IJ commander resurrected - Mundy (A) vs. Castor Troy (IJ) - restricted AAR

[Bif1961]

I am sure he felt behind scheduled as he had suffered a series of reversals in his previous attempts to start a meaningful counter-offensive. The loses he had suffered in carriers, surface forces and LCUs during those operations probably led to a feeling of going for something deep and damaging to the Japanese. Forcing Japan to abandon India by capturing Calcutta and Diamond Harbor complex would have give him the operational initiative and made the Japanese react to his moves and started a major land campaign where his large numbers of LCUs and aircraft could make their weight felt. Lack of recon help the fog of war to the whereabouts of the KB and the troops currently stationed in Calcutta. Fortunes of war and good spidey sense of the Japanese player is making this a very costly affair.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 07, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Vizagapatnam at 43,47, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CL Oyodo
DD Kiyoshimo
DD Arashio
DD Minegumo
DD Arare
DD Uranami

Allied Ships
xAK Jalayamuna, Shell hits 11, and is sunk


we have ordered all ships back to Calcutta, that's a damaged freighter we stumble into...



Improved night sighting under 96% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 96% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 28,000 yards
Range closes to 26,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
CA Tone engages xAK Jalayamuna at 11,000 yards
DD Arare engages xAK Jalayamuna at 11,000 yards
DD Kiyoshimo engages xAK Jalayamuna at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
DD Arare engages xAK Jalayamuna at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CA Tone engages xAK Jalayamuna at 7,000 yards
DD Uranami engages xAK Jalayamuna at 7,000 yards
DD Kiyoshimo engages xAK Jalayamuna at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
xAK Jalayamuna sunk by CA Tone at 8,000 yards
xAK Jalayamuna sunk by CA Tone at 8,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...


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Sub attack near Chichi-jima at 110,74

Japanese Ships
xAK Hoshi Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PB Yahonui Maru
xAK Kaiyo Maru #3
PB Daitei Maru
PB Genmei Maru
PB Uruboko Maru

Allied Ships
SS Sand Lance


losing an empty freighter...



SS Sand Lance launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Hoshi Maru
Sand Lance diving deep ....
PB Daitei Maru fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Genmei Maru fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Uruboko Maru attacking submerged sub ....
PB Uruboko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Uruboko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Uruboko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Uruboko Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Diamond Harbour at 52,38

Japanese Ships
DD Yugiri, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CA Chokai
CA Maya
DD Ayanami
DD Hatsukaze
DD Ushio
DD Sazanami
DD Akebono
DD Oboro

Allied Ships
SS Devilfish, hits 7


damn it... in a base hex... Yugiri is hit and sinks instantly... [:@]


SS Devilfish launches 2 torpedoes at DD Yugiri
DD Ushio attacking submerged sub ....
DD Sazanami fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Akebono fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Oboro fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Ushio attacking submerged sub ....
DD Akebono fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Diamond Harbour at 52,38 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

24 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Suzuya
CA Mikuma
CA Chokai
CA Maya
CA Chikuma
CL Jintsu
CL Naka
DD Ushio
DD Sazanami
DD Akebono
DD Oboro
DD Sagiri
DD Ayanami
DD Shirakumo
DD Natsugumo
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Natsushio
DD Hatsukaze

Allied ground losses:
816 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 73 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 23 disabled
Guns lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 28 (4 destroyed, 24 disabled)

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 45
Port hits 13
Port supply hits 3

CA Suzuya firing at Diamond Harbour
CA Mikuma firing at Diamond Harbour
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CA Chokai
CA Chokai firing at Diamond Harbour
CA Maya firing at Diamond Harbour
CA Chikuma firing at Diamond Harbour
CL Jintsu firing at 217th Coast AA Regiment
217th Coast AA Regiment firing at CL Jintsu
CL Naka firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Ushio firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Sazanami firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Akebono firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Oboro firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Sagiri firing at 217th Coast AA Regiment
217th Coast AA Regiment firing at DD Sagiri
DD Ayanami firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Shirakumo firing at 3rd Fleet Advn Base Force
DD Natsugumo firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Tokitsukaze firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Natsushio firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Hatsukaze firing at 217th Coast AA Regiment
217th Coast AA Regiment firing at DD Hatsukaze


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Koggala at 30,51

Japanese Ships
SS I-39, hits 1

Allied Ships
xAP Duchess of Bedford, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 4, heavy damage


fat transport sunk off Ceylon... this is one of the things that surprised me, to see such ships being in the invasion of the Calcutta area, the enemy must have really put everything afloat he could muster for this operation...




xAP Duchess of Bedford is sighted by SS I-39
SS I-39 attacking on the surface

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

I think that the only way that he could have trapped the Japanese Army in India would have been to quickly capture all of Burma and somehow put an effective blockade of the sea lanes into place. With his previous losses and the Japanese strength, I don't think that it would be possible no completely do so. A painful withdrawl maybe, but complete destruction.

