BACK IN BUSINESS - PzB goes East again(st) Andy Mac

[PzB74]

You're probably right Elf, just had a lot of poor poor results from bombing Bataan this last month.
Flak is a killer and we can't hit anything!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 04, 42

Sub / Surface Combat

Our damaged raider was caught and sunk by a the cruiser Perth!

Night Time Surface Combat, near Geraldton at 47,140, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Japanese Ships
AMC Kinryu Maru, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Perth
DD Voyager
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Horn Island is a strategic little bottleneck...is this convoy heading to NE Oz or PM?

ASW attack near Horn Island at 90,129

Japanese Ships
SS I-123

Allied Ships
xAK Clan Alpine
xAKL Bust
xAKL Marudu
AM Pieter de Bitter

SS I-123 is sighted by escort
I-123 bottoming out ....
AM Pieter de Bitter fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This sub drew into the harbour and sank a troop ladden transport - is Andy reinforcing Darwin?

Submarine attack near Darwin at 76,124

Japanese Ships
SS I-124, hits 4

Allied Ships
xAKL Carlisle, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

xAKL Carlisle is sighted by SS I-124
SS I-124 attacking xAKL Carlisle on the surface
SS I-124 low on gun ammo, Muto C. breaks off surface engagement and submerges
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Our web around Java is tighetning; this tanker convoy was destroyed by naval bombers from Kuching!

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tjilatjap at 51,102

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
G4M1 Betty x 13

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AO TAN 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
TK Manatawny, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AO TAN 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk


Aircraft Attacking:
13 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
2e-1-VI.G.V Groep with B-339D (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 6000
Raid is overhead

Manatawny caught transferring cargo ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's crawling with Allied ac on Soerabaja!

Afternoon Air attack on Soerabaja , at 56,104

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
G3M2 Nell x 26

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 10 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground
139WH-3: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 05, 42

Air Combat

Need to sweep out the hornets nest in Soerabaja!

Afternoon Air attack on Soerabaja , at 56,104

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
G3M2 Nell x 20

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 3
CW-21B Demon x 12
75A-7 Hawk x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 5 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-339D: 1 destroyed on ground
CW-21B Demon: 1 destroyed
75A-7 Hawk: 1 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No more enemy ac in PM!

Afternoon Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
G4M1 Betty x 24

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Enemy assault value has been reduced from over 1800 to 1692 - I think the biggest losses have been in
support units, hopefully this will cause a loss of effectiveness when we start assaulting in a week or so.

Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)
Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 47918 troops, 786 guns, 318 vehicles, Assault Value = 2029
Defending force 56072 troops, 1003 guns, 599 vehicles, Assault Value = 1692

Allied ground losses:
409 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 49 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 8 (0 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 29 (27 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
47th Infantry Regiment
20th Recon Regiment
1st Recon Regiment
22nd Recon Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
38th Division
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
65th Brigade
20th Infantry Regiment
16th Infantry Regiment
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
24th Infantry Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
48th Recon Regiment
26th Recon Regiment
48th Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Army
2nd Mortar Battalion
6th Shipping Engineer Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion
16th Army
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st RF Gun Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion
2nd Field Artillery Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
31st PA Infantry Division
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
14th PS Engineer Regiment
11th PA Infantry Division
192nd Tank Battalion
71st PA Infantry Division
194th Tank Battalion
45th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
93rd PA Infantry Regiment
2nd PA Constabulary Division
41st PA Infantry Division
21st PA Infantry Division
4th Marine Regiment
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion
31st Infantry Regiment
Manila Bay Defenses
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
61st PA Infantry Division
91st PA Infantry Division
1st PA Infantry Division
51st PA Infantry Division
Kowloon Bde /3
803rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
Cavite USN Base Force
Manila USAAF Base Force
USAFFE
II Philippine Corps
I Philippine Corps
1st PI Base Force
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
Bataan USN Base Force
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
PAF Aviation
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
Asiatic Fleet
202nd PA Construction Battalion
301st Construction Battalion
1st USMC AA Battalion
201st PA Construction Battalion
Provisional GMC Gp
Far East USAAF
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wonder why Andy marched these poor voluenteers back into Moulmein - our main army is just a few days away!

