Matrix Games Forums

Posted: **Wed Sep 21, 2016 4:42 am**

True, but combat replay said 15-inchers IIRC. I have attributed this to FOW - either the identification of Pennsy or of the incoming fire was FOWed. Can't blame the submariners, in this situation they probably don't have the time to measure the diameter of shell holes with an inch rule...

Posted: **Thu Oct 13, 2016 4:42 am**

URGENT - Message to CinC:

AIR RAID TRUK NAVAL BASE - THIS IS NO DRILL!

March 22nd, 1943 - US carriers have launched a daring air raid against Truk, our Gibraltar in the Pacific. We got caught with pants down, as we did not expect such an aggressive move that far behind the front. A IJN fighter unit defending the base took a toll from the attacker, but a number of fleet auxiliaries like minecraft and tenders as well as the only drydock available in the South Pacific got sunk. With them, six submarines under repair and unable to move went down. Finally, on the run in and out, a small convoy bringing reinforcements to Ponape has been wiped out. A black day for the Empire...

Posted: **Thu Oct 13, 2016 10:30 am**

Wow!! [X(] A gutsy move by the Allies and I guess they pulled it off perfectly. From which direction did they come, or can you tell?

Posted: **Fri Oct 14, 2016 3:55 pm**

Coming in from the east between Ponape and Eniwetok. Actually my naval search saw them coming north from the Gilberts up to near Ponape but I thought it was another anti-shipping sweep in the Marshalls and that he wouldn't dare to get any closer to Truk. Moved a 45-plane Zero M5 unit from Rabaul to Truk just in case, but did not think about clearing the port - doing turns late in the evening / night when already half-asleep is a bad idea..

Posted: **Fri Oct 14, 2016 4:25 pm**

I did a similar thing in my PBEM. I don't think many IJN players expect an early raid on Truk and thus leave gaps in their air search to detect it.

Posted: **Fri Nov 25, 2016 8:03 am**

Game has advanced to April 10th, 1943 (posting this report in a hurry, will come back later for typos and formatting)

North Pac:
Springtime has arrived in the Aleutians and with it the US Army. Ed has invaded Attu and captured it easily - just one Nav Guard and two Eng Coys serving as speed-bumps. In the meantime, I have deployed troops to the Kuriles whre they are digging-in. Still worried, since a determined attack can easily overwhelm the weak garrison units.

Central Pac:
The Allied offensive in the Gilberts continues - Makin and Ocean Island are gone. Level-4 forts meant nothing, a few bombing attacks and bombardments by a few cruisers killed half the defenders, disabled the rest and the landing forces took hardly any losses at all. I still hope that the Marshalls and especially Kusaie and Ponape will be tougher nuts to crack, with higher forts and more defenders.I will not waste air assets or Combined Fleet in the defense of the Marschalls or remaining Gilberts - after a single unescorted (due to range) Betty raid suffered heavy losses against the Ocean island invasion protected by carrier-based LRCAP.

South Pac:
Ed is using "infiltration tactics" to grab weakly defended bases with fast transports and small, cheap landing craft. The Russell Islands north of Guadalcanal, Rekata Bay (near Munda) and Panggoe (near the Shortlands) have been lost. I try to counter him with air raids from the foward base at Torokina (Vals) and Rabaul (Betties) - Munda is being kept closed by air and bombardment attacks - but I have to play cat-and-mouse with the forward deployment of my air groups because Torokina is getting plastered now and then as well. I have managed to sink a small convoy at Rekata Bay consisting of one APD and several LCI sunk, apparently loaded with combat troops - drop in a bucket but better than nothing.

