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

[yamo1]

RE: ground combat

Do you get a flanking bonus for attacking from multiple adjacent hexes?

[PzB74]

Not as I know of; ground combat isn't that sophisticated...

[bigbaba]

imho if he attacks port blair (at least we can spell this one easier then w...whatever[;)]) without carrier support that would be another victory for japan and if you continue there will be a sake shortage in japan soon because of all that celebration.

[PzB74]

Talking about Port Blair...this turn our picket line TF scouted an enemy TF 19 hexes east of the place.
We had a spotting regarding an enemy convoy NNE of Cocos Island some days ago and I suspected something was moving north towards India.
- 18 Nells turned back but another strike found the enemy and sank the CVE Barnes! [8D]

Except from that Sake has to wait; we're getting the worst modifiers I've ever seen in ground combat, disruption or not.
Some 742 to 440 today. Would hate to stand down now and let Andy airlift out more troops (despite the fact that 20-25 Catalinas and transports
are shot down daily). I also ordered our level bombers to hit Waingapoe from 11-16k feet; even at this altitude flak claimed many kills.
Possible that some more AA guns have been liftet in. Tomorrow we bombard with heavy surface units and add some paras to finish it.

Our 2 regiments caught in the open also attracted extreme attention and half their strength have become casualties. Can be healed fortunetely.

Tomorrow the CV Katsuragi arrives; next in line is the Shinano in a good month or so [:)]


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 05, 43

Air Combat

Have edited out smaller and repetitious strikes. Also numerous 4E attacks against Shwebo etc.

Morning Air attack on 73rd Motorised Brigade, at 63,113 (Waingapoe)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 42 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 33
N1K1 Rex x 1
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 27
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 54

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 11 damaged

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


Aircraft Attacking:
33 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 15000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 28th Canadian AA Regiment, at 63,113 (Waingapoe)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 8
N1K1-J George x 7
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 21
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 28
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 67
Ki-61-Ic Tony x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed, 28 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
31 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 13000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
35 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 11000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 42nd Infantry Regiment, at 60,44
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D Mitchell x 11
Blenheim I x 3
Blenheim IV x 27
Blenheim VD x 21
Hurricane IIc Trop x 16
Liberator II x 27
Wellington Ic x 14
Wellington B.X x 15
Beaufort VIII x 6
A-20A Havoc x 9
A-20G Havoc x 6
B-25C Mitchell x 13
P-38H Lightning x 13

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim VD: 1 damaged
Beaufort VIII: 1 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
601 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 42nd Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 90th Infantry Regiment ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Koggala at 29,56
Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
CVE Barnes, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
CL Santa Fe

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

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

Attacking force 106819 troops, 1237 guns, 494 vehicles, Assault Value = 3599
Defending force 23640 troops, 490 guns, 646 vehicles, Assault Value = 518

Japanese adjusted assault: 725
Allied adjusted defense: 421

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
1859 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 57 disabled
Non Combat: 54 destroyed, 80 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 41 disabled
Vehicles lost 36 (14 destroyed, 22 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Allied ground losses:
2397 casualties reported
Squads: 73 destroyed, 72 disabled
Non Combat: 51 destroyed, 125 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 42 disabled
Vehicles lost 185 (26 destroyed, 159 disabled)

Assaulting units:
9th Division
8th Tank Regiment
1st Engineer Regiment
30th Engineer Regiment
4th Guards Division
21st Infantry Regiment
24th Infantry Regiment
33rd Division
6th Guards Division
17th Infantry Regiment
11th Infantry Regiment
21st Division
35th Division
60th Division
5th Guards Division
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Art.Mortar Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
5th Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
7th Infantry Division
6th Australian Div /1
33rd Infantry Division
2nd Australian/A Division
7th Australian Div /2
4th Marine Div /1
2nd Australian/B Division
2nd Australian/C Div /2
11th (East African) Div /37
3rd/102nd Infantry Battalion
73rd Motorised Bde /1
182nd USAAF Base Force /1
872/873rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
3rd USN Naval Construction Regiment
863rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
XI US Corps
28th Canadian AA Regiment
30th Aviation Base Force /1
40th USN Naval Construction Battalion
3rd RAAF Base Force /1
36th Aviation Base Force /2
871st Engineer Aviation Battalion
XIV US Corps
1st USN Naval Construction Regiment
15th Marine Defense Battalion
98th Field Artillery Battalion
113th RN Base Force /2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surprise Strike

I don't have any data indicating that the Barnes was damaged in the Waingapoe battles..
Also strange that it had no CAP; maybe a replenishment CVE?
Andy should have made a wider detour.