Ground combat at Moulmein (55,55)

Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 261 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 14

Defending force 1354 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 49
Allied adjusted assault: 3

Japanese adjusted defense: 109
Allied assault odds: 1 to 36 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
6th Burma Rifles Battalion

Defending units:
55th Engineer Regiment
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Java

Things are heating up; within a week the invasions of Java and Port Moresby will start and at the same time troops will
be marching towards Rangoon, start assaulting Bataan and finish the capture of Mindanao.

Hopefully all these operations will be completed before April!
- My cunning grand plan scheme is eagerly waiting to be released on Generalissimo Andy! [;)]

[Mynok]

You use Nells for airfield attacks!?!? [X(]

[PzB74]

Try to avoid it but sometimes they will be forced into a dual role [:)]
In general it's way to expensive, agree with youthere.
- When I found US Dauntless bombers in Java we had to suppress them to avoid them from sinking our invasion fleet(s).
Worked this turn as we unloaded without being attacked.

Most army bombers are tied up bombing Bataan and Rangoon and need R&R before they're ready to support the invasion of Java.
- Not sure the game will allow me to escort army bombers with navy fighters either [8|]

Another issue is that I don't have enough capacity and support in my airfields for both army and navy bombers.
Need to threaten enemy shipping, especially if carriers get back. This deficiency should be corrected in not too many days.

My Sally and Lily pools are actually empty and their poor range and experience make it hard to get much use out of them.
So advice; increase production of these.

The light bombers are used in an ASW role, 1/3 is on duty while the rest are training (ASW).

[Mynok]

Definitely do not have as many army bombers as before, and the planes are now worse.

Actually I've not found anything Japanese to be very good at all at airfield suppression. I generally prefer to sweep the fighter cover away then rely on CAP for the invasion fleet.

[PzB74]

CAP is very unreliable and leaky in AE, especially LR CAP - and I'm a bit afraid of getting 68 dive bombers coming to visit me....
Solution could be to have many TF's and protect them with destroyers and light cruisers and keep the valuable ships further back.

In the raid on Soerabaja I felt confident that 20 Zero's on escort could deal with even 20 opposing fighters, actually 15 of them got through to harass and shoot down more than a handful of Nells. Didn't expect this from the Dutch fighters. Such experiences are valuable - when going up against really stiff resistance and high grade opposition mistakes will cost darely.

[ny59giants]

Send in Zeros to sweep Soerabaja now, rather than wait for the transports to get there, unless there is not enough time. I'm finding that sweeps are better for a few days rather than "hope" the Zeros escort in your bombers. Sometimes the bombers go in without them and it is costly in planes and giving him free experience. 

[PzB74]

Fish were gone when we came out to catch it today; that's why it's difficult to sweep first and then
bomb. - Andy will rotate fighters around each turn and if I don't have capacity to both escort and sweep....

All industries and resources are still increasing ever so slightly each turn!

Base units will rail down to Oosthaven tomorrow and we will start bombing bases on Java from Palembang.
- Will mostly place Zero's in Oosthaven for sweep and CAP duties, same as in Bandjermasin.

Just a few more days now and there will be lots of action! [:)]


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 06, 42

Sub ASW Attacks

Another enemy sub attack near the Home Islands.
It's dang hard to find the subs and much harder to kill them.
Need to work hard to train ASW crews, both airborne and seaborne.

In there will be fewer convoys, but larger and WELL escorted.