Burma would have been even worse for him. Why? Because KB would have been able to be in range within three days on normal speed. Now take all what you have seen in terms of ship losses and add troops aboard. [X(] Literally all sunk ships didn't carry any troops anymore, some did and some carried aircraft. The way it is now he has landed all troops in good shape, landing in Burma would have been a massacre to convoys full of troops.

If the KB was still at Truk, a Burmese invasion would have been possible. With the forces that you have and where, he would have been better off slowly taking India. He wants to keep going for the big kill, the spectacular thing. He is better off walking before running.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

I think that the only way that he could have trapped the Japanese Army in India would have been to quickly capture all of Burma and somehow put an effective blockade of the sea lanes into place. With his previous losses and the Japanese strength, I don't think that it would be possible no completely do so. A painful withdrawl maybe, but complete destruction.

Burma would have been even worse for him. Why? Because KB would have been able to be in range within three days on normal speed. Now take all what you have seen in terms of ship losses and add troops aboard. [X(] Literally all sunk ships didn't carry any troops anymore, some did and some carried aircraft. The way it is now he has landed all troops in good shape, landing in Burma would have been a massacre to convoys full of troops.

If the KB was still at Truk, a Burmese invasion would have been possible. With the forces that you have and where, he would have been better off slowly taking India. He wants to keep going for the big kill, the spectacular thing. He is better off walking before running.

With KB at Truk he could have landed anywhere that is outside of KB's reach [:D]

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 08, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Diamond Harbour at 52,38



Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Chokai
DD Asagiri
DD Natsugumo
DD Natsushio
DD Ushio
DD Sazanami
DD Akebono
DD Oboro

Allied Ships
SS Sea Rover


damn it, next ship hit in a base hex... preferre this to a DD hit though as the CL won't sink and can be repaired...



SS Sea Rover launches 4 torpedoes at CL Jintsu
DD Ushio fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Sazanami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Akebono fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Oboro fails to find sub and abandons search
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Iriomote at 92,62

Japanese Ships
SC CHa-49, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
SC CHa-52

Allied Ships
SS Pogy


wth, happy times for the enemy subs currently?



SS Pogy launches 2 torpedoes at SC CHa-49
Pogy diving deep ....
SC CHa-52 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-52 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-52 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-52 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-52 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Diamond Harbour at 52,38 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

36 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Suzuya
CA Mikuma
CA Chokai
CA Maya
CA Chikuma
CL Jintsu
CL Naka
DD Ushio
DD Sazanami
DD Akebono
DD Oboro
DD Sagiri
DD Asagiri
DD Ayanami
DD Shirakumo
DD Natsugumo
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Natsushio
DD Hatsukaze

Allied ground losses:
1015 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 79 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 21 (4 destroyed, 17 disabled)

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 33
Port hits 12
Port supply hits 4

CA Suzuya firing at Diamond Harbour
CA Mikuma firing at Diamond Harbour
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CA Chokai
CA Chokai firing at Diamond Harbour
CA Maya firing at Diamond Harbour
CA Chikuma firing at 217th Coast AA Regiment
217th Coast AA Regiment firing at CA Chikuma
CL Jintsu firing at Diamond Harbour
CL Naka firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Ushio firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Sazanami firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Akebono firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Oboro firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Sagiri firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Asagiri firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Ayanami firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Shirakumo firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Natsugumo firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Tokitsukaze firing at 217th Coast AA Regiment
DD Natsushio firing at 217th Coast AA Regiment
217th Coast AA Regiment firing at DD Natsushio
DD Hatsukaze firing at Diamond Harbour


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Diamond Harbour at 52,38

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi
BB Yamato
BB Nagato
CLAA Tatsuta
CLAA Tenryu
DD Suzukaze
DD Umikaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Yamakaze
DD Samidare
DD Yudachi
DD Harusame
DD Murasame
DD Shigure

Allied ground losses:
675 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 44 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 11 (5 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (3 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 14
Port hits 8
Port supply hits 1

BB Musashi firing at Diamond Harbour
BB Yamato firing at Diamond Harbour
BB Nagato firing at Diamond Harbour
CLAA Tatsuta firing at Diamond Harbour
CLAA Tenryu firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Suzukaze firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Umikaze firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Kawakaze firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Yamakaze firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Samidare firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Yudachi firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Harusame firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Murasame firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Shigure firing at Diamond Harbour


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Trincomalee at 32,51

Japanese Ships
SS I-39

Allied Ships
xAP Empress ' Australia


bad performance...


