LoBaron + Robbrennan vs Offenceman, allied secret AAR

[Rob Brennan UK]

4.

[Rob Brennan UK]

5.. ok it wasnt 4 .. but who the heck cares [:D]

So Original one will be no 6 ..

Pick/vots 1-6 for the lovely Myleen. think i just hi-jacked my own AAR !

[witpqs]

Oh my, I have to choose? I vote 1+2+3+4+5+6 (I guess that's 21).

Look - in #3 she's making the water boil! [X(]

[LoBaron]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Oh my, I have to choose? I vote 1+2+3+4+5+6 (I guess that's 21).

Look - in #3 she's making the water boil! [X(]

Not sure, but it made me count to 129 while staring at the pics...
Ok...I hope this doesn´t create any misunderstandings...

Gfs are terribley investigative.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: witpqs
Look - in #3 she's making the water boil! [X(]

Kinda as far as i got as well ....

<whew>

[SoliInvictus202]

the agony of choice...
as it's the same woman in all 6 I shall simply give my vote to her....
...
*****staring at 3******
....
....
....
what have we been talking about?

PS: I have been trying to jump on the train everyone seems to be on and get an eye candy for everyone as well, but the PC doesn't like it.. - it accepts the upload but it doesn't show - maybe it is not meant to be... (*sob*)

... and yes... I was desperately looking for something at least "somehow" related to naval warfare [:'(]

[Rob Brennan UK]

ORIGINAL: SoliInvictus202

the agony of choice...
as it's the same woman in all 6 I shall simply give my vote to her....
...
*****staring at 3******
....
....
....
what have we been talking about?

PS: I have been trying to jump on the train everyone seems to be on and get an eye candy for everyone as well, but the PC doesn't like it.. - it accepts the upload but it doesn't show - maybe it is not meant to be... (*sob*)

... and yes... I was desperately looking for something at least "somehow" related to naval warfare [:'(]

I like your current avatar anyway ! long may she stay here.

so far then its No.3 .. and cannot say i am surprised tbh... but i like 2 +5 as neither are so obviously boob-centric (new word for the lexicon there) .. but water boiling is a novel take on it i'll admit [;)]

however I will have to be aware of the PC Police as some avatars have been banned before , it was the huge outcry over LST's that made the mods back pedal on the idea. So without any nudging from said PC monitors looks like no.3 will be new avatar in a few days once more folks have had thier say.

EDIT , turn just passed and nony the US has any news , CW/China was the usual affair with Christmas island bombed and jap arty shelling in china... defnately a stale mate over there.

Actually Jaan sent a few night bombers to chungking .. tonight the best chinese lancers and US P40K's will be on patrol, only the 2 most experienced groups will operate at night to keep losses to a minimum (none hopefully from ops)

EDIT EDIT .. lordy i need my spell checker back !

[jrcar]

What a horrible distraction, wait where was I, 3, no no 2, ahh 6... If she boils water like that does she make a decent Coffee? Wait I don't care!

Obviously intel pics of the beach at Munda... yeah thats it.

Cheers

Rob

[LoBaron]

If there was any chance this is true, I had landed a full division.
Sadly, no women in sight on Mundas beaches... [:(]

Mar 26, 43

A concerted effort by B24D´s from Ndeni and sweeps by the single P38F fighter unit
remaining at Lunga resulted in favourable kill/loss ratio although outnumbered,
but with 7 Lightnings down, and other duties calling, we wont repeat that
stunt next turn.

Total Zekes destroyed is about 24, both air and ground losses.


Night Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 11


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed on ground
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 42,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 35



Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 22


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38F Lightning: 2 destroyed



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet


Munda is now completely controlled by the Allies, 6th Marine
combat operations have been concluded after the last Japanese
defenders charged into barrages of small arms fire.

Ground combat at Munda (111,134)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2869 troops, 92 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 118

Defending force 738 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

Allied adjusted assault: 51

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 51 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
738 casualties reported
Squads: 66 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 64 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (13 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1



Assaulting units:
6th Marine Regiment

Defending units:
Maizuru 1st SNLF


A reinforcement convoy consisting of LSTs/LCIs covered by a battlegroup and an ASW
TF will move in under full aircover from Guadalcanal shuttling supplies an air support in.
In two days the USAAF BF will be operational and Shortland in effective range of
everything that can fit drop tanks.

At PH the carriers are nearly doen with R&R, I currently estimate 1 week - 10 days to launch
of operation Turnover.

