Conference of the Supreme War Council: Q-Ball (J) v. Hemajor (A)

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
Production: I have spent time on this, if not describing it on the AAR. I am using Tracker, and the Resource stockpile in the Home Islands is declining precipitously. Part of that is that I spent the first week or so organizing merchant shipping, and I have about 100 hulls now moving Resources; it may need to take some effect. I would like to see more results though. I am pulling resources from Korea/Port Arthur to Honshu, and the other islands to Honshu.

Are you sure 100 hulls will be enough? Last weekend I did my planning on resource movement to Honshu from the other Home Islands and China/Manchuoko/Korea. I ended up using 251 hulls and I'm still not sure I'll get it all. Hokkaido is the problem child with over 1 million excess resources produced and lousy ports to move it from.

I am pretty sure it ISN'T enough actually, and I've noticed the Hokkaido problem. Figuring out the flow of resources is a major project. If I can figure it out completely, the good news is that it should be unnecessary to ship much from the SRA, other than just to fill-up empties for return trips.

Mike, what kind of ships are you detailing for this? I am using a preponderence of slow Aks, particularly xAKL classes like Daigen and Miyati, which are short-ranged and slow. Doesn't matter much though since they will be spending as much time loading/unloading as at sea. Same for you?

I am also finding escorts are very short. Even the 10kt. Sub Chasers are being pressed into convoy escort.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Why not land at Mersing and threaten to isolate the Allied units up the peninsula? Miller did it in my PBEM game - escorting the invasion force with four BBs - and it worked handsomely. I know there's some risk of surface engagement or strikes by LBA, but nothing unmanageble I think.

The 2nd Division is on Amphibious Transports on it's way from Japan, currently about 3 days out from Saigon. The original plan was to land these guys at Singora. I was toying with the idea of landing them at Mersing instead, I have started to Recon Mersing to check it out.

That would speed things up, even if the Allies evacuate, I can send a recon unit north to clear the rails, and allow everyone to move up by train.

With Singkawang up and running, I'm not worried about surface ships. Singapore Airbase is operational, but I can get enough Zeros over Mersing to limit damage.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball
Production: I have spent time on this, if not describing it on the AAR. I am using Tracker, and the Resource stockpile in the Home Islands is declining precipitously. Part of that is that I spent the first week or so organizing merchant shipping, and I have about 100 hulls now moving Resources; it may need to take some effect. I would like to see more results though. I am pulling resources from Korea/Port Arthur to Honshu, and the other islands to Honshu.

Are you sure 100 hulls will be enough? Last weekend I did my planning on resource movement to Honshu from the other Home Islands and China/Manchuoko/Korea. I ended up using 251 hulls and I'm still not sure I'll get it all. Hokkaido is the problem child with over 1 million excess resources produced and lousy ports to move it from.

I am pretty sure it ISN'T enough actually, and I've noticed the Hokkaido problem. Figuring out the flow of resources is a major project. If I can figure it out completely, the good news is that it should be unnecessary to ship much from the SRA, other than just to fill-up empties for return trips.

Mike, what kind of ships are you detailing for this? I am using a preponderence of slow Aks, particularly xAKL classes like Daigen and Miyati, which are short-ranged and slow. Doesn't matter much though since they will be spending as much time loading/unloading as at sea. Same for you?

I am also finding escorts are very short. Even the 10kt. Sub Chasers are being pressed into convoy escort.

Q-Ball,

Here are the classes I'm using:

Kasu-D
Ehine
Akasi
Gozan
Aden
Miyati
Daigen

Note that I'm using only hulls at or slower than 12 kts. Also note that I'm not using any Kisos or To'sos. I plan on upgrading all the To'sos and most or all the Kisos to PBs. I see a shortage of escorts as well. The 24 CHa class SCs are being used in short range ASW TFs based around critical ports. If their experience levels ever increase, they can become very good sub hunters.

The small xAKLs are usually used out of the smaller ports. The larger ships are being used out of the larger ports. I've also reconsidered my earlier comment that efficiency is not important. A few of the critically important small ports (meaning small ports that produce a huge excess of resources) are getting the most efficient hulls. They really make a difference.

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, December 20,21,22
The wheels of the Imperial War Machine grind on, there has been action every day the last 3 days, but no major battles. Still, updates around the horn.

Malaya: It appears that Erik intends to make a stand at Taiping and Temoulah; both bases have several units. I have been sending Recon flights over Mersing, and we have only spotted one unit there, a base force apparently. That seals it: MERSING, Ho!

