducts his usual land bombardments at Ichang and Townsville today. Nothing else of note to report today. Jim

Jim D Burns -> 30 – 31 July 42 (3/13/2008 8:07:18 AM)
30 – 31 July 42 30 July has no sub ops of any kind occur. At Townsville 36 B-17s hit the 18th Division and cause 168 casualties. Japan conducts two air raids on my units at Ichang. In the Aleutians a large 30 ship convoy arrived at Adak Island to unload a Seabee unit and supplies and fuel. My P-40E squadron at Umnak Island could not fly LRCAP over Adak Island as the code said it was too far, even though the base is just 5 hexes away, which is the max range of P-40Es. I paid for it, as Japan has moved at least two Betty squadrons into his small level 2 airfields with some zeros. A total of 4 strikes were flown and several of my ships were hit by 250kg bombs. Thankfully only the SC Dundas has sunk so far, but several of my AK’s are in bad shape. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Adak Island at 97,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 9 G4M1 Betty x 11 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Admiral Chase, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage AK Admiral Laws, Bomb hits 1, on fire AK Admiral Gove, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 5000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Adak Island at 97,38 Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 17 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Haleakala AK Admiral Gove, on fire, heavy damage SC Dundas, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage AK Elna AK Taku Aircraft Attacking: 3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 5000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Adak Island at 97,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 18 G4M1 Betty x 12 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged Allied Ships SC New Westminster AK Admiral Senn AK Ravnaas, Bomb hits 1, on fire AK Coast Trader Aircraft Attacking: 1 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 5000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Adak Island at 97,38 Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 10 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Admiral Laws, on fire AK Elna AK Northern Sword Aircraft Attacking: 2 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 5000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I divided the task force in two with 14 ships in one task force and 15 in the other. They shall remain in hex and continue unloading as it will only get harder to supply this island in the future. Especially once Japan completes a level 4 airfield in the area. The amazing thing is my Seabees unloaded and completed a level one airfield, so the P-40s are now on Adak so I’ll have some CAP next turn. Japan conducts land bombardments at Townsville and Ichang today. 31 July starts out with one of my APs hitting Japanese mine at Dutch Harbor. This minefield was previously undetected, I’ve dispatched two MSW fleets to clear the mines out. The AP is carrying part of an air HQ on route to Umnak. Damage isn’t too bad so I’ve diverted the fleet around the minefield as it had withdrawn 3 hexes east for some reason instead of continuing west after it struck the mine. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 1035 encounters mine field at Dutch Harbor (102,37) Allied Ships AP President Polk, Mine hits 1, on fire Allied ground losses: 35 casualties reported -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 78 Hudsons hit Daily Waters today and cause minor damage. My bombers from Chungking flew a port attack today against Tientsin and hit an AK docked in port there. Damage to the ship didn’t appear to be too heavy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Tientsin , at 55,30 Allied aircraft F-5A Lightning x 4 LB-30 Liberator x 24 IL-4c x 12 Allied aircraft losses LB-30 Liberator: 2 damaged IL-4c: 1 damaged Japanese Ships AK Horaisan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire Port hits 2 Port fuel hits 2 Port supply hits 1 Aircraft Attacking: 6 x IL-4c bombing at 6000 feet 6 x LB-30 Liberator bombing at 15000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 82 B-24’s hit Cairns today and cause heavy damage to the base. 129 of my medium bombers hit Cooktown and that base also suffers heavy damage. In China Japan only conducts one raid against my units at Ichang. I think I’ll wait one more turn and then try an ambush with the AVG. The only land bombardment Japan conducts today is at Ichang. I wonder if all my air attacks in NE Australia are causing my opponent some supply problems which has forced him to discontinue his land bombardment. Whatever the cause, I’m glad for the break as his bombardments have chewed up two of my HQ’s and two of my brigades. I went over all my dispositions in China today to study what a Japanese drive west from Ichang would/could do. I’ve gone ahead and ordered 3 corps plus an HQ from Wuchow to move to the river line hex 2 hexes NE of Hengchow. I’ve also ordered 2 corps from each of my large defensive hexes east of Changsha to move to the river hex NE of Hengchow as well. In addition one HQ from the forest hex will move as well. That will give me 2 HQs and 7 Corps defending the river hex along the trail from Ichang. [image]local://upfiles/5815/AAFC4C1BD3B64ABFB45372007AD1BA65.jpg[/image] By moving them now, they can hopefully be fully dug in to level 3 by the time Japan tries to cross the river. The 2 HQs and 6 corps at Ichang shall fight Japan for every hex and will probably be in bad shape by the time they retreat across the river. So once they are retreated, I’ll move 1 HQ and 3 corps to both Changsha and Hengchow. These units will be my new reserve army, as I’ll have no more spare troops left except my guerilla troops after these redeployments are made. Eventually once my guerilla units are all rebuilt and redeployed to Wuchow, I’ll move all 9 or 10 of them into Canton to allow me to pull about 3 corps out of Canton to act as a southern reserve army based out of Wuchow. I also have the two destroyed corps from Wenchow rebuilding at Chungking, but they each still need about 100 squads, so they are months away from being ready to re-enter combat. Jim

Gen.Hoepner -> RE: 30 – 31 July 42 (3/13/2008 9:39:49 AM)
Ichang isn't an easy target for Japan. For some reasons supply tends not to flow there easily. How many units does he have there?...How about a supply-air-bridge from Chungking...with enough supplies your units at Ichang should hold... Jim, beware of the Troll's tactic in China...if he brings more reinforcements at Canton he can eventually dislodge you from there and so threaten your whole southern flank....do you have any strong reserve army somewhere around Liuchow?

Gen.Hoepner -> RE: 30 – 31 July 42 (3/13/2008 9:41:07 AM)
Sorry...i've seen now the screen shot....4000 AVs...mmmmm...try an airbridge Jim...with enough supplies 2000 chinese AVs should hold

Jim D Burns -> RE: 30 – 31 July 42 (3/13/2008 10:22:39 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner Sorry...i've seen now the screen shot....4000 AVs...mmmmm...try an airbridge Jim...with enough supplies 2000 chinese AVs should hold Hi G.H., Supply hasn’t been a problem for me at Ichang, my units are pulling plenty so far. I do have 32 air transports in China now, so I can create a decent air bridge if needed, but so far I haven’t needed to. Ironically it is the base 2 hexes NE of Ichang that has had supply problems. That’s why I transferred 32 air transport planes to China Command. I’ve been flying supplies there and only recently got the units up to their full on hand supply for the first time in the game there. I’ll continue that air bridge until supplies are out of the red/orange there. I’ve got 6 corps and some HQ’s at Canton. My reserve army of 3 corps and an HQ at Wuchow is marching north to set up a defense behind the river. So once they leave my only reserve in the south will be the guerilla units. I’ve got about 7 or 8 full strength guerilla units there now and one or two are marching to Wuchow from Chungking. The last guerilla unit is almost totally rebuilt at Chungking, once it reaches Wuchow, I’ll send the guerilla units to Canton and pull out 3 of the 6 corps to form a southern reserve with. I’m not as worried about a second large Japanese front in China in my game since he’s committed 10+ divisions to Australia already. In order to achieve what Troll achieved in your game, he’d have to bring most/all of the forces from Australia back to do it. The Ichang offensive is his big push. These are the same forces I stopped in the forest hex east of Changsha, so I think he’ll eventually push me out of Ichang. Unlike the forest hex, I won’t be able to rush any reinforcements in, which is why I was able to hold onto the forest hex. The only advantage I have here over the forest hex is my units are all 100% prepped for Ichang, so they’ll get a combat bonus for that. But I think he’ll start wearing them down like he was doing to my units in the forest, and eventually he’ll be able to push me out. Jim

