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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> After Action Reports >> RE: Two faced weather system!

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RE: Two faced weather system! - 12/17/2004 9:10:32 PM

mlees

Posts: 2263
Joined: 9/20/2003
From: San Diego
Status: offline

quote:

An awful turn. I loose 50 aircraft! He had been complaining about his bombers not flying, so I thought I would move bombers in to try and take advantage of this by hitting them on the ground. Murphy - that snake in the grass that dogs me at every turn - then does exactly the same thing to me while he bombs the airfield I am based at. I loose 10 fulmars that were CAPing the base - he bought 20 oscars and 40 zeros - and then hit the 3 sqds of Beuforts and 1 sqd of Blenheim IVs I had on the ground. 10 of each are smashed and the rest are damaged - so now of course I cannot move the bloody things out and his continued raids will keep smashing the ACs gaining him points. You get one piece of bad luck and then pay an pay an pay for it. If it wasn't the RAF bombers damaged on attacks out of Tarakan, just before it was invaded; it was the P-40s based at Balikpapan caught there by the next invasion; or the notorious dauntlesses bombarded with split second timing in Batavia.

Did PzB sucker you? Sounds like he did. Are you playing the stock #15 scenerio? Lemur's beefs up the Hurricanes for more air to air parity...
I'm gonna guess that PzB doesn't let you get your fighter pilot experience up above 70ish, that might be why you still get spanked...

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 271

RE: Two faced weather system! - 12/17/2004 9:32:01 PM

2ndACR

Posts: 5665
Joined: 8/31/2003
From: Irving,Tx
Status: offline

Nope, this is a stock scenario 15. Me and Pzb just started his first Lemurs game. So hush with the Hurricane talk.

I would rather he did not know about that a/c.

(in reply to mlees)

Post #: 272

RE: Calcutta has Teeth - 12/17/2004 10:52:30 PM

rroberson

Posts: 2050
Joined: 5/25/2004
From: Arizona
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Strv103C

December 10th??? What did you do to loose them?

Let's just say I was hunting carriers off of pearl...with four of my own...let's just say his birds launched and mine didnt...instant four holes in the water :).

_____________________________

(in reply to Strv103C)

Post #: 273

RE: Another good day - 12/18/2004 7:28:21 AM

Hornblower

Posts: 1361
Joined: 9/10/2003
From: New York'er relocated to Chicago
Status: offline

Are you planning on driving north up the solomans and Ng from Henderson and PM?

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 274

3 Days in Calcutta - 12/20/2004 12:24:38 AM

wobbly

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline

3 Days of quiet in the Pacific - while in the Indian the continuing torture of Calcutta continues.

MLees - yes the pilot issue is now critical - no more trained British pilots in the pool. I don't know about suckered me - he just sent only zeros in against my fighters rather than letting the bombers come as well. I am now only flying the Hurricanes on high altitude settings. They did manage to shoot down 15 or so zeros themselves. From now on the Kittyhawks and Warhawks will be doing the lion share of the defense - they replace with Oz and Yank Pilots.

RRoberson - that is soo painful. Without the carriers you can't hope to gain any tactical advantage. I am at least lucky in that he has lost two of these precious commodities. With the start of Nighthawk and the continuation in Whiskey I am likely to suffer the loss of some myself.

Hornblower - yes - operation Whiskey is the liberation of Rabaul. If I hold Rabaul the taking of the Solomons will be far easier.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/12/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Colombo, at 14,24 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

27 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CA Kako, Shell hits 1
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 6
CA Aoba

Allied ground losses:
77 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

I think I can expect many more of these naval bombardments. I tried a bit of bluff and bluster by saying I would meet the cruisers with some royal navy ships but that will put the ships at the mercy of any naval bombers out of Madras and Trim. I get the Illustrious in 2 days. With her and Formidable, I might be able to mount seaborne LRCAP a surface attack - if I time it to happen on conjunction with crap weather - you never know.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 6th NLF , at 67,97

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
SBD Dauntless x 13

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet

The level 3 (now) airfield at Lunga is in business at last. Bombers kill more japs for far less than the RCT attacking them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 64th Chinese Corps, at 46,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 13
Ki-48 Lily x 19
Ki-49 Helen x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported

The Japs, on the same level of road have managed to get back from Lanchow faster than I could move 1 hex on the same type of road. With that kind of handicap I am going to be very hard pressed to mount any kind of surprise attacks - they just arent' possible. Therefore my attack on Sian has been abandoned.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Calcutta

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 128091 troops, 754 guns, 792 vehicles

Defending force 57242 troops, 282 guns, 480 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 6

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 6)

Japanese ground losses:
2271 casualties reported
Guns lost 33
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
1314 casualties reported
Guns lost 38
Vehicles lost 6

Oh crap - the forts are starting to tumble. I am at level 6 now with 67% on the next level. The ability of the engineers to construct new forts is getting reduced - probably due to battle damage. He has managed a few 1-1 hits on my and they are very bad for my chances of holding. I am making preparations to retreat yet again. The problem with this of course is that he can choose to bypass where I retreat to.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The tanker TF and the Oz 2nd are now at the most dangerous location. Trying to get past search planes based at Madras and Trim. The KB has disappeared - I have based Catalinas at Columbo for a one off search to see if I can find them.

