Rising Sun or Sunset? - Jumper vs Joseph - NO JOE HERE, PLEASE!!!

[bigbaba]

your strategic map of the "Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere" looks very impressiv.

long live the emperor...banzai! banzai! banzai![;)]

one question about supplying PM:

is it possible to supply PM via buna in WITP? in UV you can send barges from lae to buna and supply PM "over land". with a strong CAP lae is (at least in UV) a save harbor for the japanese to unload transport ships there which feed the barge-TF moveing to buna from lae.

[jumper]

ORIGINAL: bigbaba
one question about supplying PM:

is it possible to supply PM via buna in WITP? in UV you can send barges from lae to buna and supply PM "over land". with a strong CAP lae is (at least in UV) a save harbor for the japanese to unload transport ships there which feed the barge-TF moveing to buna from lae.

It SHOULD be possible. The supply path goes either to Buna or to Lae, so any of these places should be able to send the supplies. That is a teory..

My personal experience is very bad. I have experienced several times having 100k suplies in Lae or Buna while PM was "in red" and nothing happened. I still hope it will work this time, but I´m rather using every possible way to get supplies there. AKs would not make it, but barges still can.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: jumper

ORIGINAL: bigbaba
one question about supplying PM:

is it possible to supply PM via buna in WITP? in UV you can send barges from lae to buna and supply PM "over land". with a strong CAP lae is (at least in UV) a save harbor for the japanese to unload transport ships there which feed the barge-TF moveing to buna from lae.

It SHOULD be possible. The supply path goes either to Buna or to Lae, so any of these places should be able to send the supplies. That is a teory..

My personal experience is very bad. I have experienced several times having 100k suplies in Lae or Buna while PM was "in red" and nothing happened. I still hope it will work this time, but I´m rather using every possible way to get supplies there. AKs would not make it, but barges still can.

I don´t know how the air threat looks like, but you could also think of using fast transport CLs and DDs. They can move 6 hexes so they would stay somewhere around Gili Gili before they sprint in to unload. With a TF of a couple of CLs and DDs you can bring in thousands of supply points within two weeks.

[jumper]

Hi Castor,
 
I have considered fast transports too. It is a good idea, but I´m afraid, that
a) he keeps some of his long range 4E on naval attack, and I don´t want to loose valuable DDs in unnneccessary resupply operations
b) it could provoke him to tighten the blockade. for some reason those barges leaves him calm, but CL/DDs (probably reported by his recon as CAs) would force him to react. and I don´t want that.. [;)]
 
 
A good day for Empire. The Port Moresby ambush was a tremendeous success!
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/26/43

Yesterday I have set 405 fighters from Lae to LRCAP Port Moresby and hoped Joe will run directly to it. It is pleasure to report that it worked nearly perfectly. The weather was clear all around and 1st wave of allied planes arrived as expected. What was not expected was a huge escort and low numbers on my own side. When I set 405 planes on LRCAP I expected much more planes over Port Moresby and not only 70. It is 17,3% efficiency.. 70 japanese fighters against 120 US fighters followed by 150 4E:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 18
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 27
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 7
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 18

Allied aircraft
Sunderland x 9
P-38G Lightning x 119
B-17E Fortress x 41
PB4Y Liberator x 15
B-24D Liberator x 93

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 2 destroyed, 14 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 6 destroyed, 15 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 15 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 89 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 4 destroyed, 10 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 5 destroyed, 5 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 22 destroyed, 44 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Runway hits 3
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1
 
It was a bloody battle, where US fighters were easy prey. Fatigued and at the end of their range, they couldn´t stand against the cream of imperial pilots and they were falling down in droves. And finally all remaining enemy fighters broke the contact and fled. Allied 4Es were once again left alone against japanese fighters. My own pilots were already tired, many of them in damaged planes with 1/3 of their comrades already lost, but no matter what, they challanged incoming bombers and battle continued. Another 5 japanese fighters went down in flames, but they were accompanied by 30 four engined monsters. Many other planes turned around and fled from the battle leaving the trail of smoke or just lost the courage to continue. From the original number of 150 bombers, only less then 50 bombers made it through. They hastily dropped their bombs wherever they could with pathetic results and run away. The first round goes clearly to me and 45 surviving fighters are still guarding the skies..
 
It took some time but finally 2nd wave of 65 US bombers arrived. Meanwhile several damaged planes flew back to Lae and some reinforcements arrived and therefore unlucky americans run into the CAP of 60 fighters:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 9th/A Division, at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 16
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 25
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 6
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 13

Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 5
B-17E Fortress x 19
B-24D Liberator x 41

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 destroyed, 15 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 4 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator VI: 5 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 13 destroyed
B-24D Liberator: 21 destroyed
Sunderland: 1 destroyed
 
This was a one sided battle and exactly what I hoped for. Despite the very effective deffensive fire, the bombers were falling down in fames one by one and only 20 of them survived to drop their bombs. The jungle is lightly damaged..
 
The 3rd wave was the smallest one:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 9th/B Division, at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 15
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 24
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 6
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 13

Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 4
B-17E Fortress x 8
B-24D Liberator x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 5 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 2 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator VI: 4 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 10 destroyed, 1 damaged
Sunderland: 1 destroyed

All enemy planes were shot down or chased away..
 
This ambush was a great success. During the 3 battles I have shot down 91 P-38G and 96 4Es at the cost of 29 of my fighters lost in a-a plus another 8 planes lost as ops. In total it cost me 37 fighters and 21 pilots. I suppose Port Moresby migh enjoy a few peaceful days now..
 