Jim D Burns -> 1 – 2 Aug. 42 (3/13/2008 1:13:40 PM)
1 – 2 Aug. 42 1 August arrives and the British crown asks for yet another BB to be sent home. I have no choice but to send the ships as I’m extremely short on political points. This means I’ll have only 2 British battleships in Indian waters for the next year and more. I cannot afford to send any more battleships back to Britain after this, so any future requests shall see me paying the cost. I’ve pretty much released everything in the Panama region I wanted to already and about half the air squadrons in the US have been sent into the Pacific. So from here on out political points shouldn’t be so limited that I can’t afford to say no once in a while to big ship requests. Sub ops today consist of 3 allied sub attacks. Two attacks miss their targets, but at Wake the SS Grayling slams a torpedo into a Japanese ML. Damage didn’t appear to be too heavy though, so I doubt the ship will sink. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Wake Island at 85,72 Japanese Ships ML Shirataka, Torpedo hits 1 Allied Ships SS Grayling -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 72 B-24s hit Cairns today causing moderate damage to the base. In the Aleutians Japan conducts another three air raids on my task forces there. Even though I’ve got fighter support in the area, several more of my ships are hit and the SC ship, New Westminster, sinks. With 37,000 supplies unloaded at Adak Island now, I’ve gone ahead and ordered my fleets to sail to Umnak and Dutch Harbor to unload their remaining supplies at those two bases. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Adak Island at 97,38 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 21 G4M1 Betty x 10 Allied aircraft P-40E Warhawk x 8 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged Allied Ships AK Nabesna AK Admiral Laws, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage AK Norlago, Bomb hits 3, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Adak Island at 97,38 Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 15 Allied aircraft P-40E Warhawk x 7 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged Allied Ships AK Haleakala, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage AK Malanao, Bomb hits 1 SC New Westminster, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 2 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 100,37 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 25 G4M1 Betty x 12 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Malama AK Admiral Williams, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage AK Admiral Senn, Bomb hits 1, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 2 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Japan conducts a land bombardment at Ichang today. Sub ops for 2 August consist of an allied ASW attack on a Japanese sub NE of Auckland, but the sub manages to evade and no damage is caused. 89 Hudsons hit Daily Waters today and cause moderate damage to the base. In Burma 89 Blenheim IVs hit Meiktila and cause light damage to the base there. Japan launches a large air raid on Mandalay causing moderate damage to the base and destroys 3 Hurricanes on the ground. With over 100 bombers available to smash Mandalay at will, I’ve withdrawn all my Hurricanes out of Burma now back to Indian airspace. In China Japan sends another raid against my land units at Ichang and my little AVG ambush puts 21 P-40Bs up as LRCAP. Only 2 of my fighters are lost and they manage to shoot down 6 Oscars and 7 Sonias. With most of the rest of my fighters damaged I rebase all 3 squadrons back to Chungking to recover disablements. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 94th Chinese Corps, at 47,34 Japanese aircraft Ki-27 Nate x 7 Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 34 Ki-30 Ann x 11 Ki-51 Sonia x 26 Ki-21-II Sally x 23 Ki-49 Helen x 18 Allied aircraft P-40B Tomahawk x 21 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-27 Nate: 1 damaged Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 6 destroyed, 8 damaged Ki-30 Ann: 1 damaged Ki-51 Sonia: 7 destroyed, 8 damaged Ki-21-II Sally: 2 damaged Ki-49 Helen: 5 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-40B Tomahawk: 2 destroyed, 16 damaged Allied ground losses: 62 casualties reported Guns lost 2 Aircraft Attacking: 7 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing at 2000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the Aleutians Japan launches four small raids at my fleeing task forces and manages to hit another 3 ships. I now have 3 fighter squadrons based at Umnak, so hopefully I can shoot something down should he try to fly again tomorrow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 99,37 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 9 G4M1 Betty x 3 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Malanao Aircraft Attacking: 3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 98,37 Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 4 No Japanese losses Allied Ships AK Admiral Gove, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 99,37 Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 4 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 3 No Japanese losses No Allied losses Allied Ships AK Taku Aircraft Attacking: 4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 98,37 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 15 G4M1 Betty x 5 Allied aircraft P-40E Warhawk x 3 No Japanese losses No Allied losses Allied Ships AK Admiral Gove, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage AK Admiral Chase, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 1 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All of the ships should reach either Umnak or Dutch Harbor next turn, though there are still mines at Dutch Harbor, so I expect several ships will pay the price for entering that hex. I have no choice though as it is my only port in the area large enough to dock ships in to help reduce flood damage. Japan conducts a land bombardment at Ichang again today and causes 265 casualties. I guess all the disruption is causing my units to be more vulnerable as his casualties caused has increased almost every turn. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Ichang Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 180891 troops, 908 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 4299 Defending force 76822 troops, 310 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2183 Allied ground losses: 265 casualties reported -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nothing much else of note to report today. One of my subs did spot a fleet north of Cooktown today, but I can’t tell if it’s really a fleet or just a Japanese sub. If it’s a fleet my medium bombers at Charter Towers should have a field day next turn. Jim

Jim D Burns -> 3 Aug. 42 (3/13/2008 7:27:38 PM)
3 Aug. 42 There is lots of sub activity today. Too much to do just a summary of everything, so I’ll cut and paste the combat reports with a few of my comments injected. There was a lot of potential to harm Japan in today’s sub ops, but in the end defective torpedoes prevented any damage to Japan from occurring. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 53,109 Japanese Ships DD Ushio DD Akebono DD Yugiri Allied Ships SS Pickerel, hits 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Kwajalein at 81,84 Japanese Ships ML Okinoshima Hit! Fails to detonate [sm=Christo_pull_hair.gif] Allied Ships SS Tuna -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Eniwetok at 77,78 Japanese Ships AP Tsuyama Maru Hit! Fails to detonate [sm=Christo_pull_hair.gif] PC Ch 7 PC Ch 3 Allied Ships SS Nautilus -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 57,91 Japanese Ships AK Toyooka Maru Miss AK Umegawa Maru AK Hokuroku Maru PG Tamo Maru #6 Allied Ships SS Pompano -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 65,132 Japanese Ships SS I-24, hits 2 Allied Ships MSW Tui MSW Moa MSW Kiwi MSW Sanda -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 53,109 Japanese Ships DD Natsushio DD Oshio DD Hamakaze DD Shiranuhi DD Yukikaze DD Hatsukaze DD Kagero DD Akigumo Allied Ships SS Pickerel -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Wake Island at 85,72 Japanese Ships ML Tsugaru Hit! Fails to detonate [sm=Christo_pull_hair.gif] Allied Ships SS Grayling -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Truk at 66,78 Japanese Ships AK Tsuneshima Maru Miss MSW Noshiro Maru #2 Allied Ships SS Triton -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Kwajalein at 81,84 Japanese Ships ML Tokiwa Miss Allied Ships SS Tuna -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Both ASW attacks on the Pickerel were made by KB’s escorts, as the sub stumbled upon KB east of Rockhampton. I think this saved my airbase at Rockhampton from attack, as my opponent complained in his email KB stopped one hex short of its plotted move. The time and op points needed to conduct the ASW Attacks probably made the difference. [image]local://upfiles/5815/54CC878D410E4DF3ABE0216DB1E06A5A.jpg[/image] I’ve decided not to rebase my heavies out of Rockhampton since allied recon spots at least two convoys about to enter the shallow water slot a few hexes north of Cooktown. KB will probably have to head north to cover these convoys if he wants to avoid massive damage caused by my medium bombers at Charter Towers. So I’ve given all my heavy squadrons naval attack missions with 20% naval search. Let’s see if they can hit anything from 15,000 feet. 84 Blenheim IV’s from Imphal raided Meiktila today causing moderate damage to the base. I’m really torn as to whether to upgrade these bombers or not. Some upgrade to Vengeance dive bombers and some to Hurricane III/IV’s. Both of these air frames have much shorter range than the Blenheim’s, but both are better bombers than the Blenheim’s. I guess I’ll wait until I have a forward airfield that can stand up to the punishment Japan’s 100+ bombers from Rangoon are dishing out. Right now if I upgrade these squadrons, they’ll end up sitting on their duffs at a rear area base until allied fighters can secure air dominance on the front lines of Burma. Japan’s bombardment of Ichang caused more casualties today than yesterday. He now has 4300 AV in the hex. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Ichang Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 181022 troops, 909 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 4303 Defending force 76559 troops, 309 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2184 Allied ground losses: 371 casualties reported Guns lost 4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AVG’s ambush must have stung him, as no Japanese air raids are being conducted at Ichang right now. Jim

