War in the Pacific as the Japanese Planned It

[herwin]

August 2/3 1942

I suspect the troops at Koepang are getting tired of the alternating shore bombardments.

The Betties hit PM and Koepang after my ships leave.

[herwin]

August 3/4 1942

How the f**k did he sneak this in on me? I have 52 PBYs operating out of Ndeni.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Stewart Island at 119,137
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid detected at 149 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 55 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 33
      B5N2 Kate x 45
      D3A1 Val x 53
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      F4F-4 Wildcat x 17
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
      B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged
      D3A1 Val: 2 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
      F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
 
Allied Ships
      CV Wasp, Torpedo hits 2,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
      CA Vincennes, Torpedo hits 1
      CA Quincy
      DD Blue
      CLAA San Juan
      DD Helm
      DD Bagley
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      18 x D3A1 Val bombing from 8000 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
      18 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
      17 x D3A1 Val bombing from 8000 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
      27 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
      18 x D3A1 Val bombing from 8000 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 18000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
 
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Wasp
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Stewart Island at 119,137
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid detected at 136 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 50 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 10
      B5N2 Kate x 18
      D3A1 Val x 18
 
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
      D3A1 Val: 1 damaged
 
Allied Ships
      CV Wasp, Bomb hits 3,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
      CA Vincennes
      CLAA San Juan
      CA Quincy
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      18 x D3A1 Val bombing from 8000 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
      18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 12000 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
 
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Wasp

Morning Air attack on TF, near Stewart Island at 117,137
 
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
 
Raid detected at 82 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 64
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
      SBD-3 Dauntless x 28
      TBF-1 Avenger x 13
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 destroyed
      SBD-3 Dauntless: 6 destroyed, 8 damaged
      TBF-1 Avenger: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
      TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak
 
Japanese Ships
      CV Shokaku
      CV Soryu
      CV Hiryu
      DD Kawakaze
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      10 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 16000 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
       6 x SBD-3 Dauntless bombing from 16000 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
       6 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
 
CAP engaged:
Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 22000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
      5 planes vectored on to bombers
Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 21000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
      7 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 16000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
      8 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 22000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
      15 planes vectored on to bombers
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near Stewart Island at 117,137
 
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
 
Raid detected at 127 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 50 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 51
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      SBD-3 Dauntless x 12
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      SBD-3 Dauntless: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
      CV Soryu
      CV Zuikaku
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 19000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 22000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 50 minutes
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 23000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      3 plane(s) intercepting now.
      7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 16000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near Stewart Island at 117,137
 
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
 
Raid detected at 11 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 44
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      TBF-1 Avenger x 16
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
      TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak
 
Japanese Ships
      CV Shokaku
      CV Hiryu
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       7 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
 
CAP engaged:
Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      8 plane(s) intercepting now.
      1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      9 plane(s) intercepting now.
      4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 12080.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
      7 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 23000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
      8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 10000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 120,143
 
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
 
Raid detected at 159 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 67 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 32
      B5N2 Kate x 45
      D3A1 Val x 18
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      B5N2 Kate: 8 damaged
      B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
      D3A1 Val: 1 damaged
      D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak
 
Allied aircraft losses
      F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
 
Allied Ships
      CVE Long Island
      DD Lardner
      xAP Rangitiki, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
      DD Duncan
      xAP Tjisadane, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
      PC Warrego, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
      DD Gwin
      CL Adelaide
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      17 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
      18 x D3A1 Val bombing from 8000 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
      11 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
      27 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
       8 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
       4 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
 
CAP engaged:
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 18000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 60 minutes
VMF-223  with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 10000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 52 minutes

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kirakira at 116,140
 
Weather in hex: Light rain
 
Raid detected at 124 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 46 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      B5N2 Kate x 36
      D3A1 Val x 35
 
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged
      D3A1 Val: 2 damaged
      D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak
 
Allied Ships
      DD Tucker, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
      BB North Carolina, Torpedo hits 1
      AP Heywood, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
      DD O'Brien
      DD McCalla
      AK Betelgeuse
      AP George F. Elliot
      DD Stuart
      AP J. Franklin Bell, Bomb hits 2
      DD Hughes
      AK Bellatrix, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      17 x D3A1 Val bombing from 8000 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
       9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
      18 x D3A1 Val bombing from 8000 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
      27 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

[ADB123]

How the f**k did he sneak this in on me? I have 52 PBYs operating out of Ndeni.