SS I-39 launches 2 torpedoes at xAP Empress ' Australia


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Diamond Harbour , at 52,38

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 199 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 63 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 111
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 62

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 25 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 26000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
20 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 26000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
4 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 26000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 26000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 26000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
5 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 26000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Diamond Harbour , at 52,38

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 200 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 63 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 40
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 21 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 26000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
13 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 26000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Diamond Harbour , at 52,38

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 196 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 62 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 17
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 10 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 26000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
11 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 26000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

[mind_messing]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

I think that the only way that he could have trapped the Japanese Army in India would have been to quickly capture all of Burma and somehow put an effective blockade of the sea lanes into place. With his previous losses and the Japanese strength, I don't think that it would be possible no completely do so. A painful withdrawl maybe, but complete destruction.

Burma would have been even worse for him. Why? Because KB would have been able to be in range within three days on normal speed. Now take all what you have seen in terms of ship losses and add troops aboard. [X(] Literally all sunk ships didn't carry any troops anymore, some did and some carried aircraft. The way it is now he has landed all troops in good shape, landing in Burma would have been a massacre to convoys full of troops.

If the KB was still at Truk, a Burmese invasion would have been possible. With the forces that you have and where, he would have been better off slowly taking India. He wants to keep going for the big kill, the spectacular thing. He is better off walking before running.

A far better solution would have been to ignore India completely. Sumatra, Hokkaido or even deep for the jugular of the Bonins or Ryukyu would have resulted in the "big kill".

[Alpha77]

Raid detected at 200 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 63 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 40
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 25

Whow 44ish Allied radar can detect high flying formations at 200nm?


So Castor, did you fake the KB still being at Truk ? Or what indication could the Allies have had that KB would not interfere with this Calcutta OP? Which must be a quite certain one, considering his air protection was not best, how many carriers did he send to provide protection for one of the biggest invasion fleets perhaps in history?

And btw. I am not only critizing the Allied ops in this last adventure but have read severall more pages of this AAR. Eg. I remember another invasion (in the Marshalls)..and I was thinking, hopefully he brings at least 5-6 CVs and 8-10 CVes as protection for this invasion. Then I read further and it turned out to be only 4-5 CVs plus a lot of CVEs, however they were out of position. 3 CVEs did not even had a single fighter in the air. And he "charged" with this already too small force right into the Marshalls. As if the IJ had lost over half of the KB.CAs,BBs, had serious fighter losses and not developed any new fighter. So his first strikes were decimated by Franks on CAP while KB waited..Ofc this op was smashed too..plus severall events putting good forces too far forward. Plus seemingly attacking the same target 2-3 times when the first wave was already decimated. Yes one forgets often to turn on/off missions and own planes get slaughtered this way (happens to me) but not a dozen times in the same area.

Edit, 2 other examples:
-Trying in 3/42 too evacuate or reeinforce Rabaul with bigger transports fleets and bigger cruisers SF fleet (note the date: 42!)
-Building forts to 6 at Changsa and then abandon it so not only the city as present for the IJA but also 6 forts. Then later trying to re-take city ofc failing. 2-3 Chinese corps as sacrifice to get the forts down and slow the IJA would have been the better course.

Btw, I also make grave errors, eg. I forgot to undock a 2xCL+DDs fleet and enemy cruisers showed up with predictable results. Also I left 2 big IJN mining cruisers in air range, plus I neclected air cover for a 4 x SHIMAKAZE fleet, this is the best DD Japan gets, 3 of em sunk. Also was too careless not trying to defend Merauke (even if it is quite isolated I was not sure how to accomplish anything there, but for free?), giving Allies a good forward base. In the last moment I flew some troops in but the enemy paratroopers overwhelmed them.

Sending in some Helens then which accomplished some good hits. But then forgot to turn the raid OFF, as I was 95% sure next turn the base has a CAP and 10 Helens shot down.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

your ship exp is going to insane soon ... you'll have 50% of your surface fleet with +80 exp soon!

Not really skyrocketing. I've got some ships that are above 80 now (including Musashi) but most haven't gained any experience. Found out that only dealing and RECEIVING damage leads to real gains. Why? No idea.

Interesting. I know I've seen my ships gain exp from bombardment ... now there could be a cap on that gain for that activity though. my gains have always been noted earlier in the war when there are plenty of ships in the 30's - 50's and I've been able to drive them up into the 60's.