Jim D Burns -> 4 – 5 Aug. 42 (3/14/2008 3:58:36 PM)
4 – 5 Aug. 42 4 August starts out with three allied sub attacks. The SS Triton hits a Japanese AK at Truck. The other two attacks miss and the SS Bass is hit by the counter-attacking escorts north of Cooktown. With only 4 system damage, the Bass remains at sea with orders to move to Cooktown to try and get another shot at the incoming task forces. Then the allied heavies from Rockhampton and the mediums from Charter Towers launch a series of disastrous raids on KB which has moved north from its last position as I suspected it would. I won’t do a play by play of the raids, suffice it to say 54 allied bombers are shot down today and only 1 zero is lost in return. The three bomb hits scored on the CA’s bounced, so the raids were a completely wasted effort. Especially since none of the three raids appear to have targeted his CV's. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 51,107 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 152 Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 30 B-26B Marauder x 24 B-17E Fortress x 10 B-24D Liberator x 20 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 69 damaged Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 8 destroyed, 14 damaged B-26B Marauder: 8 destroyed, 8 damaged B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged B-24D Liberator: 2 destroyed, 16 damaged Japanese Ships CA Chikuma CA Maya CA Suzuya, Bomb hits 1 DD Harusame CA Takao DD Shikinami Aircraft Attacking: 2 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 15000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 51,107 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 152 Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 9 B-26B Marauder x 29 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 25 damaged Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 6 destroyed B-26B Marauder: 6 destroyed, 17 damaged Japanese Ships CL Kuma CL Naka Aircraft Attacking: 1 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 51,107 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 71 Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 8 B-26B Marauder x 11 B-17E Fortress x 21 B-24D Liberator x 25 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 18 damaged Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 7 damaged B-26B Marauder: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged B-17E Fortress: 21 damaged B-24D Liberator: 15 damaged Japanese Ships CA Takao CA Suzuya, Bomb hits 1 DD Hatsuyuki CA Maya, Bomb hits 1 CA Mikuma CA Chikuma Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 15000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All my bomber squadrons that participated in today’s raids have devastated morale levels, some as low as the mid teens. I also lost about 35 good pilots today, so I doubt my medium bombers will do much damage to the incoming transport fleets if/when they do launch an attack against them. Here’s a screenshot of today’s air losses: [image]local://upfiles/5815/A11D72098FB34D0D9267106B18DA6EAF.jpg[/image] Japan conducted a land bombardment at Ichang today. 5 August is so short, I decided to post the entire combat reports file. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/05/42 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Kwajalein at 81,84 Japanese Ships ML Tsugaru Allied Ships SS Tuna -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Guards (2nd) Division, at 46,105 Allied aircraft F-5A Lightning x 1 No Allied losses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 8th Hvy Field Artillery Regiment, at 46,105 Allied aircraft F-5A Lightning x 1 No Allied losses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Ichang Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 180857 troops, 909 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 4300 Defending force 76212 troops, 307 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2175 Allied ground losses: 122 casualties reported Guns lost 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are two things to note this turn. First the transport fleets north of Cooktown are not moving south, so it appears they are waiting for KB. However, KB has moved northeast from its last position. I cannot tell if he’s simply going around the range of my medium bombers at Charter Towers, or if he spotted my invasion task force near Luganville. That’s right, the first allied counter-attack of the war is now just 4 hexes away from Luganville. It consists of a combat loaded RCT aboard about 30 or so ships. P-38F’s from Noumea and now P-29’s from Efate are flying LRCAP over the fleet. I haven’t seen a sighting report that appears to have detected the fleet yet, but today’s move by KB has me nervous that he may have spotted it. I’ve got about 60 or so A-29’s at Koumac along with a P-38 squadron that have range 9 naval attack missions set, so if KB heads east I can at least throw something at them to try and stop/slow them down. With the invasion task force only 4 hexes from Luganville now, I’m going in no matter what, it should unload the troops in a single phase, so it won’t have to stick around long. It’s a shoestring operation in that I don’t really have enough air power in the area to adequately protect the fleet. I also do not have any CV’s or surface ships around. But since Luganville is currently empty of Japanese units, I decided to take it back before my opponent decided he wants to fight for the island and comes back with some sizable units. Jim

Jim D Burns -> 6 – 7 Aug 42 (3/15/2008 9:46:43 PM)
6 – 7 Aug 42 6 August arrives and it’s again time to take a look at air to air fighter losses for the game. To date 632 allied fighters have been lost in air to air battles. Japan has lost 155 fighters in air to air battles so far. That’s a net gain of 54 for the allies and 22 for Japan for the past months fighting. This gives Japan a kill ratio of 2.45 – 1 for the month and 4.07 – 1 for the game. Here’s a screenshot of air losses sorted by air to air, I’ve snip'd out the airframes that had no losses due to air to air. [image]local://upfiles/5815/6E07C315F02E4458AFE722F625E3077D.jpg[/image] Sub ops today consist of 3 Japanese ASW attacks, all of which miss their targets. One sub attack is made by the SS Sailfish at Palembang and an AK gets hit by a single torpedo. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Palembang at 20,55 Japanese Ships AK Yamagiri Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire DD Satsuki Allied Ships SS Sailfish -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hudsons and Beaufighters hit Tennant creek today and cause heavy damage to the base. Chinese bombers conduct a port attack at Takao on the island of Formosa, but no ships in port are hit and only a single port hit is scored. It looks like the AVG ambush earlier has prompted my opponent to consolidate his airforce in China. A large Japanese raid hits the 3rd New Chinese Corps at Ichang. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on 3rd New Chinese Corps, at 47,36 Japanese aircraft Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 18 Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 29 Ki-30 Ann x 39 Ki-51 Sonia x 46 Ki-21-II Sally x 28 Ki-49 Helen x 15 Ki-48-II Lily x 24 No Japanese losses Allied ground losses: 197 casualties reported Guns lost 2 Aircraft Attacking: 6 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing at 2000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17 Bettys hit Adak Island, but cause no damage to the base. A small raid of 9 Bettys then makes an attack on allied shipping at Umnak Island and gets intercepted by allied CAP. The inexperienced allied fighters manage to shoot down a single bomber, but lose a fighter to the Japanese escorts in return. No hits are scored against the allied ships. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Umnak Island at 101,37 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 9 G4M1 Betty x 7 Allied aircraft P-36A Mohawk x 11 P-39D Airacobra x 7 P-40E Warhawk x 7 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged P-39D Airacobra: 2 damaged Allied Ships AK Northern Sword AK Nabesna Aircraft Attacking: 2 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Japan conducts three land bombardments in China at Ichang and the two defensive positions east of Changsha. My opponent had goaded me about bringing in reinforcements to the forest hex last turn in an attempt to reveal some Intel to him about the movements he was observing east of Changsha, but I remained mum about the moves. Today’s bombardments are obviously recons to try and figure out what I’m doing. 7 August is the busiest day we’ve seen for sub ops this game. A total of 5 Japanese ASW attacks are made resulting in the sinking of Dutch sub KXV in the Malacca Strait. A total of 6 allied sub attacks are made resulting in 3 APs being hit by torpedoes and 1 sub is damaged by escorts in return. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 49,99 Japanese Ships DD Minekaze Allied Ships SS S-36 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 21,47 Japanese Ships PC Shonon Maru #3 PC Kyo Maru #7 PC Kyo Maru #6 PC Fumi Maru #3 MSW Togo Maru DD Hayabusa DD Asagao DD Hatakaze Allied Ships SS KXV, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage sinks -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 48,97 Japanese Ships AP Nichiryo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire PC Shumshu DD Arashi DD Isokaze Allied Ships SS S-35, hits 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 49,99 Japanese Ships AP Teikyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire PG Ikunta Maru PG Hong Kong Maru PG Uji DE Patrol Boat No. 46 Allied Ships SS S-36 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Cooktown at 48,100 Japanese Ships AP Sanura Maru DD Karukaya DD Fuyo DD Tsuga DD Minekaze Allied Ships SS Bass -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Cooktown at 48,100 Japanese Ships AP Toko Maru AP Ryujo Maru DD Karukaya DD Hasu DD Minekaze Allied Ships SS Bass -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Palembang at 20,55 Japanese Ships AK Kansai Maru DD Satsuki Allied Ships SS Sailfish -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 49,100 Japanese Ships AP Awajisan Maru, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage PC Shumshu DD Arashi Allied Ships SS S-18 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 57,91 Japanese Ships AK Taki Maru AK Yae Maru PG Tamo Maru #6 Allied Ships SS Pompano -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 49,100 Japanese Ships AP Tsutsukami Maru PC Ch 31 PC Ch 28 PC Ch 6 PC Shonan Maru #17 PC Shonan Maru #1 PC Kyo Maru #13 Allied Ships SS S-18 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Cooktown at 48,100 Japanese Ships DD Minekaze Allied Ships SS Bass -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Japan started moving south towards Cooktown with his transport fleets and my wolfpack of subs really shinned today. Too bad the APs were all empty. Hopefully my subs will do just as well as the fleets leave the area laden with Japanese combat units. Allied troops land at Luganville today and 553 casualties are reported. I though a unit with 100% preparation for a base wasn’t supposed to lose so many men during landings. I’ve set the regiment for deliberate attack, the empty base will be in allied hands tomorrow. Japan launches a deliberate attack at Ichang today and gets a 1-1 odds ratio. While Japan’s casualties are high, the fact he got a 1-1 odds for his first attack confirms he’ll eventually be able to take the base. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Ichang Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 192004 troops, 918 guns, 171 vehicles, Assault Value = 4302 Defending force 76131 troops, 309 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2172 Japanese max assault: 4467 - adjusted assault: 1323 Allied max defense: 2257 - adjusted defense: 1265 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 Japanese ground losses: 8889 casualties reported Guns lost 142 Vehicles lost 9 Allied ground losses: 1316 casualties reported Guns lost 55 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The only other thing of note to occur today is Japan evacuates Townsville! That’s right, every single unit is fleeing north at full speed to meet up with his evacuation fleets that are now starting to arrive at Cooktown. I’ve ordered a general advance. Hopefully I can catch a good chunk of his last remaining units as they are loading and force them to retreat so I can destroy them in detail after Japan’s main army has left. It may still be a little premature to announce it, but I’d say I’ve won the contest in Australia, Japan will never conquer it now. It was just too hard for him to keep his troops fed once I gained total air superiority in the NE. Central and northern Australia are yet to be reduced and it should prove to be a long attrition fight, but eventually I’ll win there as well. But my biggest concern over losing the entire country can now be put to rest I think. Jim

