PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[brisd]

I was not suggesting that you not defend Rabual with large numbers of aircraft. I just was bemoaning the fate of so many samauri! [X(]

The strategy of opposing a long distance landing or one not well supported by LBA is indeed your best chance for success at this point. But I would guess your opponent knows this and will avoid giving you that opportunity until he has OVERWELMING force. If I were the allies, I'd invade the Solomons and wage of the historical war of attrition, which favors him. Then when wants to strike at Central Pacific or SRA in '44, you are weakened materially, he has his reinforcements of new planes, ships and troops. Perhaps I am stating the obvious, sorry I've had a long day. But your AAR always brings some pleasure. [8D]

[PzB74]

It was their sacred duty BrisD...! [&o]New eager conscripts will soon replace them.
Aircraft are easily replacable, pilots take a bit longer. Ships are impossible to replace.
Troops are still plentiful.

So the Solomons should be defended by aircraft and ground troops - supported by the navy
in favourable situations. Think this is how it must be...

However, consider this scenario: the KB sails back to...Pearl Harbour with almost 1000 ac and demolish
all the capital ships in port. Most Allied Corsairs are in the Solomons and Japan still got carrier supremacy.

This must be the most risky and potentially rewarding strike possible? It's almost suicidal - but also the last
thing Ken would suspect. The thought gives me goose skin - does Ken keep his carrier at Pearl? [:D]

[BLurking]

You'd have to face the horrible Allied AAA at PH - your KB dive bombers would be slaughtered. It's tempting, but those pilots are irreplaceable. Maybe load the KB up with inexperienced Kates, and hit the port at higher altitude. Reload the experienced pilots back at port...

[PzB74]

True Blurking, but I don't consider pilots as irreplacable anymore. There are already
69 Kate's and 90 Val's waiting assignment in my bases. The same number will arrive as
reinforcements shortly. It's just a thought for now...if I only knew were his cv's are!

Got a little surprise for you all tomorrow [8D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/06/43

Surface Combat

A PT boat TF reacted against a barge convoy..lot of effort for little gain.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Buka at 63,90

Japanese Ships
AG AG-369
AG AG-5050
AG AG-2528, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
PT PT-279
PT PT-280
PT PT-281
PT PT-282
PT PT-283
PT PT-284
PT PT-285
PT PT-286
PT PT-287
PT PT-288
PT PT-332
PT PT-333
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 51
J1N1-R Irving x 5
Ki-21 Sally x 145

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 3 destroyed, 12 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 6 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed
C-47 Dakota: 10 destroyed
B-24D Liberator: 2 destroyed
P-70A Havoc: 3 destroyed
B-25J Mitchell: 1 destroyed
F-5A Lightning: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
38 casualties reported

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 51
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The follow up attacks against Rabaul destroyed all the damaged ac there,
36 to be exact..what a vacum cleaner [:'(]

Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 61,88

Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 40

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 2 destroyed, 15 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port hits 7
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 61,88

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
PBY Catalina x 1
P-38G Lightning x 58
B-25J Mitchell x 53
PB4Y Liberator x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
64 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 50
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 61,88

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 7
B-17E Fortress x 93
B-24D Liberator x 58

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 4 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
Ki-46-III Dinah: 6 destroyed
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F-5A Lightning: 3 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 12 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 10 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
158 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 208
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A small number of Betties were put on naval attack to 'sweep' the Solomons
for potential high value targets...very dangerous missions!

Day Air attack on TF, near Munda at 64,95

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 10

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Richmond
DD Arunta
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Munda at 64,95 - a small success....

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
AP Livingston, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
---------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Still busy mopping up raider squads..and I found another dot island <G>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Taliabu

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 459 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 15 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Taliabu base !!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Finschafen

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 337 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 10 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Arawe

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 387 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Port Moresby is hit

I ordered a retaliatory strike against Port Moresby by army bombers based at Wewak!
2 crack Zero Daitais escorted them and met only a feeble CAP. (There were dozens of fighters
over Darwin today.-)

In all 36 enemy ac were destroyed on the ground including 19 Dakotas. This may have upset Ken's plan
because he said that he was going to land a full regiment at my paras (Finschafen!??).

