Rising Sun or Sunset? - Jumper vs Joseph - NO JOE HERE, PLEASE!!!

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: jumper

We shall see.. We are sending turns mostly without comments so I have no experience with PjH bitching about anything and when I have offered to redo some turns when I used KB in ASW role he friendly refused. At this moment the most important thing for me is that he keeps sending turns. I will get over those PTs, I will get over his 1000 4E strikes (which I really consider as missused asset btw) and I will get over the tiny paradrops unless he will start to use them as Trolleite to stop the movement or will throw them in open terrain to block the supply/retreat path. Otherwise I will drop this game only if I will suffer from disappearing pilots bug. These are 100% game killers for me. These are my resolutions. I wonder how long they will last..[;)][:D] If I were in your shoes and he asked about redo because some of his planes didn´t fly, I would have refused too. It happens all the time. MY planes are NOT flying either and it did save his a** several times already. 

at least you can ask him to redo the turn the next 125 times your planes won´t attack naval targets! Or if only 300 instead of 500 aircraft attacked! [;)]

[jumper]

Yes [:D]
But then we would get stucked in the middle of 8/43 because it happens every turn [:D][:D][:D]

[pauk]

Hi Jumper, our game is moving at slow pace - Andy is busy with AE. At the end of December '44 he now posses the whole Malayan peninsula (including SIngapore). Tinian is still mine. I lost Katsuragi near Tinian, while Andy lost two CVEs me thinks and i lost Yamato near Singapore (it was supposed to move 2/2 not 3/3 and stay away from enemy torp bombers range...grrrrr... i know i should start screaming "foul, glitch, bug, i want REDO" [:D] but Yamato ended heroicaly and i'm not ready to resurect she! [:)]

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: jumper

Yes [:D]
But then we would get stucked in the middle of 8/43 because it happens every turn [:D][:D][:D]

this is what I have told him too, but unsurprisingly, he´s of different oppinion! If HIS daitais only launch 300+ instead of 500 aircraft then it´s a bug, if mine launch 0 instead of 800 then it´s because of:

morale
supply
leaders
his super cap
my weak escort (of some 300 fighters)
the constellation of the moon to the earth
the crying of a baby in China
the high price for crude oil
.
.
.
.
.

[pauk]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

morale
supply
leaders
his super cap
my weak escort (of some 300 fighters)
the constellation of the moon to the earth
the crying of a baby in China
the high price for crude oil

.

[:D][:D][:D]

Oh common what did you expect, he is a lawyer and the bad one....


Seriously, i hope that price for crude oil will drop in the near future...

[jumper]

ORIGINAL: pauk


Hi Jumper, our game is moving at slow pace - Andy is busy with AE. At the end of December '44 he now posses the whole Malayan peninsula (including SIngapore). Tinian is still mine. I lost Katsuragi near Tinian, while Andy lost two CVEs me thinks and i lost Yamato near Singapore (it was supposed to move 2/2 not 3/3 and stay away from enemy torp bombers range...grrrrr... i know i should start screaming "foul, glitch, bug, i want REDO" [:D] but Yamato ended heroicaly and i'm not ready to resurect she! [:)]

I´m glad to hear it. You put a good fight and I´m sure Andy paid for every inch of the ground he got!

[jumper]

ORIGINAL: pauk

ORIGINAL: castor troy

morale
supply
leaders
his super cap
my weak escort (of some 300 fighters)
the constellation of the moon to the earth
the crying of a baby in China
the high price for crude oil

.

[:D][:D][:D]

Oh common what did you expect, he is a lawyer and the bad one....

No insults here, please. I know you are not happy with Steven (and you have your reasons) but he is my oponent now and despite I´m not allways 100% happy with his playstyle (sometimes so much that I have to express it myself or I would explode.. [;)]) I have no other problems with him. One day we will end this game (in a friendly way I hope) and he will be free to read this thread. Such comments could spoil that moment and I don´t want that. I know you understand what I mean.. [:)]

btw I think he is probably very good lawyer as he usualy gets what he wants from me.. [;)][:D]

[pauk]

It wasn't insult, actually it was a compliment... but yes i do understand what do you mean...

How is your industry situation? I'm sure that you have problems with transporting and store all those oil and supplies. What do you accelerating (ac types, ships?)....

[jwilkerson]

ORIGINAL: pauk


It wasn't insult, actually it was a compliment... but yes i do understand what do you mean...