Jim D Burns -> 8 Aug. 42 (3/16/2008 7:09:08 PM)
8 Aug. 42 Sub ops today are more active than yesterdays sub activity. Japan makes a total of 9 ASW attacks today resulting in SS S-46 receiving 3 hits and SS Bass 6 hits. The bass sunk from the damage it received. Allied subs make a total of 5 attacks today resulting in 2 APs and 1 AK being hit by torpedoes. One of the attacking subs receives 1 hit from escort counter-attacks. Both of the APs were loaded with troops. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 57,89 Allied Ships SS Pike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Cooktown at 48,100 Japanese Ships PC Sonan Maru #5 PC Tama Maru #8 PC Toshi Maru #3 Allied Ships SS Bass, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage sinks -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Kwajalein at 81,84 Japanese Ships AK Aratama Maru PG Toyotsu Maru Allied Ships SS Tuna -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 49,100 Japanese Ships AP Konron Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage DD Karukaya DD Fuyo DD Kuri DD Minekaze Allied Ships SS S-18 Japanese ground losses: 13 casualties reported Guns lost 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Kwajalein at 81,84 Japanese Ships AK Aratama Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire PG Toyotsu Maru Allied Ships SS Tuna, hits 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 49,99 Japanese Ships PG Shoei Maru PG Nanpo Maru PG Kogyoku Maru PG Kanko Maru Allied Ships SS S-36 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 49,99 Japanese Ships PG Idzumo DD Minekaze Allied Ships SS S-36 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Cooktown at 48,100 Japanese Ships PC Sonan Maru #5 PC Tama Maru #8 PC Toshi Maru #3 Allied Ships SS S-46 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 49,98 Japanese Ships AP Jinsan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage AP Higashiyama Maru DD Mikazuki DD Minazuki DD Hibiki DD Arare Allied Ships SS S-35, hits 2 Japanese ground losses: 33 casualties reported -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Kwajalein at 81,84 Japanese Ships ML Tsugaru Allied Ships SS Tuna -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Cooktown at 48,100 Japanese Ships PC Ch 31 PC Ch 28 PC Ch 6 PC Shonan Maru #17 PC Shonan Maru #1 PC Kyo Maru #13 Allied Ships SS S-46 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Palembang at 20,55 Japanese Ships DD Satsuki Allied Ships SS Sailfish -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Cooktown at 48,100 Japanese Ships PC Sonan Maru #5 PC Tama Maru #8 PC Toshi Maru #3 Allied Ships SS S-46, hits 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 49,98 Japanese Ships AP Hikade Maru DD Mikazuki DD Minazuki DD Hibiki DD Arare Allied Ships SS S-35 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In China Japan makes three air raids against Chinese units in the forest hex east of Changsha. I guess my opponent assumes I’m building up my forces here rather than pulling troops out. I’ll not dissuade him of this opinion. At Cooktown my medium bombers from Charter Towers make 3 tiny raids and 1 moderate raid against Japanese shipping located there. The net result is a lot of allied planes are shot down by the 94 zeros flying LRCAP over the hex and the only bomb hit that scores bounces off of a BB. Although all 24 escorting Kittyhawks were shot down (text is FOW), they did manage to shoot down 10 Japanese zeroes. Not bad exchange rates considering these are KB’s zeroes. Hopefully all/most of his pilots died. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 48,100 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 94 Allied aircraft B-26B Marauder x 3 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged Allied aircraft losses B-26B Marauder: 3 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 48,100 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 94 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 6 B-26B Marauder x 3 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses Kittyhawk I: 6 destroyed B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged Japanese Ships AP Sumire Maru Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 48,100 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 94 Allied aircraft B-26B Marauder x 3 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 7 damaged Allied aircraft losses B-26B Marauder: 3 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 48,100 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 94 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 24 B-25C Mitchell x 14 B-26B Marauder x 18 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed, 5 damaged Allied aircraft losses Kittyhawk I: 16 destroyed B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged B-26B Marauder: 16 damaged Japanese Ships BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 1 BB Nagato CA Furutaka DD Ayanami Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One piece of luck for allied airmen today was that my top ace Davies O. was rescued after being shot down. It’s pitiful that 9 months into the game I’ve only got two ace pilots and both of them have less than 10 kills. One odd thing to note is Davies apparently should have 9 kills according to the number of kill credit entries in today’s op reports, but his last kill is double counted as kill number 8. [image]local://upfiles/5815/728621D82C7B4297B58B5ABF1CF72668.jpg[/image] Japan conducted another deliberate attack at Ichang today. Looking at Japan’s AV, I have to assume this was an error made by my opponent who apparently forgot to turn off the attack for these units. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Ichang Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 152408 troops, 641 guns, 86 vehicles, Assault Value = 3546 Defending force 73281 troops, 246 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2082 Japanese max assault: 118 - adjusted assault: 54 Allied max defense: 2084 - adjusted defense: 2175 Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 Japanese ground losses: 363 casualties reported Guns lost 18 Vehicles lost 5 Allied ground losses: 340 casualties reported Guns lost 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My opponent didn’t mention the mistake, but I assume it was a mistake so opted not to try and take advantage of the situation by attacking this turn. US troops capture Luganville this turn. The first step on the long road to Tokyo has been made. Granted it was an easy step as there were no defenders defending the base, but I’ll take what I can get this early in the game. Jim

Gen.Hoepner -> RE: 8 Aug. 42 (3/17/2008 1:30:27 PM)
The battle for Oz is won! Great achievement Jim! Now better to start assigning new objectives for the preparation of your SEAC land units in Oz. I suggest to try not to advance towards Darwin directly. Go from Perth --> Derby etc...and cut the retreat routes from Timor to Darwin...it will take a lot of time but with some strong CV support you should be able to do it by 1943