 
I don´t even know why, but I still keep 2E fighters in Timoeka:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 10
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 10

Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Kinshu Maru
AK Tsukuba Maru
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 10
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 10

Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-S Irving: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Mutsuyo Maru
AK Tsukuba Maru
 
Again their performance is not shiny. At least they shot down more then they lost.
 
We have exchanged the usual raids all around the map and I though the turn is over, but then came the surprise of the day:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Broome, at 21,85

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Racehorse
DD Jupiter
DD Fortune
DD Decoy
DD Tenedos
DD Stronghold
DD Witte de With
DD Van Nes
DD Mustin
DD Anderson
DD Lansdowne
CLAA Ceres
CL Sumatra
CL Java
CA Suffolk

Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 18
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 4
 
The allied TF came from nowhere (Perth), bombarded Broome and stayed there for the whole day. Unfortunately 90 crack Ki-21 in Derby were on ground attack..
 

 
I don´t know what does it mean. Is it just a raid, or is going to invade this base? My recon planes didn´t spot anything, but they didn´t spot this bombardment TF either. I have decided not to over-react. Derby was reinforced by 54 G4M and all planes were put on naval attack. Availible transport planes are gathering on Timor in case it would be neccessary to get more troops to Broome, which is now guarded only by Ikaei SNLF and a base force behind lvl2 forts. Hopefully tommorrow will show how serious this threat really is..

[bigbaba]

I have shot down 91 P-38G and 96 4Es at the cost of 29 of my fighters

BANZAI!

another victory for the samurais of the emperor. congratulation for the succesfull trap.

can you post the avg. experience of the participated pilots? and maybe the page with your aces and their kill numbers please?

you must have alot of tripple aces after your succesfull air operations in the last year, jumper.

[jumper]

uff, I was a bit busy in the last days, but finaly I´m able to update the AAR again.

Thanks bigbaba. I don´t have as much triple aces as i would like because I have more pilots in my groups and so the large numbers of kills are dispersed between much more pilots the is usual. You will find the top list down in the AAR. [;)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/27/43

Enemy bombardment TF sais "goodbye":
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Broome, at 21,85

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Racehorse
DD Jupiter
DD Fortune
DD Decoy
DD Tenedos
DD Stronghold
DD Witte de With
DD Van Nes
DD Mustin
DD Anderson
DD Lansdowne
CLAA Ceres
CL Sumatra
CL Java
CA Suffolk

Japanese ground losses:
87 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 68
Port supply hits 1

The losses are unimportant and the base will be fully operational in couple of days again. I´m glad I can´t say the same about this allied TF. Recon planes spotted no transports aproaching, so it menas this was just a raid. And it turned out ot be "too expensive" raid, because retreating ships were spotted still in the range of my alerted bombers in Derby and they promptly took off:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 16,85

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 47

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 8 damaged

Allied Ships
CLAA Ceres, Bomb hits 1
CL Java, Bomb hits 2
CL Sumatra, Bomb hits 3,  on fire
DD Tenedos
DD Anderson
DD Witte de With
DD Fortune
CA Suffolk, Bomb hits 4,  on fire
DD Mustin

This attack could be much more succesfull if all availible planes would get the order to attack. For some reason all 54 crack Betties stayed at home (Derby as well) despite having the same orders as their army counterparts (only their range was set to 15). Still the army level bombers delivered a few 250AP bombs right to the mark. All enemies major ships were hit by penetration hits and they will spend a few weeks in drydocks. I would rather see them going down (WHY JUST THOSE BETTIES DIDN´T FLY???[:@]), but this is fine too. His western fleet was reduced to a few DDs and will be no threat for a while.
 
 
After the yesterdays sloughter above the Port Moresby, all US planes stayed at home today. This is great, because now I´m bombing his units there while he is not bombing mine. Therefore my strength slowly grows again. Besides that the AF is already repaired to the level, the transport planes from Rabaul and Lae can continue with evacuation of non combat units. Whole 7th CD unit and 53rd construction battalion are already in Rabaul repairing disabled guns and squads. Now is the turn for IJN base force to follow them.
 

I have tried to hunt down the sub loitering around Saipan, but:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 61,60

Japanese Ships
PC Shonon Maru #3, Torpedo hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage
PC Ch 29
PC Ch 24
PC Ch 11
PC Ch 3
PC Kyo Maru #6
APD APD-46
APD APD-35

Allied Ships
SS Gurnard

Will get her next time..

And here is the picture with my top pilots:


My best unit is F1/3rd Daitai based in Ahmadabad (India). 5 triple aces are in this unit!