Bad weather, 2-day turns, the KB...

How did you have your PBYs set?

[herwin]

Good weather. 1-day turns. PBYs allocated 270-360 degrees. Of course, he's in the middle of five SAGs at a range of 92-184 nm, and I have 200 naval attack aircraft in easy range if he doesn't make like a tree and leave in the morning. I've loaded up 80 PBYs with torpedoes, too.

At least most of my heavy carriers were elsewhere being refitted.

And yes, it was a deliberate trap.

[ADB123]

ORIGINAL: herwin

Good weather. 1-day turns. PBYs allocated 270-360 degrees. Of course, he's in the middle of five SAGs at a range of 92-184 nm, and I have 200 naval attack aircraft in easy range if he doesn't make like a tree and leave in the morning. I've loaded up 80 PBYs with torpedoes, too.

At least most of my heavy carriers were elsewhere being refitted.

And yes, it was a deliberate trap.

Ah, my mistake. The way that you wrote "August 3/4" lead me to believe that you were doing 2 day turns.

What I meant about the PBYs is altitude/%search.

BTW - has the KB caught any of your surface combat TFs yet?

[herwin]

August 4/5 1942

The 2nd and 5th Cardivs avoid a surface fight and slip away.

How do you pull off a naval strike by PBYs?

[herwin]

August 5/6 1942

Koepang falls.

Bad day at Ndeni. Interesting that 200 aircraft just sit there. It's fully built out.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 120,143
 
Weather in hex: Overcast
 
Raid detected at 147 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 55 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 31
      B5N2 Kate x 57
      D3A1 Val x 35
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      F4F-4 Wildcat x 23
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
      B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
      B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
      D3A1 Val: 2 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
      F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
 
Allied Ships
      CVE Long Island, Bomb hits 6,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
      AK Bellatrix, Bomb hits 5,  on fire
      AP Fuller
      DD Buchanan, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
      DD Russell
      CL Marblehead
      DD Mustin, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
      CL Adelaide, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       9 x D3A1 Val bombing from 8000 feet *
               Naval Attack:  2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
       8 x D3A1 Val bombing from 8000 feet *
               Naval Attack:  2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
      26 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 12000 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
       9 x D3A1 Val bombing from 8000 feet *
               Naval Attack:  2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
      17 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
      13 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
       9 x D3A1 Val bombing from 8000 feet *
               Naval Attack:  2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 18000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
VMF-223  with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 3000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
VMF-122  with F4F-4 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 12 scrambling)
      (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 12000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes
 
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Long Island
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AK Bellatrix
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 120,143
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid detected at 155 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 66 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 29
      B5N2 Kate x 72
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
      B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
      F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
 
Allied Ships
      CVE Long Island, Bomb hits 3,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
      DD Aaron Ward
      AP Fuller, Bomb hits 1
      CL Adelaide, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
      CL Marblehead, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
      AK Betelgeuse, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
      DD Buchanan, Bomb hits 1,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
      AK Bellatrix, Bomb hits 1,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 12000 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
      10 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
      27 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 12000 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
       5 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
      27 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 12000 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
       8 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
 
CAP engaged:
VMF-122  with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 10000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 62 minutes
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 18000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 55 minutes
VMF-223  with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 10000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
 
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Long Island
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Buchanan
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AK Bellatrix

Morning Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 118,143
 
Weather in hex: Light cloud
 
Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 11
      B5N2 Kate x 9
 
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied Ships
      AP J. Franklin Bell, Bomb hits 8,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
      AP George F. Elliot, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 12000 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
 
Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AP J. Franklin Bell
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 118,143
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 10
      B5N2 Kate x 5
 
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied Ships
      AK Arcturus, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
      AP George F. Elliot,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       5 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

[herwin]

I currently have a fully built-out airfield at Ndeni with about 120 naval attack aircraft and (initially) about 80 fighters, none of which launched over the last three days.Very weird indeed.

