THE WAR COLLEGE-Rio Bravo (A) v. El Lobo (J)

[Rio Bravo]

[center]After Action Report

for December 26, 1943[/center]


Highlights for Today


1.) El Lobo continues to bomb Allied transports unloading at Talaud-elanden.

2.) Captain Haggard's PT Boats strike sinking 2 Japanese MTBs and damaging 3 others.


Synopsis of Combat Action for Today


1.) Allied Naval Bombardment at Pagan.

47 Japanese casualties.

3 hits (Airbase).
2 hits (Airbase Supply).
29 hits (Runway).
2 hits (Port).
1 hit (Port Supply).

No Allied losses.

2.) Combat Action Around Talaud-elanden.

1 damaged (B6N2 Jill).
5 damaged (D4Y3 Judy).
6 damaged (G4M1 Betty).
2 destroyed and 3 damaged (G3M3 Nell).

xAP Rangitata: 1 torpedo hit.
xAP Santa Elena: 1 torpedo hit; on fire; heavy damage.
DD Hull: 2 bomb hits; on fire.

3 destroyed and 1 damaged (Beaufighter X).

3.) Allies Bomb Moulmein.

90 Japanese casualties.

1 destroyed (A6M5 Zero).
1 destroyed (Ki-43-IIb Oscar).
2 destroyed (Ki-44-IIc Tojo).

13 damaged (B-25C Mitchell).
1 destroyed and 9 damaged (B-25D1 Mitchell).

4.) Japanese Bomb near Kunming (hex 71,48).

No Japanese losses.

28 Chinese casualties.

5.) Combat Action Around Formosa.

SS I-27: 1 hit.
MTB G-152: Sunk.
MTB G-153: 5 shell hits; heavy fires; heavy damage.
MTB G-155: Sunk.
MTB G-158: 2 shell hits; heavy fires; heavy damage.
MTB G-159: 2 shell hits; heavy fires.

1 destroyed and 2 damaged (B5N2 Kate).

PT-221: 2 shell hits.
PT-334: 3 shell hits.
PT 366: 1 shell hit.
BB Nevada: 1 bomb hit; heavy damage.

6.) Allied Artillery Bombardment near Takao (hex 85,66).

20 Japanese casualties.

No Allied losses.


Attached below as a link is the entire Combat Report for December 26, 1943.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

[center]After Action Report

for December 27, 1943[/center]


Highlights for Today


1.) El Lobo's naval attack aircraft sunk 1 Allied ship and damaged 10 Allied ships: At Talaud-elanden, El Lobo sunk 1 DD, set ablaze a CL, substantially damaged 3 xAP, and substantially damaged 3 xAK. At Pescadores, El Lobo heavily damaged a Submarine and an AK while also hitting an xAK. The Allies didn't do any damage to any Japanese ships today.

2.) P-47D2 Thunderbolts flow from Burma through China to Formosa splashed Japanese aircraft today. The Allies destroyed 34 Japanese aircraft and damaged 22 Japanese aircraft. The Japanese destroyed 6 Allied aircraft and damaged 22 Allied aircraft.


Synopsis of Combat Action for Today


1.) Allied Naval Bombardment at Pagan.

92 Japanese casualties.

5 damaged (N1K1-J George).
3 damaged (A6M5 Zero).

4 hits (Airbase).
4 hits (Airbase Supply).
24 hits (Runway).
6 hits (Port).
2 hits (Port Supply).

No Allied losses.

2.) Japanese Naval Attack Bombers Strike near and at Talaud-elanden.

1 destroyed and 8 damaged (G4M1 Betty).
1 destroyed and 3 damaged (B6N2 Jill).
1 destroyed (D4Y3 Judy).

CL Newcastle: 3 bomb hits; on fire.
DD Hull: 5 torpedo hits: sunk.
xAP Thomas Berry: 1 bomb hit; on fire.
xAP Noordham: 1 torpedo hit; on fire; heavy damage.
xAP Santa Elena: 3 bobm hits; heavy fires; heavy damage.
xAK Sea Snipe: 1 bomb hit; heavy fires.
xAK Maripessa: 1 bomb hit; heavy fires.
xAK Exhibitor: 2 bomb hits; heavy fires; heavy damage.

3.) Allies Bomb Moulmein.

85 Japanese casualties.

1 destroyed (A6M5 Zero).
1 destroyed (Ki-43-IIb Oscar).
3 destroyed (Ki-44-IIa Tojo).
1 destroyed (Ki 84a Frank)

15 damaged (B-25C Mitchell).
7 damaged (B-25D1 Mitchell).

4.) Japanese Bomb near Kunming (hex 71,84).

No Japanese losses.

24 Chinese casualties.

5.) Japanese Bomb Pescadores.

1 destroyed and 2 damaged (B5N2 Kate).
9 destroyed (N1K1-J George).
3 destroyed (N1K2-J George).

SS Redfin: 1 bomb hit; heavy damage.
xAK Steel Navigator: 1 bomb hit.
AK Betelgeuse: 1 bomb hit; on fire; heavy damage.

3 destroyed (P-47D2 Thunderbolt).

6.) Japanese Bomb Kagi.

1 damaged (Ki-49-IIb Helen).
1 destroyed (Ki-84a Frank).
1 destroyed (Ki-84r Frank).
9 destroyed (Ki-100-I Tony).

2 destroyed (P-47D2 Thunderbolt).

7.) Allied Artillery Bombards near Takao (hex 85,66).

41 Japanese casualties.

No Allied losses.


Attached below as a link is the entire Combat Report for December 27, 1943.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

[center]After Action Report

for December 28, 1943[/center]


Highlights for Today


1.) A couple Japanese Infantry Divisions were shredded today as they crossed the river and shock attacked the Allies at Kagi, Formosa today.