(I hope you are moving them this turn, I have most of a regiment arriving this turn there.)
Nothing happened but Finschafen will be reinforced. Hm............

[brisd]

I like that Port Moresby attack, caught him unaware. By striking Darwin first, his shifts his cap there, exposing PM. Well done!

The PH attack has possible high returns but he'd probably see it coming several days out and be able to reinforce. Not sure it is worth the losses. But if he is engaged supporting the Solomon's, he will be exposed elsewhere. I expect fireworks soon. [8D]

[PzB74]

Yes, the PM raid was nice BrisD! [:)]

I had hoped to bring good news today. Two days ago I sortied the KB in response to the heavy air attacks against Rabaul. Large numbers of relatively
lightly protected ships were spotted in the Solomons and it was decided to strike them with overwhelming force.

Unfortunately Nagumo didn't have a good day and the plans went awry! The ships are fine but we lost a large number of fighters.
See situation map for more details...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/07/43

Invasions

I think Ken is using LCMs to ferry troops into Arawe - a size 0 base!?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1043 troops unloading over beach at Arawe, 57,89

Allied ground losses:
118 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1153 troops unloading over beach at Arawe, 57,89

Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Rabaul receives more attention!

Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 61,88

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 48
B-25J Mitchell x 38

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 2 destroyed, 14 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 77
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 61,88

Allied aircraft
PBY Catalina x 1
P-38G Lightning x 56
B-25J Mitchell x 78

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 15 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 49
Port hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So does Kavieng - but there are only few ac here!

Day Air attack on Kavieng , at 61,86

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
L2D2 Tabby: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kavieng , at 61,86

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
L2D2 Tabby: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long range CAP (Zeros and Tojos cover the KB) - losses are still prohibitive as a small
Avenger strike force is escorted by Corsairs.

Day Air attack on TF at 66,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 169
A6M5 Zeke x 55
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 32
TBF Avenger x 12

Japanese aircraft losses [:(]
A6M2 Zero: 67 destroyed, 3 damaged
A6M5 Zeke: 14 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 18 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses (Loss ratio fighters: 99/23 = 1 to 4.3)
F4U-1 Corsair: 23 destroyed
TBF Avenger: 10 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CV Katsuragi

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The strike against Vella Lavella was a disaster. 135 fighter escorts and 9 torpedo bombers.

Day Air attack on TF, near Vella Lavella at 64,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 106
A6M5 Zeke x 29
B5N Kate x 9 [&:]

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 39 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M5 Zeke: 5 destroyed
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses (Loss ratio fighters: 44/16 = 1 to 2.75)
F4U-1 Corsair: 16 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Grayson
DD Bailey

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

I'm not sure what to do about the situation at Arawe. In 2-3 months Ken can have a size 2 af 3 hexes
from Rabaul - but the place got no af yet so I can't bring in reinforcements by air.
I don't want to loose my 2 crack Para regiments for such a he11 hole...it's obviously not a battle that
can be won.

Sending reinforcements with fleet units will also be costly as enemy LBA and PT boats will be
on guard. I'm going to send in Nick fighter bombers and try to disrupt the landings as much
as possible. This way it could be possible to suppress the base and make prevent Ken from
developing it.

It's a potentially smart move by Ken..time consuming but safe.

Ground combat at Arawe

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 387 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1536 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
124 casualties reported
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation map: KB at Munda

The map shows how the KB moved 1 hex short of its intended destination - something which aborted
the intended raids against enemy shipping at Munda. Not sure why this happened, the fleet followed the slowest TF
and it should be able to move 4/4 hexes at full speed and there was ample amounts of fuel left.

It was hoped that most of the enemy LBA would be busy hitting ground targets - something which was confirmed.
The KB was made up of 2 TF's with 8 heavy and 4 light carriers, one bombardment group and two cruiser/destroyer groups.

