PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[PzB74]

It's easy to place SOME ac in the Marianas, but it takes hundreds to make it look like
a big deployment. And if it is a big deployment, what will stop the B-29s from incinerating everything there [8|]

The plan is simple: Thousands of mines, heavy coastal defences, solid land fortifications and elite troops will
hurt and delay the enemy while our CAP whithers away the enemy's fighter strength. Small bomber formations will
continously snipe at enemy shipping, and if the force shield goes down for a sec we will try to launch a maximum effort strike.

The Combined Fleet still plays an important role: if we can find an opening the Kido Butai can still force the enemy
to react, much like what happened in the Battle for the Philippine Sea. The Nihon Kaigun can then  surge in and attempt to
get to the invasion fleet.

At our disposal there are:
9 battleships
10 heavy cruisers
6 light cruisers
50 destroyers

I agree that large TF's ain't very effective, so I plan to divide these ships into smaller formations.
Something like this:

1st Battle Squadron
Yamato
Musashi
2 heavy cruisers
1 light cruiser
6 destroyers

2nd Battle Squadron
Nagato
Mutsu
2 heavy cruisers
6 destroyers

3rd Battle Squadron
Kongo
Kirishima
1 heavy cruiser
1 light cruiser
6 destroyers

4th Battle Squadron
Fuso
Yamashiro
Hyuga
1 heavy cruiser
1 light cruiser
6 destroyers

1st Cruiser Squadron
2 heavy cruisers
1 light cruiser
6 destroyers

2nd Cruiser Squadron
2 heavy cruisers
1 light cruiser
6 destroyers

1st Destroyer Squadron
1 light cruiser
9 destroyers

I envisage using only second rate carriers to force an enemy reaction. Escort Carriers doesn't
always do the trick, so I will be willing to sacrifice the slow Junyo and 2-3 of the new cve's with
capacity for only 9-12 ac. A screen of small destroyers will follow them together with an ASW TF
of fast PCs.

It would be ideal to put a large number of bombers on naval attack when such an effort is launched.
Enemy ships disperse wildly when attacked and damaged.

Such a plan is a bit dependent on how Andy deploys his ships. If he lands at Pagan he will have to choose
whether to place his carriers to the North, East, or West. I want him as far to the east as possible, and this
is were I want my carriers to lure him. This will create an opening for the surface fleet to move in and our subs
to intercept.

If we engage in such a death match the consequences may be grave, but at least we got a fighting chance.
Andy is low on surface combatants as he needs to escort dozens of carriers, invasion fleets, launch bombardment
attacks and provide ships for surface combat missions. I've pretty much given up getting to the US carriers, so
why not kick em in the nuts instead [:D]

Let's name this plan 'Turnip Surprise' after the man behind the most cunning plans of all times: Baldrik! [&o]

[pauk]

ORIGINAL: PzB

Let's name this plan 'Turnip Surprise' after the man behind the most cunning plans of all times: Baldrik! [&o]

Then Turnip Suprise is going to be a complete triumph![:D]

Last tests about ground combat (made and posted by Treespider) shows importance of Command and Corps HQ. I hope that you covered well Marians with HQs....

[PzB74]

Aye, count on it [:D]

Each island got its own Army HQ and the Combined Fleet HQ is situated at Ulithi [8D]

[PzB74]

The enemy carriers remain in place while one group heads back to the Marianas!
If I had kept my ac in place there would have been a clash, hide and seek right now.

After testing my crack George fighters I'm encouraged and have ordered reinforcements
from China. Our best interceptors will be shipped to Palau shortly and includes:

154 Jacks
140 Zekes
27 Georges

There are already 81 George and hundreds of crack Zeke Daitais ready for action.
Untrained Zekes and Oscars are escorts for my CAP fighters [;)]

Several hundred trained Tojo's will be kept in reserve and upgraded to the Frank.
A nasty surprise for Andy when he thinks my reserves are depleted.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/27/44

Sub/ASW Attacks

An enemy asw group find the I-38 and sinks here with hundreds of dp's just NW of
Eniwetok.

