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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> RE: Plane production snapshot

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RE: Plane production snapshot - 2/10/2011 10:25:57 PM

PzB74

Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000
From: No(r)way
Status: offline

I take reckless as a compliment

The year doesn't matter, it's more psychology and a fine tuned sense for when to attack and when to hold back.
Of course Andy is holding back after the needless loss of his fleet in the Central Pacific. Next time he's coming in hot it will be in force.
If I consider the settings unfavorable I may hold back the Combined Fleet and maybe send it on a raid instead.

The Line Islands will be defended in order to delay the enemy and force him to spend time and resources on either bypassing it or assaulting it.

I always have 100 torps at my Naval Air HQs - so that was not an issues Inq.
Well I can try 10 identical ships but my experience is that fighting units often load first and leave the supply train for last..

Andy is using heavier escorts but he should have resources to escort large convoys more adequately now.

Thx beppi, we're indeed in a ok position but the odds are indeed turning against us.
The KB may become less effective in 44 but just as the Tirpitz it will remain a huge and potent threat - so it's vital to keep it as long as possible.
It will be 45 before Andy is strong enough to conduct 2 amph invasions simultanously as his weakest force would be inferior to the KB.

Yes, the 8 hex strike will remain an asset - if we can land a devastating hit and run blow against a major TF without sufficient protection there's always a chance
to turn the tide for some more months.

One of my trusted tactics is to attrit the bottomless Allied pool of ships constantly. If you do this well over 3 years there will be much fewer units opposing you
late in the war...even though fewer is a very relative term here

A few turns ago we hit the Leander with 5x250kg bomb hits near Wyndham, forcing it to abandon into port.
Not a lot to report in the following turns.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 06, 43

Air Combat

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wyndham at 70,127
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 17

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Ki-43-IIb Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wyndham at 70,127
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
DD McCall
CL Leander
DD Warramunga
DD Tjerk Hiddes

Aircraft Attacking:
33 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wyndham at 70,127
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1 Judy x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Leander, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wyndham at 70,127
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 17
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Leander, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wyndham at 70,127
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CL Leander, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
DD McCalla

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Payback...

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

(in reply to inqistor)

Post #: 2011

RE: Plane production snapshot - 2/10/2011 10:43:13 PM

PzB74

Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000
From: No(r)way
Status: offline

Another go at the lair of the beasts...(4Es).

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

(in reply to PzB74)

Post #: 2012

RE: Plane production snapshot - 2/10/2011 10:59:04 PM

inqistor

Posts: 1813
Joined: 5/12/2010
Status: offline

Are fires damaging airfield/port? If so, it would be interesting to bombard manpower there.
Anyway, I see also planes at the coast (Akyab etc.), it should be close enough to use TOJOs, or even TONYs. Chittagong have even ships in port.

Also, have you evacuated remnants of units west of Darwin?

(in reply to PzB74)

Post #: 2013

RE: Plane production snapshot - 2/11/2011 8:51:00 AM

janh

Posts: 1216
Joined: 6/12/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: PzB

I take reckless as a compliment
The year doesn't matter, it's more psychology and a fine tuned sense for when to attack and when to hold back.
Of course Andy is holding back after the needless loss of his fleet in the Central Pacific. Next time he's coming in hot it will be in force.
If I consider the settings unfavorable I may hold back the Combined Fleet and maybe send it on a raid instead.

The Line Islands will be defended in order to delay the enemy and force him to spend time and resources on either bypassing it or assaulting it.

Thumbs up. That's the best thing you can do. Deny Andy the same good recon/intel about your defensive measures and especially fleet position as you enjoy now, and you have won half the battle already.

(in reply to PzB74)

Post #: 2014

RE: Plane production snapshot - 2/12/2011 12:32:52 AM

PzB74

Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000
From: No(r)way
Status: offline

Akyab got 4 aux planes and Chittagong a PT boat in port...plus 1500 AA guns

The mini remnant is long gonners, the tank regiment is moving back to Derby on borrowed gas

Could be true Jahn, but it will be much harder to get major victories now; most likely there will be more phyrric victories that will
cost us dearly!

This was an interesting turn though.
Sent a stronger TF into Darwin and sank the 3 destroyers there; revenge and attrition of inferior enemy forces.
The Leander was also bombed heavily in port and should be in sinking condition.

The major air strike on Calcutta was again a moderately successfull affair.
AGAIN weather was crap over target; impossible to find an opening..and again a full wing of Helens got separated from the strike and arrived alone.
This cost us most of our losses.

Our A6M5 sweep did surprisingly well and claimed more kills than losses.
The bomber strike was hampered by weather and only 5 heavies were reported destroyed.
Not sure it's worth to continue with these raids.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 09, 43

Surface Combat

Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 76,124, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Shell hits 2
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 1
CL Kinu, Shell hits 1
DD Shiranui, Shell hits 1
DD Urakaze
DD Hagikaze
DD Shinonome
DD Shirakumo

Allied Ships
DD McCalla
DD Warramunga, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Tjerk Hiddes

Poor visibility due to Rain with 75% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 75% moonlight: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 76,124, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 1
CL Kinu
DD Shiranui
DD Urakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Hagikaze
DD Shinonome
DD Shirakumo

Allied Ships
DD McCalla, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
DD Tjerk Hiddes, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

Low visibility due to Rain
Maximum visibility in Rain: 15,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...

Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 35

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 15
Kittyhawk I x 16
P-39N1 Airacobra x 9
P-40K Warhawk x 10
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 3 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed
P-39N1 Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 30000 feet

CAP engaged:
AVG/1st Sqn with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 12 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 29000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
AVG/3rd Sqn with P-39N1 Airacobra (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 29000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
23rd FG/74th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 29000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
No.118 Sqn RCAF with Kittyhawk I (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 8 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 29000 , scrambling fighters between 26000 and 30600.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
No.232 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 7 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 29000 , scrambling fighters between 28000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
23rd FG/Hq Sqn with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 2 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 29000 , scrambling fighters to 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 25

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 5
Kittyhawk I x 6
P-40K Warhawk x 8
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 11 destroyed, 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 13000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 36
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 40
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 92

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 2
Kittyhawk I x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 5
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed
Liberator II: 1 destroyed on ground
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed on ground
Beaufort VIII: 1 destroyed on ground
C-47 Skytrain: 1 destroyed on ground
B-17E Fortress: 2 destroyed on ground
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
26 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 13000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
30 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 13000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
36 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 13000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Wyndham , at 70,127
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 70
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 27

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CL Leander, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Port hits 6
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 7000 feet
Port Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Wyndham , at 70,127
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1 Judy x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CL Leander, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x D4Y1 Judy bombing from 7000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on II./4th Infantry Battalion, at 64,127 (Derby)
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 16

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bombs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on II./4th Infantry Battalion, at 64,127 (Derby)
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

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

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bombs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Indpt SNLF Coy , at 62,127 (Broome)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-5 Dauntless x 14

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Derby , at 64,12
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-25C Mitchell x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 11000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking II./4th Infantry Battalion ...
Also attacking Derby ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Derby (64,127)
Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 469 troops, 0 guns, 84 vehicles, Assault Value = 31
Defending force 1298 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 47

Allied adjusted assault: 6
Japanese adjusted defense: 62

Allied assault odds: 1 to 10 (fort level 3)

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
10th Light Horse Battalion

Defending units:
II./4th Infantry Battalion
21st JAAF AF Bn /1
------------------------------------------------------------

Air and Sea Battles

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

(in reply to janh)

Post #: 2015

RE: Plane production snapshot - 2/12/2011 12:38:08 AM

PzB74

Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000
From: No(r)way
Status: offline

Sent a TF back to Darwin as more ships were reported and we found a 12000 ton troops ship and a DE.
Both were promptly dispatched!