A convoy carrying 21st Division from Shanghai was on it’s way to Singora; I had loaded it in Amphibious mode because Singora’s port is small. This is now headed to Mersing. Artillery and Tanks are being loaded at Saigon, and a follow-on convoy with 2nd Division from Japan will hit the beach about 3 days after. This should at least force him to abandon the peninsula, and might trap a number of units.

Luzon: Tommorow, we should have this whittled down to Clark/Bataan/Manila in terms of Allied bases. I have a Phillipine Division surrounded, it would be nice to destroy that. 4th Division is moving up, that will give us 3+ for the first assaults on Clark or Manila.

Allied air attacks have been fairly effective. A Walrus dropped a 250lb bomb on a transport 3 days ago, sinking it. I didn’t even know they had bombs! Seagulls also hit a transport, sinking it. B-17s fly every day, occasionally they get a hit. For awhile, P-40s were contesting the air over Clark, and I would shoot down 2-1 to 3-1 on sweeps; now they are set to Naval Attack, and getting occasional hits. None of this is earth shattering, but I have lost 12 transports to various causes around Luzon.

Borneo: Tommorow we land at Billiton, with all kinds of construction troops to build this base. Bettys and Nells out of both Ambon and Singkawang took a shot at a TF of Allied Cruisers sitting off Balikpapan; flak was intense, and they all missed. Did get a torp into an xAKL that was loading…..probably loading fuel.

Invasions: I have loaded up and sent on it’s way the following invasions:
KOEPANG: Kimura Det, Kure 1st SNLF, Base Force
SAMARINDA: Sasebo 3rd and 8th.
KENDARI: Sasebo 2nd, Tank Rgt from Palau

Sub War: Really an overall update on Subs and where they are….
I re-positioned the Subs immediately after Pearl Harbor; some of the larger cruiser subs are patrolling between Pearl and San Fran; last night, I-3 found 2 unescorted AGs, and sank them both. Banzai! I don’t really expect a ton of results out there, but I think now Erik will be escorting ships between San Fran and Pearl, which is what I want.

More subs are patrolling the choke points off Java; 2 days ago, we bagged a couple TKs this way. RO-Boats are patrolling between PM and Australia, one sank an xAKL yesterday as well. For the most part, I haven’t had a ton of results; part of this is re-positioning, as I am sending some long-range boats to the NW tip of Australia, and also the Tasman Straight, two choke points.

Below are the results so far. I haven’t lost a sub yet. This is fairly accurate, a couple of the DD’s are questionable on the results, but Prince of Wales is real; she limped into Singapore after the Force Z attack, and a sub sent her to the bottom.

Dominion Monarch was also a nice kill.....

[ny59giants]

What are your plans for your 3 para equipped LCUs??

Have you tried to set up a ASW TF followed by your Transport/Cargo TF to see if that is a better way to deal with Allied subs??

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

What are your plans for your 3 para equipped LCUs??

Have you tried to set up a ASW TF followed by your Transport/Cargo TF to see if that is a better way to deal with Allied subs??

Michael: All Paras are headed to Bangkok; they will drop on Rangoon to stop any riots if the Allies evacuate. After that, we'll probably move them toward Java to perform the same function for Batavia and Soerbaya.


I haven't had a problem with Allied subs much; my losses are from surface ships, CD guns, and aircraft. I have shot down a fair number of Dutch martins, Hudsons, and Swordfish, so it is starting to abate. So far I have lost 26 xAK, 2 xAP, and 6 PBs. A little more than I would like, but some losses are inevitable. I have also lost CS Chitose, which hurts, but aside from that only 1 warship, a Fubuki-class DD.

[ny59giants]

Your thinking too much as a JFB when it comes to taking Rangoon with the para and not enough as an Allied player. The Buffalos have very short legs for doing transfers (16 hexes). If you have taken both Victoria Point and Tavoy, then there is only one way for him to get them up to Burma/India. That is through Port Blair via northern Sumatra (Sabang mainly). There is a small RN BF at Port Blair to overcome. Take it and many of his short legged planes cannot get up to India except by shipping.

Just my $.02 [;)]

[Canoerebel]

Michael is right (darn him, if my opponent Miller happens to be reading this AAR). Port Blair has a small BF of nominal AV (6 or 12, I think). I've used it throughout my game to get short-legged planes from the DEI to Burma/India. I did the same in WitP by transporting a fragmentary base force to Port Blair. IE, Port Blair is pretty important to the Allies early in the game.

