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

[janh]

On a side note, the damage I have seen so far from AAA seems to be quite well modeled -- compared to the allied experiences over Europe.  German flak with its sophisticated fixed installations and targeting devices probably should represent an upper maximum for the AAA effects on the 2E and 4E.  I recall that someone came up with an estimate of the number of 88mm shells fired for each downed B17, B24 or Lancaster, which was in the 10,000s (the use of the 88mm at home is probably one of the nonsense decisions in history). 

In regard to the Japanese fighters and the durability of the US 4E bombers, I would expect that the George, which outguns the mainstay of the German air force (the Bf109e/f/g) and is comparable in design to the FW190A, should be able to achieve similar results as the latter, given the ratio of employed fighters to bombers and escorts is similar, and the training level.   In average I would expect one should observe the typical loss rate in the European theater for 4E's, i.e. 5% per mission (incl. ops losses), for the George as well.  Particularly before powerful escorts such as the Corsair or P51 show up.  I am curious how it will do here?

[PzB74]

At times it can be hard to come to a conclusion, especially if the discussions get a bit heated.
Repeating the same message over again seems to become counter-productive. I've noticed this when trying to sell in something at work.
- Even though I _know_ I'm right I can't convince the other side (especially if they're French!-) no matter how many examples I give or how well I try to articulate myself.

In AE I think extended testing and feedback from many players is important to avoid one sided or biased conclusions.

Regarding the topics we're discussing here I think that:
a) Flak routines should continue to be observed and evaluated
b) Supplies routines should continue to be observed and evaluated
c) A tweak is needed regarding jungle / malaria effects on troops.
- There is an issue with how LCU's take fatigue/disruption in a malaria base hex but not in a jungle hex.

As I understood from Andy's reaction troops are not supposed to shock attack when crossing a river into a friendly base.

You should also keep in mind that the George had numerous tech problems that reduced its performance janh.
Also, Japanese use of radio and radar would also reduce the combat efficiency of their fighters.
- As I understand it only squadron leaders had 2 way radios while the rest only had receivers.
Can anyone confirm if this also was the case in 43-45?

A raid by 100 4Es means that a 5% loss rate would be 5 planes.
A raid by 50 4Es means that a 5% loss rate would be 2.5 planes.
- Don't think we're too far off in AE in this regarg?

[janh]

Surely not far off, I agree.  It is really hard to quantify for such a complex games, with so many variables from weather over specific pilot skills and HQ coordination influencing the outcome.  Probably no one else but the devs can really estimate and judge the outcomes.   It may well be that all the routines are spot on, but also that 4E losses could be a factor of <2 on the low side.  I guess the only way to know would be setting up a testing scenario, and run dozens of sample raids with a close eye on the effects of each parameter. 

From the overall picture, I have the impression the 4E are a tid bit more durable than they ought to be -- I cannot recall a single book or statement where someone would observe that the US had undisturbed capability to close any Japanese airfield within a few raids already by 1943.   I indeed remember having read in the CMH series book on the Guadalcanal campaign, that McArthur was using the B17s very carefully and they were not used to try to close airfields like those in Rabaul so early on without escorts for fear of losses.  I get the impression in AE that would be doable in autumn 1942.  But maybe this is just a misleading personal impression.

[CapAndGown]

RE 4E bombers:

It is the B-17 with its 68 durability that is the real bear. The B-24 has a durability of 60. This makes it easier to knock down. I have had success against the B-24 with Tojo's when they are massed in sufficient numbers. I had one raid of 65 Liberators over Meiktila opposed by Tojo's in which 11 B-24s were shot down A2A and 7 were ops losses. This is a 25% loss rate.

As to my airforce: for the IJA my fighter is the Tojo. (I would like to have more Nicks, but only a few squadrons upgrade to that. The Nick is good against 4E bombers, but not so good against fighters because of its lower speed. The Tojo's speed makes it a great dog fighter.) My bomber is the Helen. My Recon is the Dinah III. For transports I was using the Thalia until the Helen transport became available. Now that I have reached August of 43 I am starting to build the Tony Ic because it has 2x20mm cannons and has armor, although I will continue to use the Tojo. I am heavily researching the Tojo IIc model because it has armor, 4x12.7mm MGs, and a service rating of 1. The Frank should also prove useful when it becomes available because of its very high speed.

