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

[Yakface]

ORIGINAL: veji1

ORIGINAL: janh

ORIGINAL: PzB
Allied Ships
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 1, heavy damage

Oh, ah! Interesting. Andy must soon return with his flattops, no way he can hold Waingapoe unless he gets his "roof" fixed. But maybe he will already bring a second wave to take another island? That would mean real trouble.

disagree. Andy has landed reinforcements and forts are certainly going up quite quickly. Ok the situation is unconfortable for him, but once the forts are high up, he can start thinking offensively again. PZB is slowing him down right now, at low cost. Good. But this is just that... HE might need 2 months to clear the situation and get extra bases around, but then all hell breaks loose.

That will depend upon whether Andy can keep Wingapoe's airfield open and the whole place supplied. If PzB can close the airfield and bomb the base out of supplies then Andy is going to have severe problems in bringing in further convoys and the units already landed would be running their own prison camp. Forts don't matter.

Even with support from his carriers, if Andy has no base to augment/dissipate Japanese strikes they'll be fighting the KB + hundreds of LBA. The Allies simply aren't strong enough to handle that at this point in the war.

IMO Allied success or failure will depend on whether he can take another 2 or 3 bases in the next week or two and so be able to challenge Japanese LBA's with his own. Waiting a couple of months and Wingapoe will have become useless to him.

[mikhail]

Permanent TF bombard and air attacks will destroy supplies and slow down building forts. After few weeks 9-10 divisions will start attack and brake through Andy's lines easily.

Do this quickly!

[veji1]

ORIGINAL: Yakface




That will depend upon whether Andy can keep Wingapoe's airfield open and the whole place supplied. If PzB can close the airfield and bomb the base out of supplies then Andy is going to have severe problems in bringing in further convoys and the units already landed would be running their own prison camp. Forts don't matter.

Even with support from his carriers, if Andy has no base to augment/dissipate Japanese strikes they'll be fighting the KB + hundreds of LBA. The Allies simply aren't strong enough to handle that at this point in the war.

IMO Allied success or failure will depend on whether he can take another 2 or 3 bases in the next week or two and so be able to challenge Japanese LBA's with his own. Waiting a couple of months and Wingapoe will have become useless to him.

Sorry I wasn't clear. when I say it will take him a couple of month to clear the situations and take more bases, I mean that within now and 60 days in the future, he will have taken those 2/3 extra bases, and gotten his web of mutually supporting bases running.

I don't think supply should be an issue. He has probably dumped a massive load and I would be surprised if he suffered much from lack of it. He will have to come back and land somewhere with 3/4 divs, take the base, get it running, and than pick up some troops from wingapoe + other to land on a third one. This will take some time but, it will get done. The only way PZB could stop this is by hurting his CVs badly enough, but Andy would have to be terribly careless for this to happen.

[Rob Brennan UK]

ORIGINAL: veji1

ORIGINAL: Yakface




That will depend upon whether Andy can keep Wingapoe's airfield open and the whole place supplied. If PzB can close the airfield and bomb the base out of supplies then Andy is going to have severe problems in bringing in further convoys and the units already landed would be running their own prison camp. Forts don't matter.

Even with support from his carriers, if Andy has no base to augment/dissipate Japanese strikes they'll be fighting the KB + hundreds of LBA. The Allies simply aren't strong enough to handle that at this point in the war.

IMO Allied success or failure will depend on whether he can take another 2 or 3 bases in the next week or two and so be able to challenge Japanese LBA's with his own. Waiting a couple of months and Wingapoe will have become useless to him.

Sorry I wasn't clear. when I say it will take him a couple of month to clear the situations and take more bases, I mean that within now and 60 days in the future, he will have taken those 2/3 extra bases, and gotten his web of mutually supporting bases running.

I don't think supply should be an issue. He has probably dumped a massive load and I would be surprised if he suffered much from lack of it. He will have to come back and land somewhere with 3/4 divs, take the base, get it running, and than pick up some troops from wingapoe + other to land on a third one. This will take some time but, it will get done. The only way PZB could stop this is by hurting his CVs badly enough, but Andy would have to be terribly careless for this to happen.

Wouldn't be the first time [;)]

not to be too hard on our plucky Scot, planning in detail is not a strong point.

<ducks for cover>

[PzB74]

All attrition will eventually be in favor of Allies so we gain time by fighting defensively.
If we are to win a major defensive victory we need to destroy Waingapo or parts of the Allied fleets / carriers as correctly stated.
- But part goals and single battles are important to win too!

Not long before major LCU reinforcements arrive; delay long enough and we get the tools to extend our defensive perimeter around the Allied
bridgehead(s).

If we consider Andy's challenges we will see that:
a) It takes 3 months to prep units 100% for a new target
b) It's a jolly long way from West Coast and PH to Waingapo
c) There's very little fuel in Oz
d) There are very few major bases with shipyards in the (Northern) Oz region

Any ad-hoc planning will suffer from the combined effects of these factors.
Fighting as Japan Waingapo is very close to the heart of the Empire; the reason Andy wants to fight here is therefore also a disadvantage for him.

Japan have plenty supplies, fuel, repair yards, airfields and reinforcements easily available in the SRA.


We sink incredible amounts of PT boats, another 15 or so this turn!
They couldn't stop our bombardment though and there goes another bunch of Allied fighters.

Andy is bombing Memboro; with 160 engineers it can't be closed for a long time and I only switch the ac to another field until open again.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 15, 43

Surface Combat

Night Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Ise
CA Atago
CA Aoba
DD Usugumo
DD Amagiri
DD Uruyuke
DD Takakaze

Allied Ships
PT-333, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-334, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-335, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-360, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Waingapoe at 63,113, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Ise
CA Atago
CA Aoba
DD Usugumo
DD Amagiri
DD Uruyuke
DD Takakaze

Allied Ships
PT-349, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-350
PT-351
PT-352, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-353, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT-363
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Waingapoe at 63,113, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Myojinami
DD Hikokaze

Allied Ships
PT-252, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT-256
PT-324
PT-330
PT-331
PT-341, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-342
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Waingapoe at 63,113, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Ise
CA Atago
CA Aoba
DD Usugumo
DD Amagiri
DD Uruyuke
DD Takakaze

Allied Ships
PT-277
PT-344, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT-346
PT-355
PT-357, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-361, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Improved night sighting under 92% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 92% moonlight: 12,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Myojinami
DD Hikokaze

Allied Ships
PT-246
PT-258, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-261
PT-298
PT-336
PT-338, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Myojinami
DD Hikokaze

Allied Ships
PT-350
PT-351, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-363, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bombardments

Night Naval bombardment of Waingapoe at 63,113

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 destroyed on ground
B-25C Mitchell: 2 destroyed on ground
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 7 destroyed on ground
P-40K Warhawk: 9 destroyed on ground
P-40N5 Warhawk: 6 destroyed on ground
P-39N1 Airacobra: 3 destroyed on ground
Kittyhawk IV: 4 destroyed on ground
P-40N1 Warhawk: 2 destroyed on ground
F4U-1 Corsair: 3 destroyed on ground
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 2 destroyed on ground
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Ise
BB Hiei
CA Aoba
CA Atago
DD Takakaze
DD Uruyuke
DD Amagiri
DD Usugumo

Allied ground losses:
383 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 10 disabled
Vehicles lost 13 (8 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 98

BB Ise firing at Waingapoe
BB Hiei firing at 33rd Infantry Division
CA Aoba firing at 33rd Infantry Division
CA Atago firing at Waingapoe
DD Takakaze firing at 33rd Infantry Division
DD Uruyuke firing at 11th (East African) Division
DD Amagiri firing at Waingapoe
DD Usugumo firing at 11th (East African) Division
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub Attacks

