Matrix Games Forums

[font="Times New Roman"]DESTROYERS[/font]
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These ships have of course borne the brunt of ASW work throughout the war for the combat fleet. I'm actually surprised so few were sunk by subs during the nearly three years of this campaign so far.

Here is a breakdown of which sub fleets sank the 6 DDs lost to subs. Quite a few more were hit but survived to fight or were sunk by other means after being damaged.

Dutch:

53.3cm W1 torpedo -------- 2

British:

21inch Mark VIII torpedo -----2

US:

21inch Mk 14 torpedo ------- 2

[font="Times New Roman"]AO/TK LOSSES[/font]
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So here is the real point of all of these numbers. Throughout the entire war I've only lost 29 TK and 2 AO! [&o]

Over the 31 months of the campaign so far that is an average of exactly 1 per month so far. Not bad. Especially when I look at the actual ships lost and see that only 4 were big fast tankers of 15 knots or more. This has made the possibility of getting into 45 in some decent fighting condition entirely possible. It's not going to change the ultimate outcome as I continue to be in awe of the growing Allied arsenal, but at least I might have a chance to see late-war toys in action and let Jocke prosecute the whole campaign right up to the Home Islands. That was always the goal.

[font="Times New Roman"]AK, AP and AUX[/font]
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These bigger faster transport and Auxilliares are vital to Japan's ability to move especially troops quickly and efficiently around the map. Without them slower TFs would be more vulnerable to subs but also to surface and air attacks, and they (for the most part) use more fuel. It's always most efficient to have troops arrive intact and it saves quite a bit of fuel to not have ships sunk. [;)]

Only 24 of these ships were sunk by subs. Less than one per month. [&o]

This leaves the Empire with a still viable quick transport fleet over halfway through 44. It is never more necessary than now as I'm short on fuel and have to move a lot of troops around the map. It's like early 42 all over again except scrambling to defend rather than attack.

Thats a fascinating set of lists.

I read both sides of this AAR, which is why I don't really comment.

ORIGINAL: catwhoorg

Thats a fascinating set of lists.

I read both sides of this AAR, which is why I don't really comment.

Thanks for stopping in.

As we get into the late war it is fascinating for me as well to see these numbers and how they reflect the current state of the game. The Empire is staggering from blow after blow at this point, but not yet quite holding onto the ropes. It will be interesting to see if any of the air strikes of either kamis or other conventional kinds will have any effect in slowing the Allied advance.

My feeling is the only thing to slow the Allies in this stage (post new beta update) is troops on the ground. With LBA strikes more fragmented the and the way Jocke moves around very deliberately with most of his strength together, striking options that won't lead to a massacre of IJ pilots will likely be rare. If I had been able to predict this two years ago my defensive strategy would have quite different. Oh, well, it's all a learning process. Still pretty pleased to have made it this far relatively intact in my first real campaign PBEM.

The wheels will come off soon I fear as I can't wait any longer to fight with everything I have. The chance to affect events with the IJN is getting smaller and smaller, and their fuel use is a bigger and bigger drain on the economy. The decisive battle is near. [:)]

[font="Times New Roman"]CA/CL[/font]
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Here is current list of cruiser losses for the IJN. I've made some silly moves with a few of these, and I could probably have 3-4 more at this juncture. It's tough to see where to use them though against the DEATH STAR. If you're in range you're dead. In fact, after the replay I just watched I'll have to update this list.

One good thing is that I still have no need to create a page for BB losses. All are still operating, as Hyuga returned to Yokohama without further incident after being damaged by a sub in the Marianas. This is I think the third time this BB has been in for major damage repair. All others are operational and in critical locations.

[font="Times New Roman"]IJN SUBMARINES[/font]
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After the first few months of the campaign I reconsidered my initial strategy of deploying many subs far forward and began to use them more for fleet support, recon and scouting, and massed concentrations in areas the Allies were trying to invade. The has worked to some extent with quite a few hits on CVs and on some other important ships, but it's not known how many of those actually were sunk.

Of the 90 IJN subs lost (30 midgets included) most were from DC attack, with NONE sunk by ASW air patrols. This tends to confirm my assumption that Jocke (and most Allied players) rely heavily on their phenomenal surface ASW forces and neglect the many possibilities for using air patrols to lessen the threat from subs.

