Memoirs of Service Afloat

[Flicker]

As most of you probably already know, the title of my AAR is from CSA Admiral Rafael Semmes' Memoirs of Service Afloat, which includes Semmes' account of cruising through the Pacific. It's a good read.

[pws1225]

Ah yes ... Admiral Semmes. Long live bar-b-que and good manners!

[Flicker]

pws1225 - BBQ! Our local style is dry (no sauce) pork BBQ served with spicy vinegar sauce or dry chicken BBQ served with white sauce (mayo and vinegar). We love BBQ so much that we elected a BBQ restauranteur to the State Senate. The Senator graduated from the Culinary Institute of America just to return home and make BBQ using his family recipes.

Caution - this thread is subject to hijacking for beer, for example tonight I plan to issue orders while quaffing Founders Breakfast Stout (double chocolate coffee oatmeal stout).

[Flicker]

December 11, 1941

BB West Virginia sunk at Pearl Harbor after days of fighting growing fires (no other ship is on fire but most of the BBs require months of repair). Three IJN xAKs were sunk at Vigan by the Hong Kong MTBs (more than 600 Japanese casualties reported). SS Sturgeon sunk an xAK off Formosa. The Japanese took Legaspi and Hong Kong (the HK Base Force, Kowloon BDE, and Rifles of Canada are on TFs off Palawan; elements of the Middlesex Bn and Winnipeg Grenadiers were air transported to Manila). The Indian 3rd Cavalry evacuated Singapore and is off Billiton heading to Oosthaven. Escorted Tankers and AOs are at Balikpapan and Tarakan filling up - ships running from Manila and the PI are gathering at Tarakan). Skirmishes in China.

I lost track of the KB - I think it is about a day west of Johnston Island heading west. Somehow I lost track of the Wake Island invasion fleet. I also lost track of mini KB - but there is a TF SE of Mindanao (invasion TF? or mini KB).

Lex and Enterprise are off Wake Island. Enterprise picked up the VMF squadron from Wake. I'm going to combine the TFs and send them on towards the Celebes Sea - this gives me a chance to try Refueling at Sea with some AOs from Tarakan. I hope to stay ahead of the KB and see what mischief I can stir up on the way.

[bigred]

Unrestricted units at Hong Kong can escape. Fly your Walrus units to India via Chinese airfields. The ships can just set sail but be careful as to the air threat tolerance you assign to the fleeing task forces as they will have to travel through enemy controlled air + sea lanes so they must be set to totally disregard enemy threat else they will be timid and merely circle back to Hong Kong. Best way to get the infantry out is by flying them out - embark them on ships and they stand an extremely high chances of being sunk in the South China Sea. No need to rebase air transport planes to Hong Kong for the evacuation. You can pick them up using the PBY-4 planes in Luzon and from Luzon they can be further sent afield.

One technique I used against P.Hausser to bring the kowloon BDE home was---amphib load then drop at chinese port north of Hinan Island. Then walk it out thru the burma road. This move by the transports can be covered by the DDs atHK and you may get lucky and avoid the enemy surface TFs that know you are there.

[Flicker]

bigred - good tip. What's this about SCTFs being there (South China Sea)? So far I haven't run into them... The HK Base Force Transport TF got hit, but the remainder are on board a (now) unescorted couple of xAKLs off Palawan. The Kowloon BDE and Rifles of Canada are in the Sulu Sea heading to Tarakan.

[Flicker]

December 12, 1941

Several Allied sub attacks score hits north of Luzon. Eight B4Y1 Jeans sink DD Scout and xAKL carrying HK Base Force (some survivors were rescued). Couple of Chinese units get bombed, bombarded, attacked, and mauled - Japanese capture Chengchow. Japanese capture Guam.

IJN 4 ship SCTW with BB at Davao. Two DD TF SE of Wake Island. Two CS and DD TF at Beaufort. Some kind of TFs near Palawan, north of Borneo, plus several at Vigan and north of Luzon.

Nice to see some units combine. I need to do more of that.

