PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[sveint]

50% CAP and short range works for me. I think it's random, or affected by weather, leaders, etc. Especially weather I think.

[Captain Cruft]

ORIGINAL: sveint

50% CAP and short range works for me. I think it's random, or affected by weather, leaders, etc. Especially weather I think.

Surely weather will affect the strike in total, not just the fighters ?

You may well be right about the leaders though. The only time I saw this problem was when I had a strange admiral in charge of the Air Combat TF. I have never seen it happen with Mr Nagumo or Mr Yamaguchi in charge, but then I have always used 60% CAP, max range since the one time I saw the problem ... It was a long time ago though, I can't remember what lead me to my conclusions.

Another possibility that occurs to me - perhaps the fighter escorts are doing a "UNABLE TO LOCATE TARGET" but this is just not shown when they fly from carriers? I seem to remember that fatigue was gained by the apparently non-escorting fighter pilots.

[PzB74]

That is the reasonable explanation Sveint - but it has been a little 'too random' for me since the enemy - which supposedly should be more proned to launch unescorted strikes in 1942 - has been escorting most of his carrier strikes thus far. Weather has been the same for both parts and the tf's involved have usually involved 2 cvs (+ 1 cvl in the last incident).

Guess I've been plain unlucky, but it's really unnerving and I'm really not looking forward to a future showdown with US cv's [:'(]

[PzB74]

I launched 4 strikes from my cv's in yesterdays battle against the British, so it's strange that the escort got lost in all of them! Guess it was one large strike that got dispersed and then only the fighters failed to locate the target. Exactly the same thing that happened to the Soryu and Hiryu's strikes a few months ago...?

My commanders have usually been supposedly the most capable ones - if Nagumo is busy elsewhere - I'd pick an admiral with high leadership and skill ratings that was best suited to command a carrier tf.

Perhaps we could create a list over the 10 best IJN carrier commanders?

Nagumo and Yamaguchi are given ones..

ORIGINAL: Captain Cruft

Surely weather will affect the strike in total, not just the fighters ?

You may well be right about the leaders though. The only time I saw this problem was when I had a strange admiral in charge of the Air Combat TF. I have never seen it happen with Mr Nagumo or Mr Yamaguchi in charge, but then I have always used 60% CAP, max range since the one time I saw the problem ... It was a long time ago though, I can't remember what lead me to my conclusions.

Another possibility that occurs to me - perhaps the fighter escorts are doing a "UNABLE TO LOCATE TARGET" but this is just not shown when they fly from carriers? I seem to remember that fatigue was gained by the apparently non-escorting fighter pilots.

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/31/42

Surface Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 18,2

Japanese Ships - west of Karachi
SS I-170

Allied Ships
AK Kiangsu, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 27,24

Japanese Ships - patiently the subs have been waiting west of Diamond Harbour...
SS I-157

Allied Ships - and today they got Revenge [;)]
BB Revenge, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Jamshedpur , at 28,22

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
Ki-21 Sally x 50
Ki-48 Lily x 39
Ki-46-II Dinah x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 12 damaged

Allied ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 82

Aircraft Attacking:
All Sally and Ki-48 Lily bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 16
Beaufort V-IX x 15
P-40E Warhawk x 30
B-26B Marauder x 50

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 2 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 22

Aircraft Attacking:
All Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
All B-26B Marauder bombing at 7000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Shortlands , at 63,93

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft - the first medium bomber raid from Lunga
B-25C Mitchell x 43

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 7 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
All B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Imperial Guards Division, at 31,21

Allied aircraft - raids from Lucknow, a small size 3 af north of Asansol
Buffalo I x 16
Wellington III x 21

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
All Wellington III bombing at 8000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 70th Division, at 44,38

Allied aircraft - the Chinese AF has also returned
IL-4c x 12
SB-2c x 30

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
All IL-4c bombing at 8000 feet
All SB-2c bombing at 8000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 48th Chinese Corps, at 44,38

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 22
Ki-48 Lily x 13
Ki-49 Helen x 12
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
All Helen and Ki-48 Lily bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Colombo , at 14,24

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 11
Ki-21 Sally x 18

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 6

Japanese aircraft losses - AA is heavy, have to raise the altitude of the attacking bombers!
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 21 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 17

Aircraft Attacking:
All Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Trimcomalee at 15,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 6

