History repeats itself, almost

[freeboy]

My oponent and I,Zeta16, have fought a bitter battle for the SRA, with many small and a few large naval engagments. I have traded heavily in ships and planes for time. Now it is May and he lusts after PM... we almost got a huge CV fleet action, but I missed by one turn his fleet sitting at PM, and his CV called it a day after I clobbered his remaining ak/ms/de/dd/cls in the US navies finest hour. After hundreds of gaming hours, it is sweet this sight of over 75 divebombers descending turn after turn on unprotected tf's... each of us retires, but I expect Zeta16 to want revenge... why not attack New Zealand Next? He did manage to put ashore a substantial force in PM... it looks like a battle of wills is shaping up, and soon we will get those precious p38s [:D]

[freeboy]

Day after the "lets get em turn" I was surprised to see the Shokakui,sp? rounding the point south? of PM, no action yet, but maybe he feels lucky.. well do you Zeta 16...
my operation watchmaker goes into affect, and z's mop up continues in SRA, but I still hold Batavia!!! Maybe I should move all my long range bomber back there for one more oil raid[:-] no that would be silly. In the Burma front Z cuts the Ledo road...
In China, and where is my patch supporting the new zone rules?, I cut supplys to the recently captured Yenan.. and would love to see a patch this week to help my operation yellow rain, the removal of the ocupying ija forces from china!!
In the Solomons I expect Z to reinforce and brin gin his BB's he always loves to pound away with those bastards on my poor bases... and he may try again at PM supported by CVs, last time the carriers stayed on the Eastern side of the land mass... He also has some rested lba units... they will likely be seen too, updates to follow.

[freeboy]

Next week, we have round two of the PM conflict, many hits on his tf steaming into port with more troops supplys.. we will see shortly the reaction this gets.. ok, he send what looks like a cvl and three cv's ready to attack near the "tip" he sinks one dd and another ak, I get a good surface attack at PM and two turns in a row drive away his aps, what ones are left after my air raids... hear is a pic


notice my carrier to the west? of PM and His group at the tip of the Island... the smaller tfs in red are his badly damaged neerer to pm, another larger invasion ffleet is in the vicinity of his carriers.. PM airstrips are now operational and I rush LBA to aid the valient defense... where are those specially modified b17s that can launch torps[:-]

[freeboy]

Did not get all the screen shots, but he now has one LargeBB bombardment group and TWO cv groups oops... well I will post the results of this, maybe I will get lucky
all these assets seem headed toward PM, and my stupid commander of the first transports didn't change his orders from do not unload, so he sank a bunch of my ships full of a smaller unit in port, just sitting there [:@]
I wish it was 43 and I could give him some cold steel surface style... I did manage a torpedo hit on the Shokakui, a DUD !!!

[freeboy]

We managed to trade air raids, his six cv's pounded me, but I used my four remaining US carriers to get the first hits in at range two allowing the use of my devastator, or is it the butterfly? ok, they did get some torps in his ships..... He hit Lady Lex and Yorktown, I pounded Shokakui and Zuikacku, Akagi and Kagi, with Soryu and Hyriu maybe getting hit.. fow,
His Bettys from Rabaul pummeled my surface interceptor fleet, so While I made progress in the cv battle, He really has hurt my surface assetts. see pix

[freeboy]

and Z's counter attack, btw we both flew two sets am and pm air attacks.. I was hoping for a Midway where he attacked my ships at PM, lots of ak and ap unloading there ... here you go:

[freeboy]

The Yorktown and the Lex died, Admeral Buckmaster in overall command of the four carrier died, and is being hailed as a great American Hero in the US papers. The War department recognises the great sacrifice the many dead and injured sailors from OZ, Brit and the US and vows to "finish the Job"
Us estamates that the four heavily damaged Jap carriers will either burn up today, or need extensive refitting in home waters. The threat to PM has not lessened however as the surface invasion fleet continues ahead...
Meanwhile Batavia final capitulated, leaving few isolated garrisons in the SRA,
In China nothing to report, and in Burma after cutting the Ledo road the Japs have stalled at the trailheads...
Infantry and armor is being moved from egypt to garrision India against further aggression.
Many US troops and supplies hoarded for operation watchmaker are even now being mobilized in the first counter strike of land based assetts....

[freeboy]

Well, My interceprion group managed strangely to get to attack all three cv tf's and not sink any cv's!!! what BS!!! and they shot up two dd escorting wthe two cripples. The encounters after the air combat was interesting, and Z still has one usable, at least one, cv, he attacked and sunk a few empty aks leaving PM... I sure am glad he didn't have a large bb force or my surface group might have been really pounded. I did manage a few more air hits on the cripples, Shok and Zuikaku, looks like everything else is on fire save Akagi, but damage levels are hard to guess, but they sure are moving slowly [:D]

[freeboy]

Well, unless another Jap cv sunk without reporting, only one, hard to believe!!!, many aps and pc, dd, and a lot of cA damaged for each side, still hoping he loses some cv's that took hits as they exit area... PM seems stable for now, as we each push troops and supplies into area. The Hei, sp? hit a mine, finally those thousands of mines are paying off!!!