How is your industry situation? I'm sure that you have problems with transporting and store all those oil and supplies. What do you accelerating (ac types, ships?)....

Pauk .. I will tolerate your persistant to a point .. but if the owner of this thread is asking you to stand down, then I will support the thread owner.

If you wish to contribute to this thread then do so, but if you wish to criticise in this thread beyond what the thread owner wishes then you should stand down agreed?

[jumper]

ORIGINAL: pauk

How is your industry situation? I'm sure that you have problems with transporting and store all those oil and supplies. What do you accelerating (ac types, ships?)....

Hi,
actually I don´t have problems neither with transporting nor the storing. My ships losses are extremely low so far and PjH is not using subs to interdict my supply lines. I have made special TF for nearly every base with oil/res with such capacity, that the base is able to stockpile corresponding amount during its way to the HI and back. Therefore I have only very few res/oil stockpiled outside of Home Islands. I will make some comprehensive analyse of my industry when I get home. But basicaly I have surplus of everything except merchant naval points.

As I believe R&D doesn´t use any HI, I have all such factories "on" so you could say I´m accelerating everything [;)] But mostly with just a too low number. I have some types where I put more effort and invest supplies. N1K1 George is one of them. I´m building about 240 planes/month and was able to accelerate it for 3 months already. Ki-84 Frank and J7W Shiden are next on my list of planes which are worth of accelerating. And I´m seriously considering adding Ki-102 Randy on this list. I´m planing to rearm all my Lt. bomber sentais to this type as soon as possible. I hope they could guard rear bases against unescorted 4E strikes. What is your experience with this plane?

Navy is in very good shape with just a few ships damaged and besides some CLs/DDs only single CA was lost so far. I have stopped Shinano and some short range RO subs and I´m accelerating only 2 more Katsuragi class CV (2 are already build) which are now about 35 and 100 days away IIRC.
Merchants are problematic and I will have to stop building a lot of ships to get into "green" numbers. I have 1050 merchant yards, but iz seems I could easily used twice that number. I want TKs, PCs and CVEs. I would like to build some more ARs, ASs and MLEs.

BTW some time ago I was thinking about one "trick". I could build all ships till they are 1 day away and then stop them. They would be untouchable for allied bombers and still they would be just 1 day away if I would need them [:D] Oh, well.. I know.. Gamey.. But that is such a good idea..[:'(]

I have big surplus of armament and vehicle points so I have stopped some factories. I don´t know how much I will need. I might have satisfying amount till the of war already.. How many of vehicle and armament points did you used so far in your game? It migh be a a very good indicator for me..

[jumper]

Hi all,
 
here are some industry stats and screens:
 

 
I´m running 16078 HI which is enough to cover my current need and still having nice surplus of about 3-4k HI per day, so my pool is growing (but is far away from being ideal [;)]). It may looks good, but the real situation is not so bright. 90% of my AC factories is turned off, 75% of Kawasaki engine factories is turned off too and week ago I turned off also some vehicle and armament factories (20-30%). That is where the surplus is coming from. If I would turn everything on I would be loosing something like 200-1000 HI daily. And it might happened easily. Soon several new types will enter production and I will have to turn many factories "on".
I´m talking about:
510 N1K1 (9180 HI per month = app 306 HI/day)
440 A6M5 (7920 HI per month = app 264 HI/day)
Another 500 planes of other types like D4Y, B6N, P1Y, A6M5c (9000 HI per month = app 300 HI/day)..
 
So new types should burn +/- 1000 HI per day.
 
Besides that I´m slowly running out of Kawasaki engines, while vehicle and armament pool might not be satisfying in the long term. Also I have to face the fact that HI in India might be lost in very near future. HI reserves are not satisfying at all. I have 170k in the pool what is about 11 days reserve. I need to keep the the surplus for a while yet. I would like to have 500k HI in the pool at the beginning of 44´ and it means adding about 3k every day. I can stop some Mitsubishi and Nakajima engine factories if neccessary. I have more then enough in the pool..
 
Oil and Resources are not a problem. I have more then enough to run 16k HI and I have about 2500000 of each stockpiled (or on the way) near my HI centers in Home islands/China/Manchuria and SSSR.
 