Sub attack near Waingapoe at 63,113

Japanese Ships
DD Fumizuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Fubuki
DD Hikokaze
DD Myojinami

Allied Ships
SS Snook, hits 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Exmouth at 51,128

Japanese Ships
SS I-1, hits 2

Allied Ships
xAP Santa Elena, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Frederick J. Turner
xAK Francis P. Blair
xAK Cape Greig
xAK Sidney Hauptmann
DD Lawrence

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

SS I-1 launches 4 torpedoes at xAP Santa Elena
I-1 bottoming out ....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Exmouth at 52,128
Japanese Ships
SS I-1

Allied Ships
LST-482, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

LST-482 is sighted by SS I-1
SS I-1 attacking LST-482 on the surface
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 44 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
A6M5 Zero x 46
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 59

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
42 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 30000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 50 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
A6M5 Zero x 46
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 17
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 7
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 98

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40N5 Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed on ground
Kittyhawk IV: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 21
Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
29 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
24 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
A6M5 Zero x 46
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 22

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40N5 Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed on ground

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

Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 37 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 8
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 21
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 19
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 6
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 5

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 28
B-24D Liberator x 37
B-24D1 Liberator x 18
B-24J Liberator x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 9 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 4 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 5 destroyed on ground
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 1 damaged
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 76
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 2
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 5
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 2
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 2
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 1

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 4 damaged

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 12000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 1
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 1
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 1

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 3 damaged

Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 12000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 1

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 16

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 12000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 9
P-38H Lightning x 24

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

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 30000 feet *
10 x P-38H Lightning sweeping at 30000 feet *
8 x P-38H Lightning sweeping at 30000 feet *
6 x P-38H Lightning sweeping at 30000 feet *

CAP engaged:
9th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[inqistor]

I forgot to mention, that I never bombard at 0 range. Actually I do not know, what 0 means, because you can not set it manually. If you go to any number you can not get back to 0, and since clicking back, sets range to medium (15?) 0 actually probably do not means ZERO. I usually bombard at 1 range.

ORIGINAL: PzB
A huge bombardment closed the fields for the day and destroyed 93 ac on the ground including 15 P-47s and some Corsairs [:)]
There were mostly P-40s on the fields, but now also SBDs and 2Es.

I don't think Andy should have anything else than fighters on Waingapoe; it's a size 4 field - easily overstacked.
Trying to gain air superiority with 150-200 fighters plus fielding 50 bombers there is uber optimistic.

Airfield is already overstacked with fighters, so who cares? [:D]
Fighters needs damage below 50+5*size, to fly, while bombers 20+5*size, so this is all wishful thinking anyway.

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 1, heavy damage

Uuu, uuu, there is Battleship in port pumping water! Send some planes to port attack.

If we consider Andy's challenges we will see that:
a) It takes 3 months to prep units 100% for a new target
b) It's a jolly long way from West Coast and PH to Waingapo
c) There's very little fuel in Oz
d) There are very few major bases with shipyards in the (Northern) Oz region

a) actually this increases by 1-2 points per turn. So in most cases 2 months are enough.
c) Not that Allies have anything better to do with their merchant fleet, so there is probably lots of fuel in Australia.
d) Is there ANY?

Andy probably wanted to quickly shut down Soerabaja, but fuel this close to battlefield is perfect for bombard runs. How much fuel currently at JAVA?

Memboro is under constant bombardment, so you should probably only keep there low service aircraft, with good firepower (TOJO IIb). This base north of Waingapoe looks like good place for TONYs. They should frequently leak over Memboro, if set on CAP. Endeh, and Bima, also should be in range of leaky CAP. Longer range fighters could be rotated to LRCAP Memboro.
You could also set some BETTYs on ground attack, as secondary mission.

[PzB74]

Air units operate less effective on overstacked fields Inq!
Waingapoe opens for fighter ops each morning and is then closed again.

New Mexico is a hulk and will most likely be lost at some time.
It's very hard to sink a BB in port and hardly worth the effort; with lots of ships reported in port
I ordered several air groups including a KB TBD to hit the port this turn; even the TBDs dropped bombs..

I don't have the luxury of being able to pick and choose the exact air groups I wish to use; morale plummets in a base under
constant attack and losses are constantly high. Spent lots of time this turn rotating and resting units. So while some units re-enter combat
each turn others have to be withdrawn.

In todays heavy 4E bombardment of Waingapoe over 16 4Es were shot down but the fields were again hit hard.
Using precious naval bombers for ground attack is a no no! This turn we met the following CAP despite another bombardment round that hurt the Allies badly:
Kittyhawk IV x 11
Kittyhawk IV x 3
A-36 Mustang x 14
P-39D Airacobra x 15
P-39N1 Airacobra x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 17
P-40N1 Warhawk x 1
P-40N5 Warhawk x 12
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 19

That's 92 fighters including 14 early Mustangs and 19 T-bolts!

Todays turn was again cataclysmic [&o]
As observed last turn Andy sent numerous smaller surface combat TFs to Waingapoe; usually 3-4 destroyers and a CL.
Our 2 destroyer TFs fought them bravely and our large bombardment force got through and inflicted damage both ashore and at sea.
- We took damage though; 1 destroyer sank, 4 are moderately to seriously damaged while 2 light cruisers have to go to the yards for a while.

In return we sank another batch of PT boats, 3-4 transports, a sub and left a light cruiser sinking with another damaged.

In the air it was more carnage! Again we destroyed scores of ac on the ground but the enemy got his CAP up again and our escort strikes and Helens were hit hard.
They got through though and hit both fields and port hard. As mentioned the air battle over Memboro was massive with 16 4Es shot down and numerous more damaged.

Again; the good news is that our navy does a great job and we may retire to our nearby repair facilities and quickly repair battle damage.
We have to keep up the momentum and challenge Andy's abilities to continue to fight a shoe string operation with heavy casualties.
I'm convinced that logistical challenges will break this effort before our own determined defense can be broken!


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 16, 43

Surface Combat

Night Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
CL Sendai
CL Kitakami
DD Naganami
DD Hayanami
DD Nowaki
DD Oshio
DD Arashio
DD Yamagumo

Allied Ships
PT-264
PT-323
PT-326, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-332
PT-354, Shell hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Waingapoe at 63,113, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
CL Sendai
CL Kitakami
DD Naganami
DD Hayanami
DD Nowaki
DD Oshio
DD Arashio
DD Yamagumo

Allied Ships
PT-264
PT-323
PT-332
PT-354, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki
DD Shirakumo
DD Sagiri
DD Fumizuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Myojinami

Allied Ships
PT-264
PT-323, Shell hits 1, on fire
PT-332
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki, Shell hits 1
DD Shirakumo
DD Sagiri
DD Fumizuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Myojinami

Allied Ships
CL Dauntless, Shell hits 3
DD Conway
DD Dyson
DD Eaton, Shell hits 4, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Waingapoe at 63,113, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki
DD Shirakumo
DD Sagiri
DD Fumizuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Myojinami

Allied Ships
PT-256
PT-324
PT-330, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PT-331
PT-342
PT-380
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Kasumi
DD Yudachi
DD Yamakaze
DD Okikaze
DD Tatsukaze

Allied Ships
CL Ceres, Shell hits 1
DD Charles Ausburne
DD Bache
DD Beale
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Waingapoe at 63,113, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
CL Sendai
CL Kitakami
DD Naganami
DD Hayanami
DD Nowaki
DD Oshio
DD Arashio
DD Yamagumo

