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Waiting at the airport....
Just saw the replay....OUCH
Ittacked with some DDs and some 900 planes.... Result? Bad weather in the morning.... no flights....
in the afternoon....bad weather again but 900 planes attacked from 3 different AFs..... result?
498 planes shot down against 24.... 320 pilots MIA/KIA....66 WIA....
The entire southern air army is shattered.
The coordination was horrible... 90 jills and 80 judys went unescorted against his CVs.... Not a single one survived.
While more than 120 fighters escorted 30 helens at 1000 ft....
We only scored 2 torps on a CVE, 1 dud torp on Wasp and 2 torps on a CLAA...nothing more.... Truly a disaster.
He landed safely a full australian corp... 850 AVs.... Torokina is doomed and so is Rabaul now....

One thing is sure: after the latest beta the coordination has defenetly become a problem for the attacker.... But that's a good thing imho. Probably this battle would have ended with several allied CVs sunk if we were playing with the old patch

Gotta go now. Paris is calling [:)]

Anybody think GreyJoy will let a bad day in the Solomons get in the way of a good time in Paris?

Using waypoints with bombardment TFs is, to my knowledge, a confirmed and unfixed bug.

Concerning co-ordination, were the escorts flying from the same or different bases that the bombers? Another point is that the paucity of air support in this mod will make it harder to co-ordinate generally for various reasons, but you know that.

At least you'll always have Paris, mon ami! [:D]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Concerning co-ordination, were the escorts flying from the same or different bases that the bombers? Another point is that the paucity of air support in this mod will make it harder to co-ordinate generally for various reasons, but you know that.

At least you'll always have Paris, mon ami! [:D]

I personally like that strikes are shattered on multiple waves under beta. But beta have also "problem" how escort is behaving.

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

The coordination was horrible... 90 jills and 80 judys went unescorted against his CVs.... Not a single one survived.
While more than 120 fighters escorted 30 helens at 1000 ft....

In many cases small bomber groups are escorted by huge number of fighters but when main bomber body arrive they have little escort or no escort is present.
End is like in GreyJoy last battle. Unescorted bombers dont even get trough CAP and heavy escorted wave have to small number of bombers to make difference after they get trough CAP.

For me part when escort is choosing what wave they will escort is needing little balance

EDIT: It is not huge problem when ground target is attacked as you can send sweep to clear air for bombers or use LCAP. But sweeps and LCAP are not an option in naval battles.

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

If adding waypoints causes a BB TF to remain at the base during daylight vs one that doesn't stay, then GreyJoy and any other player needs to send a turn to MichaelM to take a look at. For some reason I thought this issue was fixed in a prior beta patch.

The TF bombarded .. which is what Michealm fixed. My experince and understanding is that before the fix if you set waypoints the TF returned to the home port before bombarding. Now they hit the waypoint and bombard. But .. it seems the BB TF uses ops points at the waypoint, which can be especally deadly. I do know my last opponent objected vivaciously when he set up a waypoint to avoid my subs, and the TF hung around to be destroyed by hundreds of Low Nav platforms .. that seemed to be the only difference between previous sucessful attacks.

Can someone test this?

I have never used way points at all in the game. Don't trust them and really don't need them. I would never use them in any sort of combat situation. Cargo TFs maybe but have yet to do it.

I never use waypoints for the actual bombardment attack anymore regardless of the fix. As Hans mentioned above, use waypoints to get into position, but then I'd recommend not setting any during the turn you want to bombard to avoid being hung out to dry as GreyJoy is experiencing.

ORIGINAL: SqzMyLemon

I never use waypoints for the actual bombardment attack anymore regardless of the fix. As Hans mentioned above, use waypoints to get into position, but then I'd recommend not setting any during the turn you want to bombard to avoid being hung out to dry as GreyJoy is experiencing.

Just to follow up, my MO is to create a SAG and maneuver the SAG to the Objective Rally Point. This is because I noticed that BB TF's run full speed at night even when they do not bombard that day. I set the ORP the specfied hex distance the turn before the proposed night into very early morning phase of my projected BB attack. Then I set the TF to Bombard, and the target, with some nearby home port in the general direction of my planned escape. Then I let the BB TF do its thing. So far, this has been a successful routine for getting a BB TF to run full speed, strike, and get out of aircraft range.

