Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: Adnan Meshuggi

well,

if he love to exploit the pts... you could exploit the Army-Bombers on ASW-Duty... i bet he will fast come in with "that is silly, nobody would use 1200 Army-bombers for that".
And that is the point you could answer "as long as some others use 90 PTs to defend a small base" it is absolutly okay and sane.

Sorry, but this PT-problem would be a gamestopper for me. Fun is okay, but this strategy means he can conquer at will and you loose half of your fleet to wipe em out (for 2 weeks).

With or without the difficult situation in the game

just my 2cents.

Hi,

I agree with you, but can´t do much about it.. We shall se what will happen. It will certainly limit my possibilities, but to be able to use them, he has to conquer the base at first. And it will be harder and harder for him. He can grab Merauke easily yet, but that´s it. Next time he will have to fight hard to achieve something..

NG/Solomons situation:

ORIGINAL: Adnan Meshuggi

well,

if he love to exploit the pts... you could exploit the Army-Bombers on ASW-Duty... i bet he will fast come in with "that is silly, nobody would use 1200 Army-bombers for that".
And that is the point you could answer "as long as some others use 90 PTs to defend a small base" it is absolutly okay and sane.

Sorry, but this PT-problem would be a gamestopper for me. Fun is okay, but this strategy means he can conquer at will and you loose half of your fleet to wipe em out (for 2 weeks).

With or without the difficult situation in the game

just my 2cents.

I´m sure he wouldn´t mind using 1200 IJA bombers on ASW as this is what he did in our game (until I started a loooong discussion about it) and he ended it only when jumper used KB as sub sweeper. So in his oppinion it is perfectly realistic to use all those IJA bombers on ASW but it is insane to use KB´s Vals on ASW.

I really enjoy my game vs him but we have different oppinions 99% of the time! He is never the same oppinion like me and I´m 2% of the time the same oppinion like he is.

Ahh.. And paradrops are here.. [;)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/21/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 52,93

Japanese Ships
CV Akagi
DD Harukaze
DD Kamikaze
DD Asakaze
DD Yamakaze

Allied Ships
SS Mingo

I was lucky again! Torps missed..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 53,94

Japanese Ships
DD Inazuma
DD Akatsuki

Allied Ships
SS S-30, hits 4, heavy damage

On the other side S-30 wasn´t lucky at all..

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
CA Nachi
DD Michishio
DD Arashio
DD Yamagumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo

Allied Ships
PT PT-155, Shell hits 59, and is sunk
PT PT-159

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
CA Nachi
DD Michishio, Shell hits 1
DD Arashio, Shell hits 1
DD Yamagumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo

Allied Ships
PT PT-180, Shell hits 11, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
CA Nachi
DD Michishio
DD Arashio
DD Yamagumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo

Allied Ships
PT PT-159, Shell hits 2, and is sunk

Last PTs were destroyed finally
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Rossel Island, at 58,97

Japanese Ships
CA Nachi
CA Chikuma


Allied ground losses:
93 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Nothing spectacular, but every bite helps..

And here comes the attack. After several naval and aerial bombardments the defenders were exhausted:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rossel Island

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 12551 troops, 59 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 365

Defending force 1442 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 92

Japanese max assault: 622 - adjusted assault: 658

Allied max defense: 52 - adjusted defense: 47

Japanese assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Rossel Island base !!!

Allied aircraft losses
PBY Catalina: 2 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
189 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Allied ground losses:
1189 casualties reported
Guns lost 31

Parts of 32nd USA Div, Australian Bde, 30th Naval BF and whole australian AF eng unit surrendered. Rossel Is is back under the protection of Rising Sun. Banzai!
Well, it was just a sideshow and it cost both of us a lot. PjH lost BB, several DDs and AKs and some troops. Oh, and 36 PTs.. I have lost 1 CA, 1 CL and about 8 DDs. And the best part is that now I will load all troops and will evacuate the island so he can have it back tommorrow afternoon. [;)] This time I will leave it in his hands..



Today his 4E beasts destroyed our eng unit at Merauke:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 48th Construction Battalion, at 47,87


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 102
LB-30 Liberator x 27
B-24D Liberator x 280


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
854 casualties reported


Unfortunatelly my surface raiders didn´t find any pray at night. And above all they ended in the range of allied bombers from Cooktown:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 52,98

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
TBF Avenger x 12

Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger: 10 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago

Lucky again..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 52,98


Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 6


Allied aircraft losses
Liberator VI: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Atago, Bomb hits 1
CL Oyodo

And again - just a paintscratch..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 51,94


Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 2
TBF Avenger x 9


Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Maya

And again.. PjH had to be mad at this moment already..


And it was my turn now as one of his AKs eneded too close to KB:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,96

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 4
A6M3 Zero x 5
A6M5 Zeke x 8
A6M3a Zero x 41
B5N Kate x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Lesuth, Torpedo hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,96

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 6

Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 19
P-47C Thunderbolt x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47C Thunderbolt: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Asphalion, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Small group of Betties from Gili Gili sneaked through allied CAP and managed to put one fish onto the AK..


