Pauk - I luv ya - I do - I do. And I know one day you will be 100% Pauk again - and you will be happy - and you will have a great AAR going that we will all love to read. Because you are the greatest!
Bonsai!!!
[&o][&o][&o]
(and the past will be the past)
[:)]
Nah, good luck with AE. Actually i'm pretty happy right now. I enjoy reading how good is naval combat in WiTP and therefore is no need for changes in AE. It is better to stay focused on fuel issues - we really do need transport airplanes for carrying fuel...[&o].
Btw, i do not like "kindergarden talks" but since you insist : i'm not great, i'm a goat lover... but you AE guys, you are our heroes[&o][&o][&o].
lol, I better don´t comment the use of 200+ Corsairs for Cap onboard the CVs... [:-]
[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]
It is really annoying watching all those bombers without escorts. This action is reminding me of Andy's invasion of PM and GG latter on. Jumper, can you use KB efficiently against all those Corsairs?
It is really annoying watching all those bombers without escorts. This action is reminding me of Andy's invasion of PM and GG latter on. Jumper, can you use KB efficiently against all those Corsairs?
Oh yes, I can effectively loose 1000 planes in a single day. Actually I would sacrifice them if I could hope for breaking through them. PjH Is using all of his CVs/CVLs in single TF with all CVEs in another one. He has all eggs in one basket and I would gladly pay the 1000 AC price for the chance to step into this basket! BUT I´m sure my planes would arrive in 20 unescorted waves and would be massacred for no gain. If they would fly at all.. I really don´t know how to use KB at this moment. I could send it 4 hexes from PM and limit the range, but still my carrries may react and send all planes not against his transport but his deadly CAP trap.. I will prpbably loiter around wait for some oportunity..
As a sideshow PjH sends paras to grab small bases on east NG coast, but everywhere (except undefended dot base Dobodura) were repulsed:
I built up Dobodura as Japan in my game, I think it can go to size 4 or better on the airfield. The more bases the Allies have to keep closed at once the better. I would be careful about letting him have it. He could fly in some seabees and have a nice base for fighters right in the middle of your operations, even 2E bombers could start hitting Rabaul shipping.
Keep up the good fight! I know you are disappointed with results, but all those torpedo hits still look nice when you line them up like in your screenshot.
Upper portion used with permission of www.subart.net, copyright John Meeks
I was thinking about it too, but:
1) I didn´t have enough engineers [;)]
2) It would be another base I would have to defend
3) It would delay the attack on PM only by 1 day. That is how long it takes to 10004E to close the AF for a week or so..
But maybe I should built a few lvl2 AF so I could send fighter weeps and 1E bombers.. Hmm.. Too late..
I´m sending 1st and 3rd Yokosuka Paras from Rabaul to Dobodura. If he will not reinforce significantly, I should get the base back tommorrow. And if not and PM will hold, I have 3 divisions in Truk..
Previously I have said the USSR asked for truce and Japanese Empire agreed. Here are the conditions:
1) Immediate cease fire 2) Truce will end at 8/44 or when a soviet base has been liberated by another allied nation 3) All non USSR air forces have to leave or be grounded until they can leave. USSR air force will not be supported by foreign air powers. 4) Japanese Army will abandon the siege of Irkutsk and will fall back to Ulan Ude 5) Japanese units in USSR/Manchukuo/China can leave this region only if HQ is changed.
So the War in Russia is over now for at least a year. I think I can be happy with these conditions. Pro and cons are following:
PROs:
-USSR resource/oil/HI centers remains under my control
-Important portion of IJA bomber force (+ a few fighters) is now free to be used in other theaters where are desperately needed (India, Northern Australia)
-Many Eng rgts are now free to be used elsewhere to help building 2nd defensive line
-Crack IJA bomber crews don´t have to bleed above Irkutsk to keep the AF closed (I´m loosing 5-10 planes daily here)
-I have 1 year to build proper defensive line
-No B-29 or other 4E attacks from USSR
-USSR ows onyl one base and it won´t be easy to break through..