[jumper]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/28/43

India:
the front is stable and I feel safe here. It is pretty unexpected considering the fact I´m facing good part of Chinese army and British-Indian armies reinforced by several US units (7th division, some RCT rgts..). And now 2 fresh IJA divisions arrived at Delphi and within a few days they will be thrown into the action. It should cause him some troubles as I will try to cut of some of his troops. There is only one thing which bothers me now. Very soon he will get about 10 provisional US tank regiments as reinforcement in Karachi and I don´t know how I will stop these..! [:(]
 
NG:
Currently I rule the skies here and allied air forces stay away from Port Moresby. My main base is Lae (with Siador as back up AF) and most of its bombers are attacking his LCUs besieging PM. Joe probably tought he can send reinforcements while bombers are set to ground attack, but he forgot about Rabaul. Today my search planes spotted troop convoy unloading troops and it triggered the responce:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 26
J2M Jack x 8
G4M1 Betty x 6
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 50
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AP Esperance Bay, Torpedo hits 1
AP Wharton


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
 
First arrived 6 Betties from Lae. It is not much, because all bombers are really on ground attack, but they arrived with big escort to clear the way in case of some LRCAP. There was none and bombers from Rabaul had a field day:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 8
G4M2 Betty x 48
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 130

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AP Esperance Bay, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
AP McCawley, Torpedo hits 4,  on fire,  heavy damage
AP Wharton, Torpedo hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage
MSW Tern, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
Allied ground losses:
150 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
 
Parts of 1st Australian divison had to swim. Now Joe knows that if he wants to send reinforcements here, he has to do it with all parade.. [;)]

 
Australia:
some enemy units are closing to Derby. 2 tank regiments leads their way and infantry divisons follow. They will meet my 16th army soon..
 
 

[jumper]

Double update
 
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/29/43

bombers are bombing, troops are marching.. all quiet..
 
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/30/43

Again pretty calm turn with only one action. Joe seems to lost one empty TK convoy, which decided that the best way from Australia back to WC is right through Solomons. My pilots of float search plans from Tulagi were amazed to find big convoy of US TKs just a few hundert miles SW from Guadalcanal. Neverthelss they immedietly passed this information to Lunga, where 2 daitais and 1 chutai of G4M are based. They took of in two waves and found the reported convoy easily:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 64,100

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
G4M2 Betty x 57

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 11 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Marblehead, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
TK Meton
TK Paco, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
TK Gulfking, Torpedo hits 1
TK Olympic, Torpedo hits 1

Frankly said this is pretty bad show from my crews (xp 80+). CL Marblehead was heavily damaged, but besides that only 3 TKs were lightly damaged..
 
2nd wave was even less succesfull:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 64,100

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
G4M2 Betty x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 7 damaged

Allied Ships
TK Paco,  on fire
TK Gulfking

NOTHING! Not a single hit.. And because many planes were damaged during these attacks, Lunga was able to launch only 28 bombers in teh afternoon:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 64,100

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 2 destroyed, 20 damaged

Allied Ships
TK Thermo, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
TK Hoxbar
TK Meton
DD Chevalier, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Saufley
 
Another TK is lightly damaged and DD is sunk. It is pretty poor show and I´m really disappointed. When you have big TK TF without air cover on one side and 63 CRACK Betties on the other side only 5 hexes away, you usually expect sloughter (in the game conditions). I have managed to damage 4 TKs, sink 1 DD and probably sink one old CL.. [8|] I didn´t  watch the whole replay, but I suppose the defensive AA fire is behind this debacle. Seems like TKs are better AA platforms then CLAAs..[;)] Well, maybe I can bag some more tommorrow..
 
In Australia (near Derby) 2 allied tank regiments entered the hex with 16th army. Many more units are reported to follow them. I have ordered the general counter attack supported by all availible bombers. In the worst case I will chase away 2 tank units. In the best case some more allied units will join them just before my attack starts and will be routed too. It might by me another month before he will try it again with bigger hammer..

[bigbaba]

your betty pilots should not get any sake and sushi for at least one week because of their poor preformance. maybe they will do it better next time.[;)]

[jumper]

I can just hope. But it is not the first time was disappointed with their performance. At least I know who will be my first Kamikaze adepts..
 
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/01/43

Between Noumea and Brisbane I got anot her transport:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 58,113

Japanese Ships
SS I-11, hits 5,  on fire,  heavy damage

Allied Ships
AK Benjamin Holt, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
AVD Coos Bay
AVD Chincoteague
AK Edmund Fanning
MSW Arnidale
AVD Hulbert
DD Arrow
DD Paul Jones

Unfortunately this time it costs me a sub.. Allied convoys are now much better protected and attacking one is a very dangerous mission. Also I´m very short of subs right now because too many subs are damaged. Basicaly it means I have now only one last I-boat operating between Noumea and Brisbane.

"Lost" tankers are sprinting away from Guadalcanal like mad, but still they are within the range:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 65,101

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
TK Gulfking
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 64,104

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
G4M2 Betty x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied Ships
TK Hoxbar, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
TK Hagan, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
TK Dillwyn
DD Saufley, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
TK Hugoton
 
I think tommorrow will be the last chance to sink anything. So far I have sink a DD, CL, heavily damaged another DD and lightly damaged 6 TKs..
 
 
Besides that all is quite. I forgot to give orders to 16th Army near Derby (Australia) to attack so they will attack tommorrow. And in India my 2 reinforcements divisions are on positions and ready to cut off the enemy.

[jumper]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/02/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 63,72

Japanese Ships
MSW W.25, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
MSW W.29
MSW W.27
MSW W.26
MSW W.24
MSW W.23
PC Wakamiya
PC Mutsure

Allied Ships
SS Tinosa, hits 2

Sometimes I wonder if it is worth to form ASW TF at all. They are loosing more ships then they are sinking..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 63,72

Japanese Ships
MSW W.29
MSW W.27
MSW W.26
MSW W.24
MSW W.23
PC Wakamiya
PC Mutsure

Allied Ships
SS Tinosa, hits 7

SS Timosa should be at least moderately damaged now. All in all it was not such a bad trade..


