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I have seen coordination problems when we upgrade to one of oldest beta but after Michaelm back to original settings it looks normal for me.

At least i do not see 20 small waves of bombers. Usually i see one big wave fallowed by two, three smaller. Of course it can look different when big numbers will work but so far it look realistic for me.

From what i can see all coordination problems can be from using different planes, AF, weather or flying from overstocked airfields. We just cant except having supper coordination because it is impassible.

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

Erik, me and Brad are using the latest beta patch and, i can tell you, we aren't experiencing anything "strange" with our raids.
Brad, for example, is bombing Wazrup (Burma) every day for weeks now. He's using 80 Blenheims and they do come (ALWAYS) in 2 big groups, one of 45 and the other one of 35 planes. And this happens EVERY SINGLE DAY. Same with my Chinese bombers...they, as always, arrive in one big group, followed up by a couple of smaller groups...but, as far as i can tell, it's always been like that.

I remember when i bombed Japan against Rader my B-29s suffered exactly in the same way, so i really don't see any big coordination change lately

It's interesting that people say similar things, but it seems to happen a lot with 4Es in big groups. I know there should be some difference. I even think there should have been more than there was originally, but to have a large raid come with one big group and 15 fragmented pieces seems excessive.

My bombers in China always had a few fragments, and that's fine. I'll have to fire up the tests again. [;)]

ORIGINAL: koniu

I have seen coordination problems when we upgrade to one of oldest beta but after Michaelm back to original settings it looks normal for me.

At least i do not see 20 small waves of bombers. Usually i see one big wave fallowed by two, three smaller. Of course it can look different when big numbers will work but so far it look realistic for me.

From what i can see all coordination problems can be from using different planes, AF, weather or flying from overstocked airfields. We just cant except having supper coordination because it is impassible.

Good to hear. I would be fine to go ahead with it, but Jocke is not happy with how the first day of strikes looked, coming in those many many small fragments (one coordinated group and 15-16 other very small pieces), that were completely unlike anything we had seen in the official patch or before.

I suspect this is an issue with 4E groups in particular, and especially in large formations flying at close to max normal distances.

I just ran a few test turns. (4 turns, all nearly identical results to what are below). This is what I'm seeing.

These 4Es are in 9 groups flying 15 hexes, from a level 9 base, have two HQs with good leaders, high exp crews and good group leaders.

They arrive in 7 different groups. Not only are they fragmented, but even squadrons are split. The Allied player might not like that so much.

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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9
B-17F Fortress x 3
B-24D Liberator x 30

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 22 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 21


Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 21 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 9

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 9

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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I also threw in 2Es flying only 4 hexes, and they stayed together much better. Only 3 different attacks, and they do stay as squadrons. Probably more like what GJ is seeing in his game in Burma. Still, more fragmented than in previous patches.

Morning Air attack on Cuttack , at 48,37

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 25
Mohawk IV x 11
Wellington Ic x 31
Wellington GR.VIII x 11
P-40K Warhawk x 34

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Wellington GR.VIII bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 250 lb GP Bomb
16 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Cuttack , at 48,37

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 16

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Blenheim IV bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on Cuttack , at 48,37

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 16
P-40K Warhawk x 17

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

[font="Times New Roman"]1 - 2 October 1943[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] The only sub action involves the I-153 near Cooktown hitting an LCM with surface gunfire and sinking it.

The I-16, the damaged sub out of fuel that's been sitting in Vanikoro for months not repairing, has been gradually brought to Ndeni. It's now in port and at pier side! It's fun to get it this far, but now it has 300+ days to repair, and I'm pretty confident it won't get so much actual time here before something happens. I'll fly in a bit of naval support to see if this makes a difference. Even if I can get it to 70 system damage I could try moving it to Tulagi.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SOUTH PACIFIC:[/font] Jocke sent in the big boys to close Milne Bay airfields. They did so in two days of raids. The defenders, mostly LR CAP and bleeding CAP from surrounding bases, did take a toll, but not as great as we would have liked. Quite a few were destroyed or damaged as well, and many of the damaged zeros had to be disbanded from Milne Bay after the first day of attacks.

Jocke sent a CL led SAG toward Milne Bay and hit the 4 DDs doing ASW near there at night. Due to poor visibility and quickness the DDs escape largely intact, but the Akatsuki does have major damage and won't survive if her fires can't be extinguished. Interestingly, a CL Cleveland is listed as sunk by air launched torpedoes on the list. Not sure if this is total FOW or if one of our search Bettys hit it (can search air carry and launch TT?), as no strike was seen in the replay and the ops doesn't list anything. One pilot did have exp increase in a Betty group.

In other news Rabaul is reinforced with more fighters, and another group of Tojos reaches the area after the long transfer from the DEI. In two or three days I'll have enough service 1 Tojos and Oscars to begin seriously threatening the CAP at Terapo. That base just reached level 3 so it will be soon hard to stop as more CAP are able to be based there. Lot os other groups are filling out and resting and I will continue to largely concede airspace until I can get many groups ready to rotate in and out. I also have another HQ on the way to the area which will become a sweeping and TB base near enough to Terapo to cause some real problems for the Allies.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]NORTH PACIFIC: [/font] Transports are moving to forward bases to begin removing portions of garrisons there and getting any construction units back to more useful positions for the spring defense of the Western Aleutian bases.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]WEST OZ: [/font] Aussie troops seem to still be leaving the Exmouth hex, but have not made it into the desert yet. I've stopped bombing them as the AA is intense and I would lose at least a plane a day.

I haven't noticed anything coming by road toward the Katherine/Darwin area. I wonder if he plans to wait until amphibious ops are available once Allied CV strength is better and LBA from the North OZ island bases has become a force. That would be fine with me as this should take a while and give me more opportunity to solidify the southern DEI defenses as well as getting a good reserve of troops in the area.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Nothing happening.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACIFIC:[/font] Baker Island now has another Naval Guard, bringing defenses up to 160AV but lacking full prep for the new unit. Forts are moving toward level 6, but are a month or two away from reaching this level. Canton Island is also at about 5.7 forts. Both have decent supply and are not being reconned, so maybe the recent failure at Canton discouraged further attempts out here.

I will keep the Central Pacific Islands strong and even add a few more units toward the beginning of 44, but the plan is to begin to move units back toward more critical Marianas and other rear bases as they are threatened toward the end of 44, assuming this is still possible.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR October 1, 43
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Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 24
J2M2 Jack x 8
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 2
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 13

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 48
LB-30 Liberator x 3
B-24D Liberator x 45
B-24D1 Liberator x 110
B-24J Liberator x 12
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 19 damaged
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged
LB-30 Liberator: 1 destroyed
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 damaged

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

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 62

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb ...

CAP engaged:
252 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
21st Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
68th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (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 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 17 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes

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Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 5 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 19
J2M2 Jack x 5
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 2
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 7

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 18
J2M2 Jack x 1
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 6
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 5

Allied aircraft
LB-30 Liberator x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
LB-30 Liberator: 6 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x LB-30 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR October 2, 43
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Milne Bay at 100,133, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shigure
DD Murasame, Shell hits 1
DD Samidare, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Cleveland
CL Denver
DD Fletcher
DD Abbot
DD Aulick
DD Bache
DD Chevalier
DD O'Bannon

Reduced sighting due to 14% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 14% moonlight: 10,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Akatsuki at 7,000 yards
DD Akatsuki engages DD Abbot at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Denver engages DD Akatsuki at 2,000 yards
DD Chevalier engages DD Akatsuki at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
DD Akatsuki engages DD Abbot at 5,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Abbot at 10,000 yards
Task forces break off...