Allied Ships
PT-277, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-346, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
PT-355, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Waingapoe at 63,113, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
CL Sendai
CL Kitakami
DD Naganami
DD Hayanami
DD Nowaki
DD Oshio
DD Arashio
DD Yamagumo

Allied Ships
xAK Joseph Holt, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAK Starr King, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK William Windom, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 13,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki
DD Shirakumo
DD Sagiri
DD Fumizuki
DD Yuzuki, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Myojinami

Allied Ships
CL Danae
DD Ringgold
DD Thatcher
DD Monssen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Kasumi, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Yudachi, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Okikaze, Shell hits 1
DD Tatsukaze

Allied Ships
CL Kenya
DD Fletcher, Shell hits 1
DD Abbot
DD Anthony
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Waingapoe at 63,113, Range 29,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Shell hits 6
CA Myoko, Shell hits 2
CA Haguro, Shell hits 1
CL Sendai, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 3
DD Naganami, Shell hits 1
DD Hayanami
DD Nowaki, Shell hits 1
DD Oshio, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Arashio, Shell hits 1
DD Yamagumo, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
CL Kenya, Shell hits 11, on fire
DD Fletcher, Shell hits 2
DD Abbot
DD Anthony, Shell hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Memboro at 64,112, Range 27,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Shell hits 7
CA Myoko, Shell hits 1
CA Haguro
CL Sendai, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Naganami, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Hayanami, Shell hits 3
DD Nowaki
DD Oshio, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Arashio
DD Yamagumo, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Ceres, Shell hits 4
DD Charles Ausburne
DD Bache
DD Beale
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki
DD Shirakumo
DD Sagiri
DD Fumizuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Myojinami

Allied Ships
PT-241, Shell hits 1
PT-243
PT-244
PT-245
PT-343
PT-345, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki
DD Shirakumo
DD Sagiri
DD Fumizuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Myojinami

Allied Ships
PT-256
PT-324
PT-331, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-342, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-380
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub - ASW Attacks

ASW attack near Endeh at 64,113

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
CA Haguro
CA Myoko
CL Kitakami
CL Sendai
DD Nowaki
DD Hayanami
DD Naganami
DD Yamagumo
DD Arashio
DD Oshio

Allied Ships
SS Kingfish, hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Waingapoe at 63,113

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro
DD Nowaki
DD Yamagumo
DD Arashio
DD Oshio

Allied Ships
SS Hoe, hits 4

SS Hoe is sighted by escort
DD Yamagumo attacking submerged sub ....
DD Arashio fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Oshio attacking submerged sub ....
DD Oshio is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Endeh at 64,113

Japanese Ships
DD Yamakaze
DD Kasumi
DD Tatsukaze
DD Okikaze

Allied Ships
SS Snook, hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bombardments

Night Naval bombardment of Waingapoe at 63,11

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 4 destroyed on ground
P-40N1 Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40N5 Warhawk: 5 destroyed on ground
A-36 Mustang: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed on ground
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed on ground
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 5 destroyed on ground
P-40K Warhawk: 8 destroyed on ground
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
CA Haguro
CA Myoko
CL Kitakami
CL Sendai
DD Arashio
DD Oshio
DD Nowaki
DD Hayanami
DD Naganami

Allied ground losses:
123 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 102

E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Nagato
BB Nagato firing at 33rd Infantry Division
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CA Haguro
CA Haguro firing at Waingapoe
CA Myoko firing at Waingapoe
CL Kitakami firing at Waingapoe
CL Sendai firing at Waingapoe
DD Arashio firing at 11th (East African) Division
DD Oshio firing at 11th (East African) Division
DD Nowaki firing at 33rd Infantry Division
DD Hayanami firing at Waingapoe
DD Naganami firing at 11th (East African) Division
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
A6M5 Zero x 43
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 30

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IV x 11
Kittyhawk IV x 3
A-36 Mustang x 14
P-39D Airacobra x 15
P-39N1 Airacobra x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 17
P-40N1 Warhawk x 1
P-40N5 Warhawk x 12
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Ki-44-IIb Tojo sweeping at 30000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Waingapoe at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
A6M5 Zero x 55
P1Y1 Frances x 13

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IV x 11
Kittyhawk IV x 2
A-36 Mustang x 12
P-39D Airacobra x 11
P-39N1 Airacobra x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 15
P-40N1 Warhawk x 1
P-40N5 Warhawk x 10
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 7 destroyed
P1Y1 Frances: 7 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Dauntless

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x P1Y1 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Endeh at 64,113
Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1 Judy x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Monssen
CL Danae, Bomb hits 3, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Endeh at 64,113
Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 10

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

Allied Ships
CL Danae, on fire
PT-244
DD Thatcher, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
A6M5 Zero x 2
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 109

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IV x 5
A-36 Mustang x 4
P-39D Airacobra x 8
P-39N1 Airacobra x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 5
P-40N5 Warhawk x 1
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 5 destroyed, 16 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
A-36 Mustang: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40K Warhawk: 5 damaged
P-40K Warhawk: 4 destroyed on ground
P-40N5 Warhawk: 1 damaged
P-40N5 Warhawk: 4 destroyed on ground
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 9 damaged
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 5 destroyed on ground
SBD-3 Dauntless: 6 destroyed on ground
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed on ground
B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 destroyed on ground
Albacore I: 1 destroyed on ground
F4U-1 Corsair: 2 destroyed on ground
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico, Bomb hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
LST-30, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Benjamin Holt, Bomb hits 1, on fire
LST-354, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 56
Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
22 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
25 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
26 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
A6M5 Zero x 1
B6N1 Jill x 25

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IV x 4
A-36 Mustang x 4
P-39D Airacobra x 4
P-39N1 Airacobra x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 1
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
B6N1 Jill: 5 destroyed, 4 damaged


Allied Ships
BB New Mexico, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x B6N1 Jill bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 22

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IV x 2
A-36 Mustang x 2
P-39D Airacobra x 2
P-39N1 Airacobra x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 1
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 37 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 16
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 46
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 36
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 5
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 7

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 27
B-24D Liberator x 21
B-24D1 Liberator x 20
B-24J Liberator x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 8 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 4 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 1 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-61-Ib Tony: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 destroyed, 12 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 5 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 4 damaged

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

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 45
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 2
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 5
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 2
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 1

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 6 damaged

Runway hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 1
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 1

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 1
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 1

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 7


Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Runway hits 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

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

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 1

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 7


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 damaged
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Endeh at 64,113
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1 Judy x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CL Danae, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Monssen

Aircraft Attacking:
8 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 CL Danae
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Waingapoe (63,113)
Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 73199 troops, 773 guns, 208 vehicles, Assault Value = 2757
Defending force 51815 troops, 927 guns, 773 vehicles, Assault Value = 1824

Japanese ground losses:
62 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
35th Division
6th Guards Division
11th Infantry Regiment
33rd Division
21st Division
60th Division
8th Tank Regiment
5th Guards Division
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
5th Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Australian/B Division
7th Infantry Division
33rd Infantry Division
73rd Motorised Brigade
4th Marine Div /1
7th Australian Division
3rd/102nd Infantry Battalion
11th (East African) Division
2nd Australian/C Division
2nd Australian/A Division
6th Australian Div /1
40th USN Naval Construction Battalion
36th Aviation Base Force
XI US Corps
3rd USN Naval Construction Regiment
1st USN Naval Construction Regiment
182nd USAAF Base Force /1
3rd RAAF Base Force
9 Group RAAF
872/873rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
2nd USN Naval Const Rgt /1
871st Engineer Aviation Battalion
XIV US Corps
30th Aviation Base Force
98th Field Artillery Battalion
28th Canadian AA Regiment
863rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
15th Marine Defense Battalion
113th RN Base Force /2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total War!