Southwest Pac:
Relatively quiet. Around Darwin, Ed is busy building-up Gove. Little I can do about at the moment. My light naval forces trying to supress construction efforts took too many losses and damage running the gauntlet of mines, PTs submarines and LBA (including "Black Cats" trying night torpedo attacks). I have feinted some sorties, parking a TF just at the "corner" between Darwin and Gove, with ample LRCAP overhead, and bagged some unescorted torpedo bombers. But of course this works only once. Also tried fighter sweeps with four Zero groups against Groote Eylandt, but they only got slaughtered by Allied CAP. It sucks to have 2nd-generation planes in production (Jack, George), but no airgroups yet who are allowed to fly them (PDU off)...

KB has moved to Singers for the April upgrades, gaining some AA and radar. It will be unavailable for 3 weeks. Heavily damaged CV Hiyo has made a "dash" - at 4 knots cruise speed - from Broome to Koepang under heavy escort - CVE, BBs, cruisers and lots of DDs embedded to give lurking subs something else to shoot at, plus dedicated ASW-TFs. Broome was too unhealthy with 4Es raining bombs night and day, adding one bomb hit which fortunately caused minor additional damage. She was lucky again and has arrived at Koepang, where a Naval HQ and several ARs are waiting to get her in shape for the long voyage back to a shipyard.
This escort mission has interupted the bombardment runs in support of the Port Hedland battle for some time. In the past turns I have tried to resume them, but the bombardment TF refuses to to its job (see Tech Support forum for details).

I am still pondering what to do with Port Hedland - shall I assume a purely defensive posture and just try to delay the inevitable? Or shall I reinforce to counter-attack and try to destroy the Allied forces ? The location is an invitation for the latter, the nearest Allied bases are Exmouth and Meekwhatever, so Ed will have trouble providing fighter support over the battle area and overland supply should be limited. With Combined Fleet in the area, enemy LCUs entering Port Hedland will face BB bombardments.
OTOH, I would need to reinforce Port Hedland with supplies, Eng + AV support (pulled them out long ago to limit supply consumption) and of course combat troops - which are in short supply. I can shift two garrion brigades from Sumatra to Darwin in order to free 2nd Div at Darwin from garrison duty. But just this one division might be too weak to deal with what amounts to an US division which must be heavily disabled by naval and air bombardments and several tank units. Especially since it is open terrain and in range of 4Es, those invulnerable beasts. My own fighter strength is not too impressive as well, since the mass of IJA air is engaged in Burma. The occasion to destroy a US division is tempting, but it requires more investment and there is a risk of failure. Oh the choices...

Burma:
Ed keeps up the pressure in the air and on the ground. Bombers are pounding my LCUs in Northern Burma - I have no airfields and AV support up there, counting on the jungle terrain to limit the effects. I'm trying to assemble a force to recapture Warazup, but Ed has launched another attack from Kalemyo in the direction of Katha with a reinforced Aussie Division - I may need to abort the Warazup operation in order to deal with this intrusion.

The main action centers around Akyab and Magwe. Ed is supplying Akyab with small convoys, I try to counter with LBA but it is costly:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 54,45
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid detected at 61 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 45
G3M3 Nell x 18

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 14 destroyed
G3M3 Nell: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
xAKL Bust, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
PC Alert
xAKL Selma City, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

One such attack and the participating air groups are out of the fight for a week. With just six unrestricted Netty groups available at the moment to cover naval search and strike requirements for several active fronts on the map, it is impossible to rotate "used" Netty groups in a particular area in order to maintain pressure - simply no reserve air groups available. So, in order to keep up the fight against the Akyab convoys, I have made an experiment with a group of Oscar-IIb from Magwe set to low naval attack, with the rest of the Magwe fighter gaggle (2x Tojo-IIa, 1x Tony-Ia, 1x Tony-Ib, 4x Oscar-IIb) set to sweep and escort. Surprisingly, the Oscars successfully bombed some small fry, xAKLs escorted by PCs and AM types - but losses among the sweepers, escorts and strike aircraft were heavy.

The following turn, Ed promptly took advantage of the weakened and tired state of the Magwe gaggle and launched heavy sweeps and bombing attacks against Magwe. MY groups got mauled badly, some down to 25% strength. I have only two fresh fighter groups to rotate in. I hope the Allies have to lick their wounds as well, if they keep up the pressure, then Magwe and the cream of the IJA fighter units will be toast!

