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

[inqistor]

Anyone else noticed, that P-38H total AA loses are less, than reported for that day? Strange.

Anyway, good work. There comes another 2 months of armour replacements.
How many Divisions here must be sunk, for you, to consider New Caledonia invasion, PzB? [:D]

As I understand Koumac is still empty? And this base north of Noumea (La Foa?) do not have planes? Again, total lack of defensive preparations.
Also, are there not any heavy warships covering Allied action?
Convoy, you just sunk, indicates, than escorts are minimal. Send more subs into the area [8D]

[PzB74]

Always plenty room for improvement Witpqs, but I'll take that as a compliment [:)]

Daily loss vs total loss is usually not 100% equal as the former includes FOW.
If I could sink most of those 21 units at Noumea I would consider it but in general our Army is spread over a vast area and
the enemy is now reaching parity in numbers and superiority in quality. Just not very sensible to dispatch 5 divisions to invade another
backwater base were enemy has lots of LBA [:'(]

Gathered all avaialble fighters with long range and set up a CAP trap over Merauke today.
60 fighters including Nicks greeted the enemy bombers when they arrived. We claimed 9 P-39s and only 3-4 4Es.
Would die for a wing of FW-190s and ME-110s with a battery of 4x20 and 30mm guns!

Also used the opertunity to unload supplies at Merauke. Got a garrison and 3 forts there, if Andy wants it he will have
to land prepped LCUs.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 19, 43

We have and have had subs around New Caledonia for quite some time; just not very effective.

Sub-ASW Attacks

ASW attack near Noumea at 116,160
Japanese Ships
SS I-7

Allied Ships
DD Sims
DD Gwin
xAP Neptuna
DD Nestor
DD Napier
DD Russell

SS I-7 launches 6 torpedoes at DD Sims
I-7 diving deep ....
DD Nestor fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Napier fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Russell fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Russell fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Russell fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Russell fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on Merauke , at 89,124
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
A6M5 Zero x 14
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 13
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 6

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 19
B-24D1 Liberator x 15
B-26B Marauder x 5
P-38H Lightning x 17

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 1 damaged
P-38H Lightning: 3 destroyed

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

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 61
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Merauke , at 89,124
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
A6M5 Zero x 10
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 7
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 5

Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 6
B-24D Liberator x 6
B-24D1 Liberator x 15

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

Allied aircraft losses
B-17F Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 6 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 146th Infantry Regimental Combat Team, at 76,124 (Darwin)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 255th Armoured Brigade, at 58,130
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1 Judy x 9

No Japanese losses

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

CAP Trap

Updated recon indicated a doubling of enemy LBA strength on Noumea.
Under no circumstances should KB be pitted against prepared LBA.

[PzB74]

Sent 2 wings of Tojo IIbs on sweeps into India today.
Enemy Thuds and Hurries encountered over Comilla.

- The IIb got the punch to take out Thuds but it's hard.
3 Thuds and 2 Hurries claimed; we lost 2 Tojos, another 3 were written of after RTB.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 20, 43

Sub Attacks

Our subs still score in the Central Pacific but the sinkings are not so frequent anymore.

Sub attack near Lahaina at 196,98

Japanese Ships
SS I-162

Allied Ships
xAK Boero, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

xAK Boero is sighted by SS I-162
SS I-162 launches 4 torpedoes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on Comilla , at 56,39
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 42

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 20
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 6

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

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIc Trop: 1 destroyed
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
29 x Ki-44-IIb Tojo sweeping at 30000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Silchar , at 59,39
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 11 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 32

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-44-IIb Tojo sweeping at 30000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

A remnant trapped near Darwin marched back in; tried to airlift them out with Mavis transports but didn't work.
As you can see there are still no enemy base units or engineers at Darwin.