For the IJN, I am just about to switch over to the A6M5 from the A6M3a. I am also starting to build George's and Jack's. The Jack may prove to be better than the George as a dog fighter because of it greater top speed. The Frances should start producing soon and I will switch the Nell and Betty squadrons over to that. My Dive Bomber is the Judy and as the number increases I will be switching more squadrons over from Kates to Jills. Recon is the Irving.

[PzB74]

I think Burma is the single biggest threat to Japan in 42-43, if this front is breached the US will storm in the floodgates in 43-44 and bypass
all other defensive perimeters. So I'm preparing for the most determined stance in Burma that I can deploy!

Just showing the main air attacks this turn. Again the 99 4Es came back together with their smaller
siblings. Monsun and t-storms doesn't help neither on reducing air activity nor on causing ops losses.
Not a single 4E reported lost this turn. I can see no possible way of stemming the 4E tide, we just have to take the hits and it will be hard.

The 84 Nicks are all in Rangoon on 40% CAP, this is a sensible deployment I think.
Yes, the Jack may deserve some attention C&G. In real life teething problems kept this puppy from becoming effective well into 44 and only some 440 were
produced altogether throughout the war. A miniscule number really.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 20, 42

Sub Attacks

A large British TF is heading into Colombo.
Our sub fire at it but misses and is hunted down and sunk.
- Still, this is valuable information.

Submarine attack near Trivandrum at 27,42

Japanese Ships
SS I-122, hits 9, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Royal Sovereign
CA Exeter
CA Cornwall
CL Mauritius
CL Danae
CL Emerald
CLAA Van Heemskerck
DD Van Galen
DD Vampire
DD Paul Jones
DD Fortune
DD Tenedos
DD Stronghold
DD Tjerk Hiddes

SS I-122 is sighted by escort
DD Fortune fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Tenedos fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Stronghold attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tjerk Hiddes attacking submerged sub ....
DD Stronghold fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Tjerk Hiddes attacking submerged sub ....
DD Tjerk Hiddes fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Tjerk Hiddes attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-122 eludes DD Tjerk Hiddes by hugging bottom
DD Tjerk Hiddes loses contact with SS I-122
SS I-122 forced to surface!
DD Fortune firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Tenedos firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Stronghold firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Fortune firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Tenedos firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Fortune firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Tenedos firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Stronghold firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Bombing the Chinese 1/3 Corps near Lashio before attacking with a regiment.

Morning Air attack on 66th Chinese/A Corps, at 61,46
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 21
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 56

No Japanese losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 7000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 66th Chinese/A Corps, at 61,46
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 21

No Japanese losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 7000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 27
Hudson IIIa x 12
Hurricane IIa Trop x 16
Beaufort V x 3
Kittyhawk IA x 8
Bolingbroke IV x 12
P-38E Lightning x 7
P-38F Lightning x 3

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Bolingbroke IV bombing from 22000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
3 x Beaufort V bombing from 22000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x Blenheim IV bombing from 22000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
15 x Blenheim IV bombing from 22000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
12 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 22000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 3
Wellington Ic x 27
B-17E Fortress x 28
B-17F Fortress x 29
P-38E Lightning x 9
P-38F Lightning x 18
P-38G Lightning x 3

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 47

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Wellington Ic bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Liberator II bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Wellington Ic bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x Wellington Ic bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
14 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 11
B-17E Fortress x 9

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 12

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Liberator II bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 9

Allied aircraft losses
B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 16

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
P-38F Lightning x 6

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9

No Allied losses

Runway hits 12

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

The Chink corps we sent into the jungle near Lashio has been split in 3 and this third
came down on the road west of Lashio. I placed a regiment there to send it back to the woods but
obviously one regiment isn't enough. Chinks are much more capable in AE than they ever were in RL, still
it's possible to capture ground in China rather easily...

