PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[PzB74]

31 October
Solomons - Task Force 31 sails for Bougainville, having taken aboard in the Central Solomons
the 20000 odd men of the I Amphibious Corps of the US Marines, made up of the 37th Infantry Division
and 3rd Marine Division, under the command of General Alexander Vandergrift. The Americans are well aware
that they are outnumbered, but rely on support by their powerful navy and air force, which in the course
of the last weeks has put every enemy airfield in the south of Bougainville out of action.

...sounds familiar [8|]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/31/43

Air Combat

Put a Daitai of mostly green A6M2 Zeros over New Guinea: lost 11 to Thunderbolts
and shot down a P-38 + a bomber.

The remaining B-25's in China wipe themselves out!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Nanning , at 40,38

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
A6M5 Zeke x 2

Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 5 destroyed

Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other air strikes:

Day Air attack on Hollandia , at 49,79
Day Air attack on Truk , at 63,78 - destroys another 25 damaged ac on the ground. Only a handful left now!
Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 79,79
Day Air attack on Maloelap , at 82,81
Day Air attack on Dagua , at 51,81
Day Air attack on Wewak , at 52,81
Day Air attack on Hansa , at 53,83
Day Air attack on 51st Road Construction Battalion, at 51,81
Day Air attack on 54th Heavy AA Battalion, at 53,83
Day Air attack on 18th Division, at 61,86
Day Air attack on 6th Base Force, at 61,88
Day Air attack on 46th Naval Guard Unit, at 61,88
Day Air attack on 19th/A Division, at 82,81
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

1 November
Solomon Islands - After a forceful air and naval preparation the northern group of Task Force 31,
commanded by Rear-Admiral Wilkinson, begins at 07.30 a.m. to put the 3rd Marine Division ashore
in the area of Cape Torokina (Empress Augusta Bay) on the central southern coast of Bougainville.
The little Japanese garrison of 207 men puts up a lively resitance, but the landing party is able to
establish a solid beachhead within a few hours. Task Force 39, and carrierborne aircraft from TF 38
bomb the airfields on Buka Island, NW of Bougainville, and Shortland. But although many of their ac
are unserviceable the Japs manage to concentrate a number of planes against the landing force, and
damage a destroyer and several transports. All the same they loose 100 of their 104 fighters and 16 bombers.

Vangegrift has chosen the landing point skilfully, foreseeing that Hyakutake would concentrate his forces
near the airfields. And the difficult nature of the terrain means that the Japs will take a long time to
bring up reinforcements to Cape Torokina. A small contingent of Raiders lands on the small islet of Puruata,
less than half a mile from the Cape Torokina beachhead, and there meets with savage resistance from a platoon
of Japanese. By the evening of the 1st the TF has landed 14000 men and 6000 tons of materials. R.Adm Wilkinson
sends off his transport ships and has four msws' lay a minefield off the coast covering the beachhead.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rather interesting to read about the severe Jap losses: the only difference was that they were able to hit
the enemy invasion fleet. I'm not because a strong CAP doesn't let any of my bombers through. Otherwise WitP
seems pretty similar to the real thing. Would be nice if msws' could lay a few mines, sounds like it was possible!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/01/43

Surface Combat

I disptached a destroyed division led by 2 light cruisers into Siador to hit enemy
shipping. It started pretty well and we sank 2 cargo ships. Then we ran into the PT boat
pests which had an unusually good day [8|] We lost a small escort destroyer while two
others were hit by torpedoes. They should make it as no enemy bombers showed up to take
advantage of the situation.

