PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: String

OR.. he can be really really sneaky, and put increased number of units and men, which is achievable cheaply with HQ units, as they sport a lot of men and are plentiful in supply, and by dividing divisions already there, on three islands. On the fourth he puts what is seemingly an inferior force. An armored division has smaller numbers of men, and he doesn't divide it. In return he concentrates his coastal defences on this island and does the same with mines. 20k mines can be really really nasty. Also with heavy CD he WILL have trouble sweeping them. This is a risky plan ofcourse and might fail completely.

I´ve never seen CD guns shooting at minesweepers. Do they?

[PzB74]

Yes [:D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/05/43

Surface Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1157 encounters mine field at Shortlands (63,93) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

101 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DMS Chandler, Shell hits 3, on fire
DMS Long, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Zane, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Hopkins, Shell hits 14, on fire, heavy damage

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: PzB

Yes [:D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/05/43

Surface Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1157 encounters mine field at Shortlands (63,93) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

101 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DMS Chandler, Shell hits 3, on fire
DMS Long, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Zane, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Hopkins, Shell hits 14, on fire, heavy damage

Thanks for that one PzB!! [:D]

[AmiralLaurent]

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: String

OR.. he can be really really sneaky, and put increased number of units and men, which is achievable cheaply with HQ units, as they sport a lot of men and are plentiful in supply, and by dividing divisions already there, on three islands. On the fourth he puts what is seemingly an inferior force. An armored division has smaller numbers of men, and he doesn't divide it. In return he concentrates his coastal defences on this island and does the same with mines. 20k mines can be really really nasty. Also with heavy CD he WILL have trouble sweeping them. This is a risky plan ofcourse and might fail completely.

I´ve never seen CD guns shooting at minesweepers. Do they?

Actually there is no animation or message during the turn when CD guns shot at MSW or DMS but they always do. You will see it in the combat report file. Only CD guns fire, not the AA guns and artillery of INF units. Both of the latter fire when a transport TF is landing troops.

[rtrapasso]

ORIGINAL: AmiralLaurent

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: String

OR.. he can be really really sneaky, and put increased number of units and men, which is achievable cheaply with HQ units, as they sport a lot of men and are plentiful in supply, and by dividing divisions already there, on three islands. On the fourth he puts what is seemingly an inferior force. An armored division has smaller numbers of men, and he doesn't divide it. In return he concentrates his coastal defences on this island and does the same with mines. 20k mines can be really really nasty. Also with heavy CD he WILL have trouble sweeping them. This is a risky plan ofcourse and might fail completely.

I´ve never seen CD guns shooting at minesweepers. Do they?

Actually there is no animation or message during the turn when CD guns shot at MSW or DMS but they always do. You will see it in the combat report file. Only CD guns fire, not the AA guns and artillery of INF units. Both of the latter fire when a transport TF is landing troops.

I usually get a message when the MSWs are getting shot at by the CDs - usually it scrolls by rather quickly, but in one epic engagement, it went on for quite a long time. Both my PBEM opponent and i agreed that it was unprecendented in our experience as a battle.

[String]

Hi, how many armament and veichle points do you have saved up for the big reinforcement week?

Also, when the day comes, and you still have some left after that, can you give us the amount spent? I would like to know if my reserves are enough (some 170k points)

[PzB74]

I ordered a screenie of the production today String, but it dissappeared when I copied the AAR combat.txt.
Will take another one later today. 36 more days until reinforcement week begins.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/09/43

Not a lot to report, the same ole dreary air attacks. They just increase in numbers as the months pass by and I'm not thrilled.
Will have to wait a while until the game shoots back into life again. Ken will have to committ to the offensive in order to avoid a 3-1 auto victory
by the endo f the year.

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/10/43

Air Combat

I'm training both the Nick night fighters and fighter bombers in China.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 32

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lautem , at 33,78

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 7
B-24D Liberator x 42

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 45

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Finschafen , at 55,87 - nothing here. The engineers are back in Truk

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 32
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 11

No Allied losses

Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Kittyhawk I bombing at 2000 feet
11 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Kittyhawk I bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Finschafen , at 55,87 - but Ken doesn't know that.... [;)]

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
Sunderland x 4
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 5
B-25J Mitchell x 12
B-24D Liberator x 24

No Allied losses

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 21

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 12000 feet
15 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
4 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 12000 feet
2 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 12000 feet
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Dili at 31,77

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 9

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
MSW Togo Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
2 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/11/43

Sub/ASW Attacks

My supply runs to Timor are being interdicted! Better send out the dogs of war
to counter the threat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 31,73

Japanese Ships
AK Muroran Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage - could make it. Heading to Kendari.
MSW Tasei Maru

Allied Ships
SS Finback
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

I still need some AA and a base force for Lautern!