In the afternoon allied aviators took off again:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 52,98


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
F4U-1 Corsair x 2
TBF Avenger x 17
P-40N Warhawk x 18
P-38G Lightning x 79
P-47C Thunderbolt x 14
P-70A Havoc x 6


Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger: 12 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Teruzuki
CL Oyodo
CA Takao

Guess what? YES! I was lucky AGAIN! [:D]


In India the "Volkswanderung" continues as allied hordes are still heading to the east. And still being bombed by my airforce:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 23rd Indian Division, at 25,6

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 11
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 13
Ki-49 Helen x 12

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 23rd Indian Division, at 25,6

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 17
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 18
Ki-21 Sally x 6
Ki-49 Helen x 31

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
82 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 125th USA Regimental Combat Team, at 25,6

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 5
Ki-49 Helen x 5

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 125th USA Regimental Combat Team, at 25,6

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 4
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 7
Ki-21 Sally x 3
Ki-49 Helen x 6

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported



And here it is. The long awaited attack on Irkutsk. Despite the high morale, low disruption/fatigue and 100% preparation, my AV was quartered.[&:] The losses are ridiculous also, but both these aspects were expected. I have experienced that already during the siege of Chunking:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Irkutsk

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 587080 troops, 6206 guns, 411 vehicles, Assault Value = 11476

Defending force 297152 troops, 3176 guns, 143 vehicles, Assault Value = 5540

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 7

Japanese max assault: 11138 - adjusted assault: 2854

Allied max defense: 5959 - adjusted defense: 10187

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 7)


Japanese ground losses:
33318 casualties reported
Guns lost 1001
Vehicles lost 34

Allied ground losses:
6884 casualties reported
Guns lost 292
Vehicles lost 5

I have lost about 3500 AV in this attack. It will take a lot of time until I regain strenght for another try. My eng units were totally destroyed again. BUT the forts went down and now only 7 remains!!! [:D]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Irkutsk

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 208379 troops, 2569 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5346

Defending force 575034 troops, 4769 guns, 327 vehicles, Assault Value = 8942

And as both sides were totaly exhausted, his artillery fire didn´t caused any damage.


Paradrops:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Wewak

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 180 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 13

Defending force 1760 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9

Allied max assault: 16 - adjusted assault: 2

Japanese max defense: 8 - adjusted defense: 17

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



Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Hansa

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 230 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 18

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied max assault: 16 - adjusted assault: 6

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Hansa base !!!

He captured Hansa, but there is nothing he can do with it. He will probably capture another empty bases tommorrow. And I will capture them back once my own paras from Rossel Is arrives back in Rabaul. I will with fire against fire.. [;)]

Hi Jumper, ground combat sucks - just ask Andy. The problem with big battles is that you are going to get such results always. I was able to stop Allies at Tinian with placing more than then 3000 AV and Andys only hope is starving my troops to death - but i have quite enough supplies there (and of course additional cuning plan[;)])

I hope Irkutsk is cut off supply (dunno, didn't look Russian map recently[:D]), so be patient there. Starve those Ruskies and you will save your country from being subducted (sp?) to communisam (at least in paralel world)[;)].


PTs. Such huge numbers are really rediculus. His bases are now completely protected, both from the air and sea. You will soon find that as a game killer but it's your choice, after all.

Hi Jumper.

Could you assemble a gang of J2M's and Ki-61's and ambush those 4E monsters? It would be fun! [:D]

Pauk - Irkutsk is the last russian base, but unfortunately it receives 2000 supplies/day. He will never run out. He could run out of soldiers eventualy, but never supplies.. [:(]

Zond - Merauke is out of range and Rossel Is is retaken and evacuated. I will try to get him tommorrow if he will attack PM, but I´m limited to places where I can use LRCAP. Otherwise I´m toast. If I would put 250 fighters on the base, even with 90% CAP will get hardly 50% in the air. I could shoot down 100 4E but still remaining 500 will flatten the airfield and fighters on ground. LRCAP is my only choice and it has to fly from safe base. It is only Lae and Siador now..

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/22/43

During the night KB arrived at PM succefully and got replacement planes. Now is at full strength again, which is good. What is bad, that I have tried my luck with surface raiders again, misscalculated his intentions and therefore didn´t catch any of his transports. Again. I´m really bad in mid-ocean intercepts.. Above all, allied 4Es were on the naval attack today and my TF was badly mauled finaly. Luck won´t help you if 350 4Es release their bombs upon your ships.. [:(] :

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 51,93

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 3
Liberator VI x 7
B-25C Mitchell x 3
B-25J Mitchell x 6
B-17E Fortress x 10
LB-30 Liberator x 6
PB4Y Liberator x 3
B-24D Liberator x 43


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Oyodo, Bomb hits 2
CA Takao, Bomb hits 2
DD Teruzuki
CA Atago, Bomb hits 1
DD Akigumo
DD Yugumo

This was just a prelidium as the main strike arrives short after..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 51,93

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 6
Liberator VI x 36
B-25C Mitchell x 6
B-25J Mitchell x 3
B-17E Fortress x 47
LB-30 Liberator x 4
PB4Y Liberator x 43
B-24D Liberator x 180


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Oyodo, Bomb hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
DD Akizuki, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Takao, Bomb hits 8, on fire
CA Atago, Bomb hits 8, on fire
DD Akigumo
DD Teruzuki
DD Yugumo, Bomb hits 1, on fire

DD Akizuki is goner while CL Oyodo will have hard times to reach Darwin. I consider it as goner too.. CA Takao and DD Yugumo are moderately damaged and will head to Darwin too.
I don´t know if I should be happy or not. CL Oyodo was a fine ship, but if there wouldn´t be their sacrifice, those 300 4E (more failed to locate their target) could attack KB in port with halved CAP..

