Gen.Hoepner vs. Hawker, Mare Nostrum

[kkoovvoo]

Great job GH!
I am glad to play with you, and not aginst you, in multiplayer PBEM [;)]

[pauk]

good job, indeed. Can you share your little secrets with us? 58 Zeros on the CAP should be able to do better job against Beauforts... right? What attitude you used for planes - i guess that T-IV were higher than Beauforts... what about fighters?

(i'm asking this because i had situation when 60 zero's were not enough for smaller force that yours and they still managed to put 2 torps in my CV(E)).....

congrats anyway[:)] (but my hart is with japanese)

[Gen.Hoepner]

Thx guys[:D]

Nothing special. The key is to get those zeros fatigued enough. in the last 2 days they shot down almost 200 of my planes and flew many missions both on escort and CAP.
Today we launched many different raids ( smaller than the one you see reported here) that surely contributed to fatigue those crews.
However beauforts were at 6000, T-IVs at 5000 while the bombers ( hustons and Martins) at 16000.
The great job however was done by the AVG who keep engaged for a lonf time his fighters....

Fatigue is more than an issue during CV combats

[Gen.Hoepner]

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[Gen.Hoepner]

...

[Kereguelen]

Is Rabaul a level 4 AF? If not, no Betty threat...

[Gen.Hoepner]

Yes, Rabaul has grown to level 4 both port and AF. Too risky for me at the moment

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/28/42


KB is running away, chased down by my brave sailors[:D][:D]
My PTs engaged a surface night action and managed to put a push into a BB[8D]
Then, when day came, what remained of my air force at Java lauched an extreme attack, trying to sink Akagi...unfortunately we only managed to put a pair of bombs that scratched the paint of a japanese BB...but A/C losses are 30 vs 18 in his favour....that means KB has lost nearly 80 pilots in the last 3 days[:D][:D][:D]
Very very good indeed.
My subs will hunt Akagi till Balikapan...let's see if i manage to get some more luck[:)]

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Night Time Surface Combat at 24,68

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CV Zuikaku
BB Hiei, Shell hits 5
BB Kirishima, Torpedo hits 1, on fire[;)]
CA Tone, Shell hits 1
DD Akigumo
DD Kagero
DD Oyashio
DD Isokaze, Shell hits 1
DD Shiranuhi
DD Umikaze

Allied Ships
DD Van Ghent, Shell hits 10, on fire
PT TM-9, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
PT TM-11
PT TM-12
PT TM-13, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PT TM-14
PT TM-15

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Day Air attack on TF at 26,69

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 31

Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 16
Hudson I x 23
Beaufort V-IX x 41
P-40B Tomahawk x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 15 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Martin 139: 8 destroyed
Hudson I: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 8 destroyed, 5 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 1
DD Yakaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Ise
BB Hyuga



sorry no screen shots...my replays are always wrong[:@]

[Gen.Hoepner]

oh...forgot to say...i've ready a very nice surprise for him tomorrow at Batavia[;)] where a BB group keeps stationing there without bombarding[;)]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/29/42

Surprise in Batavia failed. He moved back his BBs to Palembag[:@]. However now i have 2 swordfish groups in Java^_* better than nothing.
The air attrition is hurting my pools, but he keeps losing planes. 18 today vs my 30. Not bad. the ratio is good enough.
More 20 P-40Bs should arrive tomorrow at Sosarbaja to fill the gaps among AVG lines.

Today he sent a big minelaying Tf to Java. unescorted[&:][&:]
4 MLs sunk and 2 more badly damaged... strange, to say the least[X(]

Akagi is still moving towards Balikapan. Tomorrow 5 ducth subs should intercept her...

Nothing more. my CVs are refueled and are now moving towards Perth.



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Day Air attack on TF at 26,66


Allied aircraft
Martin 139 x 4
Hudson I x 15
Beaufort V-IX x 26


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
ML Sokuten
ML Yaeyama
ML Saishu, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
ML Aotaka, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
ML Kamome
ML Wakatake, Bomb hits 1, on fire

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Day Air attack on TF at 26,66


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 15
Beaufort V-IX x 30


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
ML Wakatake, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
ML Sokuten
ML Yaeyama, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
ML Kamome

[Gen.Hoepner]

Forgot to say:
The first chinese Div arrived at Ledo today. In 3 days we'll have more 700 APs roaming in Burma[8D]. Everything, however, depends on wether Mouleim will be able to hold the river crossing assault or not

[Gen.Hoepner]

Something else to say waiting for the next turn:

- The invasion of PM has started. many TFs reported moving south from Rabaul. Nothing i can do or wanna do to stop this process.PM is lost and i take this option has something that it ought to be paid.

Very confident in CENTPAC. Palmyra is growing fast and Christmas too. I really like the strategy of creating a defensive perimeter starting from the closest bases. In few days the Americal Div will be available. This division will be sent to Plamyra, so making the place absolutely untouchable. In few days we'll start to ship planes and engeneers to Oz. Wanna start the bombing campaign from Darwin by the beginning of summer '42[;)]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AAR for 31-1-42

Jan has passed by and my strongpoints are holding well enough.
Java is a beauty that is springing in my hands[:D]

His invasion forces have passed Gili Gili and are now close to PM....nothing i can do about that.
He's landing in an empty Macassar and so the Mollucche will soon be japanese.
Lae Lae is invaded and so Buna in NG.