Not able to upload screens at this time; will do it later.

[inqistor]

ORIGINAL: PzB
Air units operate less effective on overstacked fields Inq!

Yeah, I know. But there is probably enough damaged aircrafts on ground, to overstack, so Andy generally have no choice.

New Mexico is a hulk and will most likely be lost at some time.
It's very hard to sink a BB in port and hardly worth the effort; with lots of ships reported in port

That would put 3 confirmed BBs sunk in this operation. 1 more probably.
How many heavy ships Allies have at this point in time?

I don't have the luxury of being able to pick and choose the exact air groups I wish to use; morale plummets in a base under
constant attack and losses are constantly high. Spent lots of time this turn rotating and resting units. So while some units re-enter combat
each turn others have to be withdrawn.

You should probably put some Burma/China units around Singapore, and use it as hub for sending new units to front, and low-morale to Burma/China.

As observed last turn Andy sent numerous smaller surface combat TFs to Waingapoe; usually 3-4 destroyers and a CL.

TFs are too weak, to really challenge your DD sweepers, so...
could it be "Washington express"? [:D]
Does they transport supply, or new units? Or maybe evacuating cadres? [8D]
As I said earlier, this is Guadalcanal, but opposite way.

I'm convinced that logistical challenges will break this effort before our own determined defense can be broken!

I think Allies will run out of undamaged ships, before logistics kicks in.

[aprezto]

you are a trooper and I will break you - with love [:D]

[PaxMondo]

Avid attention.
&nbsp;

&nbsp;
Good LUCK!!!
&nbsp;

[PzB74]

Thx Guys [:)]
- Have no doubt about that Al [:'(]

What I meant is that Andy first should establish air superiority over Waingapoe before trying to mix bombers into the blend.
They're just in the way and instead of doing two things he achieves none.

Andy is mostly bleeding out the Commonwealth Navies right now; the US Navy was shattered in the Central Pacific together with most of their excellent heavy cruisers.
He need to keep a large reserve to escort the carrier fleets.

If we do sink enough transports and escorts it will become difficult for Allies to mount further major amph invasions without waiting for major reinforcements - reinforcements
half a world away! [:)]

I have started rotating Tojo units to Burma and Solomons; reinforcements in Home Islands have been spent and the ones in Cent Pac will be left alone for now.
Got a R&R hub at Manila - Clark Field as well.

This turn was another surface combat armageddon! [&o]
The battles went on and on and on...

What happened;

Andy tried to send in a counter to our fast and agile surface combat TFs.
He contined to use light cruisers, Fiji and St. Louis class in addition to the Perth and Danae type cruisers.
New Fletcher class destroyers accompanied them; the best in the Allied arsenal.

In running battles with these TFs and PT boats our destroyer TFs and a TF made up of 2 new Agano CLs and a DD fought furiously.
I had also added the CA Nachi to our destroyer TF to provide more punch. In a running battle with the Fiji the Nachi's superstructure was shot up badly and
it accumulated 42 sys damage by the end of the battle. The Agano and 4 destroyers will also be going to the yards while a destroyer was sunk.

The battle was decided when our bombardment fleet with numerous battleships and cruisers arrived with the Yamato in the lead! [:D]
18 shells killed the Phoenix, Kenya and Perth. 3-4 Fletcher class destroyers were sunk with more damageg. 3 PT boats and 5-6 Liberty ships were also sent to Davy Jones.

In all a good victory and the bombardment TF also hit Waingapoe even though most shells had been expended.

Our pickets were attacked by enemy CAGs; so it looks like we'll have another round with the Allied carriers.
I've therefore rested our LBA and will be holding back until we find an opening to hurt them without loosing 500 ac...

This battle is indeed like Guadalcanal; just 1 year later with the massed navies of Japan and the Allies taking part.
We now have 8 cruisers and battleships enroute to repair yards; 2 CLs and 1 DD are in sinking conditions and may or may not make it back from the frontline bases.
I would still estimate that Japan got enough strength left for 2-3 more rounds at least, not including the KB carriers or escorts.
- It all depends on what Andy can throw into the pit.

What I am certain about is that this is the last time in this war Japan will be able to fight it out toe to toe with the Allies on even terms.
The losses we are currently inflicting are favorable; more favorable than they'll ever again be in this war. So there's no reason to stand down.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 17, 43

Sub - ASW Attacks

The I-25 is in trouble!

ASW attack near Port Hedland at 57,128

Japanese Ships
SS I-25, hits 15, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Sussex
CA Minneapolis
CA Houston
CL Montpelier
DD Hutchins
DD Bush
DD Sampson
DD Endicott
DD Doyle
DD Carmick

SS I-25 is sighted by escort
DD Sampson fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Endicott attacking submerged sub ....
DD Doyle fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Carmick fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Sampson fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Endicott attacking submerged sub ....
DD Endicott fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surface Combat

Night Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Agano
CL Noshiro, Shell hits 1
DD Okikaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Ringgold, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Thatcher, Shell hits 1
DD Monssen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Agano
CL Noshiro
DD Okikaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Kenya, Shell hits 4
DD Fletcher, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Abbot, Shell hits 1
DD Anthony
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Agano, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Noshiro
DD Okikaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Dauntless, Shell hits 1
CL Ceres
DD Charles Ausburne
DD Bache
DD Beale
DD Conway
DD Dyson
DD Eaton, Shell hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
BB Kirishima
BB Yamato
CA Chokai
CA Ashigara
CL Kinu
DD Onami
DD Asashio
DD Suruyame
DD Tadeyame

Allied Ships
PT-246
PT-261
PT-298
PT-336, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-350
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Nachi, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Akizuki, Shell hits 1
DD Shiranui
DD Hagikaze
DD Hikokaze

Allied Ships
CL Perth
CL Phoenix, Shell hits 3
DD Bennett, Shell hits 1
DD Braine, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Brownson, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD O'Bannon
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Endeh at 64,113, Range 11,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna, Shell hits 2
BB Kirishima
BB Yamato, Shell hits 2
CA Chokai, Shell hits 1
CA Ashigara
CL Kinu, Shell hits 1
DD Onami
DD Asashio, Shell hits 1
DD Suruyame, Shell hits 1
DD Tadeyame

Allied Ships
CL Perth, Shell hits 2
CL Phoenix, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
DD Bennett, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Braine, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Brownson, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD O'Bannon
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Waingapoe at 63,113, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
BB Kirishima
BB Yamato
CA Chokai
CA Ashigara
CL Kinu
DD Onami
DD Asashio
DD Suruyame
DD Tadeyame

Allied Ships
xAK Benjamin Franklin, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
xAK Benjamin Holt, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
xAK John C. Fremont, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
xAK John S. Casement, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
xAK Joseph Holt, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Waingapoe at 63,113, Range 11,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 1
BB Yamato, Shell hits 2
CA Chokai
CA Ashigara
CL Kinu
DD Onami
DD Asashio, Shell hits 1
DD Suruyame
DD Tadeyame

Allied Ships
CL Perth, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
DD Bennett, Shell hits 1
DD Braine, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD O'Bannon
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Waingapoe at 63,113, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
BB Kirishima
BB Yamato, Shell hits 2
CA Chokai
CA Ashigara
CL Kinu, Shell hits 1
DD Onami
DD Asashio
DD Suruyame
DD Tadeyame

