Nov 4th, 1943

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All Forums >> [New Releases from Matrix Games] >> War in the Pacific: Admiral's Edition >> After Action Reports >> Nov 4th, 1943

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Nov 4th, 1943 - 2/21/2020 3:16:53 PM

Anachro

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Nov 4th, 1943

Interesting turn. I send my BBs and CAs to bombard Rabaul. Unfortunately, not all manage to complete said mission: my CA/DDs run into a DD task force in the night and manage to sink, I think, one Akitsuki-class destroyer. They then proceed not to bombard Rabaul and continue on home towards Milne Bay. Good news is that I don't lose anything: one DD takes a mine hit but the damage is not too bad. Then in the day resolution, my BB task force reaches Rabaul but is not able to bombard till at the end of the day; and Rabaul's bombers hit the BB task force instead of my carriers a few hexes away. My BBs take some bomb hits, but nothing too bad.

Interesting note is that some sort of surface force has appears at Finschafen. I'm not sure what the plans are but in a bit of good luck for me, my task forces at Lae are undetected. I have a small CA/CL/DD task force there as well that might investigate Finschafen.

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Post #: 1891

RE: Nov 4th, 1943 - 2/21/2020 3:21:42 PM

Anachro

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Air losses for day:

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Post #: 1892

Nov 6th, 1943 - 2/23/2020 1:03:15 AM

Anachro

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Nov 6th, 1943

My CL TF ran into nothing on the 5th, so we decided to bombard Finschafen just to see what's there. We also bombardment Rabaul with another CA TF this turn, doing some damage to the airfield and planes on the ground. One DD took a mine hit, but it should be fine. Meanwhile our carriers are undetected as supplies are unloaded at Torokina. The supplied will be much needed for PBYs I had there that ran out supply. They are now fully in the process of repairing with about 50% operational; I'll get good deep nav search towards Truk now again. PBYs and deep nav search are really at a premium for the Allies in this mod.

I might try an air/port strike on Rabaul next turn as it's CAP has been decently degraded and its airfield is in shambles. We can destroy more planes on the ground and sink a DD in port before returning back to Townsville. Regarding future operations: I am more than inclined to skip over and isolate Rabaul and Madang, where John seems to have around 3-5 divisions between them (including those retreating from Lae). Let them rot on the vine.

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Post #: 1893

Nov 8th, 1943 - 2/25/2020 3:00:56 AM

Anachro

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Nov 8th, 1943

With Lae secured and Torokina effectively resupplied, we elect to retire with all our forces back to Townsville to rest and recuperate for future pushes (and repair/upgrade while more fuel is brought in from elsewhere). Given that our carriers are not all operating together (DS has ~770 A/C with a CV at Townsville, another CV just finished upgrading in NZ, 2CV and 1 CVL at PH, and 1CV and 3 CVLs in India), we didn't want to have them stick around for too long and be subject to an in-strength Japanese carrier strike. Moreover, there aren't many targets of opportunity at the moment in the vicinity. In the mean time, we sweep the skies of Rabaul and kill more fighters than we lose, we port strike Rabaul where we thought there was a damaged DD in port with turns out to be a MTB, and a few destroys hit a small supply convoy in the night heading for Rabaul.

Over the next few weeks comes the hard task of organizing future landings. We have two large scale ones planned and the biggest task for them is ensuring appropriate air cover, having enough transports, and making sure all the relevant landing forces are in appropriate ports for organization and pickup. In contrast to these, future landings in the SoPac will be piecemeal for the moment, though we have one planned for the immediate future once we are repaired and refueled at Townsville. We will also probably send our carriers up in force towards Manus to cover resupplying to base so we can build it up.

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Post #: 1894

RE: Nov 8th, 1943 - 2/25/2020 3:06:01 AM

Anachro

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Real question: how much of a match will my CV-capable Corsairs be for John's CV-capable Jacks and Georges (and that said, I don't have the numbers to fill out all my CVs with them yet)? I've no doubt next time I see John's carriers his CVs will be fully stacked with one or the other; he seemed to let on as much in one of his previous emails bemoaning the loss of his carriers and the big CV fight he'd give me right now if he had them.