Day Air attack on Lautem , at 33,78

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 7
P-40N Warhawk x 10
B-24D Liberator x 39

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Mk 21: 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
33 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Dobodura at 55,91

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 18

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 15
Kittyhawk I x 3

Japanese aircraft losses - a rather stiff price to pay, but it could have been even worse. It's annoying that my
LBA doesn't attack any of the unescorted convoys out at sea.
G4M1 Betty: 7 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Aulick
AP Talthibius *hit by dud*
AP Empress of Asia, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Industry May 1943

Here is the industry overview for May 1943. I'll post another one right before 'Reinforcement Week' and
yet another one after.

[CapAndGown]

I am very surprised at how low your HI pool is. At the same time, you have thousands of merchant ship points. I would turn off all the merchant shipyards so that they don't suck down anymore HI.

[PzB74]

I tried to halt 500 merchant shipping points today Cap & Gown. We'll see whether it helped or not in a month or so.

Another uneventfull turn, Ken hinted that he will go onto the offensive in 2-3 months. Hopefully I will be 100% ready to
face the storm by then. Still trying to create fleets and repair and upgrade all my ships. Pilot training in China is providing
good results and more and more squadrons can be moved to the Central Pacific and placed in reserve.

If possible I now try to train my most important bomber and fighter units to an average of 80 exp.

Another piece of good news: the Judy dive bomber has been accelerated and is now slated for mass production in
October 1943 instead of in November.

Here is an overview of the defenses in Java which are now all but ready (awaiting the building of more forts and mining
of the ports):

Batavia 6(4), 4(3), 8 forts.
227 assault points
197 aviation support

56th Brigade
1st Aviation Regiment

17200 Troops
--------------------------------------------
Merak 1(1), 1(1)
80 assault points

81st Naval Guard

3300 troops
-------------------------------------------
Bandoeng 0(0), 4(1)
15 assault points

9th NLF

800 troops
-------------------------------------------
Tjilitjap 4(2), 4(2), 9 forts
531 assault points
29 aviation support

21st Mixed Brigade
35th A/Brigade
7th Tank Regiment
51st Heavy AA Regiment
15th Construction Battalion
144th INJAF Base Force

31300 troops
-------------------------------------------
Djokjakarta 0(0), 2(2)
54 assault points

Sasebo 1st SNLF

2700 troops
------------------------------------------
Kragen 1(1), 1(1)
No troops
------------------------------------------
Madion 0(0), 4(2), 5 forts
90 aviation support
92 assault points

Kurse 1st SNLF
11th Special Base Force
12th Naval Construction Unit

9000 troops
-----------------------------------------
Malang 0(0), 4(1), 6 forts
291 assault points

19th A/Division
19th B/Division

15000 troops
-----------------------------------------
Soerabaja 9(6), 4(3), 3 forts
511 assault points
73 aviation support

Imperial Guards Division
56th Heavy AA Bat
10th Special Base Force

28000 troops
-----------------------------------------

In all there are 107300 troops on the island and 1811 assault points.
Should be enough to keep an invader busy for quite some time.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/12/43

The usual air bombardments....Zzzzz

[PzB74]

Tanaka went to Dobadura to party today! Picked up some barges on the way and then
let the airfields have it. Only 4 ac reported destroyed but more than 440 casualties
were inflicted. A nice hit and run strike. I'm trying to pose a threat in as many places
as possible to stretch the Allied defenses thinner.

A light carrier and the battleship Kongo are moving from Truk to Japan for an upgrade.
I can't get ships to perform upgrades in Truk, guess there are too many ships with damage
in the port?

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/14/43

Surface Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Dobodura at 55,91

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CA Mogami
CL Yura
CL Kitakami
CL Yubari
DD Akigumo
DD Makinami
DD Urakaze
DD Asagumo
DD Hatsuharu

Allied Ships
LCVP 542P
LCM 592E, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
LCVP 592F, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
LCVP 592G
LCVP 592H
LCVP 592J
LCVP 592K
LCVP 592L, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LCVP 592P
LCVP 592Q, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCVP 592R, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LCVP 592S, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bombardments

Naval bombardment of Dobodura, at 55,91

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Mk 21: 1 destroyed
Hurricane II: 1 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed
A-20G Havoc: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
CL Kitakami
CL Yura
CA Mogami
CA Ashigara

Allied ground losses:
411 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 7

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 3


Sub/ASW Attacks

Almost got the sub that's prowling north of Timor today...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 31,73

Japanese Ships
PC Seki Maru #2
PC Kyo Maru #6
DD Yunagi
DD Asanagi
DD Hatakaze
DD Matsukaze

Allied Ships
SS Finback
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 31,73

Japanese Ships
PC Seki Maru #2
PC Kyo Maru #6
DD Yunagi
DD Asanagi
DD Hatakaze
DD Matsukaze

Allied Ships
SS Finback
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[String]

Ship upgrades need repair yards to be present

[Hornblower]

I've been offline for awhile, and am no playing catch-up. glad to see this aar is still on going, and as good as ever. thanks

[PzB74]

That's right String, I thought about UV - ships did perform upgrades in Truk in that game...