ASW attack at 74,70

Japanese Ships
SS I-38, hits 28, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Halsey Powell
DD Stephen Potter
DD Porterfield
DD Newcomb
DD Morrison
DD McKee
DD McGowan
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Pipefish gets another kill. Dispatching an asw group to handle her.

Sub attack at 42,52

Japanese Ships
AK Sado Maru, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Pipefish, hits 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Todays air attacks can be divided in two:
Firstly, enemy raids on Tinian? by B-29s and enemy carrier bomber.
Moved most of my Oscars out of here yesterday.

Day Air attack on Tinian , at 62,65

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 43

Allied aircraft
B-29 Superfortress x 70

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 3 destroyed, 21 damaged
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29 Superfortress: 9 damaged - one were recorded as an A2A kill by an Oscar II [;)]

Japanese ground losses:
201 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 54
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The enemy carrier strike is opposed by a few Oscars and some trained Zekes and George fighters.
While the Oscars gets it the Zeke and George's shoot down several enemy ac! Quite encouraging really.

Day Air attack on Tinian , at 62,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 9
N1K1-J George x 2
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 13

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 27
SB2C Helldiver x 51
TBM Avenger x 57

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
N1K1-J George: 1 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 16 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
SB2C Helldiver: 5 destroyed, 4 damaged
TBM Avenger: 4 destroyed, 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Again we sent out Strike Force II - and again we hit an enemy convoy north of Sarmi!
Have hit a lot of enemy transports lately. If this continues it may inflict Andy's
build up of supplies in the area.

Day Air attack on TF at 50,76

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 8
D4Y Judy x 18

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y Judy: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK James M. Goodhue, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AK B. F. Irvine, Bomb hits 1
AK Ralph Barnes, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The first attack by the new 'Grace' torpedo bomber!

Day Air attack on TF at 50,76

Japanese aircraft
B7A Grace x 18

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
B7A Grace: 3 destroyed, 10 damaged

Allied Ships
TK Panda, Torpedo hits 1
AK Liloa
TK A.C. Rubel
AK Henry Dearborn, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 41,71

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK George H. Williams, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,76

Japanese aircraft
B7A Grace x 6

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
B7A Grace: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
AK William Dunbar
TK A.C. Rubel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,76

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 8
D4Y Judy x 10

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y Judy: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Henry Dearborn, on fire, heavy damage
AK Ralph Barnes, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enter the Grace!

Pretth looking long range fast torpedo bomber!

[BLurking]

I've recently gotten the Frank, and it's a lifesaver. Don't save it, use it. With a range of 7, you can actually escort out torpedo strikes to a decent range. And it's the only fighter I've found that can get the bombers through a CAP.
You'll still lose 2, 3, even 4-1, but it's not (in my limitted experience) as complete a slaughter as with Zekes and Tonys - which are worthless at this date.

Ditch every Tojo you've got - build more Franks!

For what it's worth.

[Fishbed]

A big fat CAP over Tinian, possibly mostly LRCAP from other islands, wouldn't do it against the Fortresses? [&:]

[Honda]

I personaly see Frank as a too valuable killer of enemy fighters to send into doomed escort missions. Agains a weak CAP, yes, but against the uberCAP, no way. Oscars will do fine there. Meet the enemy over your ground, deplete his fighter strenght, and then hammer at the CV fleet. Without it, the invasion is a faliure no matter how many troops have disembarked.

[BLurking]

Honda,

Understood, and I would never recommend a straight-on attack vs. the Allied Deathstar.
But at this stage of the game, in a stock scenario, every CAP is a potential uberCAP.
It's awe-inspiring what just 12 Corsairs can do to a Japanese strike.
With Franks, you can break through that.

Nothing can break through the Deathstar CAP [:@]...

