Turnaround? Lowpe (J) vs Tiemanj (A) Stock

[Lowpe]

Allies are resting their bombers during the day in Burma; but continue to pursue their destruction in the Marshalls. A small surprise here...

[Lowpe]

During the last three days the American submarine force has gotten great results sinking an AK (with elements of a South Seas unit on it), a 8k tanker headed to Truk, and an xAK. Ugh.[:(] I had been doing reasonably well at avoiding them...

The Allies continue to bombard at Tuang Gyi and suffer a lost gun every day to disablements only for the IJA. A fair trade I think.

More attacks in China, clearing up all the strays.

Rangoon has a 100 plus Allied planes back again, I might try for a bombardment there and hide in Moulmein with heavy CAP.

[Lowpe]

July 17, 1943

IJN pulls off a nice shore bombardment of Rangoon damaging about 50 planes but only destroying 2. Most were 4E...surface fleet safely rearmed at Moulmein under heavy CAP and there are no attacks by Allied airplanes.

Allies night bomb Chiang Mai to no defense.

During the day, in Indochina, P47 sweep Raheng and down 22 planes for 1 Jug. Yuck.

Heavy bombing in Marshalls. None in the Solomons.

Two good attacks in China, another 250+ Chinese squads destroyed and supply roads opened back up again. Two days from cutting the Chengtu/Tsuyun road near Chengtu. This might cut off 20 chinese units at Kienko, but they have now started to move helter skelter, but I suspect most good units are heading back to Chengtu.

Chungking surrounded tomorrow.

2nd Tank Division formed in Rangoon, it took me one year! Allies have ceased reinforcing Rangoon. 33rd Division, 1st Tank, 2nd RTA are pushing on Lashio/Mandaly road and have run into two motorized Allied units. I wonder if I can beat them...

[Lowpe]

The first George sweep goes off on the morrow...they should be a match for the planes they are going up against in Burma.

KB is at Guam...well most of it.

[Lowpe]

July 18, 1943

No night bombing.

Allies spring a surprise raid, shouldn't really be, on Cam Ranh Bay, where I had just disbanded a whole bunch of Toho and Ehime class xaks. 5 are sunk, many more are damaged. I thought I had a sentai of Oscars there, but obviously not...moved them for something I simply don't recall what. An mine tender and SC are sunk too.

George and Oscars sweep Ramree and Allies lose 21 fighters (Aircobras and Wildcats) to 6 George and 3 Oscar.

In the Central plains of China the IJA destroys close to 1000 squads[X(]...Lightnings now in the Central Plains! Oh my.

[Lowpe]

China:

On the approach to Chengtu IJA forces destroy the retreating garrison of Niekiang. A few bombers and several Nicks were destroyed in bombing these troops as Lightnings appeared...

Chungking is surrounded.

[Lowpe]

Staging night raids on Ramree, where I hope one of the torpedoed cruisers is in port pumping out the counter flooding....

Low level bombing attack at Lashio, where the Allies have moved planes into...

Naval strikes at Truk and Marshalls are planned...

Moving on Chengtu and cutting the Chengtu/Lashio road near Chengtu.

[Lowpe]

July 19, 1943

Japan bombs Ramree, but fails to score any hits on the one ship there...which I think is the Nashville?

No Allied night bombing, despite the 92 percent moonlight. I pulled my Irving-s squadron back to take reinforcements, and now it is up to full strength for the first time in this game. Now to figure out where to put them...

Allies are getting high detection levels on Saigon, Cam Ranh Bay, Haiphong, Hanoi and Samah. No detection on Medan, 1DL on Lanchow ([X(]uhoh!), and nothing on Sian.

Chungking surrounded (80 units); two good attacks in China clearing up all his forces trying to cut roads. Moving on Chengtu.

Stalemate in Burma...but the Allies have Lashio and I doubt I can get it back. However, Burma road still cut and soon the road to Chengtu will be cut too (tomorrow).[:)]

Six Oscar IVs, bleed over and disrupt a P40K escorted 4E strike...the Oscars do well killing 5 P40Ks and damaging some bombers for the loss of one Oscar.

Normal bombing in Marshalls, American carriers not spotted. I hate not knowing where his Carriers are!

One American sub sunk, while another American sub sinks an xak on the Manila to Hong Kong run.

[Lowpe]

On the R&D Front: In the last 30 days 20 Ki202 factories repaired![:)] Sam-J is lagging...but still making progress. If this pace can keep up, the Ki202 will be here very early indeed.

Nick KAId is still repairing, I anticipate getting them two months early, Feb of 44.

Barring an invasion at Tavoy or further south, I think I have achieved a stalemate in Burma. Sumatra, Java are susceptible to a strong attack...but monster airbases are being built and staffed.

