30 June - 11 July 1942

30 June - 11 July 1942 (Full Version)

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

Message

Arnhem44 -> 30 June - 11 July 1942 (1/3/2013 9:18:54 PM)
30 June - 11 July 1942 Was a relatively quiet series of turns till about 2 days ago game time, just going to do a little housekeeping before we dive into the latest happenings. Sub War Trigger sinks a small TK north of Truk and confirmation of S-38's kill of Kano Maru during the earlier part of the war. Allied Sub killboard S-38 - xAK Tamon Maru (6,400t), xAK Kano Maru (5,935t), xAK Gyoun Maru (1,900t), xAK Kikuryu Maru (1,900t) Seadragon - xAP Rakuyo Maru (7,470t), xAKL Kanjo Maru (1,650t), xAKL Tamaki Maru (1,650t) O 20 - xAP Taizan Maru (3,380t), PB Hirota Maru (2,780t), PB Teshio Maru (830t), PB Tatsumi Maru (830t) K XIV - AK Sakura Maru (6,840t) Truat - AS Nagoya Maru (6,400t) K XI - xAK Kinugasa Maru (5,935t) O 23 - xAP Manzyu Maru (5,830t) S-34 - xAKL Kanaiyama Maru (1,650t), xAK Kotobuki Maru #5 (2,375t) K XV - xAK Nojima Maru (3,425t) Sargo - xAK Gosei Maru (3,425t) Swordfish - xAKL Yamatsuru Maru (1,650t), xAKL Muko Maru (1,650t) Snapper - DD Hatsuyuki (2,090t), APD Hagi (935t) O 21 - DD Urakaze (2,553t) K XVII - CM Itsukushima (2,400t) S-35 - xAK Daifuku Maru (2,375t) Perch - DD Sazanami (2,090t) Shark - TK Arima Maru #4 (1,120t) Trigger - TK Nissan Maru (1,120t) Drum - PB Ichiyo Maru (830t) Tarpon - TB Manazuru (775t) Probable xAK Kogyo Maru (torp hits 2, hvy fires/dmg, 07/12/41-Kota Bahru 53,74) - K XI xAK Azuma Maru (torp hit 1, hvy fires, 11/02/42-Pontianak 54,90) - K X On to a little of what both sides have been up to... up till 10 July CENPAC Activity in this part of the Pacific has been centred around Tabi, CTG is reinforcing and building it up and I'm doing the same for the islands to the east and south, namely Howland/Baker and Vaitupu/Funafuti with Canton Island acting as the nearest base of significance at this time. I unthinkingly sent in a pair of xAPs to offload a CB bn on Vaitupu and paid the price when Betties laid waste to one of them. At this point I'm keeping my options open as to whether to make a serious attempt on Tabi in the future or just bypassing it for easier pickings further up the Gilberts/Marshalls. Apart from the Betties no IJN shipping has ventured beyond Tabi for a while now, I've got a cordon of subs around the area but they don't get much business. SOPAC A opportunity to hurt the IJN has come up around Guadalcanal, which along with Tulagi is in IJN hands. Japanese assets are pretty bare at the southern tip of the Solomons with what seems to be the Shortlands as the next significant base northwards. Lunga has seen shipping activity the past couple of turns and its port just turned size 1, recon indicates some heavy hitters riding shotgun for what I assume to be some sort of troop/supply convoy and I figured might as well send Lexington and Wasp up from around Suva to take a look which I did starting about 2 turns ago. Just this turn, unescorted Betties out of Lunga (I think) attacked a quintet of DDs I had parked at Luganville, thankfully the DDs were wide awake and managed to get out of it unscathed. At the same time unescorted B-25s out of Luganville tried to reciprocate the courtesy calll at Lunga but were basically slaughtered by the resident A6Ms and Petes flying off Kongo and Kirishima. Ok, so intel was right then. Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,139 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 3 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 42 F1M2 Pete x 5 Allied aircraft B-25C Mitchell x 4 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses B-25C Mitchell: 2 destroyed CAP engaged: Tainan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (42 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 42 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 10000 Raid is overhead Kongo-1 with F1M2 Pete (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters to 11000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes Kirishima-1 with F1M2 Pete (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Raid is overhead 11 July 2012 The turn starts with Betties visiting Luganville again, this time with their little friends from Tainan-Ku. However, this time I have an Airacobra squadron sent up from Noumea and the CVs are close enough to provide assistance, it doesn't stop the Betties from getting through and bombing the port, which really messes up the auxillaries parked there but loss reports are showing that the escorting A6Ms paid a heavy price, with Tracker showing 22 downed for the loss of 2 Wildcats and a P-39. This result plays a part in my decision to commit the CVs into action for the next turn, I can only hope CTG doesn't have a spare sentai of A6Ms he can send down from Rabaul that quickly to replace his losses. So that's the story till now, just got the turn back, going to see if I've covered myself in glory or poo. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Luganville , at 120,150 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 101 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 35 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 45 G4M1 Betty x 11 Allied aircraft P-39D Airacobra x 24 F4F-4 Wildcat x 22 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed Allied Ships AG Steel Navigator, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage AG Steel Exporter, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage AG Aldebaran, Bomb hits 5, on fire AG Sirius, Bomb hits 1, on fire AKE Horace Luckenbach, Bomb hits 1, on fire Port hits 3 Port fuel hits 2 Aircraft Attacking: 11 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 10000 feet Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes 8th FG/36th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 12 scrambling) 4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 15000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes Elsewhere, in general. DEI The Dutch defenders of Bandeong prevail, probably much to the annoyance of CTG. Here's a snapshot of their latest exploits. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 44700 troops, 510 guns, 357 vehicles, Assault Value = 1107 Defending force 24782 troops, 310 guns, 81 vehicles, Assault Value = 430 Japanese adjusted assault: 701 Allied adjusted defense: 688 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 3309 casualties reported Squads: 63 destroyed, 75 disabled Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 39 disabled Engineers: 9 destroyed, 21 disabled Guns lost 30 (8 destroyed, 22 disabled) Vehicles lost 79 (39 destroyed, 40 disabled) Allied ground losses: 292 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 53 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Assaulting units: 8th Tank Regiment 5th Division 2nd Division 18th Division 113th Infantry Regiment 3rd Ind Engineer Regiment 146th Infantry Regiment 1st Ind Engineer Regiment 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment 16th Army 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: Barisan KNIL Regiment Marinier Battalion Mobiele Eenheid Battalion 4th KNIL Regiment 1st KNIL Regiment 2nd KNIL Regiment 6th KNIL Regiment Andir ML Base Force KNI Leger 1st KNIL AA Battalion 6th Avn Sup Afd 3rd KNIL AA Battalion 7th Avn Sup Afd NI-MLD 24th NZ Pioneer Coy China The screws are being turned slowly but surely in China, Liuchow comes under attack this turn, the defenders will shock attack the next turn in an attempt to eject the invaders. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Liuchow (74,55) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 6924 troops, 221 guns, 103 vehicles, Assault Value = 795 Defending force 154349 troops, 912 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4471 Japanese adjusted assault: 0 Allied adjusted defense: 3009 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99 (fort level 5) Combat modifiers Defender: forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: shock(+) Japanese ground losses: 3061 casualties reported Squads: 151 destroyed, 7 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 93 disabled Engineers: 17 destroyed, 2 disabled Guns lost 100 (45 destroyed, 55 disabled) Vehicles lost 18 (5 destroyed, 13 disabled) Allied ground losses: 198 casualties reported Squads: 4 destroyed, 14 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 52nd Infantry Brigade 15th Division 58th Infantry Brigade 56th Infantry Brigade 104th Division 2nd Ind.Mixed Regiment 4th Ind.Mixed Regiment 4th Mortar Battalion 3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 23rd Army 13th Army 2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 21st Mortar Battalion 1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment 2nd Mortar Battalion 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion Defending units: 55th Chinese Corps 26th Chinese Corps 13th Chinese Corps 62nd Chinese Corps 56th Chinese Corps 63rd Chinese Corps 74th Chinese Corps 77th Chinese Corps 29th Chinese Corps 10th Chinese Corps 31st Chinese Corps 2nd Prov Chinese Corps 65th Chinese Corps 14th Chinese Corps 30th Chinese Corps 3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps 16th Group Army 57th AT Gun Regiment 31st Group Army 4th War Area 56th AT Gun Regiment 9th Group Army 2nd Group Army 7th Chinese Base Force Burma Things may also be starting to move in Burma as well, the Imperial Guards are at Lashio and although I outnumber him locally, they have friends coming up from up the road. I am tempted to try and bloody the nose of the Guards but I suspect the hodgepodge of troops at Lashio would be shooting themselves in the foot if I were to try and take the fight to them, better to conserve my strength and let him try and break himself against my defences. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Lashio (62,46) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 13326 troops, 104 guns, 54 vehicles, Assault Value = 424 Defending force 31399 troops, 227 guns, 312 vehicles, Assault Value = 1053 Japanese ground losses: 16 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: Imperial Guards Division Defending units: 7th Armoured Brigade BFF Brigade 1st Burma Division 10th Burma Rifles Battalion 5th Chinese Corps 107th RAF Base Force 106th RAF Base Force Burma Corps 102nd RAF Base Force 1st Burma Auxiliary AA Regiment 100th RAF Base Force -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 60,46 (near Mandalay) Japanese Bombardment attack Attacking force 12942 troops, 143 guns, 14 vehicles, Assault Value = 462 Defending force 1539 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 65 Allied ground losses: 17 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 33rd Division 55th Cavalry Regiment 55th Engineer Regiment 55th Mountain Gun Regiment 15th Army 21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion Defending units: Mandalay BMP Battalion 13th Burma Rifles Battalion 9th Burma Rifles Battalion [image]local://upfiles/14714/132D85483A6246C0959B21F85AAF2B3E.jpg[/image]