2.) El Lobo sunk or damaged another ten Allied ships today (no major ships were sunk nor damaged).

3.) The Allies destroyed 27 Japanese aircraft today while losing only 6 aircraft.

4.) Allied bombers caught a Japanese Infantry Division on open terrain and inflicted substantial casualties near Chaochow, China.


Synopsis of Combat Action for Today


1.) Allied Naval Bombardment at Pagan.

97 Japanese casualties.
3 hits (Airbase).
1 hit (Airbase Supply).
23 hits (Runway).
5 hits (Port).
1 hit (Port Supply).

No Allied losses.

2.) Japanese Nells Miss Allied DD Morris near Babeldaob (hex 92,98).

2 damaged (G3M3 Nell).

No Allied losses.

3.) Japanese Naval Attack Bombers Hammer Allied Ships at Talaud-elanden.

1 damaged (B6N2 Jill).
16 damaged (G4M1 Betty).
1 destroyed (Ki-44-IIc Tojo).
3 damaged (D4Y3 Judy).
1 damaged (Ki-21-IIb Sally).
1 destroyed and 4 damaged (Ki-48-Ib Lily).

6 Allied casualties.
4 Vehicles destroyed and 17 vehicles disabled.

SC PC-596: 2 bomb hits; sunk.
SC PC-777: 1 bomb hit; heavy fires; heavy damage.
SC PC-1082: 1 bomb hit; heavy fires; heavy damage.
xAP Rangitata: 1 bomb hit.
xAP Dilwara: 4 torpedo hits; sunk.
xAP Thomas Barry: 5 bomb hits; sunk.
xAK Modjekerto: 1 bomb hit; heavy fires.777: 1 bomb hit; heavy fires; heavy damage.

2 destroyed (Beaufighter X).

4.) Allies Bomb Moulmein.

1 destroyed (A6M5 Zero).
1 destroyed Ki-43-IIb Oscar).
2 destroyed (Ki-$$-IIb Tojo).
1 destroyed (Ki-84c Frank).

18 damaged (B-25C Mitchell).
9 damaged (B-25D1 Mitchell).

5.) Allies Bomb near Chaochow (hex 81,60).

2,827 Japanese casualties.

2 damaged (PB4Y-1 Liberator).
2 damaged (B-24D1 Liberator).

6.) Combat Action Around Formosa.

The following losses are the combined losses incurred by both sides as a result of Naval Combat near Formosa, Japan's Naval Bombardment of Kagi, Air Combat around Formosa, Japan's Shock Attack at Kagi, and Allied Artillery Bombardment near Takao:

6,942 Japanese casualties.

11 destroyed (N1K1-J George).
1 destroyed (Ki-49-IIb Helen).
8 destroyed and 2 damaged (K-84a Frank).

4 destroyed and 10 damaged (P-47D2 Thunderbolt).

7.) Japanese Artillery Bombard near Kunming (hex 71,48).

No Japanese losses.

28 Allied casualties.


Attached below as a link is the entire Combat Report for December 28, 1943.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

[center]After Action Report

for December 29, 1943[/center]


Highlights for Today


1.) The Allies destroyed 31 Japanese aircraft today while losing 8 Allied aircraft.

2.) Allied bombers hammered Japanese troops (2,585 casualties) near Chaochow again today.

3.) Captain Haggard's daily naval bombardment of Pagan continues to keep the Pagan runway and port completely inoperable.


Synopsis of Combat Action for Today


1.) Allied Naval Bombardment at Pagan.

87 Japanese casualties.

6 hits (Airbase).
1 hit (Airbase Supply).
31 hits (Runway).
6 hits (Port).
1 hit (Port Supply).

No Allied losses.

2.) Japanese Bomb Talaud-elanden.

6 damaged (Ki-21-IIa Sally).
1 destroyed and 9 damaged (Ki-48-Ib Lily).
1 destroyed and 5 damaged (G3M3 Nell).
5 damaged (G4M1 Betty).
1 damaged (D4Y3 Judy).

87 vehicles destroyed and 62 disabled.

SC PC-778: 4 bomb hits; sunk.
xAK Nora Moller: 3 torpedo hits; sunk.

3 destroyed (Beaufighter X).

3.) Japanese Bomb near Kunming (hex 71,48).

No Japanese losses.

43 Chinese casualties.

4.) Allies Bomb near Chaochow (hex 81,60)

2,585 Japanese casualties.

1 damaged (B-24D1 Liberator).

5.) Japanese Bomb Kagi.

1 destroyed (Ki-84a Frank).
5 destroyed (Ki-84r Frank).
3 destroyed (N1K1-J George).
17 destroyed and 5 damaged (Ki-49-IIb Helen).
3 destroyed (Ki-100-I Tony).

8 destroyed (P-47D2 Thunderbolt).

6.) Allied Artillery Bombard near Takao (hex 85,66).

41 Japanese casualties.

No Allied losses.


Attached below as a link is the entire Combat Report for December 29, 1943.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

[center]After Action Report

for December 30, 1943[/center]


Highlights for Today


1.) Australians cross the river into the mountains northeast of Paoshan and shock attack Japan's heavily fatigued 36th Infantry Division, inflict heavy casualties, and force the Japanese to retreat.

2.) The Allies destroyed 21 Japanese aircraft today while losing 6 Allied aircraft.

3.) Events have slowed down at Talaud-elanden; the port, airbase, and fort are building rapidly.


Synopsis of Combat Action for Today


1.) Allied Naval Bombardment at Pagan.

