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ORIGINAL: Lomri


Q's question and my reply were in reference to assigning TFs to a naval HQ. Not about actual on-map naval HQ units. Just to clarify! In retrospect I see how my wording wasn't very precise.

AFAIK this is true! Assigning TF's (or ships?) was put in strictly to help players manage things, if they found it helpful.

Yes, I've decided not to decide Northern Oz in force - just with the forces necessary to delay the Allied advance.
All my efforts are going into fortyfing the SRA now and the defenses are becoming quite formidable.
- Allied troops didn't move out of Fenton today. Supply issues?

I'm preparing to pound Allied troops that move into Darwin; maybe our garrison can hang on for some time.

Not much else to report from the last turn; the Frances is now in production and I'm going for 40-50 ac per month.
What's your experience with the early Frances?

ORIGINAL: PzB

What's your experience with the early Frances?

The armor does help. The relatively high SR hardly matters. The range hurts and helps. The Nell is such a great 2E patrol with its long range. The Betty just lights up, even escorted for me. The Frances range is matched for Zero escort (good), but I've never been able to get enough of them in range of an allied fleet to make a difference.

IJN LB is for attacking fleets, neh? Sending 90 Frances+escort against the allied CV's in mid-43 is just suicide, you would need +400 to get through. Besides building the a/c (at 50/month, about 1 years worth, so now you are into '44), the issue is where/how to base and support so many? You have few opportunities to do so.

So, yeah I've used them and they are ok. I just haven't been able to use them effectively to date. Hoping that you will be able to show me what I'm doing wrong! [:D]

Hm, the Frances with its unreliable Nakajima Homare engines need to be operated from large well supplied and serviced bases.
They should therefore be usefully if deployed with heavy fighter support in set-piece battles.
- I will equip some training units behind the lines with the Frances and see if I can find a use for them.

The Frances could have been used in many roles, just like the Ju-88.
Here's a very interesting tale: Franes on one way suicide mission against Ulithi hits carrier

A slightly interesting turn!

I finally managed to persuade 2 AMC's to return to the Frigate Shoals to deal with the enemy transports there.
- No idea what Andy is doing there.

As mentioned before, the AMCs lack aggressiveness despite being allocated aggrssive captains.
The Bangkok Maru was useless but the larger Gokoku Maru shot up all of the enemy transports.

3 subs continously failed at hitting the DMS's there.
- I thrive at opportunities to inflict numerous small hit and runs on the enemy.
Add em all up and they'll be worth a major battle by the end of the war.

In Oz enemy fighters swept Buna, PM and Darwin - empty air.
In return our medium bombers hit enemy armor near Darwin.
Low naval attack Helen's also attacked enemy shipping of Exmouth but dissappointed.

I also noticed how Andy bypassed Katherine without placing a garrison there!
So I dropped some para's and promptly recaptured the place, cutting of the enemy armor heading for Darwin.
That will cause some annoyance.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 01, 43

Aub & Surface Combat

Night Time Surface Combat, near French Frigate Shoal at 170,101, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AMC Bankok Maru, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DMS Hovey
xAK Owen Summers
xAK Asphalion
xAK Clan Mactavish

Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 0% moonlight: 7,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
AMC Bankok Maru engages DMS Hovey at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
AMC Bankok Maru engages DMS Hovey at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
AMC Bankok Maru engages DMS Hovey at 10,000 yards
AMC Bankok Maru engages DMS Hovey at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
AMC Bankok Maru engages DMS Hovey at 12,000 yards
AMC Bankok Maru engages xAK Clan Mactavish at 12,000 yards
AMC Bankok Maru engages DMS Hovey at 12,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near French Frigate Shoal at 170,101

Japanese Ships
SS I-8

Allied Ships
DMS Hovey

SS I-8 launches 6 torpedoes at DMS Hovey
I-8 bottoming out ....
Sub escapes detection
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near French Frigate Shoal at 170,101, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
AMC Gokoku Maru, Shell hits 3

