PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[Honda]

Amen and praise be to The Thread[&o]

[Alikchi2]

What will be your reaction to the fall of Rabaul? (Do you still have troops left on Kavieng?)

[PzB74]

As Rabaul falls the enemies attention will turn towards Kavieng, Emirau and the Admiralities....
Truk is already in range of long range escort fighters and heavy bombers. It's time to slowly fall back towards
our main defensive perimeter.

I've resisted Andy as much as I possible could thus far to delay him: it's time to prepare for the next battle.
The one that we have to win! It's important to know your limitations - Japan can not withstand a numerical and technical
superior assault from the skies. We have to wait for the next big amphibious landings against more defendable targets.

There are still 2 divisions and supporting units on Kavieng - the evacuation will continue but this will be much
slower after Truk was bombed into oblivion. Still 100% service and 20% runway damage 3 days after the attack - and I got
350 engineers and 110k supplies there.

[Arstavidios]

Great Job. The allies do not have many ground units left and they have little replacements.

You can replace your losses easliy while he cannot. Make his ground forces bleed.
He can flatten you with his fleet and air force but without ground forces he can't take your bases.

[PzB74]

That's my only chance Arstavidios - there are dozens of heavily fortified bases the Americans
have to invade in order to get to Japan or the Philippines. It takes almost a year to rebuild a shattered
division so all the losses they're taking now will win us more time and more time brings more land reinforcements.

Japan has barely started to mobilize army formations for the Pacific - over the next 6-8 months huge reinforcements
will arrive.

Andy is still on a wild goose chase after my 'ghost fleet' which by now is almost back in Tokyo or Ulithi. The US carriers
have almost moved to Wake Island <G>.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/19/43

Sub Attacks

Sub attack at 38,77

Japanese Ships
MSW Himejima Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *snks*
PG Sozan Maru
PG Hirotama Maru
PG Busho Maru
MSW W.6

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

Invasions

I love mines [;)]

TF 1032 encounters mine field at Madang (54,84)
TF 1032 troops unloading over beach at Madang, 54,84

Allied Ships
MSW Ballarat
MSW Mildura
MSW Warrnambool
MSW Robin
MSW Tern
MSW Revenge
MSW Wagga
MSW Strahan
DMS Elliot
DD Arunta
DD Barton
AK Empire Rainbow, Mine hits 1, on fire

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
81 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 79,79

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 2

Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 3
P-38G Lightning x 11
P-38J Lightning x 32
P-47C Thunderbolt x 8
P-47D Thunderbolt x 3
PB4Y Liberator x 32
B-24D Liberator x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 3 destroyed
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
60 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 54
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 6

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 9
Boomerang II x 12
Spitfire Vb x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 40th USA Division, at 82,81

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 13

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 6

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Allied ground losses:
2 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 40th USA Division, at 82,81

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 8
Ki-21 Sally x 34

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 5 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 55,88

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 6
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied Ships
AP Bloemfontrin

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 55,88

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Harrison
DD Brownson, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage *sinks* [8D]

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 58,87

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 4

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
AK William Windom, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 55,88

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vb x 3
Kittyhawk I x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Harrison

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

Ground Combat

Andy has been forced to reinforce his Maloelap invasion with substantial forces...
Let's make him pay before he gets to Kwajalein - and Eniwetok - and Ponape - and Wake and... [8D]

Ground combat at Maloelap

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6497 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 19734 troops, 125 guns, 0 vehicles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rabaul

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 44967 troops, 233 guns, 212 vehicles

Defending force 10123 troops, 0 guns, 79 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 16 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Rabaul base !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Japanese ground losses:
3017 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 15

Allied ground losses:
322 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Vehicles lost 2
------------------------------------------------------

Rabaul falls

There were virtually nothing left in Rabaul in the end - just tattered remnants!
The brave defenders made the Americans bleed, Banzai [&o]

[Honda]

Invade PH[:D]

[PzB74]

Let's call it Operation Certain Death [:D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/20/43

Sub/ASW Attacks

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 38,77

Japanese Ships - one of the damaged cargo ships of Kai Island
AP Imizu Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
MSW Hinode Maru #20

Allied Ships
SS Finback
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 38,77

Japanese Ships
PG Sozan Maru
PG Hirotama Maru
PG Busho Maru
MSW W.6

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

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 31

Allied aircraft
I-16c x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
I-16c: 3 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Truk , at 63,78 - some 60 damaged ac were torched on the ground.
Takes forever to fix the place even with 350 engineers.