[Honda]

As long as we understand each other...[;)]

[PzB74]

US carriers are massing SE of Tinian - this island is the only one overflown by recon ac
two days in a row. Yesterday I airlifted an SNLF unit to Pagan to reinforce the most probable
target. Is it possible that all the attention around Pagan have been a ploy? Tinian got a size
7 AF, perfect for B-29s.

LRCAP isn't as effective, but I will use it if a base is closed. Just 2-3 more days and we'll
start receiving Franks! If the battle drags out we can deploy 400 within a month. Zeke's also
got a max range of 6 hexes, so the Frank will be a specialist interceptor and CAP fighter over
the next year.

The enemy invasion force is moving NW from Eniwetok and the current course will bring them
south of Pagan. Perhaps we'll find some use for our 240mm howitzers after all [;)] With 1390 AP
Tinian is just as well defended as any of the other islands and there are currently 3900 mines
there.

Some 200 fighters are moved in and put on 90% CAP. All leaders checked for 'quality'. It's large
bunch of Oscars, a mix of medium/experienced Zekes and a crack George Daitai too add some firepower.

Moved all Jacks out of China, they actually reached Iwo Jima in one jump [8D]In a couple of days there
will be thousands of fighters ready for a massed defense. We can't allow a single island to fall as this
will mean the undoing of more than the Marianas

Tomorrow we receive our last fleet carrier - ever [:(]I'm also moving the Taiho, Kaga, Shokaku and Zuikaku
to Japan. Lots of subs in the China Sea and I wish to speed up repairs now that most other ships have been
repaired.

Didn't get a screenie today, tomorrow will be even more revealing though!
On Monday I go on vacation and will be offline for 15 days. In the middle of the 'Mother of all battles' [8|]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/28/44

Sub/ASW Attacks

Anti submarine warfare is still a bit too effective. My bombers spot and hit
numerous enemy subs. Surface groups are also lethal... Lost 2 IJN boats today in
the picket line NW of Eniwetok - even though I moved them at cruise speed in
deep water. They subs were the hunted once again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 71,75

Japanese Ships
SS I-12, hits 29, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Allied Ships
DD Halsey Powell
DD Stephen Potter
DD Porterfield
DD Newcomb
DD Morrison
DD McKee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 70,70

Japanese Ships
SS I-36, hits 15, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Allied Ships
DE Duffy
DE Doneff
DE Dempsey
DE Deede
DE Edward C. Daly
DE Carlson
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Tinian , at 62,65

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
SB2C Helldiver x 66
TBM Avenger x 86

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 4 damaged
TBM Avenger: 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
123 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 91

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tinian , at 62,65

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 9
SB2C Helldiver x 45
TBM Avenger x 56

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 7 damaged
TBM Avenger: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 55
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Tarakan at 33,61

Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Hohuku Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
----------------------------------------------------------

[Fishbed]

Kill the Tinian intruders Samourai! You've got no means to defeat the Uber Cap, but you still have the capability to kill them on your own ground. You're right to do it before he comes with the battlewagon - a flattop without planes is useless [8D]

We can't let them pounder Tinian anymore, they have to pay! If you can't hit the soldier, break the sword [:D]

[Nemo121]

I know this will be unpopular but I think that you are committing these units to a fight they can't win. If your goal is attrition and slowing the enemy then do it when the experience of your pilots is improved by 2 or 3 more months of training. Throwing pilots in now won't blunt Andy's decisive thrusts now. It may not blunt them later either but at the very least the chance will be there. I think you are fighting too early both in strategic and operational terms.
 
Here's what I mean. If you discount the strategic advice then at the very least consider the operational advice... At some point in time during the invasion cycle when Andy has committed ground troops but before he is strong enough to take the target he will have to cycle his BBs back for replenishment. If you wait until that time to fly your fighters into nearby bases you will allow them to fight with one of the largest threats to their existence removed from the equation. Andy is so used to gaining air superiority whenever he wants that you can be almost assured that he will try to smash any of your bases which show a dark red airbase. So long as he does that smashing using his airplanes and not his battleline you have a chance to blunt his offensive power and give yourself the opportunity to base some bombers and fleet units into the area for smash and grab raids on his transport TFs.

