An Aussie Affair: Re-Match!

[Luskan]

Well, being on tour with a band includes a lot of "liquid-merriment" which does sort of mean I've been in dreamtime for a few days - but now I'm back and hung over - which is why I cheered while RAver's B17s closed Lunga this turn. At least it cost him 10 b17s (he got 12 of mine on the ground though).

Never fear, some sleep and detox and I'll remember how to cull those USN bastards.

[Attack Condor]

Personally, I think it's a shame - shame, mind you!! - that Raver would take advantage of such a helpless foe.

(you really don't believe that, do you? Get that saki-drinking invader, Raver!! )

[Raverdave]

Helpless foe? Gee there is this huge airfield just begging to be bombed....and so I did.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/05/43

Weather: Rain

Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 6
A6M2 Zero x 8
A6M3 Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 69
B-24D Liberator x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 2 damaged
A6M2 Zero x 12 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 18 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 17 damaged
B-24D Liberator x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 197
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 58

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
9 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
11 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
5 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet

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[Bradman]

I think his hangover just got worse

[SoulBlazer]

Indeed! That's a lot of losses for a Allied raid -- on both sides!

[Luskan]

Raver launched his b17s at Lunga again this turn - smaller numbers of b17s, and I had a few Rufes up that did nothing. However my flak gunners damaged 5 of them, and due to the thunderstorms, Raver ended up loosing 7 more b17s, for less damage to the airfield than before (he did still bag 5 zeroes on the ground. Not that I care - I've got 250 a6m2s in the replacement pool - it is my pilot replacement pool I need to protect, and Raver's destroying plaanes on the ground doesn't affect it.

In other news my level bomber air fleet is probably at about 350 betties and nells (all slowly converting), and all training away. It is a pity that although my present pilots are very good exp levels (levels raver won't be able to match) for all models of planes, the noticable exception is the 100 or so Oscars of various models that are all stuck on about 66 exp. Time for some LRCAP training I think . . .

USS Scamp torpedoed one of my tankers at Buna - the tanker will survive just fine - was a non-critical supply mission anyway (trying to spread lots of fuel around the place so that my surface fleet doesn't always have to return to Shortlands or Rabual for a top up).

I have begun construction at Dobadura, Irau, Gasmata, and the Russell Islands (as well as beefing up security at the Admiralty Is. and Kavieng). There are a few troops on Hoskins (but no ENG yet) as I am still waiting for the final touches to my massive PM/Lunga/GG/Shortlands fortifications before I start rotating ENG units out.

Once I have those bases completed I may look at Hoskins, Lae, Wewak and Woodlark as the next construction spots - have plenty of ENG units at the moment, and a few extra bases will diffuse Raver's bombing power. On the other hand it will mean spreading myself thinner, and supplying a whole lot more areas.

All of my primary bases will have level 9 fortifications before Raver gets near them - and are garrisoned by 1 large INF regiment and 1 smaller (GSN or tankette) unit (as well as the defensive values of the ENG and AA and CD units there). Generally gives me about 150 assault points at each base - meaning that Raver will need to land at least two 100assault point inf brigades + ENG.

That adds up to about 10,000 in troop load cost, so he'd have to double his TF size to send the troops with any supplies or a HQ (or a CD unit - often useful for repelling shock attacks your opponent makes to try and throw you into the sea). a 20000 load cost TF is too big for Raver to make from DDs and APs - so any offensive moves he tries with his troops will have to be regular, slow transports. Which will give me plenty of time to react with proper force.

Sooner or later, Raver is going to try and put me on the back foot by piercing my defensive perimeter somewhere (all money is on Irau at the moment - although he did give me a fright with his aborted PM raid). fleet units and air troops that won't be affected by Raver's pounding Lunga are within range of Irau if this should occur.

As the allied player I've tried a couple of times to avoid PM, GG, Irau or Lunga as the first target by going for Woodlark and forcing supplies in there butwith mixed results.

Almost 5000 views . . .

[Raverdave]

So Luskan is trying to build a ring of steel? Well I have no fears and know that I can and will smash any of his bases when I am ready. And D-Day will be some time between now and the 1/7/43.......just need to build up a few more things before kick off.

