PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[pauk]

ORIGINAL: PzB

The production of tankers and auxilliaries will continue, accelerating another two MLEs.
Over the next few months I will build a large merchant marine production pool before closing down the yards.
This is the best way to prepare for total war in 1945!

What about your other CVs scheduled for 1945 (other than first three Unryu's?) - it seems to me that you should have enough shipyard points for accelerating them - if you did already, i'm interested about their new arrival date.

If you don't have enough naval shipyard points, i suggest you to expand them little more - you have plenty of supply. Same is for armament - if you don't have large stockpile of armament points you may expand them. You still have enough resources, supply and oil for that. IMHO it is better to have big surplus in pool and halt them, then just producting to keep production alive - one day Andy will start to bomb your industry and if you manage to stock enough engines, armamaent and vechile points you can continue fight for 6 months longer - in 1946!

[PzB74]

The Matsu's are ugly but useful Pauk - the problem is that only 4-5 of them are yet
in production - accelerated them today. Quite cheap, 6 points. So we won't see them in
any number until mid-late 44.

The idea is good but I'd rather sacrifice some of my smaller 3000 endurance destroyers.
The small escort carriers that are due in a couple of months should be nice bait. Not sure
whether Andy will go for the decoy, with 30 carriers he won't have much to fear anyway.

What about 10 carrier TFs loaded with 1000 Zekes put on 90% CAP [8D] That should kill of quite
a few US carrier strikes - especially uncoordinated ones. Then LBA could be used with great
effect (this would of course have to take place during an invasion of the Palaus and Marianas).

The last 3 fleet carriers will arrive in ca 2 months Pauk [:)] Should boost KB strength to 12
fleet carriers, 3-4 light carriers and 8 escort carriers by mid 44.

Agree, big pools is a good thing! Right now I'm burning lots of supplies to expand ac engine
production. Think naval yard output is hight enough, when we finish the last carriers there will
be a big surplus!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/06/44

Air Combat

Andy sent some Liberators from Midway to hit Wake Island today and got 10 ac on the
ground! 'Better move in some Zekes..

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wake Island , at 82,63

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-30 Ann: 1 destroyed
H8K Emily: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 2 damaged

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

Andy is coming for Eniwetok! Large groups of enemy ships is approaching.
I've evacuated the aviation regiment from both Kwajalein and Eniwetok + a reduced
artillery and AA unit. There are still 15k troops left including two large SNLF units,
a crack engineer regiment, a base force units and some remnants. Assault value is 306
with 9 forts.

I expect that Andy will bombard the place with heavy air strikes and surface units before
invading. When Eniwetok falls the route to the Marianas will be open! The question is which
base(s) he will invade.

Personally I would have chosen Pagan as it's a bit isolated from the rest of the islands. So
the garrison will be reinforced over the next few months with a few crack infantry units and
artillery units.

If Wake and Marcus Islands are invaded the Bonin Islands will also have to be reinforced even
though I don't think it would be safe to invade them without capturing the Marianas first.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/07/44

Surface Combat

Spotted an enemy convoy near Mussau Island and sent a destroyer squadron led by
the light cruiser Yubari to intercept! It was a success and shows Andy that he can't
get complacent!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Mussau Island at 60,83

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
DD Uranami, Shell hits 1
DD Sagiri, Shell hits 1
DD Ushio
DD Kisaragi

Allied Ships
PT PT-103, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PT PT-110, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Mussau Island at 60,83

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
DD Uranami, Shell hits 1
DD Sagiri
DD Ushio
DD Kisaragi

Allied Ships
AK Charles Robinson
AK Don Marquis
AK Donald MacLeay
AK Edward N. Westcott, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
AK George H. Himes
AK Henry C. Payne
AK Henry L. Hoyt, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Ina Coolbrith, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Jefferson Davis
AK John Evans, Shell hits 1
AK Luther S. Kelly
AK M. H. De Young
AK Marina Raskova
AK Owen Summers, Shell hits 1
AK Richard Moczkowski
AK Robert S. Bean
AK Stephen H. Long
AK Stephen V. Benet
AK Thomas M. Cooley
AK William Beaumont, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK William Prouse

Air Combat

Put some Tojos in Truk to cover my surface combat group - they intercepted an Allied
bomber formation and savaged dozens of Liberators [:)] 20 were shot down and 51 damaged!
for the loss of 6 Tojos (only 2 pilots).

