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

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 24, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Oita at 104,61

Japanese Ships
E Kamo
E Kiji

Allied Ships
SS Grunion



SS Grunion is sighted by escort
E Kamo fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kiji fails to find sub and abandons search
E Kamo fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kamo fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kamo fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kamo fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

I´m not amazed about the reports of PBEM players in later stages of their games that their subs are dead meat with more and more of those E ships being available... at the moment I have 2 subs put out of action in five days usually... not sunk but with enough damage to be sent home, which means with the distance going back and forth, a sub usually isn´t on patrol for 4-6 weeks, depending on damage... repairing the subs only takes a couple of days from being completely destroyed to brand new, the new repair routines aren´t working for small ships IMO... having a sub in sinking condition being repaired in three or four days is a joke... in real life it took longer to patch up undamaged subs in between their patrols than it takes in the game when they are heavily damaged... a sub isn´t a rowboat...

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Sub attack near Naha at 96,66

Japanese Ships
xAK Banshu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
PB Choun Maru #21

Allied Ships
SS Whale



SS Whale launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Banshu Maru
Whale diving deep ....
PB Choun Maru #21 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Choun Maru #21 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Choun Maru #21 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Choun Maru #21 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Choun Maru #21 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

at least we get more freighter kills in 43 than before...

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Sub attack near Oita at 104,61

Japanese Ships
E Kiji
E Kamo

Allied Ships
SS Grunion



Captain of SS Grunion elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
Grunion diving deep ....
E Kamo fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kiji fails to find sub and abandons search
E Kamo fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kamo fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kamo fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kamo attacking submerged sub ....
E Kamo is out of ASW ammo
E Kamo is out of ASW ammo
E Kamo fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

not attacking at all but being target of extensive attacks is a good idea... Kamo dropped a full load of DCs for no hits... lucky Grunion...

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Sub attack near Tsushima at 102,56

Japanese Ships
xAKL Kensho Maru
xAKL Bunzan Maru
SC CHa-26

Allied Ships
SS Seadragon



Captain of SS Seadragon elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
Seadragon diving deep ....
SC CHa-26 attacking submerged sub ....
SC CHa-26 cannot reach attack position over SS Seadragon
SC CHa-26 cannot establish contact with SS Seadragon
SC CHa-26 loses contact with SS Seadragon
SC CHa-26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

not even attacking freighters and being target for the escorts is even a better idea... also the SC missed with all DCs...

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Sub attack near Kobe at 107,61

Japanese Ships
SC CHa-22
SC CHa-43
SC CHa-35

Allied Ships
SS Harder



Captain of SS Harder elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
Harder diving deep ....
SC CHa-43 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-35 fails to find sub and abandons search
SC CHa-43 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-43 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-43 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-43 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Naha at 96,66

Japanese Ships
xAK Banshu Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Whale



xAK Banshu Maru is sighted by SS Whale
SS Whale launches 4 torpedoes

that one is a kill...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Oita at 104,61

Japanese Ships
E Hato
E Kiji

Allied Ships
SS Grunion



SS Grunion is located by E Hato
Grunion diving deep ....
E Kiji fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kiji fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kiji fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kiji fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Kiji fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Buna at 100,129

Japanese Ships
SS RO-61

Allied Ships
DD Gwin
DD Dunlap
DD Meade



SS RO-61 is sighted by escort
DD Dunlap fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Meade fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Meade fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Meade fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


today completely focussed on the sub war...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 25, 43
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ASW attack near Port Kembla at 90,170

Japanese Ships
SS I-38

Allied Ships
DE John D. Ford
AO Guadalupe
AO Cimarron
DE Pillsbury
DE Peary



SS I-38 is sighted by escort
DE Pillsbury fails to find sub and abandons search
DE Peary fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

sending some AOs to pick up fuel for the fleet, the escorts did their job... I´m desperetely short of fuel, even though I´ve used my tanker fleet since day one of the war... only using US tankers to supply the USN in Australia is by far not enough, some time ago I´ve started to also use big AK convoys to ferry fuel, each carrying around 100.000 fuel... using xAKs for this leaves a bit of a strange smell though but at the same time I guess the whole USN tanker fleet would have been enough to ferry the fuel needed by the USN but that´s not the case... and I don´t have a single US fuel being sucked up by Australia´s HI because I don´t unload fuel at any of those Australian bases...

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Sub attack near Toyohara at 125,47

Japanese Ships
xAK Sansei Maru
PB Uruboko Maru

Allied Ships
SS O19



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

missed...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Buna at 100,129

Japanese Ships
SS RO-61, hits 9

Allied Ships
DD Woodworth, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Gwin
DD Dunlap



SS RO-61 launches 4 torpedoes at DD Woodworth
DD Dunlap attacking submerged sub ....
DD Dunlap fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Dunlap fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Dunlap fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Dunlap attacking submerged sub ....
DD Dunlap loses contact with SS RO-61
DD Dunlap cannot reach attack position over SS RO-61
Escort abandons search for sub

RO-61 succesfully attacks one of our ASW TFs... Woodworth is hit hard, chances aren´t great for the ship to make it... will be disbanded at Milne Bay (level 6 port) for emergency repairs... only near misses in return...

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Sub attack near Miri at 64,86

Japanese Ships
PB Hakkai Maru
PB Taijin Maru

Allied Ships
SS Tuna



SS Tuna launches 4 torpedoes at PB Hakkai Maru
Tuna bottoming out ....
PB Taijin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Taijin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Taijin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Taijin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Taijin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Tuna attacks a second class ASW convoy...