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Sub attack near Cooktown at 93,137

Japanese Ships
SS I-153

Allied Ships
LCM 532A, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

SS I-153 attacking LCM 532A on the surface

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Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 64 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 6
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 4
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 9

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 33
B-24D Liberator x 39
B-24D1 Liberator x 83
B-24J Liberator x 7
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 38

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb ...

CAP engaged:
252 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
21st Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
68th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead

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Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 2
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 5
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 1
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 1
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 2

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 69 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Airbase supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Reinforcements: These will operate as ASW units near the HI. Several subs are now hunting these waters, but have not yet been successful due largely to their high DLs. Now to try to use the DLs to take out the subs.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]E Manju arrives at Tokyo
E Miyake arrives at Tokyo[/font]

Losses: None.

Ships Sunk: An LCM!!!

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Previous report of sinking of DD Hughes incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
Previous report of sinking of SS Grunion incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
LCM 532A is reported to have been sunk near Cooktown on Oct 02, 1943[/font]
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Have I really seen the las of the Cleveland? I doubt it. Interesting report though. Why would it show as sunk if it were not hit, but if it was hit, why would it not be shown as attacked in an ops report?[/font]
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[font="Times New Roman"]3 - 4 October 1943[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] Jocke's subs look to be reorganized an dmoving into the DEI and around the HI again. I am allocating 4 DD to ASW in the Sulu Sea and 4 new Es to the approaches to Southern Honshu.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SOUTH PACIFIC:[/font] Nells go for PTs both days. I lose a few Nells and don't hit any PTs. They drop bombs instead of TT even though the HQ is full up and they are set correctly. Maybe due to the target this is chosen? One PT is listed 'dead in the water' after the attack. Hmmm. [&:]

I'll try putting some A6M5 on 1k ft naval attack from Ndeni to see if I can actually hit a few and at least make him protect them with fighters, if not move them back. I have to keep the Nells on at least to 11 hex distance from Lunga to be able to hit Vanikoro if he goes there.

Some AMs cleared a small piece of a sub-laid mine field at Terapo. Port Moresby still has 120 mines in spite of clearing efforts and degrading.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]NORTH PACIFIC: [/font] Ampibs move to Dutch and Cold Bay and will begin picking up Naval Guard units tomorrow to transport back to the Kuriles. Only a portion of each will go. The other bit will remain on the Aleutians to prevent an early capture.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]WEST OZ: [/font] The 'retreating' troops in Exmouth have now stopped moving. Huh. Very interesting. A bombardment is set and will hit in a few days. Emilys are moved in to provide deep search and subs patrol waters off of Exmouth, Carnarvon and Geraldton.

If he leaves these here I will consider reinforcing with 2 divisions and kicking the Aussies out. Their supply will be dire after a while here I'm sure, and if he really wants to let them wither that's great. I just want them to have to move away and come back again ether by land or by water. After a few days of air and sea bombardments I'll try an arty bombardment as well.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Nothing.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] Baker is now up to 165 AV behind 5.75 forts and growing with 8k supply. I've got a big shipment heading to Kwaijalen, and when that arrives more will be sent to Baker and Canton.

Three ships are spotted 3 hexes from Canton. I'm not sure if this is a CAP trap, the prelude to another invasion, or simple negligence. I need some DBs here, which are moving down to Truk now. In the meantime I have moved in 25 Frances and set them to 2k naval strike 10% search at 11 hexes for tomorrow. We'll see.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR October 3, 43
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Luganville at 120,150

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 19
G3M3 Nell x 41

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
PT-156
PT-161
PT-152
PT-157
PT-153
PT-155
PT-159

Aircraft Attacking:
41 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR October 4, 43
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Luganville at 120,150

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 19
G3M3 Nell x 41

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
PT-156
PT-161
PT-152
PT-157
PT-153
PT-155
PT-159

Aircraft Attacking:
41 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

PT-181 dead in the water ... How did this happen?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Reinforcements: A new recon group arrives and will move immediately to the South Pacific where it is sorely needed after recent withdrawals. More DBs will also move that way.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]xAK Tsurushima Maru arrives at Tokyo
503 Ku K-1 arrives at Chiba
503 Ku T-1 arrives at Chiba[/font]

Losses: The Akatsuki went down at Kiriwina before it could be disbanded into port.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]DD Akatsuki [/font]

Ships Sunk: None.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Previous report of sinking of SS S-47 incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service[/font]
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Two groups of zeros will hold the fort in the Aleutians over the winter, with one Emily group, one group of Dinahs and one Kate group. I'm anticipating quiet here, btu a solid reserve will be kept and built through the next several months in the Kuriles for use in forward areas if there is trouble. [/font]
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You should try strafing on 100ft those PT with Your fighters. on 1000ft LNav skill is required on 100ft strafe skill is used.
At lest You will get some hits from guns and 20mm cannon can do decent damage. An If You will be lucky maybe some 60kg bomb hits.

As for using torpedoes i am thinking about two reasons whey G3M not use them. Low supplies in base or 1000ft attitude, 1000ft is LowNav attack and in that mission secondary bomb load is used i think. Set them on 2000ft to use TT

ORIGINAL: koniu

You should try strafing on 100ft those PT with Your fighters. on 1000ft LNav skill is required on 100ft strafe skill is used.
At lest You will get some hits from guns and 20mm cannon can do decent damage. An If You will be lucky maybe some 60kg bomb hits.

As for using torpedoes i am thinking about two reasons whey G3M not use them. Low supplies in base or 1000ft attitude, 1000ft is LowNav attack and in that mission secondary bomb load is used i think. Set them on 2000ft to use TT

Today I have one group of 20 A6M5 on at 1k but if they don't work I'll try 100 ft next. I've had them drop from 1k to do some strafing before as well, but the reason I'm starting there is they have in the past seemed more likely to bomb from that level. Once the moon is bigger in the next week I also want to clear some out of Terapo with old DDs or a group of the faster Es. I don't dare now as it's around 20% moon.

For the torpedoes I'm pretty sure TT skill works at any level, although I'm very happy if someone clears this up and lets me know I'm wrong. During the replay I heard the TT drop splash but in the report it listed bombs, so it was a bit confusing. Their low nav skill is only in the 40s, so no surprise there were no hits. Lunga has I thikn 8k supply, so not too low.

[font="Times New Roman"]5 - 6 October 1943[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] The Allied subs are getting active again.I lost a PB to the Tinosa near Guam and a Gozan 10 knot xAK delivering supplies to outlying bases in the Celebes. Two ASW TFs of two DDs each are sent to patrol the straits near Balikpapan. I plan to shut down all CS fuel convoys for a few days to reorganize and get upgrades for the Es. This should mean there are some extras as quality is increased, so I'll be able to make another dedicated sub hunter unit for the Central Pacific where a lot of subs seem active now.