KB will leave Port Moresby and will head towards Thursday Is. And then to Darwin eventually.. But I have set a trap at PM. When I had KB there, I have moved 2 sentai of Ki-44 Tojo there to help it with defence. As the KB is leaving I have moved them back to Lae and send all fighters from there to LRCAP PM. His recon planes saw those Tojos in PM and it could force him to attack it. I hope..


Also the transports with troops from Rossel Is were attacked today, but only 1 MSW was lost. Tommorrow they will be out of range..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Island at 58,96

Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 12
B-24D Liberator x 7

Japanese Ships
CL Kashii, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW Choun Maru #8
MSW Toshi Maru #7, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Daaban Maru
AP Kureha Maru #3


The best news are that PjH decided to try to kick me out of Irkutsk. He probably thought that my troops were in much worse shape after yesterdays sloughter. He misscalculated here:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Irkutsk

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 245582 troops, 2716 guns, 53 vehicles, Assault Value = 5382

Defending force 577243 troops, 4802 guns, 331 vehicles, Assault Value = 9062

Allied max assault: 4901 - adjusted assault: 640

Japanese max defense: 6091 - adjusted defense: 4296

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
8263 casualties reported
Guns lost 196
Vehicles lost 5

Allied ground losses:
21128 casualties reported
Guns lost 940

This losses will hurt him a lot. Much more then me. Pity I´m not in shape to attack tommorrow. 90% of my engineers are still disabled..



Paradrops:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Merauke

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 440 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Defending force 847 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Allied max assault: 8 - adjusted assault: 0

Japanese max defense: 13 - adjusted defense: 23

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



Allied ground losses:
43 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Sarmi

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 190 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied max assault: 2 - adjusted assault: 2

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Sarmi base !!!




And his marching armies in India are still under daily attacks:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 45th Indian Brigade, at 25,6

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 2
Ki-21 Sally x 3
Ki-49 Helen x 11

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
61 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 23rd Indian Division, at 25,6

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 15
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 15
Ki-49 Helen x 14

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 23rd Indian Division, at 25,6

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 14
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 16
Ki-21 Sally x 9
Ki-49 Helen x 38

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
55 casualties reported

Nothing important happened this turn. At least in my version.. PjH saw in replay a lot of action. Fortunately it was just "FoW" as it wouldn´t be good for me. We are probably out of sync..
 
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/23/43

My bomardment TF arrived at Hansa, but looking at the results they could stay at home. PjH has some Corsairs there and I hoped to destroy them:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Hansa, at 53,83

Japanese Ships
DD Kasumi
DD Arare
DD Natsugumo
DD Asashio
CL Tama
CA Kako
CA Kinugasa
BB Hyuga
BB Yamashiro
 
Allied ground losses:
86 casualties reported
 
PjH is flying in more troops every day and about 1000 men is already there. It may sounds strange, but I´m happy about that. The reason is I have 2 divisions at Truk preparing for Hansa and once I will come to take the base back I want as much prisoners as possible. So I will keep this base suppressed from the sea, will wait about one more week and then I will strike..
 
 
Near Thursday Is allied bombers attacked poor DD Akizuki again. I can´t believe this ship is still floating, but it is.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,93

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 103
B-24D Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 4 destroyed, 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Akizuki, Bomb hits 4,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
KB is 120 miles SE of Thursday Is and will continue to the west.

Day of mixed results..

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/24/43

I was lucky with allied subs too long. KB was just passing near Thursday Is, when one of many allied subs launched its torpedoes and two of them found their target:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 48,91

Japanese Ships
DD Yunagi, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asanagi
DD Nenohi
DD Hatsuharu

Allied Ships
SS Silversides

Poor Yunagi went down immedietly..


This time the bombardment was much better.. Good!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Hansa, at 53,83

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Kasumi
DD Arare
DD Natsugumo
DD Asashio
CL Tama
CA Kako
CA Kinugasa
BB Hyuga
BB Yamashiro

Allied ground losses:
163 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 13
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 10


And here are the events of the day. KB ended at the expected position and because weather was good and float planes spotted many allied TFs in range I expected a lot of action today. To my surprise no strike was launched. At least from my side. KB itself was attacked frequently today:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 47,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 14
A6M3 Zero x 9
A6M5 Zeke x 32
A6M3a Zero x 155

Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 3
P-38G Lightning x 3
B-24D Liberator x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 2 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 1 damaged
A6M5 Zeke: 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator VI: 3 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 2 destroyed
B-24D Liberator: 6 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 47,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 12
A6M3 Zero x 8
A6M5 Zeke x 31
A6M3a Zero x 147

Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 3
B-24D Liberator x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator VI: 3 destroyed
B-24D Liberator: 7 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 47,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 12
A6M3 Zero x 8
A6M5 Zeke x 31
A6M3a Zero x 144

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 13
B-25J Mitchell x 4
B-24D Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 5 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 7 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 13 destroyed
B-25J Mitchell: 4 destroyed
B-24D Liberator: 6 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 47,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 7
A6M3 Zero x 7
A6M5 Zeke x 31
A6M3a Zero x 143

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 16
B-25J Mitchell x 3
B-17E Fortress x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 1 damaged
A6M5 Zeke: 5 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 10 destroyed, 18 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 16 destroyed
B-25J Mitchell: 3 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 20 destroyed

I really don´t know what is wrong. I have checked what missions were selected, if there is enough sorties etc.. etc.., but everything is fine. Despite that the planes are just sitting on the decks doing nothing.. [:@][:(] Maybe I have just lost all possible die rolls.. We shall see tommorrow. Allied transports are aproaching Thursday Is and I´m moving KB just 120 miles NW, so I should be in range.. Interesting (or frustrating) is that Betties from Lae and Siador don´t attack at all too.. [:@]



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 54,95

Japanese Ships
CL Oyodo, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Cachalot

Heavily damaged Oyodo is near Gili Gili now. Maybe it can be saved?