2 more days until I get the UK 5th Division and the other little RCT.

It looks very much like he is going to try and take bangalore. I only have 1 fort there so it is almost an instant retreat. India is being consumed one bite at a time. I have had another intel snippet of a construction battalion going to Madras - I think he may be looking to make this location his new area for attention.

Nighthawk and Whiskey are very slowly getting into position. I have noticed that the carriers - which haven't been into port for a while - are very low on fuel. They are sent down to Pago Pago to top up the tanks. The should be back on station ready for Nighthawk which should be in about a weeks time - Merry Christmas PzB!

(in reply to Hornblower)

Post #: 275

bye bye RAF - 12/21/2004 12:27:13 AM

wobbly

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline

The worst turn yet for the RAF. Calcutta manages to keep its forts but losses more men than the enemy.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/13/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 16,15

Japanese Ships
SS I-4

Allied Ships
AK Santa Teresa, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

One of my tripwire transports gets located by a sub and is in a dire way. I will probably have to scuttle her.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 55
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 21
Ki-21 Sally x 83

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 26
Kittyhawk I x 28
P-40E Warhawk x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 21 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 36 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 5 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 57 destroyed, 7 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 42 destroyed, 3 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 17 destroyed, 4 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 9 destroyed, 2 damaged
Blenheim IF: 6 destroyed, 6 damaged
Blenheim IV: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied ground losses:
132 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 19
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 67

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet

An absolutely lethal day. What is left of the hurricanes is splashed to the four corners and the Kittyhawks join them. One sqd has no planes left after the day! I haven't seen that before. I do manager to take a large chunk out of his oscar sqds but the 2 to one odds - when he losses 35 is too steep for me to take. I fear I cannot continue to defend the skies above Calcutta. What disturbs me further is the Warhawks were specifically set at 7000 feet - 1000 above the Sallies you can see here - and yet they still refuse to hit them. It is the bombers that I really want to take apart - they are stopping my ability to raise forts.

Here is an addendum to the way aerial fights occur: why do the fighters attack enemy fighters without fail? The escort fighter's job is to intercept CAP fighters before they get to the bombers. The trouble is they weren't always successful. WitP plays combats as if they are. When you have such disparrities in capibility this means trying to target the bombers is an impossibility. In short my fighters do not survive the multiple rounds of fighter versus fighter to get a crack at the bombers: their intended target. Do others agree that when multiple sqds defend that there should be a possibility that a sqd attacks from an undefended location? Have a combat replay pop-up saying something like 'interceptors bypass escorts - attacking bombers".
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 93rd Chinese Division, at 30,34

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 24
G4M1 Betty x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

I hav movd a couple of Chinese Divisions along the rail linebetweenRangoon and Moulmein.He notices them and decides to bomb them. He has also moved a unit out of Rangoon to the location my Burmese units occupied for so long. I don't know where this will eventuate but I am doing it to try and make him think twice about moving the Rangoon defenders up to India.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Calcutta

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 93386 troops, 550 guns, 732 vehicles

Defending force 56030 troops, 260 guns, 477 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 6)

Japanese ground losses:
746 casualties reported
Guns lost 13
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
1162 casualties reported
Guns lost 26
Vehicles lost 16

Thankfully I don't loose another level of forts but I do loose twice as many troops as he does - this is a very poor result. Forts are at 78% completion to level 7. He also does not appear to be attacking with all his troops??? He has more than 93K at Calcutta.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have been worried about the depletion of the RAF for the last few turns - well this killed what was left. There is nothing to fight back with. The Oz Kittyhawk Sqd needs a complete overhaula nd the Warhawks are not much better off. He has control of the skies and I didn't even manage to dent his bomber force with all those fighter losses.

I have set the bombers at Diamond harbour to attack the airfield at Chandpur. I need it to be bad weather at Calcutta and good weather at Chandpur and Diamond Harbour. My bombers are so far refusing to fly so I doubt much will happen anyway. He may have too many fighters up over his airfields - man I am outnumbered!

In the first bit of good news the 15th Indian Division and another Brigade arrive at Karachi. The Division is on its way south to try and resist the incursion starting at Madras, while the bnrigade will stay in Karachi. I can't afford to loose the place. 1 more day until I get the Illustrious. I have not seen the KB again so it my be worth trying to intercept the cruiser runs to Columbo. A Us base force has also arrived and is sent to Lucknow.