As was already said naval shipyards are having a very small daily surplus  (about 10-15 points). Shinano and most of the RO subs are stopped. 2 Katsuragi class CV are accelerated (app 90 and 530 days away, so it means 45 and 265 days to finish them). Merchants are bad. I will have to stop many ships to have some control what is being build and what is not. Fortunately, bacause of light losses, I can afford to stop nearly everything
 
 
Also from the picture you can see that the best army and navy pilots (living) have the same score. 17 kills. Lets see who will live longer..[;)]

[jumper]

AC industry, research and pool:
 

 
In red boxes you can see in what types I´m investing supplies in a hope of acceleration, while in yellow boxes are types which are being considered as possibly worth of acceleration..
 

[jumper]

IJAF
 
The future of Japanese empire is with no doubt in hands of IJAF. My defensive lines will hold only as long as I will be able to fight with allies in the air. Once the migh of IJAF will be broken, allies could attack anywhere they please with much lesser cover what would allow them to conduct several operations in the same time, what would be much harder to resist..
I have made my best to prepare IJAF for bloody battles they will face in 44´. At this moment I can field 5008 planes (LBA):

1799 fighters (Ki-44, Ki-61, J2M, A6M)
1412 level bombers (Ki-21, Ki-49, G4M)
181 dive bombers (D3A)
200 torpedo bombers (B5N)
36 fighter bombers
102 night fighters
26 float fighters
362 recon planes
107 patrol planes
358 float planes
420 transport planes (L2D2, Ki-57)

Another strong contingent is aboard KB. At this moment I have 1106 operating from the ships:
385 fighters (A6M)
245 dive bombers (D3A)
301 torpedo bombers (B5N)
18 float fighters
157 float planes

In total it makes 6114 planes, but only 4710 can be considered as combat planes. Others are recons, transports, etc.. My combat groups have pretty high everage xp of about 85. Besides that they usually have at least twice as many pilots then they need. I woudl estimate I have roughly 8000 experienced pilots in my combat groups. Pool is empty and I can´t "play" with it as I would like so I have to build my pool on map. It can be said that I have about 4000 pilots in reserve. The problem is only with their distribution as all of them are already attached to their units and it would be a micromanagement nightmare if I would try to switching them between units. It forces me to rotate units more frequently.

My losses:


9437 planes was lost so far. 4175 were operational losses as a consequence of my intensive pilot training program and frequent bomber mission. For example all those Nates and Claudes were lost in training. I wasn´t gentle with those green pilots at all. Usually I have filled the training group with at least 3x-4x more pilots then was neccessary, turn reinforcement on and then let them flying a few months no matter of flak, ambushes etc.. When their training was over, only half of them survived, but they were 1st rate group with average xp of 75 and 2x or 3x more pilots than teh unit TOE. It wasn´t aplied only to fighters, but to all planes.
When you take a look on the first 5 types you will see that IJA bombers were my "draft animals" while the fighters fight them the way and defended them more then succesfully. From 2331 lost Ki-21/Ki-49 only 122 were shot down by enemy fighters! Both fighters and bombers paid the price, but they paid the price for doing their job in which they succeded.

To compare here are the allied losses:



13290 planes is lost. From that number 7504 in air-to-air combat (japanese losses in air-to-air are 2364) it makes exchange ratio 3,1:1. Unfortunately it doesn´t mean anything at all. Only P-38G and B-24D losses are important now as all other planes are obsolete and an "old story" and soon even these two types will be replaced be new models with even higher replacement rate. And both are USAAF planes with its bottomless pool. Also good part of these losses are USSR planes and this was is nearly over..

[jumper]

IJN
 
while the IJAF will be the most important factor, the might of IJN can not be ignored either. My losses were so light so far, that it can be said the IJN is nearly intact. I have just a few ships damaged, lost just a single CA, a few CLs and three dozens of DDs (it hurts a bit..). Total naval losses are following (Japan:Allies):



I was really surprised to find out I have lost just 13 AKs. From the 5 lost CLs I´m missing only modern Oyodo and torpedo cruiser Kitikami. 33 DDs hurts, but only 7 of them were modern units of Kagero/Asashio class. About 10-15 were nearly worthless and obsolete types like Tomodzuru/Ootori class. Also 12 MLs lost looks serious, but 5 of them were shortranged small capacity units with just a type4 mines. From 5 tanker lost, only 2 were large 16k capacity types.

The main IJN "heavy hitter" is still KB, which is now stronger then ever:



Accompanied by strongest japanese BBs and fast BCs it is really formidable oponent and probbaly still will be in mid 44´.

