[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] We've entered the period of game when it's tough for the Allied subs. As Joseph has pointed out in the main forum on this topic the Japanese Es are loaded with ASW, and in game are a bit more effective than they were in reality. I'd love to tone them down to keep the balance, so we'll work on that.
In the meantime, one of the non-super Es, the Chiburi, takes out the Dutch sub KX near Bathurst Island. This is shallow ocean, so it doesn't take much to get a good DCing of a located sub.
Out in the open ocean North of Babeldaob the Drum strikes TK Seiko Maru travelling with a lone E of the class E super-Es. Amazingly, the tanker survives and is now heading to Manila. The Drum is hit hard and left with heavy damage. I think I heard the sub sinking sounds, but couldn't be sure as I was in a noisy place.
[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENT PAC: [/font] Air lifting most troops out of the Marshalls and Gilberts, as well as Ocean and Nauru Islands. Not important to hold these now and the Allies have proven they'll come with enough to take an atoll from a lone naval guard. May as well bring these to Ponape and Truk and distribute to more important rear areas if needed. Wolei and Yap will definitely some more.
[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]OZ:[/font] The steady airstrikes o Groot Eylandt were bothered today by a LR CAP of Georges from Katherine and Rex's from the other nearby dot. the P-38 sweep did well and cleared the air for the bombers. The Allies came out on top in this one. I set them at 20k, just over the 16k sweeping altitude, but I think a high level LR CAP is best. Not sure why, but maybe it's that they planes arrive more as a group when they dive from 31k? Anyway. I'll back off for now and look for other surprise opportunities.
Looks like one of the big NZ flak units is here! Bad losses. Ten total bombers out of around 75 on the day shot down. Not worth bombing that group of units now.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR April 4, 44
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ASW attack near Bathurst Island at 79,122
Japanese Ships
E Chiburi
Allied Ships
SS KX, hits 12, heavy damage
SS KX is sighted by escort
KX bottoming out ....
E Chiburi attacking submerged sub ....
Sounds of submarine breaking up detected!
Escort abandons search for sub
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR April 5, 44
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Sub attack near Iwo-jima at 98,82
Japanese Ships
TK Seiyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1
E No.3
Allied Ships
SS Drum, hits 11, heavy damage
SS Drum launches 6 torpedoes at TK Seiyo Maru
Drum diving deep ....
Debris floats to surface in area of attack!
Escort abandons search for sub
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR April 6, 44
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Morning Air attack on Groote Eylandt , at 82,130
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1 Rex x 6
N1K2-J George x 6
Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1 Rex: 1 destroyed
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 1 destroyed
CAP engaged:
S-306 Hikotai with N1K2-J George (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
958 Ku T-2 with N1K1 Rex (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
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Morning Air attack on 4th JNAF AF Unit , at 82,130 (Groote Eylandt)
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1 Rex x 3
N1K2-J George x 3
Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 33
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1 Rex: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Mitchell II: 2 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Mitchell II bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
20 x Mitchell II bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]The Allies look to be pulling back from Darwin. Or some of them. Interested to see what happens here. [/font]
; Julia Child
