PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[PzB74]

That's probably what he wants...but I don't understand why that supply train just left Eniwetok.
Unless he wants me to go after it [&:]

I've put my fighters and bombers on Pagan on range 2 - if he gets that close all 4 islands in the chain
will be able to launch coordinated strikes. If that happens even 300 fighters on CAP can't stop em all!

Going to take the losses that are incured and let Andy play his game. If he makes a mistkae I'll be on him
like a hornets swarm [8D]

[Fishbed]

This is really a good occasion to use the KB if ever he is unlucky enough to got something hit, or more simply if his CAP gets depleted. He is really more or less far away from anything...

[veji1]

Thing is, safest bet for a great battle is still when he is tied up with protecting a landing, yet you cannot let him play in your backyard without reacting... KB is at Ulithi right ? What is his likely return path, This is when you can strike, he'll be lower in fuel, and any damage would complicate the return trip even more...

Well, not that I qualify as an expert or anything... just my two cents.

[WhoCares]

Playing the game (=not fighting a war) you could try and lure him into your LBA range by making Halsey auto-react to one of your CV(E)s

[PzB74]

Well, Andy wanted to strike the ships in Osaka: his max speed dash didn't bring his carriers
close enough though so they hit some transports in Bonin Island (port) instead and sank them with
a massive strike. Me thinks the carriers will go back home now, got to be low on fuel. All this reckless
driving must have incurred some sys damage as well.

My response was to move almost 400 fighters to Osaka as well as 350 fighters and 200 bombers to Tokyo.
The warships made a dash for a more northernly port so there were only low value ships left in Osaka/Tokyo.
The enemy fleet is now just south of the Bonins.

I've actually got 2 carriers, 4 escort carriers, 3 battleships, cruisers and lots of destroyers in the Home Islands.
Been upgrading the Shokaku's and transporting air groups. Been thinking about a little offensive 'up north' as well!

Not very keen on engaging the enemy carriers unless my LBA can soften them up *considerably* first. Can't afford a Midway
or a Stalingrad..have to keep kewl! [;)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/18/44

Sub/ASW Attacks

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 33,50

Japanese Ships
AK Honan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 29
PC Ch 32

Allied Ships
SS Dace
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF south of Wake Island!

Day Air attack on TF at 84,70

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9
G4M2 Betty x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
G4M2 Betty: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
AK West Cawthon, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
AK W. B. Ayer, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK William S. Clark
AK Red Jacket
AK San Gabriel, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Lapwing
AK Admiral Senn
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Bonin , at 65,52

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 64
SB2C Helldiver x 255
TBM Avenger x 175

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
TBM Avenger: 2 destroyed, 14 damaged

Japanese Ships - a supply convoy that was disbanded into Bonin Island. Was unsure were
Andy's carriers were headed. They all sinks...

AK Taibu Maru, Bomb hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
AK Shozui Maru, Bomb hits 15, on fire, heavy damage
AK Teshio Maru, Bomb hits 14, on fire, heavy damage
AK Kizugawa Maru, Bomb hits 18, on fire, heavy damage
AK Seiryu Maru, Bomb hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
AK Tamahime Maru, Bomb hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
AK Roko Maru, Bomb hits 17, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Keinan Maru, Bomb hits 16, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Hagoromo Maru, Bomb hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
AK Iwakuni Maru, Bomb hits 15, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Port hits 15
Port fuel hits 6
Port supply hits 7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/19/44

Sub/ASW Attacks

Another one bites the dust...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 37,47

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 19
PC Shonan Maru #2
PC Kyo Maru #7

Allied Ships
SS Scamp, hits 3, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The replenishment fleet north of the Marshalls is heavily CAP'ed!

Day Air attack on TF at 76,67

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 4

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 48
F6F Hellcat x 33
Corsair IV x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 4 destroyed

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

[Fishbed]

Heavily CAP but no match for the KB [:D]
Too bad you would need a very bad interception course, I suppose you can't intercept them without getting in range of the returning strike fleet right?
A couple of CVE or CVL for lunch would have been kewl [:D]

[PzB74]

True [:)] Unfortunately I'm not in a position to intercept and Andy's carriers are heading
back towards the replenishment group. He said these long range strikes are a waste of time and
effort cause they're so easily spotted...so I guess we won't be seeing them again for a while.