I know Andy's hard pressed to keep all his bases in supply so we have to conduct the occasional
hit and run operation.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Siador at 54,85

Japanese Ships
CL Tama
CL Oi
DD Hatsuzuki
DD Niizuki
DD Naganami
DD Nowaki
DD Asakaze
DD Shiokaze

Allied Ships
AK Henry Dodge, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK John Owen, Shell hits 43, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Siador at 54,85

Japanese Ships
CL Tama
CL Oi
DD Hatsuzuki, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
DD Niizuki
DD Naganami, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Nowaki
DD Asakaze
DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
PT PT-320
PT PT-321
PT PT-322
PT PT-323, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PT PT-324, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PT PT-325
PT PT-326
PT PT-330
PT PT-331
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invasions

Andy is unloading a small contingent on Mussau Island - a small dot base just above
Emirau. It's a size 0 af/1 port - so he may have it.

TF 1174 troops unloading over beach at Mussau Island, 60,83

Allied ground losses:
41 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1174 troops unloading over beach at Mussau Island, 60,83

Allied ground losses:
42 casualties reported
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1123 encounters mine field at Rabaul (61,88) - still more mines at Rabaul :-]

Allied Ships
MSW Bittern
MSW Champion
MSW Motive
DD Cassin
DD Henley
DD Nicholson
DD Arunta, Mine hits 1, on fire - the Arunta is a capable British destroyer

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Attacks

Lots and lots of air strikes...getting a bit tedious!
If supplies were a bit more scarce it would have been impossible to conduct
a continous air offensive.

Day Air attack on Hollandia , at 49,79
Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 79,79
Day Air attack on Maloelap , at 82,81
Day Air attack on Dagua , at 51,81
Day Air attack on Wewak , at 52,81
Day Air attack on Hansa , at 53,83
Day Air attack on Kavieng , at 61,86
Day Air attack on Kavieng , at 61,86
Day Air attack on Admiralty Islands , at 58,84
Day Air attack on Emirau Island , at 60,84
Day Air attack on 51st Road Construction Battalion, at 51,81
Day Air attack on 54th Heavy AA Battalion, at 53,83
Day Air attack on 1st Engineer Regiment, at 61,88
Day Air attack on 1st Engineer Regiment, at 61,88
Day Air attack on 1st Engineer Regiment, at 61,88
Day Air attack on Kure 3rd SNLF, at 82,81
Day Air attack on 46th Naval Guard Unit, at 61,88
Day Air attack on 19th/A Division, at 82,81
Day Air attack on 19th/A Division, at 82,81
Day Air attack on 19th/A Division, at 82,81
Day Air attack on 19th/A Division, at 82,81
Day Air attack on 18th/C Division, at 61,86
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Map: New Guinea

[PzB74]

Looks like a TF of transports is moving up the NG coast alone? What are they up to, a Salerno
landing...

A closer look at the defenses on New Guinea:

Hansa with 321 assault strength
Parts of the 2nd Division
Parts of the 1st Para Regiment
A beaten up 5th Engineer Regiment
2 Heavy AA Regiments
4 Base Force Units
10th Area Army HQ
4th Air Army

Wewak with 393 assault strength

46th Tank Regiment
Parts of the 18th Division
3rd Engineer Regiment
Parts of the 2nd Para Regiment
Heavy AA Regiment
Road Construction Unit
6 Base Force Units

Hollandia
Kyoko Naval Garrison
1 Inf. Regiment
Construction Unit
Base Force Unit

Dagua and Aitape both have a construction unit and are receiving a full inf. regiment each.

At this time in real life the Americans had still not neutralized Rabaul but medium bombers and carrier
strikes were increasing in intensity.