Allied Ships
DMS Hovey, Shell hits 1
xAK Owen Summers, Shell hits 9, heavy fires
xAK Asphalion, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Clan Mactavish, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 25,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 25,000 yards
Allied ships attempt to get underway
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
AMC Gokoku Maru engages xAK Owen Summers at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages xAK Clan Mactavish at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages xAK Clan Mactavish at 16,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages xAK Owen Summers at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages xAK Clan Mactavish at 11,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages xAK Owen Summers at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages DMS Hovey at 8,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages xAK Asphalion at 8,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages xAK Owen Summers at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages DMS Hovey at 4,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages xAK Clan Mactavish at 4,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages xAK Owen Summers at 4,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages DMS Hovey at 4,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages xAK Asphalion at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages DMS Hovey at 6,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages xAK Asphalion at 6,000 yards
Yamaya, E. orders Japanese TF to disengage
AMC Gokoku Maru engages DMS Hovey at 6,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages xAK Asphalion at 6,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages xAK Owen Summers at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages DMS Hovey at 12,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages xAK Asphalion at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages DMS Hovey at 17,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages xAK Asphalion at 17,000 yards
Range increases to 21,000 yards
AMC Gokoku Maru engages xAK Asphalion at 21,000 yards
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near French Frigate Shoal at 170,101

Japanese Ships
SS I-8

Allied Ships
DMS Hovey
xAK Asphalion, heavy fires, heavy damage

SS I-8 launches 6 torpedoes at DMS Hovey
I-8 bottoming out ....
Sub escapes detection
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on 1st Motor Brigade, at 76,126 (Fenton)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 36

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Exmouth at 49,129
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Pringle
xAK City of Agra

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Army Tank Brigade, at 76,126 (Fenton)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 25

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 5000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 3rd Motor Brigade ...
Also attacking 3rd Army Tank Brigade ...
Also attacking 3rd Motor Brigade ...
Also attacking 3rd Army Tank Brigade ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Exmouth at 49,129
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAK Sage Brush

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 3000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Corunna Downs (57,131)

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 487 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Defending force 181 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2
Japanese adjusted assault: 9

Allied adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1

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

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

Assaulting units:
II/19th Naval Guard Unit
70th Div /1

Defending units:
2/6 Cavalry Cdo Battalion
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Katherine (76,128)
Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 26 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 4
Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Katherine !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
4th Raiding Rgt /2
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Sniping back!

I finally managed to persuade 2 AMC's to return to the Frigate Shoals to deal with the enemy transports there.
- No idea what Andy is doing there.

He probably has enough SeaBees to throw 2 or 3 here plus a BF to use to build up the base as a steady stepping stone to get him to Midway. He can use those dot bases to get him close enough for LRCAP.

I would recommend bombing the armor that you have cut off from supplies. That way you might be able to slow their return to katherine down to a crawl. More turns without supply = good for you. An d you might trash some decent armor units + Darwin holds out longer = win win win!
 
 

Yes hit the cut off troops as hard as possible but watch out for LRCAP you will destroy some units and you will push them out of movement mode to combat mode which will slow them down.

Had a 1500 AV Armor blob moving to Wyndham a few weeks ago and my opponent just did low attacks with some fighters and pushed some of the units to combat mode. This lead to a split up of my army and i got a little careless and moved only a part to Wyndham as i wanted to race there as fast as possible. Almost did cost me 10 units as the enemy had 1500 AV there and hit my armored spearhead with a lot of naval bombardment. Barely was able to leave with my units to regroup them with the ones stuck in combat mode.

In addition it is quite funny as last turn in my PBEM which i did yesterday in the evening my units are leaving Katherine, and i set a bde to stay to to avoid exact a possible nasty paradrop by my opponent. I had to laugh when i saw that you did it.

Well, Frigate Shoals are out of fighter range to Midway...probably 16-18 hexes.
So not quite sure but it might be surplus material [;)]

I have ordered an all out bombing run against the 11 units in Darwin. Another 3-4 larger units are still outside the town.
Not sure if we can stall em, I've only left partial units with low prep and supplies as a rearguard. 200+ AV and 4 forts.
- It's only if the enemy armor is low on supply and disrupted we can hope to stall them for some time. Not convinced at all about how well inf units stand against armor in clear terrain. Would have been better to have placed the 4 Jap tank divisions in Darwin, that would have surprised Montgomery [;)]

Hehe, yeah I sent recons to Katherine and was surprised to see that Andy left it wide open.
Fenton is also open but I won't divide the para unit between multiple targets. Fying in parts of another unit for that job.