While the US carriers have been spending fuel the Combined Fleet has been gathering strength and
a massive air armada is now taking shapes! The air fields of China, the Philippines, Japan and
the Marianas hold thousands of highly trained army and naval aircraft [8D]

I've managed to to the near impossible: 4 full divisions have been relocated from Kavieng to NG,
Truk and the Marianas by air transport without Andy noticing anything [:D] Not many troops left on
Kavieng, the first assault will drop it... Andy hasn't bombed the place in a long time so I took
a chance and moved some transports in. Other transport units operated out of Truk, Hansa and Ponape.
A troops convoy carried the crack 16th Division from the latter just a few days ago - right in front
of Andy's nose! [&o]

So Hansa and Wewak are both garrisoned by a full division while the smaller bases of Dagua and Aitape
are held by 1-2 regiments. A strategic reserve is yet again available in the Marianas.

Numerous aviation units and Army/Air HQs are being shipped from Japan to the Philippines and the Bonins.
A few more months and we're ready to face the storm! The Hiyo is down to 10 sys damage and most of my
heavy cruisers and battleships have only minor system damage left.

So my apologies for being kinda defensive (boring:) - a major Allied mid 44 offensive isn't easily defeated!
Will try to intercept the Allied carriers with 2 subs though [;)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/20/44

Air Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wake Island , at 82,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 15

Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

The Sitz krieg continues! When the $hit hits the fan next time I'm afraid there will
be no more breaks until the war is over.

Andy's raid towards the Home Islands certainly accelerated my plans about strengthening
the air defenses there [:'(]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/21/44

USS Rasher reported hit twice by asw ac of Hong Kong!

Air Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wake Island , at 82,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
A6M5 Zeke x 15

Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 1 damaged
G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 13 damaged

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Not long to go for the defenders of Eniwetok....

Ground combat at Eniwetok

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 37080 troops, 394 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 5215 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
401 casualties reported

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

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/22/44

Sub/ASW Attacks

Promised you a sub attack on the US carriers...well, depth charge attack followed
by immediate sinking of Jap sub was perhaps more correct [8|] Really frustrating
to be able to set up the perfect intercept for nothing. Well, asw ac sank a US sub
today and ships damaged another. Submarines are truly cursed in this version of the game.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 35,48

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 11
PC Ch 9
PC Ch 3
PC Takuna Maru #7
PC Sonan Maru #6
PC Seki Maru #2
PG Yoshida Maru

Allied Ships
SS Balao, hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 73,63

Japanese Ships
SS I-37, hits 7, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Allied Ships
DD Cowell
DD Conway
DD Caperton
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Today was good day for Miss Betty! [:)]

Day Air attack on TF, near Bikini at 78,76

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
MSW Bittern

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 82,85

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Shropshire, Torpedo hits 2, on fire [8D]

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 71,85

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 6 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Shaw
DD Electra

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 78,78

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 2

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK John Swett, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Talking about the sun...Andy suddenly performed a bombardment attack on Kavieng!
Guess he was surprised, shock attack tomorrow I assume.

Ground combat at Kavieng

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4815 troops, 43 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 5275 troops, 117 guns, 0 vehicles - not a lot of combat troops but 4800 enemy
troops may be a bit too little to suppress 9 forts? Seems like both me and Andy have been evacuating
troops [:)]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HMS Shropshire: a date with Miss Betty!

I've reduced the range of my Bettys to a range of 2 for a long time. Increased it again a few days ago
and voila. It's just like fishing [:D]

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/23/44

Sub/ASW Attacks

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 36,54 - a damaged tanker heading for Manila was interecpted. Had to scuttle her!

Japanese Ships
TK San Ramon Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Dragonet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 57,61

Japanese Ships
PG Kaikei Maru
PG Busho Maru
MSW W.21
MSW W.10
DD Kiji
DD Hato
PC Kunashiri

Allied Ships
SS Harder
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Repairs finished

After upgrading and finishing repairs in Tokyo the Shokaku/Zuikaku battlegroup is fit for fight again!

[kkoovvoo]

Hi PzB,

are all those ships in port one Air combat TF? 20 ships seems a bit much to me.

