Bettys in the sky with diamonds- Gladiatt (A) vs John_Smid (J). No John please

[gladiatt]

1st - 9th January 1943

DEI

KOEPANG

-3rd january, 6 Mitchell of 90th US Bsq attack a PG, despite a CAP of 30 jap fighters (50% Zeros, some Tojo, some Nick, some Tonys).
1 bomber is damaged, the PG escape unharmed.

- 4th january, 5 Brewster 339D and 3 Hudson attack through the same CAP of 30 jap fighters, loose 1 Brewster and 2 Hudson and miss an AK.

-7th and 8th january, the raids to slow the repair of this base resume: in 2 days, 170 sorties of B-17 cross the same CAP of 30 jap fighters. 16 B-17 , 4 Hudson and 4 Brewster are destroyed, 48 planes damaged. The jap loose 3 zeros, 2 Tojo, 18 fighters are damaged. The base sustain 6 hits, the runway 80 hits, but this seem not enough to really slow the repair.







- On 9th january, SS Flying Fish sink PC Shonon Maru.

[gladiatt]

1st - 9th january 1943

CHINA

Chungking :
Artillery duel between the japs 12 divisions and my 30 corps (of them, only 12 are at full strenght) cause 232 chinese casualties for 2750 japaneses.
A concern is that jap artillery is getting accurate, but for now no threat of being attacked in this city hex.
But in a few days/weeks, when the japs engineers regiment from Ichang area will be free and rested, this could be another story.
On my side, i don't have all units on "Allow reinforcement", but many corps are gathering artillery tubes quicker than infantery squads, thus my firepower could explain these result.
The supply level is better than before, reaching now 25000 without anything that i did in particular.

Ichang suffer daily from air pounding, with no less than 750 sorties of japs level bombers and dive bombers.
I have no more squadrons to defend this place, and the airbase is trashed, allowing the japs to roam freely in the skys.
A try to resupply the place with C-47 end in slaughter (14 Dakotas are downed by the jap LRCAP).

The town suffer land attack on 1st, 2nd, but the japs suffer a bit (odd 0/1 on 2nd january). The japs thus resume artillery bombardement on 3rd, 4th and 5th january. Then the assault come back, dropping 1 level of fort each day.
On 9th january, the japs seize the town. 13000 chinese soldiers surrenders (2 HQ, 2 corps and a base). They didn't had time to escape:

North of Ichang , 4 chinese corps (gathering barely 300 AV) had tried to open an escape road for Ichang.
After repulsing a lone jap tank regiment in december, they now face this unit and a Mongol Div and a jap Inf Div.
On 5th january, an attack fail to clear the road, with heavy losses (2000 chinese casualties for 70 japanese). The japs thought they could repulse my troops, and launch a local counter attack on 7th january, but failing to dislodge my troops.

Anyway, Ichang fate is written on the wall, and the escape road did not worked [:(].
My troops north of the town must now retreat before being cut and destroyed peacemal.
More: Sian and Homan are threatened of being cut from Chungking; but i must now decide if i evacuate these 2 town without a fight (and if so, it must be do really quickly), or condamn all the troops there (roughly 6 HQ and 6 corps) but trying to buy time.

Kunming is now threatened by a stack of 17 japs units.
As there are still 4 understrengh corps trying to retreat from Kweiyang area, and that all the Kweiyang defenders had been destroyed, there is no hope for this place....and thus threatening Yunan.
Soon the japs will be able to cut the supply line between Yunan and Chungking.

[gladiatt]

BURMA

Andaman

On 1st january, a new raid (read previous post) target my convoys. 16 zeros and 14 sally face my 15 fighters. 1 P-40 is downed for 3 japs planes, but AK Empire Ballantyne suffer 8 bombs hits (did someone think like ma about all the Whisky cargo ??? [:D] ) and sink 4 days later trying to reach Trincomalee.