2nd November
Solomons - Battle of Empress Augusta Bay: Jap heavy cruisers Myoko and Haguro, light cruisers Sendai
and Agano + 11 destroyers and 5 transports attempts to harass the US beach head at Torokina. A confused
battle in which 4 Jap ships collide. Several ships are damaged and the Sendai is lost. The US cruisers
Denver, Montpelier and 2 destroyers are damaged. 100 Jap ac attack the US ships the next morning but doesn't
achieve any hits. 25 ac are lost.
New Britain 75 B-25s escorted by 80 P-38s attack Rabaul to good effect, but meet with very strong resistance
by Jap ac an AA batteries. They sink 2 merchant ships, on sub chaser and destroy 18 Jap ac on the ground while loosing
8 bombers and 9 fighters in the process.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/02/43

Sub/ASW Attacks

A succesfull sub attack - it has no ends [;)]
Sending in unsecorted cargo/troop ships is a bit optimistic. Guess
that's how much Andy values his New Zealand Bgd! You hear this Al...he's mocking you!-)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Mussau Island at 60,83

Japanese Ships
SS I-20

Allied Ships
AK Rotanin, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

I'm now training close to 1200 ac in China - this is close to max capacity. There is a dozen
op losses or so every day. More and more trained Betty bombers are being relocated to the Palaus
and kept in reserve. In 11 days we receive substantial air reinforcements. Production of the Francis
bomber has commenced.

A few poor Rufe's from my sea plane tenders (part of a fast transport TF) meets a bunch
of Lightnings R.I.P.

Day Air attack on Hollandia , at 49,79

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 5

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 13
B-17E Fortress x 16
B-24D Liberator x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 5 destroyed
J1N1-R Irving: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 45
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 79,79
Day Air attack on Maloelap , at 82,81
Day Air attack on Dagua , at 51,81
Day Air attack on Wewak , at 52,81
Day Air attack on Kavieng , at 61,86
Day Air attack on Kavieng , at 61,86
Day Air attack on Admiralty Islands , at 58,84
Day Air attack on Emirau Island , at 60,84
Day Air attack on 51st Road Construction Battalion, at 51,81
Day Air attack on 2nd Division, at 53,83
Day Air attack on 1st Engineer Regiment, at 61,88
Day Air attack on 46th Naval Guard Unit, at 61,88
--------------------------------------------------------
We had a good opportunity to hit somethign today..unfortunately our best
pilots stayed home to drink sake [:(]
Day Air attack on TF at 85,78

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Welles
CL Tromp
DD Lansdowne
CL Richmond

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

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Mussau Island

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 434 troops, 21 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Mussau Island base !!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

Ordered the conversion of 6 large cargo ships today: 3 new repair ships and 3 mine layer tenders.
Should have done this a long time ago, accelerating the construction of 2 MLEs.

3 November
Solomon Islands - The US Marines continue to extend their beachhead at Cape Torokina, on Bougainville.
A patrol lands on the island off the coast, also called Torokina, but finds it deserted.

Land combat is so complext that it's very difficult to simulate even a fraction of the variables in WitP.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/03/43

Surface Combat

Andy tried to be really sneaky..as I thought! I sent 2 TF into Aitapa and Dagua, the
latter scared of a TF while the former engaged and sank a troop transports. Roughly 1/3
of a US Cavalry Brigade went to the bottom.

Enlisted men can't have high thoughts about their CinC [;)]
Well, I don't want another Salerno, stranded whale or not! I'm going to make sure that
Andy will have to fight his way step by step.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Aitape at 51,80

Japanese Ships
CL Kiso
DD Akizuki
DD Teruzuki
DD Susuzuki

Allied Ships
AK Coquina, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK San Lucas, Shell hits 4
AK Coast Farmer

Allied ground losses:
648 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

A heavy air strike was supposed to clear the path for the US Cavalry Brigade...

Day Air attack on 46th Construction Battalion, at 51,80

Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 47
B-17E Fortress x 13
B-24D Liberator x 31

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
294 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I sent the light carrier Chioyda to intercept a landing - again my fighters failed me and
only the torpedo bombers took off - and were slaughtered by the always efficient LRCAP!

Day Air attack on TF at 53,80

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 13

Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 13 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

November 1943

Some stats...

[PzB74]

A relatively quiet turn: spotted several enemy TFs far out at sea. Will split a couple of Betty
formations and move them out.