Up in the Aleutians the RO-101 is nailed by an AM in the TF delivering supplies to Chirikof Island. The small sub may be a goner with 95 float damage and three hexes to traverse to make port at Cold Bay. We get them back later in the night however.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SOUTH PACIFIC:[/font] Not much on the menu here during these two days. The A6M on low naval attack from Ndeni did not fly, and Jocke moved back the PTs from Torres Islands anyway. This vector is definitely not in the major plans any time soon.

A sweep did go from Terapo to Lae and found our Tojo IIc to be a good match for the P-47s once the dive was over. Each side lost 9 planes on the day. Hopefully that means he lost some good pilots.

The HQ is a day away from the level 5 fields at Umboi island. This will give me much more fighter strength in the area and allow a close base for DB and TB to operate from.

Jocke tried a 4E ground attack at Port Moresby on the 6th which did virtually nothing. The level 5 forts and jungle seem to do well for these guys. Our AV in the base is back up to 864 now, and still growing, and supply is flowing from Buna, which is great news. There is 15k supply in Port Moresby now! [&o]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]NORTH PACIFIC: [/font] I sent the DD Kishinami (which was escorting transports at Cold Bay) to Chirikof after the Emilies from Amchitka sighted what is likely a supply convoy there. It found 6 LST and two AM there and got right to work. Two TT sank LST-482 and then two more were heavily damaged and likely sunk with gunfire. One hit was put on an AM before the Allies escaped into the misty northern night. This has been an expensive base to maintain for the Allies.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]WEST OZ: [/font] The Aussie troops look to be on the move again. At least they show movement. I don't trust it anymore. A BB bombardment hit and Helens continue to take flak losses while hopefully reducing supply from the plethora of AA firing back. I don't' want this army still sitting here in a few months when Jocke has enough CVs to comfortably land a few more divisions at Exmouth. For now I will use the fuel and Helen pools to keep working on their supply. Next turn I'll try a bombardment with ground arty as well.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] The British are coming!!! Troops at Akyb show a movement arrow toward Burma. This is it. Prome has gone level 6, but won't have time to try for level 7 I'm sure. I'l concentrate now on Bassein getting to 6 and getting rear bases like Pegu and Moulmein into better defensive shape. I'll still have a month or two before these troops get close, since I have made the decision to stay and fight in my bases. I could see the air campaign resume here at any moment though. All fighter units are on 40% CAP and most bases are covered. I need one more group to cover Prome, which I'll fly down from the HI. I'll also begin upgrading Helens to the IIb and get about 200 ready in rear areas. I also need more Tojo IIc upgrades, as only a few groups have gotten this plane. The Frank will also arrive and probably start building in mid-October.

I've been building Oscars like crazy for use in low bombing against isolated armor if he lets any hang out in the plains, and I've got a good pool of Nicks for low level attacks as well. There are enough pilots now for a good 3 groups, or 100+ planes for use in this role. I need to make sure I don't fly at the main body unless as a last resort considering the amount of AA he is likely to bring. But if he tries to swing armor to flank or use its mobility in the clear, that is when these will try to make their mark.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] The Frances didn't find anything out in the Pacifcic after the small convoy was sighted near Canton Island. Too bad.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR October 5, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub attack near Balikpapan at 64,99

Japanese Ships
xAK Oigawa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAKL Heiwa Maru
xAKL Hakuyo Maru
PB Mikitade Maru

Allied Ships
SS Snook

SS Snook launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Oigawa Maru
Snook diving deep ....
PB Mikitade Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Lae , at 99,126

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 36

Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 5 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 35000 feet

CAP engaged:
26th Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 23 scrambling)
13 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 36740.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 7th RAAF Base Force, at 50,129 (Exmouth)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 112 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 13
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

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

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 9000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 3rd Australian Division ...
Also attacking 7th RAAF Base Force ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 29
B-24D Liberator x 28
B-24D1 Liberator x 72
B-24J Liberator x 7
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 6

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 31
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 120

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 59 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6
B-24D1 Liberator x 6


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Lae , at 99,126

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 75 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 17

Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 3

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

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
26th Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
17 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 129 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR October Oct 06, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ASW attack near Chirikof Island at 179,46

Japanese Ships
SS RO-101, hits 15, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
LST-482
LST-447
AM Sheldrake

SS RO-101 is sighted by escort
AM Sheldrake attacking submerged sub ....
AM Sheldrake fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Chirikof Island at 179,46, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Kishinami

Allied Ships
AM Motive
AM Sheldrake, Shell hits 1, on fire
LST-447, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
LST-477
LST-479, Shell hits 2
LST-480, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
LST-481
LST-482, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 50% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 26,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese radar detects Allied task force at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
DD Kishinami engages LST-482 at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
DD Kishinami engages LST-479 at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
DD Kishinami engages AM Motive at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
DD Kishinami engages LST-480 at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
DD Kishinami engages AM Sheldrake at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
LST-481 , LST-480 , LST-479 screened from combat
- escorted by AM Sheldrake , AM Motive
DD Kishinami engages LST-447 at 6,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Exmouth at 50,129

Japanese Ships
BB Ise
BB Kirishima
CA Maya
CL Naka
DD Asagiri
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Shirakumo
DD Wakazuki
DD Susuzuki
DD Teruzuki

Allied ground losses:
132 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Ise

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Terapo at 96,127

Japanese Ships
SS RO-68, hits 1

Allied Ships
AM Latrobe

SS RO-68 launches 2 torpedoes at AM Latrobe
RO-68 bottoming out ....
AM Latrobe fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Latrobe attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 5th Australian Division, at 50,129 (Exmouth)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 97 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 5
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 damaged

Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 9000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 53rd Australian Lt AA Regiment ...
Also attacking 5th Australian Division ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 14th Garrison Unit , at 98,130 (Port Moresby)

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 24
B-24D Liberator x 22
B-24D1 Liberator x 52
B-24J Liberator x 6
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 22nd Division ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Guam at 105,95

Japanese Ships
PB Kensin Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
SC Ch 36
xAK Tsukuba Maru
xAK Rokko Maru
E Mutsure

Allied Ships
SS Tinosa

SS Tinosa launches 2 torpedoes at PB Kensin Maru
E Mutsure fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Mutsure attacking submerged sub ....
E Mutsure fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Reinforcements: This is the second specialized kami plane now being researched in addition to the Myojo. I have no idea if either of these will be at all useful with late model Kates around. What I really could use (at least I think I could use) would be the Tsuragi, the Army version that could fill all of the late 1E LB units with 800kg bomb capability at 340mph to target! Can't hurt, right? It's still a ways off though.