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Sub attack near Laoag at 80,71

Japanese Ships
xAK Hakodate Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Yamabuki Maru
xAK Zinzan Maru
xAK Kyokusei Maru
SC CHa-11

Allied Ships
SS Albacore



SS Albacore launches 6 torpedoes at xAK Hakodate Maru
Albacore diving deep ....
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 attacking submerged sub ....
SC CHa-11 is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub

Albacore sinks a freighter for no damage in return...

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Morning Air attack on Aitape , at 95,118

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 44,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes


Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 25


No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
25 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet

the enemy is hiding now... we´ve got complete air superiority over the Solomons, Bismarck Sea and the bases on New Guinea between Lae and Hollandia...

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Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 21
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 24
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 21



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 damaged



Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 44

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Aitape , at 95,118

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 29
B-24D Liberator x 70
B-24D1 Liberator x 30


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-57-II Topsy: 1 destroyed on ground


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



Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 18 [X(]
Runway hits 275 [X(]

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
16 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
14 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
13 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
14 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

one of the best hit rates so far I guess... Aitape is only a tiny airfield so this definetely was precision bombing... pays off to have crews with over a hundred combat missions and grdbmb skill far above 70...

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Sub attack near Laoag at 80,71

Japanese Ships
xAK Zyunyo Maru
SC CHa-11
xAK Yamabuki Maru
xAK Hukusei Maru
xAK Tihuku Maru

Allied Ships
SS Albacore



SS Albacore launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Zyunyo Maru
Albacore diving deep ....
Sub escapes detection


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Sub attack near Soerabaja at 56,103

Japanese Ships
PB Showa Maru #5
xAKL Shun Yuan
xAKL Korei Maru
xAKL Tientsin Maru
xAKL Ronsan Maru
xAKL Heiku Maru
xAKL Yosyu Maru
xAKL Tohuku Maru
xAKL Tensyo Maru
xAKL Oridono Maru
xAKL Koyu Maru
xAKL Columbia Maru
PB Fuji Maru #4

Allied Ships
SS Thresher



SS Thresher launches 4 torpedoes at PB Showa Maru #5
PB Fuji Maru #4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Fuji Maru #4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Fuji Maru #4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Fuji Maru #4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Fuji Maru #4 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 26, 43
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Sub attack near Pescadores at 85,62

Japanese Ships
SC CHa-29
SC CHa-27
SC CHa-21
SC CHa-37

Allied Ships
SS Sculpin



Captain of SS Sculpin elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
Sculpin diving deep ....
SC CHa-37 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-37 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-37 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-37 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-37 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

if we don´t even try to attack the enemy ASW vessels then their numbers will be steadily growing... something that probably would also happen if we would attack them...

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ASW attack near Fukue-jima at 100,58

Japanese Ships
xAK Syoryu Maru
xAK Hamburg Maru
PB Nichiro Maru

Allied Ships
SS Seadragon



SS Seadragon is sighted by escort
Seadragon diving deep ....
PB Nichiro Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Nichiro Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Nichiro Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Nichiro Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Nichiro Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Hengchun at 84,68

Japanese Ships
xAK Kenyo Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Mogamigawa Maru
DD Matsukaze

Allied Ships
SS Sunfish



SS Sunfish launches 6 torpedoes at xAK Kenyo Maru
Sunfish diving deep ....
DD Matsukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Matsukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Matsukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Matsukaze attacking submerged sub ....
SS Sunfish eludes DD Matsukaze by diving deep
SS Sunfish eludes DD Matsukaze by diving deep
DD Matsukaze cannot establish contact with SS Sunfish
DD Matsukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

but as long as we sink freighters I´m happy... I´ve stated a couple of times that the enemy´s air ASW has been completely useless all the year of 42 with probably a hundred attempted attacks and only a couple of hits that at best did moderate damage... seems like Rainer took advice from the forum or something within the engine changes in 43 because he now gets more and more succesful attacks on my subs, especially using Lillies... either he trained them up in another skill needed or that´s a case of very bad luck on my side... no sinkings yet but probably five times more subs hit in the first three months of 43 than we have suffered during the whole year of 42... my subs usually don´t run out of torps or fuel, they are forced to retire due to damage before that could happen... still more or less no subs lost though...

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Sub attack near Auki at 114,135

Japanese Ships
CA Maya, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage [X(]
DD Makigumo

Allied Ships
SS S-23



SS S-23 launches 4 torpedoes at CA Maya
S-23 diving deep ....
DD Makigumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Makigumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Makigumo attacking submerged sub ....
DD Makigumo attacking submerged sub ....
DD Makigumo attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

Heavy cruiser Maya still afloat??? [X(] wow, that´s surprising... Maya was hit a week ago by 3 torps of my Aussie Beaufighter anti shipping squadrons but obviously stayed afloat... that´s really amazing because I´ve lost Enterprise immedietely after taking three torps and a 250kg bomb... Maya was attempting to reach Lunga it seems, but there are enough S-class subs in the Solomons to catch her... I still was really surprised...

and I now definetely expect the ship to be sunk...