< Message edited by Anachro -- 2/25/2020 3:07:37 AM >

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Post #: 1895

RE: Nov 8th, 1943 - 2/25/2020 7:40:48 AM

GetAssista

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Anachro
Real question: how much of a match will my CV-capable Corsairs be for John's CV-capable Jacks and Georges (and that said, I don't have the numbers to fill out all my CVs with them yet)?

Well, that George surely outclasses your F4U-1A in everything except slight speed and durability advantage. Brace for impact
Pilot quality would matter a lot

Edit: yeah, "outclasses" might be too much :) They are more or less even: slight speed & durability advantage vs large maneuver advantage.

< Message edited by GetAssista -- 2/25/2020 7:48:39 AM >

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Post #: 1896

RE: Nov 8th, 1943 - 2/25/2020 2:44:34 PM

Anachro

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I count myself very lucky that I was able to sink 4 battle carriers outright with no losses, especially as I had lost CV Ranger earlier. This is absolutely necessary in this version of the mod given what Japan can field on its carriers in the later game. I believe in John's working version of the mod he has gone back to the A7 Sam for balance and is balancing China for the Allies.

Quote from early in my AAR:

quote:

This necessitates attritional tactics in the early game, but not in a way where we can afford parity in losses. Attritional tactics must result in inordinate damage to the enemy, otherwise they will not be worth it, as later game invasions require domination of the local area. Parity of losses would fail to provide that. The Allies over the coming year must develop a way to seize the strategic initiative and force the Japanese to react in such a way as to place their forces in areas of tactical disadvantage. I feel John always likes the idea of charging in with his forces and should there be appropriate bait, he will come; it remains to be seen if he will eventually combine his carriers and always use them as such or continue to operate them somewhat separately.

I think this was prescient as the 4 CVs were sunk due to John charging in like Jeb Stuart against a stronger CV force, with CarDiv's 1 and 2 operating separately from the rest of his carriers.

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Post #: 1897

RE: Nov 8th, 1943 - 2/27/2020 5:23:31 PM

Anachro

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Carriers are back in port where two old Yorktown-class CVs will undergo the last of their upgrades for the next 20 days (CV Enterprise and CV Wasp). It is a period of hibernation of about a week or more, so little updates needed.

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Post #: 1898

RE: Nov 8th, 1943 - 2/27/2020 5:43:43 PM

Canoerebel

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Your Corsairs will perform well on CAP duty over ships. They may or may not perform well in sweep duty over enemy airfields, but I'd lean towards them being effective (but be careful - you have to ration your pools!). They won't perform well at all in the escort role over enemy airfields and only marginally better in carrier strikes vs. KB.

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Post #: 1899

RE: Nov 8th, 1943 - 2/27/2020 5:45:00 PM

Canoerebel

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John has gone dark in his AAR. He's gathering his thoughts and working on ideas. When he returns to his AAR, tighten your seatbelt. Something'll be up. And it probably won't be where you expect it (or it'll be in multiple places, including places you don't expect).

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Post #: 1900

RE: Nov 8th, 1943 - 2/27/2020 5:51:04 PM

Anachro

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I predict he'll make a post if he scores a spectacular victory somewhere.

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Post #: 1901

RE: Nov 8th, 1943 - 2/27/2020 5:57:05 PM

Canoerebel

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He'll post before that. He'll be jazzed about the next big op/surprise in the works. So he'll show back up, report that he's been busy fixing his computer, celebrating National How Much Does a Sub Weigh Day, and trying to extract his caboose from cruise ship blown in by a freak wind gust. Then he'll begin sharing. Four or five days later, the hounds of war will arrive somewhere on your map.