Arnhem44 -> 12 July 1942 (1/4/2013 1:56:50 AM)
12 July 1942 The USN has a reasonably good day, now to exit without tripping over ourselves. SOPAC The day starts off with a sweep of Ndeni by A6Ms, given that the 2 CV VFs were unmasked in the defence of Luganville in the previous turn I would have thought CTG would be a little more circumspect in the immediate few turns after but I guess strategic surprise was achieved because the only opposition the USN had were the floatplanes flying off the IJN heavies. Marine airmen out of Ndeni are the first to visit the IJN at Lunga, both sides manage to annoy each other but little much else. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 9 minutes Japanese aircraft E13A1 Jake x 3 F1M2 Pete x 1 Allied aircraft SB2U-3 Vindicator x 18 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SB2U-3 Vindicator: 8 damaged SB2U-3 Vindicator: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships CA Tone CL Katori BB Kongo BB Fuso BB Hiei Aircraft Attacking: 2 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 2000' * Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb 2 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 4000' * Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb 1 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 3000' * Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb 12 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 3000' * Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb CAP engaged: Kongo-1 with F1M2 Pete (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Raid is overhead Isuzu-1 with E13A1 Jake (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Raid is overhead Yura-1 with E13A1 Jake (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Raid is overhead Kiso-1 with E13A1 Jake (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Raid is overhead The USN CVs carry out 1 strike apiece in the morning and afternoon, perfectly coordinated strike packages are a thing of beauty although the results of getting the ballet to the theatre is another thing. A lot of sound and fury but apart from the Katori I don't think the rest are in immediate danger. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138 Weather in hex: Moderate rain Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft F1M2 Pete x 1 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 27 SBD-3 Dauntless x 57 TBF-1 Avenger x 30 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged Japanese Ships BB Yamashiro DD Isonami BB Fuso, Bomb hits 2 CA Ashigara, Bomb hits 1 CL Katori, Bomb hits 2, on fire BB Hiei, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1 CL Tatsuta, Bomb hits 1, on fire Aircraft Attacking: 1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 15 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 15 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: Kongo-1 with F1M2 Pete (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Raid is overhead Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Katori Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Tatsuta -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft E13A1 Jake x 3 F1M2 Pete x 1 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 27 SBD-3 Dauntless x 56 TBF-1 Avenger x 12 Japanese aircraft losses E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 damaged SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships BB Hiei, Bomb hits 9, on fire BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 4 BB Fuso, Bomb hits 6, on fire CA Mogami, Bomb hits 1 CL Katori, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires CA Atago Aircraft Attacking: 1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 12 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp. 11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb 4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb CAP engaged: Kirishima-1 with F1M2 Pete (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Raid is overhead Isuzu-1 with E13A1 Jake (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Raid is overhead Yura-1 with E13A1 Jake (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Raid is overhead Kiso-1 with E13A1 Jake (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Raid is overhead Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Katori Burma Sallies pay Lashio a visit but so far the RAF isn't going to come out to play just yet. Also am bound by monsoon rules so that puts a damper on how many frames I can put in the air anyways. China Even the Chinese get in on the act and acquit themselves well by ejecting the IJA out of Liuchow -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Liuchow (74,55) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 107928 troops, 758 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4455 Defending force 41460 troops, 455 guns, 278 vehicles, Assault Value = 701 Allied adjusted assault: 602 Japanese adjusted defense: 274 Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: leaders(+), supply(-) Attacker: shock(+), supply(-) Japanese ground losses: 13623 casualties reported Squads: 209 destroyed, 214 disabled Non Combat: 506 destroyed, 195 disabled Engineers: 11 destroyed, 10 disabled Guns lost 214 (95 destroyed, 119 disabled) Vehicles lost 106 (54 destroyed, 52 disabled) Units retreated 17 Allied ground losses: 8385 casualties reported Squads: 69 destroyed, 945 disabled Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 59 disabled Engineers: 10 destroyed, 21 disabled Guns lost 83 (8 destroyed, 75 disabled) Defeated Japanese Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 30th Chinese Corps 10th Chinese Corps 2nd Prov Chinese Corps 55th Chinese Corps 26th Chinese Corps 74th Chinese Corps 56th Chinese Corps 29th Chinese Corps 62nd Chinese Corps 14th Chinese Corps 63rd Chinese Corps 13th Chinese Corps 65th Chinese Corps 31st Chinese Corps 77th Chinese Corps 3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps 9th Group Army 57th AT Gun Regiment 31st Group Army 16th Group Army 56th AT Gun Regiment 2nd Group Army 4th War Area 7th Chinese Base Force Defending units: 15th Division 52nd Infantry Brigade 104th Division 58th Infantry Brigade 56th Infantry Brigade 2nd Ind.Mixed Regiment 4th Ind.Mixed Regiment 4th Mortar Battalion 23rd Army 10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment 21st Mortar Battalion 2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment 13th Army 3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 2nd Mortar Battalion 20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion Sub War To round off the day, Sealion bags another small TK north of Truk. Allied Sub killboard S-38 - xAK Tamon Maru (6,400t), xAK Kano Maru (5,935t), xAK Gyoun Maru (1,900t), xAK Kikuryu Maru (1,900t) Seadragon - xAP Rakuyo Maru (7,470t), xAKL Kanjo Maru (1,650t), xAKL Tamaki Maru (1,650t) O 20 - xAP Taizan Maru (3,380t), PB Hirota Maru (2,780t), PB Teshio Maru (830t), PB Tatsumi Maru (830t) K XIV - AK Sakura Maru (6,840t) Truant - AS Nagoya Maru (6,400t) K XI - xAK Kinugasa Maru (5,935t) O 23 - xAP Manzyu Maru (5,830t) S-34 - xAKL Kanaiyama Maru (1,650t), xAK Kotobuki Maru #5 (2,375t) K XV - xAK Nojima Maru (3,425t) Sargo - xAK Gosei Maru (3,425t) Swordfish - xAKL Yamatsuru Maru (1,650t), xAKL Muko Maru (1,650t) Snapper - DD Hatsuyuki (2,090t), APD Hagi (935t) O 21 - DD Urakaze (2,553t) K XVII - CM Itsukushima (2,400t) S-35 - xAK Daifuku Maru (2,375t) Perch - DD Sazanami (2,090t) Shark - TK Arima Maru #4 (1,120t) Trigger - TK Nissan Maru (1,120t) Sealion - TK Moji Maru (1,120t) Drum - PB Ichiyo Maru (830t) Tarpon - TB Manazuru (775t) Probable xAK Kogyo Maru (torp hits 2, hvy fires/dmg, 07/12/41-Kota Bahru 53,74) - K XI xAK Azuma Maru (torp hit 1, hvy fires, 11/02/42-Pontianak 54,90) - K X So that's the way the field looks like at the moment, going to chew on it while at work to see if I should stick around and twist the knife in a little deeper or make a run for it. [image]local://upfiles/14714/C0A58727BA5244BBA2C33E385A3504E3.jpg[/image]

Arnhem44 -> 13-14 July 1942 (1/7/2013 4:57:49 PM)
13-14 July 1942 CBI Past 2 days of game time has seen CTG increase activity on this front with recon by fire at locations marked on the map below. Air attacks on Lashio and Chungking have also continued, Sallies are dropping incendiaries over Chungking and fires have been blazing the past few turns. Most of my strength is concentrated on the Changsha-Nanning line and I've been pulling some of the healthier corps out of the line and moving them up towards Chungking. There is basically nothing standing between that IJA army in the north and Chungking, best I can do is to threaten his supply line with the roughly 1k AV I have to the top right of this portion of the map and hopefully slow his advance down by making him secure and/or eradicate the threat to his rear before he drives on Chungking, hopefully that will buy me enough time to get the reinforcements I need into Chungking. Anyone have any bright ideas on how to slow CTG down in China? SOPAC The plucky 5 DDs at Luganville tempt fate once more as Betties visit them. The P-39s have just been all over the A6M escorts, I neglected to record the loss ratios over the past couple of days of action but the numbers are definitely skewed in favour of the P-39s, testimony to the vulnerability of fighters on escort missions which have the bombers coming in at relatively low levels to boot (Betties came in at 9k, slaughterhouse much?) Lexington and Wasp are out of immediate danger for now, Lex will head for Pearl for much needed repair and refit while Wasp and her escorts will pull into Sydney for light repairs and then join her Yorktown sisters. Let me also remind you the RN is also present in strength, with 2 CVs and PoW and Repulse in Australian waters, house rules have them basically leashed to ANZAC waters so unless the IJN come out to play the best I can do is to maybe use the RN CVs as decoys to fake out CTG. [image]local://upfiles/14714/2B7D414B9A1347FDA2CE94AACDC28F6F.jpg[/image]

SqzMyLemon -> RE: 13-14 July 1942 (1/7/2013 6:05:04 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Arnhem Anyone have any bright ideas on how to slow CTG down in China? Actually, for July 42 I'd say you are looking good in China. Most of your LI production is still intact. I don't see a single '!' indicating low supply so I'd say your opponent isn't doing enough to reduce your supply production capability. If you can strengthen your position at Lashio and prevent the secondary road to Paoshan being cut, you should be able to get more supply into China. Do you still control Lanchow? Looks like the drive on Kienko is the most troublesome, if he forces you into clear terrain you know what will happen. I'd concentrate on stopping that five division force from a breaking out. Can you bomb with 4E's (B-24's) from Ledo or do the Monsoon restrictions prevent you from doing so? His LOC from Nanyang-Sian and Kukong-Pingsiang look open. You could always try to slip a few small LCU's through to block those main roads. Anything to divert his attention and reduce his supply flow would help.

FeurerKrieg -> RE: 13-14 July 1942 (1/7/2013 7:05:17 PM)
With so much of the IJA north of Wuchang, he is definitely going to be thin in the south. Since most of your units in the south will take a while to get to Chungking anyways, I'd suggest a drive on Nanchang and then beyond to Shanghai, or Wuchow towards Hong Kong. Either move will force CTG to not reinforce his northern push (those IJA units to wear down after a bit) and if you are really lucky, you might take some bases in the south that will help your supply efforts a few months from now.