Only a small enemy strike was mounted - but the vaunted Corsairs escorted them and shot down my CAP fighters at a 3-4/1 ratio.
The hopeless raid Nagumo launched against Vella Lavella cost a lot of fighters as well.

The raid against the Solomons therefore resulted in the following losses:

Friendly: 107 A6M2 Zero [:(] ,19 A6M5 Zeke and 18 Tojo (30 of these were LR CAP fighters)
Enemy: 41 Corsairs and 10 Avengers

I planned to bombard both Vella Lavella and Munda (ca 400 enemy ac are reported to be on these bases) with cruisers
and battleships but the range to Munda was too great, 7 hexes - the ships would have had to go around and attack from
the west. So I've aborted the missions as enemy PT boats and LBA would make them way too costly compared to what they
could have achieved - especially now as Ken is on guard. A surface group will head towards Rabaul and attempt to interfere with
the Arawe operations.

Todays losses include some 160 Jap and 60 Allied ac. The thought of having killed a full months production of Corsairs helps to dull
the painful losses, but no more of this. Ken is getting things his way. I have to come up with something better...

After these heavy air losses I will use light fleet units, and army air force units to oppose the enemy.
There are enough trained replacement fighters at Truk to immediately replace todays losses. The depleted fighter formations
will be reformed in China in time for their A6M5 Zeke upgrades.

I will now prepare the fleet for operation 'Summer Harvest'. It can't possibly be more dangerous than fighting Corsairs [:'(]

[PzB74]

It was a good idea to retire the fleet as dozens of PT boats and other TFs were on guard
while the more valuable ships had scattered. More than 50 Corsairs were on CAP over Vella Lavella
and Munda. So we did manage to catch the Allies by surprise yesterday - it was the execution of the
attack that was flawed.

Ken is talking openly about his strength and his assumptions:

"My thinking is that in about 65 days I will have rough parity in CVs and CV aircraft. I will have 6
fleet and 6 CVLs all with F6F fighter groups. All of those CVs carry 90+ aircraft and the CVLs have 33. So I end up
with 6x36 = 216 plus 6 x 21 = 126 or 342 F6Fs. I am thinking that you have about 10 CVs and 6 CVLs all with A6Mxs.
I think you have about 260 - 300 fighters on CV/CVLs. I think that is a rough parity given that the F6F is quite a bit
better that A6Mxs. Just in case you are wondering, just because I think I will be reaching some parity, I will wait until
1944 before I launch Carrier raids into your territory( at least I think so). I had 72 SBDs in range of your CVs that turn
but they were all set to a 3 range to make sure they used 1000 lb bombs. If they had been set to 4 I wonder if I might
have gotten a few 500 lb bombs to cause some damage?"

So it was a good thing we didn't move the KB closer to Munda and Vella Lavella than we did. It also seems like Ken knows
our carrier strength - I can adjust the amount of fighters based on the KB though. Everything between 350 and 500 is possible.
His intentions to wait until 1944 before conducting large scale amphibious landings also corresponds with my assumptions. It
would be foolish to risk his carriers before this as my LBA is still very strong.

6 more days until reinforcement week! [8D] By then I will also have the 3500 political points needed to release a division from
China. In 7 days the Chitose and Chioyda will join the fleet as well. The Yamato and Musashi have reduced system damage to
6 and 9 points. The Yamato still needs to undergo its 12/42 upgrade though...Zzzz

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/08/43

Invasions

More troops lands on Arawe - part of an Oz division + a raider unit.
Ken can have the malaria pit. Going to be a bit€h to build it.

TF 1150 troops unloading over beach at Arawe, 57,89

Allied ground losses:
106 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Hit the Chinese airfields again today and destroyed a score both in the air
and on the ground. The cost was the usual 2-3 Oscars and Sallys. Important to
keep them culled :p)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 29
Ki-21 Sally x 78

Allied aircraft
I-16c x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 3 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
I-16c: 4 destroyed
SB-2c: 2 destroyed
IL-4c: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 47
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Except from more raids over Rabaul, Kavieng was hit hard. Seems like Ken wants to close
down as many of my airfields as possible. Not sure he got enough to go around yet..?