Wonder how Andy got that huge ship into Darwin, must have raced at high speed.
I've placed numerous RO subs to intercept blokade runners. Our destroyers will operate out of Timor under local CAP
to try to intercept those who slip past LBA and subs.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 10, 43

Surface Combat

Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 76,124, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kinu
DD Shinonome
DD Shirakumo

Allied Ships
DE Inconstant, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
xAP Aorangi, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Low visibility due to Rain with 85% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 85% moonlight: 4,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 10,000 yards
Allied ships attempt to get underway
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 4,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 4,000 yards
CL Kinu engages xAP Aorangi at 4,000 yards
CL Kinu engages xAP Aorangi at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CL Kinu engages xAP Aorangi at 3,000 yards
xAP Aorangi sunk by DD Shirakumo at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Kinu engages DE Inconstant at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CL Kinu engages DE Inconstant at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CL Kinu engages DE Inconstant at 8,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DE Inconstant at 8,000 yards
CL Kinu engages DE Inconstant at 8,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DE Inconstant at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CL Kinu engages DE Inconstant at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CL Kinu engages DE Inconstant at 7,000 yards
DE Inconstant engages DD Shinonome at 7,000 yards
DE Inconstant engages DD Shinonome at 7,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub - ASW Attacks

ASW attack near Port Hedland at 58,128
Japanese Ships
SS RO-64, hits 5

Allied Ships
xAK West Cape
PC Morris

SS RO-64 is sighted by escort
PC Morris attacking submerged sub ....
PC Morris fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Morris attacking submerged sub ....
PC Morris fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Morris attacking submerged sub ....
PC Morris is out of ASW ammo
PC Morris is out of ASW ammo
PC Morris is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Wyndham at 71,125
Japanese Ships
SS RO-100

Allied Ships
xAK City of Durban

xAK City of Durban is sighted by SS RO-100
SS RO-100 launches 4 torpedoes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Efate at 120,154
Japanese Ships
SS RO-101, hits 22, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DE Arrow
AK Castor
xAP West Point
xAK City of Rayville
DD Nestor
DD Napier
DD Thanet

SS RO-101 is sighted by escort
DD Nestor fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Napier fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Thanet fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Thanet fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Thanet attacking submerged sub ....
DD Thanet attacking submerged sub ....
SS RO-101 eludes DD Thanet by hugging bottom
DD Thanet fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Thanet fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blokade runners

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

(in reply to PzB74)

Post #: 2016

RE: Plane production snapshot - 2/12/2011 12:51:57 AM

PzB74

Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000
From: No(r)way
Status: offline

Another raid on Wyndham met T-bolts that cut through the escort and shot down quite a few Helens.
I had switched units so these Helens were "regular" units with ground bombing skills only, the "expert" unit had been sent to the rear
just in case this happened.

Looks like the Leander is on fire still...

At Efate the enemy convoy returned; I sent in a unit of Dinah fighters with a range of 18 hexes. This allowed us to provide the Netties and Betties with an escort.
We hit a transport and put a torpedo in the huge AP West Point.
In the PM turn the Dinah's turned back and we lost a few Betties to Wildcats.

Tomorrow surface TF will speed into Efate and try to destroy the convoy - looks like it got a heavy escort so should be a heavy fight.
Andy is muttering about "How Hellcats will perform". Very possible he's returning to the Line Islands; PH holds a lot less ships now.
- I've all but sent the ships home from the Line Islands. No ac on offensive missions, only fighters on high altitude CAP plus smaller ASW units.

All in waiting mode for the next assault; another turn and the new carrier fleet in Japan will move to join the KB.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 11, 43

Surface Combat

Ships got past sub screen so sent in 3 destroyers.
They caught this small transport but more got into Wyndham so a port strike was ordered.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Wyndham at 70,123, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shiranui
DD Urakaze
DD Hagikaze

Allied Ships
xAK Mormacsul, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 92% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 92% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
Japanese launch Long Lance torpedoes at 2,000 yards before allies detect Japanese presence
DD Urakaze fires at xAK Mormacsul at 2,000 yards
DD Hagikaze engages xAK Mormacsul at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
xAK Mormacsul sunk by DD Hagikaze at 3,000 yards
xAK Mormacsul sunk by DD Hagikaze at 3,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on TF, near Efate at 120,154
Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-46-IIIb Dinah x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-46-IIIb Dinah sweeping at 15000 feet *

CAP engaged:
VMF-121 with F4F-4 Wildcat (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(17 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Efate at 120,154
Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 8 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Russell
DE Arrow
xAK City of Rayville, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Thanet

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Moa at 74,116
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 3

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kinu, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet *
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Efate at 120,154
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 42 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 30

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Castor, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Gansevoort
DD Napier
DD Thanet
DD Nestor
xAP West Point, Torpedo hits 1

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

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VMF-121 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Wyndham , at 70,127
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 36
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 25

Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 6 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Leander, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 5000 feet
Port Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
347th FG/68th FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 7 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Enemy paras at Bathurst; ordered ours to recapture it to delay Allied buildup...

Ground combat at Bathurst Island (76,123)
Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 23 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied adjusted assault: 4
Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Bathurst Island !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
1st Australian Para Bn /2
-----------------------------------------------------------

Continued Battles

Attachment (1)

< Message edited by PzB -- 2/12/2011 12:53:09 AM >

_____________________________

"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

(in reply to PzB74)

Post #: 2017

RE: Plane production snapshot - 2/12/2011 1:48:40 AM

PzB74

Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000
From: No(r)way
Status: offline

Nothing much happened this turn actually...put all units on alert and increased defensive readiness incase something is incoming!

Good news; the Frank is accelerated to 12/43!
All Kongo class battleships will also complete their upgrades.
Planning to send home the Yamato's and Shimakaze class destroyers for their 09/43 upgrades.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 12, 43

Sub - ASW Attacks

Sub should make it home...

ASW attack near Efate at 120,154

Japanese Ships
SS I-7, hits 1

Allied Ships
DE Arrow
xAP West Point
xAK Somelsdijk
DD Nestor
DD Thanet
DD Russell

SS I-7 is sighted by escort
DD Nestor fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Thanet attacking submerged sub ....
DD Thanet is out of ASW ammo
DD Thanet is out of ASW ammo
DD Thanet is out of ASW ammo
DD Russell fails to find sub and abandons search
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Efate at 120,154

Japanese Ships
SS I-7, hits 15, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Napier

SS I-7 launches 4 torpedoes at DD Napier
I-7 bottoming out ....
DD Napier attacking submerged sub ....
DD Napier fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Napier fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Napier fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Napier fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

We reclaim the holliday resort island!