Arnhem44 -> RE: 13-14 July 1942 (1/15/2013 3:25:28 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon quote: ORIGINAL: Arnhem Anyone have any bright ideas on how to slow CTG down in China? Actually, for July 42 I'd say you are looking good in China. Most of your LI production is still intact. I don't see a single '!' indicating low supply so I'd say your opponent isn't doing enough to reduce your supply production capability. If you can strengthen your position at Lashio and prevent the secondary road to Paoshan being cut, you should be able to get more supply into China. Do you still control Lanchow? Looks like the drive on Kienko is the most troublesome, if he forces you into clear terrain you know what will happen. I'd concentrate on stopping that five division force from a breaking out. Can you bomb with 4E's (B-24's) from Ledo or do the Monsoon restrictions prevent you from doing so? His LOC from Nanyang-Sian and Kukong-Pingsiang look open. You could always try to slip a few small LCU's through to block those main roads. Anything to divert his attention and reduce his supply flow would help. Your comment about the lack of exclamation marks over my cities made me look, I don't know why they're not displaying but there are a couple of cities in the red although Chungking and Changsha, for the moment anyways. I'm not sure what CTG is bringing to the party on the Burmese side of the border but I'll try my darnedest to hold Lashio. He's dropped paras at Tsuyung (NW of Kunming) so he's cut the Burma road but I have a corps moving on it and expect to eject the pesky paras in a couple of turns. I still hold Lanchow with around 1k AV worth of troops so that's something he'll have to see to unless he likes his rear being threatened. I don't have any 4Es in India yet, haven't checked the reinforcement dates so don't know how far away they are. He is overstacked at Kienko, 70+k troops in a 40k limit hex, should louse up his supply situation at the very least.

Arnhem44 -> RE: 13-14 July 1942 (1/15/2013 3:28:12 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Feurer Krieg With so much of the IJA north of Wuchang, he is definitely going to be thin in the south. Since most of your units in the south will take a while to get to Chungking anyways, I'd suggest a drive on Nanchang and then beyond to Shanghai, or Wuchow towards Hong Kong. Either move will force CTG to not reinforce his northern push (those IJA units to wear down after a bit) and if you are really lucky, you might take some bases in the south that will help your supply efforts a few months from now. I'm always tempted to be a little more offensive minded in China but the Chinese are really fragile and I don't know what spoiling attacks are going to do for me in the long run versus conserving my strength for the defence of Chungking and it's environs, that said I am taking your suggestion about moving on Wuchow seriously enough to see what I can scrap up to head in that direction.

Arnhem44 -> 15-18 July 1942 (1/15/2013 4:15:58 PM)
SOPAC Betties, presumably from Lunga, come in over Ndeni without their escorts on the 15th and get slaughtered for it, conservative estimate is at least 30 Betties went into the drink, Zeroes come in over the next 2 days to wear down the defenders, the 8th FG is about half strength but has maintained a near 1 to 1 kill/loss ratio. Having trouble finding replacement fighter squadrons to rotate into Ndeni, an FG watching over north Oz is making it's way over but will take some time to complete the hops. Lunga itself is crowded, recon shows a crowded port with 70 odd ships and around 300 fighters and bombers, numbers are probably a little overblown as it's Catalinas doing the reporting and not dedicated recon assets, Still, a crowded airfield and port is too good a target to pass up, 3 BGs have flown in from Charters Towers where the SWPAC heavies have been training and will take a look once they're rested up and a couple of birds are patched up from making the transit. China Paratroopers drop into Tsuyung (NW of Kunming) and cut the Burma Road. A corps is on its way up from Kunming to eject the IJA before heavier reinforcements can be flown in. 2 IJA units have moved into Changsha, probably mech units that went too far ahead of the main body, which is currently due east of Changsha, a shock attack by the defenders has been planned for the next turn.

Arnhem44 -> 19 July 1942 (1/17/2013 11:53:15 PM)
Quiet turn with the only highlight being the ejection of the IJA from Changsha, wish it hadn't been a Pyrrhic victory. Ground combat at Changsha (82,52) Allied Shock attack Attacking force 82013 troops, 385 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2530 Defending force 29112 troops, 204 guns, 68 vehicles, Assault Value = 841 Allied adjusted assault: 3690 Japanese adjusted defense: 1559 Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), leaders(+), fatigue(-) experience(-) Attacker: shock(+) Japanese ground losses: 9039 casualties reported Squads: 160 destroyed, 222 disabled Non Combat: 206 destroyed, 85 disabled Engineers: 10 destroyed, 14 disabled Guns lost 42 (22 destroyed, 20 disabled) Vehicles lost 18 (12 destroyed, 6 disabled) Units retreated 3 Allied ground losses: 8969 casualties reported Squads: 188 destroyed, 882 disabled Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 104 disabled Engineers: 25 destroyed, 61 disabled Guns lost 60 (6 destroyed, 54 disabled) Defeated Japanese Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 72nd Chinese Corps 37th Chinese Corps 78th Chinese Corps 28th Chinese Corps 9th Prov Chinese Corps 58th Chinese Corps 99th Chinese Corps 5th Construction Regiment 20th Chinese Corps 73rd Chinese Corps 14th Construction Regiment 49th AA Regiment 27th Group Army 30th Group Army 29th Group Army 9th War Area 41st AA Regiment 19th Group Army 17th Chinese Base Force Defending units: 6th Division 40th Division 11th Army

Arnhem44 -> 20 July 1942 (1/18/2013 12:33:46 AM)
20 July 1942 China That Kienko stack (let's call it the IJA 1st Army after the HQ) makes its first move, attacking the 2 corps I have sitting astride the road to Kienko, I'm hoping it's the overstacking that's causing the lopsided result. Am moving some units from Lanchow in the north to see if I can surround this stack and bleed it. Ground combat at 80,40 (near Kienko) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 55810 troops, 566 guns, 95 vehicles, Assault Value = 1213 Defending force 18512 troops, 75 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 521 Japanese adjusted assault: 760 Allied adjusted defense: 1339 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 3013 casualties reported Squads: 46 destroyed, 179 disabled Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 33 disabled Engineers: 5 destroyed, 9 disabled Guns lost 28 (3 destroyed, 25 disabled) Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled) Allied ground losses: 513 casualties reported Squads: 4 destroyed, 67 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 36th Division 116th Division 37th Division 1st Ind.Mixed Brigade 35th Division 41st Division 1st Army 6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 1st Chinese Corps 34th Chinese Corps CTG has been methodically firebombing my cities in a bid to cut supply production and I've been a little lacklustre in my response, the CAF went into action today over Changsha and managed to give a good account of itself. Afternoon Air attack on Chungking , at 76,45 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 13 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 52 Ki-51 Sonia x 6 Allied aircraft I-16-III x 7 I-15-III x 12 P-43A-1 Lancer x 21 P-66 Vanguard x 2 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed Ki-51 Sonia: 4 destroyed No Allied losses My industry, while not in a shambles (eg. CK has 196/360 HI and 72/180 LI intact) isn't exactly in good shape, I guess the good thing is I don't have the oil or resources in meaningful numbers to take advantage of the industry there in the first place right? Still, the CAF will do a bit of jabbing here and there to keep CTG off balance, I can't go toe to toe with the IJAAF over the long run so the most meaningful opposition I can render would be to conserve the limited airframes I have and keep him honest in the long run. SOPAC A fast convoy making a supply run into Ndeni attracts the unwelcome attentions of Betties from Lunga, it's a good day for the USAAF though, Tracker reports 16 Betties and 9 Zeroes downed for the loss of 5 P-39s and 2 P-40s Sub War Confirmation of K X kill of Azuma Maru. Allied Sub killboard S-38 - xAK Tamon Maru (6,400t), xAK Kano Maru (5,935t), xAK Gyoun Maru (1,900t), xAK Kikuryu Maru (1,900t) Seadragon - xAP Rakuyo Maru (7,470t), xAKL Kanjo Maru (1,650t), xAKL Tamaki Maru (1,650t) O 20 - xAP Taizan Maru (3,380t), PB Hirota Maru (2,780t), PB Teshio Maru (830t), PB Tatsumi Maru (830t) K XIV - AK Sakura Maru (6,840t) Truant - AS Nagoya Maru (6,400t) K XI - xAK Kinugasa Maru (5,935t) K X - xAK Azuma Maru (5,935t) O 23 - xAP Manzyu Maru (5,830t) S-34 - xAKL Kanaiyama Maru (1,650t), xAK Kotobuki Maru #5 (2,375t) K XV - xAK Nojima Maru (3,425t) Sargo - xAK Gosei Maru (3,425t) Swordfish - xAKL Yamatsuru Maru (1,650t), xAKL Muko Maru (1,650t) Snapper - DD Hatsuyuki (2,090t), APD Hagi (935t) O 21 - DD Urakaze (2,553t) K XVII - CM Itsukushima (2,400t) S-35 - xAK Daifuku Maru (2,375t) Perch - DD Sazanami (2,090t) Shark - TK Arima Maru #4 (1,120t) Trigger - TK Nissan Maru (1,120t) Sealion - TK Moji Maru (1,120t) Drum - PB Ichiyo Maru (830t) Tarpon - TB Manazuru (775t) Probable xAK Kogyo Maru (torp hits 2, hvy fires/dmg, 07/12/41-Kota Bahru 53,74) - K XI Mod Corner One of the little pains/pleasures of playing DBB is having to handle the multitude of small craft that were added to the DB. Right from the start of the game I had 3 of these beauties shown below, at first they didn't seem like much, xAKLs don't do much for me, short legged, can't carry much, I usually park 'em in an out of the way port and forget about them but these were a different story. Check out the top speed. Oh yes, merchies on steroids. Turns out they were converted Clemsons that were decommissioned and converted into fast commercial fruit carriers sometime in the early 30s. When war came, they were pressed into service with the intention to use them as blockade runners to resupply the Philippines, they were too late to influence anything by the time they were made ready and spent the war running supplies in the SWPAC area, much as I can figure out anyways. The fact they were deregistered makes for some ambiguity with regards to their exact fate as sources can't even decide which ship had what name when they were struck from the Navy List and reregistered as merchies. [image]local://upfiles/14714/BF0EED01B9514544A3F082D04EF1DE95.jpg[/image]

KenchiSulla -> RE: 20 July 1942 (1/20/2013 1:00:32 PM)
Those Teapa class ships are nice. I intend to use them in my game vs Dennis. About the China situation, did you consider moving one or two P40 squadrons into China? That might help you defending your industry...

