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

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/14/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 42 encounters mine field at Buna (55,90)

Japanese Ships
MSW Kaiyo Maru #3
MSW Tasei Maru
MSW W.15
PC Sonan Maru #5
PG Chiyo Maru
AP Seiwa Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire

sub laid mine... this must be another evac convoy taking out troops from Southern New Guinea. The bases there are now only light defended, so my plan has worked perfectly. I can now attack those bases with only a fourth of the troops I would have needed against the strongholds before. I guess my landing at Kai Island and Babo has brought me at least something like 8-12 months if I have had to fight my way through all those level 9 forts, 1000 assault point bases.

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


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 11


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Kiska Island, at 92,35 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

2 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma, Shell hits 2
BB Nevada

Japanese ground losses:
495 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Runway hits 3
Port hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Koepang, at 28,77

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee
BB California

Japanese ground losses:
1803 casualties reported
Guns lost 45

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 4

perhaps I can wear down the defending base forces so much that my Mitchells can take over airfield suppressing... a good start...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Reserve Tank Regiment, at 92,35


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 21
SBD Dauntless x 60
P-39D Airacobra x 48
PV-1 Ventura x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 52


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
134 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 7

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11167 troops, 100 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 581

Defending force 54410 troops, 447 guns, 138 vehicles, Assault Value = 988

the deliberate attack has cost us 64 assault points and the enemy has lost 19...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 38443 troops, 411 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 988

Defending force 22210 troops, 116 guns, 113 vehicles, Assault Value = 581


Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

[castor troy]

the usual Helen hit on my subs, today SS Plunger was hit...


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/15/43

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


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 14


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 41,72

Japanese Ships
AG AG-5162, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Porpoise

due to lack of other targets, my subs are now hunting barges...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Babo, at 42,77

Allied Ships
CL Columbia
CL Boise
BB West Virginia
BB Maryland

Japanese ground losses:
180 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 6
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 13

there´s only one base force, so I´m not surprised that the bombardment did no damage. At least we destroyed some supplies...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 115 encounters mine field at Namlea (38,73)

Japanese Ships
AG AG-2068, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

MK16 claims another barge, one was hit during the day by a Ventura. We kill on average 2 barges a day...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 39,79

Japanese Ships
SS I-34

Allied Ships
DD Porter
DD Shaw
DD Mahan
DD Dunlap
DD Strong

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


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 19


Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Hurricane IIb bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Andaman Island , at 23,34


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 2
LB-30 Liberator x 92
B-24D Liberator x 39


Allied aircraft losses
LB-30 Liberator: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
109 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 41
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Reserve Tank Regiment, at 92,35


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
SBD Dauntless x 47
P-39D Airacobra x 45
PV-1 Ventura x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 49


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
148 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 8

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 6th/A Division, at 42,77


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 56


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 39,79

Japanese Ships
SS I-34

Allied Ships
DD Nicholson
DD O'Bannon
DD Selfridge
DD Drayton
DD LaVallette
DD Bache


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 10962 troops, 93 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 575

Defending force 54839 troops, 450 guns, 146 vehicles, Assault Value = 1001

I´m amazed to see my assault value going up by 20 a day, that´s more than I thought. Enemy assault value went up by 6 points...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2940 troops, 78 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 1001

Defending force 21908 troops, 108 guns, 112 vehicles, Assault Value = 575

[castor troy]

game has slowed down due to real life issues of Hortlund. Got a turn an Sunday, perhaps we will see more this week...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/16/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 42 encounters mine field at Gili Gili (56,94)

Japanese Ships
MSW Kaiyo Maru #3
MSW Tasei Maru
MSW W.15
PC Sonan Maru #5
PG Chiyo Maru

convoy at Gili Gili. Thanks to our intel mines we have perfect intel how the escort looks like. We´re flying recon also over the base so we would have spotted the convoy anyway but wouldn´t have had such accurate info. Pretty sure this is an evac convoy pulling out most of the inf units. Like at Thursday Island and Port Moresby where only a small garrisson (compared to the 70.000 troops before) is stationed. Our plan to draw Japanese troops further North worked so well, it couldn´t have worked better. I still don´t get why a) Hortlund didn´t throw in the kitchen sink in terms of aircraft against my two invasions and b) why Hortlund now really strips his defense in the South as he MUST know that I have to take those bases. Otherwise I would never have a secure supply line. But like I said, my plan worked so well, it couldn´t work better. I still have 2000 assault points prepped for Gili Gili, PM and Thursday so we will soon see an attack down there also. I guess I will first finish the Babo assault, then turn my attention further South again. After that, my carriers will retire to Sydney for their next upgrade, to reduce the sys damage (many ships are nearing 10 sys damage) and to upgrade the Wildcats to Hellcats in summer 43. Not to forget the upgrade of Seafires to Corsairs! [:D]

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


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 6


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Kiska Island, at 92,35 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

1 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma, Shell hits 1
BB Nevada

Japanese ground losses:
244 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

Kiska´s CD is pretty much finished. Guess I will retreat the battlewaggons again...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 78 encounters mine field at Namlea (38,73)

Japanese Ships
AG AG-5160, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

MK16 claims a barge. Those mines are laid by the single DM I have left that is operating out of Darwin. Now I really regret losing those DMs against KB long ago...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Morotai at 43,68

Japanese Ships
DD Nagatsuki
DD Ushio
DD Sazanami
DD Akebono
DD Asagiri

Allied Ships
SS Argonaut, hits 1

why subs on mine laying mission don´t go in during the night but stay in the target hex also during the day is something that was broken with one of the later patches... one near miss...

