Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walker (J) DBB-B Scen 28

[Walker84]

Aug 14, 1942

Bay of Bengal

During the night, Takao and her escorts run into the remainder of Warspite's task force at close range...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Cocanada at 43,45, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 2
DD Shikinami
DD Sagiri
DD Akebono
DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 3, heavy fires

Allied Ships
CL Capetown, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Thanet, Shell hits 23, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms with 7% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 7% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
CA Takao engages CL Capetown at 1,000 yards
Massive explosion on DD Thanet
DD Mochizuki engages DD Thanet at 1,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Mochizuki at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 2,000 yards
CA Takao engages CL Capetown at 2,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Mochizuki at 2,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Akebono at 2,000 yards
DD Thanet sunk by DD Shikinami at 2,000 yards
CA Takao engages CL Capetown at 2,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Isaac Sweers at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
CA Takao engages CL Capetown at 5,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Mochizuki at 5,000 yards
Task forces break off...

As the day breaks, both Allied forces are spotted again retreating towards Ceylon. I somehow doubt that Diamond Harbour will be troubled by Allied surface assets for a while, unless carriers are present to provide air support.


Solomons / SE Pacific

B-17s make a raid on Munda, repeating a pattern whereby several of my un-CAP'd bases have been probed in recent days.

More significantly, a Glen float plane from picket sub I-30 spots an Allied task force containing an aircraft carrier south-west of the Ellice Islands. There's no indication where they are headed, but my southernmost outpost at Tabiteau is situated a few day's sail to the north.

[Walker84]

Aug 15, 1942

India/Burma

After a night-time ASW action against one of my subs, the Allied ships escape round the tip of Ceylon. My opponent acknowledges the loss of Warspite - it was never in doubt after those 13 torpedo hits, plus confirmation of the Walruses being lost. We also discuss how comparatively light our naval losses have been to date. Warspite was an uncharacteristic risky play for Roger - heading right across the Bay of Bengal to attack a relatively low value target. But then again my naval search in theatre seems to be incomparably better at this stage in the game, plus the Netties have long legs once the target is spotted. At least I own the sea approaches to Burma for now and my naval forces can operate relatively safely apart from the risk posed by Allied submarine warfare.


SW Pacific

TK Rikko Maru, part of a convoy re-supplying fuel to Truk, takes a torpedo courtesy of SS Silversides, and sinks rapidly with heavy fires.

SS I-17 launches 4 torpedoes at APD Sands, part of an APD-only TF near Kirakira and is lucky to escape the ASW attacks that follow.

SS I-168 then gets CV Yorktown in its sights near Nanumea and launches two torpedoes... which miss! Yorktown is escorted by CA Astoria, CL St. Louis, CLAA Atlanta and DDs Ralph Talbot and Helm.

The Silent Service's Glens do a fantastic job in spotting numerous Allied TFs that appear to be heading north. Transports are present so this must be an invasion - the question is where? Ocean Island and Tabiteau are the nearest Imperial outposts due north of the Allied position and must be considered logical targets. I despatched surface assets from Truk when the carriers were sighted last turn so it will be interesting to see if my opponent continues with whatever mission was planned, or decides to turn tail now that he has been spotted.

[Walker84]

Aug 16, 1942


DEI

Day Time Surface Combat, near Brunei at 66,84, Range 16,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 16
SC Ch 18
SC Ch 22
TK Kyokuyo Maru
TK Nisshin Maru
TK Nisshin Maru #2
TK Tonan Maru #2

Allied Ships
ARD YFD-1 Dewey [X(]

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 25,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Both TF attempt to withdraw!
Range increases to 16,000 yards...
Both Task Forces evade combat

Roger must have been nursing Dewey all the way from Manila since the start of the war. I doubt somehow that the dock will make it as far as Colombo now, but a brave attempt nevertheless!

