AEHGP2 Traskott (A) vs. Seydlitz (J) Japanese side AAR

[seydlitz_slith]

Turn 14 20 December, 1941

The ASW task forces and the bait TF arrived in the hex with the sub but evidently did not have enough op points to do anything. We will sit in the hex and see what turns up next turn.

[seydlitz_slith]

This turn, all of the activity came from my subs striking enemy shipping.

Submarine attack near Toboali at 51,93

Japanese Ships
SS I-155

Allied Ships
xAKL Ipoh, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage



xAKL Ipoh is sighted by SS I-155
SS I-155 launches 8 torpedoes at xAKL Ipoh

No doubt that the freighter went down as she was not large enough to handle two hits.

[seydlitz_slith]

Off Pago Pago, RO-63 torpedoed and sank the AK Harry Luckenbach (sorry, no pic)

Submarine attack near Pago Pago at 147,161

Japanese Ships
SS RO-63

Allied Ships
xAK Harry Luckenbach, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage



xAK Harry Luckenbach is sighted by SS RO-63
SS RO-63 launches 4 torpedoes

Off San Diego, I-3 torpedoed the tanker Eidsvold

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Sub attack near San Diego at 224,83

Japanese Ships
SS I-3

Allied Ships
TK Eidsvold, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage



TK Eidsvold is sighted by SS I-3
SS I-3 launches 4 torpedoes

[seydlitz_slith]

And off San Francisco, the I-22 snagged a rich prize....the fleet oiler Platte.

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Submarine attack near San Francisco at 217,71

Japanese Ships
SS I-22

Allied Ships
AO Platte, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage



AO Platte is sighted by SS I-22
SS I-22 launches 6 torpedoes

[seydlitz_slith]

Last turn my sigint mentioned heavy radio traffic in hex 200,99 and even placed a convoy icon in that hex.

I have looked at the likely paths for the convoy and it looks like it is a convoy from Pearl Harbor to the west coast, most likely San Francisco. I am adjusting my sub picket lines to set up an interception at sea. It would be nice if I could bag a battleship or two before he can get them safely into dock.

I am also ordering a sub to the mouth of Sydney harbor to see what turns up there.

During the turn, I landed at Sandakan and Sibuyuan. I captured Sambas, Busanga, Kudat, and Sibuyan.

My fighters swept Wenchow but the AVG did not intercept although they still appear to be based in the city. Next turn I will return with several bombers.

Traskott's B-17s hit Kuching this turn where he discovered that I have moved some Oscars to provide air cover.

[seydlitz_slith]

Update showing my progress so far in Borneo

[seydlitz_slith]

and in the PI

[TheLoneGunman_MatrixForum]

Excellent work thus far.

I have noticed one thing, during your sweeps you're often at a much lower altitude than the enemy aircraft, yet you still manage to inflict losses without even getting damaged.

Would you attribute this to the early pathetic skill and experience of the Allied fighter jocks when compared to your own pilots, or do you think having your aircraft in a better maneuver band is actually helping you?

[seydlitz_slith]

ORIGINAL: TheLoneGunman

Excellent work thus far.

I have noticed one thing, during your sweeps you're often at a much lower altitude than the enemy aircraft, yet you still manage to inflict losses without even getting damaged.

Would you attribute this to the early pathetic skill and experience of the Allied fighter jocks when compared to your own pilots, or do you think having your aircraft in a better maneuver band is actually helping you?

Several things are helping. Pilot quality is always very important, but I have been setting my altitude so that I was near the break point of the maneuver band. That way, if the CAP bounced from above, he would be at one worse maneuver band than my planes. No idea whether or not this matters when combat is resolved but it seems to help.

I started the war with higher altitude sweep settings (but not extreme altitudes as I detest the "who can fly higher" competition) like the Japanese did in their early strikes. I then started varying altitudes to be less predictable, and lately have been flying more low maneuver band sweeps. By coming in low I can suck in more fighters scrambling from the ground as they do not spend as much time climbing. That means that they engage where I can shoot them down.

[seydlitz_slith]

Turn 15 21 December, 1941

My subs hit another American destroyer off San Francisco and missed shots at two others.

