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

[Mynok]

leaders(-) doesn't look promising......

[Rob Brennan UK]

Great going in OZ there PzB. My only advice is beware aussie light bombers as they have killed a few advance tank units in other AAR's. I doubt that he has many fighters in australia but many bombers. If poss keep LRCAP over advance units. Although to date he hasnt sent anything bar the few B17's he has available. and if you think the service 3 emilys are hard to keep flying the B17's are service 4 and true hangar queens even with light damage.

North autralia does seem to be vulnerable to the Japanese but south autralia (where the industry is) will be another kettle of fish in my opinion. How far are you going to advance? Nice reserves you have too. And even more ambition on your part for Phase 2, I'm already glued to this and will be watching closely.

Great AAR and thanks for taking the time to post. [&o]

[PzB74]

Always a desk jockey that sneaks into front line command Mynok; the Garrison unit at Palembang doesn't hold top priority though!-)

Hi Rob; I don't think Andy got to many base forces and can only deploy a limited number of ac in Charters Tower and Townsville.
Hopefully those hangar queens tie up much capacity! For now my advance guard will have to fend for themselves as we got other more important missions to perform.

I'm a bit of an opportunits - if the going gets to hard in one direction I change.
Industrial south isn't necessarily an area our troops will occupy but if we can force Andy to make some hard decisions and abandon an importan city we'll be there [8D]

I've played Andy in 1943-46, but never in 41-42, so I'm still figuring out his tactics.
In the last AAR game I got bogged down in India - if I stay around Australia there will be much less danger that our outer perimeter will be breached early on.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 24, 42

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on 5th Recon Regiment, at 86,147 (Winton)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 7

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (0 destroyed, 6 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 2nd Recce Battalion, at 76,138

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged

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

Ground Combat

Ground combat at 75,137
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1025 troops, 4 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 38
Defending force 2194 troops, 91 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 31

Japanese adjusted assault: 17
Allied adjusted defense: 13

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), disruption(-), morale(-), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
106 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
20th Recon Regiment

Defending units:
2nd RAN Base Force
NW Australia Base Force
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have "de-railed the 2 large base force units but the smaller ones marched straight through Tennant Creek [:'(]
Ground combat at Tennant Creek (76,137)

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 960 troops, 21 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 315

Defending force 112 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9
Japanese adjusted assault: 42

Allied adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 42 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), leaders(-), preparation(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units pursuing 1

Allied ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
26th Recon Regiment
1st Recon Regiment
1st Raiding Regiment
2nd Raiding Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
48th Recon Regiment
Yokosuka Assault SNLF
46th Const Co
1st RF Gun Bn /1

Defending units:
2/2nd Ind Coy
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Mynok]

Allied airpower has a funny way of 'bogging' things down.

[PzB74]

Yep, but doubt that will happen until I get closer to Brissy!
Don't think Andy will get a lot more B-17 replacements and it will take time for the B-24's to replace them.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 25, 42

Sub Attacks

Didn't help to be a Hare Krishna!

Submarine attack near Goa at 30,31

Japanese Ships
SS I-32

Allied Ships
xAK Jalakrishna, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

xAK Jalakrishna is sighted by SS I-32
SS I-32 attacking xAK Jalakrishna on the surface
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surface Combat

One of our scouts south of Palmyra found an enemy transport - not with search planes but head on!
One hit and the fuel cargo went boom!

Day Time Surface Combat, near Palmyra at 167,138, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CS Chitose
DD Hatsuyuki

Allied Ships
xAK T. A. Johnson, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Andy has not chance to keep air superiority near Townsville; more than 60 Zero's swept Charter Towers today.
Only a modest CAP that was blasted out of the skies.