And after a long pause caused by bad weather new strike against Irkutsk is launched. Those 3-4 days were enough for russians to repair all damage and some planes:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Irkutsk , at 59,6

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 51
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 33
Ki-21 Sally x 183
Ki-49 Helen x 144
Ki-46-III Dinah x 7

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 2
I-16 Type 24 x 5
MiG-3 x 3
LaGG-3 x 5
Yak-1 x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 4 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 7 destroyed, 35 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 4 destroyed, 25 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 2 damaged
I-16 Type 24: 11 destroyed
MiG-3: 12 destroyed
LaGG-3: 6 destroyed
Yak-1: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged
SB-2: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
722 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
Vehicles lost 3

Airbase hits 39
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 315

Losses are unpleasant, but Irkutsk is closed again..


And the India Army is still marching east. And they are still bombed..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 18th UK Division, at 25,6

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 20
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 16
Ki-21 Sally x 4
Ki-49 Helen x 38

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 7 damaged


Allied ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd UK Division, at 25,6

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 2
Ki-21 Sally x 6
Ki-49 Helen x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/25/43

As predicted several allied TFs entered Thursday Is, while single AK left it and was heading home. I should be happy with todays results, but I´m not. I have still problems with KB as today (a.m. phase) were launched planes only from CVEs, but not a single plane (except fighters) from CVL/CVs (they had the same orders). This is bad. Really bad..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 2
A6M3 Zero x 16
A6M5 Zeke x 9
A6M3a Zero x 35
B5N Kate x 27

No Japanese losses

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

This was the AK leaving Thursday Is. The whole B5N daitai from CVE Shinyo was wasted on it..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,91

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 27

No Japanese losses

And this was D3A daitai from CVE Chuyio trying to attack the same AK.. And that´s it. No more torpedo or dive bomber planes on CVEs so no more strikes. Oh yes, there is 400 of these planes aboard CVs and CVLs, but who cares? Why should they fly? There are just boring allied ships in range.. [:@][:@][:@]

At least HALF of my G4M in Lae decided to strike. Every day there are Corsairs spotted flying CAP over Thursday Is, but it is no reason to take escort. Only 4 Zeroes (from 27 availible) take off to escort 26 G4M1 (from 54 availible):
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Thursday Island at 49,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
G4M1 Betty x 26

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 16 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Monssen, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DM Tracy
DM Montgomery, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage - sunk


And here comes the p.m. strike from KB. 15 A6M3, 25 D3A and 25 B5N are from CVEs.. From 400 strike planes on the KB decks less then 20 B5N joined the strike.. WTF[:@]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Thursday Island at 49,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 2
A6M3 Zero x 15
A6M5 Zeke x 8
D3A Val x 25
A6M3a Zero x 26
B5N Kate x 43

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 5 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed
D3A Val: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 11 destroyed
B5N Kate: 4 destroyed, 12 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Bellatrix
CLAA Juneau, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage - sunk
DMS Dorsey
DE Austin, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

KB will stay at the same place till tommorrow. More allied transports is comming, so hopefully we can launch some interesting strike finally.. [8|]


This is "interesting". If I keep the planes at 10000ft, I´m loosing 10-15 per day to AA. If I use them at 20000ft, I´m loosing just 2-3 to AA, but another 10 to ops anyway..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Irkutsk , at 59,6

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 53
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 6
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 36
Ki-21 Sally x 171
Ki-49 Helen x 143
Ki-46-III Dinah x 7

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 4 destroyed, 27 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 4 destroyed, 22 damaged
Ki-46-III Dinah: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Yak-1: 3 destroyed
LaGG-3: 2 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
362 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 5

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 210

KB strikes are getting better, but are still far away from its capacities..

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/26/43

Damaged AO pumped out all water in Gili Gili and now is heading to Rabaul. And nearly was finished by US sub:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 58,93

Japanese Ships
AO Erimo

Allied Ships
SS Capelin

I expect him soon to withdraw his planes from Hansa.. And hopefully to bring more troops.. [;)]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Hansa, at 53,83


Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Tama
CA Kako
CA Kinugasa
BB Hyuga
BB Yamashiro


Allied ground losses:
269 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 15


Planes from Siador found allied CVs. None made it through but at least I´m warned and know what I´m standing against..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
G4M1 Betty x 23

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 116
F6F Hellcat x 21
F4U-1 Corsair x 77
Kittyhawk III x 2
P-40N Warhawk x 11
P-38G Lightning x 82
P-47C Thunderbolt x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 12 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 3 damaged
Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
P-47C Thunderbolt: 2 damaged

Planes from Lae fortunately choosed better target:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
G4M1 Betty x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 8 damaged

Allied Ships
APD Stringham, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
APD Talbot, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
APD McKean
APD Colhoun