Allied Ships
DD Thatcher, Shell hits 1
DD Monssen
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Waingapoe at 63,113, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna, Shell hits 1
BB Kirishima
BB Yamato, Shell hits 1
CA Chokai
CA Ashigara
CL Kinu, Shell hits 1
DD Onami
DD Asashio
DD Suruyame
DD Tadeyame

Allied Ships
CL Kenya, Shell hits 19, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Fletcher, on fire, heavy damage
DD Abbot
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Waingapoe at 63,113, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
BB Kirishima
BB Yamato
CA Chokai
CA Ashigara
CL Kinu
DD Onami
DD Asashio
DD Suruyame
DD Tadeyame

Allied Ships
PT-256
PT-324
PT-380, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Waingapoe at 63,113, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
BB Kirishima
BB Yamato
CA Chokai
CA Ashigara
CL Kinu
DD Onami
DD Asashio
DD Suruyame
DD Tadeyame

Allied Ships
PT-321, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bombardments

Night Naval bombardment of Waingapoe at 63,113 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed on ground
A-36 Mustang: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed on ground
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground

25 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
BB Kirishima
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
CA Ashigara
CA Chokai
CL Kinu

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

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7

F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Yamato
BB Yamato firing at 33rd Infantry Division
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Kirishima
BB Kirishima firing at Waingapoe
E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Haruna
BB Haruna firing at 7th Infantry Division
BB Kongo firing at Waingapoe
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for CA Ashigara
CA Ashigara firing at 15th Marine Defense Battalion
15th Marine Defense Battalion firing at CA Ashigara
CA Chokai firing at 33rd Infantry Division
CL Kinu firing at 11th (East African) Division
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

I think Allied 4Es were set to bomb from 1000 feet by mistake...probably a costly mistake damage and morale wise.

Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 29

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IV x 6
Kittyhawk IV x 4
A-36 Mustang x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 7
P-39N1 Airacobra x 2
P-40K Warhawk x 8
P-40N1 Warhawk x 2
P-40N5 Warhawk x 9
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
A-36 Mustang: 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed
P-39N1 Airacobra: 1 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Light rain

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

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 16

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IV x 3
Kittyhawk IV x 3
A-36 Mustang x 2
P-39D Airacobra x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 6
P-40N1 Warhawk x 2
P-40N5 Warhawk x 4
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IV: 1 destroyed
P-40N5 Warhawk: 1 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Waingapoe , at 63,113
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 21 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 22

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IV x 2
P-39D Airacobra x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 4
P-40N1 Warhawk x 2
P-40N5 Warhawk x 1
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 5

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

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IV: 1 destroyed
P-40N5 Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 30000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Koepang , at 68,116
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 2


Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 5

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

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 30000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 37 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 5

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 26
B-24D Liberator x 29
B-24D1 Liberator x 35
B-24J Liberator x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 5 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 9 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 48
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Memboro , at 63,112
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 3

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Runway hits 15

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Mataram at 56,116
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes


Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 15

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PB Tatibana Maru, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
PB Hozugawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
2 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 4000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 2000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 3000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring PB Tatibana Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring PB Hozugawa Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Koepang , at 68,116
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 16
B-25C Mitchell x 3
B-25D1 Mitchell x 3
B-25G Mitchell x 6
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 8


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 7 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged
B-25G Mitchell: 1 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 damaged

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

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 107

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 1000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet *
Airfield Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25G Mitchell bombing from 100 feet *
Airfield Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25G Mitchell bombing from 100 feet *
Airfield Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 1000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 1000 feet
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night of the Big Guns

[PzB74]

Here's the Operational report: Lots of things going on behind the curtains as well!
- ASW reports from our Helens in the Makassar region indicates our continued efforts to cull the submarine threat.

OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR Oct 17, 43

SS RO-63 leaving patrol zone to replenish at Midway Island
SS I-173 leaving patrol zone to replenish at Kendari
SS I-25 reports having been sighted by the enemy at 57 , 129
Surface Combat TF 35 resumes patrol, enroute to 79 , 72 near San Fernando
ASW Combat TF 78 resumes patrol, enroute to 73 , 94 near Jolo
ASW Combat TF 82 resumes patrol, enroute to 64 , 84 near Miri
Submarine TF 299 ordered to return to Kendari due to damage
CL Tenryu resumes patrol, enroute to 200 , 129 near Hilo
CL Durban determined to have been sunk on or about Oct, 12, 1943
TF 211 designated as Escort and diverted to Koepang
Repairs completed on AR Tokai Maru at Tokyo, ship returned to service
No additional repairs possible on AD Gyoko Maru
using currently assigned resources at Saipan
No additional repairs possible on AKE Kato Maru
using currently assigned resources at Rangoon
No additional repairs possible on PB Minowa Maru
using currently assigned resources at Miri
No additional repairs possible on PB Fukuei Maru
using currently assigned resources at Miri
No additional repairs possible on SC CHa-10
using currently assigned resources at Miri
No additional repairs possible on PB Kanko Maru
using currently assigned resources at Batavia
No additional repairs possible on CV Amagi
using currently assigned resources at Soerabaja
No additional repairs possible on xAK Neikai Maru
using currently assigned resources at Balikpapan
CS Convoy TF 14 begins loading Resources at Singapore for delivery to Shimonoseki
CS Convoy TF 218 begins loading Resources at Hakodate for delivery to Niigata
AMC Gokoku Maru resumes patrol, enroute to 200 , 129 near Hilo
E13A1 Jake sighting report: 10 Allied ships at 112,62 near Shimizu, speed 17, Moving East
E13A1 Jake sighting report: 5 Allied ships at 107,62 near Kochi, speed 19, Moving Southeast
Ki-46-II Dinah sighting report: 4 Allied ships at 50,54 near Rangoon, speed 12, Moving Southeast
Ki-30 Ann reports object near surface at 77, 61 near Hong Kong
Ki-30 Ann reports oil slick at 77, 63 near Hong Kong
G3M3 Nell reports shape below surface at 58, 106 near Pamekasan
H6K4 Mavis sighting report: 7 Allied ships at 123,55 near Kushiro, speed 13, Moving Southwest
F1M2 Pete reports possible submarine at 101, 120 near Manus
Sighting report: 2 Allied ships at 67,116 near Roti , Speed 14 , Moving Southeast
Sighting report: 6 Allied ships at 67,116 near Roti , Speed 15 , Moving Southeast
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports turbulence in water at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports suspected submarine at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports possible submarine at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports turbulence in water at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports oil slick at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports object near surface at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports oil slick at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports conning tower at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports oil slick at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports turbulence in water at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports turbulence in water at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports diving submarine at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports object near surface at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports suspected submarine at 58, 106 near Pamekasan
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports suspected submarine at 58, 106 near Pamekasan
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports periscope at 58, 106 near Pamekasan
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports oil slick at 58, 106 near Pamekasan
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports periscope at 58, 106 near Pamekasan
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports radio transmissions at 58, 106 near Pamekasan
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports radio transmissions at 58, 106 near Pamekasan
Ki-46-III Dinah from 3rd Sentai Det B has spotted a Higgins 78ft PT class PT at 63,113
Ki-46-III Dinah reports conning tower at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
TF 154 shadowed by Allied Carrier Aircraft at 56,116 near Mataram
TF 154 followed by Allied Carrier Aircraft at 56,116 near Mataram
TF 136 followed by Allied Torpedo Bomber at 64,111 near Ruteng
1LT Chiba N. of 5th Sentai is credited with kill number 3
MAJ Okamoto O. of 5th Sentai is credited with kill number 2
MAJ Ochi J. of 5th Sentai is credited with kill number 3
2LT Emura F. of 5th Sentai is credited with kill number 2
CPT Igarashi C. of 47th Sentai is credited with kill number 2
2LT Kimura I. of 87th Sentai is credited with kill number 3
Allied Aircraft sighted over Palmyra
Allied Aircraft sighted over Magwe
Allied Recon sighted over Palmyra
Allied Recon sighted over 22nd Recon Regiment
Ki-44-IIa Tojo from 87th Sentai is written off
CPT Suzuki H. of 87th Sentai is credited with kill number 2
H6K4 Mavis from 22nd Ku T-1 /A at Etorofu grounded due to maintenance
Ki-46-III Dinah from 63rd I.F.Chutai at Merauke grounded due to maintenance
Ki-46-III Dinah from 44th Sentai Det is damaged on landing
Ki-46-III Dinah from 44th Sentai Det at Amoy grounded due to maintenance
E8N2 Dave from Kumano-2 on CA Kumano grounded due to maintenance
E13A1 Jake from Chitose-1 is damaged on landing
B6N1 Jill from Soryu-3 on CV Soryu grounded due to maintenance
D4Y1 Judy from Junyo-2 on CV Junyo grounded due to maintenance
Ki-44-IIa Tojo from 5th Sentai is damaged on landing
H6K5 Mavis from 801 Ku T-1 at Fanning Island grounded due to maintenance
TF 154 designated as Escort and ordered to return to Memboro
J1N1-C Irving reports periscope wake at 152, 147 near Sydney Island
Ki-48-IIa Lily reports conning tower at 126, 44 near Shikuka
Ki-48-IIa Lily sighting report: 7 Allied ships at 126,40 near Alexandrovsk, speed 19, Moving Southeast
Ki-49-IIb Helen reports conning tower at 58, 106 near Pamekasan
Ki-49-IIb Helen from 75th Sentai/A attacking an Allied SS at 58,106
a Gar class SS is reported HIT
Ki-21-IIa Sally reports shadow in water at 49, 97 near Batavia
E7K2 Alf reports possible submarine at 110, 57 near Maizuru
E7K2 Alf reports radio transmissions at 117, 59 near Sendai
G3M3 Nell reports conning tower at 58, 106 near Pamekasan
E13A1 Jake reports object near surface at 100, 120 near Manus
E13A1 Jake from Nachi-1 has spotted a Huckins 78ft PT class PT at 65,112
a Elco 77ft PT class PT is reported HIT
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports periscope wake at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports periscope at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports submarine at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports diving submarine at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports oil slick at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports diving submarine at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports conning tower at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports possible submarine at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports periscope at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports shadow in water at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports object under water at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports shadow in water at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen from 60th Sentai has spotted PT-324 at 65,112
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports possible submarine at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports periscope at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports conning tower at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports object near surface at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports object under water at 58, 106 near Pamekasan
Ki-49-IIa Helen from 6th Close Supp.Unit attacking an Allied SS at 58,106
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports turbulence in water at 58, 106 near Pamekasan
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports periscope wake at 58, 106 near Pamekasan
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports suspected submarine at 58, 106 near Pamekasan
Ki-49-IIa Helen from 6th Close Supp.Unit attacking SS Grenadier at 58,106
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports submarine at 58, 106 near Pamekasan
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports conning tower at 58, 106 near Pamekasan
Ki-49-IIa Helen from 6th Close Supp.Unit attacking SS Grenadier at 58,106
SS Grenadier is reported HIT
Ki-49-IIa Helen reports turbulence in water at 58, 106 near Pamekasan
Ki-46-III Dinah from 3rd Sentai Det B has spotted a 'R' Class class DD at 63,116
Ki-46-III Dinah reports submarine at 63, 113 near Waingapoe
TF 136 followed by Allied Torpedo Bomber at 64,111 near Ruteng
F-4 Lightning sighted over Wessel Islands
Allied Fighter Bomber sighted over Ayuthia
Mitchell PR.II sighted over Magwe
Allied Medium Bomber sighted over 2nd RTA/B Division
Allied Torpedo Bomber sighted over Chiang Mai
Allied Aircraft sighted over Wessel Islands
Allied Torpedo Bomber sighted over Ayuthia
Allied Fighter Bomber sighted over 2nd RTA/B Division
Ki-44-IIb Tojo from 47th Sentai is damaged on landing
E13A1 Jake from Aikoku Maru-1 is damaged on landing
H6K4 Mavis from 801 Ku T-2 at Munda grounded due to maintenance
H6K4 Mavis from 15th Ku T-1 /C at Cocos Islands grounded due to maintenance
Ki-46-II Dinah from 38th Sentai/A at Chiang Mai grounded due to maintenance
Ki-49-Ia Helen from 89th I.F.Chutai at Saigon grounded due to maintenance
Ki-45 KAIa Nick from 264th Sentai at Soerabaja grounded due to maintenance
Ki-46-III Dinah from KA Air.Photo.Unit is damaged on landing
Ki-46-III Dinah from 50th I.F.Chutai Det at Rangoon grounded due to maintenance
Ki-21-IIa Sally from 27th Sentai crashes on landing
Ki-46-III Dinah from 50th I.F.Chutai Det at Rangoon grounded due to maintenance
Ki-46-III Dinah from 76th I.F.Chutai is damaged on landing
Ki-46-III Dinah from 8th Sentai Det B at Merauke grounded due to maintenance
G3M3 Nell from 752 Ku K-1/C at Soerabaja grounded due to maintenance
Ki-46-III Dinah from 83rd I.F.Chutai/A is damaged on landing
H6K4 Mavis from 884 Ku T-1 Det at Chichi-jima grounded due to maintenance
Damaged Ki-46-III Dinah from 3rd Sentai Det B is missing
Ki-46-III Dinah from 83rd I.F.Chutai/C at Lashio grounded due to maintenance
9 x Ki-56 Thalia transporting 11th Air Fleet to Endeh
9 x Ki-49-II KAI Helen transporting 11th Air Fleet to Ruteng
9 x Ki-49-II KAI Helen transporting 47th Road Const Co from Woodlark Island
9 x Ki-56 Thalia transporting 22nd Air Flotilla from Rangoon
9 x Ki-56 Thalia transporting 22nd Air Flotilla from Rangoon
9 x Ki-56 Thalia transporting 22nd Air Flotilla from Rangoon
9 x MC-21 Sally transporting 22nd Air Flotilla from Rangoon
9 x Ki-56 Thalia transporting supplies to Dobo
N1K1-J George from Yokosuka Ku S-2 at Yokohama/Yokosuka grounded due to maintenance
No additional repairs possible on AD Gyoko Maru
using currently assigned resources at Saipan
No additional repairs possible on AKE Kato Maru
using currently assigned resources at Rangoon
No additional repairs possible on PB Minowa Maru
using currently assigned resources at Miri
No additional repairs possible on PB Fukuei Maru
using currently assigned resources at Miri
No additional repairs possible on SC CHa-10
using currently assigned resources at Miri
Repairs completed on SS RO-101 at Rabaul, ship returned to service
No additional repairs possible on PB Kanko Maru
using currently assigned resources at Batavia
No additional repairs possible on CV Amagi
using currently assigned resources at Soerabaja
No additional repairs possible on xAK Neikai Maru
using currently assigned resources at Balikpapan
TF 13 leaving patrol zone to refuel at Singapore
TF 82 leaving patrol zone to refuel at Singapore
TF 107 does not have enough fuel to complete mission
TF 130 does not have enough fuel to complete mission
TF 133 does not have enough fuel to complete mission
TF 141 does not have enough fuel to complete mission
TF 191 does not have enough fuel to complete mission
TF 196 does not have enough fuel to complete mission
TF 307 does not have enough fuel to complete mission
CS Convoy TF 56 begins loading Resources at Keijo for delivery to Nagasaki/Sasebo
CS Convoy TF 91 begins loading Resources at Palembang for delivery to Singapore
CS Convoy TF 167 begins loading Fuel at Palembang for delivery to Singapore
CS Convoy TF 276 begins loading Resources at Hakodate for delivery to Niigata
Uruppu-jima expands airfield to size 4
Geraldton expands port to size 3
Ternate expands airfield to size 2
108th Sentai at Boela takes Ki-56 Thalia replacements
76th I.F.Chutai Det at Denpasar takes Ki-46-III Dinah replacements
Sasebo Ku S-1 converting to A6M2 Zero - I'm converting training units to the older A6M2 as our A6M5 pools were starting to run low
Delayed planes for the aircraft pool:
3 (10) x A6M2 Zero, 8 (28) x A6M5 Zero, 4 (8) x A6M5b Zero, 1 (2) x D4Y1 Judy
8 (3) x G4M1 Betty, 7 (7) x Ki-43-IIb Oscar, 11 (15) x Ki-44-IIb Tojo, 5 (10) x Ki-49-IIa Helen
8 (18) x Ki-61-Ib Tony
Repairs completed on SC CHa-3 at Tokyo, ship returned to service
Loss of DD Nagatsuki on Aug 04, 1943 is admitted
AMc Wa 22 arrives at Tokyo
Loss of PB Tatibana Maru on Oct 17, 1943 is admitted
CL Perth is reported to have been sunk near Waingapoe on Oct 17, 1943
CL Phoenix is reported to have been sunk near Endeh on Oct 17, 1943
DD Brownson is reported to have been sunk near Endeh on Oct 17, 1943
DD Ringgold is reported to have been sunk near Endeh on Oct 17, 1943
PT-321 is reported to have been sunk near Waingapoe on Oct 17, 1943
PT-336 is reported to have been sunk near Endeh on Oct 17, 1943
PT-380 is reported to have been sunk near Waingapoe on Oct 17, 1943
xAK Benjamin Franklin is reported to have been sunk near Waingapoe on Oct 17, 1943
xAK Benjamin Holt is reported to have been sunk near Waingapoe on Oct 17, 1943
xAK John C. Fremont is reported to have been sunk near Waingapoe on Oct 17, 1943
xAK John S. Casement is reported to have been sunk near Waingapoe on Oct 17, 1943
xAK Joseph Holt is reported to have been sunk near Waingapoe on Oct 17, 1943
13th Ind.Mixed Regiment arrives at Tokyo - a major LCU reinforcement; 100% prepped for Wake but it will most likely go to the SRA!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enemy on the move