Off the coast of Ceylon both the tanker force and Oz 2nd pass each other - I am sweating bullets that the KB will come out of the dark to find these ships.

In Noumea I start loading the 2nd Marines with Rabaul as their target - they are to be a further floating reserve.

More ships are coming together between Canton Island and Lunga. I am still a few days off commencing operation Nighthawk.

< Message edited by wobbly -- 12/21/2004 10:27:46 AM >

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 276

RE: bye bye RAF - 12/21/2004 1:23:48 AM

Andy Mac

Posts: 15222
Joined: 5/12/2004
From: Alexandria, Scotland
Status: offline

Wobb I think you are going to have to sit still with the airforce and take your punishment for now

You need to waitfor Spits and just cling on.

In about 4 weeks you will have some Spits but at this rate no experienced pilots.

Andy

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 277

RE: bye bye RAF - 12/21/2004 2:09:01 AM

toraq

Posts: 405
Joined: 10/24/2004
Status: offline

Wobbly,

You were kicked out of the skies. There is no way to beat the Zeroes with Hurricanes or Kittyhawks. The problem is not the aircraft, but the pilots.

Try to retire your airforce back to a save place and use some hit and run tactic (when possible). You won�t get results but this may disturb him and distract some air attacks to other places.

I agree with you. Building forts in Calcutta is your priority.
What are you going to do with the Victorious?. How many RN ships left?

(in reply to Andy Mac)

Post #: 278

RE: bye bye RAF - 12/22/2004 12:47:18 AM

wobbly

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline

Man my luck just isn't in on this game. Cacutta bombed again while Dimaond harbour is once again hemmed in by weather.

Andy and Toraq: You can't have your cake and eat it I am afraid. There is no "retire your airforce AND build forts at Calcutta". While I give up the skies over Calcutta his bombers will hit the airfields and my engineers wont build the forts. Andy - I have retired my two best sqds of Hurricanes to wait for the spitfires - they wont take part in any more action in Hurricanes. I am still in mid May so no spits for a month.
It is a nice idea to retire your pilots from the front line to save them, but continuing the cake metaphor, this does not increase their experience. Using training to increase experience takes MONTHS - obviously I don't have months. Now I have no pool pilots I am going to have to find a quiet location to run escorts to bombing raids and the like (as at Darwin). However, even doing this is not increasing their experience at a really noticable rate. My Dutch Demon sqd for instance has gone from average 33 to average 40 in about a month, and this is flying escort to live bombing missions as opposed to training.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/14/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 7
Ki-21 Sally x 84

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 15 destroyed, 8 damaged
Blenheim IF: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 24
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 79

Now I have nothing with which to defend the airfields. His planes fly in and hit EVERY SINGLE PLANE in my kittyhawk sqd. I therefore cannot transfer it out to replenish it's numbers elsewhere. Of course the only thing I can do is to turn on replacements to get fresh planes in. These will all be damaged and with his fixation on Calcutta - bombed on the ground - The is so f'ing frustrating! With the damage his low flying Sallies are doing to my airfields I am not building forts. The weather isn't helping one bit.I get a cloud icon over DIamond Harbour and Calcutta. His bombers diregard this phantom restrction but mine don't want to get wet - grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th Chinese Division, at 30,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 12

No Japanese losses
These are the chinese untis I moved down to put pressure on Moulmein. POintless with the new zones of control - he can too easily surround me. So the Chinese are ordered to retreat.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 88 troops unloading over beach at Mannargudi, 16,23

Japanese ground losses:
98 casualties reported

He is taking another of the small southern Indian port towns. There is no-one here to stop him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Calcutta

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 101215 troops, 615 guns, 796 vehicles

Defending force 55922 troops, 255 guns, 467 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 6)

Japanese ground losses:
1303 casualties reported
Guns lost 21

Allied ground losses:
914 casualties reported
Guns lost 15
Vehicles lost 8

He does not tear down a fort level but I don't put any up either. I want the weather to stop him from bombing - the cloud icons are just window dressing - they don't actually mean anything.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bangalore

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 20086 troops, 210 guns, 6 vehicles

Defending force 13295 troops, 184 guns, 9 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Hmm - well it appears it is onwards and upwards for him in India. he has landed one hell of a lot of unit at Madras it appears - 6 more are on the rail line to Bangalore.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operation Reciprocity is put into action at Karachi. The Illustrious has arrived and the Fulmars from Hermes are loaded upon Her to provide a modicum of AC support for the surface fleet comprinsing most of what remains of the RN - 5 CAs, 4 CLs and 10 DDs. they are going to try to defend the port of Columbo - or more importantly - put some hurt on the Jap Cruisers and persuade ships moving to the Pacific to return.

