The rant goes on... PBEM QUIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/03/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1079 encounters mine field at Andaman Island (23,34)

Allied Ships
DD Buchanan, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Mustin, Mine hits 1, on fire

why am I not surprised that my surface combat TF hits mines? Seen that often enough, but we´re working on destroying the enemy´s minelaying capability anyway... both DDs will make it, will be repaired within two months.

the enemy ships at Andaman fled, so we have to take those two mine hits for no gain in return... once again, the Japanese moved at exactly the right turn...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Pagan , at 31,31


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 12


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 50,108

Japanese Ships
SS I-156

Allied Ships
APD Dent
APD Stringham
APD McKean
APD Little
APD Colhoun
APD Manley

0 DCs dropped...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 50,108

Japanese Ships
SS I-156

Allied Ships
APD Dent
APD Stringham
APD McKean
APD Little
APD Colhoun
APD Manley

again 0 DCs dropped...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Andaman Island , at 23,34


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 3
LB-30 Liberator x 79


Allied aircraft losses
LB-30 Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
113 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 33

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x LB-30 Liberator bombing at 10000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Namlea , at 38,73

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 45

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 94

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 37 destroyed [X(]

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged [X(]

can´t say that I think this result is okay but I guess it´s easily explained. Guess the Tojos are around 60-65 exp, they are outnumbered, the P-38 is clearly superior to the Tojo but what made this engagement a total massacre was the fact that our fighters bounced the enemy right from the start through nearly the whole engagement. The bounce is what makes a superior aircraft to an Uber weapon and I don´t know if the bounce should have so strong influence. Strong yes, but I don´t know if it isn´t to much of an influence. I really wonder how the game will look like as soon as the Japanese ran out of trained pilots, which can´t take long anymore...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Namlea , at 38,73

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 80
B-24D Liberator x 136

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 11 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported

Airbase hits 24
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 154

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 16000 feet

as planned, 30 minutes after the fighters cleared the skies over the target, 200+ heavy bombers show up and totally destroy the enemy base, torching more enemy fighters on the ground... extreme results...



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 40,67

Japanese Ships
AP Komeyama Maru
AP Kimishima Maru
MSW W.2
MSW W.5
MSW W.6
MSW W.8
PC Etoforu

Allied Ships
SS Scamp, hits 1

4 torps miss, an MSW drops a couple of DCs achieving a hit on Scamp which has now to retire heavily damaged with 31 sys and 37 flt...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/04/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1009 encounters mine field at Namlea (38,73)

Allied Ships
DD Gwin, Mine hits 1

again, not surprising, but surely annoying! [;)] Gwin is one of my Cowboy DD that is harrassing enemy shipping around Timor and New Guinea. Two DDs were sent to Namlea, but guess what! Exactly, the enemy TF moved out exactly this turn. Why did my DDs come late? Because two turns ago a sub that was retiring home ended up in the same hex as my DDs and the sub decided to refuel from the DDs, using up 250 op points from the DDs and therefore they couldn´t go in last turn when the enemy TF still was at Namlea. Oh well... The DD retires with minor damage from the mine hit: 14 sys 3 flt 5 fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 18,31

Japanese Ships
SS I-169

Allied Ships
DD Mustin, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage [:(]

I-169 is well placed in the retreat path of my ships from Andaman Island to Trimcomalee and Mustin is finished off. The DD sinks later in the afternoon.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 50,99

Japanese Ships
SS RO-65

Allied Ships
DD Caldwell
DD Bancroft
DD Welles
DD Waller
DD Saufley
DD Cony

RO-65 is still afloat. Unbelievable, this sub was reported hit not just once but it seems this always was FOW.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Pagan , at 31,31


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 14


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Dili at 31,77

Japanese Ships
AK Tuyama Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Dunlap

Dunlap used up all torps but missed, the captain is a total coward, breaking off after half a dozen gun salvoes.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Dili at 31,77

Japanese Ships
AK Ussuri Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Dunlap

The second big AK at Dili is engaged also, again after half a dozen salvoes the captain decides it would be best to break off instead of sending the merchant to hell...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 50,99

Japanese Ships
SS RO-65, hits 10, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Caldwell
DD Bancroft

Our ASW TF got another chance on RO-65 and this time the second class sub is reported sunk... definetely sunk...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Gili Gili , at 56,94


Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 70


No Allied losses

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Liberator VI bombing at 26000 feet

my Liberator VI have yet to achieve a good result...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiska Island , at 92,35


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 16
P-39D Airacobra x 47
PV-1 Ventura x 36


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
109 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 11
Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x TBF Avenger bombing at 22400 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 39,75


Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 48


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Daigen Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Ceylon Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Koryu Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hakka Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AP Kisogawa Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PV-1 Ventura bombing at 6000 feet

it´s pretty close to suicide to move within half a dozen hexes of my best anti ship bombers. This is the TF I wanted to engage with my DDs at Namlea. Those are all high (80-90) exp bomber crews and even though they operate from Tenimbar, only a level 3 airfield they are deadly to everything uncapped within 13 hexes. I really expect a lot from them as soon as I will have a level 4+ airfield in this region to go ship hunting as they will then not only drop 500lb bombs all the time but 1000lb and 2000lb bombs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 32,77


Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 4


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Tuyama Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x PV-1 Ventura bombing at 6000 feet

Near Dili, big AK in trouble...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 32,77


Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 8


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Ussuri Maru, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x PV-1 Ventura bombing at 6000 feet

the other AK that was already attacked by my DD at night sinks after 6x500lb bomb hits...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/05/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 37,57

Japanese Ships
PC Etoforu [X(]
PC Sado [X(]
PC Kunashiri [X(]
PC Hachijo [X(]
APD APD-39

Allied Ships
SS Whale

damn it, it seems there are already a couple of those new IJN PCs available. This is surely a dedicated ASW TF that could knock out a lot of my subs. Those PCs have 6-8000 endurance and an ASW value between 6 and 8, later modells even have 11! Seeing those vessels is not good news.

Many of my subs are a dozen hexes around the Philipines and we have at least 20 messages every day about a Betty spotting one of my subs. Rabaul´s Betties (250+) were transferred to Manila (which now has a dark airfield symbol) a week or so ago (6 Betty op losses at one day, and the dark airfield symbol at Rabaul vanished that day). They are now spotting my subs in this region and are there far away from being in danger to be transfered to Timor, Kendari or somewhere near Northern New Guinea to be let lose against an expected invasion. Will be interesting when my invasion suddenly pops up at Gili Gili... at least it then takes one day more to bring them back into position...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Amboina , at 39,73

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 4
B-17E Fortress x 79
B-24D Liberator x 138

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-57-II Topsy: 4 destroyed


Japanese ground losses:
103 casualties reported

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 46

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 26000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Bulla at 40,75


Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 57


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Kisogawa Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AP Daigen Maru, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AP Ceylon Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hakka Maru, Bomb hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
AP Koryu Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x PV-1 Ventura bombing at 6000 feet


the TF that was hit hard yesterday gets completely annihilated today. This should open my opponent´s eyes that it is an absolutely bad idea to move his ships into this region. If it hasn´t, well, that would be good for us! [:D] I really love those Venturas in Nikmod. Carrying 6x500lb bombs and a max range of 13.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/06/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 16

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet

failed Japanese attempt to engage my nightfighters on bombing mission...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 32,51

Japanese Ships
TK Huzisan Maru
MSW Togo Maru

Allied Ships
SS Sargo

Torps missed... grrr...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Gili Gili , at 56,94


Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 62


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Liberator VI bombing at 26000 feet

11 hits, must have been a good day for the Libs...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiska Island , at 92,35


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 16
P-39D Airacobra x 48
PV-1 Ventura x 36


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
141 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x TBF Avenger bombing at 22400 feet

amazingly enough, we cause at least the same number of casulaties on the ground from max altitude as we did before on low altitude with 3 times the aircraft... [8|]

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/07/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 62 encounters mine field at Morotai (43,68)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.26
MSW W.25
MSW W.24

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 63 encounters mine field at Morotai (43,68)

Japanese Ships
PC Showa Maru #3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 51,94

Japanese Ships
SS RO-66, hits 2

Allied Ships
DD Caldwell
DD Bancroft
DD Welles
DD Waller
DD Saufley
DD Cony

two near misses... seems like Hortlund uses all those RO class subs as spotters... doesn´t really hurt him if he lose those second class subs...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1092 encounters mine field at 25942384,39

Allied Ships
SS Grayback, Mine hits 1, on fire

lol, Hortlund has mined a sea hex between Sulawesi and Northern New Guinea. Don´t know if this happened by accident or he really deliberately mined this hex. Such mine fields are also a threat to his own ships and if he wants to bloccade his own shipping lanes in this region, that´s fine with me. I can only hope that this was really by accident, as I can´t see that this would do him any good.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 33,50

Japanese Ships
TK Ogura Maru #2
MSW Togo Maru

Allied Ships
SS Whale

next attack on the TK convoy, this time the torps failed to detonate...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 51,94

Japanese Ships
SS RO-66, hits 17, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Caldwell
DD Bancroft
DD Welles
DD Waller
DD Saufley
DD Cony

we get another chance to engage RO-66 and it is sunk after receiving several real hits... Night exp of those DDs is now over 50 so it seems this begins to pay off a bit.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Taung Gyi , at 33,32


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 17


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 46 encounters mine field at Truk (63,78)

Japanese Ships
MSW Eguchi Maru
MSW Choun Maru #7
AK Beryl, Mine hits 1

AK takes a MK10 from a sub on transit to Australia...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Andaman Island , at 23,34


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 5
LB-30 Liberator x 132


Allied aircraft losses
LB-30 Liberator: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
165 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 149 [X(]

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x LB-30 Liberator bombing at 6000 feet

seems it will be possible to keep this base suppressed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Amboina , at 39,73


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 3
B-17E Fortress x 63
B-24D Liberator x 117


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 8
Runway hits 31

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 26000 feet

6 4E bombers were lost to ops today...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/08/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Gili Gili , at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 61