[Rob Brennan UK]

Hello all , Apologies for the rather large dely in updating but ISP problems have persisted and time hasnt been on my sdie of late. but here we go.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 09, 43.

Burma theatre.

2 APDd's sent to bring in a small expeditionaly/raiding force to Ramtree island were spotted by Japanese troops camping next door in thier own holiday resort! so much for the subtle approach. Last 4 days saw a lot of japanse air activity covering thier bombers which have hammered the british forces. In a stupid mistake of mine i re-set all the forces prep points for ramtree island to colombo ! silly mis click when a newly arrived AAA unit railed into calcutta ,, what a moron. and did not notice untill the following turn sadly. Anyway we will go ahead regardless. A lone AKL was sent with supply and thats been unmolested for 4 days. also as a distraction the B17's hit rangoon airfields which were undefended , scoring 2 fighters destroyed on the ground and heavy damage to the fields. Tomorrow however we launch a huge attack on magwe's airfields with everything we have (bar some defensive fighters over the bomber/transport/fleet bases). No P38's available so its only the hurricanes (b's and canadian XIII from mandalay, c's from Akyab, to try and help co-ordination).Every single bomber in India (dacca) will hit the fields at 12k alt , we have enough to do some serious damage so long as the sweeps go in first to disrupt the CAP, Hopefllu Japan will divert some to Rangoon as a bonus.

[LoBaron]

Sorry for the unreliable update schedule. RL, as always.

If I´m in bad lick I wont have many carriers after tomorrow.

Op Turnover phase one is guarded by my 5 fleet CVs and a smaller AC TF with 4 CVEs. Yesterday, 11th, I lost 3 naval search Dauntless to enemy CAP
NE of Marcus Island. A very unreliable sighting of an enemy CV was also reported. Estimate is its not the full KB, but it could also be a trap.

Anyways, orders have been set to engage north and strike enemy CV´s next turn in case they move W or NW.
If not the carriers will retreat to a cover position for Turnover.
Such opportunities can be ignored if somebody likes to fight an even carrier game until mid ´44, I don´t.
If I lose, so be it, I think the setup is pretty good.

Wish me luck. Timing could not have been worse, but the enemy position is hard to ignore and it may be possible Mike does not know the position of my carriers.

[LoBaron]

No carrier battle, it was really only a smal IJN CV detachement and withdrew at full speed.

Last update from the US side for 10 days, I am departing in 2 hours, destination Rhodes.

During my vacation it will be Robs pleasure to get my carriers sunk. [;)]
Ah, and Rob, please continue to wipe the floor in Burma, that bombing runs were beautiful to watch!

[Rob Brennan UK]

The RAF/USAAF certainly caught the japanese CAP by suprise and even the presence of brand new Japanese airframes did little to stop the bombers, although one wellington unit was gutted down to 1 remaining a/c all others made it back within acceptable losses, even the antiquated hudson III's which i'd love to replace but british bomber pools are terrible. It appears japan has left its bases in central burma (the jap AF has fled the scene) , one aspect i didnt like was the hurrucane sweeps in from akyab , while very well coordinated they had nil loiter time and it showed in the animations, they have been moved to mandalay to provide sweps if needed while the older IIb's and canadian crates fly LRCAP over Magwe. the bombers will fly again tomorrow. Magwe was reported to be on 60% runway damage , we have overloaded the engineers ability to repair and that means keep flying regardless. Lets try and keep this place closed for good now. with air superiority the CW can (i believe) break out of central burma and head to rangoon. But thats for another month or 2 minimum.

Christmas island , the P38G's are all in place to hammer the jap bombers and APA/LST/AP fleet assembled to carry in more eng /men /supplies etc . Annoyingly the AKV carrying the last P38unit packed the planes up neatly and they now have to be uncrated (grr , thought AKV's were differant) , with the P38's horrific maintainance it'll be at least 8 days before all are ready.

Piccie = losses .. take this with a pince of salt as the P40K's were fine (a few yes ,, that many ? no).

[Rob Brennan UK]

bit of a weekend off the game (LoBarons in Greece ! lucky sod , I was away for the weekend).. so a brief turn aummary.