Nice to hear from you again Hornblower! Relatively quiet in here now, but rest assured that
it's only quiet before the storm...a storm that will probably last for several years!! [:'(]

I've finally cleared the mess in Rabaul - still some damaged ac but all damage to the base
has been repaired and most of the wreckage cleared away.

Another 60 days until the light carriers Chitose and Chiyoda have finsihed their conversion.
This is when I finally start receiving the new 'Zekes' - I will produce as many as possible the
next couple of months and try to provide the KB with as many first rate fighters as possible.

Jap strength will really peak during late 43 and I intend to trade some bases for time and save
my strength for the big fights that are bound to come in early 44. My supply lines will become
shorther while Ken's get longer. My damaged ships will have a much shorter way back to a safe
port while my subs can feast on Allied derelicts struggling towards the few deep water ports
availavble to them!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/15/43

Air Combat

A destroyer minelayer gets too close to Gasmata and a couple of Kates from Bougainville
lands a bomb on its deck in reward.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 60,92

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DM Gamble, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5N Kate bombing at 7000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

Not unduly much to report from the last two days...

Tanaka again tried to intercept an Allie convoy of Buna but it evaded [:(]

Enemy subs have again been spotted in the DEI and the ASW groups have been sent out again.
My super large tanker convoy is on its way to Japan with more than 300k units of oil.
Attaching a picture of this convoy! It has many escorts and is escorted by a dedicated asw TF.
If a sub commander should be good enough to hit one of the ships it is likely that he will be sunk in return.
One of the Katori class light cruisers has also been included in the convoy to provide a tempting target
instead of the loaded tankers.

Thinking about conducting a sea or air bombardment against an enemy base. Perhaps Darwin or PM again.
Not sure how this could be best accomplished.

Timor has now been substantially reinforced and forts are being built in all of the three bases on the island.
Each base also got its own dedicated CAP.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/16/43

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/17/43

Convoy

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/18/43

Sub/ASW Attacks

The asw groups immediately locate an enemy sub in the shallow waters of Balikpapan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 33,64

Japanese Ships
PG Eiko Maru
PG Busho Maru
DD Karukaya
PG Sozan Maru
DD Yakaze
PC Ch 14

Allied Ships
SS Sculpin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 33,64

Japanese Ships
PG Eiko Maru
PG Busho Maru
DD Karukaya
PG Sozan Maru
DD Yakaze
PC Ch 14

Allied Ships
SS Sculpin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Enemy fighter bombers have been attacking Salamua lately. I ordered some Zero's to
attempt a bounce! They succeed and bring down 8 enemy ac. The Spits rally quickly though
and 2 Zeros are also lost.

Day Air attack on Salamaua , at 54,88

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 24
Kittyhawk I x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 3 destroyed

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Spitfire Vb bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Picture Special: The Katsuragi

I've now received the 3 Unryo class carriers that were completed during the war.
Their history is not a very glorious one - hopefully we can remedy that in this game.

The Katsuragi, or Cloud Dragon, was one of the few ships that survived the war and was used for repatriation duties before being scrapped
in 1947. The pictures below show the Katsuragi being bombed at Kure in 1945 and how it looked after the war. It took a 2000 pound bomb hit
that really made a big hole midships.

You can read the tabular record of movement for these ships at the Combined Fleet site.

The Unry Class:

Year Completed Unryu: 1944
Amagi: 1944
Katsuragi: 1944
Displacement 22,534 tons
Dimensions 745'11" x 72'2" x 25'9"
Speed 34 knots
Armament 12 x 5"/40
up to 89 x 25mm/60
65 aircraft
Crew 1595

[Honda]

Some more...

In its "present" state, a fully operational threat to anyone sailing around the Pacific.

[PzB74]

Yep, was going to post that one in the next post Honda [8D]
PS! You forgot to sign your quote Honda "Pvt Baldrik" <G>

The Unryus should have been completed 6 months earlier and participated in the Marianas Turkey shoot.
Perhaps they could have taken out the Turkey...

Attaching a picture of the Amagi - she ended her days on her side!-)

Nothing much to report today either! Trying desperately to get the duds in Tokyo to fix the Yamato. Stuck at 12 sys damage
and only the Nagato with 6 sys damage in port with her [:@]

Still hauling damaged ac out of Rabaul - only 4 left though. What a good thing that Ken didn't follow up his giant strike.
Only a couple of transport groups flying in supplies to the Solomons there now + a bunch of fighters.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/18/43

[Honda]

ORIGINAL: PzB

Yep, was going to post that one in the next post Honda [8D]
PS! You forgot to sign your quote Honda "Pvt Baldrik" <G>

Oops!
BTW, this isn't the WW1 Baldrick, it's the Regency one [:'(]. My favourite...

[Andy Mac]

Accelerating those has had a real impact thats nearly 7 months early versus historical.

I never realised the Japanese could accelerate ships that much.

That seems to me a little overkill those ships were only laid down in mid 42 after Midway so thats 3 Fleet Carriers built in less than a year !!!!

Seems a little off to me

Andy