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RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 12:36:54 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Prepare for these coming in Feb '43:

Take time to make sure your important AFs have sufficient flak guns.

I say this to get you ready for the increased bomber campaign about to come at you. Three full BGs (48 planes each) of B-24s can close any AF down in a day. Look for Burma to go from bad to worse in about 60 to 90 days, at most.

What Joy!

What would you consider sufficient flak?

I had hoped to make a fight of it in the air, but I have no counter to massed Allied night bombing, I can't even rely upon low moonlight as my troops seem to never have heard of blackout regulations, and I won't have a counter until I get 2 squadrons of Irvings sometime in the middle/late 1943...and they simply won't cover enough. I have only one factory r&d on the Nick KAId and it is repaired 5 out of 25. Too little way too late.

I guess in Burma, I will try to hunker down in the Jungle, build defense in depth, and distribute AA/ART/AT. I will bring in the machine cannon AA to prevent try and deter really low attacks. I will try to hold Magwee as long as it produces...and endeavor to knock out the Chindits. Other than that pull the air force back and do one off raids...flying them overnight into an airfield and retreating. Not very satisfying. And unfortunately, with Rangoon he has an excellent air base to strike at me very deeply. Not a pretty picture.

Allies seem to have enough bombers to hit me at night in two theaters, adding 3 full squadrons will nail a third area which may be Burma, but may be OZ or Solomons as well.

No real good answers here...just be a good JFB and take the hits.

(in reply to ny59giants)

Post #: 1081

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 12:46:21 PM

Lowpe

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Hey, look what showed up in Bangkok!.

An armored IJA fighter, and single engine. Yes, SR3.

I will give these guys a shot a night fighting. 20% CAP and see if they can survive better than Nicks. At least they cost less to make.

I really like this planes lines....beautiful!

Attachment (1)

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Post #: 1082

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 1:49:48 PM

Lokasenna

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Fusan's resource stand over 400,000, growing, despite 18 cargo ships pulling. I am going to increase the number of 1 and 2 ship convoys by 10 today and see what happens.

Can you outline the steps you took to get this to happen? Mine is very hit/miss. Did you simply stand down all other convoys leaving the Asian landmass (i.e., from Singers, etc.) and wait for it to flow to Fusan, where you had convoys pulling?

Can you tell where these resources came from? Did they come from Manchukuo (i.e., Port Arthur) or from further afield (Singers, Shanghai)?

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Post #: 1083

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 2:51:07 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna
Can you outline the steps you took to get this to happen? Mine is very hit/miss. Did you simply stand down all other convoys leaving the Asian landmass (i.e., from Singers, etc.) and wait for it to flow to Fusan, where you had convoys pulling?

Can you tell where these resources came from? Did they come from Manchukuo (i.e., Port Arthur) or from further afield (Singers, Shanghai)?

Turn 269 (start of game): Resource level at Fusan 5000. First step I did was send a 8 ships of the Kasu-d variety to Fusan. I set them up to CS resources, coastal, to Shimoeneski. At the same time I started to build the Port. Half way to level 7 port, I switched to building the air field up to 4, then switched back to port. I don't remember why I did that...I cancelled what local convoys that were there, which wasn't much.

Second: I sent about 20 xak and disbanded them into port. These ships pulled in fuel which fluctuates now between 7,000 and 15,000 daily. So having ships disbanded in port the fuel the requested draw is 15K.

By turn 281 there was a stockpile of 61K resources. At some point I set stockpile = on. Not sure when. Perhaps day 1. It is curious, that for the next couple of weeks, the resources would jump from 12K to 60K and then be drawn down to about 12K and jump back to 60K overnight.

Somewhere along the way, I shut down most shipping out of Hokkaido and Sakhalin for fear of enemy planes and surface ships. They were shut down for quite a while until initiative swung over to Japan in the Kuriles.

By turn 341 the resources jumped to 90K. I believe I had offset Hokkaido shipments (lack there of) by very slowly increasing cargo ships. I started getting into the habit of adding just 1 or at most 2 ships, unescorted, with a pretty good lag between additions. Not much and very gradually. Somewhere around here I cancelled Port Arthur convoys.

By turn 361, I surpassed the 200,000 mark. All along I am adding a ship here and there to moving resources. At some point I disbanded an additional 20 cargo ships.

By turn 371, I topped 337K. It always advanced in the same manner. A big overnight jump, draw down, then jump back up.

Turn 385 saw Level 7 port, working on 8. AF size 4. I cancelled Shanghai convoys.

It is now turn 397. Lately it seems there is now 2 up days followed by a down day. Hard to read a lot into that because I haven't been keeping track of shipments out.

