PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[rroberson]

BANZAI!

Good to see you have your fighting spirit back! Bleed him, drive him to the peace table...(but take time off for R and R when you need it.).

[PzB74]

Thx for the good advice Pauk! As long as my bases are out of LBA range my crack Daitais can protect them
against enemy carrier strikes as Andy would have to split his CAP into offensive and defensive elements.
Otherwise you're telling the truth...

Good to have backup commanders Ron [8D]

That's what I was thinking Ken - I may need a couple of months away from WitP when I start in my new job.
We just have to agree on a strategy and follow it. In case of major enemy invasions we could discuss defensive
strategies here on the forum or by mail?

I've been thinking about moving a couple divisions from India to boost defenses in the Palaus/Northern New Guinea to DENY
this area to Andy before mid 44. A large surface force backed up by a really good air force would be at your disposal to
achieve this.

[Rysyonok]

PzB,

It takes a lot of guts and backbone to come back to the game after a battle like that... I'm really glad you did There are very, very few AARs that reach this late into the game...

[PzB74]

Thx Rys, I never intended to 'dissappear': the horrible losses were bad but I can handle
a few defeats. That I allowed it to happen is an indicator that I'm ready for a little R&R.

Nothing much to report...Andy's carriers are heading back to port, short on everything.
The Taiho, Ryujo and Chiyoda have reached port: 1-2 more days for the rest to arrive.
Perhaps even the Katsuragi can be saved.

My new plans include training air groups in China to a skill level of ca 90 if possible.
Bettys on night naval attack is a must to avoid the uber CAP and I think it's possible for
that good Zekes to perform even better against Hellcats. More emphasis will now be put on
LBA as I said.

I'm using the 'lull' in the fighting to bring in huge amounts of troops and supplies to the
bases in New Guinea. Minelayers are now working around the clock to mine the Palaus. I don't
dare to send em to NG - too many have been lost and the rest have to be preserved. Too bad
they don't respawn like msw's.

A huge convoy of troop transport (4500 size) is leaving for India. The recent losses will force
us to move more troops to the central Pacific to delay Andy even more. With 400 transports at
Yap I'm planning to move whole divisions by air.

The Hiyo left Hong Kong with a full air complement and will reach Davao shortly. All surviving
carriers will be based here and joined by 3 cvs and 3 cves over the next 3 months.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/15/44

[Nomad]

That I agree to John, I need a continous streach of playing a position. It took me at least 10 - 15 turns as Allies to fully understand everything about the position.

[Sneer]

could you report amount of forces lost in the operation ?

[PzB74]

I can ask Andy to cc you the turns and you can get used to things for a while! In 10 days or
so I may go offline for a while. That could be a good time to shift control over to you Ken?

Losses are 'still in progress' since several heavily damaged ships are enroute to Ulithi.
Let's say 500 carrier ac, 2 carriers, 2 cvls, a battleship plus a cs and the two? destroyers
lost in the surface battles. Another carrier and a battleship is in danger of sinking while the
last cs will make it.

The lost ac can be immediately replaced and I got lots of battleships. If the damaged carriers
can be brought back before the major battles later this year things wouldn't be too bad.

[Sneer]

did you consider going where allied CV are not present to make them chasing you and not available for front duty ?

[Przemcio231]

PzB i admire your Fighting Spirit... but im curius how long will it take to put up your CV's on line ageain?? in this time their airgroups could be highly trained in China[:)] i say that you can make a big comeback[:D] are there any other CV;s in Construction as i see you got the 3 Unryus?? maybe you can Replace Jill with Grace some time soon??[:)]

[PzB74]

Not considered anything like that as of yet Sneer: trying to get an overview of
what's left right now [:'(] Seems like the Amagi and Haruna are lost - 90 flood
and 3 hexes out of Ulithi. Katsuragi will be ok though.

There are at least a dozen highly trained Zeke groups ready for immediate carrier deployment
in China and the Phillippines Przem! Trying to train them to 80 exp and above now.

By mid 44 3 new Unryus will be ready, attaching a screenie of the damaged carriers.
The Taiho and Chioyda are operational and can be used in an emergency together with the Hiyo,
Ryuho and 5 escort carriers. That's some 330 carrier ac. In all we could manage to field
500 carrier ac by 06/44 even without the 4 most heavily damaged carriers.

Within 2-3 months it should be possible to make them operational again if not in perfect
shape. That's another 300 ac... So I'm going to move HUGE reinforcements to the bases in New
Guinea to deny them to Andy.

It's quite amazing: the Shokakus were the true survivors of WWII - just as they are in this
game [&o]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/16/44

Another sub reported sunk and another one hit by asw ac! Light cruiser Noshiro finishes
repairs at Shanghai - anotehr cl and dd repaired in Tokyo. 3 ca's almost ready in Hong Kong
and the battleship Ise has 1 sys dam in Hong Kong. Will leave for Davao with 4 dd's shortly.

Damaged carriers - overview

[Przemcio231]

in June Grace will be ready for construction[:)] well your CV's sure took a beating[:)]

[PzB74]

Yes they will...or perhaps it's in May?
If you look at how many bomb and torpedo hits they took it's amazing that they survived at all!

CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 1
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 7, on fire
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 6, on fire
CV Taiho, Bomb hits 15, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CV Katsuragi, Bomb hits 6, on fire

No wonder the Kaga went down:
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 19, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

It's still a good thing to survive 8x1000 lb bombs - and look at the great Taiho!!!
15 bombs and 2 torpedoes and she's only at 32 sys damage a few days later [&o][&o]
No wonder I thought the entire KB was lost.