Day Air attack on Kavieng , at 61,86

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 48
B-24D Liberator x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 5 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 10 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 45
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army bombers hit the Australians at Arawe with moderate effect. Need to take
a break now as Ken will most likely LRCAP the place tomorrow.

Day Air attack on 7th Australian/B Division, at 57,89

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 38

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Rekata Bay at 66,94 (Outside of Munda)

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
TK W.S. Rheem
TK Gulfland, Torpedo hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Arawe

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 1459 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 54 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 64 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Arawe base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

[Honda]

BTW, you did great aginst the Corsairs. Most of your planes were A6M2s. So they get better, but Corsair is basicaly the best allied fighter of the war. Few are better, and only in late-war. Also, I have a feeling the Corsairs you were up against were 60 exp at most. So watch out for them now that they have earned their battle wings.
If you watched the whole engagement, how did Zekes fare against Corsairs? Was there any recognizable improvement as opposed to A6M2? And what about Tojos? They do have a solid top speed but lack maneuverability. Theoreticaly, A6M3 might even turn out to be the best weapon agains the Corsair since it's the only plane that achieves parity in at least one vital aspect of dogfighting - maneuverability. Theoreticaly at least. Of course, they are hopelessly slower, which is a characteristic more important then maneuverability, but so are all the other IJ fighters. Even Tojo, which is a bullet for Japanese standards, is still much slower.
So, to go for parity in one aspect or try to come as close in both? I don't want to be a drag, but can you pay some attention to near future dogfights with the new generation of Allied fighters and try to convey some of your observations? If you can find some extra time for it, of course[:)]
Good hunting

[PzB74]

Honda,

The KB fighters didn't perform too badly against the Corsairs..they were my top pilots though! Most of the Zeke's were lesser experienced (60's)
as I've not been able to train them in China yet due to the lack of replacement ac. It should still be remembered that the Corsairs were outnumbered
5-1 and still shot down my fighters at a 3-1 ratio!

I did evaluate my fighters performance against the P-38 a few days ago. Didn't have time to watch the time consuming fights against the
Corsairs though. The Tojos (72 avg exp) were really hit hard, 18/30 or so lost. If you'd like I can send you the combat replay for this turn and
you can see for yourself. It's possible that I'll go through it myself when I run out of turns one night [;)]

Not going to give the blasted things another shot at my KB fighters for a while, that's for sure...

[Honda]

Thanks, but no need[;)] It's enough for me to have at least some forum feedback, and I know it won't be faulty. If you ever come across an interesting thing in air engagemnts, just add it if you have spare time.
I am a bit worried about Tojo's performance...See if you can find out from Ken what the experiance of the Corsairs was. Might be usefull for future reference.

[PzB74]

Seems like there will be more opportunities in the days to come Honda..Ken is invading Torokina!

A full Marine division to defeat 2000 bombed and malaria ridden defenders. What an overkill.
The only thing that is certain is that it will be impossible to recapture the place and in a month or two
there will be a size 4 enemy airfield only 4 hexes away from Rabaul.

I discuss the counter moves that can and will be undertaken at the end of this post. First a few tactical
and strategic considerations:

From my point of view I think it's time to start evacuating troops from Shortland and Buin by air
and fast transport tfs. Buka, Green island and Gasmata will receive a lot of enemy attention in the months
to come. It is therefore necessary to slowly move the defensive line back behind Rabaul.

Rabaul itself should be denied to the enemy but kept in supply. I can place numerous small units there
and make it difficult for Ken to destroy them all. It's very easy to run missions into Rabaul from Truk so
this shouldn't be a problem. An enemy move to advance past Rabaul will then probably be mounted, starting
in New Guinea with Salamua, Lae and Finschafen. NO enemy shipping must be allowed to venture north of the line
Finschafen - Rabaul, and this will then become the prime strategic obejctive.