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 28
B-17E Fortress x 38
PB4Y Liberator x 7
B-24J Liberator x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 destroyed
L3Y Tina: 3 destroyed
H8K Emily: 5 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 4 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed
Ki-57-II Topsy: 2 destroyed
L2D2 Tabby: 2 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 4 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 destroyed
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses - the heavies take a lot of OP losses and it will take time to repair all these damaged ac!
B-17E Fortress: 16 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Arizana Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
131 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 83
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 79,79

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 14
P-38G Lightning x 13
P-38J Lightning x 13
PB4Y Liberator x 33
B-24D Liberator x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 3 destroyed
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 37

Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now this is a big strike!

Day Air attack on 62nd Chinese Corps, at 42,36

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 267
D4Y Judy x 54
A6M5c Zeke x 48
B5N Kate x 65
B6N Jill x 26
G4M2 Betty x 6
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 36
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 36
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 36

No Japanese losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 4th USMC Para Battalion, at 48,78

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 Helen x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Siador - this place won't last long...

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3359 troops, 34 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 770 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Japanese ground losses:
51 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
---------------------------------------------------------------

Boot Camp is China is really busy...got some 1200 ac to train!

[Rob Brennan UK]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now this is a big strike!

Day Air attack on 62nd Chinese Corps, at 42,36

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 267
D4Y Judy x 54
A6M5c Zeke x 48
B5N Kate x 65
B6N Jill x 26
G4M2 Betty x 6
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 36
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 36
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 36

No Japanese losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


UM .. they wern't very accurate though [:D][:D].. experience 15 anyone ? .. sorry could not resist.

[Arstavidios]

You've just opened the new fall 1943 pilot training session?

[PzB74]

I'm bombing a Chink corps with no active units - so there's nothing to destroy Rob [;)]

It's been active all along but the fighting over the last few months is pushing their capacity...
Got 1200 ac there with exp between 45 and 72, it's my emergency reserve of ac.

[toraq]

From Spanish HQs,

It´s been a long time since our last report. Now it´s Corsairs & Hellcats time. No way to archive a great victory.[:@]

Your doing a good job, and I agree with you that your opponent (Andy) is attacking too many places at a time so you can still get local superiority at least in one. Well done at Kai Island. He won´t forget it!.[:'(]

However, I think that you may aim your power in other ways to stopp the allied wave:

1) Your KB is still powerful. I can´t undestand why don´t you use it (or parts of it) to attack his supply lines out of his Corsair range. Destroying supplies and transports IS the only way to slow down his offensive. I don´t know if it is possible to do it but you could try again, as you tried some moths ago.

2) I can´t understand why some of you spend time upgrading capital ships [&:]WHEN they are needed somewhere else urgently (e.g Kaga). Upgrading won´t save the ship at all!. Now you will face 120 SBDs in one wave...no matter how many guns you have, they´ll sink the ship anyway. The only way of saving your CVs is to avoid such battles.

3) Maybe you may get a couple divisions from India. We think that if he wants to attack you there, he will have to invade Timor, Jva, etc...any attempt to get to India will be easily warned and you will have time to reinforce it with troops from Japan (as your supply lines to India are well protected). Reinforcing with one division Kwajalein/truk/etc could stop him for a while. I was very pleased to see how much damage did your poor troops at Rabaul. And no army crack division was present!!

4) I don´t know the point of sending waves of 20-30 planes [:-]to attack ships with strong CAP. No one pass through and he gains a lot of expecience pilots. Only if you´re trying to learn how to send waves of 120 planes there is sense in such a bloody battles...

5) Maybe it would be a good idea to strike back some of his foward bases with lots of bombers, just to threaten, so he spends CAP protecting his bases.

6) The truk air battle is the only one you can get some benefits.
a) He spends lots of supply points to get the heavies off the ground
b) Your planes can still fight against P-38. I see a good opportunity to prove the George
c) Any damaged plane can be lost in such a distance
d) AA fire is also important
Everything together could cost him a lot of effort. And if you manage to attract his CVs to the area (which he would do to destroy Truk entirely) you could attack with your CV in other place or prepare a trap.
I guess it´s too late to fight over the skies of truk but if you bomb supply depots in the heavies bases...and even send more ENG units....

7) Kai island has been painful to ANdy, I´m sure. [:D]No way to repeat it somewhere else, to prepare a trap?.


I know some of my ideas are almost crazy ones. I only want to make sure you´ve thought about them.
1944 is going to be a very hard year, and I´m gonna read your AAR bitting my nails!