[jdsrae]

If he doesn’t try to come again via the Bay of Bengal he’ll have to come overland to try and rescue all those trapped troops.
Whether he has the troops and then whether they make it in time will be interesting to watch!

[Alpha77]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Interesting. I know I've seen my ships gain exp from bombardment ... now there could be a cap on that gain for that activity though. my gains have always been noted earlier in the war when there are plenty of ships in the 30's - 50's and I've been able to drive them up into the 60's.

There is a cap for different classes, I can only talk about IJN but here examples:

AO/AR/AV etc = 25/25
PB/E = 45/45
I am not sure about DD + bigger combat ships I believe 65/65

These are max peacetime exp levels, want more ex=needs combat.
But shooting up defenseless xAKs with your DDs will not yield much if at all exp.I believe none if you are over 65 or 70 already.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

Raid detected at 200 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 63 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 40
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 25

Whow 44ish Allied radar can detect high flying formations at 200nm?


So Castor, did you fake the KB still being at Truk ? Or what indication could the Allies have had that KB would not interfere with this Calcutta OP? Which must be a quite certain one, considering his air protection was not best, how many carriers did he send to provide protection for one of the biggest invasion fleets perhaps in history?

And btw. I am not only critizing the Allied ops in this last adventure but have read severall more pages of this AAR. Eg. I remember another invasion (in the Marshalls)..and I was thinking, hopefully he brings at least 5-6 CVs and 8-10 CVes as protection for this invasion. Then I read further and it turned out to be only 4-5 CVs plus a lot of CVEs, however they were out of position. 3 CVEs did not even had a single fighter in the air. And he "charged" with this already too small force right into the Marshalls. As if the IJ had lost over half of the KB.CAs,BBs, had serious fighter losses and not developed any new fighter. So his first strikes were decimated by Franks on CAP while KB waited..Ofc this op was smashed too..plus severall events putting good forces too far forward. Plus seemingly attacking the same target 2-3 times when the first wave was already decimated. Yes one forgets often to turn on/off missions and own planes get slaughtered this way (happens to me) but not a dozen times in the same area.

Edit, 2 other examples:
-Trying in 3/42 too evacuate or reeinforce Rabaul with bigger transports fleets and bigger cruisers SF fleet (note the date: 42!)
-Building forts to 6 at Changsa and then abandon it so not only the city as present for the IJA but also 6 forts. Then later trying to re-take city ofc failing. 2-3 Chinese corps as sacrifice to get the forts down and slow the IJA would have been the better course.

Btw, I also make grave errors, eg. I forgot to undock a 2xCL+DDs fleet and enemy cruisers showed up with predictable results. Also I left 2 big IJN mining cruisers in air range, plus I neclected air cover for a 4 x SHIMAKAZE fleet, this is the best DD Japan gets, 3 of em sunk. Also was too careless not trying to defend Merauke (even if it is quite isolated I was not sure how to accomplish anything there, but for free?), giving Allies a good forward base. In the last moment I flew some troops in but the enemy paratroopers overwhelmed them.

Sending in some Helens then which accomplished some good hits. But then forgot to turn the raid OFF, as I was 95% sure next turn the base has a CAP and 10 Helens shot down.

No, I didn't fake anything about the whereabouts of KB, I just didn't use my carriers like most IJ players do. No reason to go convoy raiding or bombing some bases, none at all. I've just kept ALL carriers together, waiting for the next decisive battle to come. As I've expected the SRA to be the target, Singapore wasn't an unexpected base for KB. From there I could reach anywhere to counter an invasion in the SRA, or do the same what we have done in the Bay of Bengal in areas like the Kuriles, Luzon, Marshalls... the only area where we couldn't react was the South Pacific, but frankly, it's 44 and I don't give much about the outer defensive perimeter (doesn't mean it's not defended). I had KB just sitting in port, saving fuel, avoiding damage, being an unknown threat. In the meantime I was asked several times to attack the Kuriles or Ceylon for example. No, I just kept the carriers where they were and waited.

As to the number of carriers to defend his big fleet. Hmmm, I guess he has pretty much sent ALL he had. Probably halve a dozen CV/CVL plus halve a dozen CVE. The CVE died near Diamond Harbour and his CV/CVL were able to run away when they depleted their air arm against KB (1350 carrier based ac!) and due to my idiotic decision to have all my bombers stood down to sneak North to attack the Allied fleet as I didn't expect his carriers to suddenly turn South.

Mundy is/was in a desperate situation and there were two reasons for this: he lost his four carriers in 42 and then he lost another five plus a dozen CVE in mid 43. That's not something the Allied can shrug off easily. KB has lost NO ships. Not sure how many times you have seen the IJ player operating carrier groups that base 1350 aircraft and in a couple of months this will exceed 1500 aircraft! [X(] Then I will have received all carriers I wanted to build, Shinano was cancelled and the rest is forming my super KB.

