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Air losses...

The report probably is very inaccurate in this case. For example, Kinugasa is reported sunk, despite being one of the least damaged Japanese ships. Unless you lose Yorktown, which doesn't seem likely, this is probably an Allied victory. I'd say, unless combat report lies to you, Hiyo and Soryu are 100% likely to be sunk/doomed, and for Akagi the probability is 90%, with several other ships being threatened. While few Japanese planes went down with carriers this turn, their damage control is rarely able to deal with major fires.

EDIT: But lesser Japanese fighter losses in air combat are strange. From combat reports I don't even see where Allies might have lost so many Hellcats.

ORIGINAL: FatR

The report probably is very inaccurate in this case. For example, Kinugasa is reported sunk, despite being one of the least damaged Japanese ships. Unless you lose Yorktown, which doesn't seem likely, this is probably an Allied victory. I'd say, unless combat report lies to you, Hiyo and Soryu are 100% likely to be sunk/doomed, and for Akagi the probability is 90%, with several other ships being threatened. While few Japanese planes went down with carriers this turn, their damage control is rarely able to deal with major fires.

EDIT: But lesser Japanese fighter losses in air combat are strange. From combat reports I don't even see where Allies might have lost so many Hellcats.

86 ops thats HUGE. I think alot of the planes splashed into the water becaue they where unable to land.

FatR: I do hope you are right. I have been very unlucky so many time vs Dave that skeptical nature is obvious.

To me the japanese losses seem extreme strange if the combat.txt was even remotely accurate. We know better when the next combat.replay file arrives.

Again not complaining that the battle happened since I wanted it to happen.

As for the allied losses in terms of aircraft. Well, he did sunk quite a few CVE's and CVL's. These were not packed with replenishment groups but instead they were loaded mostly with combat aircraft.

That explains the Hellcat losses and most of these groups went down with the ships.

Gräfin Zeppelin: Some did exactly that and others were simply sunk with the ships unable to take off after the damage was done.

Looks indeed like an Allied victory, a perhaps a little costly one, but surely one you can afford.  Probably gives you strategic initiative and naval superiority for a few months, or maybe even till the end with the (CV) reinforcements coming in at an ever increasing rate.

WOW .. by the looks of the map there arent any allied bases for the airgroups to divert to sadly so that explains the huge ops losses, i just hope the pilots landed on differant cv's and the just tossed the extra a/c over the side , but thats a guess on my part.

jahn: Things heated up even more so the judgement might have been a premature one.

Rob: No, and he did couple of kamikaze surface combat missions which went in his favour as well! [:D]


Ok.. I'am heading to work and have no turn file so this simple copy & paste from the combat.txt.


Marshall Islands (february 1st - 2nd 1944)


There were a lot action and I'am just digesting these...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Ponape at 120,114, Range 30,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
     BB Haruna
     CA Chikuma
     CA Maya
     DD Teruzuki
     DD Urakaze
     DD Hamakaze

Allied Ships
     CV Saratoga
     CV Wasp
     CVL Independence
     CVE Sangamon
     CVE Casablanca
     CA Portland
     CA Indianapolis
     CA Chester
     CLAA Atlanta
     CLAA Juneau
     CL Richmond
     CL Detroit
     DD Clarence Bronson
     DD Brown
     DD Brownson
     DD Bullard
     DD Burns
     DD Bush

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Ponape  at 119,114

Japanese Ships
     DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
     SS Hackleback, hits 2,  heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Ponape at 120,114, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
     DD Shinonome, Shell hits 1,  on fire
     DD Shirakumo
     DD Isonami

Allied Ships
     BB Washington, Shell hits 1
     BB South Dakota, Shell hits 1
     BB Indiana
     CA Baltimore
     CL Santa Fe
     DD LaVallette
     DD Miller
     DD Mullany
     DD Murray
     DD O'Bannon
     DD Stephen Potter, Shell hits 1
     DD Pringle
     DD Radford
     DD Abner Read
     DD Ringgold

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Ponape at 120,114, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
     CL Kinu, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
     CL Oi, Shell hits 8,  on fire
     DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 1
     DD Kawakaze
     DD Suzukaze
     DD Hatsuyuki

