AE = Alpine Edition <-> Rainer79 vs. ranting castor troy

[anarchyintheuk]

Looks like your taking fewer shipping losses . . . is your opponent just cycling his subs back to base or is your asw getting better?

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: anarchyintheuk

Looks like your taking fewer shipping losses . . . is your opponent just cycling his subs back to base or is your asw getting better?

my shipping losses aren´t severe and they never were, it´s just annoying to lose one. [:D] His subs are on station, they are sitting next to Perth (two or three), between Sydney and Brisbane (at least three) and near the US West Coast (at least two). And two or three seem to move around North of Brisbane. Considering the fact that I won´t spot all of them there surely are more of the buggers around, one was recently spotted one hex off Suva and I´m sure there´s one around Anchorage if not low on fuel already. Oh and not to forget Colombo of course.

Just like me figuring out that I don´t have to fear IJN ASW, Rainer figured out the same about my ASW, otherwise he wouldn´t constantly keep a couple of subs off Sydney when there are at times 6 ASW TFs with 4 DDs each reacting on his subs. The hits on my two CVs and on the Aussie CA were a mess (Saratoga is still in drydock, over 6 months passed already, Yorktown is 100% repaired as is the cruiser), the hits on my merchants now and then is just a nuissance.

[castor troy]

Nearly two months ingame time have passed without an update, reason for this is quite simple, there was nothing of interest happening. We saw the usual more or less unsuccesful sub attacks with duds, the usual 4E bombers doing training runs against targets around PM and some redeploying of LCUs all around the map, preparing for the offensive soon to come.

It´s becoming more interesting again, we are mounting a ground offensive against Darwin (with all Aussie divs on the continent plus lots of support), we are planning to land on Adak and we´re also in the process to make the jump onto New Guinea soon.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 01, 42
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Sub attack near Sangi at 78,96

Japanese Ships
TK Toa Maru
SC Ch 8

Allied Ships
SS Spearfish



SS Spearfish launches 4 torpedoes at TK Toa Maru
Spearfish diving deep ....
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 8 attacking submerged sub ....
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

same results from our subs... duds...

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Sub attack near Talaud-eilanden at 82,96

Japanese Ships
TK Toa Maru
SC Ch 8

Allied Ships
SS Cuttlefish



SS Cuttlefish launches 4 torpedoes at TK Toa Maru
Cuttlefish diving deep ....
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

more duds... [:o]

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ASW attack near Tioman Island at 52,84

Japanese Ships
DD Mikazuki
DD Minazuki
DD Nagatsuki

Allied Ships
SS Grampus, hits 1



SS Grampus launches 6 torpedoes at DD Mikazuki
DD Mikazuki fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Nagatsuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Nagatsuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Nagatsuki attacking submerged sub ....
DD Nagatsuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Nagatsuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

a near miss

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ASW attack near Tioman Island at 52,84

Japanese Ships
DD Ikazuchi
DD Isonami
DD Shinonome

Allied Ships
SS Tuna, hits 1



SS Tuna launches 4 torpedoes at DD Ikazuchi
Tuna bottoming out ....
DD Isonami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shinonome fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Isonami fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Shinonome attacking submerged sub ....
DD Shinonome fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shinonome fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shinonome fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shinonome fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

duds of course and a near miss in return...

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Sub attack near Balikpapan at 64,98

Japanese Ships
TK Eiyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Tsuga

Allied Ships
SS Seal



SS Seal launches 4 torpedoes at TK Eiyo Maru
DD Tsuga fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tsuga fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tsuga fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tsuga fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tsuga fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

and a hit on a high value target... with working torps we could have taken out three tankers and a DD tonight...

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Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 45,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 4
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 36



Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 22


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38E Lightning: 4 destroyed [8|]



CAP engaged:
24th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Raid is overhead
260th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
50th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 22 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500 , scrambling fighters to 36740.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes



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Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 45,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 2
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 30



Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 24


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38E Lightning: 3 destroyed [8|]



Aircraft Attacking:
2 x P-38E Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet

CAP engaged:
24th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
50th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 11 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 38500
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
260th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes

these two sweeps lead to my thread about "what has changed in patch 3?" because this is the day I´ve lost 16 Lightnings to 2 Tojos. Best USAAF aicraft and pilots, we do the sweep, the Tojos bounced us without an end. Same base the fighters were coming from, no chance to coordinate of course. Hey, two squadrons after all. Therefore both sweeps were butchered because not we had the dive but the enemy. Endlessly...

8:1 kill rate for Tojos on the defense against the best the USAAF can field is quite depressing and pretty off IMO... the Oscars scored no kill for the loss of two or three of their own...



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Morning Air attack on Hengyang , at 80,53

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 14



No Japanese losses



Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb

starting an airwar in China? I really don´t care because I probably won´t fight it out and there are no supplies to be destroyed anyway...

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Morning Air attack on Lae , at 99,126

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 6



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 17
B-24D Liberator x 10


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 6 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged

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



Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 41

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb


CAP engaged:
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead



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Morning Air attack on Lae , at 99,126

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 13


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 6 damaged



Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 13

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead

as we´re attacking New Guinea soon (invasion will either happen at PM or at Milne Bay) we´re going to fly some more intense attacks with heavy bombers on Buna and Lae (the two level 4 airfields in the area) and will use Marauders to keep PM suppressed...


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Ground combat at Kai-eilanden (81,115)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 381 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 11

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

Japanese adjusted assault: 6

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kai-eilanden !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: fatigue(-)



Assaulting units:
1st Sasebo SNLF Coy /91

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 02, 42
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ASW attack near Donggala at 67,98

Japanese Ships
PB Rokko Maru
PB Choun Maru #18

Allied Ships
SS Perch, hits 1



SS Perch is located by PB Rokko Maru
Perch diving deep ....
PB Choun Maru #18 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Choun Maru #18 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Choun Maru #18 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Choun Maru #18 attacking submerged sub ....
PB Choun Maru #18 is out of ASW ammo
PB Choun Maru #18 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

near miss, couple of convoys spotted in this area...

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Pre-Invasion action off Adak Island

28 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Detroit
CL Raleigh
AP American Legion
AM Courtenay


Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


CL Detroit firing at 105th JAAF AF Bn
CL Raleigh firing at 105th JAAF AF Bn
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

and here we go with the first major Allied invasion of the war... this invasion has got three reasons: a) Adak is important as it can be built up to quite a huge base complex pretty close to Japan, b) I haven´t done invasions in AE as the Allied yet so this is a test and c) this is a feint and I want to draw KB North (or at least parts of it) to have my invasion of New Guinea (decided on Milne Bay) going in without having to face KB which I expect to be stationed at Truk

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Amphibious Assault at Adak Island

TF 14 troops unloading over beach at Adak Island, 162,52


Allied ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


0.5in M2HB AAMG x4 accidentally lost during unload of 1st Marine Div /82
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad lost in surf during unload of 147th(Sep) Infantry Rgt /80
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad lost overboard during unload of 201st(Sep) Infantry Rgt
13 troops of a USMC Rifle Squad accidentally lost during unload of 1st Marine Div /93

the troops storm the beach, we´ve got three light cruisers in the amphib TF for firecover but we don´t encounter any real CD gunfire. The amphib TF consist of some 80 ships, we´re going to land the 1st Marine division, backed up by three Infantry Rgt and support troops. Having this number of ships proved to be my first fault already, we´re far from unloading in one or two turns but I haven´t had more ships available as we need twice the number for our invasion of Milne Bay. Two BBs with escorts are covering the invasion against surface combat TFs which I don´t expect to be anywhere near. The plan was to unload most troops within two days and then move the ships East at mission speed because if KB is in Truk and Rainer would send it North I would not expect it to arrive within the first six days. Would KB be in Japan it wouldn´t take that long, so it would be riskier. Still an acceptable risk IMO and as it already turned out this turn, we won´t be unable to unload in two days, we´re far from offloading within double this time. Which clearly shows me that 80 ships are far too few for an invasion where you´re gonna unload some 800av plus support.

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Invasion Support action off Adak Island

34 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Detroit
CL Raleigh
AP American Legion
AM Courtenay

Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



CL Detroit firing at 105th JAAF AF Bn
CL Raleigh firing at 105th JAAF AF Bn
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


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Morning Air attack on A/B Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment, at 76,131 (Daly Waters)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5



No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet

Rainer still tries to escort his bombers but fails day after day... while he had his fighters at the same alt like his bombers for weeks, he now has his fighters at a different altitude... doesn´t work either... [:D]

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Morning Air attack on A/B Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment, at 76,131 (Daly Waters)

Weather in hex: Light rain

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8



No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 6000 feet

those are at the same alt as the bombers... doesn´t work...

