VSWG vs ctangus - Into the Heart of Darkness

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK

One Tip for the allied fighters in the DEI and mayala is use them as LRCAP over any evacuating shipping as this deters any unescorted nells etc. also makes them safe from sweeps at the same time. I'm sure you already know this however.

I've been very conservative with my air groups in Malaya and the DEI so far. For instance all Dutch fighters are resting at Palembang, the bombers are at Soerabaja. The idea is to keep my planes at rear bases, then suddenly concentrate them at a frontline base, strike as hard as possible, and then retreat immediatly. Sooner or later opportunities for such strikes will arise, Chuck cannot cover everything with Zeros.

So far most of the sea lanes in the DEI are still safe, but this will change soon. Then it's time to heed your advice, and cover my convoys with LRCAP. I didn't do this against Gary, and paid dearly.

timtom,
sounds simple enough! Too bad I didn't know this before the game started. Anyway, I will play as if my ships do not respawn.

[VSWG]

Dec. 13th, 1941

Lots of submarine action around the Philippines. I spend hundreds of political points exchanging my submarine commanders in Manila (lots of leaders with less than 40 aggression) on Dec. 7th, and it's starting to pay off. Now if only their aim would improve, and I could get rid of those defective torpedoes...



On Mindanao Davao fell.

Ground combat at Davao
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 11222 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 114 
Defending force 2702 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 79
 
Japanese max assault: 136 - adjusted assault: 74  
Allied max defense: 82 - adjusted defense: 31
 
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
 
Japanese forces CAPTURE Davao base !!!
 
Allied aircraft
no flights
 
Allied aircraft losses
Do 24K-2: 3 destroyed
 
Japanese ground losses:
518 casualties reported
 
Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

An AVD and a squadron of Dutch patrol planes were lost, I didn't expect another shock attack so soon. Cagayan is still holding out, though, and it looks like Chuck will have to reinforce, or wait until the brigade from Davao arrives at Cagayan.

The only other noteworthy action today was the fall of Wake Island. Bombers from all Pearl Harbor carriers were identified before the final assault, so at least I know that no Jap. carriers are lurking between Pearl Harbor and San Francisco. If I were Chuck, I had stood down planes from 2 carriers to keep me guessing.

[VSWG]

General Overview:

• devastating Pearl Harbor attack (4 BBs sunk, 4 damaged)
• major Japanese offensives (divisions) in northern Malaya, Luzon and on Mindanao
• secondary offensives on northern Borneo (Brunei, Miri), the eastern DEI (Manado, Werak), New Britain (Kavieng) and CentPac (Wake Island)
• few aircraft losses on both sides (Allies: 235, Japan: 166)
• moderate ship losses (see below)

A commented list of Ship Losses so far (dec. 13th, 1941):

BB: Japan: 0. Allies: 4 (West Virginia, Arizona, Tennessee, California at Pearl Harbor).
CA/CL: Japan: 0. Allies: 1 (CL Boise sunk by Kates near the Marianas)
DD: Japan: 5 (sunk by SC action and PT boats in the Philippines). Allies: 1 (John D. Ford sunk by SC action in the Philippines).
APD: Japan: 1 (sunk by LB during the invasion of Davao). Allies: 0
AP: Japan: 0 (no confirmed losses, several heavily damaged by submarines). Allies: 3 (President Harrison sunk by TB near Japan, AP Montoro scuttled at Victoria Point, AP Republic sunk by I-boats near Canton Island)
AK: Japan: 1 (Amakusa Maru sunk by SS near Kota Bharu). Allies: 24 (11 during the first days near China, 7 in the PI (almost all 350t cap. freighters), 2 fleeing the PI near Iwo Jima, 2 scuttled at Victoria Point and Tavoy, 2 sunk by I-boats in the DEI)
TK: Japan: 0. Allies: 2 (Ebonol sunk by DB near Luzon, British Lord sunk by TB at Brunei)
SS: No losses on both sides!
Aux: Japan: 0. Allies: 2 (AGP Serdang sunk by I-boat near Bali, AVD William B. Preston scuttled at Davao)
ML: Japan: 0. Allies: 3 (Pro Patria sunk by I-boat near Singapore, ML Teviotbank sunk by TB at Port Blair, Redstart by DB at Hong Kong)
DM: Japan: 0. Allies: 1 (Thracian hit by 16in shell at Cagayan)
MSW: Japan: 2. Allies: 0
PT: Japan: 0. Allies: 14 (all in the Philippines)
PG: Japan: 0. Allies: 3 (Mindanao, Tutuila and Wake near the Philippines)

