PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[PzB74]

Back from Xmas celebrations..the 38 page carol booklet scared me off early [8|]
I'd rather be hung from my thumbs for a week!

Can play WitP from my laptop again, but the hd is still shaky at best. New Athlon64
3500+ with a GeForce6600GT gfx card will arrive on Tuesday [&o]

I now know that Andy will take big chances - that is something I'm not used to.
So I will start preparing traps for him...starting asap!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/07/43

Sub/ASW Attacks

ASW attack at 44,44

Japanese Ships
TK Rikko Maru
TK Ogura Maru #2
PC Showa Maru #3
PC Shonon Maru #3
PC Shonan Maru #7
PC Toshi Maru #3
MSW Hakata Maru #7
MSW Choun Maru #6
Allied Ships
SS Crevalle, hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1190 encounters mine field at Green Island (63,89)- jm, heavy traffic...

Allied Ships
DE Gilmore
DE Burden R. Hastings
DE Jaccard
DD Braine
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Got of another good raid against the Marines at Kavieng!
Plenty of heat coming in the other direction as usual.

Day Air attack on 3rd USMC Division, at 61,86

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 25
Ki-21 Sally x 68
Ki-46-III Dinah x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 16th/A Division, at 61,86

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 5

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 3
P-40N Warhawk x 27
P-38G Lightning x 7
F-5A Lightning x 1
B-25J Mitchell x 24
PB4Y Liberator x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk III: 1 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 1 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
64 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 16th/B Division, at 61,86

Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 18th/C Division, at 61,86

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 9
Kittyhawk III x 3
P-40N Warhawk x 14
P-38G Lightning x 4
F-5A Lightning x 1
B-25J Mitchell x 18
PB4Y Liberator x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Emirau Island at 60,84 - dead end for this group of Forts!
Wanted to protect my damaged cruisers.

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 19
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 26
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 23

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 7 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Got in a really good attack on Kavieng, unfortunately I'm still taking bigger
casualties *annoyed*

Ground combat at Kavieng

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 74604 troops, 680 guns, 3 vehicles

Defending force 20627 troops, 91 guns, 104 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
977 casualties reported
Guns lost 15

Allied ground losses:
267 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 5
--------------------------------------------------------------

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/08/43

Sub/ASW Attacks

Andy sent dozens of subs to the area between New Britain and Truk. This forced me to send
out 4 asw groups and put 200 ac on asw missions. The results have been good, 4 subs hit by
ac today with the S-23 reported sunk.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 43,45

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 9
PC Takunan Maru #5
PC Takuna Maru #7
DD Asagao

Allied Ships
SS Raton, hits 1

Surface Combat

A small surface combat group was dispatched to the Marshalls and it hit Majuro today
with relatively good results!

Another small group went back to Kavieng as we reported several enemy cargo ships there.
The Marines must be eating their shoe laces [;)]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Majuro at 83,83

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu
CL Yura
DD Shimakaze
DD Fujinami
DD Arashi
DD Natsugumo
DD Nenohi
DD Hibiki

Allied Ships
AK Benjamin Ide Wheeler, Shell hits 23, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Edwin Booth, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Majuro at 83,83 - more pesky PT boats...Grrr

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 2
CL Yura
DD Shimakaze
DD Fujinami, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Arashi
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 2
DD Nenohi, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Hibiki, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
PT PT-21
PT PT-24
PT PT-26
PT PT-28
PT PT-42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Majuro at 83,83

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu
CL Yura
DD Shimakaze
DD Fujinami, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Arashi
DD Natsugumo
DD Nenohi, on fire
DD Hibiki, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
AK Liberty Glo
AK Archbishop Lamy
AK Conrad Kohrs
AK George Davidson
AK Irving M. Scott, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK James Harlan, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK John Alden, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK John Lind, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kavieng at 61,86

Japanese Ships
DD Uranami
DD Kisaragi
DD Yayoi
DD Satsuki

Allied Ships
MSW Sheldrake
AK Montanes, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Jalapalaka, Shell hits 1
AK St. Quentin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kavieng at 61,86

Japanese Ships
DD Uranami
DD Kisaragi
DD Yayoi
DD Satsuki

Allied Ships
AK Empire Parsons, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Empire Torrent, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air combat

I continue to bang up on Chungking. Don't want Andy to get enough supplies to upgrade
his Chink junk ac into Warhawks and B-25s!

Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 25
Ki-21 Sally x 51
Ki-48 Lily x 18
Ki-49 Helen x 18
Ki-46-III Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
71 casualties reported

Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 80
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 81,81

Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 16

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Fujinami, Bomb hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 61,90

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
LCT LCT-323, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 60,89

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 15

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 3
P-38G Lightning x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 1 damaged

Allied Ships - Betty's trying to hit Pt boats with torpedoes!! More Grrrr
PT PT-382
PT PT-366
PT PT-379
PT PT-367

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
------------------------------------------------------------------------
There were also strong air attacks against Kavieng and Rabaul!

Situation Map

I sortied the KB after Andy hit my cruisers: first they headed due east towards the
Marshalls before swinging south. All search planes were ordered to stand down and the
carriers avoided detection.

While Andy sent his carriers around the western tip of New Britain our search planes
spotted several large convoys heading for the Solomons. Even reported ca's and a carrier!!
Another surface group including a carrier was spotted heading for Kwajalein - but I don't
want to get within LBA range. So we're going south!

[PzB74]

The KB got of a series of violent attacks against 2 Allied convoys during the morning phase
on the 9th of September. The convoys were erased... [:D] Guess they were carrying supplies for the Solomons.
Perhaps that will force Andy to stand down his bombers. He's pushing them to mutiny!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/09/43

Air Combat

Let's ignore the daily bombing missions in the South Pacific today and concentrate
on naval air attacks!

Betty's based at Truk struck against ships unloading on the beaches west of Rabaul!
With a little luck we could have hit a couple of ca's...

Day Air attack on TF at 60,89

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 11

Allied aircraft
P-47C Thunderbolt x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 9 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Canberra

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 60,89

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 3
P-47C Thunderbolt x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Quincy

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here are the KB attacks against 2 enemy convoys!

Day Air attack on TF at 71,90

Japanese aircraft - no escorts...why does this make me extremely unhappy? Seems to happen 9 out 10 times
no matter how I organize my carrier fleets [:@]

D4Y Judy x 68
B5N Kate x 104

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y Judy: 1 damaged
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied Ships - this is the fun stuff [8D]
AK Steel Voyager, Torpedo hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Hawk, Bomb hits 1
AK Mormacwren, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Charles McCormick, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK West Ivis, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Pennant
AK West Cactus, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Heath, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Hamakua, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
SC SC-741, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Glade, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Bruce, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
SC SC-749, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage - yeah right...!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 71,90 - a follow up attack, also unescorted...grrrr

Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 59
B6N Jill x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N Jill: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Hamakua, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Heath, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK West Ivis, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Admiral Wiley, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Pennant, Bomb hits 2, on fire
SC SC-741, on fire, heavy damage
AK Charles McCormick, on fire, heavy damage
AK West Cactus, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Glade, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Steel Voyager, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 71,90 - a third unescorted strike!

Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 17
B5N Kate x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK West Cactus, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Glade, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Pennant, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Hawk, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 73,90 - a second convoy is then targetted and most of my escorts follow this modest strike in!

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
A6M5 Zeke x 93
D3A Val x 8
D4Y Judy x 18
B5N Kate x 42

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Kahuku, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Selma City, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Hawaiian, Bomb hits 11, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
SC SC-702, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK American Packer, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 73,90 - no more targets...

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 16
D3A Val x 8
B5N Kate x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Selma City, on fire, heavy damage
AK Kahuku, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Repulsed yet again with heavy losses.