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Post #: 1902

RE: Postmortem - 2/27/2020 5:58:45 PM

Anachro

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With the recent sinking of CV Taikaku, the theoretical Japanese carrier A/C strength for 11/43 is now 869 A/C, not including additional A/C capacity provided by CVE's. The equivalent for the Allies is 1,479 A/C. That said, I've no doubt John has accelerated all his carriers by this point and more should be arriving in early to mid-'44 or earlier. I've baked some of this in, but its possible he's accelerated beyond what I anticipated.

< Message edited by Anachro -- 2/27/2020 6:05:19 PM >

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Post #: 1903

RE: Postmortem - 2/27/2020 6:32:50 PM

Canoerebel

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He won't be looking for a stand-up fight on inferior or even terms. He'll be looking to do something where your carriers ain't, sinking merchantmen or hitting a naval target or whatever.

But you know all that.

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Post #: 1904

RE: Postmortem - 2/27/2020 6:35:40 PM

Anachro

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

He won't be looking for a stand-up fight on inferior or even terms. He'll be looking to do something where your carriers ain't, sinking merchantmen or hitting a naval target or whatever.

But you know all that.

Yes, I remember your game where you were somewhere else and he want on some irrelevant raid down in the SoPac in late '44 if I remember. I expect this. In game, given my focus on the SoPac, he seems to have clearly been building up his defenses in northern Guinea through to the Philippines, as well as the DEI. I hope to convince him to continue this as my next attack should open him to the worry of me going through Northern Australia to the DEI or through Guinea to the Philippines.

Meanwhile, my big ops are on opposite sides of the map.

I do not know where the main KB is at the moment. Last I've seen of his navy is this:

1. BB Yamato and supporting surface vessels and BBs bombarded Port Moresby a week ago, before that they came down North from Madang towards Lae.
2. A mini KB composed of Junyo-class CVs and CVEs, as well as CBs, CLs, and DDs attempted to intercept my force landing at Diego Garcia, trying to sink my transports. This was ~150-200 A/C.

I suspect KB is staying central, trying to be in position to hit either operations moving up from the SoPac, or operations in the Indian Ocean, it might be in the DEI.

< Message edited by Anachro -- 2/27/2020 7:07:18 PM >

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Post #: 1905

RE: Postmortem - 3/3/2020 2:41:18 PM

Anachro

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I had 3-4 AKs going to Wake Island to resupply it quickly, then forgot about it as I was traveling this weekend. John made an appearance with a 300 A/C KB force and sank it. A bit sad to lose it, but I'm not that mad. Previous I had no idea where a good portion of the KB is and now I DO know. This is good info to have as I feel confident of CV local superiority elsewhere now. Interestingly, John seems to be operating his carriers in a divided capacity, trying to cover various portions of the map. Mini-KB with the Junyos is covering his western flank by Burma I suspect, this 300 A/C KB is by Wake. That leaves ~400 A/C unaccounted for somewhere.

Not much to report at the moment; ships are repairing, upgrading, troops are being allocated, fuel is moving, prep for various landings.

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Post #: 1906

RE: Postmortem - 3/12/2020 5:03:14 PM

Anachro

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Next picture updates coming soon. Next operation beginning with a movement on Horn Island. I am moving out with surface vessels, CVEs, and transports towards Horn. John hasn't seen my carriers for 2 weeks and I will keep them in port at Townsville. Meanwhile, a big portion of the surviving KB has been operating in the CenPac, a week ago it struck Wake Island, not for the last 2 days it has been openly (with detection) making its way towards the Marshalls. We'll see what he does if he sees so many ships going to Horn without the cover of fleet carriers. I don't expect him to move towards it, but with John you never know. He might be positioning himself for a reaid on my southern LoC.

In India, we destroyed 50 Franks on the ground at Prome 2 turns ago (and 26 more through sweeps last turn); airfields at Prome are at 100% damage. With Akyab, we can begin sweeps of Rangoon proper and apply heavy bombing to it.

