Matrix Games Forums

After several weeks of a breakdown due to a very personal incident plus tremendous loads of work I´ll try to keep up with the forum now again.

As Fuelli already mentioned, last (game) weeks saw only minor actions, but the insidious phase-out of power of the once mighty Japanese forces. Tough my defense is ready and proper I feel the steamroller to come over and flatten me soon. And Japanese supply on war material is really scarce, I could cry over that all the time along . We´re at mid-march 1943 by now.
However, some turns ago once again I sent a heavy bombardment group into PM, shelling town & airstrips. Franks Carrier group which he deployed to "welcome" me in his home waters stood too far away to gimme a scratch. In return, he sent a battlegroup south of Irau (I don´t know the aim so far). I scrambled together a handful of my vintage a/c (Vals, Kates and Jakes) to greet the American sailors, but I guess they not even mentioned this. The three or so bomb hits did not much damage...

Carriers are supposed to strike, but not go on strike....[8|] I think 7 hexes is not too far out of reach....

Carriers are supposed to strike, but not go on strike.... I think 7 hexes is not too far out of reach....

Hmmm, now that is very odd. RGIJN was very lucky here.

RGIJN, carriers go in front 99.9% of the time. If you can´t put carriers in front then you don´t go.

Sending a TF with Battleships included around the horn of New Guinea to bombard Port Moresby is a 3 turn trip.

With no carriers to protect this group or challenge his carriers, this is like painting a target on them. And these are your capital ships with about 150-300 points depending on class.

You can ill afford to toss around your capital ships in such a manner.

Losing just one cheap battlecruiser is the same as losing the major base of Shortlands built to its maximum developement.

Losing one of the expensive Battleships is the same as losing Shortlands, Buin and Munda as far as points and you have saved him the trouble of having to invade these places.

That´s how important your capital ships are.

Just my advice, take it or leave it.

Thanks for your advice IKE. However, I´m pretty certain about the things I´m doing. No guts, no glory. And besides of that were my proud crews about a mutiny... [;)]

ORIGINAL: fuelli

Battleships? I do not have any battleships....[;)]

Frank eventually tries to conceal his true strenght that he is gathering. Actually, I suppose he is about to choke under the load of warships, transport vessels and a/c on hand for the Allies...

He is pounding the Lae area and numerous LCUs are marching towards Wau and Buna. I guess the soup is about to be served [8|]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,48

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
D3A Val x 8
B5N Kate x 10
E13A1 Jake x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 4 destroyed
D3A Val x 5 damaged
B5N Kate x 8 destroyed
B5N Kate x 3 damaged
E13A1 Jake x 1 destroyed
E13A1 Jake x 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Leander, Bomb hits 1
CA San Francisco
CA Pensacola
CL Hobart, Bomb hits 2
BB Washington, Bomb hits 2


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

crazy flak fire. and this 250 kg val bombs against anything bigger then a CL are realy like snow balls at a solid wall.

great AAR btw. continue the good work!

ORIGINAL: RGIJN



Frank eventually tries to conceal his true strenght that he is gathering. Actually, I suppose he is about to choke under the load of warships, transport vessels and a/c on hand for the Allies...

I can definately say that this is not true! At least not for transports....[;)]

For the next two weeks we are on halt. My fellow opponent is on a long deserved holiday.

back from vacation and ready to get into our battle again.

And after the exchange of a few turns the situation slid into real war then. Franks troops that were on the move for a while already finally reached their destination. I was able to scatter some LCUs to crucial spots to cope with the enemies onslaught. Until now I am able to hold Wau and Buna, but his men took Dobadura and Gavigamana (with no defenders there). At least at Dobadura I´m gonna try to make a stand.
And at Gavigamana Fuelli´s naval units got a first bloody nose while maneuvering thru dense minefields. Though not even cleared yet the eggs mortally wounded an APD (sunk) and achieved plenty hits on a BB and several cruisers. I am pretty aware they will not fend off any serious landing, but I love them anyway! [:D]

We´re at the end of March 1943 by now, and the points gap is exactly 2000 in my favour (9271/7271) what I know means nothing good considering there are still nine months to. The time remaining will be full of punishment, mostly for me. But I´ll not only try to strike back as often and as hard as possible.

