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..and the Japanese losses.

Burma (january 16th - 17th 1944)


We continue to bombard airfields around Schwebo. The idea is burn as much of enemy supplies here as possible.

Army group A is moving towards inner Burma as you can see from pic.

This offensive thrust should penetrate central burma quite fast. The terrain favours the attacker and I have a lot of troops involved in this one.

Marshall Islands (january 16th - 17th 1944)


Good turn for the allied side here. Both Roi-Namur and Kwaleijin were seized last turn.

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Ground combat at Roi-Namur (132,114)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6668 troops, 187 guns, 138 vehicles, Assault Value = 286

Defending force 4254 troops, 25 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 32

Allied adjusted assault: 344

Japanese adjusted defense: 24

Allied assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 6)

Allied forces CAPTURE Roi-Namur !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
2770 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 134 destroyed, 227 disabled
Engineers: 20 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2


Allied ground losses:
425 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 12 (5 destroyed, 7 disabled)


Assaulting units:
25th Marine Regiment
1st USMC Amphb Tank Battalion
21st Marine Regiment
1881th Engineer Aviation Battalion
42nd USN Naval Construction Battalion
37th USN Naval Construction Battalion
15th USN Naval Construction Regiment

Defending units:
III./4th Infantry Battalion
24th Air Flotilla
6th Base Force

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Ground combat at Kwajalein Island (132,115)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 7915 troops, 296 guns, 210 vehicles, Assault Value = 321

Defending force 2839 troops, 68 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 35

Allied adjusted assault: 130

Japanese adjusted defense: 8

Allied assault odds: 16 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied forces CAPTURE Kwajalein Island !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
3735 casualties reported
Squads: 72 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 347 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 33 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 78 (78 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (10 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 7


Allied ground losses:
392 casualties reported
Squads: 26 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 38 (21 destroyed, 17 disabled)


Assaulting units:
766th Tank Bn /2
22nd Marine Rgt /2
641st Towed Tank Destroyer Battalion
3rd Marine Regiment
4th USMC Tank Battalion
24th Marine Rgt /2
369th Coast AA Regiment
134th Field Artillery Battalion
38th USN Naval Construction Battalion
22nd USN Naval Construction Regiment
43rd Aviation Base Force
V US Amphib Corps
382nd Construction Regiment
138th USA Base Force /1

Defending units:
II./90th Infantry Battalion
Nimur Naval Fortress
7th JNAF Coy
44th JNAF AF Unit
35th Fld AA Gun Co
Kwajalein Base Force
8th Ind.Hvy.Art. Bn /1
4th Fleet /181


These landings were supported by large naval bombardments. We did actually destroy a lot of fighters and bombers placed on these bases.

Dave stated that he did not expect so many simultaneous landings and paid for it.

Maloelap and Wotje are still on enemy hands but that is ok. We have captured the 3 bases that were most important ones here.

Also US carriers sunk enemy AKE near Kusaie...

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kusaie Island at 125,118

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 10
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 9
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 82
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 11


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AKE Syohei Maru, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage



I think this ship was transporting bombers into this base. I base this judgement on enemy operational losses numbers. (see intel pic below)

Intel screen...

Thanks,

I though your carrier losses were heavier but you really are in good shape numbers wise. Good hunting! and good to see you are updating your AAR some more.

crsutton:  The carrier losses so far has been ok. Those two though were lost early on and that really hurt me a lot in this one.

I think we have had 3 carrier clashes so far. (Aleutians, Solomons and early ones in CenPac) Also, I did try the ambush at Suva with my grounded carrier ac crews.

Adding those up it is somewhat odd to see such "low" losses. Currently I have 2 CV's repairing at Pearl Harbour and moving 5 CVE's from WC into CenPac.

It been a rough ride so far but I'am actually moving my carriers a bit closer to Kusaie to see what he actually has here. Recon showed 60 LBA fighters there last turn and those reports / spotted BB's should mean he has naval assets very near Marshall Islands.

Oh, and RL work / stuff has kind of have negative effect on updating AAR's. Hopefully from now on regular reports. I have this PBEM ongoing as well as the other one vs katsuragi.

Marshall Islands (january 19th - 24th 1944)


Last couple of turns have been relatively quiet.