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Post #: 1907

RE: Nov 8th, 1943 - 3/12/2020 7:15:34 PM

Cheesesteak

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Your Corsairs will perform well on CAP duty over ships. They may or may not perform well in sweep duty over enemy airfields, but I'd lean towards them being effective (but be careful - you have to ration your pools!). They won't perform well at all in the escort role over enemy airfields and only marginally better in carrier strikes vs. KB.

quote:

necessitates

sorry to ask a delayed and potentially foolish question - is the poor escort rating bc of maneuver scoring?

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Post #: 1908

RE: Nov 8th, 1943 - 3/12/2020 10:27:38 PM

BBfanboy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Cheesesteak

quote:

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Your Corsairs will perform well on CAP duty over ships. They may or may not perform well in sweep duty over enemy airfields, but I'd lean towards them being effective (but be careful - you have to ration your pools!). They won't perform well at all in the escort role over enemy airfields and only marginally better in carrier strikes vs. KB.

quote:

necessitates

sorry to ask a delayed and potentially foolish question - is the poor escort rating bc of maneuver scoring?

Yes. Their great strengths are speed and firepower, but on escort they are tied to the bombers and lose their ability to speed away from danger and come back from an altitude. Virtually all fighters suffer when escorting bombers, although the Hurricane may be agile enough to break even.

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Post #: 1909

Dec 2nd, 1943 - 3/13/2020 2:12:29 AM

Anachro

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Dec 2nd, 1943

The invasion force approaches Horn Island and surprisingly, thanks to helpful rain and thunderstorms, has largely remained unspotted. The only bad luck is despite the rain one of my LS task forces is spotted with a 3/3 DL. It remains to be seen how much John suspects from what he's seen. The main forces should hit the beaches tomorrow, but this operation has risks as Horn Island has a strong garrison, is an atoll, and I've anxiousness as to what the initial shock attack will be like, especially as not all of my amphibious ships are AKAs/APAs. Nonetheless, we have ample AV dedicated to the task: 2 divisions, 2 regiments, 3 regiments in reserve, as well as tanks, engineers, and artillery.

More importantly, AEs and AKEs at Portland Roads means that our BBs and CAs can be re-armed daily, allowing daily continuous bombardment of the atoll, which over time should help wear down the defenders. John's KB was last seen heading in the direction of the Gilberts and he have not seen it since moving down south towards Allied territory. We have upped our nav search along the periphery just in-case. I think John might have been planning another lightning raid, perhaps to my SLOC. We'll see, I suppose. My CVs will remain hidden until necessary, which is a risk, I know.

< Message edited by Anachro -- 3/13/2020 2:58:07 AM >

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Post #: 1910

RE: Dec 2nd, 1943 - 3/13/2020 2:42:47 AM

Anachro

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Deadliest squad in the US air forces at the moment

Deadliest British, hasn't seen action in awhile

The world's top Ace is MIA, hopefully he survived and can make his way back to the frontlines...

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Post #: 1911

RE: Dec 2nd, 1943 - 3/13/2020 3:09:33 AM

Canoerebel

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Thanks for posting, Sean. With March Madness cancelled, yours will be the best show for quite some time!

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Post #: 1912

Dec 3rd, 1943 - 3/13/2020 1:06:08 PM

Anachro

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Dec 3rd, 1943

This is my first experience with the new ADU CD units that Japan gets in this mod and they sure pack a punch: despite having BBs and CAs embedded into landing forces, they use up all their ammo and there is ample CD artillery to hit the transports. I made the decision to move BBs from my surface units to the Amphibious TFs last turn and it was probably a goof thing. At Horn, there is a CD regiment and battalion, the suspected infantry division, but also an infantry brigade. Over all, we discover 6 forts and ~700 AV. The initial shock attack is not great, but not terrible either (577 AV leftover atm with more troops landing). We'll have to rest and recuperate disabled squads while we continuously bombard the place. The good news: the attack reveals the enemy to at least be on low supply and disrupted.

It will be a long struggle most likely requiring the 450 AV in reserve that I decided to have offload at Portland Roads. If I do land the reserve troops, I want them to be landed by AKAs and APAs, which will now head to Portland Roads from the landing beaches.