-I doubt I would be able to conquer Irkutsk anyway.. [;)]
CONs:
-USSR remains in game and I will feel its wrath in one year
I have immedietly changed the HQ of one division and one ind.bde. Independent bde will be moved to Kuriles, while the division will embark ships in Vladivostock and will go where it will be needed the most together with 10-15 eng rgts and 10 contruction rgts. 5 bomber sentais are heading to India, other 5 bomber sentais are heading to SRA. 2 Ki-43-II sentais are heading to NG/Solomons. I really need some cannon fodder long range escorts there..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 1063
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1063 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (53,91)
TF 1063 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91
187 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AP Zealandia, Shell hits 4, on fire
CA Quincy, Shell hits 2
AP Livingston, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Foote, Shell hits 4
CA Hawkins
Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
253 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1119 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (53,91)
TF 1119 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91
Allied Ships
DD Beale
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 1119
522 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AK Wilhelmina, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Beale
DD Abbot, Shell hits 4
DD Converse, Shell hits 3
AK Ohioan, Shell hits 7, on fire
AK Nevadan, Shell hits 2
DD Frazier, Shell hits 2
Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
727 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1063 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (53,91)
TF 1063 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91
Allied Ships
DD Helm
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 1063
72 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Foote
Allied ground losses:
314 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1119 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (53,91)
TF 1119 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91
Allied Ships
DD Abbot
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 1119
587 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Beale
AK Ewa, Shell hits 10, on fire
DD Converse, Shell hits 14, on fire
AK Utahan, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Frazier
Allied ground losses:
1195 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 2
Allied troops are still unloading (but no new units) and it was followed by 2 pathetic bombardment runs. US BBs are totally out of ammo and therefore only 23 men was lost..
Another day of bombing. Lae was targeted and leaking CAP from Siador caused some damage:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87
Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 9
Allied aircraft
Empire x 4
PB2Y Coronado x 5
Wellington III x 8
Liberator VI x 13
P-38G Lightning x 20
F-5A Lightning x 5
B-25C Mitchell x 45
B-25J Mitchell x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
Otherwise he is bombing my troops in Port Moresby and all around while I´m bombing his troops in Australia and India.
Now comes the bad part of the day. PjH moved half of his CV fleet (probably CVEs) to Port Moresby and the CAP was deadly today. Wave after wave attacked and I couldn´t anything. Just watch..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 43rd USA Division, at 53,91
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 86
P-38G Lightning x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 17 destroyed
This was sweep, but somehow they attacked LCU??? It doesn´t matter as they would all died anyway, but it is strange..
1.attack
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 92
P-38G Lightning x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 3 damaged
2. attack
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 92
P-38G Lightning x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
3. attack
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3
G4M2 Betty x 4
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 92
P-38G Lightning x 13
And that is all.. 120 planes lost for nothing.. Depressing are not the losses, but the way I have suffered them! I have ordered all planes to stop as it is pointless to keep the pressure at this cost and under these conditions. And I have to repair damaged planes as currently only 30% of my G4M in Rabaul are operational.. Don´t know what to do next. But maybe Port Moresby will hold for a while yet..
I have send sub to the hex, where his CVs are parked and it succefully attacked. Unfortunately the wrong target:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 52,91
Japanese Ships
SS I-179
Allied Ships
DD Lang, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Vampire
DD Tucker
DD Stack
CA Indianapolis
Pity.. But it should force him to move his fleet every turn and so he will burn more fuel ops points. And he will have to stay here a bit longer, because it seems Port Moresby won´t be such an easy picking:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 48219 troops, 549 guns, 117 vehicles, Assault Value = 1331
Defending force 40292 troops, 376 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 774
Allied max assault: 1882 - adjusted assault: 238 [X(]
Japanese max defense: 553 - adjusted defense: 989
Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 9)
Japanese ground losses:
1365 casualties reported
Guns lost 20
Vehicles lost 2
Allied ground losses:
5036 casualties reported [:D][:D][:D]
Guns lost 187 [:D]
Vehicles lost 10
It should take some time until his troops will be ready to try it again..