Arnhem44 -> RE: 20 July 1942 (1/21/2013 10:32:57 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Cannonfodder Those Teapa class ships are nice. I intend to use them in my game vs Dennis. About the China situation, did you consider moving one or two P40 squadrons into China? That might help you defending your industry... The 2 FGs assigned to the Tenth AF are in Calcutta training, they're still very raw, exp in the mid 40s, I don't want to throw airframes away needlessly so here's hoping I still have something to defend when I'm ready to send them over the border into China.

Arnhem44 -> 21 July 1942 (1/21/2013 11:43:15 AM)
21 July 1942 SOPAC Some oddness this turn on this front, an STF is sighted just 1 hex off Ndeni, don't know what CTG was trying to do but either he miscounted hexes or his AI captains decided anchoring 1 hex off a hostile base in broad daylight was a smart thing to do. To add to the curiousness of the situation messges of "so and so dead in the water...." accompanied all the combat reports, wonder if speed settings (and consequently empty fuel bunkers) are to blame for them being caught out in the open like that. Sadly for the Allies, the 2 VMSBs out of Ndeni had a **ty day at the office and over the course of the day only managed to badly hurt just 1 DD. Consolidated damage reports below. DD Yukaze, bomb hits 1, heavy fires DD Harukaze DD Okikaze DD Asanagi CA Tone, bomb hits 2, on fire DD Yunagi DD Hatakaze, bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy fires, heavy damage In the skies over Ndeni, sweeping Zeroes take out 10 Allied fighters (7 P-39s, 3 P-40s) for the reported loss of 7. Go you crazy Dutchmen 7 months after commencement of hostilities, a bunch of crazy Dutchmen continue to stick it to the Sons of Nippon. Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 55631 troops, 605 guns, 372 vehicles, Assault Value = 1521 Defending force 25112 troops, 310 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 459 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1 Japanese adjusted assault: 1494 Allied adjusted defense: 1084 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 5033 casualties reported Squads: 86 destroyed, 94 disabled Non Combat: 57 destroyed, 17 disabled Engineers: 38 destroyed, 19 disabled Guns lost 17 (5 destroyed, 12 disabled) Vehicles lost 15 (9 destroyed, 6 disabled) Units destroyed 1 Allied ground losses: 663 casualties reported Squads: 11 destroyed, 74 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled) Assaulting units: 3rd Ind Engineer Regiment 2nd Division 18th Division 38th Division 8th Tank Regiment 146th Infantry Regiment 5th Division 1st Ind Engineer Regiment 16th Army 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment 17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: Barisan KNIL Regiment Marinier Battalion 1st KNIL Regiment 2nd KNIL Regiment Mobiele Eenheid Battalion 4th KNIL Regiment 6th KNIL Regiment Andir ML Base Force NI-MLD KNI Leger 3rd KNIL AA Battalion 1st KNIL AA Battalion 7th Avn Sup Afd 6th Avn Sup Afd 24th NZ Pioneer Coy China** The understrength corps reaches Tsuyung expecting to sweep aside the para unit that landed there a couple of turns ago but finds that a couple more Japanese have joined their friends, more substantial reinforcements are on the way from the Burmese border but they'll take a while to get there, the race to get thar fastest with the mostest is on. Ground combat at Tsuyung (68,46) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 4694 troops, 35 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 160 Defending force 4455 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 166 Allied adjusted assault: 33 Japanese adjusted defense: 208 Allied assault odds: 1 to 6 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: leaders(-) Japanese ground losses: 43 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Allied ground losses: 179 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Assaulting units: 48th Chinese Corps Defending units: 1st Raiding Regiment 41st Infantry Rgt /1 15th JAAF AF Bn

Arnhem44 -> 22 July 1942 (1/22/2013 1:42:06 AM)
22 July 1942 Crazy Dutchmen A bad die roll for CTG this turn on this front. Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 52153 troops, 597 guns, 364 vehicles, Assault Value = 1326 Defending force 24362 troops, 309 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 389 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 265 Allied adjusted defense: 1753 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 6 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 4959 casualties reported Squads: 99 destroyed, 124 disabled Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 23 disabled Engineers: 10 destroyed, 11 disabled Guns lost 26 (14 destroyed, 12 disabled) Vehicles lost 13 (7 destroyed, 6 disabled) Allied ground losses: 518 casualties reported Squads: 8 destroyed, 40 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Guns lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled) Assaulting units: 2nd Division 38th Division 8th Tank Regiment 18th Division 146th Infantry Regiment 5th Division 1st Ind Engineer Regiment 1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment 16th Army 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 2nd KNIL Regiment Mobiele Eenheid Battalion 4th KNIL Regiment 1st KNIL Regiment Barisan KNIL Regiment 6th KNIL Regiment 7th Avn Sup Afd Andir ML Base Force Marinier Battalion NI-MLD 3rd KNIL AA Battalion 6th Avn Sup Afd 1st KNIL AA Battalion KNI Leger 24th NZ Pioneer Coy SOPAC Unescorted Betties visit a resupply convoy dropping off stuff at Luganville and sink an xAK, my bad on this one, don't have enough fighters to go around. Will fix it the next turn. Looks like that STF from the previous turn has run it's fuel bunkers dry and is trying to limp back into safer waters, it moves just 1 hex during the night. Unfortunately, Zeroes are up LRCAPing the STF this turn at the same time that the Army fighters decide it would be a good time to not fly escort for their Marine brethren, 21 Vindicators and 15 SBDs are splashed and I lose close to 30 pilots KIA/MIA. Thing about combat reports is they sometimes let on more than they should, this is the CAP that was flying over the crippled STF. CAP engaged: Chitose Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 12000 Raid is overhead Tainan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes 3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 12000 Raid is overhead Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 12000 Raid is overhead Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 65 minutes Those carrier airgroups correspond to the 4 surviving CVs of KB, only question is are they flying off Lunga or are the CVs lurking? This kind of throws a spanner into the works of a little op I was just about to pull the next turn. The plan was for the Forts to bomb Lunga airfield while the Allied CVs paid the area another visit. Between the Forts and the CVs the hope was that the Zeroes would be stretched just that little bit more. The crippled IJN STF actually plays to my favour as if CTG carries on committing Zeroes to defend the lame ducks that means less defenders for Lunga airfield and port. The presence of the CV airgroups are the question mark, if they're flying off Lunga airfield it doesn't change things much, but if the CVs are lurking just north of Lunga I don't want to be within the dreaded 7-8 hex deadzone that gives CTG a free shot at my decks. Also, where the Zeroes are the Kates and Vals won't be far behind and while I probably can handle Betties alone, the addition of the offensive arm of the KB adds to the risk of exposing the Allied CVs. What am I exposing? I have Yorktown, Hornet, Wasp, Illustrious and Formidable and their attendant escorts. Flying off their decks are 224 fighters, 137 DBs and 97 TBs. An Army FG fresh from Oz will attempt to LRCAP the CVs as they stand off Lunga. Will set CAP for the CVs at 50% so that's about 100 Wildcats over my precious decks. Recon shows BBs covering Lunga, the port is occupied and the airfield is lousy with planes, add to that the crippled STF off Ndeni and the hope is the experienced USN aviators will do more damage than their Marine counterparts have done so far while the B-17s will louse up the airfield some. So it's basically a bid to attrit the enemy's assets, no strategic objective behind this, just seeing an opportunity to sink some hulls and destroy some airframes, you guys reckon it's worth exposing the CVs for this? [image]local://upfiles/14714/CD33C6E7D3BA43D092AC7BD3ECCD4255.jpg[/image]

BBfanboy -> RE: 22 July 1942 (1/22/2013 6:10:24 AM)
If he is sending a lot of his CV fighters to LRCAP the STF, he has that much less to escort his strikes and to CAP his CVs. Now is the time to sprint NE of Guadalcanal on Naval Strike. Come back later for the STF and Lunga if KB is not around. If you are not sure you want to go that deep into injun country, just go 4 hexes from the STF and kill those extremely valuable CAs. I doubt KB will be within 8 hexes of Ndeni.