SUBS LOST:

Sub launched torpedo: ------- 4

In port, aerial bombing: ------- 4

ASW air: ------------------------ 0

Surface guns: --------------- 1 (there were many more finished off on the surface that were heavily damaged first by DCS)

Mines: -------------------------- 2

DC: ---------------------------- 47

K-Gun/ DC: ------------------ 22

Other: ------------------------- 9

[font="Times New Roman"]SUB KILLS[/font]
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Here is a list of the 95 ships sunk by IJN subs. Many more hits were registered on ships that unfortunately returned later, including at least 5-6 hits on CVs. A few of the more recent ones haven't been seen since, so I can always hope. There are several multiple torpedo hit attacks on BBs that unfortunately resulted in the BB eventually returning. [:)]

CV: ----------------------------------------- 1

CL: ----------------------------------------- 1

DD/DE/APD/DMS: --------------------------14

SS: ----------------------------------------- 1

TK/AO: ------------------------------------- 6

AP/APA/AMC: ----------------------------- 9

AM/CM/YMS/KV/YP/ML: ---------------- 15

MERCHANT/AUX/SUPPORT: ----------- 40

LST: ---------------------------------------- 8

ORIGINAL: obvert

[font="Times New Roman"]AK, AP and AUX[/font]
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These bigger faster transport and Auxilliares are vital to Japan's ability to move especially troops quickly and efficiently around the map. Without them slower TFs would be more vulnerable to subs but also to surface and air attacks, and they (for the most part) use more fuel. It's always most efficient to have troops arrive intact and it saves quite a bit of fuel to not have ships sunk. [;)]

Only 24 of these ships were sunk by subs. Less than one per month. [&o]

This leaves the Empire with a still viable quick transport fleet over halfway through 44. It is never more necessary than now as I'm short on fuel and have to move a lot of troops around the map. It's like early 42 all over again except scrambling to defend rather than attack.

Mike Solli did some calculations about late-war IJ fuel a while back. A staggering percentage of available IJ fuel stores is in ship bunkers and stays there.

If you really wanted to wring your fuel for your combatants, you should build transport TFs with ships with full bunkers to 'at sea refuel' those that will actually be travelling, if this makes sense. This may help you stretch your fuel reserves to only those combatants that need refueling too. [8D]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: obvert

[font="Times New Roman"]AK, AP and AUX[/font]
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These bigger faster transport and Auxilliares are vital to Japan's ability to move especially troops quickly and efficiently around the map. Without them slower TFs would be more vulnerable to subs but also to surface and air attacks, and they (for the most part) use more fuel. It's always most efficient to have troops arrive intact and it saves quite a bit of fuel to not have ships sunk. [;)]

Only 24 of these ships were sunk by subs. Less than one per month. [&o]

This leaves the Empire with a still viable quick transport fleet over halfway through 44. It is never more necessary than now as I'm short on fuel and have to move a lot of troops around the map. It's like early 42 all over again except scrambling to defend rather than attack.

Mike Solli did some calculations about late-war IJ fuel a while back. A staggering percentage of available IJ fuel stores is in ship bunkers and stays there.

If you really wanted to wring your fuel for your combatants, you should build transport TFs with ships with full bunkers to 'at sea refuel' those that will actually be travelling, if this makes sense. This may help you stretch your fuel reserves to only those combatants that need refueling too. [8D]

I've been having the same thought lately. I just don't do the calculations like Mike! [;)]

I changed policy on TFs leaving the HI about a week ago to turn off 'load fuel' and wait until they are low, then refuel from ships I won't likely need or use anytime soon, like the 60-70 Aden class sitting around in port.

As I move farther I might make some fueling stations at offshore islands where those ships could sit in port and wait for combat ships or convoy to pass by. Make a TF, refuel at sea, disband again. I've been doing that with support ships for a while in the Aleutians and Central Pacific.

[font="Times New Roman"]15 July 1944[/font]
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Now back to the battle at hand.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S/SW PAC:[/font] Sure enough, Morotai falls on the 15th. So does Noemafor after a much longer stand. It's really not about whether a base will be taken now, but how quickly. In this area I'm not sure why he's even bothering with the ones that have troops. With the Allied engineers he could build the many available dots in a week into a functioning airfield with a port, as evidenced at Waigeo (level 4 field now!![X(]).

My best bet really is that he begins to get overconfident of success. That is the only thing that will slow the progress. He has to send less than he needs, not protect it enough, spread himself thin. This is what all underdogs need in order to rise up and smite the powerhouse, if only for a while. It's not likely as Jocke has shown himself to be patient and single minded, almost to a fault. If he took a few risks elsewhere this defense would come down around my ears like a house of cards now. A well-timed landing on Western Sumatra, the Andamans, the Kuriles, and I could not meet all threats with enough force to hold anywhere.