Counted my sheeps and the Combined Fleet currently consists of the following major combat vessels:

9 cv
3 cvl
5 cve
12 bb
10 ca
9 cl
67 dd
4 apd
14 ss

November 4
Solomon Islands - The Americans withdraw their parachutists from Choiseful. The arrival at Rabail of a strong
Japanese naval squadron, comprising 7 heavy cruisers and 173 ac, brings a threat to the Cape Torokina bridgehead on Bougainville.
TF 38 is ordered to attack Rabaul with carrier-borne and land based ac.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/04/43

Ground Combat

Andy told me he did a mistake when he invaded Maloelap - he unloaded
from AK's and this made his division shock attack three times in a row,
completely wrecking it. As you can see he's still not making any headway.
From now on he will only use assault transports I guess [;)]
Ground combat at Maloelap

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18892 troops, 148 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 8046 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 7) [8D]

Japanese ground losses:
268 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Allied ground losses:
365 casualties reported
Guns lost 15
----------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Reinforcements

It is absolutely vital that we don't allow the Allies to advance quicker than they historically did.
This way we will receive large number of ground reinforcements. In less than a year several divisions will
appear in key locations like Cebu, Manila etc.

So I'm going to transfer all the LCUs' I need to the frontlines to delay Andy for as long as possible. Today I
looked all over the map for construction units and located about a dozen that could be moved to bases that will
become Allied objectives in a year or so. Going to build mostly forts and a few airfields in the Philippines.
Have to plan ahead to be in a position to weather the storm when it breaks...

Attaching a screenie of the immediate reinforcements: a dozen brigades, a full division and a few naval garrisons
will arrive in 3 months or so. They will be moved to Northern Guinea, the Palaus, Borneo and Celebes.

[Alikchi2]

What are your defences looking like in the Marianas and the island approaches to them? That's where I would be the most worried! [:)]

[Fishbed]

4 apd
14 ss

Ouch!
Are you talking about the units attached to Combined Fleet "combat" headquarters, or do you have only really 4 APD and 14 Subs lefts in the whole Kaigun?! [X(] [&:]

[PzB74]

That's all there is...don't really have much use for APDs, they're too slow to be of much use. My cruisers
are much better suited. Subs does not fare well in this version of WitP: first contact with the enemy is
invariably the last. The remaining boats are equipped with search planes and act as pickets - or lay mines.
Going to receive a large number of RO coastal submarines in 44: some 20-25 me thinks. It's not a worry I
assure you.-)

The Marianas are all but bullet proof. Crack units including full divisions, engineer and tank regiments,
coastal defensive units, lots of base forces and artillery have been placed on Pagan, Saipan, Tinian and Guam.
Following the same procedure with the Palaus, need only another 2-3 divisions worth of troops and a few more
base forces to be satisfied. There are 2 small islands between Truk and the Palaus: Satwal and Woleai. The former
is a size 0 airfield, not overly concerned about it. It holds a base force and 7 forts: will place a combat unit
there as well. Woleai is a natural size 1 af/port. Currently at 2/1 and I'm not going to expand it any further.
There are 9 levels of forts manned by the 2nd South Seas Detachment and a base force unit. Will place aditional
combat units here as well in due time.

From my point of view Palau is the most exposed island: it's on the extreme end of the Palaus' facing the northern
tip of New Guinea. When andy has occupied all of NG he will be able to hit it with LBA and concentrate here. So I will
increase the garrison as much as possible. On the other side Morotai to the west and Davao to the north will be heavily
defended, already got 9 forts. So no freebies - it's a hard road ahead for the marines.