This game has soooo many details ...

Thx Guys, lots of nice inputs as always!
 
I'm back from Paris...was a great week end and the girl was clearly happy, so i guess the ultimate goal was achieved!
 
I went to a couple of very good new-to-me restaurant (Taokan above all!) and shopped in a couple of my favourite european shops (Alain Martiniere, Victoire Homme and L'Eclereur). Walked a lot and, for 3 days, never thought about the job...which was soooo good!
 
But now we're back and the war is upon us.
 
July 26, 1943
 
Japan suffers another defeat. But this time i cannot blame Lady Luck or the Gods of War... this time it was just me. I've ordered the Yamashiro and the Musashi, despite the damages suffered during the last raid, to try to get to those APA/AKAs that were still unloading at Torokina...
We got in at night... at first we found 5 Fletchers on our way... we managed to repulse them without much damage.... but then the allied superior equipments (radar) came into action.
The BB Indiana and the BB Washington, supported by 4 DDs, surprised our ships (2 BBs, the CL Sentai and 2 modern CLs, along with 4 modern DDs) at 7,000 feet.... the Musashi, slowed to 19knots, immediately ate 6 penetrating hits of 16inch rounds.... she started immediately to burn, taking serious damages...
The Yamashiro did her best to support the sister, inflicting some heavy damage to the BB Indiana (not less than 18 rounds hit the Indiana during the fight, some of them penetrating)... but the Musashi was clearly lost.... by the end of the fight she took 20 heavy hits and sunk immediately after...
Then the Yamashiro with the surviving other ships pressed on.... only to find that the APA/AKAs were gone... we sunk some 4 xAPs, 2 DDs and some 4/5 LSTs... probably 4500 enemies are now food for fishes... but the loss the Musashi cannot be compensated by the destruction of an enemy regiment.
 
Then one of our subs put 4 fishes into an enemy CVE near Shortland, sinking it....
 
The BB Indiana didn't sink... she took heavy damage but she should survive.
 
Reinforcements are arriving from Truk....but Torokina is lost i think
 
 
In China i think he's trying to open a new front in northern Vietnam. Will take a look at it ASAP
 
 

We managed to send some decent reserves at Rabaul this turn. The shattered groups of the southern Air Army are transfered back to Truk to replenish and recover, while more fighters are moved in.
Now Rabaul has 350 fighters (Georges and Tojos). Hopefully enough for the upcoming week (untill some more bombers are ready to be moved to the theatre).
A CATF is moving from Truk, while 6 damaged DDs and 2 CLs are limping back after the recent battles.
 
The last 3 days have really been disastrous for Japan. We've lost the Musashi, 5 modern DDs, 500 planes, 350 pilots and have 2 BB seriously damaged (which will be out of the war for a long time), while the enemy managed to put a corp composed of 2 full Aus division at Bouganville.... right at the doors of Rabaul...

Jul 27, 43

Rabaul is sieged.

The enemy sent a strong SCTF 1 hex to Rabaul. his CVs are covering the operation. Rabaul is strangled by subs and Torokina is already falling.... damn[:(]



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Feni Islands at 107,127

Japanese Ships
SS I-19, hits 20, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Ellet
DD Woodworth
DD McCalla
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Feni Islands at 107,127

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 3
D4Y1 Judy x 7
N1K1-J George x 10

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4
F6F-3 Hellcat x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
N1K1-J George: 5 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Feni Islands at 107,127

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 14,660 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 22

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 2 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
DD LaVallette
DD Hutchins


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

Ground combat at Torokina (109,130)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 20066 troops, 328 guns, 257 vehicles, Assault Value = 749

Defending force 10815 troops, 103 guns, 92 vehicles, Assault Value = 204

Allied adjusted assault: 966

Japanese adjusted defense: 571

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
824 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 59 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 13 (1 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
426 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 33 (2 destroyed, 31 disabled)

Assaulting units:
2/6th Armoured Regiment
3rd Australian Division
5th Australian Division
3/592nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
I US Corps
2/11th Field Regiment

Defending units:
62nd Naval Guard Unit
21st/A Division
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
46th JNAF AF Unit
11th Air Defense AA Rgt /1
17th Naval Construction Battalion
17th Army
32nd Ind.AA Gun Co
51st Air Div /6


...it's just a matter of time now...

