Rumble in the Southwest witpqs-A vs Andav-J 2011-11-29 to 2017-02-08

[JocMeister]

Haha, no no! Sorry! I meant up to May 43 I had 1200 KIA/MIA! And between May 43 and May 44 I suffered an additional 1800 pilots lost [:D]

[JocMeister]

Btw, I´m not so sure its the best way to train each bomber pilot in so many roles. I havn´t tested it but it feels like once they reach a certain EXP and skill they learn new skills slower. Getting them to 45EXP and 70 in one skill is usually pretty fast but after that it just seems to slow down. Nothing I tested as I said. Just a feeling!

Btw, I never used LGRD. I figured the AA would kill under 1k. How has it worked out for you?

[witpqs]

Breath in... Relax... Breath in... Relax... Breath in... Relax...

You scared the hell out of me! [X(] [:D]

I don't train all bomber pilots in so many roles. 4EB and 2EB non-attack bomber pilots gets high ground, while defense and experience follow along 'good enough' until they get into combat and get more. Pilots that will man low flying aircraft, such as the 2EB attack bombers, get some high ground but maybe min 60, and also get strafing, low ground, and lastly low naval. FB get low ground (50 or 60), strafe (50 or 60), low naval (50), and air (50).

AA is tough indeed at low level, that's why attack bomber pilots also get a good does of high ground (maybe to 60). Against ground troops it is best used when a greater effect is called for. Against soft targets and troops moving in the open, trained crews at low level are devastating.

The naval bombers are a different issue. Naval bombing (high) is of course critical for dive bombers, search is very important, ASW is very important to suppress subs and damage them causing mission kill, and they can find themselves the only force left to make that critical difference to an invasion where no other help is available. So the USN DB go to high naval (min 60 but more mostly), search (50), ASW (50), and high ground (50 wanted but min 40). USMC have different emphasis: high naval (60), search (30), ASW (20), high ground (min 50 but more mostly). Experience and defense take care of themselves during all that training.

The naval patrol planes and float planes need search and ASW, plus benefit from high naval when they come upon a ship they can attack opportunistically. High ground, not so much. But... Even though the management of pilots has been massively improved and the player effort-burden reduced by Michael's interface improvements, it is still very difficult to manage more than one specialty of pilot in the same sub pool. For example, when selecting a trained bomber pilot for 4EB you can not merely sort on high ground, you also have to look at some other columns to make sure you are not, by mistake, taking a trained attack bomber pilot (who has the other skills trained up). With USN bomber pilots, you have to make sure that when selecting a good dive bomber pilots you do not take one who is also a good torpedo bomber pilot (because you have fewer of them trained). In the early going the USN has to use float plane squadrons (and sometimes patrol plane squadrons) to train dive bomber pilots, and sometimes use patrol plane squadrons to train torpedo bomber pilots. This problem gets worse as more USN search squadrons become 4EB and 2EB, and as many float planes convert to DB. By mostly standardizing my USN bomber/patrol/float pilots I reduce the number of columns that I need to check when selecting a pilot. I want to compete, yes, but I also want the game to be fun!

Obviously then, I find fighter pilots and high ground pilots the easiest to train. With some fighter pilots I've dickered around a bit to get experience up before pooling them, say by changing to 20 or 30% CAP and 70 or 80% training. Some bomber pilots I let train longer to get experience up but mostly I rely on combat to do that.

[witpqs]

1943 May 26

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Vangunu

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Woodlark Island
Munda

The pressure is relentless in China, but all positions held today. In Burma too the main position held, but it was the Empire's position.

