RIDERS ON THE STORM-THANK YOU

[Gen.Hoepner]

Yes, in Karachi my guys are eager to fight till the last bullet, till the last sip of british blood!
 
BONSAIII[:)]

[Gen.Hoepner]

However guys the Kaga and those 2 damned CVEs, damaged last turn were not intercepted by my subs. My Catalinas at Karachi, due to the NUKE bombardment, didn't take off, so now i'm quite blind for what concerns naval air search.....
I'll keep an aye on the naval losses screen...[;)]

[Gen.Hoepner]

After the last bloody battles the KDAF (Karachi Defence Air Force) has many more aces!
The strange fact is that in my top pilots list i do not have a single KIA or MIA, just some WIA...well, the better! Look at the new aces! i'll try to take a track of them in the next weeks...
 
FO Taylor, E.M. of No.232 Squadron RAF is credited with kill number 5

FO Brookes R. of No.242 Squadron RAF is credited with kill number 5


SLDR Stephens, M.M. of No.232 Squadron RAF is credited with kill number 7
SLDR Stephens, M.M. of No.232 Squadron RAF is credited with kill number 8
SLDR Stephens, M.M. of No.232 Squadron RAF is credited with kill number 9
SLDR Stephens, M.M. of No.232 Squadron RAF is credited with kill number 10
SLDR Stephens, M.M. of No.232 Squadron RAF is credited with kill number 11


1LT Donahue O. of 21st Fighter is credited with kill number 5
1LT Donahue O. of 21st Fighter is credited with kill number 6

1LT Medina A. of 6th Philippine is credited with kill number 5

SLDR Stephens, M.M. of No.232 Squadron RAF is credited with kill number 11

1LT Brors C. of 21st Fighter bails out and is RESCUED (this guys has 17 kills!!!![;)]
 
 

[Andy Mac]

That looks bad but is probably not decisive.
 
Your principal air cover is I assume inland and therefore untouched. 20,000 casualties hurt but that will be mostly disabled.
 
The low number of guns or vehicles knocked out are probably from the base forces.
 
I would have subs at Karachi and the hex outside and more at Bombay and hope to get lucky.
 
What forces do you have at Aden ?

[BigBadWolf]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

What puzzles me most is that not even a single coastal gun shot back during the BBs' run...not a single one!

I smell treason... you should make some inquires if some of the officers from that CD unit recently bought houses on Mayfair [:D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

That looks bad but is probably not decisive.

Your principal air cover is I assume inland and therefore untouched. 20,000 casualties hurt but that will be mostly disabled.

The low number of guns or vehicles knocked out are probably from the base forces.

I would have subs at Karachi and the hex outside and more at Bombay and hope to get lucky.

What forces do you have at Aden ?

My air force is at Malir Andy, so yes, far from BBs' guns, but as you can see from the same Txt report, he started to send towards Malir waves of 300 bombers escorted by 120 oscars...and the zeros are yet to come! So my KDAF (air force in karachi) cannot really hold its ground against these odds. I simply do not have the poolls to face these numbers. No way.
I'm looking forward to come back home and see what those 20000 casualities look like...the main problem is that my AA guns will be almost completely disabled...which is bad[:@]
Anyway, hope to hold on for another month....

[Gen.Hoepner]

At Aden i have 2 Air HQs, 2 base forces, 1 Indian tank regiment and the 6th AIF division which is arriving in few days.... problem is that i cannot bring them to Karachi with the KB there and 10 subs lurking in front of the Channell....

[mdiehl]

Yes, let's hope so...i'll try to change her course not to be too predictable...let's see...think however she'll have to stay in port for some time...

Considering the number of times Saratoga ate a torpedo IRL you can grin and carry on.

[Elladan]

Use some subs for transport. Where do you have Nautilus and Argonaut? There is enough time to slowly reinforce your troops at Karachi.