Ground combat at 61,46
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3416 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 127
Defending force 3484 troops, 39 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 157

Japanese adjusted assault: 116
Allied adjusted defense: 124
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
102 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
105 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
79th Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
66th Chinese/A Corps
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The isolated Chinese corps; defensive modifiers make it very hard to eliminate!

Ground combat at 80,56
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7753 troops, 65 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 283
Defending force 2344 troops, 23 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 81

Japanese adjusted assault: 133

Allied adjusted defense: 184
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
87 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
265 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
17th/B Division
116th/B Division

Defending units:
50th Chinese Corps
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[janh]

Hmmh, Andy must be worried about potential IJN bombardments or amphib raids down the Indian coast.  Seems like his bring at least a few battlewagons back into the theater to stop your BB or CA.  What british carriers would Andy now have after losses and withdrawals? 

Since british LBA in India seems to be less of a threat to the IJN than the capable US LBA in CentPac or AUS, would it be possible to trap some british capital ships after an intercepted bombardment run, say with the mini-KB, perhaps augmented for a week by a CV division from KB? 
The other two CV divisions of KB could raid convoys in CentPac, EastPac or NZ theater (or secretly cover a CA or two doing so)?  I know it sounds risky to split KB, but all you need to avoid it is a CV engagement with his USN carriers at the initiative, so just use it for covering purposes?  I guess Andy wouldn't expect you to do so, so that may give an additional uncertainty factor for the presence the "presumably undivided KB", and may induce him to assume it is either fully in the Indian ocean, or CentPac, depending on where you strike first.  Maybe you can get him to make a mistake again and exploit a weakness that isn't there?

Regarding Burma, it seems like a few player had the experience that is hard to defend for the Japanese.  That is of dual benefit for the allied player now: either, he can stage an offensive through it to Vietnam, or he can just reduce his force requirements there and free a lot of Indian and British units since he won't need that many for a demonstration and binding lots of Japanese forces.

[Nomad]

I think that monsoon is from May,15 through October 15. You have passed out of monsoon.

[MikeS4269]

I live in Singapore, and having just had some rain floods due to excessive rainfall, I can guarantee that June and July definitely DO fall into the monsoon period!

(Lousy idea of mine to buy a motorcycle here...............)

-Lb

[PzB74]

Hm, weather in Burma is always t-storms and I haven't noticed any difference in air operations over the last 3 weeks.
Is the monsoon truly a monsoon in AE?

Hi LB, nice to hear from you!
Monsoon in Singers now? It was monsoon time when I visited in late January and then it had been lasting since October [;)]

A little behind with the AAR;

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 21, 42

Sub Attacks

Yuck, a real scare as a light carrier is hit by a dud torp [:'(]
We get our revenge by torpedoing 2 other vessels, but hits by only 1 torp is probably not enough to sink em.

Submarine attack near Bombay at 33,25

Japanese Ships
SS I-166

Allied Ships
AK Alchiba, Torpedo hits 1

AK Alchiba is sighted by SS I-166
SS I-166 launches 4 torpedoes at AK Alchiba
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Bombay at 33,25

Japanese Ships
SS I-166

Allied Ships
xAP Dominion Monarch, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

xAP Dominion Monarch is sighted by SS I-166
SS I-166 launches 4 torpedoes at xAP Dominion Monarch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Baker Island at 147,138

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryuho
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
SS Plunger

SS Plunger launches 4 torpedoes at CVL Ryuho
Plunger diving deep ....
DD Samidare attacking submerged sub ....
DD Samidare fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Samidare fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Samidare fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Samidare fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Lysanders as light bombers, Andy is bringing in the sink!

Morning Air attack on Shwebo , at 59,45
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
Lysander II x 18
P-38F Lightning x 17

No Allied losses

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Lysander II bombing from 20000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 100 lb GP Bomb
9 x Lysander II bombing from 20000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 100 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub Menace

This was a good hit, was hoping for a follow up strike.