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Truk , at 63,78

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 35

Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 12
B-24J Liberator x 91

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 5 destroyed, 14 damaged
Ki-57-II Topsy: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 12 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 14 destroyed, 51 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 20
Runway hits 158
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Libs also came back to Wake Island and met a CAP that caused further damage!

Day Air attack on Wake Island , at 82,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
A6M5 Zeke x 22

Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A huge Allied invasion force is heading towards Eniwetok and a small convoy was attacked.
(Allied carriers rained in - lucky escape!)

Day Air attack on TF, near Eniwetok at 76,74

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 7
P-47D Thunderbolt x 16

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PG Hakkai Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enemy Sub Threat

Look at all these subs - have to work hard to suppress them! The tanker that was hit yesterday
reached port and only got 40 sys damage and will be ok. Will try to send out hunter killer groups
supported by LBA asw ac. A sub was reported hit today.

[PzB74]

Pretty sure Andy will go into a rant on his thread today! My asw ac hit at least 6 subs [:'(]
My subs ain't working so it's nice to return the favor....

OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR 01/08/44

Ki-36 Ida attacking Rasher at 50,47
Rasher is reported HIT

Ki-36 Ida attacking Crevalle at 49,46
Crevalle is reported HIT

Ki-49 Helen attacking Flying Fish at 49,46
Flying Fish is reported HIT
Ki-48 Lily attacking Flying Fish at 49,46
Flying Fish is reported HIT

Ki-48 Lily attacking Puffer at 49,46
Puffer is reported HIT
Ki-49 Helen attacking Puffer at 49,46
Puffer is reported HIT

Ki-49 Helen attacking Pogy at 50,48
Pogy is reported HIT

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/08/44

The first bombardment TF went in as expected today!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Eniwetok, at 76,74

Allied Ships
DD Braine
DD Bradford
DD Boyd
DD Bennett
DD Beale
DD Bache
DD Charles Ausburne
DD Anthony
DD Ammen
BB Alabama
BB South Dakota
BB North Carolina
BB Idaho

Japanese ground losses:
775 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 53
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub/ASW Attacks

Sub attack at 36,55

Japanese Ships
PG Shinko Maru #3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage *scuttled*
PC Shonan Maru #17
PC Fumi Maru #3
PG Nikkai Maru
PG Kyo Maru #10
PG Keiko Maru
PG Chosa Maru

Allied Ships - scored a dud hit on a tanker today!
SS Balao
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Aru Island , at 39,80 - a LRCAP over Aru Island claimed 3 Dakotas today.

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 22
Ki-46-III Dinah x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 14
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Truk , at 63,78 - as expected the heavies came back with little friends..only to find the
place deserted!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 43
B-24J Liberator x 43

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-57-II Topsy: 3 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Eniwetok , at 76,74

Allied aircraft
P-47D Thunderbolt x 34
B-25J Mitchell x 43
PB4Y Liberator x 24
B-24D Liberator x 37

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported

Port hits 8
Port supply hits 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enemy invasion fleet of Eniwetok

Another unopposed invasion - well, in the air and sea that is! Let's see how long
we can delay the enemy!

[WhoCares]

Though a little late, concrats to the 100k from a regular reader since almost day 1 (more regular starting with the India endeveaour [:D]) and sometimes poster [&o]

Regarding the sub-pest, you might post some of your float planes on the most likely abroaches, e.g. put the bigger Pete units on Batan Island, Jolo/Tawi-Tawi and Belitung (near Toboali). No need to waste some precious Air-Regs but you can support them with your AV ships.
Sure, the Petes/Jakes/whatever won't sink the subs but they might score an occasional hit, forcing the sub to turn around or at least increase the detection level for your stronger forces.

[PzB74]

Thx WhoCares, good to hear from you again!

Each time Andy moves out his subs they come in hoards - and we swat em like flies [;)]
Me thinks he has to use them more cautiously, catch me of guard when I'm busy elsewhere..cause
the buggers are becoming aggressive and carries quite a punch!

So for now I don't worry too much about em, much the same as Andy doesn't have to worry about
our boats [:(]

This game is just as much about stamina as anything else, sticking in with all the peculiarities
of the game as well as the cunning of your opponent for 4 or more years of real time can be quite
a bit€h....

Semper Fi - be faithful and never give up on yourself!

[PzB74]

This famous picture is actually of a Matsu class destroyer - the Nara - sinking after being
torpedoed by a sub! Only 2 out of the 10 ships that were lost of this class were sunk by subs.