Overall my hope (it's too fuzzy to call it a plan) in the near term is to:
- consolidate a MLR in China along Nanning to Changsha, with fallback along Tuyun to Chihkiang.
- MLR along Ankang, Sian, to Lanchow. IMO Sian and Lanchow are critical for China.
- Burma Road line along Paoshan to Chengtu with Kunming.
- Burma Road line from Rangoon to Mandalay to Lashio; fallback Chittagong to Ledo.
- India line from Calcutta to Darjeeling.
- build and garrison Ceylon and Port Blair.
- Fort Sumatra. Evacuate Singapore, PI, DEI to Sumatra.
- I don't know what to do with Oz or NZ yet.
- build and garrison Noumea, Fiji, Samoa (but not too much).
- build and garrison Midway (as much as possible) and Hawaii.
- build out the Aleutians.
- organize, organize, organize...

[Flicker]

December 13, 1941

BZ Houston TF (Sulu Sea):

Day Time Surface Combat, near Jolo at 73,88, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Thames Maru, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
xAK Nansin Maru
xAKL Nichizui Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Nissen Maru #2, Shell hits 1
xAK Nittei Maru, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Ryugi Maru, Shell hits 3
xAKL Saiko Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Sanuki Maru
xAK Shoho Maru, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
xAK Taibun Maru, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Tatsuho Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
xAK Tone Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
xAK Uyo Maru, Shell hits 25, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Ume Maru, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Yuzan Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
xAK Yubari Maru, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
xAKL Akita Maru
xAKL Ayaha Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAKL Awa Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAKL Heiyo Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Higashiyama Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Tonegawa Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
xAKL Yagi Maru, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
xAK Okuni Maru, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
xAKL Hachirogata Maru
xAK Azuchisan Maru, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
xAK Amakusa Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Fukuyo Maru, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CA Houston
CL Boise
DD Edsall
DD John D. Edwards
DD Parrott
DD Pope, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
1435 casualties reported
Squads: 34 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 47 destroyed, 53 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 36 (19 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 19,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 19,000 yards

Every little bit helps. "Ships sunk" report indicates 8 IJN xAK / xAKL sunk. PT Boats disrupt landings at Vigan. Several subs toss torps discover duds. Manila CAP can't keep up with the numbers of sorties and aircraft. Japanese capture San Fernando PI and Hwaiyin (NE of Nanking).

IJN forces at: Beaufort (8 ships inc 2 CS and 2 DD); Davao (4 ships inc BB); west of Wake (10 ships inc 2 CVL and CA - KB? - Ent / Lex TF are 10 hexes SW); SW of Wake (2 ships inc DD and PB); SW of Wake (3 ships inc 3 xAK) heading NW - Wake invasion?.

Most of the HK and Manila evacuees made it to Tarakan for refueling.

*** CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAYS ***

Too much to do IRL until after Christmas - I'll probably go ahead and do a restart since I won't remember what I was doing.

[Flicker]

***RESTART***

Went ahead and restarted and got amazingly lucky on Dec 7 - lost a couple of DDs and a DMS at PH. All of the BBs got plastered, but not sunk, however they will require years of shipyard time.

It's mid-February 1942 in-game. At this point I've lost HK, Singapore, Manila, and Rangoon (on time or earlier than real life). Clark Field and Cebu are hanging on and Bataan may hold out until the real life date. I ran away bravely in the DEI - almost all of the Dutch units are on Sumatra (Fortress Palembang). Most of the scattered British forces made it to Sumatra, including some of the HK units (except for those poor Canadians) and almost all of III Corps, as well as some of the Malayan Army units. The Aussies and Kiwis made it to Sumatra. Much of the Cavite and Bataan USN Base Forces made it out (I didn't realize until too late that the Cebu BF was potentially 'save-able'), plus the Asiatic Fleet HQ. The forces were in place by Jan 1942, with more than 600 AV each at Palembang and Oosthaven, plus about 300 AV each at Benkoelen and Djambi, plus about 200 AV each at Lahat and Praboemoelih. Almost every air unit made it to Sumatra, but some units have pilots but no planes (and no aircraft in the pools). I have 2 troops (RN Observor Corps) on Borneo (they didn't want to get on the plane).

I'm finding out that I can't run away fast enough in Burma - the IJA is rolling over units much faster than I expected. The Burma Division got kicked out of Rangoon and hasn't stopped running yet - if I'm lucky they might straggle into China in a few months (they retreated first toward Prome then toward Toungoo and are now trying to make it to Taung Gyi, where the Best Friends Forever (BFF) Brigade is dug in. I've been using Ground Attack from the air to try to slow them down (I noticed that units in 'move' mode change to 'combat' mode when attacked). I've got a pretty good line established from Chittagong to Imphal to Ledo (forts to 3 defended by Indian and Aussie Divisions plus sundry Indian units).