Submarine attack near Koshiki-jima Retto at 99,60

Japanese Ships
xAK Hoeisan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Skipjack

xAK Hoeisan Maru is sighted by SS Skipjack
SS Skipjack launches 4 torpedoes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surface Combat

Sent a fast transport mission to Tulagi to unload some engineers.
Must be a fluke that Anyd sent 4 destroyers there this turn - or maybe Sigint?
We were lucky, one ship - the Arare was sunk but the Tanikaze escaped against the odds.
- Caught unloading it a doomed encounter.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Tanikaze, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Arare, Shell hits 27, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Mustin
DD Russell
DD Brooks
DD Gilmer

Japanese ground losses:
102 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sent pest control to PM and bagged some bugs!

Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 97,131, Range 15,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Kisaragi
DD Uzuki
DD Asanagi
DD Sawakaze

Allied Ships
PT-43
PT-44, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-45
PT-46
PT-47, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-48, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Strafing PT boats is useless as 20mm cannonshells doesn't cause serious damage.
- How can I then get rid of them?

Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
PT-43, Shell hits 3
PT-45, Shell hits 2
PT-46

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x A6M2 Zero bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Airfields in PM are closed - another P-38 torched on the ground.

Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
G3M2 Nell x 6
G4M1 Betty x 33

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38E Lightning: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Soerabaja , at 56,104

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15

No Japanese losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

We just managed to capture our forward fighter base with the troops we sent!

Ground combat at Bandjermasin (60,99)
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1107 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 40
Defending force 452 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 19

Japanese adjusted assault: 15
Allied adjusted defense: 4

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Bandjermasin !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)

Allied ground losses:
196 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
I./4th Infantry Battalion

Defending units:
SE Borneo KNIL Bn /1
Bandjermasin Base Force
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wanna see to occuby half a dozen bases in one swoop?

Ground combat at Sampit (58,97)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 42 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 3
Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Sampit !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: op mode(-), shock(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 3rd SNLF /2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Terapo (96,127)
Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 102 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 7
Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Terapo !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
2nd Raiding Rgt /1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Wau (98,126)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 95 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 7
Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Wau !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
2nd Raiding Rgt /2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Salamaua (98,127)
Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 105 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0
Japanese adjusted assault: 7

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Salamaua !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
2nd Raiding Rgt /3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Finschhafen (100,126)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 105 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 4
Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Finschhafen !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
2nd Raiding Rgt /4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Mynok]

Things are definitely different now. I'd be sure to run in a night bombardment on Soerabaja on invasion day. If he's got that many SBDs in the area, you might even find it worth bringing in the big guns (KB) to help put down the airfield.

SBDs and torp bombers are all I was really concerned about as an invasion planner. Andy is tricksey if he's bringing them that far west. I've never run into them in the Indies before. [8D]

[LoBaron]

[quote]ORIGINAL: PzB
Air Combat

Strafing PT boats is useless as 20mm cannonshells doesn't cause serious damage.
- How can I then get rid of them?

Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
PT-43, Shell hits 3
PT-45, Shell hits 2
PT-46

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x A6M2 Zero bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

[quote]

I think its not a bad idea to attack em with Zero´s.
Probably the poor hit rate is because of the servere storms over target. Also with 60GP bombs couldn´t you go higher so you Dive/Glidebomb the PT´s?
That could increase your hit chance.

[castor troy]

you can´t glide bomb them because the only way to make Zeroes attack PTs is when they´re set to 100ft to perform a strafing run.

[LoBaron]

Hm youre sure?
 
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
 
Ok FOW is sometimes really misleading but 7k instead of 100ft?

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: LoBaron

Hm youre sure?

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
 
Ok FOW is sometimes really misleading but 7k instead of 100ft?

I doubt that the Zeroes would fly a couple of hundred miles at 100ft... they only drop down to strafe... never got PTs attacked other than strafing attacks and if it would be only a bombing attack than the shell hits wouldn´t show up. You can also do a normal naval attack with fighters, just put them on anything else than 100ft and they only drop bombs.

[Rob Brennan UK]

I agree with Castor + PzB here , never even seen a/c attack PT/barges unless set at 100ft. the odd search plane can and does attack them though. Whats thier LowNav skills PzB ? i suspect thats why the hit rate is so low.