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


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 19


Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 9 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Hurricane IIb bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 6th/A Division, at 42,77


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 54
F4U-1 Corsair x 18


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
100 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 10000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 6th/A Division, at 42,77


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 47


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Tank Div , at 42,77


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 51


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
138 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet

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

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 9
Hudson I x 6
P-40N Warhawk x 3
PV-1 Ventura x 3
B-25C Mitchell x 44
PB4Y Liberator x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-57-II Topsy: 1 destroyed


Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Wellington III bombing at 19000 feet
4 x Hudson I bombing at 26000 feet
13 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 21200 feet

not a single flak burst during the replay over Thursday Island anymore! Hortlund must have moved out all his AA units. Perhaps there´s a base force left but compared to the flak base Thursday was before... Guess it won´t be that hard to take those bases. Same goes for the Pacific atolls. Sooner or later do we have to shorten our way from the West Coast to Australia as our ships really go a loooooong way. And what is even worse, today an Alf spotted one of my TFs in the shipping lanes far NorthEast of Canton Island!!!! Alf? I hope Hortlund hasn´t upgraded his Glens to Alfs (no hr about that but this would really be off) so I would guess that a TF with either some CS and probably one or two carriers is operating there or perhaps the whole KB is there. I think it´s a smaller TF with only a couple of float planes and not many attack aircraft as the TF that was spotted consisted of two CVLs of mine!! [X(] Would have been typically, Hortlund raids my shipping lanes and the first target he encounters would be two more or less helpless CVLs that have just left the West Coast with a couple of DDs as escorts. Ordered the CVLs on full speed to leave the area. Not much I can do against such raids as long as we haven´t invaded Johnston and even more important Palmyra to close the gap of my patrol aircraft. So far those raids weren´t a problem. Of course I could place a couple of "picket AKs" in this area but this is just gamey to me and I don´t like this idea of WITP players. Even though there were picket ships in real life, how they are used in the game is totally different.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Morotai at 43,68

Japanese Ships
PC Iki
DD Kisaragi
DD Yugure
DD Yamakaze

Allied Ships
SS Argonaut, hits 1, heavy damage

Damn! Argonaut was the sub that was hit by Helens today. Every, every, every day, a sub is hit by a Helen. To make the situation worse, she takes a Type 91 DC hit also and now retires to Darwin. Chances aren´t that good, the sub is at 62 sys and 73 flt.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 10626 troops, 90 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 557

Defending force 55257 troops, 453 guns, 150 vehicles, Assault Value = 1016

Within a week we will land 800 assault points more. This will be overkill and will only result in more units that aren´t combat ready afterwards but I want to take this base asap to make the retreat of my carriers possible. The units will then be brought back to Darwin for rest and prepare for their next target. As soon as Babo is built up to level 5 airfield it means pretty much game over for IJN shipping in this area. Will be interesting then how Hortlund will supply his bases up there. He has lost a too high number of ships already IMO and the situation South of Kendari will only get worse for him. He failed stalling my offensive here when he still had the chance to do so, but I really guess that the invasion of Kai Island and the follow on landing at Babo right afterwards must have come by total surprise to him.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2960 troops, 78 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 1016

Defending force 21289 troops, 107 guns, 112 vehicles, Assault Value = 557


Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported

[ny59giants]

The most logical explanation for an evac of Thursday, PM, and Gili Gili (Milne Bay) are they are only of tactical importance while the Kendari area is of strategic importance - i.e. Oil and Resources. However, it does shorten your supplies lines needing to go around all of Australia to feed your major offensive into the SRA. He will have to defend the base hoping up the northern coast of New Guinea after PM and Gili Gili fall. Good for you, bad for him. [;)]

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

The most logical explanation for an evac of Thursday, PM, and Gili Gili (Milne Bay) are they are only of tactical importance while the Kendari area is of strategic importance - i.e. Oil and Resources. However, it does shorten your supplies lines needing to go around all of Australia to feed your major offensive into the SRA. He will have to defend the base hoping up the northern coast of New Guinea after PM and Gili Gili fall. Good for you, bad for him. [;)]

You are correct but defending Thursday, PM and Gili Gili at this stage is at least as important as to strongly defend those bases South of Kendari, if not even more important. When I can transfer between Brisbane and Darwin without having to fear anything, then this will highly influence the actions North of Darwin and I´m absolutely amazed that Hortlund seems not to realize this. The number one reason for my invasion of Kai was more or less a feint to draw his troops away from Gili Gili, PM and Thursday and I thought the chances wouldn´t be good to see Hortlund exactly doing this. But it seems he was exactly doing this... Like you say, good for me... [:D]

[jumper]