27 Japanese casualties.

1 hit (Airbase).
10 hits (Runway).
6 hits (Port).

No Allied casualties.

2.) Japanese Bomb Talaud-elanden.

3 destroyed and 7 damaged (Ki-48-Ib Lily).

No Allied losses.

3.) Allies Bomb Moulmein.

73 Japanese casualties.

1 destroyed (Ki-44-IIc Tojo).

1 destroyed (A-36) Mustang).
1 destroyed and 19 damaged (B-25C Mitchell).
2 destroyed and 7 damaged (B-25D1 Mitchell).

4.) Japanese Bomb and Bombard near Kuniming (Hex 71,48).

No Japanese losses.

48 Chinese casualties.

5.) Combat Action Around Formosa.

18 Japanese casualties.

SC CH 7: 1 shell hit; heavy fires.

5 destroyed (Ki-49-IIb Helen).
3 destroyed (Ki-84a Frank).
6 destroyed (Ki-84r Frank).
3 destroyed (N1K1-J George).

PT-354: 1 shell hit.
PT-361: 1 shell hit; sunk.

2 destroyed (P-47D2 Thunderbolt).

6.) Allied Shock Attack near Paoshan (hex 63,44).

5,140 Japanese casualties.

1,229 Australian casualties.


Attached below as a link is the entire Combat Report for December 30, 1943.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

[center]After Action Report

for December 31, 1943[/center]


Highlights for Today


1.) U.S. Marines capture Liuchow, China.

2.) Allies destroyed 32 Japanese aircraft while losing 11 Allied aircraft. 30 of the 32 Japanese aircraft destroyed were destroyed above Kagi without a single Thunderbolt being lost.

3.) Allied Bombers continue to take a heavy toll on Japanese ground forces in China. Today Allied bombers inflicted 2,278 casualties on Japanese troops at Chaochow.

4.) Operation Hello El Lobo (The Return to Formosa) Task Forces are scheduled to leave the Marianas Islands tomorrow, January 1, 1944.


Combat Action for Today


1.) Allied Naval Bombardment at Pagan.

20 Japanese casualties.

1 damaged (H8K2 Emily).
2 damaged (N1K1-J George).

3 hits (Airbase).
1 hit (Airbase Supply).
16 hits (Runway).
3 hits (Port).
1 hit (Port Supply).

No Allied losses.

2.) Japanese Bomb Talaud-elanden.

4 damaged (G4M1 Betty).

ACM Bush: 2 torpedo hits; sunk.

2 destroyed (Beaufighter X).
3 destroyed (F4F-3 Wildcat).

3.) Allied Dive Bombers Flamed near Dadjangas (hex 78,93).

No Japanese losses.

5 destroyed and 1 damaged (SBD-3 Dauntless).

4.) Japanese Bomb near Kunming (hex 71,48).

No Japanese losses.

31 Chinese casualties.

5.) Allies Bomb Japanese at Chaochow.

2,278 Japanese casualties.

2 destroyed (Ki-84a Frank).

15 damaged (B-24J Liberator).
6 damaged (B-24D1 Liberator).
1 destroyed and 11 damaged (PB4Y-1 Liberator).

6.) Combat Action Around Formosa.

13 destroyed and 4 damaged (Ki-49-IIa Helen).
7 destroyed (Ki-100-I Tony).
10 destroyed (N1K1-J George).

No Allied losses.

7.) Allied Shock Attack at Liuchow.

1,678 Japanese casualties.
1 unit retreats.
Allies Capture Liuchow.

102 U.S. Marine casualties.


Attached below as a link is the entire Combat Report for December 31, 1943.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

[center]Fighter Escort Questions

for

The War College[/center]


1.) Should you set your Naval Attack Dive Bombers at 10,000 feet, at what elevation would you set your escort fighters.

2.) Should you set your Naval Attack Torpedo bombers at 6,000 feet, at what elevation would you set your escort fighters?

Best Regards,

-Terry

[CaptHaggard]

Received from SPECOP, Haggard Group

Dateline: 28 December 1943

Dear Lieutenant Bloomquist-Rose,

In addition to your countless transgressions—of which I now articulate [and of which I spare the reader], you have given no indication that you have achieved your liaison with Ensign Harold Grandiere.

Ensign Grandiere flew into Amoy on a PBY at the end of October. Of this fact, you have been informed on a weekly basis.

The main purpose of your deployment to that theater—indeed the sole purpose—is now and has always been to escort the ensign about the conquered countryside.

Ensign Grandiere’s father is keen to assess post-war possibilities of China, and considers his son’s insights to be fundamental to his assessment.

Captain Haggard has long been under the impression you are acquainted with Ensign Grandiere? And that, before the war, you met all the Grandieres, including his father, Senator Robert ‘Banging Bob’ Grandiere?

Was Captain Haggard misled?

This I somehow doubt, particularly since we possess reports that you were seen in Guam in Ensign Grandiere’s company this past August.

SPECOP orders you to immediately depart whatever dissipated trappings you now find yourself—saloon, brothel, stumble-bum alley—and perform the following tasks:

Promptly ensconce yourself in wholesome encampments, nice hotels, among clear-eyed morning-people;

Make a habit of polling those in your immediate vicinity. inquire with sharp diction and respectful mien if any in their number are familiar with any recent location of Ensign Harold Grandiere, USN;

Proceed forthwith to any location reliably revealed to you, or—if a given inquiry comes up empty, soberly try again in the next enlightened place, and so forth, continuing on until you locate the Ensign.

Where is he? Where is Ensign Harold Grandiere? Find him, Lieutenant. That is an order from on high.