On Java, a Japanese Bombardment attack at Bandoeng reveals that a goodly number of Dutch troops are holed up in the mountains and may take a while to dislodge:

Attacking force 15002 troops, 167 guns, 84 vehicles, Assault Value = 462

Defending force 14142 troops, 123 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 361


SW Pacific

As my naval forces sally from Truk to meet the Allied armada an advanced TF of cruisers and destroyers runs over SS Dolphin near Nauru Island and lands 5 ASW hits on the sub.

SS Tambor then launches 6 torpedoes at AO Tatekawa Maru, part of a replenishment TF, near Kusaie Island so my opponent knows that I am on the way...

The Allied carriers launch a mass afternoon air attack on Tabiteau, causing moderate port and airfield damage but hardly worth the effort as I only have a naval guard and a construction unit present in a base which is a size 1 port and airfield.

Afternoon Air attack on Tabiteuea , at 137,134

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 106
SBD-3 Dauntless x 90
TBF-1 Avenger x 75

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 18
Port hits 7
Port supply hits 4

My plan at this stage is to carry on south so that I can either engage the Allied carriers with the full KB, or - if they do not want to play - swing round to attack potential targets near Lunga and Ndeni.

[Walker84]

Aug 17, 1942

India / Burma

Various movements along the Burmese border. An Allied column is headed for Kalemyo which I will probably lose as there is only an SNLF unit in place and it will take too long to support them. Presently, as more troops continue to unload at Akyab and Rangoon, I am minded to push towards Ledo and Chittagong while holding the centre. It's just a pity that I didn't start this offensive a few months ago.

SW Pacific

My task forces have made a lot of ground and are only about 8 hexes from Ndeni. No sign of the Allied carriers but I suspect they are just south of Funafuti in the Ellice Islands. There are multiple Allied TFs around Ndeni, including some battleships and transports. Very tempting to attack with the KB. But there are nearly 100 Allied fighters at Luna which could move closer to provide heavy CAP. Getting caught between these and the Allied carriers could prove extremely painful.

Current TF dispositions

[Walker84]

August 18, 1942

SW Pacific

So, after working through the options, I decided that to advance into battle against the potentially lethal combination of LBA and Allied carrier forces around Ndeni would be taking too great a risk for an uncertain benefit- it's not as if the Allied TFs spotted here yesterday would wait around to get shot at. I also calculated that a bombardment run into Ndeni could leave my TF in LBA range during the following day - a risk worthwhile against an invasion force but not simply to bombard an enemy base.

Therefore, I elected to keep my powder dry and consolidate my forces within easy bombardment range of Ndeni, Lunga, Tulagi and Rennell Island while upping search and recon still further to divine my opponent's next moves. In the event, it is a sub-launched Glen (again!) which spots the Allied carriers steaming SW just north of Suva. So I guess the plan was to keep them out of harm's way.

Today's main combat event is a sustained series of sweeps by land-based A6M2s and Oscars designed to whittle down the hornet's nest of fighters at Lunga. Losses are even, with about 36 Zeroes and 36 P-40Es/P-39Ds shot down or lost operationally. However, I still have plenty of planes in reserve so I'm hoping that the Allies can withstand the attrition rate less than I can at this stage. Having reduced the fighter risk will provide more options to deploy my carrier-based air next turn.

[Walker84]

August 19, 1942

DEI

The voyage of ARD Dewey comes to an end as CL Yura catches up with the floating dock near Miri...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Miri at 63,84, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Yura

Allied Ships
ARD YFD-1 Dewey, Shell hits 26, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

SW Pacific

But more significant events are happening in the Pacific simultaneously. A Japanese bombardment TF runs into an Allied TF as it heads towards Ndeni.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Ndeni at 120,143, Range 4,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Seagull V: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Shell hits 3, on fire
CA Atago, Shell hits 1
CA Maya, Shell hits 8, on fire
CA Chokai, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Hagikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Tanikaze
DD Nenohi, Shell hits 1
DD Hatsushima