Allied Ships
     BB Washington
     BB South Dakota, Shell hits 1
     BB Indiana, Shell hits 1
     CA Baltimore
     CL Santa Fe
     DD LaVallette
     DD Miller
     DD Mullany
     DD Murray, Shell hits 1
     DD O'Bannon
     DD Stephen Potter
     DD Pringle
     DD Radford
     DD Abner Read
     DD Ringgold

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Ponape at 120,114, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
     BB Kongo
     BB Kirishima, Shell hits 6,  heavy fires
     CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
     DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 1
     DD Arashi
     DD Hagikaze, Shell hits 1
     DD Arashio

Allied Ships
     BB Washington, Shell hits 5,  on fire
     BB South Dakota, Shell hits 1
     BB Indiana, Shell hits 6
     CA Baltimore, Shell hits 1
     CL Santa Fe
     DD LaVallette
     DD Miller
     DD Mullany, Shell hits 1
     DD Murray
     DD O'Bannon
     DD Stephen Potter
     DD Pringle
     DD Radford, Shell hits 1
     DD Abner Read
     DD Ringgold

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Mili at 136,121, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
     CL Jintsu
     CL Nagara
     CL Tenryu, Shell hits 1
     CL Tatsuta, Shell hits 1
     DD Shigure, Shell hits 1,  on fire
     DD Ariake
     DD Murakumo

Allied Ships
     DD Stevens
     DD Strong, Shell hits 1
     DD Taylor
     DD Terry
     DD Thatcher
     DD The Sullivans
     DD Trathen
     DD Wadsworth
     DD Walker
     DD Waller, Shell hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Mili at 136,121, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
     CL Jintsu
     CL Nagara
     CL Tenryu
     CL Tatsuta
     DD Shigure
     DD Ariake
     DD Murakumo

Allied Ships
     DE Osterhaus, Shell hits 6,  on fire
     DE Parks, Shell hits 1
     DE Bebas
     DE Cabana
     DE Canfield
     DE Carlson
     DE Cloues
     DE Crouter, Shell hits 2,  on fire
     DE Deede
     DE Dempsey, Shell hits 1
     DE Dionne, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
     LST-78
     LST-119
     LST-120
     LST-174
     LST-335
     LST-338
     LST-339
     LST-340
     LST-341
     LST-342
     LST-343
     LST-344
     LST-353
     LCI-329
     LCI-330
     LCI-331
     LCI-332
     LCI-333
     LCT-128
     LCT-129
     LCT-130
     LCT-131
     LCT-132
     LCT-133
     LCT-134
     LCT-135
     LCT-136
     LCT-137
     LCT-138
     LCT-139
     LCM 532A
     LCM 532B
     LCM 532C
     LCM 532D
     LCM 532E
     LCVP 532F
     LCVP 532G
     LCVP 532H
     LCVP 532J
     LCVP 532K
     LCVP 532L
     LCVP 532M
     LCVP 532P, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Mili at 136,121, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
     CL Jintsu, Shell hits 2
     CL Nagara, Shell hits 4
     CL Tenryu, Shell hits 1
     CL Tatsuta
     DD Shigure, Shell hits 4,  heavy fires
     DD Ariake
     DD Murakumo

Allied Ships
     DD Heermann, Shell hits 1
     DD Hoel
     DD Hudson
     DD Hutchins, Shell hits 2
     DD Isherwood, Shell hits 3,  on fire
     DE Doneff
     DE Duffy
     DE Eisele
     DE Elden, Shell hits 18,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     APD Gregory
     AM Prevail
     AM Chief
     AM Tumult
     AM Velocity
     AM Vigilance
     APA Feland
     APA Ormsby, Shell hits 1,  on fire
     APA Wayne
     APA Custer
     APA Du Page
     APA Elmore
     APA Fayette
     AK Mintaka
     AK Murzim,  heavy damage
     AK Sterope
     AK Serpens
     AKA Jupiter
     LSD Gunston Hall
     LSD Lindenwald
     LST-122
     LST-123
     LST-124
     LCI-448
     LCI-521
     LCI-522
     LCI-523,  heavy damage
     LCI-524
     LCI-525
     xAK Admiral Laws
     xAK Admiral Wood
     xAK Charles McCormick
     xAK West Cactus
     xAK West Camargo
     xAK West Shipper
     xAK Nabesna
     xAK Am. Manufacturer, Shell hits 2
     xAK Am. Packer, Shell hits 1
     xAK Am. Press, Shell hits 13,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     xAP Cape Newenham
     xAP Cape Perpetua
     xAP Cape Cleare
     xAP Cape Mendocino
     xAP Cape Meares, Shell hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Ponape  at 120,114