Ground combat at 56,49 (near Toungoo)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 70420 troops, 908 guns, 1720 vehicles, Assault Value = 2578

Defending force 35355 troops, 291 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 1011

Allied adjusted assault: 1053

Japanese adjusted defense: 1465

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1720 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 98 disabled
Non Combat: 41 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 19 (2 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 66 (66 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2803 casualties reported
Squads: 70 destroyed, 195 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 97 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 21 disabled
Guns lost 62 (29 destroyed, 33 disabled)
Vehicles lost 193 (46 destroyed, 147 disabled)

Assaulting units:
50th Tank Brigade
6th Australian Division
255th Armoured Brigade
17th Indian Division
254th Armoured Brigade
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
14th Indian Division
2/10th Armoured Regiment
23rd Indian Division
754th Tank Battalion
9th Australian Division
Eastern Army
21st Light AA Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
77th Heavy AA Regiment
2/1st Med Regiment
XXXIII Indian Corps
2/11th Field Regiment
22nd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

Defending units:
19th Tank Regiment
17th Infantry Regiment
9th Division
56th Infantry Regiment
114th Infantry Regiment
16th Garrison Unit
18th Garrison Unit
55th Mountain Gun Regiment

The armoured units (which move the fastest) are moving back up the road to relieve over stacking until the troops are ready for the next go. Kumano bombarded Ramree Island but to small effect. The air war in Burma continues to be in our favor numerically but is tough on our fighters in certain battles. The 7th Australian Division is broken down to regiments at Magwe to upgrade to the powerful '43 standard squads. In 5 days a number of Australian formations will withdraw, allowing subsequent divisions to upgrade without breaking down. The only problem with the 7th is that their morale as little recovered from sitting in the jungle so long near Akyab, and stands at 62. Supply at Magwe is never copious, which I am sure influences matters. The 70 experience 5th Indian Division, with '43 squads, will soon be at Chittagong from where they will sea lift on LSI(L) to Akyab. From there they will take the coastal route to Prome. The 7th Indian Division and 18th British Division, both with pre-'43 squads and only partly reconstituted, are in company with the 48th Indian Bde ('43 squads) just outside of Chittagong and marching all the way toward Prome. The 5th will probably leap-frog ahead of them with the sea lift.

More progress was made in South Pacific.

Ground combat at Munda (111,134)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1830 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 90

Defending force 4681 troops, 38 guns, 104 vehicles, Assault Value = 197

Assaulting units:
64th Naval Guard Unit
21st Special Base Force

Defending units:
22nd Marine Regiment
1st USMC Tank Battalion


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

Ground combat at Vangunu (111,135)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4220 troops, 38 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 166

Defending force 1584 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 40

Allied adjusted assault: 65

Japanese adjusted defense: 10

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Vangunu !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
135 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (4 destroyed, 2 disabled)

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

Assaulting units:
7th Marine Regiment
3rd Pioneer Battalion

Defending units:
14th Naval Guard Unit


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

Ground combat at Torokina (109,130)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1874 troops, 0 guns, 131 vehicles, Assault Value = 75

Defending force 844 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 10

Allied adjusted assault: 29

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 29 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

Assaulting units:
2/9 Commando Battalion
3rd NZ Armoured Sqn
1st AmphTrac Engineer Battalion

Defending units:
Maizuru 4th SNLF


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

Ground combat at Woodlark Island (104,133)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4948 troops, 42 guns, 27 vehicles, Assault Value = 157

Defending force 1813 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 60

Allied adjusted assault: 68

Japanese adjusted defense: 25

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
53 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
8th NZ Brigade
15th NZ AA Bde
2nd RNZAF Base Force

Defending units:
47th Naval Guard Unit

So Vangunu is ours after a bit of help, the Imperials in the hills around Torokina decline surrender, Woodlark Island is fortified but reducing nicely, and Munda has stout enough forces that our tanks will be appreciated.

Five CVE, including Long Island, are breaking of toward Australia for upgrade, as is Wasp. She will also upgrade her fighters to Hellcats. Various destroyers will upgrade too. Two newly arrived CVE are forming up on the West Coast to make for Hawaii, where they will join up with a third CVE and proceed forward. Essex will probably get to the front before them.

Here is a look at the Intel screen.

