Ceylon

PacPG: 20.11.1942 - 7.1.1943

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Historic overview:

Hypothetical scenario. The Japanese attack on Ceylon in collaboration with the Vichy French. The scenario is largely inspired by a chapter "Operation Orient" from the book The Hitler Options. The map is also from it. The Japanese did not actually attempt to invade Ceylon, but in April 1942 they launched a naval-aircraft raid into the Indian Ocean, attacking Ceylon bases in a hit-and-run fashion. Article on Czech Wikipedia Article on English Wikipedia Scenario in dates: March 31, 1942: In the Indian Ocean - Admiral Somerville responds to intelligence concerning a coming Japanese attack to Ceylon by its main carrier forces, by moving the British Eastern Fleet from Colombo. Under his command are the aircraft carriers HMS Formidable, HMS Indomitable and HMS Hermes, 5 older battleships, 6 cruisers and other smaller vessels. Somerville plans to avoid detection during the day and hunt the Japanese ships by night as the British have a tactical advantage in night operations. According to intellignece, there should be only two aircraft carriers in the approaching Japanese naval task force. April 3, 1942: In the Indian Ocean - After three days of cruising at sea without spotting the Japanese and as the battleships are running low on fuel, British Admiral Somerville calls off the Eastern Fleet to a new secret anchorage Port T in Addu Atoll in the Maldives. The heavy cruisers HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire separate from the fleet back to Ceylon and head for Colombo, while the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes is sent to Trincomalee. Intelligence received by British Admiral Somerville predicted that the Japanese would attack on the 1st or 2nd of the month. April 4, 1942: In the Indian Ocean - Admiral Kondo´s Japanese Fleet is sighted by a seaplane from Ceylon. The fleet has four battleships of the Kongo class. Admiral Nagumo leads the portion containing their main carriers, Akagi, Soryu, Hiryu, Shokaku and Zuikaku. British Admiral Somerville sails from Addu Atoll to ecnounter the Japanese with fast Force A, consisting of the aircraft carriers HMS Formidable and HMS Indomitable, the battleships HMS Warspite, and another warships. In anticipation of the Japanese attack on Ceylon´s naval bases, Allied vessels are leaving them, including the heavy cruisers HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsethire from Colombo, to join the main Task Force. April 5, 1942: In the Indian Ocean - The Japanese believing the British Fleet to still be in port launch 127 plane attack against Colombo. A reconnaissance seaplane from the Japanese heavy cruiser Tone discovers the British heavy cruisers HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire, which are immediately attacked by Japanese naval dive bombers and sunk. It turns out that the Japanese forces are much larger than the information from the intelligence received by British Admiral Somerville. The core of the British Eastern Fleet remains undiscovered by the Japanese and thus evades its destruction. Both fleets move away during the night. April 6, 1942: In the Indian Ocean - The culmination of activity of Admiral Ozawa´s Japanese naval force, which operates in the Bay of Bengal at the same time as Admiral Nagumo´s actions against Ceylon. Ships and planes from the aircraft carrier Ryujo sink 23 ships with a total 112,000 tons. Ironically, many of the ships sank were those dispersed from Colombo earlier due to the threat of the Japanese Fleet´s attack. In addition, Indian coastal cities are being bombed by naval aircrafts. April 9, 1942: In the Indian Ocean - After refueling, Admiral Nagumo´s Japanese Force returns to Ceylon for another strike. The naval air force attacks the port city of Trincomalee. Nine British Blenheim bombers from Colombo manage to surprise Nagum´s Force and attack the aircraft carrier Akagi, but all drooped bombs missed and five of the bombers are shot down by fighter cover. Japanese planes sink group of five Allied ships at sea, including the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes and Australian destroyer HMAS Vampire. Old small Hermes becomes the first enemy aircraft carrier destroyed by the Japanese armed forces. April 10, 1942: In the Indian Ocean - The British Eastern Fleet withdraws to Bombay in India and Kilindini in East Africa from bases in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and Maldives in response to the superior Japanese forces operating in the area. Most of the Japanese forces are returning to the Pacific. Ends the only major Japanese operation in the Indian Ocean. Despite the undeniable tactical and strategic victory, the Japanese failed to destroy the core of the British fleet or take advantage of the success of the operation. January 30, 1944: In Ceylon - The British battleships HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Valiant, and the battle cruiser HMS Renown with the aircraft carriers HMS Illustrious and HMS Unicorn arrive in Colombo. An additional battleship and carrier are already on station here, along with an increasing number of submarines. April 10, 1944: Ceylon - French battleship Richelieu after an extensive modernization in USA arrives accompanied by three British destroyers to Trincomalee, the base of the Eastern Fleet of Royal Navy. She starts the first service in this fleet, consisting of aircraft carriers HMS Illustrious and USS Saratoga, battleships HMS Valiant and HMS Queen Elizabeth with numerous cruisers and destroyers, commanded by Admiral James Somerville. The first mission of this task force will be air strikes on targets in the Japanese occupied Dutch East Indies. August 10, 1944: The Dutch East Indies - US bombers B-29 launching from Ceylon land mines to access routes to Palembang refineries. 6,000 km is one of the longest missions of its kind. Literature sources: Macksey, Kenneth: Hitler options,   Mustang, 1997, Plzeň

Game play matters:

Scenario data:

Map size: 41 x 52 hexes 25 turns, 2 days per turn Version: PacPG 1, Starting side: Axis, Campaign: Japanese campaign, Order in campaign: 13.
Axis states:     Japan, Vichy France Allied states:     United Kingdom, India, Australia & New Zealand Neutral states:     -
Axis:     attack Allies:     defend
Experience of Axis purchased units:     Experience of Allied purchased units:
Climate region:      Monsoon Weather character in region:      Rain periods alternate with dry period. Rain period between June and September.
Game time costingness of scenario:    44.31 % (product of units and turns numbers divided by difference between the most long and the most short scenario)
Number of Axis units: 67 units, from them are 23 core units and 44 auxiliary units 15 air units, 13 naval units and 39 ground units 0 of units are loaded to air transport and 23 to naval transport	Transports Air/Naval: Axis - Allies 2/25 - 1/1
Number of Allied units: 89 units 16 air units, 14 naval units and 59 ground units 0 of units are loaded to air transport and 0 to naval transport	Initial prestige + every turn donation: Axis / Allies 300 + 0 / 180 + 90
Max number of Axis units: 70 units, from them are 26 core units and 44 auxiliary units - on start of scenario is possible to purchase 3 unit    (3 core + 0 auxiliary)
Max number of Allied units: 90 units - on start of scenario is possible to purchase 1 units
Transport units: Axis - air:     Ki-54 Hickory Allies - air:     C-47 Dakota Axis - naval:     Transport Allies - naval:     AF Transport

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