I bolster the escorts at Diamond Harbour so that the bombers go to Chandpur. Their lack of courage is causing the defense of Calcutta to stumble. If this flight doesn't happen I have to move all teh planes out to Asansol anyway as sitting in one location for too long attracts Jap bombers and they are invincible.

The Oz 2nd continues north. Baring attack from Jap planes it will be making landfall in Bombay in about a week.

Hermes meets her tanker and speeds on the rest of her way to Broome. Waiting here is a sqd of Wildcats and Warhawks.

Port Moresby is groaning under aircraft! I have sent my recreated TV 1a's, 3 sqds of beauforts and 55 Warhawks and P-39s. I notice some of the ships heading to LAe are not AGs but APs and DDs - he will be CAPing them but I hope - oh please for once - to outnumber and out gun him!

A surface TF is created in Noumea to run to Lunga - they are aircraft fodder to attract bombers at Rabaul.

Nighthawk is a couple of days from go.

I fear for my attacks in the South Pacific now. I have not seen his BBs for ages and now the KB has disappeared. He no longer need the same attention he had in India (in the sea anyway). I am starting to loose heart - everything else I plan turns to shight so why should this be any different.

In China my troops continue to retreat from Sian.

(in reply to toraq)

Post #: 279

RE: bye bye RAF - 12/22/2004 1:23:05 AM

Andy Mac

Posts: 15222
Joined: 5/12/2004
From: Alexandria, Scotland
Status: offline

Dont lose heart...

Stretch him out.

Perhaps prepare a "oh crap line" at the Northern Line (Delhi/ Ahmabad)

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 280

RE: bye bye RAF - 12/22/2004 1:26:24 AM

sveint

Posts: 3556
Joined: 1/19/2001
From: Glorious Europe
Status: offline

Tough spot now, should have pulled back from Burma before.

All I can say good luck.

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 281

RE: bye bye RAF - 12/22/2004 2:04:28 AM

Strv103C

Posts: 90
Joined: 11/28/2004
From: Sweden
Status: offline

Shouldn't you get the AVG back soon? In my PBEM one of my air units got sunk and it is listed to come back after 90 days. The manual states 120 days for overruns and planes sunk but this seems to be wrong.

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 282

RE: bye bye RAF - 12/22/2004 5:29:27 AM

Arstavidios

Posts: 780
Joined: 11/19/2004
Status: offline

Great AAR.
Well, looks you have to start winning the war in the South Pacific before you lose it India.
With the bulk of his forces in India the Japanese should not have a lot in the Pacific.
His aircraft can be redeployed there in a couple of days though and his airforce is still in a rather good shape.

(in reply to Strv103C)

Post #: 283

RE: bye bye RAF - 12/22/2004 5:56:48 PM

mlees

Posts: 2263
Joined: 9/20/2003
From: San Diego
Status: offline

quote:

Do others agree that when multiple sqds defend that there should be a possibility that a sqd attacks from an undefended location? Have a combat replay pop-up saying something like 'interceptors bypass escorts - attacking bombers".

A qualified yes: pilot experience should be a factor as well. Newbie fighter jocks should have a harder time getting that lucky break past the escort.

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 284

RE: bye bye RAF - 12/22/2004 6:03:41 PM

mlees

Posts: 2263
Joined: 9/20/2003
From: San Diego
Status: offline

quote:

The weather isn't helping one bit.I get a cloud icon over DIamond Harbour and Calcutta. His bombers diregard this phantom restrction but mine don't want to get wet - grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

This might be another example of the affect low pilot experience might have. Pilots with experience in the 30's or 40's might not fly in rain, while the Jap Betty pilots (who are in their 80's) WILL fly in rain. Not sure tho. Forgive me if this is not news to you...

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 285

RE: bye bye RAF - 12/22/2004 9:35:42 PM

asdicus

Posts: 260
Joined: 5/16/2002
From: Surrey,UK
Status: offline

How are you doing moving your troops back from burma to india ? I remember a while ago you said units were moving - perhaps you can fly some troops and then hope the heavy equipment catches up ? It seems from your observations that you are going to need every man in india soon !

Also you did split up those reinforcement convoys into single ship units ? Those are dangerous waters out there !

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 286

RAF fight back - 12/22/2004 10:58:09 PM

wobbly

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline

Oh those fickle mirth-filled gods of war. They are sitting up in their temple of chaos and laughing at the fool they are making in me.

Andy: as always I try not to - today's results went a fair way towards helping the labouring pump.

Sveint: yeah good point I should have pulled back from Burma earlier and now it is too late - emissary sent to Tokyo with surrender orders....

strv103c: The AVG were actually destroyed - they were set to return after 360 days!! yep that is after I get my first Corsairs.