- 3rd january, naval bombardement by BB Ise and Yamato and CA Kako. 8 planes are destroyed on ground, 700 casualties.

- 9th january, naval bombardement by the same ships, despite the 300+ mines that my subs laid there. So bad they don't suffer the same fate as DD Kuri.

AKYAB
Trying to find a solution to supply the place whileavoiding loosing too many freighters, i decide to build barges in an Indian base. But sadly, the 8 LCVP created can only gather roughly 70 supply. Anyway, i send them toward Akyab, thinking this could always me.
On 7 th january, when entering Akyab Bay, LCVP 532H encounter SS RO-61 still lurking here (despite a Wellington Squadron on ASW duty), and is shelled to death.

[gladiatt]

BURMA

Moulmein
A sweep is tryed on 1st january. 14 P-40B and 30 P-38 tangle with 8 Tojo and 63 Tonys. 18 japs and 22 allied are downed.


Fail manoeuver to stop the jap retreat from Pagan
Remenber: on 9th december, my british troops manage to repulse 30 japs units out of Pagan. I did not had enough time to have units on all hex near Pagan. Thus the japs find a way to escape just West of Pagan, across the Irrawaddy.
Counting on the fact that the japs units would walk at the same rate then british/indian/dutch/chinese troops, i expected a 1 mile per day travel.
For a month, my LBA in India had to share their task between Ship attack, Airfield attack, and harassement of these retreating units. I even had some LRCAP above them, hopping to halt all kind of air resupply. I only catch 1 jap airtransport, but how many could have fly to help these japs ??

A few weaks allied units even get in the middle of the jap retreat path. I expected to send another one.
But i was wrong on the jap speed [:@][:(] (why are they so quick ??).
On 2nd january, the jap 55th Div cross the Irrawaddy. The shock attack don't repulse my troops, and cost 700 jap casualties for 20 allied.
On 3rd january, 2 others units ( 4th mix Bde and 33rd Div) cross the Irrawaddy, and cause 400 japs casualties for 50 allied.
But on 4th january, the japs launch an all out attack (shock) at 13/1 wich repulse my forces.
The retreat way is open [:(].
At last on 5th january, the sky allow my planes to make 200 sorties, harassing the japs still trying to evacuate.
Coming from Pagan after some rest (but too long, as i guessed wrong the speed of these units) chinese 28th Div cross the Irrawaddy west of Pagan. Then until 9th january, this unit conduct land bombardement, with small results, but hoping to slow down (or stuck ) the rest of the stack ( 6 arty, 4 AA, 2 Tanks, 3 base, 3 engineers).



On 6th january, a raid of 15 P-40 and 31 Mitchell attack too much south: the bombers group has probably keep a unit as target, not a location, thus falling in an ambush: 23 Tony and 5 Tojo hammer me. For the loss of 5 japs, 10 P-40 and 6 Mitchell are destroyed [:(][8|]. No P-38 dare escort although their range is correctly set.

South Irrawaddy
Having good result on land bombardement, my forces in the south launch 3 armored punch, on 1st, 5th and 9 th january.
Between these assaut and the land bombardement, my troops suffered 950 casualties for 4600 japanese.
I hope the growing number of jap casualties by land bombardement mean he is lacking supply or suffering disruption.

[gladiatt]

SOPAC 1st - 9th January

Funafuti
Rufe are not absolute killers , but these float planes are quite dangerous.
-1st january, A raid of 33 Liberators from Pago Pago is not able to hurt the base, but score a few hits on the supply (two).
- another raid on 2nd give one plane shot on each side. But still only 2 hits on supply.

- 4th january, SS S-31 sink a MSW at Funafuti.

- 7th january, the 3 Rufe on CAP down 3 of the attacking 38 B-24 for a jap fighters, but still only hits on supply (1).
Sadly, i would have prefered to damage the base itself, hoping to slow it's building.