Fresh paratroopers arrived, but the construction battalion was reinforced by part of 87th Nav Guard transported by air from Truk (I love L3Y[:'(]):
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Salamaua
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 460 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 14
Defending force 1050 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 24
Allied max assault: 16 - adjusted assault: 2
Japanese max defense: 19 - adjusted defense: 28
Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 4)
Allied ground losses:
40 casualties reported
And as I said I don´t think it would be good idea to leave Dobodura in allied hands. Japanese paras landed the day after their US counterparts and reconquered the base easily:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Dobodura
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 1122 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 52
Defending force 40 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1
Japanese max assault: 56 - adjusted assault: 29
Allied max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1
Japanese assault odds: 29 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Dobodura base !!!
Allied ground losses:
58 casualties reported
This turn I have lost another 120 planes and it forced me to stop all attacks for now. On the other hand allied ground attack was bloody failure and it bough me more time. US paras are more then annoyance. I don´t know if it was planned, but when I looked on the map more carefully I see that despide they failed to capture their targets, they still block all possible supply paths to Port Moresby and I will have to commit more troops to clear the way! Dammit.. Destroying "out of base" units.. Great..[:@]
KB arrived in Rabaul, refueled, draw replacements and 2 groups upgraded A6M3a to A6M5. But what to do? I don´t want to send my best pilots against 200 Corsairs, but maybe I will do it if he will keep his fleet divided. 80 Corsairs CAN be penetrated. If I could get just one decent strike and not many smaller..
If you manage strike first from your AF (Laee? Siador?) with modern IJAAF ac, followed with KB strike you will be able to achive a decent success IMO. His ac are probably on 90 % CAP and limited range strike on his CV bombars (you may test that with sending picket ships)... I know that you are afraid of uncordinated strikes, but even an 4 hexes range you should get fine strikes. Even if your CVs react (do you have careful commanders in front of your carrier divisions?) they will move towards GG (i can guarantee for that - experience from my game against Andy).
Strike! This is one of better opportunities you have - even with his cheating of placing hordes of Corsairs on CVs, replacing bomber groups with fighters? The latter you strike the stronger enemy will be. Do you really want face against 700 Corsairs on CVs?
I admit my nature tells me the same. STRIKE! [;)]
But I´m really unsure about the result. I had problems with KB not launching any strikes (or only pathetic ones) and now I fear it could happen again.. You are right that situation will be only worse as he will be stronger every month. It might be now or never.. I still have some time to decide. One last KB division refueled on Admirality Islands and will join the rest of the fleet in Rabaul tommorrow, then I will wait 2 more days to give upgraded groups some time to repair. If he will be still sitting near Port Moresby with fleet divided, I will strike. If he will join the fleet - not sure yet. And if he retreats, I will attack whatever will be left behind.
LBA can´t assist much. Siador is too far and Lae is closed. Only long range fighters (A6M2,3a and Ki-43-II) could escort the bombers, but they can only make the CAP fatigued. I will send them, but modern fighters are out of range..
i suggest:
strike strike strike
Throw in wave after wave... if you loose nothing happen cause his corsairs will kill you anyway. So, now you can kill his carriers - all of em!
IF (yeah, a big if) you break the cap, you can do
a.) sink or damage a lot carriers
b.) sink or damage a lot transports
c.) cut his landing troops (and without a good base, they need a lot supply and he can´t escort his supply transports)
d.) sind or damage some cruisers/dds or even bbs.
So, now is your chance.
What happen if you loose?
nothing - cause as we all know, in 44 your carriers and their planes are useless against deathstar Corsair.