Or are they mixed with other ships?

[Honda]

That's just for transit purposes.

[PzB74]

Yep, wanted to keep a reserve in the Home Islands. The escort carrier division is further
north with the Mutsu and 6 destroyers.

Ideally I would like such strong support for any 2 carriers - my problem is that I have too
few escorts and too many carriers. Difficult to organize both a strong KB and a strong surface
combat group.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/24/44

Sub/ASW Attacks

Lots of engagements..another US sub reported sunk!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 34,48

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 19
PC Shonan Maru #2
PC Kyo Maru #7
PC Kanju
PC Etoforu

Allied Ships
SS Balao
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 34,48

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 19
PC Shonan Maru #2
PC Kyo Maru #7
PC Kanju
PC Etoforu

Allied Ships
SS Balao, hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 33,50

Japanese Ships
PC Seki Maru #2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
PC Ch 11
PC Ch 9
PC Ch 3
PC Takuna Maru #7
PC Sonan Maru #6
PG Yoshida Maru

Allied Ships
SS Dace
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[CapAndGown]

I just had an interesting idea for your defensive plans.

You note that for any major invasion he will have to stick around the area for a good while with his carriers to defend the invasion force. That time, obviously, can be used to launch a massive air assault in an attempt to get at his carriers. Meanwhile, fast surface forces might be able to slip in during the night to try to engage his invasion fleets and race back out of the range of his carriers before day break.

Originally I was thinking about bringing the KB into action during this period when his carriers are protecting the invasion fleet. But now I am thinking differently.

I doubt that he will be able to conquer your bases very quickly. Indeed, I am thinking that his carrier and surface forces will have to withdraw for resupply (at the very least for soritie purposes) well before the time the island under attack has fallen. That being the case, you would have a window where you could slip in another division to bolster the defenses of base being attacked. This would then devolve into a long, bloody siege that would require him to operate a supply train to keep the assault going. This supply train, then, could become a target for the KB if you could tell where its base of operations was.

Alternatively, protecting this supply train will keep a segment of his carrier force constantly engaged, wearing it down, and perhaps reducing its strength as portions of it would have to be rotated for resupply and repair purposes. It would be this somewhat depleted carrier force that the KB could attempt to attack.

[Alikchi2]

That's a very interesting thought...

Of course the most damaging thing PzB could do to Andy is knock out his carriers. But it's also the hardest. Raids deep behind Andy's supply lines, or even into the eastern Pacific, are a tempting alternative.

[veji1]

well that's kind of what he did already in Kavieng, which eventually got bypassed...

But then I guess this was also due to the fact that there were many bases in the area not that well protected at that time (By PZB standards I mean). Of course, in case of an invasion of the marianas, things would be very different...

My guess is that he already has that kind of mobile reserve been thought of and organised... It is up to Andy to protect the invasion spot with surface forces to avoid a counter landing... With the Kavieng lesson, I think he would not let that happen again..

[Honda]

A night naval surface strike would also be interesting having in mind how much capital ships USN had lost so far. At least two bombardment forces would already have depleted most of their ammo by the time Combined fleet came to play. If only day surface action yielded better results it would be possible to utterly destroy the invasion fleet as per the original IJN plan for the decisive battle. First the destroyers and cruisers come in during the night long lancing the enemy fleet and at first light the main battle line appears on the horizon blasting everything in sight[:D]. A Japanese fanboy's wet dream...
Of course, such a scenario is impossible since the main battle line would have to sit through two phases of air combat before deciding to engage the enemy. Which in turn doesn't have to be such a problem...If KB is around it will draw most of the attacks leaving the surface fleet alone. Only a few strikes might target the BBs and it would be a good diversion from KB, maybe just enough for it to stay afloat. But it all sounds a bit too much like a suicide mission. With USN CVs around unharmed the day after would be a bloodbath for IJN...But if a strong strike could come in from the Marianas...who knows what could happen[&:]

[Sneer]

the only problem is that main battle line would not sink more than dozen of transport during day fights so it doesn't make sense at all with current game model

[Honda]

Yup...

[Fornadan]

You'll most likely sink more transports with 10 PTs than 10 BBs