Ground combat at Darwin (76,124)
Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 2145 troops, 0 guns, 283 vehicles, Assault Value = 1062
Defending force 269 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5

Allied adjusted assault: 114

Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 114 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), preparation(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
167 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
2/8th Armoured Regiment
194th Tank Battalion
1st Army Tank Regiment
3rd Motor Brigade
1st Motor Brigade
2/7th Armoured Regiment
7th Armoured Brigade
3rd Army Tank Brigade
2/6th Armoured Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
2/5th Armoured Regiment
1st Australian Para Bn /1
197th Coast AA Regiment
208th Coast AA Regiment
810th Engineer Aviation Battalion
96th Coast AA Regiment
34th Australian Lt AA Regiment

Defending units:
146th Infantry RCT /1
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Sweep

The Escort Carrier Fleet at its anchorage; it fields ca 140 ac.
A very insignificant force compared to the monstrous Allied escort carrier fleets that will roam the Pacific by mid 44.
Only 3-4 more small Jap CVEs planned in 45; they field less than 10 ac and are meant as asw support vessels.
With the old Hosho used for training in Japan this means we don't get any more CVEs. One of the converted seaplane tenders with a top speed of 22knots (Mizuho?
will be attached to the CVE Fleet though.

[witpqs]

In one of my PBM's I am seeing certain lines in the total air losses column vary up and down from one day to the next by around 20%.

[PzB74]

Probably FOW...never quite understood the meaning of this.

This turn another offensive air strike was launched; against Calcutta this time.
Have been waiting for a clear weather turn after spotting large number of bombers and aux in Calcutta with are latively low fighter count.
A crack Zero A6M3 wing swept Calcutta first and the main strike was made up of almost 130 Helen IIs escorted by 76 Oscar IIbs and Nicks.

Most went well with 2 exceptions; 1. My weather forecasters will be shot! T-storms over Calcutta reduced raid effectiveness enormously.
In real life this strike would not have been launched before a clear days actually materialized.

26 Helen's got separated from the strike and arrived alone against a weakened enemy CAP. This cost us 6 bombers.
The main group with 90 bombers arrived with its escort though and we claimed 12 fighters in the air and another dozen ac or so on the ground.

If Japan had produced 4Es life would have been so much better...Still we continue with our harassment attacks and try to force Andy to divert resources
from the frontlines to protect his rear bases.

Next turn the first Frances unit arrives; also counting down to receive 2 new CVs and 2 upgraded CVLs.
The 4 Kongo class BBs are heading back to Japan for an upgrade that will give them radar and more than double their AA protection.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 21, 43

Sub Attacks

This one I liked; 2 torps into the large Narwhal class sub Nautilus. Guess it was heading for Midway to lay mines!
In my other game I experienced something unique; a US sub put a torp into one of my subs...it struggled back to a small base and in sinking
condition started to pump out excess water and survived...[&o]

Sub vs Sub: SS I-15 attacking SS Nautilus at 172,91

Japanese Ships
SS I-15

Allied Ships
SS Nautilus, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

SS I-15 launches 6 torpedoes at 1,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 30

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 13
P-40K Warhawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 3 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 30000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 26

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 2
P-40K Warhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed on ground

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 14000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Calcutta , at 52,37
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 50 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 35
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 41
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 90

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
C-47 Skytrain: 4 destroyed on ground
B-25D1 Mitchell: 3 destroyed on ground
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed on ground
Beaufort VIII: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 14000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
29 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 14000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
34 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 14000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick sweeping at 14000 feet *
12 x Ki-43-IIb Oscar sweeping at 14000 feet

CAP engaged:
No.118 Sqn RCAF with Kittyhawk I (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 29000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
23rd FG/74th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 69 minutes

Training flight from No.118 Sqn RCAF has been caught up in attack
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 2nd Australian/B Division, at 58,130
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1 Judy x 9

No Japanese losses

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


Aircraft Attacking:
9 x D4Y1 Judy bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bombing Calcutta