Ground combat at Kavieng

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 72251 troops, 661 guns, 5 vehicles

Defending force 20631 troops, 93 guns, 91 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
1851 casualties reported
Guns lost 46
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
157 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Map: KB missions

I faced a series of difficult choices today: what should I do with the KB?
I decided to send one carrier division with the Junyo and 4 light carriers south to finish
of another enemy cargo convoy. The only threat should be enemy medium/heavy bombers
without escorts since the US carriers were spotted at Gili Gili today.

Well..not all of them: the surface combat group that was spotted yesterday heading north towards
the Marshalls included 1 or 2 enemy carriers that attempted to strike at our ships at Kwajalein.
Since most of our ships were disbanded into port they didn't find any targets.

Pretty sure Andy will race south and hide among his LBA. I'm putting the main force of the KB
some way west of the US bases north in the Gilberts. Perhaps his carriers will react? Can't ignore
the opportunity to knock one or two birdfarms out. It's a risk but a calculated one. Andy is aggressive
so let's try him. Carpe Diem baby [;)]

[PzB74]

A few updates:

Production of the George fighter has been accelerated to 11/43! Less than 2 months from
now. That's 2 months acceleration with less than 200 ac researched - excellent.

I'm releasing a large aviation unit from Kwantung. Soon all islands from Palau to Pagan will
have 250+ aviation support. Then we can concentrate on bringing as many bases in the Philippines
up to strength as possible.

All of the cruisers that were ravaged by enemy carriers a few days ago have arrived safely
at Truk and should be out of imminent danger. This includes the: Kako, Aoba, Kinugasa, Maya and Chokai.
Even the severly damaged destroyers have managed to limp back home.

So while the cruiser force suffered a severe blow a disaster was averted! We should have a dozen ca's
ready for action again within 6 months.

[Fishbed]

Guess the Marines will have hard time getting their christmas toys lying on the seabed somewhere between the Marshalls and the Solomons... You're so baaaad [:'(]

[PzB74]

Another 13 cargo ships sent to the bottom today Fishbed [8D] Hopefully Andy is running low on both fuel
and supplies by now. I will continue to nibble away at his flanks and cause as much mayhem and destruction
as possible before the inevitable tidal wave sweeps us away from New Britain.

I'm afraid my divisions at Kavieng will be decimated in the process but the US 3rd Marine Division
will NOT be available for operations in 1944 [;)] The 2nd Marine Div was wiped out in Java together with
3-4 enemy divisions, so the enemys spearhead has been blunted.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/10/43

Surface Combat

The Tokyo Express found new targets at Kavieng!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kavieng at 61,86

Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami
DD Asagumo
DD Yakaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Namikaze
DD Numakaze
DD Wakatake
DD Manazuru

Allied Ships
MSW Sheldrake, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Jalapalaka, Shell hits 32, and is sunk
AK St. Quentin, Shell hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kavieng at 61,86

Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami
DD Asagumo
DD Yakaze, on fire
DD Namikaze
DD Numakaze
DD Wakatake
DD Manazuru

Allied Ships
AK Empire Parsons, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Todays air to air losses:
Friendly - 22 Oscars, 7 Sallys, 5 Zeros/Zekes
Enemy - 19 Warhawk, 13 Helldivers, 12 Lightnings, 4 Mitchells, 3 Beaufighters

With the help of Oscars we managed to hit the 3rd USMC division pretty hard!
22 Oscars and 5 Sallys were shot down by the LRCAP - so the obsolete fighters can play a role after all.

Day Air attack on 3rd USMC Division, at 61,86

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 42
Ki-21 Sally x 75
Ki-46-III Dinah x 3

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 5
P-47C Thunderbolt x 4
P-47D Thunderbolt x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 18 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
111 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Americal USA/A Division, at 61,86

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 23
Ki-21 Sally x 28
Ki-46-III Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 5
P-47C Thunderbolt x 4
P-47D Thunderbolt x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 4 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Mk 21: 3 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I thought I was out of enemy SBD range but Andy got some new Helldivers at Nauru!
The first attack penetrated the CAP but failed to score any hits.