And - honestly, a guy who bring 600 4mots will also put 700 corsairs together. So, no real losses if you loose the pilots now. Later on, they die for sure.
Sadly you did the truce in russia. Big mistake as i see it.
Cause he will find a possibility to open a base and then - he can operate his russian troops again. But it is too late.
i wish you good luck
Don't tickle yourself with some moralist crap thinking we have some sort of obligation to help these people. We're there for our self-interest, and anything we do to be 'nice' should be considered a courtesy dweebespit
I was busy at work, so the game pace slowed down a bit. I have already decided to strike, but it will be careful strike. I don´t want to loose 1000 planes for nothing. I know I will loose them sooner ar later, but as long as I have KB intact, he will allways have to have his own CVs on hand.. Truce in Russia was neccessary compromise. While I wanted to kick russians out of the game, PjH would prefere to return Japan to original prewar borders and seal this battlefield until the 8/45. We left this issue open when PjH took over this game and we have find the agreement now. It is reasonable compromise slightly in my favour as my main concern was, that he would use USSR airfields for strategic bombing of Home Islands.
KB strike - well, much will depend what will be in PM when I will arrive..
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/01/43
And unloading still continues..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1063 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (53,91)
TF 1063 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91
Allied Ships
DD Helm
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 1063
62 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AP De Grasse, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
DD Foote
Allied ground losses:
386 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 1119
TF 1119 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91
574 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Frazier, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Hawaiian, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Beale, Shell hits 7
Allied ground losses:
674 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 1119
TF 1119 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91
180 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AK Mormacrio, Shell hits 9
AK Coloradan, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
303 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1
And a bombardment run:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 53,91
Japanese ground losses:
700 casualties reported
Guns lost 12
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 20
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 2
All my subs in this area were busy today:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Port Moresby at 53,91
Moderate damage and back to Rabaul. It was pretty short mission..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 52,91
Japanese Ships
SS RO-61, hits 3
Allied Ships
DD Tucker
DD Vampire
Torps miss..[:@]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Thursday Island at 49,90
Japanese Ships
SS I-19
Allied Ships
AP Arthur Middleton, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
And I-19 is my hero. During the 3 attacks she hit 3 ships (DM and AK sinks, while other AK is damaged)! Now is out of torps and going back to Darwin.. 4 fresh will I-boats arrive on their stations tommorrow..
Besides the standard attacks my supply convoy in Gili Gili was spotted and attacked:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 56,94
Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 6
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
AK Akagane Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
The ship is doomed, but other 9 small AKs are unloading and Gili Gili will have enough supplies for a few months. Even if all of them will be sunk tommorrow. It could happen if PjH will move his CVs southwards..
My airforce is slowly gaining its strengh. Most of my fighter units are repaired and ready. 72 Ki-43-II arrived in Rabaul to provide long range cannon fodder escort. Siador is full of fighters (200 AC). I have problem only with my G4M units. They are still 50% damaged and mostly understrenghened. Problem is that I have run out of replacement planes and the production of 100 planes/month is unadequate. So I have doubled the production, but it will take some time to notice the effect. I kept very low reserves of G4M1 as G4M2 was just about to enter the production and the allied strike came in the moment when I have run out of old models, but the satisfying pool of new ones was not build yet. A mistake.. Soon I will have hundrets crack planes availible, but no airfield to field them..[;)]
KB is in Rabaul and tommorrow will be joined by CVLs Chiyoda and Chitose. In two days KB will leave Rabaul and will head towards Buna/Dobodura.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 28763 troops, 261 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 690
Defending force 54299 troops, 241 guns, 129 vehicles, Assault Value = 707
Allied ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Wow! After the last attack his troops are in pretty bad shape.. It will take him forever to conquer the base with these troops..[:)]
Port of Bombay was targeted today:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bombay , at 20,10
Japanese aircraft
J2M Jack x 3
Allied aircraft
PBY Catalina x 6
Wellington III x 50
Liberator VI x 109
P-40N Warhawk x 18
B-25J Mitchell x 15
B-24D Liberator x 155
Japanese Ships
AG AG-2087, Bomb hits 17, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-2085, Bomb hits 19, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-2086, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
285 casualties reported
Guns lost 12
think about the pilot bug... if you do not risk your good pilots now, they will vanish later on.