In Australia the leading enemy tank formation was attacked from the air:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Australian Tank Regiment, at 23,86

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 60

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 3

This attack was followed by general charge of the whole 16th Army. The attack came at the last possible moment, because huge allied reinforcements arrived just a few moments ago. One more day of waiting and enemy would be digged in and ready to welcome any attack with steel. But now those units were routed and thrown away one by one as they were arriving:
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 23,86

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 81014 troops, 876 guns, 301 vehicles, Assault Value = 1766

Defending force 36086 troops, 275 guns, 320 vehicles, Assault Value = 938

Japanese max assault: 3604 - adjusted assault: 4298

Allied max defense: 866 - adjusted defense: 876

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1904 casualties reported
Guns lost 92
Vehicles lost 21

Allied ground losses:
719 casualties reported
Guns lost 12
Vehicles lost 34

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!



Another good news arrived from Lunga. Damaged US tankers were found again and this time they were finished:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 67,102

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
G4M2 Betty x 23

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
TK Gulfking, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
TK Olympic, Torpedo hits 5,  on fire,  heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 67,102

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
G4M2 Betty x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
TK Gulfking, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
TK Paco, Torpedo hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage


In India the situation is going to be very interesting soon. Huge chinese army is sieging Ahmadabad, but despite the numerical advantage they don´t dare to attack. 15th army will hold them here:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ahmadabad

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 122286 troops, 1302 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3236

Defending force 99054 troops, 1083 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 1509


Japanese ground losses:
79 casualties reported

And this is the stack I´m planning to cut off and surround totally. On the map bellow is marked with "A": 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 26,7

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 55751 troops, 377 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1432

Defending force 68231 troops, 626 guns, 942 vehicles, Assault Value = 1525

20th Army is already stronger then the enemy and well digged in. I will withdraw 2 tank regiments westwards to reinforce the Mixed army group there. 26th and 110th division, which arrived there yesterday, will get one more day to rest and then I will launch the operation "TROUBLEBOY I". It will be processed in three phases:

1st phase - 110th divison will march NW to defeat the weak chinese unit there and cut off the enemy supply line
2nd phase - One regiment of 110th division will threathen the enemy rear by marching to the west, while remaining two regiments will march to the east. They will be supported by 26th division and 1-2 tank regiments. From the Lahore the Sasebo 8th SNLF will close the pocket from the east. The combined allied army "A" will be then totally surrounded.
3rd phase - 2/3 of 110th division, 26th division and 1-2 tank regiments will have to hold their ground against the expected counter attack of 7 unknown enemy units with which they will share the hex. All availible bombers will support them. There are another 9 unknown enemy units NE of Ahmadabad and they are expected to attack my lines from the west. Mixed army group (56th division and 1-2 tank regiments) and 28th Army have to stop them. I´m throwing nearly everything I have into this operation. My whole reserves will be made by 2nd Yokosuka SNLF in Delphi and 2 artillery units which just finished unloading in Diamond Harbour! This is goung to be fun.. [;)]
 

[jumper]

Very calm turn..
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/03/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 68,103

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
G4M2 Betty x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
TK Thermo, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
The last damaged TK goes down..
 
 
I have only two news:
 
1. 2 enemy units (identified as 3rd Australian Bde and HQ) entered the hex occupied by 16th Army near Derby (Australia). The 16th Army is ordered to attack again.
2. Operation TROUBLEBOY I started. 110th divison is on the march. BANZAI!

[jumper]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/04/43

Finally a succesfull mission:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 82,85

Japanese Ships
PC Toshi Maru #3
MSW W.22
MSW W.21
MSW W.20
MSW W.17
APD APD-37
APD APD-36
APD APD-31

Allied Ships
SS Dragonet, hits 11,  on fire,  heavy damage

The sub is not confirmed sunk, but I hope she won´t make it..

And another one:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 63,71

Japanese Ships
MSW W.24
MSW W.29
MSW W.27
MSW W.26
MSW W.23
PC Wakamiya
PC Mutsure

Allied Ships
SS Runner, hits 3

This the damage is probbaly only light..
 
This sub is not an easy prey:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 28,51

Japanese Ships
PC Shonan Maru #17, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
PC Ch 21
PC Ch 20
PC Ch 19
PC Ch 5
PC Showa Maru #3
PC Shonan Maru #1
PC Fumi Maru #3

Allied Ships
SS Steelhead, hits 2

I´m VERY short of dedicated ASW vessels and I really can´t afford to loose one such ship every two turns. For ASW duty I´m using all PCs (those new models are excellent, but even the old ones can do the job), all APDs and all MSWs with ASW value 3. I have personal limit of max 8 ships per TF but thanks to the losses most of those TFs is made of 5-7 ships..[:(] And it is going to be worse..

 
In Australia the 3rd Australian Bde was attacked by bombers from Derby:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 3rd Australian Brigade, at 23,86

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 35
Ki-21 Sally x 66

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
103 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

This unit was badly disrupted by this attack and had no chance to hold the attack of the whole 16th Army:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 23,86

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 77068 troops, 771 guns, 282 vehicles, Assault Value = 1558

Defending force 9131 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 112

Japanese max assault: 1352 - adjusted assault: 1734

Allied max defense: 61 - adjusted defense: 9

Japanese assault odds: 192 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
276 casualties reported
Guns lost 9


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

The 3rd Australian Bde together with 1st Australian Army HQ were defeated and forced to retreat. The enemy army group suffered serious defeat in the last days and will not threathen Derby for a while. Joe will need bigger hammer to defeat my 16th Army..
 