[Gen.Hoepner]

I'm going out for dinner (looking for G.F. Mk. X model...[:D])

The Saratoga has 26 sys, 22 flt. and 12 fires...she should make it...but will stay in port for quite a while..

At Karachi the bombardments haven't been than lethal...or..better, not to my stockpiled supplies..but my AA units and my artillery are completely out of order...the average is something like 4-5/60-70 ....so 30%killed and the rest disabled...[:(]...however the fighting units are ok[;)]

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

I'm going out for dinner (looking for G.F. Mk. X model...[:D])

The Saratoga has 26 sys, 22 flt. and 12 fires...she should make it...but will stay in port for quite a while..

At Karachi the bombardments haven't been than lethal...or..better, not to my stockpiled supplies..but my AA units and my artillery are completely out of order...the average is something like 4-5/60-70 ....so 30%killed and the rest disabled...[:(]...however the fighting units are ok[;)]

Remeber Nic not to talk to a prospective MK X about the strike on the KB, the AV at Karachi or flotation damage on the Saratoga [:D][;)]

[Fishbed]

Nah I just turn my back and then I miss all the action! Nah talk about being at the wrong place at the wrong moment [:'(]

Great job GH. And don't worry for Sara, she's a tough girl [;)]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/13/42


Another bad day...2 subs damaged near karachi by 2 lucky single hits and another 2 bombardment runs against my capital...this time the CAs were the protagonists...
Then he came sweeping Malir...lost 10 oscars against only 1 hurricanes but my numbers in terms of fighters are ridiculous compared to his...

The Saratoga is not well...39 sys, 26 fl. 10 fires...[:@]

He conquered Vigan, at Luzon...with 650 AVs!!!![X(][X(][X(][X(]...gotta fortify back at Clark-Manila-Bataan triangle and abbandon the rest...[:(]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 20,3

Japanese Ships
DD Yamakaze
DD Samidare
DD Murasame
DD Shigure
DD Oshio

Allied Ships
SS O19, hits 1[:@]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Karachi at 21,3

Japanese Ships
DD Yamakaze
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
SS KXIV, hits 1[:@]

They both have to go back to Aden to repair...[:(]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Karachi at 21,3

Japanese Ships
DD Okikaze
DD Sawakaze
DD Minekaze
DD Yuzuki
DD Kikuzuki
DD Hatsukaze

Allied Ships
SS KXIV, hits 1

This one too...the hits were three actually....[:o]



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Karachi, at 21,3


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Lysander I: 1 destroyed
C-47 Dakota: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CA Nachi
CA Haguro
CA Myoko

Allied Ships
AK Louisianan, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Bond, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Peisander, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
TK Athelstane, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
TK Empire Diplomat, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
SC Fritillary, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Fairfield City, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Kumari, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Bay, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
TK Empire Druid, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Subadur, Shell hits 1, on fire
AK Empire Nightingale, Shell hits 1
AK Empire Gilbert, Shell hits 2
AK Borgfred, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Waterhen, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AO Appleleaf, Shell hits 2, heavy damage
AK Empire Lake, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
915 casualties reported
Guns lost 22
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 15
Port hits 9
Port supply hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Karachi, at 21,3


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
C-47 Dakota: 1 destroyed
Lysander I: 2 destroyed
Lockheed 212: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
C-60A Lodestar: 1 destroyed
Dakota I: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
CA Tone
CA Chokai
CA Maya
CA Atago
CA Takao

Allied Ships
AK Subadur, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Kumari, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SC Fritillary, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Louisianan, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Nightingale, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
TK Empire Diplomat, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Peisander, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Borgfred, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Waterhen, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AO Appleleaf, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Bay, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
TK Athelstane, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
TK Empire Druid, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Fairfield City, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Gilbert, Shell hits 1, on fire
AK Empire Bond, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
1313 casualties reported
Guns lost 23

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 37
Port hits 10
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 3



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Malir , at 23,4

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 27

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 1
Hurricane IIb x 15
P-39D Airacobra x 3
P-40B Tomahawk x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 6
P-43A Lancer x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 10 destroyed, 2 damaged[;)][:D]

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 damaged
P-43A Lancer: 1 damaged



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Vigan

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 16227 troops, 122 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 676[X(][X(]

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese max assault: 912 - adjusted assault: 816

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 816 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Vigan base !!!