Allied carriers were assaulted by 100-150 LBA fighters and bombers. Happy to report that this strike was repulsed without any damage to our ships.

I think these aircraft did fly out from Truk and Kusaie and maybe had some enemy carrier fighters escorting them.

This happened near Kusaie when I went looking for those battleships spotted earlier on. Unfortunately we were unable to find them though.

We are building up Kwaleijin, Mili and Roi-Namur. The enemy still controls Maloelap and Wotje and I'am sending in some reinforcements and supplies there.

The allied LBA fighters have also now been unloaded and will be distributed as soon as they are operational.

I'am also preparing for future offensives which will start as soon as possible.

Here is an pic from Marshalls. A bit suprised to spot 20 000 enemy troops at Kusaie Island.

Ponape (January 30th - 31st 1944)


We had an massive carrier clash near Ponape on 31st of january 1944.

I don't have the turn back yet but here is the copy and paste from combat.txt file.

So all of this might be very heavy FOW in term casualties or not...

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 120,114

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 41 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 43
A6M5 Zero x 118
B6N1 Jill x 30
B6N2 Jill x 219
D4Y1 Judy x 190
N1K1-J George x 15
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 18



Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 6
F6F-3 Hellcat x 223


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
B6N1 Jill: 3 destroyed, 8 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 9 destroyed, 15 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 13 destroyed, 38 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 6 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Liscome Bay, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Wake Island
CVE Natoma Bay, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVL Monterey, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Northampton, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Chenango, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
CVE Suwannee, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Eaton
CVE St. Lo, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CVL Cowpens, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CVL Belleau Wood, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Daly
CVE Manila Bay, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CL Montpelier, Bomb hits 1
CVL Cabot, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
CA Salt Lake City, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CLAA San Diego, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CLAA San Juan
CL Columbia, Bomb hits 1
DD Dashiell
CV Intrepid, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Astoria
DD Erben, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Fullam, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Franks
CL Birmingham
CL Cleveland, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hazelwood
DD DeHaven
CV Bunker Hill

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 120,114

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 60 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 11
D3A1 Val x 27
N1K1-J George x 15
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12



Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 5
F6F-3 Hellcat x 192


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 4 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 15 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 120,114

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 3
B6N2 Jill x 13
N1K1-J George x 8
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 5



Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 2
F6F-3 Hellcat x 150


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 7 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 120,114

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 200 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 63 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 13
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 69
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 16
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 10
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 15



Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 2
F6F-3 Hellcat x 118


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 7 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 8 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Suwannee, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Dashiell

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 117,114

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 52 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 28
A6M5 Zero x 78
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 12
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 7



Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 2
F6F-3 Hellcat x 198
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 101
SBD-5 Dauntless x 36
TBF-1 Avenger x 104
TBM-1C Avenger x 84


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 10 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 4 destroyed, 24 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 5 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 6 destroyed, 17 damaged
TBM-1C Avenger: 1 destroyed, 13 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 1
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Kongo
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Hiyo, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hayashio
CA Suzuya
CA Kinugasa, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Takao, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Kinu
CL Abukuma
CA Aoba
CS Chitose, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
CA Mikuma
DD Yuzuki
DD Nagatsuki
CL Natori
CL Isuzu
CA Atago, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CS Chiyoda, Torpedo hits 2
CA Furutaka, Bomb hits 1, on fire

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 120,114

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 50 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 6



Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 1
F6F-3 Hellcat x 80


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 destroyed


Allied Ships
CVE Suwannee, and is sunk

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 120,114

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 23



Allied aircraft
Seafire IIC x 1
F6F-3 Hellcat x 91


Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 9 destroyed


Allied Ships
CLAA San Diego, and is sunk

That is going to leave a mark regardless of Fog.  Looks like you were hurt pretty hard but can afford the losses much more so than the IJN.  Well done.  Looking forward to getting the real results!

Looks like you might have sunk 4 to 7 IJN carriers. What's your assessment of your own losses?

I just got home from work and one of "those days"! [:)]

No turn on the inbox and I must admit it is an good thing since my brain is kind of in shutdown mode! [:D]

offenseman: Thanks. It definately was bloody turn. Dave described it the best...

"Huge battle this turn.  Not sure who won..."

As said I was looking for this encounter so however this turns out I cannot complain. I will post the actual "damage" tomorrow.