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Morning Air attack on A/B Battery Heavy Coastal Artillery Regiment, at 76,131 (Daly Waters)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 27
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 27



No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
136 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 11 (5 destroyed, 6 disabled)


Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
27 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

and here come the bombers... now the depressing about this attack is that this whole unit was whiped out after this single air attack... great, losing a CD unit...[8|]

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Morning Air attack on Hengyang , at 80,53

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 17



No Japanese losses



Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb



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Invasion Support action off Adak Island

32 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AP American Legion
AM Courtenay


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


Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


beeing 100% prepped for the target and no real CD gunfire makes the landing a cake walk though... our troops will be ashore in perfect shape... at least this is good news...

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Ground combat at Adak Island (162,52)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3126 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 129 [:)]

Defending force 8566 troops, 173 guns, 82 vehicles, Assault Value = 497



Assaulting units:
1st Garrison Unit
105th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
54th Cst Art Rgt /93
1st Marine Div /94
147th(Sep) Infantry Rgt /93
4th (Sep) Infantry Rgt /93
201st(Sep) Infantry Rgt /93
107th USN Base Force /93
215th Cst AA Rgt /93
108th USN Base Force /93
217th Cst AA Rgt /93


only two enemy units on Adak, when we´ve got our full combat troops landed I don´t have a doubt that the garisson will be whiped out without much of a problem... the 1st Marine div alone should have enough firepower to take care of the Japanese... as soon as the island is ours again we will move in lots of engineers to build this place up... we´ve then got a replenishment base close to Japan, should at least double the time on station for our subs when operating near Japan compared to having them based at Midway...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 03, 42
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Invasion Support action off Adak Island

16 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AP American Legion
AM Courtenay


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


Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Adak Island

17 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AP American Legion
AM Courtenay


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


Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards

the enemy can´t hurt our invasion, we have a couple of ships collide during unloading though... [:(] at least this is what I think that happened as I´ve got ships with a couple dozen sys points and flt damage now...

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Invasion Support action off Adak Island

31 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AP American Legion
AM Courtenay


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


Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


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ASW attack near Moppo at 99,53

Japanese Ships
xAK Sakido Maru
xAK Boston Maru
xAK Mansyu Maru
xAK Hague Maru
PB Ryusei Maru

Allied Ships
SS Permit



SS Permit is sighted by escort
Permit bottoming out ....
PB Ryusei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Ryusei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Ryusei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Ryusei Maru attacking submerged sub ....
PB Ryusei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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Sub attack near Tandjoengbalai at 48,78

Japanese Ships
TK Nichiei Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage [:D]
PB Chosa Maru

Allied Ships
SS O21



SS O21 launches 4 torpedoes at TK Nichiei Maru
PB Chosa Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Chosa Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Chosa Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Chosa Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Chosa Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

that´s a nice one... very rare event seeing two out of 4 torps explode...

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Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 11
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 18



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 5 damaged



Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Adak Island at 162,52

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 14



Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied Ships
xAK Cold Brook
BB Maryland
DMS Zane
CLAA San Diego



Aircraft Attacking:
13 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

now at the latest Rainer has to know that we´ve got no carriers covering this invasion force. All we´ve got is one big amphib TF and two BBs with escorts as cover force. Got subs around Truk to pick up KB moving North but there´s no sign of KB... also got subs West of Adak but not far enough away to pick up KB if coming from Japan... perhaps Rainer just doesn´t care at all and this invasion being a feint doesn´t work... we´ll see...

one major improvement is seen here! Ships in different TFs but in the same hex can be attacked by an airstrike. The AK is part of the amphib TF while the other ships are part of the SC TF... nice work, well done [:)]

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ASW attack near Moppo at 99,53

Japanese Ships
xAK Sakido Maru
xAK Boston Maru
xAK Mansyu Maru
xAK Hague Maru
PB Ryusei Maru

Allied Ships
SS Permit



SS Permit is sighted by escort
Permit bottoming out ....
PB Ryusei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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Invasion Support action off Adak Island

26 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AP American Legion
AM Courtenay
xAP Kota Inten


Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

we keep unloading but are far from having completely unloaded...

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Ground combat at Adak Island (162,52)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3062 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 126

Defending force 18032 troops, 534 guns, 334 vehicles, Assault Value = 794



Assaulting units:
1st Garrison Unit
105th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
4th (Sep) Infantry Rgt /93
54th Cst Art Rgt /93
1st Marine Div /94
147th(Sep) Infantry Rgt /93
201st(Sep) Infantry Rgt /93
108th USN Base Force /93
215th Cst AA Rgt /93
107th USN Base Force /93
217th Cst AA Rgt /93


as you can see, my units still show up as fragments... this stays this way until the "parent" is completely unloaded, no matter if 99% of the unit has been unloaded already, it will stay a fragment. The 1st Marine div fragment is commanded by a Major instead of the MGen it used to have. If I would turn around my TF now, the troops would stay a fragment until I would have unloaded the parent somewhere else. Then the fragment would change into the parent and the MGen would teleport to his troops. A pity this isn´t working like air transport when a unit changes from a fragment to the parent as soon as the fragment reaches 50%+ of the unit load cost. So make sure you´ve got the time to unload everything when doing invasions... Would this be the invasion on New Guinea I wouldn´t have that much time...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 04, 42
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Invasion Support action off Adak Island

24 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AP American Legion
AM Courtenay


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


Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards

more unloading... [:D] boy, really have wrongly made up this invasion, I should have had FAR more ships. Problem is that I haven´t got more available... really thought some 80 ships would be enough for this force...

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ASW attack near Muntok at 51,89

Japanese Ships
PB Heimei Maru

Allied Ships
SS Grampus



SS Grampus is sighted by escort
Grampus bottoming out ....
PB Heimei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Heimei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Heimei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Heimei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Heimei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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ASW attack near Toyohara at 125,47

Japanese Ships
PB Okiyu Maru
PB Kaiun Maru

Allied Ships
SS O19



SS O19 launches 4 torpedoes at PB Okiyu Maru
PB Okiyu Maru fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Kaiun Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kaiun Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kaiun Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kaiun Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kaiun Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

duds... [:o]


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ASW attack near Tandjoengpinang at 50,85

Japanese Ships
PB Kantori Maru

Allied Ships
SS Argonaut



SS Argonaut is sighted by escort
Argonaut bottoming out ....
PB Kantori Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kantori Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kantori Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kantori Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kantori Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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Invasion Support action off Adak Island

29 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AP American Legion
AM Courtenay


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


Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Adak Island

13 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AP American Legion
AM Courtenay



Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

and we unload and unload and unload... invasion near the "real" frontline would be target of air and sea attacks on day two at the latest... we by far haven´t had unloaded on day two... Estimated need of ships to unload a division in max two days: 30 APs + 15 AKs...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Toyohara at 125,48

Japanese Ships
PB Yachiyo Maru
xAK Tatuha Maru

Allied Ships
SS O19



SS O19 launches 2 torpedoes at PB Yachiyo Maru
O19 diving deep ....
PB Yachiyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Yachiyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Yachiyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Yachiyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Yachiyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

next attack, missed... useless Dutch sub...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Hengyang , at 80,53

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 13



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 2 damaged



Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 2



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 31


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

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



Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 31

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 12


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged



Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead

if I could just figure out where the enemy Cap is coming from... too stupid to do so, my recon flights don´t show anything...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Lae , at 99,126

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 26
B-24D Liberator x 10


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 8 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged

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



Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 17

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Lae , at 99,126

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged



Airbase supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead

thunderstorms make hitting the airfield a lottery...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

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



Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 12


No Allied losses



Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 20

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

not to talk about how my strike packages look like... run into heavy Cap and even the heavy bombers are toast when going in piece meal liek today...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9


No Allied losses



Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 13

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 33


No Allied losses



Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 21

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

the Marauders attack in better numbers...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 18