So, now (if you haven´t lost the timeing) they could shoot down something or sink his carriers. later on they will be replaced by 30exp-turkeys.
How many losses (both sides) do you have? All planes.
Also, how many pilots are in the pools? If more as 32.000 pilots are in the game, it will crash (say the pilot vanishing bug can occur).
Good to hear about GiliGili.
Is there any hope for reinforcing PortMoresby? He needs this base. Now you could trap some good troops
is he out of supply? Let him pay.
His super4mot-killingforce need only two times a warm welcome, the loss of 600 of em will give you the needed break. He is known for risking a lot and he do not give up easily, say you could let him pay forever.
Sure - he could kill your experienced pilots or even your carrier - but reading the other AARs, i think japanese naval airforce will be impotent very fast. If you change 4-5 carriers against his actuall us carrierforce, you buy more than 440 days. His advance will be stopped for a long time and his way to tokio would be too long.
But i am only a reader of your thread. But i say " S T R I K E ". Even if he wants you to strike, it is a great chance
Don't tickle yourself with some moralist crap thinking we have some sort of obligation to help these people. We're there for our self-interest, and anything we do to be 'nice' should be considered a courtesy dweebespit
Hi,
so far 24600 planes was lost (including 5000 destroyed on ground). My pilot pools are empty and US situation is unknown to me. Most of my air groups have 2-3x more pilots then is its TOE.
I doubt he has supply problems in Port Moresby. I could reinforce PM by air easily, but before I will send more troops, I need to know, if the supply will flow from Lae.. And because the garrison seems strong enough to hold the base on its own for now, I have time to test it..
I would be happy to have another chance to hit his 4Es, but I have only Siador AF availible and it is lvl 4. It means I can operate max 200 planes and it is not enough to LRCAP some base AND defend Siador. I need time to gain control over Lae and repair it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 1063
TF 1063 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91
Allied ground losses:
101 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 1119
TF 1119 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91
15 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AK Mormacrio, Shell hits 4
Allied ground losses:
62 casualties reported
I have send another sub to interdict the unloading:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Port Moresby at 53,91
Japanese Ships
SS RO-61
Allied Ships
AK Ascella, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Nice hit. The transport was already empty, but maybe some suplies went down with the ship..
And unloading continues..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 1063
TF 1063 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91
Allied ground losses:
45 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 1119
TF 1119 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91
52 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AK Mormacrio, Shell hits 2
Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
186 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Vehicles lost 1
I wasn´t the only who send the subs for hunting. One of my transports which delivered 30k supllies to Gili Gili was hit on its way back and is most probably doomed:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Fergusson Island at 57,94
Japanese Ships
AK Tran Ninh, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS Capelin
I´m surprised this ship is still afloat. I considered scuttling her, but I will not. With a bit of luck another US sub will spend another load of torps on her..
Now it was my turn again, but after a long time my "sharks" were unsuccesfull:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 52,91
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Port Moresby at 53,91
Japanese Ships
SS RO-61, hits 2
Allied Ships
AK Idomeneus - torps missed
PG Vancouver
MSW Sheldrake
MSW Herald
And RO-61 is out of torps returning to Rabaul, while I-171 is damaged and also returning to Rabaul. I-172 will take its place. It migh get a good chance as I expect a huge mess in allied lines tommorrow [:D]..
No chance for quick advance here:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 29025 troops, 270 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 698
Defending force 56315 troops, 261 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 727
Allied ground losses:
129 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1
PjH will need more troops or weeks of rest and rally to have a chnace for some progress. I suppoese he will pour more troops in. He has no time..