Total: Japan 9, Allies: 58 (44 without PT boats)

... and a focus on the submarine war:

Successful attacks by Allied subs:
12/13/41 SS S-38, at 46,57: AP Heiku Maru, Shell hits 2 (30 casualties reported)
12/13/41 SS KXII, at 30,46: AP Nissen Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
12/13/41 SS Tarpon, at 36,46: AP Kokuryu Maru, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1 (65 casualties reported)
12/11/41 SS KXII, at 30,46: BB Ise, Torpedo hits 1
12/10/41 SS S-40, near Tagbilaran: DD Yugure, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage - SUNK
12/10/41 SS Perch, at 44,47: AP Sangetsu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire (27 casualties reported)
12/10/41 SS S-40, at 43,59: AP Takayo Maru, Torpedo hits 1 (25 casualties reported)
12/08/41 SS KXI, at 25,45: AK Amakusa Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage - SUNK
12/07/41 SS KXII, at 26,45: AK Amakusa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Successful attacks by Japanese subs:
12/12/41 SS I-170, near Canton Island: AP Republic, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage - SUNK
12/11/41 SS I-166, at 42,52: AK Dumaguete, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage - SUNK
12/11/41 SS I-10, at 20,59: AK Federlock, Torpedo hits 1, on fire - 37/17/0 at Batavia
12/11/41 SS I-171, at 101,98: AP Republic, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage -
12/11/41 SS I-165, near Boac: AK Kanlaon II, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage - SUNK
12/11/41 SS I-171, at 101,98: AP Holbrook, Torpedo hits 1, on fire - 36/38/3 near Palmyra
12/10/41 SS I-21, at 30,68: AK Forafric, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage - 76/85/0 at Makassar
12/10/41 SS I-160, at 18,59: AK Rokan, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage - SUNK
12/10/41 SS I-166, at 42,52: AK Ethel Edwards, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage - SUNK
12/09/41 SS I-25, at 26,69, AGP Serdang, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage - SUNK
12/08/41 SS I-155, at 22,54: ML Pro Patria, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage - SUNK
12/08/41 SS I-155, at 22,54: AK Mandar, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (126 casualties reported, Guns lost 4, Vehicles lost 1) - SUNK
12/08/41 SS I-166, at 42,52: AS Holland, Torpedo hits 1, on fire - 27/0/0 at Tarakan

From now on I'll try to do daily updates.

[ny59giants]

Martin,
Glad to see you back doing an AAR!![&o][&o]
 
If you haven't done so yet, you should post a thread detailing how you do all these screenshots and what software you use to do them (some of us are software challenged [;)]). Eventually, I will get a new computer and be able to play WitP again and would like to do an AAR similar to yours. The screenshots and overlay of information make it so easy to follow what is happening.
 
Any plans to defend the South Pacific differently from your previous AAR?? 

[VSWG]

From now on I'll divide my updates into three geographical areas:

CBI - China, Burma, India
Asiatic Areas - Philippines, Malaya, and the Dutch East Indies
Pacific Areas - North Pacific, South Pacific, Southwest Pacific and Australia.

Dec. 14th, 1941

CBI:

Not much to report from here so far. I'll post some general plans for the defense of Burma and India later. In China the first stacks have started moving, but I'll spare you the details and update you when things get interesting.