Good luck! [:)]

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/21/43

Sub/ASW Attacks

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 33,50

Japanese Ships
AK Arimasan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
MSW Wa 4

Allied Ships
SS Cabrilla
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Truk , at 63,78

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 58
B-17E Fortress x 23
PB4Y Liberator x 5
B-24J Liberator x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 5 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Shoto Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kikukawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
77 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port hits 15
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 60,87 - small needle pricks, some day Andy will run out of msw's [;)]

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
MSW Penguin, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Bittern
MSW Sage, Bomb hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Siador

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3299 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 626 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Siador base !!!

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Madang - over the next few days 1500 ac will pound Madang into dust! Just wait and see...

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6041 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 5961 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese ground losses:
147 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
107 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
----------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

Greetings Toraq, long time no see [8D]

Thx for the input - rest assured that I've considered the options!

1) Your KB is still powerful.

Yep, and it's my only powerful and mobile striking force. I got too close to his LBA and lost half of my light carriers
of the Admiralities. After that I've spent much time re-organizing the air groups and then I supported the invasion of Kai Island. I feared Andy might have sent his carriers as they raided Timor just a week or so earlier.

Sending them out on long range missions cause a lot of wear and tear, burns huge amounts of fuel and leaves my front
open. I need to keep them between Truk and the Marianas from now on - but I will use them offensively if Andy provides
me with an opportunity. He's very aggressive so it may be possible to lure him in if the bait is tempting enough [;)]
I just CAN'T afford to loose the KB - that would mean the beginning of the end. They will play a crucial role when Andy invaded the Philippines or the Marianas.

2) I can´t understand why some of you spend time upgrading capital ships WHEN they are needed somewhere else urgently (e.g Kaga).

I don't have many ships waiting for upgrades, the Kaga has still 8 sys damage and I'm keeping her in strategic reserves together with other damaged ships. It's important to remove all sys damage now and then and go into battle with ships that are in 100% shape. These last 10% is just what they need to survive a vicious battle.

3) Maybe you may get a couple divisions from India.

Also been thinking about this: India holds my strategic reserve and I will only committ it when I have to.
This isn't the case yet. Today I ordered the 1st Armoured Division to Port Arthur - it will ship for Mindanao in a week.
The 2nd Armoured is at Manilia, slowly building a powerful Army there. If I put my crack divisions within range of LBA they will be ruined within a month or so. Having lots of smaller units is actually more effective. There are 100k troops at Truk, the place is safe. The last thing I did before loosing the base's mine laying force was to place 9k mines [8D]
Kwajalein holds 50k troops, more than enough since I can't protect the place anyway. Let Andy try to invade my Main Defensive Perimeter!

4) I don´t know the point of sending waves of 20-30 planes to attack ships with strong CAP.

I can't order the planes to only attack lightly or undefended TFs. Every no and then a fat target of opportunity
provides itself - like the time when Andy stood his carrier CAP down... I will try to avoid sending 100+ strikes against
his all powerful carrier divisions. When it happened last time outside of Eniwetok he joined 2 Car Divs and put up a 200 ac impregnable CAP. I need 300 ac agasint a 100 ac CAP to stand a chance! Lesson learned.

5) Maybe it would be a good idea to strike back some of his foward bases with lots of bombers, just to threaten, so he spends CAP protecting his bases.

All his forward bases have T-bolts, Corsairs or Spitfires...and my Army bombers has a range of max 8 hexes. Everything this close to Andy's forward bases are getting plastered every now and then. Been thinking about another raid on Darwin but I would have to use Bettys - and I really, really, really need them for anti shipping strikes.

6) The truk air battle is the only one you can get some benefits.

Agreed, but my fighters reserves were not strong enough to oppose him when he struck. 300 heavies and 100 P-38s will
get through unless I field ALL my fighters at once. I can't afford this right now - perhaps in a month or two!? Truk will be difficult to keep shut down with 350 engineers and 100k supplies.

7) Kai island has been painful to ANdy, I´m sure. No way to repeat it somewhere else, to prepare a trap?

I certainly hope so, but our forces need to rest for a while now - perhaps Andy is kind enough to invade another dot island in the area. He's certainly doing a lot of recon'ing in the area! From their new main fleet base at Ulithi the Combined Fleet can reach any target in just a few days.

[CapAndGown]

Here are my thoughts (not that you should care [;)] )

Several times I have seen you try to get at his carriers as soon as they sail into range. But this has not yielded any results; his CAP is too strong.