Combined allied night raids on Rabaul harbour fount + hit 2 japanese bb's and one Ca .. this threat cannot be allowed to remain so close to potential new invasions in the area (goodenough island + lots of others when i steal away the american landing craft )..

tomorrow sees the 1st real attempt to stop the japanese bombing of Malta , erm i mean christmas island . the similarities mean its easy for winnie to get confused. multiple US P38G's will take off with drop tanks from cocos to assist the canadian kittyhawks . Potentially there could be a large haul of jap bombers , but japanese escorts might well spiol the party. CV Victorious is enroue to the area to provide air cover for operation "ornamental Pillar" . the relief convoy.

[Alfred]

Isn't "Ornamental Pillar" a typo and you really meant "Pedestal"?

Alfred

[Rob Brennan UK]

ORIGINAL: Alfred

Isn't "Ornamental Pillar" a typo and you really meant "Pedestal"?

Alfred

[:D][:D][:D], might have . I'm just being obscure, most likely unnecessary given everyone's knowledge of WW2 here.

Proper report today, recovered from the weekend and I need to keep Admiral Nimitz up-to date in a cyber-cafe somewhere in the bankrupt eurozone.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 15, 43

The Japanese navy wisely left Rabaul and as attacked by a well placed US sub, hopefully the bang was real.

Sub attack near Emirau Island at 107,117

Japanese Ships
CA Kako, Torpedo hits 1
BB Musashi
BB Haruna
CA Ashigara
CA Chokai
CA Chikuma
CA Tone
CL Tenryu
CL Kitakami
CL Natori
DD Makigumo
DD Ushio
DD Ayanami
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Isonami

Allied Ships
SS Finback


Japanese subs scored a sinking vs allied transports re provisioning Marcus Island, Personally I am amazed Japan hasn't responded more aggressively to Marcus falling but who am I to complain.

Sub attack near Marcus Island at 126,87

Japanese Ships
SS I-34, hits 4, on fire

Allied Ships
xAK Julia Luckenbach, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK City of Rayville
xAK Waimea
xAK Olopana
xAK Santa Teresa
xAK Lancaster
DMS Trevor
AM Strive


The Christmas island defence/surprise ambush was a suprise in several ways , firstly the P38G contingent on LRcap was pitiful at most 9 showing up out of almost 100 on duty on 80% LRCAP. given the range and transfer time i can understand an frankly applaud the air model in this regard. Japan sent in no Zeros and just used Oscars to escort. thankfully as the Kitty 3's are quite capable vs Oscar 2's and it was the Kittys who hammered the Helens whle the P38's were not very effective. The runways open now and the P38's will transfer accross immediately for normal CAP duty.

E.G

Morning Air attack on Christmas Island IO , at 45,104

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 7
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 66



Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 12
P-38G Lightning x 9


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 15 destroyed, 6 damaged



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


Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8

Thats pretty much the action for today's turn , plenty more in the pipeline shortly and I'll try and get my head round the US deployments etc. Lenny and I did chat about the game before he went away so i have a vague plan of action, emphasis on the vague now i have looked at the map.

More soon readers.. meanwhile see a USN torpedo working right ! its a rare and beautiful sight [;)]

[Alfred]

ORIGINAL: Rob Brennan UK

Proper report today, recovered from the weekend and I need to keep Admiral Nimitz up-to date in a cyber-cafe somewhere in the bankrupt eurozone.

That is a very big zone within which to track him down that you are talking about![:D] At least 200 million people and once you take into account the hidden cost within their own financial structures, extends to the power houses away from the sunshine of the Mediterranean.

One hint to track him down, think of "The Guns of Navarone" - not a perfect hint but is he really going to stay put in the same initial location?[;)]

Alfred

[Rob Brennan UK]

LOL Alfred , If it wasn't going to end tragically the situation would be farcical. But since there is nothing I can do about it personally no point bewailing the situation , might as well ridicule it.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 17, 43,

American Liberators keep shortlands airfields closed over 2 days of heavy bombing. Japanese AAA is getting better however and managed to shoot down one and 2 crashed on landing.

In Burma , the Ramtree island reinforcement convoy is unloading happily and we will wait 2 more days until retirement so to maximise the eng contingent there. Its badly needed as Ramtree is a dot base with few natural facilities especially port ones. thankfully the Commonwealth are using APA's for this op and are unloading well. Cover is provider by P40K's in the air and the British battleships Revenge and Royal Sovereign, with a mix of Dutch and British escorts. It;s a huge risk but no bombers spotted in Rangoon (tons of fighters however). the allied bombers in India will ground strike enemy forces in Burma to see what effect they have.