CENTPAC is quite

[Gen.Hoepner]

PM, after a 2 days bombardment run, have been invaded on the 2nd of Feb. I presume it will fall at the first attempt.
Lae held the first Japanese Assault, while Buna is already in yellow hands[:D]
Macassar is Japanese and soon the gap between Java and Darwin ( my two strongholds) will be filled with japanese troops, planes and ships.

120 B-17s have been moved to Java. They will perform only naval search mission untill Sosarbaja gains AF level 5 (3 days i guess). The Kb has disappeared from Balikpan ( or at least ins't reported by my planes).

Singapore starts to fall. The first fort crubled down and he already reached 1-1...soon, very soon...probably in 4 days Singapore will be Japanese. So my time is running away. I gotta move my CVs to Java ASAP and move back the RN from Colombo to Sosarbaja...

we'll have a very hot winter[:D]

[aztez]

I see you have moved quite a few units from India to DEI... How is the defensive perimeter at India currently??? I mean you propably don't have that many solid ground units there? ...I would assume that you are somewhat vulnerable there???

Btw, nice ambush againts the KB [:D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

Yes, i'm vulnerable. But i think he cannot go for India leaving behind him Java...i'll start to bomb his Oil plants here as soon as my AFs get upgraded to level 5...

However i've moved to Java only the 18th Div and one indian div.....

[Gen.Hoepner]

I promise that this week end, when i'll have some spare time, i'll post maps, summaries etc....i understand this AAR has been a bit....mmm...let's say not really detailed so far

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/03/42

He landed at PM with the 2nd Div, the S.S.D. and 1 eng rgt. He's not going to have any problem to get the place. Lae will probably fall tomorrow along with PM, giving the whole NG to the japs.
The Lexington TF encountered and sunk a jap sub: I-22. We've sunk several enemy subs so far. Good!
My carriers are approaching Perth, followed by a TF carrying a NZ Bde. These tough men will be brought to Sosarbaja escorted by the US carriers.
The RN is ready to move all his assets to Java. Just waiting for the ABDA command to order it.
40 more Wirraways are being ready at Darwin. As soon as they get repaired they'll be sent to Java where they'll upgrade to Hurricanes.
More Hudsons and Beauforts ready at Darwin too.
Darwin is really safe now. 600 APs with forts growing. Now we need some american AV support and a pair of good B-17 squadrons to start with[:D]
Americal US Division is loading at SF: its first stop will be Palmyra.
Attu Island is being built and the whole northern front is well activated.

Singapore and Manila won't last long, probably one week each...maybe more.
Mouleim hasn't been attacked yet...wonder what is he waiting[&:]
In China i'm redeploying my forces. Now i'm stuck and i hate to be stuck. Flexibility is the key! So move back, reorganize and strike back!
Yenen is being sourronded. We're moving back to Sian and leaving Honan. Everything is moving fine for the moment.

In the picture you can see the actual status of Sosarbaja.More 100,000 supplies are coming from India and some 27x3 wildcats and 36x3 SDBs will soon be added[8D]. I'm very pleased.

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/04/42

Singapore is falling. Those brave men are losing their last battle. Those brave men are losing their life. The British Empire is proud of its sons and bless them all.
Heil to the defenders of Singapore. Long Live the King!

Ok, stop with poetry[:D]
Forts at Singa are down to 4. But he already managed a 2-1 so...2/3 days at best.
After Singapore i know he will come for Java. I'd do that. I really hope for that time to be able to scrumble there my CV groups and some BBs...let's see if i can ruin his day with 7 BBs smashing his landings[:D]
It's damned risky. Hundreds of Betties and Nells will be waiting for us....but hey!: This is war and we're here to fight!
Forgive me if i'm not the best allied player, but i strongly believe japan must be fought with attrition ( Tom's Theory[;)])...and , above all, i wanna have fun![8D]
Hope to manage to get there the NZ Bde...it would be very very helpfull!!!
Sosarbaja along with Darwin today got its AF to level 5...no b-17s will be able to fly[:D] He must be very carefull with his oilplants[:)]

PM Fell today as expected. NG is in enemy's hands now. It's ok...i do not care much.

2 Aviation Rgts are loading at PH with Tons of Supplies. Will be sent to Brisbane and then to Cairns and Darwin. Planes and troops loading tomorrow at PH: destination OZ

I'm also touching the idea of sending one more indian division to Java....let's see if i get the right mood[:D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/05/42

Another fort is downed at Singapore. Hawker told me he's going for Sosarbaja next. So i'll take his words as truth and i'll play as consequence. Loaded up another Indian Bde , 2 arty units and one Tank Bde. Destination: Sosarbaja. Now India is really empty[:'(]
The whole Royal Navy is moving from Colombo. It will meet the Us Fleet west of Java and will launch its planes to the Island. Many BBs will be expended and sacrified to the GOD OF WAR!
Tons of supplies and fuel are loading in India. We'll need as much as possible to hold against the japanese wave that's coming!

Stay tuned guys...it's gonna be fun![;)]