China
Slow grinding, with ground bombardments at Changsha, Kunming and Lanchow killing and disabling a few more Chinese every turn. Enemy LCUs at Lanchow are also being bombed by the entire IJA complement of Ki-51 groups plus three Lily groups - the lone Helen group keeping the airfield cratered to prevent fort building. When the flak ceased to respond, indicating low supplies on the enemy side, I felt ready to launch a first ground attack (forgot the date must have been end of March). I overstacked the hex with tanks and Combat Engineers in addition to the infantry and arty who have already been in place. Supplies were ok, everything 100% prepped, checked the leaders and was quite confident. I did not expect Lanchow to fall, but at least a fort reduction and favourable loss ratios.

Well, the attack found level-4 forts and sufferd heavily - and achieved no fort reduction. This wasn't for a lack of trying - the Combat Eng units got reduced to 10-15% strength. Ok, bad dice probably. So, I pulled back the spent units to rebuild, and did more bombarding and bombing in the meantime. Last turn I tried again - with similar results. WTF, how many Combat Eng units does it need to reduced fort levels?

Ground combat at Lanchow (81,34)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 55349 troops, 523 guns, 435 vehicles, Assault Value = 1629
Defending force 42245 troops, 156 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 995
Japanese adjusted assault: 929
Allied adjusted defense: 1087
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
5606 casualties reported
Squads: 34 destroyed, 253 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 87 disabled
Engineers: 43 destroyed, 90 disabled
Vehicles lost 38 (8 destroyed, 30 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1281 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 102 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Assaulting units:
59th Division
22nd Ind Engineer Regiment
24th Ind Engineer Regiment
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
116th Division
20th Recon Regiment
35th Division
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
7th Ind Engineer Regiment
78th Infantry Regiment
19th Tank Regiment
2nd Ind Engineer Regiment
29th Ind Engineer Regiment
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
Mongol Garrison Army
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
9th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
12th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
11th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
11th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
13th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion

Defending units:
48th Chinese Corps
36th Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
5th New Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
15th Group Army
6th Chinese Base Force
8th War Area
57th AT Gun Regiment
8th Chinese Base Force

This Lanchow affair takes too much time and ties down too many units. I really need them for attacking Kunming - but since I cannot even reduce Lanchow, I doubt I will be able to take the capital - more units there, surely more forts as well. So, no joy in China - but at least doing better than history.

Posted: **Fri Nov 25, 2016 2:40 pm**

ORIGINAL: LargeSlowTarget
In the meantime, I have deployed troops to the Kuriles whre they are digging-in.

I've never been able to devise a competent defense of the Kuriles ... So I just put a small GAR on each to prevent a free take. Hokkaido though can, and must, be strongly defended...

Posted: **Mon Nov 28, 2016 6:56 am**

More screenshots :

Posted: **Mon Nov 28, 2016 6:57 am**

Situation in the Solomons

Posted: **Mon Nov 28, 2016 6:58 am**

Darwin area

Posted: **Mon Nov 28, 2016 6:59 am**

Port Hedland area

Posted: **Thu Dec 29, 2016 9:00 am**

A little action in the last turn to relate.

Zuikaku and Shokaku have finished their April 43 upgrades, and while 1st and 2nd carrier divisions are still in the yards at Singers, I decided to send the two cranes and a CVL on a hit-and-run raid into the Indian Ocean, hoping to catch a convoy between CT and India.

To my surprise I stumbled upon this :

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 22, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Addu at 22,53

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 25
D4Y1 Judy x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 3 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CVL Hermes, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Shropshire, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CLAA Van Heemskerck

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
9 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Hermes
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Shropshire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Addu at 22,53

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 38
D4Y1 Judy x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CVL Hermes, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Thracian, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Hermes
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Thracian

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 23, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Addu at 15,57

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 25
D4Y1 Judy x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 1 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CA Shropshire, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Napier, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
11 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

The torpedo planes on the CVL were set to search and ASW and did fly, but the torpedo planes of Sho and Zui set to naval strike did not fly "due to weather or range" as the reports indicated.