[Nomad]

You have wonder what the heck is AndyMac doing leaving a CVE with no air cover in range of Nells? [&:] there is a lot of room to the West of where you sank it for it to be out of range. I just don't understand.

[PzB74]

Sake celebrations this turn; Waingapoe falls [&o] [&o]
BANZAI BANZAI BANZAI!! [:D]

This is even better than Zamboanga [:)]

Allied ground losses:
11134 casualties reported
Squads: 798 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1409 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 428 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 525 (525 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 509 (509 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 25

Obviously Andy airlifted out quite a few troops despite our constant CAP and the airfields were devastated.
Many troops have been destroyed in the recent fighting and all heavy equipment was left behind.

Ken; usually search planes don't spot targets further out than 14-16 hexes. It was the AV TF that provided intel for the Nells at Port Blair.
With 30 Hellcats on CAP the ship would have been saved.

The Katsuragi arrived this turn with it's 27 premature A6M5c Zekes.
Plan is to downgrade them to A6M5s and use the c's to upgrade a Mavis transport unit which supposedly can be upgraded to the George afterwards.
You have no idea how hard it is to find units that upgrade to Jacks and George's in 43...only got a single none restricted unit.

A fully equipped and ready Amph Bde also arrived today, a very good turn in other words [:)]


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 06, 43

Bombardments

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

13 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
CA Chokai
DD Tadeyame
DD Tagonami
DD Tachekaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Onami
DD Suzunami
DD Kazegumo
DD Yugumo
DD Akizuki

Allied ground losses:
74 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Kirishima
BB Kirishima firing at 11th (East African) Division
E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for BB Haruna
BB Haruna firing at 33rd Infantry Division
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Kongo
BB Kongo firing at 15th Marine Defense Battalion
15th Marine Defense Battalion firing at BB Kongo
E8N2 Dave acting as spotter for CA Chokai
CA Chokai firing at 7th Infantry Division
DD Tadeyame firing at 15th Marine Defense Battalion
15th Marine Defense Battalion firing at DD Tadeyame
DD Tagonami firing at 33rd Infantry Division
DD Tachekaze firing at 11th (East African) Division
DD Tokitsukaze firing at 33rd Infantry Division
DD Onami firing at 7th Infantry Division
DD Suzunami firing at 33rd Infantry Division
DD Kazegumo firing at 11th (East African) Division
DD Yugumo firing at 15th Marine Defense Battalion
15th Marine Defense Battalion firing at DD Yugumo
DD Akizuki firing at 11th (East African) Division
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

We hit transports north of Darwin today; an enemy convoy in Cent Pac with a CVL? finds an AK
we used as replenishment ship for our raiders and sink her. Lucky that our raiders weren't found.

Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 48 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 10
Hudson I x 3
PV-1 Ventura x 10
PV-1 Ventura x 20
B-24D1 Liberator x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 1 damaged
PV-1 Ventura: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Koepang , at 68,116
Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 7
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 67

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 7 damaged

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 25
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Koepang , at 68,116
Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 6

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 4 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 15000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Bathurst Island at 77,123
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAK Colbert, Bomb hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
KV New Westminster, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B6N1 Jill bombing from 100 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bathurst Island at 77,123
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 9

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
xAK William S. Colley, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK General Fleisher

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B6N1 Jill bombing from 100 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lahaina at 203,105
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 13
TBF-1 Avenger x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Aobasan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

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

Attacking force 105648 troops, 1237 guns, 493 vehicles, Assault Value = 3536
Defending force 19576 troops, 461 guns, 613 vehicles, Assault Value = 325

Japanese adjusted assault: 1111
Allied adjusted defense: 385

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Waingapoe !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

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

Japanese ground losses:
1253 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 53 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 63 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Vehicles lost 14 (3 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
11134 casualties reported
Squads: 798 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1409 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 428 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 525 (525 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 509 (509 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 25

Assaulting units:
24th Infantry Regiment
11th Infantry Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
4th Guards Division
35th Division
6th Guards Division
33rd Division
60th Division
30th Engineer Regiment
9th Division
21st Division
1st Engineer Regiment
5th Guards Division
17th Infantry Regiment
21st Infantry Regiment
Yokosuka Assault SNLF /2
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Art.Mortar Regiment
5th Field Artillery Regiment
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
3rd Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
2nd Australian/A Division
7th Australian Div /2
3rd/102nd Infantry Battalion
2nd Australian/B Division
4th Marine Div /1
33rd Infantry Division
11th (East African) Div /37
7th Infantry Division
2nd Australian/C Div /2
73rd Motorised Bde /1
XIV US Corps
3rd RAAF Base Force /1
872/873rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
15th Marine Defense Battalion
871st Engineer Aviation Battalion
28th Canadian AA Regiment
XI US Corps
1st USN Naval Construction Regiment
40th USN Naval Construction Battalion
182nd USAAF Base Force /1
863rd Engineer Aviation Battalion
3rd USN Naval Construction Regiment
36th Aviation Base Force /2
98th Field Artillery Battalion
30th Aviation Base Force /1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Waingapoe Falls!