Morning Air attack on Charters Towers , at 91,145
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27

Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-400 Airacobra: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
11 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet

CAP engaged:
20th PS (P) with P-400 Airacobra (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 29000 , scrambling fighters to 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Charters Towers , at 91,145
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Charters Towers , at 91,145
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
30 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

The pursuit towards Alice Springs is on [:'(]

Ground combat at 75,137

Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 1008 troops, 4 guns, 42 vehicles, Assault Value = 37

Defending force 2137 troops, 91 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 30
Japanese adjusted assault: 48

Allied adjusted defense: 14
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), disruption(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
99 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (0 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
331 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 72 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 10 (8 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
20th Recon Regiment

Defending units:
2nd RAN Base Force
NW Australia Base Force
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Problem:

Need some help here; used an AKV (air transport) to move a Zero unit to Bangkok.
All went well and we have been docked for 3 days in a size 4 port - problem is that the ac refuse to unload [&:]

I've tried everything and has now given up and is sending the ships to Saigon to try there in a bigger port.
Afraid my crack Zero unit is trapped on this hunk o' junk :-\

[CapAndGown]

Why in the world did you transport them by ship????

[PzB74]

Query: Why use an aircraft transport?
Answer: to avoid moving 40 ac from Tokyo to Rangoon which most likely will cause 4-8 ac and pilots to be ops losses.... [8|]

As long as Allied subs are no big menace and there is no acute hurry an ac transport is by far the better alternative.
50% of my air losses are ops losses.

[CapAndGown]

Transfer them in smaller hops between large bases. I have found that ops losses most often occur when transferring to smaller bases. Size four and up seems to work OK.

[CapAndGown]

And another thing: you may lose a plane, but you almost never lose a pilot this way. Planes are easy enough to replace (unless they are stuck on a ship and you can't get them off. [:'(])

[PzB74]

That is far from a guaranteed...I loose ac in small as large hops.
- If the AKV is bugged it needs to be fixed! [:)]

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: PzB

That is far from a guaranteed...I loose ac in small as large hops.
- If the AKV is bugged it needs to be fixed! [:)]

Try this. Create a new TF with the ship in question. I mean, open the TF display, click "Create New TF", and then add all the ships from the old TF. Then, see if the new TF will unload properly.

It is my experience that sometimes a TF (of any kind) will get buggered.

[PzB74]

I tried that - changing TF type from ac transport to cargo and moving to Saigon.

Eventless turn...
Our troops on Java have rested and are 95% ready for action again.

It may seem like Andy is withdrawing from Townsville? Just an observation, but no more ac observed in Charters and troop numbers
is in general going down. Pretty sure he wants me to pursue south ASAP! - but I'm still struggling with unloading of heavy equipment in small size 2 ports..

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 26, 42

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 27, 42

I <<LOVE>> mining Portsea [8D]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 278 encounters mine field at Portsea (81,171)

Allied Ships
AM Castlemaine
AM Benalla
DD Kane, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
APD Rathburne

14 mines cleared
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Activity near Perth!

ASW attack near Perth at 47,147

Japanese Ships
SS I-122

Allied Ships
KV Fritillary
xAP Van Rees
xAP Lycaon
xAP Khandalla
xAK Clan Macinness
xAK Catrine
xAKL De Klerk
DD Panther
PG Swan

SS I-122 is sighted by escort
I-122 diving deep ....
DD Panther fails to find sub and abandons search
PG Swan fails to find sub, continues to search...
PG Swan fails to find sub, continues to search...
PG Swan fails to find sub, continues to search...
PG Swan fails to find sub, continues to search...
PG Swan fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Andy has the 3rd Bde in Alice Spring; will challenge him there!

Morning Air attack on 3rd Australian Brigade, at 74,143 (Alice Springs)
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
G4M1 Betty x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've railed a regiment to Winton and will push on with armored spearheads;

Ground combat at Winton (86,147)

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 3366 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 181

Defending force 269 troops, 0 guns, 26 vehicles, Assault Value = 8
Japanese adjusted assault: 39

Allied adjusted defense: 4
Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
Units pursuing 1

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 9 (5 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
5th Recon Regiment
148th Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
2/9th Armoured Regiment
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 28, 42

Sub Attacks

Submarine attack near Goa at 27,27

Japanese Ships
SS I-164

Allied Ships
xAK Vera, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

xAK Vera is sighted by SS I-164
SS I-164 launches 4 torpedoes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Afternoon Air attack on 3rd Australian Brigade, at 74,143 (Alice Springs)
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
G4M1 Betty x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Need reinforcements here; a tank regiment and inf regiment will assist!