Jim D Burns -> 9 – 10 Aug. 42 (3/17/2008 7:06:54 PM)
9 – 10 Aug. 42 9 August is another busy day for sub ops. Japan makes 4 ASW attacks resulting in the SS Barracuda taking 2 hits. Allied subs make 5 attacks but no damage is caused. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 50,99 Japanese Ships BB Kirishima DD Oshio DD Hamakaze DD Shiranuhi DD Yukikaze DD Natsushio DD Hatsukaze DD Kagero Allied Ships SS Barracuda -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 50,99 Japanese Ships DD Hatsushimo DD Yamakaze DD Samidare DD Yamagumo DD Urakaze DD Hayashio DD Kazegumo DD Yugumo Allied Ships SS Barracuda -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Kwajalein at 81,84 Japanese Ships ML Okinoshima Allied Ships SS Tuna -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 48,97 Japanese Ships DD Harukaze DD Yuzuki DD Ariake Allied Ships SS S-36 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 49,98 Japanese Ships AP Taiyo Maru PG Shosei Maru PG Hirotama Maru PG Heijo Maru PG Eifuku Maru Allied Ships SS S-18 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Palembang at 20,55 Japanese Ships AK Koyu Maru AK Aobasan Maru DD Satsuki Allied Ships SS Sailfish -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 50,99 Japanese Ships DD Yunagi DD Hayate DD Matsukaze DD Kamikaze CL Naka Allied Ships SS Barracuda -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 50,99 Japanese Ships DD Hatsushimo DD Yamakaze DD Samidare DD Yamagumo DD Urakaze DD Hayashio DD Kazegumo DD Yugumo CVE Taiyo Allied Ships SS Barracuda, hits 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 48,97 Japanese Ships AP Yamura Maru AP Atsuta Maru DD Harukaze DD Yuzuki DD Ariake Allied Ships SS Plunger -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Allied bombers hit Tennant Creek and cause heavy damage to the base. Japanese bombers conduct two raids on units in the forest hex east of Changsha. Japan conducts a land bombardment at Ichang today, casualties are light. Sub ops for 10 August see a dramatic fall off from the flurry of activity seen over the past few days. Only 3 Japanese ASW attacks occur today resulting in no damage to my subs. However one of my subs is hit by patrolling air today and is ordered to return to port. In Burma 79 Blenheim IVs hit Meiktila today but only cause light damage to the base. Then allied heavies conduct a tiny raid on a task force in KB’s hex, but all 6 bombers are damaged and turn back without making an attack. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 49,101 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 104 Allied aircraft B-24D Liberator x 6 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged Allied aircraft losses B-24D Liberator: 6 damaged -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- During the turn I got a notice of a B-17 squadron unable to locate a target over KB’s hex, so I assume the large strike with the majority of my heavy bombers was going for KB and turned back when the lead squadron failed to locate its target. This is becoming a recurring theme as KBs hex has been attacked several times now but KB has yet to be targeted by a strike that locates its target. In China Japan conducts three raids on my land units in the forest hex east of Changsha. Then KB launches a large strike against Townsville. My defending P-39s are slaughtered and damage to the base is heavy. The sub SS Shark in port trying to repair floatation damage takes two hits and sinks. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Townsville , at 46,105 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 17 B5N2 Kate x 125 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 15 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 16 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-39D Airacobra: 10 destroyed Beaufort V-IX: 3 destroyed A-24 Dauntless: 2 destroyed Catalina I: 1 destroyed T.IVa: 1 destroyed Allied Ships SS Shark, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage Allied ground losses: 11 casualties reported Airbase hits 9 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 58 Port hits 3 Port fuel hits 1 Port supply hits 2 Aircraft Attacking: 23 x B5N2 Kate bombing at 18000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The report is partially FOW, as a lot more planes were destroyed on the ground than reported. Very few planes are in an undamaged state when the turn started, but most of the damage to the base is already repaired due to the large numbers of engineers present. Japan conducts a land bombardment at Ichang. Jim

Jim D Burns -> RE: 8 Aug. 42 (3/17/2008 7:19:49 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner The battle for Oz is won! Great achievement Jim! Now better to start assigning new objectives for the preparation of your SEAC land units in Oz. I suggest to try not to advance towards Darwin directly. Go from Perth --> Derby etc...and cut the retreat routes from Timor to Darwin...it will take a lot of time but with some strong CV support you should be able to do it by 1943 Thanks G.H., but I’m not completely sure he’s done with me in Australia yet. His biggest problem in NE Australia was getting supplies ashore. He may very well be redeploying all those troops to Darwin for a drive down the middle since I cannot interdict his supply convoys running into Darwin. I’ll probably redeploy 2 or 3 divisions to Alice Springs once I retake NE Australia, just in case he makes a drive down the center. If it doesn’t materialize then I’ll consider my options on the re-conquest of Australia. Right now I’m leaning towards a land campaign up the middle. It can be done with the Australian militia troops under ANZAC command that normally wouldn’t be able to leave Australia without paying tons of political points first. If I do the naval route you suggest, it will have to be done with SWPAC and Australia Command units, and I have far fewer of those units than ANZAC units. So I’d have to wait a lot longer before I’d be strong enough to launch that operation. Also you have to consider the time those SWPAC and Australia command units would need to recover after such an operation. That would eat into the timetables for retaking Port Moresby. Then there is the question of where is he going to take those 10 divisions he is currently evacuating from Australia if he doesn’t take them to Darwin? Jim

Gen.Hoepner -> RE: 8 Aug. 42 (3/17/2008 7:38:09 PM)
mmmm....for sure you will need the SEAC units, along with some U.S. divisions for the Perth route. However, in the long run, i think it can be a possibility. Your ANZAC units could push northwards from Alice Spring, forcing him to defend the Darwin perimeter far into the south (let' s say Daily Waters), thus leaving his right flank open to a landing operation of your troops... But it's sure that we're talking about sometime in the middle of 1943...not before! PM it's always risky imho...i'd better chose the easiest route from Northern Oz to SRA and from the Marshalls to the Mariannas... Anyway i think it's too late for him to go on the offensive with those 10 divisions...he'd better start to think about setting up a decent defensive perimeter!...if he commits all those troops to Darwin...the better!

Jim D Burns -> 11 – 12 Aug. 42 (3/19/2008 12:41:33 PM)
11 – 12 Aug. 42 Sub ops for 11 August consist of two Japanese ASW attacks and two allied sub attacks. No hits are scored on any of the targets of the attacks. Japanese CAs conduct a naval bombardment at Townsville. 5 P-39s (text is FOW), 1 Beaufort and 1 Dauntless are destroyed on the ground. No damage is caused to the bombarding fleet even though there are three units with CD guns in the hex. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval bombardment of Townsville, at 46,105 Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses P-39D Airacobra: 3 destroyed Beaufort V-IX: 1 destroyed A-24 Dauntless: 1 destroyed Japanese Ships CA Kako CA Kumano CA Suzuya CA Mikuma CA Takao Allied ground losses: 334 casualties reported Guns lost 16 Vehicles lost 1 Airbase hits 3 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 21 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At Rangoon allied heavy bombers from Diamond Harbor and Dacca fly a coordinated raid on the base at 32,000 feet. Only the Tojos have the altitude to intercept and they fail to shoot down any of my bombers. Damage to the base is light and only a few Japanese planes are destroyed on the ground. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,33 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 15 A6M3 Zero x 11 Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 27 Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 17 Allied aircraft Liberator III x 36 F-5A Lightning x 2 B-17D Fortress x 24 B-17E Fortress x 22 B-24D Liberator x 24 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 7 damaged Allied aircraft losses Liberator III: 4 damaged B-17D Fortress: 4 damaged B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged Japanese ground losses: 48 casualties reported Guns lost 1 Airbase hits 1 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 3 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 32000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Even though this raid isn’t very effective, the morale for my bombers isn’t shattered like it was after their last raid, which put them out of action for weeks. So I’ll continue high altitude missions until I’ve got fighters with the range to start escorting my raids or until I detect that Japan has reduced the massive numbers of fighter he has defending Burma. Japan conducts a land bombardment at Ichang. Sub ops for 12 August see allied subs conduct 4 attacks. The net result is one Japanese AK at Palembang eats a torpedo and the SS Nautilus at Guam is hit hard by an ASW counter attacks. With float damage over 60, I doubt she’ll be able to make port at Pearl. The SS Sailfish at Palembang is also hit by an ASW counter-attack, but its damage is much lighter and it should easily make port at Perth. 105 Hudsons make an air raid on Daily Waters causing moderate damage to the base. My Chinese bombers make a port attack on Samah (island SE of Hanoi) but fail to hit any of the ships in port. Damage to the port is very light. Japan conducts its routine land bombardment at Ichang. Nothing else of note to report today. Jim

Gen.Hoepner -> RE: 11 – 12 Aug. 42 (3/19/2008 2:11:45 PM)
How's the overall picture in Burma Jim? Do you have any clue about which units he has there?