I know it's easy to critisize operations that go wrong (I'm doing this quite often [:D]) but in the end, Mundy hasn't done much we don't see in other campaigns over and over. He defended forward, something that's the new or modern way to play WITP AE as the Allied it seems. Lol, I was always advocating for a Sir Robin until a certain line, then smash the IJ. Forward defense only works for the Allied if the Japanese player doesn't know how to use his assets. If a forward defense works then it's because the IJ player didn't know how to use a 3 or 4:1 advantage. Mundy tried that at Rabaul, he kept me from taking it the time I wanted it to take. Did I panic like many players did? No, I just left the base alone, isolated it. Took what I wanted to take and finally took Rabaul. Losses were high for the Allied. He did a forward defense at Port Blair. Port Blair? Unlike many or most IJ players, I didn't care about Port Blair. Couple of months later when the defenders there ran out of supply I landed and took it easily. Again, waste of Allied assets. On the other hand, players get applauded in their AARs if this kind of defense works, but like I've mentioned before, if such a defense works against the odds the Japanese have in 42 then it's not a genius behind the defense but a failure in the Japanese offensive.

He used his carriers agressively in mid 42, he did it once, twice and the third time he ended up next to KB. Booom! First decisive blow to the Allied and carrier superiority for the IJN for the next 18 months. Then mid 43 came. He did the same as most Allied players would do. He had 800 carrier based ac and he moved a big invasion fleet against a target. Now imagine I would have done what many IJ players do, split their carriers in two groups then it would have been 1:1 in carrier based ac or even worse for me. A target in my outer perimeter. Nothing wrong so far. What does the average IJ player in such a case? Chasing in with KB to attack the enemy carriers. I had KB at Truk and no, my goal wasn't to engage the carriers but the invasion fleet, so I took a big detour and moved around the Allied fleet and attacked them from behind, better say from the North while Mundy expected me to show up from West where he moved his carriers to. Not trying to sound arrogant but that move with KB was my best tactical move in this campaign so far. As to his carriers fighting my LBA fighters, well, all he could do was standing down his bombers. Who would do that when he expected to fight KB. I had 1100 carrier based ac by that time and no, I wouldn't have wanted to attack the Allied carriers head on, I even planned to run after the initial strike at his invasion fleet if the enemy carriers would still have all their aircraft. But they had to fight my LBA for three days IIRC losing a couple of hundred aircraft both to defense as well as to offensive strikes. When KB was bombing the invasion fleet for two days he decided to turn around with his carriers and engaged KB. That was a fault, he should have just moved away with his carriers, leaving the rest to die. And the result of this was that even though the Allied carriers were depleting their air arm earlier they were still able to down hundreds of my bombers even though the enemy carriers died which lead to a total victory in the Marshalls. But from there on, KB didn't have enough bombers to finish all the rest of the fleeing ships.

I'm not playing like most IJ players do. I never split my carriers so I always have a Schwerpunkt. This of course leads to the problem that if someone fools me and KB moves the wrong way the backdoor is far open. In this campaign, we will see a super KB carrying 1500+ aircraft in mid 44. Not sure I've seen this in any AAR before, just like the invasion at Calcutta, never seen anything that big. And to top this, in mid 44 I will start replacing the Zekes with Sams. Means KB will show up with around 950-1000 Sams plus 500 bombers in late 44.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 09, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Diamond Harbour at 52,38



Japanese Ships
DD Natsugumo
CA Chokai
CA Maya
CA Takao
CL Naka
DD Ayanami
DD Hamakaze
DD Natsushio
DD Ushio
DD Sazanami
DD Akebono
DD Oboro

Allied Ships
SS Devilfish, hits 19, and is sunk


we take revenge for the destroyer that was sunk in the area and the light cruiser that was hit, this time the sub pays for it's attempt...