Allied aircraft - there were several smaller anti shipping raids from Colombo today!
Beaufort I x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort I: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AP Yamura Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Beaufort I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Trimcomalee at 15,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 6

Allied aircraft
Beaufort I x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships - this smal minelayer was sunk by no less than 3 torps!
ML Nasami, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Beaufort I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 14,2

Japanese aircraft - todays only carrier strike
A6M2 Zero x 12
D3A Val x 13
B5N Kate x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Deslock, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
All D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
All B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Calcutta

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 56161 troops, 299 guns, 144 vehicles

Defending force 22898 troops, 125 guns, 1 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 7) - shortly 3 eng regiments will arrive and crack these forts

Japanese ground losses:
862 casualties reported
Guns lost 14
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
551 casualties reported
Guns lost 10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Asansol

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 55063 troops, 345 guns, 316 vehicles

Defending force 14005 troops, 51 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 5) - hoping that Asansol will fall tomorrow!

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 4

Japanese ground losses:
163 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
195 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Report

India

Wobbly performed some magic, and got the HMS Formidable out of my line of sight!
Car Div 1 will proceed due West - if the enemy cv isn't localized, there are plenty of transports fleeing from Karachi.
(See Situation Map) Kaga was able to launch only 1 strike on bad weather, but dozens of unescorted enemy transports were spotted. A base force unit is being air transported from Trimcomalee to Panaji, and I've already moved in Emily's.
Hopefully we can catch up with the Formidable - I got plenty fuel, something Al must be short of.

The badly damaged battleship Revenge tried to flee Diamond Harbour and caught 3 torpedoes! There are also other enemy ships heading west, and several subs are in position to intercept. Most of the bombers in Burma and India have also been put on naval attack. Those battleships are mine, I've deserved em [;)]

Asansol almost fell today, one or two more attacks should settle the case. The railroad north has now been cut.
(See Situation Map) Calcutta with its 7 forts remains a tough nut, but it's just a matter of time - 3 engineer regiments should be enough to reduce them. I'm hoping that the 2 divisions at Asansol can continue their advance north in order to cut of as many enemy units as possible.

A strike against the airfields at Lucknow has been ordered - there are both Buffalos and Wellingtons here.

Central/South Pacific

Mediums from PM and Lunga hit both Lae and Shortland today - Lae is really closed now...

Several convoys carrying reinforcements from China and Japan are now being directed towards Rabaul.
These reinforcements include engineer and tank regiments as well as another naval construction and AA unit. I'm expecting heavy bombing raids to hit the place shortly - 98 Zeros have been placed on 70% CAP!

Situation Map: India & Indian Ocean

[PzB74]

I've been thinking about adding another element to this AAR, namely that of a Tabular Records of Movement or TROM.
This TROM will follow a certain vessel from day to day and a weekly post will give you all the details.

An example: excerpt from the heavy cruiser Mogamis TROM
..........................................................................................................................................................................
26 May 1942:
CruDiv 7 arrives at Guam (renamed Omiyajima) to provide close support for Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral) Tanaka Raizo's (former CO of KONGO) Midway Invasion Transport Group: oiler AKEBONO MARU and the transports KIYOZUMI MARU, ZENYO MARU, TOA MARU No. 2, ARGENTINA MARU, BRAZIL MARU, AZUMA MARU, KEIYO MARU, GOSHU MARU, KANO MARU, HOKURIKU MARU, KIRISHIMA MARU and the NANKAI MARU. The transports carry 5,000 troops.

The MOGAMI refuels from an oiler.
..........................................................................................................................................................................

Before I start writing this TROM I have to decide what ship to follow, and for that I'm turning to you gents!
I'll give you several suggestions - and I'm of course open for others as well.

BB Yamato
CV Zuikaku
CA Haguro
CL Kitakami
DD Fubuki
SS I-xxx
AP/AK/TK etc

Alternatively we can also follow a certain Daitai or infantry unit, perhaps both if it doesn't take too much time.

What do you say?
Speak now or stay forever silent [;)]

[madflava13]

CA Atago!!!

My favorite class of Japanese ship...

[PzB74]

Seems like the Ca Atago it will be Madflava - your one voice got a 100% majority [;)]
Will introduce the ship and start a TROM from the first of June 1942! Let's say she's getting a new captain then!