MLees - yeah I liked that idea personally, it always struck me as odd that the fighters always intercepted. However, PzB did point out that sometimes the fighters do get amongst the bombers anyway so it may just be false perceptions on my part. Also, his fixation with a large escort meant there were only 4 zeros and 7 oscars on duty above Chandpur today. The experience of my heavy bomber units is at mid 60s.

Asdicus: So far this is what has occured: the whole of the 16th Indian brigade has been airlifted to Dimapur. From there the size 12 Dakota sqd has been onlifting it to Diamond harbour. Parts of that unit are in Calcutta now - more on the way. The first part of the 2nd Malayan Brigade has been lifted to Dimapur (a 16 plane load). The 27th Oz Brigade, 3rd (I think) tank Regiment and the 1st malayan Brigade are about 7 miles from the rail link into India. The BFF and two Indian Brigades are about 1 more days march to the last hex (taking on average 8 days to cross). So the cavalry are coming, it is just a quesiton of whether my front can hold?

Today the same little clouds that were over Diamond Harbour yesterday - stopping me from flying my bombers against Chandpur - are over Chnadpur today stopping him form flying against Calcutta. Only this time they are not over Diamond Harbour and my Bombers sortie against Chandpur - 100 of them including 46 B-17s. 73 Jap planes - including many transport ACs - are caught on the ground and many more damaged.

The run off from this is the forts in Calcutta are back up to 7 and the bombers that stop them from being built are not likely to hit me again for a wee while. The whole shooting match moves to Asansol - rapidly moving towards size 5 airifeld status.

The tank company that left Asansol has made it to the intersection between Calcutta and Dacca - it will bombard to try and figure out what is holding the retreat hex.

At Bangalore it appears 4 of his units make it and I expect an attack next turn. He may force me to retreat, I have no forts and only a regiment of the 18th UK division has any fighting prowess.

Reciprocty has left port and steams due West out of Karachi before turning south.

I get a sqd of Hudsons and they will augment my dwindling cache of Catalinas - I have lost 1 on consecutive days in the last 3 - since I only get 3 replacements per month that is heavy losses indeed.

Hermes is one day away from Derby and it's fuel on aircraft.

I move some Mitchells, Hudsons and Martins to Derby to hit the western airfield in Timor - his scout planes located there manage to find ships in Derby. I also increase scouting aircraft in case this is where KB is headed.

At PM the APs sighted yesterday do not continue on their way, only the AGs in Lae harbour were hit and again the FBs were not escorted, I loose 2 P-39s to marauding zeroes.

Nighthawk is postponed another day as the second Carrier division made it to Pago Pago but had retire orders so don't refuel - they head back to do the job this time - why do I feel like these constant hiccups are allowing some serious forces to build against my aspirations in the South?

In San Francisco the BB California - a veteren of Pearl Harbour - is repaired enough to undergo AAA upgrade.

(in reply to asdicus)

Post #: 287

RE: RAF fight back - 12/23/2004 12:21:10 AM

Andy Mac

Posts: 15222
Joined: 5/12/2004
From: Alexandria, Scotland
Status: offline

Nice one 73 Aircraft on the ground has got to hurt him.

Are you planning on escorting 2nd Aus in with CV's or are they staying in the SOPAC area.

It just seems obvious that you will be trying to reinforce therefore he may be waiting for you (if nothing else with LBA from Ceylon)

May be worth using Hermes with a USMC Wildcat Sqn on board for point defence over the Convoy.

(As you need to preserve your UK pilots a la Battle of Britain I am assuming all UK pilots are diverting to LBA so the forum can please not give me a hard time for proposing using US CV capable air on a UK CV !!!)

Andy

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 288

RE: RAF fight back - 12/23/2004 12:48:29 AM

wobbly

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline

Andy

No the 2nd Oz are sneaking their way up the very edge of the map. They are at present slightly above Ceylon but right at the edge. The Hermes is nearly at Brrom and will be ferrying planes. Unfortunately it will be carrying too many to conduct flight operations - een though it will be carrying Wildcats.

I am very worried about the KB lurking about the ocean between Oz and India and yes he will likely be there somewhere.

(in reply to Andy Mac)

Post #: 289

RE: RAF fight back - 12/23/2004 12:56:48 AM

asdicus

Posts: 260
Joined: 5/16/2002
From: Surrey,UK
Status: offline

Glad to see your burmese troops are well on the way back to india. I am concerned that you are still focused on reinforcing calcutta without sending men to Asansol. This is a vital junction because it controls supply movement between karachi and your troops still down on indian-burmese border. Neglect this town to your peril ! I mentioned before that you would be unwise to focus heavily on calcutta - other towns nearer karachi are more vital in my opinion.