I can see why Fortress Java is enticing - much better infrastructure. In this game the AI ran KB up the east coast and another Air Combat TF up the west coast - my planes had already been evacuated but a few boats were obliterated - for the defenders it was like a sustained Pearl Harbor. The Japanese landed at a few locations, but their landings were disrupted by PTs and aircraft - however they have enough strength to keep the beachheads - the Dutch are fighting at Kalidjati but can't be everywhere.

China has a MLR established along the Tuyun to Changsha rail line then to Ichang, Nanyang, Loyang. I think I've got IJA Divisions 'trapped' at Kukong and at Nanyang - I was able to move units through both of their retreat hexes (F6 - W shows no retreat). The problem is, now that I've got them, what do I do with them? For example, at Kukong there are 100K Chinese vs 25K Japanese - both without supply.

Ships sunk - I've sunk about a dozen xAKLs, about 50 xAKs, a handful of small boats, a couple of subs, a couple of DDs, CS Chiyoda and Chitose, three CLs, CVE Taiyo, and CVL Riujo. I've lost a lot of boats, a few subs, a half-dozen xAKs and xAPs, about 30 xAKLs, a couple of corvettes, and a half-dozen DDs. I'm getting decent numbers in the air (1 to 1.5) plus getting some FLAK kills, however I'm almost out of fighters on Sumatra.

Watching the Combat Animations can be fun - some of the ships had nice lines and they are nicely rendered. Here are a couple of good ones:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Terapo at 96,127, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Syozui Maru, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
xAK Horai Maru, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
xAK Jinsai Maru, Shell hits 27, and is sunk
xAK Kiyoshima Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Shirashika Maru, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
xAK Tempei Maru, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAKL Nichirei Maru, Shell hits 12, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Australia
CA Canberra
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Perth
DD Benham
DD Ellet

Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 96,130, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 18, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Achou Maru, Shell hits 19, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Australia
CA Canberra
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Perth
DD Benham
DD Ellet

Japanese ground losses:
2096 casualties reported
Squads: 64 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 67 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 15 (14 destroyed, 1 disabled)

BZ

I'm finding out why the South Pacific is important to the Allies: Oz needs fuel. I thought I could supply Oz from the Indian Ocean but there's not enough shipping (or oil). So, I'm building up the Christmas / Pago Pago / Suva bases - the Japanese just took Noumea, so I'll get to try an amphibious landing (my first ever!). Maybe I'll try a paradrop then too. I just did my first naval Bombardment a few turns ago. There's still so much to learn about the game mechanics.

I plan to have a quiet Pacific - just enough to keep Oz humming along and protect the sea lanes. The near term main focus will be to reinforce Sumatra, keep Port Blair (now at 200 AV), and hold the India line. I've got US fighters and bombers now at Colombo on the way to Sumatra. If the India line holds, I'd like to retake Burma first, hoping to trap the IJA units in Burma, maybe by landing at Moulmein. After that, on to Singapore!

[Flicker]

The Operations Report for Feb 14, 1942 states:

"CV Hiryu is reported to have been sunk near Loemadjang on Jan 24, 1942".

I certainly hope this isn't fog of war...

I may have learned something from rereading the manual and thinking on it and trying it out: aircraft should be set on Naval Attack / Rest (or whatever) - I was setting them to Naval Attack and Naval Search which I think limited their attack (I thought that one must search before one could attack). The Dutch air force damaged about a dozen transports at Merak, here's a sample of the afternoon attack:

Allied aircraft
Blenheim I x 7
Buffalo I x 1
Hudson IIIa x 8
139WH-3 x 16
CW-22 Falcon x 3
Hudson I x 5
Wirraway x 9

Allied aircraft losses
139WH-3: 1 damaged
Wirraway: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AMC Hokoku Maru
AG Muroto, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Kiyama Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
xAK Kirikawa Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Tone Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Kenan Maru, heavy fires
xAK Shofuku Maru
xAK Somedono Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Kensin Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Sinkyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Daiya Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
861 casualties reported
Squads: 32 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)

BZ

Also I guess that combat reports saying belt armor hit means that the bombs bounced off the BB...

