Matrix Games Forums

08/22/42

Orders
-Yesterday´s battle resulted in lots of DD´s and transports heavily (or not no heavily) damaged at Rabaul. With enemy carriers in the area, the reinforcement of Shortland was postponed again (althought the evacuation force is still disembarking some troops there while emergency repairs are being done in the DD´s). We expect the Wasp, or what remained from her, to be still in range of our Betties. So Zeros and Betties are still ordered to attack Naval targets with a range of 8. Submarines will attempt to find the USN carrier while it retreats.

-Resolution
-Bad wether over Rabaul prevents our bombers from flying. However, flying boats were able to detect the enemy fleet. They sailed NORTHEAST, and now are only 420 miles east of Rabaul. What are they planning? A raid against Truk? More inconclusive combat in Tulagi....

23/08/42

Orders: The erratic behaviour of the enemy carriers prompt us to consider the possibility of a raid on Truk. As we don´t have land based fighters to defend Truk, the carriers will move 120 miles South of Truk to intercept the enemy. The 54 Betties based in Truk were set to naval attack (range=8) unescorted. Transport operations in the Salomons cancelled until we have a clue of the enemy intentions.

Resolution
ASW attack at 70,102(night)

Japanese Ships
SS I-21

Allied Ships
AP William Ward Burrows
AP Tasker H. Bliss
APD Stringham
APD Manley
PG Isabel
PG Tui
PG Moa
PG Kiwi
DD Walke
DD O'Brien
DD Russell
DD Hughes
DD Meredith

-Well, it seems ASW was really toned down....


-The enemy carriers are fleeing to Southeast. Now they are 540 miles from Rabaul, preventing my Betties from flyinf escorted missions against them....so they choose an easier target and again go after the convoy that is unloading its Cargo in Gilli Gilli.

Day Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
A6M3 Zero x 24
G4M1 Betty x 27

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 12 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Asphalion, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Wanganella, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Lycaon, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Westralia, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet

-Two of the AP´s sank in the same day...

-And more combat in Tulagi...

Ground combat at Tulagi

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3366 troops, 14 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1110 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Bad news: our intel confirmed that the enemy now hads an operational airbase in Lunga.

08/24/42

-Orders: As the enemy CV´s retreat, more subs are sent to intercept them. Another Barge TF will attempt to supply Tassafaronga. Betties will remain under naval attack orders. Destroyers in Shortland still not ready to depart. Transports and DD´s in Rabaul awaiting orders to resume transport operations

-Resolution

-Enemy carriers are retreating but they were caught by one of our subs

Sub attack at 69,93

Japanese Ships
SS I-4

Allied Ships
DD Aaron Ward, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

-Now ASW score is: 2 CA damaged, 1 DD sunk, 1 DD damaged, vs 3 IJN subs lost


-More combat
Ground combat at Tulagi

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3400 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1064 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 10 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
62 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

-It will be hard to evacuate remaining troops. Another night run with Destroyers could result in more losses.

08/25/42

Orders:

-Barges are in their way to Tassafaronga. A Transport TF is returning to Truk after suffering some losses in Rabaul. DD´s are still in Shortland for repairs. The other Fast Transport TF still has three DD´s in good shape in Rabaul. These DD´s will transport the 5th Kure SNLF to Shortlands. I also decided to start bombarding Lunga with my Battleships. A TF with 2 Kongos, 3 CA´s, 3 CL´s and 6 DD´s was sent to Rabaul, on order to refuel and then attampt a night bombardment on Lunga.

Resolution

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/25/42


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Ground combat at Tulagi

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3434 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1011 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 12 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
84 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

08/26/42

-Orders
Bombardment TF is approaching Rabaul. First DD run to Shortland worked, DD´s will refuel and attempt another run this night. A big convoy with the 86th Nav Gd and lots of supplies will head to Shortlands. Betties will attack Lunga at night.

-Resolution

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/26/42

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Ooops gave the wrong order...Fortunately the enemy doesn´t have fighters....

Day Air attack on Lunga , at 67,97

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
G4M1 Betty x 35

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
16 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
7 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
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Lae received a visit....

Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 9
Beaufighter VIC x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIC: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Beaufighter VIC attacking at 100 feet

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Ground combat at Tulagi

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3474 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 924 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
27 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported


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Ground combat at 54,91

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1599 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 2657 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles



Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

In other news. Japanese intel confirms the sinking of CA Quincy. Up to now my subs sank a DD and a CA with three losses.