Ground combat at 87,148
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1167 troops, 2 guns, 69 vehicles, Assault Value = 55
Defending force 2603 troops, 18 guns, 55 vehicles, Assault Value = 87

Japanese adjusted assault: 51
Allied adjusted defense: 89

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (0 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Assaulting units:
5th Recon Regiment

Defending units:
2/9th Armoured Regiment
30th Australian Brigade
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Oodnadatta (74,149)
Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 141 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 10
Defending force 129 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 11

Japanese adjusted assault: 14
Allied adjusted defense: 3

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

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

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

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
1st Raiding Rgt /2

Defending units:
2/7th Ind Coy
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Progress in Oz

[PzB74]

After x attempts I finally managed to unload our 40 Zero's from the AKV in Saigon harbour.
No idea why it was so difficult to get em off. So now we can finally strengthen our air presence in Burma - only got Oscars, Nicks and 9 Zero's there. With 40 more Zero's we have more potent capabilities.

I've distributed Air HQ's as follows:
- Singapore
- Rangoon
- Java
- Timor
- Darwin
- Northampton
- Port Moresby
- Rabaul
- Truk
- Kwajalein

Also got one in transit. The plan is to move the latter and the one in Darwin to more offensive positions in Australia.
Will also consider moving the Truk HQ to a forward base. Truk is truly far to the rear right now.

Tomorrow we land at Palmyra; looks deserted. Also planning to grab Christmas Island just south of Palmyra.
- It got a size 1(5) airfield. If we build it and place an air HQ there we will have an advanced base that Andy will hesitate to touch it for another year. If we also claim Johnston Island we could potentially place naval bombers within range of intercepting PH based shipping.

Is this a worthwhile plan?

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 29, 42

Sub Attacks

Submarine attack near Karachi at 40,8

Japanese Ships
SS I-20, hits 1

Allied Ships
TK British Chemist, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

TK British Chemist is sighted by SS I-20
SS I-20 attacking TK British Chemist on the surface
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on 30th Australian Brigade, at 87,148
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 5th Recon Regiment, at 87,148
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 7
B-17E Fortress x 2
LB-30 Liberator x 2
B-25B Mitchell x 5

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (0 destroyed, 7 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 3rd Australian Brigade, at 74,143 (Alice Springs)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
G4M1 Betty x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Karachi Encounter

[PzB74]

Central Pacific

[CapAndGown]

I think your deployment of air HQs can be improved somewhat. For instance, I wouldn't put an HQ at Koepang. If you put an HQ with a radius of 5 at Lomblen, then you can have an entire complex of bases out of which you can fly torpedo bombers.

[Monter_Trismegistos]

ORIGINAL: PzB
Simple, I have to keep Monter_Trismegistos entertained! [;)]

Wow, honourable citation by PzB itself! Thanks

[PzB74]

That's good advice Cap! [:)]
I've still not developed based in the Koepang area and I'm unsure whether it's a range 1 or 4 HQ.
- Near Rabaul I'm planning exactly what you propose in Koepang; build lots of bases between Rabaul and Shortland and move the air HQ with a range of 5 to a base just north of Shorland. This will give us 5 airfields that can handle torpedo bombers!

Today wasn't exactly a great day for the Empire [8|]
2 US destroyers arrived in the afternoon and caused more damage than the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau combined against an Allied convoy.

Had a couple of these experiences lately, in this game and against Al.
- My biggest concern is that I constantly run out of ammo after a single engagement
- That 2 destroyers can shoot up 16 ships, including a light cruisers is a very close second.