Will post detailled intel (loss reports) later on.

last turn saw a small scale night naval battle at Gavigamana. I noticed Franks minesweeper TFs which are still busy clearing the harbour he just seized... and sent a choice of cruisers + DDs down there to the spot. Though the results could have been better I am still happy - he lost two of his screening destroyers (DD BACHE was a modern type, netting 12points) while I lost no ships at all and damage is only slight to three vessels. Furthermore, he lost a few troops drowning during the duel. The one sad thing is that my forces were unable to kill these anti-mine crafts...[:@]
However, that´s not the way to win the war as I know...


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/31/43

Weather: Thunderstorms

Night Time Surface Combat, near Gavigamana at 51,47

Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Shell hits 3
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 2
CL Agano, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Shimakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Arare, Shell hits 3
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Yugure, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Okikaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Shiokaze, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Nokaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Bache, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Jarvis, Shell hits 1
DD Cummings, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Smith, Shell hits 1
APD Sands
DMS Hovey, Shell hits 1
MSW Motive


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 246


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

it seems Franks 5th invasion is underway... and 30 of my dumb Val pilots deliberately decided to die in a wall of 68 Wildcats - they took off without any escorts! I just cannot understand incidents like this[:@]

For the same reason 18 unescorted Bettys went after Lexington.

He goes for GiliGili... and Day one of his invasion saw heavy air action. And again (of course?!?!) 23 Betties flew into death... Grrrr! My remaining attackers achieved quite meager results.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 17,42

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 23

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 65
P-38G Lightning x 79

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 23 destroyed


1LT V. Winders of 35th FS is credited with kill number 5

Attacking Level Bombers:
0 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 17,42

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 76
A6M3 Zero x 106
G4M1 Betty x 16
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 31

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 65
P-38G Lightning x 79

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 22 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 49 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 5 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 14 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 23 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 20 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 30 damaged
P-38G Lightning x 55 destroyed
P-38G Lightning x 38 damaged

LCDR P.Morita of F1/Tainan Daitai is credited with kill number 5

LCDR P.Morita of F1/Tainan Daitai is KILLED

Allied Ships
CVE Sangamon

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 17,42

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
A6M3 Zero x 3
G4M1 Betty x 18

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 55
P-38G Lightning x 54

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 11 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
P-38G Lightning x 3 destroyed
P-38G Lightning x 3 damaged

CPO N.Nagashima of F1/253rd Daitai is credited with kill number 3

MAJ D. Brannon of 67th FS bails out and is CAPTURED

Allied Ships
CA Chicago, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Colorado
BB Maryland
CA Portland

Attacking Level Bombers:
1 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 17,42

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 54
P-38G Lightning x 53

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged


Allied Ships
CL Honolulu, Torpedo hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
1 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

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

outch..the lose of so many bettys hurts realy. the AI is realy too stuppid when it comes to selecting naval targets. hopefully i will have more luck in my game against nomad, when HE finaly starts his offensive.

hope you can hold GG long enough to inflict some damages at least with yout battlefleet.

After day 1 saw heavy action the following two days were surprisingly quiet. It seems the Japanese High Command decided to not intervene and to let the mines located at GG to do the job.

Day 2. As expected GG beach is heavily mined and minesweeping is the major task for all escort vessels while the transport start to off load troops, supplies and PT boats. KB is sighted north of Rabaul and all heavy bombers located at PM are on alert.

Day 3. Big disaster. my PT boats decided to return to Noumea at full speed and ran out of fuel. I had to despatch an oiler from the carrier replenishment group to assist them. KB has changed its location but did not close in. No Surface units have been sighted yet. A first attack of my ground troops at GG is successful and it seems that I came with the right amount of troops to make this a short engagement.


Day 4. GG is liberated. My casualties are far less then expected: 2DDs sunk by mines. 7 DDs, 6 APs and 1 AK damaged by mines and one CA and a CL hit by torpedoes on Day 1.

All in all operation "Get GO" (Gili Gili) was very successful although operation "soup" (Soften Up) failed to take Buna in time to use the airfield for close air support of the invasion.