The Dominion Monarch is actually a huge NZ liner of 27000 tons [X(]
http://www.nzmaritime.co.nz/dm01.htm

Will require an effort to fix her up!

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 22, 42

Air Combat

Continued attacks on Magwe.


Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 27
Hudson IIIa x 12
Beaufort V x 12
Bolingbroke IV x 12

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 14
Wellington Ic x 39
B-17E Fortress x 53
B-17F Fortress x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-15-II Babs: 1 destroyed on ground

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

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 128
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 6

Allied aircraft losses
B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Try to take out a small TF at Cox's but our crack Nell's can't score on the small targets.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cox's Bazar at 54,43
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 27

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 7000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cox's Bazar at 54,43
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
xAKL Kalarand
PG Clive

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

I don't like having Chink corps sitting on my road sholder...managed to force this one out.

Ground combat at 80,56
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7714 troops, 65 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 280
Defending force 2081 troops, 23 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 56

Japanese adjusted assault: 260
Allied adjusted defense: 34

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
699 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
17th/B Division
116th/B Division

Defending units:
50th Chinese Corps
----------------------------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 23, 42

Surface Combat

Using a destroyer to finish the coastal convoy; much simpler.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Akyab at 54,44, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shiranui

Allied Ships
xAKL Sigli, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
xAKL Silindoeng, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
AM Abraham Crijnssen, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

In the perfect moonlight (100%) I send some night bombers to Dacca and we destroy a 4E on the ground.
Success!!-)

Night Air attack on Dacca , at 56,38
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 27

Allied aircraft
no flights

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

Allied aircraft losses
B-17F Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attacks on the "stack" in Burma, we're slowly ID'ing the troops there.

Morning Air attack on 2nd British Division, at 57,44
Weather in hex: Clear sky

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

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 28
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 27

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

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

Aircraft Attacking:
28 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 23rd Indian Division ...
Also attacking 2nd British Division ...
Also attacking 23rd Indian Division ...
Also attacking 2nd British Division ...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This was today's big poodoo [X(]
Decided to risk an approach to Colombo with the bombardment fleet after spotting a RN TF.
Approaching without air cover was foolhardy but it has worked before, obviously Andy learned from his mistakes.
- First in the PM turn 9 Albacore's approached; I wasn't overly scared as we easily could shrug of a hit.
What I had forgotten is that these stringbags has a hit probability that makes the Kate's look like amateurs.

9 planes and 4!! hits. The Hyuga shrugged the hit of, almost no damage.
Poor Yamashiro took the remaining 3 torps and is in trouble.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koggala at 30,53
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 10

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage
BB Hyuga, Torpedo hits 1
BB Fuso

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stingbag strike

Place your bets gentles; will she sink?
Odds are 1-3 that she'll make it.

[khyberbill]

Your sys damage is low and she will probably make it although I am not sure that going to Pt Blair is your best option. Flt wont get rpaired there, you need a shipyard. In one encounter, I had the Big E with sys of 5 and flt of 90 and she made it to Colombo from Cocos Is.

[PzB74]

Well, it got worse - a lot worse!
A couple of Brit light carriers obviously is in the area; this was a fact that was lost on me.

34 Albacors and some Swordfish attacked the fleet that was retiring from Ceylon.
Out of 34 Albacores 13 hits are scored and both Fuso and Hyuga sinks while a light cruiser is damaged[X(]
- The Stringbags put another torp into the Yamashiro but she refuse to sink.

British TBDs are 99 times more deadly than their US counterparts, even more deadly than the Kates.
This also shows how lethal it is to get close to even a small contingent of LBA.

The battleship area is definetly over!!
Only the Ise remains of the 4 battleships in the Bombardment fleet; lucky us that I switched her with the Kongo and that
she was enroute to Singers when the unfortunate mission sailed.

I'm not too heart broken about the loss of these old ships; my own incompetence got them lost and I pity the crews, that what annoys me the most.
While old BB's are good for bombardments they're too slow to do much else good.