[pauk]

Hi Jumper thanks for report.
 
Once when you finish 2 Unryus (among with other ship classes), you should be able to stop some naval ship. Don't be too much worried about your HI reserves at the moment. You will need more engines in the future although you have a significant reserves right now. And don't forget, navalshipyards (and merchant shipyards!) and armamnent industry consuming the the majority of HI. Also, keep an eye on the arm points - i 've noticed that ma arm reserves dropped for 10-20 K for some unknown reason (reinforcements were still 3 months away).
 
You may consider turning of some merch.yards since your losses are extremely light.
 
The most important thing for you now is managing your resources and oil. There is no need for moving them directly to HI, you may organise few hubs for them (Luzon, Formosa) if you moving them from Australia or India.
 
Also, move your supply surplus from India to Singapore and then to your inner bases. And if I may suggest,  expand your rd factories - you have enough supply for that.
 
keep the good work!
 
 

[jumper]

Hi pauk,
I went through my industry once more and expanded some factories as you have suggested. I will now try to accelerate also Reppu and Randy. I have also turned on all armament factories again.
Turning off some naval and merch yards is not planned. Once I will finish those 2 Unryus, I will accelerate the last 2 or I will turn on those RO subs. Also the merchant yards are 100% busy. I want to build all TKs, AOs and PCs before I will shut them down.. But I have stopped all 3500 AK for now.

I prefere to move as much res/oil to Japan as I can now, when the shipping lines are 100% safe. I will start to use hubs when the situation changes. For now I´m moving resources from India/Australia in huge convoys of about 100-140k of resources directly where they are needed.


Finally PjH is back and the turn arrived. Now it was me who was busy, so I wasn´t able to procces it until now. A good turn I would say, but his PTs finally scored.. [:@]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/22/43

Last troops arrived embarked ships in Hansa and joined their attacking comrades. 3 complete SNLFs are now there.. 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 61 troops unloading over beach at Hansa, 53,83


Japanese ground losses:
332 casualties reported

OK, 3 Beaufighters goes in. They meet 11 crack Nicks (xp 90-95). They get  through and destroy Jack on the ground:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Ahmadabad , at 24,8

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 11

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIC: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Runway hits 1

This is pretty standard result. Fortunately PjH is using only this one group..


And here comes my heavy hitters! They are cleaning the way for transport..:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Mutsu
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
CL Noshiro
DD Shimakaze, Shell hits 2
DD Teruzuki
DD Susuzuki
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Niizuki
DD Wakazuki
DD Akigumo
DD Kazegumo
DD Makigumo
DD Suzunami
DD Shiranuhi
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
PT PT-252
PT PT-254, Shell hits 7, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Mutsu
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
CL Noshiro
DD Shimakaze, Shell hits 3,  on fire
DD Teruzuki
DD Susuzuki
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Niizuki
DD Wakazuki
DD Akigumo
DD Kazegumo
DD Makigumo
DD Suzunami
DD Shiranuhi
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
PT PT-259
PT PT-260
PT PT-261
PT PT-262
PT PT-263
PT PT-279, Shell hits 17,  on fire,  heavy damage
PT PT-282, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Mutsu
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
CL Noshiro
DD Shimakaze,  on fire
DD Teruzuki
DD Susuzuki
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Niizuki
DD Wakazuki
DD Akigumo
DD Kazegumo
DD Makigumo
DD Suzunami
DD Shiranuhi
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
PT PT-284
PT PT-285
PT PT-286
PT PT-287
PT PT-288
PT PT-295, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
PT PT-297, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
PT PT-299

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Mutsu
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
CL Noshiro
DD Shimakaze,  on fire
DD Teruzuki, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Susuzuki, Shell hits 1
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Niizuki
DD Wakazuki
DD Akigumo, Shell hits 5
DD Kazegumo
DD Makigumo
DD Suzunami
DD Shiranuhi
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
PT PT-301
PT PT-332, Shell hits 9,  on fire,  heavy damage
PT PT-333
PT PT-334
PT PT-336
PT PT-339, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT PT-340, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
PT PT-342

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Mutsu
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
CL Noshiro
DD Shimakaze,  on fire
DD Teruzuki,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Susuzuki
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Niizuki
DD Wakazuki
DD Akigumo
DD Kazegumo
DD Makigumo
DD Suzunami
DD Shiranuhi
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
PT PT-300, Shell hits 66, and is sunk

They get past PTs at the costs of 1 DD and turn their guns against beaches:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Timoeka, at 45,81 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

23 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CL Noshiro
BB Musashi, Shell hits 1
BB Yamato
BB Mutsu
BB Nagato


Allied ground losses:
2485 casualties reported
Guns lost 28
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 18
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 12

WOW! That is  very good result It seems PjH was building AF and ignored any fortification totally. Those guys were probably sitting on flat terrain without any cover..
 