Been busy re-organizing the KB air formations. Want to have the original units on
my carriers: if my bombers take off without escorts again it's not going to be my fault [:'(]

November 5
Solomon Islands - On Bougainville the Americans repulse a Jap counter-attack on the Mission track.
New Britain - Exposing his aircraft carriers Saratoga and Princeton to grave danger, Admiral Halsey
sends them as close as possible to New Britain so as to be able to launch a big attack on the powerful naval
squadron of Admiral Takeo Kurita, which has just arrived at Rabaul. At 11.15 a.m. over 100 American aircraft,
torpedo planes, dive bombers and fighters, appear over the Japanese base and, although attacked by 70 Zero
fighters (to which the new American F6F Hellcat fighters prove superior), surprise Kurita's squadron, causing
serious damage to seven cruisers, the Atago, Maya, Takao, Mogami, Chikuma, Agano and Noshiro, and two destroyers.
The only heavy cruiser undamaged is the Suzuya, which nurses the damaged ships back to Truk, except for the light
cruiser Agano, which has been too badly hit. It is a major disaster for the Japanese; whose whole squadron has been
wiped out without firing a shot. The threat that it might have posed for the American beachhead on Bougainville has
vanished....

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/05/43

Invasions

Talasea in New Britain has been abandoned, just a handful of support troops left.

TF 1085 troops unloading over beach at Talasea, 59,88

Allied ground losses:
63 casualties reported
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

A small air offensive in China..

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kunming , at 39,33

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 5
Ki-21 Sally x 78

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 29
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 50
Ki-46-II Dinah x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 46
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 42
Ki-48 Lily x 32
Ki-49 Helen x 25

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 72,85

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
G4M2 Betty x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK William Windom, heavy damage

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

Kwantung

I've started to think about how to fight a defensive battle in Kwantung when the Russians
enter the war in August 45. Impossible to defend it all so I'm thinking about defending along
the red lines on this map. Should be possible to gather substantial forces in cities and behind
rivers.

[Fishbed]

No-way he may invade Marianas without securing Carolines or Palaus first, give him a hell of a pain

Btw, what is this soviet base hex next to Beijing...? [&:]

[PzB74]

If Andy doesn't invade the Marianas he will have to through the DEI/Philippines - and that will take time.
So it's a win-win situation if you ask me: I want to fight a decisive battle that favors the defender (Marianas)
and keep the enemy away from the Home Islands for as long as possible.

Ah, I think it was Dave who marched a derelict Chinese unit into that worthless little base - the only one I didn't have
a garrison in. When captured it became Soviet property so I can't attack it, bug [8|]

Btw..if you look at the northernmost Jap base in Manchukuo you will see that there are Chinese units in a base.
More derelicts that Dave marched in. I don't dare to attack in case it would bring the Commies into the war. Don't
quite trust the game here [;)]

[PzB74]

Checked how many warships the Allies/Japan have lost thus far:

Allies

4 cv
1 cvl
2 cve
15 bb
1 bc
19 ca
25 cl
97 dd
9 apd
3 avd
6 dms
5 dm
50 ss
166 pt !!!

Japan

3 cv (Hiryo, Soryo & Junyo)
3 cvl
1 cve
8 ca
14 cl
77 dd
8 apd
53 ss

The only losses that worries me is in destroyers...I've lost 50%. One reason is the way the Allies can spawn PT boats, I've
destroyed 166 of the buggers already [:@] I'm sure that's twice as many as they lost in the entire war. It really makes life miserable
for me. The good thing is that all battleships and most of my carriers are intact. Fishbed, you thought I had few apd's: as you see
Japan only got 12 of them to begin with and I've lost 8.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/06/43

Invasions

Andy continues to send his unescorted troop ships into Aitape...poor sods,
I'm not going to let them get away with it!

TF 1137 encounters mine field at Aitape (51,80)

TF 1137 troops unloading over beach at Aitape, 51,80

Allied Ships
AK Coast Farmer, Mine hits 1

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Coastal Guns at Aitape, 51,80, firing at TF 1137
22 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1137 encounters mine field at Aitape (51,80)

TF 1137 troops unloading over beach at Aitape, 51,80

Allied Ships
AK San Lucas, Mine hits 1

Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Aitape, 51,80, firing at TF 1137

Allied ground losses:
78 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

The plan is to smash Aitape with LBA!