Allied ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

APD Stringham sinks immedietly with part of 1st USMC div aboard.. And that was last attack in a.m. phase and I was desperate. Good weather and NO strike from KB at all again. But then came the p.m. phase and KB woke up finally. Only a handfull planes attacked, but it better then nothing:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 48,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 10
A6M5 Zeke x 8
D3A Val x 21
D4Y Judy x 20
A6M3a Zero x 36
B5N Kate x 16

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed
D3A Val: 2 damaged
D4Y Judy: 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Algorab
DE Gilmore, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Hovey, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Alhena
DMS Hamilton, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Electra, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Manunda, Bomb hits 2, on fire


Allied ground losses:
83 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 48,91

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 24
B5N Kate x 24

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged


Allied Ships
AP Manunda, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Alcyone, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Hovey, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Hamilton, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Betelgeuse, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
208 casualties reported

And the p.m. strike from Lae. Again only small part of availible bombers (71 G4M1 is there) took off..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Thursday Island at 49,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
G4M1 Betty x 11

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
DMS Dorsey, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage




As it goes this wasn´t exactly a bad turn for me. It could be just much more better if all my planes would fly.. [:(] Neverthless I´m optimistic and prepared a "trap" for the next turn. Allied CVs are heading north and I have decided it is time to risk. I will leave KB where it is one more turn and I have send huge forces to Port Moresby. 5 daitai of J2M Jack, 1 daitai of A6M2, 1 daitai D3A, 5 daitai G4M1, 3 sentai Ki-44-II and 5 sentai Ki-21/Ki-49 is moved to PM with range set to 6. If PjH will continue towards Thursday Is, he will found himself between KB and this force. With a bit of luck it could be enough to crucify him. He has boosted his CAP with many LB fighters, but they should be already fatigued and not so effective. On the other side he can send 1000 4E to bomb PM and crucify me instead. A lot depend on the weather and if he is checking balance numbers daily. Basicaly I have offered him nearly my whole air force in this region on golden plate in a hope that lucky victory will slow him down.. Fingers crossed.. [;)]
I´m not leaving PM uncovered btw. 3 sentai Ki-61 and 1 sentai Ki-44 from Lae will fly LRCAP and all fighters in PM are set to 30% CAP. With all P-38 flying LRCAP over his CVs his heavies would come unescorted and I will take a toll on them, despite the fact I wouldn´t be able to stop them.. These are the moments I can´t stand when I get home to run the turn and see what happened.. [:)]

Damn it! No turn in my box yet.. [:(] It seems I will have to wait till tommorrow to see the result.. It is frustrating.. [:D]

Good luck! I like this AAR and will keep on following it.

Thanks dennishe! Unfortunately the luck was not on my side. On the other hand it wasn´t on PjH side either.. [;)] I will post pics later when I get home. When I get the turn from PjH he told me he spotted my planes in PM (I HATE THIS ISSUE!!!), retreated all his ships and ordered 1000 4E to flatten the AF. I was a bit worried what I will see in replay especially when he told me he also despatched many cruisers to bombard the PM at night - somehow it didn´t come to my mind he could do it[X(][;)] - and I expected heavy losses on my side today:
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/27/43

As expected the night begins with allied bombardment TF arriving at PM. It didn´t work as PjH hoped fortunately: 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1044 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (53,91)

Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Mine hits 2,  on fire
DMS Hopkins
DMS Lamberton
 
CA Pensacola is damaged and left behind - sentenced to death..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 53,91 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed
J2M Jack: 1 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed

28 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AG AG-5116, Shell hits 4,  on fire,  heavy damage
AG AG-5113, Shell hits 4,  on fire,  heavy damage
AG AG-5114, Shell hits 8,  on fire,  heavy damage
AG AG-5112, Shell hits 4,  on fire,  heavy damage
AG AG-5052, Shell hits 4,  on fire,  heavy damage
AG AG-5115, Shell hits 4,  on fire,  heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis
CA Chester
CA Salt Lake City, Shell hits 14
CA Vincennes
CA Devonshire
CA Quincy
CA Shropshire

Japanese ground losses:
437 casualties reported
Guns lost 12
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 16
Port hits 12
Port supply hits 8

Excellent!!! No nuke bombardment! Frankly said the result is pathetic. Now I have to survive 1000 4E only..
 
 
The sun rises and patrol planes on both sides take off. It takes only a few moments until the best report of the day arrives - australian coast is clouded while PM/Gili Gili/Thursday Is is not and some allied TFs are spotted in range.. [:D] I was jumping in joy all around then room shouting: "The day is mine! Now I will show you how can I fight when all odds are on my side!". It didn´t take long when the joy fade away from my face..
 
Only small allied raid against Gili Gili was launched. All other missions were canceled:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Gili Gili , at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 76

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed
H8K Emily: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 15 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 85
 
Fortunately half of the planes were already in the air (should be all of them.. [:@]). I was in good mood yet as I have expected that this turn I will sink an awfull amount af allied ships so why should I bother with a few Betties torched on ground? There were many allied ships in Thursday Is (good weather) between PM (250 bombers - good weather) and KB (400 bombers - good weather) and I was looking for sloughter. Well, I was disappointed..:
 
1st wave and only handful of bombers. :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Thursday Island at 49,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
J2M Jack x 47
G4M1 Betty x 10
G4M2 Betty x 3
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 39
Ki-21 Sally x 8

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
J2M Jack: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 26 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Libra, Bomb hits 1
AVD San Pablo, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Electra, Bomb hits 2,  on fire
AK Alhena, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
 
Allied ground losses:
130 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

At least i have whipped the skies with Corsairs..
 