EDIT: I just looked it up and the Toka gets to 380mph! So that one will definitely be useful. It's thin as paper, with a 21 durability, and stuck going strait with 19 maneuver, but with that speed some could make it to a target.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Aircraft Toka advances R&D[/font]

Losses: Haven't lost anything big in a while, but I'm concerned now that there is more sub activity since the TT should be working at 10% dud rate now.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Loss of xAK Oigawa Maru on Oct 05, 1943 is admitted
Loss of PB Kensin Maru on Oct 06, 1943 is admitted[/font]

Ships Sunk: There should be another two LST showing up soon here. Although he gets a few hundred of these, it's still good to hit them and they go down pretty easily.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]
APA Heywood is reported to have been sunk near Port Moresby on Sep 02, 1943
LST-482 is reported to have been sunk near Chirikof Island on Oct 06, 1943[/font]

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]The Ki-115 Tsuragi. A poor machine, but Japan wanted to make 8k a month! That would make a dent in the US fleet if they manage to get close enough I would think. [/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ORIGINAL: obvert

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] I've been building Oscars like crazy for use in low bombing against isolated armor if he lets any hang out in the plains, and I've got a good pool of Nicks for low level attacks as well. There are enough pilots now for a good 3 groups, or 100+ planes for use in this role. I

I'll be interested in how this works out for you. I'm not convinced at all it is a good tactic, but I'm open to evidence to the contrary.

ORIGINAL: obvert

This is the second specialized kami plane now being researched in addition to the Myojo. I have no idea if either of these will be at all useful with late model Kates around. What I really could use (at least I think I could use) would be the Tsuragi, the Army version that could fill all of the late 1E LB units with 800kg bomb capability at 340mph to target! Can't hurt, right? It's still a ways off though.

EDIT: I just looked it up and the Toka gets to 380mph! So that one will definitely be useful. It's thin as paper, with a 21 durability, and stuck going strait with 19 maneuver, but with that speed some could make it to a target.

When I was play testing late war both the Toga and Tsuragi were quite effective. Losses high, oh but wait, these are 1 way missions so they are all lost anyway! 800kg when it hits is a big boom. Even CV's only take 2 - 3 of these and will go under. BB's can be sunk as well.

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: obvert

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] I've been building Oscars like crazy for use in low bombing against isolated armor if he lets any hang out in the plains, and I've got a good pool of Nicks for low level attacks as well. There are enough pilots now for a good 3 groups, or 100+ planes for use in this role. I

I'll be interested in how this works out for you. I'm not convinced at all it is a good tactic, but I'm open to evidence to the contrary.

If they be not going to be effective in that role, at lest he will have lots of good kamikaze planes.
2x250kg should be effective against any ships expect BB i think.

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: obvert

This is the second specialized kami plane now being researched in addition to the Myojo. I have no idea if either of these will be at all useful with late model Kates around. What I really could use (at least I think I could use) would be the Tsuragi, the Army version that could fill all of the late 1E LB units with 800kg bomb capability at 340mph to target! Can't hurt, right? It's still a ways off though.

EDIT: I just looked it up and the Toka gets to 380mph! So that one will definitely be useful. It's thin as paper, with a 21 durability, and stuck going strait with 19 maneuver, but with that speed some could make it to a target.

When I was play testing late war both the Toga and Tsuragi were quite effective. Losses high, oh but wait, these are 1 way missions so they are all lost anyway! 800kg when it hits is a big boom. Even CV's only take 2 - 3 of these and will go under. BB's can be sunk as well.

I just re-read this and I meant "late model Judys" of course, but I'm glad to hear these will still add to the arsenal and have a chance to do something positive. I just read up on some of them and I guess they were tough to handle, maybe reflected by the low maneuver rate? The last Judy was designed with the kami role in mind also, which I didn't know. I'm pushing my test game ahead and I should be able to get kamis going soon to test out all kinds of things.

ORIGINAL: koniu

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: obvert

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] I've been building Oscars like crazy for use in low bombing against isolated armor if he lets any hang out in the plains, and I've got a good pool of Nicks for low level attacks as well. There are enough pilots now for a good 3 groups, or 100+ planes for use in this role. I

I'll be interested in how this works out for you. I'm not convinced at all it is a good tactic, but I'm open to evidence to the contrary.

If they be not going to be effective in that role, at lest he will have lots of good kamikaze planes.
2x250kg should be effective against any ships expect BB i think.

Exactly! [8D]

I just got interested when Cruft posed his idea of 'the swarm.' It's certainly not an everyday tactic for me, but if I could hit at the right moment, say just before an attack or in conjuction with a raid elsewhere, maybe it would slow things down and make his supply drain from fixing all the damaged machines. I'm up to 450 Oscar IIb now and I'll transition to the IIIa next month. Only about 2k to go to targets!

I'm also interested to see if the final model with the decent centerline 20mm could be effective if introduced well before it's historical date. It's still fragile, but with armor and accurate cannons it could be a good cheap second tier option for a number of roles.

[font="Times New Roman"]7 - 8 October 1943[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] An converted minelayer E managed to put four hits, one a solid body shot on the Grunion near Balabac. It posted as sunk the next day, but I think it's still going.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SOUTH PACIFIC:[/font] The 4E brigade continues to hit Port Moresby troops, but it is having little effect and in the meantime most of the bases that were shut are recovering. I'm about to re-post fighters to Milne Bay, Salamua and Port Moresby itself, if for nothing else just to be annoying. Jocke is building a solid fighter defense wall at Terapo but is not using them offensively much at all yet. I'm sure that will change.

I threw a fun raid in on the 7th. He left no CAP at Koumac, so I sent the G3M3s in and obliterated the small support ships in the port. Not much to cheer about but fun, and gives a little poke maybe.

An unfortunate strike when Kates went for PTs near Torres Island, and most of my Rex group were toasted on escort duty. I shortened the range to only three hexes after.

Port Moresby is cleared of mines on the 8th. I send DDs to Terapo to stir things up, and get a good clutch of PTs for no losses, but later also get my larger CA led SAG blown out of the water by modern US CLs. The point of them being out on the front side of Milne Bay was to see if I could catch a shipment to Port Moresby that looked to be on it's way over. Instead the CL Cleveland and Denver with 6 Fletchers met our ships and the first night battle didn't go too badly. The next after they caught us in daylight was abysmal. I'll lose at least 2 DDs, the Abukuma and the Kako. I had hoped even these older CAs could do better, but no such luck. Bummer.

A few Bettys did launch after to try for the injured Denver, but no luck. I was disappointed only one group sortied in one of the two phases out of two possible Betty groups and one of Jills. Still at least ours didn't get obliterated like the B-25D1s that came for our DDs. Our LR CAP at Terapo bled over and got most of them before getting into the drop zone, for a total of about 20 downed on the day!

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]WEST OZ: [/font] The troops at Exmouth did in fact leave the hex, which is great news. I will now withdraw my Helens for some rest. If he pauses again I'll start up the bombardment anew.

I've just noticed that there seems to be no CAP at Perth, and 40 ships including numerous subs look to be in port. I'll try a long strike here too if the situation is the same in a few days.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] I'm evacuating the good engineer unit from Ramree Island, and the garrison force there is due to withdraw in 40 days or so. I hope he sends something there to attack before that, but if not, no great loss. I might throw a small SNLF there to make him take it with something.

Otherwise, just digging. Working on the Raheng/Pisanoluke area now as the rear defenses must be improved. I don't get any new engineers for another 4-5 months, so I'm going to have to bring some in from somewhere to get the upper Malayan Peninsula working and get some of the Thai bases moving as well. Always so much to do!