I think that the main reason for such evacuation is that he simply needs these troops elswehere. Holding PM, Gili Gili and Thursday Is is nice, but holding SRA is vital. He can´t have enough troops for both tasks. Besides that the resupplying of these bases costs him dozens of ships already and it will be only worse and soon impossible. Allowing you to advance via northern NG will cause him headache in the long term, but at this moment securing SRA at a the cost of loosing PM and Gili Gili is a wise decision. There is no point in holding PM at the costs of loosing SRA. I would do the same.. [;)]
 
BTW I think every "japanese" player dream about that allies will try to fight through NG/Solomons. It is good place to fight, far away from vital supplies with many bases to fall back. Maybe it is HIM who is trying to feint you to get involved in this area rather then attacking Kendari.. [;)]

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/17/43

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


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 17


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pagan , at 31,31


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 20


Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Hurricane IIb bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Reserve Tank Regiment, at 92,35


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 47
P-39D Airacobra x 48
PV-1 Ventura x 8
B-25C Mitchell x 44


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
74 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 5

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 6th/A Division, at 42,77


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 37
F4U-1 Corsair x 16


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
37 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 6th/A Division, at 42,77


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 100


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
80 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet

would really like to attack also the other units here, not just the part of the 6th division....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 121,97 [:D]

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 9

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 8 destroyed


Allied Ships
CVL Cowpens

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x E13A1 Jake bombing at 2000 feet

As I´ve mentioned yesterday, my two CVLs were spotted by an Alf but yesterday no strikes have been flown. I feard being in range of IJN fleet carriers so I have set my CVLs on full speed South but they only moved 5 hexes!! So we have been in range of the enemy "CV" TF today also as the IJN moved the same direction. And what strike goes in against our CVLs? 9 Jakes from CS Nissin! [:D] 7 are downed by the Wildcats and 1 by the flak. Don´t know what Hortlund wants to achieve with one CS in my shipping lanes East of Palmyra. Even if he would sink an AK (hard to achieve with 30 or 60kg bombs from a dozen float planes), this is no serious threat, this isn´t a threat at all. The only reason for the Japanese to take those far out Pacific atolls is to make the shipping lanes for the Allied longer and to enable them to raid the shipping. Hortlund only attempted one raid that sunk a couple of transports. So I thought this time would be a raid with at least three CVs but all he sends is a CS. Serves me well...

But this once again shows me that it will be important to take Palmyra to close the gap in my search aircraft line. I doubt that Palmyra has a lot of troops and two of my divs are prepping for it (with some base forces for support). But I need carrier support as I don´t want to see 100 Betties being transferred in to sink my supporting BBs or the invasion transports. The main carrier force will stay around Australia but I will receive two CVs and another CVL within the next 80 days, those will be used to cover the invasion. 99 fighters won´t be a lot but with 90% Cap I expect to see some 80 - at that date - Hellcats in the air to meet any incoming strike. And as it is an atoll, the fight should be over soon, no matter if we succeed or will only wreck the two divs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 121,97

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 4

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 2 destroyed


Allied Ships
CVL Cowpens

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x E13A1 Jake bombing at 2000 feet

afternoon strike, bringing the total of Jakes lost to 11 today. 11 IJN pilots to be drawn from the pool... [:D]I guess we are nearing the time when the Japanese pools are empty, if they even still have pilots in the pool.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 10457 troops, 82 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 585

Defending force 55611 troops, 460 guns, 152 vehicles, Assault Value = 1029



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2990 troops, 78 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 1029

Defending force 21614 troops, 103 guns, 111 vehicles, Assault Value = 585

the reinforcement for Babo was ordered to leave Darwin today. Then we will have landed 2000 assault points at this base, which is twice as much as I like to take ONE base. While the troops at the base already would be probably enough to take it in the long run, I want to retreat my carriers and won´t do that before Babo is Allied so I want to speed up the fall of Babo.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: jumper

I think that the main reason for such evacuation is that he simply needs these troops elswehere. Holding PM, Gili Gili and Thursday Is is nice, but holding SRA is vital. He can´t have enough troops for both tasks. Besides that the resupplying of these bases costs him dozens of ships already and it will be only worse and soon impossible. Allowing you to advance via northern NG will cause him headache in the long term, but at this moment securing SRA at a the cost of loosing PM and Gili Gili is a wise decision. There is no point in holding PM at the costs of loosing SRA. I would do the same.. [;)]

BTW I think every "japanese" player dream about that allies will try to fight through NG/Solomons. It is good place to fight, far away from vital supplies with many bases to fall back. Maybe it is HIM who is trying to feint you to get involved in this area rather then attacking Kendari.. [;)]

No matter what he´s trying to do, he will not see me committing major forces to grind up the way through the Solomons or the coast of NG. I will take those bases, but not with real force. If I would need a lot of troops, I will just bypass it. But as I have said before, with PM, Gili Gili and Thursday Island strongly defended (means some 700 assault points) he can totally blocade the sea lane from Brisbane to Darwin, making an ongoing assault further North from Darwin more or less IMPOSSIBLE! This means he weakens his strategic position in the SRA more with not trying to blocade the way to Darwin (the way around Australia is just no option in the long run) than he would do in not bringing those - I guess - 1200 assault points from the South further North. And if the Japanese´s only hopes are those assault points worth 3 divisions than he´s in trouble anyway. He should have enough Southern Area divisions and bgds to defend both areas. And it would be even better to strip the whole Pacific to a line Rabaul - Truk - Wake - Macus (which would bring him surely 2000+ assault points, than not to defend Thursday, PM and Gili Gili. Holding Johnston, Palmyra, Baker, New Caledonia... is worth nothing but victory points, holding those three bases on Southern New Guinea is ESSENTIAL. But I´m glad that he thinks different. [:D]