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Sub attack near Brunei at 65,86

Japanese Ships
TK Kaijo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PB Taijin Maru

Allied Ships
SS Tuna



SS Tuna launches 6 torpedoes at TK Kaijo Maru
Tuna bottoming out ....
PB Taijin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Taijin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Taijin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Taijin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Taijin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

that´s of course also a nice one...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Wakkanai at 121,48

Japanese Ships
PB Uruboko Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Haddo



SS Haddo launches 6 torpedoes at PB Uruboko Maru
Haddo diving deep ....
Sub escapes detection

a really succesful day for the silent service...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52

Weather in hex: Overcast

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

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 24



No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-43-Ia Oscar sweeping at 11000 feet



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 21
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 24
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 21



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 damaged



Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 19

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb

these attacks in China got no effect...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Hollandia , at 93,116

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 42,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes


Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 25


No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
25 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet



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

Ground combat at Finschhafen (100,126)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24435 troops, 416 guns, 658 vehicles, Assault Value = 895

Defending force 8618 troops, 63 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 224

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 985

Japanese adjusted defense: 583

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
705 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
274 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 58 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled


Assaulting units:
40th Infantry Division
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
Americal Infantry Division
151st Combat Engineer Regiment
I US Amphib Corps

Defending units:
12th Division
Sasebo 6th SNLF /1
Yokosuka 5th SNLF /1
2nd Naval Construction Battalion
45th JNAF AF Unit /1
38th Fld AA Bn /1


our troops have reached Finshhaven and are now taking care of the remaining defenders here... won´t take long and we´ve destroyed another IJA div (the second one on New Guinea) but when looking at the frontlines, then there is no shortage of IJA divisions at all...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 27, 43
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Sub attack near Pescadores at 86,62

Japanese Ships
xAK Kinryu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Tatsukaze

Allied Ships
SS Greenling, hits 2



SS Greenling launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Kinryu Maru
Greenling bottoming out ....
DD Tatsukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tatsukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tatsukaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tatsukaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tatsukaze attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

Greenling probably sinks a freighter but is also hit... has to retire with light damage...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 24
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 6
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 24
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 21



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 damaged



Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 34

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Lunga , at 114,138

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

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


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 27
B-24D1 Liberator x 31


No Allied losses

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



Airbase hits 19
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 118

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
16 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb

again a very good hit rate, especially as we´re talking about reduced bomb loads here...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Lunga , at 114,138

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 30


No Allied losses

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



Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 49

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
14 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Lunga , at 114,138

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 12


No Allied losses



Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 22

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 15th Army, at 56,54

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 43,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2



Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 15


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed




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

CAP engaged:
11th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (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 30000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 15th Army, at 56,54

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 39,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 3



Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 24


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




Aircraft Attacking:
24 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet

CAP engaged:
24th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 36750
Raid is overhead

taking out some IJAAF fighters from Moulmein... surprisingly there weren´t more of them just one hex off the major IJAAF base in that area... having the dive twice, the enemy fighters didn´t even realize what´s going on, all were shot down without even having a chance to react...

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ASW attack near Hobart at 82,181

Japanese Ships
SS I-21

Allied Ships
PC Kimball
SC-702
SC-706



SS I-21 is located by PC Kimball
I-21 diving deep ....
PC Kimball fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-706 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Kimball fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-706 fails to find sub and abandons search
PC Kimball fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Kimball fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Kimball fails to find sub, continues to search...
PC Kimball fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

the usual IJN sub off Tasmania... Hobart is one of my fuel hubs, tanker convoys from Cape Town and the US West Coast are unloading here...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Hobart at 82,181

Japanese Ships
SS I-21, hits 3

Allied Ships
PC Kimball
SC-702
SC-706



SS I-21 is located by PC Kimball
PC Kimball fails to find sub and abandons search
SC-706 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-706 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-706 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-706 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-706 attacking submerged sub ....
SC-706 is out of ASW ammo
SC-706 is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub

three near misses, nothing dramatic...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 28, 43
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Sub attack near Soerabaja at 56,102

Japanese Ships
DD Nowaki
CA Chikuma
CA Tone
DD Hagikaze
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
SS Thresher, hits 5



SS Thresher launches 6 torpedoes at DD Nowaki
Thresher bottoming out ....
DD Hagikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Nowaki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hamakaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Hagikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Nowaki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hagikaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Nowaki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Nowaki attacking submerged sub ....
DD Nowaki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Nowaki fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Nowaki fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Thresher is patrolling off Soerabaja on the hunt for enemy tanker convoys but meets a task force with heavy IJN elements... targetting a destroyer resulted in misses and Thresher takes enough damage to be sent back to Brisbane for repairs in the shipyards there...

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

Japanese Ships
xAKL Tokuwa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SC CHa-26

Allied Ships
SS Seadragon



SS Seadragon launches 4 torpedoes at xAKL Tokuwa Maru
SC CHa-26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

we take revenge by sinking a small freighter...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 39,800 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 16


No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
16 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 36800 feet

am trying to knock out all bases in the Solomons and Rabaul as we´re already planning on doing the next invasion... target: Munda... can only hope that the enemy won´t have his remaining carriers (far more than we have) in the area... doing daily recon of Truk only gives us intel on DDs at best, seems like Truk isn´t the homeport for any IJN capitol ships, of course our intel could be complete rubbish, but usually the game indentifies an AK for a BB and not a BB for a DD so I´ve got hopes to get away with my invasion without having to fight (and lose) the next carrier clash... of course a lot depends on getting near the target unspotted, therefor I want to permanently take out all airbases in the region...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 38,800 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 4


No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
2 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 36800 feet
2 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 36800 feet

the usual looks of my fighter sweeps...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 40,800 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 16


No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
16 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 36800 feet



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 29
B-24D Liberator x 24
B-24D1 Liberator x 15


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled



Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 108

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
13 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
13 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

even in bad weather our bombers seem to be able to do precision bombing most of the times now... even more than in WITP, the Allied heavy bombers are the number one weapon of the Allied, there´s just nothing that can compete with them... getting more than 50 heavy bombers a month now must be the real nightmare of the Japanese...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 10


No Allied losses



Runway hits 24

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 29


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed



Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 55

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



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 13


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged



Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 21

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



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

Ground combat at Finschhafen (100,126)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24088 troops, 416 guns, 658 vehicles, Assault Value = 869

Defending force 7847 troops, 63 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 193

Allied adjusted assault: 502

Japanese adjusted defense: 433

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1208 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 42 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
347 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled


Assaulting units:
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
40th Infantry Division
Americal Infantry Division
151st Combat Engineer Regiment
I US Amphib Corps

Defending units:
12th Division
Sasebo 6th SNLF /1
45th JNAF AF Unit /1
38th Fld AA Bn /1

we keep attacking here, while the enemy still gets nice adjusted av, the enemy´s combat ability is decreasing quickly while we only take light losses... mentioned it earlier a couple of times already, can someone enlighten me please why the enemy all the time get´s positive and negative multipliers while we hardly ever get one...


losing three nav search and two recon aircraft today... two transports lost too, we´re transporting supplies to the dot base at Groete Island (the one where I lost the carrier engagement) because I intend to mass drop paras there (150+ av) and further secure the base with landing craft convoys... this should increase the pressure on Darwin, while the main goal only would be to make my opponent a bit nervous... the Solomons are unimportant but I would suggest to every Japanese player to hold Darwin as long as possible as Darwin is a real key to the SRA... on both sides of New Guinea you more or less run into dead ends (Merauke and Hollandia) where you can only further advance with heavy carrier support because the next base is something like 8 or 9 hexes away (not even dot bases are close by)... Rainer knows all of this too and that´s exactly what he did, I tried to move away from Merauke (in that case only going West and not North) but his carrier force being at best 1:1 to mine completely trashed our Navy...

[castor troy]

we enter March, one more month until the Hellcat enters production...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 01, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Billiton at 53,93

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
CA Tone
DD Hagikaze
DD Nowaki
DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
SS O20, hits 2



SS O20 is sighted by escort
O20 bottoming out ....
DD Hagikaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Nowaki fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Hamakaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Hagikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hagikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

next sub that meets the enemy cruiser squadron... seems like they´re heading towards Singapore...

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

Japanese Ships
TK Shinetsu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PB Isshin Maru

Allied Ships
SS Triton



SS Triton launches 6 torpedoes at TK Shinetsu Maru
Triton bottoming out ....
PB Isshin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Isshin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Isshin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Isshin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Isshin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Triton patrolls just outside of Balikpapan and sinks a small tanker going there to pick up fuel...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Taihoku at 87,62

Japanese Ships
xAKL Shuko Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PB Kaimyo Maru

Allied Ships
SS Greenling



SS Greenling launches 4 torpedoes at xAKL Shuko Maru
Greenling diving deep ....
PB Kaimyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kaimyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kaimyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kaimyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kaimyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

we also sink one of the countless xAKL...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Horn Island at 93,130

Japanese Ships
SS RO-63, hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Meade
DD Gwin
DD Dunlap



SS RO-63 launches 6 torpedoes at DD Meade
RO-63 diving deep ....
DD Dunlap fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Meade fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Meade fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Meade fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Meade fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Meade fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Meade attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

RO-63 already succesfully attacked one of my DDs, this time the sub missed... the DDs manage to achieve a near miss...

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

Japanese Ships
PB Isshin Maru
TK Shinetsu Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Triton



SS Triton launches 4 torpedoes at PB Isshin Maru
Triton bottoming out ....
PB Isshin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Isshin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Isshin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Isshin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Isshin Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Triton wastes another salvo on the tanker that IMO is in sinking condition... torps were duds...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Namatanai , at 107,125

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 15
B-24D1 Liberator x 10
F4U-1 Corsair x 18


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-IIIb Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground




Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 58

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

the enemy only got recons and patrols in the area around Rabaul, no more bombers or fighters...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Namatanai , at 107,125

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 48


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-IIIb Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged



Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 123

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



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Namatanai , at 107,125

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 14
B-24D Liberator x 11


Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

No Allied losses



Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 39

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

sending all available heavy bombers to the same small airfield was a waste of resources, we could have taken out another small airfield by splitting the bombers...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Namatanai , at 107,125

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 20


Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged



Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 46

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Tavoy , at 54,60

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1



Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 16
B-17E Fortress x 24


Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

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



Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 98

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Liberator II 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

CAP engaged:
77th Sentai Det B with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (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

Tavoy is hit hard by the main bomber strike...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Tavoy , at 54,60

Weather in hex: Clear sky

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 11
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 3



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 24


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
H8K1 Emily: 1 destroyed on ground

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



Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 17

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

CAP engaged:
246th Sentai with Ki-61-Ia Tony (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
286 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead
77th Sentai Det B with Ki-43-IIa 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 12000
Raid is overhead

but as we know, bombers or fighters more or less never go in as one strike and the follow on strikes usually then face a bigger Cap... same here, while the first big wave only faced a single Oscar, the follow on strike faced 18 fighters that shot up the two dozen Fortresses pretty badly... 3 B-17 were lost...




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Rossel Island at 102,144

Japanese Ships
SS I-17

Allied Ships
AM Pirie
AM Tamworth
xAK Minnesotan
xAK Kansan
xAK Carolinian
xAK American
AM Wagga
AM Glenelg
AM Cootamundra



SS I-17 launches 6 torpedoes at AM Pirie
I-17 diving deep ....
AM Wagga fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Glenelg fails to find sub and abandons search
AM Cootamundra fails to find sub and abandons search
AM Wagga fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Wagga fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Wagga fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Wagga fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Wagga fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Taihoku at 88,62

Japanese Ships
SC CHa-21
SC CHa-27
SC CHa-37
SC CHa-29

Allied Ships
SS Hoe, hits 3



Captain of SS Hoe elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
SC CHa-37 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-29 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-37 fails to find sub and abandons search
SC CHa-29 attacking submerged sub ....
SC CHa-29 is out of ASW ammo
SC CHa-29 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-29 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-29 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Hoe is sent home with damage...