Allied Ships
CA Houston
CA Australia, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Boise, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Henley, Shell hits 2
DD Jarvis, Shell hits 7, heavy fires

Poor visibility due to Rain with 53% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 53% moonlight: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 4,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 4,000 yards
CA Houston fires at CA Maya at 4,000 yards
CL Boise fires at CA Maya at 4,000 yards
CL Marblehead launches Torpedoes at CA Maya at 4,000 yards
DD Jarvis launches Torpedoes at DD Hagikaze at 4,000 yards
DD Jarvis launches Torpedoes at DD Nenohi at 4,000 yards
DD Jarvis launches Torpedoes at DD Tanikaze at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards

...the combat carries on with the Japanese ships finally getting the upper hand after losing the initiative due to Allied radar at the start of the action. When the TFs break off Australia is reported sunk and 5 Seagulls are reported as losses implying perhaps something more significant.

Although all the cruisers are fairly damaged, the Japanese TF presses on to Ndeni which is a pain as Chokai takes a torpedo from a PT boat there. If it was possible, I would have set the TF to return to base after the naval action rather than proceeding with the bombardment. As it is, Chokai will probably not survive now due to heavy fires on board. The bombardment TF retires north, having discovered that the 32nd division is in residence at Ndeni. One PT boat was also sunk during the action.

Meanwhile, CA Canberra and two destoyers bombard my dot base at Rossel Island to little effect.

Zeroes sweep Lunga again in the daytime finding that fresh reinforcements have been flown in - F4Fs, P-400s, and the seemingly endless supply of P-40Es. The land-based Zeroes fare less well this time but then the KB gets into the action as it goes after Allied APDs near Lunga, sinking at least one and taking care of the CAP pretty well too. By the end of the day the Allies have lost about 39 planes to 29 Japanese.

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: Walker84

Although all the cruisers are fairly damaged, the Japanese TF presses on to Ndeni which is a pain as Chokai takes a torpedo from a PT boat there. If it was possible, I would have set the TF to return to base after the naval action rather than proceeding with the bombardment.

Doesn't this depend on the aggressiveness of the TF commander?

The naval battle seemed to go very well for the Japanese especially after the Allies got the jump on them.

[Walker84]

Yes jwolf, I'm pretty sure that the TF commander was selected for aggressive leadership skills! I was certainly pleased with the results of the naval battle, less so with the battle against the PT boats that came after. After eating the torpedo Chokai is at 83 fire while still 9 hexes out from Nauru...

[Walker84]

August 20, 1942

SW Pacific

SS S-27 finds the Chokai south of Nauru escorted by a single destroyer and puts the floating fire hazard out of her misery, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage. Then the pumps fail...

To offset against this, Roger admits the loss of the Boise, which was already flagged by the number of Seagulls lost last turn. So it's two for one in terms of cruisers sunk.

Meanwhile, Bombardment TFs hit both Lunga and Rennell Island. Several PT boats are sunk on the way in, but the main targets are the airfields. The first attack is pretty ineffectual but the second causes a fair amount of damage to planes and the base itself. It transpires that Allied fighters have been evacuated from Lunga, so that battle has been won temporarily.

Allied subs manage to launch no less than four separate attacks on my retiring cruisers and CA Kumano takes a torpedo hit east of Shortlands but should make it to Rabaul.

One of my Glens spots a bunch of Allied battleships and APs skulking around Tanna, an undeveloped Allied base 7 hexes south of Luganville. No sign of the Allied carriers but they can't be far away from that location.

I somehow don't think I'll be sending the KB down there as Luganville is now a size 5 airbase. I'm still planning one more punitive strike for the KB however before retiring.