Somewhere around turn 390 I started shutting down all convoys to the Home Islands, and by now they are all off except from Hokkaido, Sakhalin and Fusan. I also started more aggressively adding 1 ship convoys from Fusan to the HI.

I tried pulling oil into Fusan early on. I parked a 8000 capacity tanker, and it simply sat there many days never loading. I gave up on him, and at some point a cargo ship with fuel capacity started making the trip...oil has now grown to the 4-5K mark and I will start pulling it out with a 2K tanker.

My plan is to mine the island, base ASW ships in each of three-four hexes most convoys sail thru (depending where on the HI they are unloading at) and there is really no ASW planes over the cargo route, but a fair amount to the western approaches.

Plus I am now trying to draw oil out, and in addition I am starting to pull fuel from Chinhe (2000 units).

It is looking very good.

Wow, that became a book!

PS: From turn 385 Port Arthur peaked at 1.55 million resources. It is now 1.49 million and decreasing every day. Cam Ranh Bay is reducing its stockpiles rapidly. Saigon is holding around 20K,Shanghai drops for 3 days and then jumps back up to 100K. Resources at Hong Kong are growing from 806K to 897K since turn 391. Of course Singers is getting inflows from DEI.

I am worried about running out at Cam Ranh bay, but I will let that happen to see if I pull from Singers. What a boon that would be.

Overall fuel consumption has plummeted.

(in reply to Lokasenna)

Post #: 1084

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 3:03:27 PM

Lowpe

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For some reason when I grab the data from tracker, there is an additional x10 to the resource level. So actual level is 1/10th as much, i am too lazy to change it.

But here is a graph of resources at Fusan.

Attachment (1)

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Post #: 1085

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 3:05:09 PM

Lowpe

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Jheesh, don't ask for that again! Too much like work.

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Post #: 1086

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 3:28:19 PM

Lokasenna

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Ha! I didn't need that much information!

Interesting. I've had Fusan's port maxed for months and have been running convoys out of there, with none running out of Port Arthur, Keijo, Shanghai, or Hong Kong...and Fusan still doesn't have that much of a stockpile. I'm completely fine on Resources with my current setup - it's Fuel and especially Oil that I'm wanting to go to Fusan and it just won't flow from Singapore, where it's pooling. And yet Singapore seems to have no problems shipping 30k Oil up to Rangoon where there is no road connection... Maybe I need to get some Flomax to the mainland, or something.

I loaded up Tracker to check this. I was able to get 2k Oil at Fusan waaaay back on turn 103. Never more than 100 in the 190 turns since then. I haven't even tried to run Fuel out of there, so Fuel has been sitting around 8-10k.

Interesting to note that about once every 7 days, about 250k resources flow into Fusan while about 60-170k flows out of Port Arthur. So it seems that Fusan tries to draw about 250k every week (I should compare this to my convoy numbers for Resources), and whatever demand can't be met from sources other than Port Arthur draws from Port Arthur, which itself accumulates Resources over time from the rest of the mainland. And despite no convoys running from Keijo, it sits on 160k Resources.

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Post #: 1087

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 4:44:02 PM

Lowpe

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Oil and Fuel

Below is a chart of oil stockpiles at Fusan. Again divide by 10.

You can see that I am slowly increasing the draw down, and the stockpiles are reacting to the shipments out by increasing the stockpile.

Attachment (1)

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Post #: 1088

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 4:48:15 PM

Lowpe

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Ok, last chart: Fuel growth at Fusan. A lot of people don't like to have fuel travel by land because there is wastage. But my fuel levels are growing, and whatever loss there is can be offset by less ship fuel spent getting the liquid gold back to the HI thru Fusan.

I wonder where these numbers will stabilize at?

Today I started pulling from Chinhe, next door, and that raises the amount of fuel shipped to the HI to c.10,000. Not bad if it is sustainable.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Lowpe -- 6/27/2014 5:55:24 PM >

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Post #: 1089

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 4:53:05 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna
Interesting. I've had Fusan's port maxed for months

What do you mean? Maxed as in the tonnage = port handling capability?

I have stopped worrying about that for now, multiple 1 or 2 ship convoys seems much better for short milk runs. If they don't dock, they don't.

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Post #: 1090

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 4:58:00 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna
I loaded up Tracker to check this. I was able to get 2k Oil at Fusan waaaay back on turn 103. Never more than 100 in the 190 turns since then. I haven't even tried to run Fuel out of there, so Fuel has been sitting around 8-10k.

You definitely should at least get a small tanker running oil. A standard conversion, most likely. I think you might like the results.

(in reply to Lokasenna)

Post #: 1091

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 5:15:29 PM

Spidery

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quote:

A lot of people don't like to have fuel travel by land because there is wastage.

Are you sure there is wastage?

From the Beta release notes (applicable to official patch):

"95. Gameplay Change: Removed the wastage of resources/oil/fuel during overland movement."