Right now though you are meeting his schwerpunkt head on. This arrow will shatter your shield. I would suggest meeting the schwerpunkt a bit later on after it has lost some of its momentum and meeting it at a tangent so that its full force is not directed at your, inferior, forces.
 
Obviously though you are the commander on the scene and know the situation more fully but I would point out that you are setting up a situation which is similar to the situation in which KB came to such harm. You met the thrust head-on and suffered for it. Meet it after it is fully extended, throw it off with your defensive actions and then, in the few days it will take Andy to bring up new fighters base in all your bombers and strike hard. This maximises on enemy weaknesses instead of trying to beat his strengths ( something I think the Japanese cannot do at this stage of the war).

[PzB74]

Hear, hear: Big news! The capitalist Yanks and their servants have started an
offensive against Imperial ground in the Marianas.

Several large carrier strikes hit Tininan followed by 100 B-29's from the Marshalls.
So TINIAN is the target! [:-]

In the first air battles 41 Hellcats and 2 Corsairs were shot down for the price of
81 Zekes, 37 Oscars and 26 Georges! 144/43 = 1-3.35 kill ratio. Not bad!

Especially the George fighter showed itself to be a Hellcat killer and achieved almost
a 1-1 kill ratio. I managed to extract 1 George and 10 pilots after the battle and the
unit will be rebuilt ASAP!

Somehow US battleships WITHOUT CAP halted 1 hex east of Saipan/Tinian and were attacked by
2 small waves of Betty bombers. OOOHHH they pain, again we could have inflicted heavy casualties
on the enemy. This will not happen again...neither from my - nor Andy's side I'm afraid [:'(]

Tinian is closed but Phase 1 of Turnip Surprise has been launched [:D]
Numerous bomber formations all over the Central Pacific have been put on naval strike - max range.

Hundreds of CAP fighters have been moved to Guam, Saipan and Pagan. Some even went to Tinian.
The enemy is not allowed to rest and we will gradually wear him down. I'm quite confident because of
the massive arsenal of available fighters and bombers. For each unit that was moved to the Marianas
a replacement arrived from Japan, China or the Philippines [8D]

Will post some screenies!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/29/44

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Tinian , at 62,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 81
N1K1-J George x 23
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 46

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 184
F4U-1D Corsair x 29
SB2C Helldiver x 122
TBM Avenger x 136

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 91 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 24 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 43 destroyed
H8K Emily: 2 destroyed
C6N Myrt: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 38 destroyed, 19 damaged
F4U-1D Corsair: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
SB2C Helldiver: 4 damaged
TBM Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
248 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 71
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tinian , at 62,65

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 40
TBM Avenger x 49

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 26
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tinian , at 62,65

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 48
TBM Avenger x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged

Runway hits 17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here comes the Super's - AFTER the carrier strike fortunately!

Day Air attack on Tinian , at 62,65

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-29 Superfortress x 107

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 3 destroyed
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29 Superfortress: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
59 casualties reported

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 174
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 63,65

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships [X(]
BB Massachusetts

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 63,65

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied Ships [X(]
DMS Long
BB New Jersey

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Eniwetok at 76,74

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 3
P-40N Warhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Admiral Senn

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 7000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tinian , at 62,65

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 13
SB2C Helldiver x 17

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 7 damaged

Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x SB2C Helldiver bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Eniwetok at 76,74

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 4
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 3
P-40N Warhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Mk 21: 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Eniwetok at 76,74

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 4
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 3
P-40N Warhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 2 damaged
P-40N Warhawk: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Donald McKay

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The George in Combat!