Reflections
Although no decisive carrier battle was offered, the immediate objective of thwarting the Allied invasion spotted earlier has been secured, albeit at the cost of horrendous fuel consumption. Allied air has also been degraded to the point that Lunga has been evacuated - temporarily for sure. However these punitive expeditions will only get harder as the months advance. My next option is to deploy more army air to Shortlands now that Oscar IIas and Tojos have come online - this will also help to preserve my precious navy fighters. I would still like to mount an offensive invasion if I can but the options are limited as Roger has landed in divisional strength in most places. I do have significant reserves in place which will be used to counterattack any deeper incursions into the Solomons or the Gilberts. Nauru and Ocean Island also need to be built up more - right now they are too exposed and ill-defended.

[Walker84]

August 21, 1942

A bit of an untidy turn.

First, CL Natori takes a sub torpedo hit near Nauru Island, at least it wasn't one of the oilers being escorted. Then SS Sargo attacks a second replenishment TF near Ontong Java but misses fortunately.

Zeros and Oscars sweep Rennell Island finding no CAP present. Then the Netties tasked with hitting the airfield fail to fly. KB moves closer to Rennell with Kates set to naval attack with airfield attack as the second option, however none are launched at the airfield. Recon shows very few Allied planes left at the base in any case.

Next, 5 x F1M2 Petes sweep Lunga at 2000 feet - not something I had planned.
A flight of Jakes attacks CL Detroit and CA Louisville SW of Rennell. Must have been just out of Kate range.

Liberators bomb Nauru Island, scoring some bomb hits on my damaged cruisers which I had disbanded temporarily to avoid sub risk, forgetting that Nauru is in 4e range. Ouch but no significant damage is sustained and they will need to move on again now that refuelling has taken place.

[Walker84]

August 22, 1942


SW Pacific
Several sub actions on both sides. SS I-10 runs into three APDs near Tanna takes 3 heavy damage and has to start the long limp home. SS I-22 launches 6 torpedoes at CL Detroit near the Belep Islands but misses. Allied SS O21 attacks my oilers near Ontong Java but suffers 2 hits.

Betties bomb Rennell Island but only manage to damage a B-18 and cause light damage to the airfield.

KB was hoping to launch against the cruiser TF spotted north of New Caledonia last turn, however they were not sighted again and must have run for cover.

The map shows how just close the opposing carrier groups have ended up at the end of the day - only 9 hexes apart. I'm not going to attack however, as it's pretty clear that Roger has parked his carriers under the protection of LBA based at Noumea's size 6 airfield.

[Walker84]

Aug 23 - 25, 1942

After declining to give battle so close to Noumea, KB loses contact with the Allied carriers and retires northwards. I have decided to let my carriers disappear again and revert to being a deterrent without the enemy necessarily knowing where they are. I would also like to complete the '42 AA upgrades preceding the radar upgrades for the fleet carriers which missed these last time round.

The next few days are fairly quiet - several sub attacks take place as I start transporting more engineers to Ocean Island, Kusaie, Ponape and Nauru to begin shoring up the defences but so far no transport losses have been incurred.

The Allies are bombarding Calcutta daily - and inflicting moderate casualties on my two divisions holed up there - this situation can only get worse as time goes on.

[Walker84]

Aug 26 - 29, 1942

Having ruled the skies over Diamond Harbour unchallenged for some time I do something that proves, in hindsight, to be a costly mistake.

Tojos and Oscars are set to sweep Calcutta on the 27th and, although they only take on a similar number of Hurris and Mohawks, Japanese losses are slightly higher. Next turn I fly more Zeroes in to DH to set a CAP trap but, although they perform well, quite a few bombers still manage to hit the runway which ends the day on 66 runway and 49 service damage. The Allies lose about 42 planes to 17 Japanese. Then on the 29th August a mini-disaster strikes - none of my fighter groups make it into the air despite being set to 80% CAP and the airfield takes even heavier damage, putting it out of action. I can only assume that I had the base over-stacked and that the previous day's damage also played a part in stopping my planes flying. I can now only defend the base using LRCAP flying out of Cox's Bazar and Akyab.