No idea were those Aircobra's and the Mustang were shot down..no fighter vs fighter combat as I was aware of this turn [&:]

[PzB74]

I loaded up tracker for the first time since July 43 (in game time) since I had to figure out how to get it to work with Vista 64 bit Java client.
(No problem since I only pointed to 32 bit Java client still on another partition).

Between July and November 43 we have gained 6500 points, 1095 points were gained last turn for recapturing Waingapoe.
Points ain't important here but it does give a good indication on how the war has progressed in the last half of 43.
- Much better than expected to say the least.

1943 will be known as the year of great victories!
- Blunting the Allied Burma offensive
- Line Island and Central Pacific victories
- Waingapoe defensive and offensive victories

Challenge now is to get back down on the ground for 1944...
The real situation is that Japans position in this war is deteriorating for each day that goes and we need to redouble our efforts to avoid
serious defeats in the time to come!

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: PzB

No idea were those Aircobra's and the Mustang were shot down..no fighter vs fighter combat as I was aware of this turn [&:]

In a PBM of mine I have found that such air to air losses most likely involve interceptions and escorting of air transport missions.

[Captain Cruft]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

ORIGINAL: PzB

No idea were those Aircobra's and the Mustang were shot down..no fighter vs fighter combat as I was aware of this turn [&:]

In a PBM of mine I have found that such air to air losses most likely involve interceptions and escorting of air transport missions.

That's what I thought too. His CAP at W will have fought your CAP which was intercepting the transport missions.

Messages are logged for this combat (in the Air Transport phase) when pilots are credited with additional kills, but these only appear in the Ops Report.

[PzB74]

Could be true for the Mustang but the Aircobra doesn't have the range to escort transports from Oz to Waingapoe.

It turns out that the large 27 ac seaplane unit that can upgrade to the A6M5c can't upgrade to the George or anything but the
A6-7 series [:(] Looks like they've nerfed all Jack / George upgrade paths...

Went through engine production and once again I found out what I kinda knew already; I've been increasing ac production more than
I have increased engine production and is now producing more frames than engines. Especially the HA-35s are in short supply and I'm doing
my best to increase them while halting production of anything but the top priority models. By switching more Tojo's to Franks we help this
but this only drains the HA-45 engine pool which also has to be increased

It's completely hopless to keep track of exactly which engines you need now and in 6 months.
Engine and airframe production should be linked; increase airframe production and a notice informing that engine production will also be increased
unless otherwise opted.

Also gone through naval and merchant marine production; huge numbers of hulls have started production and left me with 1330 producing and 880 available merchant navy points.
A bit better on the naval side but still have to halt large number of submarines to force our accelerated carrier program through.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 07, 43

Sub Attacks

South of Perth; another unlucky CVE eats a torpedo!
The Corregidor was hit in the Waingapoe battles - she will probably try to struggle back to Perth.
Maybe we'll finish her off next turn...

Sub attack near Busselton at 47,150

Japanese Ships
SS I-1, hits 9

Allied Ships
CVE Corregidor, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Endicott
DE Isis
DE Fortune
DE Encounter
AS Colombia
LSI(L) Empire Battleaxe
AK Charlevoix
AK Caledonia
AK Beltrami
TK British Hope
TK Norfold
TK British Dutchess
LST-479
xAP Kepong
xAP Kajang
xAP Speelman
xAP Kota Gede
xAP Sin Kheng Seng
xAP Cape Neddick
xAK John Burke
xAK Frederick J. Turner
xAK Francis P. Blair
xAK Archbishop Lamy
xAK Abigail Adams
xAK Cape Elizabeth
xAK Cape Ann
DD Racehorse
DD Vendetta
DD Vampire

SS I-1 launches 4 torpedoes at CVE Corregidor
DD Racehorse fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Vendetta fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Vampire fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Vampire fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Vampire fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Vampire attacking submerged sub ....
DD Vampire attacking submerged sub ....
DD Vampire is out of ASW ammo
DD Vampire fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Vampire fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Busselton at 48,150

