The Accidental War Obvert vs Lowpe

[Lowpe]

Still more skirmishing, and the KB is present but not discovered by the PT Boat horde...

[Lowpe]

It is daytime, but the weather is still bad...the crafty Japanese commander disperses his squadron, and Webb orders a general pursuit...but it is a trap and the sneaky patrol craft turn on and devastate the PT boats...sinking 5 of them. Small consolation for the loss of the Haruna.[:(]

[Lowpe]

Allied High Command had one goal...sink the Haruna.

Massive sweeps of Shanghai, to be followed no doubt by massive bombing...

While subs infest the waters looking for the Haruna.

[Lowpe]

For some strange reason, a squadron of three ships retired to Shanghai...and there is no CAP for them.

But they dodge the first wave...

[Lowpe]

They dodge a second wave of Americans, but then flying the flying tunafish connects. The afternoon will be bad, as AA ammo runs low...

[Lowpe]

But the weather socks in Shanghai and the torpedo boats are safe in the afternoon...a few sub clashes with no torpedo hits, and we are finished for the day, with Operation Save the Kongo a failure....

Beasts did attack the port of Shanghai, so staying there would not have been possible.

By the way, about half of those sub spottings are for 2 sub wolf packs.[;)]

[Lowpe]

Argh, it was a runway attack. I could have had the Haruna pump out the counter flooding for another day and worn the PT boat down with some skirmishing. My bad....[:(] Ah, well, I haven't done anything right this game, no reason to break the streak.[;)]

The last is a two sub task force making an approach on the KB...

Losing the destroyer hurts, she was a good one![:(]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jan 09, 43
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Morning Air attack on Shanghai , at 92,55

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-66 Vanguard x 8
Hurricane IIb Trop x 18
Hurricane IIc Trop x 24
P-38F Lightning x 20
P-39D Airacobra x 19
P-40B Warhawk x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 26
P-40K Warhawk x 17

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 32000 feet



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Morning Air attack on Shanghai , at 92,55

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 45 NM, estimated altitude 38,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-66 Vanguard x 8
Hurricane IIc Trop x 12
Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
P-38F Lightning x 18
P-39D Airacobra x 19
P-40E Warhawk x 13
P-40K Warhawk x 16

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 33000 feet


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Shanghai at 92,55

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 26,400 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-66 Vanguard x 8
Hurricane IIb Trop x 18
Hurricane IIc Trop x 38
Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 17
P-40K Warhawk x 17
TBF-1 Avenger x 13

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Amatsukaze
TB Hato
DD Yugao

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Shanghai at 92,55

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 14 NM, estimated altitude 26,400 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 2
P-66 Vanguard x 6
Hurricane IIc Trop x 12
Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
P-39D Airacobra x 24
P-40E Warhawk x 26
P-40K Warhawk x 32
TBF-1 Avenger x 13

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Amatsukaze
TB Hato

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Shanghai at 92,55

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-66 Vanguard x 8
Albacore I x 15
Hurricane IIb Trop x 10
Hurricane IIc Trop x 31
Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
P-40B Warhawk x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 13
P-40K Warhawk x 16

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Amatsukaze, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Yugao

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo



sabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 7000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Shanghai , at 92,55

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 9 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 2
P-66 Vanguard x 2
Hurricane IIb Trop x 21
Hurricane IIc Trop x 12
Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
P-40K Warhawk x 17

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hurricane IIb Trop sweeping at 23000 feet



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Morning Air attack on Shanghai , at 92,55

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 33,350 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 2
Hurricane IIb Trop x 18
Hurricane IIc Trop x 7
Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
B-17F Fortress x 4
B-24D Liberator x 17
P-40B Warhawk x 6
P-40K Warhawk x 32

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 28350 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 28800 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 28350 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Shanghai , at 92,55

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 2
P-66 Vanguard x 8
Hurricane IIb Trop x 18
Hurricane IIc Trop x 24
Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
P-38F Lightning x 3
P-39D Airacobra x 19
P-40E Warhawk x 26
P-40K Warhawk x 31

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 32000 feet



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Morning Air attack on Shanghai , at 92,55

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 32,580 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 2
P-66 Vanguard x 6
Hurricane IIb Trop x 10
Hurricane IIc Trop x 19
P-39D Airacobra x 19
P-40B Warhawk x 6
P-40K Warhawk x 46

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 29580 feet



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Morning Air attack on Shanghai , at 92,55

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 2
P-66 Vanguard x 8
Hurricane IIb Trop x 18
Hurricane IIc Trop x 19
Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
P-38F Lightning x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 26
P-40K Warhawk x 31

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 33000 feet



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Morning Air attack on Shanghai , at 92,55

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 33,580 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-66 Vanguard x 2
Hurricane IIb Trop x 18
Hurricane IIc Trop x 24
P-40B Warhawk x 6
P-40K Warhawk x 44

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 29580 feet



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ASW attack near Shanghai at 95,55

Japanese Ships
DD Kazegumo
CA Mogami
CA Myoko
CL Kitakami
CS Chitose
DD Yugumo
DD Takanami
DD Makigumo

Allied Ships
SS Spearfish, hits 5

SS Spearfish launches 4 torpedoes at DD Kazegumo
Spearfish bottoming out ....
DD Takanami attacking submerged sub ....
DD Makigumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Takanami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Makigumo attacking submerged sub ....
DD Takanami fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Makigumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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[Miller]

The greatest of respect for continuing this game, 99 out of 100 would have quit by now[&o]

[Lowpe]

Jan 11, 1943

The IJN sends the KB up against the Chinese coast hoping to catch Allied planes on naval attack, but alas, they all have the day off. Heavy sweeps over Shanghai. Tojos' catch some bombers over Tiensten...but have a tough time downing any of them.