The Kongos are good carrier escorts, the Nagato's and Yamato's can battle the modern US and UK battle fleets.
The Ise and a heavy cruiser squadron will be left at Singapore with another cruiser squadron at Soerabaja.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 24, 42

Air Combat

Destroyers and no CAP over T'ville.
Range was extreme so no torps or hits. Fortunate that no CAP was present, need to reduce range!

Morning Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 92,144

Weather in hex: Overcast

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

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Russell

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 6000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 2nd British Division, at 57,44
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

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

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

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

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koggala at 32,57
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 34
Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Torpedo hits 6, and is sunk
BB Hyuga, Torpedo hits 6, and is sunk
CA Furutaka
CL Kinu, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
14 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koggala at 32,56
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
Swordfish I x 7

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish I: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Swordfish I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Still struggling with this Chink corps - they're so much more capable than in RL and
sending them to Burma is a big help to the Alles there.

Ground combat at 61,46
Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5565 troops, 38 guns, 103 vehicles, Assault Value = 245
Defending force 3338 troops, 39 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 142

Japanese adjusted assault: 136
Allied adjusted defense: 103

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

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

Allied ground losses:
178 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
5th Tank Regiment
79th Infantry Regiment
62nd Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
66th Chinese/A Corps
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

A not so good day for the battleships

The damaged cruiser (30 flood) is taking a long detour to Batavia. 36 Zero's and 36 Tojo's have been placed so to give
protection. Just a few fighters is enough to down a handful of stringbags.

The Yamashiro with a flood of 86 is left on her own as a distraction.
If a miracle happens she may still have a minute chance.

The reason I was sailing her to Port Blair was to repair minor flood damage before contuning to Singers.
At Port Blair we got level 5 air fields but only base force capacity for 56 planes. I need an Air HQ here to place torpedo bombers at the base
that can threaten enemy surface / carrier raids.

[PzB74]

An upgrade for the Val SBD is available.
It has better speed and climb, but 1 hex less in range.

Not a great update really; fortunately the Judy isn't too far away.

[PzB74]

The Val D3A2 looks kewler than the D3A1 - that's at least something [;)]

We have now traded punches and counter punches for almost a year!
The losses we have suffered are painful but not critical. Second rate carriers and now battleships.
Still, we need to husband our resources carefully in the future.

I have ordered 2 seaplane tenders to return to the Home Islands to convert to light carriers to make up
for the losses we have suffered. This together with the accelerated carrier program and the intact Kido Butai
will make up the backbone of our defense well into 1944 if everything works out.

I've tried very hard to reduce Allied carrier strength; we have hurt almost every single US and UK carrier but
only managed to sink one fleet and one escort carrier. Enemy tanker losses is perhaps what hurts Andy the most.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 25, 42

Surface Combat

Andy does not seem uberly interested in what's going on in Oz anymore.
Townsville's airfields are still open and there's a destroyer squadron present.
I therefore wanted to drop in and surprise them!

A destroyer squadron of 4 DDs and a CL sailed in first.
- I knew the enemy destroyers were present, still the US ships got the drop on us and launched
torps from 8k yards. No hits were scored and only superficial damage inflicted before both TFs withdrew.

The destroyers nevertheless did their job and the bomardment express sailed in and blasted the place.
The Oz Army can't have that many reinforcements in the pools, so any destruction must be good for something.
- A bit dissappointed that we can't handle US destroyers in 10/42; if we can't now then when?