Harriet M. Primly, WAVE, First-class


***
I toss Primly’s wadded communique into the passing scrub.

Peering through the sheen of the wet windshield, Bella gingerly picks up speed down the gravel track, only to brake and swerve round a sharp bend—

A pothole—wide as football huddle and so deep a brazen poodle would only sniff the edge before sliding down again. Our right tires spit gravel into the abyss while the left pair crunch over tough woody scrub, more formidable brush scraping bodywork and twisting Bella’s mirror.

Picking her way up through the gears, we return to our discussion of the Kweilin Incident—the first time Japs shot down an American plane...
“Define American.”
“The pilot was American... Pan-American plane—”
“The plane was owned by Chinese.”
“Financed by American banks I’m betting—”
“No, British. He lives—or lived—in Shanghai—”
“OK, know-it-all, I give up... ’37? or ’38?”
“Let me think,” Bella laughs triumphantly, “was I fifteen or sixteen?”

Sheets of morning drizzle sweep our embattled jeep for the last time. Up to now, we are castaways, two adventurers on a lonely stretch of the crappiest thoroughfare imaginable, in a foggy, deadened vacuum between Marine supply depots and fighting formations ahead.

All of a sudden, like the discovery of silence, mist thins and rises. For a moment, in the rapid transition, ominous shadows loom high above the pan-flat plain of scrub and rice plots. In the next moment these shadows clarify to towering rock columns taller than the tallest New York skyscrapers, dozens of them, stretching out on all sides into the distance.

I whistle admiringly. “Confucius say, ‘Fanciful Chinese paintings not so fanciful.’”

If a look of wonderment crossed Bella’s face, I missed it. She’s pensive this morning. Prospects of finding the cave with the purported Beaumet-Jeanmaire Cuvee Elysee have apparently dimmed.

Still, she manages a faint smile.

Aw, crud, Wave Primly: Twenty yards into a rice paddy off the passenger side, a suspicious tornado of flies. Bella stops the jeep. I tuck my cuffs into boots and wade into the paddy, twenty soggy yards out, twenty soggy yards back.

“Jap corporal,” I announce, leaning down to inspect for leeches. Bella grinds the jeep in gear, leaving the corpse to some poor rice farmer. Official protocol for locating a Marine corpse is different and binding. A dead Marine is marked—if not brought in—and immediately reported.

The morning glides into the past with another wide sweep of track. To the right, glimpsed between reed beds, River Li turns like a majestic dreadnought.

Agape over the vertical eruptions that here and there suggest an unsettling sensation of ancient stone columns from a long-forgotten land of titans, I nearly slap my chin against the dash as Bella brakes hard.

A body lies in the middle of the road ahead. Resting on his side, in sort of a half curl, from the position of his visible arm he might be resting his head on his hand. But mostly all I can see from this angle are his boots and those—

“Rosie—those are Marine boots.”

So they are.

I don’t run to the body, Wave Primly, which tells you how much I hate this part, but once there and leaning over him, he doesn’t look dead to me. I pry him over slowly by his shoulder and he cooperates, blinking up at me. Other than his face half covered in dust and tiny pebbles, he looks no more hurt than any man awoken from his nap.

“What are you doing in the middle of the road?”

Glancing about. “Oh. I must’ve crawled out of the reeds there. Hey.”

“Hey, Hotspot.”

I get him up and swipe at him and he expands to take his rescue party in—

“Good golly, you got wheels. Where you headed?”

“Kweilin—”

“Oh, good. We can pick-up smoldering dames and go to the Sun-Moon pagodas.”

“Bit early for that. Japs haven’t left.”

“Aw fer cryin’ out loud, why can’t Nippon be like everyone else? Fight like hell and when things turn sour, give up?”

At the jeep he runs his fingers along the hood as if he’s on a car lot, sniffs at the compartment to see where he sits, and only then does he see Bella, who instinctively pouts her luscious Lancome Euphorie-glazed lips—

For an instant, he jerks and trembles like an Appalachian holy-roller. Some kind of seizure? Despite his routine good-looks and her own world-weary affectation, Bella recoils.

“Uh—Bella, Hotspot Harry. Hotspot, Bella.”

He manages to roll up his tongue like a carpet after the big celebration, swipe his hair and give her the old Franchot Tone bow, then wink back at me: “Hear-tell those pagodas are magic at twilight. With the right company, might get you laid, buddy.”

“Is that so? Well, hop in, Hotspot, and not on my lap... just find a place to dig your legs into back there and spare the burgundy...”

***

There you have it, Wave Primly. Despite my aversion to such an event, I can now report that I have “achieved liaison” with Ensign Harold Grandiere—who was known throughout Campbell Stimson Prep in Muncie as “Hotspot Harry”.

If you’d like, you may inform the Senator that, although his intrepid son seems to weather hangovers like a rank amateur, he exhibits all the zest necessary to assiduously assess the region—beginning with pagodas and the more alluring set of local wildlife.

And this is only the beginning, Primly.


Submitted, 1 January 1944,

F.W. Bloomquist-Rose, LT, USNR

SPECOP Haggard Group

[Rio Bravo]

Oh boy!

One rogue sailor, one rogue marine, and an adventurous driver unleashed in China.

Here we go.

*laughing hard*

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

[center]1943

Year End Report[/center]


Background

From December 7, 1943 through October 14, 1942 the Allies ran for their lives from Evil El Lobo’s relentless and greedy onslaught to expand his empire.

Allied troops, aircraft, and ships retreated to safe havens. The Allied “Retreat on Steroids” intended to preserve as many Allied assets as possible until such time as the Allies were prepared and ready to seek the head of El Lobo and his band of rapists, pillagers, and plunderers.
For over ten months, The Allies diligently organized their combat forces. The forces underwent extensive training, diligently prepped for their objectives, and moved to their “jump-off” locations.