Look at my main strike:

Day Air attack on TF at 53,78

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 123
D4Y Judy x 119
B6N Jill x 90

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 309

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 121 destroyed
D4Y Judy: 97 destroyed
B6N Jill: 80 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 55 destroyed, 30 damaged

This is one of the most balanced and powerful strikes my carriers have
ever launched - 320 ac including 123 fighter escorts! It's just crazy that
not a single ac got through [&:]

If 100 dive/torpedo bombers had gotten through at least 2-3 of Andy's carriers
would have required substantial yard time. Well, no use crying over the past!
In the future we HAVE TO reduce the enemy CAP to ca 150 ac before sending in large
waves of bombers.

[PzB74]

The Amagi foundered and sank just south of Ulithi. The Haruna battles on, 95 flood and will enter (and sink in)
Ulithi harbour tomorrow.

A full crack divsion has been loaded in India and will reinforce Palau ASAP! 3 mixed brigades enroute to New Guinea
from the Home Islands together with the Arshan Garrison regiment. Some 100k supplies are in the process of being
distributed to NG as well.

Andy will change his plans as Nomad knows about his plans. I'm pretty sure his new plans will involve audacious carrier
strikes into our rear areas. Northern Guinea still has to be occupied though. Can't get enough troops into Biak and Nooemfoor.
Already lots of troops in Hollandia while Sarmi is being reinforced. A full division can be airlifted to any of these bases
if necessary.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/17/44

Air Combat

From his newly occupied base of Dagua - now a size 2 af - the first mediums sortied to
hit Biak!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Biak , at 46,77

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 3
B-25J Mitchell x 39

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 8 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub/ASW Attacks

ASW attack at 35,47

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

Allied Ships
SS Muskallunge, hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New Bug [:o]

Several of the depleted Daitais on my carriers now got 0 as their assigned strength.
Great, can't even get em of my ships....

[Redd]

Bastaards!.[;)]

[Przemcio231]

Well its a pitty you are not using NikMod... if you would use it then the Fleet of the American Imperialists would been crippled by the Eagles of the Emperor[:D]

[Speedysteve]

Hi John,

I believe this may have happened to me once before. IF your CV goes over 50 SYS damage then the airgroups will receive new hardcoded group levels until they reach beneath 50 SYS damage again and they can then take on new aircraft. Believe this could have happened to you. Check to see if it's just on your 50+ SYS damage CV's.

Regards,

Steven

[kkoovvoo]

I had similar experience with heavily damaged Zuiho.

Assigned number of fighters dropped from 18 to 9.

But whe ship was partially repaired (below 50 sys dam?), the number of assigned fighters increased back to 18.

[PzB74]

The Haruna sank just as she reached Ulithi, so did a damaged destroyer anchored
at Hollandia. Silly that shore based pumps can't fixed damaged ships moored to a pier.
At least they should be salvagable!

The 'bugged' Daitais is new in this game: heavily damaged carriers have been able to transfer
their remaining air groups ashore before. Now even the Daitais with remaining ac that have been
transfered ashore got a new max # of ac!

Andy is now cc'ing the turns to Nomad - we're discussing the situation and trying to come up with
a good plan for the next critical months.

The fleet is being moved to Davao in Mindanao (PI) for now with the exception of the damaged carriers
and escort carriers + escorts. The former will be moved to various repair yards as soon as the flooding
can be reduced. I suggest that the escort carrier divsion remain at Ulithi as it can play a useful role
as decoy if Andy tries to assault the base with his carriers. This could cost him dearly if we keep 500+
crack fighters in place.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/18/44

Sub/ASW Attacks

One enemy sub reported sunk by asw ac!
Otherwise a bloody day in the PI Sea...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 55,57

Japanese Ships
AP Jinzan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
MSW W.4
MSW W.30

Allied Ships
SS Tang
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 56,56

Japanese Ships
AP Hanakawa Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
MSW W.4
MSW W.30

Allied Ships
SS Angler
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 56,56

Japanese Ships
AP Jinzan Maru, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
MSW W.4
MSW W.30

Allied Ships
SS Angler
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

A quiet day because of very bad weather....

[anarchyintheuk]

Your cv strike may have hit a brick wall, but your a/c losses were only 2.5-1. That's impressive. Along the lines of what cap_and_gown was saying, a defense of the Marianas no longer looks pointless, but actually possible. Timing is still everything.

[PzB74]

That's true Anarchy - but remember that Andy's pilots had been flying escort and
ground combat strikes for weekes. They were on the end of their ropes while the highly
experienced and rested Zekes were in prime condition.

Nevertheless, future operations will favor the defender and if we can fix our carriers and
prepare a good defence, Andy is going to meet a formidable defense. Personally I think it would
be a folly to invade the Marianas before mid 44 as northern NG has to be secured first. By this
time we will be ready again.

Going to give Ken some time to catch up on events - turns are coming a bit slowly these days as
I've got lots of other things on my mind.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/19/44

Air Combat

A supply convoy at Sarmi took a lot of heat. Replenishing the base before enemy
air activity close everything down...Convoy has been dispersed and a heavier CAP
provided.

Pre-emptive strike on Dagua tomorrow - if the Sally and Oscars are up to it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sarmi , at 48,78

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 2
P-38J Lightning x 12
B-25J Mitchell x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed - shot down by an A6M2 [:'(]

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Sarmi at 48,78

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 10
SB2C Helldiver x 12
Kittyhawk III x 29
P-40N Warhawk x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk III: 1 damaged
P-40N Warhawk: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
MSW Shintohoku Maru
AK Kazuura Maru
AK Kitahuku Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Kanto Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Katuragi Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Kinai Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Kasyu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Kiyosumi Maru
MSW Tama Maru #2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Sarmi at 48,78

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 7
Kittyhawk III x 19
P-38J Lightning x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AK Kasyu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Kiyosumi Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Kitahuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
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