Buna is still a stalemate but now I have enuogh resources to take care of that.

These days are really disillusioning ones. Though my assets aren´t disabled all too much so far, the once proud IJN & IJA just have no chance to interfere with any allied movement that is undertaken in earnest. Instead of any futile attack against the Allied offensive in the PNG area, I sailed down to the northern Hebrides to cause some trouble there. The only result was that the enemy lost considerable more a/c than me (about 60 to 40 this day) but no shipping was hit... [:(] These morons went after tiny Patrol cutters!
Meanwhile, Aussie and US troops finally took Wau after weeks of bombardment. Fortunately my LCU were able to retreat with no serious losses. I still hold Buna, where Frank seemingly underestimated my strenght and deployed only minor forces. But I see reinforcements are on the move over the rugged Owen-Stanley Range... We´ll see what happens there.

In another game (against Paul / BigRed) things still go pretty well for me, though we´re in June 1943 already (about 3800 lead for me...). We both agree it is sad we did not established an AAR since our fighting is very intense and dogged with the real bloody phase is going on for three months now with no pause for breath at all. He lost tons of ships (over 350/worth >5500p) and me tons of A/C (far more than 5000).
But this is a Sc19 with more support from Japan and (even more important) in the game here with Frank it was my fault not to take PM early. I just wanted to try it that way - but I will never try this again!


Anyway, here is a part of today´s battle report

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 46,42

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 92
A6M3 Zero x 55

Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger x 16 destroyed

ENS S.Inano of FI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Wunpuko at 51,51

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 49
A6M3 Zero x 38
B5N Kate x 13

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 24
P-39D Airacobra x 27
P-40E Kittyhawk x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 9 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 13 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 13 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 6 destroyed

LT L. Barnard of VF-2 is credited with kill number 4

Allied Ships
SC 749
SC 741


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 46,42

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 85
A6M3 Zero x 67

Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger x 4 destroyed

WO U.Kanno of F1/6th Daitai is credited with kill number 3


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Wunpuko at 51,51

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 39
G4M1 Betty x 8
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 32

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 39
P-39D Airacobra x 19
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 4 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 7 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 4 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 6 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 destroyed

WO W.Shibata of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4

SLDR M. Herrick of No. 15 Sqn RNZAF is KILLED

Allied Ships
SC 749

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

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

In order to prevent my guys from mutinity and boredom I marshalled three different heavy BB groups to pound Gavigamana a few nights ago. And they really hit hard. Of course a rather silly move, but I just didn´t want to sit and wait... Not to mention the airfield was just one day out of action from this thick rain of shells anyway! Two days after that hellfire the US launched some TBFs with Corsair escorts on my carriers from that tiny strip. Though none hit, some Avengers made it thru a wall of well over 120 Zeros thanks of just 12 F4Us!!! I lost about 30 Zeros for one lone Corsair!! Wow, how annoying this is! [&:][:@]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/13/43

Weather: Thunderstorms

Naval bombardment of Gavigamana, at 51,47


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk x 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk x 1 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 22

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 76


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Gavigamana, at 51,47


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk x 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk x 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 268
Vehicles lost 3

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 184

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Gavigamana, at 51,47


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 176

Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 183
Port supply hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Buna

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12582 troops, 164 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 23164 troops, 115 guns, 74 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 9

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 6


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

Buna has finally fallen. Two Infantry Regiments are known to be left in the area which will be dealt with soon.
The Enemy troops which have been driven out of Wau are now located at Lae. The Solomon Sea is now under control of allied aircraft.

Having a look to the east Gavigamana was rented by the IJN for target practice. I would have not given my OK for that if i would have known that the WHOLE IJN will take part...The nice thing about it: His carriers were also involved and therefore their position was exactly where I wanted them to have while my fleet returned from the Gili Gili invasion:far far away[:D]. All of my ships have now arrived savely at several ports for rest and refit.

OMG, it looks realy bad for the japs and there are still several months to play!

espacialy new guinea under allied control means huge problems for the japanese.

nice acchievments, fuelli.[&o]