Japanese Ships
SS I-165, hits 10

Allied Ships
CL Mobile
DD Anthony
DE Austin
APA Sheridan
APA Joseph T. Dickman
APD Herbert
AK Bullock
LST-484
xAP Van Overstraten
xAP Poelau Bras
xAK John A. Rawlins
DD Laffey
DD O'Bannon
DD Bache

SS I-165 is sighted by escort
DD Laffey fails to find sub and abandons search
DD O'Bannon attacking submerged sub ....
DD Bache fails to find sub and abandons search
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Unlucky I-25..she struggled into Koepang port to pump out water only to be sunk in an air raid...much like in Das Boot.

Morning Air attack on Koepang , at 68,116
Weather in hex: Clear sky

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

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6
B-24D1 Liberator x 37
P-38G Lightning x 18
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 15

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
SS I-25, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

Port hits 11
Port supply hits 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 48 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 3
Hudson I x 3
PV-1 Ventura x 3
PV-1 Ventura x 13
B-24D1 Liberator x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Koepang , at 68,116
Weather in hex: Clear sky

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

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 71
P-38H Lightning x 25


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 4 damaged

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

Port hits 6
Port supply hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Corregidor

Looks like the numerous enemy TFs are sailing south from Perth!
If so the Allied focus point may change.



Corregidor took 1 torpedo near Waingapoe

[PzB74]

Activity near Perth

[Xxzard]

Das Boot reference... I'm not sure if I've seen one on this forum before! [:D]

[inqistor]

At Koepang Allied planes got quite lot of causalities at low-level, but in Burma at 100-1000 ft almost none.

Does units there are not in Combat Mode?
What is the difference between this AA unit in Burma, and the one at Timor?

You actually could try to mine Albany. Can Japan, actually, drop mines from planes?

What is situation with independent anti-ship air-units? If attacks at night are limited to short distance, no reason to waste BETTYs for them.

[PzB74]

Will get back to that Inq; Imperial Intelligence picked up an uncoded distress signal from the battleship Resolution indicating flooding departments.
More importantly, a cross reference was made with subs and coordinates were forwarded to Admiral Nagumo.

"Only 10 hexes away?"

Hoist the battle colors and prepare to engage the enemy! [&o]

[PzB74]

Message from Nagumo

Enemy sighted; carriers, battleships and cruisers.
Engaging!

[yamo1]

That's no moon!

[PzB74]

No, definetly not - it's the Death Star! [:D]

That little piece of intel was very accurate and the KB was directed straight towards the enemy.
I hoped to find all the damaged Commonwealth goods from the Waingapoe Campaign and wasn't dissappointed [8D]

From a range of 7 hexes contact was made and a fairly large strike dispatched!
To my surprise enemy CAP was heavy; ca 140 fighters which fought well and shot down many escorts and ca 20-30 of the bombers.

The first strike was deadly accurate and blased both the Victorious, Illustrious, a CVE and 2 battleships more or less out of the water! [8D]
The follow up strikes in the PM phase were dissappointing; small and easy pray for a still potent CAP.

The reason I think is this:
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring an Allied CV
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Essex 'Short Hull' class CV

Most likely 2 US carriers were also in the hex and provided CAP.
40 Hellcats were reported destroyed on the ground, not sure which ship they belonged to, the CAP was such a strange mix.

Sea Hurricane Ib x 7 -> This must be the ole hunk o' junk Hermes
Martlet II x 16 -> Victorious?
Martlet IV x 24 - Illustrious?
F4U-1A Corsair x 9 -> ?
F6F-3 Hellcat x 84 -> 2 US carriers? But why were 50 reported ground losses? Was the CVE a replenishment ship...didn't think it sank this turn.

There were also an AK, an AKV and SC in the hex - were these part of a convoy moving home to fix battle damage?
This was exactly what the KB was sent here to hunt for.

The fact that no return strikes were launched from 7 hexes indicate that Andy didn't expect trouble or simply used his CVs as convoy escort.
We found the enemy 7 hexes west of the location report we got yesterday; so this was a relatively fast convoy.

Turn sent to Andy who won't be happy...this last disaster can be blamed on very bad luck (the intel provided when KB was just beyond the horizon) and
being predictable (I expected to find something here, just had to comb the ocean and be lucky). If Allied CVs were not in CV TFs ready to strike back this would be
gross negligence but this I can't know.