Arnhem44 -> 23 July 1942 (1/23/2013 3:23:28 PM)
23 July 1942 @BBfanboy I settled on having my CVs strike at Lunga from the south, I don't know what's out there beyond Guadalcanal and Betties from Rabaul and Tabi would join in the fun if I go too far north, I have inordinate fear of Betties and Long Lances, turns out I was extremely lucky on that front as events turned out. In the end, whatever was at Lunga was the main target, the crippled STF just a bonus. China CAF in action over CK today, I lose 9 fighters of all types for claims of 4 Oscars. The IJA 13th Army (about 4 divisions worth of troops plus lots of artillery) cuts the road between Nanning and Liuchow. The blocking force facing the IJA 1st Army is attacked again today, don't know if he's low on supplies cos of the overstacking or if overstacking itself incurs combat penalties but that's the second time the numbers are decidedly in my favour. Ground combat at 80,40 (near Kienko) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 53902 troops, 563 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 1061 Defending force 18225 troops, 75 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 481 Japanese adjusted assault: 656 Allied adjusted defense: 784 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 4677 casualties reported Squads: 88 destroyed, 149 disabled Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 37 disabled Engineers: 5 destroyed, 37 disabled Guns lost 39 (5 destroyed, 34 disabled) Allied ground losses: 552 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 59 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Assaulting units: 37th Division 36th Division 116th Division 35th Division 1st Ind.Mixed Brigade 41st Division 1st Army 6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 1st Chinese Corps 34th Chinese Corps SOPAC Before we go on I had asked CTG what was up with the STF at Ndeni, he replied it probably reacted to the supply convoy I had up at Ndeni a couple of turns back and it was set to Max Speed which promptly drained their bunkers dry leaving them sitting ducks deep in Indian country. TLDR version It turns out that recon was spot on about IJN heavies anchoring off Lunga. It's a brutal and busy day in the air for both sides. Moderate damage was inflicted on the IJN and IJAAF in exchange for moderate losses in the Allied carrier airgroups. Air losses: (Op losses make up the balance) Japan 64 Betties (45 A2A, 17 ground) - Tracker reports 64 lost to A2A and 16 ground 15 Zeroes (3 A2A, 11 ground) 11 Jakes (10 A2A) 5 Petes (5 A2A) Allies 20 Avengers (18 A2A, 1 Flak) 13 Swordfish (13 A2A) 13 SBDs (11 A2A, 1 Flak) 6 Albacores (6 A2A) 6 B-17s (4 A2A) 8 Wildcats (all variants including Martlets) (2 A2A, 1 Flak) Pilot loss: 22 KIA/19 MIA Consolidated list of hits on IJN ships BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 2 BB Kongo, Bomb hits 6 xAP Brazil Maru xAP Ukishima Maru BB Nagato, Bomb hits 7 CA Tone, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage xAP Naminoue Maru BB Ise, Bomb hits 4 BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 12, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 2 xAP Koan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage xAP Tatsuta Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire xAP Shanghai Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire CA Nachi, Bomb hits 1 DD Hatakaze, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk CL Tenryu, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage CS Nisshin, Bomb hits 3, on fire Detailed version -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 117,144 Weather in hex: Overcast Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 28 minutes Japanese aircraft G4M1 Betty x 70 (47 manage to get through my CAP, there's a part of me that's screaming "NO WAY, I had 60 fighters on CAP, they were detected 80 miles out, they were unescorted and all I got was 1 out 3?" but there's another part of me that reasons 32% of a raid looks realistic. For the record, I hate that second part of me) Allied aircraft Martlet II x 20 P-40E Warhawk x 4 F4F-3A Wildcat x 1 F4F-3 Wildcat x 2 F4F-4 Wildcat x 40 Japanese aircraft losses G4M1 Betty: 21 destroyed, 12 damaged Allied Ships CV Illustrious CA Devonshire CA Exeter CV Formidable Aircraft Attacking: (CTG reports he didn't keep tabs on the torpedo stock of his air HQ which goes some way to explaining why I still have 5 carriers operational) 4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp 7 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp 4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp 3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp 7 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 12000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 3 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 12000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 8 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 12000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 2 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 12000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 3 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 12000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 1 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 12000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 2 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 12000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb 3 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 12000 feet Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb CAP engaged: VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (18 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 8 plane(s) intercepting now. 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) (13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 12 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes VF-42 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 9 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes No.881 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 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 21 minutes No.888 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 20000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes VMF-111 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes VMF-212 with F4F-3A Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 15000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes 49th FG/7th FS with P-40E Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Raid is overhead 49th FG/9th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 20000 Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes Betty elements numbering between 6-9 planes come in again throughout the day. None get through CAP. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Lunga , at 114,138 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 21 F1M2 Pete x 4 Allied aircraft B-17D Fortress x 6 B-17E Fortress x 33 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 9 damaged A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed on ground G4M1 Betty: 11 destroyed on ground Allied aircraft losses B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged Airbase hits 4 Airbase supply hits 3 Runway hits 21 This is the only coordinated strike on Lunga by the Forts for the day, like the Betties, smaller raids come in after this but do little to no damage. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 13 F1M2 Pete x 3 Allied aircraft Albacore I x 6 Martlet II x 20 F4F-4 Wildcat x 18 SBD-3 Dauntless x 60 TBF-1 Avenger x 15 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed F1M2 Pete: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Albacore I: 1 damaged SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 8 damaged SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged Japanese Ships BB Hyuga BB Kongo, Bomb hits 2 xAP Brazil Maru xAP Ukishima Maru BB Nagato, Bomb hits 1 CA Tone, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage xAP Naminoue Maru BB Ise, Bomb hits 2 BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 2 BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1 xAP Koan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 7 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 12 TBF-1 Avenger x 15 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses TBF-1 Avenger: 5 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak Japanese Ships BB Kirishima BB Kongo BB Mutsu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire BB Nagato -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Allied aircraft SBD-3 Dauntless x 29 Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged Japanese Ships xAP Koan Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage xAP Tatsuta Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 3, on fire xAP Shanghai Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire CA Nachi, Bomb hits 1 BB Ise, Bomb hits 1 BB Kongo BB Nagato, Bomb hits 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 118,142 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 31 E13A1 Jake x 2 Allied aircraft Swordfish I x 13 TBF-1 Avenger x 15 Allied aircraft losses Swordfish I: 7 destroyed TBF-1 Avenger: 6 destroyed Japanese Ships DD Hatakaze, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk CL Tenryu, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 25 minutes Allied aircraft Albacore I x 6 Allied aircraft losses Albacore I: 1 damaged Japanese Ships DD Sawakaze CA Tone, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 16 F1M2 Pete x 1 Allied aircraft Martlet II x 18 F4F-4 Wildcat x 28 SBD-3 Dauntless x 55 TBF-1 Avenger x 21 Japanese aircraft losses F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed by flak SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged Japanese Ships BB Nagato, Bomb hits 5 BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 2 BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 2 CS Nisshin, Bomb hits 3, on fire BB Ise, Bomb hits 1 xAP Shanghai Maru, heavy fires BB Kongo, Bomb hits 4 xAP Kongo Maru -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 6 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 11 Allied aircraft Albacore I x 6 Allied aircraft losses Albacore I: 3 destroyed For rather relatively light loss (with the exception of the Brit TB squadrons which were gutted) the Allies have managed to significantly dent the Betty inventory, probably sink Mutsu, a DD, an xAP and with luck maybe a couple more others. The majority of the IJN battle line will probably have to visit the docks soon depending on just how badly I've dinged them and the Forts did well catching a couple of planes on the ground at Lunga. As mentioned, CTG didn't have enough torps to go around for his Betties so you can be sure he's fixed that oversight, mouseover shows there is a BB disbanded in port together with 83 other ships. Enemy air strength is estimated at 30 fighters and 55 bombers. I'm not sure if that number reflects any reinforcements he might have flown in. My airgroups are relatively intact and I'm pondering whether I should stay for a followup strike on the port. The more badly damaged ships are bound to be tied up till it gets safer to move them. However, the thought of tangling with torpedo armed Betties is a frightening one, albeit tempered by the knowledge I've hurt his Betty squadrons bad. The key would be if he has reinforcements within easy reach of Lunga so he starts this next turn with a fresh set of planes. The thing is I can just as easily set the Forts to port attack and put less assets at risk. Just wouldn't be as fun though.

BBfanboy -> RE: 23 July 1942 (1/23/2013 4:50:31 PM)
You made one tough decision and it paid off, now you have another tough decision. Doesn't seem fair! Now might be the time to back up and take that out-of-fuel TF and let the B-17s and sweeps attrit his air and work over his damaged ships [unless you have a gentleman's agreement to leave the out-of-fuel TF alone].

Arnhem44 -> RE: 23 July 1942 (1/23/2013 5:46:11 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: BBfanboy You made one tough decision and it paid off, now you have another tough decision. Doesn't seem fair! Now might be the time to back up and take that out-of-fuel TF and let the B-17s and sweeps attrit his air and work over his damaged ships [unless you have a gentleman's agreement to leave the out-of-fuel TF alone]. Not going after the TF, mostly DDs now, think the heavies managed to sprint back to Lunga the previous turn. I stayed for another turn, airgroups got battered, shouldn't have given into buck fever. Details coming up.

Arnhem44 -> 24 July 1942 (1/23/2013 6:17:01 PM)
24 July 1942 SOPAC The day starts with the Empire of Japan paying a visit to Her Majesty's ships, Illustrious takes a fish but shrugs it off thank goodness. Things then starts to go downhill from there as the Allied CVs strike at a CL/DD TF anchored at Lunga. The first strike is by 50 unescorted SBDs, replay was painful to watch. Long story short, strikes are mounted throughout the day, some escorted, others went in alone. Worst coordination I've had yet after playing all this while. All I have to show for is 4 bomb hits on CL Tenryu by of all things, Avengers level bombing In total, I lose 40 SBDs to A2A this turn, with the airgroups from Yorktown and Hornet bearing the brunt of the losses. I have enough pilots in reserve to bring everyone up to full strength immediately but will have to wait for the hardware to catch up. Estimated losses for CTG include 21 Zeroes, 15 Betties in A2A action with another dozen or so planes caught on the ground at Lunga when the forts back back for a visit. Small consolation. The CVs are retiring south to refuel and refit, Formidable will be withdrawn once the Brit TF gets into Sydney leaving Illustrious alone with her consorts. The 3 American CVs will probably hang around the area in case the IJN gets frisky, rotating back to Sydney one TF at a time for repairs. Lexington will pull into PH next turn, that TF will be out for about a month while they do some repair and reffiting of the old girl.