No Allied losses

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



Runway hits 13

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

still a division together with a base force reported to be at PM... the airfield is closed and should never get operational within the next weeks so I don´t consider the level 2 airfield of Port Moresby being a threat to my invasion that is nearing Milne Bay... Milne Bay has got Rufes but there are also other aircraft reported, as there´s no airfield, we´re probably talking about some float planes... not being sighted is essential for our invasion, I don´t want to see KB popping up the day we unload our first troops... good move of Rainer not to build up the airfield as this means I can´t bomb his aircraft. Small oversight that was taken over from WITP, if there´s no airfield, there could be dozens of aircraft but they can´t be destroyed with air attacks...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Lae , at 99,126

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged



Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Adak Island at 162,52

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 14



Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
xAP Tjisadane
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 1
DMS Zane
CLAA San Diego



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

When I decided to invade Adak with what I´ve tasked to do the job I feared to meet KB (and lose two BBs with all the other stuff) but also wasn´t sure about Mrs. Betty and Mrs. Nell being able to drop torpedoes in this area. The attack yesterday made me happy already as the Betties are dropping bombs. Means no HQ in this area. Also the number of enemy bombers that have been flown in is very small... A 250kg bomb knocks out a secondary turret on Maryland though...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Emirau Island at 104,121

Japanese Ships
xAK Kozan Maru
CM Sokuten

Allied Ships
SS Tautog



SS Tautog launches 6 torpedoes at xAK Kozan Maru
Tautog diving deep ....
Sub escapes detection

duds of course...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Adak Island

8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AP American Legion
AM Courtenay



Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


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

Ground combat at Adak Island (162,52)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3062 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 128

Defending force 26268 troops, 684 guns, 544 vehicles, Assault Value = 795

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



Assaulting units:
1st Garrison Unit
105th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
4th (Sep) Infantry Rgt /93
147th(Sep) Infantry Rgt /93
54th Cst Art Rgt /93
1st Marine Div /94
201st(Sep) Infantry Rgt /93
108th USN Base Force /93
107th USN Base Force /93
215th Cst AA Rgt /93
217th Cst AA Rgt /93

day three of the invasion, we´re still stuck with fragments being commanded by useless low level officers... we´ve got more or less our full combat strenght on the beach already, only waiting for some support and trucks being unloaded... as soon as everything is off the ships, the fine Mr. MGen will land also... as the Milne Bay invasion is on it´s way already I can´t change the TF composition anyway but for future invasions I have to do it differently when being in danger to run into the enemy. I should have used at least twice the number of ships for this invasion, would mean 150+ for one div, 4 rgt plus support. Even though I´m the Allied, I just can´t affor to use 150 ships for such an invasion... so far I was lucky that nothing has gone wrong even though I´m unloading by far too long...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 05, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Adak Island

9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AP American Legion
AM Courtenay


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


Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Adak Island

8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AP American Legion
AM Courtenay


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


Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

needless to say, another full day of unloading... at the end of this day (day four) we finally have fully unloaded the first couple of units, including three of the four regiments... I´ve looked at the troops at the end of yesterday´s turn and thought that it could be worth a try to attack today already...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Adak Island

9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AP American Legion
AM Courtenay



Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Tioman Island at 52,84

Japanese Ships
xAK Kyokusei Maru
SC CHa-11

Allied Ships
SS Tuna



SS Tuna is sighted by escort
SC CHa-11 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-11 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-11 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-11 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-11 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2/5th Armoured Regiment, at 76,128 (Katherine)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 43 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22



No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
8 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 6000 feet
5 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 25000 feet
5 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet

the usual inability to escort bombers... [:D] hopefully this will also happen when I´ve got Cap somewhere...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 40th Field Artillery Regiment, at 76,128 (Katherine)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9



No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 25000 feet



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 40th Field Artillery Regiment, at 76,128 (Katherine)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 25
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 25



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 13 damaged
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)


Aircraft Attacking:
23 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
25 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 2/5th Armoured Regiment ...
Also attacking 1st Motor Brigade ...
Also attacking 1st Australian Division ...
Also attacking 40th Field Artillery Regiment ...
Also attacking 2/5th Armoured Regiment ...
Also attacking 40th Field Artillery Regiment ...
Also attacking 2/5th Armoured Regiment ...
Also attacking 1st Motor Brigade ...
Also attacking 1st Australian Division ...
Also attacking 40th Field Artillery Regiment ...
Also attacking 2/5th Armoured Regiment ...
Also attacking 40th Field Artillery Regiment ...
Also attacking 2/5th Armoured Regiment ...

got quite some flak in the hex but the enemy keeps flying low level attacks...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 55


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 12 damaged



Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 22

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead

launching a big strike today, severe storms are responsible for our bad hit rate... weather is the Japanese´s best friend... Buna, Lae and PM should not be able to launch an offensive strike against our invasion force and the rest are level 1 airfields in the area... the next "bigger" airfield (level 2) would be Gasmata, enemy troops reported there but I guess the main threat will be Rabaul´s airfield and KB of course if in the area (hope not [;)])... have flown limited recon over Rabaul but have not spotted large numbers of aircraft nor major naval forces... this means that if we are able to move in unspotted then at least the day we land there won´t be much of an airthreat out of Rabaul as the enemy first has to fly in his aircraft which is a fault IMO. I would keep a substantial number of strike aircraft at Rabaul as this is near the front. Having them at Truk (guess there are quite some ac) means you won´t do anything on day one and you´ve got fatigued crews from the transfer on day two...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged



Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Gasmata , at 103,127

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 31
B-24D Liberator x 14


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 11 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged



Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

we´re visiting Gasmata from Cooktown, normal range for the Liberators, extended range for the Fortresses... also here, severe storms prevent us from hitting the airfield hard... no enemy aircraft spotted...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 36


No Allied losses



Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

bad weather everywhere today... we only trash the airfields some more, without a bigger number of eng at the attacked bases the Japanese won´t have their airfields ready anytime soon and the airbases should be 100% damaged anyway so maintaining aircraft there will be problematic...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 9


No Allied losses



Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 8


No Allied losses



Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged



Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Adak Island at 162,52

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 14



Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 8 damaged

Allied Ships
xAP Maui, Bomb hits 1
BB Maryland
xAP Am. Press, Bomb hits 1
CLAA Atlanta



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

again one strike attacks two different TFs... really like that feature [:)] one AP was hit by a 250kg bomb, the other one by a 60kg bomb... none of the two is in danger of sinking...

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

now the shocking result of the day, no, of the last six months... [:(]

Ground combat at Katherine (76,128)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 81688 troops, 812 guns, 588 vehicles, Assault Value = 2948

Defending force 52384 troops, 764 guns, 1492 vehicles, Assault Value = 1771

Japanese adjusted assault: 1258

Allied adjusted defense: 524 [8|][8|]

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 [8|]

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-) (99% supplied)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
5308 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 306 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 264 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 34 disabled
Guns lost 8 (0 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 64 (2 destroyed, 62 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
10572 casualties reported
Squads: 304 destroyed, 181 disabled[8|]
Non Combat: 1010 destroyed, 452 disabled [8|][8|]
Engineers: 18 destroyed, 20 disabled
Guns lost 137 (77 destroyed, 60 disabled) [8|][8|]
Vehicles lost 601 (397 destroyed, 204 disabled) [8|][8|][8|][8|][8|]
Units retreated 29


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
16th Division
3rd Ind. Engineer Regiment
18th Division
54th Division
3rd Tank Regiment
21st Division
14th Tank Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
5th Division
2nd Division
16th Army
16th AA Regiment
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
40th JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
2/5th Armoured Regiment
2/10th Armoured Regiment
1st Australian Division
1st Motor Brigade
5th Australian Division
2/8th Armoured Regiment
3rd Australian Division
2nd Australian Division
2/7th Armoured Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
2/4th Armoured Regiment
3rd Motor Brigade
2/6th Armoured Regiment
2nd Recce Battalion
40th Field Artillery Regiment
96th Coast AA Regiment
94th Coast AA Regiment
226th Field Artillery Battalion
181st Field Artillery Regiment
183rd Field Artillery Regiment
I Australian Corps
21/22 Field Regiment
198th Field Artillery Battalion
II Australian Corps
10th RAAF Base Force
148th Field Artillery Battalion
168th Field Artillery Regiment
134th Field Artillery Battalion
249th Field Artillery Battalion
13th Australian Hvy AA Regiment

I just couldn´t believe my eyes. Yesterday we entered Katherine and without even doing a single bombardment to have a look what I moved in the enemy orders a deliberate attack and with ease mows down our units, kicking them out of the hex again.