Well, have to learn from it and return the favor I guess.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 30, 42

Invasions

We got of according to plan and unloaded the crack 31st regiment at dawn!
A 5" coastal gun shell hit the Tenryu.

Pre-Invasion action off Palmyra - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 1
PB Takunan Maru #5
PB Shonon Maru #15

CL Tenryu firing at Palmyra (Det.) Defense Battalion
PB Takunan Maru #5 firing at enemy guns
PB Shonon Maru #15 firing at enemy guns
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Palmyra

TF 36 troops unloading over beach at Palmyra, 170,133

Japanese ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 31st Infantry Rgt /3
19 troops of a IJA Infantry Squad lost overboard during unload of 31st Infantry Rgt /4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Palmyra

2 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAK Toho Maru, Shell hits 2
CL Tenryu
PB Takunan Maru #5
PB Shonon Maru #15

5in CD Gun Coastal Battery engaging xAK Toho Maru at 12,000 yards
CL Tenryu fires to suppress enemy guns at 12,000 yards
PB Takunan Maru #5 firing at enemy guns
PB Shonon Maru #15 firing at enemy guns
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surface Combat

In the afternoon 2 US destroyers arrived and attack our invasion fleet - all troops were then safely ashore.
- I had scouted the area with seaplane tenders and 6 subs but never saw em coming and thought it would be a straight run.

I expected the Tenryu to handle 2 destroyers fairly well but instead they handled both our light cruiser, the rest of the escortsand the convoy [:'(] Doing 4x more damage than the Houston and Perth of Java in RL they hit 16 ships,
sinking ca 10 of them - taking only a single 5.5" shell hit in return.

Ok we were caught by surprise and had to get underway; but the escorts shouldn't be at anchor - they should be buzzing around
looking for trouble, right? 2 destroyers shooting up 16 ships is a bit much.

The Tenryu ran out of ammo long long before the battle ended - this happens very often in daylight actions.
Think some tweaking is needed here.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Palmyra at 170,133, Range 16,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 4, on fire
DMS W-16, Shell hits 1, on fire
CM Kamome, Shell hits 3
CM Takashima, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
PB Shonon Maru #15, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PB Takunan Maru #5, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Hague Maru, Shell hits 2
xAK Havre Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Ohio Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Yamahuzi Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Sinno Maru
xAK Saiho Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Toho Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Ryusei Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
xAK Tensyo Maru, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Mansyu Maru, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Shozan Maru, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Taihei Maru