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1092

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 5:20:58 PM

Spidery

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quote:

My CAP over Taung Gyi, which was large from several bases, fails to shoot down any transports

What sort of range and did you have drop tanks? There was a Beta fix that meant drop tanks work to extend loiter time and intercepts.

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Post #: 1093

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 5:29:15 PM

Lowpe

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Good to know on fuel wastage...just remember reading it somewhere.

LR CAP was from 2 hexes away at its closest. I did not use drop tanks, but will this turn.

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Post #: 1094

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 8:11:48 PM

Lokasenna

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Good to know on fuel wastage...just remember reading it somewhere.

LR CAP was from 2 hexes away at its closest. I did not use drop tanks, but will this turn.

I believe Fuel used to be wasted, but no longer... Even if there was wastage from transporting overland, IMO it would balance out with the savings in fuel for ships to ship stuff.

I will get stuff running out of Fusan eventually. It will diminish the sub threat to my econ. By maxed, I did mean that I have the port at level 8 and have for ages (it's why the Fuel level there is 8-10k: 1k per level of port, plus demand). I had set up Oil convoys running out of there, but they were waiting forever for the Oil to pool. I left them going for several weeks and no joy - they spent tons of time waiting for Oil, and then they'd get a load... I am starting to finally get the Std-A xAKs, though...and some of the smaller TKs and AOs. I should send a couple there.

Bullwinkle may read all of this, but from Fusan it doesn't matter much.... so many minefields

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Post #: 1095

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 9:10:57 PM

Lowpe

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The big attack on Mili

Throwing a lot against them tomorrow. This is a change of pace for me, since every time I have let him see the KB, it promptly tried to disengage the next day. Not this time.

The last time I tried a complicated plan like this none of the surface groups bombarded, one BB stopped 2 hexes short and was sunk.

So my confidence is low that this all comes off. 100 enemy fighters at Mili.

A destroyer squadron is running into Mili on surface combat. Two bombardment groups are going in: a BB squadron and a CA squadron at flank speed. In addition a fresh mini sub unit is heading in, and subs are surrounding the base.

During the night about 70 planes are on low level (5000 foot) airfield attack. Betties and Helens.

For the day attack there are sweeps by 60 fighters, and every carrier plane in the empire is attacking Naval first and port second. The port strike will go in the afternoon if the ships disappear.

Other land base air attacks are set for Naval/Port. Altitudes are pretty much all over the board some Betties very low. Carrier strike at 10K, sweeps at 20 and 25K. Lilly IIb at 10K. Nicks strafing.

Almost every plane is flying including: Oscar IIa, LillyIIb, Nick KAIa, Nick KAIb, Dinah KAI, A6M5c.

I worry most about the shore bombardment forces...here is hoping!

I am hoping Tiemanj disbands some of those ships into port, like he did prior.

Go a head and guess my plane losses for the day...I bet it won't be pretty.

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by Lowpe -- 6/27/2014 10:14:15 PM >

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Post #: 1096

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 10:28:13 PM

Lokasenna

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I'm going with 30-40. It seems like you have this well put-together.

Honestly, if you had AKs around you could counter-invade with a response of this magnitude and get some nice, tasty LCU VPs.

(in reply to Lowpe)

Post #: 1097

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 10:31:27 PM

DanSez

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this is really exciting!

Very good setup and now...

I had to crank this song up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkHQAvZEM1o

Great AAR, thanks for all your efforts.

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Post #: 1098

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 11:19:45 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I'm going with 30-40. It seems like you have this well put-together.

Honestly, if you had AKs around you could counter-invade with a response of this magnitude and get some nice, tasty LCU VPs.

Optimistic with losses I think...we will see.

No troops around to counter attack...there are ak-t at Truk...on their way to Rabaul or Java though.

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Post #: 1099

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/27/2014 11:26:49 PM

Lowpe

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DanSez

this is really exciting!

Very good setup and now...

I had to crank this song up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkHQAvZEM1o

Great AAR, thanks for all your efforts.

Many thanks! AAR's make the game extra exciting.

One thing in this attack I am sad about, is that Ailinglaplap is only size 1 (55 percent to 2) otherwise I could have added an additional 60 Vals.

Another thing I am sad about, is that after the attack the night bombing raids will intensify and I don't know what to do about them other than retreat.

I don't think he landed coastal guns, or AA yet...but I didn't go back and double check his invasion force.

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Post #: 1100

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/28/2014 12:05:51 AM

Lowpe

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Oz:

Bombardment forces are getting organized for their run to Derby. If they take another day to setup, I will set them to remain on station and maybe get a daytime bombardment.