WTH? The Judy's did fly despite the weather and they have shorter range than the Kates still in use aboard Sho and Zui (Jill production is still catching up).

Guess I need to shoot some Kate jockeys...

Still, better than nothing and I hope I have scared Ed and slowed the supply flow a bit.

What happened elsewhere in the past two weeks of game time:

- Ed has landed on Rossel Is. and Deboyne Is., starting the the approach to PNG. I'm not going to waste assets in counter-attacks, but I'm digging in at Milne, PM, Buna, Lae, Umboi etc. to slow him down.

- Torokiona has been flattened by air and surface bombardment, just after I moved-in two Oscar units to try some disruption sweeps. The remnants have evacuated the cratered runway back to Rabaul for rebuilding...

- Nightly sorties by DDs and PTs are sinking all my AKLs and barges trying to resupply the central and upper Solomons. My Zeroes and Betties at Rabaul are ineffective - in daylight they get shredded by CAP, at night the Betties hit nothing. I may send a cruiser force of my own to Rabaul (need to get fuel there first). With luck I may surprise one of Ed's forays and force him to be more cautious.

- Zeroes of the M5 variant on LRCAP over Port Hedland are being bested by P-40K sweeping from Exmouth despite 2:1 numbers advantage in each engagement - a dozen Zeroes lost for 2 P40s downed. Ed has captured Coruna Downs, I expect that he will fly-in supplies and tries to build-up the base to base at least some local CAP. Will try LRCAP to see if I can catch some transport planes.

- US subs showing up in greater numbers inside the SRA and are getting more hits as well. Lost three xAKs last turn alone. I'm reducing the numbers of convoys collecting resources from the SRA - need to economize fuel - and will create some ASW hunting groups from the escorts.

- The Australian 9th Divsion launched a stab from Kalymo in the direction of Katha, but has been stopped by the 48th IJA division. I have recaptured Warazup a few turns ago - while the infantry will remain to hold that base, the supporting arty and tank units will move out to help 48th Division to punish the Aussies.

- Economy : Grave fuel shortages shutting down the heavy industries in China, Manchukuo and Korea and a few larger HI centers in the Home islands as well - although I ship as much oil and fuel to Japan as I can. I manage to keep the oil centres pretty dry (I have converted many xAKs and xAKLs to TKs). Apparently I have made the typical noob JFB mistake of running Combined Fleet too hard and over-expanding the industry - although I have tried to restrain myself. Warships riding at anchor are of little use, BB bombardments are the best offensive weapon I have. And I am producing less than a thousand planes per month. Is this really too much?!? I mean, production barely keeps ahead of the losses, and I shut down factories when the pool for a type reaches 20 to 80 planes, depending on type. This part of the game will get even more "interesting" in the future with the scheduled reinforcements that need to be fleshed out...

Ok, back to work...

Posted: **Wed Jan 04, 2017 11:58 am**

Finally! Lanchow fell after a siege of several months with daily bombardments by a huge arty concentration and heavy bombing by two dozen groups of Ki-51s, Ki-48s, Ki-21s and the lone Ki-49 unit available at the moment (PDU off) plus three three costly rounds of ground assaults.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 28, 43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lanchow (81,34)

Japanese Shock attack

[Actually only a Cav Bde shock-attacked across the river to close the last remaining open hex-side, all other Inf and tank units made a deliberate attack. Eng units did not participate, they have been thrashed the turn before taking down the forts from 4 to 2.]