Japanese Ships
     SSX Ha-29, hits 9,  heavy damage

Allied Ships
     DD McKee

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 124,112

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 7
     A6M5 Zero x 64
     D3A1 Val x 14
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 8



Allied aircraft
     Seafire IIC x 8
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 195


Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
     A6M5 Zero: 16 destroyed
     D3A1 Val: 7 destroyed
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 124,112

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 5
     A6M5 Zero x 57
     B6N1 Jill x 8
     B6N2 Jill x 17
     D4Y1 Judy x 44
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 3



Allied aircraft
     Seafire IIC x 7
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 171


Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
     A6M5 Zero: 19 destroyed
     B6N1 Jill: 4 destroyed
     B6N2 Jill: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
     D4Y1 Judy: 26 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
     F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
     CV Wasp
     CVE Casablanca, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires
     CVL Independence, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
     CVE Sangamon, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires
     CA Indianapolis
     CV Saratoga
     DD Brownson, Bomb hits 1,  on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 124,112

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M5 Zero x 11
     B6N2 Jill x 15
     D4Y1 Judy x 6
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 3



Allied aircraft
     Seafire IIC x 5
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 97


Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed
     B6N2 Jill: 10 destroyed
     D4Y1 Judy: 3 destroyed
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 124,112

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     B6N2 Jill x 6



Allied aircraft
     Seafire IIC x 4
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 68


Japanese aircraft losses
     B6N2 Jill: 4 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 124,112

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 50 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 47
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 14
     Ki-49-IIa Helen x 8



Allied aircraft
     Seafire IIC x 3
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 60


Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed
     Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 120,114

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M5 Zero x 8
     B6N2 Jill x 18



Japanese aircraft losses
     B6N2 Jill: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
     CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 5,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     CV Hornet,  heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 119,113

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 54 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 11
     A6M5 Zero x 17
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 18
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 15



Allied aircraft
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 85
     SB2C-1C Helldiver x 20
     TBF-1 Avenger x 11
     TBM-1C Avenger x 20


Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     F6F-3 Hellcat: 12 destroyed
     SB2C-1C Helldiver: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
     TBF-1 Avenger: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
     CV Zuikaku, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
     CV Akagi, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
     CVL Shoho, Torpedo hits 1,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     CL Tama
     AV Sanuki Maru, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
     xAKL Tenshin, Bomb hits 1,  heavy fires
     AV Kunikawa Maru
     xAKL Urashio Maru, Bomb hits 1,  heavy fires,  heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 120,114

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     D4Y1 Judy x 39



Allied aircraft
     no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
     D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied aircraft losses

Allied Ships
     CV Hornet, Bomb hits 3,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     CA Salt Lake City, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
     DD Franks
     CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 5,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     CL Cleveland, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 120,114

Weather in hex: Overcast

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

Japanese aircraft
     B6N2 Jill x 13



Allied aircraft
     no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Allied Ships
     CA Salt Lake City, Torpedo hits 1,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     CV Yorktown,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     DD Eaton
     CV Hornet, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 124,112

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M5 Zero x 28
     D3A1 Val x 3
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 45



Allied aircraft
     Seafire IIC x 7
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 126


Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M5 Zero: 5 destroyed
     D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 9 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ailinglaplap at 133,117

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M5 Zero x 22
     G3M2 Nell x 9



Japanese aircraft losses
     G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
     LST-464
     LCI-335, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
     xAK Joseph K. Toole


Allied ground losses:
     251 casualties reported
        Squads: 5 destroyed, 1 disabled
        Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 6 disabled
        Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 124,112

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M5 Zero x 12
     B6N2 Jill x 10
     D4Y1 Judy x 2
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 20



Allied aircraft
     Seafire IIC x 6
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 106


Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed
     B6N2 Jill: 6 destroyed
     D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 124,112

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M5 Zero x 3
     D4Y1 Judy x 3
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 2



