Dark Side of the Moon

[pauk]

anything new?

[Zond]

Yeah Honda, anything new?

[Honda]

I am tired and off to sleep in a matter of minutes, but...I just might update this AAR a bit.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/07/44

According to the proper IJN doctrine, I have engaged the enemy in what is commonly refered to as a "Mother of all Battles". Since Raver has been prancing around with his Death Star from Wake and Marcus to Truk and then towards not-still-his-Marshalls losing some 300 a/c in the process, i decided to ambush the DS as it was to enter safe waters. The retreat from Truk towards Marsalls was conveniently slow so I managed to intercept the DS coming from north just off Kusiae I. (or whatever its name is...). I manged to put toether a small but strong force of 100 escorts fighters (mostly brand new Franks) and 50 bombers. This force succeeded very little on first sight but its role was in fact decisive since it has weakened and disrupded the CAP sufficently to allow for my main strike from KB to push through. Here's how it resolved:

Day Air attack on TF at 75,79

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 24
A6M5 Zeke x 329
A6M3a Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 47
F6F Hellcat x 202
Hellcat II x 4
SB2C Helldiver x 53
Barracuda x 11
TBF Avenger x 79
TBM Avenger x 213

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 24 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 134 destroyed, 18 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 14 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 47 destroyed
F6F Hellcat: 196 destroyed
Hellcat II: 4 destroyed
SB2C Helldiver: 18 destroyed, 6 damaged
Barracuda: 9 destroyed
TBF Avenger: 67 destroyed
TBM Avenger: 165 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CVE Kaiyo
CVL Ryuho
CVL Shoho
CVE Shinyo
CVL Zuiho
DD Uzuki
CVL Ryujo


Day Air attack on TF at 75,79

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 93

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 12
TBM Avenger x 56

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 11 destroyed
TBM Avenger: 46 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryuho
CVL Ryujo
CVE Shinyo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 75,79

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 89

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 7
SB2C Helldiver x 33
TBM Avenger x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 6 destroyed
SB2C Helldiver: 13 destroyed, 7 damaged
TBM Avenger: 16 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CVL Zuiho
CVE Kaiyo
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 2, on fire



Day Air attack on TF at 76,83

Japanese aircraft
P1Y Frances x 36

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 76

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y Frances: 24 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 16 damaged

Allied Ships
AO Mascoma, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DE Osterhaus
AO Schuylkill
AE Jacob Riis



Day Air attack on TF at 77,82

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 24
G4M2 Betty x 5
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 6
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 79

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 62
F6F Hellcat x 224
Hellcat II x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 24 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 3 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 6 destroyed
Ki-84-Ia Frank: 77 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 45 destroyed, 15 damaged



Day Air attack on TF at 77,82

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 215
D3A Val x 36
D4Y Judy x 312
A6M3a Zero x 10
B5N Kate x 58
B6N Jill x 178

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 30
F6F Hellcat x 85
Hellcat II x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 197 destroyed
D3A Val: 5 destroyed, 6 damaged
D4Y Judy: 79 destroyed, 23 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 9 destroyed
B5N Kate: 23 destroyed, 10 damaged
B6N Jill: 50 destroyed, 25 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 20 destroyed
F6F Hellcat: 122 destroyed
Hellcat II: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Bunker Hill, Bomb hits 10, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CV Illustrious, Bomb hits 12, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Monterey, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CV Wasp, Bomb hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Langley, Bomb hits 20, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Independence, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Cabot, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Canberra, Bomb hits 2
CA Louisville



Day Air attack on TF at 77,82

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 11
B5N Kate x 18

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 19
F6F Hellcat x 26
Hellcat II x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 4 destroyed
B5N Kate: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
F6F Hellcat: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CVL Cabot, on fire
CA Canberra
CVL Monterey, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 77,82

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 11
B5N Kate x 24

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 18
F6F Hellcat x 22
Hellcat II x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 5 destroyed
B5N Kate: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 1 damaged
F6F Hellcat: 6 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVL Independence, on fire, heavy damage
CV Bunker Hill, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Monterey, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage



Day Air attack on TF at 75,79

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M5 Zeke x 110
A6M3a Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 9
TBF Avenger x 3
TBM Avenger x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 9 destroyed
TBF Avenger: 3 destroyed
TBM Avenger: 2 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 75,79

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 106
A6M3a Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 4
TBM Avenger x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
TBM Avenger: 2 destroyed



Day Air attack on TF at 76,81

Japanese aircraft
P1Y Frances x 14
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 3

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y Frances: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-84-Ia Frank: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged



Day Air attack on TF at 76,81

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 83
D3A Val x 24
D4Y Judy x 194
B5N Kate x 50
B6N Jill x 100

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 15 destroyed, 1 damaged
D3A Val: 4 damaged
D4Y Judy: 7 destroyed, 11 damaged
B5N Kate: 6 destroyed, 16 damaged
B6N Jill: 7 destroyed, 21 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 17 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Suwannee, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA Astoria, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVE Chenango, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 20, Torpedo hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
CVL San Jacinto, Bomb hits 11, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CVE Sangamon, Bomb hits 10, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CV Franklin, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Bataan, Bomb hits 12, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Concord
CL Hobart, Torpedo hits 1


I you look at the CVs hit you notice that 5 CVs, 6 CVLs and 3 CVEs are doomed. Some have already sunk, the others don't have a much brighter future. IJN losses are zero. Ryujo has been hit by 2 bombs but is in surprisingly good shape.
Raver has seen this turn, at least a part of it. He's not happy.
I'll anwer to the "how does the KB carry 1250 planes" later.[:D]

[1275psi]

I hereby award this as

THE JAPANESE FANBOY MOMENT in Witp HISTORY



[&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o][&o]

And thats what happens when KB does not come out to play for simply ages -all those zero pilots -still crack!