Attacking force 56921 troops, 668 guns, 940 vehicles, Assault Value = 1731

Defending force 32433 troops, 128 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 316

Japanese adjusted assault: 1292

Allied adjusted defense: 147

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Lanchow !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
1693 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 59 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 25 (3 destroyed, 22 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
40865 casualties reported
Squads: 1461 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2072 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 143 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 129 (129 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 11

Assaulting units:
35th Division
3rd Ind.Mixed Brigade
59th Division
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
12th Tank Regiment
116th Division
3rd Tank Division
4th Cavalry Brigade
19th Tank Regiment
29th Ind Engineer Regiment
7th Ind Engineer Regiment
9th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Cavalry Brigade
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
11th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
22nd Ind Engineer Regiment
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
11th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
Mongol Garrison Army
3rd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind Engineer Regiment
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
12th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
24th Ind Engineer Regiment
4th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
13th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion

Defending units:
36th Chinese Corps
27th Chinese Corps
61st Chinese Corps
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
8th War Area
5th New Chinese Corps
15th Group Army
57th AT Gun Regiment
6th Chinese Base Force
8th Chinese Base Force

This ends the campaign in Northern China. All units - except a garrison force for Lanchow and some elements assigned to move to the SRA to reform complete divisions - are ordered to the main supply base at Sian to recuperate before moving to reinforce the siege of Chungking (see results from April 28, 1943 below). The capital will be a tough nut, with more enemy forces, higher forts and better supply situation. I have some doubts about my chances to take it.

Ground combat at Chungking (76,45)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3324 troops, 235 guns, 104 vehicles, Assault Value = 2476

Defending force 148618 troops, 645 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4386

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
86 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
69th Division
3rd Division
110th Division
41st Division
37th Division
26th Division
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
4th Mortar Battalion
12th Army
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
11th Army
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Army
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment

Defending units:
11th Construction Regiment
97th Chinese Corps
69th Chinese Corps
81st Chinese Corps
98th Chinese Corps
96th Chinese Corps
10th Construction Regiment
14th Chinese Corps
38th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
53rd Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
1st New Chinese Corps
26th Chinese Corps
28th Chinese Corps
12th Construction Regiment
1st Artillery Regiment
CAF HQ
39th Group Army
32nd Group Army
23rd Group Army
18th Artillery Regiment
41st AA Regiment
China Command
22nd Artillery Regiment
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
20th Artillery Regiment
Central Reserve
31st Group Army
49th AA Regiment
1st Chinese Base Force

Posted: **Sun Jan 08, 2017 1:58 pm**

I've started reading your AAR...

* pilot training
- all float planes NOT upgrading to Jake will be maxed to 24 planes by Chitose/Chiyoda and train sweeps at 10.000 feet

Could you explain this Chitose/chiyoda feature?

Does it mean that if you assign a float plane to one of these, so than you are allowed to resize it??

Posted: **Sun Jan 08, 2017 7:54 pm**

That's it exactly. Put any floatplane unit on the CS's and you can size them up to 24.

Posted: **Mon Jan 09, 2017 11:14 am**

Yes, Chitose/Chiyoda can resize float planes to max 24. Mizuho only to 20. Beware, a few float plan units have hard-coded resize dates and size limits and cannot be upsized.

If playing PBEM, you should discuss airgroup resizing with your opponent, as some people consider it gamey since only Japan can resize FP groups.

Your post prompted me to check back on my plans on page 1. Well, they say no battle plan survives contact with the enemy...

Two points stand out:

"21st, 48th and 56th Divs will become theater reserves" for counter-attacking Allied offensives - LOL! They are needed to hold the Burma front. Never had a chance to seriously counter-attack the Allied advances in the CentPac, SoPac and SoWePac areas due to lack of large LCUs in reserve for such an eventuality. Gosh, I don't have enough units to maintain a semblance of defense all around the perimeter. Worst part, there aren't any sizeable unrestricted Inf units in the reinforcement pipeline before 1944. If Ed had a complete intel picture of my force dispositions, he could invade straight into the heart of the DEI with little risk. That's why I'm clinging to Port Hedland and Darwin, which were initially considered as "speed-bumps" to slow the Allies - once they are captured, they can serve as springboards into the wide-open SRA - there are just too many bases and dots with good airbase potentials out there...

