PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[timtom]

ORIGINAL: PzB

Andy will most likely bring 1500 carrier ac and I'm going to need at least 4000 to have
a chance to hurt his fleet.

Sounds like the mother of all air battles is just over the horizon!

[PzB74]

Afraid so Tim... [:'(]
Have to put the foot down soon!

Sending out more Glen equipped subs: will keep a close eye on enemy shipping lanes
and approaches.

Enemy loong range Mosquito recon planes have been spotted over Balikpapan - that's a loong
way from Darwin!

No new ac types are coming into production until mid 44: hopefully we can get the Frank in May
or June (2 or 3 months early).

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/31/43

After bringing in reinforcements Andy finally captured Maloelap atoll after a
2 month long siege! Only the army regiment had any fighting capabilities left.

So what will it we next - Wotje or Eniwetok?

Invasions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Maloelap, 82,81, firing at TF 1075
TF 1075 troops unloading over beach at Maloelap, 82,81
105 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 1
DE Bebas
LCT LCT-165
LCT LCT-162
CA Shropshire, Shell hits 1
LCT LCT-59

Allied ground losses:
505 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bombardments

Naval bombardment of Maloelap, at 82,81

Allied Ships
CA Chester
CLAA San Diego
CA Portland
CL Adelaide
CA Canberra
CA New Orleans
CA Wichita
BB Idaho

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Runway hits 27
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Maloelap

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 24497 troops, 163 guns, 133 vehicles

Defending force 9315 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 6

Allied assault odds: 16 to 1 (fort level 6)

Allied forces CAPTURE Maloelap base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
1190 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Allied ground losses:
486 casualties reported
Guns lost 14
Vehicles lost 2
----------------------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

Today we're going into 1944 after 755 days of war - the very same day as this AAR turns 100k hits [&o]

First of all I would like to thank all of you that contribute to this saga! Each post has on average been viewed 55 times, not bad over a two year period... Would be nice if all of you who read this AAR on a regular basis could drop a note - would be especially nice to get to know all the lurkers [;)]

What do you think has been the most funny/enjoyable post/comment/event thus far?

Pretty sure me and Andy will be able to finish this enormous campaign - should take another 2 years - but we'll get there! It has been a lot of fun thus far and I'm looking forward to the last half even though dark clouds are gathering on the horizon.

Another thanx goes to Al, Dave, Ken and Andy for making this game so enjoyable!

The new 'Francis' fast naval bomber on a training mission near Mount Fuji!

[Wolfie1]

OK, I admit it, I'm a lurker - I've been following this AAR for over 12 months and found it to be both interesting and great for getting tips on how to play the game[;)]

[lyceum]

Me too, I check back at least a few times a day to check if there has been anymore cargage![:D]

Keep up the good work!

[Nomad]

Since I surprisingly was able to cure my internet connection problems I am here and you will have a fall back player if needed. I do have a split cheering section now, who do I root for, my friend John or Andy the commander of the good guys? [:D][8|]

[Speedysteve]

Congrats John [8D]

[Rob Brennan UK]

Hi .. part time lurker ..

or is that a part time poster [&:]

you play this game so well i cant think of much to contribute to be honest. Been following for longer than i can recall[:D]

My favourite time/event .. has to be the fall of India and poor old Wobbly having a nervous breakdown ( metaphorically). Momentous event that made this AAR unique.

Carry on the good work [&o]

[timtom]

Wots this now? Lurkers anonomous? [:'(]

[ny59giants]

I have been a "lurker" for about 6 months, but more recently on an almost daily basis. I also visit Andy's AAR to see what the Allies are up to. I have found different basic strategies - invade Hawaii; take NZ & southeast pacific islands, and India (which you seem to have been successful with[X(]), northern Oz, and some just trying to do better than historically done. Yours seems to be the most successful to date. I would like to see someone try your India campaign with the extended maps.

Thanks for the AAR. [&o][&o]

[Monter_Trismegistos]

Happy new year PzB! How is the party in Imperial GHQ?

Been watching you since only 6 months - but now i'm your greatest fan.

Any possibilily of 'total review' of your empire illustrated with screenshots? Main fronts, reinforcements etc...

Your naval shpyards are still building at 100%? I think that there are not that many ships to build this late or am I wrong?

[Guderon]

First of all, congrats on the 100k hits! [&o] I've been following this AAR since it started and have thoroughly enjoyed it. I haven't posted with any advice or comments because even though I bought this game the day it came out, I've still never played it. [:(] Even though I was a huge PacWar fan and played it many, many times, every time I load WitP up to play it, I'm simply overwhelmed by it's size and time requirements and end up not even starting. Maybe I'll get to it one of these years after I retire....

[FeurerKrieg]

Congrats PZB. I started reading this when I heard folks mention the fall of India. Lots of good expereiences to learn from here. I also like the read because it is one of the few AARs into late 43/44 that are 1-day turns, and are covered in adequate detail.

I don't post any ideas because I read Andy's thread as well (but I'm rooting for you!), so I feel I might inadvertently let things slip that you probably shouldn't know about. [:-]

Great AAR and thanks for all your hard work!! [&o]

[Hipper]

Hi folks

been watching this one for a long time, since the india invasion, I think that PzB has played as close to a perfect game as we are liable to see, Dont comment much as i enjoy reading both sides of the fence

cheers

[Andy Mac]

On special permission from PZB I would like to add my congratulations to everyone elses 100k hits nice !!!!

Now back to the war !!!!

Andy

[Honda]

Now that's Allied SigInt for you...[:D]

[Honda]

BTW pzB, I don't think that's Frances flying over Fuyi in the pic above. I think it's Helen. But don't worry.
Here's one of the first ones that came off the production lines.

[rotor911]

Congrats for the 100k. It's a great AAr and I must admit that reading it beats playing witp at the moment.

[PzB74]

Very nice to see so many new - and familiar faces! [8D]
Thanx for the nice words and I hope you continue to leave a life sign now and then!

At Imperial GHQ we're busy watching the latest movie 'Geisha'!

Looks like I posted a picture of a Peggy (or is it a Helen) Honda..! The Francis definetly
more agile and sleek. 11 days until the first 200 units arrive [8D]

Since we enter a new year: 1944 - I will try to provide a few screeneis that illustrates the
current situation in the Empire. Checked my ship yards and until the wars end the following
warships are in production (or will be):

3 fleet carriers (+ the Shinano - halted)
1 light carrier
4 escort carriers (crappy things with room for 8-12 ac - some even carries depth charges...)
1 light cruiser
50 destroyers
83 subs

This is enough to keep the yards running for quite some time! Will be able to accelerate the more
important units as others are completed.

The army will receive some 47 divisions and 50+ brigades by the end of the war. Half of them will
go to China and Kwantung - the latest to arrive are also understrength..but that means they're cheap
to release for service in the Pacific!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/01/44

New Years Day was relatively quiet: several heavy air attacks against Maloelap. The defenders will continue
to resist until the last bullet has been fired!

Ground Combat

The elite army regiment is still able to field 90 operational squads..more than enough
to keep the green marines at bay!

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Ground combat at Maloelap

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 23378 troops, 142 guns, 116 vehicles

Defending force 7177 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 13 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
667 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
358 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
---------------------------------------------------------------

[Honda]

Yeah, I'm not sure...could be Peggy flying over Fuji...[8|]
I never realised there's 50 DDs left in '44 to build. Sounds like a lot[;)]