[ADB123]

ORIGINAL: herwin

August 4/5 1942

The 2nd and 5th Cardivs avoid a surface fight and slip away.

How do you pull off a naval strike by PBYs?

Method A - Set the Cats in torpedo range of "soft", undefended shipping targets

Method B - Have an overwhelming number of long range fighters on "escort" at a very large airfield with a good Air HQ and good Air HQ commander, and hope for luck with the weather

[ADB123]

ORIGINAL: herwin

I currently have a fully built-out airfield at Ndeni with about 120 naval attack aircraft and (initially) about 80 fighters, none of which launched over the last three days.Very weird indeed.

- Are the Naval attack aircraft carrier planes or Marine planes?

- Do you have an Air HQ present with an aggressive Air Leader?

- How far is it to the KB?

- How many of your fighters are set to Escort, and how many to CAP?

- Do your fighters have the range to escort your bombers to the KB?

- Do you have aggressive leaders in your naval attack squadrons?

- Do the Naval Attack squadron pilots have high experience?

- Do you have lots of Supply present?

- How big is the Airfield?

- Do you have many planes on Naval Search?

- Do you have a percentage of your attack squadrons set to Naval Search?

- How is the weather? You replied before that it was "clear", but the Combat Report said the weather was bad.

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: ADB123

ORIGINAL: herwin

I currently have a fully built-out airfield at Ndeni with about 120 naval attack aircraft and (initially) about 80 fighters, none of which launched over the last three days.Very weird indeed.

- Are the Naval attack aircraft carrier planes or Marine planes?

USMC, later with about 50 carrier added.

- Do you have an Air HQ present with an aggressive Air Leader?

Yes

- How far is it to the KB?

6 hexes

- How many of your fighters are set to Escort, and how many to CAP?

30% CAP, 70% escort.

- Do your fighters have the range to escort your bombers to the KB?

Yes--F4Fs

- Do you have aggressive leaders in your naval attack squadrons?

Yes

- Do the Naval Attack squadron pilots have high experience?

50-60, increasing with the arrival of the Wasp and Long Island squadrons.

- Do you have lots of Supply present?

About 23000

- How big is the Airfield?

Level 5

- Do you have many planes on Naval Search?

12 PBYs day, 4 night

- Do you have a percentage of your attack squadrons set to Naval Search?

One SBD at 40%

- How is the weather? You replied before that it was "clear", but the Combat Report said the weather was bad.

Overcast.

[herwin]

To summarise after about a half dozen carrier engagements in 1942:

1. Based on comments by michaelm and my opponent--who is seeing the same thing with his Emilies--it appears long range search is highly unreliable. You need four PBY squadrons searching at 50% to provide reliable long range early warning along a known attack vector. One night search, one maximum range, and the other two at shorter range.

2. Land based air at a fully stocked level 5 airbase won't launch against a 4-carrier KB.

3. IJN air is over-rated.

4. USN/USMC air is under-rated.

So trying to replicate Midway, Eastern Solomons, or Santa Cruz will almost always result in a major USN defeat.

[ADB123]

After looking at your responses here are a few thoughts:

1 - 50-60 Experience Allied pilots won't often pass a launch check if the weather is anything less than perfect and the target is heavily protected

2 - You only have around 50 Wildcats for escort, and they have to pass a launch check. If they fail, the bombers aren't likely to go.

3 - I find that US Naval Attack squadrons launch more often if each squadron has 10 or 20 % assigned to "Search" - they seem to like to play follow-the-leader

4 - I've found that it is difficult to get "landed" USN planes to launch against naval targets (I don't know why - perhaps they need a CV to add to their launch-check odds)

5 - Six hexes is at the edge of "normal" range for the Wildcats and near the edge for US Divebombers. I've found that USN planes are less likely to go after distant targets than close targets. Generally I prefer the targest to be within 4 hexes to get better odds of a launch.