Christmas island is uncontested now (sadly as I was looking forward to the air war there) so the troops stockpiled at cocos are moving up in newly arrived APA's covered by the P38G's now based on Christmas island. Once we have this base secured and airfields built up it'll be time to take the air war to Japan over Java. We have house rules against strat bombing before 44 in the DEI (as a balance so Japan can get Oil for the mid war and therefore is a better opponent ). But we do allow city bombing and collateral damage can destroy the industry etc. All depends on available US bombers as the Commonwealth bomber pools are pathetic. Return of some of the P38G's to the pacific has yet to be discussed with the Americans , so until we hear from them the P38g's are staying there. Once the transport missions are all accomplished we'll go for some sweeps over java. the old Dutch air force is still in being and can offensively just very very carefully as no replacements are forthcoming for ages (dev oversight imo).

In the Pacific had a near heart attack when the japs attacked the CV Wasp near Wake island. missed thankfully. Anyhow there are plans afoot to replace the marine regiment on Marcus with 2 Marine defence detachments and a small CD battery, all loaded up and moving to wake to meet the CV's. Additionally a large fleet oiler force is assembling as the US CV groups are thirsty beasts and will need fuel in a weeks time. Saves sending them back to PH at least.

more tomorrow hopefully.

[Rob Brennan UK]

Update time

Plans and action are under-way right now with 2 major CW operations mobilising.

1St and by far the biggest in in Burma. The CW land forces are all congregating in Mandalay for an advance on mythilinka given no japanese air resistance recently and bombing keeping magwe and mythilinka airfields closed. Combined AV will be large and we have a plan to try and cut jap supply using para and glider borne forces along the majot rail lines from Rangoon. We wont have much of a window of opportunity tbh but it might be enough to scare the japs out of central Burma and we are after territory more than anything. supply in burma is ok but only due to huge airlifts being undertaken using transport a/c and large bombers. I am hopeing that the more bases we hold the more supply will be sucked in from India.

2Nd is the amphibious invasion of goodenough Island and Gasmata (trial raid) . Aussie troops are almost through the jungles heading to Lae and nearby bases , same fingers crossed principle with supply , pile it up in Port moresby and hope the locals can lug it cross country [;)].

Allies air forces are once again in action over Java , and while we have a house rule preventing me from strat bombing the oil there i can at least whittle down the japanese airforce. Losses over the past 2 days on sweeps are as follows :-

P38G's 13 , 10a2a 3 operationally
ki44IIa Tojo 20 a2a 1 operational
A6M3a Zero 16a2a 2 ops.

not the best of exchanges tbh but i suspect we are facing elite pilots and only 2 of the 3 US air groups are elite themselves, the weaker of the 3 with exp average 58 took the brunt of the losses (other 2 are 68 and 72 for referance) using drop tanks gave the allies plenty of time to finally sweep the skies clear and its shame only the dutch bombers are available nearby and they are far far to valuable an asset on naval search and ASW with next to no replaceent airframes and some very very skilled pilots. 3 US bomber groups with B%'s were 'stolen' from the East coast while LoBaron was inspecting the Greek defences. these are enroute to Cape town and will be very useful in a month or so's time. With no plans or the men to invade Java it'll be a thorn in japans side for now.

1st combat of the turn , air combat over batavia.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 27, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Batavia , at 49,98

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 44,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 27
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 30



Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 16


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 3 destroyed

the base commander at Christmas island got confused and set the kittyhawks on night air patrols so the port was wide open for marauding Kates and Jakes who sank 1 AK , 2AKLs and one Minesweeper. ~He has since been relieved of duty.

[Rob Brennan UK]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 29, 43

the night air on goodenough island was ripped apart by 16 inch shells from the USN BB Maryland Night Naval bombardment of Goodenough Island at 101,131

Allied Ships
BB Maryland
CA Australia

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



Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 12
Port hits 7
Port supply hits 3

Australian fighters have been flying LRCAP over the island for weeks trying to bag any jap planes flying in supplies or flying out troops, nothing was ever found, the true defence is 2 SNLF regiments with a combined AV of c.80 . the Aussie brigade of 5th division has over 100 AV and will most likely need more men, 4 AP's are loading up the C Brigade and heading there tomorrow night. the BB Maryland was resupplied with shells from a large AE in milne bay and will return to shell the enemy and remain on station in case of Japanese surface raiders. Needless to say LRCAP is being sent from both Milne bay and Buna (in case of bad weather closing one AF).

Gasmata will be infiltrated by 2 APDs with raiders and a cheap steal might be available , keeping it however may be a lot more problematic.