Actually, large parts of the KB is now hovering undetected near Timor.
I've been unsure whether to let them strike the enemy armor - this will most likely stop them dead in their tracks, but would it be worth
revealing the KB's position? Andy may kick of another invasion run against the Line Islands.

It will be another week before the last KB carrier completes her upgrades, 2 weeks until 2 CVLs complete their conversion a month until the first 2 Katsuragi's arrive.
These are such substantial reinforcements that I don't wish to sail the KB into combat before they arrive.

Also; I can't remember whether it is effective or possible to bombard enemy troops in a friendly hex like Darwin?
Do I have to wait until it's captured by the enemy before bombarding?

Next turn I've ordered a BB and 2 CA's to hit the island north of Mornington again to suppress the T-bolts there.

ORIGINAL: PzB

Also; I can't remember whether it is effective or possible to bombard enemy troops in a friendly hex like Darwin?
Do I have to wait until it's captured by the enemy before bombarding?

I'm 90% sure it works fine. I would have said 100%, but then just your mentioning it made me think, and I cannot recall exactly the last time it did it....

No, not KB... or what significant but a few days delays would you expect to come from that?  I would rather move it eastward in secrecy -- just in case as you indicate that Andy tries a simultaneous operation in OZ and CENTPAC.  Andy surely will have something in stock to force you to split your units.  How are things in the Indian Ocean?  Or Kuriles?  Silent? 

At what altitude are you actually bombing? IIRC 5000 ft already uses LowG.
Loses from AA fire, against this "panzerfist" seems to be none. I wonder if it would be worth a risk, to make some strafing attacks. With TOJO IIb [8D]

When Allies will come knocking, they will surely have some heavy BB bombardment force. To counter this, you optimally should use torpedoes. Launching them from planes will clash you with LRCAP, so wasting planes before engaging CVs is unwise.
The other option is fleet torpedoes, so you should give Tanaka biggest fleet possible (15 ships), and quite a lot of CAs in it. Probably even two such fleets. I am not sure torpedoes actually reload in battle, but if they do try to have ships with more ammo. I see no reason to keep CAs with Carriers. They are more vulnerable to air attacks, than BBs, and do not have that great AA anyway.

I am sure, I have bombarded attacking troops at island in WITP, but results were poor (and not much of those troops anyway).

French Frigate Shoal to Layson Island is 9 hexes.
Layson Island to Midway is 8 hexes.

Easily within the drop tank range of P-38s and add in a few SBD on a dot base built up to sixe 2 AF and he can then sweep Midway constantly until he feel he can invade.

Easily? P-38H and G's fly 15-16 hexes with drop tanks, so no way Frigate Shoals are of much use against Midway.
Anyway, I have 8 ac on the island and mainly use Midway as a forward sub and search base. Having 200 AV there forces Andy to prep a full division; that takes 3 months and diverts resources.
Since our division in the Marianas will remain reinforcements when Midway falls one day we should come well out of this one.
Andy is despite all expending ships and resources on this diversion.

I'm bombing from 4-5000 feet...
Don't have any bases that Tojo's can fly from to reach Darwin.
I've intentionally established the SRA main defensive bases outside of Allied fighter and medium bomber range of Darwin.

I'm getting some CL's with good AA ratings, the Kitakami will have some 440 when it completes its upgrade. I can indeed also replace some escort CA's with the Yamato and Musashi.
It would however be a sour day to loose 3-4 of our best CA's in a single day against an enemy battle line - that's why I like to include a battlewagon to draw heavy fire.
Japan's heavy cruisers are truly great assets, they are capable of delivering heavy blows with speed and agility.

Another interesting turn!
We sank a couple of ships, bombed ground troops in Darwin with 81 bombers, defeated the para's at Corunna and resisted the first assault on Darwin.

Of course I managed one FUBAR; the bombardment TF at Groote was put to "Remain on Station". I could _swear_ I turned it off but it wouldn't help.
Enemy Beaufort bombers scored no hits, low level B-25s scored 15 500lb bomb hits though, the CA shrugged it off but the Ise got torched, working up a superficial sys damage of 26.
Grumble...annoying, but fortunately not fatal.