Night Time Surface Combat, near Townsville at 92,144, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai, Shell hits 1
DD Yugumo, Shell hits 3
DD Akigumo
DD Kazegumo, Shell hits 1
DD Takanami

Allied Ships
DD Gwin
DD Russell, Shell hits 1
DD Helm
DD McCall, Shell hits 1

Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 100% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 8,000 yards
DD McCall launches Torpedoes at DD Kazegumo at 8,000 yards
DD Helm launches Torpedoes at DD Kazegumo at 8,000 yards
DD Russell launches Torpedoes at DD Kazegumo at 8,000 yards
DD Gwin launches Torpedoes at DD Kazegumo at 8,000 yards
DD McCall launches Torpedoes at DD Yugumo at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
DD McCall engages DD Yugumo at 4,000 yards
DD Helm engages DD Yugumo at 4,000 yards
DD Russell engages DD Yugumo at 4,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Russell at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Kazegumo engages DD McCall at 2,000 yards
DD McCall engages DD Takanami at 2,000 yards
DD Russell engages DD Yugumo at 2,000 yards
DD Akigumo engages DD Helm at 2,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Russell at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CL Sendai engages DD Helm at 6,000 yards
DD Takanami engages DD Helm at 6,000 yards
DD McCall engages DD Kazegumo at 6,000 yards
DD Kazegumo engages DD Gwin at 6,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD McCall at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CL Sendai engages DD McCall at 11,000 yards
DD Takanami engages DD Helm at 11,000 yards
DD Kazegumo engages DD McCall at 11,000 yards
DD Akigumo engages DD Gwin at 11,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD McCall at 11,000 yards
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Uzuki cleans out the small convoy to Cox's.
- I forget to remove the "remain on statino" order and the destroyer hangs around
without getting any attention.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Cox's Bazar at 54,43, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Uzuki

Allied Ships
xAK Testbank, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AM Oudh, Shell hits 16, and is sunk

Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 3,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 3,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 3,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages AM Oudh at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages AM Oudh at 2,000 yards
AM Oudh sunk by DD Uzuki at 2,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages xAK Testbank at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
xAK Testbank sunk by DD Uzuki at 3,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bombardments

Night Naval bombardment of Townsville at 92,144

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed on ground
Hurricane XIIb: 1 destroyed on ground
Hudson III (LR): 2 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
BB Kongo
CA Mikuma
CA Chokai
CA Maya
DD Makigumo

Allied ground losses:
224 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 61 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 47 (13 destroyed, 34 disabled)
Vehicles lost 49 (10 destroyed, 39 disabled)

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 16
Port hits 4

BB Kirishima firing at Townsville
BB Hiei firing at 1st Australian Division
BB Kongo firing at 21/22 Field Regiment
CA Mikuma firing at 1st Australian Division
CA Chokai firing at 1st Australian Division
CA Maya firing at 1st Australian Division
DD Makigumo firing at 13th Australian Brigade
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Today the 4Es hit Magwe again in severe storms..and suffer no ops losses :-\
Our nightly raids that destroy the occasional B-17 is therefore the only way to ensure
some sort of attrition. When we are rid of the B-17s the slightly less durable B-24's will
at least be a little easier to handle.

Night Air attack on Dacca , at 56,38
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 27

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Yamashiro is dead in the water and sinking; still she stayed afloat long enough to
absorb another 2 strikes. The enemy light carriers are all but out of torps, but still score
another 3 hits.


Morning Air attack on TF, near Koggala at 32,57
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 13
Swordfish I x 4

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 2, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
4 x Albacore I bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x Swordfish I bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x Albacore I bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koggala at 32,57
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 13
Swordfish I x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
10 x Albacore I bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x Swordfish I bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 26
B-17F Fortress x 15

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 19

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Allied losses

Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 12
B-17F Fortress x 7

Allied aircraft losses
B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 15000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Naval Combat

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: PzB

An upgrade for the Val SBD is available.
It has better speed and climb, but 1 hex less in range.

Not a great update really; fortunately the Judy isn't too far away.

With a range of only five for dive bomber attacks (range 6 would mean attacking with useless 60kg bombs) your enemy is now having the range advantage it seems because the US bombers all got 6 hexes normal range. A real bad luck engagement would mean the carriers being 6 hexes from each other, would leave you with "only" Kates but usually they are enough anyway. And not that long until the Judy, which makes the IJN bombers again far superior to the US ones.

[veji1]

That was poor play on your part PZB, as you say it is not critical, but when you play Japan you can't really afford to lose second rate CVEs and Battleships.. Those CVEs should have been there providing CAP... You were a bit reckless there...

