(RA) IJN refloated Soulsilver (J)vs Deaniks (A)

[soulsilver]

December 21st

Up in the Aleutians some of dean's cargoships got shot up doing resupply runs.

nvasion Support action off Adak Island (162,52)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

38 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
xAK Clan Macgillivray, Shell hits 2
DD Cummings
DD Meade
xAK Clan Macfadyen, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Forthbank
AK Mercury
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Invasion Support action off Adak Island (162,52)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

100 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
xAK Clan Macgillivray, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BC Strasbourg
BB West Virginia
xAK Forthbank, Shell hits 2
CL Phoenix
AK Mercury, Shell hits 8, on fire


Over In India Ive finally begun cleaning up Northwest India, starting with the static garrison at Lahore.

Ground combat at Lahore (55,10)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 27053 troops, 315 guns, 57 vehicles, Assault Value = 866

Defending force 5995 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 141

Japanese adjusted assault: 355

Allied adjusted defense: 47

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Lahore !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
236 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
915 casualties reported
Squads: 92 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 88 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 1
Units destroyed 1

[soulsilver]

December 27th

I was both lucky and unlucky today. The bad luck was that dean was able to sneak a carrier TF north east of Rabual and get off a port strike. The good luck was that the weather was Thunderstorms, and 14 fighters showed up to defend. The net result was several DDs and cruisers were damaged, but not a single combat ships was sunk. 3 CMc and 1 ACM was sunk. But they were all 1 Vp apiece....

[soulsilver]

Dec 27th continued

Ive been sweeping dot bases up in the Aleutians and I was able to bag 11 p-40s for no losses today.

Morning Air attack on Chuginadak Island , at 168,52

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 18

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed

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Morning Air attack on Chuginadak Island , at 168,52

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 6

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed

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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 18
F4F-4 Wildcat x 38
SBD-3 Dauntless x 59
TBF-1 Avenger x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 2 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 5 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AG Daido Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Chokai, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Maya, Bomb hits 3, on fire
SS I-31, Bomb hits 1
DD Shirayuki, Bomb hits 1
CMc Toshima, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Takao, Bomb hits 2
CL Yura, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CMc Enoshima, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Akatsuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CMc Ma 1, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AS Yasukuni Maru, Bomb hits 1
AG Heijo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Ikazuchi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Atago, Bomb hits 1
DD Shinonome, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 6000 feet
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
5 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 15000 feet
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 6000 feet

It looks like dean conducted a glide attack, and not a dive bombing attack.... this might also account for the lack luster damaged.

[soulsilver]

OK so I've been on vacation in mexico over christmas, and away from my PC at home. I stopped writing the AAR a few days before I left on the 18th, because I was royally pissed off and I'll explain why.

On January 1st 1943 carrier Divisions 1,4 containing the Junyo sisters, and Akagi and Kaga were intercepted by an allied Surface TF around 25 tiles NW of Perth, not being spotted the previous day. The Allied TF contained HMS Warspite and North Carolina. The engagement was a daytime engagement so begun at around 22k yards. the Junyo sisters were too slow to run away from North Carolina, so a Surface engagement occurred, with the North Carolina ignoring the two Kongo class BBs and going straight for the carriers. By the end of the engagement Kaga and Junyo were left blazing wrecks, after receiving only a few hits. Akagi and Hiyo were more lucky with the only damage they received being a single hit on the Hiyo that knocked out the ships radar without doing further damage.

The two remaining fleet carriers along with the Ryuho, and Ryujo launched a morning air attack on the two Allied BBs which promptly put 6-7 torpedos into both of them sinking them on the spot...
The rest of the Fleet carriers are at Truk Currently in response to deans movement of his carriers south from the Aleutians to Pearl Harbour. I suspect that dean knows my carriers are at Truk but im unsure of where to send them right now.

Also on the 1st of January, in Bombay the 30k defenders of the city capitated, thus securing my flank in India. I've pretty much given up on taking Karachi, there is just too much arty, and heavy AA there, and new units keep spawning in making the situation worse. I'm content to just bottle up the Allied troops in Karachi, while leaving 2 Armour Divs and 1-2 Infantry divs as reserves to respond to any amphibious landings. The Ise and fuso class BBs which have given fantastic service bombarding Allied positions in Karchi and Bombay into oblivion over the past year are going to retire to Singapore. The only serious question is whether I should continue to fortify Masirah along the Omani Coast to maintain a choke hold on Karachi, or evacuate it. I plan to redeploy 4-6 Divisions away from India, possibly to launch a limited offensive into the Aleutians to either kick the Allied troops besieged on Adak off the Island, or to take/encircle the new Air base dean set up on a Dot base between Unmak island and Adak.

also on Jan 1st the N1K1 entered production, with 9x30 factories moving onto accelerate towards the Navalized N1K2. If Ive dont my math right I will have the plane around the time the Hellcat arrives for the Allies in 4/43.