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] I just looked ahead. My last commitment of troops to the area will be some South Seas garrison units that some with some nice goodies, like tanks. They will fit nicely at Wotje, Mili and some other bases across the area that are just slightly short. By mid-44 I hope to either be fighting here if Jocke decides to try again, or shifting forces back if he decides it's not worth the effort.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR October 7, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub attack near Balabac at 70,83

Japanese Ships
E Saishu
TK Jinei Maru

Allied Ships
SS Grunion, hits 4

SS Grunion launches 2 torpedoes at E Saishu
E Saishu fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Saishu attacking submerged sub ....
E Saishu fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Torres Islands at 120,147

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 7
N1K1 Rex x 6

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
N1K1 Rex: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
PT-77
PT-80

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 91st Infantry Regiment, at 98,130 (Port Moresby)

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 28
B-24D Liberator x 23
B-24D1 Liberator x 65
B-24J Liberator x 9
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 5

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged

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

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Koumac , at 113,156

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 60 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 45

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
ACM YP-131, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
ACM YP-133, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
LCVP 592P, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Port hits 7
Port fuel hits 5
Port supply hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
45 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR October 8, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TF 164 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (98,130)

Allied Ships
AM Latrobe
AM Gladstone
AM Ballarat

54 mines cleared

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Terapo at 96,127, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Murasame
DD Yamakaze
DD Kawakaze

Allied Ships
PT-121, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-142, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-143, Shell hits 1
PT-144
PT-145, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-146, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT-147
PT-148, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Improved night sighting under 71% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 71% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
Keene W. gains tactical advantage
DD Yamakaze engages PT-145 at 8,000 yards
DD Murasame engages PT-121 at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
PT-146 collides with PT-144 at 96 , 127
PT-148 sunk by DD Yamakaze at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
DD Yamakaze engages PT-147 at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
DD Murasame engages PT-147 at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
DD Murasame engages PT-147 at 8,000 yards
Keene W. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 11,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages PT-144 at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
DD Kawakaze engages PT-147 at 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 99,132, Range 23,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Shell hits 2
CA Kako, Shell hits 6
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Kiyonami, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Shiratsuyu, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yudachi
DD Uranami

Allied Ships
CL Cleveland
CL Denver, Shell hits 2
DD Fletcher
DD Abbot, Shell hits 1
DD Aulick
DD Bache, Shell hits 1
DD Chevalier
DD O'Bannon

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 23,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 23,000 yards
CL Denver engages CA Kako at 23,000 yards
CA Kako engages DD Chevalier at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards
CL Denver engages CL Abukuma at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CA Kako engages CL Denver at 12,000 yards
DD Chevalier engages DD Kiyonami at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CL Cleveland engages CA Kako at 5,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CL Denver at 5,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Fletcher at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Kako engages CL Denver at 10,000 yards
CL Cleveland engages CA Kako at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 14,000 yards
CA Kako engages CL Denver at 14,000 yards
Range increases to 18,000 yards
CL Cleveland engages CA Kako at 18,000 yards
DD Bache engages DD Kiyonami at 18,000 yards
Range increases to 22,000 yards
CL Cleveland engages DD Natsugumo at 22,000 yards
Range increases to 26,000 yards
CL Denver engages CA Aoba at 26,000 yards
Range increases to 28,000 yards
CA Kako engages DD Fletcher at 28,000 yards
Range increases to 29,000 yards
CL Cleveland engages CA Kako at 29,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 99,132, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Shell hits 6
CA Kako, Shell hits 17, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 18, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kiyonami, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
DD Shiratsuyu, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
DD Yudachi, Shell hits 5
DD Uranami, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
CL Cleveland, Shell hits 3
CL Denver, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Fletcher, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Abbot
DD Aulick, Shell hits 1
DD Bache, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Chevalier
DD O'Bannon, Shell hits 1

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Vaughn W. crosses the 'T'
CA Kako engages CL Denver at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Aulick at 12,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Bache at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Kako engages CL Denver at 8,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CL Denver at 8,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD O'Bannon at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Aulick at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Kako engages CL Denver at 7,000 yards
CL Abukuma engages CL Cleveland at 7,000 yards
Hisamune, Yonejiro orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Kako engages CL Cleveland at 7,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Fletcher at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
DD Yudachi engages DD Fletcher at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CL Denver engages CA Aoba at 11,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Fletcher at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CL Denver at 10,000 yards
DD Kiyonami engages DD Aulick at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CA Kako engages CL Cleveland at 6,000 yards
DD Yudachi engages DD Fletcher at 6,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 22nd Division, at 98,130 (Port Moresby)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 4
N1K1-J George x 7
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 5
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 4
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 2

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 20
B-24D Liberator x 16
B-24D1 Liberator x 51
B-24J Liberator x 6
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

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

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 14th Garrison Unit , at 98,130 (Port Moresby)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 1
N1K1-J George x 5
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 2
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 1
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-24D Liberator x 5
B-24D1 Liberator x 11


Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 5 damaged


Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 97,131

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 4

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Murasame, Shell hits 14
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Kawakaze

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
5 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
73rd Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 99,132

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9
J2M2 Jack x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
DD O'Bannon
CL Denver, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 97,131

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 6
N1K1-J George x 13
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 4
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 9

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 destroyed

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (13 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
13 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
902 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
26th Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead
73rd Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 97,131

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 5
N1K1-J George x 13
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 4
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 6

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 6 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Reinforcements: None.

Losses: Not a great day for the IJN. Only the 3rd CA lost, but still I'd like to take more down on her way out.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]CA Kako
Loss of DD Natsugumo on Oct 08, 1943 is admitted
CL Abukuma
DD Shiratsuyu [/font]

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]LCVP 592P is reported to have been sunk near Koumac on Oct 07, 1943
ACM YP-131 is reported to have been sunk near Koumac on Oct 07, 1943
ACM YP-133 is reported to have been sunk near Koumac on Oct 07, 1943
Previous report of sinking of SS Grunion incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service
SS Snapper is reported to have been sunk near Donggala on Jul 13, 1943
PT-121 is reported to have been sunk near Terapo on Oct 08, 1943
PT-142 is reported to have been sunk near Terapo on Oct 08, 1943
PT-145 is reported to have been sunk near Terapo on Oct 08, 1943
PT-146 is reported to have been sunk near Terapo on Oct 08, 1943
PT-148 is reported to have been sunk near Terapo on Oct 08, 1943[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]CA Kako. At least she went down shooting.[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ORIGINAL: obvert

I'm also interested to see if the final model with the decent centerline 20mm could be effective if introduced well before it's historical date. It's still fragile, but with armor and accurate cannons it could be a good cheap second tier option for a number of roles.

For me, they are just too slow. They're giving up +80 on speed against allied front line fighters and that is just too much. Frank is best until the Ki-94 comes along. 94 though is a slow climber, so you really have to have your CAP layered to be able to use it.

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: obvert

I'm also interested to see if the final model with the decent centerline 20mm could be effective if introduced well before it's historical date. It's still fragile, but with armor and accurate cannons it could be a good cheap second tier option for a number of roles.

For me, they are just too slow. They're giving up +80 on speed against allied front line fighters and that is just too much. Frank is best until the Ki-94 comes along. 94 though is a slow climber, so you really have to have your CAP layered to be able to use it.

Definitely. I wouldn't see them handling sweeps at all, but more in the range of LR CAP over shipping, escort, and protection for rear area bases.