The BB Indiana and the BB Washington, supported by 4 DDs, surprised our ships (2 BBs, the CL Sentai and 2 modern CLs, along with 4 modern DDs) at 7,000 feet.... the Musashi, slowed to 19knots, immediately ate 6 penetrating hits of 16inch rounds

Wow -- nothing like a battlewagon duel! But 7,000 feet is derringer range; are you sure you don't mean 7,000 yards?

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

The BB Indiana and the BB Washington, supported by 4 DDs, surprised our ships (2 BBs, the CL Sentai and 2 modern CLs, along with 4 modern DDs) at 7,000 feet.... the Musashi, slowed to 19knots, immediately ate 6 penetrating hits of 16inch rounds

Wow -- nothing like a battlewagon duel! But 7,000 feet is derringer range; are you sure you don't mean 7,000 yards?

Yup, obviously you're right[:D]

here's the combat report for that sad day...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jul 26, 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 109,130, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi
BB Yamashiro
CL Oyodo
CL Sendai
DD Fujinami
DD Kosugiri
DD Myojinami
DD Tagonami
DD Tadeyame
CL Ninaru

Allied Ships
DD Jenkins, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
DD Kalk
DD Baldwin
DD Conyngham

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 109,130, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi, Shell hits 20, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 2
CL Oyodo
CL Sendai, Shell hits 2
DD Fujinami, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Kosugiri
DD Myojinami, Shell hits 1
DD Tagonami, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Tadeyame
CL Ninaru

Allied Ships
BB Washington, Shell hits 1
BB Indiana, Shell hits 18, on fire, heavy damage
DD Carmick, Shell hits 2
DD Jarvis, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Selfridge
DD Clark, Shell hits 1