[Luskan]

Well, I won't challenge Raver for a little bit yet - autovictory is a possible outcome of my (hopefully) fool proof battle plan.

Raver can be predictable sometimes, and I think I'll scupper him when he leasts expects it. Having narrowly (fluke I'm ashamed to admit) avoided a similar disaster as the USN in a seperate game - and also it now looks like I am likely to loose to Adm. Arctic (3 months to go - I've just retaken Lunga and PM - but he is still 4000 points in front, almost all his CVs are afloat and in Tokyo, and I'm out of MSWs while he's got mines, mines, mines, mines and then some - especially depressing when you consider that his navy did not even try to oppose my landing at PM, but I've had 3 sunk transports, 12 write offs and 2 light damages from mines alone - not to mention a fleet of big, CVs and BBs that are all nearing 15 or 20 sys damage from the continual demands of protecting invasion fleets from his air force etc. Throw in the fact that I've lost thousands of army points in drowned troops (having to send INF units back to Noumea or Oz for a few days to refit and send them back to the front lines - those INF units I have remaining are all at about 75% assault strength at best - you've got a grim picture).

[Attack Condor]

Something I've womdered about for a bit, but never far enough along in a game to try...can USN DMs sweep mines if given a Retire order after plotting a DH?

Either that or the old emptry transport/minesweeper trick

[Luskan]

DMs are as effective at sweeping mines as Aks - you send them in and they try and hit every single one in sight.

5000 views! Hurrah! And Raver (that scoundrel) isn't here to see it - he is actually offline for a few days, maybe touring Oz, maybe he's taken his rifle and gone out to cull some Kiwi or Pommy tourists, maybe he's out giving backpackers lifts to national parks - maybe spending time with the family :rolleyes:

All worthy enough pursuits atm - just as long as it is recognised that there is not going to be an opportunity for any such activity once WITP arrives (unless some pommie idiots try to paint the Opera House again - open season might be re-opened in that situation).

[SoulBlazer]

I think I understood half of what you just said.

[Attack Condor]

originally posted by Soulblazer

I think I understood half of what you just said.

Half???

jeez... must be nice...

[CapAndGown]

Time for a summing up.

-Number ships sunk
-Types of ships sunk
-Screen shot of the map so we can see the gazillion little bases Raver built

I am afraid I have lost track, though I seem to remember a big carrier battle that left Luskan's air arm pretty well shredded.

[Raverdave]

Juat as soon as some one explains to me how to do a screen capture, I will post the map!


Luskan.......get stuffed! If you must know I was at a place called samurai beach (believe it or not!) which is located in Nelson bay.:p

[Luskan]

Ok, sunk ship totals:

A few absolute statements about damaged ships first though. Raver and I have probably done proportional damage to each other in all areas except BBs and CVs.

Raver has had 1 BB hit by three torps, he has hit one of my BBs with 3 500lbs bombs (Kirishima went home after that).

Raver has not even launched a bomb of any sort at my CVs: while I crippled a pair of CVs and basically wrote them off big time until probably mid-43. Took them months of limping and base hopping to get back to Noumea and then Pearl etc. Was fairly early in the game though, so I know that towards the end moves those CVs will have an opportunity to show again.

IJN Lost: USN Lost:

AO 1 7
TK 0 4
AP 3 10
AK - 20
APD 3 0
AG 0 -

Total Transport-class ships lost: IJN 7 to USN 37 = good.


PT - 18
SC - 19
PC 5 -
PG 0 1
MSW 1 2

Total Escort-sized ships lost: IJN 6 to USN 40 = very good, although PTs and SCs are only worth 1 point.


SS 6 2

Least I haven't lost subs any lately, while Raver's have scored a few damages.


DM/ML 1 3
DMS - 2
DD 11 27
CL 4 3
CA 6 3
BB 0 0

Total Combat-class ships lost IJN 22 to USN 33 = Average. I need to do a bit better here to handicap him later.