[JocMeister]

Haha, sorry for the heart attack! [:D]

I know what you mean about the micro management of the pilot pools. Its a hassle. Its one of the reasons I have specialised my pilots in one category only. Makes it a lot easier to pick pilots. I don´t have any squadrons doing dual jobs like GRD/NAV. Either a squadron does only ground or it does only NAV. Its limiting me a bit but its also making pilots more expendable and managing them far easier! [:)]

CV pilots are of course a different thing as they need to be "jack of all trades". I have streamlined that as much as possible too though. Don´t want to say too much here incase Erik reads this! [:D]

I think you need to look at ways to cut down time on your training. I would be very worried about the bomber pools in particular. Both Navy and USAAF. One bad day can easily cost 50 bomber pilots! [:(] You can always go back and train them to a higher standard later if you find yourself in a surplus! One CV clash and your USN pools will be empty or worse. I have devoted 100% of the USAAF training capability to churning out bomber pilots for the last six months and I´m justkeeping up with losses. And soon all squadrons resize from 12 to 16! [X(]

[witpqs]

I know what you mean and I am pushing more on USAAF bomber pilots. Fighter training is going pretty well so I will probably switch some of those squadrons over to bomber pilot training in the next go-around for them. A bit of a mitigating factor is that most of the 4EB pilots in combat are pretty good and less likely to be lost.

On the USN side I think I am better off than the raw pool number indicates. All those float plane squadrons have been training up pilots, as have the couple/three carrier trained USN DB squadrons that have shown up. So those squadrons actually form quite a reserve of DB pilots themselves, and in the case of the ones that have already converted from float planes to SBD-5 or SB2C-1, a reserve of DB planes too.

[witpqs]

1943 May 27

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Woodlark Island
Munda

The Chinese made a successful attack (5 to 1) against two surrounded Imperial units just east of Paoshan. BTW, the Empire's troops have also pulled back from their siege of Paoshan itself.

Ground combat at 66,44 (near Paoshan)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20849 troops, 106 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 615

Defending force 849 troops, 39 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 41

Allied adjusted assault: 405

Japanese adjusted defense: 73

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (2 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (2 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
189 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
35th Chinese Corps
54th Chinese Corps

Defending units:
1st Tank Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion

It was a bad day for Imperial tank regiments, with the 1st being trapped east of Paoshan and the 2nd destroyed at Katherine today.

Ground combat at 76,127 (near Katherine)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 1710 troops, 0 guns, 315 vehicles, Assault Value = 164

Defending force 66 troops, 0 guns, 21 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 210

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 210 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 26 (26 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
2/4th Armoured Regiment
2/5th Armoured Regiment
2/7th Armoured Regiment

Defending units:
2nd Tank Regiment

DD Lansdowne was sunk by repeated torpedo attacks near Shortlands. Near and to the west of Kavieng, BB Musashi has been sighted, along with several IJN carriers! The Japanese defenders were wiped out at Vangunu and Torokina. Woodlark Island almost fell to the 8th NZ Brigade, and at Munda 1/3 of the defending troops were knocked out. Our troops at Woodlark Island will continue attacking while those at Munda will rest before attacking again, but the writing is on the wall for both battles.

There are now 70 auxiliary type planes at Kavieng, so I guess I know where the current airlift is based! The KB sighted is 2 hexes NW, nestled in the crook of those 3 nearby island bases.

[witpqs]

1943 May 28

The Empire captured:
Kweiyang

The Allies captured:
Woodlark Island

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Woodlark Island
Munda

The Empire's forces are battering a defensive point on a road south of Chungking and Smashed their way into Kweiyang.