PORT MORESBY
After a raid of 30th dec and the jap DD avoiding retaliation on 31th, the TF is still in range on 1st january.
A CAP of 11 zeros protect. 18 P-38 and 14 twin-engine bombers attack it. 3 zeros and 1 P-38 are downed,. DD Hakaze suffer a bomb hit. A second raid in the afternoon cost me a P-38. DD Hakaze suffer another hit, along with DD Kazegumo.
I will learn with great pleasure on 5th january the sinking of DD Hakaze in Rabaul Harbor. At last some japs ship start to sink !!

On 2nd january, closing to Rabaul, these 4 DD avoid the sub attack of SS S-45.
This sub , hunted by ASW TF on 3rd january, hunker down, but on 4th january, is back in Rabaul port and sink a MSW.

GASMATA
On 5th january, 6 Boston attack an AP at Gasmata, hitting it with a bomb. 15 zeros and 10 Tonys on CAP tangle with my 18 P-38 on escort. 1 Lightning is downed for 6 japs fighters (good day ! [8D] ).
Even if this AP don't sink, let's hope this kind of attack mark the beginning of a new era.

[gladiatt]

The attack at Gasmata

[gladiatt]

PORT MORESBY UNDER ATTACK 8th and 9th January

In these 2 days, the jap send 4 raids against my shipping supplying Port Moresby.

106 sorties of zeros and 70 sorties of Bettys face 40+ allied fighters. 75th, 76th, 77th RAAF sq ( Kittyhawk I) and 24th FG/C ( P-38G)
make themselves know to the japs !
For the loss of 9 Kittyhawk and 1 P-38, the japs suffer the losses of 68 Zeros and 22 Bettys !!
An australian MSW is sink, and 1 AP and 2 AK badly damaged.
SLDR Turnbull (75th RAAF) shoot 4 planes, reaching ace status. FLT Morris ( 77th RAAF) score 3 kills reaching 16 kills.

I hope this hurt him [:o].

[gladiatt]

SUBWAR

In these 9 first days of 1943 , my subs are now on "hunting mode", or even "hurting mode" [;)].
They made 22 contact (attack or jap ASW attack). They managed to sink 5 MSW and 1 PC, while damaging an AP (at Tulagi) and an AK (at Kwajalein) , loosing 1 (Haddo, hit by 3 direct hits at Truck, is still struggling to reach an allied port, but seem on it's way of sinking).
Let's hope all this will only grow on my side, with better targets and better results.

On 9th january, at Tarawa, SS Whale and SS S-34 are both hits by japs patrol planes, Kates and Emily. A jap TF with BB and CV is spotted sailing south.
Another raid on my shipping lanes ? Probably.
I must scatter several convoys TF, and some will loose a long time escaping the japs and then sailing back (some could even be destroyed).
In a few months, i will be able to counter these deep raids !

[1275psi]

And now the fun begins for you at last -the biggest problem becomes keeping jap player in the game!

[flaggelant]

talking 'bout motivation;

how many capital ships & ca's have been sunk on both sides?

[gladiatt]

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

And now the fun begins for you at last -the biggest problem becomes keeping jap player in the game!

Hmmm, it seem to me that
1° this jap player has still a few arrow for it's bow (does it make sense in english ?). The fact he is swallowing China piece after piece make me think he is capitalizing VP for the future.
There are still hard battle to be fight. And i am not ready for offensive;

2) I have a feeling (maybe wrong ) that Jan is less imune to psy war than i am

3) if at one point he leave, i won't judge him, having been by this point of vue

[gladiatt]

ORIGINAL: flaggelant

talking 'bout motivation;

Ouch, make me feel ashame [:o]. Yes, it is becoming a bit more funny for me. But as i stated to 1275psi, there are still heavy fightings to fight....

how many capital ships & ca's have been sunk on both sides?

There is a summary of capital ship losses on post 257 and 258, at the end of November 1942; if my mermory doesn't fail me, there was no change since (in capital ships. Many AK loss on my side, and a few bunch of DD and MSW on his side).