"all groups not able to upgrade to Tojo / Tony reserved for training duty after conclusion of initial operations" - ROFL! I had no idea how severely PDU off would restrict aircraft upgrades. At the moment I have a whooping total of 4.5 groups that can fly Tojos or Tonies - so the Oscars have to soldier on. Training is done with the groups not able to upgrade to current models of the Oscar line and with groups stuck with Nates. The game just entered May 1943 and I have brought the Tojo IIc into production, which allows me to double the number of Tojo groups - but that means less training.

Btw, any Tracker users here? I would like to know which IJN unit can use the Jack - I have pushed it into production but I cannot find any group eligible to use it...

About the only thing that seems to have worked like planned is the ASW - the convoy routes are for the most part covered by well-trained resized Jake groups and although they don't seem to kill many subs with their puny bombs, a spotted sub is less effective and ship losses to subs have been supportable up to now.

While I'm at it, some AAR News:

Game has reached May 1943, apart from Tojo IIc the Oscar IIIa has reached production. Build rate Tojo = 80 and Oscar = 240. The three Tojo research factories have been allocated to Ki-84 and Ki-100 (2x).

The latest turn saw a botched fast transport supply mission to Port Hedland. For some reason the TF elected to stay around until daylight and got clobbered by SBDs and skip-bombing B-25 from Exmouth - one CL, one DD and one DMS sunk, one DD badly damaged and probably a goner as well.

In the Solomons, I try to resupply the Shortlands. Ed has a DD division paying nightly visits up the Slot to the Shortlands and Torokina and endulging in target practice against my barge convoys. I have split my last four barges into single-ship TFs - normally considered a cheesy tactic by myself but desperate times demand desperate measures - one got through, hooray! Bettys at Rabaul on night naval attack hit nothing, if put on daylight naval strikes with Zero escort they insist on attacking PTs with torpedoes (after losing a number of planes to CAP), although other targets have been spotted within range beyond the PTs (no chance to tinker with search arch bearings in order NOT to spot the PTs - the DDs and cruisers spend the daylight hours farther away on the same search segment...). Looks like I have to engage surface TFs myself to counter those DD sweeps and cruiser bombardments. Not good, I have no idea where the Allied carriers are.

Posted: **Mon Jan 16, 2017 1:48 pm**

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 04/05, 1943

NoPac:
Calm. I have sub patrols and a picket line covering the approaches to the Kuriles and Northern Japan. The Kuriles Islands with higher airbase potential are garrisoned but only against quick grabs, they will not resist a serious invasion. No ground forces available for a robust defense. In case of emergency, I can throw the planes of the Home Island Training Command into the breach.

CentPac:
Enemy bombing raids against Kusaie, Majuro and Maloelap and lots of shipping observed in the Gilberts by Nells, expect more aggressive moves in the near-future. Nothing I could do even if I wanted to. Am busy shifting Engineers and air support from doomed bases back to Kusaie, Ponape andf Truk to bolster their defenses.
KB just finished refits at Singers and the CentPac is too far from the fuel sources and not important enough to risk the fleet. Yes, I know that Essex and Hellcats are coming soon and tipping the scale. I failed to seek and engage US carriers while having a quality and quantity advantage and Ed did a good job at not risking his pre-war carriers. But I don't think Ed will jump to the Marianas without adequate amphib shipping, which should still be in short supply. I hope I will have enough time to find some big LCU to defend the Marianas.

SoPac / PNG:
I have concentrated considerable assets at Rabaul to make a show of force, hoping to scare Ed into being more prudent and maybe, just maybe to inflict some damage as well.