Ground combat at 76,47 (near Chungking)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32145 troops, 275 guns, 493 vehicles, Assault Value = 917

Defending force 44685 troops, 203 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1083

Japanese adjusted assault: 541

Allied adjusted defense: 496

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1488 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 160 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 32 (7 destroyed, 25 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
2560 casualties reported
Squads: 21 destroyed, 153 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 14 disabled
Guns lost 28 (5 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Assaulting units:
22nd/B Division
61st Infantry Brigade
12th Tank Regiment
6th Tank Regiment
15th Tank Regiment
35th Division
15th/A Division
17th Tank Regiment
13th Tank Regiment
5th Armored Car Co
14th Tank Regiment
104th/A Division
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
49th Chinese Corps
52nd Chinese Corps
74th Chinese Corps
90th Chinese Corps
62nd Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
16th Group Army
35th Group Army


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

Ground combat at Kweiyang (74,49)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 38132 troops, 498 guns, 174 vehicles, Assault Value = 880

Defending force 43340 troops, 128 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 778

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 1417

Allied adjusted defense: 213

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Kweiyang !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
2771 casualties reported
Squads: 68 destroyed, 103 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled

Allied ground losses:
5330 casualties reported
Squads: 278 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 534 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 58 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 30 (27 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Units retreated 12

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
32nd/A Division
22nd/A Division
36th/B Division
13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
116th/B Division
104th/C Division
56th Recon Regiment
27th/C Division
27th/B Division
116th/C Division
4th Mortar Battalion
1st Mortar Battalion
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
12th Army
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
30th Chinese Corps
65th Chinese Corps
91st Chinese Corps
3rd War Area
7th Chinese Base Force
9th War Area
6th War Area
21st Group Army
4th War Area
9th Chinese Base Force
2nd Chinese Base Force
20th Chinese Base Force

In Burma we are going to give the troops another day of rest before the armor moves back into position for the next attack NW of Toungoo. 5th Indian Division and transports to carry it are both nearing Chittagong for the sea lift to Akyab.

The Dutch naval squadron has been patrolling 3 hexes NW of Gove, unspotted, and waiting for a chance at an Imperial evacuation convoy.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Bathurst Island at 77,123, Range 18,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Ikunta Maru, Shell hits 22, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Ayato Maru, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
xAK Shinsei Maru, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
xAK Toten Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
xAK Boko Maru, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
xAK Taizan Maru, Shell hits 30, and is sunk
xAK Tozan Maru, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
xAK Biwa Maru, Shell hits 27, and is sunk
xAK Setsuzan Maru, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
xAK Yulin Maru, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
xAK Minami Maru, Shell hits 25, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Java
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp
DD Piet Hein
DD Kortenaer
DD Evertsen
DD Witte de With
DD Van Nes
DD Banckert
DD Van Ghent