To start off, with a working supply routine this movement of a whole Army shouldn´t be possible. I´m supplying all those troops with ease from Alice Springs, while I can´t supply Tennant Creek and Daly Waters at all which are on the way North. As long as you keep your units out of a hex, supplying them is not possible. So far so good, the supply routine is borked. Now the borked supply routine that enables me to march North, is compensated by a no way better working ground combat routine (this is no surprise and isn´t a real complaint either as we all have known what we got since day one of WITP - and it was even really improved since day one).

Unfortunately it´s all about assault points and not what is possible in real life when thinking about what is engaging what. I admit that I by far have underestimated the enemy troop strenght, I didn´t expect to meet six enemy divisions. Would someone have asked me if six Inf division would be a real threat to all the stuff I´ve brought then I would first have said "no". Even though I should know it better anyway... two reasons my first answer would have been that we would shred the Japanese: a) we´ve got a hell a lot of firepower with all those heavy tubes and b) this is a clear terrain hex and how on Earth would those Japanese inf divisions mow down all my tank units. There were a couple of hundred light and medium tanks! In clear terrain, against an attacker that has more or less no competitive anti tank weapon at all, better say, none for the offense! Yet, the inf divisions killed our tanks with ease while yelling Banzai and taking out our tanks with swords. The tale about Polish cavalry attacking German tanks come to mind, with the difference that the Polish cavalry just tried to get away and therefore charging towards the tanks and that the cavalry did not take out hundreds of tanks while the IJA inf division do this with ease.

All in all a completely screwed result, all is just about the assault value, our adjusted av is just a joke, pretty sure we had more than just a bit of bad luck. This of course totally wrecks this Army and I bet the enemy is now pursuing us. If he´s able to do so, we will lose the complete Australian Army division on the continent plus a dozen other units. I can´t complain because I should know better and the borked supply routine is only compensated by this result today, making my offensive impossible. Why I´ve got such a bad adjusted av is still beyond me though, the troops had 99% supply, no fat (amazing after such a march), no disruption at all. Even if our adjusted av would have been halved, we would have withstood this attack, but not when our adjusted av 29.58% of the base av. The tanks alone should have shredded such an attack in clear terrain in real life, this hex must be one of the perfect places for tank warfare, especially if you´re engaging Japanese infantry. Granted, there were also three IJA "tank" units but the Grants we´ve fielded here en masse should be sufficient to deal with the Japanese tankettes.

Oh well, lesson learnt. As if I wouldn´t have known... [;)] It´s a pity to know though that you can´t engage the Japanese in a "land war" and can only try to overwhelm them by hitting one base by amphibious assault after another. Our divs all had there squads upgraded and had massive firepower themselve as well as lots of artillery support and tanks en masse. As it stands now, you need at least two Allied divisions for each IJA division plus all the support and tank units I had to have a chance. As we all know, the Japanese fields far more divisions in total though so this makes a ground offensive obsolete pretty soon. From a JFB perspective though I´ve learned that I won´t need much more than 6 or 7 divs plus support to take out Australia if being opposed in open terrain or not in force with at least 3 divisions more.



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

Ground combat at Adak Island (162,52)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3062 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 128

Defending force 27486 troops, 687 guns, 556 vehicles, Assault Value = 802

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



Assaulting units:
1st Garrison Unit
105th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
201st(Sep) Infantry Regiment
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
4th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st Marine Div /94
54th Cst Art Rgt /93
217th Coast AA Regiment
108th USN Base Force
107th USN Base Force
215th Cst AA Rgt /93


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

Ground combat at Adak Island (162,52)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21977 troops, 441 guns, 389 vehicles, Assault Value = 802

Defending force 3720 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 126

Allied adjusted assault: 238

Japanese adjusted defense: 69

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1245 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 70 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 65 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled


Allied ground losses:
159 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)


Assaulting units:
4th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st Marine Div /94
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
201st(Sep) Infantry Regiment
54th Cst Art Rgt /93
217th Coast AA Regiment
108th USN Base Force
107th USN Base Force
215th Cst AA Rgt /93

Defending units:
1st Garrison Unit
105th JAAF AF Bn


that´s the good news of today... our adjusted av looks horrible (our troops are 100% prepped, have ample supply, no disruption or fat) though... but still, we don´t take any notable losses and I expect the base to fall tomorrow... no sight of KB or any IJN heavy forces and after finishing unloading tomorrow our TFs will sail home...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 06, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Perth at 45,146

Japanese Ships
SS I-162, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
AM Cairns
AM Outarde
AM Bunbury
AM Ballarat



SS I-162 is located by AM Cairns
I-162 diving deep ....
AM Outarde fails to find sub and abandons search
AM Cairns fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Cairns fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Cairns fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Cairns fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Cairns fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Cairns attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-162 forced to surface!
AM Bunbury firing on surfaced sub ....
AM Ballarat firing on surfaced sub ....
AM Bunbury firing on surfaced sub ....
AM Ballarat firing on surfaced sub ....
AM Bunbury firing on surfaced sub ....
AM Ballarat firing on surfaced sub ....
AM Bunbury firing on surfaced sub ....
AM Ballarat firing on surfaced sub ....
AM Bunbury firing on surfaced sub ....
AM Ballarat firing on surfaced sub ....
AM Bunbury firing on surfaced sub ....
AM Ballarat firing on surfaced sub ....
AM Cairns firing on surfaced sub ....
AM Bunbury firing on surfaced sub ....
AM Ballarat firing on surfaced sub ....
AM Cairns firing on surfaced sub ....
AM Bunbury firing on surfaced sub ....
AM Ballarat firing on surfaced sub ....
Contact with submarine is lost

My second class ASW vessels did quite good here, two hits with depth charges and the sub was forced to surface. We then engaged the sub with AA guns while the sub twice fired back with torps. The ability to fire back with torps in such a case should drastically be reduced, let alone firing twice or three times with torps. Remember that we´re talking about full salvoes by design.

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

Here comes the jump back onto New Guinea, guess this is somewhat surprising for Rainer:

Pre-Invasion action off Milne Bay

23 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Concord
CL Marblehead
CL Trenton
AMC Westralia
AM Kalgoorlie



CL Concord firing at 144th JAAF AF Bn
CL Marblehead firing at 144th JAAF AF Bn
CL Trenton firing at 144th JAAF AF Bn
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Milne Bay

TF 79 troops unloading over beach at Milne Bay, 101,133


Allied ground losses:
170 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (0 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Motorized Support accidentally lost during unload of 95th Cst AA Rgt
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad lost from landing craft during unload of 41st Infantry Div /93
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad 42 accidentally lost during unload of 113th USAAF Base Force /82
13 troops of a USA Rifle Squad 42 lost from landing craft during unload of 113th USAAF Base Force /82
10 troops of a Brit Inf Section lost from landing craft during unload of 18th British Div /93
10 troops of a Brit Inf Section lost from landing craft during unload of 18th British Div /96
Motorized Support damaged beyond repair during unload of 41st Infantry Div /109

there´s nothing at Milne Bay that could do real counterfire and the casualties we suffer are mostly due to accidents... we´ve got one 100 ship amphib TF with mostly troops (and supply) and another TF with 50 ships, mostly supplies. Problem here is that we´ve set the smaller TF to follow the bigger one, both were set to unload but I guess due to the follow order, the second TF did NOT start unloading, which means we lose a full day worth of supply unloading. Learned something again, don´t use the follow order if you also want to see your TF unloading when arriving at the target. The troops coming ashore in good shape is good news.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Milne Bay

11 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Concord
CL Marblehead
CL Trenton
AMC Westralia
AMC Monowai
AMC Hector
AM Kalgoorlie


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


CL Concord firing at 144th JAAF AF Bn
CL Marblehead firing at 5th Naval Construction Battalion
CL Trenton firing at 144th JAAF AF Bn
144th JAAF AF Bn firing at AMC Westralia
144th JAAF AF Bn firing at AMC Monowai
144th JAAF AF Bn firing at AMC Hector
AMC Monowai firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Balikpapan at 66,97

Japanese Ships
PB Bisan Maru #3
PB Banshu Maru #56

Allied Ships
SS Skipjack



SS Skipjack launches 4 torpedoes at PB Bisan Maru #3
Skipjack diving deep ....
PB Bisan Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Bisan Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Bisan Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Bisan Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Bisan Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

duds

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Singkawang at 53,87

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 26

Allied Ships
SS Argonaut, hits 3



SS Argonaut is sighted by escort
SC Ch 26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 26 attacking submerged sub ....
SC Ch 26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