So many skills to try and train up these days, every sqdn even with the same a/c can have differant specialities. its mind boggling at times [;)]

[PzB74]

Yep, only strafing of PT boats from 100 feet - fighters go in from medium altitude and then skim the waves.
Not easy to hit 30+ knot boats with small bombs. What I do wish is that 20mm cannon shells occasionally could cause some more
damage.

Andy's new yippo is carrier based bombers based in strategic locatons ashore.
The only way around this is to spend some time building air strength around Java and then bomb the different bases.

Troops are loading at Truk and in a couple of days we will be heading for New Guinea and Port Moresby.
Recon indicates ca 22k enemy troops and we bring another 25k to the party. Airbase is 50+ damage and we harass the PT boats and defenders around the clock.

In Burma the spearheads are starting to move out of Moulmein.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 07, 42

Sub Attacks

Small transport for PM?

Submarine attack near Port Moresby at 95,130

Japanese Ships
SS RO-65

Allied Ships
xAKL Patris, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

xAKL Patris is sighted by SS RO-65
SS RO-65 launches 2 torpedoes at xAKL Patris
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Enemy carrier bombers damaged in this first Army bomber attack on Batavia.
A sub in port also bought it...!-)

Morning Air attack on Batavia , at 49,98

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 23
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
SS Spearfish, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 15000 feet
Port Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Batavia , at 49,98

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 15


Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another strafing attack, same miserable results!

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
PT-40, Shell hits 2
PT-37
PT-39, Shell hits 2
PT-38

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x A6M2 Zero bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Reinforcements are moving into Bataan - in a few days they will all be in place.
Bombardment results are improving as we improve our position.

Ground combat at Bataan (78,77)
Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 47898 troops, 786 guns, 318 vehicles, Assault Value = 2116
Defending force 55615 troops, 1003 guns, 572 vehicles, Assault Value = 1674

Allied ground losses:
368 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 10 (3 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Assaulting units:
24th Infantry Regiment
65th Brigade
1st Recon Regiment
20th Recon Regiment
9th Infantry Regiment
20th Infantry Regiment
22nd Recon Regiment
16th Infantry Regiment
21st Ind. Engineer Regiment
114th Infantry Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
48th Recon Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
38th Division
19th Ind. Engineer Regiment
7th Tank Regiment
20th Ind. Engineer Regiment
26th Recon Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
48th Field Artillery Regiment
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
6th Shipping Engineer Regiment
2nd Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion
16th Army
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
14th Army
1st RF Gun Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
91st PA Infantry Division
3rd/12th PA Inf Battalion
Manila Bay Defenses
93rd PA Infantry Regiment
61st PA Infantry Division
21st PA Infantry Division
1st PA Infantry Division
57th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
26th PS Cavalry Regiment
31st PA Infantry Division
51st PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
14th PS Engineer Regiment
11th PA Infantry Division
31st Infantry Regiment
2nd PA Constabulary Division
41st PA Infantry Division
4th Marine Regiment
45th PS Infantry Regimental Combat Team
Kowloon Bde /3
202nd PA Construction Battalion
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
1st USMC AA Battalion
II Philippine Corps
Far East USAAF
USAFFE
Manila USAAF Base Force
1st PI Base Force
Bataan USN Base Force
PAF Aviation
Clark Field USAAF Base Force
Provisional GMC Gp
Asiatic Fleet
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
Cavite USN Base Force
803rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
I Philippine Corps
201st PA Construction Battalion
301st PA Field Artillery Regiment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Puerto Princesa (73,83)
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 504 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 22
Defending force 153 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4

Japanese adjusted assault: 9
Allied adjusted defense: 4

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Puerto Princesa !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)

Allied ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy

Defending units:
2nd PI Base Force
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[aprezto]

It is certainly a large increase to the number of factors you have to keep on top of. For someone that doesn't do well with micromanagement, but still wants to have effective forces, this can be a bit of a headache.
 