Day Air attack on TF at 73,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
A6M5 Zeke x 48

Allied aircraft
SB2C Helldiver x 19
P-40N Warhawk x 12
P-38G Lightning x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 4 destroyed, 11 damaged
P-40N Warhawk: 12 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 7 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CV Junyo
CVL Zuiho
CVL Shoho
BB Hiei
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Car Div 3 then launched 2 vicious torpedo plane attacks against 2 convoys!

Day Air attack on TF at 72,94

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 83

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Mexican, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Kalani, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Diamond head, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Outarde, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Texan, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Mobile City, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 69,91

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Hawk, heavy damage
AK Empire Glade, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Pennant, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A second raid from Nauru was obliterated by the CAP and only 4 Helldivers
broke through. They were flown by skilled pilots and a 500lb bomb hit the light carrier
Ryuho. Damage was relatively light, 20 sys and 8 fires. She will stay with the division,

Day Air attack on TF at 73,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
A6M5 Zeke x 45

Allied aircraft
SB2C Helldiver x 12
P-40N Warhawk x 13
P-38G Lightning x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 8 destroyed
P-40N Warhawk: 7 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 5 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 1
CVL Ryuho, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SB2C Helldiver bombing at 2000 feet
2 x SB2C Helldiver bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm evacuating damaged ships from Kavieng: the Beaufighters found two of them!

Day Air attack on TF at 61,82

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 8
P-40N Warhawk x 11

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Dainiunyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Saiho Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A second strike by Car Div 2 finished of the remaining transports!

Day Air attack on TF at 69,91

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 69

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Glade, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Hawk, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Pennant, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Mormacwren, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK West Ivis, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 72,94

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Mobile City, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Mexican, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Outarde, on fire, heavy damage
AK Diamond head, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Map: KB Operations

Another 10 ships were sunk today and if we add these to the 15 or so that sank yesterday I must consider the mission a success.
For now there are no more targets for the KB - all enemy ships are now covering within friendly LBA range - but I will return to the
corridor between the Solomons and Gilberts as Andy is moving a lot of shipping in this area.

In the future I will keep 7 and not 6 hexes away from enemy land bases. Good thing I learned this lesson
now and not when Andy had 200 Helldivers ready for me [;)]

[PzB74]

A question...I've tried changing my password from YTDSGRR...etc but can't find out where to do it [&:]
Is it just me or have I missed something? No options for password change in my personal profile...

Didn't get my new puter today either - well did get all the intestants but the god d@mn postal service 'forgot' my
cabinet in Stavanger [:@] Curse them!

[Sneer]

excellent
I love such raids with KB

[PzB74]

I felt a bit safe as I knew the location of the enemy carriers.
Today I spotted them again - back at Sag Sag!....

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/11/43

Sub/ASW Attacks

A prolonged skirmish between the Crevalle and a small asw group just
south of Hong Kong!

The sub pulled the longest straw in the end....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 44,44

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 9
PC Takunan Maru #5
PC Takuna Maru #7
DD Asagao

Allied Ships
SS Crevalle
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 44,44

Japanese Ships
PC Takunan Maru #5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
PC Ch 9
PC Takuna Maru #7
DD Asagao

Allied Ships
SS Crevalle
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 44,44

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 9
PC Takuna Maru #7
DD Asagao

Allied Ships
SS Crevalle
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Several heavy air strikes against Kavieng again. Look at that number of Corsairs!
Enough to shoot down half the IJAAF!

Day Air attack on Kavieng , at 61,86

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 56
Kittyhawk III x 8
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 9
P-39D Airacobra x 6
P-40N Warhawk x 50
P-38G Lightning x 26
F-5A Lightning x 5
P-47C Thunderbolt x 28
B-25J Mitchell x 96
PB4Y Liberator x 7

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
87 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 47
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kavieng , at 61,86

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 51
B-25J Mitchell x 50
B-17E Fortress x 26
B-24D Liberator x 38

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported

Port hits 5
Port supply hits 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time for the ground attacks...

