ALLIED ONLY: aztez (A) vs erstad (J) ...2nd ROUND

[aztez]

FatR: Hopefully so. In the past I have been very unlucky with FOW feature.

Actually haven't had any postive suprises from it! [:D] ... we shall see though whether we nailed some of his carriers.


Sardaukar: Yeah. I think he can replace those pilots from his pools. No doubt about it.

In personal referance I think the "micromanagement" training should be taken out from the game. Leave just 1 general setting where you adjust the % levels.

That way we would get rid off some of the "fantasy" stuff from the game. As it stands to me at least this new training model does not add any substance into the game whatsoever.

We shall see what the actual damage % are... I had few messages from aircraft diverting to other carriers and nearby bases. That does not sound good but who knows maybe FOW playing into our hands.

Oh.. and I think +200 planes has LBA ones included. Very hard to tell what the actual carrier losses are for IJN. He did put up around 100 fighters into CAP though thus meaning there are many operational squadrons in play.

[aztez]

veji1: Agreed. Also it is "always" bad when your captains react to their own. In most cases that spell trouble.

It did here. If we hadn't reacted than I think the results would have been solid victory for us. That is hindsight though and down the dice rolls.

At the moment I consider this IJN victory but might change the mind when turn arrives.

Oh.. and I do not intend to slow down a bit. I will push as hard as I can with the forces available.

The reason why I committed to this one was simply because I do not want him to keep his carriers "safe". The sooner they are dealt with the better.

Simply because the "blitzkrieg" advances in this AAR forum has one common thing... "KB was hurt badly quite early".

[crsutton]

I am always amazed how relatively ineffective Allied AA is at this point and how effective Japanese AA is. By mid 1943, Allied AA should be slaughtering the attackers. Did your carrier TFs have any BB protection?
 
I am wondering if I should put cautious leaders in charge of my carrier TF?
 
I am wondering if it is a mistake to put slower CVEs in a TF with fast carriers. Does that effect the bombing attack?

[aztez]

crsutton: If you compare the japanese AA effectiviness into ie. "Shattered Sword" than 100% agree with you.

Those allied bomber crews were no rookies either. Their experience levels were between 65-85 in divebombing and torpedo attacks.

I had two BB TF's with the carriers. Things got messy due to reaction so full AA fire could not be provided since the TF's got separated.

Maybe you should or at least have the TF commanders in "cautious" type. Personal reference/experience is that whenever I see carrier TF's reacting on their own everything is thrown out of the window. I haven't had many good things happen after those wild maneuvers in my witp/AE gaming time.

I prefer to have the CVE's tagging along most of the times. Put the slowest ones in the leading TF and rest to follow. That way you should have best chance to keep the juggernaught in most favourable positions.. unless ofcourse the commanders do the wild thing.

The above ofcourse is just my personal opinion. Not implying it the best way to go about it.


Battle of Coral Sea


The losses were not that bad in terms of ships. No allied CV's were lost. Instead we lost CVE's and CVL on the initial slugging festival.

I will post few pics from the game screens to give you and idea what happened in terms of losses.

Keep in mind that Dave stated he lost +200 aircraft while the intel screen etc shows much greater number.

CV Junyo is shown on the sunken ship list but a bit skeptical on the issue. Not the first time this has happened on this PBEM. Maybe we got something though. Who knows.

Here are the few screens. Make your judgements from them.

No, I'am not pushing the issue so I have ordered my ships to withdraw towards LBA umbrella. We shall see how that goes at least hopefully no crazy reactions.

The torpedo bombers squadrons took big hit. I can replace the planes and still have plentiful skilled crews to occupy them.

[aztez]

Naval losses so far...

[aztez]

Reported aircraft losses from the previous turn...

[aztez]

...and finally the operational allied carriers

[Sardaukar]

Personally I use US "fast" BBs with carriers, 28 knot ones in CV TF. They can soak lot of attacks. I don't care that they are not as fast as CVs, they are fast enough. [8D]

Losses went quite even in that encounter, it seems. I think your damaged ones will make it..at least I hope so.