I brought two SAGs up to around Ambon as I see a CVE TF with a SAG of DDs and a huddle of LSTs just off Sorong. How far is he pushing? I don't know. I have to put something in harm's way though here. I can't afford a landing at or near Ambon just yet. All area LBA is on and escorts are brought into remaining small bases at Boela, Ternate and Namlea. Strike planes could launch from Ambon, Manado and Kendari.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S DEI: [/font] Nothing here yet. My fields are almost all back to virgin state. Only those on Timor and behind have CAP and strike planes.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Looks like 200k+ and the majority of guns and armor moving toward Central Burma from Prome. now I'll commit a few divisions to move direct through jungle to the hex South of Toungoo from 55, 51. Another tank division will move back to Rangoon with 5-6 arty units. About 1k AV is shifting out of Burma and is almost to the rail at Pisanoluke. It'll go where needed, most likely to Mindanao.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] More bombing. No sign of anything new.

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 15, 44
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Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 8
P1Y1 Frances x 3
P1Y2 Frances x 18

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y1 Frances: 1 damaged
P1Y2 Frances: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x P1Y2 Frances bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
3 x P1Y1 Frances bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 8
P1Y1 Frances x 3
P1Y2 Frances x 18

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y1 Frances: 1 damaged
P1Y2 Frances: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x P1Y2 Frances bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
3 x P1Y1 Frances bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 23
J2M3 Jack x 8
N1K1-J George x 22
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 8 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
2 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 18
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 29
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 12 damaged

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 13
Ki-84a Frank x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 2 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Afternoon Air attack on 16th Garrison Unit , at 86,110 (Noemfoor)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9
B-24D1 Liberator x 18
B-24J Liberator x 38
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 11

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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Ground combat at Noemfoor (86,110)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11472 troops, 181 guns, 298 vehicles, Assault Value = 390

Defending force 6341 troops, 50 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 150

Allied adjusted assault: 311

Japanese adjusted defense: 33

Allied assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Noemfoor !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
900 casualties reported
Squads: 41 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 46 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 19 (18 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 32 (32 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
174 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 15 (1 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Assaulting units:
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
102nd(Sep) Infantry Regiment
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
3rd Motor Brigade
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
138th USA Base Force

Defending units:
32nd Nav Gsn Unit
9th Tank Rgt /4
91st Infantry Regiment
16th Garrison Unit
6th Guards Inf. Rgt /2
47th Engineer Regiment
62nd Construction Battalion
28th JNAF AF Unit

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Ground combat at Morotai (80,101)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14774 troops, 166 guns, 495 vehicles, Assault Value = 708

Defending force 4557 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 135

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 1405

Japanese adjusted defense: 82

Allied assault odds: 17 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Morotai !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1210 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 85 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 17 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 20 (3 destroyed, 17 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
30 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
711th Tank Battalion
1st Marine Division
706th Tank Battalion
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
XI US Corps

Defending units:
10th Ind.Infantry Brigade
51st JNAF AF Unit
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Reinforcements: none!

[font="Trebuchet MS"][/font]

Losses: none.

Ships Sunk:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Previous report of sinking of DD DeHaven incorrect. Intelligence reports ship is still in service[/font]
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[font="Trebuchet MS"]Supply has now filled in even at Gifu. Most repairs are back on. The last few will wait until the pressing aircraft factories are finished. [/font]
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[font="Times New Roman"]xAK Oregon Maru[/font]
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Continuing the updates on the units I have been following from day 1, the Oregon Maru is sitting in port at Tokyo. It's doing well, having been toevery corner of the map in nearly every available role for it's type. It's been in combat theatres, had the TF it's in attacked by subs, and had many peaceful voyages along the China coast to the DEI and back, waving occasionally at the protective screen of the Helens flying by at 1k feet looking for the enemy underwater.

This ship will see less of a role for now as the faster transports are more in demand currently and there are panty of resource carrying Adens out there already. There may be a supply run or two in it's future, once I'm able to ship supply out again that is![:D]

Several ships I won't be reporting on as they have been sunk. These include the DD Shiranui, the I-25 and the Hokoku Maru.

[font="Times New Roman"]OR Maru movement[/font]
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Here is a look at the movement chart from tracker for this ship since turn 498 in early 43.