Anyway, thanks for interest guys.
Flagellant, this is a long time since your AAR was update; any chance to see it running again ?
1275psi, i am one of your reader. Very impressed in the life you give to your character, and the feeling about flying !
(although to be perfectly honest, the best book about the feeling of fighting in the air was written by Free French Ace Pierre Clostermann in "Le grand Cirque". If you don't know it, i recommend it warmly, don't know if it was translate ).

[flaggelant]

looks like an offensive will have to wait a bit indeed, but it will come eventually [8D]

well, were playing our game in about 2 turns a week so progress is slow..

added to that were kind of in a low period, with not much happening, the landings in india are on the march, china is starting to rumble, and the pacific is quiet (except for
wake, which is gonna be a mayor field of battle as far as i can tell)

ill start updating again once important stuff starts happening on the fronts

[gladiatt]

10th - 17th January 1943

CHINA

Chungking

The land artillery duel rage on. In the week, the jap cause 170 chinese casualties. The chinese artillery cause 3300 jap casualties. If these could be real losses, that would be nice, but i know land bombardement mainly disable squads.
Does it burn up supply to recover these squads, or is supply just needed ? Does one of my reader know ?

Getting a closer look to my units, and despite having 20000+ supplys in the capital (a nice thing to see), it seem the units are not able to get more squads for reinforcement. Should probably have an even more closer look to be sure, but a bit lazy here.

The chinese bombers try to help harassing the japs, but there are now Tojo LRCAPing Chungking.
Despite the RAF 28th squadron (Spitfire Vb) giving escort, it is chinese 29th CFS ( I-16) that tangle with them. Between 13th and 15th january, the losses are 3 Tojo, for 3 I-16 and 2 SB2c. These bombing add a little 34 japs casualties....

North of Ichang
(have a look at the map).
On 10th january, a jap div cross Yangtse River East, repulsing a shattered chinese division, thus cutting the retreat path of the 4 corps that were trying to relieve Ichang last week.
Despite setting an allied base for destination, these corps (and 2 HQ) end stucked at 59 miles, just one little mile away from liberty.
They are hammered by the japs, now gathering 2 Div, a Mongol Cav Div, 1 Art unit and a Tk Reg. My chinese corps suffer 1240 casualties. These units are now condamned because of a stupid trick of stucking their walking. They are melting more or less quickly under the japs blow.
The number of VP for ground unit still raise for the japs, and that's not going to end soon.

South West of Kweiyang.
( have a look at the map; unfortunately, the whole front is so small it all go on a single screenshot [8|] )

17th january, after days of land bombardement, the 3 japs units ( 2 Div and a Bde) pursuing my 4 retreating corps attack at 85/1, loosing 750 casualties for 200 chinese. My units are repulsed....and despite the losses (and 30 VP for the jap), this give me nearly 8 days of bonus for walking !! [:'(].

Kweiyang is now hosting jap planes (no reccon to tell how much, but airbalance is 1000 in favor of the japs).

Kunming
After a journey to Dacca for refit and upgrade, chinese 5th CBS start to use the brand new B-25J to harass the 17 frightening japs units closing to the town. Sadly, the weather or bad moral check lead to only 1 mission in 6 days.

Homan
(still on the map [8|] )
Once again, 4 japs units are seen lurking in the wild, between Ichang and Homan, probably aiming for a surrounding of Homan.
Still not sure of what to do, evacuate, or fight and die (but earning a bit of time).

[gladiatt]

10th - 17th january 1943

DEI

KOEPANG

Between 10th and 13th january, nothing occur (despite some orders).

On 14th january, once again, my 2 bombers groups of B-17 ( 5th BG and 43th BG) launch an attack on the airbase.
37 japs fighters on CAP fight my 7 Brewster and 77 Flying Fortress. 6 Brewster and 2 B-17 are shot down. The dutch pilots are overwhelmed by the japs , but the gunners of the boeing manage to shoot 6 japs fighters ! The base suffer 5 hits, the runway 45.