I guess Argonaut is my most useless sub... last time she was heavily damaged just after arriving in her patrol zone, now more or less the same. A hit and two near misses, the sub has to retire... have to check the sub´s captain...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Koshiki-jima Retto at 100,60

Japanese Ships
PB Senyu Maru #2

Allied Ships
SS Grunion



SS Grunion is sighted by escort
PB Senyu Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Senyu Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Senyu Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Senyu Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Senyu Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Daly Waters , at 76,131

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 27



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 13 damaged


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


Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 44


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

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



Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 46

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead

still got no clue at all where the enemy fighters are coming from... a bomber was downed by flak, we don´t have to fear a single Zero unit at all, especially if we´re coming in with 44 bombers in one strike pack...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 8 damaged



Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Lae , at 99,126

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 26
B-24D Liberator x 12


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 8 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

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



Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 104

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead

light rain but the 38 bombers achieve an insane hit rate today...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 5 damaged



Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 27


No Allied losses



Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 28

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 9


No Allied losses

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



Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 13

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

keeping PM suppressed...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 9


No Allied losses



Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 9


No Allied losses



Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Nagasaki/Sasebo at 101,59

Japanese Ships
SC CHa-1
SC CHa-32

Allied Ships
SS Grunion



SS Grunion is sighted by escort
SC CHa-32 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-32 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-32 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-32 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-32 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Milne Bay

11 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AMC Westralia
AM Kalgoorlie



Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards

we had a full day unloading, it would take two more to have the TFs completely emptied over the beach... we won´t have that long though as I don´t know where KB really is and after looking at what the enemy really has there there´s no need to completely unload anyway.

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

Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3335 troops, 27 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 148

Defending force 13966 troops, 328 guns, 223 vehicles, Assault Value = 714

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



Assaulting units:
83rd Naval Guard Unit
82nd Naval Guard Unit
I/84th Naval Guard Unit
5th Naval Construction Battalion
144th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
18th British Div /107
41st Infantry Div /111
6th RAA Cst Art Rgt /95
4th RAN Base Force /95
113th USAAF Base Force /95
175th USAAF Base Force /95
206th Cst AA Rgt /95
95th Cst AA Rgt /95
12th RAAF Base Force /95
111th USN Base Force /95
4th Australian Lt AA Rgt /95

I´ve got no doubt we will take Milne Bay with ease... to my surprise, not a single land based aircraft attacked our invasion today... this means my invasion must have been a complete surprise to my opponent, first air attacks expected for tomorrow. If KB is at Truk, then I´ve still got a full day tomorrow to unload as the enemy carriers can´t sprint into range of Milne Bay in one day. Means we´re going to unload the whole day tomorrow and will then move out. The majority of my troops will be ashore by then and as soon as I´ve unloaded the small remaining fragments from the ships, the units at Milne will change into the parent units with their commanders.

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

Ground combat at Adak Island (162,52)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21807 troops, 441 guns, 388 vehicles, Assault Value = 791

Defending force 2897 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 75

Allied adjusted assault: 228

Japanese adjusted defense: 33

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Adak Island !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
857 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 74 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 81 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
161 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)


Assaulting units:
201st(Sep) Infantry Regiment
54th Coastal Artillery Regiment
4th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st Marine Division
108th USN Base Force
217th Coast AA Regiment
107th USN Base Force
215th Coast AA Regiment

Defending units:
1st Garrison Unit
105th JAAF AF Bn

the second deliberate attack takes Adak. Our first major invasion was a full success... we´re now going to build up the base and move in some support troops. Guess we´ll keep a strong garisson at Adak to keep the base safe of an IJN counterattack. With this invasion here being the feint for our attack on New Guinea anyway I doubt the enemy will focus on counterattacking as there should be enough work from now on to stall my offensive that I officially declare as started now! [:D]

You don´t have to be a genius to figure out that Milne Bay is only the beginning and that we´re going to focus on the "Southern" tip of New Guinea now. There´s only one thing that could really stop us in the next months, which would be the destruction of our carrier fleet without losses to the enemy carriers. Usually I would say this is unlikely as we´re able to field nearly 600 carrier aircraft in this region but I´m going to stay cautious for the next months. Therefore we´re also going to heavily rely on our LBA, especially fighters. A level 4 airfield can field 200 fighters and as long as we´re staying with the range of such an airfield we´re going to outnumber KB´s fighter strenght at least 2.5:1. Of course we will have to guard such an airfield with heavy surface combat forces, this shouldn´t be that much of a problem as we´ve got enough BBs on hand. Remember, I haven´t lost a single BB at Pearl Harbour even though 6 showed up as heavily damaged with 5 in sinking condition after the first day. Two of the BBs have been completely repaired already, one looks good, the other three are still 6 months out of action. We´ve also got some British BBs operating out of Australia, so if Rainer really decides to throw in the IJN then I expect it to be bloody. If we can get our LBA into play then he should lose. Especially when I think about Sydney, when 300 of my land based fighters took out 250 fighters/bombers from KB without suffering more than two dozen losses.

I expect it to become more interesting from now on... [8D] We´re not in a hurry and the more methodically we move forward the more we´re gonna hurt the enemy. The only drawback at the moment is the fact that the six enemy divisions kicked our Australian Army out of Katherine and are now pursuing us South towards Daly Waters.

[Wirraway_Ace]

Castor, the battle of "Kathrine Pass" was ugly. I don't understand why your adjusted AV was so low. What were the experience levels of your major OZ formations?

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Singkawang at 53,87

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 26

Allied Ships
SS Argonaut, hits 3



SS Argonaut is sighted by escort
SC Ch 26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 26 attacking submerged sub ....
SC Ch 26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

I guess Argonaut is my most useless sub... last time she was heavily damaged just after arriving in her patrol zone, now more or less the same. A hit and two near misses, the sub has to retire... have to check the sub´s captain...

Argonaut was old, big and slow. Definitely not suited for frontline patrol duties by 1942. She was originally designed as a minelayer and carried the distinction of being the largest sub built by the USN until the advent of the nuc boats. She has two 6 inch deck guns, so some players like to put an aggressive CO with a high naval rating aboard and send her in search of unescorted convoys to surface attack.

I have had luck with her. She carries MK10s if I recall correctly, so at least her torps work most of the time. Just keep her away from moderate-high threat environments.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

Castor, the battle of "Kathrine Pass" was ugly. I don't understand why your adjusted AV was so low. What were the experience levels of your major OZ formations?

Exp for the Aussie divs was around 50, you can´t get it higher with "training" (means having them at 100% preparation) IIRC. Meeting 6 enemy IJA divs was of course something that I a) didn´t expect and b) of course a force big enough that I wouldn´t expect it to be beaten. But to be thrown back without any problem when I was fielding hundreds of tanks and a hell a lot of artillery, alltogether in an open hex was mmmm... off...

In WITP and AE terms, I would have been able to hold in a rough hex or wooden hex. But not in a hex that is perfectly suited for tanks as this isn´t modelled. All that counts is getting assault value to win or lose. Of course firepower is a factor for the losses you inflict but in the end, assault value is all that counts. The fact that IJA divs would be more or less helpless on the offensive when going against a "Panzerarmee" isn´t modelled either and the net result is a shocking result for the Allied. But like I´ve mentioned earlier, I shouldn´t be able to move my Army North in this region as there would just not be a chance to supply them. So the endresult is ok yet again as the "borked" supply routine is compensated by a "screwed" combat routine. [:D] All is well... [;)]

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

ORIGINAL: castor troy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Singkawang at 53,87

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 26

Allied Ships
SS Argonaut, hits 3



SS Argonaut is sighted by escort
SC Ch 26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 26 attacking submerged sub ....
SC Ch 26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

I guess Argonaut is my most useless sub... last time she was heavily damaged just after arriving in her patrol zone, now more or less the same. A hit and two near misses, the sub has to retire... have to check the sub´s captain...

Argonaut was old, big and slow. Definitely not suited for frontline patrol duties by 1942. She was originally designed as a minelayer and carried the distinction of being the largest sub built by the USN until the advent of the nuc boats. She has two 6 inch deck guns, so some players like to put an aggressive CO with a high naval rating aboard and send her in search of unescorted convoys to surface attack.