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

Ground combat at Finschhafen (100,126)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 23882 troops, 416 guns, 658 vehicles, Assault Value = 846

Defending force 6972 troops, 63 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 141

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Allied adjusted assault: 915

Japanese adjusted defense: 334

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Finschhafen !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
483 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 65 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 15 (15 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 17 (17 destroyed, 0 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
255 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled


Assaulting units:
Americal Infantry Division
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
40th Infantry Division
151st Combat Engineer Regiment
I US Amphib Corps

Defending units:
12th Division
Sasebo 6th SNLF /1
45th JNAF AF Unit /1
38th Fld AA Bn /1


these two divisions took PM, Buna, Lae and now Finshhaven... both of them are still in good shape, they are prepping for the next target already and will be shipped out for r&r in Australia as soon as they killed off the remaining Japanese troops that can´t retreat anywhere... Both divs increased their exp to around 65-70 with all that fighting over months... not really a lot it seems, these are my crack US divs...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 02, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Sapporo at 120,49

Japanese Ships
PB Kaiun Maru
SC CHa-25
SC CHa-6
SC CHa-30

Allied Ships
SS Sealion



SS Sealion launches 4 torpedoes at PB Kaiun Maru
Sealion diving deep ....
PB Kaiun Maru attacking submerged sub ....
PB Kaiun Maru loses contact with SS Sealion
SS Sealion eludes PB Kaiun Maru by diving deep
SC CHa-30 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...
Escort abandons search for sub

looks like an ASW TF...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Saishu To at 99,56

Japanese Ships
xAK Tazima Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Bordeaux Maru
PB Ichiyo Maru

Allied Ships
SS Sturgeon



SS Sturgeon launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Tazima Maru
Sturgeon 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


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Balikpapan at 65,98

Japanese Ships
PB Choun Maru #18
PB Bisan Maru #3
PB Hinode Maru #20

Allied Ships
SS Triton



SS Triton is located by PB Choun Maru #18
Triton diving deep ....
PB Hinode Maru #20 fails to find sub and abandons 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 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Choun Maru #18 attacking submerged sub ....
SS Triton eludes ASW attack from PB Choun Maru #18
PB Choun Maru #18 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Choun Maru #18 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Saishu To at 99,56

Japanese Ships
xAK Tazima Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Sturgeon



SS Sturgeon attacking on the surface

Sturgeon fired another two full salvoes onto a freighter that already could be considered sunk... 12 torps for a single freighter...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Taihoku at 88,62

Japanese Ships
SC CHa-29
SC CHa-21
SC CHa-37

Allied Ships
SS Greenling



Captain of SS Greenling elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
SC CHa-37 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-37 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-37 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-37 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-37 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 12
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 21
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 24
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 21



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 damaged



Airbase hits 22
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 35

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Amoy at 84,62

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 3
SC Ch 13
SC Ch 15
SC Ch 14

Allied Ships
SS Sculpin



SS Sculpin launches 4 torpedoes at SC Ch 3
Sculpin diving deep ....
SC Ch 15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 14 fails to find sub and abandons search
SC Ch 15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 15 attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub


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

Ground combat at Finschhafen (100,126)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 23579 troops, 416 guns, 658 vehicles, Assault Value = 812

Defending force 6099 troops, 49 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 107

Allied adjusted assault: 1004

Japanese adjusted defense: 118

Allied assault odds: 8 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
688 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Allied ground losses:
227 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Assaulting units:
Americal Infantry Division
40th Infantry Division
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
151st Combat Engineer Regiment
I US Amphib Corps

Defending units:
12th Division
Sasebo 6th SNLF /1

don´t know when we got any multipliers (negative or positive) for the last time... as if it wouldn´t work anymore... [8|]

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 03, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Fukue-jima at 100,59

Japanese Ships
DD Okikaze
PB Muroran Maru

Allied Ships
SS Trigger, hits 1



SS Trigger is sighted by escort
DD Okikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Muroran Maru fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Okikaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Okikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Okikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Okikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Okikaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

mixed ASW force?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Saishu To at 99,56

Japanese Ships
xAKL Fukuyama Maru
xAK Yubari Maru
xAK Bingo Maru
xAKL Chosen Maru
xAKL Aiyo Maru
PB Menado Maru

Allied Ships
SS Sturgeon



SS Sturgeon launches 4 torpedoes at xAKL Fukuyama Maru
Sturgeon diving deep ....
PB Menado Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Menado Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Menado Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Menado Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Menado Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Wakkanai at 123,48

Japanese Ships
SC CHa-25
SC CHa-6
PB Kaiun Maru
SC CHa-30

Allied Ships
SS Sealion



SS Sealion is sighted by escort
PB Kaiun Maru fails to find sub and abandons search
SC CHa-30 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-30 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-30 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-30 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-30 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-30 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Taihoku at 88,61

Japanese Ships
xAKL Shinshui Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
PB Kaimyo Maru

Allied Ships
SS Greenling



SS Greenling launches 6 torpedoes at xAKL Shinshui Maru
Greenling diving deep ....
PB Kaimyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kaimyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kaimyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kaimyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kaimyo Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

another small freighter bites the dust...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 27
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 21



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 damaged



Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 16

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 21
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 24



No Japanese losses



Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 32

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134

Weather in hex: Overcast

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


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 39


No Allied losses



Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 24

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



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 14


No Allied losses



Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 8

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



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Munda , at 111,134

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 12


No Allied losses



Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 23

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

we attack Munda with several waves today... damage done is so so...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tavoy , at 54,60

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 43,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1



Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 25


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
25 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet

CAP engaged:
77th Sentai Det B with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes

after our bombers met nearly 20 fighters yesterday I had hopes to take out some of them today with Lightning sweeps... same as the bombers yesterday, our first wave only meets one Oscar...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tavoy , at 54,60

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 45,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 3
Ki-61-Ia Tony x 2



Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 12


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed




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

CAP engaged:
246th Sentai with Ki-61-Ia Tony (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 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
286 Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (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 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes

second wave then meets some more fighters, the enemy had no chance, the Zeroes were shot down immediately while the Tonies got away damaged...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Prome , at 55,50

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 15
Ki-21-IIb Sally x 12
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 17
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 36



Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 12 damaged
Ki-21-IIb Sally: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson IIIa: 1 destroyed on ground


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


Airbase hits 8
Runway hits 12

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
12 x Ki-21-IIb Sally bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Prome , at 55,50

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 17
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 15



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 13 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 8 damaged



Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 20

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
17 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb

all the flak I´ve got is totally useless... really wonder if flak is modelled by far to weak, considering how many aircraft were actually lost to flak in real life and the fact that I´ve massed all my AA units in the bases around Rangoon we don´t do any notable damage to the enemy... all you´ve got to do is stay at 10000ft and you´re save as only big calibre guns can reach you, not doing damage... I serioulsy doubt that 10000ft was a safe height in real life...

doing naval search or recon in AE is actually far more dangerous than doing bombing runs at 10000ft against a heavily flak defended target or doing long range fighter sweeps against enemy opposition...

we´ve lost 5 nav search and 1 recon aircraft but no fighter on their sweep... the enemy didn´t lose a single bomber attacking Pegu at 10000ft where I´ve massed halve a dozen AA units... zzz... that can´t be modelled well and no, that´s not a one time example, it´s happening all the time in this PBEM...



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

Ground combat at Finschhafen (100,126)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22358 troops, 413 guns, 630 vehicles, Assault Value = 793

Defending force 5466 troops, 48 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 75

Allied adjusted assault: 985

Japanese adjusted defense: 10

Allied assault odds: 98 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2459 casualties reported
Squads: 73 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 33 destroyed, 136 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1


Allied ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled


Assaulting units:
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
40th Infantry Division
Americal Infantry Division
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
151st Combat Engineer Regiment
I US Amphib Corps

Defending units:
12th Division
Sasebo 6th SNLF /1


the enemy gets shredded, we don´t get any multipliers...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 04, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Aogashima at 113,65

Japanese Ships
xAK Reiyo Maru
PB Takuna Maru #7

Allied Ships
SS Grouper



SS Grouper launches 6 torpedoes at xAK Reiyo Maru
Grouper diving deep ....
PB Takuna Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Takuna Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Takuna Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Takuna Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Takuna Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

duds...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Aogashima at 113,66

Japanese Ships
TK Hakko Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
E Omae

Allied Ships
SS Flying Fish



SS Flying Fish launches 6 torpedoes at TK Hakko Maru
E Omae fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Omae fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Omae fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Omae fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Omae fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

but here we hit the right target... the tanker was empty so I´m not sure the ship is sunk...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 27
B-24D1 Liberator x 35


No Allied losses



Airbase hits 24
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 83

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
13 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Shortlands is hit hard...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 15
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 18
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 17
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 15



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 8 damaged
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 9 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 8 damaged



Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 44

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
15 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
17 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb

as is Rangoon... also Rangoon could be seen as a flak trap, considering all the flak guns there... I just have to smile when I read about Rabaul of real life and how the flak there was feared by Allied pilots and crews, but there was for sure by far not what I´ve got in the bases around Rangoon, there are hundreds of heavy flak guns, hundreds... flying naval search results in more losses for me than for the enemy when he attacks heavily defended ground targets... not a single bombers is shot down...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Rangoon , at 54,53

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIb Sally x 13
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 18



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIb Sally: 8 damaged



Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-21-IIb Sally bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Aogashima at 113,66

Japanese Ships
TK Hakko Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Flying Fish



TK Hakko Maru is sighted by SS Flying Fish
SS Flying Fish launches 6 torpedoes

Flying Fish makes sure the tanker is sunk... the ship´s now sunk for sure...

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

Ground combat at Finschhafen (100,126)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2767 troops, 9 guns, 56 vehicles, Assault Value = 790

Defending force 3238 troops, 40 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Allied adjusted assault: 51

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 51 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
77 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Assaulting units:
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
40th Infantry Division
Americal Infantry Division
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
151st Combat Engineer Regiment
I US Amphib Corps

Defending units:
12th Division


the Sasebo unit banzaid last turn, the div still holds out... while the enemy now gets more and more negative multipliers, we as the attacker still don´t get any multipliers...

[PzB74]

Despite playing scen 2 which gives Japan a solid boost, you're still doing well on several fronts like Solomons / New Guinea and in Burma [:)]
The setbacks you've suffered are hard to avoid and in a way you've chosen this challenge yourself by playing the machosistic scen 2....

- Allowing Japan to accelerate carrier production and up pilot training and ac production is partially compensated by extending the game with a year until 46.
You still got 3 years to go and are already in Rangoon and Lae!

It's possible to concentrate on reinforcing your successes by continuing your advances in Burma and in NG and by clearing Oz.
This can be done with support from LBA and you can rebuild your carrier fleet and air arm and switch to island jumping sometime in 44.

There will be thousands of annoyances, but increasingly for Japan as the war swings into 44.
The advantage is that you know the strenghts and weaknesses of the game and have to adapt to them.

My advice is to shut of the "annoyance" switch and try not to care too much each time your sweeps are divided in 3, your bombers are not escorted by fighters from the same base,
your torpedoes fail to detonate, your asw doesn't hit anything and all carrier TFs will continue to launch massive coordinated death star uber strikes [:D]

I have noticed many of the same weaknesses as you do and posted a few threads about it, but I have a feeling that no more major changes will be made to the sea, air and ground combat models.