[font="Times New Roman"]9 -10 October 1943[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] The 10th was a day for subs. Several major attacks and some good for both sides. The Aspro, a new sub, hits the Nisshin Maru, a Tonan Whaler class TK in the open ocean off Formosa. It tried once, couldn't hit, then came up again. One TT only, but the ship has 43 fires, so it might be a goner. I'll try for HK on cruise. Sucks to lose one of these monsters. This is the first ship hit in a convoy including an AV.

The S-45 tries for an AK near Attu, but gets nailed by the Akigumo escorting and looks to be done for this war. Then one of my other troop carrying AKs gets hit on the surface, it's escort in a separate TF apparently not in the hex. [&:] One AK downed with troops gone. The escort did pick up a contingent though, and so the plan is still on and they will move to the Kuriles to set up shop.

RO-64 goes nuts and takes out two Ams in separate attacks in the Terapo hex after sitting there lurking for days.

The Tally Ho nails a 14 knot Toho class that was part of a massive supply drop at Rangoon. 150k supplies delivered in the past 5 days. At least 7 British subs are sighted in the approaches and ASW is on its way out to see what can be done.

Finally, two groups of Es honed in on a sub hunting in a rather stationary patrol near Nagasaki. They hit it and forced a surfacing, which I love. Confirmation is absolute when the deck gun is in action. Two down for the day! [:)]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SOUTH PACIFIC:[/font] Our DDs ran into a lone US DD near Port Moresby that was damaged in the fight of the previous day. Ours had no ammo after tangling with PTs, so the fight was short and uneventful after the long lance barrage missed. Makes me wonder if this was escorting the Denver, which maybe sank? There were 5 Seagull lost on the ground, so I'm guessing that could have been it.

I tried a sweep of Torres Island to see what Cap was there, and hit a wall of Spitfires. Tojos held their own, but I'm not going to be happy to see the Mk VIII soon. Each side lost 9 on the day. At Port Moresby 4Es continue to hit troops.

A few things made Jocke not very happy during these two turns. Apparently he had a rather large LR CAP flying over some APDs moving to drop a unit at Port Moresby. First some Jills flew in and got an attack as only 3 Lightnings decided to protect the ships, but all TT missed. Then a small portion of my Bettys flew and did get two torp hits, sinking two APDs with troops on board. Also on the 9th Nells hit LSTs at Gove in spite of CAP of Hellcats, knocking out some support and guns from the look of it. Now I have no idea what height he was really flying them, but the combat report said 15k, and my flight came in at 2k, so pretty low, with only 8 minutes warning. I then had Jakes (!) hit two more LST to add insult to injury, and the Hellcats didn't get a shot coming in or out. Maybe early electronic jamming devices on the Allied radios? [;)]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]NORTH PACIFIC: [/font] The forward three bases in the Aleutians have been partially stripped. Now for the middle bases. Construction units on these will go to other areas, like NG and Thailand. I'm sure the crews will thank me for the shane of weather.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]WEST OZ: [/font] The above account for Gove is really all of the action in the area. I foresee some 4E hits soon on Darwin. The only problem with his mass strategy with 4Es is that it leaves some areas completely untouched and in constant operation.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] It's ominous right now. It feels like the moment when the door swings open to Mordor and the troops start marching out with Nazgul flying overhead. [X(]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] All quiet. One Frances group is here and escorts will join in a month. Maybe. I might just leave it to the ground troops.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR October 9, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Night Time Surface Combat, near Milne Bay at 98,133, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Murasame
DD Yamakaze
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD O'Bannon

Improved night sighting under 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 78% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 28,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Amatucci, S.T. crosses the 'T'
DD O'Bannon engages DD Kawakaze at 11,000 yards
Amatucci, S.T. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Torres Islands , at 120,147

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 12 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 37

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 47

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 6 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Gove at 82,127

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 13

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged (On the way out the Hellcats hit em)
G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
LST-458
LST-457, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LST-461, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LST-456

Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Portland Roads at 93,132

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 7
J2M2 Jack x 11

Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 1 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
APD Kilty
APD Manley

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
35th FG/39th FS with P-38H Lightning (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 31000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Australian Division, at 50,129 (Exmouth)

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 8
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 5 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed by flak


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


Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 9000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 53rd Australian Lt AA Regiment ...
Also attacking 3rd Australian Division ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Torres Islands , at 120,147

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 156 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 43 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 4

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 25


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

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 22nd Division, at 98,130 (Port Moresby)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 25
B-24D Liberator x 22
B-24D1 Liberator x 56
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 9

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 4 damaged

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

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 22nd Division, at 98,130 (Port Moresby)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 6


No Allied losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24J Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Portland Roads at 93,132

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 10

Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 3


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
APD Little, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APD Gregory, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
APD Sands

Allied ground losses:
363 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 28 disabled[8D]
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
35th FG/39th FS with P-38H Lightning (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 31000 [&:] (Could these really have been at 31k?)
Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gove at 82,127

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 7

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 12

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
LST-456, Bomb hits 3, on fire
LST-458, Bomb hits 3, on fire

Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR October 10, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub attack near Buldir Island at 156,48

Japanese Ships
xAK Zuiko Maru
DD Akigumo

Allied Ships
SS S-45, hits 8, heavy damage

SS S-45 launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Zuiko Maru
DD Akigumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Akigumo attacking submerged sub ....
DD Akigumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Laoag at 79,68

Japanese Ships
TK Nisshin Maru #2
E Yugao
SC Ch 43
SC Ch 30
AV Kiyokawa Maru
AK Sydney Maru
TK Tonan Maru #3
TK Tonan Maru #2
TK Nisshin Maru
TK Kyokuyo Maru
DD Namikaze
E Hoko
E W-18

Allied Ships
SS Aspro

SS Aspro launches 2 torpedoes at TK Nisshin Maru #2
Aspro diving deep ....
DD Namikaze fails to find sub and abandons search
E Hoko fails to find sub, continues to search...
E W-18 fails to find sub and abandons search
E Hoko fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Laoag at 79,68

Japanese Ships
TK Nisshin Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
SC Ch 43
SC Ch 30
AK Sydney Maru
TK Tonan Maru #3
TK Tonan Maru #2
TK Nisshin Maru #2
TK Kyokuyo Maru
DD Namikaze
E Hoko
E W-18

Allied Ships
SS Aspro

SS Aspro launches 2 torpedoes at TK Nisshin Maru
Aspro diving deep ....
DD Namikaze fails to find sub and abandons search
E Hoko fails to find sub, continues to search...
E W-18 fails to find sub and abandons search
E Hoko attacking submerged sub ....
E Hoko fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Terapo at 96,127

Japanese Ships
SS RO-68

Allied Ships
AM Gladstone, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AM Latrobe

SS RO-68 launches 2 torpedoes at AM Gladstone
AM Latrobe fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at 98,131

TF 399 troops unloading over beach at 98,131 (one hex from Port Moresby)

We agreed to allow non-base landings for HQs due to fragmentation of the unit during landing at bases. Apparently Jocke tried this and it works. I'm sure it works less after your transports are torpedoed! [:D]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 228 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (98,130)

Allied Ships
DMS Elliot
DMS Wasmuth
DMS Long
DMS Dorsey
DMS Lamberton
DMS Trevor
DMS Zane