I have had luck with her. She carries MK10s if I recall correctly, so at least her torps work most of the time. Just keep her away from moderate-high threat environments.

the deck guns and the MK-10 torps made me think she would be of good use but she isn´t in this campaign... spending her time on transfer and in between a week in shipyard again. I don´t know if the real life situation is modelled in the game but I have to admit that I didn´t compare her stats with other subs in the editor.

[Wirraway_Ace]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

Castor, the battle of "Kathrine Pass" was ugly. I don't understand why your adjusted AV was so low. What were the experience levels of your major OZ formations?

Exp for the Aussie divs was around 50, you can´t get it higher with "training" (means having them at 100% preparation) IIRC.

Castor, I believe Aussie units can train up to 65. Only units that can train to a higher standard are US Marines (70). There is a table in the manual that gives the different training maximums by nationality. Makes for interesting reading. Soviet units can train to 60 while the Brits I believe are limited to 50. I assume the Soviet number does not reflect individual or even unit proficiency, but rather the overall sophistication of Soviet doctrine. US Army is limited to 60, although it probably produced the best trained individual soldier, it suffered from relatively weak junior officer training.

[wpurdom]

Argonaut, Nautilaus and Narwhal were soon retired from torpedo operations and put on minelaying and special supply/(rarely)troop missions IRL (e.g., the Makin raid).

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: Wirraway_Ace

Castor, the battle of "Kathrine Pass" was ugly. I don't understand why your adjusted AV was so low. What were the experience levels of your major OZ formations?

Exp for the Aussie divs was around 50, you can´t get it higher with "training" (means having them at 100% preparation) IIRC.

Castor, I believe Aussie units can train up to 65. Only units that can train to a higher standard are US Marines (70). There is a table in the manual that gives the different training maximums by nationality. Makes for interesting reading. Soviet units can train to 60 while the Brits I believe are limited to 50. I assume the Soviet number does not reflect individual or even unit proficiency, but rather the overall sophistication of Soviet doctrine. US Army is limited to 60, although it probably produced the best trained individual soldier, it suffered from relatively weak junior officer training.

you are right, Aussie troops can train to 65. I´m not at home at the moment so I can´t check and when I stated that my units were all around 50 I did with the assumption that they were training for months already so they would have reached the exp cap which was 50 I thought. Australian troops can be trained as high as the US Marines.



The following table details the maximum level a unit may train to, based on its Nationality:
IJ Army 55 IJ Navy 50
US Navy 50 US Army 60
US Marines 65 Australian 65
New Zealand 55 British 55
French 55 Dutch 50
Chinese 45 Soviet 60
Indian 55 Commonwealth 55
Philippines 45 Canada 50

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: wpurdom

Argonaut, Nautilaus and Narwhal were soon retired from torpedo operations and put on minelaying and special supply/(rarely)troop missions IRL (e.g., the Makin raid).

It may just be bad luck perhaps with Argonaut for me, Nautilus and Narwhal perform just like the other subs, can´t see much of a difference. Not really succesful of course, they carry MK-14 torps.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 07, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Milne Bay

14 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AMC Westralia
AM Kalgoorlie



Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Milne Bay
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

19 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
PG Moresby
PC Reliance
PC Tiger
xAK Elisavet



PG Moresby firing at 82nd Naval Guard Unit
PC Reliance firing at enemy troops
PC Tiger firing at enemy troops
PG Moresby firing at enemy troops

some more unloading...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Milne Bay

TF 92 troops unloading over beach at Milne Bay, 101,133





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Donggala at 69,96

Japanese Ships
PB Bisan Maru #3
PB Banshu Maru #56

Allied Ships
SS Seal



SS Seal is located by PB Bisan Maru #3
Seal diving deep ....
PB Bisan Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Bisan Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Bisan Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Bisan Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Bisan Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Milne Bay at 101,134

Japanese Ships
SS RO-33, hits 2

Allied Ships
CA Houston
CL Nashville
CL Phoenix
CL St. Louis
DD Helm
DD Blue
DD Bagley
DD Gridley
DD Craven
DD Jarvis
DD Patterson



SS RO-33 is sighted by escort
RO-33 diving deep ....
DD Gridley attacking submerged sub ....
DD Craven fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Jarvis attacking submerged sub ....
DD Patterson attacking submerged sub ....
DD Gridley fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Jarvis attacking submerged sub ....
DD Patterson fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Jarvis attacking submerged sub ....
SS RO-33 eludes ASW attack from DD Jarvis
DD Jarvis cannot reach attack position over SS RO-33
DD Jarvis attacking submerged sub ....
DD Jarvis is out of ASW ammo
DD Jarvis is out of ASW ammo
DD Jarvis is out of ASW ammo
DD Jarvis is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub

one of our SC TFs engages an enemy sub... Jarvis ran out of depth charges, Patterson and Gridley are low on DCs... the result was two near misses...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Milne Bay at 101,134

Japanese Ships
SS RO-33, hits 2, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Warspite
BC Repulse
CL Mauritius
CL Achilles
DD Mustin
DD Morris
DD Walke
DD O'Brien
DD Russell



SS RO-33 is sighted by escort
DD Morris fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Walke fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD O'Brien attacking submerged sub ....
DD Russell fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Morris attacking submerged sub ....
DD Walke fails to find sub and abandons search
DD O'Brien attacking submerged sub ....
SS RO-33 eludes ASW attack from DD O'Brien
Escort abandons search for sub

second SC TF in this hex engages the sub also, this time achieving a real hit and a near miss... I was shocked to see that this TF also was at Milne Bay, I´ve obviously screwed up the follow orders. This TF was the cover for my carriers and if this TF is at Milne it would mean my carriers are too which turned out to be that case. Oh boy, my fault, wrong follow orders... [X(]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Nagasaki/Sasebo at 101,59

Japanese Ships
SC CHa-1
SC CHa-32

Allied Ships
SS Grunion



SS Grunion is sighted by escort
Grunion diving deep ....
SC CHa-32 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-32 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-32 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-32 attacking submerged sub ....
SC CHa-32 cannot establish contact with SS Grunion
SS Grunion eludes ASW attack from SC CHa-32
SS Grunion eludes ASW attack from SC CHa-32
SS Grunion eludes ASW attack from SC CHa-32
SC CHa-32 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Milne Bay

31 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AMC Westralia
AM Kalgoorlie


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


Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Milne Bay
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

12 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DD La Triomphant
PC Reliance
PC Tiger
xAK Elisavet



DD La Triomphant firing at 144th JAAF AF Bn
PC Reliance firing at enemy troops
PC Tiger firing at enemy troops
DD La Triomphant firing at enemy troops

unloading takes too long, also here, I would have needed far more ships... an invasion with two divs plus support takes 200-225 ships in my estimates to unload in short order...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Milne Bay

27 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AMC Westralia
AM Kalgoorlie


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


Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Milne Bay
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
PC Reliance
PC Tiger
xAK Elisavet



PC Reliance firing at enemy troops
PC Tiger firing at enemy troops


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Truk at 108,111

Japanese Ships
AMC Aikoku Maru
DMS Taneko

Allied Ships
SS Tautog



SS Tautog launches 4 torpedoes at AMC Aikoku Maru
Tautog diving deep ....
DMS Taneko fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Taneko fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Taneko fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Taneko fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Taneko fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

rare miss...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Tsushima at 102,56

Japanese Ships
xAK Nitiran Maru
PB Ichiyo Maru

Allied Ships
SS Finback



SS Finback launches 6 torpedoes at xAK Nitiran Maru
Finback diving deep ....
PB Ichiyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Ichiyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Ichiyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Ichiyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Ichiyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

and duds...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2nd Australian Division, at 76,129

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5



No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet

attempt to escort bombers... failed as usual... [:D]

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

Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
A6M2-N Rufe x 5
G4M1 Betty x 10



Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 8
Martlet II x 6
F4F-3A Wildcat x 5
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed



CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3A Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-42 with F4F-3 Wildcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-3 Wildcat (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
No.800 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
No.881 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
No.888 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead

hmm, have screwed up the follow orders of only one of the SC TFs, both my SC TFs are at Milne Bay but the two carrier TFs are in the hex they were expected to be, together with two ASW TFs. Wanted to have one SC TF covering the carriers though. This is leaking Cap to Milne Bay as I´ve got all my fighters to Cap 70% escort. Being dived on endlessly the enemy had no chance. First we took care of most of the escorts to then take down all bombers without having one getting through to do a bomb run...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2nd Australian Division, at 76,129