Ground combat at Bathurst Island (76,123)
Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 396 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 26
Defending force 23 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Japanese adjusted assault: 22
Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 22 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Bathurst Island !!!

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

Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
4th Raiding Rgt /2

Defending units:
1st Australian Para Bn /2
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Upgrades

The Norm long range search plane enters service; normal range is 12, extended 15.
The Kitakami completes her conversion into an AA cruiser next turn. Slow so will follow the escort carrier fleet.

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

(in reply to PzB74)

Post #: 2018

RE: Plane production snapshot - 2/12/2011 8:09:30 AM

inqistor

Posts: 1813
Joined: 5/12/2010
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: PzB
Our A6M5 sweep did surprisingly well and claimed more kills than losses.
The bomber strike was hampered by weather and only 5 heavies were reported destroyed.
Not sure it's worth to continue with these raids.

B17s are irreplaceable for another two years, and LIBERATORs have replacement rate around 3 per month, so in fact you can phase out those airframes.

quote:

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 5
Kittyhawk I x 6
P-40K Warhawk x 8
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 4

IIRC Hurricane IIb have only .303 MGs, try sweeping with armoured OSCARs, they shoud be immune.

quote:

- I've all but sent the ships home from the Line Islands. No ac on offensive missions, only fighters on high altitude CAP plus smaller ASW units.

You can alway set them on night naval attack. Should be fairly safe.

(in reply to PzB74)

Post #: 2019

RE: Plane production snapshot - 2/12/2011 2:44:31 PM

ny59giants

Posts: 9869
Joined: 1/10/2005
Status: offline

I would do some mine laying on the approaches to Darwin. I would say they are getting there via Horn Island and staying close to the coast.

(in reply to inqistor)

Post #: 2020

RE: Plane production snapshot - 2/12/2011 4:05:19 PM

PzB74

Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000
From: No(r)way
Status: offline

I have mined Bathurst Island; now it has become to dangeorus to send slow minelayers in. The low flying B-25s would eat them for breakfast.

I'm afraid the number of enemy 4Es is increasing...must be many different verions of Liberators in production by now.
In addition to the monthly reinforcements you also got the new and fully fleshed out units arriving.

If there only were Hurries IIb I wouldn't be worried, but the increasing number of T-bolts and newer models ain't good for Oscars

Mostly using the Oscars as long range escorts.

Yes I actually did that last turn; upgraded the crack LBA unit on Christmas Island to Frances and set to naval attack.
If Andy wants to sweep the place with 160 defending fighters it will cost him and attriting his CAG with LBA is exactly what we want to do, especially over
our own bases as this reduce friendly pilot casualties in A2A.

This turn we got a convoy trying to force its way through the Torres Strait; our torpedo bombers failed in the bad weather but the low flying Helens hit most of the transports.

The Kongo class ships have now returned from the upgrade and the new Unryus have completed their air group optimizations.
In China I have merged 2 understrength divisions from single Bdes and released them; they're now fleshing out and preparing to be shipped to the front.
- Malaya, Sumatra, Java and the rest of the SRA is slowly becoming a fortress.

Several new Air HQs and Flotillas also arrive during the next months; will go straight into the SRA.
The goals is to make any Allied advance into a slow and costly brawl were all the best bases are garrisoned and fortified.
This will make Andy impatient and that's usually something we can take advantage of!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 13, 43

Air Combat

Again a smaller number of 4Es hit one of our forward SRA bases; it holds a size 4 af but not much air support - yet.
The nearby Tojo CAP leaked and 3 b models claimed 2 B-17s.

Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 7
B-24D Liberator x 9
B-24D1 Liberator x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 25

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 12000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 12000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Merauke at 86,124
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
G4M1 Betty x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
xAK Cape Orange
DD Edsall
xAK Cape Trinity

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Merauke at 86,124
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
A6M5 Zero x 13
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 39

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAK Cape San Martin, Bomb hits 11, and is sunk
xAK Cape Trinity, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Pellicula, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Edsall
xAK Cape Orange, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
30 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

An armored brigade is rolling towards the coast; constantly low on supplies.
This clearly shows that a few Jap divisions could have seriously delayed the Allied capture of Northern Oz.
The problem would have been that these troops would have been more or less lost as stronger and stronger enemy air formations perform
interdiction of both ground units and ships trying to bring supplies or evacuate.

Ground combat at Nookanbah (66,130)
Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3446 troops, 16 guns, 348 vehicles, Assault Value = 227
Defending force 572 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 30

Allied adjusted assault: 97
Japanese adjusted defense: 7

Allied assault odds: 13 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Nookanbah !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), leaders(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
265 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 3

Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
4th Armoured Brigade

Defending units:
4th Indpt SNLF Coy
12th Garrison Unit /1
15th Garrison Unit /2
----------------------------------------------------------------------

SRA - Northern Oz - New Guinea Area Air Operations

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

(in reply to ny59giants)

Post #: 2021

RE: Plane production snapshot - 2/12/2011 6:11:19 PM

PzB74

Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000
From: No(r)way
Status: offline

Andy was concerned about the use of Jap ac in a low level naval bombing role, especially since he's restricted to only using only his special naval version of the B-24
(as well as the B-25s) in this role. The reason for the 4E house rule is that 50 of them can sink the KB alone in a low naval attack role.

My last reply:

It's of course important to balance all aspects of the game and I never try to overdo things.
So I'll never have more than 3 units on low naval attack at any time; including navy and army units.
- I can very well train only Navy bombers in this purpose from now on as the Frances is just as good if not better than the Helen in anti shipping roles.

"By Puhis in WitP thread"

There is evidence that skip bombing was trained and practiced in Japan during the war:

According to Raymond Lamont-Brown's Kamikaze,page 27:

..the form of attack of skip bombing..was discussed and tried out by the Japanese[1943]..Zero fighters were fitted out with 250kg bombs which were released 200 to 300 yards away from an enemy ship.There was a great risk of damage to the fighter either from the bombs bouncing back or from an explosion on the target,but a successful training programme was carried out in the Bohol Strait,near the Cebu base,under the eye of Kimpei Teraoka,Commander of 1st Air Fleet.The programme was abandoned when the US attack on Davao on 9-10 September 1944 wiped out 50 per cent of the participating 201st Air Group..

Another one from Axis History Forum:
However, at least one USN ship had been sunk by similar kind of mast height attack. It was the USS Twiggs (DD-591). Though in average the sources stated that it was torpedo attack, the detail analysis shows that it more likely was the bomb, dropped by B6N2 approaching from the bow bearing at the masthead level. Most likely, 500-kg bomb, that blew up right at the ship bow plate against forward 5-inch magazines dead below the waterline, with penetrating or not. There were no aerial torpedoes in Japanese inventory to be ready to detonate after ~70-80 yards run in the water, as this distance is detailed by the sources the drop had been.

----

So I don't see it unreasonable for Japan to operate some low level naval bombing units.
I do however think low naval attack is a bit to efficient in this game so it should not be overused.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 14, 43

Surface Combat

We arrived a bit late at Efate because a ship had a lower top speed than the rest of the squadron, thus denying it to travel the planned
fast speed run.

Sank a sinking ship but couldn't hit the Napier for the world..