Day Air attack on 46th Construction Battalion, at 51,80

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 33
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 50
P-40N Warhawk x 28
P-38J Lightning x 25
B-25J Mitchell x 50
B-17E Fortress x 18
B-24D Liberator x 34

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
331 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 46th Construction Battalion, at 51,80

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 30
B-17E Fortress x 20
PB4Y Liberator x 9
B-24J Liberator x 31

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
131 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 12th/B Division, at 51,80

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 10
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 10
P-40N Warhawk x 6
P-38J Lightning x 3
B-25J Mitchell x 18
B-17E Fortress x 9
B-24D Liberator x 13

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
---------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 12th/B Division, at 51,80

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 12
B-17E Fortress x 15
PB4Y Liberator x 2
B-24J Liberator x 9

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
-----------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 74,86

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships - hit by dud torp. Lucky ba$tard...
AK William Windom, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Mussau Island at 60,83 - the Oscar's did their job...

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 9
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 9

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 1 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AP St. Mihel
LCT LCT-367, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-174, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

800 enemy troops vs 2088 Jap troops and 2 forts - and I only got half my army regiment
in place. My transports are working around the clock.

Ground combat at Aitape

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2088 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 810 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

Did a quick check on the net...here is what I found about PT boats in WWII:

(Uploading a screenie instead, the table got messed up when I pasted it in txt format.)

Summary of US Built PT Boats

[Fishbed]

Isn't APD fast destroyer personnal transport?
I thought Japan had something like 30s or so at the beginning...? [&:]
Are Mutsuki class counted as DDs or APDs? You don't have DEs yet neither?

Hiryo, Soryo & Junyo

?? You lost the two Ryus already? I missed this part, was it long time ago?
Or do you mean rather Hiyo and Soryu? [&:]

[PzB74]

I think Japan only converted some of their Mutsuki class destroyers.
Removed torpedo batteries and a boiler? to increase cargo capacity. As a result
their top speed doesn't exceed 18-20kts.

DEs in the form of the Mutu class will start arriving in early 44 me thinks. Also got
numerous useful large patrol crafts with an endurance of 5-8000, 4.7" guns and 18-20kts.

I lost the Hiryu and Soryu back in 42 in the battle for the Phoenix islands. Divided the KB
to hunt for enemy shipping and one of my divisions ran into two of Wobblys carriers. Launched
only unescorted strikes that were slaughtered and they both got slammed in return.

A few months ago the Junyo was sunk not far from the Admiralities islands when I got too close
to Allied LBA - together with a cve and the cvls.

[PzB74]

11 November
Solomon Islands - On Bougainville Japanese resistance in the entrenched line blocking
the Mission track is exhausted. About 550 Japanese have been killed. The Americans move forward
in all directions to widen their perimeter and find a place where they can construct an airfield.
New Britain- Two Task forces of aircraft carriers including the Saratoga and Princeton, under
Rear-Admiral Shermand, and the Essex, Bunker Hill and Independence, under Rear-Admiral Montgomery, send
185 ac over Rabaul. 68 Zero fighters are destroyed, the destroyer Suzunami is sunk and the cruiser Agano
and the destroyer Naganami, already badly damaged, are reduced to smoking hulks. The Japanese send 120 ac
out to attack the aircraft carriers. They succeed in locating and attackin Rear-Admiral Montgomery's squadron,
but do no serious damage to it and lose 41 ac against 11 lost by the Americans.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/07/43

Invasions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1137 encounters mine field at Aitape (51,80)
TF 1137 troops unloading over beach at Aitape, 51,80

Allied Ships
AK Coast Farmer, Mine hits 1

Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Aitape, 51,80, firing at TF 1137
14 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied ground losses:
70 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surface Combat

Bagged another PT boat [:'(]
Night Time Surface Combat, near Mussau Island at 60,83

Japanese Ships
DD Namikaze
DD Wakatake
DD Karukaya
DD Hayabusa

Allied Ships
PT PT-62, Shell hits 2
PT PT-63, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
PT PT-65
PT PT-103, Shell hits 1
PT PT-110
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Had to send my destroyers home to refuel and rearm, but a few auxilliaries were sufficient
to chase the enemy transports out of Aitape!