On October 14, 1942, the Allies were ready to launch their first offensive operation. Numerous American, Australian, British, Burma, Commonwealth, and Indian ground forces and aircraft were poised along the India-Burma border.

On October 15, 1942, Operation Land Shark commenced as the Allies swarmed across the border into Burma.

Operation Land Shark

Operation Land Shark had a simple goal: drive east to liberate Burma and China, and to capture Manchukuo and Korea.

Though the Allied goal was simple, achieving their goal turned out to be a nightmare. The Allies met heavy resistance in Burma. El Lobo had stuffed Burma with approximately twenty Japanese Infantry Divisions supported by several Tank Battalions and numerous Aircraft Squadrons.
However, by the end of 1943, the Allies had liberated Moulmein and northern Burma. Additionally, the Allies moved into China; captured Paoshan.

Presently, the Allies are ninety-two miles from Tsuyung.

Operation Sea Shark

The Allies correctly predicted that El Lobo would not be prepared for an early Allied Invasion of the Marianas Islands.

On June 23, 1943, the Allies invaded the four southern Marianas Islands. Each Island was lightly defended.

On June 25, 1943, the Allies had captured Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam.

Initially, El Lobo attempted to contest the Marianas Islands. He sent his KB to bomb Saipan; his aircraft losses were extremely heavy.

For the next few months, El Lobo harassed the Allies at the Marianas Islands, but didn’t do much damage and never posed a real threat to the Allies to lose the islands captured.

Prior to 1943’s year end, the Allies had also captured Agrihan, Anatahan, and Almagon. Pagan remains in Japanese possession. However, Pagan is isolated, poses no threat, and Captain Haggard bombards Pagan every single day, causing Pagan’s Port and Airfield to be one hundred percent inoperative.

In conclusion, the Allies are firmly in control of the Marianas Islands.

Operations Bottle, Cork, and Culpepper Cattle Company

Again, the Allies had correctly predicted that El Lobo would not be prepared for an early Allied Invasion of Formosa, Pescadores, and the southern coast of China.

On September 23, 1943, the Allies simultaneously invaded Takao, Formosa; Pescadores; and Amoy, China.

Operation Bottle

Operation Bottle’s goal was to capture all of Formosa in a continuing Allied Grand Strategy effort to implement a naval blockade of Japan’s home islands and to secure a supply route to China for the Chinese, Operation Land Shark and Operation Culpepper Cattle Company.

Initially, the Allies met little enemy resistance. Takao, Kagi, Taichu, Hengchun, and Karenko were captured with a few weeks.

However, the Allies could not get to Taihoku prior to El Lobo heavily reinforcing Taihoku. The Allies simply did not have enough power on Formosa to drive Japanese forces completely off of Formosa.

El Lobo has continued to reinforce Formosa. It is readily apparent that he intends to fight hammer and tong for Formosa.

By the end of 1943, El Lobo had poured a minimum of 7,000 Japanese AV on Formosa, had deployed over 400 Japanese fighters and 150 Japanese bombers within striking distance of Formosa, and he had taken back Taichu, Karenko, and Hengchun.

Presently, the Allies have a little over 2,600 AV on Formosa which are distributed between Kagi, Takao, and just north of Hengchun.

The Allied presence on Formosa is tenable. Whether El Lobo can drive the Allies off of Formosa depends on how quickly the Allies can reinforce Formosa. It is a footrace.

Operation Cork

Similar to Operation Bottle’s goal, Operation Cork’s goal was to capture Pescadores in a continuing Allied Grand Strategy effort to implement a naval blockade of Japan’s home islands and to secure a supply route to China for the Chinese, Operation Land Shark and Operation Culpepper Cattle Company.

Pescadores fell quickly to the Allies.

To date, El Lobo has not made an effort to take-back Pescadores from the Allies.

Operation Culpepper Cattle Company

The goal of Operation Culpepper Cattle Company was two-fold: 1.) To open a supply route to the Chinese under siege at Chungking, and 2.) To assist Operation Land Shark forces with the liberation of China and with the capture of Manchukuo and Korea.

Since the U.S. Marines landed at Amoy on September 23, 1943, they have made steady progress in driving north and east in China. As predicted by the Allies, base garrisons were light at cities in southern and eastern China.
The U.S. Marines have opened a supply route to Chinese troops that had managed to escape Chungking and were heading south. Presently, Chines troops with an approximate Assault Value of over 6,500 are fully supplied. These Chinese troops grow in strength every single day as they take replacements.

Presently, the Chinese with the assistance of the U.S. Marines control China from ninety-two miles south of Chungking to Amoy and from Foochow west to Liuchow with the exception of fierce fighting which occurs at Kweiyang and Kweilin.
Supplying the Chinese has enabled the Chinese to fight. The Chinese block Japanese forces from moving south. Additionally, they have marched out of the Himalaya Mountains and have blocked the Japanese retreat from Paoshan just west of Kunming.

Combined, the Chinese and U.S. Marines have completely interdicted Japan’s supply route from the south and from the east except for Japan’s supply line through Sian.

The capture of Paoshan by Operation Land Shark and the capture and retention of Pescadores, Kagi, and Takao, have provided the Allies with the opportunity to fly numerous squadrons of fighters and bombers into China.

Presently, El Lobo continues to trap the Chinese in Chungking (approximately 6,500 AV). El Lobo has also effectively blocked the U.S. Marines advance north at Kweilin and just south of Kweiyang. The Marines and the Chinese do not have enough power to make further advances.