 
During the day army bombers arrives to help a bit too:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Timoeka , at 45,81

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 54
Ki-21 Sally x 25

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Timoeka , at 45,81

Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 38
Ki-21 Sally x 23
Ki-49 Helen x 23

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

Runway hits 31

PTs are targeted too:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 32

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
PT PT-252

all miss? bug*ers..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 Helen x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 7 damaged

Allied Ships
PT PT-262
PT PT-260, Shell hits 4
PT PT-263

all bombs miss again..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
PT PT-285

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 6 damaged

Allied Ships
PT PT-336, Bomb hits 6,  on fire,  heavy damage
PT PT-301

Finally a good hit.. 6x 250kg bombs hits a small PT [:)] Tell about overkill..

2nd round. BBs against PTs during the daylight..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Mutsu
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
CL Noshiro
DD Shimakaze
DD Susuzuki
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Niizuki
DD Wakazuki
DD Akigumo
DD Kazegumo
DD Makigumo
DD Suzunami
DD Shiranuhi
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
PT PT-252, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Mutsu, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
CL Noshiro
DD Shimakaze
DD Susuzuki
DD Hatsuzuki, Shell hits 1
DD Niizuki
DD Wakazuki
DD Akigumo
DD Kazegumo
DD Makigumo
DD Suzunami
DD Shiranuhi
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
PT PT-259
PT PT-260, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
PT PT-261, Shell hits 28, and is sunk
PT PT-262, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
PT PT-263, Shell hits 30, and is sunk

CRAP! I know it was just a matter of time, but still it drives me crazy to see it.. BB Nagato is out of action for a few months. That is for sure.. In total I have sink 15 PTs near Timoeka today and only 8-10 remains. It costs me damaged BB and DD. But the mission was succesful. Not a single PT attacked my invasion fleet, all CD guns were silenced, so the troops could land witnout troubles:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 10 troops unloading over beach at Timoeka, 45,81


Japanese ground losses:
2274 casualties reported

80% of all troops with enough supplies landed today. Tommorrow they will attack as the defenders are really very weak. I´m sure Timoeka will fall tommorrow!



Another good news arrived from India. Chinese contingent was succesfully bombed from the air at first and then was crushed by our tanks:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 28th Chinese Division, at 25,7

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 29
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 18
Ki-21 Sally x 17
Ki-49 Helen x 15

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
198 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 28th Chinese Division, at 25,7

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 20
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 17
Ki-21 Sally x 61
Ki-49 Helen x 27

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 25,7

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 46880 troops, 369 guns, 1239 vehicles, Assault Value = 1210

Defending force 16296 troops, 174 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 495

Japanese max assault: 2282 - adjusted assault: 3321

Allied max defense: 417 - adjusted defense: 415 

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 

Japanese ground losses:
803 casualties reported
Guns lost 17
Vehicles lost 13

Allied ground losses:
1336 casualties reported
Guns lost 29

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!



The tank group is covering the my north flank nicely.. Banzai!

And also Hansa is back under the Rising Sun:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Hansa

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 7093 troops, 39 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 218

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Japanese max assault: 476 - adjusted assault: 347

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 347 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Hansa base !!!


Allied ground losses:
788 casualties reported
Guns lost 4




PjH has probably gave up any effort to hold Timoeka. HiS CVs are retreating and were spotted 60 miles SE from Thursday Is. Port Moresby AF was closed yesterday and today the port was targeted.. Could it be that his CVs are coming to cover the invasion here? Well, I have 500 mines and 670AV behind lvl 9 forts. Also CD unit and strong base force, so there is 43x 5,5inch guns (12 damaged) and 54x 4,7inch guns (12 damaged). Good luck..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 24
Liberator VI x 57
P-38G Lightning x 59
F-5A Lightning x 5
B-17E Fortress x 182
LB-30 Liberator x 37
PB4Y Liberator x 74
B-24D Liberator x 448


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 5 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
238 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Port hits 70
Port supply hits 42

[jumper]

ALERT, ALERT, ALERT!!! New threat on the horizont..?