[PzB74]

The full enemy carrier fleet is drawing closer again but no attacks!
We bombard Waingapoe again and destroy another large number of ac on the ground.

Enemy attention is on Koepang; will Andy attack Timor?
We have a division and regiment there - a potential size 9 base.
Will take a major enemy effort to get it.

At Luganville our small garrison is finally defeated.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 18, 43

Surface Combat

Night Time Surface Combat, near Waingapoe at 63,113, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki
DD Shirakumo
DD Sagiri
DD Fumizuki
DD Myojinami

Allied Ships
PT-241, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-243, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT-244, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-245, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-343, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Waingapoe at 63,113, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Fubuki
DD Shirakumo
DD Sagiri
DD Fumizuki
DD Myojinami

Allied Ships
LCT-134, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bombardments

It's very satisfying to destroy enemy engineers!

Night Naval bombardment of Waingapoe at 63,113 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-40N5 Warhawk: 3 destroyed on ground
SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 destroyed on ground
P-39D Airacobra: 3 destroyed on ground
P-40K Warhawk: 6 destroyed on ground
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed on ground
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 5 destroyed on ground
P-39N1 Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground
A-36 Mustang: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40N1 Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground

10 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Ise
BB Hiei
CA Kako
CA Kinugasa
CA Aoba, Shell hits 1
DD Harukaze
DD Oboro
DD Shikinami
DD Umikaze
DD Natsushio

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 1, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
188 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 13 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (4 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 69
Port hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub - ASW Attacks

Submarine attack near Memboro at 64,112

Japanese Ships
DD Natsushio
CA Kako
DD Shikinami
DD Harukaze
DD Oboro

Allied Ships
SS Sculpin, hits 18, and is sunk

SS Sculpin launches 4 torpedoes at DD Natsushio
Sculpin bottoming out ....
DD Harukaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Oboro attacking submerged sub ....
DD Harukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Oboro attacking submerged sub ....
SS Sculpin forced to surface!
DD Oboro firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Harukaze firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Harukaze firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on 70th Division, at 68,116 (Koepang)
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 6
B-25C Mitchell x 16
B-25D1 Mitchell x 33
B-25G Mitchell x 9
P-38H Lightning x 11
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 2

No Allied losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Mitchell II bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-25G Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 146th Infantry Regimental Combat Team ...
Also attacking 70th Division ...
Also attacking 146th Infantry Regimental Combat Team ...
Also attacking 70th Division ...
Also attacking 146th Infantry Regimental Combat Team ...
Also attacking 70th Division ...
Also attacking 146th Infantry Regimental Combat Team ...
Also attacking 70th Division ...
Also attacking 146th Infantry Regimental Combat Team ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 70th Division, at 68,116 (Koepang)
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 29
B-25C Mitchell x 3
B-25D1 Mitchell x 4
B-25G Mitchell x 8
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 12

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-25G Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-25G Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 11000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 146th Infantry Regimental Combat Team ...
Also attacking 70th Division ...
Also attacking 146th Infantry Regimental Combat Team ...
Also attacking 70th Division ...
Also attacking 146th Infantry Regimental Combat Team ...
Also attacking 70th Division ...
Also attacking 146th Infantry Regimental Combat Team ...
Also attacking 70th Division ...
Also attacking 146th Infantry Regimental Combat Team ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Luganville (120,150)
Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 546 troops, 0 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 28
Defending force 484 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 13

Allied adjusted assault: 22
Japanese adjusted defense: 7

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Luganville !!!

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

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

Assaulting units:
14th NZ Bde /2

Defending units:
II/81st Naval Guard Unit
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enemy Approaching!




The picture shows how I planned the KB ambush from 8 hexes.
Enemy carriers showed up to the west - and that's the reason why LBA didn't show up - I coordinated range with KB.

[PzB74]

Gentlemen, we did it; engaged Allied carriers from 8 hexes again [&o]
- In a strange turn only an AM strike was launched and no LBA participated (400 had orders to).

After a short engagement with a huge enemy CAP we got through to the enemy carriers and caused havoc [:D]
BANZAAAIII!!
BANZAAAIII!!
BANZAAAIII!!

I'm still in the turn, pls no word to Andy.
It was not a 100% decisive strike but good enough - I now need to count my blessings and consider whether to launch
KB in pursuit!

Need your input on this one; ca 140 Jap ac lost, mostly bombers (numerous unescorted raids went in after the main raid).
Can replace most from LBA reserves.

Think it's time to conclude this Waingapoe business!