BTW, IJN "pre-CAP flak" bug was fixed in latest betas and should help with excessive IJN CV TF flak and CAP issue.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Sardaukar

Personally I use US "fast" BBs with carriers, 28 knot ones in CV TF. They can soak lot of attacks. I don't care that they are not as fast as CVs, they are fast enough. [8D]

Losses went quite even in that encounter, it seems. I think your damaged ones will make it..at least I hope so.

BTW, IJN "pre-CAP flak" bug was fixed in latest betas and should help with excessive IJN CV TF flak and CAP issue.

Well, they say it was fixed but looking at Canoerebel's latest posts in his AAR about the big carrier fight he just had and I am having my doubts. Massive carrier fight and his AA shot down hardly any Japanese aircraft. This was a 1944 fight too. I would expect AA slaughter. This has me bothered....

[Sardaukar]

Might be because AA ammunition loads are too small and usually used during first one or two attacks. 

[aztez]

This is an quick update. My summer vacation started today and I intend to spent a lot time with the daughers.

Thus I informed Dave and Warspite that the turn rate during July is going to be slow at best. One must keep his priorities straight.

Tomorrow morning will be heading to Turku for few days and enjoy the sun there.

Anyway, do not worry you wohn't miss a thing since I will update this once I get turns done.


Sardaukar: That is good advice. I keep my fastest BB's with carriers also but the slow CVE's will tag along too.

Yeah.. around even allthough CV Junyo does not show up in the sunken ship list anymore and I did lost few ships this turn too.

As for the AA... cannot say since we are not running with the latest beta patch. I know Dave just does not like to be Beta tester and I kind of agree since a lot of time has been invested into this PBEM.


crsutton: Hmmmm, I haven't had time to keep up with other AAR's but that was an big fight indeed.

As for concerns.. well unless you get good chance to knock KB out than be "scared" of it... doesn't mean you should hide from it though.

In this PBEM I have danced with it at Suva, Aleutians and now in the Southern Pacific.

All in all these encounters haven't had decisive winner.

veji1: The FOW is very intensive so IJN losses are total mystery. As stated above even CV Junyo is withdrawn from the sunken ship list.

I can confirm that my losses are 2 x CVL and few CVE's. The CV's are in no danger of getting sunk. That was FOW thankfully. Couple of them need small repairs nothing major though.

As always appreciated the comments guys.


Pacific (october 3rd - 4th 1943)


Both sides withdrew their carriers but since my fleet got separated few of the ships just were too close to his LBA's at Solomons.

Also we were unlucky (yet again). I have several 4E bombers ordered to assault Ndeni on october 3rd since kind of knew he had moved some bombers into the base.

The weather cancelled those raids but his bombers took off. This resulted to additional CVE losses for me.

In the end we lost 1 CVL and 2 CVE's on october 3rd. In return we got some bombers and fighters downed.

The CVL Princeton did not sunk to enemy aircraft though but was finished off by japanese submarine lurking in the area.

Very hard to judge the losses to his aircraft though. An estimate would 40-60 aircraft destroyed. It might be a bit lower than that though.

Other than that... the rest of the fleet is now under LBA cover so no CV's should be lost.

Elsewhere japanese ASW is impressive. He seems to get hits on the subs just for the fun of it.

[Heeward]

You can determine if you have sunk a CV by an increase in carrier aircraft ground losses. Therefore be on the look out for an unexplained increase in these type of looses. It will mean that the Junyo did not make it.

[aztez]

I'am still on summer vacation enjoying with the kids.

The weather has been absolutely magnificent 25-34c and sunny. I think only one small rain shower in past two weeks.

Enough of that though. I don't keep the laptop with but we managed to do couple of turns since last update.