2nd strike and only handful of bombers again:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Thursday Island at 49,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
J2M Jack x 15
G4M1 Betty x 3
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 10
Ki-49 Helen x 6

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 6 destroyed

Allied Ships
DM Ramsay
DM Tracy
 
3rd strike:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Thursday Island at 49,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
J2M Jack x 23
G4M1 Betty x 4
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 18
Ki-21 Sally x 6

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
APD Colhoun, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
APD McKean
APD Sands, Bomb hits 1
 
"OK" I told myself. "This is just preludium and the MAIN strike will come in every moment.. Maybe a bit later.."

 
4th strike was from Gili Gili against damaged CA Pensacola:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 53,95

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage

5th strike was from PM against damaged Pensacola too. And only a handful of bombers again (which was good as I didn´t want them to waste on already sinking cruiser..):
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 53,95

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
J2M Jack x 14
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 9
Ki-49 Helen x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Bomb hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
After this strike the a.m. phase ends.. I couldn´t belive my eyes!!! WTF!!![&:][:@][:@][:@] Where is the main strike from PM??? Why NOT SINGLE PLANE from KB attacked? What is going on here?[8|]
 
When the p.m. phase started I was already so disgusted and pi**ed off that I wasn´t surprised when the only action was the long expected main strike (50% availible bombers) from PM against............YES! Against already sinking Pensacola:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 53,95

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
J2M Jack x 88
D3A Val x 23
G4M1 Betty x 78
G4M2 Betty x 5
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 68
Ki-21 Sally x 34
Ki-49 Helen x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Pensacola, Bomb hits 7,  on fire,  heavy damage

First 10 Ki-21 hit the cruiser with 7 bombes which was enough to send it down finally. All remaining planes were attacking empty sea.. And that was it. No other strike in the p.m.
 
Summary: WITP gives and WITP takes. I was lucky that allied bombarment run made nothing and that his AF was clouded. Despite that I made nearly nothing. The situation couldn´t be better and still I wasn´t able to achieve anything with more then 1000 crack planes availible. Such perfect situation will not be repeated probably anymore..[:(] I admit that my morale is down now.. It is worse than if I would loose all of them in combat. It is really depressing when your planes don´t fly.. It put a bitter taste to all the effort. I could swallow the PM debacle as the AF was overstacked (but somehow I doubt it is the case here) but there is absolutely no excuse why KB is impotent. It is good that PjH is away for weekend as i need a couple of days of rest to get over it.. [;)] KB is retreating to Darwin. There is no need to keep it there. It proved itself worthless during the last week. Planes from PM and Gili Gili are also moved away. If they want to sit on ground they don´t have to do it in range of 1000 4Es.
 
 
As I said before I have moved new wolfpack of I-boats on his routes between Noumea and Brisbane:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 52,114

Japanese Ships
SS I-179, hits 6

Allied Ships
AK Jeremiah S. Black, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
DE Burden R. Hastings

The transport sinks immedietly with 19 Dakotas on board..
 
 
BTW I tried to explain my missery to my GF but her only reaction was: "Excellent! Does it mean you will end this game soon and will spend more time with me?"
Oh, those women.. [;)]

Hi all,
I was on vacation last week and now the game goes on..
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/28/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Ahmadabad , at 24,8

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 24

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 9
Beaufighter VIC x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Airbase hits 1
 
PjH is harrassing my base with nigh attacks. It is pretty safe as 90xp night fighters are no danger. Only AA is lucky sometimes..
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 57,114

Japanese Ships
SS I-17, hits 3,  on fire

Allied Ships
DD Bache, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
DD Pakenham
DD Nizam

Unfortunately nothing serious. US DD will live to fight another day..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on TF at 50,92

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
G4M1 Betty x 15
G4M2 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged
G4M2 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans
AP President Adams
CL Concord
DD Express
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 2 damaged
 
Excellent! [:@] Lae was open the whole day, but no strike was launched. Only Siador base managed to get a few planes to the air. But only about 20% of availible planes.. [8|] PjH is operating a lot of unguarded transport TFs between Townsville and Thursday Is but my planes still refuse to fly and so he is spared of heavy losses..

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/29/43

I´m still enjoying a lot of succesfull submarine attacks between Brisbane and Noumea. New wolfpack arrived in the area and results are immediate. Yesterday US DD was hit and today:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 58,114

Japanese Ships
SS I-182, hits 5

Allied Ships
AK Hobart Baker, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
MSW Warrnambool
MSW Horsham
MSW Geelong
MSW Cessnock
MSW Arnidale
DMS Elliot
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 56,115

Japanese Ships
SS I-181

Allied Ships
AO Cimarron, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
SC SC-709
SC SC-708

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 55,114

Japanese Ships
SS I-179

Allied Ships
AK Robert M. Lafollette, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Leland Stanford
LCI LCI-334
ML Weehawken


Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported

3 ships were hit today! Banzai!