Another raid on 15th gather 55 B-17. They loose 3 bombers and shoot 2 fighters, scoring 28 hits on runway.
Same day, another raid on jap shipping by 5 Hudson lead to the losse of 3 of them, missing the target, a PG.
Sadly 2 squadrons of B-25 ( one US and one dutch) are set to naval attack at full range, wich could reach Koepang, but no Mitchell dare to attack.

As there are many jap ships sighted at Koepang, i decide to set my B-17 to Naval Attack (and still no B-25 come along).
On 16th, 27 of these Flying Fortress shoot a Tojo on CAP (loosing 1 plane to ops losses) and hitting AK Nitiyo with 7 bombs.

Another raid on 17th with 33 B-17 and 3 Hudson cost me a Hudson for a Tony. 2 AK are hit by 2000 lb bombs. What a waste [8|].
I seem to remenber these weapons are used randomly by high exp units. But from my GC against the AI, they NEVER were used against a warship.
Incredibly, no ship sink...

Near Kendari , SS Flying Fish is hit by patrol planes. With high flooding and a slow speed, it sail south toward Australia, but too slowly. On 13th, hit by another patrol plane, it sink.

JOLO and ILOILO
Are bombed quite daily by bettys and Sallys on training run.

On 16th, near Jolo, SS Skipjack hit AK Nisshun with 3 torpedos and sink it, but damaged by the ASW escort, it change location, getting closer to Australia.

[gladiatt]

10th - 17th January 1943

Luang Prabang

This base raised quickly in the last weeks, from level 1 airfield to level 4 !! This probably mean a big number of engineers units.
What could be the goal of my opponant ? Earning a few base victory points ?
Having a big base for an air offensive, or something else ??

Between 10th and 16th january, no less than 10 raids are launched by my planes.
It gathered 159 bombers sorties and 178 fighters sorties (90% of these are P-38 from 4 differents squadrons).
The japs CAP usually count 40+ Tonys on defense.
No less than 31 allied fighters are downed, and 17 bombers, during these raids. It costed the japs 73 Tonys.
A total of 9 hits on the airbase and 55 runway hits are scored in the week, but so quickly repaired ! [X(].
(must really have a great number of engineers here).

At the end of the week, the base is operationnal, with 60 japs fighters and 60 auxiliaries hosted here.

[gladiatt]

10th - 17th January 1943

BURMA

Akyab

13th January, a TF of 5 DD is attacked while closing to Akyab. 18 LBA don't manage a single hit [:@].
Although 10 zeros on CAP are downed for 3 allied fighter and 1 Beaufort, it really p.... me to lack result here.

On 14th january, this TF is not even attacked although in range.






Andaman

On 11th January, 4 japs MSW come during the night to clear minefield protecting the island [X(]. No allied sub catch them.
What's going on here ??? In the morning, the MSW escape without any air raid from the Blenheim of Andaman.

On 15th january, 5 blenheims from Andaman attack BB Yamato, don't hurt it, and have 2 planes damaged.
Then came the storm.
On 16th january, 5 japs BB ( Hyuga, Yamato, Yamashiro, Fuso, Ise) and CA Kako come to nuke my base.
Fotunately, BB Hyuga hit a mine; but the others ship make a real mess, nuking the island: 20 planes are destroyed, there are 900 casualties, the 2 150mm gun from a dutch base are destroyed without firing a single shot back, and the base suffer 13 hits, and 24 on runway !
On 17th, 81 Sally come to add damages, along with 9 zeros on LRCAP above my base. 3 Hawk 75 of F2-VIG-III groep and 4 P-40E of AVG/C only are operationnal and take off to fight. 2 of my P-40E are shoot by the Sallys [X(]; 8 japs bombers are destroyed.
1 LT Burgard (AVG/C) shoot 4 bombers, reaching now 31 Kills, thus rising to 4 th place to the top pilot list.