Arnhem44 -> 26 July 1942 (1/24/2013 3:51:55 PM)
26 July 1942 Skipping 25 July cos nothing significant happened. China We turn our attention back to China as South Pacific quietens down a bit. The IJA gets busy around Patung as it tries to break through the crust of the Chinese units there for a straight shot down onto Chungking. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 80,45 (near Patung) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 14442 troops, 122 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 390 Defending force 11014 troops, 78 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 219 Japanese adjusted assault: 196 Allied adjusted defense: 436 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-) Attacker: leaders(+), leaders(-) Japanese ground losses: 147 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Allied ground losses: 265 casualties reported Squads: 1 destroyed, 33 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Assaulting units: 3rd Division Defending units: 35th Chinese Corps -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Patung (81,46) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 24306 troops, 204 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 606 Defending force 41283 troops, 154 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1180 Japanese adjusted assault: 354 Allied adjusted defense: 3598 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 10 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 2608 casualties reported Squads: 8 destroyed, 269 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled Allied ground losses: 122 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Assaulting units: 13th Division 110th Division 54th JAAF AF Bn 56th JAAF AF Bn Defending units: 18th Chinese Corps 53rd Chinese Corps 87th Chinese Corps -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at 81,47 (near Patung) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 39106 troops, 308 guns, 84 vehicles, Assault Value = 1253 Defending force 26437 troops, 146 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 575 Japanese adjusted assault: 1540 Allied adjusted defense: 1087 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-) Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+) Japanese ground losses: 2566 casualties reported Squads: 7 destroyed, 269 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled Allied ground losses: 430 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 55 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled Guns lost 8 (2 destroyed, 6 disabled) Assaulting units: 34th Division 39th Division 32nd Division Defending units: 67th Chinese Corps 8th Chinese Corps 68th Chinese Corps Figured a screenshot would put the picture across better. Am actually feeling pretty good about things overall, the lack of supply will kill me in the end in this theatre but CTG is going to have to work for it if he wants China. [image]local://upfiles/14714/B9B8B99F9EC64E24AB15FC7C4870FB2B.jpg[/image]

Arnhem44 -> 27 July 1942 (1/26/2013 5:26:00 AM)
27 July 1942 CENPAC One of my sub pickets off Truk spots Yamato and takes a shot at her but misses. Same sub picket picks this up not long after. Doesn't look like a resupply convoy and I doubt CTG is going to come forward with KB in its present state so he's probably beefing up his defences. ASW attack near Truk at 112,104 Japanese Ships SC Ch 31 AMC Awata Maru AMC Akagi Maru DMS W-14 DMS W-13 DMS W-9 DMS W-8 DMS W-7 DMS W-4 DMS W-3 DMS W-2 APD Fuji APD Aoi APD Nadakaze LSD Akitsu Maru LSD Shinshu Maru AK Sagami Maru xAP Kachidoki Maru xAP Tsingtao Maru xAP Dairen Maru xAP Teikyo Maru xAP Takatiho Maru xAP Katori Maru xAP Kashima Maru xAP Hakusan Maru xAK London Maru xAK Syohei Maru xAK Syoan Maru xAK Montreal Maru xAK Terukawa Maru xAK Toyohasi Maru xAK Toyama Maru xAK Mito Maru xAK Kirishima Maru E Tomozuru E Hatsukari E Chidori SC Ch 33 Allied Ships SS Sealion

Arnhem44 -> 28-29 July 1942 (1/26/2013 12:27:03 PM)
28-29 July 1942 Skipping the 28th, was a quiet turn. Was going to do a bit of macro planning and laying out of intentions this turn but it's going to have to wait. China CTG moves to isolate Lanchow in the north by attacking Kungchang just to the south. Ground combat at Kungchang (81,36) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 37309 troops, 336 guns, 159 vehicles, Assault Value = 1134 Defending force 12332 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 339 Japanese adjusted assault: 484 Allied adjusted defense: 187 Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 3) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-) supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 1431 casualties reported Squads: 35 destroyed, 49 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled Engineers: 3 destroyed, 8 disabled Guns lost 17 (3 destroyed, 14 disabled) Allied ground losses: 121 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 13th Tank Regiment 10th Division 9th Ind.Mixed Brigade 24th Division 11th Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 93rd Chinese Corps 15th Group Army SOPAC 21 Flying Forts out of Luganville bomb Lunga port today, putting a bomb each into an AV and Mutsu (she shows heavy damage but the fires are out) while losing 2 Forts in the process, at least now we know that old battlewagon is still afloat. But what's more interesting is KB has been spotted, along with most of the IJN battleline, destination unknown. That's Hornet and Yorktown to the south of Efate, they're moving south till I can get a handle on whether CTG is running or gunning. Wasp will make Sydney Harbour the next turn, top up her tanks and head back out together with Her Majesty's carriers to join the other 2 US CVs. CTG mentioned in his email that the next turn could be bloody, wonder what he's up to. [image]local://upfiles/14714/DCA7E83D59B94066901EE435457A01A1.jpg[/image]

Arnhem44 -> 30 July 1942 (1/28/2013 7:44:09 AM)
30 July 1942 China CTG makes another attempt to isolate Lanchow. Ground combat at Kungchang (81,36) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 36127 troops, 336 guns, 159 vehicles, Assault Value = 1037 Defending force 12211 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 324 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1 Japanese adjusted assault: 512 Allied adjusted defense: 181 Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1 Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 282 casualties reported Squads: 5 destroyed, 22 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Allied ground losses: 121 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Assaulting units: 10th Division 9th Ind.Mixed Brigade 13th Tank Regiment 24th Division 11th Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 93rd Chinese Corps 15th Group Army SOPAC KB (or what I think is KB, recon now shows only heavies) moves to within 3 hexes of Ndeni (see screenshot below). No sorties of any sort but that's also cos I pulled anything that was heading that way to safer waters. Also, that rather larger than usual convoy that my sub pickets picked up north of Truk 3 days ago appears north of Rabaul. This configuration looks a little familiar and iirc the last time I saw this was during the invasion of Java. I could be wrong but the presence of the precious LSDs and minesweepers points to either an invasion fleet or CTG is trying to reinforce a front line base and doesn't want to linger too long during the unloading phase. ASW attack near Mussau Island at 104,120 Japanese Ships SC Ch 27 AMC Awata Maru AMC Akagi Maru DMS W-14 DMS W-13 DMS W-8 DMS W-7 DMS W-4 DMS W-3 DMS W-2 APD Fuji APD Aoi APD Nadakaze LSD Akitsu Maru LSD Shinshu Maru AK Sagami Maru xAP Kachidoki Maru xAP Teika Maru xAP Tsingtao Maru xAP Dairen Maru xAP Kobe Maru xAP Takatiho Maru xAP Kashima Maru xAP Hakusan Maru xAK London Maru xAK Syohei Maru xAK Meiyo Maru xAK Hauraki Maru xAK Tarayasu Maru xAK Toyama Maru xAK Maebasi Maru xAK Kirishima Maru E Tomozuru E Hatsukari E Chidori SC Ch 33 Allied Ships SS S-28 If that's true then the obvious question is, where? PM? Maybe Milne Bay or Tagula/Rossel Island to add some buffer miles in front of Rabaul? Then there's the possiblity of Ndeni, the most forward/exposed of the significant Allied bases, whatever the case, I await to see if that convoy comes further south into the Coral Sea. The Allied CVs wait in the warm waters of the South Pacific for the IJN's next move. Sub War Tabi is visited by a reinforcement/resupply convoy. Sub pickets there try to thin out the herd but come up empty. Also, this. Sub attack near Mussau Island at 104,120 Japanese Ships CVE Taiyo, Torpedo hits 1, on fire DD Hokaze Allied Ships SS S-28 Fuel storage explosion on CVE Taiyo SS S-28 launches 4 torpedoes at CVE Taiyo Doubt she sank but hope springs eternal. [image]local://upfiles/14714/972DAB7C32FD42BB915D7F75A7634EAB.jpg[/image]

Arnhem44 -> 31 July 1942 (2/1/2013 1:18:45 AM)
31 July 1942 Owwwww. SOPAC In an object lesson about getting too comfortable with the status quo the IJN battle visits Ndeni field and leaves behind a devastated airfield. Night Naval bombardment of Ndeni at 120,143 Allied aircraft no flights Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 179 damaged P-40E Warhawk: 23 destroyed on ground F4F-3 Wildcat: 72 damaged F4F-3 Wildcat: 7 destroyed on ground SB2U-3 Vindicator: 33 damaged SB2U-3 Vindicator: 5 destroyed on ground PBY-5A Catalina: 23 damaged PBY-5A Catalina: 9 destroyed on ground F4F-3A Wildcat: 52 damaged F4F-3A Wildcat: 6 destroyed on ground Vildebeest IV: 13 damaged Vildebeest IV: 5 destroyed on ground A-24 Banshee: 33 damaged A-24 Banshee: 5 destroyed on ground Japanese Ships BB Hyuga BB Ise BB Yamashiro BB Fuso BB Nagato BB Kirishima BB Hiei BB Kongo CA Kako CA Furutaka CA Aoba CA Kumano CA Suzuya CA Mogami CA Ashigara CA Nachi CA Haguro CA Atago Allied ground losses: 1460 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 57 destroyed, 190 disabled Engineers: 18 destroyed, 29 disabled Guns lost 61 (22 destroyed, 39 disabled) Vehicles lost 90 (21 destroyed, 69 disabled) Airbase hits 51 Airbase supply hits 31 Runway hits 193 Port hits 1 BB Hyuga firing at Ndeni BB Ise firing at Ndeni E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Yamashiro BB Yamashiro firing at Ndeni BB Fuso firing at Ndeni BB Nagato firing at Ndeni BB Kirishima firing at Ndeni BB Hiei firing at Ndeni BB Kongo firing at Ndeni CA Kako firing at Ndeni CA Furutaka firing at Ndeni CA Aoba firing at Ndeni CA Kumano firing at Ndeni CA Suzuya firing at Ndeni CA Mogami firing at Ndeni CA Ashigara firing at Ndeni CA Nachi firing at Ndeni CA Haguro firing at Ndeni CA Atago firing at Ndeni Actual losses are 48 P-40Es 10 P-39s 12 Wildcats 12 Vindicators 10 Cats 12 Vildebeests and a couple of other frames I can't remember. While the losses are heavy for this stage of the war they are not a show stopper. My airframe stocks are healthy and I can replace all losses immediately (with the exception of Cats, the loss of those stings the most) or in cases like the Vindis and Vildebeests it's stuff I can live without. So apart from the embarrassment of being caught with my pants down in the sense I should have instituted some sort of defensive measures against shore bombardment I'm more angry with myself for being lulled into a state of complacency. CTG has shown during the early stages of the campaign he is willing to risk his assets and he has shown that just because half of KB is lying at the bottom of the ocean that doesn't mean he's given up the fight. Just because my opponent hasn't done something for long while doesn't mean he can't. Lesson learnt. DEI It's left to the Dutch to exact a small measure of revenge for the turn, very bad die roll right there for CTG. I feel sorry for him, no, wait, I don't.[sm=00000622.gif] Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100) Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 47103 troops, 570 guns, 311 vehicles, Assault Value = 1034 Defending force 24509 troops, 307 guns, 78 vehicles, Assault Value = 406 Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0 Japanese adjusted assault: 1 Allied adjusted defense: 1303 Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1303 (fort level 0) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 1774 casualties reported Squads: 69 destroyed, 106 disabled Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 33 disabled Engineers: 8 destroyed, 12 disabled Guns lost 30 (11 destroyed, 19 disabled) Vehicles lost 5 (3 destroyed, 2 disabled) Allied ground losses: 40 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Assaulting units: 5th Division 2nd Division 38th Division 146th Infantry Regiment 18th Division 1st Ind Engineer Regiment 2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment 9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion 15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion 1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment 16th Army 17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: Barisan KNIL Regiment Marinier Battalion 4th KNIL Regiment 2nd KNIL Regiment Mobiele Eenheid Battalion 1st KNIL Regiment 6th KNIL Regiment NI-MLD 3rd KNIL AA Battalion 6th Avn Sup Afd 7th Avn Sup Afd Andir ML Base Force KNI Leger 1st KNIL AA Battalion 24th NZ Pioneer Coy