 
All AF were closed in the a.m., but during p.m. Lae was open and finally launched the strike. Only a small one and against CAPed TF, but I´m celebrating! Losses are acceptable and 3 US cruisers are out of action for a few months..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Thursday Island at 49,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
G4M1 Betty x 15
G4M2 Betty x 4

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 19
Kittyhawk I x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 11 damaged
G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged


Allied Ships
CL Concord, Torpedo hits 1
CLAA Oakland
CLAA Reno, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
CLAA Atlanta
CA New Orleans, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
 

 
I got through those nasty Corsairs nearly for free: 2 A6M2, 1 G4M1 and 1 G4M2 were lost in A-A and another 3 G4M1 were lost due to flak..

 
 
KB is retreating to Darwin for some rest and rally. Merauke is heavily reconed and I´m sure it will be invaded soon. I´m not going to defend it. There is only 1 SNLF to prevent easy capture by paras, but that´s all. My main defensive line will be Darwin - Aru Is. - Babo. Here I will make my stand and here I will operate KB in tha near future. I´m reinforcing all bases in this area by availble base forces and NLF/SNLFs but the process is slow. My main combat unit here is 30th division in Darwin (480AV). I´m considering dividing it into regiments and use it to garrison Amboina/Sorong/Babo, but I´m not 100% sure yet. I have ML fleet here also and they are busy with laying minefields all around.
In India the situation is calm for now. His armies are still marching and are under daily air attacks, while my defensive line looks solid.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/30/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Ahmadabad , at 24,8

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 24

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 13
Beaufighter VIC x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 9 damaged
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interesting composition of allied TF:
 
ASW attack at 56,114

Japanese Ships
SS I-182, hits 5 

Allied Ships
MSW Warrnambool
MSW Horsham
MSW Geelong
MSW Cessnock
MSW Arnidale
DMS Elliot
DD Lardner
CL Detroit

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 54,114

Japanese Ships
SS I-21

Allied Ships
AO Guadalupe - missed this one [:(]
SC SC-709
SC SC-708

But the second attack was succesfull:
 
Japanese Ships
SS I-21

Allied Ships
AK Moses Rogers, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Morrison R. Waite
AK Louis Joliet
AK Josiah Snelling


Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported
 
Hey! A third one: [:D]
 
Japanese Ships
SS I-21

Allied Ships
AE Lassen, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
AK Nathaniel Currier
AK Lew Wallace
AV Chandeleur

I really don´t know how many ships was hit between Noumea and Brisbane so far, but I would estimate something like 20. And from these at least 10 was confirmed sunk. All during one month. And still it didn´t forced PjH to use other route or better escort. Well, I´m not complaining, but he seems really careless with his ships..
 
Merauke is bombarded by US navy. I smell invasion here..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Merauke, at 47,87

Allied Ships
DD Mugford
DD Helm
DD Ammen
DD Abbot
BB Massachusetts
BB Indiana

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 5
 
And Maizuru SNLF in Merauke is hit hard from the air:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Maizuru 1st SNLF, at 47,87
 
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 8
SBD Dauntless x 33
Avenger I x 9


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
93 casualties reported
 
 

In Australia one of my guarding NLF was chased away by a bunch of wild kangaroos:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 37,94

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 1560 troops, 0 guns, 106 vehicles, Assault Value = 57

Defending force 613 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 20

Allied max assault: 94 - adjusted assault: 45

Japanese max defense: 17 - adjusted defense: 7

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
 
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

 

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/31/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Ahmadabad , at 24,8

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 13

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 10
Beaufighter VIC x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 4 damaged
Beaufighter VIC: 1 destroyed - First plane in this war shot down by night fighter!!!

Runway hits 1

And one of damaged Wellingtons crashed on its way home so today my night fighters shot down 2 allied bombers!

 
And near Brisbane we got another US transport. And 4 other ships damaged during last two days were confirmed sunk today. Some Seabees and Base forces were swimming..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 51,114

Japanese Ships
SS I-181

Allied Ships
AK Jose Sepulveda, Torpedo hits 4,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Lewis Cass
LCI LCI-334

 
Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported


Merauke defenders are hit again:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Maizuru 1st SNLF, at 47,87
 
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 11
SBD Dauntless x 38
Avenger I x 12
 
No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
 
And here comes the invasion. Part of US division stormed the beach:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1085 troops unloading over beach at Merauke, 47,87
 
Allied Ships
MSW Townsville
MSW Launceton
DD Brooks
DD Piet Hein
DD Warramunga
DD Alden
DD Lamson
LCT LCT-466, Mine hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Merauke, 47,87, firing at TF 1085
5 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
LCT LCT-369
DD Alden

Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
207 casualties reported
 
No way to defend this base. Now I have to speed up building the defences between Darwin and Amboina. I think that PjH will wait with his next step until Merauke airfield will reach Lvl4..

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/01/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Ahmadabad , at 24,8

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 12

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 9
Beaufighter VIC x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 4 damaged
J2M Jack: 2 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 8 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4
 
Hmm.. This is disturbing. I have lost 4 planes today, destroyed on ground. Nothing serious, but I don´t like it. Yesterdays success of my night fighters was probably just a lucky shot as today they didn´t make anythink again..
 