The temptation to set all units to 'general training' is high.

[PzB74]

Not much of a chance that I'll set my Zero's on naval attack training [;)]
Sweep and escort is what we need for now - but I do put some units on general training.

Here's an alternative AAR report from the game against you Al;
In this case we chased 3 of your cruisers and a destroyer with superior (quality) forces! [:D]

Night Time Surface Combat, near Sangi at 77,96, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shiokaze

Allied Ships
CL Java
CL Tromp
CL Marblehead
DD Whipple, Shell hits 3, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[aprezto]

Ha ha - aint that the truth.

[PzB74]

Today the fully equipped 6th Guards Division arrived in Camh Rhan Bay - will prepare to move to Luzon in case our
assault there fails miserably.

Troops loaded for Port Moresby and we're getting our air cover in place around Java.
Ideally we complete the former operation before we initiate the one against Java.

Looks like Andy is abandoning Rangoon as well, so we're free to march in me thinks.
First the troops, then my 6000 ack ack guns... [;)]


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 08, 42

Sub - Surface Attacks

ASW attack near Pearl Harbor at 174,117

Japanese Ships
SS I-174

Allied Ships
APD Waters, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AM Mirimichi
xAP Nairana
xAK Makawao
PC Travis

Allied ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

SS I-174 launches 6 torpedoes at APD Waters
I-174 diving deep ....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I wondered what this damaged ship was...turned out to be a small convoy that had run out of fuel without me knowing it.
Sys damage between 60 and 90..... :p) Well done not to hit your mark Triton.

Sub attack near Truk at 114,109

Japanese Ships
xAK Kazan Maru, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Triton

SS Triton launches 6 torpedoes at xAK Kazan Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PT boat hunting TF hit a mine...ship sank. Tiny destroyer type.

TF 122 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (98,130)

Japanese Ships
DD Sawakaze, Mine hits 1, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Pearl Harbor at 183,102

Japanese Ships
SS I-15

Allied Ships
xAK Admiral Y. Williams, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Ensley City
PG Charleston

SS I-15 launches 6 torpedoes at xAK Admiral Y. Williams
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disaster..8 torps against an AM! Half the torpedoes carried and I-153 now has to return to port.
Can't you put these boats to ignore targets of chiken $hit size? [8|]

Sub attack near Colombo at 29,48

Japanese Ships
SS I-153

Allied Ships
AM Cairns, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AM Ipswitch

SS I-153 launches 8 torpedoes at AM Cairns
I-153 bottoming out ....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Several sweeps over Java today and we got ca 10 enemy fighters and bombers;

Morning Air attack on Soerabaja , at 56,104
Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
75A-7 Hawk x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
75A-7 Hawk: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet *
3 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 14000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Loemadjang , at 56,106

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 3
CW-21B Demon x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 1 destroyed
CW-21B Demon: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x A6M2 Zero bombing from 100 feet *
5 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army AF coordination; first comes the bombers, no escorts and then the fighters on sweep missions [:(]
Morning Air attack on Tjilatjap , at 51,102

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 43

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tjilatjap , at 51,102

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 6

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 17000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tjilatjap , at 51,102

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 1

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 17000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Madioen , at 54,104

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
G4M1 Betty x 11

Allied aircraft
75A-7 Hawk x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
75A-7 Hawk: 1 destroyed
Blenheim I: 2 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
3 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet *
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[aprezto]

ORIGINAL: PzB

Disaster..8 torps against an AM! Half the torpedoes carried and I-153 now has to return to port.
Can't you put these boats to ignore targets of chiken $hit size? [8|]

Sub attack near Colombo at 29,48

Japanese Ships
SS I-153

Allied Ships
AM Cairns, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AM Ipswitch

SS I-153 launches 8 torpedoes at AM Cairns
I-153 bottoming out ....

See, in the mod section, that some of the boffin modders types have attempted to overcome exactly this issue - interesting.

Al