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 18,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Toten Maru at 18,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Minami Maru at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages PB Ikunta Maru at 17,000 yards
CL Java engages xAK Yulin Maru at 17,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Setsuzan Maru at 17,000 yards
CL Java engages xAK Tozan Maru at 17,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Taizan Maru at 17,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Toten Maru at 17,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Toten Maru at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages PB Ikunta Maru at 15,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Minami Maru at 15,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Yulin Maru at 15,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Boko Maru at 15,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Boko Maru at 15,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Toten Maru at 15,000 yards
CL Java engages xAK Ayato Maru at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards
CL Java engages PB Ikunta Maru at 14,000 yards
CL Java engages xAK Ayato Maru at 14,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Yulin Maru at 14,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Boko Maru at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CL Tromp engages PB Ikunta Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages xAK Minami Maru at 11,000 yards
CL Tromp engages xAK Yulin Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Minami Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Biwa Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Boko Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Shinsei Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Ayato Maru at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CL Tromp engages PB Ikunta Maru at 8,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Setsuzan Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Biwa Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Shinsei Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Tozan Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Taizan Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages xAK Shinsei Maru at 8,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Toten Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Biwa Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Ayato Maru at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages PB Ikunta Maru at 9,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Minami Maru at 9,000 yards
Massive explosion on xAK Toten Maru
CL Java engages xAK Toten Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Setsuzan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Taizan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages xAK Taizan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages xAK Boko Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages xAK Toten Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Tozan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages xAK Ayato Maru at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CL Tromp engages PB Ikunta Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Minami Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Boko Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Tozan Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Tozan Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Boko Maru at 10,000 yards
CL Tromp engages xAK Toten Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Shinsei Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Ayato Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CL Java engages PB Ikunta Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Minami Maru at 8,000 yards
CL Java engages xAK Taizan Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Setsuzan Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Taizan Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Boko Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Taizan Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages xAK Ayato Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Minami Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Yulin Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Biwa Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Biwa Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Tozan Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Taizan Maru at 8,000 yards
xAK Boko Maru sunk by DD Van Nes at 8,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Minami Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Ayato Maru at 8,000 yards
CL Tromp engages xAK Shinsei Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Minami Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Taizan Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Biwa Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Tozan Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Tozan Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages xAK Tozan Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Shinsei Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Shinsei Maru at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CL Tromp engages xAK Biwa Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Minami Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Yulin Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Setsuzan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Biwa Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Tozan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Minami Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages xAK Taizan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Taizan Maru at 9,000 yards
CL Tromp engages xAK Tozan Maru at 9,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Yulin Maru at 9,000 yards
xAK Minami Maru sunk by CL Java at 9,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Ayato Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Biwa Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Tozan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Shinsei Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Ayato Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Biwa Maru at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages PB Ikunta Maru at 11,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Ayato Maru at 11,000 yards
CL Java engages xAK Ayato Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Taizan Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages xAK Tozan Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Biwa Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Shinsei Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages xAK Yulin Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Setsuzan Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Ayato Maru at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Yulin Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Setsuzan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Yulin Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages xAK Tozan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Taizan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Shinsei Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages xAK Taizan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Biwa Maru at 9,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Yulin Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages xAK Setsuzan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Tozan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Taizan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Shinsei Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Ayato Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Ayato Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Yulin Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Setsuzan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Biwa Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Tozan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Tozan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Taizan Maru at 9,000 yards
CL Tromp engages PB Ikunta Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Yulin Maru at 9,000 yards
CL Java engages xAK Shinsei Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Shinsei Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Tozan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Taizan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Yulin Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Biwa Maru at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CL Java engages PB Ikunta Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Setsuzan Maru at 8,000 yards
CL Java engages PB Ikunta Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Shinsei Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Shinsei Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages PB Ikunta Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Setsuzan Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Taizan Maru at 8,000 yards
De Walt S. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CL Tromp engages PB Ikunta Maru at 7,000 yards
xAK Setsuzan Maru sunk by DD Banckert at 7,000 yards
xAK Shinsei Maru sunk by DD Van Ghent at 7,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Taizan Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Biwa Maru at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CL Tromp engages PB Ikunta Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Biwa Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages xAK Taizan Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Biwa Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Taizan Maru at 10,000 yards
xAK Taizan Maru sunk by DD Evertsen at 10,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Biwa Maru at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CL Java engages PB Ikunta Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Biwa Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Van Ghent engages xAK Biwa Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Biwa Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages xAK Biwa Maru at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 18,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages PB Ikunta Maru at 18,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Bathurst Island at 77,123

Japanese Ships
PB Ikunta Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Seawolf

PB Ikunta Maru is sighted by SS Seawolf
SS Seawolf launches 2 torpedoes

Seawolf helpfully swept up the remaining debris!

Woodlark Island is ours but the stubborn defenders have taken to the countryside. Our forces at Munda are well recovered and attack tomorrow. In two days transports will be in place to load all of the Ponape troops.

Numerous Imperial task forces/convoys have been spotted at and near Kavieng and Manus, and apparently moving to or from those bases. Obviously that is a large KB.

[BBfanboy]

Nice job on pouncing on that convoy! It isn't often that one that large gets totally wiped out!
The sub skipper could have saved his torps, but then every training opportunity should be taken![:D]

[witpqs]

1943 May 29

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Deboyne Islands
Fenton

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Munda

In China our forces are still engaged in a losing battle (surprise!). In Burma the armor is headed back to the point of attack so all can give another try. Hopefully they will all arrive tomorrow.