Good luck on your way to Tokyo [:)]

PS! Now I now why the AAR is called ...vs Ranting Castor [;)]

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: PzB

Despite playing scen 2 which gives Japan a solid boost, you're still doing well on several fronts like Solomons / New Guinea and in Burma [:)]
The setbacks you've suffered are hard to avoid and in a way you've chosen this challenge yourself by playing the machosistic scen 2....

- Allowing Japan to accelerate carrier production and up pilot training and ac production is partially compensated by extending the game with a year until 46.
You still got 3 years to go and are already in Rangoon and Lae!

It's possible to concentrate on reinforcing your successes by continuing your advances in Burma and in NG and by clearing Oz.
This can be done with support from LBA and you can rebuild your carrier fleet and air arm and switch to island jumping sometime in 44.

There will be thousands of annoyances, but increasingly for Japan as the war swings into 44.
The advantage is that you know the strenghts and weaknesses of the game and have to adapt to them.

My advice is to shut of the "annoyance" switch and try not to care too much each time your sweeps are divided in 3, your bombers are not escorted by fighters from the same base,
your torpedoes fail to detonate, your asw doesn't hit anything and all carrier TFs will continue to launch massive coordinated death star uber strikes [:D]

I have noticed many of the same weaknesses as you do and posted a few threads about it, but I have a feeling that no more major changes will be made to the sea, air and ground combat models.

Good luck on your way to Tokyo [:)]

PS! Now I now why the AAR is called ...vs Ranting Castor [;)]

I think it´s more fun playing scen 2 to give the Japanese a bit of a boost as you don´t want to run into a situation where Japan has lost in mid 43 in a PBEM I guess.

The things I´m ranting about are usually valid for both sides and I agree, most annoyances won´t be changed so we´ve got to live with them. Unfortunetely they annoy me again and again and again. [;)]

In mid 43 I should have carrier superiority already again, but I felt my carrier force superior last time too when we got our head handed by KB´s single 505 aircraft strike so that will be interesting then. Not long until the Hellcat but if they don´t engage (like the Wildcats did) then not even a Super Hornet would help you.

My rants won´t stop, but it´s not that bad a new forum member might think... [;)]

[EUBanana]

Could you stick up a screenshot of the big global map by any chance? I'm curious what the overall state of play is.

[crsutton]

CT what are your major ship losses to this date? Your best guess as to your opponent's?

I am also playing scen#2 and in many ways hate it. However, I am not losing and sort of look foward to seeing a fight go into 1946, so that should be interesting.

[terje439]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

a) I think it´s more fun playing scen 2 to give the Japanese a bit of a boost as you don´t want to run into a situation where Japan has lost in mid 43 in a PBEM I guess.

b) In mid 43 I should have carrier superiority already again, but I felt my carrier force superior last time too when we got our head handed by KB´s single 505 aircraft strike so that will be interesting then. Not long until the Hellcat but if they don´t engage (like the Wildcats did) then not even a Super Hornet would help you.

a) could not agree more
b) since I am too lazy to read through all of this AAR again [;)] I'll just ask, how are your TBs doing vs Japanese combat TFs?
Mine seems to be made of paper and fuel or something, as I have probably launched some 400 TBs in total over my games against Japanese TFs containing 1+ BB woth CA/CL/DDs as escorts and only scored two hits, both by the swordfish. Seems the US TBs are more suited to take on unarmed merchants.

And second the motion for a global map and victory points etc update.

Terje

[castor troy]

Hi guys

The game actually is 3 weeks ahead of the AAR (usually doing the updates at work but haven´t had time lately [;)]), but here are some screens from the latest turn. Some interesting things happened lately so I don´t want to take away too much but here you go.

strategic map:

Goals are still to push out the Japanese from Northern Australia but that´s a hard task against five enemy divisions so the next weeks will concentrate on mopping up the Solomons, which aren´t much more than a secondary target. Hope that KB won´t intervene, if it does, it probably would end in a defeat for us. Reconning Truk daily but there´s nothing there in terms of IJN capitol ships, at least that´s what I guess.

Our major offensive in Burma was stopped by around 7000+ enemy av in total, spread between Chiang Mai and Moulmein. Don´t know where the Japanese get that many divisions from, I´m facing 5 or 6 in Northern Australia, have destroyed two already on New Guinea, got intel about another at Shortlands and am facing 7000+ av in the area South East of Rangoon. [&:] In total, we´re talking about the equivalent of around 25 IJA divisions in the frontlines, so if you add in those further behind or where we haven´t attacked...

[Grfin Zeppelin]

25 Divisions means very likely that he has no considerable reserves. However dont forget that 6 naval guards are the roughly AV equivalent of a Division, and he has alot of them.

[castor troy]

Here are the ship losses, again, this is a screen from the game being three weeks ahead of the AAR but there wasn´t a major clash between the Navies so major losses should be spot on.

The Japanese losses should be quite correct, with the probably exception of the CVL which was hit by one MK14 very close to Japan months ago so I wonder why it still shows up as sunk as I expect it not to be sunk (CVL Ryujo IIRC). The BB was sunk at Adak so that´s a kill for sure and it seems we´ve sunk two CVs (Hiyo and Junyo) in our carrier engagement where we´ve lost three BBs, a CV (Enterprise), 5 CVEs and a CA. With the damage on more USN capitol ships it was a clear IJN victory. So again, if possible, stay away from KB if you can´t outnumber the enemy 2:1. We had a superior force for sure but were whiped out by a single 505 aircraft strike from KB. I´ve ranted enough about seeing such a number in one strike, I´m tired about starting about it again.