Darwin is most likely gonners next turn, enemy armor was not low on supply as I hoped and got a 3-1 odds.
Our infantry was slaughtered in the open while our tank regiment didn't loose a single man.
As soon as Darwin falls I'm going to bombard it really hard and close it down for some time. The KB is sailing back to Marianas to await the return of the heavy hitters and the new carriers.
- Not keen on sending them into the Indian Ocean, that's like giving away the Line Islands....maybe we will get another favorable opportunity to engage him there.
"They came the same old way and we defeated them in the same old way!" [;)]


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 03, 43

Surface Combat

Lots of ducks near Exmouth...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Exmouth at 50,129, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Harukaze

Allied Ships
xAK City of Hankow, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub Attacks

We finally hit one of the elusive DMS!
The Trout is hit hard by our ASW.

ASW attack near French Frigate Shoal at 170,101

Japanese Ships
SS I-8

Allied Ships
DMS Hopkins, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

SS I-8 launches 6 torpedoes at DMS Hopkins
Sub escapes detection
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Davao at 82,93

Japanese Ships
E Tsuta
E W-20
E Kunashiri

Allied Ships
SS Trout, hits 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bombardments

Naval bombardment of Groote Eylandt at 82,130

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
CA Atago
DD Nagatsuki
DD Oboro
DD Amagiri
DD Shirakumo
DD Shinonome

Allied ground losses:
239 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 11 disabled
Vehicles lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 62
Port hits 24
Port supply hits 3

CA Chokai firing at Groote Eylandt
CA Atago firing at Groote Eylandt
DD Nagatsuki firing at Groote Eylandt
DD Oboro firing at Groote Eylandt
DD Amagiri firing at Groote Eylandt
DD Shirakumo firing at Groote Eylandt
DD Shinonome firing at Groote Eylandt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on 2/8th Armoured Regiment, at 76,124 (Darwin)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 44 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 36

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 18 (2 destroyed, 16 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2/8th Armoured Regiment, at 76,124 (Darwin)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 36
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 34
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 45

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 32 (4 destroyed, 28 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 4000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 4000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
27 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 4000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 2/7th Armoured Regiment ...
Also attacking 2/8th Armoured Regiment ...
Also attacking 2/7th Armoured Regiment ...
Also attacking 2/8th Armoured Regiment ...
Also attacking 2/7th Armoured Regiment ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Groote Eylandt at 82,130
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 9

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Ise
CA Chokai

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 12000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 15000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Groote Eylandt at 82,130
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 7

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Ise
CA Chokai

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 15000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Groote Eylandt at 82,130
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 9

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
BB Ise, Bomb hits 5, on fire
CA Atago, Bomb hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Maizuru 1st SNLF, at 76,124 (Darwin)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 20

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 4th Raiding Rgt /1 ...
Also attacking Maizuru 1st SNLF /1 ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Exmouth at 52,127
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
xAK Howell Lykes
DD Pringle

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Groote Eylandt at 82,130
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 6

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
BB Ise

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 12000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Groote Eylandt at 82,130
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 7

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
BB Ise

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Beaufort VIII bombing from 15000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Groote Eylandt at 82,130
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 1 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 7

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Bomb hits 8, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

This may be our last ground victory in Oz; we finally defeat the paras at Corunna!

Ground combat at Corunna Downs (57,131)
Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 491 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 21
Defending force 151 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 19
Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 19 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(-), disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Allied ground losses:
133 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
II/19th Naval Guard Unit
70th Div /1

Defending units:
2/6 Cavalry Cdo Battalion
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Darwin (76,124)
Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 9223 troops, 32 guns, 1207 vehicles, Assault Value = 1151
Defending force 4094 troops, 43 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 220

Allied adjusted assault: 387
Japanese adjusted defense: 107

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 4)
Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1763 casualties reported
Squads: 66 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 22 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 50 destroyed, 86 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 220 (60 destroyed, 160 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd Motor Brigade
2/4th Armoured Regiment
2/8th Armoured Regiment
2/6th Armoured Regiment
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
194th Tank Battalion
2/5th Armoured Regiment
1st Army Tank Regiment
2/7th Armoured Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
3rd Army Tank Brigade
1st Motor Brigade
7th Armoured Brigade

Defending units:
146th Infantry RCT /1
Maizuru 1st SNLF /1
11th Tank Regiment
4th Raiding Rgt /1
Yokosuka 7th SNLF /1
3rd JNAF AF Unit
-----------------------------------------------------------

Northern Australia

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

ORIGINAL: PzB

Also; I can't remember whether it is effective or possible to bombard enemy troops in a friendly hex like Darwin?
Do I have to wait until it's captured by the enemy before bombarding?