A while since we've presented the overall situation as well, so I'll look into the lost-sunk stats tonight.
Almost been to war for 6 months now, and it's been action all the way! Incredible really, another half a year of this and there will be a lot of green pilots and worn down ships and ground units around...!

[sveint]

DD TROMs are always interesting, they tend to be active and do all sorts of different missions.

[PzB74]

That's true Sveint! In 13 days the fine destroyer Akizuki will be commissioned - will consider following this ship as well.
She's of the new type armed with 8 DP 3.9" guns!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/01/42

Surface Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Bombay, at 20,10 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

52 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. - bah, I have to move the bb's all the way back to Trimcomalle - didn't help to replenish em at Panaji cause they didn't cause much damage!
Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
BB Hyuga
BB Fuso, Shell hits 6
BB Nagato
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 4
BB Haruna, Shell hits 14
BB Kongo

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 22
Ki-48 Lily x 29
Ki-49 Helen x 17
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses - managed to hit the Chinese unprepared over their home turf!
SB-2c: 13 destroyed, 13 damaged
IL-4c: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
All Helen and Ki-48 Lily bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft - not easy to defend against such heavy strikes
Kittyhawk I x 16
Beaufort V-IX x 14
P-40E Warhawk x 30
B-26B Marauder x 40

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 9
Runway hits 27

Aircraft Attacking:
All Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
All B-26B Marauder bombing at 7000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Shortlands , at 63,93

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 28

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 7 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
All B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Trimcomalee at 15,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft - a few Beauforts get through to the battleship...
Beaufort I x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort I: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships - and hits her!
BB Yamashiro, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage - damage is severe, but fortunately Trimcomalee is a size 9 port!

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Beaufort I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 8,8

Japanese aircraft - there are 10 such attacks against single transports in the Indian Ocean today!
A6M2 Zero x 18
D3A Val x 13
B5N Kate x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Ibex, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
All B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
All D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 11,2

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
D3A Val x 16
B5N Kate x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK City of Manchester, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
All D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
All B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 7,9

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Heywood, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
All B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 7,8

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
B5N Kate x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Grenfell, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 11,3

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
D3A Val x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Tugela, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 10,3

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Sudabar, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
All D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 8,9

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Lionel, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
All D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 6,7

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire March, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
All B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 8,9

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Raleigh, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
All B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 12,5

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Wosang, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
All B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Asansol

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 56027 troops, 386 guns, 315 vehicles

Defending force 14701 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Asansol base !!! [8D]

Japanese ground losses:
260 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
512 casualties reported
Guns lost 23

Defeated Allied Units Retreating! - they retreated SE towards Burma <G>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kweilin

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 62612 troops, 712 guns, 2 vehicles

Defending force 65134 troops, 441 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
147 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Calcutta

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 47793 troops, 286 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 9746 troops, 77 guns, 1 vehicles - not many enemy troops left in Calcutta now

Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Report

India

The fall of Asansol really unlocked the entire front - the army will try to block the enemys retreat by blocking the railroad
and at the same time pursue towards Lucknow and Dehli! As far as I can see, it should be possible to reach Dehli before
the enemy - that could mean the end of India.... [:D]

In the Indian Ocean the first Carrier Division is a deadly reaper and is hitting ship after ship - there must be 50+ enemies and they
just cannot escape! 9 Vals were also transferred from Panaji to the Kaga - boosting her ac complement to 60.

The only Allied success today was achieved by 3 Beauforts from Colombo - I had forgotten to put the damaged battleship Yamashiro
on auto disband - and the enemy managed to put another torpedo into her. System damage is 66, flood 77 and there are 13 fires.
Only the big size 9 port will prevent her from sinking, she will be out of the war for a long time, but that was also the case after the first
torpedo struck her. Those old crates just doesn't stand up to modern torpedoes.

Central/South Pacific

I've been all over the map today and organized everything as good as I can. A lot of units were preparing for the wrong objectives, and
there were quite a few remnant units that have to be remerged. Quite a few supply and fuel tf's have also been created - amazing how many
small bases there are that need both fuel and supplies.

Tomorrow the 2nd Carrier Division will dock at Singapore before taking on fuel and setting sail for Truk. The 2 Shokakus and the cvl carries
only crack air crew and should come in very handy.