Arnhem44 -> 1-2 August 1942 (2/1/2013 1:25:05 AM)
1-2 Aug 1942 China Chungking is firebombed again, have stood down the CAF for the time being to repair and replace airframes. Kungchang falls, Lanchow is now isolated from the rest of China. I have around 1,500 AV in and around Lanchow now trapped behind enemy lines. He's going to have to dig them out though and from what I see he hasn't committed enough up north for a decisive stroke so it's going to take a while to reduce the northern pocket. Ground combat at Kungchang (81,36) Japanese Shock attack Attacking force 36049 troops, 336 guns, 159 vehicles, Assault Value = 1033 Defending force 12017 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 305 Japanese adjusted assault: 1236 Allied adjusted defense: 220 Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 1) Japanese forces CAPTURE Kungchang !!! Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-) supply(-) Attacker: shock(+) Japanese ground losses: 517 casualties reported Squads: 7 destroyed, 36 disabled Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled) Vehicles lost 9 (5 destroyed, 4 disabled) Allied ground losses: 4509 casualties reported Squads: 96 destroyed, 33 disabled Non Combat: 103 destroyed, 45 disabled Engineers: 23 destroyed, 1 disabled Guns lost 14 (9 destroyed, 5 disabled) Units retreated 2 Defeated Allied Units Retreating! Assaulting units: 10th Division 9th Ind.Mixed Brigade 13th Tank Regiment 24th Division 11th Field Artillery Regiment Defending units: 93rd Chinese Corps 15th Group Army

KenchiSulla -> RE: 1-2 August 1942 (2/1/2013 9:41:17 AM)
I guess the best you can do in preventing those bombardment attacks is a combination of mines and PT boats. You can't stop a force that size with your surface fleet (yet). Just drop of some fuel and ACMs. It is a tactic I used a lot in our game.

Arnhem44 -> 3-5 August 1942 (2/6/2013 9:49:45 PM)
3-5 August 1942 China Most of the action is centred on China these past few turns, figured a screenshot would better explain the situation. For the most part I would describe it as precarious but stable for the moment. The Burma Road has been cut at Tsuyung and I don't know if I have the forces to eject the IJA from there. To the north, Lanchow is isolated but should tie down the IJA there for a while. Further south, the most immediate threat to Chungking is the IJA 1st Army just east of Kienko but the terrain (and overstacking on CTG's part) has so far stymied any effort to move forward. Patung is quiet for the moment but one gets the feeling reinforcements are being slowly fed into the line at this portion of the front. Along the Changsha-Nanning line there seems to be another effort being made to take Changsha, it's fort 6 at the moment so I'd welcome CTG to have a go, am moving reinforcements to the city to see if I can bleed him there. [image]local://upfiles/14714/6EE00B07E9384C23957286EE89DF1F51.jpg[/image]

Arnhem44 -> 6 August 1942 (2/6/2013 10:29:22 PM)
6 August 1942 I've got to hand it to CTG, the man is ballsy. SOPAC It would appear I was right about Ndeni being a possible target for the convoy I picked up towards the end of July. One of the picket subs west of Ndeni takes a shot at an xAK that was part of the said convoy. Submarine attack near Kirakira at 116,141 Japanese Ships xAP Kachidoki Maru, Torpedo hits 1 Allied Ships SS S-33 Japanese ground losses: 13 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled xAP Kachidoki Maru is sighted by SS S-33 SS S-33 launches 4 torpedoes at xAP Kachidoki Maru Based on what I've seen of the invasion fleet it looks like it's carrying at least a division and then some. I have an infantry regiment, a tank battalion and a marine defence battalion on Ndeni with assorted service troops behind lvl 3 forts, not enough to hold CTG off methinks. Wasp and Illustrious are in Sydney for much needed repairs and won't be in time to influence events. Formidable was withdrawn as her air complement was shattered and her withdrawal date was coming up. Which leaves Hornet and Yorktown, they are currently to the east, in position to cover a convoy carrying a construction bn and supplies to Funafuti. They are just within range for a speed run back to cover Ndeni and will be in position at first light, not soon enough to stop the IJN heavies from bombarding or the invasion from hitting the beaches but hopefully enough to disrupt the follow on waves. I have about 45 SBDs and 30 TBMs between them, hopefully they don't waste ordnance on the IJN heavies. Which leaves the surface forces. A STF centred on Prince of Wales and Repulse will depart from Sydney to head towards Ndeni at flank speed. Another slower STF with 3 of the older Brit BBs will follow. Hopefully they make it to the dance before it ends. Closer to the front, PT boats from Luganville and a DD TF from Noumea are in position to engage on the next turn. In the air I don't have much left to deploy, my ship killers were mostly destroyed on the ground on Ndeni and I'll not throw away marginal airframes just because they are there. Annoyingly Ndeni is 7 hexes from Luganville which puts it out of LRCAP reach of my P-39s and 40s. So the Army fighters will try their best to cover the naval forces while I have B-17s standing by to pulverize Ndeni airfield and ensure it stays closed should I get overrun. [image]local://upfiles/14714/9A561EAE15C34B6591AA80AF8D4B84D4.jpg[/image]

