The Sun in My Eyes Mk IV, EOS from the Allied Perspective

[witpqs]

I don't know for sure, but I would try Aden or Canada (base) first, then the Canadian coast and Southeast Australia.

[goodboyladdie]

It looks like 26 Hurricane IIbs are made in Canada each month. I'll have to keep looking to see if there is another fcatory.

13/12/41

PH was hit by a raid today. 28 Zekes, 3 Petes, 20 Nells and 22 Bettys fought 1 F4F-3, 3 P-36As and 16 P-40Bs. Mike lost 2 Zekes and 1 Nell, I lost the Wildcat, 8 P-40s and a C-47. The raid (from 21000 ft to avoid flak) scored 8 runway hits. Zekes also intercepted A-20s trying to hit shipping at Kona. 1 A-20 was lost. The KB has turned up again heading back to Hawaii so Enterprise has turned North for San Francisco. USS Pompano and Cachalot have been sent after the Mini KB which is still in the same position as yesterday.

Rabaul fell. The surface attack has been cancelled. HMAS Canberra has been detached to Brisbane where she will join a convoy to the US. She will join a US CVTF as an AA escort. HMAS Australia, due in Aden tomorrow will sail for the same duties with the RN at Colombo.

Another B-17 squadron left for Canton Island and SWPAC. The previous one is resting at Brisbane while a fragment catches up. Ops losses are a real pain with these long trips, but I need to deploy them now as Mike is bound to invade my CenPac Islands at some point.

[goodboyladdie]

At Singapore 2 Zekes and 10 Bettys fought 32 Buffs, 6 Wirraways and 47 AVG P-40Bs. 1 Zeke, 3 Bettys, 1 Wirraway and 3 P-40s fell. The Wirraways were thrown into the mix at a lower altitude to try to take the heat off the Buffs. Mike is vowing revenge, but I need to fight this battle until I have finished vessel movements. The retreating CA Aoba was hit twice South of the PI, but no fires were observed.

Off Kota Bharu CLs Tokiwa and Katori were both hit twice by RAF/CW planes causing no damage. Then B-17Es arrived from Soerabaya and dropped 1000lb AP bombs hitting Tokiwa 3 times in 2 raids. She is heavily damaged. Then another RAF/CW raid came in and hit an AK twice and Tokiwa once more.

Clark and Manila were raided again. I am suffering very heavy casualties at Clark. Any idea why? The 6 DDs on ASW duties are heading for Tarakan. They will escort the damaged Houston South.

The blocking force at Naga was defeated (363 ass [426 adj] to 259 [91 adj]) and retreated.

In China Ningpo fell to the Allies and another SB-2 group transferred to SEAC. A Division was transferred last turn and is on the road to Mandalay. An I-153 ambush over Canton resulted in 2 victories (Sonias if I remember correctly) for the Chinese. P-35As from the US 34th FS will attempt to intercept the HK raids tomorrow. These have been 2 small (around 10 planes) Ki-48 raids a day since the start, with Nates on Ground Attack for the last 2 days.

A B-17D group was withdrawn from Cagayan and is joining the long range striking group at Soerabaya with new planes as a special surprise for Mike. Check out the range!

[goodboyladdie]

MSW Kingfisher finally arrived at Canton Island and started work on the large minefield there. Enterprise is now heading for San Diego to stick to the map edge. SS 1-3 is somewhere ahead of her. Lexington has sailed from Pago Pago with two APs which will be used to keep the CVTFs tanks topped up in case they have to sprint.

There was another raid on PH. 21 Zekes, 3 Petes, 19 Nells and 18 Bettys met 1 F4F-3, 3 P-36As and 9 P-40Bs. Casualties today were 2 Zekes, 1 Betty, 1 P-36A, 2 P-40Bs, 1 B-18, 1 SBD, 1 C-47 and 1 B-17D. I "built" a new PT group at PH only to find they were RN MTBs. They are moving to Lihue to set up an ambush if the KB skirts North of PH. LCVPs are on the way to Lihue with supplies. 1 A-20 fell in combat with Claudes at Johnston Island. The AF took 1 base hit and 7 runway hits and is now at 77/27. Elements of 215th Cst AA were picked up from Hilo in PH based C-47s.

Another B-17 group flew out to Canton Island for SWPAC.

[goodboyladdie]

I now have 2 Aces on the roster...