Night Time Surface Combat, near Efate at 119,155, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu
DD Amatsukaze
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Hamakaze
DD Arashi

Allied Ships
DD Napier
AK Castor, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 100% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages AK Castor at 11,000 yards
AK Castor sunk by CL Isuzu at 11,000 yards
DD Napier engages DD Hamakaze at 11,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages DD Napier at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages DD Napier at 10,000 yards
DD Napier engages DD Tokitsukaze at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
DD Napier engages CL Isuzu at 9,000 yards
DD Napier engages DD Arashi at 9,000 yards
DD Napier engages DD Hamakaze at 9,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages DD Napier at 9,000 yards
DD Napier engages DD Amatsukaze at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages DD Napier at 11,000 yards
DD Napier engages DD Hamakaze at 11,000 yards
DD Napier engages DD Tokitsukaze at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
DD Arashi engages DD Napier at 12,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Don't understand these attacks..this time 14 Tojo IIbs intercepted 13 4Es and 4 were shot down.

Afternoon Air attack on Ruteng , at 64,111
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 14

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-24D Liberator x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 12000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
1 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 12000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIb Tojo (14 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
14 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

_____________________________

"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

(in reply to PzB74)

Post #: 2022

RE: Plane production snapshot - 2/12/2011 10:34:14 PM

PzB74

Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000
From: No(r)way
Status: offline

This turn we returned to Darwin with 2 destroyers and sank the small convoy that sneaked in last night.
Andy is sacrificing a lot to get supplies into Darwin yet he already operates 4Es from there to attack unimportant targets
far behind the lines

Don't quite get it but slash at the opportunities that are provided.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 15, 43

Sub & Surface Combat

ASW attack near Darwin at 74,122

Japanese Ships
DD Hagikaze

Allied Ships
SS O23, hits 6

SS O23 is sighted by escort
DD Hagikaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Hagikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hagikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hagikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hagikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 76,124, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shiranui
DD Hagikaze

Allied Ships
xAK San Vincente, Shell hits 17, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK West Cape, Shell hits 27, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Jalapalaka, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
PC Morris, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on Babo , at 83,111
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 36

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 19
B-24D1 Liberator x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 27
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Babo , at 83,111
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 15

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 3 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
63rd Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
14 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

_____________________________

"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

(in reply to PzB74)

Post #: 2023

RE: Plane production snapshot - 2/13/2011 10:30:25 AM

inqistor

Posts: 1813
Joined: 5/12/2010
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: PzB
I'm afraid the number of enemy 4Es is increasing...must be many different verions of Liberators in production by now.
In addition to the monthly reinforcements you also got the new and fully fleshed out units arriving.

I actually meant only British version. I have checked, and Liberators II have ended production two months ago. Now is different model, but still have replacement only at 8. I do not think, you can deplete any US plane pool at this time.

quote:

If there only were Hurries IIb I wouldn't be worried, but the increasing number of T-bolts and newer models ain't good for Oscars

IIRC TOJO IIa have only 2 extra 7mm MGs, and it have 12mm at wings, so in fact OSCAR IIb have better armament. TOJO IIb have extra 37mm guns, but first they must be able to hit fast fighter, to make any difference. Again, if they miss, firepower is comparable. The main difference would be speed, as OSCAR IIRC is still much more manoeuvrable, than TOJO. And TOJO IIb still DO NOT have armour.

quote:

Don't understand these attacks..this time 14 Tojo IIbs intercepted 13 4Es and 4 were shot down.

Maybe luck with 37mm guns? Anyway, it is perfect spot to rearm into new TONYs.

That is actually interesting, than Allies are capable to sneak transports into Darwin. Are they some kind of fast versions? They have some 15-17 knots xAK ships.

(in reply to PzB74)

Post #: 2024

Enemy carriers near SRA! - 2/13/2011 3:39:42 PM

PzB74

Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000
From: No(r)way
Status: offline

We can still get rid of the remaining B-17s, Libs are somewhat less durable fortunately...
In general I'm waiting for the Frank, was hoping to accelerate it another month.
Tony's have so short legs, they're base interceptors mostly.

Well, seems like Andy has major plans about Northern Oz - SRA!
This turn saw lots of action.

1. The entire Allied bomber armada in India hit Magwe...no big deal but just a piece of the puzzle?
2. Light surface combat TF went back into Darwin and sank 7 ships. On the return trip the CL was hit by a sub torpedo that seriously damaged her.
This was quite a drama; 2 subs were reported hit by depth charges as the ships RTB was constantly interferred with. In poor weather no less than 39!! SBDs attacked the CL which
fired her ack ack guns furiously, bringing down 2 bombers. Finally 2 bombs hit her, but she's still moving north and may be saved unless hit again.
3. Suddenly a new spotting was made 13 hexes west of Timor and our search planes started falling out of the skies!
Enemy carriers! A flight of Oscars got separated from a Nell strike and suddenly tangled with 340 enemy CAP fighters including 270 Hellcats.
Against this force almost 20 Oscars were shot down but they did claim 4 Hellcats and a Martlet or 2 in return. 3/4 of the Nell bombers withdrew but 7 were shot down by the CAP.

I'm a little surprised by the early appearence of the entire Allied Combined Fleet north of Oz at this stage.
It's a bit early to invade the SRA without full support from Northern Oz so there are 3 options:

a) The Fleet is here to support the builup of Northern Oz and help bring in supplies, fuel and troops.
b) The Fleet is here to raid our shipping and bases
c) The Fleet is here to support a major invasion of SRA region

Alternatively 2 or more of these options can be combined.

So the plan for defending the SRA region has been set in effect today and includes the following preparations
a) The Combined Fleet is setting sail and will arrive at full strength in the SRA within a week (The new carriers are just north of Truk, good timing).
b) All shipping in SRA is moving to safety
c) 600 defensive fighters are moved into place while attack planes are moved to the rear
d) Select bases reveice air support reinforcement to support unlimited number of ac
e) 2 army divisions are prepared for a counterattack and reinforcement role; 1 is conveniently already at sea and will be held back behind the Combined Fleet
when it arrives.

An additional action: I'm launching another full scare raiding offensive against Central Pacific with subs, raiders and light cruisers.
With the Allied fleets near Oz we should be safe enough.

Next turns will be interesting!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 17, 43

Surface Combat

Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 76,124, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma
DD Sagiri
DD Yugiri

Allied Ships
DD McCall
DD Edsall
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 76,124, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma
DD Sagiri
DD Yugiri

Allied Ships
AM Gladstone, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
AM Rockhampton, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
AM Stawell, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
xAK Fairfield City, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 76,124, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma
DD Sagiri
DD Yugiri

Allied Ships
xAK Cape Orange, Shell hits 38, and is sunk
xAK City of Durban, Shell hits 30, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Empire Peregrine, Shell hits 42, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Darwin at 76,124, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yugiri, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD McCall
DD Edsall
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub Attacks

ASW attack near Darwin at 76,124

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Yugiri

Allied Ships
SS Drum, hits 5

SS Drum launches 6 torpedoes at CL Kuma
DD Yugiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yugiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yugiri attacking submerged sub ....
DD Yugiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yugiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Darwin at 73,121