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 27
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 27



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 15 damaged
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 2 destroyed, 12 damaged


Allied ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
27 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 1st Motor Brigade ...
Also attacking 2nd Australian Division ...
Also attacking 1st Motor Brigade ...
Also attacking 2nd Australian Division ...
Also attacking 1st Motor Brigade ...
Also attacking 2nd Australian Division ...
Also attacking 1st Motor Brigade ...
Also attacking 2nd Australian Division ...
Also attacking 1st Motor Brigade ...
Also attacking 2nd Australian Division ...
Also attacking 1st Motor Brigade ...

really got strong flak here, I guess Rainer wants to slow my troops down to be able to pursue them. If he´ll be succesful then my Australian Army will die...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
A6M2-N Rufe x 4
G3M3 Nell x 15



Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 11
Martlet II x 6
F4F-3A Wildcat x 5
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed
G3M3 Nell: 6 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Idaho
xAK Kiangsu



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3A Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-42 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-3 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
No.800 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
No.881 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
No.888 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes

another strike in the afternoon, this time nearly halve of the bombers made it through to drop torpedoes but all missed... the escorts were hit hard again for light losses on the defender´s side. Being on escort and being dived on by the Cap is absolutely deadly...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,134

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
G4M1 Betty x 5



Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 8
Martlet II x 15
F4F-3A Wildcat x 20
F4F-3 Wildcat x 32
F4F-4 Wildcat x 28


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed




CAP engaged:
No.881 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
No.888 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-2 with F4F-3A Wildcat (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-42 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 37500.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
No.800 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 34200.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes

another small strike, this time against my carriers. I was amazed to see only such a small Cap over my carriers, while 103 fighters were easily enough to deal with only a handful of enemy aircraft, I expected to see at least 150 Cap fighters. In the end it was a turkey shoot today, those daitais coming from Rabaul were trashed today... between 50 to 60 enemy aircraft were downed today for the loss of 4 of our fighters. Amazingly to me, the F4F-4 proved to perform better than the F4F-3 versions. I deliberetely kept F4F-3 and F4F-3A in two of the carrier based fighter squadrons as I´ve thought they would outperform the F4F-4. One engagement isn´t enough to really make a decision and we don´t have a lot of F4F-3 left so I´ll upgrade them soon anyway. Especially the fighters of the British carriers fought excellently today, outperforming their USN comrades.

This attack today was the point for me to order our TFs to move out again. We haven´t completely unloaded (halve of our units are fully unloaded while the rest is a "fragment" with nearly full strenght of the total unit) but what is there already is easily enough to take the base. The US inf division is fully unloaded while the British div stays a fragment commanded by a low level officer. I expect KB to be around soon anyway so it´s time to move out back under the umbrella of hundreds of land based fighters, a hundred Marauders and not to forget my 130 heavy bombers. Only a small TF will be left back to unload some more supplies...



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Nakadori-jima at 101,56

Japanese Ships
DD Okikaze

Allied Ships
SS Grunion, hits 1



SS Grunion is located by DD Okikaze
DD Okikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Okikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Okikaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Okikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Okikaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Okikaze is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub

Grunion takes a near miss...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Milne Bay

31 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AMC Westralia
AM Kalgoorlie


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


Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Milne Bay
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

11 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
PC Reliance
PC Tiger
xAK Elisavet



PC Reliance firing at enemy troops
PC Tiger firing at enemy troops


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

Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3335 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 148

Defending force 29610 troops, 767 guns, 665 vehicles, Assault Value = 921

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



Assaulting units:
82nd Naval Guard Unit
83rd Naval Guard Unit
I/84th Naval Guard Unit
5th Naval Construction Battalion
144th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
41st Infantry Division
6th RAA Coastal Artillery Regiment
18th British Div /107
111th USN Base Force /95
95th Coast AA Regiment
4th RAN Base Force /95
175th USAAF Base Force
12th RAAF Base Force /95
206th Cst AA Rgt /95
113th USAAF Base Force /95
4th Australian Lt AA Rgt /95


this force should be sufficient to take the base... what is left on the ships will be unloaded at my bases on the Aussie coast and the fragments at Milne Bay will then convert into the parent units...

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

Ground combat at Adak Island (162,52)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 21874 troops, 445 guns, 393 vehicles, Assault Value = 784

Defending force 1866 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 13

Allied adjusted assault: 215

Japanese adjusted defense: 3

Allied assault odds: 71 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1957 casualties reported
Squads: 102 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 131 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1


Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
201st(Sep) Infantry Regiment
4th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
54th Coastal Artillery Regiment
1st Marine Division
217th Coast AA Regiment
107th USN Base Force
108th USN Base Force
215th Coast AA Regiment

Defending units:
1st Garrison Unit
105th JAAF AF Bn

wow, looks like killing off the enemy units seem to be no problem, not even taking real losses doing so... looks like a vast improvement over WITP... one unit was whiped out in this attack...

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

Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20293 troops, 486 guns, 411 vehicles, Assault Value = 921

Defending force 5068 troops, 40 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 147

Allied adjusted assault: 247

Japanese adjusted defense: 133

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
975 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 69 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Assaulting units:
41st Infantry Division
6th RAA Coastal Artillery Regiment
18th British Div /107
95th Coast AA Regiment
12th RAAF Base Force /95
113th USAAF Base Force /95
175th USAAF Base Force
4th RAN Base Force /95
206th Cst AA Rgt /95
111th USN Base Force /95
4th Australian Lt AA Rgt /95

Defending units:
83rd Naval Guard Unit
82nd Naval Guard Unit
I/84th Naval Guard Unit
5th Naval Construction Battalion
144th JAAF AF Bn

our adjusted av looked worse than I´ve thought and we fail to take the base in the first attempt... no biggy, I´m pretty sure we´ll take the base tomorrow... also here, we don´t suffer at all (neither from the landings nor from the attack) and our units will be in perfect shape after the base will fall...

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

Japanese Unit(s) surrounded at Adak Island

and the second Japanese unit on Adak surrendered... hurrey both our invasions really run smoothly...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 08, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Milne Bay
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

20 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AM Muritai
xAKL Mulubinda



AM Muritai firing at enemy troops


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Milne Bay

TF 54 troops unloading over beach at Milne Bay, 101,133

unloading supplies from the small TF that was left behind...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Mussau Island at 106,115

Japanese Ships
DD Urakaze
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
CL Abukuma
DD Umikaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Murasame
DD Shigure

Allied Ships
SS Tautog, hits 1

SS Tautog launches 4 torpedoes at DD Urakaze
Tautog diving deep ....
DD Umikaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Kawakaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Murasame fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Shigure fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shigure fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shigure attacking submerged sub ....
DD Shigure fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shigure fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

KB is in the house... As usual, an escort is targetted and hit but the torps were duds... Tautog takes a hit in return and is out of action, returning to Townsville with 40 flt damage... would be nice to target a capitol ship sometimes even though the frustration would be even bigger to see duds...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Balikpapan at 64,98

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 8

Allied Ships
SS Seal



SS Seal launches 4 torpedoes at SC Ch 8
Seal bottoming out ....
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 8 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

more duds...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Milne Bay
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AM Muritai
xAKL Mulubinda



AM Muritai firing at enemy troops


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Milne Bay
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

13 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AM Muritai
xAKL Mulubinda



AM Muritai firing at enemy troops


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Australian Division, at 76,129

Weather in hex: Clear sky

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5



No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet

more unsuccesful attempts trying to escort bombers...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Australian Division, at 76,129

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 27
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 27



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 26 damaged
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 destroyed, 15 damaged


Allied ground losses:
73 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 4 (0 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Aircraft Attacking:
26 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
26 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 1st Australian Division ...
Also attacking 3rd Australian Division ...
Also attacking 1st Australian Division ...
Also attacking 3rd Australian Division ...
Also attacking 1st Australian Division ...
Also attacking 3rd Australian Division ...
Also attacking 1st Australian Division ...
Also attacking 3rd Australian Division ...
Also attacking 1st Australian Division ...
Also attacking 3rd Australian Division ...
Also attacking 1st Australian Division ...

