Into the Flames- Boss Gnomes VS Sparky-6/1/42

[BossGnome]

This AAR is NOT going to comprise of a copy/paste of combat reports... this is rather boring and over used I find. Instead me and my opponent will make more comments on the strategic situation (without revealing too much strategically damning info, while keeping the reader in touch with screenshots (as soon as I can figure them out). This game has been started on the 7th december 1942, but i have recently changed opponents, and we have only now decided to do an AAR.

What happened so far:

Pearl Harbour was near historical, with 3 large american battleships on the bottom of the sea. What followed was an effortless invasion of the rest of the DEI, although not without a few minor allied victories. Among those we can count the large number of japanese AKs sunk. The american submarines, although with their historical doctrine set to ON, have still and are continuing to do serious damage to japanese ships. The american air based squadrons in the philippines, set on air attack, also managed to set several transports on fire, although the resilience of the japanese soldier and the greatness of their commanders can be quickly seen by the army loss ratios: 10 000 pts for the allies, 1000 pts for the japanese (approx). The Prince of Wales and the Repulse, after a few mildly successful raids against defenseless AKs, were finally sunk returning to Singapore, and despite determined dutch and australian resistance in the borneo-celebes strait, the japanese took it within one week. Then followed the Java campaign, which basically involved me starting at the western tip of the island (taken by area of control), and driving down to the eastern tip. This took about two weeks, but apart from one nest of resistance in a base whose name I can't remember (close to palembang), it was effortless. After this came the hardest campaign yet: The Rabaul Campaign. It started with me sending 4 CVs from Kido butai to bomb rabaul, of which at the time I had no idea of its fortifications. The Shokaku and Zuikaku were sent on a successful bombing raid to keep the pesky british navy in check in the indian sea. The 4 cvs, upon nearing truk, suddenly spot 3 american cvs on a bombing raid to the same island. Battle ensues. Only the Kaga and the american CV Hornet are unscathed, but the other 2 american CVs, Yorktown and Enterprise, are severely damaged. On the Japanese side, only the Hiryu is very seriously hurt. The Yorktown and Enterprise sink the next day, while the hiryu, after having reduced its float damage to zero in Truk, is sunk by an american sub near Saigon, on its way to Tokyo. What follows is a string of inconclusive surface battles around rabaul, of which the airfield had been blown up by constant bombing raids by betties. A full marine division was present, and so fighting went on in Rabaul for almost two weeks, even after Japan had won control of the sea, until reinforcements from the Java theater could be brought in to finally finish the fight. The battle of the coral sea, pitting the Kaga (the only operable CV in the area after the battle of Truk), the newly built Junyo, and CVL Ryujo, against 2 or 3 american CVs, I cannot remember. Both forces were heavily damaged, but my planned raid on Port Moresby had been rendered impossible. However, I did sucessfully seize the entire solomon island chain, as well as every base in new guinea exept port moresby, annd the two on the underside of the island. After succeeding in taking Lunga, with a lvl 1 airport already built in, I took the newly arrived Shokaku, Zuikaku and Ryujo down to Noumea for some target practise. I figured the americans didn't have any CVs left to stop me. They stayed near Noumea for nearly 3 days, sinking some 10 AKs in the process, however, on the 3rd day, American CVs suddenly attacked. Several of them, not yet fully repaired, were still smoking, but the surprise, along with the land-based support, was devastating. all the japanese cvs were sunk, along with 90% of the planes and pilots, for no losses on the american side, although several bombs and torps were put in the opposing CVS. This was really the only japanese defeat of the war. Now, lunga is filled with a level 2 airport and planes.