The only noteworthy event was the evacuation of the Rangoon base force by fast APs and AKs despite the Jap. air umbrella around Tavoy and Victoria Star yesterday. It cost me 1 AK and the AR that starts the game at Rangoon though. I'll wait for bad weather before dropping this base force at Port Blair, so that I can move short-legged planes from India/Burma to Malaya again. I'm expecting another paradrop soon, though.

Asiatic Areas:

A cruiser TF appears to be heading towards Kuching. This has toggled the "vital base - defend at all costs" switch...



I'm a big fan of hit and run attacks in the eastern DEI and around New Guinea. This is the soft underbelly of Japan in the first weeks of the war, until Japan seizes Amboina and Kendari.



Same train of thought (hit and run), different method: sweeps and torpedo bombers instead of light cruisers:



Pacific Areas:

Success in SWPac! I'm falling in love with my ANZAC cruisers...



I'm unloading an Australian Bde at Rabaul right under the nose of the Jap. cruisers at Kavieng! [X(] The convoy hasn't been identified though, and the (damaged?) cruisers are protecting their own ships, so I doubt that Chuck will send them to Rabaul. Nevertheless I've put the damaged Adelaide (27 sys, Louisville has 57 sys damage) in the convoy, and have formed a small SC TF with the ships that escorted the convoy to Rabaul. Leander and Achilles will return to Rabaul ASAP, too.

ny59giants, you've asking a good question about SoPac there. Basically I think that "Operation Passenger" (massive build-up of the Samoan Islands) was an excellent plan, and would like to do it again, but Chuck knows every detail about it from my old AAR... Now all these screenshots bite me in the behind... [;)] Do I risk the same plan against a player who knows all about it? To be honest, I don't know yet. What I'm doing different from my first game is that I'm already sending out the first troops from the West Coast and Pearl Harbor in small TFs instead of gathering a huge convoy. Midway and Canton Island will be reinforced earlier than against Gary, but after that I just might go for Operation Passenger again. I'm still undecided though - and open for advice! [;)]

[KDonovan]

whats your "max react setting" on the PoW TF....if those are just CA's heading to Kuching, looks like you may have some more battle success on your hands

[VSWG]

ORIGINAL: KDonovan

whats your "max react setting" on the PoW TF....if those are just CA's heading to Kuching, looks like you may have some more battle success on your hands

Max react setting on the PoW TF was 0, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway because she had to travel 12 hexes and couldn't have reacted all the way to Kuching. She's still at Pontianak, see update below...

Dec. 15th, 1941

CBI:

First screw-up in China: 4 Chinese Corps were defeated at Nanchang and kicked out of the hex. I forgot to hit the "set all to follow" button, so my units arrived piecemeal. I did the same mistake against Gary... [8|] It's not that bad, though, since my main objective here is to pin down several Japanese combat units, and the remaining LCUs should still be able to this. What really worries me is the low adjusted assault value, I hope it can be explained by the lack of any HQ within range.

Ground combat at Nanchang

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 80541 troops, 374 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1804
Defending force 30430 troops, 160 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 940

Japanese max assault: 1943 - adjusted assault: 1144
Allied max defense: 958 - adjusted defense: 204

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
1294 casualties reported
Guns lost 12

Allied ground losses:
1015 casualties reported
Guns lost 41

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Asiatic Areas:

Chuck sent a CL with some DDs to Kuching to take out the PT boats, but both sides traded only a couple of shots before disengaging. 2 PT boats wasted their torpedoes.

The Japanese invasion will be covered by 4 battleships, so I haven't sent PoW in - I'll wait for one turn and see if mines, subs, PT boats and torpedo bombers can inflict some damage before sending this precious battleship against such a superior force. Repulse is on the way, too, but will need two days to arrive. I'm willing to risk both ships for Kuching, but not against an intact force of 4 Jap. BBs. A small troop convoy as orders to unload its cargo (Singkep's defense Bn) before the Japanese arrive, I'm sacrificing the ships to get more AV on the ground. If the PT boats can keep the Japanese occupied long enough they might actually have a chance.