Will get back with more intel soon but it looks like we have picked up another victory in 1943 [:)]


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 08, 43

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on TF, near Busselton at 17,153
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 102
A6M5b Zero x 18
B6N1 Jill x 29
B6N2 Jill x 31
D4Y1 Judy x 97

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 7
Martlet II x 16
Martlet IV x 24
F4U-1A Corsair x 9
F6F-3 Hellcat x 84

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 16 destroyed
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed
B6N1 Jill: 3 destroyed, 11 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 7 destroyed, 15 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 1 destroyed
Martlet IV: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Illustrious, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
BB Mississippi, Bomb hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Ramillies, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
BB Resolution, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
CV Victorious, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Anzio, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
PG Hindustan
SC PC-578, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Radford, Bomb hits 1
AKV Engadine
CA Australia
xAP Mariposa, Bomb hits 2
DD Abbot

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

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring an Allied CVE
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Royal Sovereign class BB
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Nevada class BB
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring an Allied CV
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Ramillies
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring SC PC-578
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Essex 'Short Hull' class CV
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Busselton at 17,153
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 32
B6N2 Jill x 23
D4Y1 Judy x 15

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 4
Martlet II x 7
Martlet IV x 19
F4U-1A Corsair x 5
F6F-3 Hellcat x 63

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 10 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 13 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 10 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 1 destroyed
Martlet IV: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Busselton at 17,153
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 7

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 4
Martlet II x 6
Martlet IV x 13
F4U-1A Corsair x 3
F6F-3 Hellcat x 54

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 5 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Busselton at 17,153
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 53
A6M5b Zero x 17
D4Y1 Judy x 24

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 7
Martlet II x 10
Martlet IV x 3
F4U-1A Corsair x 6
F6F-3 Hellcat x 73

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 17 destroyed
A6M5b Zero: 4 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 15 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Bomb hits 3, on fire
DD Radford

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Busselton at 17,153
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 14
D4Y1 Judy x 25

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 4
Martlet II x 4
Martlet IV x 2
F4U-1A Corsair x 1
F6F-3 Hellcat x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 7 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Australia
CVE Anzio, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Henry S Grove

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

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring an Allied CA
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Anzio
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Strike!!

[PzB74]

The Tracker sunk ships list is very interesting!
Yorktown reported sunk? Possible she's "leaking" or it could be FOW..that we also hit her.

200 KB ac lost hurts; we sailed with ca 650 - but that still leaves us with a wallop.

[PzB74]

This is KB composition; I picked only the fast carriers and left the Junyo, a couple of CVLs and all CVEs back home since they're too slow and needed some R&R.
So 2 TFs with 4 CVs, 1 CVL, 2-4 cruisers and destroyers following a lead surface combat TF.

We also got a large replenishment group and an AV plus escort for scouting.

[PzB74]

There's just no way to prevent a TF from refuelling its escorts when far away from base.
IF there is a dot base, make it the Home base and problem solved. If not precious carriers are left immobile
after emptying their fuel to fill up the expendable escorts despite replenishment tankers being nearby
- Should be an "Absolutely no refuel" option!

So no strikes today; Andy is _not_ happy. Can understand him.
He says that CVE Barnes had a 30 strong Hellcat CAP that didn't fly? Can't quite understand this.
Also said that fast carriers left cripples 1 turn prior to KBs attack and that all ships would have let map edge in 2 turns.
No doubt the remaining US carriers have left the scene by now, leaving the few remaining cripples.

Thought he was safe as ac replenishment for carriers take 7 days, probably true but I ordered KB to sail before that.
We missed the last pilot and ac reinforcements but others were rotated and transferred from Soerabaja. Wanted desperately to leave
1-2 days earlier but it worked out in the end.

This last strike further improves our situation into 44; we have now sunk 20 Allied battleships and the list of carriers is growing close to the same
number.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 09, 43

Skipping all ground attacks in Burma..not very interesting and few casualties.
A bombardment to recon our positions.

Ground Combat

Ground combat at 60,43
Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 38600 troops, 543 guns, 272 vehicles, Assault Value = 1854
Defending force 30893 troops, 456 guns, 136 vehicles, Assault Value = 925

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

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

Assaulting units:
66th Chinese/B Corps
20th Indian Division
5th Chinese Corps
23rd Indian Division
66th Chinese/C Corps
23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
20th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
Burma Corps
14th Indian Light AA Regiment

Defending units:
11th Division
4th Division
11th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
15th Army
48th Field Artillery Regiment
18th Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
51st Field AA Battalion
16th Field AA Machinecannon Company
13th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pursuit!