[goodboyladdie]

At Kota Bharu CL Tokiwa was hit twice in a RAF/CW raid. Why won't the bloody thing sink?! AK Meigen Maru was hit by a 250lb GP bomb dropped from a B-17D at Legaspi and is heavily damaged.

In China the P-35As damaged 2 Ki-48s at HK and another attack at Ningpo resulted in similar casualties of about 30 for both sides. I am trying an attack at Wuhan this turn because I think he might be low on supply there. An experienced Chinese flight finally had enough P-43As to convert so I have some long range fighters for ambushes.

Here is the current Japs sunk list. Mine is in the (high) 50s!

[goodboyladdie]

Here is the long range strike group I have assembled at Soerabaya. It should hurt him if he comes for Northern Borneo without adequate CV cover.

[goodboyladdie]

15/12/41

SS Pompano tried to torpedo a DD escorting the Baby KB. The torps failed to detonate and she took 2 DC hits for her trouble. She is damaged 29/89 and has 2 hexes to travel to safety. SS I-174 was attacked by four NZ MSWs at Noumea. but no serious damage was done. Her forward torpedo tubes are out of action so she will probably have to withdraw.

PH was hit by 23 Zekes, 3 Petes, 18 Nells and 17 Bettys. 2 F4F-3s, 4 P-36As and 9 P-40Bs rose to meet them. Losses were 5 Zekes, 1 Nell, 1 Betty, 1 Wildcat, 1 P-36A, 2 P-40Bs and a B-18. The Japs achieved 1 base hit and 4 runway hits. AF status is 78/6 and a US raid was flown. 12 B-18s and 7 SBDs went after a convoy but scored no hits.

The KB and Baby KB are now in the same hex and are shown as heading SW.

[goodboyladdie]

I now have 4 Aces...

[goodboyladdie]

The CAP of 4 P-40Bs turned a small segment of Mike's bomber raiding Cagayan back. They did not do much damage and as you can see from the screenie I now have a reception committee waiting. I have moved my 2 AP equipped B-17E groups in despite the risk because if I had done so eralier, with the number of hits I achieved, Mike would have lost at least 5 Cruisers by now. As an example I hit CL Kashima with a bomb at Legaspi today with no damage, but the AP Hakone Maru took 2 bombs and is heavily damaged. The B-17Ds are moving to Soerabaya to re-equip. I have managed to get the PI AP squadron into B-17Es, but they still only have GP bombs. Any ideas why? I have also moved Vildebeests and Martin 139s into Manila as for the second day running only Clark was raided and there is plenty of exposed shipping about. I suffered over 80 casualties in the Clark raid. Any ideas why casualties at Clark are so consistently high?

3 Sonias were knocked down by the I-153 ambush at Canton. The assault at Wuhan did not work. Allies 1432 (456) vs Japs 383 (591). 178 vs 73 casualties. I will bombard again this turn. At Ningpo it was A 305 (124) vs J 128 (19). Casualties were 46 to 92.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: goodboyladdie

I have managed to get the PI AP squadron into B-17Es, but they still only have GP bombs. Any ideas why?

Yes, unfortunately. Here's how the database works:

- You set up what is in effect a template - a default OOB for the units involved (in the case of air units a default config for the planes).
- You create the actual units.
- You can customize the individual units.
- When air units are upgraded to a new type of plane, they use the default configuration for the new plane.

There is no mechanism for configuration of squadrons (other than the # of planes) that will stay with the squadron.

Sid created the squadrons and then customized a bunch of them. It was the only way he could achieve his objective. Once you upgrade, any special loadout of weapons is lost. [:(]

[goodboyladdie]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: goodboyladdie

I have managed to get the PI AP squadron into B-17Es, but they still only have GP bombs. Any ideas why?

Yes, unfortunately. Here's how the database works:

- You set up what is in effect a template - a default OOB for the units involved (in the case of air units a default config for the planes).
- You create the actual units.
- You can customize the individual units.
- When air units are upgraded to a new type of plane, they use the default configuration for the new plane.

There is no mechanism for configuration of squadrons (other than the # of planes) that will stay with the squadron.

Sid created the squadrons and then customized a bunch of them. It was the only way he could achieve his objective. Once you upgrade, any special loadout of weapons is lost. [:(]

Thanks for the info, my friend. They started off with 250lb GP bombs so they never lived up to their AP tag. It's a shame, but there you go. Cid has achieved his objective because I really care about these squadrons and would not want to lose their capabilities.