I would be very content for a grinding war of attrition in Burma, and a slow slog in the Centpac & Solomons, but I fear an attack at the SRA and my defense there is early spotting and panic relocation of air forces and KB to counter. Size 8-9 airbases are needed!

[Lowpe]

July 20, 1943

Allied night bombing at Toungoo. Misses my night fighters.

Heavy bombing by Allies, as usual in the Marshalls. Back to subs ferrying in supplies.

Helens raid the airfield at Lashio very low and damage the airfield, but catch no planes.

Allies sweep with Lightnings and the bomb Bangkok. I don't know how he has such good luck, I just upgraded a 45 plane sentai to George, and subsequently lose 6 of them on the ground, plus the the weakened CAP. In addition, I moved another full sentai out for a cap trap at Saigon, where I had numerous ships in port for him to hit. Argh.[&:] Sometimes you just can't win.

China....Chengtu has only 4 units and I should steamroller there pretty well. Ran into a strong Chinese Corp blocking supply in x3 terrain. Even with no supply it will take a while to clear.

[Lowpe]

A couple of quick questions in China:

What is the best way to get hexside control across the rivers at Chungking? Division size crossing or something smaller?

After I close of Chungking, should I move on Kunming while I can? He doesn't have a ton of units there. Or should I focus on Chungking? Or focus more heavily on destroying all the stray units?

[Lowpe]

July 21, 1943

Allies night bomb in Pegu. No defense. Not much damage.

Normal heavy bombing in the Marshalls -- surprise a small squadron of Rex's actually destroy two B24s! Get em Rex!

It is kind of sad when I get excited over this kind of small thing...but you gotta take satisfaction from something.

[Lowpe]

Lots of Allied sweeps in Indochina; we avoid the two Jugs sweeps, but then Lightnings sweep Bangkok again, for the second straight day. What a difference the George makes, or even just one day.

The Lightnings dive on the Oscars, and in two sweeps destroy 9 of them in frantic dogfights; however the George then dives on the Lightnings and 12 are confirmed kills! Lots of cannon goodness!

[Lowpe]

In China, the monster stack attacks outside of Chengtu...with good results and the unit in pursuit makes 15 miles towards Chengtu.

Several units seem to be raised from the dead at Chungking, which is now totally surrounded.

[Lowpe]

In Burma, the Allies pursue the beaten splinters of units that defended Lashio, sending them retreating into Bhamo. I am flying some supplies into Myitkyina so they can at least shoot back.

An artillery unit disperses into the jungle...but attention here on the road to the north, rather than clearing the Burma road is welcome indeed.

Allies bomb at Tuang Gyi, after the runway is bombed by the 4Es, and we lose 4 vehicles to 1 Allied gun. I have several more artillery moving in to counter the balance, but getting supply up there is tough now with the monsoon.

[Lowpe]

I am releasing supply from Toungoo, so hopefully it flows north to Tuang Gyi, replenishing the defenders there.

Naval air attack at Ramree with Vals and Kates...old generation planes. Plus two sweeps.

I upgraded a squadron of Zeroes to George in Truk. They can fly high CAP, and will let me eventually re-establish Ponape and Kusaie I hope. More Rexs on the way to help!

KB is steaming to a possible intercept of a fast transport unit...

[Lowpe]

July 22, 1943

Happy Thanksgiving. What do we have be happy about? Happy she didn't sink![:D] KB moves right into a submarine ambush!

Allied subs get off a large number of fish...one attack after another. Escorts and screens and planes do well, but still one fish finds a home.

[Lowpe]

Meanwhile, while the Sun rises, air raid sirens sound at Wake, SBD dive bombers attack the numerous midget submarines guarding the Island and carrier planes sweep and bomb the defenders.

A scant 28 hexes from the KB, with the now damaged Shokaku![X(] This is exactly how I lost the Zuikaku...a sub attack, separate the damaged ship with insufficient protection and daring Allied Cruisers dodge and weave and close with the Zuikaku in several engagements.

[Lowpe]

After thinking about the KB, we plotted a course to the north east hoping to avoid combat, but there is a possibility that the Americans make a full speed run....hope not.[:)]

[Lowpe]

July 23, 1943

No night sub attacks...wohoo. Will there be a carrier engagement?

Night bombing of Moulmein, and the Endo Detachment doesn't fly. No damage.

Marshalls get bombed a little, but that is about it...

The American carriers flee! The KB goes dark.

This turn I am going to try for an attack on the dirt road to Lashio with infantry versus his tanks. It is Jungle ridge terrain, and I have IJA 43 squads, with the 1st Tank Division providing bombardment support. Two squadrons of Helens will attack at low level to eat up Allied supply prior to the attack.

I have no idea what to expect here...don't know how much a penalty Tanks have in jungle on the defense...Allies should be woefully short infantry and the Allied tanks get hit pretty hard 3 weeks ago. Cross your fingers