[Flicker]

Feb 20, 1942 was an historic day for the Chinese War of Resistance. For five years and more, the Japanese have devastated China, but now the Kuomintang have struck back in a decisive victory that overshadows the victorious Battle of Tai'erzhuang in 1938. Generalissimo Chiang 'surrounded' the IJA 104th Division (led by 23rd Army HQ and accompanied by an IMB) at Kukong, and also trapped the IJA 32nd Division at Nanyang. After days of bombardments and deliberate attacks, the Generalissimo ordered shock attacks - the first day of shock attacks shattered both IJA forces and the second day of attacks destroyed both forces. The "disease of the skin" is being treated...

In game terms, these are my first major land battles. Nice introduction.

Jap Carriers are off the West and East coasts of Java, along with several powerful BB / CA led SCTFs in the Java Sea and several landing forces. The Japs have established another beachhead at Semarang plus taken Batavia (historically Batavia was captured Mar 5, 1942). I've got fragments (or more) of most Dutch units at Sumatra - the Dutch troops at Java will be overwhelmed quickly but they've got a weak IJA Division isolated and trapped at Kalidjati hoping to push it back into the sea.

So far the Allies have sunk more than 70 xAKs and 15 xAKLs - IIRC from Mike Solli the IJN gets about a thousand cargo ships - if this rate continues the IJN will run out of shipping by Fall 1943. Dutch subs and aircraft and a few assertive SCTF actions account for most sunk shipping.

I'm trying to figure out what to do with the Dutch Air Force (which may improve my understanding of the aircraft pools in general). I would post a screenshot of the Dutch Aircraft Replacement Pool but I haven't figured out how to do that yet (and haven't looked that hard - too much gameplay, not enough reading). However, I see that I have a couple of DO24Ks, PBYs, and TiVAs in the pool. I don't understand the replacement rate - it says 2 PBYs and 12 Hurricane Trops, plus some other aircraft types "-rd" (e.g., 27 P40E - rd dated 42-03). Does this mean that all I get are 12 more Trops plus 27 P40s (for example) in March 1942? Does the Dutch AF basically cease to exist after those planes are gone?

[Flicker]

Mid-March 1942

The Chinese followed their victories by destroying the IJA 35th Division at Loyang. Some Chinese units are at 50+ experience with decent leaders, but I don't foresee any major offensives by the Chinese in the near term.

Clark Field and Bataan are still holding out, but I don't know how - the Japs have 5 Divisions + at Clark. We'll see if MacArthur holds out until the historical date of surrender in early April - I think they might since Bataan is nearly untouched. The last Allied aircraft in the PI was destroyed on the field last turn, so I don't need the airfield. I wish I could turn off airfield repair to preserve supplies and focus on fortifications. Cebu is still holding out.

The Japs have almost all of Java - the Dutch still hold Soerobaja and there are a couple of scattered, shattered units on the island, but it's over. The Jap Division trapped by the Dutch was relieved (so closeto destruction!). The Japanese landed at Palembang with the 53rd Division, but many of the ships were sunk and the Division was destroyed (by III Corps - 2 Indian and 1 British Division). The Allies reinforced Sumatra with British and US air groups - over 100 fighters plus a bomber wing.

I couldn't run away fast enough in Burma - the Japs control the Irrawaddy basin - the Allies control Myitkyina and Lashio (not for much longer). The survivors from Rangoon almost made it to Akyab, but the Japs just landed a Division there. I'm not sure why the British carrier aircraft (Invincible and Hermes) didn't respond - for that matter I'm not sure what a Fulmar F-B is good for. A Hudson group out of Calcutta responded, which was a nice surprise, but the Division landed successfully. There is an Indian / Gurkha Division dug in at Cox's Bazaar backed up by Aussies at Chittagong, so I may try to bag the Jap Division. The Chittagong / Imphal / Ledo line is fairly strong - level 3 forts with garrisons.

Next game I might run away faster in Burma and send some units to China (on purpose instead of fleeing there).

My kill rate of Japanese shipping is slowing, but still good. Darn those American torpedoes! My skippers have seen some fat TKs in their periscopes, fired, then thud - failure to detonate...

I still haven't mastered the air replacement system, but thanks to the forum for helping clear up the concept and workings for me. Next up, pilots. I think my biggest problem there is the delay in transferring pilots - I can't / don't keep track of what I had planned for someone and by the time they're ready I've forgotten what I wanted them to do.