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed


Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Liberator VI bombing at 26000 feet

seems impossible for the high exp Australian Libs to hit from that height... wonder why, the US bombers achieve a very good hit rate from that height, even though they are less experienced.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiska Island , at 92,35


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 14
P-39D Airacobra x 45
PV-1 Ventura x 36


Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x TBF Avenger bombing at 22400 feet

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/09/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Taung Gyi , at 33,32


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 15


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 51,47

Japanese Ships
DD Urakaze

Allied Ships
SS Harder

must be a convoy with a single escort South of Hong Kong...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Amboina , at 39,73


Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 92


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Sunten Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Port fuel hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x PV-1 Ventura bombing at 25800 feet

haven´t spotted a convoy the last turns so I decided to set the high exp Venturas to attack the shipping at Amboina at max alt. As you could expect, they didn´t hit much. To make this decision even worse, today we spotted a 10 ship+ convoy 2 hexes East of Amboina but haven´t had our bombers on nav attack...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Amboina , at 39,73

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 3
B-17E Fortress x 76
B-24D Liberator x 122

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PG Myoken Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
157 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 56
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
28 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 26000 feet

attacks against shipping from that height doesn´t make sense. To be honest, I´m glad they didn´t achieve a dozen hits on ships from that alt.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Thursday Island , at 49,90

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 59
Hudson I x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Liberator VI bombing at 26000 feet

the Aussie Libs again achieve a lousy hit rate...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 45,91 [X(]

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 6
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 12

Allied aircraft
Seafire x 56
F4F-4 Wildcat x 149

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 6 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 12 destroyed

We have our carriers on transit to Australia´s North coast to cause some trouble and to draw out the enemy Zeroes and Betties. Hortlund is smart enough not to send in the kitchen sink to lose 50% of his high exp Navy pilots. And he even told me that he won´t send out his aircraft just to be reduced by my Cap. In fact I´m surprised by the high number of fighters in the air. This strike came from Thursday Island, don´t know why and what this strike should have achieved. Even the Osacrs were set on nav attack. The enemy lost the complete strike and 6 IJN pilots less in the pool now...

[castor troy]

Our sub losses due to air attacks are again increasing. Amazing as they were always quite high anyway. [8|] Yesterday S-22 was sunk by a Helen after taking two bomb hits, today of course again a Helen hit O-24 which just had left port a couple of days and now also is in sinking condition. 500 IJA Helens and probably somthing like 20-50% of 300 Betties are out for sub hunting...


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/10/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 5

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 13

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet

the enemy Nigtfighters are still flying LRCAP... but without any effects. One Nick was lost to ops though... [8D]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 66 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (53,91)

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese Ships
AG AG-114, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

the only kill today, MK10 mine sinks a barge...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Andaman Island , at 23,34


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 5
LB-30 Liberator x 94


Allied aircraft losses
LB-30 Liberator: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
69 casualties reported

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 53

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x LB-30 Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiska Island , at 92,35


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 16
P-39D Airacobra x 23
PV-1 Ventura x 24


Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x TBF Avenger bombing at 22400 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 35,73


Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 6


Allied aircraft losses
PV-1 Ventura: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Kasumi
AP Tenryu Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x PV-1 Ventura bombing at 6000 feet

we only launch a baby strike from Tenimbar against this TF south of Kendari... perhaps another troop convoy going to Northern New Guinea.... pretty dangerous area though...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/11/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 5

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 12

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 18,31

Japanese Ships
SS I-29, hits 29, on fire, heavy damage [&o]

Allied Ships
DD Norman
DD Nepal
DD Jupiter
DD Griffin
DD Express
DD Tjerk Hiddes

the high experienced British DDs prove to be real sub killers. Half of the ASW ammunition was expanded and the IJN Glen equipped recon sub South East of Ceylon sunk after several hits and two dozen near misses...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 39,85

Japanese Ships
SS I-19, hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Drayton
DD Selfridge
DD Mahan
DD Fanning
DD Sterett
DD Stack

whereas the US DDs keep having problems with the Japanese subs. The sub missed and the DDs only achieve one near miss...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/12/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 39,84

Japanese Ships
SS I-174

Allied Ships
MSW Bobolink
MSW Robin
MSW Grebe
MSW Turkey

not much to expect from the MSW, they achieved their task in not letting the enemy sub getting a shot at the cargoes... this is a couple of hexes East of Darwin...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Pagan , at 31,31


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 14


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet

the nightfighters have yet to achieve a single bomb hit... they are always bombing the jungle 50 miles off the target airfield...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiska Island , at 92,35


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 16
P-39D Airacobra x 43
PV-1 Ventura x 24


Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
105 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x TBF Avenger bombing at 22400 feet


a big enemy TF was spotted around Northern Guinea but the Venturas decided not to take off. Also some 30 Zeroes and 9 Tojos were spotted by a recon Ligthning over Amboina. Looks like something is up. Perhaps just a feint to lure a Lightning sweep in that then meets 250 fighters on Cap. But would I not send in 100 Lightnings followed by 200 bombers when our enemy puts such a Cap into the air. I guess at this point I already would... 90% of my ships in range of enemy search aircraft are spotted several times every turn. Also a lot of Betties are spotting my shipping around Darwin now, Hortlund has obviously moved them closer to the front again. It seems he´s concerned about my carriers being around Darwin now.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/13/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Pagan , at 31,31


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 10


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Amboina at 39,73

Japanese Ships
AP Igasa Maru, Shell hits 2
AP Taihei Maru, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Meredith
DD Dunlap

Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported

pretty bad performance of my Cowboys from Darwin. Two medium sized, troop loaden APs and after 5 salvoes from the 5 inch guns, the DDs break off...




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Amboina at 39,73

Japanese Ships
DD Kasumi, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AP Hikade Maru
AP Yamura Maru, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Meredith
DD Dunlap

another TF is encountered and at least the enemy DD is shot to pieces. Both of our DDs expanded their full load of torps and achieve two hits. Once again, the troop transports are coming away completely unharmed.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 40,72

Japanese Ships
AP Yamura Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS S-27

at least it was worth to place some S-class subs in the hexes North of Amboina as one now successfully attacks the big AP that was forced out of the Amboina hex.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 36 encounters mine field at Kwajalein (79,79)

Japanese Ships
MSW Ataka Maru
MSW Shonan Maru #8

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 40,72

Japanese Ships
AP Yamura Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-27

and S-27 hits Yamura Maru another time, this should probably enough for the ship to be sunk...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiska Island , at 92,35


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 15
P-39D Airacobra x 43
PV-1 Ventura x 24


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Runway hits 3
Port supply hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x TBF Avenger bombing at 22400 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Baker Island at 94,92


Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Sinsei Maru
AK Norway Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x PV-1 Ventura bombing at 10000 feet

a big TF is unloading at Baker, the high exp Navy Venturas are attacking too high and all miss...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Dili at 31,77


Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 15


Allied aircraft losses
PV-1 Ventura: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Uzuki
AP Hakusan Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PV-1 Ventura bombing at 6000 feet

a dozen ships are spotted at Dili and we only launch this ridicoulos strike that achieves nothing. This way it´s easy to bring reinforcements and/or supply to Timor...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/14/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Pagan , at 31,31


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 14


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Amboina at 39,73

Japanese Ships
AP Hikade Maru, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Meredith
DD Dunlap, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
55 casualties reported

decided to send the DDs another time to Amboina even though they were out of torps. This time they achieve 9x5 inch hits and the AP is later hit and sunk by Mariners on nav search. All high exp Catalina sqadrons in the front line get upgraded to Mariners as the Mariners have a bomb load instead of the torps. Even though you are always told that patrol aircraft on search get their torps swapped out to bombs, this is once again something I highly doubt, as my Mariners have hit dozens of ships within two months, while they haven´t hit a SINGLE ship in a year when they were flying Catalinas. This is once again something that you "test" during long term playing and in my case it is obvious that the Catalinas NEVER have hit anyathing and now as Coronados or Mariners nearly every day an enemy ship is hit by a 500lb bomb. Knowing that as those ships later show up in the sunk ship list...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Amboina at 39,73

Japanese Ships
AP Igasa Maru, Shell hits 1
AP Taihei Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Meredith
DD Dunlap, Shell hits 1

I need an agressive TF commander. Havin the DD´s captain in command of the TF is a bad decision but it´s also dangerous to assign an admiral as he could go down with the DD if they meet superior forces. Already lost a RADM on a MSW from an ASW TF... [:D]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese Ships
AG AG-103, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
AG AG-115
AG AG-356, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
AG AG-373, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
AG AG-5112, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
AG AG-5114, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AG AG-5115, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
AG AG-5116, Shell hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Cony
DD Saufley
DD Waller
DD Bancroft
DD Caldwell

those DDs were hunting a sub 5 hexes off PM yesterday and failed to locate the bugger. We spotted those barges so the DD´s orders were changed to surface combat and they were ordered to PM. Did a pretty good job...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Andaman Island , at 23,34


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 4
LB-30 Liberator x 137


Allied aircraft losses
LB-30 Liberator: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 39
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x LB-30 Liberator bombing at 10000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiska Island , at 92,35


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 14
P-39D Airacobra x 44
PV-1 Ventura x 23


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Guns lost 10

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x TBF Avenger bombing at 22400 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 37,81

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 4

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 146

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 damaged

Our carriers are now 3 hexes North of Darwin and Hortlund launched 4 unescorted Betties from Biak that recently has reached level 4, so those bombers would launch torps. Don´t know what he thinks to achieve with such strikes but it serves me well, another 4 dead IJN pilots. What really was once again depressing is the fact that the follow TF order once again doesn´t work. As you can see, there are no seafires on Cap and yes, the British CVs are left behind two hexes. No they didn´t refuel, yes, they could move 8 hexes max, yes they are set to full speed. And nevertheless they only moved one hex out of Darwin while the rest of the TFs moved 3 hexes. If Hortlund would have launched 100 Betties with 50 Zeroes against this TF with 50 Seafires, then I would have a couple of British carriers less. [8|]

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/15/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 20

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bulla , at 40,75


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 105
B-24D Liberator x 103


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 13

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 26000 feet

Bulla (level 3 airfield) wasn´t reconed before and so the hit rate from high alt is poor. This is only a diversion attack, our first invasion fleet has left Darwin with my carriers and two surface combat TFs heading for Kai Island. At the moment our invasion stopped one hex South West of Kai and they will go in to unload tomorrow to be able to unload both in the night and the day. 80-100% of the troops will unload tomorrow. Kai is only a level 1 at the moment but can be built up to level 5. I only expect 2-3000 enemy troops on the island but still I have brought a lot TK-rgts and support troops, even a HQ will land. It´s a shame that I wasn´t aware a couple of months ago how important this base will become, otherwise I would have flown in troops to defend it and to build it up to level 5. It´s only 5 hexes to all those important bases like Amboina, Babo, Bulla, Sorong on Northern New Guinea. As soon as this base is built up, I can sweep all those bases with Corsairs and this means those bases can´t be defended by the Japanese. I could also launch medium bombers without penalties from there, but I guess I will need at least 200 fighters set on 70% Cap to scare Hortlund not to make a big Zero/Betty strike, as I also have to place some surface combat TFs there to defend the island against naval bombardments. Barrracudas are now available also (all land based Swordfish will upgrade to Barracudas) and those have a torp range of 5, which means all Japanese BBs would be in danger trying to do a bombardment. Got some 50 Swordfish in Northern Australia at the moment.

I have changed my strategic plans completely with the spotted major Japanese troop redeployments in the last two months. The initial invasions were planned for Gili Gili, PM and Thursday Island with some 3000 assault points involved for those three bases. But my recon told me that the enemy troop strenght at those bases was growing and as it is now I expect 500-800 assault points on each of those bases, level 9 forts and wooden hexes, so 1000 assault points going in at each base would not be enough at all. I would need 3000 assault points for each base to take it without completely wrecking 3 divisions. The other possible target was Timor. Well, Koepang (on the far West) and Lautern (on the far East) of the island are both super fortresses with reported 70-80.000 troops (so I expect to see some 40-50.000 really there) but with lots of AA units it´s impossible to wear those bases down with air attacks. So this situation made it a must to find a better spot to attack and Hortlund absolutely seem to have forgotten about Northern New Guinea. Even though there are 4-9 units at those bases, the troop strenght isn´t high and the bases are not really built up. In this case, it seems to be true that if you stack units and aircraft into a couple of bases to make them "impossible" to take, you have week spots otherwhere. We will see what will happen. Even though Hortlund told me he won´t commit any of his high exp fighter or bomber units, just yesterday there were a lot Japanese op losses and the bases North of New Guinea have now dark airfield symbols, so he obviously moved in a lot of aircraft. Dont´know where KB of major IJN naval forces are. IMO he should fight like wild for Kai Island as this is the first real step into a deep attack into the SRA. If we establish a forward base here we can jump to Northern Guinea. Once those bases there are taken, the SRA is wide open. This then has the effect that Hortlund MUST redeploy his forces that are spread around in the Pacific and he has to weaken all those bases further South. This then will lead to a situation that makes it more easy to take back places like the far out Pacific atolls, New Caledonia, Solomons and Southern New Guinea.

The more or less only reason to take those places is the fact that this really shortens the shipping lanes from the West Coast to the front as now my ships are travelling a hell a long way via Pago Pago and New Zealand to Australia.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiska Island , at 92,35


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 16
P-39D Airacobra x 36
PV-1 Ventura x 33
PB4Y Liberator x 9


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
112 casualties reported

Runway hits 7
Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x TBF Avenger bombing at 22400 feet

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/16/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1082 encounters mine field at Kai Island (39,78)

Allied Ships
DD Anderson
DD Woodworth
DD Walke, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Mine hits 1

This is the surface combat TF with two old BBs and a modern CL that covers the amphibious TF at Kai. It goes in first and of course my ships hit mines. While DD Walke retires in sinking condition with 23 sys 70 flt and 12 fires the hit on Tennessee is thank god only FOW as the ship still has 0 0 0 damage.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 11

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
6 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1130 encounters mine field at Kai Island (39,78)

TF 1130 troops unloading over beach at Kai Island, 39,78


Allied Ships
MSW Townsville
MSW Strahan
MSW Mildura
MSW Lithgow
MSW Launceton
MSW Katoomba
MSW Kapunda
AK Proteus, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Kalgan, Mine hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 2

Coastal Guns at Kai Island, 39,78, firing at TF 1130
229 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AK Exmoor, Shell hits 3

Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
676 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 11

and we start sweeping mines and unloading troops...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1130 encounters mine field at Kai Island (39,78)

TF 1130 troops unloading over beach at Kai Island, 39,78


Allied Ships
MSW Townsville
MSW Strahan
MSW Mildura
MSW Lithgow
MSW Launceton
MSW Katoomba
MSW Kapunda
AK Bintoehan, Mine hits 1
AK Silksworth, Mine hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 2

Coastal Guns at Kai Island, 39,78, firing at TF 1130
160 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AK Haraldsvang, Shell hits 5
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 1


Allied ground losses:
533 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

more mines are swept and 90% of our troops are ashore with 10% of the supply unloaded also. All our troops have already 3 times the supply they need but I want to unload as much as possible to have a big stock there already when I withdraw my carriers South again. Then sea bees and eng units will be flown in or brought in with barges in very low risk operations.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 36 encounters mine field at Kwajalein (79,79)

Japanese Ships
MSW Shonan Maru #8
MSW Ataka Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Kai Island at 39,78

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 35
P-40B Tomahawk x 27
P-38G Lightning x 35

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 1 damaged

Long range Betty strike came from Borneo! [X(] They didn´t attack the carriers but one of the TFs at the invasion site. Have ordered 72 Tomahawks and 72 Lightnings on LRCAP from Tenimbar (4 hexes) and there´s also leaking F4F-4 Cap from the carriers one hex off the island. Unfortunately we suffer from the high durability in Nikmod as 30% of my Lightnings and 25% of my Tomahawks are now damaged from flying LRCAP for one day. [:(] On the other side, the high durability didn´t help us as we have lost 3 Tomahawks and 3 Lightnings to ops. [:(]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kai Island

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2346 troops, 14 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 79

Defending force 20587 troops, 74 guns, 552 vehicles, Assault Value = 367


My troops are really in excellent shape. It seems TK rgts unloading from AKs don´t seem to take much damage at all as they are all between 90 and 95% combat ready, this with only around 50% preparation. As soon as this base is ours again (have already ordered a shock attack and A2G attacks from my 4Es at Darwin) the TK rgts will prepare for their next target.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/17/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1130 encounters mine field at Kai Island (39,78)

TF 1130 troops unloading over beach at Kai Island, 39,78


Allied Ships
MSW Townsville
MSW Strahan
MSW Mildura
MSW Lithgow
MSW Launceton
MSW Katoomba
MSW Kapunda
AK Jalatarang, Mine hits 1, on fire
AK Sinabang, Mine hits 1

Coastal Guns at Kai Island, 39,78, firing at TF 1130
77 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL Concord
CL De Ruyter

Japanese ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
270 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 3

a lot of mine hits today, but none of the AKs is even near danger of sinking...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 17

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1130 encounters mine field at Kai Island (39,78)

TF 1130 troops unloading over beach at Kai Island, 39,78


Allied Ships
MSW Townsville
MSW Strahan
MSW Mildura
MSW Lithgow
MSW Launceton
MSW Katoomba
MSW Kapunda
AK Chilka, Mine hits 1, on fire

Coastal Guns at Kai Island, 39,78, firing at TF 1130
57 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AK Haraldsvang, Shell hits 3

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
102 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiska Island , at 92,35


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 2
P-39D Airacobra x 24
PV-1 Ventura x 17
PB4Y Liberator x 9


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PV-1 Ventura bombing at 25800 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kure 7th SNLF, at 39,78


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 80
B-24D Liberator x 121


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
488 casualties reported [:D]
Guns lost 5

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
48 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet

as you can see those 4Es are attacking at 6000ft. We have a hr about no 4Es on nav attack below 10.000ft and that´s what I´m following. Hortlund thinks that the common hr about 4Es is NO ATTACKS BELOW 10.000ft AT ALL! and I should not use them below that altitude. Well, I wanted to avoid any discussion so I just agreed, from now on there won´t be any attacks below 10.000ft. Hopefully it won´t be like no 4E attacks at all from 1/44 on...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near San Francisco at 139,46 [X(]

Japanese Ships
SS I-178

Allied Ships
AK William T. Sherman, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

now that was really a nice one Steve! Amazing but really nice. He found it worth it to send a sub all the way to San Francisco and the sub even hits a big AK heading for SF harbour. My 48 search aircraft spotted nothing, the AK will live on. Still, a nice attack...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kai Island

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1393 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 58

Defending force 22274 troops, 105 guns, 607 vehicles, Assault Value = 370



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kai Island

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 14814 troops, 75 guns, 599 vehicles, Assault Value = 370

Defending force 2259 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 58

Allied max assault: 622 - adjusted assault: 640 [X(]

Japanese max defense: 39 - adjusted defense: 1 [:D]

Allied assault odds: 640 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Kai Island base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
2879 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Allied ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 6

My tank corps was enough to take the island against little opposition. I only had tank rgts, a HQ and support units on the field of battle and the tanks made short process with the defenders as all three defending mini units were destroyed immediately! I had an Australian division in reserve in the invasion hex but it was obvious on day one of the landings that this division wouldn´t be needed so I ordered it back to Darwin, already prepping for another target.

It´s really somewhat surprising for me that Hortlund seems really not even trying an attempt to attack my TFs, the only thing he´s doing is sending in a dozen subs and I expect the subs to achieve some hits on a couple of transports, hopefully they won´t hit any warship. So far, we haven´t lost a single ship, all my troops that took Kai are in excellent shape and more eng and eng vehicles are brought in to build up the airfield to level 5 ASAP. I doubt Hortlund will ever get a better chance to hit my TFs, because in a couple of months we will have Corsairs (British) and Hellcats flying Cap over my TFs. Now there are only Wildcats and the somewhat better Seafire. His high exp Zeroes can deal with Wildcats but they will have 5 times more problems with Hellcats.

He said nothing about what he´s intending to do, there wasn´t any comment about my invasion. No words are saying often the most, as I think he´s somewhat surprised that my landing took place at Kai Island. I now expect him to rush in troops to those 5 or 6 bases in Northern New Guinea to build them up to fortresses also. As I described earlier, this can only be done in high danger and only with troops that are now fortifying the Pacific and all the Japanese strongholds South of New Guinea and the Solomons. It will be interesting and I´m not far away from a big step into the SRA. If I just grab one base on Northern New Guinea then my Venturas and PB4Y could even attack shipping that goes to the oil fields of Borneo. Hortlund should have thought about this threat and should not have focussed so much on Southern New Guinea where the build up couldn´t be hid from me as there were enough aircraft flying recon for months.

[ny59giants]

Which "B" is next??
Babo (4 hexes away) or Bulla (3 hexes away).
Bulla would seem the logical course as you could use Corsairs to LRCAP the base. [;)]

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Which "B" is next??
Babo (4 hexes away) or Bulla (3 hexes away).
Bulla would seem the logical course as you could use Corsairs to LRCAP the base. [;)]

All those bases up there are targets now, it depends which ones he will be able to reinforce soon. Got troops prepping for all those islands, even a couple are already prepping for KENDARI! [:D]

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/18/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 49,99

Japanese Ships
SS I-27, hits 11, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Cony
DD Bancroft
DD Morris
DD Caldwell
DD Welles
DD Grayson

our ASW seems to be slowly improving. I-27 takes 2 real hits and 9 near misses off Cairns. Probably a kill, but the sub isn´t confirmed sunk...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 20

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1078 encounters mine field at Kai Island (39,78)

Allied Ships
LCT LCT-136, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

this one´s dead... also a way to clear mines...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 37,78

Japanese Ships
SS I-19

Allied Ships
AK Sinabang, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

and here´s the first loss in our Kai Island operation. As expected, a Japanese sub scores...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 39,70

Japanese Ships
PC Iki
APD APD-35
DD Isokaze

Allied Ships
SS S-30, hits 10, on fire, heavy damage

mmmm... if our ASW is improving, well, the enemy ASW is still better. The three ships achieve 5 real hits and 5 near misses. Needless to say that S-30 immediately sunk. [8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Andaman Island , at 23,34


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 5
LB-30 Liberator x 83


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 65

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x LB-30 Liberator bombing at 10000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Bulla at 40,75

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 5
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 10

Allied aircraft
Seafire x 18
F4F-4 Wildcat x 37
SBD Dauntless x 58
TBF Avenger x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed, 14 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 7 damaged
TBF Avenger: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Ginyo Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Onoe Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hakusika Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Kokoku Maru

Japanese ground losses:
260 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
1 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet

very optimistic to bring reinforcements to Bulla as long as my carriers are parked 4 hexes away. While our fighters achieved more kills I´m not really convinced about the strenght of my fighters. In fact I´m glad Hortlund doesn´t order massive strikes as it seems the Wildcats hardly can compete with Oscars and after one or two days only 50% of my fighters would be operational. And once again, I´m totally disappointed by the hit rates of my 80+ exp dive bombers. No idea why they are so bad, a strike from KB´s Vals and Kates with those numbers of aircraft would mean all those ships would be 100% sunk afterwards. And AGAIN, not a single British torpedo bomber attacked. Not one of the 80.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Bulla at 40,75

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 2
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 6

Allied aircraft
Seafire x 16
F4F-4 Wildcat x 42
SBD Dauntless x 53
TBF Avenger x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire: 5 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Ginyo Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hakusika Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Onoe Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Kokoku Maru, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
298 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet

another strike (again without British bombers) in the afternoon and two ships were confirmed sunk afterwards. We got intel about parts of the 84th Naval Guard going down with the ships.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/19/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 15

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Bulla at 40,75

Japanese Ships
AK Onoe Maru, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Allied Ships
PT PT-66
PT PT-67
PT PT-74
PT PT-77
PT PT-79
PT PT-80

Japanese ground losses:
631 casualties reported
Guns lost 10

PT boats are going in from 3 hexes range, sinking the last transport that brought the 84th Nav Guard to Bulla. The already heavily damaged ship had no chance and a good number of enemy troops were lost. Doubt that more than 50% of the unit was unloaded.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Macassar at 30,69

Japanese Ships
AP Koei Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS O23

small AP is hit...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 40,72

Japanese Ships
AP Aratama Maru
DD Naganami

Allied Ships
SS O24

more troop transports are rushing in to Northern New Guinea. My Venturas from Tenimbar launched today but failed to locate the damned TF at sea...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiska Island , at 92,35


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 15
P-39D Airacobra x 48
PV-1 Ventura x 35
PB4Y Liberator x 11


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
148 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Runway hits 3
Port supply hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x TBF Avenger bombing at 22400 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Kendari at 33,71

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 6
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 118

Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 15 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
CA Nachi

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 10000 feet

BB TF is sitting at Kendari. This is Hortlund´s old trick to put his bullet prove BBs far away under a Cap umbrella to draw in unescorted long range bomber attacks. Worked once again.

Yesterday I have agreed to not use 4Es below 10.000ft at all! Today Hortlund asked me not to use 4Es on nav attack AT ALL. Well, you can surely imagine what I think about that when he can mass 350 Betties in two days, all carrying torpedoes 15 hexes out. He asked me and we didn´t have much of a discussion as I agreed so far, that I won´t use any 4E on nav attack except my B-17 and the Navy PB4Y. Means I now have lost 80% of my only dangerous weapon against major Japanese naval forces.

[castor troy]

Once again the SYNCH BUG strikes... I have no idea what really happened this turn as it´s essential to really wacth the replay... this is the cr that Hortlund sent me...


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/20/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1081 encounters mine field at Kai Island (39,78)

Allied Ships
MSW Townsville
MSW Strahan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 57 encounters mine field at Sorong (42,74)

Japanese Ships
AG AG-5164, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 107 encounters mine field at Sorong (42,74)

Japanese Ships
DD Manazuru
DD Urakaze

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 2

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 17

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Bulla, at 40,75

Allied Ships
CL Denver
BB Tennessee
BB California

Japanese ground losses:
209 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1081 encounters mine field at Kai Island (39,78)

Allied Ships
MSW Townsville
MSW Strahan

until this point we were in synch...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Kai Island at 39,78

Japanese Ships
SS I-34

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Andaman Island , at 23,34


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 3
LB-30 Liberator x 143
IL-4c x 36


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
74 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 103
Port supply hits 18

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x IL-4c bombing at 10000 feet

impressing result, especially all those supply hits...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lautem , at 33,78

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
A-20G Havoc x 118

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
199 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 42

Aircraft Attacking:
40 x A-20G Havoc bombing at 25800 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiska Island , at 92,35


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 2
P-39D Airacobra x 23
PV-1 Ventura x 8
PB4Y Liberator x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PV-1 Ventura bombing at 25800 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 35,75 [X(]

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 14
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 42

Allied aircraft
Seafire x 15
F4F-4 Wildcat x 48
SBD Dauntless x 97
TBF Avenger x 50

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 2 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 22 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire: 14 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 26 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 14 destroyed, 69 damaged
TBF Avenger: 6 destroyed, 38 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Mogami
CA Atago
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Oi
DD Hayashio
CA Nachi

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet

what can I say? I have no idea what Hortlund is trying to achieve but it once again worked pretty good for him. The Wildcat is a piece of flying chunk, even if flown by pilots with 80+ exp. My carrier based fighters get completely wrecked in one day, 50 Avengers achieve 2 torp hits (those pilots are all between 70 and 85 exp). Tell me how many DOZEN torp hits you expect from 50 attacking Kates with such an experience.

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Day Air attack on TF at 35,75

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 7
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 17

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, on fire
CA Nachi, Bomb hits 1
DD Tokitsukaze

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 39,71


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 29
Avenger I x 38 [:@][:@][:@][:@][:@]


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PC Kunashiri, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
APD APD-39, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Hachijo, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PC Etoforu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Sado

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Avenger I launching torpedoes at 200 feet

and the British torpedo bombers decide to attack an ASW TF instead of the slow BBs...

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Day Air attack on TF at 39,71


Allied aircraft
Avenger I x 20 [:@][:@][:@][:@]


Allied aircraft losses
Avenger I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
PC Sado
PC Etoforu, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Avenger I launching torpedoes at 200 feet

of course the British launch another strike at the wrong target. Why didn´t all SBDs attack this target and the Avengers all attack the in the game immune to bombs BBs? Target routine is a total mess in the game and everytime it depends on 100% luck. And once again it wasn´t me who was on the lucky side, not to talk about the fact that I´m the one who suffers from the synch bug all the time...

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Day Air attack on TF at 35,75

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 12
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 25

Allied aircraft
Seafire x 12
F4F-4 Wildcat x 38
SBD Dauntless x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 12 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 12 destroyed, 14 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai
CL Agano
CL Naka

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet

the hit rate of carrier based US bombers is ridicoulosly low, I pointed that out earlier. I don´t know why 80+ pilots don´t hit anything, it took 100+ bombers before to sink 4 slow transports. Wonder how the accuracy of the US bombs and torps look like.

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Day Air attack on TF at 35,75

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 12
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 22

Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 45

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 10 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
PV-1 Ventura: 4 destroyed, 21 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 4, on fire
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x PV-1 Ventura bombing at 6000 feet


and that´s it... F*CK THE DAMNED BUGS IN THIS GAME....[:@][:@]

at some point this PBEM will just be stopped, not because of our different oppinions but because of the never ending bugs... impossible to play for me that way...