GreyJoy
Posts: 6750
Joined: 3/18/2011 Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Commander Cody GreyJoy: You've done the impossible: you've made this even more entertaining. It's tough to keep up with this fine AAR. When it comes to retiring due to naval threat, have you tried putting those TFs on "direct" and "absolute" movement? Also, you've probably thought of this, but I put my TBFs and SBDs on 20-30% search and 20-30% ASW when transiting behind the front lines in an attempt to minimize sub attacks. Once somebody commented that 8 or more DDs in a CV TF will keep subs away--I usually try to use 10 or more, which of course isn't easy early on (with plenty of DEs in the CVE TFs). Also, a few DEs are great in slow BB TFs since their speed matches. I would use your CVs, but only in a situation where you know the KB's decks have been swept of a good chunk of airframes and out of Nettie range. As Elmer Fudd would say: "Be vewy, vewy careful." Cheers, CC Thx CC. Just to be clear: i used every possible mean in order to keep his subs away. The CVEs TF had 120 ASW points (more than 15 DDs) and was followed by a dedicated ASW TF composed by 1DD and 3 SCs. 27 TBDs were flying 50 Naval and 50 ASW at 3 hexes range and had 6 Kingfisher flying even at night on naval search... but he simply had too many subs in the right place...i counted at least 10 of them in 3 hexes. Oh and i had 18 patrol planes flying at 1000 ft on a 30 degrees search arc covering exactly the corridor of my CV+CVEs.... nothing seems to stop those subs...nothing My CVs are covered in the same way...but now i feel really unsafe...he will be looking for them and track them all the way wherever i'll move them... and, God be good, i can never do the same! Everytime i get closer than 6 hexes from one of his base my sub gets sunk, no matter what, by his Helens ASW. AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 31, Feb 01 43 Ok, here's the report of the last 2 days. At Karachi he has completely taken controll of the skies. I'm abbandoning any possible idea of fighting him back. I'll leave my fighters there as long as possible - and if you ask me why i tell you that it's because i cannot let those 1400 enemy planes to get back to the pacific! - but without P-38s it's impossible to stand those hordes of Zeros and Tojos... At Tulagi he sent a number of fighters on sweep, followed by an heavily escorted 130+ Helens formation. We did chew them!. Tulagi supply depots however are suffering badly...we're back to 13k supplies cause we're not able to re-supply the base by air no more (why????) My 4Es levelled again Russell Island, preceeded by P-38s on sweep mission that killed at least 6 or 7 zeros and oscars on LRCAP. The KB retired to Rabaul again. For sure he's refilling again his air groups. I've sent subs around Truk following NY59Giant suggestion...till now no contacts. My CVs will be approaching Suva tomorrow. Heavy Air ASW ordered (more than 100 LBA planes dedicated), minesweeping too. Now i'm 2 CVEs short (lost 50 fighters and pilots too) and the odds are again badly against me. I'll have to be even more cautious... the sense of feeling unsafe everywhere i move is really a bad feeling... At Tulagi the last week saw no fightings. As far as i can tell he's not evacuating nor resuppliyng his units (didn't intercept any transport plane so far). For sure he's getting ready for another big push and i have to be ready. Gotta find new solutions to resupply and reinforce my garrisons. I now ordered to 2 DDs to go and station at Tulagi, under our CAP (100 fighters strong). Let's see if my xAKs will so decide to enter in Tulagi waters (till now they've been refusing to do so despite i gave them precise orderes to go directly to Tulagi and to not to care about any threat...) The situation looks worse than last week. The feeling that i was gaining a "new grip" melted like snow in the sun with the last naval debacles (just to remember: i lost 3 BBs, 2CAs, 3 CLs and 5 DDs in the last week, plus 2CVEs and several xAKs). Rader seems always to be focused and determined and he always has the overall situation under his full controll. However i need to hold on to the hope of a brighter tomorrow. Things cannot always go so wrong! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 305 encounters mine field at Kirakira (116,140) Allied Ships DD Ellet, Mine hits 1, heavy damage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 416 encounters mine field at Kirakira (116,140) Allied Ships DMS Hopkins 1 mine cleared -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 63 encounters mine field at Kirakira (116,140) Allied Ships DD Helm, Mine hits 1, heavy damage DD Anderson 3 mines cleared -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'll post this to let you know why i cannot anymore fight for Karachi air space... Morning Air attack on Karachi , at 40,8 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 28 NM, estimated altitude 37,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3 Zero x 40 Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 26 Kittyhawk III x 4 Kittyhawk III x 7 P-38F Lightning x 1 P-39D Airacobra x 6 P-40K Warhawk x 19 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3 Zero: 5 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed Morning Air attack on Karachi , at 40,8 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 170 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 53 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-21-IIa Sally x 56 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 304 Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 42 Ki-48-Ib Lily x 59 Ki-49-IIa Helen x 248 Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 19 Kittyhawk III x 4 Kittyhawk III x 5 P-38F Lightning x 1 P-39D Airacobra x 5 P-40K Warhawk x 18 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-21-IIa Sally: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 destroyed by flak Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 destroyed, 12 damaged Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 destroyed by flak Allied aircraft losses P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed on ground Beaufort I: 1 destroyed on ground Beaufort V: 1 destroyed on ground Allied ground losses: 6 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Airbase hits 22 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 34 Morning Air attack on Karachi , at 40,8 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 162 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 51 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 16 Ki-49-IIa Helen x 33 Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 13 Kittyhawk III x 3 Kittyhawk III x 3 P-38F Lightning x 1 P-39D Airacobra x 2 P-40K Warhawk x 11 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed Ki-49-IIa Helen: 7 destroyed, 9 damaged Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed by flak No Allied losses ----------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Karachi , at 40,8 Weather in hex: Thunderstorms Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3 Zero x 25 Allied aircraft Hurricane IIc Trop x 5 Kittyhawk III x 2 Kittyhawk III x 2 P-38F Lightning x 1 P-39D Airacobra x 1 P-40K Warhawk x 3 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed Allied aircraft losses Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed And then the aerial battles over Tulagi. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Tulagi , at 114,137 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 4 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 39 Allied aircraft Spitfire VIII x 15 Spitfire Vc Trop x 15 P-40E Warhawk x 18 P-40K Warhawk x 25 F4F-4 Wildcat x 36 F4U-1 Corsair x 16 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 5 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Tulagi , at 114,137 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 21 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 5 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 11 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 21 Allied aircraft Spitfire VIII x 15 Spitfire Vc Trop x 15 P-40E Warhawk x 18 P-40K Warhawk x 23 F4F-4 Wildcat x 33 F4U-1 Corsair x 15 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 5 destroyed Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Tulagi , at 114,137 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 11 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 2 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 16 Allied aircraft Spitfire VIII x 15 Spitfire Vc Trop x 14 P-40E Warhawk x 17 P-40K Warhawk x 20 F4F-4 Wildcat x 30 F4U-1 Corsair x 15 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed No Allied losses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Tulagi , at 114,137 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 10 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 1 Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 18 Allied aircraft Spitfire VIII x 15 Spitfire Vc Trop x 12 P-40E Warhawk x 17 P-40K Warhawk x 18 F4F-4 Wildcat x 29 F4U-1 Corsair x 11 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed No Allied losses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Morning Air attack on Tulagi , at 114,137 Weather in hex: Light cloud Raid detected at 142 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 45 minutes Japanese aircraft Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 20 Ki-49-IIa Helen x 119 Allied aircraft Spitfire VIII x 15 Spitfire Vc Trop x 10 P-40E Warhawk x 17 P-40K Warhawk x 13 F4F-4 Wildcat x 28 F4U-1 Corsair x 11 Japanese aircraft losses Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 6 destroyed Ki-49-IIa Helen: 13 destroyed, 15 damaged Allied aircraft losses P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed Allied ground losses: 5 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Airbase hits 7 Airbase supply hits 4 Runway hits 28 Our sweeps over Russell agaings his LRCAP from Chouiseyl bay (which is operative again) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Russell Islands , at 113,136 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 8 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M2-N Rufe x 5 A6M3a Zero x 13 Allied aircraft P-38G Lightning x 11 Japanese aircraft losses A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed No Allied losses -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Afternoon Air attack on Russell Islands , at 113,136 Weather in hex: Partial cloud Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet. Estimated time to target is 33 minutes Japanese aircraft A6M3a Zero x 6 Allied aircraft B-17D Fortress x 6 B-17E Fortress x 6 B-17F Fortress x 5 B-24D Liberator x 28 No Japanese losses No Allied losses Japanese ground losses: 39 casualties reported Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled Airbase hits 7 Airbase supply hits 3 Runway hits 33 the fatal day for my CVEs... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Pukapuka at 159,160 Japanese Ships SS I-18, hits 4 Allied Ships CVE Prince William, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage BB Colorado DD Bailey DD Cony DD Kalk DD Gillespie DD Gansevoort DD Bancroft SS I-18 launches 8 torpedoes at CVE Prince William I-18 diving deep .... DD Kalk fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Gillespie attacking submerged sub .... DD Gansevoort fails to find sub and abandons search DD Bancroft attacking submerged sub .... DD Kalk attacking submerged sub .... DD Gillespie fails to find sub and abandons search DD Bancroft fails to find sub and abandons search DD Kalk fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Kalk fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Kalk fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Pukapuka at 158,160 Japanese Ships SS I-19, hits 10 Allied Ships CVE Copahee, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage BB Colorado DD Woodworth DD Kalk DD Gillespie DD Gansevoort DD Bancroft SS I-19 launches 6 torpedoes at CVE Copahee DD Kalk fails to find sub and abandons search DD Gillespie fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Gansevoort attacking submerged sub .... DD Bancroft fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Gillespie attacking submerged sub .... DD Gillespie cannot establish contact with SS I-19 DD Gansevoort attacking submerged sub .... DD Bancroft fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Gillespie fails to find sub and abandons search DD Gansevoort attacking submerged sub .... DD Bancroft fails to find sub and abandons search DD Gansevoort attacking submerged sub .... SS I-19 eludes ASW attack from DD Gansevoort DD Gansevoort fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Gansevoort fails to find sub, continues to search... DD Gansevoort fails to find sub, continues to search... Escort abandons search for sub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Efate at 126,154 Japanese Ships SS I-156 Allied Ships xAK City of Dalhart, Torpedo hits 1, on fire xAK City of Dalhart is sighted by SS I-156 SS I-156 launches 4 torpedoes at xAK City of Dalhart -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Efate at 126,154 Japanese Ships SS I-156 Allied Ships xAK City of Dalhart, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage SS I-156 launches 2 torpedoes
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