Japanese Ships
DD Sagiri

Allied Ships
SS KXV, hits 5

SS KXV launches 4 torpedoes at DD Sagiri
KXV bottoming out ....
DD Sagiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sagiri attacking submerged sub ....
DD Sagiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sagiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Sagiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 73,121
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 16
F4U-1 Corsair x 5
SBD-3 Dauntless x 8
SBD-5 Dauntless x 8

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 73,121
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 8

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 48 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 8
Blenheim IV x 12
Blenheim VD x 12
Hudson IIIa x 18
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16
Liberator II x 27
Liberator B.III x 12
Liberator GR.III x 9
Wellington Ic x 18
Wellington GR.VIII x 15
Ventura GR.V x 9
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-24D1 Liberator x 12
B-24J Liberator x 10
P-40N1 Warhawk x 2

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator II: 1 damaged
Wellington Ic: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 151
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 14
Liberator II x 6
B-17E Fortress x 9
B-24J Liberator x 6
B-25C Mitchell x 28
B-25D1 Mitchell x 45

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 144
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mataram at 56,118
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 27

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 18
Martlet II x 15
Martlet IV x 34
F6F-3 Hellcat x 268
SOC-1 Seagull x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 9 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Mataram at 56,118
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 60 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 18

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 18
Martlet II x 15
Martlet IV x 33
F6F-3 Hellcat x 254
SOC-1 Seagull x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 4 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 73,121
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 9
F4U-1 Corsair x 13
SBD-3 Dauntless x 7

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Darwin at 73,121
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 8

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Japanese CL
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northern Australia - SRA Region

Let's analyze composition of enemy CAP:

The Sea Hurries and Martlets come from at least 3 full sized British carriers
Sea Hurricane Ib x 18
Martlet II x 15
Martlet IV x 34

The 268 Hellcats are from US Fleet carriers while the Seagulls are based on US capital ships.
F6F-3 Hellcat x 268 (Probably all US fleet carriers including new Essex and CVLs - CVEs carry Wildcats so they're not in present)
SOC-1 Seagull x 29 (I would say 10-12 capital ships including BBs and CAs)

This is a strong strike force but hardly something to put against our combined LBA and Combined Fleet resources in the SRA.
I would therefore be surprised if Andy goes for early landings in SRA.

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

(in reply to inqistor)

Post #: 2025

RE: Enemy carriers near SRA! - 2/13/2011 4:31:47 PM

janh

Posts: 1216
Joined: 6/12/2007
Status: offline

Wow, interesting turn.

First thought: Andy may have attempted a surprise amphib assault on (SE) Java or some island(s) towards Timor, likely the latter I would guess. This would be a foothold for LBA, which from Java or Timor could render large parts of the SRA an attrition ground for you, or even render it untenable. I think Canoerebel had a nice AAR earlier that showed how big the threat to SRA was once the Allies get a foothold...

Second thought... all this could also be a diversion from a simultaneous CentPac Ops (covered by his CVE??). Or as you say, a raid; perhaps towards Java? I doubt he would stay long, or go deep into the SRA -- too much danger from LBA. Doesn't seem likely to me.

The Magwe strike package looks sizable, but I get the feeling this is not his center of gravity. He should have more 4E and 2E standing by, and why not commit them simultaneously with Magwe, or elsewhere in Burma? Hmmmh. Could also be bad luck or a faux-pas with coordination.
As for covering a resupply effort to Northern OZ... kind of late for that, given how many supply carriers he already sacrificed there, don't you think?

I think the threat to SRA is credible enough. Your plan makes good sense. Though there is a bit of a chance that his main effort will hit elsewhere in a few turns... Even if not, would you hurt him most if you battle with his main effort (assuming you can defeat it), or if you concentrate on his flanks and crush his diversions?

(in reply to PzB74)

Post #: 2026

RE: Enemy carriers near SRA! - 2/13/2011 8:43:48 PM

PzB74

Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000
From: No(r)way
Status: offline

It surely looks like Andy means business here!
A few turns ago subs were spotted in the region; a first and usually an omen.

What I wonder about is whether this activity is an attempt to take advantage of us leaving Northern OZ before we can dig in all over the SRA.
Since that's what I've been busy doing over the last 2 months it won't succeed a 100%.

Today heavy ground strikes by the enemy carriers hit a size 4 AF; I don't have lots of air support there so not sure what purpose that held.
We did claim ca 20 enemy carrier ac today as they tried to hit our "bait" TFs that hid under a CAP umbrella.

Enemy paras also landed on a size 0 af base (1 port) north of Timor.
With that giant presence of an Allied fleet there is no questions about this being the real thing anymore.
Next thing is probably 10 divisions showing up on multiple transport TFs.

All this will take time however and the Combined Fleet is now on the move and I have started distributing our air support between the threatened bases.
They were built to provide interlocking CAP support in the form of a series of islands barriers protecting Makassar, Kendari, Ambon etc.

So now there are 5-6 bases with leaky CAP in place in order to attrit the enemy CAG.
This is our only purpose for now. My hope is that we have cut down and attrited them enough by the time the KB arrives with fresh air groups to win a decisive victory.
I do like to fight behind a strong LBA presence and numerous friendly bases; much better than near Hawaii.

So let's see if we can't make something pleasent out of this surprise visit

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 18, 43

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 20

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 18

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Martlet IV sweeping at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 45 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 15

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Martlet II sweeping at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 9

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Sea Hurricane Ib sweeping at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 9

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 11 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 14

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 16
F6F-3 Hellcat x 112
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 143
SBD-3 Dauntless x 36
SBD-5 Dauntless x 88
TBF-1 Avenger x 166

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 6 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 22
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 108

Also attacking 52nd JNAF AF Unit ...
Also attacking Waingapoe ...
Also attacking 15th Garrison Unit ...
Also attacking 52nd JNAF AF Unit ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Meiktila , at 58,47
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 48 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 8
Blenheim IV x 6
Blenheim VD x 3
Hudson IIIa x 12
Liberator II x 27
Liberator B.III x 6
Liberator GR.III x 12
Wellington Ic x 19
Wellington GR.VIII x 15
Ventura GR.V x 9
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-24J Liberator x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator II: 1 damaged
Wellington Ic: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 64
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Meiktila , at 58,47
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 6
B-17E Fortress x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 32
B-25D1 Mitchell x 33

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 60
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Meiktila , at 58,47
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim VD x 9
Hudson IIIa x 6
B-24J Liberator x 6
B-25D1 Mitchell x 6

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Koepang , at 68,116
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flight
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-17F Fortress x 3
B-24D Liberator x 15
B-24D1 Liberator x 18
B-25D1 Mitchell x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-56 Thalia: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Endeh at 65,113
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 13
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 16
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 21
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 17

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 10
TBF-1 Avenger x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 5 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Endeh , at 65,113
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 13
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 16
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 21
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 15

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-24D Liberator x 2
B-24D1 Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 5 damaged

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

Runway hits 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Endeh at 65,113
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 9
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 15
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 20
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 13

Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 14
F6F-3 Hellcat x 30
TBF-1 Avenger x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet IV: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
xAK Tokiwa Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Lomblen (68,113)
Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 56 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied adjusted assault: 3
Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Lomblen !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
1st Australian Para Bn /2
------------------------------------------------------------------

SRA

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

(in reply to janh)

Post #: 2027

RE: Enemy carriers near SRA! - 2/13/2011 10:13:27 PM

PaxMondo

Posts: 9750
Joined: 6/6/2008
Status: offline

That para landing is at Pantar, right?