Heeward: Yeah, the problem with that is that airlosses go up and down like crazy. However I think we nailed an CV and CVL this time. (judging by the numbers you mentioned)


Pacific (october 5th - 12th 1943)


The last couple of turns have pretty much been rotating the aftermath of tha carrier clash we had.

I'am happy to say that none of CV's were sunk on allied side and it seems we might have nailed CV Hiryu and CVL Ryujo.

The combat.txt files reported diffrent losses (for both sides) so this time around I'am optimistic.

The clash did kill a lot of my dive bomber and torpedo bomber crews. A couple of them suffered 100% losses.

I'am building up Luganville and flying recon missions over Solomons. It seems he has 100 fighters and 200 bombers gathered around Lunga / Munda region.

Not sure whether KB withdrew or not but most likely it has moved into Rabaul.

I'am considering my options and moving ahead with my offensives as fast as possible so you are guaranteed to see a lot more action in this one.

I will leave this short update with japanese naval losses screen... not much there but better than nothing.

[aztez]

I'am starting the last week of my summer vacation.

So far it has been very enjoyable to say at least.

We have managed to play few turns as well so managed to sort out time to do this update.


Southern Pacific (october 13th - novermber 6th 1943)


In the mid october period we had couple japanese battleships visit Luganville.

The result was some aircraft damaged and destroyed on the ground. However this is nothing to worry about since the plane pools have risen nicely.

I think Dave has or at least had 1 damaged CVL/CVE disbanded at Tulagi. That information came from our recon missions.

It also is very much fact that he has build up Solomons somewhat. The airfields are mostly maxed out there.

I have kept bombing Ndeni airfield daily and the he cannot fly out any missions from that base.

I think the base itself is quite important since it gives us an airfield that we can use even with medium "legged" aircraft.

Last turn we also bombed Lunga and Munda. These raids are to support our ongoing offensive againts Ndeni. The results from this raid was mixed. Lunga did not recieve much damage but Munda was hit hard. I think the better recon detection played an role here.

The main base seems to be Tulagi. He has some +100 fighters and 80-100 bombers gathered. Last turn we saw some of them since they did fly againts our carrier TF's.

The net results was 10-15 zeros destroyed. No bombers took off from the airfields at Solomons however.

I suspect this to change next turn though. We have amphibious TF's set to hit Ndeni next turn. Our ships are just 80 miles south of that base.

This operation is supported by carriers and battleships so it is not an minor operation.

The D-day for the landings is next turn.

Other than that... well still amazed how laser guided japanese ASW is in this game.

Also operation Duck (troops preparing) and Jungle Fever (already ongoing) are either scheduled or already in motion.

More on these during the next update. I have plenty of stuff scheduled this week so we shall see how RL treats me.

Next turn should be intresting though since I think he going fight near Ndeni.

[aztez]

South Pacific (november 7th - 8th 1943)


As expected japanese bombers took off againts our landings at Ndeni.

However it seems Dave did few mistakes on the orders and these assaults were "borked". We have few split raids which were easy to shoot down.

The kills were mostly againts Nell's and Sally bombers. In total he lost around 100 aircraft in past two days. (See intel screen pic below)

The P38's did ok on their sweep missions againts Tulagi and the kill ratios were 1,5:1 in our favour.

Also we did bomb Munda and Lunga but this time the results were not as good.

We have now landed +700av worth of infantry and more are unloading. Dave has +10 000 men worth of 250av gathered at Ndeni. Immediate delibarate assault is ordered.

Allied carriers are in good shape and are now ordered to go 80 miles north of Ndeni. This order simply because I want to hit any battleships or such that are going to intervene here.

Also we should this way take the major bulk of his lba assaults and I'am confident we can defeat these strikes.

The recon missions show also 18 000 (8 units at Lunga) so at least he has some 40-50 000 men around Guadacanal.

Following days should reveal more...

[aztez]

Burma (november 7th - 8th 1943)


The operation jungle fever is allied offensive into Burma.

We have taken a lot of time to get this sorted and now it is do or die for us.