AV 0 1
CV 0 2
CVE 0 0
CVL 0 0
CS 0 -

Total Avaition-class ships lost: IJN 0 to USN 3 = OK.
Although Raver has two smashed up CVs in Pearl, and only has two to throw at me in any given place, he hasn't been dumb with them and sent them anywhere near me. I feel I'd need a 3 CV lead to keep his ships out of the invasion game (and therefore out of Corsair range etc) and for the moment I have a 4 CV lead on him temporarily.

However 4 CVs, + 5 CVEs, probably loaded with marine wildcats is the nastiest Raver can muster to throw at me until the big new CVs arrive - game will be over by then anyway. Although he could go head to head with my CV force, I don't think he'll have an advantage, especially anywhere near Lunga, PM or GG, where I have large air bases, lots of crews (AA and CD as well!) just ready to recieve my literally hundreds of Zeros and Betties.

More score updates to come - especially featuring the much awaited Aircraft losses.




Tactical summary: Although in some areas I'm kicking ***, I'm not in others. I've lost twice as many CLs and CAs as Raver has, although he's lost more than twice as many DDs as I have.


Just updated the score to show my latest triumph frpm the AAR (sinking Hobart etc.)

[Raverdave]

It is now the time to start planning an attack. I currently have 3 CVs and 2 CVEs in theater, with another 1 CV and 1 CVEs steaming towards Noumea. The loss of some 40 DDs has hurt, but on the upside I can see masses of DDs in Pearl, just waiting their turn to be released. My ground forces have not been touched AT ALL, and are all upto full strength with high moral and little if any fatigue.
My airforces are going from strength to strength. I can now conduct 100 bomber raids at will.

The only thing that I am still sratching my head over is where to attack...........PM? or Irau???? It is not vital to decide just yet, as it is only Jan'43, and there is little need to go before March'43 (while gaining all the reinforcments during those two months).

So where do I attack? Heads or tails ?;)

[Luskan]

Raver probably just ran a dry run for an invasion route - a few DDs, maybe a CL? (I don't know I didn't see them coming and the combat report doesn't show) a few of his DMS ships for mine sweeping and some luck were sent into Port MOresby to bombard under cover of night.

Of course, my plethora of CD units made that a bad idea - very few hits on my base, in return for one of his BBs damaged, and another hit 6 times for HEAVY damage. Parking an invasion fleet under those guns is a very bad idea.

Raver forgot to mention invading at GG - since there isn't as much CD or AA defense there (Lunga and PM are really packed with that stuff) and his subs control the "gap".

On a related note: my ASW vals at PM and GG really suck - they aren't attacking anything! What altitude do you all set them at???

Can't believe Raver got off a small (and obviously fast) bombardment against PM without my spotting it first. Makes me wonder how much warning I'll get before the invasion etc.

I'm getting reinforcements too (although I don't deserve them at this point) a CA, a CL, ten destroyers or so, and yes, another CVL. I've got just about every CV the IJN has (2 CVEs still unavailable etc).

Tempted to offload some Vals and up the number of zeroes.

[Luskan]

Forgot to post the scores!

Allied Bases: 16 = 2911 points.
IJN Bases: 23 = 6189 points (not so good for '43 I know).

Total Aircraft lost: USN 837 IJN 842
Air to Air: USN 265 IJN 365 (bad)
On Field: USN 103 IJN 42 (good)
Flak: USN 87 IJN 231 (not good)
Ops losses: USN 384 IJN 203 (ok).

Troop points lost: USN 44 IJN 142 (malaria sucks).

Ships lost: USN 115 = 1457 points for me
IJN 43 = 553 points for Raver

Total Scores at the start of '43: USN 4443 IJN 8539


Some additional info on how the IJN aircraft losses (especially the big time early losses) have panned out. I won't say exactly how many of each type of planes I have, but rest assured, I have lots and lots of planes (so does raver I'm sure) since our air forces haven't really collided properly yet. However I've added up all the average squadron experiences and divided by the number of squadrons (giving and average average?) for you all to look at (these are not individual pilot scores). My training programs have been constant and demanding up at Truk. I also have several top pilots with 100 experience, all flying navy zeroes (7 of them!).

Level Bombers (betties and nells):
Average experience = 77
Lowest exp = 56
Highest exp = 88

Note: Only have 1 level bomber pilot unlikely to survive my rigorous training programs - he is at 33 exp and is 25 points worse than every other pilot of any sort of aircraft in theatre.