 
OPERATION TROUBLEBOY I
After the forced march the 110th division arrived at the attack position in a SINGLE day! Tommorow it will launch an shock attack against the tattered chinese unit. Unless some reinforcements arrive, or my division will be wrecked by enemy bombers, I expect to win here easily. And the 2nd phase could start then immedietly..

[jumper]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/05/43

For some reason, the Ahmadabad AF was attacked today by a small group of enemy planes:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ahmadabad , at 24,8

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 50
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 35
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 62

Allied aircraft
Avenger II x 4
Beaufighter VIC x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Avenger II: 4 destroyed
Beaufighter VIC: 6 destroyed
 
OPERATION TROIBLEBOY I:

110th division, supported by 100 Ki-49 from Delphi, attacked enemy unit:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 25,6

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 23797 troops, 267 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 504

Defending force 4084 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 115

Japanese max assault: 936 - adjusted assault: 1110

Allied max defense: 112 - adjusted defense: 12

Japanese assault odds: 92 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
296 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Allied ground losses:
190 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
 
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

As was expected, the chinese unit was defeated easily and retreated towards Malir. Phase II begins now. I have decided to take all tanks (3rd tank division and 2 tank regiments) from the 20th army and move them westwards. I will need all I have to repel expected allied counteroffensive.

[jumper]

Double update..

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/06/43 - 10/07/43

Not much happened during these two days. Only training missions and my bombing campaign against US troops besieging Port Moresby. The only exception is the nasty sub attack on my TK convoy transporting oil from Palembang to Sasebo:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 31,50

Japanese Ships
TK Mirii Maru, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
TK Funakawa Maru
MSW Tama Maru #5
MSW Tama Maru #3
MSW Rokko Maru
MSW Ranzan Maru

Allied Ships
SS Paddle

Large TK was hit south of Saigon. It will make it, but all cargo (16k of oil) is lost. Enviromental disaster..  I have to move some more patrol planes here.

OPERATION TROUBLEBOY I:

Troops are marching and everything goes according to the plan. Most of the enemy air attacks were wasted on wrong targets (Bombay, Rawalpidi etc..), but finally there was one, which was aimed right:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 110th/A Division, at 25,6

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 14
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 10

Allied aircraft
PBY Catalina x 4
Wellington III x 9
Liberator VI x 21
Beaufighter VIC x 11
B-25J Mitchell x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 11 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
Liberator VI: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Beaufighter VIC: 11 destroyed
B-25J Mitchell: 6 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Divided 110th division, which is marching to the east and west now, was finally attacked. But only with a very small force. Leaking CAP is able to handle such strikes.. I have expected much larger strikes a few days ago already. It seems like if Joe is ignoring me or he doesn´t see the danger this attack posses. He is bombing everything else EXCEPT those units or bases which he should bomb on the first place! A big mistake IMO. Unless he has some aces up in his sleeve, it should cause him a serious headache very soon..
What I like on this operation is the fact, that I´m risking just a very small forces considering the possible gains. In case of success I will surround the whole enemy army group with 4 Indian divisions, 1 US division and other units. Another enemy units will be probably routed in the process of repelling expected counterattack to save them. But if it will not work, all I´m risking are 2 divisons and 2 tank regiments, which migh be cut off behind enemy lines. My defensive main line should still hold..

[jumper]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/08/43

In Lae I still keep two daitais of G4M on naval attack in case of some poorly escorted allied resuply/reinforcements effort. I really didn´t expect Joe to make such mistake, but he did it. 2-3 allied TFs were spotted heading towards Port Moresby and bombers from Lae attacked:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 52,91

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 27
J2M Jack x 21
G4M1 Betty x 14
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 60
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 22

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 20 destroyed

Allied Ships
APD Ward
APD Crosby, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
APD Manley
APD Dickerson

This first attack swept away enemy LRCAP, so the 2nd wave had the clear path already:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 52,91

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 37
J2M Jack x 18
G4M1 Betty x 24
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 66
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 20
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 7 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Steel Worker, Bomb hits 1
AP George Clymer, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
AP Thomas Jefferson, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
AP President Adams, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Missourian, Torpedo hits 4,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Minnesotan, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire


Allied ground losses:
123 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Attacks continue in the afternoon:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
LCT LCT-60
LCT LCT-133, Bomb hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 52,91

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 63
J2M Jack x 30
G4M1 Betty x 11
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 117
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 24
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 67

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 1 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Steel Worker
AK Trento
AK Minnesotan, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Nevadan, Bomb hits 1
AK Panaman
AP President Adams, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Challenger, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
AP George Clymer,  on fire


Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Apparently Joe underestimated japanese attack capabilities and paid for it. Single P-38G FG is not sufficient fro this task. Several ships went down with parts of the 9th Australian division aboard. Men were saved, but all heavy equipment is lost:



Tommorrow his TF will be in range of G4M from Rabaul and Munda too. All bombers in Lae are set to naval attack now. If he is going to push this TF to Port Moresby, it will be massacre.. Unless he will be able to muster some unexpected deadly CAP over them of course..[;)]
 
 
OPERATION TROUBLEBOY I
 

[jumper]

And here we go.. definitively an enjoyable turn.. at least for me..[:D]


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/09/43

For some reason Joe launched nigh attack against PM:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91