Well, as I said I expect a bit of chaos in US shipping lines tommorrow. Why? Because I have secretly sneaked a surface raiding force of 4 CAs accompanied by 6 modern DDs into the range of US CV fleet and they are just about to strike:
I don´t expect to seriously hit his CVs, but I should crush the escorts, any maybe achieve 1-2 lucky hits on his CVs. I expect just a weak escort as he doesn´t have any idea I´m so close and he is using all his BBs in bombardment TFs while many CAs/CLs were damaged or sunk. It should make him a bit nervous and maybe retreat his fleet until the situation will be clear. Also the KB is complete and will leave Rabaul. 1000 planes is ready to strike in 1-2 days!
I good day for Empire! I will add pictures when i get home..
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/03/43
Unloading still continues:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 1063
TF 1063 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91
Allied ground losses:
96 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 1119
TF 1119 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91
First on the place, in the middle of US fleet near Port Moresby, arrived I-172 which quickly find its first victim: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 52,91
Japanese Ships
SS I-172
Allied Ships
AP Moreton Bay, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AGP Niagara
DD Helm
DD Foote
It was followed by my cruiser force, which arrived with surprise on its side. In the same moment when japanese TF spotted US fleet, it was altready tracked by US radar, but with so many friendly combat and transport TFs passing all around, it wasn´t enough to put allies on alert. Japanese cruisers quickly aproached and opened fire on surprised enemy with devastating results:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at 52,91
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
SOC-3 Seagull: 2 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 3
CA Kumano, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Natsushio
DD Michishio
DD Arashio
DD Yamagumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Salt Lake City, Shell hits 21, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Portland, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Perth, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Stack, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Tucker, Shell hits 60, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Vampire, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
The first salvo of this battle was fired by CA Kumano and it fully hit the bridge of CA Salt Lake City killing all officers aboard. Loosing its commanders (CA Salt Lake City was probably the flagship) in the moment of surprising enemy attack caused the US fleet was in total disorder and their ships were crucified one after another. 1 CA, 1 CL and 3 DDs were sunk, while 1 CA was left in sinking condition. Japanese loses were none. Only CA Kumano was moderately damaged by some 8in hits. Destroying this US combat TF opened the way towards US CVEs and japanese captain decided to push the luck even more. And it paid off. Again the TF was tracked by US radar, but despite that the CVE TF was surprised when the japanese cruisers opened fire:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at 52,91
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
SOC-3 Seagull: 2 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, on fire
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 5, on fire
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 3, on fire
CA Kumano, Shell hits 24, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Natsushio
DD Michishio
DD Arashio
DD Yamagumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
Allied Ships
CVE Sangamon, Shell hits 1
CVE Chenango, Shell hits 2
CL Phoenix, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
DD Radford, Shell hits 17, on fire, heavy damage
DD Grayson, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Pakenham
The screening force sacrificed themselves to protect 2 CVEs. Only a few 5in hits were achieved before CVEs disappeared and Japanese ships had to turn all their guns against US CL and 3 DDs. The battle didn´t take long as soon after it started CL Phoenix was crippled by several 8in hits quickly followed by 4 torps. Even this battle wouldf be clear japanese victory, but one of US DDs put a torpedo into already damaged Kumano. Bothe US DDs were shot to pieces, but Kumano is now in big troubles. There were some more TFs, but clever japanese captain decided it is right time to leave, leaving heavily damaged Kumano behind. Another CL and DD was sunk with one DD heavily damaged. It makes total of 1 CA, 2 CL and 4 DDs confirmed sunk with 1 CA and 1 DD heavily damaged and hopefully in sinking condition. This victory wasn´t for free as CA Kumano is heavily damaged and migh be lost, while all 3 remaining CAs suffer 20-30 sys damage. All 6 DDs are 100% OK.