Further advance in China will have to wait for Operation Land Shark forces to capture Tsuyung, Kunming, and advance west to link with the Chinese and Operation Culpepper Cattle Company marines.

Operation Bella Arbel

The goal of Operation Bella Arbel was to capture Talaud-elanden in a continuing Allied Grand Strategy effort to implement a naval blockade of Japan’s home islands.

On December 21, 1943, the Australians captured Talaud-elanden.

However, the Allied capture of Talaud-elanden came with a considerable cost to the Allies. El Lobo naval strike bombers sunk and damaged numerous Allied ships.

End Note

Perhaps the most important thing the Allies have learned during 1943 is, although driving early into the heart of Japan’s Empire catches Japan off guard and provides the Allies with multiple benefits toward ending Japan’s Reign of Evil, it has also provided considerable anxiety to this Allied Supreme Commander.
Not knowing exactly what Japan might have had at the Marianas Islands, Formosa, Pescadores, and the heartland of China caused grave concern as the Allies moved to invade such locations.

In essence the Allies been on pins and needles since October 15, 1942.

The worry seems to never subside.

Will the Allies prevail in maintaining a foothold on Formosa?

At this point, the end of 1943, this Admiral would place the odds in favor of the Allies at 60% to Japan’s 40%. A bet I remain willing to wager, but not without a great deal of stress.

Best Regards,

-Terry

A Strategic map for 1943 Year End is depicted below.

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Rio Bravo

[center]Fighter Escort Questions

for

The War College[/center]


1.) Should you set your Naval Attack Dive Bombers at 10,000 feet, at what elevation would you set your escort fighters.

2.) Should you set your Naval Attack Torpedo bombers at 6,000 feet, at what elevation would you set your escort fighters?

Best Regards,

-Terry

Since I was asked by PM to chime in here are my thoughts:

IIRC the range to get DBs to dive bomb is 10-14k. I set mine in the middle at 12k. Outside of this band they will level or glide bomb, at least as I understand it.

I typically leave my torpedo bombers at the game default of 6k. Have never seen a reason not to, except when giving them a secondary mission. For a secondary mission of ground support (which they are better at than dive bombers) I set them anywhere from 3k to 9k depending on the flak I expect at the target. For a secondary mission of airfield bombing I set at 12k.
The height adjustment for the secondary mission has no impact on the torpedo mission as they will drop to torpedo height no matter what height they fly to the target at.


As for escorting fighters, Alfred recently mentioned that setting escorts at the same altitude as the bombers is the best way to ensure a coordinated strike. However, I think most players perceive strike coordination to be multiple squadrons of bombers all flying at the same time instead of going in penny packets and not so much as fighters coordinating with bombers to escort.
I don't typically tailor my escort altitude to align with the bombers as the fighters also have a more primary mission of CAP and the altitude I need them to be at for CAP is more important to me than the altitude I need them to be at to escort bombers. And IIRC either in the manual or staed long ago by a dev, fighters will adjust to flay at 2k higher than the bombers they are escorting no matter what altitude you have them set at.

I typically set my carrier dive bomber squadrons to 30% search and torpedo bombers to 10% search.

I'm by no means an air expert in this game, but do find my preferred settings to be effective.

[Rio Bravo]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

ORIGINAL: Rio Bravo

[center]Fighter Escort Questions

for

The War College[/center]


1.) Should you set your Naval Attack Dive Bombers at 10,000 feet, at what elevation would you set your escort fighters.

2.) Should you set your Naval Attack Torpedo bombers at 6,000 feet, at what elevation would you set your escort fighters?

Best Regards,

-Terry

Since I was asked by PM to chime in here are my thoughts:

IIRC the range to get DBs to dive bomb is 10-14k. I set mine in the middle at 12k. Outside of this band they will level or glide bomb, at least as I understand it.

I typically leave my torpedo bombers at the game default of 6k. Have never seen a reason not to, except when giving them a secondary mission. For a secondary mission of ground support (which they are better at than dive bombers) I set them anywhere from 3k to 9k depending on the flak I expect at the target. For a secondary mission of airfield bombing I set at 12k.
The height adjustment for the secondary mission has no impact on the torpedo mission as they will drop to torpedo height no matter what height they fly to the target at.


As for escorting fighters, Alfred recently mentioned that setting escorts at the same altitude as the bombers is the best way to ensure a coordinated strike. However, I think most players perceive strike coordination to be multiple squadrons of bombers all flying at the same time instead of going in penny packets and not so much as fighters coordinating with bombers to escort.
I don't typically tailor my escort altitude to align with the bombers as the fighters also have a more primary mission of CAP and the altitude I need them to be at for CAP is more important to me than the altitude I need them to be at to escort bombers. And IIRC either in the manual or staed long ago by a dev, fighters will adjust to flay at 2k higher than the bombers they are escorting no matter what altitude you have them set at.

I typically set my carrier dive bomber squadrons to 30% search and torpedo bombers to 10% search.

I'm by no means an air expert in this game, but do find my preferred settings to be effective.

Hans-

Thank you. I appreciate it that you answered promptly upon receiving my IM.

I guess I didn't really have to set the escort aircraft elevation.

I took your advice for search percentages for the dive and torpedo bombers.

Don't be a stranger, Hans. Jump in here anytime you feel like posting something; anything.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[tarkalak]

Dive Bombers at 15 000 feet will also dive bomb. I checked it with Coral Sea scen.

Best Regards

[Rio Bravo]

ORIGINAL: tarkalak

Dive Bombers at 15 000 feet will also dive bomb. I checked it with Coral Sea scen.

Best Regards

tarkalak-


Welcome to The War College!