Another 100 ships were ordered but subsequently cancelled in March 1945. It took about 6 months
to finish one, half the time compared to the bigger types according to the Combined Fleet site.

Wish it was possible to rescind that cancellation of that order..those extra destroyers will be sorely
needed in the last 8 months of the war when no more reinforcements arrive [:'(]

[Rob Brennan UK]

great tony ambush , shows the poewer of cannons in vanilla games [:D]. maybe you have the real bility to stop him using unescorted raids from now on. i'm kind of suprised his bombers came back the next day as morale must have been awful.

and as ever ... good job !

[Fishbed]

great tony ambush , shows the poewer of cannons in vanilla games

That's even better than that, looks like PzB did it with... Tojos! Kewl [:'(]

[PzB74]

A couple of strange events....didn't get a turn from Andy, guess the Internet Gremlins took it.
Got a resend tonight and sent the following mail back:

Andy,

Even more weird! The last turn I sent you on Sunday evening was 01/08-44 and tonight I got 01/10-44 back from you.
None of the changes I did in the last turn were there and suddenly I got a NZ Kittyhawk Sqd in Java!

Resending 01/08/44

[PzB74]

Can't say the ambush was planned - I only provided CAP for my surface combat group
when Andys bombers showed up. The Tojos had an avg exp of 67 and performed very well.

Will stay away until the heavies start coming back without escort fighters [;)]

[CapAndGown]

ORIGINAL: PzB

What about 10 carrier TFs loaded with 1000 Zekes put on 90% CAP [8D] That should kill of quite a few US carrier strikes - especially uncoordinated ones. Then LBA could be used with great effect (this would of course have to take place during an invasion of the Palaus and Marianas).

This is the reverse of what I would do. LBA should be used to attrit his carrier CAP before sending in your own carriers. For one thing, your LBA fighters are better planes than the obsolete Zekes and so can actually damage his Hellcats. Plus, I imagine the your Judy's and Kates attached to the KB are higher quality than your LBA bombers and so should be saved until they have a real chance of getting through the CAP.

[PzB74]

The reason for this Cap & Gown is that I DON'T trust that my carriers can launch coordinated
attacks. It's the one big receipt for disaster! So why risk it? The idea is to transfer my high exp Jills and Judys ashore and
let them follow my LBA to their targets.

Ideally the enemy should be allowed to 'hang around' for a week first, battling my LBA CAP!

[Honda]

You can do what Ozawa did. He lauched the planes at near max range and had them land on Mariana airstrips. That way he could launch stirkes with strong escort since he was out of enemy range. It woun't work that way in the game but a similar effect can be achived by ferrying the planes to Marianas the day before.
In the Marianas scenario I played vs. AI I found it possible to bleed his CAP by KB as a bait with 90% CAP and a full fighter complement. The losses were catastrophic at some 3:1 but high experiance Zekes did quite well so you could hope for better results. A few uncoordinated attacks by USNAF and you'll wreck his offensive capabilities. Also it may not be a bad idea to make the first TF of the KB you form a bit stronger in the AAA department. I have a feeling that's the one that draws the strongest attacks.

[PzB74]

That is much my plan Honda - the hope is to move my carrier strike ac from the Philippines
to the Mariana/Palau islands that are the farthers away from the enemy assault. Then they
can be moved only a short distance the next day and strike the enemy with only low fatigue.

These issues have to be sorted out when the big thing comes down!

A KB with 20 carriers poses such a big threat to any invasion that Andy will have to keep his
own flat tops around his invasion fleet. So he will have to stay close to the invasion armada
and loose his mobility - and this is what we have to take advantage of.

Replaying the turn didn't help much..still something spooky going on and one of my turns got 'lost'.
I've redone my orders and sent it back to Andy. Hopefully it was a glitch!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/09/44

Some air strikes and a few Betties strayed into a heavy Hellcat CAP but otherwise
no important events. Andy is still preparing to invade Eniwetok!

Renegades

I received a squadron of Kittyhawk renegades today [:'(]
Anyone experienced anything similar?

[ChezDaJez]

I received a squadron of Kittyhawk renegades today

Wonder if this is related to the other turn problem?

Chez

[Monter_Trismegistos]

You could make him surprise and CAP lets say Woje with them

[Freddy Fudpucker]

ORIGINAL: PzB
None of the changes I did in the last turn were there and suddenly I got a NZ Kittyhawk Sqd in Java!