72 mines cleared

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Agattu Island at 153,51

Japanese Ships
AK Nitisan Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-44

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

SS S-44 attacking on the surface

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Phuket at 48,67

Japanese Ships
xAK Tamahoko Maru, Torpedo hits 1
xAK Meiu Maru
xAK Gyoko Maru
E Mikura

Allied Ships
SS Tally Ho

SS Tally Ho launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Tamahoko Maru
Tally Ho diving deep ....
E Mikura fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Terapo at 96,127

Japanese Ships
SS RO-68

Allied Ships
AM Ballarat, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
AM Latrobe

SS RO-68 launches 2 torpedoes at AM Ballarat
AM Latrobe fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Gove , at 82,127

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 27

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 4 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x N1K1-J George sweeping at 31000 feet

CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 5 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,131

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 15
G4M1 Betty x 20

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 9 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
APD McKean
APD Colhoun, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APD Brooks
APD Manley, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD Kilty
APD Humphreys

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
18th FG/78th FS with P-38G Lightning (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 (I think his LR CAP is a bit to high even though it's here in such small numbers)
Raid is overhead

Massive explosion on APD Manley

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,131

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 12
G4M1 Betty x 6

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
APD Kilty
APD McKean, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
18th FG/78th FS with P-38G Lightning (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 to 2000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,131

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 21
J2M2 Jack x 12

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 3 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
APD Barker, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APD Brooks, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APD Humphreys
APD Kilty
APD John D. Edwards, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
APD Crosby
APD Stringham, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
13 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
18th FG/78th FS with P-38G Lightning (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,131

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 31
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
APD Sands
APD John D. Ford
APD Crosby

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Terapo , at 96,127

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 35,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 37

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 22
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 13
F4U-1 Corsair x 41
F6F-3 Hellcat x 91 [X(]

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x Ki-44-IIb Tojo sweeping at 31000 feet

CAP engaged:
VF-35 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 10 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32000 , scrambling fighters between 29000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
VRF-1F with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 13 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 37000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
VRF-2F with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 14 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 25000 and 36800.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
VRF-3F with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 13 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
VMF-123 with F4U-1 Corsair (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 31000 , scrambling fighters between 29000 and 36000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
VMF-441 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 9 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
No.75 Sqn RAAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (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 to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
No.54 Sqn RAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (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 29000 and 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
318th FG/73rd FS with P-47D2 Thunderbolt (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 32000 , scrambling fighters between 23000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes

The lowest CAP seems to be at 15k. This is what lets some of my strike get through at 1k, and made Jocke not happy with CAP.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Terapo , at 96,127

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 42
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 15
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 9

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 20
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 12
F4U-1 Corsair x 41
F6F-3 Hellcat x 82

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 4 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 3 damaged
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed on ground
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 3 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 10 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed on ground

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

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
5 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

(Same CAP levels seen above)
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Afternoon Air attack on Terapo , at 96,127

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 157 NM, estimated altitude 37,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 43 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 32

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 20
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 12
F4U-1 Corsair x 40
F6F-3 Hellcat x 80

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-44-IIc Tojo sweeping at 31000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Terapo at 96,127

Japanese Ships
SS RO-68

Allied Ships
LCT-378
LCT-376
LCT-370
LCT-178
LCT-173
SC-648
SC-646

SS RO-68 is sighted by escort
SC-648 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Submarine attack near Saishu To at 100,56

Japanese Ships
E Wakamiya
E Hishu

Allied Ships
SS Corvina, hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage

SS Corvina is located by E Wakamiya
E Wakamiya fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Wakamiya attacking submerged sub ....
SS Corvina forced to surface![8D]
E Hishu firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Reinforcements: Coming up next month!

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Aircraft Ki-84a Frank advances R&D[/font]

Losses: And maybe the big tanker.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Tamahoko Maru
Loss of AK Nitisan Maru on Oct 10, 1943 is admitted[/font]

Ships Sunk: A pretty good haul. Not going to replace my CA though.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]APD Gregory is reported to have been sunk near Portland Roads on Oct 09, 1943
APD Little is reported to have been sunk near Portland Roads on Oct 09, 1943
LST-457 is reported to have been sunk near Gove on Oct 09, 1943
LST-461 is reported to have been sunk near Gove on Oct 09, 1943
APD Barker is reported to have been sunk near Port Moresby on Oct 10, 1943
APD John D. Edwards is reported to have been sunk near Port Moresby on Oct 10, 1943
APD Colhoun is reported to have been sunk near Port Moresby on Oct 10, 1943
APD McKean is reported to have been sunk near Port Moresby on Oct 10, 1943
APD Stringham is reported to have been sunk near Port Moresby on Oct 10, 1943
APD Brooks is reported to have been sunk near Port Moresby on Oct 10, 1943
AM Ballarat is reported to have been sunk near Terapo on Oct 10, 1943
AM Gladstone is reported to have been sunk near Terapo on Oct 10, 1943
SS Corvina is reported to have been sunk near Saishu To on Oct 10, 1943
SS S-45
LST-456
LST-458
[/font]

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]The E are making their resence known, but not because they are 'super.' (I don't think I have yet the version known as 'Super E'). More because of good coordination between ASW air and sea elements and over-saturating known patrol areas before they are altered. [/font]
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ORIGINAL: obvert

It's ominous right now. It feels like the moment when the door swings open to Mordor and the troops start marching out with Nazgul flying overhead. [X(]

Well, you are late 43 now ... Burma is definitely on the table ... in fact I think he is 6 months late with this ... good playing on your part.

[font="Times New Roman"]11 - 12 October 1943[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] A lot of sub action near Port Moresby as APDs are hunted by the myriad of diverse subs in the area, and then they in turn drop a few on the subs. No one is seriously damaged. Near Hong Kong the Aspro gets a few hits the day after her glorious introduction nailing my tanker, which sank the on the 11th.

I lost the I-177 when she was forced to surface by an SC and gunned down. Then the Dace added some insult by hitting a brand new E near approaches to Tokyo and sinking her with no effective retaliation.

Our DDs found Dorado near Tarakan and put two light hits on her on the 12th. The I-160 took out the APD Manley that had been hit by Bettys and was trying to limp to Terapo.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SOUTH PACIFIC:[/font] A night bombing campaign has begun in the South Pacific. Jocke sent his 4Es to hit Woodlark at night, destroying about 5 planes and getting 14 damage on the fields. Not much I can do about it, but I sure prefer this to the daylight variety.
These strikes came in on the 12 as well, doing a bit more damage, up to 34 on the fields, and taking out another 8 planes. I am now building the only night-fighter available, the Irving-S, but that group will be another month before it's filled out.

The APDs skedaddled, as seen by our submariners, and now another troop drop looks to be on its way to Terapo. Strikes are on stand-by but I actually set them a few hexes too short so they wouldn't go for just a few LSTs or even PTs. I've got good intel on the OZ bases and when I start to see APAs and BBs I know something big is about to happen. A lot of shipping is farther South, but mostly small stuff and a SAG by the looks of it are at Portland Roads.