I have 3 CV's and around 7 CVE's in "reserve" and these are actually enroute towards frontlines. These ships were repaired a turn ago. Damage acquired in earlier encounter with his carriers.

witpqs: Hopefully so or at least done serious damage to 7 carriers. Now, I must keep in mind that this is Dave so my fortunes might be somewhat "limited"!

This is just an wild guess by looking at the combat.txt and replay file. I estimate 1-3 CV's sunk, 4-7 CVL/CVE's sunk for the allied side. Add some damaged ships into this and that how I feel the losses will play out.

Hopefully not as bad though! Depending on the actual losses I might pursuit his forces... but that is an big "IF"...

Well, KB will be out of action for a while. That really is your purpose. You will have a lot more freedom of action for some time to come.
 
Really blown away at how ineffective Allied AA is at this stage of the war. In my opinion the devs have really screwed the pooch with this one and it needs some serious work. I also would have expected your hellcats to shoot down more enemy planes. In 1944 no matter the result, Japan should be losing lots and lots of planes.

crsutton: Yeah, I concur allied AA is very poor in AE. You really cannot count to much. I had my best AA DD's and cruisers with carriers and well they did not do much.

Hellcats were around 70 experience average on defense / air skills so no rookies around these ships.

I had an quick glimpse to see turn before headed to work. Only CV Akagi was shown on the sunken ship list. (Pending FOW ofcourse) ...a couple of my carrier TF's were badly mauled.

I will post the exact damages later on since as said just had an quick look around.

Well I was reading this whole AAR from the start in the last 3 days ( I am realy sick and not able to play atm) I must say it was realy nice to read with a lot of tension and well written. Thanks alot for all the effort you put into writing this. I realy appreciate it [:)]

ORIGINAL: crsutton

Well, KB will be out of action for a while. That really is your purpose. You will have a lot more freedom of action for some time to come.

Really blown away at how ineffective Allied AA is at this stage of the war. In my opinion the devs have really screwed the pooch with this one and it needs some serious work. I also would have expected your hellcats to shoot down more enemy planes. In 1944 no matter the result, Japan should be losing lots and lots of planes.

Considering that the Japanese strikes packed 10 times the torpedo punch and about 3 times the bomb punch of RL Japanese strikes at Marianas (almost certainly with better pilots), the results seem plausible. And their losses in the air should be at least 200 planes, probably more like 250.

Gräfin Zeppelin: Welcome! You are the first and most likely the last female player to visit this thread! [:D]

This thread is definately "long" and as said it will run into 1946's. Too bad that RL (work) is taking it's toll lately.

I do sincerely hope that you well soon and nodoubt that will be the case.

FatR: I do agree that it is hard to compare RL with this game. However the allied AA did very poor job here and the Hellcats should have done better.

I had good experienced pilots flying the planes as well. As I do expect japanese did also.

Aftermath of Ponape (February 1st 1944)


Here are the pics from last turns events. Somewhat suprised what I did see though.

Japanese "confirmed" sunk list is almost empty. Only CV Akagi reported sunk near Ponape. I do hope this is FOW in extremes. However not counting on this.

As for the allied losses. Pretty bad overall. Quite a few CVE's and CVL's sunk. Also many damaged into unoperational levels.

These damaged ships will head into Marshalls. We shall see what the actual losses are in turn or two.

Japanese formation seem to have split in 3 as you can see from the pic. How badly are these ships damaged... well we shall see.

I formed the remaining assets into 3 TF's + 1 BB TF and these are headed 80 miles north of Ponape. The CAP is set at 70% and range is 7 hexes for the fighters.

Basically meaning I have 30% level escorting our torpedo / divebombers which do have firepower to fly offensive missions still.

If I retreat fully immediately than I most likely will lose damaged ships for nothing and I'am not about to do that. IF his carriers are hurt we should get hits on them next turn.

4E bombers will hit Kusaie next turn while fighter sweeps are ordered againts Tarawa. (Which seems to have enemy LBA presence as well)

Why did I move north? Well he has plenty of stuff at Rabaul and don't want to get them into range here.

I'am moving extra 3 CV's and CVE's into the area. The ships appearing list shows additional 3 CV's getting into theatre with next 2 months.

Here are the pics.. as for how much it is FOW.. you be the judge.

IJN..

Allied...

Damaged carriers...