Arnhem44 -> 7 August 1942 (2/8/2013 9:13:45 PM)
7 August 1942 Busy day across the map. China The CAF is in action over the skies of Chungking, they claim 5 Oscars and 15 assorted IJAAF bombers for the loss of 9 of their own. About half the CAF fighter squadrons are now just empty shells, I can muster approximately 40 (a fifth of these are damaged/repairing) frames of which 21 are P-43s, I have another 16 P-43s in the pool but that dries up at the end of this month. I probably can keep 1 squadron of P-43s are full strength till the end of '42 if I pick my fights, that will be the time when the P-40s start coming in but the replenishment rate of the -40s will see the Lancers in action well into '43 assuming there are any left by then. Definitely fluffed it at Tsuyung, what engineers I have are too far away to prevent fort levels from climbing beyond the organic engineer capabilities of my infantry corps. Have to find a way to contain the threat from this axis. Ground combat at Tsuyung (68,46) Allied Deliberate attack Attacking force 15329 troops, 99 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 479 Defending force 7803 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 237 Allied adjusted assault: 200 Japanese adjusted defense: 355 Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2) Combat modifiers Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-) Attacker: Japanese ground losses: 227 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled Allied ground losses: 717 casualties reported Squads: 2 destroyed, 77 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Assaulting units: 48th Chinese Corps 54th Chinese Corps Defending units: 56th Engineer Regiment 2nd Raiding Regiment 1st Raiding Regiment 41st Infantry Regiment 15th JAAF AF Bn SOPAC Elements of 2 IJA divisions have landed at Ndeni. The coastal defence guns do nothing more than ding a couple of ships, no serious damage observed. It also seems that CTG has combined the invasion fleet with the covering force of IJN heavies into a huge TF, this will come back to bite him in the rear as the turn progresses. Only Nizam survives the events of the day with nary a scratch, she's headed south for safer waters. 12 PT boats are the first to go into action against the super TF, they lose a third of their strength in return for causing a couple of collisions among the sheep in their scramble to get away from the mosquitos. No actual direct damage is caused by the PT boats as far as I can tell. This clears the way for a TF centred around Detroit to be the next to take on the super TF. Incoming spammage. Day Time Surface Combat, near Ndeni at 120,143, Range 25,000 Yards Japanese aircraft no flights Allied aircraft no flights Japanese aircraft losses F1M2 Pete: 4 destroyed E13A1 Jake: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses SOC-1 Seagull: 1 destroyed Japanese Ships BB Kongo BB Hiei BB Kirishima BB Nagato BB Yamato, Shell hits 10, on fire BB Fuso, Shell hits 9 BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 8 BB Ise, Shell hits 9 BB Hyuga, Shell hits 12, on fire AV Akitsushima CA Haguro CA Nachi CA Ashigara CA Aoba CA Furutaka CA Kako CL Kashima CM Tokiwa CM Tsugaru CM Okinoshima APD Shimakaze, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage APD Nadakaze APD Aoi APD Fuji, and is sunk APD Tade E Chidori E Hatsukari E Tomozuru DMS W-4, heavy damage DMS W-13 DMS W-14 SC Ch 7 SC Ch 9 AK Hirokawa Maru AV Kamikawa Maru AV Kimikawa Maru AV Kiyokawa Maru AK Sado Maru AV Sagara Maru AV Sanuki Maru AK Sasako Maru AK Kinka Maru AK Kyushu Maru AK Tosan Maru AMC Akagi Maru, Shell hits 26, and is sunk AK Arima Maru AMC Awata Maru, Shell hits 1 AK Awazisan Maru AK Yamasimo Maru AMC Kiyosumi Maru, Shell hits 6, on fire AV Sanyo Maru, and is sunk AMC Bankok Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire AMC Saigon Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires xAP Brazil Maru Allied Ships CL Detroit, Shell hits 97, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Napier, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Nizam DD Norman, Shell hits 3, on fire DD Tjerk Hiddes, Shell hits 2, heavy fires DD Kane, Shell hits 5, on fire Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching! Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 25,000 yards CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 25,000 yards xAP Kongo Maru collides with DMS W-4 at 120 , 143 CM Wakataka , CM Takashima , CM Ukishima , CM Kyosai , CM Okinoshima , CM Tsugaru , CM Tokiwa , AV Sanyo Maru , AV Sanuki Maru , AV Sagara Maru , AV Kiyokawa Maru , AV Kimikawa Maru , AV Kamikawa Maru , AV Akitsushima , AK Yamasimo Maru , AK Awazisan Maru , AK Arima Maru , AK Tosan Maru , AK Kyushu Maru , AK Kinka Maru , AK Sasako Maru , AK Sado Maru , AK Hirokawa Maru , xAP Ukishima Maru , xAP Naminoue Maru , xAP Kongo Maru , xAP Huzi Maru , xAP Buenos Aires Maru , xAP Miike Maru , xAP Suwa Maru , xAP Husimi Maru , xAP Katori Maru , xAP Kashima Maru , xAP Hakusan Maru , xAP Hakozaki Maru , xAP Hakone Maru , xAP Argentina Maru , xAP Brazil Maru screened from combat - escorted by E Tomozuru , E Chidori , SC Ch 9 , DMS W-14 , DMS W-13 BB Yamato engages CL Detroit at 25,000 yards BB Yamato engages DD Kane at 25,000 yards BB Fuso engages CL Detroit at 25,000 yards BB Kongo engages CL Detroit at 25,000 yards CL Detroit engages CA Nachi at 25,000 yards Range closes to 23,000 yards CM Wakataka , CM Takashima , CM Ukishima , CM Kyosai , CM Okinoshima screened from combat BB Ise engages CL Detroit at 23,000 yards BB Yamashiro engages CL Detroit at 23,000 yards BB Fuso engages CL Detroit at 23,000 yards CA Haguro engages CL Detroit at 23,000 yards Range closes to 21,000 yards CM Wakataka , CM Takashima , CM Ukishima , CM Kyosai , CM Okinoshima , CM Tsugaru , CM Tokiwa , AV Sanyo Maru , AV Sanuki Maru , AV Sagara Maru , AV Kiyokawa Maru , AV Kimikawa Maru , AV Kamikawa Maru , AV Akitsushima , AK Yamasimo Maru , AK Awazisan Maru , AK Arima Maru , AK Tosan Maru , AK Kyushu Maru , AK Kinka Maru , AK Sasako Maru , AK Sado Maru , AK Hirokawa Maru , xAP Ukishima Maru , xAP Naminoue Maru , xAP Kongo Maru , xAP Huzi Maru , xAP Buenos Aires Maru , xAP Miike Maru , xAP Suwa Maru , xAP Husimi Maru , xAP Katori Maru , xAP Kashima Maru , xAP Hakusan Maru , xAP Hakozaki Maru , xAP Hakone Maru , xAP Argentina Maru , xAP Brazil Maru screened from combat - escorted by E Tomozuru , E Hatsukari , E Chidori , SC Ch 9 , SC Ch 7 I wanted to convey the sheer size of this monster, one point my ships were shooting at enemy ships which weren't displayed visually. Combat replay took so long my monitor went to sleep in the midst of it. This little TF did sterling service, the Omaha cruisers are deceptively weak looking but Detroit took the fight to the IJN BBs, trading shots with Yamato and at least 2 other BBs. The DDs themselves focused most of their fire on the AMCs, collisions among the Japanese side took care of the rest. Also, I can't be sure but I think supporting the invasion fleet landings has made the IJN BBs winchester, there was a distinct lack of main gun battery fire. Whether this was due to the BBs not being able to get into firing position or empty magazines I'm not really sure. Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 120,143 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 97 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 41 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 12 B5N2 Kate x 32 Japanese aircraft losses B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak Allied Ships DD Tjerk Hiddes, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk DD Kane, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk DD Norman, heavy fires, heavy damage Aircraft Attacking: 31 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp The Detroit TF's misery is compounded by an afternoon strike from KB. The presence of KB was a surprise to me and I'm lucky that I didn't come any further west, as it is there are 9 hexes separating the opposing CVs. More on this later. To finish off a really bad day, Norman is given the coup de grace by an I-boat a little later in the day. Next to go into action were the American CVs, they themselves were subjected to attention from relatively weak Betty sorties throughout the day but nothing got through or if they did didn't manage to hit anything. Morning Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 120,143 Weather in hex: Light rain Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 18 A6M2-N Rufe x 6 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 36 SBD-3 Dauntless x 40 TBF-1 Avenger x 15 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed A6M2-N Rufe: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 11 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 5 damaged Japanese Ships AK Sado Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire BB Hiei, Bomb hits 3 BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 2 xAP Katori Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire APD Aoi, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk xAP Argentina Maru AK Kyushu Maru BB Ise, on fire xAP Suwa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire APD Tade, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires APD Shimakaze, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk xAP Hakozaki Maru xAP Brazil Maru Japanese ground losses: 75 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled CAP engaged: 6th Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 6 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 12000 Raid is overhead Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 4 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Raid is overhead Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 6 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Raid is overhead Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Raid is overhead Kamikawa Maru-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 3 scrambling) 1 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 6000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes Heavy smoke from fires obscuring APD Tade Heavy smoke from fires obscuring APD Shimakaze Massive explosion on APD Shimakaze -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 120,143 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 14 A6M2-N Rufe x 2 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 23 SBD-3 Dauntless x 23 TBF-1 Avenger x 12 Japanese aircraft losses A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged Japanese Ships CL Kashima, Bomb hits 1, on fire BB Hiei AMC Kiyosumi Maru BB Ise AMC Bankok Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage BB Fuso AK Tosan Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires xAP Hakozaki Maru APD Tade, on fire AMC Saigon Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage CAP engaged: 6th Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 12000 Raid is overhead Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 3 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Raid is overhead Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 6 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Raid is overhead Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 11000 Raid is overhead Kamikawa Maru-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) intercepting now. Group patrol altitude is 6000 Raid is overhead Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AMC Bankok Maru Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AMC Saigon Maru -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 120,143 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 7 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 4 A6M2-N Rufe x 1 Allied aircraft SBD-3 Dauntless x 8 TBF-1 Avenger x 8 No Japanese losses Allied aircraft losses SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged TBF-1 Avenger: 3 damaged Japanese Ships AK Kinka Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire BB Hiei xAP Huzi Maru, Torpedo hits 1 AMC Saigon Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage Japanese ground losses: 27 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled CAP engaged: Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters to 16000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 105 minutes Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters to 13000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters to 18000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes Kamikawa Maru-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling) 1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact. Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 14000. Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minute As you can see from the screenshot KB is just to the south of Guadalcanal providing long range cover, I had no inkling it was in the neighbourhood and I had thought CTG wouldn't risk his remaining decks in any further offensive actions, bad case of projecting your own tendancies onto someone else. I'm going to withdraw Hornet and Yorktown, if they had full strength air groups I might have risked closing the gap to KB and engaged in a little MAD but between them they now only have 43 serviceable fighters, 27 SBDs and 17 TBMs, I'm not risking 2 decks on a chance an understrength strike will do enough damage to justify the risk. However, I am considering 2 options 1) Detach surface elements from the CV TFs to attempt a surface intercept of KB, with so many of the IJN heavies covering the landings at Ndeni I figure a CA/DD TF will really mess with what's covering KB. I don't have a really good track record of mid-ocean intercepts though. 2) Instead of going after KB, the same detached elements go after the invasion fleet at Ndeni, with most of the covering force winchester (I hope) the hope is the wolves can get in among the sheep and hammer the IJN assets hard. 3) Double down and do both of the above. Sub War Greyback finishes the job S-33 started. Allied Sub killboard S-38 - xAK Tamon Maru (6,400t), xAK Kano Maru (5,935t), xAK Gyoun Maru (1,900t), xAK Kikuryu Maru (1,900t) Seadragon - xAP Rakuyo Maru (7,470t), xAKL Kanjo Maru (1,650t), xAKL Tamaki Maru (1,650t) Greyback - xAP Kachidochi Maru (8,410t) O 20 - xAP Taizan Maru (3,380t), PB Hirota Maru (2,780t), PB Teshio Maru (830t), PB Tatsumi Maru (830t) K XIV - AK Sakura Maru (6,840t) Truant - AS Nagoya Maru (6,400t) K XI - xAK Kinugasa Maru (5,935t) K X - xAK Azuma Maru (5,935t) O 23 - xAP Manzyu Maru (5,830t) S-34 - xAKL Kanaiyama Maru (1,650t), xAK Kotobuki Maru #5 (2,375t) K XV - xAK Nojima Maru (3,425t) Sargo - xAK Gosei Maru (3,425t) Swordfish - xAKL Yamatsuru Maru (1,650t), xAKL Muko Maru (1,650t) Snapper - DD Hatsuyuki (2,090t), APD Hagi (935t) O 21 - DD Urakaze (2,553t) K XVII - CM Itsukushima (2,400t) S-35 - xAK Daifuku Maru (2,375t) Perch - DD Sazanami (2,090t) Shark - TK Arima Maru #4 (1,120t) Trigger - TK Nissan Maru (1,120t) Sealion - TK Moji Maru (1,120t) Drum - PB Ichiyo Maru (830t) Tarpon - TB Manazuru (775t) Probable xAK Kogyo Maru (torp hits 2, hvy fires/dmg, 07/12/41-Kota Bahru 53,74) - K XI [image]local://upfiles/14714/9B9A654FEECB4B4FA01FABD11BB0966C.jpg[/image]

BBfanboy -> RE: 7 August 1942 (2/8/2013 11:02:12 PM)
Nice job on that landing - you nailed most of his AMCs! Too bad your surface force wasn't able to get torpedo hits. Grayback's score was the largest single vessel yet sunk by your subs. Nice way to get on the scoreboard! Wondering how much he managed to land and how disrupted they are. Hope your troops can hold out - it looks like the IJA will not get much supply with their additional troops! [:D] [sm=00000613.gif]

Page: << < prev 9 10 [11] 12 13 next > >>

Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.4.5 ANSI

0.75