In the eastern DEI the raid against the convoy at Malang was a success, although damage could be heavier. The difference to the raid of Leander/Achilles is the lack of radar, I guess. The Japanese ships at Weda have left, so I'm trying to intercept them at sea. Keep your fingers crossed...



In the Philippines Operation Pinpoint didn't go as planned, since all ships had left Tuguegarao. I'm not complaining though since the A2A combat went pretty good and build some experience, and a Swordfish torpedoed an AP full of troop northwest of San Fernando. Other torpedoes were launched at CL Sendai and 2 APD Patrol Boats, but didn't hit - probably because some Nates on CAP disturbed the attack runs. No TB were lost though.



Chuck made a mistake at Baguio, he too forgot to use the "set all to follow" button, and the 8th Sasebo 8th SNFL and the 15th Mortar Bn crossed the river without waiting for the main force - the shock attack failed. 60 miles to the northwest San Fernando was taken by the following troops:



SS KXVII hit AK Ume Maru with 2 torpedoes east of Malaya.

Pacific Areas:

At Rabaul the unloading of the Australian Bde was disturbed by Nells hitting the (already empty) AP Largs Bay with 3 torpedoes. Surprisingly she's still alive: 70/59/14, what a tough ship!

A bit to the north DD Oboro, damaged in the cruiser battle at Rabaul, succumbed to its wounds on its way to Truk. [:)]

Chuck mined Pago Pago, as AK Admiral Halstead found out today (47/33/20). I used Pago Pago as a gathering point for all merchants in SoPac. Well, not anymore...

KB disappeared, and (according to my intel) so did all ships in Kwajalein harbor safe 1 AS. I guess a major operation will happen here soon, and I doubt I can do much about it. I've got one ace in my sleeve, though: the 1st Marine Def Bn is loaded on a large fast transport TF near Palmyra, destination Canton Island (only some tanks and the sound detectors have to follow in an AK). It should be able to arrive at any SoPac base earlier than a Japanese convoy, hopefully I can surprise Chuck a litte. A second Marine Def Bn was loaded on the remaining cruisers and several DDs at Pearl Harbor, it will head south, too.

[GaryChildress]

Good luck Martin! Not that you'll need it with all those pesky PT boats. [:D]

[VSWG]

Thanks Gary. [8D] Looking forward to your AAR.

Dec. 16th, 1941

CBI:

Good day in China: Chuck moved 4 small Inf LCUs out of Hankow, across the river at the same time several Chinese Corps occupied this hex. The Japanese shock attack failed. He is weakening Hankow!

A bit to the east, a Chinese Corps has occupied a wooden hex on the road between Anking and Shangai. Chuck thought this was a guerilla unit and attacked with an Ind. brigade - another failed attack.

Asiatic Areas:

Almost an anti-climatic turn: the Kuching invasion convoy ended the day 60 miles away from Kuching - good that I didn't sent PoW in! Chuck's anti-PT boat TF clashed with my reinforcement convoy and damaged it severely. The convoy didn't unload its troops and was forced out of the hex - not so good. Looks like I won't be able to land these troops, so the convoy will retreat to Singkawang.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Kuching at 27,56
 
Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 1
DD Chidori, Shell hits 1
DD Manazuru
DD Hatsukari, Shell hits 2,  on fire
DD Tomozuru, Shell hits 1,  on fire
 
Allied Ships
MSW Alor, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
MSW Aroe, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
MSW Bantam, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PC Circe, Shell hits 1,  on fire
PC Raub
PC Bellatrix, Shell hits 1
PC Beneb, Shell hits 1
AP Kanimbla, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AP Manoora, Shell hits 1,  on fire
AP Speelman
AP Van Diemen
AK Mangola
AK Bantam
AK Straat Soenda 
 
Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported

The escorts and the AMC (Manoora, Kanimbla) fought bravely, but later that day Nells from Saigon found the convoy and sunk more ships:

Day Air attack on TF at 27,55
 
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 18
 
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 3 damaged
 
Allied Ships
AP Kanimbla,  on fire,  heavy damage
AP Speelman, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
PC Beneb, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
PC Bellatrix, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage

Since the invasion didn't happen today I've got one more day to gather my forces, and hopefully mines, submarines, PT boats and TBs will weaken the Japanese SC TF. T.IVa's lauched torpedoes against CA Atago, DD Tomozuru and BB Yamashiro, but no hits.