[trollelite]

[size="-1"]"Marvelous. Simply marvelous. A death scene, you think?" [:D][:D][:D][;)] [/size]

[hades1001]

OH
 
MY
 
GOD~[&o]

[bbbf]

It brings a tear to this JFB's eyes.
 
Now if only I had fleet in 44 vs MC3744! 

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Honda
 I'll anwer to the "how does the KB carry 1250 planes" later.

I am in AWE! How did you marshall that kind of strike power?

An Enquiring IJN mind wants to know!

[Zond]

ORIGINAL: bbbf

It brings a tear to this JFB's eyes.

Now if only I had fleet in 44 vs MC3744!

Now imagine the number of tears in Raverdave eyes [:D][:D]

[Honda]

Back to our question...The secret is in the holistic approach. Every aspect of the game is interconnected when playing Japanese. The best example is probably the economy. Without strong economy I could not hope to build such a huge force. But, I couldn't have a strong economy without carefully planned conquest. That means that as Jap the most valuable targets for conquest are "industrial pool" areas. Best example - East India, posesses both resources and heavy industry in considerable quantity. Even my Australian conquest wasn't just to upset Raver but the economic reward was also a huge factor. So, with those boosts to the economy I could expand naval shipyard to 1700 and still cope with the heavy industry requirements made by the shipbuilders. Still, to build the fleet to its maximum, I didn't hurry the production of earlier CVs to get them as soon as possible ("while it still mattered") but instead hurried production on late war CVs. Another thing is Taiho vs. Unryus. Taiho is by far the best Jap CV. But the cost of accelerationg it equals 2 accelerated Unryus. So the effort was maximised on cheaper ships. There. But there's a human story to this too and its name is Shinano. After our first CV engagemet off Noumea in 1942 I lost Akagi and Hiryu, and at the time looked like I would lose Soryu also. At that time, otu of sheer anger, I restarded production on Shinano (which I halted on day 2 as any selfrespecting player does). And here it was, participating in the Mother of all Battles.
The KB therefore consists of all the CVs, CVLs and CVEs available to IJN except Akagi, Hiryu, Chitose and Chiyoda which were removed from navy's list in 1942.
The airgroups were 82-91 in experiance (fighters at least). KB operated 599 fighters on the eve of the battle.

[Raverdave]

I am in shock.   And if that is not bad enough the next turn is going to be even MORE painful.  Oh the horror !

[castor troy]

Holy crap! Not a single hit from the first Allied super attack on KB? Talk about "Uber Cap". Amazingly it was the Japanese Uber Cap - even more amazing when you look at the date. Congrats Honda! Something we see very, very rarely. I feel for you Raver! [:D]

Tough I´m very happy that I have stacking limits for land and sea based aircraft in my games... KB´s fighters alone would already exceed my stacking limits! [:D]

[saj42]

OMG all those CVs in so few TFs (on both sides), no wonder it was a bloodbath.....

[Honda]

Well, we agreed to stacking limits od 80 planes per airfield size but no limits on naval air. My fighters were se on Escort 70% CAP. Something like 50 shell-shocked torpedo bombers broke through and attacked my CVs, but no hits[:D]

[Yakface]

Surely it is now time for the Japanese to invade continental USA.

[USSAmerica]

OH, the horror!!!
 
This AFB's heart stopped for a few seconds.[X(]
 
Honda, "Well Done!!!" 
 
Raver, you must also be commended for fighting so well from such an unusual position of Allied weakness!  Just to be able to make the gains you have to date is quiet an accomplishment.  [8D]
 
Together you two guys have played a game and created an AAR that will live on forever in WitP history!  [&o][&o][&o]
 
 
My Thread!!! It's June of 1944, for Thread's sake!  [X(][:D]

[veji1]

[X(]

Just terrifying... The USN lost around 30 000 sailors and pilots in 2 days... Horrible..

Waowww, I am more than impressed. Raver must be desperate...

[niceguy2005]

ORIGINAL: Tallyho!

OMG all those CVs in so few TFs (on both sides), no wonder it was a bloodbath.....

probably a discussion for a thread in the forum and I don't want to start a debate in Raver's thread, but I think the points straight to an issue in the way CV battles happen, namely how you split up your CVs has a gigantic outcome on the battle. Had Raver had 3 or more times the number of TFs he would have done considerably better and still had full CAP benefit.

P.S. sorry Raver for all the losses. Makes my AFB heart weep. [:(][:'(]

[Raverdave]

ORIGINAL: niceguy2005






probably a discussion for a thread in the forum and I don't want to start a debate in Raver's thread, but I think the points straight to an issue in the way CV battles happen, namely how you split up your CVs has a gigantic outcome on the battle. Had Raver had 3 or more times the number of TFs he would have done considerably better and still had full CAP benefit.

....another issue which was a factor was that most of the CV TFs reacted even when reaction was set to 0. But it was nice to see the allied strike go in first for a change.

The game must continue, but for how many more turns I can't say. I could get lucky and manage to retreat most of the remaining carriers.

[veji1]

We need maps and stuff !!

Raver, I feel for you... and all those poor drowned Computer sailors