At dawn we slept...in the cab on the way back from Olongapo

[Cap Mandrake]

**********Emergency Stores Room, Mandrake Estate*******

FAM: 20 lbs long grain rice....check
24 oz cooking oil...check
2 boxes graham crackers...check
4 jars olives, various....check
60 liters drinking water...check
2 lb pancake mix....check
3 l premium vodka...<looks through bags with gathering alarm> GODAMNIT! WHO GOT INTO THE EMERGENCY STORES?

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

**********Emergency Stores Room, Mandrake Estate*******

FAM: 20 lbs long grain rice....check
24 oz cooking oil...check
2 boxes graham crackers...check
4 jars olives, various....check
60 liters drinking water...check
2 lb pancake mix....check
3 l premium vodka...<looks through bags with gathering alarm> GODAMNIT! WHO GOT INTO THE EMERGENCY STORES?

Only 3 litres? You might need more to decontaminate the water so you don't get nice things like cholera . . .

[Cap Mandrake]

Well, we do have wine and whiskey as well.

[Cap Mandrake]

*****************January 25, 1943(e)*************

PI: 1/6th payback for putting 6 torpedoes in a US carrier from subs in one night.

Sub attack near Guiuan at 84,85

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu, Torpedo hits 1
CA Chikuma
CS Chitose
CS Nisshin
DD Akikaze
DD Makinami
DD Fuyo
DD Wakatake
DD Numakaze
DD Hokaze

Allied Ships
SS Tunny

[Cap Mandrake]

USS Harder makes a run too.

Sub attack near Guiuan at 85,86

Japanese Ships
DD Kamikaze

Allied Ships
SS Harder

SS Harder launches 2 torpedoes at DD Kamikaze
Harder diving deep ....

[Cap Mandrake]

Nice ambush by the Spits at Bataan.

Morning Air attack on Bataan , at 78,77

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 9
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 12

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 4 destroyed
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged

No Allied losses

Airbase supply hits 1

and

Morning Air attack on Bataan , at 78,77

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 24

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 14

[Cap Mandrake]

More Japs coming ashore at Batan Is.

Invasion Support action off Batan Island (85,70)

13 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
DD Hishu
xAP Kongo Maru

Japanese ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Well, we do have wine and whiskey as well.

I understand that half a percent ethanol is enough to kill the bad bugs. It probably tastes better than using bleach.

[Cap Mandrake]

Big attack at Clark. 10:1 casualties. No forts taken.

Ground combat at Clark Field (79,76)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 44872 troops, 582 guns, 342 vehicles, Assault Value = 1267

Defending force 29163 troops, 423 guns, 483 vehicles, Assault Value = 637

Japanese adjusted assault: 459

Allied adjusted defense: 1375

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
3915 casualties reported
Squads: 36 destroyed, 357 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 30 disabled
Guns lost 42 (8 destroyed, 34 disabled)
Vehicles lost 45 (7 destroyed, 38 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
347 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (6 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Assaulting units:
16th Division
25th Division
28th Division
11th Tank Regiment
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Art.Mortar Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
25th Army
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
45th PS Infantry Regiment
31st PA Infantry Division
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
21st PA Infantry Division
762nd Tank Battalion
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
194th Tank Battalion
35th Avn Sup
71st PA Infantry Division
31st Infantry Regiment
803rd Aviation Engineer Battalion
4th Constabulary Regiment
24th PS FA Regiment
1st USMC AA Battalion
88th PS Field Artillery Regiment
I/Prov'nl SPM Grp
4th PAAC Avn Sup
209th Field Artillery Battalion
86th PS Field Artillery Battalion
165th Field Artillery Battalion
Clark Field AAF Base Force
200th & 515th Coast AA Regiment
III/Prov'nl SPM Grp
501st Coast AA Regiment
!/23rd PS FA Battalion
II/Prov'nl SPM Grp

[Cap Mandrake]

Batan Is....what can you say but "BANZAI!"

Ground combat at Batan Island (85,70)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 7 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Defending force 507 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 22

Assault collapses, attacking force wiped out

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
89th Nav Gd /1

Defending units:
4th Marine Rgt /1

[Cap Mandrake]

New Britain and the Solomons: JJ brought in some more fighters at Rabaul.

Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 13
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 2

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6
P-40K Warhawk x 4
F4U-1 Corsair x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed

[Cap Mandrake]

Oops..no little friends.

Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 11

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 4 destroyed, 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

[Cap Mandrake]

Heavies from Rennel.

Afternoon Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 2
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 5
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 1

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 13
P-40K Warhawk x 4
F4U-1 Corsair x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8

And

Afternoon Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 28 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2

Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 8
P-40K Warhawk x 4
F4U-1 Corsair x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17F Fortress: 4 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 15000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
54th Sentai Det A with Ki-43-IIa Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 21580.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
64th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 22560 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 7
F4U-1 Corsair x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

[Cap Mandrake]

Now the P-38's show up. It's a pattern.

Afternoon Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 25,550 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 10
F4U-1 Corsair x 1

No Allied losses

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Now the P-38's show up. It's a pattern.

Afternoon Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 25,550 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 10
F4U-1 Corsair x 1

No Allied losses

It appears that your sweeping altitude is higher than your bombing altitude. That may make the fighters last since they have to climb higher, especially if the pilots have hangovers. Try lowering the sweeping altitude when your are going to bomb the same base as the fighters are sweeping.

You might also want to have a low percentage of LRCAP fighters to increase his ops losses. Nor do they have to be the best fighters but P-39s are good down low. These don't have to be very high as they should opportunistically attempt to shoot down aircraft when they are coming in to land. That can ruin the landing somewhat.

[Cap Mandrake]

Wait...are you kidding me. The "AI" factors in climb to altitude when plotting arrival at the target?

The P-38G's have a much faster cruise speed and are flying 250 nm shorter range. They COULD reach from Rennel Is. Maybe I should put them at Rennel on escort?

I do have the Corsairs and P-40K's flying LRCAP from Buka but it's not very efficient because of the range.

[RangerJoe]

The length of time that it take to get to altitude and then to the target can be longer for the fighters than the bombers. It could also help if they were at the same base. There is an air coordination thread somewhere . . .

[RangerJoe]

4) This is the last one (phew) and the most comlicated but I just want to show what you can accomplish with strike coordination if used wisely:

The attacker has 3 Bases. A, B and C
The defender has 2 Bases, D and E

Base A and B are pure bomber bases, base C is a fighter base, closer to the frontline.

Lets say you want to make a coordinated strike on base D, which is heavily guarded, and E which is lightly guarded but needs the higher success rate (for whatever reason)
Number of squadrons is not of importance but please do not forget that the higher the number of squadrons/planes involved, the lower the chances that
every single strike gets coordinated.

First you could select with which bombers to attack which target base. You select all bombers on base A to attack base E and want some frome base B to join
the fun because the strike on E needs to hit home. The rest attacks base D

So:
Base A: select target E, select 10k for all base A bombers.
Base B: select 50% of the bombers to target base E and set them to 10k. Set the rest of the bombers to target base D
and set them to 12k.

Why? Because now comes the fighters. and you want them to escort exactly what you tell them to and leave no chances (or at least as few as possible).
As said before, base D is better guarded. Because of this set e.g. 70% of the fighters to 12k, split between sweep and escort mission however you desire
(and target base D but, again, you don´t have to because the coordination based on altitude could be enough)
Set the rest to 10k and also either escort or sweep.

What does the game engine do now? It again checks for alt coordination. It recognizes you want to coordinate a strike on base D with 50% of base B bombers
and 70% of base C fighters and tries to accomplish it.
It also recognizes you want to coordinate 100% base A bombers and 50% of base B bombers with 30% of base C fighters to attack base E and tries to accomplish
it.

If everything else goes well you get two beautifully coordinated strikes. There are many things that can go wrong but this way you maximize the chances.



A comment on sweeps in general

It was confirmed by the devs that sweep missions do not coordinate. The altitude coordination guide refers to bombing missions
and their assigned escorts.

This does NOT mean though that the time of arrival for sweep missions cannot be influenced!
Flight time is determined (besides time of launch) by cruise speed and rate of climb/mission altitude.

So you have tools to influence whether the sweep arrives when you want it to.

Do´s and dont´s:

- Select different altitudes for your strikes in one area. This is important. You are unneccesarily confusing the game engine if you don´t.

- Other missions that take place in the same area that do not need coordination for whatever resaon should also be set to unique altitudes

- Smaller strikers have much higher chances of coordination than a 250 plane I-want-to-dim-out-the-sun whacker. If you can accomplish something with low
numbers or expect high resistance its sometimes better to plan several smaller strikes on different altitude bands than a single big one which simply is
to large to get proper coordination and could lead to completely unescorted raids.

- Don´t forget that theres more factors involved: range to target, AC type, weather over origin and target bases, leadership value, pilot experience.
Adapt to those factors!

- Trying to attack a heavily guarded base from 4 directions, with 10 different plane types, without training, wrong leaders during a thunderstorm
and other missions set to the same altitude is the best way to improve the mood of your opponent.

- HQ´s have an important part in the Air war, not only for total planes participating but also on better raid coordination

- When trying to coordinate an attack, don´t miss the fact that plane types and their respective cruise speeds have a huge impact
on wether the raid is cohesive or not.

- If you want fighters from another base to escort your strike, make sure that the base they are based on is closer to the target hex than the bombers.

- When planning long/extended range strikes assume that this increases the chance of uncoordinated attacks and plan accordingly.

- Plan your strikes as if they could go wrong, and not as if they must succeed in order to avoid a catastrophy. So, basically I am suggesting that
you plan low risk, as long as the outcome is in doubt.
This naturally does not apply to situations where you have to be creative because you are hopelessly outgunned or outnumbered or when you own
the skies anyway.

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=2382494

[RangerJoe]

links and info for new players

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=4726264

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

*****************January 25, 1943(e)*************

PI: 1/6th payback for putting 6 torpedoes in a US carrier from subs in one night.

Sub attack near Guiuan at 84,85

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu, Torpedo hits 1
CA Chikuma
CS Chitose
CS Nisshin
DD Akikaze
DD Makinami
DD Fuyo
DD Wakatake
DD Numakaze
DD Hokaze

Allied Ships
SS Tunny

Are you taking action to pursue the likely wounded carrier?