I'll wait until Repulse arrives at Pontianak and then send both ships in. I would really like to add the Revenge TF (which will be reinforced by 2 DD and 1 DM tomorrow) to my forces, but these ships have to refuel at Batavia first. The bombardment of Singkawang caused no damage to the air field BTW.



In Malaya Taiping, the last Allied base in northern Malaya, fell without resistance to the following troops:



Since several days Singapore air field is operational again, but I'm afraid to put up a CAP since a determined Zero sweep will have no problems defeating the British Buffalos without some War- or Tomahawks as reinforcement. For now all British fighters are grounded at Kuala Lumpur and Johore Bahru, while the LB gain experience by bombarding Japanese troops on Jolo Island (stalemate on the ground here).

An uneventful day in the Philippines, but there seems to be a convoy heading for southern Luzon. Great, several Filipino divisions are waiting at Lingayen and Naga. The last PT boat in the PI was dispatched by a light SC TF though.

Leaking CAP from Manila downed some Japanese planes on ground attack mission over Baguio:

Day Air attack on 71st Reserve Division, at 44,50
 
Japanese aircraft
D1A Susie x 9
Ki-36 Ida x 48
 
Allied aircraft
P-35A x 2
P-40B Tomahawk x 7
P-40E Warhawk x 4
 
Japanese aircraft losses
D1A Susie: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-36 Ida: 12 destroyed, 9 damaged
 
Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Pacific Areas:

Lots of submarine action! The following screenshot displays only the successful attacks, a lot more ASW and submarine attacks happened today:



Nells at Truk had a good day: despite a CAP by several Wirraways they lauchned against Rabaul and hit AP Koolama with 1 and MSW Bathhurst with 2 torpedoes (the latter sinks). At least all troops made it ashore at Rabaul, now I've got an assault value of 111 at this forward base.

In the afternoon the Nells found TK Manatawny (2 TT, 41/52/37) and AK Si Kiang (1 TT, 31/68/15), trying to sneak past the Marianas towards Pearl Harbor. A bit to the west, Mini KB found the already damaged AK Dos Hernandos, and Kates put another torpedo into her (67/44/32). Looks like that not 1 ship from the 7 I sent east from the Philippines will make it. On the other hand, 95% of all shipping from the PI was safely evacuated by TF 97, which is now near Balikpapan.

Chuck mined every friggin' port in SoPac! [:@] After an AK hit a mine at Pago Pago yesterday my MSW found mines at Suva and Noumea too. But before MSW Gale cleared the path through the mine field at Suva CA Pensacola entered the hex and promtly hit a mine. The damage isn't heavy (13/26/2), but those mines give Chuck some pretty good intel...


No sign of KB or a Japanese convoy in the Pacific - but I know they are there! My fast transport TFs are closing in on Canton Island and Palmyra, but I bet Chuck has mined these ports, too. Several DMS are in the Palmyra convoy, but the Canton Island convoy cannot sweep mines. I guess I should wait until some DMS arrive at Canton Island, too, but will I have enough time? I reall want to drop off the 2 CD units and get the hell out of there before KB arrives...