IT appears that the general consensus is to set dive bombers from 10,000 to 14,000 feet elevation. However, as you mentioned the bombers will also dive from 15,000 feet elevation.

I have my dive bombers presently set at 10,000 feet elevation.

I think next turn I am going to adjust my dive bombers to dive from 12,000 feet.

Thank you for your input.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

[center]After Action Report

for January 1, 1944[/center]


Highlights for Today


1.) It is nice to have Thunderbolts in China and on Formosa.

2.) Operation Hello El Lobo (The Return to Formosa) left the Marianas Islands today.


Synopsis of Combat Action for Today


1.) Allied Bombardment of Pagan.

101 Japanese casualties.

1 damaged (H8K2 Emily).
1 destroyed (A6M5 Zero).

4 hits (Airbase).
10 hits (Runway).
9 hits (Port).
1 hit (Port Supply).

No Allied losses.

2.) Air Combat at Talaud-elanden.

No Japanese losses.

2 destroyed Beaufighter X).
1 destroyed (F4F-3 Wildcat).

3.) Allies Bomb Moulmein.

32 Japanese casualties.

2 destroyed (Ki-44c Tojo).

12 damaged (B-25C Mitchell).
6 damaged (B-25D1 Mitchell).

4.) Japanese Bomb near Kunming.

No Japanese losses.

37 Japanese casualties.

5.) Allies Bomb Chaochow.

2,976 Japanese casualties.

2 destroyed (N1K1-J George).
1 destroyed (N1K2-J George).
2 Destroyed (Ki-84a Frank).

5 Destroyed (P-47D2 Thunderbolts).
7 damaged (B-24D1 Liberators).
3 destroyed and 6 damaged (B-24J Liberators).
1 damaged (PB4Y-1 Liberator).

6.) Japanese Bomb Kagi.

6 destroyed (N1K1-J George).
10 destroyed (Ki-49-a Helen).

1 destroyed (P-47D2 Thunderbolt).

7.) Allied Artillery Bombards near Takao (hex 85,66).

50 Japanese casualties.

No Allied losses.


Attached below as a link is the entire Combat Report for January 1, 1944.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

[center]After Action Report

for January 2, 1944[/center]


Highlights for Today


1.) Heavily bombed for days; battered and disrupted Japanese troops manage to capture Cahochow, China.

2.) Captain Haggard has a good day on the high seas; causes fire on 1 Japanese CL, causes heavy damage to 2 Japanese xAKs, and hits a Japanese DD.

3.) Japanese deliberately attack Australian Armor near Tsuyung, China and get hammered (2,767 Japanese casualties).

4.) Japanese deliberately attack Kagi on Formosa and get shredded (16,117 Japanese casualties).

5.) Operation Hello El Lobo (Allied Return to Formosa) is 1,400 miles and 5 days from Pescadores.


Synopsis of Combat Action for Today


1.) Allied Submarine Ventilates Japanese CL near Amami Oshima .

CL Abukuma: 1 torpedo hit; on fire.

SS Devilfish: 4 hits.

2.) Japanese E Boats Sink Allied Submarine near Amami Oshima(hex 100,64).

No Japanese losses.

SS Pargo: 28 hits; sunk.

3.) Allied Submarine Flames Japanese xAK near Daito Shoto (hex 103,72).

xAK Shinon Maru: 2 torpedo hits; heavy fires; heavy damage.

No Allied losses.

4.) Allied Submarine Trashes Japanese xAK near Iwo-Jima (hex 103,73).

xAK Kinsyu Maru: 2 torpedo hits; on fire; heavy damage.

No Allied losses.

5.) Allied Submarine Hits Japanese DD near Dadjangas (hex 78,94).

DD Usuguma: 1 torpedo hit.

No Allied losses.

6.) Allies Bomb Moulmein.

48 Japanese losses.

2 destroyed (Ki-44-IIc Tojo).

12 damaged (B-25C Mitchell).
1 destroyed and 6 damaged (B-25D1 Mitchell).

7.) Japanese Bomb Chaochow.

No Japanese losses.

145 U.S. Marine casualties.

8.) Allies Bomb Chaochow.

1,325 Japanese casualties.

3 destroyed and 6 damaged (B-24D1 Liberator).
1 destroyed and 8 damaged (B-24J Liberator).
1 destroyed and 9 damaged (PB4Y-1 Liberator).

9.) Japanese Bomb Kagi.

3 damaged (Ki-49-IIb Helen).
6 destroyed (Ki-84r Frank).
4 destroyed (Ki-100-I Tony).

1 destroyed (P-47D2 Thunderbolt).

10.) Japanese Deliberate Attack near Tsuyung (hex 67,45).

2,767 Japanese casualties.

265 Australian casualties.

11.) Japanese Deliberate Attack at Kagi.

16,117 Japanese casualties.

2,613 Allied casualties.

12.) Japanese Deliberate Attack at Chaochow.

13 Japanese casualties.

260 U.S. MArine casualties.
1 unit destroyed.
Japanese capture Chaochow.

13.) Japanese Artillery Bombard near Kunming (hex 71,48).

No Japanese losses.

35 Chinese casualties.

14.) Allied Artillery Bombard near Takao (hex 85,66).

18 Japanese casualties.

No Allied losses.


Attached below as a link is the entire Combat Report for January 2, 1944.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

[center]After Action Report

for January 3, 1944[/center]


Highlight for Today


1.) El Lobo said hello to Allied Operation Hello El Lobo today by heavily damaging two (2) Allied AKAs carrying ground forces.

2.) The Operation Hello El Lobo Fleet is 1,120 miles from Pescadores.


Synopsis of Combat Action for Today


1.) Japanese Destroyers Hit Two Allied Submarines near Dadjangas (hex 79,93).