Considered putting all the 100 Zeros on Rabaul on LRCAP above Lae - but decided against it. Have to conserve my strenght until I really need it.
There are a lot of enemy tf's sailing around in the Coral Sea, gawd how I wish I got all my carriers here now. That would have made someone
scream..!

I'm afraid that without the 1st Carrier Division, it will be impossible to directly confront the enemies 5 carriers - but if I get an opening....
Let's look at the carriers that will soon face eachother:

1st Carrier Division: Shokaku & Zuikaku -> 148 ac
Mini KB: CV Junyo, 2 cvl and 2 cve -> 200 ac
A total of ca 350 ac

The old cve Hosho will be used as a decouy ship...perhaps she can be of some use

The US carriers are well known
Yorktown, Hornet, Enterprise, Saratoga and Lexington - they all carry ca 90 ac bringing
the total to ca 450 ac. If Al still keeps the useless Devastator torpedo bombers aboard, the forces
will be rather equal in strength though.

A direct confrontation will nevertheless see severe destruction to both sides, and I don't want this.
It will be much more favorable to let the enemy invade another few bases and then launch a heavy counterstrike
when surprise can be achieved and lba used in support of the carriers.

[PzB74]

Attaching a few screenshots that will provide you with most of the numbers.

A closer look at warship losses reveals that Japan has lost:

2 carriers
3 light cruisers
16 destroyers
10 minesweepers
10 minelayers
26 subs....

The Allies have lost:

1 carrier
3 battleships
1 battlecruiser
4 heavy cruisers
9 light cruisers
26 destroyers
4 subs (all Dutch - this says something about how useless Jap ASW is!)

The rest of the ships are transports, smaller escorts etc.

The score is 20975 to 6284 - a 3.338/1 ratio. All the remaining bases in India are worth 3300
points. If I in addition can destroy the Allied armies here and capture a few more bases in China, I should come very
close to a 4-1 odds.

I don't really care that much about scores, but I do play WitP to win. Having fun is always the most important reason to play, but total victory is always a good motivator! [;)]

I'm really pushing hard, and the resources of Japan are really strained: Both IJA and IJN pools are empty!!
The heavy air offensives in China were costly, and to replace Army fighter and bomber crew losses, the remaining 60 reserve pilots had to be used.

There are 425 polit points available, and I will use them to release units from China. I don't get many new combat formations for the South Pacific, only base forces.

[PzB74]

Here is the statistics from late April 42 - always interesting to compare the numbers.
Seems like the amount of resources and material is increasingly slowly!

[PzB74]

Tabular Record of Movement for the heavy cruiser Atago

A short backroung:

The Takao Class Heavy Cruisers were the largest of the heavy cruisers built for the Japanese Navy. Four ships of the Takao class were built; TAKAO, ATAGO, MAYA, and CHOKAI. They were built in response to the heavy cruisers under construction by the United States and Great Britain during the 1920's. She was comparable in armament and speed with the NORFOLK and NORTHAMPTON classes. These ships were fast, powerful and heavily armed with enough firepower to hold their own against any ships built. All four ships of this class were formed into Sentai 4 and operated together for most of their careers.


The Atago was completed in 1932
Displacement 15,781 tons
Dimensions 661'9" x 68'0" x 20'9"
Speed 34 knots
Armament 10 x 8"/50
8 x 5"/40 DP
up to 66 x 25mm AA
16 x 24" TT
Crew 773

First the historical TROM from 1932-1941 will be presented. We will then skip the first 6 months of the war, and continue it from the 2nd of June 1942!

30 March 1932:
The ATAGO is completed by the Kure Navy Yard and commissioned in the IJN.

26 October 1936:
Kobe. The ATAGO embarks the Emperor Hirohito (Showa) and departs for Etajima.

28 October 1936:
The ATAGO arrives back at Kobe. The next day, the Emperor participates in the annual Imperial Naval Review held off Kobe.

30 October 1939:
Reconstruction of the ATAGO's hull and bridge is completed at Maizuru. Her new AA armament and fire control system are installed at Yokosuka.

11 August 1941:
Captain (later Rear Admiral), the Baron, Ijuin Matsuji (son of Fleet Admiral Ijuin Goro) assumes command from Captain (later Vice Admiral) Koyanagi Tomiji who is reassigned as the CO of KONGO.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 June 1942:
Captain Ijuin Matsuji (Leadership(Inspiration 66/68) is still in command of the Atago and the ship lies at Anchor in the great naval base of Truk. The ship is almost at 100% repair, and crew day/night experience is 66/68. The ships also carries 1 Jake and 2 Pete search planes.