During the first phase of the battle the George was invincible and downed a dozen enemy
fighters without taking any losses. Gradually superior enemy numbers turned the tables.
Still, the George is a Hellcat killer. Next time we'll committ a much more potent force.

[PzB74]

Thanks for the excellent advice Nemo!
Rest assured, I'm not going to whither away my strategic reserves unless Andy
can be beaten. I will gradually increase committment and study the strategic situation day by day.

I can already see major weaknesses in Andy's plan. Tinian is flanked by Saipan and Guam. I think enemy
ships my get 'lost' and die en masse in the huge minefields. Andy is a brilliant player, don't think I
give him enough credit in this AAR. Still, he has little experience with operations of this scale and he
will make mistakes - like we all would. So I think we should try to take advantage of these mistakes and
make him pay dearly for them.

We're finally fighting on our own ground. The enemy has to come to us and stay in place for weeks on end.
It's perfect [:D] In the first air battle no less than 43 enemy fighters were shot down. Morale will suffer
and fatigue increase if his strikes are opposed continously. So let's see how things evolve instead of following
a set plan [:)]

And yes..I am fighting a 'spirited' battle - according to Imperial Japanese traditions. This is the way I've
played this game from Turn 1. Vinn og forsvinn med samme sinn. Norwegian saying [;)]

Turnip Surprise - Phase 1

I've outlined the current situation and a possible scenario!
The Kido Butai now consists of 4 fleet and 4 light carriers. Lots of potential..so I need input now.
You don't want to read about defeats for the next 18 months, do you? [;)]

[Fishbed]

If you want my advice, don't get hurried
 
Lets kill his planes first... But getting from Ulithi to his air umbrella is a little risky right now, even for killing BBs...

[PzB74]

You're right - again - Fish! It is possible that this is a raid only - meant to draw out our reserves and test the
defenses. I don't think so, but it's time to slow down and see how things develop. Here is the mail I sent Andy.
Start of 'propaganda war?' [;)]

At first I believed you would try - but on second thoughts...I think it's a ploy. You're the kind of cheap Scot
that would even lie to achieve your goals

Way too few transports nearby to be an invasion as well.

So I'm using the opportunity to test out how well my Zekes and new models fight over their own turf. Too
bad I didn't have more bombers on naval attack last turn though :-\

Very encouraged by the effectiveness of the George! 11 out of 27 pilots survived and they claimed 22 kills
in one sortie. When I bring in their brethrens I think you will feel it
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Todays turn: I found that LRCAP works quite well in the Marianas. Some 260 Oscars and Zekes from Guam and Saipan
LRCAP'ed Tinian. Of course ALL were shot down, even though up to 1/3 of the pilots survived. Another 68 enemy
fighters were shot down. 273/68 = 1/4 kill ratio. If you extract the 67 decoy Oscars we got a 1/3 kill ratio - and
this is with a mix of green and experienced (not crack) Zeke pilots. Very useful information.

Last day of May next turn - soon we'll have 400 crack Franks in the line!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/30/44

Even the enemy bombardment group managed to 'hunt' my sub among the mines.
It survived though. DMS ain't the best asw ships. So no more sneak attacks with subs. Only scout, mining
and attack on cripples.

Sub/ASW Attacks

ASW attack near Tinian at 62,65

Japanese Ships
SS I-178, hits 8, on fire

Allied Ships
DMS Elliot
DMS Chandler
DMS Howard
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This 'convoy' attack on my 'attack' sub gained some valuable info though. It may
look like Andy is serious based on the troop and landing ships here.

Your thoughts?