[ny59giants]

Port Blair is like Port Moresby. They are tactically important to the Japanese player as a way to deny them to the Allied player rather than something that is important to Japan. Some bases are more important to deny them to be used by your opponent than they are to your side (regardless of which side you are playing). IMO, these two bases need to be high on the early "to do" list for Japan.

[Q-Ball]

Good points on Port Blair, we'll do it, it's easy enough from Bangkok. Not sure if I need the Yokosukas or just the Raiding Regt.....probably just the Regt, but better safe than sorry on a Para assault, because if it fails, that's BAD.

I can still pull them back and drop on Rangoon if I need to.

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, Dec 23-25

Not significant combats, but significant moves by the Empire

Malaya: 21st Division comes ashore at Mersing; more troops are due to land tommorow. Only one unit at Mersing, I think this is catching him by surprise. Hopefully this will trap a significant number of units in north Malaya, although those units are in poor shape; it seems like our bombing is really doing a number on them.

Burma: We should have an evacuated Moulmein tommorow. Soon, 2 divisions will be moving into Burma. Airbases are building at Chang Mai and Pisanoulke.

Borneo: We landed at Billton; forces include 120+ engineering squads. DIG YOU DOGS! (Crack!)[:@]
Oh yeah, we also landed at and took Samarinda.

Invasions: Invasion fleets are headed to Kendari, Koepang, Lae, Shortlands, Ndeni.

BANZAI for our capture of Samarinda!!!!!

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, December 26th, 1941

We are moving forward on many fronts, after almost 3 weeks of action. I plan to post a strategic overview around the New Years, but some good developments today.

Luzon: We have invested troops at Clark and Manila; it appears about an equal split. We are still moving up the 4th Division; I also need to destroy a Phillipine Division stuck in our rear. After that, probably a major push first on Manila.

Borneo: Samarinda falls. These troops are prepping for and marching to Balikpapan. I plan to bomb Balikpapan to kill engineers. An invasion fleet is headed for Tarakan; mostly I need to deny this airbase in my rear to Allied bombers. Billiton is building an airbase, we acheived 39% progress in one turn, so we should have a serviceable airbase in a week.

Celebes: Car Div 2 appeared in the Celebes Sea; unfortunately, it was snooped by a Dutch flying boat, and we only sank 2 AKs at Balikpapan. We have extensive Nav Search out of Ambon, and it appears the Allies have fled. About 4 days ago, Nells and Bettys attacked a British Cruiser TF off Balikpapan; they missed, but I think Erik isn't going to toss away his cruisers, and has moved them out. They are either at Soerbaya, or not even around. I would prefer to sink them, but if Car Div 2 chased all shipping away, I guess that's not a bad thing either.

We should be hitting the beaches at Koepang tommorow, and Kendari in 3-4 days. This should isolate Java from Australia.

SW Pac: Guards Brigade has departed Tokyo for Truk; it is prepping on the way for Port Moresby. As soon as it reaches Truk, we are going to re-load for invasion; forces will be this unit, plus 144th Regt. at PM. This should be plenty. Once PM is secure, on to Noumea. I expect us to be coming ashore at PM around Jan 10th.

Malaya: This is the BIG move. I was contemplating a landing at Mersing, thanks to my advisors for convincing me finally. I had several TF's at sea headed for Singora, I simply diverted them to Mersing. This caught the Allies completely by surprise, as the only defenders were an AA unit. This effectively isolates the units in Northern Malaya; we need to clean these troops up and we can move on Singapore.

Air War: Allied air attacks have been largely effective; not enough to stop progress, but enough to cause losses. Today, an AP and AK were sunk by Dutch bombers; one off Samarinda, and one off Billiton. Erik has done a good job harrassing my shipping. We did shoot down a reported 17 allies today for one loss, a Zero. According to my pilots, the RAF has lost 48 Buffalos, and the USAF is down to maybe a dozen P-40s in the PI. The Dutch have lost 40 Martin Bombers. I hope this is taking a bite out of their airpower, so I can finish off the DEI.

[Canoerebel]

With your landing at Mersing you can move across the peninsula on good roads pronto. You're doing to your opponent what Miller did to me - cutting off alot of those troops in the middle and upper peninsula.

[Q-Ball]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

With your landing at Mersing you can move across the peninsula on good roads pronto. You're doing to your opponent what Miller did to me - cutting off alot of those troops in the middle and upper peninsula.

That's the plan! Everyone is set to march due West, and should have that RR cut shortly. We will then attack Johore Bharu and move toward Kota Bharu to close the pincers. We can get everyone down to Singapore quicker too by clearing the RR and taking the train. Hope to have Singapore invested by mid-January.