Day Air attack on 16th/A Division, at 61,86

Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 22
B-17E Fortress x 19

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
74 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 16th/B Division, at 61,86

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 18
P-40N Warhawk x 2
B-24D Liberator x 11

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 60,89

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 4
P-38J Lightning x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
LCT LCT-151, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Quincy - another close call...

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Map: Enemy carriers at Sag Sag!

I've orchestrated a a little get together since the enemy carriers returned to Sag Sag.
Guess Andy wants to repeat his little success. A large scale air strike is risky but his CAP will be reduced
if he keeps his carriers in a port. So I've moved most of my naval bombers in the area to the forward bases
together with Zekes, Oscars and Tojos.

Hopefully we can knock another capital ship or two out of the conflict for a while.
A small destroyer TF is also heading for Green Isl. Some enemy transports there...

The KB is being recombined and will head back towards Truk at cruise speed.
Next turn in the inbox so I better go take a look! [&o]

[PzB74]

Andy DID send his carriers to the Admirality Islands and presented pretty
tempting targets for our naval bombers. The CAP was heavy and most of our bombers stayed
home - can't say I blame them. The CAP vacum cleaned 99% of all attacking ac [:'(]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/12/43

Surface Combat

The small Tokyo Express was a success!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Green Island at 63,89

Japanese Ships
DD Uranami
DD Kisaragi
DD Yayoi
DD Satsuki, Shell hits 1, on fire - seldom I've seen a cargo ship hit anything with their 5" guns at night!
DD Otori, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Kiji

Allied Ships
AK Frederick J. Turner, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK George S. Boutwell
AK William G. Fargo, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK William Vanderbilt, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Green Island at 63,89

Japanese Ships
DD Uranami
DD Kisaragi
DD Yayoi
DD Satsuki, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Otori, on fire
DD Kiji

Allied Ships
AK Leonis, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Adhara, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Green Island at 63,89

Japanese Ships
DD Uranami
DD Kisaragi
DD Yayoi
DD Satsuki, on fire
DD Otori, on fire
DD Kiji

Allied Ships
PT PT-111, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT PT-243, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT PT-297
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Sub/ASW Attacks

The Crevalle is a feisty thing...her victims should make it to Hong Kong.
Sending out a more powerful asw group.

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Sub attack at 44,44

Japanese Ships
AP Eli Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 11
MSW Seki Maru #3

Allied Ships
SS Crevalle
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Sub attack at 44,44

Japanese Ships
AP Achou Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 11
MSW Seki Maru #3

Allied Ships
SS Crevalle
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One of my subs stumbled into the US carrier TF's!! Goodybe...
ASW attack at 58,85

Japanese Ships
SS I-173, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Allied Ships
DD Fullam
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Air Combat

It's incredible that all these ac can fly 7 days a week 4 weeks a month [:'(]

Day Air attack on Kavieng , at 61,86

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 50
B-25J Mitchell x 41
B-17E Fortress x 25
B-24D Liberator x 40

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port hits 1
Port supply hits 7
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Todays Army AF raids against Kavieng were expensive as the LRCAP engaged
all ac that entered the hex.

Day Air attack on 3rd USMC Division, at 61,86

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 32
Ki-21 Sally x 68
Ki-46-III Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 12
P-40N Warhawk x 2
P-38G Lightning x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 13 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 20 destroyed, 16 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Mk 21: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
P-40N Warhawk: 1 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 5 damaged

Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Americal USA/A Division, at 61,86

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 45
Ki-46-III Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 11
P-40N Warhawk x 2
P-38G Lightning x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 7 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Mk 21: 1 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
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Day Air attack on 16th/A Division, at 61,86

Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 14
B-17E Fortress x 4

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 16th/B Division, at 61,86

Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 28
B-17E Fortress x 22

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
93 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 16th/C Division, at 61,86

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 9
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 6
P-47C Thunderbolt x 12
B-25J Mitchell x 33

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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The retreating destroyers were bounced twice...one hit in each attack!