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 24, 43

ASW Attacks

The Mingo was attacked by the upgraded E class Wakamiya with 2x3 DC + 1 ASW mortar and reported sunk.
The 1000 Allied ship to be so! Should be celebrated [;)]

ASW attack near Siargao at 90,88

Japanese Ships
PB Myoken Maru
PB Kongo Maru #2
E Wakamiya
PB Shuko Maru #5

Allied Ships
SS Mingo, hits 13, heavy damage

SS Mingo is located by PB Myoken Maru
E Wakamiya attacking submerged sub ....
PB Shuko Maru #5 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Wakamiya fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shuko Maru #5 fails to find sub and abandons search
E Wakamiya fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Wakamiya fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Wakamiya attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Last air attack from Northern Oz, the Judy's are withdrawing to Timor as Allied fields in Port Hedland become operational.

Afternoon Air attack on 10th Light Horse Battalion, at 66,130 (Nookanbah)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1 Judy x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x D4Y1 Judy bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northern Australia

Port Hedland was captured as more and more Allied units appeared at Corunna Downs.
So I evacuated 90% of the troops and all ac there. Had to leave a batch of supplies (28000) which was unfortunate.

Broome and Derby are the last Jap controlled coastal towns left now and I'm evacuating all supporting units and leaving only the
rearguards and garrisons. The orderly withdrawal into the Java - Timor - New Guinea area will then be completed.

[PzB74]

The PY1Y Frances

With a service rating of 4 I will only send these units to major fields (7-9) with ample support.
I have fleshed the unit out with replacements and included a veteran from the training command.

For now I've halted Betty production, Nell production continues complemented by the Frances.
I'm uncertain how many Frances bombers I should produce, aiming for 60 per month to begin with.

[PzB74]

Enemy warships reported sunk

Also on this list:
91 destroyers (all types)
45 subs (vs 23 Jap)
18 fleet oilers
40 tankers

Our own losses included 1 CV (Hiyo), 2 light carriers and 3 battleships.

Not especially heavy losses, the oilers hurt the most.
Still sinking and damaging those Allied carriers have enabled us to maintain carrier superiority up until now.
- With our forthcoming reinforcements I except parity in carriers prior to 44 and a sharply increasing Allied superiority the longer we get into 44.

After the end of 44 I will not actively seek a major carrier battle with the Allied fleets anymore; future battles will from then on rely heavily on set-piece actions
supported by LBA.

[PzB74]

Correction; we've lost 2 CV and 2 CVL; Hiryo and Kaga (sub loss).

By now there should be the following Allied carriers:
Enterprise
Lexington
Saratoga
Essex
Bunker Hill
Yorktown II
Hornet II
Total: ~720 ac

Formidable (48 ac?)
Illustrious (45 ac)
Victorious (40 ac)
Total: ~140

6 light carriers (180 ac)
13 escort carriers (390 ac)
Total: 570

Total ~1430 ac

Another Essex class carrier will join the fleet by end 43 together with another handfull of CVLs and 4 escort carriers (another 360 ac).
So we should expect to meet at least 1000 enemy carrier ac even if escort carriers are not included.

Against this we can field the following in 12 days:
Shokaku (81 ac)
Zuikaku (81 ac)
Taiho (81 ac)
Hiryu (72 ac)
Soryu (72 ac)
Unryu (72 ac)
Katsuragi (72 ac)
Akagi (85 ac)
Junyo (55 ac)
Total 680~

4 CVL and 5 CVE (270 ac)

Total: 950 ac

So we're already heavily outnumbered!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 25, 43

As predicted, Allied air operates out of Port Hedland.

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on Broome , at 62,127
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane XIIb x 10
B-25C Mitchell x 9

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 19

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 1000 feet
Airfield Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Nomad]

You air attack on Calcutta brings up another aspect of air war that is not covered in this game.  To hit Calcutta your aircraft flew over or near to 4 airbases( Cox Bazaar, Chittagong, Comila, and Dacca ) and none of the aircraft that might have been on CAP participated in the defense. In real life this would have been a real concern for the attacker( Japan in this case ). 