[Johan_Banér]

\\Lurking mode off\\

Hi, I've found your AAR interesting enough to delurk and first to say that you have my deepest respect for agreeing on those houserules. I've always felt that myself I never put restrictions on others players with houserules, only on myself. The point is to have fun, winning is just an bonus IMNSHO.

Secondly, I've followed most of your AARs and I am very impressed with your playingstyle, if I weren't such an abyssmal Japanese player I'd offer you a game (not that I'd have the time for it anyway).

Thirdly, could you kindly post a screenshot of the entire Pacific so we can see what he has taken and what he hasn't? I'm sure most of your readers would find it interesting.

Fourthly, the Saratoga ought to be back as good as new in two, two and a half months. I'm not sure you can do too much anyway in that time that you need her for. Want is another matter though [;)].

Fifthly, do you think you can hold the Phillipines against those naval regiments he has scraped together? I hope so because I think he made a bad strategic blunder in throwing everything and the kitchen sink at India.

Good luck.



\\Lurking mode on\\

[Gen.Hoepner]

Thx Johan for jumping in! Glad you've enjoyed this AAR..
I've posted the overall map few pages ago...didn't change much. He didn't go south of Rabaul in the pacific and i've retaken the Marshalls back!

He won't conquer the PI with 600 AVs...i have nearly 3 times his odds and i can well stay behind forts...no, the triangle (Manila-Bataan-Clark) is safe for the moment.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/14/42

Another bad day guys.
The KDAF (Karachi Defence air force) fought another great battle over Malir, shooting down 55 enemy planes (15 zeros!) but my losses are high (45 in A2A and more 46 on the ground). The KDAF is officially disbanded...only 22 fighters are left (just 6 operative[:(])...the bombers that had the legs to fly away have been moved to China, along with 2 Buffalos groups. Those who have not will stay and die.
The bulk of my aces is wounded or dead. Stevenson, flying an hurricane, has been shot down and now he's captured...he had 15 kills![:(]..may god bless him.
The skies are ruled by hundreds of jap planes...no way to stop them

Tomorrow we'll try to sneak 1 fast AP to Karachi, bringing in the first fragment of the 7th Armoured Bde....let's see if i get lucky...

In China we managed to place 2400 AVs at Changsha before he arrived! Good...now i think i'll lose Nanchang, but the inner china is safe again[8D] and that's the most important thing: stabilize the front!

My subs in India got another bad day...i'll probably lose 2 of them...[:(]



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 19,10

Japanese Ships
DD Minazuki
DD Nagatsuki
DD Fumizuki

Allied Ships
SS Cachalot, hits 5, on fire[:@]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Bombay at 18,11

Japanese Ships
DD Minegumo
DD Arare
DD Namikaze
DD Nokaze
DD Hokaze
DD Akigumo
DD Sazanami
DD Akebono
DD Asagiri
DD Akatsuki
DD Harusame
DD Asagumo
DD Natsugumo
DD Uzuki
DD Yukikaze

Allied Ships
SS Sargo, hits 7[:o]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Malir , at 23,4

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 64[X(]
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 85[X(]
Ki-21-II Sally x 157
Ki-49 Helen x 89

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 2
Buffalo I x 1
Hurricane IIb x 31
Blenheim IF x 3
P-39D Airacobra x 6
P-40B Tomahawk x 9
P-40E Warhawk x 12
P-43A Lancer x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 15 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 37 destroyed, 11 damaged
Ki-21-II Sally: 3 destroyed, 41 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 25 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 1 destroyed
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIb: 17 destroyed
Blenheim IF: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 5 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 9 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 13 destroyed
P-43A Lancer: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 2 destroyed
Blenheim IV: 6 destroyed
A-20B Boston: 1 destroyed
CW-22 Falcon: 2 destroyed
Swordfish: 1 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed
Vildebeest IV: 2 destroyed
Lysander I: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
405 casualties reported
Guns lost 17

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 16
Runway hits 46


Considering the numbers...we did a great job!!!! Nice work guys...the last swan's singing...