Low visibility due to Rain with 32% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 32% moonlight: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 7,000 yards
BB Indiana fires at BB Musashi at 7,000 yards
BB Indiana fires at BB Musashi at 7,000 yards
BB Indiana fires at CL Ninaru at 7,000 yards
DD Selfridge launches Torpedoes at BB Musashi at 7,000 yards
DD Jarvis launches Torpedoes at BB Musashi at 7,000 yards
DD Carmick launches Torpedoes at BB Musashi at 7,000 yards
DD Selfridge fires at DD Tagonami at 7,000 yards
DD Jarvis launches Torpedoes at DD Myojinami at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Indiana at 3,000 yards
DD Clark engages DD Tagonami at 3,000 yards
CL Sendai engages BB Indiana at 3,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages DD Myojinami at 3,000 yards
DD Carmick engages DD Myojinami at 3,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Myojinami at 3,000 yards
DD Fujinami engages DD Clark at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Indiana at 4,000 yards
BB Indiana engages BB Musashi at 4,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CL Ninaru at 4,000 yards
CL Sendai engages BB Indiana at 4,000 yards
DD Tagonami engages DD Jarvis at 4,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Tadeyame at 4,000 yards
DD Myojinami engages DD Selfridge at 4,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Kosugiri at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
BB Indiana engages BB Yamashiro at 5,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Indiana at 5,000 yards
DD Tagonami engages DD Clark at 5,000 yards
DD Kosugiri engages DD Selfridge at 5,000 yards
DD Myojinami engages DD Jarvis at 5,000 yards
DD Tadeyame engages DD Carmick at 5,000 yards
DD Clark engages DD Tagonami at 5,000 yards
DD Fujinami engages DD Clark at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
BB Indiana engages BB Yamashiro at 9,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Washington at 9,000 yards
DD Fujinami engages DD Clark at 9,000 yards
CL Sendai engages BB Indiana at 9,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CL Oyodo at 9,000 yards
DD Tadeyame engages DD Carmick at 9,000 yards
DD Fujinami engages DD Carmick at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Indiana engages BB Yamashiro at 10,000 yards
BB Washington engages BB Musashi at 10,000 yards
CL Ninaru engages DD Clark at 10,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Tagonami at 10,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CL Oyodo at 10,000 yards
DD Tadeyame engages DD Carmick at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
BB Yamashiro engages BB Indiana at 11,000 yards
BB Indiana engages BB Musashi at 11,000 yards
DD Myojinami engages DD Clark at 11,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CL Sendai at 11,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CL Oyodo at 11,000 yards
DD Carmick engages DD Fujinami at 11,000 yards
DD Clark engages DD Myojinami at 11,000 yards
DD Kosugiri engages DD Clark at 11,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Indiana at 11,000 yards
BB Indiana engages BB Musashi at 11,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CL Ninaru at 11,000 yards
CL Sendai engages BB Indiana at 11,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CL Oyodo at 11,000 yards
DD Tadeyame engages DD Clark at 11,000 yards
DD Fujinami engages DD Jarvis at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
BB Indiana engages BB Musashi at 12,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Indiana at 12,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CL Ninaru at 12,000 yards
CL Sendai engages BB Indiana at 12,000 yards
DD Fujinami engages DD Jarvis at 12,000 yards
DD Tadeyame engages DD Clark at 12,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Myojinami at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Indiana at 11,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Washington at 11,000 yards
DD Fujinami engages DD Clark at 11,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CL Sendai at 11,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages DD Tagonami at 11,000 yards
DD Carmick engages DD Tadeyame at 11,000 yards
DD Carmick engages DD Myojinami at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
BB Indiana engages BB Musashi at 8,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Washington at 8,000 yards
DD Tagonami engages DD Clark at 8,000 yards
DD Fujinami engages DD Selfridge at 8,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages DD Kosugiri at 8,000 yards
DD Tagonami engages DD Carmick at 8,000 yards
DD Tagonami engages DD Carmick at 8,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Myojinami at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
BB Indiana engages BB Yamashiro at 11,000 yards
BB Indiana engages BB Musashi at 11,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CL Ninaru at 11,000 yards
DD Myojinami engages DD Selfridge at 11,000 yards
DD Tadeyame engages DD Jarvis at 11,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages DD Tagonami at 11,000 yards
DD Clark engages DD Kosugiri at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Indiana at 13,000 yards
BB Musashi engages BB Washington at 13,000 yards
CL Ninaru engages DD Clark at 13,000 yards
DD Tagonami engages DD Selfridge at 13,000 yards
DD Tadeyame engages DD Selfridge at 13,000 yards
DD Kosugiri engages DD Jarvis at 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Treasury Islands at 108,132

Japanese Ships
SS I-20, hits 1

Allied Ships
CVE Barnes, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Henley

Fuel storage explosion on CVE Barnes
SS I-20 launches 6 torpedoes at CVE Barnes


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 109,130, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
CL Oyodo
CL Sendai
DD Kosugiri
DD Myojinami
DD Tagonami
DD Tadeyame
CL Ninaru

Allied Ships
LST-18, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LST-19, Shell hits 19, and is sunk
LST-20, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
LST-24, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
LST-473, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
LCT-63
LCT-143, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-145, Shell hits 1
LCT-146, Shell hits 1
LCT-148, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
LCT-149, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LCT-159
LCT-162, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-163
LCT-164, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
LCT-166, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
LCT-167, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LCT-168, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
LCT-169, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
LCT-321
LCT-323
LCT-325, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
LCT-327, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LCT-328, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
LCT-329, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
LCT-351, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-352, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LCT-353, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
LCT-356, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
LCT-361, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
LCVP 542H
LCVP 542J, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCVP 592F
LCVP 592G
LCVP 592H
LCVP 592J, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCVP 592L
LCVP 592P, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCVP 592Q
LCVP 592S
SC PC-1077, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
SC PC-1079, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
AMc Moa

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 109,130, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 2
CL Oyodo, Shell hits 1
CL Sendai, Shell hits 1
DD Kosugiri
DD Myojinami
DD Tagonami, on fire
DD Tadeyame
CL Ninaru