I wont be back home till the 2nd of January, so no more turns till then.

[soulsilver]

Jan 7th 1943.

Major reinforcements since jan 1st: 1 CB (9x 14 inch guns, Kongo armour scheme, 33 knots), 2 DDs, 1 CVE

Dean is probing my air search near Aden, today the ground hog poked out of his hole and only got lightly reprimanded. If he wants he could slip most of his ships out of Aden. 2 BBs, 2 CAs and a few DDs will move to intercept incase this is an invasion of Socotra, and not an attempt to escape. A Sentai of Vals was also flown to Socotra to harass shipping.


Morning Air attack on TF, near Abd al Kuri at 13,6

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAP Tjinegara, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Mameluck

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

Over In the Aleutians I've decided on to build up another air base on Great Sitka Island, one tile east of Adak. This should help blockade Adak and prevent future resupply operations by the allies. Ive decided to aim the main force of my punch at the Aliied troops on Adak who failed to take the the Island. Around 2 American Divisions plus additional engineers and arty will be a tough nut to crack, But I think 4-5 Divs plus a bunch of Arty should be able to force a surrender before Essex carriers arrive in force. It will take me around a months to move the Divs from India over to the Aleutians, so In the mean time I'm expanding the Air bases up here and making new ones in preparation. I plan to start Bombarding the allied troops, along with sustained bombing well before the troops get there. 2 Betty units are already in position to pummel the allied troops, and were previously able to deal a consistent 50-100 casualties per day to the American troops.

[soulsilver]

Jan 8th

Today was another close call, a small Allied surface TF bumped into the carriers which had continued on after the earlier debacle to attempt to raid shipping, as all allied carriers were accounted for. Thankfully no significant damage was dealt this time on my end.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Geraldton at 32,139, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CV Hiyo, Shell hits 2
CVL Ryuho
BB Kongo
DD Michishio, Shell hits 1
DD Natsugumo
DD Yamagumo
DD Harusame, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CA Frobisher
CL Achilles
DD Maury, Shell hits 1
DD MacDonough
DD Litchfield, Shell hits 3, heavy fires

In the morning a retaliatory air strike was launched that crippled a CL, and a follow up attack landed a torp on another CL as well. Unfortunately the Judys chose not to fly today.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Geraldton at 33,139


Allied Ships
CA Frobisher
CL Achilles, 3 torpedo hits, heavy damage
DD Maury
DD MacDonough
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Geraldton at 33,139

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 23
B5N2 Kate x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Litchfield, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD MacDonough, Bomb hits 1


The carriers have used all their torpedo's, so I plan to retire north, and not risk my carriers further.

Over in New Guinea The allies launch a brazen day time b-17 raid at 10k feet against stiff resistance. 2 Sentais of A6m5, and a sentai of K-45s down 22 b-17s before the day is over, and the bombers score barely any hits.

Afternoon Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 6
A6M5 Zero x 45
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 25

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 18
B-17F Fortress x 9
LB-30 Liberator x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 6 destroyed, 10 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 6 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

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Afternoon Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 2
A6M5 Zero x 27
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 20

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged

During the night B-24Ds raid Rabaul and damage some small cargo ships. I'll post some A6M8s on night CAP to hopefully disrupt their attacks. Their armour should help them not get shot down.

Night Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 8

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAKL Higari Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Further On a side note it looks like dean retreated the convoy that was spotted back into Aden rather than making a run for it.

[RangerJoe]

Kates with bombs at 1k feet are better against DDs and transports than when they have torpedoes. Just leave the armament to "torpedo."

[soulsilver]

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Kates with bombs at 1k feet are better against DDs and transports than when they have torpedoes. Just leave the armament to "torpedo."

Thanks, I've heard before that torp bombers without torps get to carry their full bomb load when conducting low Nav attacks. I'll have to try setting Betties to 1k on torp when dealing with the future fletcher swarms.

[RangerJoe]

ORIGINAL: soulsilver

ORIGINAL: RangerJoe

Kates with bombs at 1k feet are better against DDs and transports than when they have torpedoes. Just leave the armament to "torpedo."

Thanks, I've heard before that torp bombers without torps get to carry their full bomb load when conducting low Nav attacks. I'll have to try setting Betties to 1k on torp when dealing with the future fletcher swarms.

Yes, they do that. I have posted that a few places.

Also, if you can, divide your TB units into thirds even if they are less than twelve planes since they will get to attack more targets. Not just ships but TFs as well which is fine as long as there are no enemy fighters around.