A brighter spot sees CL Adelaide torpedoed and likely sunk by SS I-176 near Vanikoro. Coincidentally, an Allied SCTF was spotted a few days earlier close to Nauru so I wonder if this was part of it.

[Walker84]

Aug 30 - 31, 1942

Rangoon's airbase expands to size 8 which will bring a bonus in terms of AV support. Especially using the DBB O/B with its lower unit AV values, I have found that Japan is often short of the AV support required to consolidate the gains made during the expansion phase so expanding strategically-placed airfields has been a must. I'm sure the Allied side also has its support problems...

On the 30th, multiple Allied fighter sweeps at Diamond Harbour overwhelm the few Tojos and Zeroes that make it into the air, then the airfield and port damage increases as different waves of medium and heavy bombers fly in. Fortunately the Allied bombers fail to return next day but a gaggle of Wellingtons bombs Myitkyina instead. I will need to keep CAP over all front line airbases from now on.

The reason I had no CAP was my fighters were covering a ground combat near Jorhat on the road to Ledo. Too early to say if this will achieve a breakthrough but it will give my opponent something to think about...

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16954 troops, 140 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 520

Defending force 7068 troops, 42 guns, 20 vehicles, Assault Value = 244

Japanese adjusted assault: 450

Allied adjusted defense: 796

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
364 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 71 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Allied ground losses:
617 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 62 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Guns lost 9 (3 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Assaulting units:
33rd Division
144th Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
2/2nd Pioneer Battalion
36th Indian Brigade
3rd Indian Brigade

Elsewhere, an unescorted flight of Betties out of Buna decides to attack an Allied ship near Townsville and 9 bombers are shot down by the Kittyhawks flying CAP. Bit of a waste but the combat range is now adjusted. On the whole, New Guinea and New Britain are now well covered with LBA but work continues to shore up the Solomons Islands perimeter. KB is now back undercover and serving as a reaction force again.

[Walker84]

Current view of the Burma campaign

[Walker84]

Thoughts on Burma / India

Having finally lost air superiority over Diamond Harbour the situation looks pretty bleak for those units still holding out there. As far as the frontier war is concerned, I am maintaining pressure on Chittagong in the west and Ledo in the East. However with stacking limits its pretty tough to bludgeon your way through an enemy stack. If only I can find a weakness perhaps I can enfilade the Allied line?

[Walker84]

Sept 1 - 5, 1942

Burma / India

Allied bombers keep Diamond Harbour airfield closed - damage is close to 100% and the port damage is increasing as well. LRCAP from Cox's Bazar isn't going to make a great deal of difference - and I still need to protect this base and Akyab as well. I send a five BB bombardment force north forgetting that Calcutta is too far up river for the battleships. Chittagong is bombarded instead but, even with spotter planes deployed, the damage is not that great.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 04, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Chittagong at 55,41 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

3 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 1
BB Fuso
BB Nagato
CL Kitakami

Allied ground losses:
271 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 47 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 34 (6 destroyed, 28 disabled)

BB Hyuga firing at 39th Indian Division
BB Ise firing at 18th British Division
2nd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at BB Yamashiro
BB Yamashiro firing at 2nd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
BB Fuso firing at 18th British Division
BB Nagato firing at 18th British Division
CL Kitakami firing at 18th British Division

My forces in Calcutta are still not massively outnumbered but the worry now is that with the port and airbase closed supplies will start to dwindle...

Ground combat at Calcutta (52,37)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 49444 troops, 616 guns, 379 vehicles, Assault Value = 1942

Defending force 34384 troops, 354 guns, 228 vehicles, Assault Value = 954

SS I-27 encounters a minefield at Diego Garcia on the 4th and suffers heavy damage in the 70s. The sub is set to limp home and may just make it at cruise speed - we'll have to see.