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/23/43

During the night last troops landed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 10 troops unloading over beach at Timoeka, 45,81


Japanese ground losses:
1387 casualties reported

At the same time my fleet covered the transports against pesky PTs:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
CL Noshiro
DD Shimakaze
DD Susuzuki
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Niizuki
DD Wakazuki
DD Akigumo
DD Kazegumo
DD Makigumo
DD Suzunami
DD Shiranuhi

Allied Ships
PT PT-259, Shell hits 12, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
CL Noshiro
DD Shimakaze, Shell hits 2
DD Susuzuki, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Niizuki, Shell hits 5,  on fire
DD Wakazuki
DD Akigumo
DD Kazegumo
DD Makigumo
DD Suzunami
DD Shiranuhi

Allied Ships
PT PT-284
PT PT-285
PT PT-286
PT PT-287
PT PT-288
PT PT-299, Shell hits 146, and is sunk

Ouch! And yet another modern DD is lost.[:@] DD Susuzuki was scuttled during the day. Sys 80, flt 97 and 53 fires promised no chance to survive..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
CL Noshiro
DD Shimakaze
DD Susuzuki,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Niizuki,  on fire
DD Wakazuki
DD Akigumo
DD Kazegumo
DD Makigumo
DD Suzunami
DD Shiranuhi

Allied Ships
PT PT-301, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
PT PT-333
PT PT-334
PT PT-342

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
CL Noshiro
DD Shimakaze
DD Susuzuki,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Niizuki,  on fire
DD Wakazuki
DD Akigumo
DD Kazegumo
DD Makigumo
DD Suzunami
DD Shiranuhi

Allied Ships
PT PT-284
PT PT-285, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PT PT-286
PT PT-287, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
PT PT-288, Shell hits 9, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
CL Noshiro
DD Shimakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Susuzuki,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Niizuki,  on fire
DD Wakazuki
DD Akigumo
DD Kazegumo
DD Makigumo
DD Suzunami
DD Shiranuhi

Allied Ships
PT PT-333
PT PT-334
PT PT-342, Shell hits 77, and is sunk

My bombers from Hollandia and Biak suppressed already badly shaken defenders and even tried to attack remaining PTs, but unsuccesfully. 2 crack bombers were lost to ops.. So the IJN had to finish the task:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
CL Noshiro
DD Shimakaze
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Wakazuki
DD Akigumo
DD Kazegumo
DD Makigumo
DD Suzunami
DD Shiranuhi

Allied Ships
PT PT-284, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT PT-286, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Timoeka at 45,81

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
CL Noshiro
DD Shimakaze
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Wakazuki
DD Akigumo
DD Kazegumo
DD Makigumo
DD Suzunami
DD Shiranuhi

Allied Ships
PT PT-333, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PT PT-334, Shell hits 3, and is sunk

Those were the last one!!! I thought it will never end, but here it is. At a high price all PTs operating from Timoeka were sunk.. And by the end of the day IJA claimed another victory:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Timoeka

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 23821 troops, 260 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 535

Defending force 180 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Japanese max assault: 308 - adjusted assault: 151

Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 151 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Timoeka base !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
PBM Mariner: 2 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
298 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Timoeka fell into my hands and the threat possesed by this base is over. Banzai! 



Some of the defenders surrendered while the other retreated into the jungle.. I don´t know why, but I can live with it. The 3rd division embarked the transports and is heading towards Darwin for some rest and rally. C regiment from the 30th division will stay here. Construction battalions and MLs are already on the way..

It would be a good day if it would be all, but unfortunatelly it isn´t. At first Gili Gili was closed by another unstoppable allied bomber raid, while his CVs are still parked near Thursday Is effectively blocking the path:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Gili Gili , at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 34
B-17E Fortress x 112
LB-30 Liberator x 30
PB4Y Liberator x 43
B-24D Liberator x 317

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 2 destroyed
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator VI: 2 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 9 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
142 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 24
Airbase supply hits 27
Runway hits 247

Is something going on here? I was nearly 100% sure it is, but then my search planes spotted new threat somewhere else! Allied CVs were spotted near Wake headind directly towards it!!! What does it mean? And where he got those CVs? I was sure he has all of them near PM! A raid or invasion? There was no reconing the base, no bombing, simply nothing..