I did move an Oscar group to Port Moresby, but it was manhandled by Lightnings and P-47s on the 12th. The LR CAP is also torched here but still, I'd rather him focus these here than elsewhere.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]WEST OZ: [/font] The G3M3s from Exmouth hit Perth easily and there was no CAP! Not an amazing strike, but it has to be annoying. Dropped 3 on an AS, hit two DMS hard, both with 'heavy damage,' and left two subs also with 'heavy damage.' Because I had moved them and set them to strike the next day I wondered if they'd go at all, so to get 24 planes to target is a great day. Tomorrow it's Mai Tais in Darwin. [8D]

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] I just checked and there is 280k supply in Burma now according to tracker! That outta hold out for a few weeks.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR October 11, 43
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ASW attack near Port Moresby at 98,131

Japanese Ships
SS RO-100, hits 3

Allied Ships
APD John D. Ford
APD Humphreys
APD Kilty

SS RO-100 launches 2 torpedoes at APD John D. Ford
APD Humphreys attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

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ASW attack near Port Moresby at 98,131

Japanese Ships
SS I-6

Allied Ships
APD Humphreys
APD Kilty

SS I-6 launches 4 torpedoes at APD Humphreys
I-6 bottoming out ....
APD Humphreys fails to find sub, continues to search...
APD Kilty fails to find sub and abandons search
APD Humphreys fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Hong Kong at 78,66

Japanese Ships
DD Urakaze
xAK Koto Maru
xAK Tasmania Maru
DD Yugiri

Allied Ships
SS Aspro, hits 3

SS Aspro launches 2 torpedoes at DD Urakaze
DD Yugiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yugiri attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

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ASW attack near Tandjoengselor at 70,95

Japanese Ships
DD Oshio
DD Amatsukaze
DD Amagiri
DD Arare

Allied Ships
SS Grouper, hits 2

SS Grouper launches 2 torpedoes at DD Oshio
DD Amagiri fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Arare attacking submerged sub ....
DD Arare fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Night Air attack on Woodlark Island , at 104,133

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-24D Liberator x 14
B-24D1 Liberator x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb

(Many more fragments after this)
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Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 69 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 12
Liberator II x 9
Liberator B.III x 7
Wellington Ic x 15
B-17F Fortress x 9
B-24D1 Liberator x 18
B-25C Mitchell x 14


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Blenheim IV bombing from 12000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb

(Many more fragments after this)

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Sub attack near Terapo at 95,128

Japanese Ships
SS I-177, hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SC-646
LCT-378
LCT-375
LCT-359
LCT-177
LCT-172
SC-648
SC-636

SS I-177 launches 2 torpedoes at SC-646
SC-648 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-648 attacking submerged sub ....
SC-648 is out of ASW ammo
SS I-177 forced to surface!
SC-646 firing on surfaced sub ....
SC-646 firing on surfaced sub ....
Contact with submarine is lost

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Sub attack near Aogashima at 113,67

Japanese Ships
E Amakusa, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
E W-7

Allied Ships
SS Dace, hits 1

SS Dace launches 2 torpedoes at E Amakusa
Dace diving deep ....
E W-7 attacking submerged sub ....
E W-7 attacking submerged sub ....
E W-7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Morning Air attack on Perth , at 49,147

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 57 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
AS Griffin, Bomb hits 3
xAK West Cawthon, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
SS Tarpon, Bomb hits 3, heavy damage
DMS Hovey, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS O19, Bomb hits 4, heavy damage
DMS Southard, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires

Port hits 10
Port fuel hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 7000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR October 12, 43
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ASW attack near Sandakan at 71,88

Japanese Ships
DD Oshio
DD Amatsukaze
DD Amagiri
DD Arare

Allied Ships
SS Dorado, hits 2

SS Dorado is located by DD Oshio
DD Amagiri fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Arare attacking submerged sub ....
DD Arare fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Night Air attack on Woodlark Island , at 104,133

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 10
B-24D Liberator x 15
B-24D1 Liberator x 24
B-24J Liberator x 3


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 2 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 14

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb

(About ten more fragments)

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Night Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 12
Wellington Ic x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington Ic: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Blenheim IV bombing from 12000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb

(About 12-15 more fragments)

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Submarine attack near Terapo at 96,128

Japanese Ships
SS I-160

Allied Ships
APD Manley, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

APD Manley is sighted by SS I-160
SS I-160 launches 2 torpedoes

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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 5
N1K1-J George x 10
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 21
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 2

Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 99

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x P-38H Lightning sweeping at 31000 feet
21 x P-38H Lightning sweeping at 31000 feet
14 x P-38H Lightning sweeping at 31000 feet
17 x P-38H Lightning sweeping at 31000 feet

CAP engaged:
201 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
902 Ku S-1 with J2M2 Jack (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Raid is overhead
21st Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
68th Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
73rd Sentai with Ki-43-IIb Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 12 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 11000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Salamaua , at 98,127

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 15 NM, estimated altitude 38,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 2
N1K1-J George x 4
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 3
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 2

Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 35000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Reinforcements: All new subs are heading to the meat grinder off of Port Moresby. The Tony Id is going to be ready by 1/44 at east. Not a game changer, but I might use it more with a service rating of two, even though the Frank will also be around. They are good for the small non-sweeping kinds of groups especially.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]SS RO-36 arrives at Fukuoka

Aircraft Ki-61-Id Tony advances R&D - 2/44[/font]

Losses: I hate losing ASW ships to subs, but I guess it happens.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Loss of E Amakusa on Oct 11, 1943 is admitted
Loss of SS I-177 on Oct 11, 1943 is admitted[/font]

Ships Sunk: Jocke was not pleased to lose all of these APDs. I said I would gladly trade my CA and CL back for them, and he said he actually would like that trade. I sometimes forget that every DD cannot be a fast transport as with the IJN.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]APD Manley is reported to have been sunk near Terapo on Oct 12, 1943[/font]
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]USS Barry (APD-29) I just read up a bit about the APDs in the war. Wow. A lot of action for some of these ships, especially the Manley. From Guadalcanal to Okinawa. [/font]
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[font="Times New Roman"]NORTH AUSTRAIA[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This area is most definitely the focus of Allied moves in the near future. Jocke has invested the islands to the NE of Darwin and is building them quickly. I do have an HQ with G3M3s at Darwin and I've been able to hit a few resupply and troop drops in the area.

Merauke is really the key to further advances. While he is focused on building Terapo and winning Port Moresby I'm frantically trying to build forts here, and I'll be posting more men there if I can get forts to level 4 and I still hold the base in a month when reinforcements arrive. It's got 450 AV now, but one garrison unit is set to withdraw, as I had predicted this base would be gone before now.

The Western New Guinea dn lower DEI island bases are building and will be getting garrisons in just over a month with the multitude of brigades that arrive in November. Taberfane has a regiment now but other than that it's pretty thin here. I think there is time, as I predict he'll hit Merauke first, then go for Darwin. He shows no indication of moving overland to Darwin, so I wil move my division back soon and hold the city as long as possible. Other air HQs are in Ambon and in Biak, but cover most of the area with TT capability.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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[font="Trebuchet MS"]The KB is based in Koepang to react to either the North or South until 4Es get in range of that base. With Exmouth secure fore the moment and Darwin not yet threatened it could be a while. [/font]
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