Our air assetts seem pretty exhusted as well, one of those classic examples where each side is begging for just one more round to get a decisive win... on points alone he has won this battle, but strategically damaging all his carriers, sinking at least one, holding pm and sinking 20 aps ak and numberous cl.dd.pc are going to hurt Z and any future attempt he makes. He also just took damage to a flotilla of CA's trying to escort ap full of supplies? into the eastern shores. I pounded them with lba out of PM

Recent email intel from our deep cover agent inside Z's hq reveal two carriers sunk and three badly damaged. and my third damaged carrier may yet survive to fight another day... I continue to forcefeed troops and supplies, and Z keeps sinking aks at PM, but I cannot afford to lose this base! More of everything is on the way there

[freeboy]

Well May is winding down after what may be the busiest month for some time, Hornet sank after docking in PORT!!! capsized and is a total loss. I fortunately have Wasp coming soon and the British flattops and then? Fortunately the IJN is hurting and PM is solidly in control.
China is a total standstill.
Burma has IJA movement into the trail leading to India, and expect Akyab to fall, to expossed to reinforce, but the good news is almost everyone from Rangoon escaped all the way back to India, as empty shells but that is better than nothin!!![:D]
Total confirmed loses, Jap; 2 CVs two BBs damaged 6 CAs damaged, 3 CLs sunk 2 damaged Apx 12 DD and DE sunk and damaged, estimated 20-30 ap and ak sunk plus a few subs and mine warfare ships
US loses at 3 CV 1 BB damaged, 6 CA damaged, 6 DD sunk, numerous DD damaged , apx 20 ak sunk few damaged. I could have retreated and only lost one CV, but then PM would probably have been taken. I have plenty of lba to withstand Z's further attempts.

The next months will see more and more troops in these two hot zones, Burma.western edge and Solomons.

[Zeta16]

Well he is a little off on his numbers. The ones he got right were the CV's. However I lost maybe 5 planes that went down between the two. Also I did not lose many of my carrier planes in the battle and have a very strong naval airforces to sink more of his ships. the air to air totals through the game so far are like 1000 to 300 and I have trained up a bunch of replacement pilots who have not beeen used yet. The question is where is he going to strike me at next. I will be hard with out his carriers to move much in the Solomons, but in NG he maybe albe to move with PM in his control. I am still trying to move troops there and in Burma resting for the next push North toward Imphal. In the oil front I got lucky and Palembang is all full capicty, however Balipakan? got hurt pretty bad and Tarkakan? got hurt good too. His long range bombers have been not to efective to this point as on my victory screen it has shown that I have downed a lot of his b17's which is a good thing. In the production front we are buliding about 120 zero's a month and have a lot in storage and have been stwiching over planets to different engines and up production of armaments and tanks. New models will be coming on soon so we can start to get rid of the Nates which do nothing. The empire has a huge lead in points but the empire does not want to win this way. He wants the allies to quit because they have been driven into the ground and can't get up.

[freeboy]

I concede Z does lead in points, but nowhere near the 4 to one needed to achieve points win in Jan 43, and hopefully the numbers will continue to increase.. each jap point really helps here. I may have been too agressive in my use of lba bombers, will need to rethink these issues. Maybe Z will attempt a surface attack into India?[X(]
After reviewing the ship and planes reinforcment dates, and the amount of damage to both fleets, it seems certain this will go into 43 with us patiently waiting for more and better assetts, for Z he gets closer to better defended and prepared possitions in the solomons/India, where my line are shorter and conversly his longer. For me my disasteerous loss of three now four carriers, which will all come back by end of 43, gives me hope that in 43 if the war is still ongoing I will be able to push on Z ...
One paper I still have a formidable fleet, and air assets, but Z's use of lba to protect bases and my inability to power project will leave a season where unless Z attacks it will be a rutine of slow attrition in China/Burma and whatever Z decides in the Solomons.
I still could counter attack there and push him, but at what points cost? My points loss is in the 3.1 to 1 range, and lessoning as we progeress, still do not want to risk major causualties. PM is another story, where I have commited large assets and will continue to supply them, and Z cannot launch lba from Rabaal forever without resting his aircrews/planes.... I need a p38 group bigtime to escort my heavies.

[freeboy]

Resurrecting this one guys.. PM held, and now its 2 43 and the counter-offensive is well underway... Lae will fall soon, and our mighty fleet of pontoon boats, barges, just landed troops at Fanchases and it too fell. I love playing the allies in 43!.. is this the longest 1 day turn pbem? not too sure on that on.
I have been pounding Tarawa for months now, and am in motion in Northern NG.. getting ready to continue the advance... maybe I will bypass Lunga as it seems well fortified...