Jim D Burns -> 13 – 14 Aug. 42 (3/20/2008 6:22:24 PM)
13 – 14 Aug. 42 Sub ops for 13 August consist of two Japanese ASW attacks and two allied sub attacks. None of the attacks result in any hits to their targets. 78 Blenheim IVs hit Meiktila today and cause moderate damage to the base. Japan conducts two air raids in China against Chinese ground units, one at Nanchang and the other in the forest hex east of Changsha. Japan conducts his routine land bombardment at Ichang. I should note that for the past week or so, Japan’s AV for these bombardments has dropped to 3200, down from the 4000 AV he had in the hex before. There is only one less unit in the attacks, so my guess is he’s rotated out some large combat formations for smaller ones. Probably to allow them to refit and repair damage from his last two attacks at Ichang. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Ichang Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 146713 troops, 659 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 3205 Defending force 72827 troops, 255 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2080 Allied ground losses: 63 casualties reported Guns lost 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As requested here’s a screenshot of the situation in Burma. [image]local://upfiles/5815/4B308C78006B42C39AB9054B4CE4C587.jpg[/image] As you can see, there are about 120,000 Japanese troops known to be in Burma. There are also some troops at Moulmein (3 units reported) and along the trail SE of Moulmein (1 unit reported). There are another 4 units reported at Rahaeng. So it’s possible these units reported between Moulmein and Rahaeng are moving into Burma, but they could also be leaving. I’ll have to keep an eye on things to try and figure out which is the case. I have about 1100 AV at Mandalay (6 Chinese divisions, 2 Chindit brigades, 1 CW brigade and 1 British brigade) behind level 9 forts. There is 120 AV at Lashio (1 Chindit brigade) along with 4 baseforce units that are building up the forts there and are 85% of the way to completing level 5. Myitkyina only has 30 AV (Assam Rifles Battalion) and a baseforce unit for defense against paras. Akyab has 230 AV (Rangoon Force CD unit and 1 Indian brigade) defending there behind level 6 forts which are 30% of the way to level 7. I currently have 5 of the brigades that start in Burma in India. These units are rebuilding losses and disablements as well as recovering morale. Once they are in the 50%+ range for morale, I’ll transport them to Lashio to beef up my defense there. I think both Japan and I are in a recovery period. He has most of his attacking army in Rangoon under the non-malarial hex there and my units are in India recovering there. I suspect he’ll be launching his next attack in about a month or so after his units recover from their disablements. I’m now much stronger in India than when the game started, and could afford to send a full division or more to Burma if I have to. I don’t want to commit that much force there yet though, until I see where my opponent is going next. If he simply hunkers down and digs in, I’ll begin planning my counter-offensive in Burma. But for now I’m still on the defensive. There is only one attack for sub ops on 14 August, and it’s a Japanese sub dong the attacking. MSW Bathurst is torpedoed at Pago Pago as its task force arrives to do a routine minesweeping of the base. The ship goes down and the remaining ships fail to locate the offending sub. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Pago Pago at 96,113 Japanese Ships SS I-18 Allied Ships MSW Bathurst, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage MSW Wollongong MSW Whyalla MSW Toowoomba -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My heavies in India fly another high altitude mission to Rangoon and note that Japan now as a squadron of Tonys defending the base as well. 2 B-17E’s are lost (text is FOW) in air to air. Damage to the base is light and 9 Japanese planes are destroyed on the ground. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,33 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 12 A6M3 Zero x 11 Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 36 Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 21 Ki-61-Ib Tony x 15 Allied aircraft F-5A Lightning x 3 B-17D Fortress x 22 B-17E Fortress x 24 B-24D Liberator x 18 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 9 damaged Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed Ki-21-II Sally: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F-5A Lightning: 1 damaged B-17D Fortress: 4 damaged B-17E Fortress: 8 damaged B-24D Liberator: 6 damaged Japanese ground losses: 176 casualties reported Guns lost 3 Airbase hits 5 Runway hits 6 Aircraft Attacking: 9 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 32000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- After recovering from their devastating morale hits from several turns ago, my medium bombers at Cooktown finally fly some naval strikes against the Japanese convoys at Cooktown. A total of 4 strikes are flown, one large and three tiny ones. The recent loss of 35-40 veteran pilots is really telling as a total of just 3 bombs score hits, even though over 70 bombers made bombing runs on the ships of the Japanese task forces. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 48,100 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 60 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 19 B-25C Mitchell x 27 B-26B Marauder x 30 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged Allied aircraft losses Kittyhawk I: 6 destroyed, 7 damaged B-25C Mitchell: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged B-26B Marauder: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged Japanese Ships AP Genoa Maru AP Nichiran Maru, Bomb hits 1 AP La Plata Maru DD Hasu DD Fuyo PG Iwate AP Teiun Maru AP Yamakuni Maru DD Minekaze AP Tanba Maru AP Toko Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 1 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 48,100 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 57 Allied aircraft B-26B Marauder x 5 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 4 damaged Allied aircraft losses B-26B Marauder: 5 damaged Japanese Ships AP Kizan Maru AP Joban Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 1 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet 4 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 48,100 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 57 Allied aircraft B-26B Marauder x 3 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses B-26B Marauder: 3 damaged Japanese Ships DE Patrol Boat No. 46 Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 48,100 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 57 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 4 B-26B Marauder x 3 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed B-26B Marauder: 3 damaged Japanese Ships BB Yamashiro Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In China Japan conducts a single air raid against ground units in the forest hex east of Changsha. Japan also conducts its routine land bombardment at Ichang. The only other thing of note that occurred today is Australian units arrived at Cairns today. The last division should arrive there tomorrow and I’ll then begin a land bombardment campaign against the 56,000+ Japanese troops reported in the hex. Once my last division arrives, I’ll have just over 60,000 men, so it looks like Japan plans to leave a strong garrison in NE Australia to hold those bases. Jim

Gen.Hoepner -> RE: 13 – 14 Aug. 42 (3/21/2008 11:32:57 AM)
Jim, with Mandalay still strongly in your hands and with Akyab fully operational, i'd say that in the next 6/8 months you could easily push forward south on that front. The RAF will increase a lot with all those brand new planes arriving and with the Indian land now secured i'd say that Burma will become an Inferno for him. Start to train your fighters and force him to always play on LRCAP from Rangoon...this will give enough attrition to the IJAF so that with few months of preparation you should be able to organize a massive bombing raids over Rangoon and so closing the air match in Burma by the beginning of 43