Hi PZB,

Another lurker here. I have posted once or twice before but it was some time ago. I have been following since day one and this is the only aar I check regularly. Congrats on 100,000 views.

I too have experienced a mystery 'enemy' squadron appearing. Playing as Allies vs AI, I received a squadron of IJN Nates in Burma. They are under allied SE Asia command. Slowly the AI has been adding Japanese pilots to the sqdn. I’ve placed them in a base with no air crews so they can’t do anything unexpected.

[PzB74]

Been a short break, but now we're back at it!

Not going to use the Kittyhawk as it's a bug...but it is tempting [:'(]
Thx Freddy! I added 4 pilots to the Kittyhawk squadron and they were all Allied.

Game seems to be behaving again: Andy invaded Eniwetok today with little preparatory
work by his LBA or carriers. A strong force landed and reduced forts to size 7. There
are only 2 Naval Garrisons and parts of an engineer regiment in place. Don't want to
waste too many troops. Place will probably fall within a week or so!

In the meanwhile preparations for the big battle continues, ships are being repaired and
reinforcements shifted to perfectionize the defenses. 2 more days and it's another 'reinforcement day' [8D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/10/44

Bombardments

Naval bombardment of Eniwetok, at 76,74

Allied Ships
CA Portland
CA Chester
CA Minneapolis
CA Canberra

Japanese ground losses:
222 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 17
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invasions

TF 1063 encounters mine field at Eniwetok (76,74)

Allied Ships
AK Red Jacket, Mine hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1030 encounters mine field at Eniwetok (76,74)
TF 1030 troops unloading over beach at Eniwetok, 76,74

Allied Ships
MSW Lockeport
MSW Bellechasse
MSW Ungava
MSW Quatsino
DE Charles R. Greer
DD Wadsworth
DD Sigourney
DD Ringgold
DD Hudson
DD Hazelwood
DD Fullam
AK Norse Carrier, Mine hits 1, on fire

Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Eniwetok, 76,74, firing at TF 1030
60 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Aulick
DD Fullam

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
1525 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Eniwetok, 76,74, firing at TF 1030
TF 1030 troops unloading over beach at Eniwetok, 76,74

Allied ground losses:
231 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Eniwetok, 76,74, firing at TF 1071
TF 1071 troops unloading over beach at Eniwetok, 76,74
22 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied ground losses:
316 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Eniwetok, 76,74, firing at TF 1074
TF 1074 troops unloading over beach at Eniwetok, 76,74

72 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Hutchins
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 1
DD Franks, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
444 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Eniwetok, 76,74, firing at TF 1098
TF 1098 troops unloading over beach at Eniwetok, 76,74

Allied ground losses:
184 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Truk , at 63,78

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 29
PB4Y Liberator x 6
B-24J Liberator x 21

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

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 35
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Aitape , at 51,80

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 43
B-25J Mitchell x 85
B-24J Liberator x 21

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Eniwetok

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6797 troops, 30 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 37750 troops, 441 guns, 29 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
49 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Eniwetok

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 35178 troops, 439 guns, 26 vehicles

Defending force 14880 troops, 39 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 9)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 7

Japanese ground losses:
1241 casualties reported
Guns lost 10

Allied ground losses:
1154 casualties reported
Guns lost 80
Vehicles lost 3
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Eniwetok invaded!

[PzB74]

A day early substantial land reinforcements arrived!

3 Air HQs - mostly sent to Northern Japan together with an aviation regiment.
2 NLF units and the 2nd Amphibious Brigade are being shipped to the Palaus.
Planning to reinforce Woleai!

A large inf division is being loaded at Inchon and will move to Menando or Morotai.
Want to cement the 'junction' once and for all.

Tomorrow 500 ac including 200 naval bombers and 200 Zekes arrive! [8D]
The 72 transport ac will also come in handy...no idea what to do with the large amounts of Irving
night fighters and recon units I got[&:] The night fighters can fly daylight CAP missions I guess.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/11/44

Ground Combat

After a heavy sea bombardment the airfields at Eniwetok were captured in another costly
shock attack by the US troops! Not unexpected...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Eniwetok

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 32821 troops, 334 guns, 23 vehicles

Defending force 12289 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 12 to 1 (fort level 7)

Allied forces CAPTURE Eniwetok base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
950 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Allied ground losses:
2394 casualties reported
Guns lost 70
Vehicles lost 7
---------------------------------------------------------------