Day Air attack on TF at 67,87

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 15
Kittyhawk III x 7
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 7
P-40N Warhawk x 34

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Mk 21: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Kisaragi
DD Yayoi, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
3 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
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The air strikes against the US carriers weren't very encouraging [8|]

Day Air attack on TF at 58,85

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
A6M5 Zeke x 47
B5N Kate x 8

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 185
Corsair IV x 18

Japanese aircraft losses - That's a 63/1 and all my pilots were highly experienced. F-16s couldn't have done a better job
A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 47 destroyed
B5N Kate: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
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Day Air attack on TF at 58,85

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 8
G4M2 Betty x 9
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 184
Corsair IV x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 8 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 9 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 10 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged
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Day Air attack on TF at 60,89

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 13

Allied aircraft
P-47C Thunderbolt x 16
P-47D Thunderbolt x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied Ships
LCT LCT-379
AP Fayette
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Day Air attack on TF at 66,87

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 18
B-24D Liberator x 11

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Otori, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage - should make it to Truk!

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Emirau Island at 60,84

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 5
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 10
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 15

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Mk 21: 5 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AG AG-369
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Smaller CAP in the afternoon phase but again all attacking ac are shot down.

Day Air attack on TF at 58,85

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 21
G4M1 Betty x 4
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 18

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 126
Corsair IV x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 21 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 18 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 60,89

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3
G4M2 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 3
P-38J Lightning x 2
P-47C Thunderbolt x 9
P-47D Thunderbolt x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Idaho
LCT LCT-361

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Losses

The numbers says it all! A pretty dull and one sided affair...
Not unexpected but I had hoped that 50 highly experienced Zekes would stand a small chance against Hellcats.

They couldn't!

The Hellcat is an upgrade of the Wildcat and the Zeke is an enhanced version of the A6M2. Earlier on the Zero
shot down Wildcats at roughly a 2-1 ratio. Now the Hellcats achieve an 8-1 kill ratio (100 to 12 = 1/8.3) against Zekes
piloted by highly skilled pilots. We were outnumbered today but it doesn't sound quite right to me. A kill ratio of
3 or maybe 4-1 would be more accurate.

I got the following plan for future operations: A core of experienced bomber ac will be mixed with a much bigger number of green
fighter and bomber ac. This way it should be possible to overwhelm the CAP now and then.
It will also make it easier to re-train pilots. As I see it I only need to train my bomber crews; the fighters are only cannon fodder anyway.

[Fishbed]

Yes the air combat system, apart from super Corsair or super Hellcat definitely doesn't sound right. It's way too bloody, and CAP way too Uber (as much as for the Japanese starting DS as for the latter US ones I mean). Nick's mod seems quite efficient at getting it more logical... No to talk about the interception time, that seems to start some hundred kilometers before the Task Force - I mean, the bombers are definitely not quick enough, leaks should happen much more oftenly on every side...

But the results against the Corsair in the previous fights some weeks ago are just plainly ridiculous. 20 corsairs, even well manned, can't take on 100 A6M with good pilots and 30 bombers, that's just mathematics. I don't know if the devs thought about how the fight may look like - I don't say that a game like Pacific Fighters gives a right and realistic idea of the thing, but imagine yourself flying 20 corsairs against hundreds, I can bet you someone may eventually get a bullet into your plane sometime before the end of the day...

[Fishbed]

The Hellcat is an upgrade of the Wildcat and the Zeke is an enhanced version of the A6M2. Earlier on the Zero
shot down Wildcats at roughly a 2-1 ratio.

But this is maybe a little exagerated The Hellcat is more exactly a complete Zero killer mainly designed after the captured Aleutian Zeke's performances. To say the truth, Ive read from some Japanese themselves that the IJN crew may even fear the Hellcat more than the Corsair, which had only very limited performances when it came to manoeuvrability and that still could tricked when flown by an average pilot...