08/27/42

Orders:

No new orders. Betties in Rabaul will rest for one turn. DD´s will make the third run to Shortland. Infantry in Shortland boosted by 25% with the arrival of Kure 5th SNLF soldiers.

-Resolution




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Ground combat at Tulagi

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3458 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 891 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 12 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
50 casualties reported


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Ground combat at 54,91

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1607 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 2683 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles

-My bombardment TF is 300 miles from Lunga. Will reach the Island tomorrow. Air recon detected enemy surface ships in the area. Stay tuned[:D]

08/28/42

-Orders
-Rabaul is running low on fuel. Some tankers, escorted by 3 DD´s, were sent there. DD´s in Shortland completed emergency repairs and were sent back to Rabaul, where they will join the other DD TF. Betties are put on long range naval attack, escorted by the remaining A6M2 in Rabaul, so they will finish any damaged ship in the upcoming battle in Lunga.

-Resolution

-My bombardment TF locates a small surface force near Lunga. Some enemy ships are already damaged. The battle ends with a clear Japanese victory, but the enemy lost only one ship

Night Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 67,97

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Haguro
CL Kuma
CL Tama, Shell hits 1
CL Kitakami
DD Akigumo
DD Kazegumo
DD Makigumo
DD Oyashio
DD Yukikaze
DD Hayashio

Allied Ships
CA Astoria
CA Vincennes, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ellet, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Wilson
DD Hull, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

We hope Vincennes will follow Quincy....[;)]

-Meanwhile,enemy surface ships attack the I-21, which survives with moderate damage

ASW attack at 70,102

Japanese Ships
SS I-21, hits 2

Allied Ships
MSW Toowoomba
DMS Trevor
DD Walke

-The bombardment in Lunga wasn´t particularly effective

Naval bombardment of Lunga, at 67,97 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

16 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Hayashio
DD Yukikaze
DD Oyashio
DD Makigumo
DD Kazegumo
DD Akigumo
CL Kitakami
CL Tama
CL Kuma
CA Haguro
CA Atago
CA Takao
BB Haruna
BB Kongo


Allied ground losses:
207 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 3


...and the Ellet was caught by a IJN sub after surviving the battle with the Kongos

Sub attack at 69,100

Japanese Ships
SS I-169

Allied Ships
DD Ellet, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

-Finally, the round of ground combat in Tulagi....

Ground combat at Tulagi

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3518 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 798 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 30 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
4 casualties reported

Game over due my own stupidity[:@]. Saved a PBEM file over my savegame. Fortunately, I got another victim...eeerrrr...partner to playtest the game. Stay tuned[:D].

Sorry it's ended; I've been enjoying reading your AAR. I'm playing Japan in the stock version of this scenario vs. Maikarant in a PBEM. I find it's an uphill battle for the Japanese.

Does your e-mail program save attachments from your outgoing e-mails? If not, you might consider keeping backup copies of turns. I actually save all incoming and outgoing saves, plus pretty much every combatreport.txt and replay file, but then I'm a packrat. [:'(]

Sorry it's ended; I've been enjoying reading your AAR. I'm playing Japan in the stock version of this scenario vs. Maikarant in a PBEM. I find it's an uphill battle for the Japanese.

-Thank you for your solidarity. What do you think about the changes I made? Do you have any suggestion? And I agree with you on the stock scenario. The trouble is that IJN doesn´t have effective subs due to ASW bias (IJN subs were very important in keeping a balance between CV forces as they sunk the Wasp and damaged the Saratoga) and USA B-17´s can easily shut down any Japanese base. I´m playing Guadalcanal vs. a human opponent too, and while I will probably get a draw with the IJN, this only happens because my enemy decided to use his B-17´s in antiship missions. Once he started to attack my bases, he destroyed 300 planes in seven raids! My Land based AF now are restricted to Truk and my enemy took Shortland and Lae, but it will end in 4 days and he has only a 7% advantage in points....

Does your e-mail program save attachments from your outgoing e-mails? If not, you might consider keeping backup copies of turns. I actually save all incoming and outgoing saves, plus pretty much every combatreport.txt and replay file, but then I'm a packrat. [:'(]

-I usually have 2 slots for each saved game, but I forgot to do so this in this particular AAR, however, I will place another AAR when I start the next game against a human opponent (this scenario)