Jim D Burns -> 15 – 16 Aug. 42 (3/23/2008 9:06:57 PM)
15 – 16 Aug. 42 15 August begins with lots of sub ops due to Japanese task forces now leaving Cooktown laden with troops. A total of 6 allied sub attacks are made resulting in 1 AK and 2 APs being hit by torpedoes. Japan makes only 2 ASW attacks, but it’s enough as the S-36 gets hammered hard. With 86 float damage I doubt she’ll make port. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 48,96 Japanese Ships AK Urashio Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire PG Sozan Maru Allied Ships SS S-36 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 49,99 Japanese Ships AP Daitei Maru PG Eifuku Maru Allied Ships SS Plunger -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 49,99 Japanese Ships AP Higashiyama Maru DD Mikazuki Allied Ships SS Plunger -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 49,101 Japanese Ships DD Kagero DD Oshio DD Hamakaze DD Shiranuhi DD Yukikaze DD Natsushio DD Hatsukaze DD Akigumo Allied Ships SS S-40 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 49,98 Japanese Ships PG Nanpo Maru PG Kogyoku Maru PG Kanko Maru Allied Ships SS S-36 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 49,98 Japanese Ships AP Kansan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire AP Igasa Maru DD Minazuki DD Hibiki DD Arare Allied Ships SS S-36 Japanese ground losses: 34 casualties reported -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack at 49,98 Japanese Ships PC Shonan Maru #17 PC Shonan Maru #1 Allied Ships SS S-36, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 49,99 Japanese Ships AP Nichiran Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage PG Shoei Maru PG Shosei Maru Allied Ships SS Plunger -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Allied Hudsons hit Tennant Creek today and cause heavy damage to the base. Then my planes make three weak raids on task forces in KB’s hex. Japanese uber CAP slaughters my planes and no ships are hit. Of note is the fact that yet again my bombers (probably my large strike given how tiny these three were) failed to locate KB as indicated by messages during the turn replay. This is the 3rd or 4th time my planes have failed to locate their target, and KB hasn't been attacked yet even though it's been within LBA range for over a week now. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 49,102 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 95 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 16 A-24 Dauntless x 9 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses P-39D Airacobra: 16 destroyed A-24 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 49,102 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 119 Allied aircraft T.IVa x 3 Beaufort V-IX x 17 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 17 damaged Allied aircraft losses T.IVa: 2 destroyed Beaufort V-IX: 13 destroyed Japanese Ships CA Ashigara Aircraft Attacking: 1 x T.IVa launching torpedoes at 200 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 49,102 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 117 Allied aircraft B-17E Fortress x 6 B-24D Liberator x 3 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged Japanese Ships CA Kinugasa Aircraft Attacking: 6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 31000 feet 3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 31000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Japan then flies a large airstrike from KB and hits Charter Towers. His timing couldn’t have been better as I had just rebased in some P-38s and everything was stood down to recover fatigue. Over 35 planes were destroyed on the ground, the combat report is FOW. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Charters Towers , at 45,105 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 5 B5N2 Kate x 115 Ki-46-II Dinah x 1 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 4 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 13 damaged Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 5 destroyed P-38F Lightning: 6 destroyed B-26B Marauder: 7 destroyed Allied ground losses: 69 casualties reported Airbase hits 11 Airbase supply hits 3 Runway hits 69 Aircraft Attacking: 22 x B5N2 Kate bombing at 17000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Due to the heavy damage to the base and the fact my planes at Townsville are shredded, I’ve pulled my airforce out of northeastern Australia to recover. Japan also makes a strike on a Chinese unit in the forest hex east of Changsha. Other than the routine Japanese land bombardment at Ichang, nothing much else to report this turn. Sub ops for 16 August consisted of a single Japanese ASW attack at Kwajalein, my sub managed to evade its attackers. At Adak Island a small task force of 3 PT boats runs into a minefield as they rebase in to the base and PT-36 hits one of the mines and sinks. Two allied air raids of medium bombers plaster the oil resource at Magwe in Burma today. 35 of the 40 resources are now out of action. 12 Japanese Bettys hit Adak Island today, but fail to cause any damage to the base. Japan conducts its land bombardment at Ichang again today. My Australian units pursuing the Japanese north from Townsville conducted a land bombardment at Cairns today. [image]local://upfiles/5815/E6A4EF6842A0469780450C5DEA23B05E.jpg[/image] As you can see from the screenshot, it appears Japan is going to leave a very large garrison behind to hold onto Northeastern Australia. So much for a quick victory in Australia, I defiantly don’t have enough strength to overcome 4 Japanese divisions yet. Also SigInt has detected at least 2 more divisions at Portland Roads over the last few turns, so perhaps he plans to stay for quite a while, as I assume Cooktown has at least a division or two as well. That or he wants to use these units to invade south of my advancing armies. I’ll be sure to keep at least a division in every coastal base along the east coast of Australia. Given how strong Japan is at Cairns, I may end up pulling my troops back to Townsville. I’m actually surprised how well the bombardment went as I was outnumbered 2-1 in AV. I have one more artillery unit along the road south, so for now I’ve stood my units down to defend. Once it arrives I’ll try another bombardment, but if Japan starts attacking I’ll pull out. Jim

Jim D Burns -> 17 – 18 Aug. 42 (3/24/2008 6:34:36 PM)
17 – 18 Aug. 42 Sub ops for 17 August consist of 6 Allied sub attacks which resulted in the AK Kamogawa Maru being struck by 4 torpedoes fired by the SS Trusty in the Malacca strait. The ship couldn’t stay afloat after such damage and went to the bottom. Japan conducted 6 ASW attacks and the SS Bonita received 1 minor hit when the CV Junyo’s escorts attacked her. Damage was light and the sub shall remain on patrol. Allied bombers hit Tennant Creek today and caused heavy damage to the base. 17 Japanese Bettys hit Adak Island today, but failed to cause any damage to the base. I guess I was a bit hasty when I stated Japan was going to leave a strong defense in Cairns. Japan conducted a land bombardment today and only 3 divisions remain at the base now. One is heading north to Cooktown. Given his dismal results with the bombardment attack, I’ve gone ahead and set my units to bombard him again next turn. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Cairns Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 65535 troops, 333 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1440 Defending force 60225 troops, 412 guns, 376 vehicles, Assault Value = 1201 Allied ground losses: 11 casualties reported -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Japan also conducts a land bombardment at Ichang today. Sub ops for 18 August consist of 4 allied sub attacks. The net result of which is that the SS Guardfish receives two hits from counter-attacking escorts south of the Japanese Home Islands. With system damage at 7, I decided to leave the sub on patrol for now. At Mandalay Japan conducts a large air raid against the base as I recently rebased in some fighters. 41 allied fighters rise to defend the base against the hordes of Japanese planes and nik mod rears its ugly head again as the allied fighters are wiped out to a man while Japan is virtually untouched. [image]local://upfiles/5815/11697EA418D34847A070804E288F6DA8.jpg[/image] I can’t tell you how much I Regret playing this stupid mod now. Allied fighters are so much garbage in this mod, even armor ratings of 3 failed to help the Hurricane IID/IVs survive against the overpowered Japanese fighter planes in this fanboy mod. I’m going to play to the bitter end in this game, but I doubt I’ll be able to make an opposed landing in this mod, as Japanese air power will shred my carrier air every time. I’ll have to think of a way to play this game without fighters because they are basically useless thanks to nik’s ridiculous mod. Japan conducts land bombardments at Ichang and Cairns today. My land bombardment at Cairns is very effective, looks like I may be able to hurt Japan here over time. I’ll keep these bombardments going every turn. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Cairns Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 65592 troops, 336 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1443 Defending force 60370 troops, 411 guns, 377 vehicles, Assault Value = 1200 Allied ground losses: 40 casualties reported -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Cairns Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 45878 troops, 411 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1198 Defending force 68972 troops, 336 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1443 Japanese ground losses: 990 casualties reported Guns lost 27 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The only other thing to note is I’ve had 3 subs hit by naval air search in the past 2 days and a total of at least 6-8 hit this month now. Looks like our house rule keeping search planes above 6,000 feet is not quite enough to overcome the over-effective search planes vs. subs in the game. Overall I’m happy with the rule as it has allowed subs to at least be a factor in game, but it appears when you try and operate in waters with many enemy land bases nearby, your subs will get hammered and wiped out eventually anyway. I’ve only got 3 or 4 subs left in the waters near Cooktown now and one of those is heavily damaged and limping back to port due to a search plane attack. I’ve lost 2 sunk and will probably lose one or two more of the ones that have been damaged. In return they’ve hit about 6 Japanese ships, only one of which has sunk. I’m losing more subs than ships they sink in the duel, so subs are still pretty useless compared to what they historically could accomplish. Jim

ny59giants -> RE: 17 – 18 Aug. 42 (3/24/2008 7:28:55 PM)
I've found that the Allied "Death Stars" of B-24s to be almost unstoppable and I'm in early 2/43. My opponent is hoping the Jacks do better than everything else which is nothing against these monsters. [:D] So they do off set some poor Allied fighter performance. So putting at least 100 of them in India should pretty much take Rangoon and Moulmein out of the picture. [;)] I'll have over 200 planes worth of B-24 & Liberator IIIs in just over a month in India. Then most bases will go [sm=vomit-smiley-020.gif] I've tried using my subs in the SRA without much success due to LBA killing more than I can get into position to at least take a shot at a TK/AK, let alone sink them.

Gen.Hoepner -> RE: 17 – 18 Aug. 42 (3/25/2008 10:50:01 AM)
Yes but this doesn't change the fact that this mod is almost unplayable...Jim's right, it's impossible to stand a fight against the japanese fighters...the Mvr. ratings are completely messed up! The Nik's experimental mod is completely another thing...they should eliminate this version and keep only the experimental one (which however, after 2 years of testing, should not be called experimental anymore).

ny59giants -> RE: 17 – 18 Aug. 42 (3/25/2008 4:54:31 PM)
The other big "rant" I have with this mod is having only 50 Politcal Points per day. I'm hand strung early in '43 as I still have 4 USA division awaiting the ability to change commands on the WC (it takes 1/2 a month just to change a RCT). [:@][:(] Since this is my first PBEM game to get into '43. I'm using it for a learning experience. We have agreed to end it once AE comes out. I'm finding out that with high durability rating for the Corsairs, they seem to have more stay damaged then other fighters regardless of the AF size and/or aviation support available.