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Sub attack near San Francisco at 218,72

Japanese Ships
SS I-25

Allied Ships
DD Cushing, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Preston



SS I-25 launches 6 torpedoes at DD Cushing
I-25 diving deep ....
DD Preston fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Preston fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Preston fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Preston fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Preston fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
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ASW attack near Pago Pago at 148,162

Japanese Ships
SS RO-68, hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Litchfield



SS RO-68 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Litchfield
DD Litchfield attacking submerged sub ....
DD Litchfield cannot reach attack position over SS RO-68
SS RO-68 eludes ASW attack from DD Litchfield
SS RO-68 eludes ASW attack from DD Litchfield
DD Litchfield loses contact with SS RO-68
DD Litchfield attacking submerged sub ....
DD Litchfield loses contact with SS RO-68
DD Litchfield loses contact with SS RO-68
DD Litchfield loses contact with SS RO-68
DD Litchfield attacking submerged sub ....
SS RO-68 eludes ASW attack from DD Litchfield
DD Litchfield loses contact with SS RO-68
SS RO-68 eludes ASW attack from DD Litchfield
DD Litchfield fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Litchfield attacking submerged sub ....
DD Litchfield loses contact with SS RO-68
DD Litchfield is out of ASW ammo
DD Litchfield is out of ASW ammo
DD Litchfield is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub
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Sub attack near Channel Islands at 222,79

Japanese Ships
SS I-171

Allied Ships
DD Dent



SS I-171 launches 4 torpedoes
I-171 diving deep ....
DD Dent fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Dent fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Dent fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Dent fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Dent attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-171 eludes ASW attack from DD Dent
DD Dent cannot establish contact with SS I-171
DD Dent cannot establish contact with SS I-171
DD Dent cannot establish contact with SS I-171
Escort abandons search for sub


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Sub attack near San Francisco at 216,71

Japanese Ships
SS I-16

Allied Ships
DD Preston



SS I-16 launches 8 torpedoes
I-16 diving deep ....
DD Preston fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Preston fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Preston fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Preston fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Preston fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

One thing about it, our game is not short on submarine action.

[seydlitz_slith]

For whatever reason, he continues to send freighters through the straight near Toboali and I continue to sink them.

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Submarine attack near Toboali at 51,93

Japanese Ships
SS I-155

Allied Ships
xAKL Lematang, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage



xAKL Lematang is sighted by SS I-155
SS I-155 attacking on the surface

[seydlitz_slith]

Off the coast of Japan, several of my search planes spotted his submarine and one even claimed a hit. However, none of my sub hunting groups were able to spot the sub or provoke an attack. We will remain on station next turn and try again.

B4Y1 Jean reports oil slick at 113, 63 near Izu Oshima
B4Y1 Jean reports periscope wake at 113, 63 near Izu Oshima
B4Y1 Jean reports conning tower at 113, 63 near Izu Oshima
B4Y1 Jean reports periscope wake at 113, 63 near Izu Oshima
B4Y1 Jean reports turbulence in water at 113, 63 near Izu Oshima
B4Y1 Jean from Yokosuka Ku K-2 attacking a Shark class SS at 113,63
B4Y1 Jean reports oil slick at 113, 63 near Izu Oshima
E7K2 Alf reports periscope at 113, 63 near Izu Oshima
G4M1 Betty reports periscope wake at 113, 63 near Izu Oshima
B4Y1 Jean reports possible submarine at 113, 63 near Izu Oshima
B4Y1 Jean reports shadow in water at 113, 63 near Izu Oshima
B4Y1 Jean from Yokosuka Ku K-2 attacking SS Spearfish at 113,63
SS Spearfish is reported HIT
B4Y1 Jean reports suspected submarine at 113, 63 near Izu Oshima
B4Y1 Jean reports radio transmissions at 114, 62 near Yokohama/Yokosuka
H6K4 Mavis reports turbulence in water at 113, 63 near Izu Oshima
H6K4 Mavis reports conning tower at 113, 63 near Izu Oshima
H6K4 Mavis reports conning tower at 113, 63 near Izu Oshima

[seydlitz_slith]

I bombed Wenchow airfield in China, doing 43% damage but the AVG did not come up to fight. I will hit it again next turn.

In other news, I landed at Masbate and captured Laong, Tuguegurao, and Sandakan during the turn.

[seydlitz_slith]

Aircraft losses were also light during the turn.

[seydlitz_slith]

Turn 16 22 December, 1941

This turn, all of the submarine action belonged to Traskott.

Up near Ominato, USS Pompano declared her presence by making two surface attacks on unescorted freighters.

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Submarine attack near Hakodate at 120,54

Japanese Ships
xAKL Kennichi Maru, Shell hits 10, on fire

Allied Ships
SS Pompano



xAKL Kennichi Maru is sighted by SS Pompano
SS Pompano attacking on the surface
SS Pompano low on gun ammo, Carter V. breaks off surface engagement and submerges

We are dispatching two destroyers to escort the damaged vessel to port.

[seydlitz_slith]

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Submarine attack near Hakodate at 120,54

Japanese Ships
xAK Dainiti Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Pompano



xAK Dainiti Maru is sighted by SS Pompano
SS Pompano attacking xAK Dainiti Maru on the surface
SS Pompano low on gun ammo, Carter V. breaks off surface engagement and submerges

[seydlitz_slith]

Both of us had additional submarine attacks where the torpedoes either missed or failed to detonate.

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Submarine attack near Samah at 68,65

Japanese Ships
xAK Arima Maru

Allied Ships
SS Searaven



xAK Arima Maru is sighted by SS Searaven
SS Searaven launches 4 torpedoes at xAK Arima Maru


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Submarine attack near Hamamatsu at 110,64

Japanese Ships
AO Shiriya

Allied Ships
SS Tautog



AO Shiriya is sighted by SS Tautog
SS Tautog launches 6 torpedoes

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ASW attack near San Francisco at 218,72

Japanese Ships
SS I-25

Allied Ships
YP-92



SS I-25 is located by YP-92
Escort abandons search for sub

I have ordered ASW escorts to proceed to sea and meet up with all unescorted vessels moving near the home islands. Obviously Traskott is not going to allow me the luxury of moving even inter island resource convoys without escort. Good for him. This makes for a much more historical game.

[seydlitz_slith]

In an effort to keep him off guard and also to force him to protect interior cities with the AVG, I conducted a mass bombing of Kunming using Nells and Betties based at Samah. The city had no aerial defenders and we left large portions of the residential sector on fire after the raid.

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Morning Air attack on Kunming , at 69,48

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 50
G4M1 Betty x 18



Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 15 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged



Manpower hits 123
Fires 26792
Aircraft Attacking:
23 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
18 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
27 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 8000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

[seydlitz_slith]

My Formosa based bombers also hit Wenchow airfield for the second consecutive day. Recon now shows that the airfield is 79% damaged. Tomorrow I will hit Wenchow residential areas with large bomber formations while sending at least one Sally unit to continue pounding the airfield. Since the runway is obviously too damaged for anything to fly, I will redirect the zero units to perform sweeps over Clark and Iba.

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Morning Air attack on Wenchow , at 89,58

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27



No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
27 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 19000 feet



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Morning Air attack on Wenchow , at 89,58

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 32
G4M1 Betty x 43



Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged



Airbase hits 21
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 225

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
18 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
6 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
32 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Wenchow , at 89,58

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 7
Ki-30 Ann x 27
Ki-48-Ib Lily x 24



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-Ib Lily: 1 damaged



Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 60

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-48-Ib Lily bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 100 kg GP Bomb
7 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 1 x 100 kg GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Wenchow , at 89,58

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 9



Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged



Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Wenchow , at 89,58

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9



No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 19000 feet



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Afternoon Air attack on Wenchow , at 89,58

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-30 Ann x 3



No Japanese losses



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-30 Ann bombing from 15000 feet *
City Attack: 1 x 100 kg GP Bomb

[seydlitz_slith]

Aircraft losses remain very light.

In order to acquire more range to conduct bombing and ASW operations, I have been swapping out Ann, Sonia, and Ida aircraft for Sally Ic and Lily Ib aircraft types. Some of these are coming from the pool while others are coming from the Korean based units. The Korean units are swapping to the shorter ranged single engine types to maintain thier mission capability. I have not removed any air units or land units from Korea.

Using the Sally Ic in the Malaya and Philippine theater will give me almost double the range and allow me to close several ASW patrol gaps.

During the turn my land forces captured Buruias, Masbate, and Tablas.