(Is it a coincident that both the crews day/night exp and the captains leadership/inspiration ratings are the same - 68/68?)

The ship is the flagship of the First Cruiser Division under the command of Rear Admiral Tanaka.
This division is made up of the following ships:

CA Atago
CA Takao
CA Maya
CA Chokai
CA Myoko
Cl Natori
Cl Abukuma
DD Shirayuki
DD Ikazuki
DD Akatsuki
DD Yugure
DD Suzukaze
DD Yamakaze
DD Arare
DD Asagumo

This powerful force is at 100% combat readiness and is part of the fleet that is going to prevent further Allied expansion in the South Pacific while the main body of the Army is crushing the British in India and Burma.

A fine picture of the Atago as completed in 1932

[String]

CA Atago sure has strange positions for its 8" mounts..

[Mynok]

Perhaps we could create a list over the 10 best IJN carrier commanders?

Actually, there is a guy Naka(something) who I prefer over Nagumo for air combat TFs. Yamaguichi always gets my best carrier div.

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/02/42

Surface Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at 15,33 - WTF!!!?

Japanese Ships
DD Uranami
DD Sagiri

Allied Ships
BB Warspite, heavy damage - my pilots said they had spotted an apd heading west!!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on 14th Group Army, at 31,32

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 6
Ki-51 Sonia x 18

Allied aircraft
Lysander I x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Lysander I: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged - must be desperate times...Lysanders [:'(]

Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 25
Ki-48 Lily x 33
Ki-49 Helen x 15

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 4 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses - yep, target accomplished - the Chink AF has moved back into hillbilly land
IL-4c: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 37

Aircraft Attacking:
All Helen and Ki-48 Lily bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 15
Beaufort V-IX x 14
P-40E Warhawk x 27
B-26B Marauder x 26

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 15

Aircraft Attacking:
All Beaufort V-IX bombing at 6000 feet
All B-26B Marauder bombing at 7000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 16th Division, at 31,21

Allied aircraft - no less than 3 such attacks were mounted against Asansol from Lucknow today!
Buffalo I x 16
Wellington III x 24

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
All Wellington III bombing at 8000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 82nd Naval Guard Unit, at 85,91 - Tarawa!

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21
P-40B Tomahawk x 12

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x F4F-4 Wildcat attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 17th Indian/C Division, at 29,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
Ki-48 Lily x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 4,9

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
D3A Val x 13
B5N Kate x 26

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships - a big fat juicy convoy to the slaughter [:D]
AK Empire Carey, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Brook, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Resistance, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Wagtail, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Empire Snipe, Torpedo hits 1
AK Empire Elk, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
All B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
All D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 7,10

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
D3A Val x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Grenfell, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
All D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 2,13

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Rowan, Bomb hits 1
AK Empire Bruce
AK Empire Hawksbill, Bomb hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
All D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 3,13

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
B5N Kate x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AP Empire Attendant, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 8,11

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 14

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Nightingale, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
All B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 9,9

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
TK Empire Norse, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
All B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Calcutta

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 58340 troops, 289 guns, 139 vehicles

Defending force 1000 troops, 8 guns, 1 vehicles - the enemy had to abandon Calcutta before it could be captured [:o]

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 6

Japanese assault odds: 110 to 1 (fort level 6)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Calcutta base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
17 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
134 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 1

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 48,33

Japanese Deliberate attack - I'm going for the next target in China just west of the railroad

Attacking force 76138 troops, 906 guns, 295 vehicles

Defending force 6759 troops, 49 guns, 0 vehicles - these forces were blocking the path and were swept away!

Japanese assault odds: 153 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
84 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Allied ground losses:
445 casualties reported
Guns lost 28

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 45,35

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2247 troops, 0 guns, 143 vehicles

Defending force 3624 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles - another blocking force, I want to open the roads to into the hinterland

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kweilin

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 62634 troops, 712 guns, 2 vehicles

Defending force 64848 troops, 434 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
200 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Report

India

The capture of Calcutta was a relief, that place has bothered me for a long time. As I mentioned earlier, it is rather fitting that it held out until now - my army in western India is now in a great position to cut the defenders off from Dehli.