1st Line Fighters (Zeroes):
Average (squadron) experience = 79
Lowest exp = 62
Highest exp = 85

No "bad egg" pilots yet, but with hundreds and hundreds of zeroes, most now converting to A6M3s, I'm confident that I can take Raver's fighters on with the advantage until he gets corsairs. CV embarked pilots were a little better on average than the others.

2nd Line Fighters (Oscars).
Average (squadron) experience = 55
Lowest exp = 52
Highest exp = 58

A disappointment, considering there are 30+ planes in each sentai. Not many pilots above 60, but none under 45 - however they have been training for 4 months and learning basically nothing. Am going to try setting them close, safe LRCAP missions to try and improve them a bit.

Float Planes (Emily, Mavis, Dave, etc.).
Average experience = 60
Lowest = 45
Highest = 65

These guys were massacred (80 float planes from my CS ships) in the CV battle against Raver and made my air to air losses look horrific. They've never really recovered, and have very low averages. However because they haven't been in a fight since, and have been doing a little bit of training, they don't suck completely. Hopefully they'll show some ASW worth sooner or later.

Recon planes (Irvings).
Average experience = 70
Lowest = 66
Highest = 78

No real losses to date, no training either.

Transports (Topsies)
Average = forgot to check. Not loosing too many planes, but only have 3 squadrons of 9.

All in all I'm in better exp. shape than any of my IJN opponents has been at this stage of the game. When Raver started bashing my planes on the ground at Lunga, he didn't kill any pilots. Fortunately.

[Luskan]

I didn't add up all the ship experiences

But playing other PBEMs as the USN, I've discovered two important facts.

1. Ships with higher experience (especially night) hit less mines. To a big extent. Much testing in my PBEM went into this, and so went my 10-15 sys DDs that have been faithfully serving me for 13 game months go into a mine rich area - they come out unscathed because their exp was very high. The brand, shiny new DDs from pearl that haven't been available until 6 '43 . . . . well lets just say I got 15 of them and 1 of them sank on a mine, 1 of them got strafed/bombed and sunk later, and 13 of them hit mines and are on their way back home (operating just as often, in the same hex/minefield as the others.

2. BBs are for bombardment. 16 inch hits are great to watch - but are too rare, and DDs tend to screen BBs rather than go nuts and close the enemy to 100 yards!!!! My surface combat TFs (as both sides) do much, much better without BBs. There has only really been one exception to that rule (if you don't count the 4 vs 2 BB battle I've had - 0 DDs or CAs or CLs - just 6 bbs sailing around at 3000 yards hammering each other with everything from grenades to AA guns).

[Luskan]

When looking at the sunk ship totals, keep the following in mind

Thunderstorms, Raver puts all his planes (especially p-38s at Cooktown and Cairns) on stand down . . . .
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/15/43

Weather: Thunderstorms

Air attack on TF at 15,61

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 41
D3A Val x 53
B5N Kate x 53
E13A1 Jake x 9
E7K2 Alf x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 5 damaged

Allied Ships
AP William Ward Burrows, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Westralia, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Woodworth, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Ormiston, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Crater, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage


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Air attack on TF at 15,61

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 8
E13A1 Jake x 5

no losses


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Air attack on TF at 15,61

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
D3A Val x 36
B5N Kate x 38
E13A1 Jake x 5

no losses

Allied Ships
AP William Ward Burrows, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Crater, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Cairns
DD Woodworth, on fire


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Air attack on TF at 15,61

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
D3A Val x 16
B5N Kate x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 5 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Woodworth, Bomb hits 2, on fire


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Air attack on TF at 15,61

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 12

no losses


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Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 79
A6M3 Zero x 8
D3A Val x 84
B5N Kate x 82
E13A1 Jake x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 5 damaged
B5N Kate x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 6 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Hobart, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ellet
DD Dale
DMS Zane, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Jarvis, Bomb hits 3, on fire
DD Barton, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Radford
DD Cushing, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Trevor, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


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Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 3

no losses

Allied Ships
DD Hull, heavy damage


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