Erik hasn't made a ton of mistakes, but this was one. The Allies have to either garrison Mersing or high-tail it to Singapore, maybe both. He wasn't thinking about a landing there apparently. The other part that made it easy is that the RAF by now is pretty much spent; he has lost alot of Buffalos, Blenheims, etc, and there isn't much left.

[ny59giants]

A screenshot suggestion - please turn "off" hexside detail and hit the "W" key to show hexside ZOC for areas with LCUs. It would help to follow land combat issues more clearly.

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, Dec 27th, 1941

Some interesting developments today in Ground Warfare in China and Malaya.

Malaya: It's official, the Mersing landing caught Erik completely off guard. The Allied dispositions are now a mess; he was moving troops FORWARD to make a stand further up the peninsula, including the Aussie units. One Aussie Brigade holds the door open for the moment West of Mersing. 2 Tank units made the hex, and the 21st Div. will get there tommorow. After that, attack, and split the Malaya forces in two. Temoulah is almost ready to fall as well. VERY bad for the Allies! BANZAI!

[Q-Ball]

China: I am a confirmed China-Hater, but I'm trying to pay more attention to it, because I think in AE you can make some hay here as Japan, and you don't have to worry about those pesky port sizes, etc.

My overall strategic plan is basically to attack in the North. The reason is that's where the Oil is; may as well capture it, and deny it's use to the Chinese. Toward this end, see our movements; we just captured Chengchow, and are moving on Nanyang, and Sian.

The Battle of Chengchow included the surrender of a Chinese Corps, and a retreat northward off the railroad. The door is open to Nanyang.

It took awhile to get China moving, because at start, you have alot of balancing of garrisons and moving troops around to straighten it out. I am buying artillery in Manchuria to send, there isn't alot in China for whatever reason. I am also going to buy some tanks. If or when the offensive against the Western Allies sputter, we can always attack in China.

[Q-Ball]

I posted in the opponents section, I am looking for a JAPANESE opponent if anyone is interested! Pretty flexible on scenario and rules, even the #2 if you want.

It will be a switch for me to be on Allies!

PM or Post if interested.

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, Dec 28,29,30

Couple quick bullet points, a placeholder update if I can find the time to update more completely:

*Kendari, Menado have fallen since last report. Koepang will be landed tommorow.
*Car Div 2 raided the North Coast of Australia; I had hoped to catch some Allied surface ships, as well as chase Allied subs away. Although Dutch cruisers were sighted, our fliers instead targeted and sank several lesser ships, mostly Dutch odds and ends, with a large UK Tanker in there as well. On the whole, unsatisfying.
*Port Blair fell to Para Assault
*The Mersing troops mauled the 2 Australian Brigades West of Mersing, and have cut the Malay Peninsula. One group is headed to Johore Bharu to close the door there, and the rest north toward Khota Bharu.
*We are landing at Lae

[Q-Ball]

Combat Report, Dec 31st, January 1st 1942

The Imperial Japanese Navy rings in the new year with a glorious victory, in a major carrier action off Luganville. Sometimes a plan comes together the way it's suppose to, and this certainly was the case. First, let's knock off a couple other updates....

Malaya: We have cut the Allied army in two, and continue to roll them up. I hope to have Singapore invested by January 15th, and it should fall quickly, as I will have destroyed several Allied units by then. Banzai!

Clark Field: I concentrated most of my forces at Clark; the first attack today came off 1 to 1 and dropped the forts! I plan another attack tommorow. If Clark falls, THAT will be key! Hopefully those units will retreat to Bataan and not Manila, that would really hasten the fall of the Phillipines.

Celebes Sea: Kendari and Koepang Fall. Car Div 2 moves toward Ambon to refuel, after it's less than satisfying raid along the North Coast of Australia. At least it chased the Allied navy away.

Solomons: Construction and base forces land at Lae and Milne Bay; the Guards Brigade from Tokyo will be unloading soon at Truk, and will re-load for amphib operations. Both it and 144th Regt are prepping for Port Moresby, and will sail ASAP.

New Hebrides: The Set-Up: I had been using 53rd Nav Gd unit, which originally took Tarawa, to take varoius uncontested outposts; after Tarawa, I landed it on Nauru and Ocean Is to clear those places. After that, I decided to land it at Luganville, to hopefully secure this base before the Allies got there. I had spotted USN CVs after Pearl headed south, so I assumed they were somewhere in the SW Pacific. Given this, I intentionally dangled the amphib TF as bait, hoping to catch something.