No Japanese losses.

SS Herring: 1 hit.
SS Nautilus: 1 hit.

2.) Allied Naval Bombardment at Pagan).

17 Japanese casualties.

1 damaged (N1K1-J George).

5 hits (Airbase).
15 hits (Runway).
7 hits (Port).
1 hit (Port Supply).

No Allied losses.

3.) Japanese Nells Attack Operation Hello El Lobo Fleet near Ulithi (hex 96,89).

1 destroyed and 4 damaged (G3M3 Nell).

AKA Oberon: 1 torpedo hit; heavy damage.
AKA Bellatrix: 1 torpedo hit; heavy damage.

4.) Allies Bomb Moulmein.

108 Japanese casualties.

2 destroyed (Ki-44-IIc Tojo).
1 destroyed (Ki-84a Frank).

12 damaged (B-25C Mitchell).
1 destroyed and 9 damaged (B-25D1 Mitchell).

5.) Japanese Bomb near Kunming.

No Japanese losses.

43 Chinese casualties.

6.) Japanese Bomb Chaochow.

No Japanese losses.

206 Chinese casualties.

7.) Allies Bomb Chaochow.

1,611 Japanese casualties.

1 destroyed (N1K1-J George).

2 destroyed and 9 damaged (B-24D1 Liberator).
1 destroyed and 13 damaged (B-24J Liberator).
3 damaged (PB4Y-1 Liberator).

8.) Allied Artillery Bombardment near Takao (hex 85,66).

37 Japanese casualties.

No Allied losses.


Attached below as a link is the entire Combat Report for January 3, 1944.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

[center]Operation Hello El Lobo

The Allied Return to Amoy, China; Pescadores; and Formosa

January 3, 1944[/center]


[center]There are flames on the horizon,
Evil in the form of the Red Sun.

There is danger on the High Sea.
In the form of that evil enemy.[/center]


Background


1.) The Allies successfully invaded Amoy, China; Pescadores, and Formosa on September 23, 1943.

2.) The Allies remain in firm control of Amoy and Pescadores.

3.) El Lobo has heavily reinforced his strength on Formosa and has taken back Taichu, Karemko, and Hengchun. Kagi is presently under siege.

4.) The Allies have approximately 2,500 AV on Formosa. The Japanese have over 7,000 AV on Formosa.

5.) The Japanese control the sea surrounding Formosa and the sky above Formosa.


Operation Hello El Lobo


The mission of Operation Hello El Lobo is to deliver ground forces, aircraft, fuel, and supply to China, Pescadores, and Formosa as follows:

1.) 1,390 AV.

2.) 236 Fighter aircraft; 216 Dauntless Dive Bombers; and 64 Recon aircraft.

3.) 685,000 supply.

4.) 593,592 fuel.


Aircraft Carrier Escort


1.) Along with numerous and substantial Surface Combat Task Forces, United States Aircraft Carriers will escort the Transport Task Forces to Pescadores and from Pescadores back to Guam.

2.) Order of Battle for the Aircraft Carriers is as follows:

26 Carriers

8 CV
6 CVL
12 CVE

Aircraft Capacity: 1,226 Aircraft Assigned: 1,198

622 Fighters
349 Dive Bombers
227 Torpedo Bombers

Type of Aircraft

532 F6F-3 Hellcat
90 FM-1 Wildcat
135 SB2C-1C Helldiver
214 SBD-5 Dauntless
105 TBF-1 Avenger
122 TBM-1C Avenger


Anticipated Carrier Battle


1.) El Lobo has made it crystal clear that he intends to fight for Formosa.

2.) Accordingly, it is anticipated that El Lobo will sortie his Aircraft Carriers to attack the Operation Hello El Lobo fleet.

3.) The Allies intend to spring a trap for El Lobo's Aircraft Carriers as follows:

-The Main Fleet will attempt to draw El Lobo's carriers southwest; putting some distance between the Japanese carriers and the Japan Home Islands.

-Several Allied Destroyer Task Forces consisting of Destroyers and numerous Allied Submarines have been strategically positioned outside the Main Fleet and will attempt to get behind and to the flanks of El Lobo's Carriers in an attempt to surround them.

-At the time opportunity might present itself, two Allied Carrier Task Forces consisting of 8 CV and 6 CVL; two substantial Surface Combat Task Forces consisting of 4 BB, 6 CA, 3 CL, and 12 DD; and numerous other DD Task Forces will leave the Main Fleet and charge straight at the last sighting of the Japanese Carriers.

4.) The goal is to engage El Lobo's Carriers and by surrounding them, hopefully finish off some crippled Japanese Carriers as they head back to the Japan Home Islands.

5.) If the anticipated Carrier Battle occurs, 12 CVE, one substantial Surface Combat Task Force, and several DD Task Forces will continue toward Pescadores with the Transport Task Forces.

6.) If the anticipated Carrier Battle does not occur on the way to Pescadores, the entire Operation Hello El Lobo Fleet will continue to Pescadores and the trap will be orchestrated for the return to Guam.


End Note


The Operation Hello El Lobo Fleet is 1,120 miles from Pescadores.


Best Regards,

-Terry

[zuluhour]

28 hexes......

[CaptBeefheart]

Good luck!

There is a question on another AAR as to whether it is a good idea to mix CVEs and CVs in the same task force. People more knowledgeable than me are pontificating on the subject.

I know I cautioned you gents against such mixing prior to the Marianas operation, but I'll admit to less than omniscience regarding matters pertaining to this game's mechanics. Have you noticed any pros or cons in grouping CVEs and CVs (and CVLs, of course) together?

Cheers,
CC