SS Devilfish launches 2 torpedoes at DD Natsugumo
Devilfish bottoming out ....
DD Ushio attacking submerged sub ....
DD Sazanami attacking submerged sub ....
DD Akebono attacking submerged sub ....
SS Devilfish forced to surface!
DD Akebono firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Oboro firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Diamond Harbour at 52,38 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

7 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Suzuya
CA Mikuma
CA Chokai
CA Maya
CA Takao
CA Chikuma
CL Naka
DD Ushio
DD Sazanami
DD Akebono
DD Oboro
DD Sagiri
DD Asagiri
DD Ayanami
DD Shirakumo
DD Natsugumo
DD Hamakaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Natsushio
DD Hatsukaze

Allied ground losses:
876 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 48 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 8 (2 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 21 (2 destroyed, 19 disabled)

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 37
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 5

CA Suzuya firing at Diamond Harbour
CA Mikuma firing at Diamond Harbour
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CA Chokai
18th Marine Defense Battalion firing at CA Chokai
CA Chokai firing at 18th Marine Defense Battalion
CA Maya firing at Diamond Harbour
CA Takao firing at Diamond Harbour
CA Chikuma firing at Diamond Harbour
CL Naka firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Ushio firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Sazanami firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Akebono firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Oboro firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Sagiri firing at 1st Fleet Advn Base Force
DD Asagiri firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Ayanami firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Shirakumo firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Natsugumo firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Hamakaze firing at 217th Coast AA Regiment
217th Coast AA Regiment firing at DD Hamakaze
DD Tokitsukaze firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Natsushio firing at Diamond Harbour
DD Hatsukaze firing at Diamond Harbour

[castor troy]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Bassein at 48,51



Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Yahagi
CL Noshiro
DD Makigumo
DD Hayanami
DD Fujinami
DD Onami
DD Suzunami

Allied Ships
SS Peto


oh damn it, damn it, damn it... [:(] Peto hits with only one torp but that is likely to sink Ryujo as she is 20+ sys 70+ flt 20+ eng due to a devastating follow on explosion in her magazines... the light carrier was split off the carrier group and tries to stay afloat with a single escort nearby... halve a dozen destroyers come in as the ship tries to limp one hex a DAY towards Rangoon... I expect the CVL to sink which is quite a severe loss as she carries 48 aircraft... just had to happen at some point, IIRC that's the first carrier that was hit by a sub...



Ammo storage explosion on CVL Ryujo
SS Peto launches 4 torpedoes at CVL Ryujo
Peto diving deep ....
DD Hayanami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Fujinami fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Onami fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Suzunami attacking submerged sub ....
DD Hayanami fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Suzunami attacking submerged sub ....
DD Suzunami is out of ASW ammo
DD Suzunami is out of ASW ammo
DD Suzunami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Suzunami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Suzunami fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 13, 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Calcutta at 52,37 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

16 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Suzuya
CA Mikuma
CA Chokai
CA Maya
CA Takao
CA Chikuma
CL Naka
DD Ushio
DD Sazanami
DD Akebono
DD Oboro
DD Sagiri
DD Asagiri
DD Ayanami
DD Shirakumo
DD Natsugumo
DD Hamakaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Natsushio
DD Hatsukaze

Allied ground losses:
238 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

CA Suzuya firing at 8th Indian Division
CA Mikuma firing at 3rd Marine Division
3rd Marine Division firing at CA Mikuma
CA Chokai firing at 4th Marine Division
4th Marine Division firing at CA Chokai
CA Maya firing at 8th Indian Division
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CA Takao
CA Takao firing at 6th Infantry Division
CA Chikuma firing at 8th Indian Division
CL Naka firing at 8th Indian Division
DD Ushio firing at 10th Indian Division
DD Sazanami firing at 8th Indian Division
DD Akebono firing at 8th Indian Division
DD Oboro firing at Americal Infantry Division
DD Sagiri firing at 4th Marine Division
4th Marine Division firing at DD Sagiri
DD Asagiri firing at 4th Marine Division
4th Marine Division firing at DD Asagiri
DD Ayanami firing at 25th Infantry Division
DD Shirakumo firing at 8th Indian Division
DD Natsugumo firing at 10th Indian Division
DD Hamakaze firing at Americal Infantry Division
DD Tokitsukaze firing at 10th Indian Division
DD Natsushio firing at 10th Indian Division
DD Hatsukaze firing at 8th Indian Division


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Diamond Harbour , at 52,38

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 200 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 63 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 114
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 75

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 32 damaged

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
26 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 26000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
20 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 26000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
19 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 26000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
5 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 26000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
5 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 26000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Diamond Harbour , at 52,38

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 197 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 62 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 12
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 8 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 26000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Diamond Harbour , at 52,38

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 197 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 62 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 7 damaged

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 26000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Diamond Harbour , at 52,38

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 199 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 63 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 3 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 26000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Poona (36,26)



Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3234 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 120