The plan is simple. Initial assault is launched with Army group C. We want to take Myithkina first.

IF he commits a lot of forces there I will move army group B forward and cut of these troops.

IF he commits forces againts army group C and B than we will move army group A forward.

...and IF he commits all of these areas we will land south of Rangoon and take his armies from rear. There are plenty of troops gathered in Indian coast as reserves.

This is kind of pinball offensive. We will hit and hit until he caves out and thus destroys his troops.

Our next step really depends on his reaction to this offensive.

Personally I feel he will not commit in Northern Burma (that is what I would do at least) but will make his stand north of Rangoon.

We shall see but for the good or bad this offensive is GO GO GO.

The first battles should be fought later in november 1943.

Supply situation is naturally an "problem" but we have a lot of Transport aircraft waiting to be deployed.

[aztez]

Submarine losses up to november 1943


I have said a lot of japanese laserguided ASW efforts.

Here are two picks that show allied submarine losses up to date. It is not pretty sight at all. Keep in mind that there are a lot of damaged ones to add to these.

Well.. that is how the game works and have to live with it. Do I agree that it is working as it should? No, not at all.

Nowdays I just use the "patrol around target" function button and to be done with this part of micromanagement.

[aztez]

Pic 2...

[aztez]

The intel screen at the beginning of November 1943...

[aztez]

South Pacific (november 9th - 10th 1943)


No sign of KB at least not yet. We moved our carriers a bit further north and managed to sunk some enemy merchant shipping around Guadacanal. Too bad that these ships seemed to be "empty" ones.

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

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
A6M3a Zero x 25
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 10
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 24
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 6



Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 4
F6F-3 Hellcat x 71
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 17
SBD-3 Dauntless x 9
SBD-5 Dauntless x 13
TBF-1 Avenger x 33


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet IV: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 2 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Sugiyama Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Ryuyo Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Shonan Maru #6, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Ryujo Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Otake Maru, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
PB Toshi Maru #3, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

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

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29
A6M3a Zero x 24
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 18
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 30
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 9



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 23
SBD-5 Dauntless x 16
TBF-1 Avenger x 18


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-5 Dauntless: 2 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAKL Saishu Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Ogashima, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAKL Daitei Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Kensyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SC CHa-49, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk


Japanese LBA bombers launched some disorganised strikes againts our carriers and TF's unloading at Ndeni.

Happy to report that the above strikes did not do damage to our ships. Intresting to see whether he actually reinforces his airforce or withdraws them.

Allied LBA bombers visited Lunga, Munda and Port Moresby. The damage done was moderate levels.

It also seems that Dave has just 2 units garrisoning Port Moresby. That is intresting information indeed.

The japanese defending at Ndeni were not overrun on the initial assault but I'am hoping that next assault will result to the capture of Ndeni.

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

Ground combat at Ndeni (120,143)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 19685 troops, 534 guns, 407 vehicles, Assault Value = 908

Defending force 6546 troops, 48 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 236

Allied adjusted assault: 424

Japanese adjusted defense: 883

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
808 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 112 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 108 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
360 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 41 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 17 (2 destroyed, 15 disabled)


Assaulting units:
1st Australian Division
87th Mountain Regiment
159th(Sep) Infantry Rgt /1
754th Tank Battalion
15th Australian Brigade
182nd Infantry Regiment
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
8th Marine Rgt /1
10 RAAF Base Force
9 Group RAAF
56th Australian Lt AA Regiment
101st USN Base Force
804th Engineer Aviation Battalion
10 RAAF Av Rgt
1st Medium Regiment
Bobcats USN Naval Construction Battalion
223rd Field Artillery Battalion
6th RAAF M/W Sqn
808th Engineer Aviation Battalion
113th Australian Lt AA Regiment
57th Australian Lt AA Regiment

Defending units:
Sasebo 6th SNLF
11th Garrison Unit
Det. 3rd Special Base Force
48th JAAF AF Bn /155


Dave will be out couple of days on business travel so we need to wait further developments a bit.