Allied aircraft
P-70A Havoc x 13


No Allied losses

I consider it as a mistake. These planes will cause no significant damage (PM AF is empty except 1 chutai of "Alf" planes) and they just use the space he could use for some much more effective planes. Like some LRCAP of his poor ships which arribed at Port Moresby:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 1141
TF 1141 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91


445 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AK Steel Worker, Shell hits 3
APD Ward, Shell hits 5,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Panaman, Shell hits 14
AK Nevadan, Shell hits 5,  on fire,  heavy damage
APD Dickerson, Shell hits 7,  on fire,  heavy damage
APD Manley, Shell hits 1

Allied ground losses:
1014 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
 
Some part of 9th Australian divison got ashore, but when the sun rises, good part of it was still on the ships. Without ANY aircover those transport were sitting ducks. My pilots were dreaming about that and their dreams came true today. Wave after wave attacked US transports during the whole day:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 10
G4M1 Betty x 16
G4M2 Betty x 76
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 140
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 25
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged
G4M2 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
APD Manley, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
APD Dickerson, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Trento, Torpedo hits 5,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Nevadan,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Challenger, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AP Thomas Jefferson, Torpedo hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage
APD Ward, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
AP George Clymer, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Nebraskan, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
AK Panaman


Allied ground losses:
364 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Steel Worker, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Nebraskan, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Nevadan, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
171 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 61
J2M Jack x 36
D3A Val x 46
B5N Kate x 35
G4M1 Betty x 21
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 109
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 8
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 59
Ki-49 Helen x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Challenger, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Panaman, Bomb hits 3,  on fire
AK Steel Worker, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AP George Clymer, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Minnesotan, Bomb hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
224 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 11
G4M2 Betty x 26
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 131

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Minnesotan, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 23

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Steel Worker,  on fire,  heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
LCT LCT-149, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
LCT LCT-138
LCT LCT-364, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage

All three bases (Lae, Rabaul and Munda) were operational for the whole day and all planes launched. The result is clear. All ships were sunk except one last damaged AK and several LCTs. Hundreds of australian men ended in water and many of them was lost. 9th Australian division joined the allied forces besieging Port Moresby, but it can be hardly considered as combat effective and a valuable reinforcement:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 55370 troops, 262 guns, 222 vehicles, Assault Value = 1288

Defending force 32645 troops, 298 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 579

Allied max assault: 887 - adjusted assault: 1041

Japanese max defense: 578 - adjusted defense: 3715

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 8)


Japanese ground losses:
748 casualties reported
Guns lost 13
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
754 casualties reported
Guns lost 13
Vehicles lost 2

A this rate I can hold forever. Barges are now delivering 1000-1500 suplies every two weeks..
 
And the fight of japanese 2E nigh fighters in Timoeka against allied airmen from Merauke continues again:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Timoeka , at 45,81

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 18
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 18

Allied aircraft
Empire x 3
Wellington III x 12
B-25J Mitchell x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-S Irving: 7 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 12 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9


India is slowly becoming very active theatre now.. [;)] Joe is now attacking my forces all round without any clear pattern or effect and leaking CAP from Ahmadabad serves me well:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 4th Mixed Brigade, at 23,9

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 22

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 2
Liberator VI x 13
A-36A Apache x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 2 damaged
Liberator VI: 3 damaged
A-36A Apache: 2 damaged

I was amazed how well those A-36A handled my elite fighters.. But they were reinforced and the 2nd wave was massacred:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd/C Division, at 23,9

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 8
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 11
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 25

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 1
Liberator VI x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 1 destroyed
Liberator VI: 4 destroyed

This is the only place he should be attack with all availible forces:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 110th/B Division, at 25,6

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 9

Allied aircraft
Barracuda x 7
P-40E Warhawk x 62

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Barracuda: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 11 destroyed, 2 damaged

All his planes were set on ground attack. He didn´t expect to meet any oposition here. Fortunately for him only few planes arrived to cover my troops. And there were even less when the 2nd wave arrived:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 110th/B Division, at 25,6

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 4

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 3
Liberator VI x 38

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator VI: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
99 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

All in all another good day for Imperial airmen in India. And to make things interesting even more I have decided to "reoccupy" Bombay again. Its airfield was closed for several weeks, but Joe become lazy and switched most of his bombers to ground attack. Bombay garrison is suffering really badly, but it allowed me to repair the AF. Several fighter groups were rebased there and those unescorted allied milk runs should receive warm welcome tommorrow. Besides that my recon planes spotted some TF heading from Karachi to Bombay. I suppose is is just some sub reported as 2 AKs, but I don´t want to risk anything and 2 Kate daitais flying training missins in Ahmadabad were send to Bombay and set to naval attack.

OPERATION TROUBLEBOY I:

26th division and 2 tank regiments arrived and enemy army group "A" is now officialy surrounded. Parts of 110th divisions are still on the march and should arrive in about 4 days. Now all I have to do is to hold!