In the Marshalls we've occupied Bikini atoll...want to build a level 3 AF closer to Eniwatok (which today arrived at Level 2 AF)....

[Gen.Hoepner]

Stats of the 2nd air battle of Malir...

[Reiryc]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

ORIGINAL: Panzerjaeger Hortlund

Karachi can hold. Its a city hex, which means that your units at worst (without supply or forts) will fight at x0.25. The bombardments affect your second line troops, but your combat values should be practically unharmed. See it this way. If you have to fight somewhere in 1942, Karachi would be it. If you leave Karachi or if he captures Karachi, then all his units that are now in India will head to Australia.

The guy you are playing against is one of the most gamey players Ive ever come across, and the houserules you have agreed to is making it practically impossible to stop him now.

One question though. Exactly what are the changes he has made to the scenario? Im getting the sinking feeling that you will be up against some really magical jap fighters in 43-44...

Don't say so, please. I would like not to make this game becoming an attack against Trollelite.
We're playing CHS scenario 160, and i havent seen any changes from the normal CHS scenario file, so i assume he hasn't edited anything.

Good on you... the attacks against troll are getting a bit old.

[okami]

GH could you post the victory point screen please?

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/15/42

Sirs, today we see the final annihilation of the KDAF (Karachi defence air force). With some 80 planes lost today and with two major air raids led by japanese bombers, our air force is wiped out. Plain and simple. Now Karachi is left alone. No navy, no air force. Just a bunch of soldiers who do not want to be captured and who are willing to fight till the end...

I'll post the intel screen Okami...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Malir , at 23,4

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 65
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 27
Ki-21-II Sally x 139
Ki-49 Helen x 86

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-II Sally: 47 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 3 destroyed, 24 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Lysander I: 3 destroyed
Blenheim IV: 6 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 5 destroyed
Blenheim IF: 1 destroyed
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed
A-20B Boston: 4 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 2 destroyed
Hurricane IIb: 4 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed
Hudson I: 1 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed
P-43A Lancer: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
165 casualties reported
Guns lost 11

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 182

The raid over Malir do not find anyone to oppose them....[:o]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Karachi , at 21,3

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 76
G4M1 Betty x 65
H8K Emily x 1

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 1
Hurricane IIb x 5
Blenheim IF x 5
P-39D Airacobra x 1
P-40B Tomahawk x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 2
P-43A Lancer x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 2 destroyed, 19 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 9 destroyed, 22 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 3 destroyed
Blenheim IF: 2 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 damaged
P-43A Lancer: 5 damaged
C-60A Lodestar: 1 destroyed
Dakota I: 4 destroyed
CW-22 Falcon: 2 destroyed
Swordfish: 1 destroyed
C-47 Dakota: 3 destroyed
Lysander I: 1 destroyed
A-20B Boston: 1 destroyed
Blenheim I: 1 destroyed
Do 24K-2: 1 destroyed
Vildebeest IV: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
38 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 53



Then in the afternoon the Navy bombers arrive from Bombay to close Karachi base...what is left from my air force is wiped out...

[>:]


He's not advancing yet towards Malir. I bet he first wants to mass his troops spread all over India...

At Manila i've evacuated the MAF (Manila air force) to china. Hope to give him some headhaces here now...

[Gen.Hoepner]

The aces lost in the last five days over Karachi...