[Flicker]

I had a couple of exciting turns that I just have to share...

Two Allied Carrier TFs (Sara / Lex; Ent / Yorktown) planned to provide air support for a division-sized amphibious assault at Milne Bay, along with a couple of cruiser-led SCTFs and a BB-led SCTF. The Japanese were spotted using KB to support an amphibious assault at Canton Island. In addition to sending every sub nearby (~ a dozen), the allies decided to sorty the freshly-supplied carriers against KB, which appeared to be light on fighters (me too). The landing at Milne Bay was to continue, depending on LBA out of Port Moresby.

Over the course of two days, 29-30 May 1942, I have had a knockdown, dragout, full-on carrier battle in the Gilbert Islands; PLUS an unexpected battleship vs battleship battle off Milne Bay.

The 29th of May began with a half a dozen sub attacks (one hit) and then a wave of Japanese strike aircraft (15 Zero, 35 Kate, 41 Val) struck - 75 Wildcats and Buffs defended the Sara / Lex ACTF, shooting down 1 Zero, 22 Kates, and 23 Vals. I expected to take some losses in trade for taking out the IJN strike planes - Sara and Lex each took a torpedo and Lex took some bomb hits (about 30 float damage each). Next it was the allies turn: 20 fighters and 18 dive bombers attacked Kaga, Shokaku, and Akagi which were defended by 38 Zeros. The allies suffered the loss of almost the entire strike package, with no hits to show for it. The next strike of 9 fighters, 17 SBDs, and 13 TBDs got through 34 Zeros for a 1000# bomb hit on Kaga. The IJN struck back with a raid by 9 Kates, all of which were shot down by CAP (48 fighters). Eleven TBDs tried an unescorted strike but were mauled by 22 Zeros.

The afternoon started with fighter combat - 32 Zeros getting the better of 9 Wildcats. Next, the allies assembled a wave of 35 fighters, 28 dive bombers, and 12 TBDs, which were met by 29 Zeros. The allied fighters took heavy losses, but the SBDs got through - putting 3 bombs on Kaga, 1 on Akagi, 1 on Shokaku (plus a torp), and 2 on CA Furutaka.

The allies lost a lot of aircraft (A2A, ops, ditching), but since Sara / Lex were still seaworthy and Ent / Yorktown were untouched, the allies moved in to try and hit KB again.

30 May 1942 began with the pre-invasion bombardment of Milne Bay, landing of assault troops, and invasion support bombardment. The landing was interrupted by the sudden appearance of BB Kongo and BB Hyuga, escorted by 2 CLs and 4 DDs. Fortunately, the BB SCTF of BBs Mississippi, New Mexico, and Warspite, escorted by 5 DDs, intervened. BB Hyuga was sunk, Kongo heavily damaged and on fire, plus one CL and a couple of DDs damaged. The allied BBs took the brunt of the IJN fire - each is damaged but still in fighting shape (as long as it's a running away fight).

The morning air combat of 30 May 1942 began with 18 SBDs hitting KB unopposed - 4 bombs on Kaga, 3 on Akagi. This was followed by a major allied strike of 9 fighters, 46 SBDs, and 10 TBDs, which wreaked havoc on KB - 3 hits on Shokaku, 10 hits on Akagi, 1 hit on Kaga, and 3 hits on Furutaka. Next, a squadron of TBDs got a torp into CA Haguro.

The afternoon began with 18 SBDs putting the hurt to Shokaku (1 hit), Kaga (3 hits), and CA Furutaka (1 hit). Next, a squadron of TBDs sunk CA Furutaka. I don't know why, but the following allied SBD strike hit the transports - some hits, no sinks. The last strike of the day saw Kaga take 3 more bombs and the sinking of DD Yamakaze.

I'm about to fire up the game for the first time since last weekend - I'm pretty sure that the Allied carriers will retire to Pearl (Hornet is en route to the Gilberts to cover the withdrawal or maybe take a shot at KB). The allies may divert the Milne Bay landing force to Port Moresby, which has been under siege for months (it's a quagmire - the allies and the Empire keep reinforcing at roughly the same levels). The Milne Bay division may break the siege.