Allied Ships
DD Meredith, Shell hits 1
DD Grayson

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 21,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 16,000 yards
Japanese ships attempt to get underway
DD Grayson engages PB Takunan Maru #5 at 16,000 yards
PB Takunan Maru #5 sunk by DD Grayson at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Grayson at 13,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Meredith at 13,000 yards
DD Grayson engages xAK Sinno Maru at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Grayson at 10,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Meredith at 10,000 yards
DD Grayson engages xAK Ohio Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
DD Grayson engages CL Tenryu at 8,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Meredith at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Meredith at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Meredith at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages PB Shonon Maru #15 at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages xAK Ryusei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages xAK Toho Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Grayson engages xAK Hague Maru at 7,000 yards
CM Takashima screened from combat
DD Grayson engages CL Tenryu at 7,000 yards
PB Shonon Maru #15 sunk by DD Meredith at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages xAK Shozan Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Grayson engages xAK Tensyo Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages xAK Ryusei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages xAK Toho Maru at 7,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Grayson at 7,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Meredith at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages CM Kamome at 7,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Meredith at 7,000 yards
DD Grayson engages CM Takashima at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages CM Kamome at 7,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Grayson at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages CM Takashima at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages xAK Havre Maru at 7,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Grayson at 7,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Meredith at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages CM Kamome at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages xAK Taihei Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Grayson engages xAK Mansyu Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages xAK Toho Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages xAK Saiho Maru at 7,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Grayson at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages CM Takashima at 7,000 yards
DD Grayson engages xAK Hague Maru at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
DD Meredith engages CM Takashima at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Grayson at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages CM Takashima at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Grayson at 6,000 yards
DD Meredith engages CM Takashima at 6,000 yards
DD Grayson engages xAK Saiho Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Meredith engages xAK Yamahuzi Maru at 6,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Grayson at 6,000 yards
DD Meredith engages CM Takashima at 6,000 yards
DD Meredith engages xAK Ryusei Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Meredith engages xAK Havre Maru at 6,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Grayson at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Meredith at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages CM Takashima at 7,000 yards
DD Grayson engages xAK Saiho Maru at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Grayson at 6,000 yards
DD Meredith engages CM Takashima at 6,000 yards
DD Meredith engages xAK Shozan Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Grayson engages xAK Saiho Maru at 6,000 yards
Jones J. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Grayson at 4,000 yards
DD Meredith engages CM Takashima at 4,000 yards
DD Grayson engages DMS W-16 at 4,000 yards
DD Meredith engages xAK Havre Maru at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Grayson at 7,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Meredith at 7,000 yards
DD Grayson engages xAK Toho Maru at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
DD Grayson engages xAK Tensyo Maru at 13,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Meredith at 13,000 yards
DD Grayson engages xAK Havre Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Grayson engages xAK Hague Maru at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Grayson at 17,000 yards
CL Tenryu engages DD Meredith at 17,000 yards
DD Grayson engages xAK Toho Maru at 17,000 yards
DD Grayson engages xAK Ohio Maru at 17,000 yards
Range increases to 22,000 yards
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on 30th Australian Brigade, at 87,148

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 3 damaged

Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
28 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To add to injury 14 dive bombers came at us in bad bad weather; our LRCAP did well - in all 16 dive bombers were
lost today; 14 in A2A. 2 already damaged ships were hit and sunk in return.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Palmyra at 170,133

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
SBD-1 Dauntless x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-1 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Taihei Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Hague Maru, on fire
xAK Havre Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-1 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm less than impressed at our counter attack on the 2 US perpetrators!
A whopping 35 Zero's escorted 7!!! Val dive bombers - and that's it [&:]

Morning Air attack on TF, near Washington Island at 171,135

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
D3A1 Val x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Meredith, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage - at least this one should be in trouble!
DD Grayson

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the afternoon all attacking dive bombers were shot down before attacking;

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Palmyra at 170,133

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
SBD-1 Dauntless x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-1 Dauntless: 3 destroyed

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 3rd Australian Brigade, at 74,143 (Alice Springs)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
G4M1 Betty x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 14000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Our shock attack at Palmyra failed miserably because of high fatigue.
- This is a bit strange cause all troops were unloaded by the time the US destroyers attacked and had plenty supply.

Ground combat at Palmyra (170,133)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 298 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 12
Defending force 3594 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 125

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

Assaulting units:
Palmyra USN CPNAB
Palmyra (Det.) Defense Battalion

Defending units:
31st Infantry Rgt /1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Being a paranoid SONOFA I got a reserve regiment standing by; if odds doesn't improve tomorrow I
will consider sending them in as well.

Ground combat at Palmyra (170,133)
Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 3594 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 125
Defending force 685 troops, 12 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 12

Japanese adjusted assault: 30
Allied adjusted defense: 32

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-), fatigue(-) --> I've seen these "poor leader" comments but don't get it. The leader is over average and a bit cautious. Is a super aggressive rating required to give a (+) for leaders?

Japanese ground losses:
594 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
31st Infantry Rgt /1

Defending units:
Palmyra USN CPNAB
Palmyra (Det.) Defense Battalion
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Super Nuke Dukem destroyers at Palmyra

[Nemo121]

As re: the leader. 31st Regt is a fraction ... signified by 31st Regt/1

You will find that while the overall regiment leader is very good the leader of the fragment ashore is probably very poor. Mystery solved.

Personally I think that if the leader is on the transport he should probably be amongst the first ashore to prevent this sort of thing but the game doesn't work that way at present.