Allied aircraft
     Seafire IIC x 6
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 81


Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
     D4Y1 Judy: 2 destroyed
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 124,112

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 50 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 3
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10
     Ki-49-IIa Helen x 6



Allied aircraft
     Seafire IIC x 5
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 64


Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed
     Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Kusaie Island , at 125,118

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M5 Zero x 2
     Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 6
     Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 10



Allied aircraft
     B-24D Liberator x 5
     B-24D1 Liberator x 11


Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 1 damaged
     Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed on ground

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



Runway hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 119,113

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 57 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 10
     A6M5 Zero x 6
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 14
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 13



Allied aircraft
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 51
     SB2C-1C Helldiver x 13
     TBF-1 Avenger x 12
     TBM-1C Avenger x 35


Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     F6F-3 Hellcat: 9 destroyed
     SB2C-1C Helldiver: 4 damaged
     TBF-1 Avenger: 5 damaged
     TBM-1C Avenger: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
     CV Akagi,  on fire,  heavy damage
     CVL Shoho,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     DD Sazanami
     AV Sanuki Maru,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     AV Kunikawa Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
     DD Yukaze
     xAKL Odatsuki Maru
     xAKL Tenshin,  heavy fires

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 120,113

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     B6N2 Jill x 5
     D4Y1 Judy x 26



Allied aircraft
     no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
     D4Y1 Judy: 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses

Allied Ships
     CVE Natoma Bay, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
     CVE Liscome Bay,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     CVL Cabot, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
     DD McKee

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

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     B6N2 Jill x 20



Japanese aircraft losses
     B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
     DD Franks
     DD Eaton
     DD DeHaven

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 119,113

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 22 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 4
     A6M5 Zero x 4
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 8
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 3



Allied aircraft
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 2
     TBF-1 Avenger x 3


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
     TBF-1 Avenger: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
     CV Akagi,  on fire,  heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Kusaie Island , at 125,118

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 32 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3
     Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 2



Allied aircraft
     P-38G Lightning x 15


Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
     Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Ponape  at 120,113

Japanese Ships
     SS I-52, hits 1

Allied Ships
     CVE Liscome Bay, Torpedo hits 3,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     DD McKee

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Eniwetok at 126,111

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M5 Zero x 4
     B6N2 Jill x 5
     D4Y1 Judy x 4



Allied aircraft
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 36


Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
     B6N2 Jill: 2 destroyed
     D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ailinglaplap at 133,117

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     B6N2 Jill x 19



Japanese aircraft losses
     B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied Ships
     DD Swanson, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
     DD Hobby
     DD Caldwell
     DD Nicholson

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Ponape at 120,114

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 3
     A6M5 Zero x 21
     D4Y1 Judy x 32



Japanese aircraft losses
     D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied Ships
     DD Franks, Bomb hits 3,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     DD Eaton
     DD DeHaven, Bomb hits 1,  heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Eniwetok at 126,111

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 50 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 13
     Ki-49-IIa Helen x 6



Allied aircraft
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 31


Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 2 destroyed
     Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Tarawa , at 136,128

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2-N Rufe x 7
     A6M5 Zero x 15



Allied aircraft
     P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 21
     F4U-1A Corsair x 17


Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M5 Zero: 5 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kusaie Island , at 125,118

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1
     Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 10



Allied aircraft
     P-38G Lightning x 5


Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
     Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 3 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Eniwetok at 126,111

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     B6N2 Jill x 2



Allied aircraft
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 22


Japanese aircraft losses
     B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Maloelap at 136,117

Weather in hex: Light rain

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

Japanese aircraft
     B6N2 Jill x 8



Japanese aircraft losses
     B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied Ships
     BB Massachusetts

Weather really was on Japanese side during the second turn ("Severe Storms" and "Thunderstorms" over Mobile Fleet; Allied TF mostly got "Overcast" and "Light Rain"). And I won't say that surface attacks were a Japanese success. But overall this seems pretty bad. Probably your opponent flew some carrier squadrons to land bases in range, causing poorly coordinated small attacks late in the turn, that, however mostly lucked out to find unprotected targets.

This probably still is a pyrrhic victory for Japan, but victory nonetheless.

An unbelievable battle... Imagine if the first night engagement had resulted in a real clash...