Comments?

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/09/43

Sub/ASW Attacks

One of my scout subs got into contact with enemy ships - all not intentionally.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 92,96

Japanese Ships
SS I-173

Allied Ships
DD Cushing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invasions and bombardments

The ships that I thought dispersed around Vella Lavella and Munda after
the KB strike seems to have included an invasion force heading for Torokina.
Such small margins...

Naval bombardment of Torokina, at 63,92

Allied Ships
DD Evertsen
DD Warramunga
DD Anderson
DD Hughes
CL Denver
CL Columbia
CA San Francisco
BB Idaho
BB Oklahoma

Japanese ground losses:
173 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 44
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1063 encounters mine field at Torokina (63,92)

TF 1063 troops unloading over beach at Torokina, 63,92

Allied Ships
MSW Champion
MSW Skylark
MSW Sage
MSW Freemantle
MSW Dubbo
DD Aaron Ward
LST LST-28, Mine hits 1, on fire

Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Torokina, 63,92, firing at TF 1063
21 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
953 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Yesterday a strong light cruiser/destroyer force moved towards Arawe. No
contact was achieved but the CAP I placed over the ships engaged a raid against
Rabaul. 4 P-38's were reported shot down today. Must be getting fatigued.

Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 61,88

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 11

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 54
B-24D Liberator x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 9 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 6 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 8 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
94 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 54
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Two small Betty raids fail to hit enemy shipping of both Arawe and Torokina!

Day Air attack on TF, near Arawe at 57,89

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Concord (how many times have I attacked this ship now? :p)

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Torokina at 63,92

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 4

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 14
P-38G Lightning x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Another dot island occupied south of Borneo.

Ground combat at Buru Island

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 340 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Buru Island base !!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Torokina

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1768 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 15786 troops, 139 guns, 16 vehicles - not much to to against such a massive overkill force!

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation map: Invasion of Torokina

My first thought that the Arawe invasion was a diversion proved to be right! Ken moves against Torokina today - in FORCE!
So annoying to think about that the KB was only a few hexes away from the invasion force yesterday. I've replenished the fleet
and replaced lost ac at Truk today and ordered Nagumo to lead the fleet back south. It will stay east of Rabaul, 4 hexes north of
Torokina to begin with. Not expecting much since it will take 2 days to reach this position after refuelling the ships.

The surface group at Rabaul (2 cls and 8 dds) will remain in port but has orders to react. A fast cruiser group including
4 ca's and 2 cl's + 6 destroyers has been ordered to Green island at full speed. It is possible that it can react against
further enemy aggression in the area. Night fighting is still the Imperial Navy's speciality [:)]...it's just very important to remember
to run home before the onset of dawn.

3 RO class costal subs have been standing by just east of Rabaul and will move at full speed towards Torokina and the surrounding
hexes. I've ordered more naval bombers from Truk to the different bases in the area. They will attempt to hit the invasion fleet but
thunderstorms make it unlikely that a large and coordinated strike will take off.

The smaller bases on Green and Buka islands have also received additional aircraft including Tojos, Vals and Kates.

The intention is firstly to pose a threat to the enemy invasion fleet and only strike if a favorable opportunity arises. This is especially true
for the KB. All of the battleships will stay home and only 4 heavy and 4 light cruisers + some destroyers will potentially get into harms way
tomorrow - except from the potential attacking LBA that is.

[brisd]

The expected fireworks have started. Looking forward to the coming battles... [8D]

[Rob Brennan UK]

He may not suspect you can replace the KB pilots so fast, i ceratinly didn't and i read this AAR ..

Maybe he'll overstretch if he thinks KB is out for a bit. fingers crossed [8D]

Next few days should be very very interesting

[PzB74]

Yep, fireworks coming up..but I'm not too happy about it as I don't consider it tactically favourable to fight in the Solomons.
We can only hope Rob, but I'm not expecting it! Ken is usually making sound decisions.