Defending force 6132 troops, 4 guns, 942 vehicles, Assault Value = 571

Allied adjusted assault: 65

Japanese adjusted defense: 163

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), op mode(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
230 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Mundy is mopping up Western India now as two para units enter Poona which is an important railroad station in the area... recon has kept an eye on them and we had our tank rgts nearby to rail them in when the Allied attack... damage done was light as all my units are still in strat mode for this day but we have ordered an attack tomorrow that should shred the enemy... should HAVE shred the enemy as guess what, the enemy moved out of the hex tomorrow!!! OMFG how the hell could those infantry units move 45 miles in ONE day??? When my tanks tried to attack the enemy already teleported South on the road... we followed them the next days and the two units were able to move faster than my tank rgts... something is so seriously wrong with land combat/movement it just hurts... [8|]



Assaulting units:
3rd USMC Parachute Battalion
50th Indian Para Brigade

Defending units:
9th Tank Regiment
3rd Tank Regiment
18th Tank Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
11th Tank Regiment
22nd Tank Regiment
8th Tank Regiment
19th Tank Regiment
12th Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
23rd Tank Regiment
3rd South Seas Gsn

[Alpha77]

Hope I did not sound to damning on the Allies, I am not an expert at all. Also your own moves of course led to the disasters too, not only Allies faulty planning.

I have some ideas how I would have approached the Marshalls OP as Allied in a somewhat safer way, but do not want to share them (my opponent may read)[:D]

Also I agree about KB employment, I do this wrong at the moment, sailing around trying to hit something of worth. But I can only afford this because the former Allied player in my game lost so many CVs, Actually your opponent reminds me a bit on my 1st opponent (he gave up end of 42 or so - I found then another Allied player who seems more careful or methoticly and rarely gives one the chance for "cheap shots"). However the big ships BBs/CVs eat just too much fuel sailing around, rather stockpile this fuel in the HI for the future running the industry at full speed. The newer CAs and DDs of the Japanese however are quite efficient fuel wise.

Btw, how do you organize KB ? In my case I have a main fast KB and a slow one, but at the moment operating seperatly. I use the slow one more for defense and the fast one for offense (if the Allied actually would present a target to hit, which he does very rarely lol). If a serious thread exists I combine the 2 in the same hex.

[jdsrae]

CT, did you save the pilots from Ryujo by sending them to general reserve?
The planes can be replaced easier than those pilots.
I figure that transferring the pilots off the CV even though they can’t fly off is like letting them climb down a cargo net into a Destroyer, which later transfers them ashore.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: jdsrae

CT, did you save the pilots from Ryujo by sending them to general reserve?
The planes can be replaced easier than those pilots.
I figure that transferring the pilots off the CV even though they can’t fly off is like letting them climb down a cargo net into a Destroyer, which later transfers them ashore.

Ryujo is safe, so are the pilots. She was towed back into harbour which took over a week.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

Hope I did not sound to damning on the Allies, I am not an expert at all. Also your own moves of course led to the disasters too, not only Allies faulty planning.

I have some ideas how I would have approached the Marshalls OP as Allied in a somewhat safer way, but do not want to share them (my opponent may read)[:D]

Also I agree about KB employment, I do this wrong at the moment, sailing around trying to hit something of worth. But I can only afford this because the former Allied player in my game lost so many CVs, Actually your opponent reminds me a bit on my 1st opponent (he gave up end of 42 or so - I found then another Allied player who seems more careful or methoticly and rarely gives one the chance for "cheap shots"). However the big ships BBs/CVs eat just too much fuel sailing around, rather stockpile this fuel in the HI for the future running the industry at full speed. The newer CAs and DDs of the Japanese however are quite efficient fuel wise.

Btw, how do you organize KB ? In my case I have a main fast KB and a slow one, but at the moment operating seperatly. I use the slow one more for defense and the fast one for offense (if the Allied actually would present a target to hit, which he does very rarely lol). If a serious thread exists I combine the 2 in the same hex.

Super KB are actually three carrier groups. The first one consisting of the carriers that were forming the "real" KB reinforced by Shokaku, Zuikaku and some Unryu class CVs, something like 650+ carrier based aircraft. Covered by the Kongos, Akizuki and Yugumo class DDs. Second group are a couple of Unryus and the slower carriers like Junyo and Hiyo plus some CVL. Last group are the CVEs that carry only fighters (pure CAP as the CVE can't provide enough sorties for offensive operations), usually 27 each except Hosho that carries 20. In total some 1350 carrier based aircraft in three groups. First "fast" group could go 8 hexes max speed, second group can go 7 and the CVE can move 6 on max speed. I rarely use max speed for the carriers though and each group can move 4 hexes on mission speed, usually resulting in 9 hexes per day.

All this is lead by the surface combat group around the evil twins which results in a very potent force. Add in an ASW group or two depending on how high I rate the sub threat. When this force leaves port and returns low on fuel after mission accomplished it sucks up way over 100,000 tons of fuel.