Allied Ships
DD Stack, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Antrim, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAP David W. Branch, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Sarpedonia, Shell hits 41, and is sunk
xAP Maori, Shell hits 4
xAP Alcoa Prospector, Shell hits 44, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
4326 casualties reported
Squads: 47 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 263 destroyed, 73 disabled
Engineers: 24 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 15 (15 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Low visibility due to Rain with 21% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 21% moonlight: 5,000 yards
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 109,130, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
CL Oyodo
CL Sendai
DD Kosugiri
DD Myojinami
DD Tagonami, on fire
DD Tadeyame
CL Ninaru

Allied Ships
LCT-63, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-145, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
LCT-146, Shell hits 1, on fire
LCT-159, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-163, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LCT-321, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-323, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LCT-325, and is sunk
LCVP 542H
LCVP 592F
LCVP 592G, Shell hits 1, heavy damage
LCVP 592H, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCVP 592L
LCVP 592Q, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCVP 592S, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AMc Moa

Jul 31, 43

With the end of July 1943 the fate of Rabaul is already decided. The I US Corp conquered Torokina, after 6 days of fightings. 3 deliberate attacks in a row, followed by a shock attack (always supported by several squadrons of 4Es on ground attack role), destroyed our 17th Army that was defending the key base at Bouganville.
A reinforced regiment wasn't enough, clearly. The 2 reinforced australian divisions showed what they can do...
Now with a big base just 5 hexes south of Rabaul, the fate of my big base is clearly decided. Now it's just a matter of time before he destroys it.

The only good news is that, on the 30th, we sunk the CA New Orleans with 4 more sub torps[:'(]

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

Ground combat at Torokina (109,130)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 19309 troops, 327 guns, 260 vehicles, Assault Value = 620

Defending force 8549 troops, 87 guns, 90 vehicles, Assault Value = 65

Allied adjusted assault: 1571

Japanese adjusted defense: 73

Allied assault odds: 21 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Torokina !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
3170 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 190 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 18 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 65 (61 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 47 (45 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 8

Allied ground losses:
396 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
3rd Australian Division
2/6th Armoured Regiment
5th Australian Division
I US Corps
3/592nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
2/11th Field Regiment

Defending units:
21st/A Division
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
32nd Ind.AA Gun Co
17th Army
46th JNAF AF Unit
17th Naval Construction Battalion
62nd Naval Guard Unit
11th Air Defense AA Rgt /1

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

here's the combat report for that sad day...

Interesting to read this after reading posts from both players about the turn.

In my opinion, I would be horrified if I was the Allied player. No one would be considered a good leader if enemy surface units were penetrating their landing forces, sinking dozens of landing craft and sending some 4000+ soldiers to the bottom. That Admiral would, IRL, be dismissed.

Even if the numbers don't even out (with your air losses), this was a sizeable victory at sea. [&o]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

here's the combat report for that sad day...

Interesting to read this after reading posts from both players about the turn.

In my opinion, I would be horrified if I was the Allied player. No one would be considered a good leader if enemy surface units were penetrating their landing forces, sinking dozens of landing craft and sending some 4000+ soldiers to the bottom. That Admiral would, IRL, be dismissed.

Even if the numbers don't even out (with your air losses), this was a sizeable victory at sea. [&o]

Well, that would be true in RL...but in game terms the losses for the allies were absolutely replaceble.... while the loss of the Musashi...not so much[:-]

Thanks for the morale boost however mate! Really appreciated[:)]

Aug 01, 43

The new month opens with a GREAT VICTORY for the IJN, which, in a certain way, can be seen as a revange after the shown inability of the IJA to defend the isles the navy has so proudly conquered.