[goodboyladdie]

Sorry guys, I am having to spam my own AAR because the post count is 111. It would be inviting bad luck if I did not and I have a promotion interview next week and a pregnant wife! Can't afford to take the chance....

I apologise for inflicting my superstition on you. [8|]

[ny59giants]

I know you have started this game a few times. [:D]  In my game there was a few merchants (I think 4) that are called "CL" in the South Pacific that come with 6" guns. I was lucky to have all but one run into my CVs and get used for target practice. Watch out for low or unescorted AK/AP of yours running into them.
 
If you can eventually get those AP loaded B-25 Mitchells to Australia, Mike will be in for a nasty surprise. [;)]

[mlees]

I think the Marauder's come with the 1000 pounder...

Check the A-20's and B-26. One of those types comes with the 1000 pounder, and you start with one or two squadrons of them in CONUS.

[goodboyladdie]

Thanks guys. I was aware of the B-26As that carried torps, but had not realised there were medium bombers with AP bombs too. I will look next turn.

[goodboyladdie]

Just a quick update. Mike has a hard drive problem. The game will resume as soon as he gets the replacement in and set up.

[goodboyladdie]

16/12/41

SS Pompano was hit again by a patrolling Mavis and sank just outside PH. SS Gudgeon and Narwhal are heading to Manila via a mining visit to Osaka and Saipan respectively. The KB and Mini KB are now heading South West. On the way past PH they hit the AF with 29 Zekes, 81 Vals and 89 Kates. CAP consisted of 2 Wildcats, 2 P-36s and 10 P-40Bs. Jap losses totalled 1 Zeke, 13 Vals (plus 22 damaged) and 5 Kates (7 damaged). US losses were 2 Wildcats, 1 P-36, 9 P-40B, 5 PBY, 2 C-32, 4 B-18, 2 B-17E, 3 C-47 and 1 OS2U-3. The runways took 149 hits and damage is now 90/64. The PT boats from Lihue are heading for Lahaina. It is probably a suicide mission...

Edit: I forgot that USS Argonaut fell in with the KB as it retired and attacked Hiei. She took one minor hit for her troubles and did no damagee to the enemy. PH has a 5th Ace as an F4F-3 Marine pilot now has his fifth kill.

Here is a screenshot of the situation around PH.

[goodboyladdie]

APD Little disbanded at New Orleans for repair. Next turn 40th Inf Div should sail in 3 APs with 2 AVDs and an AE for Suva. The convoy is capable of 16 knots. 808th EAB is loading onto 2 AKs with the Corvette Dawsson as escort for the same destination. 802nd EAB is loading at Cold Bay for Umnak Island. AD Dixie is heading from SF to Long Beach to help repair some DDs when the 4 stackers upgrade in January. I have two other Engineer units loading for Luganville and Noumea. I'll update as they are ready to sail.

Here is a screenie of New Orleans. As you can see it has a voracious appetite for Resources. Edit: Actually from this you can't. The HI is 4800 I think so resources are gobbled up like nobodies business...

[goodboyladdie]

B-17Es from Cagayan hit AP Kanko Maru with 1 bomb at Legaspi, but all other raids in the area failed. The B-24s from Soerabaya performed a long range attack, which is a good sign. 2 B339s were lost over Legaspi in a tussle with Claudes. 1 Claude fell.

An MLE arrived at Batavia which allowed more minefields to be laid. HQ SEAC arrived at Diamond Harbour.

In China a Jap deliverate attack at HK caused 256 casualties to their loss of 68. Forts were reduced to 1. 6 P-35As from Wuchow commenced LRCAP over HK at the wrong time as Mike stepped up his raids. The usual small Ki-48 raid started the day, but was followed by a large combined Army/Navy raid escorted by 47 Zekes. 9 P-35As were destroyed for no loss. The survivors plus reinforcements will join the I-153s over Canton next turn to see if they have better luck.

At Ningpo an Allied offensive adjusted to 14 points from 60 failed against 133 Jap points adjusted to 48. The Allies lost 69 troops to 15. Mike has stepped up air raids all over China. I am attempting ambushes, but most units under attack are out of range of my available fighters.

Here is the currently quiet South China Sea. I'd imagine it'll heat up if Mike is sending his CVs my way...