ASW attack at 72,69

Japanese Ships
SS I-29, hits 21, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Allied Ships
AK Quinault Victory
LCT LCT-139
LST LST-340
LST LST-339
LST LST-217
LST LST-214
LST LST-69
LST LST-40
LSD Gunston Hall
AK Tuscana
AK Situla
AK Syrma
AP McCawley
MSW Kapunda
MSW Gympie
MSW Gladstone
MSW Geelong
MSW Cootamundra
MSW Ararat
MSW Pirie
MSW Tamworth
DE William C. Miller
DE Martin
DE Lyman
DE Lovering
DE LeHardy
DE Lake
DE Burden R. Hastings
DE Griswold
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bomardments

The French have lent the Yanks a battle wagon. Will make sure they doesn't get it back! [;)]

Naval bombardment of Tinian, at 62,65

Allied Ships
BB Richelieu
BB New Jersey
BB Iowa
BB Alabama
BB Massachusetts
BB South Dakota

Japanese ground losses: - bad result [:D]
568 casualties reported
Guns lost 19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Todays big air combat. Very laughable that not a single Jap CAP fighter survived OR
got through to the bombers. This A2A model NEEDS tweaking Joe. Much too bloody for a
standard game. The fun would last longer with Nik's mod.

Day Air attack on Tinian , at 62,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
A6M5 Zeke x 211
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 86

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 141
F4U-1D Corsair x 67
TBM Avenger x 168

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 203 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 69 destroyed
C6N Myrt: 2 destroyed
H8K Emily: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 57 destroyed, 27 damaged
F4U-1D Corsair: 9 destroyed, 7 damaged
TBM Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
89 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 99
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th/C Division, at 62,65 - ground strike!

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 8

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 87
F6F Hellcat x 24
SB2C Helldiver x 156
TBM Avenger x 56

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged
TBM Avenger: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
349 casualties reported
Guns lost 11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Sarmi at 48,78

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft - not a lot of protection over Sarmi. Perhaps we can try a raid?
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Idaho
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Sarmi at 48,78

Japanese aircraft
P1Y Frances x 3

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y Frances: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Idaho

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x P1Y Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Losses

Nasty numbers, but I think they're quite acceptable. Especially since these results
are achieved mostly by second rate Zekes and....Oscars.

[PzB74]

More of the same - cat and mouse game. No air 2 air combat today.
I'm building a powerful fighter presence on Pagan, Saipan and Guam.
Some 800 fighters by now. One day they'll all LRCAP Tinian.

In 4 days the enemy invasion fleet will arrive. I think we should sortie
the Combined Fleet tomorrow. Even if spotted Andy will get very nervous.
Escort carrier moves to the Bonins.

First Franks arrive tomorrow. Starting production: 320 ac before the 170 Tojos
produced are converted. That's some 10-11 ac pr day. First upgrade in 3 days.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/31/44

Bombardments

To get better results Andy divided his super bombardment group in 3!

Naval bombardment of Tinian, at 62,65 [:)]

Allied Ships
BB Richelieu
BB South Dakota
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Tinian, at 62,65 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

57 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB Massachusetts, Shell hits 26, on fire [:D]
BB Alabama

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Tinian, at 62,65 [8D]

Allied Ships
BB New Jersey
BB Iowa
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Sweep by Corsairs...Andy's Hellcats have been hurt!

Day Air attack on Tinian , at 62,65

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 8

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 19
F4U-1D Corsair x 57

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 4 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good thing we stood down today!

Day Air attack on Tinian , at 62,65

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 19
F6F Hellcat x 64
B-29 Superfortress x 114 - hopefully these guys are getting tired.

Allied aircraft losses
B-29 Superfortress: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heavy strike on ground troops. Must burn a lot of missions. Patience now, patience...