The resupply issue isn´t much of an issue in this area, he can use barges from PM to bring thousands supply points to Thursday, Gili Gili is out of my fighter range so he can bring supplies there with ships under a Cap umbrella and PM can draw supplies from Buna over the trails. Why do you think that I haven´t attacked this three bases already? A) because there were so many troops and B) because it´s so hard to grind them down with lots of flak at the base and enough fighters in the air to cause severe losses to my bombers if they go in unescorted.

The loss of PM, Thursday and Gili Gili will speed up the loss of the SRA by MONTHS! This of course only with the situation we have in the game. If someone decides to go through the Pacific, then those bases aren´t worth a lot, but in our case, those three bases are the most important. I CAN´T ATTACK THE SRA OUT OF DARWIN AS LONG AS HORTLUND WOULD BLOCADE THE SEA LANE FROM BRISBANE TO DARWIN (BY HOLDING THOSE THREE BASES)! Better say I can´t attack further! So far I have used some 200.000!!!! supplies and all my bases in Northern Australia are low on supplies and nearly no supply is drawn to those bases (which is ok for me as Darwin didn´t have this rail road in real life anyway).

[jumper]

Hmm, I disagree here with you. But I have played NikMod only a few days long time ago and maybe it makes the game too different. In my other game I´m in similar situation like you (talking about this particular area) and my northern Australia bases are swimming in supplies brought from Karachi. It would be certainly more comfortable to have the Darwin-Brisbane supply line open, but as long as it ties up 3+ japanese divisions and a few hundrets of japanese fighters I can live with it.
Barges are fine for resuplying smaller bases, but are hardly capable to supply 2-3 strongholds with 80k troops and dozens of planes far away from supply source. It is too risky to leave the destiny of 2-3 divisions in hands of barges. From his point of view it might be "get them away now or never".
 
Btw you are not shipping supplies from Karachi? Do you have a HR against it or does he guard the way with CVs? I´m just curious..
 
 
 

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: jumper

Hmm, I disagree here with you. But I have played NikMod only a few days long time ago and maybe it makes the game too different. In my other game I´m in similar situation like you (talking about this particular area) and my northern Australia bases are swimming in supplies brought from Karachi. It would be certainly more comfortable to have the Darwin-Brisbane supply line open, but as long as it ties up 3+ japanese divisions and a few hundrets of japanese fighters I can live with it.
Barges are fine for resuplying smaller bases, but are hardly capable to supply 2-3 strongholds with 80k troops and dozens of planes far away from supply source. It is too risky to leave the destiny of 2-3 divisions in hands of barges. From his point of view it might be "get them away now or never".

Btw you are not shipping supplies from Karachi? Do you have a HR against it or does he guard the way with CVs? I´m just curious..

The Japanese have enough barges at this date to deliver 4000 supply points within 3 days from PM to Thursday. So in a month you can deliver something like 30-40000 supplies! How many do you need? 10 barges are nothing, 100 are a perfect supply source and you can deliver as many supplies as needed.

I´m shipping supply from India to Australia but only very limited amounts, surely not the 1.000.000 supplies I need in the next months as I consider it at least "semi gamey" to supply all my troops, ships, aircraft (which are 90% US) with supply and fuel from India. But there´s no hr against it, it´s just not my taste...

Of course if do that, then those three bases on New Guinea are not that important. But still, all troop convoys would have to go around Australia.

[jumper]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: jumper

Hmm, I disagree here with you. But I have played NikMod only a few days long time ago and maybe it makes the game too different. In my other game I´m in similar situation like you (talking about this particular area) and my northern Australia bases are swimming in supplies brought from Karachi. It would be certainly more comfortable to have the Darwin-Brisbane supply line open, but as long as it ties up 3+ japanese divisions and a few hundrets of japanese fighters I can live with it.
Barges are fine for resuplying smaller bases, but are hardly capable to supply 2-3 strongholds with 80k troops and dozens of planes far away from supply source. It is too risky to leave the destiny of 2-3 divisions in hands of barges. From his point of view it might be "get them away now or never".

Btw you are not shipping supplies from Karachi? Do you have a HR against it or does he guard the way with CVs? I´m just curious..

The Japanese have enough barges at this date to deliver 4000 supply points within 3 days from PM to Thursday. So in a month you can deliver something like 30-40000 supplies! How many do you need? 10 barges are nothing, 100 are a perfect supply source and you can deliver as many supplies as needed.

I´m shipping supply from India to Australia but only very limited amounts, surely not the 1.000.000 supplies I need in the next months as I consider it at least "semi gamey" to supply all my troops, ships, aircraft (which are 90% US) with supply and fuel from India. But there´s no hr against it, it´s just not my taste...

Of course if do that, then those three bases on New Guinea are not that important. But still, all troop convoys would have to go around Australia.

