SqzMyLemon
Posts: 4239
Joined: 10/30/2009
From: Alberta, Canada
Status: offline
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Nov. 3/43:
The Solomons
More encounters with the N1K1-J George today, this time over Rekata Bay. Allied transports unloading an American construction unit drew the attention of the Japanese. AAR's follow:
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Morning Air attack on Rekata Bay , at 113,134
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 34
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 7
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
Aircraft Attacking:
27 x N1K1-J George sweeping at 31000 feet *
CAP engaged:
VMF-441 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 16000.
Raid is overhead
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rekata Bay at 113,134
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 18
B5N2 Kate x 14
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
xAK Empire Condor, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Empire Grenfell, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AM Bombay
Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 16 (7 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
14 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
VMF-441 with F4U-1 Corsair (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 16000.
Raid is overhead
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Empire Condor
I didn't anticipate the sweep, which was why my CAP was set low to intercept a possible naval air strike. I'm impressed how well the Corsair held it's own, but I lose three on the day for only two Zero's in return. I can't trade losses with my best aircraft, so I'll have to improve my air defences. Both transports hit sunk later in the turn. This was a holdover from Historiker's side of things that I let continue. In hindsight, I should have pulled the transports back because landing engineers at Rekata Bay serve no useful purpose at this time. I'm having to do this all over the map and I've missed a few things. In this case, I should have stopped the operation, but didn't knowing it could go bad.
CentPac:
Japanese Betty and Nell bombers hammer Marcus Island today. Losses are heavy from the over-stacking and no supply. It sucks to watch, but I remind myself this isn't on me. As I pick up the pieces, I can't help but wonder why this operation was even conducted.
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Morning Air attack on 25th Infantry Division, at 123,85 (Marcus Island)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 26
G4M1 Betty x 18
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
913 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 43 destroyed, 74 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 15 (7 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
26 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
18 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on 1st Cavalry (Spec) Cavalry Division, at 123,85 (Marcus Island)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 10
No Japanese losses
Allied ground losses:
399 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
10 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
Burma:
I perform my first offensive missions of the war that are my own today. A squadron of P-47's sweeps Shwebo followed by Beafighter VIc's set to strafe a small Japanese force at the base. There is no Japanese CAP. AAR follows:
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Morning Air attack on 2nd Raiding Regiment, at 59,45 (Shwebo)
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes
Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIc x 14
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
110 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Beaufighter VIc bombing from 100 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
Ok, nothing exciting, but I'm just probing to get a feel of the theatre and how Erik defends. This tells me there's no LRCAP set from Taung Gyi.
All Allied forces in Burma are supplied this turn. I'm curious to see if I can maintain the supply levels during periods of no combat. The first batch of Chinese units rail out of Ledo bound for Karachi. I'll reorganize my Chinese forces there before recommitting them to the theatre. I'd like to use them to secure my flank in Burma from a Japanese offensive out of China.
Other than that, I continue to pull bomber units back to rear area bases and redistribute my aviation support along the Burma/India border. I feel much better about this theatre now and will accelerate my offensive plans somewhat.
In logistic news, 37930 fuel reaches Pearl Harbor. This was a leftover from Historiker as well. At least I'll be able to refuel some of the ships returning from the Marcus Island operation. There is a new tanker TF inbound from San Francisco carrying 175k+ of fuel and more on the way. Why were these tankers left sitting idle on the west coast with Pearl Harbor almost dry? 
The first of the Amphibious TF's involved at Marcus Island arrived in Pearl Harbor today. Three damaged light cruisers and an APA are bound for the yards. All will be repaired within 17 days.
As I get more familiar with my position, sadly I'm noticing quite a few Allied LCU's assigned to air HQ's and RAF Groups in Australia and India. I don't know for sure if this was done to save PP's, but it seems so to me. I also noticed an American CV at Sydney and three British Martlet Squadrons that had been resized to 90 aircraft each and drawing replacements and pilots. I've begun resizing them. At first I thought why Marlet's and British pilots, if you're going to pull a fast one use American airframes and pilots.  Not much I can do other than try and quietly fix what I consider gamey. The LCU's really put me in a tight spot, because I just don't know how much of an advantage was gained.
All that aside, I'm feeling much more comfortable and not so overwhelmed. After some marathon sessions, I'm now in a position to crank out a turn in an hour.
< Message edited by SqzMyLemon -- 5/3/2016 9:09:34 PM >
_____________________________
Luck is the residue of design - John Milton
Don't mistake lack of talent for genius - Peter Steele (Type O Negative)
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