Night Time Surface Combat, near Aitape at 51,80

Japanese Ships
MSW W.10
PG Tamo Maru #7
PG Kure Maru #5

Allied Ships
AK San Lucas
AK Coast Farmer
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Air Combat

Andy LRCAP'ed Aitape today, but this kind of CAP doesn't provide escort for friendly
bombers. So I arranged a little welcome committee: a score of Zekes and Oscars were
waiting for the enemy and inflicted heavy casualties [8D]

Day Air attack on 46th Construction Battalion, at 51,80

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
A6M5 Zeke x 42
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 10

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 10
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 26
P-40N Warhawk x 16
B-25J Mitchell x 39

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 4 destroyed, 7 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk III: 8 destroyed
Beaufighter Mk 21: 17 destroyed
P-40N Warhawk: 6 destroyed, 4 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 9 destroyed, 18 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
1 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
1 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Beaufighter Mk 21 bombing at 2000 feet
13 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 10000 feet
11 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 10000 feet
7 x P-40N Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
3 x P-40N Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
6 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 10000 feet
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Day Air attack on 46th Construction Battalion, at 51,80

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
A6M5 Zeke x 19
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 20
PB4Y Liberator x 6
B-24J Liberator x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged
A6M5 Zeke: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 2 destroyed, 14 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 12th/B Division, at 51,80

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
A6M5 Zeke x 37
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 9

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 19
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 15
P-40N Warhawk x 4
B-25J Mitchell x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk III: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
Beaufighter Mk 21: 4 destroyed, 6 damaged
P-40N Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 12th/B Division, at 51,80

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
A6M5 Zeke x 18
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
PB4Y Liberator x 3
B-24J Liberator x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 76,86

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships - finally got the bugger...
AK William Windom, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage *sinks*

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 52,80

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 4

Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK San Lucas

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

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Talasea

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 966 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 38 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Talasea base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
270 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Aitape

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2890 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1050 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh no...have to do it the hard way Andy!

Ground combat at Aitape

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 1040 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 2890 troops, 37 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
----------------------------------------------------------

Air Losses

A seldom victory in the air today!

[Speedysteve]

Nice one John.

P.S. I like the historical comparison stuff too.

[PzB74]

Thx, will keep adding a few historical foot notes for a while longer.

Unfortunately Andy has lost the bulk of a division due to the partial airtransport bug.
After airlifting parts of it he loaded the rest on transports....R.I.P.

He's asking me to redo todays turns. I really hate redoing turns so it may take a few days
for me to find motivation for this. Spent a long time on those turns [:(]

[PzB74]

Redone the first of two turns and there were some differences - mostly positive but
I'm not sure tomorrow's turkey shoot will work. Time will show.

Think I got enough of replaying turns when me and Dave tried to upgrade the game.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/06/43

Air Combat

Day Air attack on TF at 74,86

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK William Windom, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Mussau Island at 60,83

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

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
AP Bloemfontrin
LCT LCT-471
AK Nisqually, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
53 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Mussau Island at 60,83

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 Helen x 10

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 5

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
LCT LCT-329
LCT LCT-321, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Fishbed]

He agreed on the turkey shoot, didn't he?

Btw nice to see this kind of behavior, this is how gentlemen go to war [:)]

[Gen.Hoepner]

The more i read your AAR, the more i get impressed by your amazing job!

If you only had the chance of using PDUs to convert some of those useless oscarsII to Tonies or Tojos....Andy would me in real real trouble...