[VSWG]

Dec. 17th, 1941

CBI:

Hong Kong fell today. [:(]

Ground combat at Hong Kong

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 52223 troops, 257 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 945
Defending force 15349 troops, 61 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 265

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese max assault: 1898 - adjusted assault: 1473
Allied max defense: 149 - adjusted defense: 115

Japanese assault odds: 12 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Hong Kong base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
810 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
11501 casualties reported
Guns lost 39

Asiatic Areas:

Today the Japanese invaded Kuching. Lots of mine hits and quite a number of casualties, but my T.IVa's missed the Japanese BBs again. All but 1 PT boat were eliminated by the Japanese BB TF, and no hits were scored by submarines.

DD Kuretake, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Harusame, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Koshu Maru #3, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kansan Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire
AP Koshu Maru #3, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tatsuwa Maru, Mine hits 1
AP Haisho Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Seitai Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire

DD Hatakaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Harukaze, Shell hits 2
AP Kaihei Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
AP Jusan Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire

Casualties (total): 1273 casualties reported, Guns lost 1

Tomorrow the ABDA fleet goes in...



Repulse didn't make it to Pontianak, so she will form a separate TF. At Pontianak I've split off the US Navy ships, they will cruise to Kuching and attack at daylight because of their bad night experience values. PoW will be outnumbered, but maybe she can dish out more damage than she receives, and pave the way for the Repulse and Houston TFs. At Batavia the Revenge TF will rush to Pontianak after refueling, even if I lose today at Kuching these ships might save the battle tomorrow, as Chuck won't expect them. The odds are as good as they get, I'm fighting under air cover, the Japanese ships have already wasted some fuel and ammo, and subs + the remaining TB can finish off cripples. My aim is not to stop the fall of Kuching (I cannot prevent this anymore), but to inflict heavy losses on the IJN. If Chuck loses more ships than I do, I'll call it a victory...

75 Nells from Saigon bombed my troops at Kuching, lets hope he keeps them on ground attack. In return the Dutch Martins will start bombing the 35th Bde today.

Malaya:

Day Air attack on Kuala Lumpur , at 22,47

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 38
Ki-21-II Sally x 63
Ki-48-I Lily x 25
Ki-46-II Dinah x 6

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8

I don't know why he doesn't keep Singapore air field damaged, my engineers are now busy building forts.

This happened near Formosa, S-39 is the first sub I lose:



[8|] [:D]

Pacific Areas:

Everything's quiet... [X(]

---

All Allied fanboys and fans of this AAR: please keep your fingers crossed...

[niceguy2005]

Those T IVa's are terrible they never seem to hit anything, doesn't matter how much you train up the pilots.

[bradfordkay]

Ask Chez about that. One of his transports took two torpedoes from my T.IVs yesterday. Unfortunately I think the transport had already unloaded its deadly cargo...[:(]

[VSWG]

I can't blame the T.IVa's for not hitting anything so far. Only a couple of planes took off without escorts, and they faced a vicious AA fire, and sometimes enemy CAP. I've had quite some success with them against Gary, IIRC. They're crappy, yes, but that makes it only so much sweeter when they finally do hit something. [:D]

Someone posted in the scenario section that they never carried torpedoes IRL so I guess they will be downgraded to FB or LB in the next version of CHS. Crappy or not, I'll miss them... [:(]

I cannot fail to notice that neither niceguy nor Brad wished PoW, Repulse and Houston luck for tonights surface combat... [:-] Therefore neither of you will receive brownie points for the absolutely stunning and lopsided victory which the Royal Navy won today at Kuching!! [;)] [:D]

Working on the screenshots right now.... [:)]

[VSWG]

Here are the first screenshots. The last combat (Repulse vs. convoy) is not done yet since I have to run now, but that one wasn't very exciting anyway. (Edit: I've added it now)

Thick lines: fire from caliber 8in and above
Thin lines: fire from caliber 6in and below (not all shots are displayed)
Dotted lines: torpedoes fired (but not necessarily hits).