I'm 90% sure it works fine. I would have said 100%, but then just your mentioning it made me think, and I cannot recall exactly the last time it did it....

It is possible, 100% to bombard enemy troops which assault friendly positions. My opponent did it with my armored spearhead assaulting in northern Australia. He came with multiple DD/CA TFs and a big one with >5 BBs in it. The attack shredded my armored spearhead (lost 200 tanks to disable and destroyed). Small units consisting only DDs will not kill many units but will raise disruption quite a lot.

In fact if your enemy does not have air superiority nor his heavy units in position shelling assaulting forces with naval bombardment is very strong. (Dont forget like always the scout planes on recon)

I will certainly hit Darwin next turn...it fell into Allied hands today!
2 battle fleets will pound the place from 2000 yards. There's only armor units in there and I expect to utterly destroy the place.

I will declare a blokade on Darwin; as long as we prevent enemy shipping to enter it should be harmless enough.
The plan is to operate outside of T-bolt and Corsair range and hit back with force if enemy air units builds are detected.
Still, by early 44 I expect Northern Oz to become a major threat to the SRA and the Combined Fleet will prioritize to protect the Sumatra - Java - Timor - Northern New Guinea region.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 04, 43

Surface Combat

Chance encounter..we slaugheterd an LCT convoy.
They were all smoking to begin with..unfortunately a Minekaze class DD collided with a CA and sank [:o]

Night Time Surface Combat, near Gove at 83,127, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Ise
CA Atago
DD Shinonome
DD Oboro
DD Nagatsuki

Allied Ships
AM Rail, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
LCT-130, Shell hits 1, heavy damage
LCT-131, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LCT-132, Shell hits 1
LCT-133
LCT-134, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
LCT-135, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-137, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LCT-138, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LCT-139, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-141, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-142, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LCT-143, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

Low visibility due to Rain with 14% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 14% moonlight: 3,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 3,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 3,000 yards
BB Ise engages AM Rail at 3,000 yards
LCT-142 sunk by CA Atago at 3,000 yards
LCT-141 sunk by BB Ise at 3,000 yards
LCT-134 sunk by CA Atago at 3,000 yards
LCT-131 sunk by BB Ise at 3,000 yards
AM Rail sunk by BB Ise at 3,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages LCT-132 at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
LCT-139 sunk by BB Ise at 2,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages LCT-137 at 2,000 yards
DD Shinonome engages LCT-143 at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
LCT-135 sunk by BB Ise at 3,000 yards
LCT-138 sunk by CA Atago at 3,000 yards
LCT-137 sunk by DD Nagatsuki at 3,000 yards
LCT-143 sunk by DD Shinonome at 3,000 yards
DD Nagatsuki engages LCT-130 at 3,000 yards
Nishimura, Teiji orders Japanese TF to disengage
DD Nagatsuki engages LCT-130 at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Atago collides with DD Nagatsuki at 83 , 127
DD Nagatsuki engages LCT-130 at 7,000 yards
Task forces break off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub Attacks

Why don't Andy send some destroyers to the Frigate Shoals to protect his convoy?
I-170 obligingly sink the 6000 ton LSD...after 2 attempts.

Submarine attack near French Frigate Shoal at 170,101

Japanese Ships
SS I-170

Allied Ships
LSD Carter Hall

LSD Carter Hall is sighted by SS I-170
SS I-170 launches 4 torpedoes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near French Frigate Shoal at 170,101

Japanese Ships
SS I-170

Allied Ships
LSD Carter Hall, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

LSD Carter Hall is sighted by SS I-170
SS I-170 launches 4 torpedoes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

The convoy I thought headed into Exmouth continued east...towards Darwin with fuel [&:]
- I have learned something; low naval attack doesn't mean 1-2 or 3000 feet altitude, it means 100!
So I adjusted my Helen's altitude and voila, we nuked 3 transports [8D]

Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Hedland at 58,124
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Pringle
xAK City of Agra, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Motor Brigade, at 76,124 (Darwin)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
51 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 4000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 4000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Army Tank Brigade, at 76,124 (Darwin)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 49 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 36
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 27

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 4000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 3rd Army Tank Brigade, at 76,124 (Darwin)
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 36

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 14 (3 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 5000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Hedland at 58,124
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 6

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

Allied Ships
xAK Sea Hound, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
xAK Sage Brush, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Again we bombed Darwin but couldn't prevent the armor there to capture the place.
There was a retreat route though so all remnants escaped West.
- We hardly left a single supply unit and no fuel in Darwin. All of Northern Oz has been emptied.

Wyndham also fell, we hardly defended the place.

Ground combat at Darwin (76,124)
Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 11335 troops, 47 guns, 1492 vehicles, Assault Value = 1088
Defending force 1788 troops, 24 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 97

Allied adjusted assault: 277
Japanese adjusted defense: 23

Allied assault odds: 12 to 1 (fort level 1)
Allied forces CAPTURE Darwin !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
545 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 78 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 20 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 169 (131 destroyed, 38 disabled)
Units retreated 4
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 53 (1 destroyed, 52 disabled
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2/7th Armoured Regiment
2/5th Armoured Regiment
1st Motor Brigade
3rd Army Tank Brigade
754th Tank Battalion
3rd Motor Brigade
2/6th Armoured Regiment
1st Army Tank Regiment
2/8th Armoured Regiment
2/4th Armoured Regiment
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
194th Tank Battalion
7th Armoured Brigade

Defending units:
4th Raiding Rgt /1
11th Tank Regiment
Maizuru 1st SNLF /1
146th Infantry RCT /1
3rd JNAF AF Unit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Wyndham (70,127)
Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 649 troops, 0 guns, 96 vehicles, Assault Value = 50
Defending force 215 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 12

Allied adjusted assault: 40
Japanese adjusted defense: 7

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Wyndham !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 2

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
2/11th Armoured Car Battalion

Defending units:
12th Garrison Unit /1
15th Garrison Unit /2
----------------------------------------------------------------
Northern Oz

I've spent much time and resources on training the IJA bomber fleet.
We now got 1150 ac and 75% of them fly the Helen II and have received advanced training in ground attack, asw and low naval attack.
- The Helen's are far more durable than Netties and Betties which will be preserved for special missions.

Andy will also feel the punishing sting of low level naval attack bombers in the campaigns to come.

We bombarded Darwin and LCUs from the air and sea today.
Results were ok but not great.
- I notice that 3 ships in one a 1 in the other deployed night spotters.

We also sank the remnants of the suicide fuel convoy; an AK and a DD.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 05, 43

Bombardments

Night Naval bombardment of Darwin at 76,124

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
CA Tone
CL Oyodo
DD Makinami
DD Makigumo
DD Kazegumo
DD Akigumo
DD Yugumo

Allied ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (2 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 68
Port hits 7

E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Haruna
BB Haruna firing at Darwin
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Kongo
BB Kongo firing at 1st Motor Brigade
CA Tone firing at Darwin
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for CL Oyodo
CL Oyodo firing at 3rd Motor Brigade
DD Makinami firing at 3rd Motor Brigade
DD Makigumo firing at 1st Motor Brigade
DD Kazegumo firing at 1st Motor Brigade
DD Akigumo firing at 3rd Army Tank Brigade
DD Yugumo firing at Darwin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Darwin at 76,124

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
CL Ninaru
CL Naka
CL Sendai
DD Satsukaze
DD Takakaze
DD Arikaze
DD Katsutade
DD Maikaze

Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Resources hits 1
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 51
Port hits 5

E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Kirishima
BB Kirishima firing at 3rd Army Tank Brigade
BB Hiei firing at Darwin
CL Ninaru firing at 1st Motor Brigade
CL Naka firing at 1st Motor Brigade
CL Sendai firing at 3rd Motor Brigade
DD Satsukaze firing at 3rd Motor Brigade
DD Takakaze firing at 1st Motor Brigade
DD Arikaze firing at 3rd Motor Brigade
DD Katsutade firing at Darwin
DD Maikaze firing at 1st Motor Brigade
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on 4th Armoured Brigade, at 76,125
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 45

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Derby at 67,123
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1 Judy x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Pringle, Bomb hits 1
xAK Howell Lykes, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x D4Y1 Judy bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Howell Lykes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Derby at 67,123
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D4Y1 Judy x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Pringle, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x D4Y1 Judy bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Pringle
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Northern Oz

PzB,

I think you are wrong that Low Naval only kicks in at 100 feet. At 100 feet you are skip-bombing but at anything below 6,000 feet you are attacking using Low Naval Skill.