I have very very bad experience with supply flow from Dobodura or Lae to PM. For me it means that not only Thursday Is has to be supplied by sea, but PM and Gili Gili too. And there is a big difference in supplying Thursday Is from Port Moresby and supplying all three bases from Rabaul or Dobodura..

[castor troy]

I had never problems seeing supply coming from Buna to PM, this is the same as supply going from Rangoon to Akyab over the trails and that is something many (most) people rely on in their games. In fact it´s even easier as it´s shorter from PM to Buna than from Akyab to Rangoon.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/18/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1137 encounters mine field at Gili Gili (56,94)

Allied Ships
DD Waller, Mine hits 1

the usual mine hit on one of my ships in a surface combat TF... no serious damage from the Type 93 mine...

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


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 20


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 7,30

Japanese Ships
SS I-169

Allied Ships
AK Empire Nerissa, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

this is near Ceylon, the big AK will return to Colombo and will surely make it if not attacked again... I´m happy I´ve killed those two CVEs that were raiding my sealanes South of India months ago...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Gili Gili at 56,94 [X(][X(][X(]

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 47, on fire
MSW W.15
PG Chiyo Maru, Shell hits 19, on fire, heavy damage
PC Sonan Maru #5, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Tasei Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
MSW Kaiyo Maru #3, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
AP Hakozaki Maru
AP Heito Maru
AP Jouban Maru
AP Kaihei Maru
AP Kasima Maru
AP Katsuragisan Maru
AP Kenzan Maru
AP Kogi Maru
AP Koshu Maru #2
AP Kotobuki Maru #5
AP Meiten Maru
AP Meiu Maru
AP Montevideo Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
AP Netsuda Maru
AP Nitta Maru
AP Ozan Maru
AP Shikano Maru
AP Shinai Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Shirashika Maru
AP Surabaya Maru
AP Tacoma Maru
AP Tanba Maru
AP Tatibana Maru
AP Tutukami Maru
AP Tatumiya Maru
AP Toyo Maru #2
AP Tsuyama Maru
AP Heizan Maru
AP Daitei Maru
AP Toko Maru
AP Tenpei Maru
AP Osaka Maru
AP Nagaragawa Maru
AP Miyako Maru
AP Uga Maru, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AP Risshun Maru
AP Urato Maru

Allied Ships
CL Marblehead, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Cony
DD Saufley
DD Waller, on fire
DD Grayson
DD Welles

Japanese ground losses:
289 casualties reported

Look at this huge TF!!! [X(] We spotted a TF going to Gili Gili two days ago so (as usual [:D]) we sent a surface combat TF to go after the ships. This is the evacuation convoy for the troops at Gili Gili and Marblehead did quite a good job. Is was not really a good decision to put the heavy cruiser into the transport TF as the performance wasn´t good. Ashigara was mostly hit by 5 and 3 inch shells but also a couple of 6 inch shells from Marblehead. While the 5 inch shells didn´t even penetrate at 4000 yards, Marblehead´s 6 inch shells penetrated the heavy cruiser´s armor and caused damage. In return our light cruiser was hit several times by 8 inch shells but either most hits were FOW or all those hits did surprisingly low damage as Marblehead retires with only 39 sys, 18 flt and 21 fire. Clearly it was an Allied victory. There were a lot bombers in range set to naval attack but not surprising, they didn´t attack this huge TF...

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

Japanese Ships
AK Toei Maru

Allied Ships
DD Taylor
DD Monssen

not a single shot fired... [8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Koepang, at 28,77

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee
BB California

Japanese ground losses:
124 casualties reported
Guns lost 11

I´m not happy with the damage we do. F-5 Lightnings are flying recon every day...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 34 encounters mine field at Saipan (63,64)

Japanese Ships
DD Kawakaze
DD Niizuki

sub laid mines, but no hits this time...

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


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 4
LB-30 Liberator x 91


Allied aircraft losses
LB-30 Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
38 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 33
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 10

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Koepang , at 28,77

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 24
B-25C Mitchell x 62
B-25J Mitchell x 26

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

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 7 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
82 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 52

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 16000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First turn in the last two weeks and we see the first CV encounter of the war!!!! [X(][X(][X(]

Day Air attack on TF at 118,96

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
TBF Avenger x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 damaged
TBF Avenger: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
CV Hiyo, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CVL Shoho

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet

damn it! As there was only the attack from the CS I thought this would just be a nuissance raid but nevertheless I´ve set my CVLs with DD escort to full speed South. They moved only 5 instead of 10 hexes though and the Japanese were able to close in. We launch the first strike. I was amazed to see only a mini KB as this would be too dangerous for me if I would play the Japanese. Imagine this TF meeting two of my fleet carriers instead of two CVLs. The Avengers manage a hit on Hiyo (guess it will retire) and another hit on Mutsu (which was a dud though...).

What´s very interesting is the fact that the enemy carriers WEREN´T spotted as I DON´T have any search planes in this area. The enemy CVs reacted into range of my CVLs and we launched a strike, but we DIDN´T spot them. [8|] In fact, my carriers should have been attacked, while we would not be able to launch as we haven´t spotted the enemy. Another design flaw...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 117,100

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 15
A6M3a Zero x 26
B5N Kate x 29

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged
B5N Kate: 25 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed, 13 damaged

Allied Ships
CVL Belleau Wood, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CVL Cowpens, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
1 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet

here comes the enemy´s strike, of course with disastrous results. CVL Cowpens immediately sunk, Bellau Wood is still in good shape. The enemy torp bombers achieve a 25% hit rate, my carrier pilots have been somewhere around 5% during the war so far, even when attacking uncapped transports. None of my Wildcats attacked the bombers... [8|]

Nice move by Hortlund, even though we were unlucky. Two days earlier or later and he would have met NOTHING. In months, he would have met only a couple of AKs, perhaps some APs. We send two CVLs out at exactly the right time to meet the enemy. That´s life, Hortlund proved once again a very good timing...

But there´s also something very interesting. The aircraft losses show 17 Kates and 12 Vals as lost to ops! How can that be? Was CV Hiyo so heavily damaged from one torp that the carrier wasn´t operational anymore to take up his bombers? But they should have diverted to the CVL then. Just very bad die rolls for Hortlund. Something is strange here:



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3020 troops, 78 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 1040

Defending force 22334 troops, 105 guns, 112 vehicles, Assault Value = 599


Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported

[castor troy]

CVL Cowpens was sunk by IJN carries in the Eastern Pacific, just one month after comissioning...

USS Cowpens (CVL-25, originally CV-25, later AVT-1), 1943-1960
USS Cowpens, an 11,000-ton Independence class small aircraft carrier built at Camden, New Jersey, was commissioned in May 1943 with the hull number CV-25. She was redesignated CVL-25 two months later and arrived in the Pacific in September to join the war against Japan. After seeing combat for the first time in the October 1943 raid on Wake Island, she participated in the Gilberts and Marshalls invasions during the last two months of 1943 and the first two months of 1944. From February until May 1944, Cowpens and other Fifth Fleet aircraft carriers attacked enemy targets in the Central Pacific and New Guinea. She took part in the Marianas campaign, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea, during June 1944, and continued her support of operations in that area into July.

In September 1944, Cowpens covered the invasions of the Palaus and Morotai. Over the next three months, she participated in raids on Okinawa, Formosa and the Philippines and in the great Battle of Leyte Gulf. Her combat activities continued into January and February 1945, with raids around the South China Sea and Philippines areas and support for the landings at Lingayen Gulf and Iwo Jima.

Following a west coast overhaul, Cowpens returned to the war zone in June 1945. During the last months of the Pacific War, her aircraft pounded Wake Island and targets in the Japanese home islands. Support for the occupation of Japan was followed by duty transporting war veterans home from the Pacific during late 1945 and early 1946. Cowpens was decommissioned in January 1947 and spent the rest of her Navy service in the Reserve Fleet. She was briefly reclassified as an aircraft transport, with the new hull number AVT-1, in May 1959 and was sold for scrapping a year later.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/19/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 25,62

Japanese Ships
ML Ento, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
ML Niizaki

Allied Ships
SS Drum

[&o] ML sunk! Another one! I really like those kills, without mines, my life will be far easier, even though I have lost only a couple of ships to mines... I have a lot of subs (some three dozen) in the enemy´s shipping lanes, but it seems there´s nearly no sea traffic... [&:] No idea which sea lanes the enemy ships use, but all major ports are covered by my subs, still I haven´t met ships for quite some time...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Reserve Tank Regiment, at 92,35


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 46
P-39D Airacobra x 47
PV-1 Ventura x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 47
F4U-1 Corsair x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
131 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 9

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 6th/A Division, at 42,77


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 102


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
82 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3040 troops, 78 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 1052

Defending force 22641 troops, 112 guns, 112 vehicles, Assault Value = 606

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/20/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 26,64

Japanese Ships
ML Niizaki

Allied Ships
SS Snook, hits 2

we attacked the second ML in this area but all torps missed. In return Niizaki achieves two near misses that don´t do much damage...

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


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 17


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1107 encounters mine field at Babo (42,77)

TF 1107 troops unloading over beach at Babo, 42,77


Allied Ships
MSW Warrnambool
MSW Kapunda
MSW Ipswitch
MSW Gympie
MSW Geelong
MSW Echuca
MSW Deloraine
MSW Benalla
MSW Arnidale
MSW Pirie
AK Empire Latimer, Mine hits 1


Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Babo, 42,77, firing at TF 1107
220 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL Concord
AK Cold Brook
MSW Warrnambool, Shell hits 1
CL Richmond

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
3391 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 6

we unload another Australian div, a US RCT and several tank regiments, some 700 assault points. This should be enough to take the base soon...

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


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 1
B-24D Liberator x 35


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
8 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 6th/A Division, at 42,77


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 48
F4U-1 Corsair x 19


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
48 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 113,107

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
TBF Avenger x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet

all Avengers miss, again we DIDN´T spot the enemy TF but as the enemy CV launched a strike, we also did. DESIGN FLAW!!!!! There´s so much left to fix. Would be cool if all the rants of people playing this game hours a day would lead to some changes some day...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 111,110

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 13
B5N Kate x 12

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 damaged
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Pringle, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Belleau Wood

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Pringle sunk... only the enemy CVL is following our TF, CV Hiyo has retired. Looks like she was more severely damaged than I thouth...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 41,77

Japanese Ships
SS RO-67, hits 2

Allied Ships
DD Sterett
DD Stack
DD Barton
DD Duncan


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 14276 troops, 94 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 603

Defending force 71382 troops, 534 guns, 271 vehicles, Assault Value = 1572

we will have nearly a 3:1 advantage in troops when all units have unloaded... escpecially the tank rgts will do a good job!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3060 troops, 78 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 1572

Defending force 22659 troops, 114 guns, 113 vehicles, Assault Value = 603


Japanese ground losses:
2 casualties reported

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/21/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Babo, 42,77, firing at TF 1107
TF 1107 troops unloading over beach at Babo, 42,77


278 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AK Matar, Shell hits 1
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 2
CL Richmond, Shell hits 2
CL Detroit

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
1067 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

guess it will take another three days to completely unload the 90 AKs, with today we have unloaded 95% of the troops. Supplies are coming from a different TF...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Babo, 42,77, firing at TF 1107
TF 1107 troops unloading over beach at Babo, 42,77


23 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AK Empire Latimer, Shell hits 2

Japanese ground losses:
2 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
352 casualties reported

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


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 1
B-24D Liberator x 36


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
50 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 29

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Reserve Tank Regiment, at 92,35


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 56
P-39D Airacobra x 41
B-25C Mitchell x 36


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 3

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Goodenough island at 56,93


Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 8


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
MSW Tasei Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Shinai Maru, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 10000 feet

Hortlund moves a couple of ships from the big TF that was attacked by my SC TF back to Gili Gili it seems. Only a couple of Navy Libs launch but sink a MSW with 500 pounders...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 109,110

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 12
B5N Kate x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Pringle, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet

crippled Pringle ends up in the same hex as the IJN CVL and takes another 3 torps until it sunk... CVL Belleau Wood will make it, soon within cover of Pago Pago. If the enemy CVL decides to move close to the atoll, then some 4 dozen Navy Libs and 2 dozen Venturas will take care of the fragile enemy baby carrier.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12057 troops, 94 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 607

Defending force 79906 troops, 627 guns, 391 vehicles, Assault Value = 1689



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3029 troops, 77 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 1689

Defending force 22769 troops, 114 guns, 113 vehicles, Assault Value = 607


Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/22/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Babo, 42,77, firing at TF 1107
TF 1107 troops unloading over beach at Babo, 42,77


68 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter
AK Empire Latimer, Shell hits 3
CL Detroit


Allied ground losses:
283 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 15 encounters mine field at Morotai (43,68)

Japanese Ships
MSW Himejima Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 114 encounters mine field at Namlea (38,73)

Japanese Ships
AG AG-2059, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

couple of barges were killed today by patrol aircraft, mostly PBM Mariners...

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


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 13


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Koepang, at 28,77

Allied Ships
BB Tennessee
BB California

Japanese ground losses:
172 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

no chance to do real damage it seems...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Babo, 42,77, firing at TF 1107
TF 1107 troops unloading over beach at Babo, 42,77


112 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL Detroit
CL Richmond
AK Admiral Wood
AK Empire Latimer
CL De Ruyter


Allied ground losses:
390 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 9

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 58 encounters mine field at Morotai (43,68)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.23
MSW Wa 104
MSW Wa 12
MSW Wa 1
AP Sanfuku Maru, Mine hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 41,78

Japanese Ships
SS I-6

sub attack on a ghost...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Reserve Tank Regiment, at 92,35


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 27
P-39D Airacobra x 41
B-25C Mitchell x 47
F4U-1 Corsair x 8


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
91 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 4

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 6

Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 14

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Shinai Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Uga Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 10000 feet

two previously damaged medium sized APs are sunk... Libs coming from Cooktown...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 115,121

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
LSD Carter Hall
LST LST-66

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet


the two annyoing CS keep attacking my TF consisting of LSTs and LCIs...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12194 troops, 97 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 629

Defending force 82378 troops, 646 guns, 489 vehicles, Assault Value = 1750



Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3049 troops, 77 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 1750

Defending force 23212 troops, 120 guns, 113 vehicles, Assault Value = 629

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/23/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Babo, 42,77, firing at TF 1107
TF 1107 troops unloading over beach at Babo, 42,77


117 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter
CL Detroit
AK Empire Latimer, Shell hits 2

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
267 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1018 encounters mine field at Bulla (40,75)

Allied Ships
PT PT-191, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-219, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

tried to engage some barges going to Bulla, result is two PTs lost to Type 93 mines and the barges arriving there at night weren´t engaged... [8|]

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


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 14


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
7 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Gili Gili at 56,94

Japanese Ships
AP Montevideo Maru, Shell hits 10, and is sunk

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

the last one of the APs going to Gili Gili is sunk...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Babo, 42,77, firing at TF 1107
TF 1107 troops unloading over beach at Babo, 42,77


159 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL Concord, Shell hits 1
CL De Ruyter
CL Detroit
CL Richmond, Shell hits 3


Allied ground losses:
327 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 8

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 43,71

Japanese Ships
AP Yubae Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PG Shotoku Maru
MSW Himejima Maru

Allied Ships
SS KXVII

empty IJN TF going South towards Sorong... one AP is lost...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Reserve Tank Regiment, at 92,35


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 53
P-39D Airacobra x 39
B-25C Mitchell x 32


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 4

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Gili Gili , at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 5

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 1
B-17E Fortress x 103
PB4Y Liberator x 36

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 45

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 10000 feet

we encounter only very light flak fire, so Hortlund must have really moved most of his units out. Only enough troops left to put up light resistance. We will land here within the next 4 weeks I guess, depending on the situation further North and if my carriers are needed up there.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 112,123

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
LST LST-66
PC Tiger, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LST LST-32
LST LST-34

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet

the annoying CS...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 112,123

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
LCI LCI-216

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12991 troops, 105 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 650

Defending force 83666 troops, 653 guns, 541 vehicles, Assault Value = 1778



Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3049 troops, 77 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 1778

Defending force 23611 troops, 125 guns, 111 vehicles, Assault Value = 650

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/24/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Babo, 42,77, firing at TF 1107
TF 1107 troops unloading over beach at Babo, 42,77


32 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 4

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


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 22


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Babo, 42,77, firing at TF 1107
TF 1107 troops unloading over beach at Babo, 42,77


6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL Richmond
CL Detroit


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 15 encounters mine field at Sorong (42,74)

Japanese Ships
MSW Himejima Maru
AP Yosyu Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

the empty troop transports arrived at Sorong. Empty transports? Is Hortlund trying to evac Sorong? Can´t be... And what is he doing anyway??? [X(] My carriers have been sitting just three hexes off Sorong for a week now and Hortlund sends his ships there? [&:]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 58 encounters mine field at Wasile (41,69)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.23
MSW Wa 104
MSW Wa 12
MSW Wa 1
AP Sanfuku Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

my sub laid mines claim a lot of victims. Not bad, considering the fact that only subs in transit and my three mine layer subs lay mines...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Koepang , at 28,77

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 3
B-25C Mitchell x 64
B-25J Mitchell x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 9 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
99 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 7
Runway hits 39

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 16000 feet

we need supply hits... Koepang or Lautern will be the first targets on Timor, don´t know when we will invade though... no hurry, those bases are within range of our mighty bomber fleet...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 44th Naval Guard Unit, at 42,77


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 21


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
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Day Air attack on 6th/A Division, at 42,77


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 101


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
133 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 42,73


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 9


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Yubae Maru, Bomb hits 9, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet

strike from Kai Island, this is the AP that took two torps from our sub yesterday so it was just a sitting duck...

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here comes the main strike:

Day Air attack on TF, near Sorong at 42,74


Allied aircraft
Barracuda x 40
TBF Avenger x 16
Avenger I x 8
P-47C Thunderbolt x 38 [:D]
B-25C Mitchell x 49
F4U-1 Corsair x 56 [:D]


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Nanrei Maru, Bomb hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
PG Shotoku Maru, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Ryugi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW Himejima Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Yosyu Maru, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
AP Ryoyu Maru #21
AP Otake Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Midori Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Avenger I bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Barracuda launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet

strike from Kai Island on the main TF that arrived at Sorong during the night. 94 Corsairs/Thunderbolts on escort should impress Hortlund. He didn´t put Cap over Sorong anyway. I´m not that happy with the performance of my bombers though, especially the Barracudas didn´t hit much today. 4 ships are crippled though. Amazingly once again, my carriers didn´t launch a single aircraft!!!!! [8|] Don´t know why this happens again and again with my carriers and if they launch, the hit rate of the bombers is lousy. I can´t rely on my carrier TFs, they are only good enough to put a more or less effective Cap into the air but nothing more it seems...

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Day Air attack on TF at 109,121

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied Ships
LCI LCI-85
LCI LCI-218, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 109,121

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
LST LST-34, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet

on the other side, the IJN CS launch their float planes daily... [8|]

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Day Air attack on Kiska Island , at 92,35


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 55
B-25C Mitchell x 36


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
38 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 21
Port hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
33 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Sorong at 42,74


Allied aircraft
Avenger I x 8
P-47C Thunderbolt x 19
F4U-1 Corsair x 19


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Otake Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Midori Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Avenger I bombing at 5000 feet

this is the afternoon strike, 90% of the bombers didn´t launch from Kai Island...

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Day Air attack on TF at 109,121

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 10 damaged

Allied Ships
LSD Carter Hall
LST LST-34, on fire, heavy damage
LCI LCI-217

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 109,121

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
LST LST-338, Bomb hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet

the enemy CS launched both in the morning and afternoon... perfect weather for my carriers, no bombers was launched the whole day...

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Ground combat at Babo

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13078 troops, 105 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 667

Defending force 84486 troops, 658 guns, 562 vehicles, Assault Value = 1800



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 68063 troops, 619 guns, 489 vehicles, Assault Value = 1800

Defending force 23691 troops, 125 guns, 110 vehicles, Assault Value = 667

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 7

Allied max assault: 1672 - adjusted assault: 1478

Japanese max defense: 533 - adjusted defense: 1205

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 7)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 7


Japanese ground losses:
1378 casualties reported
Guns lost 13
Vehicles lost 24

Allied ground losses:
1084 casualties reported
Guns lost 37
Vehicles lost 15

the enemy still gets quite a good adjusted av, but I guess there´s no doubt we will take this base. I expect to see the base falling within the next 10-14 days.