[BBfanboy]

Hi Flicker - looks like you have caught on fast to many of the game mechanics. Nice result at Canton Island - the damaged Japanese ships are a long way from a drydock!
One thing I noticed in your first page was that you equated oil production and refineries with aviation fuel - not so!
Fuel in this game is only used by ships and as an input, along with resources and manpower, to heavy and light industries. They turn it into "supply" which includes fuel in drums for vehicles and aircraft.
Supply is undifferentiated so food, ammo, medical supplies, spare parts and "devices" [which can include squads of troops] can all come out of the same supply stock. Note that you need minimum supply levels [20K, I think] to produce "devices" to replace losses or to upgrade your units.
In China, have your air units where supply is most plentiful and where there is a secure rail line that can move damaged aircraft if the airfield gets bombed to closure. Watch supplies very carefully in China - air ops burn them very quickly.

[Flicker]

BBfanboy - thanks for commenting. You're right that I used to be pretty confused about fuel, but now I know not to use Bunker C fuel oil in airplanes. I've got most of the Chinese AF training at Chungking - some Chinese units are at Changsha on the rail line, but they don't have aircraft anymore (and it seems that they won't be getting new planes anytime soon). Two AVG squadrons are on the Changsha to Kweilin line.

***

The ship summary says that I sunk the Junyo (which I didn't even know was around), plus the Hyuga (which I watched sink), along with 2 CAs and a couple of DDs. The aircraft losses showed ~70 IJN planes lost to ops.

The 31 May 1942 was uneventful - I lost track of the Jap Carrier force somehow (maybe they all sunk?) and Ent / YT sortied against a bunch of xAKLs while on the way to Pearl. Sara / Lex are headed toward Pearl. Hornet is about a day or so away from the Gilberts. I also lost track of the BB Kongo and friends. I've got 2 cruiser SCTFs covering the diverted landing at Port Moresby. BB Warspite has >50 sys damage; Ole Miss has sys in the 40s and float in the 30s.

Overall this has been a fun game. The allies have sunk ~600 Jap merchants and a double handful each of cruisers and DDs. Subs account for more than a third of ships sunk. Aircraft account for about 40% (mostly Dutch and British at the beginning, now US). Surface action accounts for about a third (many of those laden with troops). Most of the traditional Jap targets have fallen (PI, Singapore, Burma, DEI) except that I held southern Sumatra (Fortress Palembang). The Aussies rescued Java - Soerabaja was never taken but the rest of Java was wrecked. The Allies held at the Chittagong to Ledo line and are manevering to contain and take Cox's Bazaar and Akyab (each garrisoned by an IJA Division), using three stacks. The force that will actually attack Cox's Bazaar can use India restricted units.

I find that I'm as frugal in the game as I am in real life.

Does anyone else try to "upgrade" air groups that will be permanently withdrawn with older aircraft - it doesn't always work but I've traded out some Lancers and Mohawks for Airacobras and Warhawks. I also try to scoop up the experienced pilots before the group disbands. I try not to send replacements to airgroups scheduled for withdrawal.

After learning the ship withdrawal PP lesson the hard way (why is it that the only ship in the TF to eat a torp is the one due in a week that sustains more than 50 points of damage); I send some ships home a little early.

Just as with air groups, I don't turn on replacements for LCUs scheduled for withdrawal.

[BBfanboy]

From other posts I have seen, sometimes the withdrawn unit leaves its aircraft in the pools, a few days after being withdrawn. I got the impression that this does not apply to all units, and I don't know if there is a way to tell which will put the aircraft in the pools. If you can determine this, the smart thing would be to do the upgrade and get the benefit in combat before the unit withdraws. If the unit is unlikely to see combat and others on the front line need the aircraft, don't allow the upgrade.

[Flicker]

BBfanboy - I think that if you take a 'practice run' at withdraw / disband (then cancel) it tells you if the pilots / planes go to the pools (at least sometimes it does). I get your point - to underscore the timeliness of it, there are several air groups that withdraw (P) on 1 JUN 1942. I've had them working overtime for awhile - plus I transferred a few high exp pilots out of the reserves and into those groups - some of those guys are now TRACOM.

***

The uncertainty of the fog of war adds depth to the game. I have no idea how many or even if I sunk any carriers in the Gilberts. I'm pretty sure that (so far) I came out ahead and that the IJN carriers will need significant dock time once / if they get to their faraway repair yard.