Night Time Surface Combat, near Kuching at 27,56

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E8N Dave: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 26, and is sunk
BB Fuso, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CL Yura, Shell hits 1
DD Murasame, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yudachi, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Samidare, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Murakumo, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asagiri
DD Yugiri

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales
CL Danae, Shell hits 3
CL Dragon, Shell hits 6
CL Durban, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Tenedos, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Vampire, Shell hits 2
DD Electra, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Evertsen, Shell hits 1, on fire





Night Time Surface Combat, near Kuching at 27,56

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
CL Yura, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Murasame, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yudachi, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Samidare, on fire, heavy damage
DD Murakumo, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yugiri, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 2
CL Danae, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Dragon, Shell hits 2
CL Durban, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Tenedos, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Vampire
DD Evertsen, on fire





Night Time Surface Combat, near Kuching at 27,56

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago, Shell hits 2
CA Maya
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 1
DD Asashio, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Oshio, Shell hits 1
DD Michishio
DD Arashio, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Houston, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Barker, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
DD Bulmer, Shell hits 1
DD Paul Jones, Shell hits 1
DD Parrott, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Stewart, Shell hits 3, on fire





Night Time Surface Combat, near Kuching at 27,56

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Atago, Shell hits 2
CA Maya
CA Ashigara
DD Asashio, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Oshio
DD Michishio, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Arashio, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BC Repulse, Shell hits 2
CA Exeter, Shell hits 3
DD Alden
DD Edsall, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD John D. Edwards, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Whipple, Shell hits 1





Night Time Surface Combat, near Kuching at 27,56

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Kashii, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
DD Harukaze, Shell hits 44, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Matsukaze, Shell hits 1
PC Shumshu
MSW W.2
PG Sozan Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
PG Tatsumiya Maru
AP Meizan Maru
AP Sunten Maru
AP Tatsuwa Maru, heavy damage
AP Teiun Maru
AK Mexico Maru
AK Myoho Maru
AK Yamagata Maru
AK Eifuku Maru
AK Seitai Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AK Taisei Maru
AK Hiyoshi Maru

Allied Ships
BC Repulse, Shell hits 2
CA Exeter, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Alden
DD Edsall, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD John D. Edwards, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Whipple


I don't have the actual safe yet, so I do not know the exact damage on my ships, but I guess it's safe to say that it was a VERY SUCCESSFUL day for the Allies. [:)]

EDIT: Fixed some screenshots.

EDIT 2: Added last battle and uploaded corrected screenshots.

[Kereguelen]

Hi,

very good AAR, easy to follow, nice graphics!

Those Japanese battleships must have been out of main gun ammo...

K

[Vetamur]

Im still enough to the game that I dont know..is it a rare occurence for the BBs to not use their main armament? Ive noticed that at 2000 yards they often dont get used..but Ive never seen (in my limited experience) a series of rounds quite like that..everyone refusing to fire.
 
Congratulations on your success.

[ny59giants]

I'm still enough to the game that I don't know..is it a rare occurrence for the BB's to not use their main armament? Ive noticed that at 2000 yards they often don't get used..but Ive never seen (in my limited experience) a series of rounds quite like that..everyone refusing to fire.

There have been "numerous" threads about the lack of main guns firing during surface combats. [8|]

KUDOS!!! Great success for you, Martin. [&o][&o][&o][&o][&o]

[Akos Gergely]

Huge victory for the master! Big congrats! You have just scored 350+ VP in a single night ! You should pay a return visit the next night with a beefed up PoW TF (add in the Repulse TF ships) and then mop up with Revenge.

[niceguy2005]

I would agree that the IJN must have been low on main gun ammo. Perhaps they had recently bombarded a base.

Still, I think part of what we are seeing here may be superior TF and ship leaders...along with a little good luck. Even if 2 the 3 BBs were out of main gun ammo the TFs should have been relatively well matched. I suspect the PoWs Capt is very proficient.

[bradfordkay]

" I cannot fail to notice that neither niceguy nor Brad wished PoW, Repulse and Houston luck for tonights surface combat... "

I've always thought it inappropriate to wish good luck to the condemned man as he walks to meet the executioner (a silent prayer for his soul is more like it). Apparently I was expecting you to have the same sort of luck I usually experience!