Interesting ... looking forward to how you defend this ...

_____________________________

Pax

(in reply to PzB74)

Post #: 2028

RE: Enemy carriers near SRA! - 2/13/2011 11:45:12 PM

PzB74

Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000
From: No(r)way
Status: offline

Andy is doomed; he just doesn't know it yet

- No time to post next turn...already Monday!-(
But the invasion is already in progress; 3 Divs and a Bde landed while 50 Hellcat pilots learned how to take their swimming buttons.

_____________________________

"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

(in reply to PaxMondo)

Post #: 2029

RE: Enemy carriers near SRA! - 2/14/2011 12:19:34 AM

Cribtop

Posts: 3890
Joined: 8/10/2008
From: Lone Star Nation
Status: offline

This should be very interesting indeed. I always thought an interlocking and well planned defense in this region could make the going tough for the Allies, but in several AARs the big green machine prevailed. I suspect you will do better as a plan for this region has always been a priority for you.

_____________________________

(in reply to PzB74)

Post #: 2030

RE: Enemy carriers near SRA! - 2/14/2011 1:54:58 AM

PaxMondo

Posts: 9750
Joined: 6/6/2008
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

This should be very interesting indeed. I always thought an interlocking and well planned defense in this region could make the going tough for the Allies, but in several AARs the big green machine prevailed. I suspect you will do better as a plan for this region has always been a priority for you.

+1

_____________________________

Pax

(in reply to Cribtop)

Post #: 2031

RE: Enemy carriers near SRA! - 2/14/2011 1:57:14 AM

pat.casey

Posts: 393
Joined: 9/10/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

This should be very interesting indeed. I always thought an interlocking and well planned defense in this region could make the going tough for the Allies, but in several AARs the big green machine prevailed. I suspect you will do better as a plan for this region has always been a priority for you.

I think it cuts both ways; if the allies can get established and build up 3 or 4 bases, they can leverage them to grind out the whole area. Its a chance for the allied to bring their army air power into the game in a confined space. Probably makes the first few weeks of the invasion critical for both sides, so should be a lot of fun.

(in reply to Cribtop)

Post #: 2032

RE: Enemy carriers near SRA! - 2/14/2011 8:29:18 AM

PzB74

Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000
From: No(r)way
Status: offline

I agree; this is a touch and go for both sides.
As you can see from the combat report the enemy came in hard and fast!

This is going to turn into a looong and hard battle.
I will not allow an enemy strong-hold in the middle of our SRA defensive region and unless the situation becomes completely untenable
strong land, sea and air assets will be used to defeat the enemy.

My question is really how well Andy has thought this through.
- Does he have the fuel and supplies and logistics to support a shoe-string operation from Perth?
Northern Oz ports are still not fully operational and there's hardly a single port in a 1000 miles that can replenish carriers and capital ship

As you have seen from my previous posts much though and consideration has been made on creating a strong and well functioning defensive grid in this region.
Andy actually walked _straight_ into my CAP trap region nr 1. The bases in this region were built to provide mutual support and make it difficult for the enemy to close them all down. Behind them are the real "hubs"; Koepang, Kendari, Ambon, Soerabaja. All the units I've extracted from Australia have gone into digging into and garrisoning these areas.

Enemy numbers and brute force may still preveal but Andy has now gathered all his eggs in one basket and started a massive battle of attrition.
Fighting over friendly turf our elite air groups suffer relatively few fatal casualties and handle the Hellcats rather well.

Even if the KB was closer it would have been a very bad idea to force an immediate engagement.
Instead the plan was - and is - to fight an attrition battle; LBA vs enemy CAG for 6-8 days. When the enemy has spent his fury and taken losses and is tired we will
hurl all the might and fury of the Combined Fleet upon him.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 19, 43

Surface Combat

We sent in light surface units; they succeeded in drawing attention and spending lots of enemy ammo.
2 destroyers are moderately damaged and RTB.

The damaged CL is making good headway and will make it unless a sub hit her again.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shiranui
DD Hagikaze, Shell hits 5
E Sanae
E Karukaya

Allied Ships
BB Pennsylvania
BB Warspite
BB Valiant
BB Royal Sovereign
CA Sussex
CA Devonshire, Shell hits 1
CA Hawkins
CL Birmingham
DD Eaton
DD Renshaw
DD Ringgold

Improved night sighting under 71% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 71% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 11,000 yards
BB Valiant fires at DD Hagikaze at 11,000 yards
BB Warspite fires at DD Hagikaze at 11,000 yards
CA Hawkins fires at DD Hagikaze at 11,000 yards
CA Devonshire fires at DD Hagikaze at 11,000 yards
DD Ringgold fires at DD Hagikaze at 11,000 yards
DD Renshaw fires at DD Hagikaze at 11,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages DD Hagikaze at 11,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Renshaw at 11,000 yards
DD Hagikaze engages BB Warspite at 11,000 yards
DD Hagikaze engages DD Ringgold at 11,000 yards
DD Hagikaze engages DD Renshaw at 11,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages DD Hagikaze at 11,000 yards
CA Sussex engages DD Hagikaze at 11,000 yards
CL Birmingham engages DD Hagikaze at 11,000 yards
DD Hagikaze engages DD Eaton at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Hagikaze at 8,000 yards
BB Valiant engages DD Hagikaze at 8,000 yards
E Karukaya engages BB Pennsylvania at 8,000 yards
E Sanae engages CL Birmingham at 8,000 yards
CA Devonshire engages DD Hagikaze at 8,000 yards
DD Hagikaze engages DD Renshaw at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages DD Hagikaze at 12,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Renshaw at 12,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages E Karukaya at 12,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages E Sanae at 12,000 yards
CA Hawkins engages DD Hagikaze at 12,000 yards
CA Devonshire engages DD Hagikaze at 12,000 yards
CA Sussex engages DD Hagikaze at 12,000 yards
DD Ringgold engages DD Shiranui at 12,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Renshaw at 12,000 yards
DD Eaton engages DD Hagikaze at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 27,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shiranui, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Hagikaze
E Sanae
E Karukaya

Allied Ships
BB Pennsylvania
BB Warspite
BB Valiant
BB Royal Sovereign
CA Sussex
CA Devonshire
CA Hawkins
CL Birmingham
DD Eaton
DD Renshaw
DD Ringgold

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 27,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 27,000 yards
BB Warspite engages DD Hagikaze at 27,000 yards
CA Sussex engages DD Hagikaze at 27,000 yards
Range increases to 28,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages DD Hagikaze at 28,000 yards
CA Devonshire engages DD Hagikaze at 28,000 yards
CA Sussex engages DD Hagikaze at 28,000 yards
Tachibana, Masao orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 27,000 yards
BB Warspite engages DD Hagikaze at 27,000 yards
CA Sussex engages DD Hagikaze at 27,000 yards
Range increases to 28,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Hagikaze at 28,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Shiranui at 28,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages E Karukaya at 28,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Hagikaze at 28,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Hagikaze at 28,000 yards
BB Valiant engages DD Hagikaze at 28,000 yards
BB Warspite engages DD Hagikaze at 28,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Hagikaze at 28,000 yards
CA Sussex engages DD Hagikaze at 28,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Hagikaze at 28,000 yards
BB Valiant engages DD Hagikaze at 28,000 yards
BB Warspite engages DD Hagikaze at 28,000 yards
CA Sussex engages DD Hagikaze at 28,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages DD Hagikaze at 28,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages E Karukaya at 28,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Shiranui at 28,000 yards
Range increases to 29,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages DD Hagikaze at 29,000 yards
BB Valiant engages DD Shiranui at 29,000 yards
BB Warspite engages DD Hagikaze at 29,000 yards
CA Devonshire engages DD Hagikaze at 29,000 yards
CA Sussex engages DD Hagikaze at 29,000 yards
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Numerous sweep missions were flown and despite their numerous superiority the loss ratio was close to 1-1.

Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 28 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
A6M3a Zero x 13
A6M5 Zero x 9
N1K1 Rex x 7
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 18
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 39
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 9

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 95

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 11 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 13000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 22 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
A6M3a Zero x 9
A6M5 Zero x 6
N1K1 Rex x 4
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 7
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 31
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 6

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 77

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
N1K1 Rex: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 4 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 4 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 13000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
A6M3a Zero x 4
A6M5 Zero x 5
N1K1 Rex x 2
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 4
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 18
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 2

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 56

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
N1K1 Rex: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 4 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 13000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 12 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 1
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 4

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 53

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 13000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 1
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 45

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 13000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 1
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 49

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 13000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 43

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 13000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 49

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 13000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 25

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 13000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 12
F6F-3 Hellcat x 43

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Martlet IV sweeping at 13000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 15
F6F-3 Hellcat x 23

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Martlet II sweeping at 13000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 9
F6F-3 Hellcat x 27

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Sea Hurricane Ib sweeping at 13000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 34

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 13000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 44

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 13000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 46

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 13000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Meiktila , at 58,47
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 29000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 16
Martlet IV x 18
F6F-3 Hellcat x 24
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 93
SBD-3 Dauntless x 36
SBD-5 Dauntless x 88
TBF-1 Avenger x 139

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 6 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Also attacking 15th Garrison Unit ...
Also attacking 1st Recon Regiment ...
Also attacking 15th Garrison Unit ...
Also attacking 52nd JNAF AF Unit ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 58
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 49
TBF-1 Avenger x 73

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-24D Liberator x 12
B-24D1 Liberator x 18
F6F-3 Hellcat x 28
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 76
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 3
F6F-3 Hellcat x 25

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 15000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 1
B-24D Liberator x 2
B-24D1 Liberator x 7
F6F-3 Hellcat x 30

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 42

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 13000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 41

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 13000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 8
Blenheim IV x 6
Blenheim VD x 9
Liberator II x 18
Liberator B.III x 7
Liberator GR.III x 6
Wellington Ic x 5
Wellington GR.VIII x 9
Ventura GR.V x 6
B-24J Liberator x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington Ic: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Wellington Ic x 6
B-25C Mitchell x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hudson IIIa x 6

No Allied losses

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Hudson IIIa x 6
B-17E Fortress x 5
B-25D1 Mitchell x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-15-II Babs: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 4
B-25C Mitchell x 8
B-25D1 Mitchell x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-15-II Babs: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 6

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 9

No Allied losses

Runway hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invasions

Since Andy did a late PM landing he ownly got a smaller part of hit assault force ashore and they took casualties - meaning they're not 100% prepped, so this is invaison
was not planned 3 months back or more as I see it.

The bombardments of Waingapoe are not very efficient; place got 5 forts and rough jungle.

Pre-Invasion action off Waingapoe
20 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Resolution
BB Colorado
CL Concord
CL Raleigh
DD Quadrant
APA Fayette

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

BB Resolution firing at 15th Garrison Unit
BB Colorado firing at 15th Garrison Unit
CL Concord firing at 52nd JNAF AF Unit
CL Raleigh firing at 52nd JNAF AF Unit
DD Quadrant firing at 52nd JNAF AF Unit
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Waingapoe
TF 249 troops unloading over beach at Waingapoe, 63,113

Allied ground losses:
173 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 72 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 19 (0 destroyed, 19 disabled)
Vehicles lost 22 (0 destroyed, 22 disabled)

13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad lost overboard during unload of 33rd Infantry Div /1
8 Aviation Support troops lost overboard during unload of 36th Aviation Base Force /2
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad accidentally lost during unload of 33rd Infantry Div
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad accidentally lost during unload of 7th Infantry Div
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad accidentally lost during unload of 7th Infantry Div /3
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad accidentally lost during unload of 33rd Infantry Div /3
11 troops of a AIF Inf Section 43 lost overboard during unload of 7th Australian Div /2
11 troops of a AIF Inf Section 43 lost from landing craft during unload of 7th Australian Div /2
11 troops of a AIF Inf Section 43 lost from landing craft during unload of 7th Australian Div
10 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of XIV US Corps /3
10 Support troops accidentally lost during unload of XIV US Corps /3
12 troops of a Ind Inf Section 43 lost from landing craft during unload of 73rd Motorised Bde
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad lost overboard during unload of 33rd Infantry Div /5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Andy commented that it was a rather strong garrison for a small island...I actually find it a bit small.
The Recon regiment was moved in from Northern Oz and has 40 preparation, the garrison and Base Force got 100 prep.

No doubt 3-4 divisions is more than enough to clear the place so our first goal is to delay, delay and delay.
The counterattack force is already enroute and I got up to 6 divisions I would like to land at the northern end of the island to dispute ownership of the place.

Another 0 size AF is taken by paras. I've not given these much attention yet but will get back to it.

Ground combat at Waingapoe (63,113)
Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4049 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 195
Defending force 10398 troops, 265 guns, 166 vehicles, Assault Value = 602

Assaulting units:
1st Recon Regiment
15th Garrison Unit
52nd JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
73rd Motorised Bde /4
7th Australian Div /3
7th Infantry Div /2
33rd Infantry Div /2
3rd USN Naval Const Rgt /3
872/873rd EAB /1
XIV US Corps /1
36th Aviation Base Force /1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Pantar (69,114)
Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 30 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied adjusted assault: 2
Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Pantar !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: op mode(-), shock(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
2/6 Cavalry Cdo Bn /2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invasion SRA

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

(in reply to pat.casey)

Post #: 2033

RE: Enemy carriers near SRA! - 2/14/2011 8:38:37 AM

PzB74

Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000
From: No(r)way
Status: offline

Slight change of tactics for the next turn;

1. We revert from massive aerial CAP of the bases (50 -> 10%) and in order to draw out reinforcements gradually.
A number of bombers have also been ordered to attack the invasion fleet..there is a chance that enemy CAP will get them or that the bombers attack the carriers
instead.

..thinking about it I did a mistake by ordering some fighter units to sweep the invasion hex; the thing I hate the most in AE is that you can't sweep friendly owned bases.
This is nuts, especially in a situation like this.

2. The first heavy surface combat elements of the Combined Fleet have arrived.
First a disruption force will move against the invasion beaches with 6 light destroyers and torpedo boats, then a 10 ship strong fleet with 2 heavy and 1 light cruiser
will attack.