[Zeta16]

Yes we are way a long. I still have a ton of well trained pilots, but the allies at this point can attack at several places at the same time. It is then hard for the Japanese to counter several moves at once. I think my interdefense are very strong, the key is as the Japanese is not to get to spaced out or you are weak every where.

[freeboy]

And of course Z spanked my probing base in northern NG.. but he cannot possible hold all of SRA, Solomons and the inner area, and soon when those stronger bases start to run low on supplies, As they get cut off, I may want to hit one.. the key is not to get a big surface action against his BB's... unless I have 3-1 edge and airpower in the area...
he does indeed have planes, but they need supplies... lets see where this goes... just attacked base in Western edge of ?? Island that Rabaul is on, new Hebredes? and with that I may start moving dive bombers forward again...
p38's and lots of dive bombers make me a very confident US player, it is nice to be able to pick the battles after being spanked last year....
and he cannot have as many planes as I do.. no way..

[Zeta16]

Here is the score and such.

[freeboy]

considering I have crawled back to almost under 3-1.. I am pleased as my point total is going up every new base!..
last turn Z capped my poor bb task force which tried to bombard, that is what happens when a quick one day trip turns to two due to refueling in port.. oops.. may lose three older version BB. brits... may only lose one..lets hope so...
and in other news ?
pressure continues all along the line we recieved yet another cvl, maybe we shopuld attack ?

[freeboy]

All three are toast, never never send BB without aduquit air cover.. dum dumb [:-]
Z is taking to moving troops in anticipation of my northward push up the East Coast of NG,
meanwhile the two bases on that Island fell without a shot...
soon all will be little jungle carrier bases with planes attacking into rabaul

[freeboy]

The advance has its setbacks in Northern NG, base lost.. nothing I could due there , but I coninue my buildup in the Solomans.. and I will retack them in the near future as I work to remove the evil JAps!

[Zeta16]

Well he hit the Canal with a bombardment and some carriers. The Hellcats killed me, did not expect them until mid 43.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/18/43

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Night Time Surface Combat at 60,90

Japanese Ships
PT Gyoraitei #3
PT Gyoraitei #4, heavy damage
PT Gyoraitei #5
PT Gyoraitei #6

Allied Ships
LCT LCT-128
LCT LCT-130
LCVP 542F
LCVP 542H

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Day Air attack on Gasmata , at 59,90


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 30


No Allied losses

Port hits 1
Port supply hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 1000 feet
7 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 1000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Gasmata , at 59,90


Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 11


No Allied losses

Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 20000 feet
5 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 20000 feet
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Day Air attack on Munda , at 64,95


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 11


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on 54th Chinese Corps, at 50,32

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 6

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G3M Nell bombing at 15000 feet
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Day Air attack on 4th New Chinese/B Corps, at 49,38

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
D3A Val x 12
B5N Kate x 16
G3M Nell x 6
G4M1 Betty x 6
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 14

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
26 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
3 x G3M Nell bombing at 15000 feet
8 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
6 x A6M2 Zero bombing at 2000 feet
7 x A6M2 Zero bombing at 2000 feet
8 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet
8 x B5N Kate bombing at 10000 feet
3 x G3M Nell bombing at 15000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 69,99

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 44
G4M1 Betty x 13

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 36
F6F Hellcat x 21
F4U-1 Corsair x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 67 destroyed, 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 9 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged
F6F Hellcat: 8 destroyed, 10 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 12 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
BB South Dakota, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CV Essex

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 67,97

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
G4M1 Betty x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Tromp
CL Leander

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 69,99

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 28
F6F Hellcat x 13
F4U-1 Corsair x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 30 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 7 destroyed, 3 damaged
F6F Hellcat: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 67,97

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
G4M1 Betty x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Clark

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
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Naval bombardment of Lunga, at 67,97 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 18 destroyed, 25 damaged
H6K4 Mavis: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 6 destroyed, 13 damaged

55 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Arunta
DD Clark, Shell hits 15, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ellet
DD Walke, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
DD Bancroft
DD Grayson
CL St. Louis
CL Hobart
CL Tromp
CL Leander
CA Devonshire
CA Salt Lake City

Japanese ground losses:
747 casualties reported
Guns lost 12

Airbase hits 24
Airbase supply hits 23
Runway hits 150


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Ground combat at 43,40

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1451 troops, 51 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 28146 troops, 98 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
45 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


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Ground combat at Nanning

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 596 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 73973 troops, 238 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported


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Ground combat at 50,32

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 32037 troops, 414 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 7682 troops, 55 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Nanning

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 53963 troops, 238 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 43554 troops, 490 guns, 0 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 2