[PzB74]

Oh, the raiders went over and under the radar so that shouldn't be a problem.
- I've learned to abstract such matters [;)]

If the air model from Battle of Britain and the ground combat model from War in the East were included into AE we could stop abstracting so much [:)]

Next turn the first of the CS conversions should be complete!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 27, 43

Air Combat

Someone's in a hurry to get supplies to Darwin...a convoy tried to race through the "slot" again.
Think we nailed most of them. Have reviewed my forces in the region to catch as many as possible.

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 11

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Ki-43-IIb Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Derby at 66,124
Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
xAK Olopana, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Mormacrio
xAK Waimea
KV Freesia

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Derby at 66,124
Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1 Judy x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAK Onomea, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
xAK Mormacrio, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Waimea, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Waimea
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Broome , at 62,127
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hurricane XIIb x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 14

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 25

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 1000 feet
Airfield Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blokade runners

[LoBaron]

ORIGINAL: PzB

Oh, the raiders went over and under the radar so that shouldn't be a problem.
- I've learned to abstract such matters [;)]

If the air model from Battle of Britain and the ground combat model from War in the East were included into AE we could stop abstracting so much [:)]

I thought the same, the problem lies in the ammount of detail though. Planning BoB style raids in WitPAE would take so much time that it again
reduces the ammount of people actually able to play the game and increases focus on the tactical plane, instead of the overall strategic situation.

I´d really love see a change in game to very specific raid planning, set targets, set attack groups, more flexibility with high cover/close escort,...system.
The problem is that always when I thought there could be this or that solution I immediately saw that it either integrates into the rest of the game badly
(e.g. CV battles) or is so complicated that the question arises if we need all those different options because people tend to reset to "their" default settings
when theres too much to do.

Abstracting a lot is not a bad thing the way WitPAE air model is designed. Theres so many dice rolls to lead to different situations that its has a lot of explanatory
value.

Until I see a system that works better on a tactical scale while still keeping the players focus on the strategy plane I see the current model close to optimal.
Vague enough to keep the detail level bearable for a game as huge as WitPAE, detailed enough to wage the air war quite well if you understand all the
details.


The ground model is interesting though, no idea there as I don´t play WitE. WitPAE is about all I can handle at one time...

[pacificbetta]

Hi PzB,

Is it possible for us to take a look at your current plane production figures?

[janh]

ORIGINAL: LoBaron

I thought the same, the problem lies in the ammount of detail though. Planning BoB style raids in WitPAE would take so much time that it again reduces the ammount of people actually able to play the game and increases focus on the tactical plane, instead of the overall strategic situation.

I´d really love see a change in game to very specific raid planning, set targets, set attack groups, more flexibility with high cover/close escort,...system. The problem is that always when I thought there could be this or that solution I immediately saw that it either integrates into the rest of the game badly (e.g. CV battles) or is so complicated that the question arises if we need all those different options because people tend to reset to "their" default settings when theres too much to do.

/Hijack/
Improving the ground combat model and the control over air units would be a nice prospect for "AE2". I have no issue with leaving things on "defaults" -- I like being able to micromanage some details, but also being able to leave others to AI or on default settings until there is true need to touch these as well. I hardly have enough time to play one GC against AI at a time, so that is the only savior...

One thing to make a game like this more tractable in my opinion would have been designing more "routine" things in auto-fashion, for i.e. having only to select airframe production and have a button/setting to have AI automatically optimize engine production accordingly. It is perfect to see how engine production can be limiting factor, no doubt an important detail, but it also is not that exciting most of the time... Or when setting up air missions, have a setting for AI to adjust the altitude (to historically typical settings or so), drop tanks etc of all the air groups involved in a raid. Or even better, be able to give Air Commands prioritized targets, and have AI adjust escorts, sweeps, bombers, rest and training percentage etc. Routine stuff like that. Just dreaming...

