I'm talking, of course, of a full scenario 17 AAR from the U.S. side. I started on it about two months ago and have added a bit to it every week. I'm halfway through July '42 right now and plan to release it via Adobe PDF. I plan to release it in three-month increments (May-July '42)(August-October '42) etc. It will be a day to day highlight of all actions taken (with proper embellishments of course). It will not be a simple copy-paste of the combat report.
This is a relative newbie campaign against the AI so it may make for some good chuckles for all you leather chair reclining, pipe-puffing grognards out there.
This may take a while, but I wanna do it. I really do!
I must be sick....
"Nothing is over until we say it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"
I am glad you are not going to do a cut and paste of the combat report. I hate AARs that are simply cut and paste jobs with little to no narrative. I think the best AAR's are those that tell a story, explain a person's thinking, and in general read like either a history or a novel.
I agree. As I said, I'm only planning to do the highlights of my actions to show my thinking process, my decision making (and it hasn't always been smart), and combat results. I am basing almost everything on the combat reports but am redoing them in a more readable format. It may still be dry in some areas but I wouldn't call it "clinical". I have left a few things out to keep it shorter and more manageable.
Here's an example:
16 May
Clear
The 36th fighter squadron (P-39) has had enough. With their morale critically low, they are transferred to Townsville to rest and recuperate. No. 76 Squadron (RAAF) has been transferred into Moresby with their 18 P-40s. After a days rest to recover from the long flight, they will be put into the air tomorrow. Hopefully some fresh pilots and aircraft will help the struggle in the Port Moresby skies.
In perfect transport busting weather, 7 SBDs along with 7 Wildcat escorts attack the remnants of the Gili Gili supply task force. One SBD is damaged but in return one bomb hit is recorded on the minesweeper M21 leaving it heavily damaged and on fire and one bomb hit is scored on the transport Shinkoku Maru leaving it on fire as well.
The U.S Navy returns again to the transport force this time with bomb-carrying Devastators in tow. The strike force is composed of 13 Devastators, 20 SBDs and 12 Wildcats. Five bomb hits are scored on one transport (Meiten Maru), three on another. The minesweeper is observed still smoldering after its earlier pounding. A fourth transport is left undamaged.
The lopsided battle continues. Twelve SBDs arrive on the scene and plant two more bomb hits on the Meiten Maru along with two more hits on the minesweeper.
One final attack is made as 13 Devastators (this time with torpedoes), 13 SBDs and 18 Wildcats rain destruction down on the remaining Japanese transports. A Devastator manages to ram a torpedo into the side of one transport (Yamakuni Maru) while another transport (Unkai Maru #3) is shaken by two 1,000 pound bomb hits. Both ships are left on fire. Two other transports are spotted but not attacked. Reports from the flight crews are that they were seen heavily damaged.
By the end of the day minesweeper M21 and transport Yamakuni Maru are sunk.
"Nothing is over until we say it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!"
I do like the taster. Like Cap-n-gown I like a bit of a story and the thinking in AAR's. Just posting a combat report is a bit sanatised. Roll on the pdf action!!