The enemy cruisers listed were mostly lost during fast transport missions, same goes for the DDs. Enemy freighter/tanker losses mostly due to our subs, enemy sub losses sure aren´t as high as listed. 10 Allied subs lost so far, halve a dozen to depth charges, but 1/43 saw a dramatic change in enemy ASW performance. As the Allied you may think 1/43 would be good for you due to the dud rate going down to 50% but in fact the efficiency of IJN ASW seems to be skyrocketing due to the 15% increase in ASW ability. Add in the E class escorts that can´t be sunk it seems (three dozen attacks+ in three months in 43 and not one was sunk so far) and I can understand why Allied players in 44 tell you to keep your subs in their homeports.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin

25 Divisions means very likely that he has no considerable reserves. However dont forget that 6 naval guards are the roughly AV equivalent of a Division, and he has alot of them.

yeah, but I haven´t even included enemy nav guard units in my calculation. What we already identified in Australia, the Burma front (and what we already destroyed on New Guinea) is worth more than 7000 av and that´s purely divs or bgds and tk rgts.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: terje439

ORIGINAL: castor troy

a) I think it´s more fun playing scen 2 to give the Japanese a bit of a boost as you don´t want to run into a situation where Japan has lost in mid 43 in a PBEM I guess.

b) In mid 43 I should have carrier superiority already again, but I felt my carrier force superior last time too when we got our head handed by KB´s single 505 aircraft strike so that will be interesting then. Not long until the Hellcat but if they don´t engage (like the Wildcats did) then not even a Super Hornet would help you.

a) could not agree more
b) since I am too lazy to read through all of this AAR again [;)] I'll just ask, how are your TBs doing vs Japanese combat TFs?
Mine seems to be made of paper and fuel or something, as I have probably launched some 400 TBs in total over my games against Japanese TFs containing 1+ BB woth CA/CL/DDs as escorts and only scored two hits, both by the swordfish. Seems the US TBs are more suited to take on unarmed merchants.

And second the motion for a global map and victory points etc update.

Terje

It´s the old story being true in WITP already, a US TBF is only worth 1/4 Kate. The Kates are killers with torps while the TBFs are at best an annoyance. That´s one of the reasons KB is twice as dangerous as a US carrier force with equal number of aircraft. TBF performance with torps may be modelled very well compared to real life but Kate performace with torps is a wet fart compared to real life. I´m not talking about putting a torpedo into a heavily damaged capitol ship, I´m talking about Kates putting series of torps into undamaged capitol ships steaming at flank speed. The fact that Zeroes in the game have not much more problem to take down SBDs or TBFs than Wildcats have taking down Vals and Kates (as could be seen in this AAR during the carrier engagement where 150 US Wildcats MORE only shot down the same number of aircraft the Zeroes could shoot down) and you end up on the losing end in 4 out of 5 engagements with an "equal" IJN carrier force. The SBDs definetely are superior to the Vals due to being tougher and carrying a 1000lb bomb but this advantage is three times compensated by the uber Kates. Our carrier TFs weren´t defeated by the hundreds of Vals but by the hundreds of torpedo armed Kates, all of them in one strike. I guess the Kates in this single carrier engagement have put a couple of times more torps into my ships than they did in the whole war in real life.

Here´s the current victory points screen. As you can see, the gap is closing and I doubt the enemy can do anything against it. We´ve never even come close to being in danger of an auto victory and have been scoring more points than the enemy for months already. At the end of March the ratio is 1,335:1 for the Japanese. The big jump for the Japanese at turn 405 was the carrier engagement. The jump for the Allied at turn 348 was the liberation of Rangoon. We´ve been more or less scoring twice as many victory points than the enemy in the last year and that ratio is growing in our favour.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Mar 05, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Aogashima at 111,65

Japanese Ships
E Omae

Allied Ships
SS Halibut



SS Halibut launches 6 torpedoes
Halibut diving deep ....
E Omae fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Omae fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Omae attacking submerged sub ....
E Omae fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Omae fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

yet another unsuccesful attack on an E class escort...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Soerabaja at 56,103

Japanese Ships
DD Tagonami
DD Kosugiri
DD Tadeyame
DD Suruyame

Allied Ships
SS Plunger



SS Plunger is located by DD Tagonami
DD Tadeyame fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Suruyame fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Suruyame fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Suruyame fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Suruyame fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Aogashima at 112,66

Japanese Ships
xAK Zenyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
CM Hatsutaka
xAK Johore Maru
xAK Asakasan Maru

Allied Ships
SS Grouper



SS Grouper launches 6 torpedoes at xAK Zenyo Maru
Sub escapes detection

this freighter was loaded with oil... [X(]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Boela at 81,109

Japanese Ships
TK Gen'yo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PB Kyo Maru #6

Allied Ships
SS Grampus



SS Grampus launches 6 torpedoes at TK Gen'yo Maru
Grampus bottoming out ....
PB Kyo Maru #6 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kyo Maru #6 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kyo Maru #6 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kyo Maru #6 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kyo Maru #6 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

and we also hit a precious tanker... nice...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Changsha , at 82,52

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 21
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 24
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 21



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 damaged
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 damaged


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


Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 61

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Lunga , at 114,138

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 56


No Allied losses



Airbase hits 12
Runway hits 114

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
14 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb

excellent hit rate at extended range...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Lunga , at 114,138

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 14


No Allied losses



Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 32

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Ground combat at Finschhafen (100,126)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2759 troops, 9 guns, 56 vehicles, Assault Value = 796

Defending force 3058 troops, 38 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Allied adjusted assault: 102

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 102 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
3133 casualties reported
Squads: 181 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 392 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 51 (51 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1



Assaulting units:
40th Infantry Division
Americal Infantry Division
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
102nd Combat Engineer Regiment
151st Combat Engineer Regiment
I US Amphib Corps

Defending units:
12th Division


destroyed the second enemy division on New Guinea today...