My timing was slightly off, but it worked anyway; I had KB steaming south, had already re-fueled from AO's off Lunga. Yesterday, the 30th, the USN CVs showed up and pasted my invasion fleet; although the 53rd got ashore, they sank the whole TF, including 2 AMCs and 4 transports. KB was unspotted, however, about 10 hexes away to the West. I moved KB into a position that if they stayed OR withdrew to Noumea, I would have a shot at them. The only way they would have lived is if they immediately withdrew to the east toward Fiji.

Here is the result. I usually don't include Combat TXT, but do for major battles:


Morning Air attack on TF, near Efate at 118,153

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 28
B5N2 Kate x 44
D3A1 Val x 36



Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 7


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 16 damaged
D3A1 Val: 18 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage[:)]
CA Astoria, Torpedo hits 1
DD Flusser
DD Drayton



Aircraft Attacking:
17 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
26 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
19 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
14 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
3 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
7 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
7 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
6 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F2A-3 Buffalo (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Lexington...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So far so good, this is where you brace yourself....

Morning Air attack on TF, near Erromango at 118,156

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 44



Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 3 Weak escort!
SBD-2 Dauntless x 13
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15
TBD-1 Devastator x 9


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 1 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 5 destroyed, 7 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 7 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 4 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Hiei

Shokaku Not bad at all; 17 sys damage, 7 eng, no float or fires; she is still operational and can make 31 kts. Will need some yard time.



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-2 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Erromango at 118,156

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35



Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 6
SBD-2 Dauntless x 30
TBD-1 Devastator x 12


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 7 destroyed, 16 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 6 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
CV Shokaku, on fire
CV Zuikaku



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SBD-2 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
10 x SBD-2 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

WHEW! They hit nothing. Another weak escort.[8D]

CAP engaged:
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 7 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers




Morning Air attack on TF, near Lakatoro at 118,152

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 34
D3A1 Val x 42



Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 15


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 10 destroyed, 16 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed, 9 damaged


Allied Ships
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage[:)]
DD Gridley, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Salt Lake City
DD Craven
DD Dunlap

Would have been nice if some Zeros came along, but I'll take it

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
22 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
17 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
3 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-3A Wildcat (1 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Enterprise...
Morning Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 115,160

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 5



Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AM Wollongong, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk[&:]

Not helpful, guys. Save them for the CVs!



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AFTERNOON PHASE

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Luganville at 120,150

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
D3A1 Val x 35



Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 17 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Northampton
xAKL Surigao, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
CA Chicago
AM Chevreuil, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Vichy, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Wawa, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

We need to have a talk with the boys about Target Prioritization[:@]


Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 16 (7 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 18 (3 destroyed, 15 disabled)


Aircraft Attacking:
14 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
21 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Surigao...
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Vichy...
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Wawa...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Efate at 118,153

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 21



Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 21 damaged

Allied aircraft losses

Allied Ships
CA Astoria, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
CV Lexington, on fire, heavy damage
DD Mahan

Nice to get a cruiser, but I would rather finish off Lex

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
2 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 115,160

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 9
D3A1 Val x 36



Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 3 Refugees from the Carriers; confirmation that they are hurting for sure


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed, 6 damaged


Allied Ships
DD King, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Steel Scientist, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Steel Mariner, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AP Henry T. Allen
xAK Alaskan, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tasker H. Bliss, Bomb hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)


Aircraft Attacking:
18 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x D3A1 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-3A Wildcat (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes

Steel Scientist caught transferring cargo ......
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Steel Scientist...
Steel Mariner caught transferring cargo ......
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Steel Mariner...
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD King...


Anyway, a great victory for the Empire!

NEXT STEP: KB is basically out of torpedos; this is due to a problem due for fix in patch 2, where Nav Support in Naval HQs are not counted for re-arm. This is why I couldn't reload torps at Truk. I figured I had enough for one round anyway, and I was right. Thankfully, I found the USN CVs first and not the day after some transports.

Tommorow, we will hang around and make sure Enterprise and Lexington are sunk. It is difficult to say if they are; 23 CV planes are in the Aircraft Loss report as OPS losses for the Allies, along with 3 SOC Seagulls (from Astoria, no doubt). That plus all the smoke and fires leads me to beleive they may have gone down. For sure, they won't be moving very far, so the best thing to do is to probably stay put, send out search and strikes, and make sure they are dead. Anything else worthwhile will flee out of range for sure. (all the cruisers and DDs).

EDIT: The CVs are not sunk. I only gained 304 VPs that turn, which is probably all the planes, Astoria, and a few odds and ends. Tommorow, hopefully we finish those CVs off. They are certainly hurting.