SW Pacific

Allied fighters return to Rennell Island in the Solomons so I sweep the base with Zeroes and Oscars just to show I am going to maintain a zero tolerance approach for the time being. Losses on both sides are about even but the Allies evacuate in any case.

The first Oscar IIa unit converts at Rabaul. The next one will be deployed in Burma.

[Walker84]

Sept 6 - 7, 1942

India / Burma

My exploratory advance towards Ledo is not going all that well, lack of supply plus jungle / rough terrain leading to too many disablements. Probably the best I can do here is to keep the pressure up so that my opponent has to reinforce along the line.

Ground combat at 63,39 (near Jorhat)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16248 troops, 140 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 448

Defending force 6761 troops, 39 guns, 19 vehicles, Assault Value = 195

Japanese adjusted assault: 273

Allied adjusted defense: 370

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
797 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 75 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled

Allied ground losses:
156 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
33rd Division
144th Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
2/2nd Pioneer Battalion
36th Indian Brigade
3rd Indian Brigade

Allied air switches from pounding Diamond Harbour to a sustained attack on Cox's Bazaar with a side attack against Magwe. The defending fighters do pretty well, although there was no CAP at Magwe because the fighters were escorting a bombing run in support of the above-mentioned ground combat.

Morning Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 19

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 8 destroyed

CAP engaged:
11th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
Kanoya Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 19 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
10th I.F.Chutai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 7 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 17

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38F Lightning: 2 destroyed

CAP engaged:
Kanoya Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
19 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 16345 and 24000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes
11th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
10th I.F.Chutai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20245 and 23000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 11

Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-400 Airacobra: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
Kanoya Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
19 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 26000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 78 minutes
11th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 23000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 86 minutes
10th I.F.Chutai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 24000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 5

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Kanoya Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 15690 and 26000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 104 minutes
10th I.F.Chutai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 14690 and 20690.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
11th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15690.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 9
Blenheim IV x 8
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Blenheim IV: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Blenheim I bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
4 x Blenheim IV bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Kanoya Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 10 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 26000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
10th I.F.Chutai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
11th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2

Allied aircraft
Wellington Ic x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington Ic: 2 damaged
Wellington Ic: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 13

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Wellington Ic bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Kanoya Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 109 minutes

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 2 damaged
B-26 Marauder: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 9
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 16

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 13

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 16

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 4 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 6

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Aircraft losses today

[Lowpe]

Try to recon some of those key railroad towns in Eastern India, you might get lucky and be able to take one with a paratroop drop.

[Walker84]

Sep 8, 1942

Thanks Lowpe, its tempting and I have thought about this but held back as Roger has proven that he can railroad reserves around pretty fast in an emergency. Plus he has a ready pool at Calcutta that he can draw on without much risk of counter-attack. I might be able to hold a base for a few days after a paradrop but that would not be long enough to link up with a push through the jungle. The Allied front line is now held with contiguous hexes and I am in the process of advancing towards a hex near Kalemyo that I know is held solely by the 1st Middlesex Battalion - for now at least.

A cruiser bombardment TF has a pop at Calcutta with pretty fair results - anything to keep the Allies heads down. I hope this might encourage the fighters to pull back but we will see.

Night Naval bombardment of Calcutta at 52,37

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 31 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground
Mohawk IV: 20 damaged
Mohawk IV: 1 destroyed on ground
B-25C Mitchell: 15 damaged
Hurricane IIb Trop: 13 damaged
Hurricane IIc Trop: 5 damaged
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed on ground
Catalina I: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Ashigara
CA Takao
CL Yura

Allied ground losses:
325 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 16 (4 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Airbase hits 40
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 52

CA Mogami firing at Calcutta
CA Ashigara firing at Calcutta
CA Takao firing at 20th Indian Division
CL Yura firing at 7th Indian Division

I reinforced Cox's Bazar, Magwe and Akyab with additional CAP this turn but the bombers switched back to Diamond Harbour as I half expected.