My main todays losses were caused by US subs which scored tree times!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 58,47

Japanese Ships
AO Takasaki, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 5,  on fire,  heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Seal

brand new AO just left HI to join the fleet in Truk. It first voyage ended after 3 days..[:@]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 51,47

Japanese Ships
AP Meigen Maru, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Cero

Japanese ground losses:
130 casualties reported

5th engineer regiment is now 1/3rd weaker.. great..[:@][:@]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Tokyo  at 66,43

Japanese Ships
MSW W.33, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
MSW W.15
MSW W.12
MSW W.3
PC Hirado

Allied Ships
SS Batfish

And these ships were supposed to prevent those two above attacks happen..[:@][:@][:@]

[jumper]

Sorry guys for slow updates, but I´m used to do it when I´m in job and unfortunately I´m pretty busy..[:(] Neverthless here we go:


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/10/43

Poor australians are now trying to leave the last remaining heavily damaged ship as fast as possible:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 1141
TF 1141 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91


56 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AK Panaman, Shell hits 8,  on fire,  heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
87 casualties reported

This ship is doomed. Either it will go down because of its damage or my planes will finish her in a couple of hours. And there is no other ship to save the survivors..


Not sure what is the reason for these attacks, but i don´t mind:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91


Allied aircraft
P-70A Havoc x 12


No Allied losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 21
B-24D Liberator x 43


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

And here comes the expected attack:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 36
J2M Jack x 18
G4M1 Betty x 3
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 56
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 37

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Panaman, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage

The ship goes down, but there are no losses..[&:] Well, despite this ship saved half the division yesterday, all men managed to get ashore during the night. Well, that is quite achievement.. At least all heavy equipment is lost and IIRC as long as they will share the hex with japanese troops, there is no chance to retrieve it..

Hmm, it is a bit funny how we both are forced to resupply our troops at Moresby by barges:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
LCT LCT-60, Bomb hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
LCT LCT-138, Bomb hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage

And good old Timoeka struggle:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Timoeka , at 45,81

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 15
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 13

Allied aircraft
Empire x 3
Wellington III x 7
B-25J Mitchell x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-S Irving: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 2 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Runway hits 3

This round goes to him.. But I still hope that sooner or later I will find the suitable role for these planes..


We have seen a lot of action in India. Much more then I have expected. Everything started when his bombers tried to bomb the Bombay and found the base is defended again[:D]:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bombay , at 20,10

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 35
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 21
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 48

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 3 destroyed
Catalina I: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 52nd Heavy AA Battalion, at 20,10

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 35
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 21
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 48

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 2
Wellington III x 4
Liberator VI x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 1 damaged
Wellington III: 4 destroyed
Liberator VI: 10 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 21st Mixed/B Brigade, at 20,10

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 35
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 21
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 48

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 3
Wellington III x 11
Liberator VI x 32
B-25J Mitchell x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 11 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 5 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 destroyed, 18 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 1 destroyed
Wellington III: 10 destroyed
Liberator VI: 19 destroyed
B-25J Mitchell: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
3 casualties reported

A good score..


Then other bombers attacked my units SE of Ahmadabad. Leaking CAP helped again:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 4th Mixed Brigade, at 23,9

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 9

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 1
Liberator VI x 6
A-36A Apache x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

More fighters arrived to help:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd/B Division, at 23,9

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 11
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 34

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 1
Liberator VI x 5
A-36A Apache x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator VI: 3 destroyed
A-36A Apache: 14 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported


And finaly the operation Troubleboy draw RAF attention. But again leaking CAP strikes:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 110th/C Division, at 25,6

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 16
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 7

Allied aircraft
Barracuda x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 54

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Barracuda: 6 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 22 destroyed, 5 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 110th/C Division, at 25,6

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 8
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 3

Allied aircraft
Catalina I x 4
Liberator VI x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 7 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator VI: 3 destroyed, 10 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

A very good score so far. "Ambush" in Bombay worked well and also all other raids were succesfully intercepted by CAP from Ahmadabad and mostly repulsed with heavy losses. He lost about 100 planes to my 5. 20:1 is a ratio I can keep forever. But the day was not over and the surprise of the day arrived. 2 AK spotted yesterday and reported heading towards Bombay were not submarines as I have expected. They are real AKs and they are part of much larger TF. Clearly Joe decided that when I´m now busy "up the north" with operation Troubleboy, which probably draw all my reserves, it is right time to launch some "flanking" operation of his own. And it seems he choosed Bombay. Understandable decision from his side. It has several clear advantages:
1) it is very close to Karachi and therefore under its air cover
2) its port and AF is closed and unusable
3) my air forces deserted this place long time before
4) weak garrison is under heavy air attacks and seriously attrited
5) his bombers and recon planes spotted no real combat unit there for weeks
 
But it has several serious disadvantages too (mostly unseenable for him):
 
1) its port and AF are not damaged as much as he thinks
2) the garrison is weak, but B regiment of 21st mixed Bde (150AV) was waiting behind the city and entered it today.
3) it is an urban hex with lvl 9 forts. Even weak garrison can hold long enough
4) my airforces just reoccupied the base
5) it is in range of bombers from Ahmadabad
 
So if I count all together the Bombay is not right target. Again I was very lucky. It was a pure luck I have send my airforce to Bombay today and not tommorrow and that I have spotted his AKs, what lured me into sending some torpedo bombers there too. Luck or not, his plans were torned to pieces today. At first his bombers were repulsed with heavy losses and now his ships are attacked. And because he didn´t expect the AF to be operational, the air cover is only light.
 