So only qualified advice this time cause a lot depends on it [:)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 18, 43

Morning Air attack on TF, near Memboro at 59,114
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 222
A6M5b Zero x 18
B6N1 Jill x 84
B6N2 Jill x 9
D4Y1 Judy x 173

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 17
Martlet II x 31
Martlet IV x 52
F4U-1A Corsair x 7
F6F-3 Hellcat x 336

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
B6N1 Jill: 17 destroyed, 19 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 2 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 31 destroyed, 46 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Altamaha
CVE Nassau
CVE Prince William, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Formidable, Torpedo hits 1
CV Victorious, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVL Independence, Torpedo hits 1
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hobby
CV Bunker Hill, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
CVE Chenango, Bomb hits 2, on fire
BB Warspite, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage
DD Lardner, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Dashiell, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Helena
DD Gillespie
CA Suffolk, Torpedo hits 1
CVE Anzio, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Dorsetshire, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CL Nashville
CA Shropshire, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Caldwell
CVE Corregidor, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CVE Santee, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Farenholt, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
11 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
15 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
9 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
12 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
9 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
15 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
9 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
12 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
9 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
5 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
9 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-1 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
VF-2 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
VF-3 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 20 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F6F-3 Hellcat (5 airborne, 12 on standby, 25 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
VF-9 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
VF-16 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
VF-18 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 17 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
VF-22 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 12 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
VF-23 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
VF-24 with F6F-3 Hellcat (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
No.881 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 17 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
No.882 Sqn FAA with Martlet IV (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 14 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 14000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
No.896 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 19 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
No.898 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 10 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters between 17000 and 30000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
VF-26 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 10 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
VC(F)-33 with F6F-3 Hellcat (2 airborne, 5 on standby, 11 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
VF-35 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 12 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
VF-37 with F6F-3 Hellcat (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 12 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
VC(F)-41 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Enterprise
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Lexington
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Lardner
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Farenholt
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[inqistor]

Oh Sh....
I did not expected that.
GREAT WORK!
And actually moderate loses as for this CAP size.

Take it easy.
Allies already invested far too much into this operation. 5 BBs, dozen of Cruisers, and lotsa DDs, and transports. There are hundreds planes in base, and like 5(?) Divisions. He will return. Again.
You can safely asume only 3 disabled Carriers. Too risky, after your loses.

[PzB74]

After restocking KB I got the number of operational ac up to 733.
Long range escorts and naval bombers from LBA can supplement these numbers.

What we're up against depends on whether Andy cuts his losses and leave his damaged ships behind or not.
I estimate ca 500 or so Allied carrier ac still operational; plust Waingapo - but the latter we can deal with.
- 400 fighters can sweep the place and we have air and sea bombardments to suppress the place.

My guess is that the enemy ac now reported at Waingapoe are the ones not able to land on crippled carriers.
We can handle them [:D]

So I don't think I have a choice, we need to pursue and maximize enemy losses! [&o]

[Yakface]

[EDIT] Oops - I assumed from the fist picture that his carriers were in the hex to the west of Waingapoe. The below is redundant.

I would park your carriers in the hex directly west of Bima with the objective of picking up damaged carriers moving towards Australia. Put your strike aircraft out to 10 or so hexes and you will catch anything that hasn't gone 7 hexes or more..

Put some fighters in Bima and the base to the SE of where your carriers would be (Rutunga?) max cap with a range of at least on - they'll help your fleet CAP if a strike comes in.

The biggest danger would be some a fleet at Waingapoe sucking your strikes onto the CAP there. Sweep out anything there with surface TF's at night, if you can launch another bombardment you may get lucky and close the base, or at least reduce the number of planes on CAP. Use land based fighters to sweep Waingapoe and hope they go in first.

[PzB74]

Good suggestions Yak! Bima and many of the smaller Jap bases are size 0 airfields though, and Memboro is all but closed.
But you're right, closing Waingapo is high on the list. I'm ordering a sea bombardment supported by 2 surface combat TFs to go in.
250 fighters will sweep Waingapo, 150 Helens will bomb the airfields there and the rest of our LBA will be put on extra long range.

Let me emphasize; This battle was _decisive_ for the Waingapoe Campaign!
We just purt the hurt on 10 enemy carriers; 2 fleet carriers, 1 CVE, 1 BB, 2 CAs and 2 DDs are already lost.
Another 7 carriers require repairs in major repair yards - yards already packed with damaged warships.

It will take the Allies months to regroup, get replacements and new carriers in place.
Without carriers Waingapoe and further invasions in the region can not be supported; the troops on Waingapoe may all be lost in other words.

Even if Andy stands and fight his carriers will be so hurt that the remainder can't even challenge our LBA.
He needs nothing less than a mircale now!

A decisive victory in the SRA will win us another 6 months of supremacy in the region! [8D]

Here is the rest of the combat report;
I think Andy wished to challenge the KB - he had ca 450 fighters available for CAP on his carriers.
I expected a long and costly battle but the enemy fighters appeared slowly and suddenly they broke of from engaging our 240 escorts
and attacked the bombers. Before a massacre could take place the bombers suddenly got through to the enemy fleets!

Never seen anything like this before...
The follow up raids were shot to pieces and maybe it was just as well that I set LBA range 2 hexes to short by mistake.
They may all have been shot up by the huge Allied CAP that remained in place in the AM phase.

Allied CAG did attack ASW ships just a hex south of KB - this clearly shows their intention.



AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 19, 43

Sub Attacks

ASW attack near Port Hedland at 57,128

Japanese Ships
SS I-16, hits 14, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Monssen

SS I-16 is sighted by escort
I-16 bottoming out ....
DD Monssen attacking submerged sub ....
DD Monssen attacking submerged sub ....
DD Monssen fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Monssen fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Monssen fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on TF, near Memboro at 59,114
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 58
B6N2 Jill x 9
D4Y1 Judy x 60

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 17
Martlet II x 31
Martlet IV x 51
F4U-1A Corsair x 6
F6F-3 Hellcat x 319

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 4 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 2 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 19 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CVL Independence

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Memboro at 59,114
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 10
D4Y1 Judy x 12

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 15
Martlet II x 29
Martlet IV x 47
F4U-1A Corsair x 4
F6F-3 Hellcat x 275


Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 3 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CA San Francisco


Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Memboro at 63,112
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 3
F4U-1 Corsair x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 1 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Memboro at 63,112
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 7

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IV x 2
P-40N5 Warhawk x 1
SBD-3 Dauntless x 2

No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Denpasar at 57,108
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 2

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 20
SBD-5 Dauntless x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-5 Dauntless: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
PB Hozugawa Maru, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk


Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
20 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 15000 feet
7 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-5 Dauntless bombing from 16000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring PB Hozugawa Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Denpasar at 58,107
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 22
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 11
E Hishu, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
E Tomozuru
E Yomogi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Luganville (120,150)
Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 542 troops, 0 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 28
Defending force 448 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 10

Allied adjusted assault: 46
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 46 to 1

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

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

Assaulting units:
14th NZ Bde /2

Defending units:
II/81st Naval Guard Unit
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ADB123]

How many planes did you lose to AA fire in your attacks on the CV TFs?

Thx -

[PzB74]

16 + a few damaged to ops maybe; That's about 8% of the attacking force I guess.
- Guess this number should have been higher in regards to reality.
But weather was cloudy, may have helped with getting through the defenses?

The entire A2A battle was strange; 240 Zekes vs 440 CAP fighters and battle is over after 5 fighters are shot down.
Enemy then engage bombers, shoot down 30-40 and they're off to hitting the ships.

Devs have said A2A was more unpredictable now than before, this is the first time I've experienced something like this though.

Andy is fuming...no turn for some time he says.
Second time I hit him from 8 hexes and his elite CAP is all by waterproof!

AE can be nasty at times, for you who haven't felt it in your guts; it hits like a horse kicks!
Months and years of planning and preparations and in 10 min everything goes up in smoke with no "undo" button.... [8|]