6 - Only 12 PBYs on Search generally isn't enough

BTW - Did your Search planes report spotting the KB? If so, when in the turn? Spotting late in the turn won't give enough time to launch an attack.

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: ADB123

After looking at your responses here are a few thoughts:

1 - 50-60 Experience Allied pilots won't often pass a launch check if the weather is anything less than perfect and the target is heavily protected

Was anyone on Midway Island > 50-60 experience?

2 - You only have around 50 Wildcats for escort, and they have to pass a launch check. If they fail, the bombers aren't likely to go.

Midway launched with 21 F2As and 7 F4Fs

3 - I find that US Naval Attack squadrons launch more often if each squadron has 10 or 20 % assigned to "Search" - they seem to like to play follow-the-leader

Makes sense. Only the PBYs were searching at Midway.

4 - I've found that it is difficult to get "landed" USN planes to launch against naval targets (I don't know why - perhaps they need a CV to add to their launch-check odds)

The TBF-1s launched.

5 - Six hexes is at the edge of "normal" range for the Wildcats and near the edge for US Divebombers. I've found that USN planes are less likely to go after distant targets than close targets. Generally I prefer the targest to be within 4 hexes to get better odds of a launch.

Agreed. The KB at Midway was detected at 175 nm.

6 - Only 12 PBYs on Search generally isn't enough

Agreed. Midway had 31.

BTW - Did your Search planes report spotting the KB? If so, when in the turn? Spotting late in the turn won't give enough time to launch an attack.

Checking...

On the 3rd (16 PBYs searching), the Japanese TF was detected by a Wasp SBD, not by any PBYs.

On the 5th (52 PBYs searching), the Japanese TF was detected by PBYs in the morning.

[herwin]

No significant actions.

[ADB123]

Harry -

What you are running into is the effect of the evolution of the Air Model in the Game, which includes input from previous versions and previous Gary Grigsby Pacific war games. There were a number of situations that were considered to be problems in the past, and thus drove modifications to the Air Model engine:

- Search planes were felt to be too efficient, so their efficiency was reduced

- Planes were felt to fly too often, so their ability to launch was constrained by various factors, such as pilot experience

- Unescorted bombers were usually slaughtered by CAP, so the Engine was adjusted to "know" if there was a lot of CAP and then to prevent unescorted bomber attacks from launching

- At various times bomber defences were improved against fighters, and then reduced again later

- and others that I've forgotten over the years

As the non-Beta version of WitP AE stands today, it appears to me that pilot experience is the primary factor in determining of squadrons will fly or not. This is most obvious in the first six months of a campaign game where it "seems" as if the Japanese can launch at will and the Allies planes never take off when they are needed. The biggest tangible difference between the two opposing air forces is the experience of the pilots.

The next most important factor appears to be the distance to the target. I am playing two Japanese pbems along with the Allied pbem that I report on here. In my Japanese pbems I find that my 2E LBA doesn't fly often against naval targets at the extremes of the bomber's ranges. And that is with high experience pilots.

The third most important factor is the Weather, which is usually different at each individual locale than the overall weather map says. Pilots with higher experience tend to fly more often in bad weather than less experienced pilots. But distance is still a factor.

What this means in 1942 in the Game is that if the Japanese player keeps the KB together he will usually get results similar to those of the Pearl Harbor attack, the Indian Ocean raid, and the Raid on Darwin. Only if the Japanese player splits up the KB into historically smaller units does the opportunity for Coral Sea/Midway type battles occur.

And yes, I've experienced that myself where I split the KB and was ambushed. I sank the opposing CVs but it was a pyrrhic victory. When I've left the KB together I have been able to drive off any 1942 attack.

What the Game does is to allow the Japanese player to not play "stupid" and to avoid some of the historical mistakes of the Japanese in 1942. What you are seeing is your opponent optimizing the use of the KB against the weaknesses of the Allies.