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Post #: 1913

RE: Dec 3rd, 1943 - 3/13/2020 1:29:08 PM

RangerJoe

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Land the reserves oneAPD at a time, escorted by lots of battleships.

Seriously though, could you have bypassed it and let it wither?

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Post #: 1914

RE: Dec 3rd, 1943 - 3/13/2020 1:31:43 PM

Anachro

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I could have, certainly I've thought about it, but this isn't my main operation and the troops are 100% prepped. I hope it makes John want to allocated more towards areas defending around here. We'll see. I most likely will bypass Gove and Merauke if I move that way, both have 10-15k garrisons. I also want a secure LoC in this critical chokepoint if I do decide to move up through Darwin.

< Message edited by Anachro -- 3/13/2020 1:34:09 PM >

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Post #: 1915

RE: Dec 3rd, 1943 - 3/13/2020 6:12:02 PM

Sardaukar

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A lot went to visualize your AAR, much appreciated!

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Post #: 1916

RE: Dec 3rd, 1943 - 3/13/2020 6:51:49 PM

Anachro

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Thanks, this will be my first time going into mid/deep '44 and I suspect '45. Given the gar greater production and resource/oil production of Japan in this mod, I suspect (and am already gleaning from sigint and observation), that John is basically hardening the line of defense everywhere. From Burma all the way to Hokkaido.

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Post #: 1917

RE: Dec 3rd, 1943 - 3/14/2020 2:35:36 AM

Anachro

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Two exciting turns coming up. The first is bad as I pay for leaving my fleet carriers in surprise reserve. The second sees me get payback and overall come off slightly better I think with a very surprising and pleasant turn of events. However, the current situation is an interesting one and no doubt I should probably let prudence guide me.

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Post #: 1918

Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 2:55:36 AM

Anachro

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Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island

On December 4th, the second day of unloading goes ahead; and given that we had decent long-range nav search resources devoted to coverage and recon on nearby Japanese bases showing nothing in port, we thought it'd be a relatively safe day. Surprisingly, what appears to be a mini-KB or divided KB of sorts appears on my western flank. Though my air coverage does well, a number of transports and combat vessels take bombs hits, with the deepest cut of all being the sinking of the BB North Carolina, for her loss ~250 Japanese A/C is knocked out of the sky. The only lucky break to this is that one hex over my CVEs escape unscathed.

Though I was surprised by this as I thought I'd have a day's warning at least given my recon, as a measure of prudence I did move my fleet carriers up to Cairns. Frustrated by the action of the 4th and trying to seek some measure of revenge, I send my carriers flank speed towards Horn Island, hoping that John's aggressiveness would keep him in the area. This proved to be lucky for me, as he did. During the following day, on December 5th, our carriers find mini-KB 7 hexes away, with a Japanese SCTF with a CB closer (it fought an Allied cruiser force in the night). Many waves are launched and while we certainly cause damage, it is disappointing (which has been a major theme for me in this game with my carrier air wings). Mini-KB should have been obliterated; instead, it takes a mauling to a limited degree.

It starts with a midnight combat around Horn Island where Allied forces don't do too great, a DMS is sunk but other than that the Japanese force turns back. In addition to this, numerous bombardments take place against Horn Island.

< Message edited by Anachro -- 3/14/2020 3:06:29 AM >

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Post #: 1919

RE: Dec 4-5, 1943 - Battle of Horn Island - 3/14/2020 3:04:49 AM

Anachro

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Cont. - Morning Phase

The next day, by the morning our carriers have managed to traverse the sea from Cairns all the way up to the area northeast of Horn Island. With little time from the exertions put in to speedily get there, our carriers launch strikes against the nearest known task force, which sadly is the CB Aino SCTF and not the carriers of mini-KB. The strike is underwhelming, but CB Aino takes 5 bomb hits and shows heavy fires, as does one cruiser. The CV task force also fends off a small LBA attack against it.