Jim D Burns -> 19 – 20 Aug. 42 (3/26/2008 7:55:55 AM)
19 – 20 Aug. 42 Sub activity for 19 August consists of 5 allied sub attacks resulting in a Japanese AK at Palembang and AP near Amboina both being hit with two torpedoes each. The Dutch sub at Palembang receives 1 hit by the counter-attacking Japanese escorts. Japan conducts 2 ASW attacks and hits one of the subs for 1 hit near Cooktown. 16 Mitchell bombers hit the resource at Meiktila and score 2 hits. 123 heavy bombers hit Cooktown from 31,000 feet and only score 1 airbase hit. With 66 zeroes defending the base and my squadron’s morale still low, I can’t afford an air battle yet to regain air superiority. Once my heavy squadrons have recovered some morale, I’ll send them in at 15,000 feet to smash the base. KB conducts a port attack on Townsville today and sinks the single sub docked there that was trying to repair flood damage. Damage to the base isn’t too bad and my engineers quickly repair it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on Townsville , at 46,105 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 26 B5N2 Kate x 77 Allied aircraft Kittyhawk I x 15 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 6 damaged Allied aircraft losses Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed, 11 damaged Allied Ships SS S-38, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage Port hits 14 Port fuel hits 4 Port supply hits 3 Aircraft Attacking: 17 x B5N2 Kate bombing at 18000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here are the land bombardments this turn. I can’t say I’m not happy with the results I’m achieving at Cairns, though I have no idea why I’m hitting him so hard and he’s barely scratching my boys. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Cairns Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 64482 troops, 298 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1409 Defending force 60362 troops, 412 guns, 377 vehicles, Assault Value = 1199 Allied ground losses: 29 casualties reported -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Ichang Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 149581 troops, 679 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 3368 Defending force 72997 troops, 271 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2088 Allied ground losses: 84 casualties reported Guns lost 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Cairns Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 45914 troops, 412 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1199 Defending force 67402 troops, 298 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1409 Japanese ground losses: 917 casualties reported Guns lost 18 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub ops for 20 August consist of 2 allied sub attacks resulting in a Japanese MSW being torpedoed and sunk at Truk. Japan conducts 4 ASW attacks and manages to hit two subs, each one hit once. But today also has another of my subs near Cooktown hit by Japanese naval search planes, which means I’m down to just one sub in that area now. I’ve therefore ordered all subs from the Rabaul and Lunga areas to move towards Cooktown. 99 Hudsons hit Daily Waters today causing moderate damage to the base. 88 Blenheim IVs hit Meiktila today causing another 11 hits to the resource there. That should effectively put that resource out of action as it had had previous damage from earlier raids. 103 heavies hit Cooktown again today from 31,000 feet and only score 1 runway hit. They did manage to destroy a couple Japanese planes on the ground though. Then my medium bombers from Charter Towers launch several air raids against Japanese fleets north of Cooktown. In total 4 raids attack Japanese shipping but only one hit is scored and that bomb bounced. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 49,98 Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 14 B-26B Marauder x 7 P-38F Lightning x 12 Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged Japanese Ships DD Kuri DD Tsuga DD Mikazuki PG Idzumo PG Iwate, Bomb hits 1 DD Karukaya Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 49,98 Allied aircraft B-26B Marauder x 3 No Allied losses Japanese Ships DD Ayanami Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 49,98 Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 3 B-26B Marauder x 8 No Allied losses Japanese Ships DD Karukaya AP Kuraido Maru AP La Plata Maru PG Iwate Aircraft Attacking: 3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet <snip> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day Air attack on TF at 49,99 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 8 Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 2 P-38F Lightning x 10 No Japanese losses No Allied losses Japanese Ships CL Jintsu Aircraft Attacking: 2 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Of note is the fact that at least another 5 or 6 raids failed to locate their targets today. In fact so many raids were flown today, that I lost 6 P-38s to op losses, but they just couldn’t find the ships. Today’s land bombardments consist of us trading shots at Cairns. My guys are getting better each turn, as Japan is hit hard today. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Cairns Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 63726 troops, 275 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1387 Defending force 60622 troops, 412 guns, 379 vehicles, Assault Value = 1200 Allied ground losses: 25 casualties reported -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Cairns Allied Bombardment attack Attacking force 45934 troops, 412 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1200 Defending force 66506 troops, 275 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1387 Japanese ground losses: 1348 casualties reported Guns lost 20 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I’m really curious as to why I’m doing so much better than Japan in these bombardments. Perhaps it’s the fact I have three dedicated artillery units in addition to my other combat units, and he just has the intrinsic guns of his three divisions. Jim

Cathartes -> RE: 19 – 20 Aug. 42 (3/27/2008 9:51:29 PM)
Jim, One comment on your recent debacle over Rangoon: I'm playing CHS 155 as Allies and I'm in Jan. '43. I can tell you that your losses over Rangoon are not insconsistent with what I've experienced in CHS 155. Whether or not you agree with the outcome is another matter, but don't think it's the mod you're using. Your fighters were outnumbered almost 3-1 and he had Tonys and A6M3s, both much better than Hurricanes, and forget about the deathtrap Mowhawks. They only stand a chance agains Nates. Also, I don't know the exact situation, but I would expect his pilot experience to be much higher than yours at this point. In my game, if the same situation arose (and I often got shredded over Burma), I would expect similar results, and I'm not playing with NikMod. Your best defense in Burma right now is a big LBA bomber stick and lots of flak over your bases. You are playing the right mod to take advantage of flak. Get 4E bombers to Burma. They will cause much havoc, and will have many targets to choose from.

Jim D Burns -> RE: 19 – 20 Aug. 42 (3/27/2008 10:45:14 PM)
Hi Cathartes, It’s not that I lost the air battle, it’s that I can’t touch his planes. He is scoring well above 4-1 kill ratios in air to air in the game and it just finally got to me (sorry about the rant everyone). These aren’t regular hurricanes either, these planes have 3 armor (the best in the game) and I had hoped that would help mitigate things some, but no luck. Scroll back to page 4, I posted a side by side of the maneuver ratings for this game. His Oscars are 13 points higher than these hurricanes were, so I can’t touch them let alone his better fighters. Also with such high maneuver ratings, I’m not repelling as many of his fighters with my bomber’s defensive fire. So even though I can get through to hit him, he scores dozens and dozens of damaging hits on my heavy bombers which crashes their morale. So they spend a lot of time sitting doing nothing trying to recover enough morale to have a chance to hit something when they do fly. This is a massively biased pro-Japan mod. I hadn’t realized it when I chose to play it, I was basing that decision on all the praise nik mod got on the forums. My guess is if I were to go back and check it was the Japanese players who were praising it. Not to worry though, I’ll soldier on and find a path to victory in spite of nik mod. Jim Edit: I'd be interested to know the air to air kill ratio in your game. Just air to air fighter kills, nothing else.

Cathartes -> RE: 19 – 20 Aug. 42 (3/28/2008 1:00:33 AM)
Overall, my air-air losses are twice my opponents at this stage. I can get you total air to air, but I can't accurately break out fighter vs fighter. I know I'm not losing them 4-1. It's probably in the neighborhood of I lose 5 for every 3 of his, and that's only after I've tried to frame every air to air encounter to maximum advantage. Things are a little better now that I have P-38s, but they come in at a trickle and I have to use them judiciously. Despite the armor rating, I would not use those Hurri IIc/ds--they are slow, don't climb well, and are easily outmaneuvered compared to other allied fighters. They have armor and decent guns, but overall they are lacking. In my game I use these exclusively for air-to-ground. The tide will not turn in fighter vs fighter until you get better fighters, and more of them in the air to take on the numbers of fighter you are seeing over Rangoon. Be thankful he's not sweeping your bases with those fighters. You may lament about the morale hit to bombers, but the alternative is to lose the pilots and aircraft completely. In vanilla CHS bombers get shredded by Japanese fighters. Looking at your air attack on Rangoon from Aug 13-14, for example, If I tried that in CHS 155 I would expect to lose about 1/2 my bombers and not achieve the same results on the ground for it. I can only dream of bombing Rangoon by day right now. If I had more bases in escort range for Hurricanes and P-40s, I might have made a serous attempt by now. I'm not arguing that NikMod is better or worse than stock. It's just different and the grass is always greener and all that.

Jim D Burns -> RE: 19 – 20 Aug. 42 (3/28/2008 10:09:18 AM)
I'm playing CHS + nik mod, so our games aren't too different. That raid you mentioned in August was at 32,000 feet, so only a few of his fighters could reach my planes. I too would have lost over half of them at a lower altitude. But as it was several of my squadrons from that raid are only now getting back to 50% morale levels. Jim

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