When the first bombardment of the Rabaul fleet went so bad 10 days ago (with the heavy damages occurred to Mutsu, Musashi and Yamashiro and the failed attempt to stop the american landing at Torokina), we had decided to send the KB back to the Pacific, escorting a strong surface fleet (2 BBs, 3 CAs, 3 CLs and 15 modern DDs) to Rabaul.
Then the american showed their carriers and the great air-naval battle of Rabaul occurred, when Japan lost 500 planes for good without scoring a single hit.
So the american CVs and the whole surface fleet was at the Solomons... how to exploit it?
I've started to recon every single allied base in the Solomons and spotted a weak spot in their defences.
Thousand Ships Bay and Tulagi were heavily defended, and so it was Vella La VElla. not less than 300 fighters and 500 bombers were distributed among these bases... but Rekata Bay only had 300 bombers (mainly 4Es) in it...without a single fighter....
There, at Rekata, the allied landing fleet was stationing, after the Torokina operation. My recon said BBs, APAs, DDs and several LSTs werelingering in those waters...

On the 30 and 31 July i tried to avoid any contact with the enemy subs north of Rabaul and positioned the KB NE of Kavieng...

On the 31st what appeared to be a huge CVTF popped up 2 hexes south east of Rekata...very close to Tulagi...where some more enemy BBs were reported....

When, on the 31, Torokina fell, i knew my time was running up...in few days the Catalinas will have moved there and the american greedy eye would have be free to roam anywhere north of Kavieng and up to Truk... We had to move, and move fast!

I ordered a run at full speed for 13 hexes, hoping to avoid any sub contact... destination: 3 hexes north of Onnekotan Java.

The goal was to attack his weak spot and to avoid any major engagement with his CVs... so only 7 hexes for my Jills and Judys. same for the Jakes and recon-Judies.
The whole KB, minus the Kaga and the Hiyu.

The risks were high... if all those 500+ LBA bombers were set on naval strike... if the enemy CVs moved from their position (i calculated that we would have stopped ONLY 8 hexes north of those CVs...)... if the enemy fleet moved back... if a sub would slow down oneof my 2 CV TFs?....

Well...in war you have to risk. We needed to slow the american advance... we also needed to show we, despite the heavy losses, still have fangs to bite back...and bite hard


.........................

When the morning arrived our CVs were exactly where they were supposed to be. No reaction from the enemy CVs...

Zeros from Zuiho and Soho were ordered sweep Rekata and clean the way for the upcoming strike...they met some 27 P-40Ks in a leaky CAP mode from Tulagi or Thousands Ships Bay...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rekata Bay , at 113,134

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 6 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rekata Bay , at 113,134

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed



Then all those enemy bombers (B25 included) decided to attack Shortland.... i took another deep breath....

...only 2 brave P-40s were left over Rekata... clearly Brad has given some rest to his CV Hellcats squadrons.... and my main morning strike arrived in a light foggy rain....

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Rekata Bay at 113,134

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 127 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 99
B6N2 Jill x 115
D4Y1 Judy x 50
D4Y3 Judy x 59

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 2

The flak was murderous (we are in DBB, remember)... but our bomber pilots ae the best of the best...still pre-war mostly....the enemy CAP could interfere....

No BBs were found...and those APAs must have been AOs misunderstood... but a huge surface TF was based there....



Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 8 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 4 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 3 destroyed by flak
D4Y3 Judy: 3 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
LST-31, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
AO Bishopdale, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CA Northampton, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Houston
CL Newcastle, Bomb hits 1
LST-32, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
LST-30, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
APA Cambria, Bomb hits 1, on fire
LST-28, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Cassin, Bomb hits 2, on fire
LCI-23, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LST-22, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LCI-21
AKA Oberon, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
LST-468, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
DD Case, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Chester, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
LST-483, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LST-23, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
LCI-63, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
LST-29, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AM Bunbury, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AO Cache, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
24 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
16 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 12000 feet
4 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
9 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
25 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
12 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
11 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
18 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 12000 feet
6 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
3 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
12 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 12000 feet
5 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
6 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
6 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
14 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
1 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
14 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
5 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
3 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
6 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
2 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y3 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
18th FG/44th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 29000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes
51st FG/16th FS with P-40K Warhawk (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AO Bishopdale
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring LST-22
Massive explosion on LST-468
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring LST-28
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Cassin
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring an Allied LCI(M)
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AKA Oberon