Day Air attack on 55th/C Division, at 62,65

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 108
F6F Hellcat x 24
SB2C Helldiver x 149
TBM Avenger x 248

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SB2C Helldiver: 6 damaged
TBM Avenger: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
466 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When all attention is on the Marianas we strike another supply convoy north of Rabaul
from Truk [:D]
Day Air attack on TF at 58,83

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 14
P1Y Frances x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
P1Y Frances: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
TK A.C. Rubel
AK Zachary Taylor, Torpedo hits 1
AK William Dunbar, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Admiral Williams, Torpedo hits 1
AK Zebra, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Sarmi at 48,78

Japanese aircraft
P1Y Frances x 22

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
P-38J Lightning x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y Frances: 4 destroyed, 14 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 damaged
P-38J Lightning: 2 damaged

Allied Ships - Arrgh, Idaho got 9 lives [:@]
BB Idaho, Torpedo hits 1
-------------------------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

Somehow Andy get's it ALL wrong! [:D]
His fighters are put on GROUND STRIKE - and there is NO escort! The leaky CAP
from Guam and Saipan makes mince meat of them [:D]

I watched the WHOLE show and SMILED for 15 minutes while the hated enemy ac were
SHOT DOWN IN DROWES without losses to themselves [:D]

This is the FIRST example of how the Uber CAP works in Japan's favor! [:D]
Enjoy fellow fan boys - this is a rare occasion - sake for everyone!

Can't see much of the enemy invasion fleet, Andy's carriers have now lost some
300-350 ac. This has to hurt - and we haven't even deployed our best units.
I'm simply feeding in more Oscars, Zekes and Tonys. They do the job and Tinian
is repairing 50 damage point for each turn Andy doesn't bomb it...

One thing: Andy said he wouldn't operate B-29s from anything less than a size 5 af.
The only size 5 enemy air base in the vicinity of Tinian is Kwajalein, 23 hexes away [&:]
What is the range of these monsters?

I didn't sortie the fleet - want to wait a bit longer and see what happens. The Kaga is down
to 19 sys damage while the Taiho got 23. Both in Shanghai now. Both carriers can therefore
keep pace with the slow Junyo at 24 knots. This brings KB strength up to 6 cv and 3 cvl.

The first batch of 11 Franks arrived pr schedule. 2 more days and I'll upgrade a unit on Ulithi.
This is perfect, these crack units can make our large formations of mediocre fighters very
potent - in a defensive role.

So I think there is hope, so let's but despair on hold and see whether Andy makes any more
mistakes.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/01/44

Sub/ASW Attacks

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The US carrier TF 'stumbles' accross one of my luckless minelaying subs.
They're just out of luck!

ASW attack at 61,66

Japanese Ships
SS I-31, hits 8, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Allied Ships
DD DeHaven
DD Dashiell
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

This is the the effect of the killer Corsair...

Day Air attack on Guam , at 62,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 43
A6M5c Zeke x 37
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 50

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 60

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 31 destroyed
A6M5c Zeke: 16 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 38 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1D Corsair: 11 destroyed, 7 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th/C Division, at 62,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 28
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 37
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 10

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 80
F6F Hellcat x 26
SB2C Helldiver x 83
TBM Avenger x 170

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 4 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed, 13 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses [:D] [&o]
FM-2 Wildcat: 36 destroyed, 8 damaged
F6F Hellcat: 14 destroyed
SB2C Helldiver: 40 destroyed, 3 damaged
TBM Avenger: 80 destroyed, 10 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andy got a few bombers on naval strike...

Day Air attack on TF, near Guam at 62,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 12
A6M5c Zeke x 21

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 14
SB2C Helldiver x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 3 destroyed
A6M5c Zeke: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Daitei Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today dodoo...too many bombers took off against the US carriers that got within
6 hexes of Ulithi. Most of my fighters had a max range of 0.

Day Air attack on TF at 60,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 3
G4M2 Betty x 51

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 116

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 3 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 39 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 7 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 60,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 3
B7A Grace x 7

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 115

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 3 destroyed
B7A Grace: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tinian , at 62,65

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 20

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 12
SB2C Helldiver x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 1 damaged
SB2C Helldiver: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 60,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 4
G4M2 Betty x 5

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 128

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 4 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

Here are the actual numbers: We also lost quite a few bombers because of the un-intential raids.
Still the best result in all of 44 and probably 43!

Losses

[LittleJoe]

Banzaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]