Trying to defend the place, 2 british subs are sent toward Andaman; and the 2 dutch laying mines ( O-19 and O-20) receive the help of many damaged subs ( a few US and a few dutch) to lay mines.

IRRAWADDY

The fight on hex 30:33 , 120 miles north of Rangoon, is raging on ! (there is a screenshot of the 6 japs units at post 282 ).
The jap land bombardement (and a allied attack on 13th january) cause 550 allied casualties.
The allied artillery, and the armored punch of 13th january, cost the japs 3000 casualties.

But still, no hopes of breaking the lines, the japs gather 80000 mens against the 50000 allied, and 1600 AV against 1100 allied.

North of this front line, on 16th january, 1st chinese Tank Reg is back on the trail on the west bank of Irrawaddy:
i hoped to find there 2 weaks units, having the feeling (proven wrong) that the japs div retreating from Pagan went to Rangoon to rest.
In fact, 21st and 55th japs div ( 667 AV) are still keeping open this path; my small chinese unit is throw back with losses (150 mens and 7 vehicules...on the 15 of the unit, unable to fill it's TOE).
Thus, i have no more hope to close this road for the 19 units still north of this point (just West of Pagan).
And sadly, the weather grounded my planes, and less than 100 sorties are flown to harass these japs in 7 days.

[gladiatt]

10th - 17th January 1943

PORT MORESBY

The raids of the last week keep on one more day:
On 10th january, 2 japs raids gather 24 sorties of zeros and 42 of bettys. My CAP loose 2 planes and destroy 7 zeros and 19 bettys.
2 AK are hit by torpedoes, and set on fire.

11th january, a TF of 3 japs DD Raid the port



a TF of 8 SC is hammered, loosing 3 ships unable to fire back.
Once more this TF came unspotted !! And it entered the place without being engaged by my new TF of PT Boats ! [:@].
The leader of this TF is dismissed, and send in garison duty in Antartic continent, couting the penguin !![:@].
A new leader ( a RearAdm) is given command of this PT Boat TF, with high agressiveness, hoping to get to fight nex time.
What a pity, what works for others players don't seem to act for me....[:(]

This TF "disapeared" of my spotting range....and only came back on 15th january south of Port Moresby.
Where had it hide for 3 days ?
Probably in the "patrol gap" south of Port Moresby and East of Townsville, north of Noumea.

Bombers from Port Moresby attack, facing a CAP of Zeros.
In 2 days, 57 LBA sorties and 64 sorties of fighters achieve 3 hits: 2 on DD Asakaze and one on DD Akikaze (wanted to take a screenshot but paint failed). Both DD are seen on fire, but none sink [:(].
This is a 6% hit rate, far far away from the 25% hit rates of the japs bombers [:(][:@], and despite my crews having in the high 70's experience.
Damn, no offensive can get ready with a threat like these japs raiders roaming "free" close to my base.

On 16th, a minefield is discovered at Port Moresby, cleaning is in progress.
On 16th, a minefield is discovered the hard way at Townsville, one LCM is sunk. Cleaning in progress.
No jap sub spotted laying these mines [:(]

GILI GILI & EFATE
Are bombed roughly on a daily basis.

On 13th January, 89th BS from Luganville (B-25) spot and attack a TF of at least 5 ships near Ndini in the Santa Cruz Island.
7 Sorties result in one bomb hit on PG Hakkaisan, seen on fire. The TF escape East, without any sign of sinking [:(]. What was he doing here ???

On 17th january, at Efate, I-23 and I-8 are hit by patrol planes. Let's hope they will sink.

[gladiatt]

14th - 17th January 1943

KB RAID PAGO PAGO

Is KB trying to lure me into a trap ? Wishing to draw me close in a CV vs CV battle ?
Is it just trying to reduce Pago Pago ? In order to stop my harassement of Funafuti so the base could rise ?