One thing that I would say in comparison to WitE is that both the size scale and time scale for a turn probably should be very different. On the one hand, AE on 7 day turns would only work if you could set up orders on "per day basis" for each turn, else naval and air actions would not go so well ("bomb Pearl for 7 days--remain on station..."). On the other hand, Eastern Front, or European Fronts on 1 day turns could be very slow, even boring (watching hundreds of skirmishes to play out every turn). "I go-U go" was probably a better choice for WitE, but fortunately WitP tries to simulate "true time". My guess is that European and Pacific fronts are best abstracted in different ways, and we will probably not see a WiEurope in the style and depth of AE. Time will tell.
/End Hijack/

[PzB74]

Indeed, WitP is the best strategy game covering multiple different theatres of war.
Therefore we can never have _the best_ air combat model or land combat model - but we can have the best ever Pacific War game [&o]

Continued improvements and optimizing and future games along such a platform is what we can pray and hope for.
We all have to do our best not to overtax the game engine unless we expect to see results that are to far fetched compared to history.

2 new CVLs have joined the fleet; I've placed 30 Jills and 30 A6M5 on them and they are now part of the KB!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 29, 43

This recon has set of alarms in the Combined Fleet!

Pearl Harbour - increased activity

Yesterday nothing, today; numerous enemy TFs forming up at Pearl.
I asked Andy if he's ready for another roll! "No comment".

Just wanted to let him know that we have eyes in the sky and that he can't even take his dog for a stroll without being spotted [:D]
So I've started to organize the fleet for action in the Central Pacific.

[Hortlund]

ORIGINAL: PzB
So I've started to organize the fleet for action in the Central Pacific.

Are you sure that is the battleground you want? I

If you are right and there is a fleet action coming it sounds like you are about to risk the KB very very far from friendly major ports or good airbases. Why?

[janh]

Line Islands again?  I would doubt it, too predictable.  Although, Andy will have to neutralize them at some point -- rather sooner than later.  Seems like enough TF's to invade at least two islands simultaneously...  Maybe there is even stuff on its way from CONUSA? 

Your recon could benefit you crucially now, and even despite his CV superiority you can pick the battle you want, or engineer another backhand strike. Seems like the next turns might get tense again!

[PzB74]

That we don't know yet! So I need to assemble the fleet, position and manouver it and if a favorable situation reveals itself we're
going to be there to make the Emperors dingle with delight! [;)]

It will take a week to assemble the fleet and we still need another 6 days to receive the 2 new carriers.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 30, 43

Sub Attacks

We get the transport but the sub is damaged and has to return to Home Islands for repairs!

Sub attack near Pearl Harbor at 186,96
Japanese Ships
SS I-21, hits 5

Allied Ships
xAK Masaya, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Alabaman
xAKL Elna
DE Edward C. Daly

SS I-21 launches 6 torpedoes at xAK Masaya
I-21 diving deep ....
DE Edward C. Daly fails to find sub, continues to search...
DE Edward C. Daly attacking submerged sub ....
DE Edward C. Daly attacking submerged sub ....
DE Edward C. Daly loses contact with SS I-21
DE Edward C. Daly is out of ASW ammo
DE Edward C. Daly fails to find sub, continues to search...
DE Edward C. Daly fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Intel and Sub attack

No sightings of enemy shipping near Palmyra and Line Islands but we did get a report saying "Wildcats" sighted...

[PzB74]

I've sent the support elements in the Line Islands towards home, laid more mines at Palmyra, increased search efforts and placed our fighters defenses on alert.
In total we have 200 fighters and I'm going to use these to attrit Allied CAG.

So whatever is going to happen we're going to make the best out of it [&o]

[PzB74]

Sure, I'll get back to it [:)]

ORIGINAL: pacificbetta

Hi PzB,

Is it possible for us to take a look at your current plane production figures?