I've tested it and that's how it works. To be fair if you DO skip-bomb with highly skilled units then you should get far more hits than when flying at 5,000 feet but moderately skilled units tend to do better a bit higher ( 4,000 or 5,000 depending on the ceiling of any LMGs on the ships being attacked ).

Here's a bonus tale for you!
In my other AE game against Al (Wobbly rematch) we just had a series of clashes between LBA and carriers and now lastly a major carrier battle.

Since such battles are far between (and since it ended rather favorably) I'm going to post it in order to dwell on the results and tactics.
(Sorry Al!-)

This has happened in the game: Scen 2 similar to the AAR game.
- I went all out for New Zealand and have captured everything between there and up to Guadalcanal.
Fiji is under siege and is under blokade while Jap bases have been built to suppress the Allied presence at Suva and PagoPago and nearby bases.

In a not so glorious moment both the Hiryu and Soryu were sunk by the US carrier fleet; just like in the old days and the Battle of Phoenix Islands they went down without
inflicting damage on the enemy... This put the US in a stronger position and the Carrier Fleet was sent to hit our flanks.
- They succeeded and damaged 3 Ise and Fuso type battleships enroute to a bombardment mission as well as damaging many other ships.
Our LBA response (50 Zeros and 50 Nells) got 12 elite Netties through the enemy CAP and they placed no less than 5 torpedoes into the Saratoga (3) and Yorktown (2).
A large number of enemy carrier airplanes were reported OPS losses as their motherships had to shut down flight operations.

The following turn saw the enemy carriers withdrawing, trying to bombard one of our bases south of Suva. In these actions the KB closed in and together with LBA inflicted significant damage
on a number of enemy warships while loosing a Furutaka class cruiser in the process.

This the stage was set for a pursuit; the KB with all Jap carriers and escort carriers moved north east of Suva in order to engage the fleeing enemy fleets.
After ordering the CVE Fleet to sprint in order to catch up with the KB fuel reserves were relatively low.
- After 3 turns we were still 10-11 hexes behind the enemy and they were slipping to safety. At this time I had no idea what had become of the damaged carriers.

So last turn I separated the carriers with the most fuel and sent the Shokaku, Zuikaku, Akagi and Zuiho on a flank speed run to catch up.
The rest of the fleet trailed behind and provided long range Zero's both as strike escorts and as LRCAP.

We ended up in a favorable position 6 hexes away from the enemy's main carrier fleet (at this time consisting of the Hornet, Enterprise and Wasp - we were thus rather evenly matched
but we still had support from more fighters and our torpedo bombers had slightly longer legs than the Avengers.

One important factor: the Jap fleet was covered by moderate rain squalls while the US fleet was only covered in moderate clouds and later on clear sky.
Our strikes crippled all 3 enemy fleet carriers and also located and sank the limping Saratoga.

You can study the battle in more detail below;


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 20, 42

Air Combat

Morning Air attack on TF, near Johnston Island at 158,121
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes (only 15 minutes!!)

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 66
A6M2-N Rufe x 4
B5N1 Kate x 6
B5N2 Kate x 47
D3A1 Val x 53

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 44 (relatively low number and only 6-8 got onto our bombers)

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 6 destroyed, 12 damaged
D3A1 Val: 7 destroyed, 18 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 6 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA New Orleans, Torpedo hits 1
CV Wasp, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD McCall
DD Hammann
DD McCalla
CA Vincennes

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
6 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
12 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
17 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (6 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 19000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Wasp
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hornet
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Enterprise
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Howland Island at 153,123
Weather in hex: Moderate rain <- Notice

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes (spotted by radar 47 min before arrival!!)

