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It is now June 18th and the American Fleet is behaving like the cowards they are!  They fear the KB and its massed power! 
 
Translation---the Americans are moving NW towards Auckland and AWAY from the KB to the south.
 
Will do a conventional update tomorrow morning...
 

[font="times new roman"]Combat Report[/font][/b]
[font="times new roman"]June 17-19, 1942[/font][/b]
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[font="times new roman"]North Pacific[/font][/b]
[font="times new roman"]Everything quiet here.[/font]
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[font="times new roman"]Central Pacific[/font][/b]
[font="times new roman"]No activity.                 [/font]
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[font="times new roman"]South Pacific[/font][/b]
[font="times new roman"]A lot of Allied SS are still operating along the Pago-Pago to Suva to Noumea supply line.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"]     [/font]
[font="times new roman"]New Zealand[/b][/b][/font]
[font="times new roman"]The KB (now crippled in speed due to a lack of fuel) slowly moves NE on a line with Suva.  Having effectively fended off the Liberator/Hudson attack of the 15th, the Fleet is hit again by a massive number of 4EB!  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]June 17th          With 105 Zeros flying CAP (60%) a HUGE strike of 12 B-25, 36 B-17, and 45 Liberators arrives over the Combined Fleet.  YIKES!  My elite Zero pilots commence their runs and very quickly, the American planes begin to fall.  The American formation is ripped apart and only a few actually drop their bombs on the Yamato TF!  When the pillars of smoke and splashes are tallied, a whopping total of 5 B-25s, 23 B-17, and 14 Liberators is created!  I SPLASHED 37 4EB and damaged 19 more!!!  BANZAI!  In return, I do lose 11 Zeros but only 5 pilots.  I think I will take that!  [8D][8D][/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]With this aerial victory, I think it is safe to say that I have severely damaged the Allies 4EB capability in New Zealand.  This should make the invasion and subsequent campaign to capture New Zealand much easier![/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Also on the 17th, my planes from the KB sink yet another Allied TK.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]June 18th          The American Fleet appears to my north.  At 76, 132, two US CV attack a TK/AO on their way to help my fleet.  While losing the two ships suck and only hurts my fuel situation more, it does reveal where the US Fleet is.  I had followed them on the 13-15th but lost them on the 16-17th.  [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]It would appear that the Allies do not know what they want to do…[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]My fuel status doesn’t allow me to lunge northwards and hit them.  They probably think that I am covering for the Invasion Force and refuse to move too far away from the South Island.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Strange situation….[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]June 19th          Move the Invasion Force northwards in case the Americans lunge at it.  I want to see how things play out with the CV forces before throwing the Invasion TF into the mix.[/font]
[font="times new roman"]             [/font]
[font="times new roman"]NW Australia[/font][/b]
[font="times new roman"]I have moved the Operation Southern Fury forces to Bali for a final fueling and then the entire force will set course due south.  It will travel to about 8 hexes from the edge of the board and then head for Australia.  I TRULY hope to achieve surprise with this landing.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]My bet is that the Allies fear a landing at Broome…[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]DEI[/font][/b]
[font="times new roman"]More Allied SS success:  KXVII and KXVI each sink an AK by surface action.  For a little payback, my ASW forces hit SS Shark with 3 DC setting it on fire and my LBA damages Searaven.[/font]
[font="times new roman"]  [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Burma[/font][/b]
[font="times new roman"]VERY Quiet and this makes me a little nervous…[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]China[/font][/b]
[font="times new roman"]Yenen  Daily ground bombardments and air raids keep the Chinese from building up the Forts.  Nate is waiting for developments north and south of Yenen before another attack.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]In the hex due North of Yenen, a Shock Attack on the 17th drives the single Chinese Corps away.[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Nate now has units in Yenen, due North, and due South.  Three of the units to the South are about to move into the road hex directly BEHIND Yenen.  If he can take the hex, then the Chinese are surrounded.   [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Losses for June 17-19th[/font][/b]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Ship Losses[/font][/b]
[font="times new roman"]Japan[/b]              5 Ships—3 AK, 1 TK, and 1 AO[/font]
[font="times new roman"]Allies[/b]               3 Ships---2 TK and 1 AK[/font]
[font="times new roman"] [/font]
[font="times new roman"]Aerial Losses[/font][/b]
[font="times new roman"]Japan[/b]              9 Fighters and 1 Bomber[/font]
[font="times new roman"]Allies[/b]               5 Bombers and 37 4EB[/font]

Combat Report
June 20-29, 1942

It has been a period of frustration for the Japanese High Command.  The
Landing Force for Operation Typhoon was recalled while the potential Carrier
Battle to the east of New Zealand shaped up.  Unfortunately, the Americans
retreated and the Invasion Force was re-ordered to head S-SW for a landing
set about July 10th.  In the meantime, the KB has been TOTALLY hamstrung by
a lack of fuel.  That situation is being corrected but at a slow rate.  VERY
FRUSTRATING!

Operation Southern Fury continues to slowly move towards its landing sites
along the coast to the north of Perth, Australia.  This landing may occur
concurrently with Typhoon.

North Pacific
Kiska The AF and Port go to Sz-3 on June 27th.  I move a STF of 3CL and 8DD
here for future operations.  An MLE, AS, and AE is sent there as well. 
While having limited value, this base may serve as a springboard for
harrassment work against the Allies.

Central Pacific
Midway I have a series of small AK convoys arriving raising the supply level
to about 30,000.  This amount should carry the base for about 3-4 months. 
These small convoys are covered by a small STF of 1CL and 3DD.  Air raids
continue as 25-30 B-17s strike the base on June 21 and 29.

Tarawa AF goes to 2.

64,56 Damage SS Trigger by ASW with 3DC.

SE Pacific
Suva/Tongatapu AF goes to 4--torpedoes now available.

Pago-Pago ML hit's a SS-laid mine and later sinks.

Mopping up in the Solomons:  Munda taken on the 21st

ASW Action!
Brisbane June 25th--I-159  1DC
Melbourne June 26th--I-164  4DC
Norfolk Isle O20 hit's a mine on the 27th

New Zealand
Auckland I spot a set of TFs moving into the Port.  A small STF of 1CL and
8DD is sent to stage a raid.

June 21st I have a Daitai of Bettys decide to commit suicide by striking at
these TF.  About 30 P-40s intercept two waves of planes (14 and then 11). 
These Bettys are taken out easily and I lose 22 planes with good aircrews! 
Grrrr.

June 22nd My STF is spotted by Auckland recon and is attacked by 5 and then
6 Hudsons.  No damage and I decide to raise speed to Full.  Perhaps my TTs
will get to hit something.

June 23rd The 1st Naval Battle of Auckland occurs!  My STF runs into much
larger game then I anticipated!  BB Nevada, a CA, CL Nashville, CLAA Atlanta
and 5 DD try to jump my fleet.  Easy answer--RUN AWAY--and LAUNCH Long
Lances!  I lose DDs Murasame and Yudachi but hit Nevada, Nashville, and
Atlanta with one Long Lance each.  As a further bonus, 2DD are hit by Long
Lances as well.

Wild and crazy fight against a much larger foe.  I consider it a victory due
to damaging the larger ships and forcing them to stay in Auckland.  They
cannot interfere with my landing while damaged and vulnerable.

June 24th Several small air strikes occur and I lose another DD as well as
take some damage to my CL.  Hmm.got to be careful approaching this base!

I also recon (with Glens) Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. 
Spot only 1 unit still in Dunedin--my landing site.

Wellington goes to Port 8 on the 29th.

Since the Americans have chickening out of fighting, my KB moves slowly towards
Suva.  I am OUT of fuel.  On the 27th, the KB meets up to a small TK/AO
fleet and get enough fuel to make it to Suva faster then 1/1 speed.  As soon
as I am fueled in Suva (I have 79,000 fuel waiting there), I will move back
to cover the Invasion Force and see if America will fight.


NW Aussieland
Koepang All my TF have left Koepang.  I am waiting for some fuel to arrive
(a familiar theme.) and will then move out.

ASW Action
June 20th SS Pickerel hit by LBA near Koepang
June 28th Ro-62 takes 2DC from a group of 3DD and 2MSW at Perth

KB-4 As my Invasion Force moves out, my Cvs wait for the arrival of CVL
Ryuho.  She arrives on June 25th and my carriers head out to cover the
invasion.  Current ships and composition of the air groups are:

CVL Ryuho 18Z  12K
CVE Hosho   5Z  5K
CVE Taiyo  27Z
CVE Unyo          9K 18V
               50Z 26K 18V

They are escorted by 2CA, 1CL, and 11DD.

Western DEI
ASW Action:
27,70 June 20th KXVIII 2DC--on fire.
Batavia June 28th SS Truant hit by LBA
22,45 June 29th S-38 1DC--on fire.

Mine Events:
MSW at Palembang, Muntok, and Singapore--AK hits mine at Muntok.

Tarakan goes to Port-4

Burma
Aerial Action continues throughout the period.  Regular strikes occur at
Mandalay and Akyab.  An average of 55 P-40, 25 Wellington, 65 B-17, and 65
B-25 fly in these missions.  I do little to stop the attacks due to my
shifting aerial power to Koepang, Timor.  Additionally, I am hoarding my
Oscars are about to upgrade to Tony and Tojo.  I'll challenge their aerial
power THEN!

Myitkyina goes to AF-3 on the 29th.  We'll see what the Allies do about
that.

Brit MSW at Mannurgudi, India--DD Isaac Sweers hits mine.

China
Yenen This city is now encircled by Japanese/Mongolian troops.  An Inf Div
and Inf Brig moves into the road hex WEST of Yenen.  There are troops north
and south of the city as well.  The Allies do not APPEAR to be doing
anything about this.  Nate bombards the city every day and launches one
assault getting a 0-1 attack.  He'll keep up the pressure and see WHEN the
cracks occur in the defense.

On the road north of Yenen, we have a TK Regiment shock attacking westward
and driving the Chinese Corps back towards Langchow (49, 22--48,22--47,22). 
A Mongolian Division is following this TK Regiment.



Totals for the Week:

Ships Sunk
Japanese 7 Total--1 AK, 2 ML, CVL Shoho (Due to long-term damage from
earlier attack), and 3 DD

Allied 1 Total--SS Gudgeon

Aircraft Losses
Japanese 28 Planes--1 Fighter and 27 Bombers

Allied 17 Planes--9 Fighters, 5 Bombers, and 3 4EB


Notes:
1.  My ASW work is going pretty well.  I sank Gudgeon and damaged six more. 
Gotta like that.

2.  I do not KNOW where the American CVs went.  Those 3 CV are DANGEROUS! 
Am increasing Recon and spreading out my Glen SS.  We'll see.

3.  I don't think the enemy KNOWS where I will strike in Australia.  I am
hoping for tactical surprise with my landing North of Perth.

4.  There is no doubt that they know I am coming for New Zealand.  All there
defenses appear to be on the North Island.  I think this is a mistake.  If I
can grab Dunedin and Christchurch, I will have two AFs in which to reduce
Wellington.  Once Wellington is knocked down, then I will land there and
drive on Auckland.







http://houseofcochran.spaces.live.com/

John, it seems like you are still making good progress, but the momentum is slowing.  IMHO, if these operations in NZ and Oz go well for you, I think your opponents are going to have a long, hard road back.  If they manage to slow your attacks and get you bogged down, I think the attrition war will set in, and you may find yourself a bit over-extended to defend the Empire as well as you would like.  It's a gamble.  I love it!  [:D]

Good luck!  I'll be watching eagerly for more updates.

BTW, I love the family album! [:)]

That is darned decent thing for you to say (regarding the family website!).  Paula writes it and keeps it up for us.
 
I completely agree with your view of the campaign.  These operations are HUGE rolls of the dice.  If they succeed, then the Allies will be on the defensive until the end of 1942.  If they do not...
 
It may sound strange but I think Australia is the easier target.  Call it game mechanics or whatever but I am certain that I can take NW Australia. 
 
New Zealand will settle the command of the sea argument.  My CVs are tired and are ready for upgrade.  I want to land, take the South Island and then withdraw the Combined Fleet for refit.  The loss of Junyo/Hiyo and Zuiho/??? hurts a lot.  I am angry that they did not take one for their loss.  Three US CVs in or near NZ makes Operation Typhoon VERY dangerous.  We'll see...
 
I truly appreciate your notes.  At times, I feel you are the only one reading the AAR.
John
 

I truly appreciate your notes. At times, I feel you are the only one reading the AAR.

Well, with your hits/post ratio, i think lots and lots of folks are reading it...

At times, I feel you are the only one reading the AAR.

I am probably one of many who read your AAR, but since I have played only the Allies to date, not much I can say about your game play to date. I hope to be able to take the plunge and try out the Japanese side this summer. Thus, I'm a lurker on many of the AAR's of players who have played for longer then I have been visiting.

ORIGINAL: rtrapasso

I truly appreciate your notes. At times, I feel you are the only one reading the AAR.

Well, with your hits/post ratio, i think lots and lots of folks are reading it...

Also reading, but little to say since I read up on Mandrake religiously too.

But love your weekly summary as opposed to the combat report cut and paste. Keep it up, it's a fascinating game. [&o]

John,
 
I check for updates every day and enjoy reading your AAR immensely.  I never write anything simply because I haven't played WiTP (except for the game you and I started and I almost immediately abandoned due to work pressures).  I haven't even played UV since Miller and I finished our game last August.  I'm reduced to playing the game vicariously.
 
Dan

Thank you guys.  This helps to know who a few of the readers are.
 
Dan--IT is so GOOD to hear from you!  You dropped off the face of the planet and didn't respond to my emails.  I was REALLY concerned.  Considering all the campaign time we spent together with UV and a little with WitP, I thought something bad might have happened to you.
 
qgaliana--Thanks for the comment on the weekly summaries.  I HATE the cut and pasting of ENDLESS summaries.  Far better to go about it this way.  Would love to do something like Cuttlefish or Mandrake.  Evidently they have something going jointly in their AARs.  I read Cuttlefish's and get a little insight.
 
rtrapasso--the comments on the hits to posts is good as well.  Sometimes I don't even look!
 
NY Giants--Take the PLUNGE and join the Dark Side...
 

NY Giants--Take the PLUNGE and join the Dark Side...

I'm get a large mileage check on the 25th and can afford to spend part of it on a new Windows XP disc (last time my computer was reformatted by someone I knew since I didn't have my own). Hopefully, it will allow me to re-start playing WitP after a year of living through AAR's. [:(] Then, I can do a little practicing against the AI before trying out a PBEM or two (want to do them from both sides). I feel like BigB's will be one (probably as Japan) and probably CHS as the Allies. I am also watching the development of RHS level 7 which will allow the Allies to use shipping channels to navigate the globe. I have decided that I cannot go back to stock game and map. AB's map only.[&o][&o]

I thoroughly understand that.  Capt Mandrake wanted to run this as a Nik Mod but I didn't know how to download the files and we went with stock.  Wish we had gone the other way now...
 
I am have now played Nik as well as BigB.  I like the BigB.  Castor Troy and I had a campaign running with it but I had to back out due to life.  I liked that Mod.
 

John,
 
I'm in the military and deploy frequently, so a PBEM is not in the cards for me.  However, your thread is one of the sites I look forward to reading when I return.  Keep up the outstanding work on the updates and don't beat up Cap Mandrake/Tabpub too much...  I want to see this game last for quite some time.
 
Best of luck,
Trav

Thank you Trav.  It does make me feel more worthwhile knowing you guys are out there reading! 
 
Tabpub has taken a vacation and NOT taken us with him!  We are on hiatus until May 9th.  This has really SUCKED considering where things are at!  Since he commands NZ forces, it would be fair for me to take the islands without him being here...
 

John,
 
The more important reason why I don't PBEM is that I'm terribly slow on the turns.  I am the "McClellan" of WITP and that would drive any opponent (and my president) insane!
 
Now I'm back to my Lurker's world.
 
Thanks again,
Trav

Just like to add my name to the lurkers list who read this AAR. Keep up the good work.

Thank you Sir!  Good to know another...
 
Am having kittens awaiting the return of one of my opponents.  To stop for 10 days at the point were are offers up images of cruel and unusual punnishment...
 

Hopefully you have saved this game in another slot before you did the end the orders phase so you can spend part of this 10 days taking a closer look at things and plan ahead. Besides a planning aid, it's good to have a backup for the last turn in case something happens. [:D]

Hey John

I'm still reading this thread. Keep up the good work.

Hello readers!
 
I just wanted everyone to know that I haven't keeled over or anything.  Been REALLY busy and the place where I stay over for my weekends working at the casino doesn't have internet at the moment.  Boradband is on the way though!
 
We have played about 10 turns and my landings in Australia and New Zealand are coming up quick. 
 
My opponents have done a counter landing at Port Moresby and I have punnished them with my Bettys!  If I get the chance, I will update tomorrow.
 
John