[font="Times New Roman"]PB Nagato Maru[/font]
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This PB has also been just about everywhere in every role it can take on. It hasn't been in combat much if at all as evidenced by it's low experience level. Currently it's in Manila waiting to be needed for escort or fast transport duty.

[font="Times New Roman"]Nagato Maru movement[/font]
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Here is a look at the movement chart from tracker for this ship since turn 498 in early 43.

[font="Times New Roman"]Tainan Ku S-1/251 Ku S-1/S-901 Hikotai[/font]
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This group was once a big elite sweep machine that helped clear every important region of enemy fighters from the PI to the DEI to China and then Burma. It has stayed in Burma since 42. Now it has been renamed twice and shrunk to a small not quite elite unit that mostly runs middle CAP missions over the big base in the region. Of the 229 kills registered only 10 have come in the past 130 days.

One pilot has been with the group since the beginning. H. Sato has an experience of 84 and is an ace with 5 kills. He was wounded once during which time his exp went down into the 70s. I'm curious if he'll make it through even farther, but I won't hide him in a training unit to make that happen. This unit will be in the front lines all of the way.

NOTE: When I lost the first year and a half of tracker reports the pilot mission were lost as well (and I think kills also, but Sato is listed in game with 5 anyway). This only starts in mid mid 43, and in game it lists that he has 904 missions, 6th from the top of the list and behind a group of IJAAF pilots, so the most for the IJNAF. [&o]

[font="Times New Roman"]14th Tank Regiment[/font]
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This unit has been on Truk for a while, and as this is no longer a vital strategic fleet base I've begun to try to extricate some units, including this one. It's next in line for a one way trip to Guam. At 45 tanks it won't stop what is likely coming, but I hope as I've mentioned simply to slow things down.

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: catwhoorg

Thats a fascinating set of lists.

I read both sides of this AAR, which is why I don't really comment.

Thanks for stopping in.

As we get into the late war it is fascinating for me as well to see these numbers and how they reflect the current state of the game. The Empire is staggering from blow after blow at this point, but not yet quite holding onto the ropes. It will be interesting to see if any of the air strikes of either kamis or other conventional kinds will have any effect in slowing the Allied advance.

My feeling is the only thing to slow the Allies in this stage (post new beta update) is troops on the ground. With LBA strikes more fragmented the and the way Jocke moves around very deliberately with most of his strength together, striking options that won't lead to a massacre of IJ pilots will likely be rare. If I had been able to predict this two years ago my defensive strategy would have quite different. Oh, well, it's all a learning process. Still pretty pleased to have made it this far relatively intact in my first real campaign PBEM.

The wheels will come off soon I fear as I can't wait any longer to fight with everything I have. The chance to affect events with the IJN is getting smaller and smaller, and their fuel use is a bigger and bigger drain on the economy. The decisive battle is near. [:)]

Hi Obvert I completely agree with you, KB can't no more be used as an offensive weapon at this stage in the war unless your opponent make a big mistake or became overconfident. KB can no more match against Allied planes and pilots. But IMO you have to preserve it the more intact as possible cause it's always a big deterrent: Jocke has always to keep all his CV together 'cause it's the only way he is sure to win a fight. So he can cover just one advance vector at once, without KB he would be able to split his CV and advance in islands in all directions.
Thanks for posting so many data and screens, very interesting! can you post also your pilots pool situation?
Great AAR always a pleasure to read it, you're still in a good shape [:)]

[font="Times New Roman"]16 - 17 July 1944[/font]
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[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]SUBS: [/font] Another trade. One E for one sub. This time at least it's a famous one, the Pampanito, near Talaud-eilanden.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S/SW PAC:[/font] Mostly clean-up ops at just conquered bases. The CVEs are still changing around, but no incursions. I'l keep the SAGs in the background hopefully out of sight. A lot of bad weather lately in the area, which is good.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]S DEI: [/font] Nothing here now. Over 150k troops at Darwin after the invasion/feint TFs unloaded again.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]BURMA: [/font] Quiet and the new stack shows movement through the woods to Toungoo. Easily matched. I'm already moving there. The other pointer goes up the road toward Magwe.