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 55
A6M2-N Rufe x 4

Allied aircraft - Our CAP reduced the enemy strike package to ca 44 SBDs and 8 Avengers
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 65
TBF-1 Avenger x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 10 destroyed, 15 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 6 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese Ships - only 3 bomb hits were scored and damage is light to moderate
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Shokaku
CA Chokai
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Kuma
CV Zuikaku
BB Haruna
CA Kako

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
5th Ku S-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Akagi
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Johnston Island at 152,118 - the crippled carrier was west of the main US fleet, Al tried to spread his eggs out but we found a good spot in the center of it all!
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

Lexington dead in the water ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Johnston Island at 159,120 -> This TF was 1 hex north of the carriers and our strike went in from 7 hexes, Val's only carrying 60kg bombs.
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina, Bomb hits 7
CA Canberra

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000' *
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb

Carrier support unable to supply air cover.. <- Notice this intersting message!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Johnston Island at 159,125 - Another TF was spotted to the east
Weather in hex: Clear sky

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

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 7 damaged

Allied Ships
CLAA San Juan

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Several smaller follow up strikes followed from the now crippled Allied carriers.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Howland Island at 153,123
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 21 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 46
A6M2-N Rufe x 3

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed

CAP engaged:
Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
5th Ku S-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
13 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 79 minutes
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
10 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 57 minutes
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Howland Island at 153,123
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 41
A6M2-N Rufe x 3

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 17

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 3 destroyed

CAP engaged:
5th Ku S-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 12 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 4 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 6 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
Hosho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Was afraid that these ones would hit the Akagi again but we escaped further damage!

Morning Air attack on TF, near Howland Island at 153,123
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 11 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 38
A6M2-N Rufe x 3

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CV Akagi, heavy fires (firs were out next day but caused additional sys damage)
BB Haruna

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Yamada Det S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 50 minutes
5th Ku S-1 with A6M2-N Rufe (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 12 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 5 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 5 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 6 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our PM strike: the Kate's went for other targets, slightly annoying but the Val's did well in clear weather!
Another 3 heavy cruisers were pummeled and all crippled carriers were hit by more bombs.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Johnston Island at 158,121
Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
D3A1 Val x 40

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 16 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Minneapolis, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CV Wasp, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Vincennes, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 5, on fire
DD McCalla


Aircraft Attacking:
7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
9 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Enterprise
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Minneapolis
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hornet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Johnston Island at 152,118
Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
B5N2 Kate x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Patterson
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

Lexington dead in the water ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Johnston Island at 159,120
Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
B5N2 Kate x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 15 damaged

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina
CL St. Louis

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Johnston Island at 159,125
Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
B5N1 Kate x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CLAA San Juan
DD Dunlap, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In total we hit the Hornet with 11 bombs and 2 torpdoes, so she's sinking.
The Enterprise was hit by 6 bombs and will probably try and make a run for it.
The Wasp was hit by 6 bombs and set ablaze, I expect her to be finished.

In all 210 enemy carrier ac were reported lost, half of this as OPS losses.
Jap losses were ca 70 ac.

I took a big chance and gambled by sending a lone Car Div to battle the US Fleet but luck favors the bold and the margins were on the aggressors side (as it often is).

I know that's "correct" Nemo, but my strikes with the same ac from 2-3000 feet hit absolutely nada.
Set them to 100 feet and they caused havoc.

Bomber pilots are in the 55-76 exp range with low naval at ca 70 skill.

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

PzB,

I think you are wrong that Low Naval only kicks in at 100 feet. At 100 feet you are skip-bombing but at anything below 6,000 feet you are attacking using Low Naval Skill.

I've tested it and that's how it works. To be fair if you DO skip-bomb with highly skilled units then you should get far more hits than when flying at 5,000 feet but moderately skilled units tend to do better a bit higher ( 4,000 or 5,000 depending on the ceiling of any LMGs on the ships being attacked ).

Well, if you do not have TOJOs in range, try strafing with NICKs. Those 20mm guns should be interesting against armour. Most Allied tanks do not have any AA capability.
Also, I would keep Yamato twins away from any danger, until attack. It would be waste to NOT use them, because some moderate damage from planes.

ORIGINAL: PzB
8 x D4Y1 Judy bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

It seems you are flying too low for dive attack.
I am actually wondering, what skill skip bombing use. Maybe it is exp only? Or some average of exp, and LowN? Notice, that Allied planes also skip-bombed.

3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb