Wild Sheep Chase - obvert (J) vs JocMeister (A)

[PaxMondo]

How close is this ship list VP tally compare to your actual VP's?  I generally see +25%, sometimes as great as +40%.  I make notes about which ships I'm sure are sunk (as they correlate to the VP's), which ones I'm pretty sure are FOW, and then there are always the ones I'm not sure about ...

[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

The losses of those CVs will hurt him, for sure, but not that much as one may think...there are a lot pf approaching routes that don t need the cv support...obviously you won't have to fear a big allied leap for some time, which is damn good for the japs....

Contrats !

He has lost all of China, which should make Burma tougher. But I agree. There are options, especially with the LSTs coming online next month. They should enable small quick-unloading operations in places the KB is not.

It's great to win this, but many Allied players have shown that winning a battle or two as Japan means little in the end.

he could always land unexpected in Hokkaido in a year [:D][8D]...ok, sorry, that was a bit selfish[:-]

Not really selffish GreyJoy .. your AAR is a lesson for JFB's that they can sink everything in the world and capture huge tracts of land .. but in mid '44 the Allies get some really powerfull toys that if the IJ have not prepared well .. the Allies can pull off a huge surprise throwing a monkey wrench into the best laid plans ..

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

he could always land unexpected in Hokkaido in a year [:D][8D]...ok, sorry, that was a bit selfish[:-]

Not really selffish GreyJoy .. your AAR is a lesson for JFB's that they can sink everything in the world and capture huge tracts of land .. but in mid '44 the Allies get some really powerfull toys that if the IJ have not prepared well .. the Allies can pull off a huge surprise throwing a monkey wrench into the best laid plans ..

Lets just say, the Kuriles are well built up and there is search all over the North Central Pacific on AVs stationed as pickets. GJ taught us all a lesson and I for one have at least tried to take it on to be prepared up there.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]Information[/font]
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ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

How close is this ship list VP tally compare to your actual VP's?  I generally see +25%, sometimes as great as +40%.  I make notes about which ships I'm sure are sunk (as they correlate to the VP's), which ones I'm pretty sure are FOW, and then there are always the ones I'm not sure about ...

Ok. Here is the VP total from the Info screen.

The only problem is that I'm not sure I want to count all of this out! It's tough to figure out which are for sure sunk as the names and places of sinking are often seemingly FOW as well. Quite a few were also sunk in port at Perth, Sydney and elsewhere, and that's really hard to figure out.

I think the Enterprise should be on the list (85% chance), and there is a 20-30% chance the Yorktown is as well. I suspect it's in Suva though. I'm fine with not being sure. I have enough subs on station that I should be able to find out one way or another soon enough.

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[Crackaces]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

he could always land unexpected in Hokkaido in a year [:D][8D]...ok, sorry, that was a bit selfish[:-]

Not really selffish GreyJoy .. your AAR is a lesson for JFB's that they can sink everything in the world and capture huge tracts of land .. but in mid '44 the Allies get some really powerfull toys that if the IJ have not prepared well .. the Allies can pull off a huge surprise throwing a monkey wrench into the best laid plans ..

Lets just say, the Kuriles are well built up and there is search all over the North Central Pacific on AVs stationed as pickets. GJ taught us all a lesson and I for one have at least tried to take it on to be prepared up there.

Lets just say, the Kuriles are well built up and there is search all over the North Central Pacific on AVs stationed as pickets. GJ taught us all a lesson and I for one have at least tried to take it on to be prepared up there.

My reference to Grey Joys Hokkaido Hurricane is just one facet. One pattern I keep reading in AAR's is that the IJ under the guise of offensive initiative keep attacking and then the toys come either the mid 43 toys or the mid 44 toys ...and then the IJ are smashed ... Hokkadio is just one vulnerable point . as Grey Joy just did not decide to attack Hokkadio but he used the plithora of intelligence to asertain that Hokkadio was the weak point .. if the IJ do not prepare as a strategy the defensive line and do it not under stress .. the toys will come and kick butt ..[;)]

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]13-14 December 1942[/font]
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Simply reorganizing sub patrols and getting ships back to Tulagi to be patched up.

subs: Several ASW TFs working the area West of Fiji. I'll pull the subs back farther where they'll be less likely to be spotted by air.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 13, 42
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ASW attack near Nadi at 130,160

Japanese Ships
SS I-174

Allied Ships
DD Hammann
DD Aaron Ward
DD Sims



SS I-174 is located by DD Hammann
I-174 diving deep ....
DD Hammann fails to find sub and abandons search

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ASW attack near Nadi at 129,160

Japanese Ships
SS RO-64, hits 3

Allied Ships
SC-639
SC-738
SC-700



SS RO-64 is sighted by escort
SC-738 fails to find sub and abandons search
SC-700 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-700 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-700 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-700 attacking submerged sub ....
SC-700 cannot establish contact with SS RO-64
Escort abandons search for sub


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Sub attack near Nadi at 129,161

Japanese Ships
SS RO-66, hits 1

Allied Ships
SC-518
SC-638
SC-520



SS RO-66 launches 2 torpedoes at SC-518
RO-66 diving deep ....
SC-638 attacking submerged sub ....
SC-520 fails to find sub and abandons search
SC-638 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-638 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-638 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-638 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 14, 42
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ASW attack near Nadi at 129,160

Japanese Ships
SS I-32, hits 3

Allied Ships
DD Arrow
DD Woodworth



SS I-32 is sighted by escort
I-32 diving deep ....
DD Arrow fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Woodworth attacking submerged sub ....
DD Woodworth cannot establish contact with SS I-32
DD Woodworth attacking submerged sub ....
DD Woodworth cannot establish contact with SS I-32
DD Woodworth fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Woodworth fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Woodworth fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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ASW attack near Nadi at 129,160

Japanese Ships
SS RO-64, hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Farenholt
DD Arrow
DD Woodworth



SS RO-64 is sighted by escort
RO-64 diving deep ....
DD Arrow fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Woodworth attacking submerged sub ....
SS RO-64 eludes DD Woodworth by diving deep
DD Woodworth fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Woodworth fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Woodworth attacking submerged sub ....
DD Woodworth is out of ASW ammo
DD Woodworth is out of ASW ammo
DD Woodworth is out of ASW ammo
DD Woodworth is out of ASW ammo
DD Woodworth attacking submerged sub ....
DD Woodworth is out of ASW ammo
DD Woodworth is out of ASW ammo
DD Woodworth is out of ASW ammo
DD Woodworth is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub


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ASW attack near Nadi at 129,160

Japanese Ships
SS I-22, hits 2

Allied Ships
DD Frazier
DD Aaron Ward
DD Hammann
DD Sims



SS I-22 is located by DD Frazier
I-22 diving deep ....
DD Hammann attacking submerged sub ....
DD Hammann loses contact with SS I-22
DD Sims fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Hammann fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hammann attacking submerged sub ....
DD Hammann cannot reach attack position over SS I-22
SS I-22 eludes DD Hammann by diving deep
DD Hammann fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hammann attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-22 eludes DD Hammann by diving deep
DD Hammann loses contact with SS I-22
DD Hammann fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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ASW attack near Nadi at 128,159

Japanese Ships
SS RO-63, hits 2

Allied Ships
DD Farenholt
DD Arrow



SS RO-63 launches 4 torpedoes at DD Farenholt
RO-63 diving deep ....
DD Arrow fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Arrow fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Arrow fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Arrow fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Arrow attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub


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ASW attack near Nadi at 125,163

Japanese Ships
SS I-27

Allied Ships
DD Nepal
DD Foxhound



SS I-27 is sighted by escort
I-27 diving deep ....
DD Nepal fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Foxhound fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Foxhound fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Foxhound fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Foxhound attacking submerged sub ....
DD Foxhound fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Foxhound fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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ASW attack near Nadi at 127,159

Japanese Ships
SS RO-33, hits 3

Allied Ships
DD Arrow



SS RO-33 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Arrow
DD Arrow fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Arrow attacking submerged sub ....
DD Arrow is out of ASW ammo
DD Arrow is out of ASW ammo
DD Arrow is out of ASW ammo
DD Arrow is out of ASW ammo
DD Arrow is out of ASW ammo
DD Arrow fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Arrow fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Arrow fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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So Pac: The KB returns to cheers from the base at Tulagi. The Zuiho, Shoho and Ryujo are placed pierside, as are several DDs and teh CLAA Tenryu.

Several more ships are sent to the HI for upgrades.

Burma: Nothing. All action in the air has come to a standstill here. For the next turn I will bring bombers in and start hitting bases, especially Ledo.

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The economy is chugging right along. The goal of 1 million in the HI reserve by the beginning of 43 will be met and slightly surpassed.

I'll be tweaking the merchant ships production as well since I've reached the end of my surplus there.

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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]R n D - 'no upgrades'[/font]
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Something just happened that I do not understand. In my A6M5 research factories, the color went blue at the beginning of December to show I presume that there was less than a month left until production was possible. The numbers began counting up on the side of those factories as well. Like A6M5 (34).

I had 'no upgrades' checked. As it has worked before, this meant that the factories would remain as R n D factories once the research of that model was complete. I let the factory keep going, counting up toward (100) thinking I could only change it over to the next model in line once the research was complete. Once it reached (100) they changed to production factories!

I have not had this happen during other change-overs. From A6M3 to A6M3a it worked fine, and they stayed as research. What went wrong?

This is 100 research factories lost and the next model is 16 months away, so not only will that mean a lot of supply and HI to fix it, but a much longer wait to get that next model.

Any ideas?

[koniu]

Maybe bug or something. Try to post it in tech forum.

Are you 100% sure that "no upgrade" was ordered.
I newer have this problem as i am micromanage person and i am changing my factories manually.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: koniu

Maybe bug or something. Try to post it in tech forum.

Are you 100% sure that "no upgrade" was ordered.
I newer have this problem as i am micromanage person and i am changing my factories manually.

I also change my factories manually. It has nothing to do with trying to change it. It changed to production by itself.

I'm positive that upgrade was clicked 'no' as it was still that way when it went to a production factory.

[PaxMondo]

Yeah, post in Tech forum ASAP with savegame and IM Michael your password. Should have worked and it is understandably a big deal.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Yeah, post in Tech forum ASAP with savegame and IM Michael your password. Should have worked and it is understandably a big deal.

Thanks Pax. i did do as you saw, and I'm glad you suggested it.

I often feel like I completely understand something only to have it go wrong later. So this I thought was something I did incorrectly. I went back to try to change the factories when they were blue at (72), and they did change with no loss of repair to the A6M5b. So I know now that I can do this in the future as well.

[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]15-20 December 1942[/font]
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Research:

My R n D issue looks solved. I had misunderstood the workings of the upgrade and the production buttons.

Here is what MichaelM posted:

ORIGINAL: michaelm

Set them to no production. When the R&D finishes, they will stay as R&D and you can change to other R&D or another production.
I set them to Y-N-Y (he meant to write N-Y-N0 and ran a few turns from the first save and ...

So I'll go forward with this, but I am still wary of the production button. I thought it would also govern research 'production.' I'll check in my game over the next few days.

As the actions has slowed dramatically and Jocke seems to be reorganizing behind the lines, there is not much to report. I'll switch to a more general view and less detailed reports for now.

subs: Seawolf and another sub are stalking the Balikpapan area. Even though I keep catching them in the shallows my ASW has not gotten a good attack. IJAAF still sucks at ASW in spite of good training numbers. I'm going to do some experiments here. Jakes and Kates are hitting subs every day though.

I-15 nearly scored big in So Pac, but couldn't get a shot at these AOs moving from Suva.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 16, 42
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ASW attack near Moala at 134,164

Japanese Ships
SS I-15, hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Gillespie
CL Honolulu
CL Helena
AO Suamico
AO Tappahanock
AO Guadalupe
AO Cimarron
AO Kaskaskia
AO Neosho
DD Crane
DD Dewey

SS I-15 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Gillespie
I-15 diving deep ....
DD Crane fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Dewey attacking submerged sub ....
DD Dewey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Dewey attacking submerged sub ....
DD Dewey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Dewey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Dewey attacking submerged sub ....
DD Dewey is out of ASW ammo
DD Dewey is out of ASW ammo
DD Dewey is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

So Pac: Luganville and Noumea get pounded by 4Es every other day. A few 2Es took a shot at troops at Anatom. All of these things are fine right now. I'd rather have them here than hitting bases that have planes.

Some troops have either been placed on or withdrawn from Tanna. A few quick TFs came in and picked them dropped/picked in just a few days. I sent out a SCTF but it didn't get into range in time. Both Nells and Jakes sortied to hit them. Guess which did better? [;)] It seems the Low Nav training is paying off.

Something is still on Tanna, as this came in on the 20th.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Tanna expands airfield to size 1[/font]

So, the Jakes were flying from a dot base. Is this why they only carried 2 x 60kg bombs, or is it that they were attacking from 1k.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 18, 42
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tanna at 120,157

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 54 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 6



Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 3 damaged
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
DD Monssen
DD Perkins

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

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tanna at 120,157

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AP McCawley, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 7 (4 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Aircraft Attacking:
4 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 1000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

HI: The Kageros have just started to upgrade in Yokohama. I noticed there will be a lot of upgrading going on for DDs in the next months. I hate losing the extra turret for 12.7cm guns on the Kageros, which made them a very formidable surface ship. I guess the AA enhancements and especially the extra ASW is well worth it.

Checking the fuel levels I realized I have only about 75 days worth of surplus in the Home Islands. I need to pump that up quickly. The torps are going to hurt in a few weeks as well!

Burma: Nothing. His fighters are at Ledo and Dimapur. At Calcutta there are 170 fighters, 264 bombers and 72 auxiliary. Some troops appear to be pulling back from Akyab. I wonder why?

Supply is starting to really flow now. I'm dumping as much as I can in here while there is a lull and trying to build, build, build.


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The Jill moves forward to 4/43. It should be available in 3/43. Looking forward to that range!

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[obvert]

[font="Times New Roman"]21-25 December 1942[/font]
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The Allies leave a few presents for Christmas at Tanna. The IJN picks one up too early.

subs: Blackfish takes out a Lima delivering an Army HQ new the HI.

Just when I begin thinking the IJAAF won't work in an ASW role the 2Es start getting more sightings and even a few hits reported.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Daito Shoto at 98,68

Japanese Ships
xAK Norfolk Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Hakubasan Maru
xAK Toba Maru
PB Sansei Maru

Allied Ships
SS Blackfish

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)


SS Blackfish launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Norfolk Maru
Blackfish diving deep ....
PB Sansei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Sansei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Sansei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Sansei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Sansei Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Sub attack near Daito Shoto at 98,68

Japanese Ships
xAK Norfolk Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Blackfish

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

SS Blackfish attacking on the surface

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OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR Dec 21, 42
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Ki-49-Ia Helen from 52nd I.F.Chutai attacking a Electric Boat S-42 class SS at 107,129
a O21 Class class SS is reported HIT

OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR Dec 22, 42
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Ki-49-Ia Helen from 52nd I.F.Chutai attacking a Electric Boat S-18 class SS at 107,129
a Barracuda class SS is reported HIT[/font]


So Pac: Apparently Jocke intends to keep a hold on Tanna. I'll have to see what I can do about that. Being that I have CV dominace for the next 6 months, there is no real hurry, but things could get bad down here if this can become an offensive base. BBs might need to be involved.

On the 24th I had DDs ready to move in and take out any shipping at the place. They're really looking to get rid of some PTs to make it easier to come in for bombardments and other activities. They do that job well, but I might lose one that ran over a mine in the night combat.

Also during the morning of the 24th 41 A6M3a sweep Tanna and crush a group of Wildcats. Looks like we shot down 15 for 2 losses! Much better than expected. I'll keep it going, see if he adds more here. Finally looks like a chance to hit some Allied planes in small quantities rather than in huge fur balls.

On the 25th two groups of P-39s move in to Tanna. He really means business now. These are good pilots, and I'm happy that in the air loss screen we come out even losing 12 each. Two more groups will add to the sweeps tomorrow, hoping their freshness will prove too much for the tired US pilots.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]
OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR Dec 22, 42
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Tanna expands airfield to size 2

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 24, 42
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Tanna at 120,157, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Sawakaze
DD Shiokaze
DD Yakaze
DD Tachikaze
DD Nokaze

Allied Ships
PT TM-6
PT TM-10, Shell hits 1
PT TM-11
PT TM-12
PT TM-13
PT TM-14


Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 96% moonlight: 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 10,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 10,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages PT TM-13 at 10,000 yards

Task forces break off...

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TF 308 encounters mine field at Tanna (120,157)

Japanese Ships
DD Shiokaze, Mine hits 1, heavy damage float damage 87 (55) !





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Day Time Surface Combat, near Tanna at 120,157, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Sawakaze
DD Yakaze
DD Nokaze

Allied Ships
PT TM-6, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT TM-10, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT TM-11, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT TM-12, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT TM-13, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT TM-14, Shell hits 1, and is sunk



Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 17,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Kanda I. crosses the 'T'
DD Sawakaze engages PT TM-10 at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
DD Sawakaze engages PT TM-14 at 13,000 yards

Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...
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Morning Air attack on Tanna , at 120,157

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 41

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 9 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
26 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 31000 feet *

CAP engaged:
VMF-121 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters to 26000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
VMF-123 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 7 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 26000 , scrambling fighters to 26000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes

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Morning Air attack on Tanna , at 120,157

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 38

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 49

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 4 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x A6M3a Zero sweeping at 31000 feet *

CAP engaged:
35th FG/39th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 7 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
347th FG/68th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 7 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes

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Morning Air attack on Tanna , at 120,157

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 27

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
35th FG/39th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
14 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 22370.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 75 minutes
347th FG/68th FS with P-39D Airacobra (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 19370.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 98 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Burma: Nothing but supply moving in and Oscars upgrading.

Research: Several planes move ahead. I really want to get the George moving, but none have fully repaired yet. One Frances factory is now giving 30 a month toward that plane now, which is great.

Also, there are 3 factories for 100 research on the Tony, but I won't produce that plane until the C or the D model, so they're just staying R n D.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Aircraft N1K1 Rex advances R&D (6/43)
Aircraft Ki-43-IIb Oscar advances R&D (3/43)
Aircraft D4Y2 Judy advances R&D (can't remember)
Device Mitsubishi Ha-43 advances R&D (7/45)
Aircraft D5Y1 Myojo advances R&D (9/45) [/font]

No Pac: Not quite sure how a Dinah can drop ordnance on anything, but ...

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Ki-46-II Dinah from 38th Sentai/A has spotted YP-92 at 181,42
YP-92 is reported HIT[/font][:-]
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Look what appeared in the op report on the 24th! I do celebrate Christmas on the eve! [&o][&o][&o]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]CV Enterprise is reported to have been sunk near Yasawa Islands on Nov 18, 1942[/font]

I think this is real as it's exactly the right date and placement. I did hear sinking sounds that turn as well.

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[PaxMondo]

Congrats!!  getting her is a big deal.  BANZAI!

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Congrats!!  getting her is a big deal.  BANZAI!

Yes! And I know that Yorktown was also hit, probably hard after and ammo storage explosion, and might be needing to limp to a port soon. So he's at one CV tops until the first Essex arrives, plus the CVEs.

[PaxMondo]

Be very nice if you can recon where Yorktown is. I would use Glens for this. Killing the Yorktown for me would be a KB worthy mission.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Be very nice if you can recon where Yorktown is. I would use Glens for this. Killing the Yorktown for me would be a KB worthy mission.

I'm kind of working through the backdoor for getting that one. I have Glen subs stationed all around Suva, plus Judy recons flying there 3-4 days a week. No sign of a definitive signal it's there. No slow TFs have left there either.

Suva has had around 150-175 Allied fighters for months,( along with 250 bombers and 75 auxilliary). They're good too, as they picked up quite a few kills the last several times I swept there.

However, Jocke is now basing some of these at Tanna. This is good for me, as I can reach it from Ndeni, Koumac, Noumea, and Luganville if that is ever not crushed by 3-a-week 4E raids. I've swept three days in a row. Day one got me those 15 wildcats for next to nothing. Day two was even with 12 each down. Day three saw 3 groups sweep, and we netted another 20 or so planes. So that's around 50 planes in 3 days. He has a LOT of P-39s still, and quite a fwe Wildcats, but it would be good to work hard on the airforces before the Hellcat arrives.

Tomorrow two of mine will rest while the freshest sweeps. Then I'll have Tojos down in Koumac (8 hexes), so that will mean virtually endless pilots and planes.

The point of all of this being, if I can weaken the LBA away from it's hive, the next time I move in with the KB it could be devastating. There are 121 ships still in Suva port. Since I know there are no CV threats in the area, I could even bring a pincer down from the NE and NW. It's still a few weeks from possibility, but definitely in my mind.

[ny59giants]

Tanna - Can you use a CA heavy BB TF to hit the base hard while LRCAP the TF just in case he has some surviving SBDs left on the base??

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: obvert

The economy is chugging right along. The goal of 1 million in the HI reserve by the beginning of 43 will be met and slightly surpassed.

Nice job reaching one million HI by 1943. I've reached the middle of March/43 and have just surpassed that milestone. Your oil looks great, is it mostly in the Home Islands? I only have 64 days worth of reserve in Japan. At this stage, do you think it's better to ship both, or concentrate mostly on fuel? Do you think there is merit in expanding refining capacity in the SRA after conquest to run an oil deficit, so you can concentrate on shipping just fuel?

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Tanna - Can you use a CA heavy BB TF to hit the base hard while LRCAP the TF just in case he has some surviving SBDs left on the base??

Well, yes actually. I'm sending 6 BBs in right now! Including Yamato. [:)]

I had to wait to at least try to de-mine the place. I've got a 2 DMS 1 E TF on the way that should be able to tangle with the PTs and get a few mines out of the way. BBs should be okay (I think anyway) set to 29k yards bombardment. At least i did this at Suva previously and it was fine, and I assume that has a few more mines than Tanna.

He hasn't had any SBDs there yet, but I assume he will soon, as it just went to level 3! Yuck. I hate Allied engieers. From level 0-3 has taken him just over a week. That would be two months for me with a good amount of engineers in base. But the Seabees were certainly capable of that, so seems quite realistic. It must have really stunned the Japanese when that happened the first few times.