Only single DD left to protect CVEs and it wasn´t enough. I-172 waited and striked:
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Sub attack at 52,91
Japanese Ships
SS I-172, hits 5
Allied Ships
CVE Chenango, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Pakenham
GOOD! One torp won´t be enough to sink the ship, but with heavy damage it can´t perfom aerial operations and will spend a few months in drydocks. I-172 is damaged, out of torps and is heading back to Rabaul..
It seems a fresh wave of US troops arrived:
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Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 1029
TF 1029 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91
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Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 1119
TF 1119 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91
78 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AK Horace Luckenbach, Shell hits 1
AK Mormacrio, Shell hits 14, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
77 casualties reported
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Ground combat at Port Moresby
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 29105 troops, 271 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 701
Defending force 59639 troops, 300 guns, 186 vehicles, Assault Value = 901
Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Parts of 6 US divisons are now identified: 1st, 2nd Marine div, Americal div and 3x US divisons plus some tank regiments..
Chinese troops entered Ahmadabad:
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Ground combat at Ahmadabad
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 3760 troops, 144 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1510
Defending force 85221 troops, 887 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2475
Allied ground losses:
316 casualties reported
Guns lost 10
2500AV and all of them are Chinese.. These are throwaway troops for PjH. Even if he would loose them, they would just jump out of the pit in 30days in Karachi. Ahmadabad will hold against this force, but I doubt I could kick them out. On the north his units are marching towards Lahore. 7th US div leads them..
This is the "western flank" of the attacking australian army:
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Ground combat at 17,90
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 41649 troops, 330 guns, 143 vehicles, Assault Value = 1089
Defending force 809 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 24
Allied max assault: 1902 - adjusted assault: 1968
Japanese max defense: 22 - adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 1968 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
492 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Allied ground losses:
156 casualties reported
Guns lost 9
Vehicles lost 1
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
1000 AV is on the march towards Derby. They have no chance. 3 Japanese divisions + some additional units (tanks, SNLFs..), supported by IJAF will wait for them 120 miles SW from Derby and then will attack. Even stronger army is waiting on the crossroad south of Darwin..
And here are the promised pics:
Port Moresby
Here you can see the current situation in NG. KB will sail 5 hexes from PM, but the range will be limited to 4 hexes. If there will be some US CVs and my ships will react they should still attack transports in Port Moresby instead of corsair-CAPed CVs. Besides that I have send my air force back to Lae and I will try to hold it. I have considered to LRCAP it also from Siador, but decided not to. I have based also some bombers in Lae with limited range of 3 and set remaining bombers in Rabaul to naval attack again (9 hexes = Port Moresby) with the escort of 72 Ki-43-II. The idea is to weaken (and check) his defences today and finish him tommorrow.
When I send this turn to PjH he commented it that he has spotted my air force in Lae (including bombers) - I HATE THIS ISSUE!!! - and because he thinks that I have boosted its defences by LRCAP from Siador he has send whole his air force to attack Siador. He is wrong. Siador is still defended by 200 crack fighters on 80% CAP so I should be able to seriously attrit his 4E once more..[;)]
Australia
no comment.. these pics say it all..
India
Here is the situation really serious. I don´t think he can kick me out of Ahmadabad or hex SW from it, but I really fear his advance on the north. He has simply too many units. 7th US division followed by many other units (80k troops) advanced east and now are heading "somewhere". Either he will jump on the railroad or he can continue through wilderness. I´m sending 5th division (detached from my "panzer group") to "shadow" his forces via railroad towards Lahore. I can´t send much more as he still have 23 units waiting for any opening and I´m doing the same. This situation can easily turn into unbelievable chaos [;)] I think he is going for Lahore. If that is right, 5th division will boost its defences and I think it will be strong enough to stop him. Then it will be just a matter of time until I cut him off somewhere.. 2 more divisions shoud arrive in about 30 days.. I need to hold..