Anyway, keep up the fight, BANZAI

[PzB74]

Yes, and obviously some factories have converted to the upgraded Val type.
Will halt them and only produce the D3A1 - range is much more important thant a slight speed and climb increase.
- Didn't even know there was a D3A2 model, new from WitP to AE I guess.
&nbsp;
Indeed veji, that decision to send the bombardment fleet to Ceylon was done after spotting the heavy surface fleet.
Wanted to see if I could force a fight with it. Unfortunately I didn't get any carrier sightings.
Such 'on the go' decisions are often fatal...let this be a lesson!
&nbsp;
Andy said he were sending his TF to intercept my bombardments of his bases.
This much I picked up, the punishment for ignoring a handful of stringbags with torps was deadly though.
&nbsp;
In this case the CVEs would have been worth their weight in gold.
Problem is that if I bring in a few CVEs they're probably going to meet a couple of full size British carrier and be sent to the bottom too.
- This again becomes a question of whether Jap carrier strength should be separated or kept in the same place for a maximum effort.
After loosing half the mini KB I simply can't afford further carrier losses, but sending a single CVE with 30 Zero's would have been a worthwhile investment.
&nbsp;
Still, it's a learning experience in AE just like in RL were you only get one chance, that's what I like about playing scenarios through the first time.
Later games can rely much on learning and hindsight. In this game the sinking of 3 old battleships by only 30-40 obsolete torpedo bombers would have been the&nbsp;defining moment when the carrier fanboys finally won their long ongoing argument with the traditionalists&nbsp;that&nbsp;meant that&nbsp;the battleship still was the most important ships in the fleet.
&nbsp;
The&nbsp;Jap heavy cruisers are actually worth almost as much as their battleships (except the Furutaka, Aoba class)&nbsp;while being worth only 1/6 in VP.
What they lack in shell weight they make up for in torpedoes, what they lack in armor they make up for in speed.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: PzB

The Jap heavy cruisers are actually worth almost as much as their battleships (except the Furutaka, Aoba class) while being worth only 1/6 in VP.
What they lack in shell weight they make up for in torpedoes, what they lack in armor they make up for in speed.

I have to deny that because in AE with the different naval routines to WITP, the battleships became much more important. And what makes the BBs so much more important than the heavy cruisers (not saying the heavy cruisers would be bad)? The BBs are bomb prove, the CAs aren´t. And I can assure you, my PB4Y and B25C and B25D1 with their 70 lownav crews make short process with every Japanese surface combat ship in range - except the BBs because they are bomb prove. The BBs can only be sunk by torpedoes or other BBs gunfire (ok, you can sink them after hitting them with 300 5inch shells or 100 500lb bombs). I would rate every BB three times more important in AE than in WITP. While heavy cruisers can do a good job too, they´re in trouble if ending up in range of my bombers (17 hexes normal range for the PB4Y Liberator for example) or if they meet BBs of course. Needless to say what happens if they end up in 1000lb bomb range of my 70 skilled SBDs, but the 500lb bomb equipped level and attack bombers on 1000ft naval attack are nothing worse, in fact they seem to be even better when you think about their ability to fly through enemy Cap as if it wouldn´t exist when talking about the USN Liberators.

[PzB74]

True enough, but fuel gussling battleships (should) usually only operate together with carriers when challenging enemy zoc in 43-46.
Operating as bomb magnets with the KB is one of their main role; the problem with the Fuso - Ise class is that their low speed makes this difficult.

- The Kongo's is therefore the most valuable carrier escorts while the Nagato's and Yamato's can perform both this role as well as fight Allied battleships and bombardment missions. If I have to brave enemy LBA sending a battleship along with a convoy is an option, but if they meet a handful of stringbags we all know what will happen [:D]
&nbsp;
One of the lessons Jap players have to absorb is how greatly more efficient Allied LBA is against surface warships in AE than in WitP.
Operating outside of air cover will very likely be punished hard by the above mentioned ac types.