FatR: Agreed. As said I'am running tough luck in this PBEM game.

I have an feeling this is bad indeed. I cannot say how bad before I get the turn and have time to look things around.

The most disappointing fact was that CV Akagi was still a float last turn.

You are correct. He did fly out from carriers and at least 3-4 bases in this sector.

jahn: That would have absolute disaster! ..so no I'am not going think about it too much! [:D]

An Epic battle.   Looks like he decide this was to be his main effort to crush you before your numbers completely overwhelm him anyway.  Courageous and pretty well executed.  The losses he incurred though...  so heavy his aircraft/pilot losses alone are killer.

Aircraft losses on this scale can be relatively easily replenished by a competent player, unless his air force is under constant pressure. I'll be surprised if Japanese monthly production is not at least comparable to losses in this battle. But pilot losses won't be easily to recover, considering that Japanese already fought a large carrier battle recently. A carrier pilot remotely comparable with initial KB standards at the beginning of the war requires up to half-year of on-map training.

EDIT: On the other hand, during the previous battle Japanese uses mostly Kates (with B6M1 model seemingly skipped) and A6M2s in October of 1943. Now the situation is different, but that still might indicated relatively limited air production.

offenseman: Epic indeed and horrific in terms of casualties.

Yeah, he did that but I think he had this planned. He had Kusaie and Ponape build up and it seems both have around 20 000 men there.

I knew this and not suprised at all that his carriers showed up.

I think he can recover from aircraft losses.. how much this hurt his pilot pools.. That is anyones guess.

FatR: I wish that limited production is true but I seriously doubt this is the case. He captured most of DEI intact since my engineers did not sabotage industry for whatever reason.

The pilot thing might be a bit tricky since we have had quite few bloodbaths. The burma campaign has really been horrific before the CenPac / South Pacific campaign begun.

I know he has large stacks of aircraft at Rabaul, Truk, Ponape and increased amounts at Marianas area... so either he had these here longtime or he has moved them here lately.

I will continue to push forward asap...

The intel screen February 1944...

Burma (february 3rd - 6th 1944)


The allied push towards central burma continues. We have now secured Schwebo and as you can see from the pic pushing hard towards the plains.

The recon aircraft indicated that japanese are pulling out of Mandalay. This is definately good move from Dave since I'am moving troops in echelon / pinzer style.

Japanese airpower seems almost non-existant after those huge air to air duels. Taking into consideration CenPac and South Pacific campaings this is not an suprise.

Now we are already moving into Mandalay and surrounding areas. I have plenty of reserves in India if things go into stalemate.

Intresting days ahead here....

Marshall Islands (february 3rd - 6th 1944)


My naval patrol have not sighted his carriers after the last encounter.

Again the FOW is really bad or we did this bad. Unfortunately we lost 2 CV's and many CVL's/CVE's (see pic)

The good news is that my remaining assets are fully operational next turn. The ships are currentky refueling at Mili and will head next turn.

Reinforcements have also arrive here giving another 2 CV's and 5 CVE's.

I'am moving damaged ships back into Pearl Harbour. These ships wohn't see action until maybe summer 1944.

The last couple of turns have been far from uneventful though. Dave have launched large raids from Ponape, Kusaie Island and Tarawa.

These raids have not hit carriers but sunk quite few transports and destroyers. He did launch againts the carriers also but the CAP was solid enough to deny these raiders.

In terms of aircraft lost in past couple of days... 100-200 for allied side and 400-600 for the japanese. These figures are from intel screen so hard to say how "FOW" is changing these numbers.

Still just 1 enemy CV "confirmed sunk"....

Oh.. and really did "bad play" at Maloelap and Wotje. I really should have add up some extra troops since the intial assaults did not overwhelm him my troops have suffered "horrific" penalties in terms of supply consumption.

That was a bad habit from the old Witp... wohn't be doing that again though.

Allied losses...

IJN losses...

Just finished reading your AAR. A good effort so far. Good luck with the advance!

Wow, that was a lot of carnage. Let's hope the FOW is wrong and more of the KB is resting on the bottom. Good luck.

In my experience Maleolap and Wotje are very deadly islands to invade. However, that was with killer CDs that really chewed up my amphib TFs (that might have been nerfed in the latest patch).

Cheers,
CC