In my game vs the ai I am having better luck vs the zeroes by flying my fighters at 20000 only. Yes sometimes they do nothing or miss the action but at least they can bounce the enemy and escape - after all this was the standard tactic used by the AVG etc in the war. Don't fly wirraway or buffalo vs zeroes at all - it just gives them easy kills and you loose pilots. Your p-39 in new guinea need p-40 top over to protect them.

Thanks again for the riveting story. Don't let the realworld life over xmas stop you from updating this story please !

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 290

RE: RAF fight back - 12/23/2004 3:26:37 AM

wobbly

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline

Hi asdicus - agreed asansol is vital and is being reinforced as much as possible. I think I am a little fortunate that he is fixated with Calcutta at the moment. I think he made a choice to take Calcutta and Asansol will fall like the rest of the rotten house. Thankfully for me Calcutta has shown a bit of backbone and I think it is becoming a personal task. All of the troops retreating from Burma have preparaion points aiming at either Asansol or Lucknow - further up the rail line.

Earlier in the AAR I wrote that I have had no luck escorting the P-39s. I have 70 fighters at PM on escort - they just will not go with the fighter bombers.

(in reply to asdicus)

Post #: 291

RE: Two faced weather system! - 12/23/2004 6:00:15 PM

Speedysteve

Posts: 15998
Joined: 9/11/2001
From: Reading, England
Status: offline

Hi Wobbly,

Just wondered if you had a map of your current sit in India showing forces and where they are etc?

Are you due much in soon at Karachi?

I still believe you can do this. It will be tough but if you can hold on in India and get into 43 alive and kicking you will have a chance to take back stuff in the South Pacific. I know you are really tempted to fight back in the South Pacific to at least divert PZB's attention but all i'd say is be cautious. I believe you have a lot to lose as well as potentially gain from an attack there. If you lose your carriers there then PZB will prob get the required 4-1 point lead no matter what you do.

Regards,

Steven

(in reply to mlees)

Post #: 292

RE: Two faced weather system! - 12/23/2004 8:48:24 PM

sveint

Posts: 3556
Joined: 1/19/2001
From: Glorious Europe
Status: offline

We all love this AAR - but I'm more pessimistic than most. His Pacific offensive will do nothing for India (sending US carriers to India would have). I'm still crossing fingers for you Wobbly. Prove me wrong.

(in reply to Speedysteve)

Post #: 293

RE: Two faced weather system! - 12/23/2004 10:04:48 PM

IKerensky

Posts: 374
Joined: 6/7/2001
Status: offline

About your unescorted FB...

Have you tried putting the escort ALSO on naval bombing but higher ? I remember seeing hit on some PG and thus on some of your mission, thus with a bit of luck you will have the 2 force flying coordonated to the hex. This can even be escorted by a third force...

Lower I have seen escort for FB is 1000 feet, with AVG escorting Buffaloes from Singapour.... but it always target fat AP/AK...

(in reply to sveint)

Post #: 294

RE: Two faced weather system! - 12/24/2004 7:59:18 AM

Hornblower

Posts: 1361
Joined: 9/10/2003
From: New York'er relocated to Chicago
Status: offline

Agreed this is a very entertaining, and informative post. who whold have ever thought that the IJN/IJA could have pulled this off. now the real question is does this open up PZB to a USn/USMC attack in the east??

(in reply to IKerensky)

Post #: 295

RE: Two faced weather system! - 12/27/2004 5:08:43 AM

wobbly

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline

Receprocity finds a trap laid for any reinforcements coming from Oz. ANd another unit trying to find the Ozzies finds one of my tripwire units.
At last a sweep into LAe with my Warhawks start to net some of the zeros there. The Japanese at Lunga at last realise the futility of their continued defense after suffering a seaborne bombardment.

Sveint: I believe you to be correct. I cannot amass enough defensive firepower to stop the Japs while I don't use troops from other locations - I cannot make them appear via land - so his attack to India is taking advantage of that. It doesn't belittle anything he has done though. Truly a marvellous effort and it is still fun trying to at least slow him down.

Kerensky - damn good idea - I'll try that when he moves some more AGs towards Lae.

Hornblower: Well certainly not me, I thought he might try India or Oz in an offhand sort of way. The possiblity created itself when he could still attack while the zero was potent. I am getting stronger, it just isn't happening fast enough. I need 2 more Divisions not what's left of the Oz 2nd!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/17/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
Ki-21 Sally x 21
Ki-48 Lily x 12

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 31

Well I took the opportunity, after hammering his bombers on the ground, to take replacements for the Kittyhawks, he manages to destroy one of them but now at least I have been able to move some out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Koepang , at 28,77

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 16
B-25C Mitchell x 14

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7

Another strike on his recon base in the West of Timor - these guys stand down this turn as I know they will meet zeros if I don't change them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 1
P-40E Warhawk x 45

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 8 destroyed

Both sides suffer equal losses over Lae - but that is a miracle in and of its own.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th Division, at 17,19

