Arnhem44 -> 29 Mar 1942 (5/17/2012 9:05:58 PM)
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29 Mar 1942 SIGINT 4th Ind.Mixed Regiment is planning for an attack on Nanning. China Battle is joined at Lanchow, the IJA crosses a river hexside and does a shock attack, I do not have supplies otherwise I'd risk a counterattack. Ground combat at Lanchow (81,34) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 25112 troops, 154 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 801 Defending force 35678 troops, 185 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1020 Japanese adjusted assault: 266 Allied adjusted defense: 1133 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4 (fort level 3) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), supply(-) Japanese ground losses: 7866 casualties reported Squads: 287 destroyed, 114 disabled Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 170 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled Guns lost 44 (32 destroyed, 12 disabled) Allied ground losses: 898 casualties reported Squads: 5 destroyed, 70 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Assaulting units: 12th Indpt Infantry Regiment 11th Indpt Infantry Regiment 7th Ind.Mixed Brigade 6th Ind.Mixed Brigade 13th Indpt Infantry Regiment Defending units: 19th Chinese Corps 43rd Chinese Corps 98th Chinese Corps 17th Chinese Corps 1st Construction Regiment 61st Chinese Corps 23rd Chinese Corps 81st Chinese Corps 2nd Construction Regiment 8th War Area 8th Group Army 6th Group Army 8th Chinese Base Force DEI Ineffectual air attacks by the Dutch AF on the convoy unloading at Kali result in 8 B-10s and 7 P-40Es shot down for no hits. SWPAC In the night the President Monroe succumbs to her wounds and sinks, she is followed in the morning by her sister ship President Tyler as it is bombed by the KB. Morning Air attack on TF, near Taveuni Island at 135,159 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 9 D3A1 Val x 9 No Japanese losses Allied Ships xAP President Tyler, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb Netties out of Timor catch an empty resup convoy on it's way back to Perth from Darwin and sink everything, 3 xAKs and a PG. All were survivors from the Philippines. Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Truscott at 72,123 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft G3M2 Nell x 12 G4M1 Betty x 13 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged Allied Ships PG Herald, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk xAK Dilga, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk xAK Colac, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk xAK Corio, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk Aircraft Attacking: 13 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp 12 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp And now for the fun part. Morning Air attack on TF, near Suva at 132,160 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 30 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 27 B5N2 Kate x 66 D3A1 Val x 40 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 142 P-40E Warhawk x 57 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed B5N2 Kate: 19 destroyed, 1 damaged D3A1 Val: 15 destroyed, 3 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed Allied Ships DD Craven DD McCall DD Maury DD Gridley DD Kilty DD Hull DD Crane Aircraft Attacking: 1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb 8 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 17 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 4 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb 4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: 49th PG/7th PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling) 7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes 15 planes vectored on to bombers 49th PG/8th PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling) 6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes 12 planes vectored on to bombers 49th PG/9th PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling) 6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes 14 planes vectored on to bombers 8th PG/35th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 17 on standby, 0 scrambling) 8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes 21 planes vectored on to bombers 8th PG/36th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 17 on standby, 0 scrambling) 8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes 21 planes vectored on to bombers 35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling) 7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes 23 planes vectored on to bombers 35th PG/40th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling) 7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes 15 planes vectored on to bombers 35th PG/41st PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 15 on standby, 0 scrambling) 7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes 16 planes vectored on to bombers 8th PG/80th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling) 8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 16000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes 16 planes vectored on to bombers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Suva at 132,160 Weather in hex: Severe storms Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 29 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 29 B5N2 Kate x 43 D3A1 Val x 17 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 134 P-40E Warhawk x 51 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed B5N2 Kate: 15 destroyed, 2 damaged D3A1 Val: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed Allied Ships DD Kilty DD Litchfield DD Craven DD Gridley DD Dewey, heavy fires, heavy damage DD McCall DD Maury Aircraft Attacking: 3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 6 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 7 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 8 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb 2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb CAP engaged: 49th PG/7th PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes 9 planes vectored on to bombers 49th PG/8th PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes 9 planes vectored on to bombers 49th PG/9th PS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling) 5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes 9 planes vectored on to bombers 8th PG/35th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling) 7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes 12 planes vectored on to bombers 8th PG/36th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling) 8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 17000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes 20 planes vectored on to bombers 35th PG/39th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling) 7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes 12 planes vectored on to bombers 35th PG/40th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 15 on standby, 0 scrambling) 7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes 22 planes vectored on to bombers 35th PG/41st PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 13 on standby, 0 scrambling) 6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes 17 planes vectored on to bombers 8th PG/80th PS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling) 7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes I was given a heads up in the reply email that it had not been a good day for the Empire so I took the opportunity to do a little record keeping and see how Tracker, the game (air losses screen) and combat animations differ in reporting on the losses in a specific engagement. For the first two, it was just a matter of plucking the figures out from the respective reporting screens, for the combat animation I only counted "XXX destroyed" messages as hard kills, the kills came hard and fast when the Allied fighters broke through to the IJN bombers but I'm confident I recorded 95% of the kill messages. The following are the 3 different counts of kill claims only for the engagements (1 in the morning, 1 in the afternoon) over Suva. Allied losses were 3 P-40s and P-39s each lost in A2A combat. Z-Zeroes, V-Vals, K-Kates Game: Z-26, V-20, K-25 Tracker: Z-21, V-36, K-50 Own count of combat animation: Z-18, V-29, K-45 (morning raid Z-7, V-21, K-24 afternoon raid Z-11, V-8, K-21) On the whole many things went right for the Allies to get such a lopsided exchange, apart from numerical superiority and the fact that the fighters were there in the first place (1 FG was stood down and the other 2 flew back from Noumea where they were in transit to Oz), the base forces here had radar and this helped tremendously with early warning and coordination of the defence. I was also lucky that the Kates were level bombing instead of carrying torpedoes otherwise I could have easily lost all of my bait DDs. I'm going to be conservative and claim 18 Zeroes and 50 bombers split evenly. While the material losses are significant they are easily replaceable, KB's flyers are not and it is my hope they died in droves in the skies over Suva. Assuming I'm facing 6 CVs that's still quite a lot of firepower on those decks so I'll be watching closely to see where it goes from here. KB is currently 4 hexes southeast of Suva and heading west, a half dozen S-boats just to the west of Suva were in transit to Darwin are turning around and interposing themselves on KB's intended route. An 8 DD TF will also make a night sortie from Suva to see if they can put a fish or two into the side of a CV.
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