A SAG (1xBB, 4xCA, 6xDD) has made two bombardment runs to Rossel Is. the past turns, sinking a couple of PTs and two xAKL and dealing moderate damage to the level-1 airfield. I did not wanted to push my luck and risk interception by carriers, so this turn the SAG was tasked to patrol north of Buka trying to catch those pesky barge-hunting DDs. My TF must have reacted to something in vain, as dawn found it near the Shortlands and thus only weak LRCAP from Rabaulcovered it - luckily the SBDs had no escorts.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
CA Atago

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Rossel Island remained well-covered by naval search and I have readied three 45-plane Zero groups and three 36-plane Betty groups at Rabaul for naval strikes.

On May 04+05 I got off a lot of strikes, but results were not good. I am p*ssed off in particular by the air combat results. Although my escorts (all with minimum 70exp/70air/70def pilots) heavily outnumbered enemy CAP - which consisted of 1st-generation air frames flying from a damaged level-1 airbase - it got handled very roughly and one-sided. Shipborne flak caused a lot of losses as well, and many damaged planes did not reach home - but that was to be expected.

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 105,137

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 89
G4M1 Betty x 45

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 14
P-40K Warhawk x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 8 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 27 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Louisville
CA Vincennes
CA Salt Lake City
DD O'Bannon
DD Helm
CL Denver
DD Morris
DD Grayson

Aircraft Attacking:
28 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
15 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 6000 feet *
14 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
13 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 6000 feet *

CAP engaged:
18th FG/44th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
347th FG/67th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 105,137

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 18
G4M1 Betty x 13

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 10
P-40K Warhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CL Denver
CA Louisville

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
18th FG/44th FS with P-40K Warhawk (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
347th FG/67th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 50 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 105,137

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 61 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 81
G4M1 Betty x 16

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 10
P-40K Warhawk x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 13 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
DD Lang
CA Vincennes, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
5 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 6000 feet *
19 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 6000 feet *
19 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 6000 feet *

CAP engaged:
18th FG/44th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
347th FG/67th FS with P-39D Airacobra (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 105,137

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 81
G4M1 Betty x 18

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 10
P-40K Warhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 5 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 13 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City
DD Grayson
DD DeHaven
DD Helm

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
9 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 6000 feet *
18 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 6000 feet *
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
16 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 6000 feet *

CAP engaged:
18th FG/44th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
347th FG/67th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 105,137

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 65 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 64
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 7
P-40K Warhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 5 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CA Louisville

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
10 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 6000 feet *
15 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 6000 feet *
14 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 6000 feet *

CAP engaged:
18th FG/44th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
347th FG/67th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes

In the meantime, one group of Betties launched repeated attacks against two DDs near Rekata Bay, mostly unescorted and straight into Corsairs flying CAP. I don't understand why, I have taken the precaution of micro-managing the naval search arcs to make sure that only the area around Rossel Island is being searched. Coastwatchers maybe?

Anyway, to cut a long sad story short - with ops losses included, I have lost in two days 78 Betties - the equivalent of six weeks production - and about 60 Zeroes (one week of production) - in return for four stinkin' enemy fighters shot down and one lousy torpedo hit! I cannot believe how outclassed Zeroes are already.

That's it, no more offensive naval air strikes by Betties in daylight anymore - I will relegate them to ASW and the occasional night attack.

I'm supplying bases and shifting forces by air, since not even barges manage to get through. I'm pulling out air support, port units etc. no longer needed in the Solomons for lack of air and naval activities. Also, the 16th Div has air-evacuated (except the mot support which will fats-transport out) to Nadzab. Mile Bay is too exposed and I think the units has done it's duty to discourage early attempts by Ed to recapture it. Two smaller, expendable units will move in to prevent a quick grab. The MLR will be the Lae-Umboi-Rabaul-Kavieng area.

Northern Oz:

Ed has started an air offensive in the Darwin area.

Sweeps by P-38s over Darwin followed by 4E pounding the airfield and port are unopposed - I don't have enough fighters to cover everything and the IJNAF is currently concentrated at Rabaul, the better part of the IJAAF covers Burma, a few units are busy in the Port Hedland area, and one Oscar group each are providing minimum security at Palembang and Nadzab.