Still having problems moving units, especially if they get new orders while stationary on the railroad. Several of them refuse to move more than 5 miles pr day even on rail - driving me nutters...

The little apd that was spotted in the middle of the Bay of New Japan a few days ago turned out to be the HMS Warspite!!
This severely damaged bb has been sent out to escape faith - insolence, I've DESERVED those ship! [:@] Unfortunately my dd's didn't manage to torpedo the old hulk. I must assume that the rest of the bb's are also on their way - so Operation Finalize has been ordered:

Betties have been put on naval attack in Trimcomalee, Madras, Chandpur, Rangoon and Singapore.
Several surface tf's have been sortied - one is made up from moderately damaged cruisers and destroyers at Trimcomalee. Another is made up of an AV, its 8 float planes will try to locate the enemy ships.

The final part of this operation consists of the light carrier Ryujo. VADM Ozawa has been given 2 CS, 1 cl and 3 dd's as escort, and the 19 Kates and 28 Zeros should be more than enough to make sure that justice is fulfilled! [;)]

In the meanwhile the 2nd Carrier Division under VADM Nagumo leaves Singapore. 27 Vals were taken aboard and the fleet consisting of 2 cv's, 1 ca, 1 cl and 4 dd's is now heading for Truk.

Car Div 1 continues to hunt down the fleeing ships on the west coast of India - it's quite a sight..almost feel sorry for them.
A little amazed that Al hasn't sent the ships away piecemeal over the last few months. No good having 200 ships at Karachi when the enemy is knocking at the door...

Central/South Pacific

Wewak is now operational as a size 4 af, and the first 27 Sallys were moved in. If Lae is invaded, Wewak will field a heavy force of medium bombers that will hit the enemy ground units.

I'm pretty sure the enemy carriers have moved to Noumea to refuel - so I've iniciated Operation Goodbye & Good Riddance! [:D] The aim of this operation is to hit the enemy transport and warships that have been observed in the area, as well as give the troops and ac based here a heavy pounding. Tarawa is now a size 2 port/3 af - and there must be 40-80 fighters here and at least 18k troops.

The following TF's have been formed:

TF162 - the Bombardment group under Rear Admiral Matsunaga
The battleship Hiei leads this group followed by 5 ca's, 1 cl and 8 dd's.

TF161 - the Surface Combat group under Rear Admiral Tanaka.
This group consists of the First Cruiser division and got 5 ca's, 2 cl's and 8 dd's

TF163 - the Escort group under Rear Admiral Harashima
This is a small group based around the old escort carrier Hosho - she only carries 9 Zeros. In case the enemy cv's or lba should find the tf's,
it is hoped that the Zeros can disrupt the attacks and perhaps draw the bombers away from the captial ships. 3 destroyers escorts the carrier that will have to follow
the other groups at flank speed to keep up.

The entire roundtrip will begin at Truk, move to Tarawa and then sail to Kwajalein before returning to Truk. Naval bombers at Kwajalein and Maloetap will try to
hit the enemy ships as soon as the fighters on the ground has been hit by the bombardment.

It is really difficult for Wobbly to defend Tarawa, especially before he has built it up to a size 4 af and placed heavy coastal defences as well as powerful air units there.
US resources are still pretty scarce, so I hope this effort will slow him down a bit.

Situation Map: Operation Goodbye & Good Riddance

[PzB74]

The 3rd 8" turret is actually a centerline weapon - doesn't really have a good arc of fire, but gives the ship some extra firepower. It's the massive torpedo batteries that really makes these ships deadly opponents in a night battle.

ORIGINAL: String

CA Atago sure has strange positions for its 8" mounts..

[PzB74]

We can try to put up a list and modify it as we go, try and get the whole name of your guy!

1. Yamaguchi
2. Nagumo
3. Naka?
4. Ozawa?
5. ?
6. ?
7. ?
8. ?
9. ?
10. ?

ORIGINAL: Mynok

Perhaps we could create a list over the 10 best IJN carrier commanders?

Actually, there is a guy Naka(something) who I prefer over Nagumo for air combat TFs. Yamaguichi always gets my best carrier div.

[tsimmonds]

ORIGINAL: PzB

A fine picture of the Atago as completed in 1932

Pretty!

[ADavidB]

It looks like the key to your margin is the number of Allied Army loses. Are those all the "usual" losses in the Far East?

Thanks -

Dave Barnayi