Moving last minute troops to bolster the line in Korea while evacuating what I can. Some minor forces are garrisoning the Japanese islands, but so few actually have rifles...they are at risk of paratroops which the Allies have used masterfully this game.

Japan is spread so thin, so thin.

Jack will start at 560[X(] fighters a month production in three days.[:)]

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Miller

The greatest of respect for continuing this game, 99 out of 100 would have quit by now[&o]

Still a lot of game left here, and high drama yet to come. [:)] Haruna was exciting, if disappointing....but, hey, I am a JFB and realize every ship eventually goes down.

VP ratio is 2.3 : 1 in favor of the Allies.

[Lowpe]

Jan 11, 1943

KB is heading back to Korea...and runs into this PT Boat, three other PT boat skirmishes with screens. No damage done by the PT boats.

[Lowpe]

Beasts hitting here there and everywhere. Got to keep them away from the fighter/engine production on Honshu.

[Lowpe]

Down this highway are 1300 AV, including the 2nd Tank Division trying to get back to our lines. Unfortunately, my troops making the dot base Chinchow aren't moving fast enough and now I think they are all surrounded and dead.[:(] Time for some tricky movement orders.

Oh, well, their death will buy time to build up the next line.[;)]

[Lowpe]

13 Zekes lost for 9 P38s...not bad.

Morning Air attack on Nago , at 95,65

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 36

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38F Lightning: 3 destroyed

CAP engaged:
253 Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 18 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes

[Lowpe]

Three days away from the Jack....so the question is do I go whole hog into production of the J2M2 models with the rifle caliber machine guns & SR 3, or do I allocate some r&d into the J2m3 version. About the quickest I can get it is 3 months, and probably all of Korea will be gone by then, and perhaps the game will be over....but perhaps not.

I can make perhaps 9 Jacks a day if I go to researching the J2M3, otherwise I will make 18-19 J2M2 if I go whole hog.

Does the 7.7 mg actually damage an armored plane? Or do the rounds just bounce?

[Alfred]

The 7.7mm MG will do squat all against Allied planes with an armour rating of 2.  However that Jack model also has 20mm cannon.
 
If it were up to me I would go full on production of the J2M2.  It gives you a window of opportunity to hack out of the air Soviet fighters.
 
Alfred

[Lowpe]

Jan 13, 1943

Operation: Save the 2nd Tank Division!

On day 2 of this operation, the 2nd tank is located northwest of Chinchow, assumes combat formation and heads towards Chinchow -- while other ground troops are marching past, some are moving in combat mode to slow their movement, while at Chinchow a lonely engineering unit suffered a bombardment by the Soviets who reinforced in strength (over 1000 AV).

21st Rifle Brigade
61st Tank Division
206th Tank Brigade
77th Tank Brigade
56th NKVD Regiment
26th NKVD Regiment
41st Rifle Brigade
8th/A Cavalry Division
629th Cannon Regiment
263rd Howitzer Regiment
283rd Engineer Battalion
1120th Cannon Regiment
1128th Howitzer Regiment
93rd VVS Base Force

Meanwhile a naval guard unit and infantry regiment are marching north west into Chinchow, trying to time their arrival not for tomorrow and an expected attack, but the following day, when the bulk of the troops arrive trying to escape south down the road.

2 days for the J2M2.

[Lowpe]

These puppies having been flying low on lowNav strikes all game and done some pretty impressive work. Here the Zekes catch them going after and ARD that has been escaping from the Amoy area to Okinawa for what seems like forever. Yesterday a patrol boat joined her, and has now drawn float plane attacks for two days running, but thankfully the Zekes seem on top of their game and downed quite a few.

Set up a CAP trap on Formosa, Runways are pristine but facilities are like damaged 80%.
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kume-jima at 93,63

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft
OS2U-3 Kingfisher x 3

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
204 Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (21 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
21 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead

[Lowpe]

Jan 14, 1943

I cap trapped the wrong base on Formosa. Got nothing.

Operation save the 2nd Tank Divison, as expected the Soviets attacked at Chinchow pushing some troops back -- luckily the pursing tank unit didn't make the new hex.

So, if all things work out then troops from the north and south will make Chinchow this turn, opening up a retreat path. But, we know things never work out well...I suspect Soviet troops might beat me and prevent movement.

You can see from the list, that I haven't really kept up forward objective planning.

Jacks should arrive tomorrow....harvesting & placing pilots for the groups. The largest navy fighter groups I have expanded to is 45.

[Lowpe]

Jan 15, 1943

Operation Save the 2nd Tank Division might be a success! Not out of the woods yet, but this was a hugely positive move for the western main line of resistance![:)]



In other news, the J2M2 finishes research and will start production tomorrow.