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Molon Labe · 01-19-22, 02:38 PM

3 November 1942
Battle of Rangoon tipping in favor of Japanese

Battle of Rangoon
The enemy shelled Rangoon with 3 APDs overnight, which was enough to damage a Hurricane. This was pretty minor, but overall they're winning the damage race here. The runways are half-bombed out and the service facilities are in bad shape. Most of my airplanes are grounded and it's going to stay that way until the bombardments stop. If I had just been 2 days quicker with that minelayer...

Over the enemy beachhead at Pegu, the numbers of aircraft we have sweeping are declining vs their CAP. The first of the sweeps was 9 P-40s with 72 Zeroes responding, just as an example. Overall, losses over Pegu today: 12 Zeroes, 4 P-40s, 3 Hurricanes, 4 Wellingtons (squadron no longer ready for combat), and 1 B-24. A few Hudsons took off from Rangoon to try to participate in this, but they took one look at the wall of Zeroes waiting for them--then 55--and turned around. The bombers that did get through (mostly B-24s) inflicted only 176 casualties this turn, effectiveness dropping due to higher altitude, AAA fire, fighter interference, and possibly forts being built.

The enemy moved the 1/3 fragment of the 18th Division to intercept my tanks entering the area from Moulmein. They had to make a river crossing to do this so they had to perform a shock attack. Already severely disrupted from several days of being carpet bombed, the enemy took over 500 casualties without returning fire effectively. For tomorrow, I'm shifting my bombing target to these guys so that my significantly weaker army can try to get away with a counterattack, exploiting the enemy's disorganization. It's a gamble, but the situation is getting worse so I could use a win. Also, with the situation around Chengchow, China, calming down, I've recalled the B-24s operating there to Calcutta to participate in the Rangoon conflict.

To the west at Akyab, I let my Blenhiems go unescorted to try to let the Hurricanes up here escort a Beaufighter attack that didn't happen (there is a surface combat task force sitting off the coast, apparently trying to intercept any further evacuees from Rangoon headed to Calcutta. Port Blair bombers would take care of anyone that goes southwest towards Colombo instead.) That decision cost me a Blenheim to the 4 Oscars that got airborne. But between these guys and the B-25s that followed up we took an Oscar out on the ground and did moderate damage to the base itself. We have a unit of tanks that crossed the border and is nearly here to take the base and destroy any planes on the ground he can't evacuate.

Edit: Speaking of needing a win and the task force sitting off Burma to get ships he doesn't trust Port Blair to get--I'm putting the British fleet to sea. I'd ruled it out in previous days because I worried that the "KB-West" would pursue it, we'd probably end up cornered because we're in a Bay. But now I think the KB-West is just too vital to their operation for them to get pulled away. So, even though I've only got a dozen attack aircraft to throw at them, I'll do it.

Solomons Area
A small amphibious group landed troops on Ndeni. It's not a large force, but neither is my garrison. So, the purpose for the carriers being here is to support this landing and cut off my attempts to reinforce/supply. Sort of like Canton Island all over again, except this time I've risked a much smaller unit, and I have bases close enough to provide air support. Tomorrow, that carrier force will get swept by P-38s at high altitude. Also, the B-17s that had been moving west from Pearl to replace the squadrons I moved to Darwin (due to 2 squadrons withdrawing) are going to stop at Efate now. I hope to carpet bomb the hell out of that small unit that landed to give my Marines a better chance than those at Canton.

With all the attention being paid on the southest side of the Solomons, my new airbase at Roussel Island to the southwest continues. They'll be ready to support medium bombers in a few more days. I hope to be able to sweep Guadalcanal with P-38s until their CAP is meager, and then use medium and heavy bombers to disable the airbase.

Intel
There were about 20 floatplanes reported "destroyed on ground" this turn. Which means the CS we torpedoed a few days ago sank.