Enemy bombers from Groote Eylandt are pounding units regrouping near Katherine, causing numerous casualties.

It seems there will be no Allied ground attack from Tennant Creek towards Darwin and a seaborne attack against Darwin and/or overland attack from Gove appear to be the greater dangers.

So I'm withdrawing the garrison from Daly Waters (1x Garrison Bde, 2xAT, 1xAA) and it is time to think about the evacuation of base forces and other units not slated to die defending Darwin.

In the Port Hedland area, I have had the bright idea to try a counter-attack without sufficient forces. Two Bde ventured into the open to flank Coruna Downs and to close the hex sides in order to cut-off the supplies that may flow overland from Exmouth. Out came enemy LBA with a vengeance, 4Es and 2Es from Exmouth and Meekwhatever. Despite LRCAP from Broome - not much due to distance - the 12th and 18th Garrison Brigades are taking a pounding, both are 50% disabled while trying to get back to the doubtful security of Port Hedland.

Three BBs and a couple of cruisers have finished repairs, I will concentrate them in the SRA again, ready to bombard as soon as enemy LCUs reach Port Hedland and/or Darwin.

Burma / China :
Lots of LCUs on the march, regrouping after the capture of Warazup and Lanchow. Dead calm in the air - too calm, surely something bad is brewing. I use the time to reshuffle air groups, couple of units cannot upgrade to the Oscar IIIa which has entered production, these groups will move to cover the hinterland (Rangoon) for training / reserve.

Posted: **Tue Jan 24, 2017 7:38 pm**

Just sent the May 11/12 turn back to Ed. Nothing spectacular happened, Ed continues to advance by taking weakly held bases and ignoring the more strongly held.

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Ground combat at Wessel Islands (83,126)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4255 troops, 35 guns, 22 vehicles, Assault Value = 175

Defending force 663 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

Allied adjusted assault: 150

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 150 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Wessel Islands !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
888 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 66 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
2/7 Commando Battalion
2/6 Commando Battalion
40th Infantry/B Division
I Aus Corps Engr Bn /11
808th Aviation Engr Bn /21

Defending units:
Kure 2nd SNLF /1

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

Ground combat at Choiseul Bay (111,132)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 5056 troops, 42 guns, 27 vehicles, Assault Value = 157

Defending force 313 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5

Allied adjusted assault: 67

Japanese adjusted defense: 10

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Choiseul Bay !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), fatigue(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
8th NZ Brigade

Defending units:
I/66th Naval Guard Unit

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Ground combat at Vella Lavella (110,133)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 994 troops, 19 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 40

Defending force 6885 troops, 43 guns, 163 vehicles, Assault Value = 242

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 5th SNLF

Defending units:
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
2nd Marine Regiment
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
2nd AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
19th USN Special Construction Battalion

Last screenshots are from Dec 1942, so here are a few fresh ones:

EDIT: [:-]I don't know my own AAR! Last screenies were only from April 43. Anyway, this an occasion to show the Pacifica Bellum map v2 in action [slightly modified for use with my unfinished mod].

Burma

Posted: **Tue Jan 24, 2017 7:40 pm**

China

Posted: **Tue Jan 24, 2017 7:41 pm**

Northern Oz

Matrix Games Forums

IdahoNYer vs LST (J AAR): GAME OVER!

RE: Burma battles

Truk bombed!

RE: Truk bombed!

RE: Truk bombed!

RE: Truk bombed!

RE: Truk bombed!

RE: Truk bombed!

RE: Truk bombed!

RE: Truk bombed!

RE: Truk bombed!

RE: SitRep April 1943 with screenshots

RE: SitRep April 1943 with screenshots

Lanchow falls

RE: Lanchow falls

RE: Lanchow falls

RE: Lanchow falls

Betty massacre at Rossel Is.

RE: Betty massacre at Rossel Is.

Screenshots May 1943

RE: Screenshots May 1943