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 14
Wellington III x 24

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1

I am trying to suppress the 55th Division currently at Bangalore. There is no stopping the units here as he has Divisions to my regiments again, but I really have to try and slow him down until the 5th Indian can join the defense.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th Chinese Division, at 30,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
G3M Nell x 17
G4M1 Betty x 25

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x G3M Nell bombing at 6000 feet
20 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet
6 x G3M Nell bombing at 6000 feet
5 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 7,15

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 10
Swordfish x 15

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 8 destroyed, 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
BB Hyuga, Torpedo hits 1

Hullo - what the hell is this? It appears PzB has moved units up to cover the gap between the side of the map and Ceylon. My swordfish, that i ummed and ard about leaving on the Illustrious reach out and slap a few torps into PzB's BB force! I imagine he was waiting for a defensive action much like the one i was mounting. Well the BBs take torps but don't seem too damaged.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 7,15

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 10
Swordfish x 5

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima

It would have been so sweet to manage to plug another couple into the Kirishma as well but I am still happy for this little surprise
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 4,15

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 54
D3A Val x 8
B5N Kate x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Foch, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Then - further to the West some Jap carriers appear - launching masses of zeros and a few dead-eye-dick bombers onto a tripwire AK that had already suffered damage while in port at Columbo. The bombers are bitsas from locations around Japan. I am picking that these are the CVLs. This does not fill me with any more confidence - look at the number of zeros!!! He knows I have swordfish here now so he will have zeros on defense - can't loose a carrier to those antiquated aircraft. Knowing this I actually put them on the beach - they've had their fun. I also put the Fulmars at 26000 feet. They can't stop the zeros and will just be hammered - better to have air cover than nothing though. Instead I am relying on the AAA of the ships and even better - weather stopping the attacks at all.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 4,15

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
D3A Val x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Foch, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Foch suffers more pain and seccumbs to her injuries.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Lunga, at 67,97

Allied Ships
DD Evertsen
DD John D. Edwards
DD Cassin
CL Detroit
CL Adelaide
CL Perth
CA Canberra

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported

My surface ships roll into Lunga harbour and laywaste the Japanese camp. Wildcats and Tomahawks fly cover over them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 45,24

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 75093 troops, 776 guns, 153 vehicles

Defending force 1836 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 469 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
372 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

The Japs continue to roll up the North of China - nothing I can do about this - I have tried to go around the long way.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bangalore

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 771 troops, 23 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 12576 troops, 123 guns, 8 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

If he doesn't take the place in the next turn it can only be another one. I ready the troops to pull out of yet another Indian city.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lunga

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6604 troops, 51 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 866 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 172 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
553 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

At last the Japs on Lunga give in. The NLF their tries a Banzai charge which is cut to pieces on the Allied lines. The ships are staying here under the fighters to try and tempt Bettie and Nell out from their holes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As you can see from my picture I have managed to slip the aussies past the carriers but not far enough to escape the attention of scout planes on his carriers. The weather saves a few Aussies (until tomorrow maybe?) The TF, that was singleton ships following the slowest, now splits its directions as well. I thought on this long and hard and have decided that PzB will move his carriers North and slightly East. I am probably wrong but then I have little choice. The faster APs go to full speed. They can move 6 hexes total in the next turn and they do so in the direction of the North Western side of the map. The slower APs head South East - his LR range bombers from Trim and Madras could cause major problems here. Each TF has a single DD in attendance.

I really must have other targets of opportunity for the Jap bombers and I have decided to chance my arm with the carriers. They are heading further North of where I expect him to move - hopefully still within range of his carrier planes but within long range. There are planety of AAA welding ships for them to aim at. I also split off a couple of very low value DDs as targets. Panaji gives up another couple of ships and there is still a tripwire ships floating around between the carriers and his BBs. Speaking of his BBs I don't know what he intends to do with them - or more - what they are here for in the first place. I have a search report of a single AP - is this a more northerly invasion?

So there will be fun and games in the next turn - maybe next few turns.

In Madras a large contingent of units is reconned. He is changing the tack of his attack. I relaly have to somehow get the Aussies through this cordon - even if it isn't all of them (Aussies are good swimmers apparently).

The first unit has made it through the trail to India - a Malay Brigade. It sets out towards Asansol. The Aussies should be there in the next turn - and the turn after that another large Tanks unit.

All of my bombers retire to out of the way bases to replenish morale and numbers. I am doing the same with a few of the troops at Calcutta - they pull back to Diamond Harbour.

The two Chinese units I have by Rangoon refuse to move back to their lines. Each turn the movement orders allow me to move to their mates, but each turn they are back as if they were never set to go. Now the Japs are on top of them and another idiosyncrasy of the game looks to unhorse me.