[font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]CENTRAL PACFIC:[/font] Nothing. Losing a good number of bombers at Tinian. Have to keep it up, and at least I'm starting to see significant Cat losses too, both on the ground and from LR CAP of the base from 1 hex away.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 16, 44
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Night Naval bombardment of Sorong at 82,107

Allied Ships
BB Queen Elizabeth
BB Valiant
BB Mississippi
BB Idaho
BC Renown
DD Crane
DD Kennison
DD Nepal
DD Stuart
DD Worden
DD Farragut
DD Downes

Japanese ground losses:
136 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Runway hits 3

BB Queen Elizabeth firing at 2nd Amphibious Brigade
BB Valiant firing at 45th Ind.Mixed Brigade

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Sub attack near Talaud-eilanden at 81,96

Japanese Ships
E Wakamiya, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
E Mutsure

Allied Ships
SS Pampanito, hits 12, heavy damage

SS Pampanito launches 2 torpedoes at E Wakamiya
E Mutsure attacking submerged sub ....
E Mutsure attacking submerged sub ....
Sounds of submarine breaking up detected!
Escort abandons search for sub

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Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 30
P1Y1 Frances x 4
P1Y2 Frances x 22

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y1 Frances: 2 damaged
P1Y2 Frances: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 20

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x P1Y2 Frances bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
4 x P1Y1 Frances bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Ground combat at Noemfoor (86,110)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11240 troops, 181 guns, 297 vehicles, Assault Value = 356

Defending force 5604 troops, 29 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 115

Allied adjusted assault: 187

Japanese adjusted defense: 9

Allied assault odds: 20 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1136 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 56 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 8 (6 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Assaulting units:
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
102nd(Sep) Infantry Regiment
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
3rd Motor Brigade
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
138th USA Base Force

Defending units:
16th Garrison Unit
91st Infantry Regiment
6th Guards Inf. Rgt /2
62nd Construction Battalion
47th Engineer Regiment
32nd Nav Gsn Unit
28th JNAF AF Unit

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Ground combat at Morotai (80,101)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14723 troops, 166 guns, 495 vehicles, Assault Value = 698

Defending force 3659 troops, 23 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 64

Allied adjusted assault: 800

Japanese adjusted defense: 16

Allied assault odds: 50 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), preparation(-), fatigue(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1212 casualties reported
Squads: 35 destroyed, 49 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 16 (12 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
102 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Marine Division
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
706th Tank Battalion
711th Tank Battalion
II Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
XI US Corps
49th Aviation Base Force

Defending units:
10th Ind.Infantry Brigade
51st JNAF AF Unit

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Ground combat at Salamaua (98,127)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 922 troops, 12 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 41

Defending force 7 troops, 0 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Allied adjusted assault: 10

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Salamaua !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Torres Strait Battalion

Defending units:
26th AA Regiment
4th JNAF AF Unit /1
22nd Div /11

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Japanese Unit(s) surrounded at Noemfoor

Japanese Unit(s) surrounded at Morotai

Japanese Unit(s) Wiped Out at Noemfoor by attrition!!!

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR July 17, 44
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Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 16
P1Y2 Frances x 26
Ki-84a Frank x 29

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 10 damaged
P1Y2 Frances: 10 damaged
P1Y2 Frances: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 damaged

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 19

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x P1Y2 Frances bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
16 x G4M2 Betty bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

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Morning Air attack on Tinian , at 108,94

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 26
N1K2-J George x 3
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 29
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 17
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 25

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 11 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 4 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground

Runway hits 12

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
16 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
2 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

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Ground combat at Noemfoor (86,110)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11111 troops, 181 guns, 296 vehicles, Assault Value = 339

Defending force 2508 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 47

Allied adjusted assault: 168

Japanese adjusted defense: 3

Allied assault odds: 56 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
705 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 44 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
172 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
102nd(Sep) Infantry Regiment
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
3rd Motor Brigade
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
138th USA Base Force

Defending units:
16th Garrison Unit


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Ground combat at Broome (62,127)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 705 troops, 0 guns, 105 vehicles, Assault Value = 59

Defending force 500 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 13

Allied adjusted assault: 16

Japanese adjusted defense: 6

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), leaders(-), experience(-)
Attacker: op mode(-), leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
2/7th Armoured Regiment

Defending units:
8th JNAF Coy

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Ground combat at 58,130 (near Port Hedland)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10354 troops, 102 guns, 147 vehicles, Assault Value = 379

Defending force 978 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 19

Allied adjusted assault: 108

Japanese adjusted defense: 3

Allied assault odds: 36 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), supply(-)
Attacker: op mode(-), leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
724 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 13 (9 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
5th Australian Division