 
 
Mearauke is hit hard, but this time I´m fine with it. I can´t hold it so I hope it will be damaged as much as possible..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Merauke, at 47,87

Allied Ships
CL Montpelier
CL Concord
BB Massachusetts
BB Indiana

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 33
Port hits 11
Port supply hits 21

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Merauke, at 47,87

Allied Ships
DD Paul Jones
CL Columbia
CA Wichita
DD Dunlap
CA Hawkins
DD Vampire
DD Dyson
CL Raleigh
DD Lamson
DD Rathburne
DD Brooks
DD Warramunga
DD Alden
DD Wilson
CL Adelaide
DD Piet Hein
CL Mobile

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 57
Port hits 7
Port supply hits 19
 

And near Brisbane we achieve another hit [:D] :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 48,114

Japanese Ships
SS I-23, hits 3

Allied Ships
AK James B. McPherson, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
MSW Warrnambool
MSW Horsham
MSW Geelong
MSW Cessnock
MSW Arnidale
DMS Elliot
DD Lardner
CL Detroit
 

Gili Gili and Port Moresby are being suppressed:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Gili Gili , at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 86

Japanese aircraft losses
H8K Emily: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 18 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 97
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 27
Liberator VI x 68
F-5A Lightning x 6
B-17E Fortress x 231
LB-30 Liberator x 43
PB4Y Liberator x 85

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 damaged
Liberator VI: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 6 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 2 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
130 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 65
Airbase supply hits 16
Runway hits 527
 
PjH has to keep both bases suppressed. It ties up a significant portion of his bomber force and this is good for me. And it is not cheap either. These strikes must burn his supplies by thousands and op losses are also welcomed benefit.
 
Merauke garrison was annihalated by this strike:
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Day Air attack on Maizuru 1st SNLF, at 47,87
 
Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 352
 
No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
286 casualties reported
 

PM and Gili-Gili are closed, but Lae and Siador are active:
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Day Air attack on TF at 50,92

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
G4M1 Betty x 40
G4M2 Betty x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 31 damaged
G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Mugford, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Helm
DD Meade, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage - sinks!
DD Maury
DD Express
DD Van Ghent
DD Ammen
DD Philip

Truly deadly AA from just a few DDs.. 
 
 
Wrong target here. This time Corsairs took their toll:
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Day Air attack on TF, near Thursday Island at 49,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
G4M1 Betty x 4

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 41
Spitfire Vb x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 15 destroyed - ouch!
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vb: 1 damaged


Another attack on Irkutsk. Failed, but forts went down. He had forts lvl8 again [X(]! 2-3 days of bad weather allowed to repair all damage and build new forts.. After a weeks of constant attacks. [:@] Well, he had probably only a few % left to finish it, but still..

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Ground combat at Irkutsk

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 568559 troops, 5070 guns, 360 vehicles, Assault Value = 10465

Defending force 271417 troops, 2215 guns, 149 vehicles, Assault Value = 4016

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 7

Japanese max assault: 10125 - adjusted assault: 3568

Allied max defense: 4204 - adjusted defense: 6365

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 7)


Japanese ground losses:
20859 casualties reported
Guns lost 771
Vehicles lost 55

Allied ground losses:
6079 casualties reported
Guns lost 222
Vehicles lost 10
 
Losses are heavy, but there is nothing else I could do. I wonder if I will ever be able to conquer the base.

Merauke falls. No surprise here as no defenders left:
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Ground combat at Merauke

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 1896 troops, 24 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 181

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied max assault: 164 - adjusted assault: 80

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 80 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Merauke base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
785 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

So now PjH has two bases on NG (Thursday Is and Merauke). It will take some time until he builds them, but it certainly opens new possibilities for him. Fortunately there is still not much of them:
1. he can push towards Darwin-Timor-Amboina 
2. he can attack Port Moresby and Gili Gili
 
The first one is expected. It is logical step as otherwise there would be no point in taking Merauke. He could gather a lot of LCUs now and attack several bases at the same time. He needs to get just one and once he will have it, it will be crack in my defense in very dangerous area. I will focus myself here in the near future. Currently only KB is real deffence here (parked in Darwin). Planes and troops are on the way but I will need at least 1 month to feel comfortable here..

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/02/43

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Night Air attack on Ahmadabad , at 24,8

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 17

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 14
Beaufighter VIC x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 4 destroyed
J2M Jack: 1 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 7

Oops! Such losses are more then disturbing. I hope this was just a lucky die roll. At least my nigh fighters shot down another Wellington..
 

Muhehe.. [:)]:
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Sub attack at 58,114

Japanese Ships
SS I-168, hits 3

Allied Ships
AK Steel Ranger, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Fairfield City
AK Irenee Du Pont
AK Charles H Cramp
SC SC-750
SC SC-749
SC SC-521
SC SC-519
 
Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported

Pjh started to use proper escort finally, but still I´m able to achieve something..
 
And not only near Brisbane. I have sneaked one sub directly into Thursday Is harbor:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Thursday Island  at 49,90

Japanese Ships
SS I-175

Allied Ships
DMS Hopkins, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
DMS Lamberton

No biggie, but every hit is good..
 

For the next turn I have set up trap over Port Moresby. I have noticed that some air missions in Cairns and Cooktown were canceled and as PjH is using these bases for attack Gili Gili and PM, I expect new big raid tommorrow. I can defend Gili Gili, but PM is in range from Lae, so I have set 450 fighters to LRCAP PM. PjH doesn´t bother himself to use escort as thanks to the free allied intel he can see if I send some planes there, but he can´t see LRCAP. If everything will work tommorrow, several unescorted 4E will run into the cream af IJAAF and IJNAF and will be massacred. Fingers crossed.. [;)]