In Broome the Hermes takes on two sqds of fighters and puts to sea. Last turn Betties tried to make it to Broome but their navigation falled and they couldn't find the port.

In PM I again put the Warhawks against Lae.

Operation Nighthawk is just waiting on the Carriers to come into range - 1 maybe two days.

Attachment (1)

(in reply to Hornblower)

Post #: 296

The numbers don't add up - 12/28/2004 12:08:20 AM

wobbly

Posts: 1095
Joined: 10/16/2002
From: Christchurch, New Zealand
Status: offline

PzB's Carriers move North East and my carriers react towards them (react is not on??). The weather though hides all shipping bar two of my target DDs.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/18/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 81 troops unloading over beach at Trivandrum, 13,21

Japanese ground losses:
56 casualties reported

Another base lines up for occupation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Calcutta , at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
Ki-21 Sally x 20
Ki-48 Lily x 27

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
Blenheim IF: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 35

The Jap bombers continue to hit Calcutta - this time catching more of my Kittyhawks on the ground.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 1
P-40E Warhawk x 37

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged

The P-40s take damage but manage to shoot down 3 to 2 against the zeros at Lae.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 6,13

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Vendetta, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Vendetta weathers an earlier attack from torp bombers but takes abomb from the Vals.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 6,13

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 11
B5N Kate x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Edsall, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Edsall is less lucky taking two torps - she sinks.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lunga

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6614 troops, 51 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 580 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 178 to 1

Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Another shock attack at Lunga against the NLF. The Banzai charge loosing no troops! However, I have cut out two naval bombardments that are listed as killing 60 troops.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Aussies managed to escape destruction this turn - the units North of his carriers will continue north at full speed. The Southern group will move back to the West searching for the side of the map. The carriers are heading North by North West at full speed this time. He did move to the North East and this move may at least mean he is attacking at long range. THe problem with the way I am doing this is that I cannot attract his carriers towards the troops if I can help it. If he figures this out he will have a very good idea where I am hiding.

The troops at Bangalore are retreating. I may have a level 1 for there now but PzB has said there are 7 Divisions recently landed at Madras! That is just too many for me to handle. I do not have the forces to continue this defense. Even if all the Aussies make it ashore this will not be enough. More than anything it is the engineers that have kept me alive - I don't have enough to stop two assaults.

Well last turn he landed at Trimvandrum - so I move swordfish and beauforts to Columbo. Along with them are the Wellingtons - they are after the airfield at Trim. I expect he has many bombers set to strike Naval - hopefully the Trim ones are just too out of range and stay on the tarmac ready to be hit by bombers.

This will be my main aim from now on - to hit his planes on the deck. I can't kill them in the air and the points I get from killing Jap troops - who don't die during Banzai charges - is nothing next to the cost of my own losses. So the plan is to hit aircraft that do give me points on the same level as my own. For every point I get he must get 4. He needs another 2000 points as he currently sits. Calcutta, Bombay and Columbo are the locations of greatest points. The base in the North of China that I have relinquished is worth 300. If he comes East with the 7 Divisions currently at Madras I will also loose the 3 BBs at Diamond Harbour - another 500 points - sigh. The numbers are pretty ugly.

My Carriers in the South Pacific begin the advance on Tarawa - which by the way is worth a whopping 9 points or so to him. There are no points to be had in the Pacific until you get to Saipan and Guam - a long way off.

I am sorry Allied fans - this is really looking like the Jap Prosperity sphere will include India and bring hte war to a halt in early 43.

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 297

RE: The numbers don't add up - 12/28/2004 12:38:22 AM

Hornblower

Posts: 1361
Joined: 9/10/2003
From: New York'er relocated to Chicago
Status: offline

"Don't Give up the Ship."

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 298

RE: The numbers don't add up - 12/28/2004 1:09:06 AM

ElvisDaKing

Posts: 130
Joined: 9/7/2004
From: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Status: offline

Boy, the King (George

) is counting on you to defend the jewel of his crown : India.
Failure is not an option.
You'll win because you have something he has not : Hope.
He is commiting all his ressources, trying to defeat only a small bunch of heroes fighting for democracy.
Every day he s weaker. Soon wind will blow in the otherside.
Use the Force young Padawan, use the Force...

_____________________________

'To my point, in war, there s just one attractive thing : the victory Parade... What sucks, it s all the things before.... We should get the enlist payroll and do the parade right away, before that it get totally screwed up'
Un Taxi pour Tobrouk

(in reply to Hornblower)

Post #: 299

RE: The numbers don't add up - 12/28/2004 1:47:32 AM

Strv103C

Posts: 90
Joined: 11/28/2004
From: Sweden
Status: offline

The good news here are as numerous as there are pigs on the moon. It's game over if you lose India unless you sink the whole Jap fleet.

(in reply to wobbly)

Post #: 300

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