A nasty surprise as I have whole fleet near Darwin. Planes from all corners of the empire are heading here now. 2 Betty daitai and 1 Zero daitai are rebased at Wake instantly while another 2 Betty daitai arrived at Marcus. 5 more Betty daitai and 8 Sally/Hellen sentai are kept in reserve and can arrive in 1-2 days. Also fighters and are on the way. 2 Tojo sentai are now on Eniwetok and 3 Jack daitai on Marianas. Problem with Wake is that its airfield is one shot issue. BB/CA bombardments with 4E raids from Midway can close it easily, so if PjH means it seriously and is not just teasing me, I won´t be able to use all those planes at all. And because the fleet is weeks away, the garrison will have to fight alone. Tommorrow we shall se if he will continue or retreat. I hope he will disappear and will never come back.. [;)] I want to fight him in Marshalls/NG. Not here..

[Adnan Meshuggi]

How many planes can you operate from wake in the moment?

Also, could it be a bad recce? I allways find CAs instead of the real subs... so finding CVs doesn´t have to be real problems (but if he comes with carriers you could be in trouble)

[jumper]

ORIGINAL: Adnan Meshuggi

How many planes can you operate from wake in the moment?

Also, could it be a bad recce? I allways find CAs instead of the real subs... so finding CVs doesn´t have to be real problems (but if he comes with carriers you could be in trouble)

Max 200 planes as Wake is lvl4 AF. I have there now 50 betties and 27 zeroes. The only planes which were in range.. Or better I should say I had them there. Most of them is dead now..

The recon report was correct. I have only watched the replay of a new turn and there are CVs with more then 100 F6F/F4U on CAP. I think there is not much of them, but they are stripped of all attack aircraft and packed with corsairs instead. They cover another 3-5 TF including transport ships. Single MSW was sweeping mines but paid the price and US submarine landed commando to check the defence, while group of CAs bombarded. CA Northampton hit the mine.
During the day his CVs were clouded fortunately so my Betties attacked retreating CAs. AA fire was deadly and my crack crews managed to hit and sink only CA Houston II. Afternoon they impaled themselves against the CAP.

US sub commando revealed I have 850 AV behind lvl9 forts with adjusted defence of 2500 including 1 big CD unit and 2 smaller with 8x150mm gun. Some more base forces and 4xAA regiment. Nav Guards and South seas department = pretty tough nut to crack.

I have 72 crack Tojo and 27 Jacks waiting on Eniwetok + many many bombers all around. I´m still thinking about it, but I will probably send them there..


Oh, and MSWs tried to clear the minefield at Port Moresby too. 5 were sunk and recon planes reports that CVs are sitting at the same place again, but today huge transport fleet joined them. It seems that Wake invasion might be just a fake to draw away assest from NG, but then he should wait a few more days to give me some time to buy it and react

[jumper]

I was a bit in hurry yesterday, so no pics this time. Here is what happened:
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/24/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1044 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (53,91) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

253 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
MSW Whippoorwill, Shell hits 11,  on fire,  heavy damage
MSW Lark, Shell hits 44,  on fire,  heavy damage
MSW Finch, Shell hits 10,  on fire,  heavy damage
MSW Bittern, Shell hits 54,  on fire,  heavy damage
MSW Cairns, Shell hits 27,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
CD guns were ready. And 350mines remains.. It seems there is a invasion fleet ready under the cover a US CVs 60miles SE of Thursday Is. I expect more 4E strikes and some bombardment TF before he will launch it. Maybe a sub commando to check the deffence..

 
I´m now under pressure on two fronts. I think it is the right way to go. If he would push only at one place I could gather enough forces to stop him. But I can´t be strong on 2-3 places at the same moment. He just have to find the right weak spots. I don´t think Wake is a weak spot..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1097 encounters mine field at Wake Island (82,63)

Allied Ships
CA Northampton, Mine hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1102 encounters mine field at Wake Island (82,63) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

38 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
MSW Bobolink, Shell hits 30,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Wake Island, at 82,63

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Cassin

Airbase hits 1

Single DD surprised my coastal guns! Not a single shot was fired..
 