[PzB74]

You're probably right Fishbed - I just hoped that the Hellcat was a tad less efficient. A 8-1 kill ratio against my best Zeke pilots is a bit depressing.
Will have to be very careful and come up with new and more efficient tactics.

[castor troy]

These results against experienced Zeke pilots are just ! Just have to say that again and again and again! Damn, they have to look at those results and change something. There are ridicoulos kill rates in the early war achieved by Japanese but the results of the Allied planes is.... Repeat, we´re talking here about experienced Japanese pilots, not green boys with 20 hours of flight training. RIDICOULOS!

[ChezDaJez]

The Hellcat is more exactly a complete Zero killer mainly designed after the captured Aleutian Zeke's performances.

Actually, not quite true. The Hellcat was on the design boards before Pearl Harbor. Preliminary testing during June 42 showed that the current Hellcat design needed some tweaking, notably in climb rate and speed. A more powerful engine was then installed but the basic airframe remained the same. This version first flew in July 1942, the same month Koga's Zero was discovered. Jimmy Thatch, after seeing a pre-production Hellcat, recommended that the cowling be sloped similar to the F4F for better deflection shooting. The first production Hellcat (F6F-3) flew in October 1942.

Refinements to later models did have some mods made after more became known about Koga's Zero.

BTW, the Hellcat did have the best kill ratio of any US fighter (USN, USMC, USAAF) in the war. Still doesn't justify the the massacre above.

Chez

[Tom Hunter]

But the results against the Corsair in the previous fights some weeks ago are just plainly ridiculous. 20 corsairs, even well manned, can't take on 100 A6M with good pilots and 30 bombers, that's just mathematics. I don't know if the devs thought about how the fight may look like - I don't say that a game like Pacific Fighters gives a right and realistic idea of the thing, but imagine yourself flying 20 corsairs against hundreds, I can bet you someone may eventually get a bullet into your plane sometime before the end of the day...

-Fishbed

Have to disgree in certain respects. 20 Corsairs can easily take on 100 A6M, they just can't kill them all in fact they could not even find them all.

The problem is not the stats on the Corsair, Hellcat, Zero or any other plane. The problem is in the combat model. As I have often posted before, the more planes you have in a fight the greater percentage never shoot or get fired on at all. Planes that don't shoot don't score kills, planes that are not fired on cannot be shot down.

There are many well documented cases durning the Battle of Britian where small numbers of RAF fighters attacked much larger numbers of Germans and did well. There are also plenty in the Pacific.

Here are some examples from an account of the Great Marinanas Turkey shoot:

"Nearly two-thirds of this first wave of 69 failed to return." -http://www.navyleague.org/sea_power/jun_04_46.php

But that means one third did, which would never happen in WitP.

"Near midday, Cmdr. David McCampbell, joined by fighters off the USS Essex and other carriers, ambushed a second, larger wave of more than 100 enemy attackers. Despite the spirited assault launched by McCampbell and his fellow fliers, some of the Japanese airmen managed to make it through to press attacks on Mitscher’s flattops, but only scored near misses and inflicted minimal casualties. Meanwhile, more than 70 Japanese aircraft went down in flames. " ibid

Again 30-40% got away.

"After landing, refueling and rearming, McCampbell and his Essex comrades joined with Hellcats from the USS Cowpens to shoot down 30 of 49 Japanese aircraft approaching the runway over Orate Field at Guam" ibid

That last one has 40% survivors, ever see that in WitP.

Note that this was a huge defeat for real war Japan, but in game terms most Japanese players would consider this a great result, much lighter casualties than usual.

In the battle the over all kill ratio was 12 to 1 in the Americans favor, which is a pretty strong argument for the superiority of the Hellcat. It is not that the Hellcat is to good, it is that planes fight to hard what ever their carachteristics. Which is too damn bad, but that is the way the game was built.