On the planes side: I (the japanese) quickly wanted to get rid of one of my biggest liabilities: The Claudes. I therefore increased zero production to over 240 planes a month, and nakajima engine production to over 570 engines a month. Total japanese plane production has increased to over 800 planes a month, although I must admit it is taking a heavy toll on my industry, which I am doing my best to expand. Saigon's industry has quadrupled, Seoul's has doubled, singapore's has doubled, as well as several smaller bases in mainland japan. Due to the lack of supplies in mainland japan due to all this expanding, I am mostly feeding the troops of supplies produced in the DEI. The small island of Toboali is a very good source of food! And no, surprisingly so far not too many problems with supplies, at least everywhere exept for burma and china.

China: All bases taken exept for 4 of them, all heavily fortified. Am currently unable of further offensive action, for the main reason that most of my forces have recently finished an offensive in Sining, and must reorganize. The chinese have taken this opportunity to surround and besiege the town of Kungchang, but, although numerically amazingly superior, they seem unable to progress further than this. Japanese relief forces are on the way, but will they be enough to push out the chinese?

Burma: Allied air power is devastating. They have over 150 heavy bombers, of which many are B-17s. They also have the support of the AVG. However, the japanese have taken the burma road, which has been held solidly for almost 3 weeks at this point in time. Cannot write more due to possible strategic concerns.

Solomons: Offensive on port moresby would be extremely dangerous, but potentially possible. Overland is out of the question, but I might have the forces to pull it off by sea. It would all be a question of air support. Other than that, not much to do but build up the bases to wait for the american onslaught...

This is what happened so far, let my opponent fill you in on his thoughts. Screenshots to come as soon as i figure the damn things out![:)]

[String]

Now since when have I become Sparky? [:D]

[BossGnome]

ever since your ships started exploding repeatedly[:'(]... while never sinking!

[BossGnome]

06/03/42

Had to effectuate the first full withdrawal from a japanese base today. Mandalay, my forward airfield in the burma region, has been left vacant due to overpowering allied bombing efficiency. Although our ever superior pilots obtained at least 2-1 kill ratios in the air, the number of planes destroyed on the ground made keeping the base not worthwhile. The great forces of the empire of japan will therefore retaliate with increased air activity on port moresby.

[String]

Good to see that, I'll count it as my second victory in this game.. the first being a nice surface intercept two days before the start of this AAR.

Today also saw quite acceptable loss rate over PM. approx 30 allied fighters for 14 zeroes..

[DuckofTindalos]

BossGnome, I applaud your decision to not C 'n' P combat reports into this AAR, but please consider increasing the number of paragraphs. A long paragraph like the first one in your opening post is difficult to read.

[BossGnome]

ok very sorry about that first paragraph. Its not like it's extremely important, its just to let you know that stuff actually did happen before 6/1/42.

On another note, I would simply like to say that it is great they fixed the air ASW! My planes have hit 4 subs in the past 9 days, and my ships have sunk 1. There goes the allies sub mastery! Following the advice of people on these boards. I am now in the process of shutting down Port Moresby, with massive raids with hundreds of betties from Rabaul. The lack of a lvl 3 airfield in Lae or Gili Gili (both of which are held strongly), kind of puts me off using shorter ranged army bombers to do the job. GuadalCanal is fortifying, with new planes arriving daily to bolster the defences! The question I want to know the answer to now is: where are the allies going to strike next?

[String]

ORIGINAL: BossGnome

The question I want to know the answer to now is: where are the allies going to strike next?

Where you least expect it [:D]

On a sidenote, last turn saw several carrier based dive bomber squadrons attack PM from Lae, they got mauled by flak and A2A as they only had 11 zeroes for escort

[BossGnome]

you wonder what you pay those high trained zero pilots for anyways eh?[8|] Although I must admit I never expected too much from those dive bombers... the only things the pilots know about flying is which way to face in the cockpit!

[String]

it's 7th of june by now but not much has happened. Usual air raids in Burma by allies and on PM by japanese. Last turn was somewhat good for the allies as we shot down almost 30 zeroes, but the japs managed to torpedo several AP's at PM unloading a RAAF base force. The most important part, 30 air support units made ashore though.