ORIGINAL: jumper
Night Time Surface Combat at 52,91
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
SOC-3 Seagull: 2 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, on fire
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 5, on fire
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 3, on fire
CA Kumano, Shell hits 24, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Natsushio
DD Michishio
DD Arashio
DD Yamagumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo
Allied Ships
CVE Sangamon, Shell hits 1
CVE Chenango, Shell hits 2
CL Phoenix, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
DD Radford, Shell hits 17, on fire, heavy damage
DD Grayson, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Pakenham
Uh, i like this feature in WiTP very much. [8|]... "CVs can be sunk only with ac, not ships".... fortunatly, AE team didn't find naval combat results wierd so folks will enjoy such results in Alied Edition [:'(]
Anyway, great move Jumper! [&o]...
I'm not sure that KB will be activated tomorrow, but who knows? Perhaps i get something wrong but why did you limit LAE ac on 3 hexes (Lae-PM=4 hexes?)
Uh, i like this feature in WiTP very much. [8|]... "CVs can be sunk only with ac, not ships".... fortunatly, AE team didn't find naval combat results wierd so folks will enjoy such results in Alied Edition [:'(]
Hi guys,
Pauk - yes, the inability to hit CVs in surface combat is strange. In my experience the only chance to sink CV in surface combat is to find some heavily damaged one or lacking proper sacrifial escort.. Otherwise they will flee after 1-2 rounds of combat.
I have limited Lae to 3 because I don´t want to fully strike at PM yet. I have 80% CAP and so I can not send so many planes to escort my bombers = Corsairs or P-38 would eat them alive again. I knew the game will show him I have bombers in Lae and so i expected him to send all availible fighters either against Lae or to LRCAP PM. Tommorrow they will be fatigued, many will be damaged, while mine will be fresh and angry..[;)] Range of 3 is enough to cover the sea hex from which he sent waves of Corsairs against Lae last time and I want him to pay if he tries it again. Otherwise this day is dedicated to defence. I don´t really expect KB to react either. It was mainly done to prevent strike at 5 hexes and face huge coordination penalty.
EUBanana - Nica catch. I suppose it was damaged?
ORIGINAL: jumper
EUBanana - Nica catch. I suppose it was damaged?
No - it was supporting an invasion of Trimcomalee that the RN was contesting, along with Ryujo, sticking to the transport TF.
Warspite engaged and hit Ryuho several times, enough for her to sink straight away, the other CVL took a single 15" hit - enough to disable her flight deck anyway - and she was sunk later on, by a bomber. Warspite didn't get the credit.
In the RNs favour was the fact it was monsoon season, so the CVs were unable to launch aircraft, and the fact that Warspite was probably the most experienced battleship in the Allied OOB at that time... I think surface ship experience matters a LOT.
Maybe too much. Even a green crewed battleship is still a battleship after all!
ORIGINAL: jumper
EUBanana - Nica catch. I suppose it was damaged?
No - it was supporting an invasion of Trimcomalee that the RN was contesting, along with Ryujo, sticking to the transport TF.
Warspite engaged and hit Ryuho several times, enough for her to sink straight away, the other CVL took a single 15" hit - enough to disable her flight deck anyway - and she was sunk later on, by a bomber. Warspite didn't get the credit.
In the RNs favour was the fact it was monsoon season, so the CVs were unable to launch aircraft, and the fact that Warspite was probably the most experienced battleship in the Allied OOB at that time... I think surface ship experience matters a LOT.
Maybe too much. Even a green crewed battleship is still a battleship after all!
I think it might be the problem of TF. In transport TF all ships with guns are trying to defend the transport ships at all cost and it seems CVs are not excluded.. In CV TF all ships are trying to defend CVs while CVs are running away.. And I´m not sure if the the CVs can launch offensive missions if they are in transport TF either.. [&:][:)]