Defending units:
Yokosuka 2nd SNLF
18th JAAF AF Bn /1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Rossel Island (105,137)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1211 troops, 31 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 53

Defending force 602 troops, 0 guns, 93 vehicles, Assault Value = 46

Allied adjusted assault: 20

Japanese adjusted defense: 41

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 5)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(-), fatigue(-), morale(-)
Attacker: leaders(+), leaders(-)

Allied ground losses:
110 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
N Force Detachment

Defending units:
19th Tank Regiment
3rd JNAF AF Unit /1
44th Road Const Co /1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japanese Unit(s) surrounded at Noemfoor

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[/font]

Reinforcements: Ki-83 makes it's first advance. Yes!![&o]

Engine bonus should be helping in 40-50 days.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]E No.21 arrives at Tokyo

Aircraft Ki-83 advances R&D (9/45)[/font]

Losses:

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Loss of E Wakamiya on Jul 16, 1944 is admitted[/font]

Ships Sunk: Like that.

[font="Trebuchet MS"]SS Pampanito is reported to have been sunk near Talaud-eilanden on Jul 16, 1944
SS Trespasser is reported to have been sunk near Tandjoengbalai on Jun 01, 1944
xAK Yenangyaung is reported to have been sunk near Madras on Nov 17, 1943[/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

[font="Trebuchet MS"]It's looking less and less likely that Jocke's reserve sub fleet post war will look like this. I feel almost, almost, bad about it. The US should be able to strangle Japan with subs. I refrain in feeling too bad as there are plenty of other things that are a big advantage over the historical ability of many aspects of the war. It is balancing out and in this game Jocke is almost now getting ahead of the historical schedule. [:-][/font]
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ORIGINAL: MrBlizzard

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: catwhoorg

Thats a fascinating set of lists.

I read both sides of this AAR, which is why I don't really comment.

Thanks for stopping in.

As we get into the late war it is fascinating for me as well to see these numbers and how they reflect the current state of the game. The Empire is staggering from blow after blow at this point, but not yet quite holding onto the ropes. It will be interesting to see if any of the air strikes of either kamis or other conventional kinds will have any effect in slowing the Allied advance.

My feeling is the only thing to slow the Allies in this stage (post new beta update) is troops on the ground. With LBA strikes more fragmented the and the way Jocke moves around very deliberately with most of his strength together, striking options that won't lead to a massacre of IJ pilots will likely be rare. If I had been able to predict this two years ago my defensive strategy would have quite different. Oh, well, it's all a learning process. Still pretty pleased to have made it this far relatively intact in my first real campaign PBEM.

The wheels will come off soon I fear as I can't wait any longer to fight with everything I have. The chance to affect events with the IJN is getting smaller and smaller, and their fuel use is a bigger and bigger drain on the economy. The decisive battle is near. [:)]

Hi Obvert I completely agree with you, KB can't no more be used as an offensive weapon at this stage in the war unless your opponent make a big mistake or became overconfident. KB can no more match against Allied planes and pilots. But IMO you have to preserve it the more intact as possible cause it's always a big deterrent: Jocke has always to keep all his CV together 'cause it's the only way he is sure to win a fight. So he can cover just one advance vector at once, without KB he would be able to split his CV and advance in islands in all directions.
Thanks for posting so many data and screens, very interesting! can you post also your pilots pool situation?
Great AAR always a pleasure to read it, you're still in a good shape [:)]

Thanks. I've considered keeping it as a standing fleet. This has merit. I think though if I concentrate on the decisive battle being a long range strike at his amphibious shipping supported by LBA and out of range of his main body, then I want to do it. The KB is nothing but a shell without it's pilots, and he knows that too, so even that strike could limit it's future use as a deterrent. Something in what you're saying is true though and he has been wary of splitting and leaving any CVs vulnerable since losing all of them in 42.

So. My new thoughts are as follows. Not try anything stupid and try to keep KB hidden until a move on Mindanao (or another PI islands of his choosing) or Borneo. Either can potentially shield the KB and support a lot of LBA. If I can nail some transports and reduce a landing by 30-40%, I may have a chance to hold onto either place for a while longer and give him a new thing to fear. He hasn't lost nearly enough troops on shis in this war, and if I can add that to the things he has to seriously worry about, then I've accomplished something already.

If the KB should survive such an encounter more or less intact, then I'd likely throw it out of sight somewhere like Singers or the HI and go through refits. That is a huge risk though as some of the last ones are up to 45 days! [X(]

Yes, I'll get to pilots soon.