The KB was divided into 3 carrier divisions this time (3x12 ships).

Car Div 1 Nagumo

Cv Unryu, Amagi, Katsuragi
1 cvl
4 dd
2 cl
2 ca

Car Div 2

Cv Taiho, Shokaku, Zuikaku
1 cvl
4 dd
2 cl
2 ca

Car Div 3

Cv Kaga, Junyo, Hiyo
1 cvl
4 dd
2 cl
2 ca

There are still closer to 800 ac aboard these ships, so the hammer is still heavy!

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: PzB

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long range CAP (Zeros and Tojos cover the KB) - losses are still prohibitive as a small
Avenger strike force is escorted by Corsairs.

Day Air attack on TF at 66,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 169
A6M5 Zeke x 55
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 32
TBF Avenger x 12

Japanese aircraft losses [:(]
A6M2 Zero: 67 destroyed, 3 damaged
A6M5 Zeke: 14 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 18 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses (Loss ratio fighters: 99/23 = 1 to 4.3)
F4U-1 Corsair: 23 destroyed
TBF Avenger: 10 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CV Katsuragi

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The strike against Vella Lavella was a disaster. 135 fighter escorts and 9 torpedo bombers.

Day Air attack on TF, near Vella Lavella at 64,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 106
A6M5 Zeke x 29
B5N Kate x 9 [&:]

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 39 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M5 Zeke: 5 destroyed
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses (Loss ratio fighters: 44/16 = 1 to 2.75)
F4U-1 Corsair: 16 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Grayson
DD Bailey

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry, but when I see this the only thing I can say is: What a BS!!!! It weren´t pilots in the 30s and with that numerical advantage such a result just couldn´t happen. So if those results are not the fact that those damn Corsairs are sooo overrated....

Perhaps people should start with another houserule to the 100+ existing: No corsairs!!!![:@]

The person who´s responsible for the rating of that plane obviously has watched Black Sheeps too often. They were good, but thei´re Corsairs not Tomcats!

[Gen.Hoepner]

Agree.Completely. Corsairs are so overrated that i guess how in the world people are not screaming like eagles like they always do for things like ASW,zero bonus etc...
The appearance of Corsairs force the Japs to abbandon every air activity in their range.
SAD

[Kereguelen]

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

Agree.Completely. Corsairs are so overrated that i guess how in the world people are not screaming like eagles like they always do for things like ASW,zero bonus etc...
The appearance of Corsairs force the Japs to abbandon every air activity in their range.
SAD

Corsairs claimed a kill rate of 11:1 vs. Japanese planes[8D]. Actually they seem to be underrated in the game[;)]

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Kereguelen

ORIGINAL: Gen.Hoepner

Agree.Completely. Corsairs are so overrated that i guess how in the world people are not screaming like eagles like they always do for things like ASW,zero bonus etc...
The appearance of Corsairs force the Japs to abbandon every air activity in their range.
SAD

Corsairs claimed a kill rate of 11:1 vs. Japanese planes[8D]. Actually they seem to be underrated in the game[;)]

come on! We all know that by the time corsairs were flying the japs did not have any decent pilots left.
It's like saying that the ratios gotten by the ME-109 in the first months of Barbarossa were actually prooving that the I-16s were 100 times inferior to the ME 109Es...simply not true. Pilot experience made the difference.
What's strange is that if you look at the stats of the corsair present in the game, they're not so overpowered...at least of first sight. Probably speed, which is the biggest corsair advantage over the jap planes, is overrated generally speaking....

however a 80 exp Zeke pilot should not be dead at start against a 60 corsair pilot. Doesn't seem right nor fair

[Andy Mac]

Deleted as not the place for this debate

[Bradley7735]

It seems odd to me that 4 carriers that were completed in 44 and 45 are on active duty in June of 43!!!

Wow. Talk about super Japanese. Evidently, Japanese ship crews don't need any training time either.