My suggestion is that when he goes for the Marianas or the Philipines, or anywhere where you have interlocking bases, you should aim your initial attacks at his CAP with LBA. Only set small bomber groups to naval attack so that they will launch a strike that hopefully will be escorted by large numbers of land based fighters, preferably Tojo's, Tony's, and Georges. They will be eaten alive, naturally, but hopefully they will erode his CAP. Keep cyclying in new fighter and bomber formations to keep the attacks on his CAP going. Only once his CAP has been eroded after 2 or 3 days should you bring in the KB for an attempt to achieve a decisive blow. In the initial rounds, however, I would not commit large numbers of bombers. Save them until his CAP has been worn down.

[toraq]

Just to add some information
I just CAN'T afford to loose the KB

Yes, of course his value is only to threaten Andy as much as possible because now will be wiped out by his SDBs. BUT why don´t you send 2 CVLs or something like that to disturb his supply lines?. Maybe you can surprise some convoys...

Been thinking about another raid on Darwin but I would have to use Bettys
Betty bombers....good ones. You lose 7-10 each day against his CAP. Why don´t you send them masses in some unprotected base?. (attack his port, for example) You will archive nothing but maybe Andy will spend some fighters to protect those places.

The last thing I did before loosing the base's mine laying force was to place 9k mines
I also love mines. You sit down and wait how enemy bleeds without hurting you [:D]. It is not stupid to "create" a strategy to try to sink his MSWs (as much as you can) so he has to slow down his naval operations. Think about it [;)]

Keep going! [:)]

[Arstavidios]

I don't think trying to engage his carriers is a good idea. You'll hurt yourself more than you'll hurt him. Moreover once your carriers get sunk you'll have nothing left and he won't have to worry about them. Keep them in reserve and hit soft targets on secondary fronts. As long as your fleet exists he has to worry about it. Once it's gone he'll be free to move everywhere even if he has lost some of his carriers.

He's too strong for you to take up front now, but you can still give him a good spanking here and there and keep him honest.

[Rob Brennan UK]

MSW's come back though, after 9 months a replacement arrives.

Hence the MSW Penguin ! .. me thinks that was sunk in Guam at the start [;)]. That said its good to sink them .. especially DMS as they dont come back and they are the only ones able to escort fast bombardment groups.

[PzB74]

That's exactly what I'll try Cap & Gown! Just have to be patient and wait until Andy invades
a place that favors the defenders...

The problem with long range Betty attacks is that I don't have any fighter escorts! Just some useless
Oscars and A6M2s. Even 20 CAP fighters will cost me 20+ bombers for very little gain. Today Andy bombed
Wewak - one of my main bases in New Guinea, if I had put 150 army bombers there they would all have gone
up in smoke. It's a game of cat and mouse now Toraq, very dangerous and very challenging [8D]

Been sinking msw's for a long time, and it is true what Rob says - the respawn after 9 months or so.
But I will continue to hit them, think there's only 2 DMS left.

True Arstavidios, have to spar with his carriers and try to catch a division with max 2-3 carriers.
This will make it worthwhile to attack them. In 7 months the KB will be reinforced by 3 very fast and well
protected carriers. Got lots of plans for the future - just have to hold out until then [;)]

For now I need some time to prepare my defenses for the next onslaught. Moved my 54 George fighters to Palau,
they can stay there for now. Will reinforce them with trained Tonys, Tojos, Jacks and Zeros. 300 Oscars will
empty the enemy's ammo while the crack fighter formations counter attack [:'(]

Been playing Pacific Fighters today, great graphics - really amazing to fly all the ac we have in WitP!
Take a look: Pacific Fighters


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/22/43

Bombarbments

Looks like Andy is going to bombard Maloelap into the stoneage...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Maloelap, at 82,81 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

2 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB Idaho
CL Phoenix
CL Richmond
CL Tromp
CA Salt Lake City
BB Alabama
BB Colorado

Japanese ground losses:
639 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Runway hits 17
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

I've been waiting for an attack on Wewak - two came along today and torched 50 ac
on the ground...

Day Air attack on Wewak , at 52,81

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 13

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 10
B-24D Liberator x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 7 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 3 destroyed
L2D2 Tabby: 1 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 2 destroyed
H6K2-L Mavis: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
41 casualties reported

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 23
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wewak , at 52,81

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 14
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 9

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 16
B-17E Fortress x 17
PB4Y Liberator x 11
B-24J Liberator x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 7 destroyed
Ki-57-II Topsy: 3 destroyed
H6K2-L Mavis: 2 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 6 destroyed
Ki-48 Lily: 1 destroyed
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed
L2D2 Tabby: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 2 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 11 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
64 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another 10 bombers lost on Emirau!