The Kimura Detachment was punished again near Katherine and is trying to escape westward. Fenton was empty before our tanks could attack. Woodlark is going well but slowly, with the reluctant enemy being ground down, although slowly. Munda is a different story, where in spite of daily bombing the enemy stands firm.

Ground combat at Munda (111,134)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4705 troops, 38 guns, 104 vehicles, Assault Value = 195

Defending force 3830 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 65

Allied adjusted assault: 48

Japanese adjusted defense: 277

Allied assault odds: 1 to 5 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
155 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
122 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
22nd Marine Regiment
1st USMC Tank Battalion

Defending units:
64th Naval Guard Unit
21st Special Base Force

A very successful CAP trap above Rabaul knocked down 9 x B-24 in the air, plus 2 more for 11 total. They were hitting Rabaul's port and seemed to do that well enough as they hit some ships stuck there. P-38 and Corsairs will begin sweeping from Shortlands in an effort to clear the air space. They were likely KB Zeros over Rabaul, so I figure the A-team is embarked.

The 41st Division begins loading at Nadi for Ponape. Two tanks units at LaFoa will not load for two more days, and the AmphTrac units at Tarawa will load when the fleet approaches. Essex should be in time to make the party.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Nice job on pouncing on that convoy! It isn't often that one that large gets totally wiped out!
The sub skipper could have saved his torps, but then every training opportunity should be taken![:D]

As you can see, the Empire has belatedly sent escort!

[traskott]

Suscribed !! One week to read the whole thread but it's a fantastic AAR. Good work!!!

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: traskott

Suscribed !! One week to read the whole thread but it's a fantastic AAR. Good work!!!

Thanks! [:)]

[witpqs]

1943 May 30

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Treasury Islands

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Munda

The Empire continues attacking in China, making some progress but resistance is stubborn.

Two of the armoured units did not make it to the scene of attack NW Toungoo so the attack will be the day after tomorrow.

The enemy redoubt on Woodlark Island continues to be defiant, giving up only 117 casualties at 17 to 1 odds. The Kiwis will continue attacking. Our boys at Munda will attack tomorrow. Presuming they will not capture the base then, in three days time the slow BBs will be in position to provide a bombardment.

AAR posts a bit abbreviated as we're getting ready to move. Questions will still gladly be answered. Kavieng still looks like the hot corner for IJN activity.

[witpqs]

1943 May 31

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Choiseul Bay

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Munda

The usual in China as the noose continues to tighten.

Tomorrow our troops 1 hex NW Toungoo attack.

Three of our armoured units have entered Darwin. They will wait one day for prep to reach minimum 30% before attacking.

The defenders at Woodlark were wiped out. Events at Munda are finally turning.

Ground combat at Munda (111,134)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4660 troops, 38 guns, 105 vehicles, Assault Value = 187

Defending force 3655 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 53

Allied adjusted assault: 80

Japanese adjusted defense: 55

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
227 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled

Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
22nd Marine Regiment
1st USMC Tank Battalion

Defending units:
64th Naval Guard Unit
21st Special Base Force

The Marines are good to continue attacking. Perhaps they'll even take the base before the damaging bombardment arrives.

The 4th Marine Division arrives in 11 days. I'm toying with the idea of sending it to CBI. Opinions?

Here is a look at most of that mess in China.

[traskott]

China has fallen....

Flee, fleeeeeeeeee

[:'(]

[witpqs]

It's only a scratch! [:'(]

[witpqs]

Sorry guys, nightmare move from hell. After we settle in, I swear we will never move again.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Sorry guys, nightmare move from hell. After we settle in, I swear we will never move again.

After marriage, I had to move five times. Every one of them was a test of character!
As the axiom goes "No plan ever survives contact with the enemy." Several things will always go wrong!

Are you still in Argleton then?

[witpqs]

Always will be. Look up Argleton on Wikipedia or something. Even better, search for it on Google Maps (that's where the joke is from).