Half the Aussie units in Derby just arrived. I wouldn't be surprised to see another Division, the numbers correspond to what the 4th ID had originally. We shall see. I don't know the history of these Allied divisions...but there are very few vehicles and guns which I like.

I have to decide whether or not to bring the 1st Tank Division down here or another ID for the move on Darwin. It is either here or to Burma with them...

Two Naval Guards for Broome are at only 12 and 28 percent. Part of me wants to take the base before getting Derby, the other part wants to win Derby forcing the Aussies across the water to Broome and than take Broome before the Derby forces can reach Broome. I am afraid if I take Broome first then the Aussies at Derby will retreat into the desert, and I would much rather get them to surrender.

Although, taking Broome first would allow the AKEs to relocate along with a good number of bombers which would put a serious hurt on Derby.

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Post #: 1101

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/28/2014 10:07:33 AM

Lowpe

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Jan 9, 1942

The overly complex plan on Mili by the IJN is put into action. Some few small elements of the IJAAF are present to, and at HQ in Truk the men bustle with determined activities monitoring the attack.

The first news of the night, however, is not from Mili, but from Northern Australia where the Agano, what a sleek ship, catches an elusive convoy and sinks it.

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Post #: 1102

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/28/2014 10:16:01 AM

Lowpe

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Then the reports start coming from Mili.

Advnace elements are approaching...it is the Destroyer Squadron, as planned! There is shipping sighted, lots of shipping and then the first encounter...a lone PT boat.

The Mogami bombardment group is still to the west, and the Nagato bombardment group is still dark and her whereabouts unknown.

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Post #: 1103

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/28/2014 10:23:40 AM

Lowpe

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Mili is overrun by single ship PT boats...and while this fight in Mili is happening, the Mogami reports an engagement with another PT boat.

They are as thick as fleas...

Can the Mogami break past the fleas to bombard the airfield? If not, the Japanese pilots may have a very tough day on the morrow...

But more worrisome, where is the Nagato bombardment group? Still dark...

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Post #: 1104

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/28/2014 10:34:30 AM

Lowpe

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No news from the Task Force Nagato...where are they?

However, the Mogami brushes aside one PT boat engagement, and avoids the others. Her Captain almost beaches the Mogami so close to the port she steams delivering her round after round...

The spotter walks the shell bursts in, and soon massive explosions and burning ships illuminate the sky making the job of the Mogami's gunners easier.

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Post #: 1105

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/28/2014 10:44:31 AM

Lowpe

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News from several airfields report no night bombing run on Mili's airfields and still there is no location for TF Nagato...

It seems much relies upon the accuracy of Mogami's gunners....if it fails to destroy the fighters at the airfield then the morning will bring huge losses.

The spotter's float plane returns to the Mogami with mixed news: lots of enemy shipping hit in port, several good hits on the airfields, but no damaged planes sighted!

What trickery can this be? There where over 100 fighters spotted yesterday afternoon! Could the Americans have underground plane bunkers already? They are known to be crafty with their engineers...

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Post #: 1106

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/28/2014 10:49:17 AM

Lowpe

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Her bombardment a mixed success, the Mogami looks to make good her escape.

The screen destroyer squadron follows, but is still near Mili when the sun rises -- another pesky PT boat...is there no end to them?

The destroyers need to break free and get under protective air cover before the American scout planes find them...

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Post #: 1107

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/28/2014 10:57:05 AM

Lowpe

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As dawn arrives a group of KAIb Nicks, with a big cannon for it's main gun, spots some meandering PT boats and strafes.

As if by magic, the very presence of the escorting KAI Dianah's scares away all Allied fighters yet again, and the attack is prosecuted with vigor and no enemy fighter opposition. Perhaps they are flying very close to Mili...

And the reports start filtering in on enemy actions during the night: several sub attacks, but no damage suffered, and heavy night bombing raids of Pegu by Allied bombers. No night attacks on Roi...

And even better news, it seems the Mili raiders have made good their escape and are back on protective fighter coverage. Task Force Nagato shows up, west of the KB...they could bombard tonight if needed.

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Post #: 1108

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/28/2014 11:03:11 AM

Lowpe

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During the morning Zeroes and Oscars sweep Mili, and find no enemy fighters!

In the afternoon the first strikes start going in against the port as planned.

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Post #: 1109

RE: Australia Invaded! - 6/28/2014 11:13:13 AM

Lowpe

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And then, it is over. None of the other bombers launch...9 ships spotted in port, tankers and cargo ships, and the planes stay grounded.

Disappointing.

Total plane losses for the day 9, and that includes a few losses in Burma and one at Port Moresby. The Allies lose 7 planes.

In Burma, as expected, the Chindits take Tuang Gyi. 81 AV, on its way to over 100. Despite heavy CAP over Tuang Gyi only 1 C47 is lost and that to an op loss.