Fortunately, convoys sailing close to Pago Pago had a 2 days warning and spread. A 50000 fuel convoy sail south toward Australia on 13th january (should reach Australia in 20 days); another one with an entire division from WC sail back toward Pearl, having now 4 days of advance in case of pursuit.

On 14th, KB set itself at 5 hex NW of Pago Pago, and start raiding my base.
9 CV are identified by the name of airsquadrons:
AII Kaga; BI Soryu; BII Hiryu; CI Hosho; DII Junyo; DIII Hiyo; EI Shokaku; EII Zuikaku.
These ships can gather 346 bombers and 156 fighters.
To defend the place, there is only 24 fighters of VMF 112 (F4F Wildcats) and 96 bombers ( 1 group of B-24, 1 squadron of B-25, 2 squadrons of SBD Dauntless). And, and it will prove very useful, nearly 80 Flack point in several US Base and a USMC Df Bn.

Sadly, as soon as 14th january, 70% of my bombers are destroyed on ground or damaged, and Pago Pago is unable to strick back [:(]. Some bombers could have flown a retaliatory strike, and this explain that only 18 F4F were protecting the base: i had a 30% set to escort bombers; this hope vanished after just one day of fight.
As usual, what work for others don't work for me, because i hoped for the 4E to attack despite lacking escort.






The base is raided on 14th, 15th , 16th and 17th january (errr, sorry, once more paint failed to take all the screenshot i wanted).
Kates and Vals made 667 sorties, with 95 sorties of zeros. Probably most of the 150 zeros of KB are on CAP, because they never was more than 30 fightes covering the raids.
Well, days after days, the need of escort disminish with the amount of allied bombers destroyed on ground. Total of 4 days of raids: 65 bombers destroyed on ground.
But VMF 112 claim 46 japs bombers (and 2 zeros). FO Farell and FO Jordan each score 6 kills.
Flack is also more accurate than on a warship! with only 80 point, it down no less than 36 bombers, and damage 211 others !!
( calcul of each days battle lead me to think that each jap CV can repair nearly 4 planes each day; so 9 CV mean 36 repaired each days; in 6 days at the most, all these damaged planes will be back in fight).

Sadly, day after day, the airbase suffer and the damages raise. It could soon be out of operation.
At least, the place seem safe, having a US RCT and a marine Df Bn behind a fort level 7, and 80 flak point.
Now, question is still: WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THIS RAID ??

North of the fight, at Tarawa, on 16th january, SS Pogy hit AO Notoro with 2 torps, seing a nice message : FUEL CARGO BURNING.
On 17th january, the AO sink. Let's hope it will hinder KB move.

If Jan wanted to lure me in a trap and destroy my CV, i think he won't be pleased: my CV are far away (will not tell where), but scattered in 3 TF. If i had to fight, i should have made it after second day of raid, when the most bombers were shot or damaged.
Now is too late, the repair is going on (i think) and i don't feel to tangle with zeros and Kate with only old F4F and SBD too short legged.
I must learn to wait.

[flaggelant]

ORIGINAL: gladiatt

14th - 17th January 1943

KB RAID PAGO PAGO

Is KB trying to lure me into a trap ? Wishing to draw me close in a CV vs CV battle ?
Is Flack is also more accurate than on a warship! with only 80 point, it down no less than 36 bombers, and damage 211 others !!
( calcul of each days battle lead me to think that each jap CV can repair nearly 4 planes each day; so 9 CV mean 36 repaired each days; in 6 days at the most, all these damaged planes will be back in fight).

perhaps it has something to do with bombing altitudes, i noticed that naval bombers are set to a lower standard to bomb at, than LB. When bombing a land target with naval bombers it probably causes more casualties when bombing at "naval alt."

Not sure if this is how it is best explained, but its just something i noticed, the difference between 10,000 feet and 15-20,000 feet must have an impact on AA effect.