Single CVE was not enough to hold the attackers:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 19,7

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 28

Allied aircraft
Wildcat V x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 4 destroyed, 14 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wildcat V: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Sampan
AK Sampip
AK Samoa, Torpedo hits 1
AK Samos, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Samur
AK Empire Dirk


Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 19,7

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 17
B5N Kate x 23
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 15
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 22

Allied aircraft
Wildcat V x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 3 destroyed, 17 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wildcat V: 13 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Battler, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
CA Sussex

After taking 2 torpedoes the CVE goes down.. BANZAI!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 20,8

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 11
B5N Kate x 16
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 5
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
LST Empire Battleaxe, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
LCT LCT-151
LCT LCT-171
LCT LCT-169
LCT LCT-176


Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported

His transports are now cought in the middle between Karachi and Bombay.. Which way he will choose now? Will he push or will he flee? Neverthless most of the availible bombers are now put on alert and set on naval attack so if he will keep the course to the Valley of Death it will have clear end:
 
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them..


I really look forward tommorrow..

[jumper]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/11/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
P-70A Havoc x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed


Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Runway hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 24
B-24D Liberator x 27


No Allied losses

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4

It seems Joe is really afraid of another ambush over PM.[:D] Night attacks will prevent that, but on the other side with such hit rate all those bombers could be just sitting home..

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Day Air attack on Timoeka , at 45,81

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 9
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 19

Allied aircraft
Empire x 2
Wellington III x 6
B-25J Mitchell x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-S Irving: 2 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

Those crappy 2E night fighters are nearly unable to shoot anything down, but they are damaging enough planes to ruin their morale. Half of the attacking planes turned it back after the first hit..


In India Joe accepted its flanking maneuver is sentenced to fail, so his fleet is now heading back to Karachi. Unfortunately for him some of them were still in the range of planes from Bombay:
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Day Air attack on TF at 20,6

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 17
B5N Kate x 18
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 7
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 22

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 6
P-40B Tomahawk x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 2 destroyed
B5N Kate: 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 7 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIC: 8 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 10 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 22 destroyed

Allied Ships
LCT LCT-330
LCT LCT-154, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
LCT LCT-159, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
LCT LCT-155, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
LCT LCT-162


Allied ground losses:
121 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

And bombers from Ahmadabad joined the party too:
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Day Air attack on TF at 20,6

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 9
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 7
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 10
Ki-21 Sally x 13
Ki-49 Helen x 11

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 5 destroyed
Beaufighter VIC: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
LCT LCT-152
LCT LCT-164, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
LCT LCT-156
LCT LCT-162
LCT LCT-163, Bomb hits 4,  on fire,  heavy damage
LCT LCT-166, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
LCT LCT-320, Bomb hits 4,  on fire,  heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
177 casualties reported


Only one attack was aimed against my ground units and it was really pityfull. But leaking CAP was on the place again anyway:
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Day Air attack on 110th/A Division, at 25,6

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 7

Allied aircraft
Barracuda x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

No losses and troops are marching..[;)]

Wow! This surprised me a lot. I was nervously biting my nails while listening to the sound of guns from the base and awaiting the result:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Ahmadabad

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 131575 troops, 1429 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3503

Defending force 97880 troops, 1082 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 1509

Allied max assault: 3441 - adjusted assault: 1561

Japanese max defense: 1655 - adjusted defense: 4852

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 9)


Japanese ground losses:
1073 casualties reported
Guns lost 21

Allied ground losses:
11184 casualties reported
Guns lost 363

Phew.. So it seems 15th army will be more then enough to hold this base. And after those bloody losses I should have a few calm weeks here.

[jumper]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/12/43

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Night Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91
 
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 8
B-24D Liberator x 34


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1

These raids are now routine so I will stop posting them from now..
 

I´m still trying to pull something from these planes, but.. well.. everytime I start to think they might not be so worthless, they prove they are exactly that!:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Timoeka , at 45,81

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 12
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 15

Allied aircraft
Empire x 2
Wellington III x 5
B-25J Mitchell x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-S Irving: 5 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported

Runway hits 4

What is the reason for these planes? Anyone has any hint..?

 
OPERATION TROUBLEBOY I:
 
No news. Everything seems just fine..[;)] Only 3 regiments are still marching, but as they are in the terrain without any comfortabel road, the delay was expected. The only reaction I was able to spot is increasing enemy concentration on the east of 110th division. Well, in a few days B/110th regiment should arrive there and I will see what exactly he was able to scratch. Anyway I´m now focused on a new threat, because today my patrol submarine reported:
 
Several enemy transport and combat TFs spotted 10 hexes north of Perth heading northwest!
 
Joe might be only shifting some units to India, but also it might be invasion force heading to Broome (which was shelled from the sea about 1-2 week ago) or Java or Sumatra. There are so many potential targes! I´m taking it seriously and several air units were immedietly rebased from Solomons/NG to Northern Australia and Timor. 65th Bde is now marching from Derby to Broome to boost its garrison. I´m a bit doubtfull about the possibility of Broome/Derby invasion, because the defeated australian army is withdrawing now and it would make more sence if he would tie my main forces with his australians at first and then invade bases behind my back. As it stands now, the whole 16th army is free to react to any new threat. So attack on Timor-Java-Sumatra bases has higher probability in my eyes. What is bad, because even if I would some some ground forces to reinforce this area, they would arrive too late. So my only "defence" will be KB, which is now heading at full speed from Truk to Kendari. 4 glenn-equipped subs will shadow spotted TF and it could give me some hint, where to send KB then. Hopefully..
 
Oh, btw when I´m talking about KB, the brand new CV (CV Katsuragi) was commissioned in Tokyo today! Its airgroups xp is unsatisfying so they will have to take some advanced traing in China, but it shouldn´t take so long. KB will be a bit stronger again! BANZAI!