[29000Kevin]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: jdsrae

CT, did you save the pilots from Ryujo by sending them to general reserve?
The planes can be replaced easier than those pilots.
I figure that transferring the pilots off the CV even though they can’t fly off is like letting them climb down a cargo net into a Destroyer, which later transfers them ashore.

Ryujo is safe, so are the pilots. She was towed back into harbour which took over a week.

The Ryujo made it through the ammo detonation of death and destruction?

Wow I'm impressed and surprised that the large CVL survived through that punishment, I guess Japanese Fire Control actually learned some lessons from the lost of the IJN Furutaka and IJN Kinugasa and put them into great use for once.

Still the CVL is mission killed for the half of the year presumably and won't be available for the next Carrier showdown and those 47 planes would've been quite useful.


Oh if you haven't noticed I'm new here, I've have been lurking on this form for half the year now and I have already read this entire AAR and some other's.

Now with the ability to speak my thoughts I can ask every question I ever wanted to for the last 5 months .

Don't worry I have enough self control so my questions will not flood you or appear at the same time rather slowly instead (I've only just Registered like 20 minutes ago).

But I have to scratch the itches that keeps annoying me in my brain whenever I read the AAR so here goes my first of probably many questions to come in the future.
(Don't worry I only have like 6 other questions stored in my brain since other people on the form have already asked them (like the fate of the Ryujo) so I'm not going to pester you to death CT [:)])

So the first actual question:
Did you have the option to build the Shinano as a Yamato-Class hull instead of the giant piece of rubbish that had the exact same capacity of the CVL Ryujo?

Or did the mod and scenario prevent you from doing that, I know building Shinano would = something like 10-25,000 planes not being built plus wasted everything in the economy but it would've been nice to have a third evil Sister + Airplane magnet, the China and Indian Industry were under Japanese control so building the late 44 monster would've been possible.

Second question
What vehicle types are you using in your I forces stationed on India and Calcutta?

I just wanted to know so we have a general idea of what Japan has against the American M4 Sherman's and British tanks.
Maybe I can come up with some bs explanation of how American and Indian Paratroopers are able to out run the IJA Tank regiments, maybe counter-paratroopers are the answer to that problem...


And my third and last question for the night
Is Bombay being turned into a bloody fortress?

That city has always been infamous for most AAR's I read of Japan invasion of India scenario with the city commonly being turned into a unbreakable fortress of 200K supplies, not even a daily BB bombardment could break it before the AAR ended.

Of course any units sent into there will all be dead, unless a air evacuation of some elements of it are possible, but we are talking about the Imperial Japanese Army here not the Navy.

The army can easily get re-bought and reequipped by the time September 1945 rolls and the Soviets attack.

1944 is the year the IJA gets it's emergency reinforcements and it's best AA guns it can field, it would be handy to station some of the best AA guns Japan has to offer to Bombay via Airlift since the city will become the no.1 bomb target for 4E and 2E bombers if defended.

Or Mundy could just turn it into a POW camp, Bombers getting free exp (and ops losses), still a half hearted defense must be done to destroy/damage the city.

------------------------------------------
Also side note but credit where credits due Mundy pulled off one of the most largest and impressive amphibious operations in Witp history, even if he got unlucky/lucky with it with the destruction of most of his dedicated landing ships and surface combat forces + the guns of Calcutta firing back at his invasion.

If the KB and IJAAF weren't cursed in the region then the carnage would have been so much worse.

[castor troy]

Hi and welcome to the forum as an active member!

Don't hesitate to ask, that's one thing an AAR is there for.

To be honest, losing a carrier to one torp would be really bad luck, even if it's just a CVL. It was enough bad luck to suffer the ammo storage explosion but usually a single torp isn't enough to get it done. Mind the carriers aren't somewhere far in the South Pacific, they are just a one day normal (undamaged movement) from a level 8 port. Ryujo's size is ok to move up the river to Rangoon.

No option to build Shinano as a BB, if I had, I would have built her. Not going to spend some 150+ nav building pts per day to have a heavily armored CV with an aircraft capacity of 50. I've always thought the comparison to build xy aircraft instead of a ship is a bit mood as shipyards don't build aircraft and even comparing the needed ressources, aircraft aren't built of that much steel either.

All tank units have upgraded to the latest tanks, no idea which ones they are. No expert on Japanese tanks here and they are pretty much all the same when it comes down to their soft value, only the hard value is increasing on the later IJA "medium" tank if you want to call it so. I'd give way more on a short barreled anti inf tank like an early PzIV as you mostly fight enemy infantry.

Bombay is defended but it's neither as important nor as heavily defended as Calcutta. It's a stop gap not easily taken.