[herwin]

Yes, my opponent has been using this PBEM to learn how to optimise his use of the massed KB (plus the massed assets of the Combined Fleet he uses to protect it). However, in none of the real engagements you list was there effective air opposition. I would expect there to be diseconomies of scale, and the game misses those for the most part.

The interesting thing about this engagement is what it shows about the likely outcome at Midway. They've evolved the air model past where it should be. That's the reason for my discussion over on the other forum.

[herwin]

August 7/8 1942

A couple of night shore bombardments and lots of air activity.

The Chinese and Philippinos beat up on the Japanese.

[herwin]

August 8/9 1942

Question for the peanut gallery: what is required of an air base for it to be a functional equivalent of a large carrier? Note you can't sink it, so your goal would be to shut it down.

Japanese eject Australian scouts from Buna.

[herwin]

August 9/10 1942

Oopsie for the Japanese

Ground combat at 78,91 (near Davao)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 1821 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 60
 
Defending force 1906 troops, 25 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 74
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 12
 
Allied adjusted defense: 8
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: op mode(-), leaders(+), leaders(-), fatigue(-)
 experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      253 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      26 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
 
 
Assaulting units:
    16th Naval Guard Unit
 
Defending units:
    103rd PA Infantry Regiment

Oopsie for the Chinese

Ground combat at Ningsia (84,33)
 
Allied Shock attack
 
Attacking force 12090 troops, 75 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 420
 
Defending force 11607 troops, 78 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 381
 
Allied adjusted assault: 268
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 352
 
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      327 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      876 casualties reported
         Squads: 4 destroyed, 56 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
 
 
Assaulting units:
    82nd Chinese Corps
 
Defending units:
    12th Indpt Infantry Regiment
    11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
    13th Indpt Infantry Regiment

Focus in Burma

Night Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
 
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
 
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 6
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Wellington Ic x 9
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Wellington Ic: 4 damaged
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       9 x Wellington Ic bombing from 15000 feet
               City Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
24th Sentai/A with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      2 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
 
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
 
Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 13
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIb Trop x 11
      B-25C Mitchell x 21
      B-26 Marauder x 31
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 13 damaged
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
      Ki-49-Ia Helen: 2 destroyed on ground
      A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed on ground
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
      B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
 
 
 
Airbase hits 12
Runway hits 19
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 20000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 20000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      12 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 20000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 20000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      10 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 20000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       9 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 20000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
24th Sentai/B with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 5 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 16000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
      1 planes vectored on to bombers
24th Sentai/C with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 6 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 21000 and 22000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
 
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
 
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 6
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane I Trop x 8
      Hurricane IIb Trop x 8
      P-40E Warhawk x 12
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
No Allied losses
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       8 x Hurricane I Trop sweeping at 15000 feet
       5 x Hurricane IIb Trop sweeping at 20000 feet
       7 x P-40E Warhawk sweeping at 15000 feet *
       3 x P-40E Warhawk sweeping at 15000 feet *
 
CAP engaged:
24th Sentai/B with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
24th Sentai/C with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
 
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
 
Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 4
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIb Trop x 27
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed
 
No Allied losses
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       4 x Hurricane IIb Trop sweeping at 20000 feet
       9 x Hurricane IIb Trop sweeping at 20000 feet
       4 x Hurricane IIb Trop sweeping at 20000 feet
 
CAP engaged:
24th Sentai/B with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 19000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
 
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
 
Raid detected at 12 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 1
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIb Trop x 7
      P-40E Warhawk x 8
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       7 x P-40E Warhawk sweeping at 15000 feet *
       3 x Hurricane IIb Trop sweeping at 20000 feet
 
CAP engaged:
24th Sentai/B with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
      Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 28000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47
 
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
 
Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIb Trop x 6
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 11
 
 
No Allied losses
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      11 x Hurricane IIc Trop sweeping at 20000 feet *
       3 x Hurricane IIb Trop sweeping at 20000 feet