Day Air attack on Emirau Island , at 60,84

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 12
B-25J Mitchell x 42

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 16 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The biggest strike in the war? Some 1000 ac....

Day Air attack on 62nd Chinese Corps, at 42,36

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 53
A6M5 Zeke x 322
D4Y Judy x 53
A6M5c Zeke x 48
B5N Kate x 82
B6N Jill x 21
G4M1 Betty x 32
G4M2 Betty x 166
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 28
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 36
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 30

No Japanese losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 40th USA Division, at 82,81

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 9

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 4

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 40th USA Division, at 82,81

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 8
Ki-21 Sally x 51

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
76 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 147th USA Regimental Combat Team, at 82,81

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 8

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 4

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Fishbed]

Been playing Pacific Fighters today, great graphics - really amazing to fly all the ac we have in WitP!
Take a look: Pacific Fighters

Yep, I wish I had a big computer to continue doing movies with Pacific Fighters... That's truly fun [:)]

Here, take a look for instance at my first try with PF while illustrating a friend's UV AAR (yes he was playing the Allies, sorry [:D] )
9Mb WMV

http://tskp.free.fr/waste/lae-strike.wmv

I mean that's a very powerful tool to turn AAR into big fat movie-like action [;)]

As usual, still a pleasure to read PzB, keep up the good work [8D]

AJ

[PzB74]

That's a great viedo Fishbed [8D] Git a new rig with ample processing power and storage space, so I'm all set.
Just managed to shoot down my first Betty bomber in a Warhawk. It's dangerous, they're shooting
back!!!! Barely got enough ammo to bring a single ac down, makes the instant aces in WitP look ludicrous [;)]

Andy has sent his carriers back to PH - to pick up 2 new Essex ships and a light carrier [8|]
So I'll have a short respite, going to use it well. My shattered air formations are slowly being reformed.
Ordered some changes in ac production.

More reinforcements are arriving at Palau, Yap and Ulithi. I think Andy will jump these bases from the northern tip
of New Guinea. So I have to garrison them heavily together with Mindanao.

The fleet is also regrouping: still fixing damaged ships in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai. These units
will move back to Ulithi which will be a size 8 port in a few days. Going to move my HQs from Truk to Ulithi as well.

I'm moving some divisions forward in China - Andy keeps all his troops locked inside his city bases. Very few targets
for me to shoot at. So I'll force him to deploy a defensive line to avoid being surrounded. The longer the range from
my training camps to their targets the higher op losses we suffer. With 1000 ac taking of each day that accumulates quickly.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/23/43

Still some mines left in Rabaul...

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TF 1090 encounters mine field at Rabaul (61,88)

Allied Ships
DD Harrison
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Air Combat

More bombing raids against Wewak!

Day Air attack on Wewak , at 52,81

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 11
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 6

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 11
B-24D Liberator x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 4 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed
H6K2-L Mavis: 3 destroyed
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 25
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wewak , at 52,81

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 15
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 6

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 15
B-25J Mitchell x 2
B-17E Fortress x 7
PB4Y Liberator x 9
B-24J Liberator x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 3 destroyed
L2D2 Tabby: 1 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed
H6K2-L Mavis: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
27 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 49
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Another huuge training strike <G>

Day Air attack on 62nd Chinese Corps, at 42,36

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 53
A6M5 Zeke x 348
D4Y Judy x 54
A6M5c Zeke x 47
B5N Kate x 80
B6N Jill x 26
G4M1 Betty x 36
G4M2 Betty x 189
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 35
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 36
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 35

No Japanese losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm cancelling the Maloelap Army AF raids now...getting too costly for very little gain.
Hope I've bought a little extra time!

Day Air attack on 40th USA Division, at 82,81

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 12

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 9
F6F Hellcat x 5
P-47D Thunderbolt x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 40th USA Division, at 82,81

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 6
Ki-21 Sally x 46

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 9
F6F Hellcat x 5
P-47D Thunderbolt x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 3 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 7 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 4th USMC Para Battalion, at 48,78 - this strike removed the remaining squad
in this unit.

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 Helen x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
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Day Air attack on TF at 56,88

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 4

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
APD McKean

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
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