A handful of subs have also arrived and will try to tango. One will lay mines in the invasion hex.

Strat Map

The Combined Fleet is moving towards Yap with first heavy elements arriving tomorrow.
I estimate ca 6 more days before the KB can engage.

Attachment (1)

_____________________________

"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

(in reply to PzB74)

Post #: 2034

RE: Enemy carriers near SRA! - 2/14/2011 9:06:02 AM

castor troy

Posts: 14330
Joined: 8/23/2004
From: Austria
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: PzB

Slight change of tactics for the next turn;

1. We revert from massive aerial CAP of the bases (50 -> 10%) and in order to draw out reinforcements gradually.
A number of bombers have also been ordered to attack the invasion fleet..there is a chance that enemy CAP will get them or that the bombers attack the carriers
instead.

..thinking about it I did a mistake by ordering some fighter units to sweep the invasion hex; the thing I hate the most in AE is that you can't sweep friendly owned bases.
This is nuts, especially in a situation like this.

2. The first heavy surface combat elements of the Combined Fleet have arrived.
First a disruption force will move against the invasion beaches with 6 light destroyers and torpedo boats, then a 10 ship strong fleet with 2 heavy and 1 light cruiser
will attack.

A handful of subs have also arrived and will try to tango. One will lay mines in the invasion hex.

Strat Map

The Combined Fleet is moving towards Yap with first heavy elements arriving tomorrow.
I estimate ca 6 more days before the KB can engage.

you can take advantage of the "screwed" coordination routine in this case. You can�t sweep your own base nor can you sweep enemy carriers (at least you can�t order your fighters to do so) BUT if your fighters screw up their escort mission, they end up sweeping your own base or enemy carriers before the bombers go in and usually do far better than on escort. Of course there�s still the (very small) chance that all your fighters do what they are ordered to and some of the fighters that fail to link up usually return to base.

_____________________________

(in reply to PzB74)

Post #: 2035

RE: Enemy carriers near SRA! - 2/14/2011 9:36:30 AM

janh

Posts: 1216
Joined: 6/12/2007
Status: offline

So your plan is to hurt his CV air wings by having them battle your LBA for another 6-8 days? And then, if his CV-TFs won't withdraw to replenish (to Perth? Melbourne? He must have a good number of auxiliaries and naval support stacked somewhere nearby... a juicy target that would hurt in the long run), strike them with the full might of KB?

I expect that Andy won't stay around that long. It would be suicidal since he must know what you are after, and his CV are in plain sight... The constitution of his landing force includes an AF unit and a HQ, so he probably will unload supplies and then withdraw the transports. With them, he probably would withdraw the heavies and will try to get the airfield up for LBA cover...?

Unless you can delay the fall of Waingapoe, you will have more like 3-4 days left for a KB strike I would expect. In that case, would you consider bombing the base hex and land your counter-invasion force directly at his base? Do you have forces handy to crush the paras as well?

(in reply to castor troy)

Post #: 2036

RE: Enemy carriers near SRA! - 2/14/2011 10:23:39 AM

viberpol

Posts: 838
Joined: 10/20/2005
From: Gizycko, Poland, EU
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: PzB
the thing I hate the most in AE is that you can't sweep friendly owned bases.
This is nuts, especially in a situation like this.

Yup. 100% agree. This is frustrating.

_____________________________

Przy lackim orle, przy koniu Kiejstuta Archanioł Rusi na proporcach błysł

(in reply to PzB74)

Post #: 2037

RE: Enemy carriers near SRA! - 2/14/2011 10:36:54 AM

Tullius

Posts: 1174
Joined: 11/18/2004
From: Saxony (Germany)
Status: offline

quote:

the thing I hate the most in AE is that you can't sweep friendly owned bases

LRCAP ?

_____________________________

(in reply to viberpol)

Post #: 2038

RE: Enemy carriers near SRA! - 2/14/2011 11:34:33 AM

PzB74

Posts: 5076
Joined: 10/3/2000
From: No(r)way
Status: offline

CT, my experience is that even "lost escorts" on "sweep" missions perform less like sweepers and more like escorts..will continue to monitor this, but that's my distinct impression so far.

Ideally yes Jahn, but the KB will not be able to arrive at the contested zone before 6-7 days.
There's also the possibility that we are outnumbered by the enemy carrier fleet, I know, I know - they need at least 3-1 to stand a chance against our Bushido warriors, but still

- If Andy doesn't hang around for more than 5-6 more days, what will he have achieved? A stranded garrison on a size 4 AF island base continously bombed from sea and air?

This is were I don't follow the enemy logic; is Andy counting in an early and easy capture of a handfull of bases were he quickly can establish a strong LBA defense and thus drive away the KB? This is a wet AFB dream...

We have a dozen fortified and garrisoned bases nearby that will resist an enemy foothold.
Waingapoe alone is already so damaged that it would take a lot more engineers than are currently present to make only the airfields operational in 2-3 days.

I consider Andy's gamble as something that has Market Gardens potential...in both directions.

LRCAP over friendly bases is easily destroyed by....enemy sweeps

If you take a look at the last AAR 20 enemy sweeps came in over Waingapoe while we're refused to return the favor before the base falls.

_____________________________

"The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

(in reply to Tullius)

Post #: 2039

RE: Enemy carriers near SRA! - 2/14/2011 11:41:03 AM

castor troy

Posts: 14330
Joined: 8/23/2004
From: Austria
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: PzB

CT, my experience is that even "lost escorts" on "sweep" missions perform less like sweepers and more like escorts..will continue to monitor this, but that's my distinct impression so far.

Ideally yes Jahn, but the KB will not be able to arrive at the contested zone before 6-7 days.
There's also the possibility that we are outnumbered by the enemy carrier fleet, I know, I know - they need at least 3-1 to stand a chance against our Bushido warriors, but still
- If Andy doesn't hang around for more than 5-6 more days, what will he have achieved? A stranded garrison on a size 4 AF island base continously bombed from sea and air?

This is were I don't follow the enemy logic; is Andy counting in an early and easy capture of a handfull of bases were he quickly can establish a strong LBA defense and thus drive away the KB? This is a wet AFB dream...

We have a dozen fortified and garrisoned bases nearby that will resist an enemy foothold.
Waingapoe alone is already so damaged that it would take a lot more engineers than are currently present to make only the airfields operational in 2-3 days.

I consider Andy's gamble as something that has Market Gardens potential...in both directions.

LRCAP over friendly bases is easily destroyed by....enemy sweeps
If you take a look at the last AAR 20 enemy sweeps came in over Waingapoe while we're refused to return the favor before the base falls.

last time enemy carrier based Zekes out of Manila attacked my UBER carrier TFs they achieved a 1+:1 vs my Hellcats when they were on sweep due to having missed their bombers (had a clear kill rate in their favour over the carriers but suffered from 8 hexes range). The Zekes that followed on escort with the bombers were shot out of the sky. As many of the "sweeping" Zekes came in at their ceiling, the Hellcats couldn�t reach them and the Zekes had the dive (not even radar helped me in this case which was quite surprising to me).

_____________________________

(in reply to PzB74)

Post #: 2040