Rainer tries to slow us down... we´re running South, the enemy is pursuing us...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Changteh , at 81,50

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 11
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 14



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 damaged



Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 15

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 100 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Lae , at 99,126

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 10 [:o]



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 19
B-24D Liberator x 9


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 6 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

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



Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead

seeing more than just a handful of Niks is always concerning... a Nik is worth three Zeroes... and I can still not figure out where those fighters are coming from nor what this is, Cap, LRCAP or leaking Cap... all airfields are reported empty... doing "recon" with dozens of bombers during the attacks and with dedicated recon squadrons (three of them) that are supported by three Aussie patrol squadrons... all airfields are reported empty and we still meet fighters all the time... stealth...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 24


No Allied losses



Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 42

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

while it´s not that a big deal to meet fighters when you´re employing heavy bombers, it could be deadly if the medium bombers meet enemy fighters... a dozen Niks supported by some Zeroes can take out 15-20 Marauders with ease... have to be very careful with the medium bombers, they´re fragile and the replacement numbers will be smaller than those of the heavy bombers...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 12


No Allied losses

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



Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 27

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

attacking in good weather unopposed nets some good results though...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 9


No Allied losses



Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 15

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

doubt that the enemy will ever be able to use Port Moresby´s airfield...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 9


No Allied losses



Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 17

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Lae , at 99,126

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 5


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged



Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead
264th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Milne Bay
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

13 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AM Muritai
xAKL Mulubinda



AM Muritai firing at enemy troops


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

Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2581 troops, 23 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 94

Defending force 29592 troops, 767 guns, 666 vehicles, Assault Value = 915

Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)



Assaulting units:
83rd Naval Guard Unit
82nd Naval Guard Unit
I/84th Naval Guard Unit
5th Naval Construction Battalion
144th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
6th RAA Coastal Artillery Regiment
41st Infantry Division
18th British Div /107
4th RAN Base Force /95
95th Coast AA Regiment
12th RAAF Base Force
175th USAAF Base Force
206th Cst AA Rgt /95
113th USAAF Base Force
111th USN Base Force /95
4th Australian Lt AA Rgt /95


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

Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20222 troops, 486 guns, 411 vehicles, Assault Value = 915

Defending force 4310 troops, 37 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 94

Allied adjusted assault: 318

Japanese adjusted defense: 63

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Milne Bay !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
863 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 64 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 38 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 5


Allied ground losses:
71 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
41st Infantry Division
6th RAA Coastal Artillery Regiment
18th British Div /107
175th USAAF Base Force
111th USN Base Force /95
113th USAAF Base Force
12th RAAF Base Force
95th Coast AA Regiment
206th Cst AA Rgt /95
4th RAN Base Force /95
4th Australian Lt AA Rgt /95

Defending units:
82nd Naval Guard Unit
83rd Naval Guard Unit
I/84th Naval Guard Unit
5th Naval Construction Battalion
144th JAAF AF Bn


[:)] Milne Bay falls to our second attack... the invasion was more or less a full success, we took the base without suffering any notable losses, we took down 60+ enemy aircraft for only halve a dozen of our ac lost and we´ve now got a strong presence on New Guinea again...

KB didn´t show up to intervene and I was not sure what really happened, perhaps my Adak invasion as a feint was succesful or KB was somewhere else. Rainer said I showed some good timing, he had some carriers for refit and they weren´t at Truk early enough again and he didn´t want to use a couple of his carriers against probably all Allied carriers. The small air raids from Rabaul weren´t a threat and we´ve now got a base that where we can build a level 8 airfield. Will only take a couple of days to have it from 0 to 2 and then we can base 100 fighters there already, making it easier to cover any reinforce moves to Milne Bay. Both Buna and PM are in fighter range from Milne Bay then and it won´t make life easier for the Japanese. Their best chance would have been to throw everything against the invasion immedietely. Without all carriers nearby this chance has passed and if I will be able to build up, the odds are on my side in this area. We´ve got 350-400 Allied fighters in Australia (all fully trained) with 200 fighters as reserve in the pool. In 9/42 the P-40K enters production, 90 will leave the factory each month. Compared to the E model, the K has excellent stats and I hope this will make life really hard for the Japanese. As it stands now, we can easily deal with Oscars and Zeroes when employing F4F-4, P-40E, P-39, P-400 or Hurricanes, the "only" worrying enemy fighter is the Tojo. Not even our Lightnings are a match for them so this could be a problem. Means the main threat will be the IJA fighter force.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 09, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Emirau Island at 108,115

Japanese Ships
PB Shotoku Maru

Allied Ships
SS Nautilus



SS Nautilus launches 4 torpedoes
Nautilus diving deep ....
PB Shotoku Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shotoku Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shotoku Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shotoku Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shotoku Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Mk-14 duds...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Tioman Island at 52,84

Japanese Ships
DD Nagatsuki
DD Mikazuki

Allied Ships
SS Tuna



SS Tuna launches 4 torpedoes at DD Nagatsuki
Tuna bottoming out ....
DD Mikazuki fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Nagatsuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Nagatsuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Nagatsuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Nagatsuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Nagatsuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

more of them...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Tandjoengpinang at 51,85

Japanese Ships
PB Shonon Maru #10

Allied Ships
SS Argonaut



SS Argonaut is sighted by escort
Argonaut bottoming out ....
PB Shonon Maru #10 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shonon Maru #10 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shonon Maru #10 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shonon Maru #10 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shonon Maru #10 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

useless Argonaut (damaged) on her way to homeport...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Lingga at 51,87

Japanese Ships
TK Teikai Maru
TK Shinetsu Maru
TK Fukoku Maru
TK Katsukawa Maru
PB Teiko Maru

Allied Ships
SS Grampus



SS Grampus is sighted by escort
Grampus bottoming out ....
PB Teiko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Teiko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Teiko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Teiko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Teiko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


fat tanker TF is screened by this PB... and that´s it for today...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 10, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Truk at 111,109

Japanese Ships
PB Shotoku Maru

Allied Ships
SS Nautilus


SS Nautilus launches 4 torpedoes
Nautilus diving deep ....
PB Shotoku Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shotoku Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shotoku Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shotoku Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shotoku Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

duds as usual...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Cape Gloucester at 101,124

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
DD Yayoi
DD Kisaragi
DD Mutsuki

Allied Ships
SS S-18



SS S-18 launches 4 torpedoes at CA Furutaka
S-18 diving deep ....
DD Yayoi attacking submerged sub ....
DD Kisaragi fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Mutsuki attacking submerged sub ....
SS S-18 eludes ASW attack from DD Mutsuki
DD Yayoi fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Mutsuki attacking submerged sub ....
SS S-18 eludes DD Mutsuki by diving deep
DD Mutsuki loses contact with SS S-18
DD Mutsuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Mutsuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Mutsuki attacking submerged sub ....
DD Mutsuki cannot establish contact with SS S-18
DD Mutsuki loses contact with SS S-18
SS S-18 eludes ASW attack from DD Mutsuki
DD Mutsuki cannot reach attack position over SS S-18
DD Mutsuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Mutsuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub



now that was the first really succesful attack by a S-class sub in this campaign... two out of four torps slam into the heavy cruiser... first I´ve thought this would be one of the Tokyo Express TFs but there were no ground casualties so perhaps the IJN takes position to intervene with my buildup of Milne Bay? I´m not sure what this TF really is doing here, perhaps resupplying Lae or one of the surrounding bases. Two Mk-10 torps could mean trouble for a heavy cruiser, guess the chances to see it sink are 40:60. Next bigger port is Truk but there´s no shipyard which means no maj flt will be repaired there. This just made me think about the problems the Japanese will face in this region. Even if they manage to get a heavily damaged ship back to Truk, it should be stuck there then because Truk can´t repair any major flt damage of capitol ships. [8D] We´ve got Sydney at least, where we can repair ships up to a tonnage of 30.000 tons. Bigger BBs and CVs have to go to Pearl, the West Coast of Cape Town though. Did Cape Town really have such a big shipyard in WWII? [&:]

So basically we could face the same situation with our bigger ships just like the Japanese. Lots of major flt damage and our ships will be stuck in some port without having a chance to move it to a bigger shipyard. This really could be a problem and I´m not sure there wouldn´t have been a possibility in real life or patching a heavily damaged ship up to move it somewhere. I wouldn´t dare to move a CV or BB with 50 major flt damage from Sydney to the US West Coast. Which would mean it would be stuck in Sydney forever if the ship´s tonnage is above 30.000 tons.