CapAndGown -> RE: Rangoon Falls (12/4/2010 2:01:15 AM)
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Jan. 6, 1943 Today was the day I began my effort to reinforce the eastern DEI. Nav Guard/SNLF units are being landed on the islands around Samlauki to make it more difficult for the allies to grab multiple bases in one blow. The problem with this operation is the potential for allied interference, both in the air and on the surface. To guard against air attacks, fighters on nearby bases were ordered to LRCAP the islands. Unfortunately, I forgot that LRCAP needs to be within normal range and so my Tojo's, which did not have their drop tanks on, did not participate in the day's actions as I thought they would. In truth, I have no idea what they did. They were set to 50% LRCAP, though what they were LRCAPing is beyond me. They managed to accumulate 66 fatigue apparently doing nothing, while the squadrons that actually did provide LRCAP had half the fatigue. [8|] Well, I turned on their drop tanks for next turn. Since the Tojo's were out of the picture, that left CAP duties up to my Zero's. In addition to one land based sentai, I brought over the carriers from the slow KB to help out. That includes Hiyo, Ryuho, Shinyo, and Hosho. They did not do a very good job: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Selaroe at 78,118 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 3 A6M5 Zero x 19 Allied aircraft P-38H Lightning x 17 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed (lba) A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed (cv based) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Babar at 76,117 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 12 minutes Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 4 Kittyhawk III x 9 Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Selaroe at 78,118 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 1 A6M5 Zero x 9 Allied aircraft Beaufort VIII x 6 Boomerang C-12 x 10 Japanese aircraft losses A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed [8|] Allied aircraft losses Beaufort VIII: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged Boomerang C-12: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Molu at 79,116 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 7 Spitfire VIII x 11 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Molu at 79,116 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 11 A6M5 Zero x 3 Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 7 Spitfire VIII x 11 [these are fairly nasty. wouldn't want to face them in a stand up fight.] Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed I ended up losing 10 cv based Zero's, 8 A2A, and 3 land based, all A2A. Fortunately, only 3 pilots were KIA and 5 WIA. Also fortunate was the fact that the allies did not score a single bomb hit. They are bombing from 5k feet which seems to be a peculiarly bad choice of altitudes. It is low enough that it uses the lowN skill rather than NavB, but high enough that it manages to be very inaccurate. Either go with 6k feet or commit to lowN and bomb at 1k (or even 100 feet). For tonight, I am racing surface forces into and out of these bases to guard against any possible surface interference from the allies. I don't know if they have any DDs down at Gove, but it is possible. I have my naval search assets at Taberfane set up to search one hex shy of Darwin and Merauke. I have lost too many planes and pilots searching over enemy bases, so I am not doing that any more. (The allies obviously have more planes and pilots than I do since they are losing patrol planes over my bases every other turn yet continue to run these searches. Even PBY Liberators are not immune from being shot down.) By tomorrow's air phase, the overwhelming majority of the troops will be landed and so any air attacks tomorrow may cost me some ships, but not many troops. [image]local://upfiles/2633/8BD9B00CB8D44B7291516A83BB4FC01F.jpg[/image]
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