I do think this is a critically important point, and any successful fix of this problem requires this be understood. The problem is not the air to air combat ratings of the Hellcat or any other plane, it is the combat engine. Changing the plane stats will just screw up the game in some other way, you cannot fix the combat engine by changing the stats on the units.

[Mynok]

Can I simplify that into:

Each plane gets to shoot at too many enemy planes?

I believe that is the essential problem as well.

[Philwd]

I agree with Tom that the system is to blame. But to fix it you have to understand the circumstances that led to the 10:1 kill ratios in RL. The Japanese at least once maybe twice off loaded thier carrier planes to defend Rabual. By the time of the Turkey Shoot there were few experienced pilots left. PzB had lots of experienced pilots left.

Corsairs often get the high kill ratio quoted. But that was against ALL planes not fighters only. And you have to add in all those kills they got suckering the Japs to take off into a fighter sweep. Sitting ducks. The system is very skewed that way.
Plus in RL 20 Corsairs would not face off against 100 Zekes. The battle that got Boyington shot down was IIRC about 2:1 numerical advantage in favor of the Zekes(70 to 40). Again going off memory the kills favored the US but not even by 2:1. Once the high energy fighter dives and mixes it up a little he's lost his energy advantage and can get jumped very easily. Reading through accounts of corsair combat you can find lots of instances where the kill were 1:1, 1.5:1. The reasons given were usually green squadrons!! BTW these Zekes giving a 1:1 - 2:1 account of themselves were the highly trained carrier pilots. Hellcats also took part in these battles and performed much the same. Pilot experience matters more than the system gives it.

Having said that Zero ratios early are also skewed too much.

Getting off soap box now.

[Fishbed]

Thank you for the info Chez [:)]

Have to disgree in certain respects. 20 Corsairs can easily take on 100 A6M, they just can't kill them all in fact they could not even find them all.

Im sorry Tom my english is so filthy [:(] - I agreed with you on the point that the main problem is the combat system which leads to the largest part of the unrealistic results we are witnessing. Numerically speaking the 20 can't shoot down one hundred, for simple ammo and non-ubiquituous reasons I agree too, my main point was about this total absence of leaking from the attacking forces on every side. As you say, vastly inferior number of RAF planes manage to strike efficiently, and I agree totally with you: if BoB had beem played with the WiP engine, it is just like having everytime whole squadrons wiped out during unbalanced encounters. That's just not fair: even when falling upon unescorted stukas, Ive never read about total obliteration just like those we may see in WiP...
But once again we're not talking about green A6M5 pilots - of course the F4U is vastly superior to the Zeke in many aspects, but still against such a consistent able force, escaping to destruction for the F4U pilots would mean a very well drilled approche of the problems, with a number of selected lightning attacks with pauses in between. No way you may down 60 planes like this is 10 minutes of course. I agree with Quark on his explanation, he's a much better orator than me. [:)]

[Sneer]

with limited ammo there would be no problem each a/c would have enough i.e. 3 other planes and that's all

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: Tom Hunter

But the results against the Corsair in the previous fights some weeks ago are just plainly ridiculous. 20 corsairs, even well manned, can't take on 100 A6M with good pilots and 30 bombers, that's just mathematics. I don't know if the devs thought about how the fight may look like - I don't say that a game like Pacific Fighters gives a right and realistic idea of the thing, but imagine yourself flying 20 corsairs against hundreds, I can bet you someone may eventually get a bullet into your plane sometime before the end of the day...

-Fishbed

Have to disgree in certain respects. 20 Corsairs can easily take on 100 A6M, they just can't kill them all in fact they could not even find them all.

BUT what you forget is, that PzB sends in 100 very well experienced A6M against 20 Corsairs and gets those kill ratios in return. In real life the Japanese pilots of the later years weren´t nearly as good as PzB elite pilots. This is a HUGE difference. And so those results are still ridicoulos.