 
US heavy cruisers were not so lucky. CA Northampton, already lightly damaged by a mine, was mauled again. Nothing serious, but a few secondary guns might be destroyed and this CA could need some yard time:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Wake Island, at 82,63 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

66 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CA Louisville
CA Northampton, Shell hits 34,  on fire
CA Baltimore
CA Minneapolis
CA Houston, Shell hits 9

Japanese ground losses:
466 casualties reported
Guns lost 18

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 11
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 4
 
After the bombardment arrived US sub with a group of commandos aboard:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1064 encounters mine field at Wake Island (82,63)
 TF 1064 troops unloading over beach at Wake Island, 82,63
 
Allied Ships
SS Apogon, Mine hits 1,  on fire
 
Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Wake Island, 82,63, firing at TF 1064

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

In the morning my float planes from Wake reported several huge TFs including CVs 240 miles east of Wake and one TF 300 miles northeast (retreating CAs). My commander on Wake would be happy if he could send everything against US CVs, but as they were clouded the secondary target was chosen:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 86,61

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
G4M1 Betty x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 9 destroyed, 14 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Baltimore
CA Louisville
CA Minneapolis
CA Northampton,  on fire
CA Houston, Torpedo hits 6,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
Retreating CAs were found and attacked by 32 crack Betties (average xp of 85-90). I admit I hoped for better results.. Deadly AA and fatigued crews (they were rebased the day before from Tarawa) caused that most torpedoes missed. Only CA Houston II was sunk. I think PjH was lucky. While the results seems realistic to me, in game terms this strike had potential to sink the whole TF..
 
Afternoon the weather above US CVs was better, but most planes was already damaged from the morning strike and the morale was in tatters. Only 3 G4M were availible and with an escort of 15 crack A6M2 were send against this enemy:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 86,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 71
F4U-1 Corsair x 44

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 15 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 damaged

No matter how good my pilots are, they had no chance.. 80xp pilot in Zero is a dead meat against Corsair piloted by some poor farmer who never saw a fight. The result is no surprise to me. Normally I wouldn´t use LBA Zeroes against CVs, but it was the only plane with a range long enough to arrive on time. Usually I´m using Zeroes only as a long range escort against lightly CAPed targets.
The CAP looks like 1-2 CV plus 1-2 CVL/CVE with 2 additional Corsair groups aboard on 90% CAP. Of course it could be much moe CVs with much lower % CAP, but I doubt it as he simply can´t have so many flattops at this date.

His commandos gathered all info he needed:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Wake Island

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 27150 troops, 250 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 821

Defending force 10 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2



Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Wake Island

Allied Shock attack

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

Defending force 45122 troops, 433 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 821

Allied max assault: 0 - adjusted assault: 0

Japanese max defense: 833 - adjusted defense: 2036

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 9) 

So at the cost a few squads and lightly damaged sub he now knows the exact garrison OOB with its defensive and offensive potential.. [:@] Not mentioning  I have burned 3k of supplies today, but it could be caused also by the the naval bombardment and counter fire..
 
All right.. So he knows now what he is standing against. I wonder if he will proceed as he would need 6+ division and a huge support to take the base. Meanwile KB could arrive and bring reinforcements. I would love to have 6 US divs trapped on the island.. [;)]
Decimated air units left Wake to Kwajalain while new wave arrived. 72 Ki-44, 27 J2M with mix of 100 G4M and Ki-49. This time his CAP should feel the teeth of IJAF despite the fighters are fatigued. Another wave is already prepared on Marcus and Eniwetok. I can rotate and throw fresh units at him day after day. Lets see whose daddy is stronger! I still expect 1-2 naval bombardments, but enough planes should remain operational to punish him.
 
In India my tank group dispatched another tattered band of chinese soldiers. I don´t understand why he sends them in such small groups. This time it was 3 corps + HQ again..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 25,7

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 46108 troops, 349 guns, 1228 vehicles, Assault Value = 1173

Defending force 15296 troops, 135 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 391

Japanese max assault: 2212 - adjusted assault: 3499

Allied max defense: 381 - adjusted defense: 82

Japanese assault odds: 42 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1037 casualties reported
Guns lost 35
Vehicles lost 21

Allied ground losses:
1849 casualties reported
Guns lost 33


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!


In USSR the AF is kept closed:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Irkutsk , at 59,6

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 67
Ki-21 Sally x 138
Ki-49 Helen x 85
Ki-46-III Dinah x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 3 destroyed, 23 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
443 casualties reported
Guns lost 10
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 137

15000ft and the AA is still sooo deadly.. [:@] OUCH!

My eng regimets are at full strengh again so in 1-2 days I will order a new attack. Hopefully I will knock down another fort..