Reinforcements
SS Scorpion arrives at Balboa - to Darwin

01-19-22, 02:38 PM	#467
Molon Labe Silent Hunter Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Along the Watchtower Posts: 3,810 Downloads: 27 Uploads: 5	3 November 1942 Battle of Rangoon tipping in favor of Japanese Battle of Rangoon The enemy shelled Rangoon with 3 APDs overnight, which was enough to damage a Hurricane. This was pretty minor, but overall they're winning the damage race here. The runways are half-bombed out and the service facilities are in bad shape. Most of my airplanes are grounded and it's going to stay that way until the bombardments stop. If I had just been 2 days quicker with that minelayer... Over the enemy beachhead at Pegu, the numbers of aircraft we have sweeping are declining vs their CAP. The first of the sweeps was 9 P-40s with 72 Zeroes responding, just as an example. Overall, losses over Pegu today: 12 Zeroes, 4 P-40s, 3 Hurricanes, 4 Wellingtons (squadron no longer ready for combat), and 1 B-24. A few Hudsons took off from Rangoon to try to participate in this, but they took one look at the wall of Zeroes waiting for them--then 55--and turned around. The bombers that did get through (mostly B-24s) inflicted only 176 casualties this turn, effectiveness dropping due to higher altitude, AAA fire, fighter interference, and possibly forts being built. The enemy moved the 1/3 fragment of the 18th Division to intercept my tanks entering the area from Moulmein. They had to make a river crossing to do this so they had to perform a shock attack. Already severely disrupted from several days of being carpet bombed, the enemy took over 500 casualties without returning fire effectively. For tomorrow, I'm shifting my bombing target to these guys so that my significantly weaker army can try to get away with a counterattack, exploiting the enemy's disorganization. It's a gamble, but the situation is getting worse so I could use a win. Also, with the situation around Chengchow, China, calming down, I've recalled the B-24s operating there to Calcutta to participate in the Rangoon conflict. To the west at Akyab, I let my Blenhiems go unescorted to try to let the Hurricanes up here escort a Beaufighter attack that didn't happen (there is a surface combat task force sitting off the coast, apparently trying to intercept any further evacuees from Rangoon headed to Calcutta. Port Blair bombers would take care of anyone that goes southwest towards Colombo instead.) That decision cost me a Blenheim to the 4 Oscars that got airborne. But between these guys and the B-25s that followed up we took an Oscar out on the ground and did moderate damage to the base itself. We have a unit of tanks that crossed the border and is nearly here to take the base and destroy any planes on the ground he can't evacuate. Edit: Speaking of needing a win and the task force sitting off Burma to get ships he doesn't trust Port Blair to get--I'm putting the British fleet to sea. I'd ruled it out in previous days because I worried that the "KB-West" would pursue it, we'd probably end up cornered because we're in a Bay. But now I think the KB-West is just too vital to their operation for them to get pulled away. So, even though I've only got a dozen attack aircraft to throw at them, I'll do it. Solomons Area A small amphibious group landed troops on Ndeni. It's not a large force, but neither is my garrison. So, the purpose for the carriers being here is to support this landing and cut off my attempts to reinforce/supply. Sort of like Canton Island all over again, except this time I've risked a much smaller unit, and I have bases close enough to provide air support. Tomorrow, that carrier force will get swept by P-38s at high altitude. Also, the B-17s that had been moving west from Pearl to replace the squadrons I moved to Darwin (due to 2 squadrons withdrawing) are going to stop at Efate now. I hope to carpet bomb the hell out of that small unit that landed to give my Marines a better chance than those at Canton. With all the attention being paid on the southest side of the Solomons, my new airbase at Roussel Island to the southwest continues. They'll be ready to support medium bombers in a few more days. I hope to be able to sweep Guadalcanal with P-38s until their CAP is meager, and then use medium and heavy bombers to disable the airbase. Intel There were about 20 floatplanes reported "destroyed on ground" this turn. Which means the CS we torpedoed a few days ago sank. Reinforcements SS Scorpion arrives at Balboa - to Darwin __________________ Last edited by Molon Labe; 01-19-22 at 02:56 PM.