PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[wobbly]

it wasn't german Beer and the boys in Blue again was it?

[PzB74]

Boys in Blue again!? [X(]How can you think this of me Al...still not
forgotten India!? [;)]

A multi day update, busy as usual!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/20/44

Air Combat

Intercepted another raid on Lautern and for the first time in weeks
the pesky P-38s appeared in force again. The next day the raid came in
unescorted [8|]

Day Air attack on Lautem , at 33,78

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 9
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 47
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 11

Allied aircraft
Boomerang II x 10
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 24
P-40N Warhawk x 12
P-38J Lightning x 35
F-5A Lightning x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 33 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Boomerang II: 9 destroyed
Beaufighter Mk 21: 2 destroyed, 12 damaged
P-40N Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-38J Lightning: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Moved some Jills to Wotje east of Kwajalein and scored!

Day Air attack on TF at 81,75

Japanese aircraft
B6N Jill x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N Jill: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
TK Solana, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage *sinks 3 days later*
TK H.D. Collier, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
TK Robert E Hopkins, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/21/44

Air Combat

Tried a night fighter attack on Sarmi...hurt no one but the night fighters.

Night Air attack on Sarmi , at 48,78

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-S Irving: 11 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x J1N1-S Irving bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sent some bombers to hit the enemy back at on Noemfoor.
Just to show Andy that he's not alone!-)

Day Air attack on 7th Australian Division, at 45,76

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 26
Ki-21 Sally x 32
Ki-49 Helen x 14

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk III: 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/22/44

Bombardments

A big nasty bombardment of Noemfoor!

Naval bombardment of Noemfoor, at 45,76 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

17 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CA Chicago
CL Birmingham
CL Santa Fe
CL Montpelier, Shell hits 5
CA Chester
CA Astoria
CA Louisville
CL Boise
BB New Jersey
BB Iowa

Japanese ground losses:
1988 casualties reported - ouch!
Guns lost 17

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 50
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lightnings on small Aru Islands cost an Army bomber raid...

Day Air attack on Aru Island , at 39,80

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 23

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 11 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 1 damaged

Runway hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wotje and Kusaie received a lot of attention after the Jills torched Andy's tankers!

Day Air attack on Wotje , at 82,79

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 20
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 2
A-20G Havoc x 52
PB4Y Liberator x 20
B-24D Liberator x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N Jill: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
45 casualties reported

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 101
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kusaie Island , at 75,82

Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 12
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 7
P-40N Warhawk x 18
B-25J Mitchell x 39

Allied aircraft losses
Liberator VI: 1 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 35
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/23/44

Bombardments

A follow up bombardment causes very little damage!

Naval bombardment of Noemfoor, at 45,76 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

7 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CA Chicago
CL Birmingham
CL Santa Fe
CL Montpelier
CA Chester, Shell hits 5
CA Astoria
CA Louisville
CL Boise
BB New Jersey
BB Iowa

Japanese ground losses:
109 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 56
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The small island which we counter attacked a while back north of Darwin is
getting hammered again. Guess Andy will try again soon.

Day Air attack on 107th IJA Base Force, at 39,78

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 18
F-5A Lightning x 1
B-25J Mitchell x 27

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

Another day and much the same....bombing runs from east to west.
Andy's probably busy preparing to snatch another small base to build it up
and press forward. Not much that can be done but stall for time.

With the Kido Butai out of business for a while and an impenetrable wall of
enemy fighters over enemy ships and bases, the only sword left to wield is
the surface fleet.

So tonight the mightiest ships of the Combined Fleet attempts to trap the
US Fleet if it returns to bombard Noemfoor.

This is what we may have to face if the enemy is brought to combat:

BB New Jersey
BB Iowa
CA Chester
CA Astoria
CA Louisville
CA Chicago
CL Birmingham
CL Santa Fe
CL Montpelier
CL Boise
DD x 5-7

Two powerful surface groups have been formed, each consisting of 15 ships:

1. The first is centered around the Yamato and Musashi, 4 heavy and 2 light cruisers
(the torpedo cruisers Oi and Kitakami) and 5 destroyers.
2. The second is a fast battle group centred on 2 Kongo's, a few cruisers and a heavy destroyer screen.

The plan got several aspects:
Firstly I wish to surprise the enemy bombardment group and launch a devastating gun/torpedo attack and
slow down as many ships as possible.
When this has been achieved several damaged enemy ships will be limping back to Sarmi and come under heavy
air attack by 100 Betties from bases north of Noemfoor as well as 70 crack dive and torpedo bombers from Biak.

The Allies are still relatively short of heavy surface units and a heavy blow at this stage could be telling.
So let's see if Andy decided to play ball or not.... [;)]


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/24/44

[String]

Ooh Ooh! Surface combat! Me Likes it!

When's the next turn due?

[invernomuto]

Can't wait to see next turn results.

[PzB74]

New turn in now.... [&o]

[PzB74]

Nope, no action...Andy doesn't know what he missed [;)]
Better wait for a better opportunity! Don't want to hang around
exposed too long.

[Fishbed]

Ooh Ooh! Surface combat! Me Likes it!

Damn, how could we fail with JarJar's power besides us [:D]

[PzB74]

As I understand it Fish, there's a Divine message in this 'aborted' clash of Titans!
I'm moving my assets back to Morotai and will prepare for Andy's follow up assault on
Noemfoor - or another frog leap to one of the two bases behind it.

A strong surface group is in place and will be protected by a heavy local CAP. New air units
are ready for deployment from China, and the carrier escort division is ready to pose a decoy
role supported by a cv and a cvl.

I'm having a potential problem: 2 days ago I turned of all Zeke replacements and I still only
got 6 in the pool. Should be lots more and I'm afraid they're leaking away!? Anyone experienced
something similar? This could be a game killer, so I hope it's not the case. Receiving 500 Zekes
pr month, and that should mean an average of 16-17 ac pr day.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/25/44

Surface Combat

Got another transport of Kiska, got 2 destroyers parked nearby to intervene resupply missions in the area.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kiska Island at 92,35

Japanese Ships
DD Yugure
DD Uzuki

Allied Ships
AK Centarus, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

I've opened a new training academy: this one will target Chungkin - range is 5 hexes
so mostly bombers will be placed here.

Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 72
G4M2 Betty x 39
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 31
Ki-21 Sally x 49
Ki-46-III Dinah x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
49 casualties reported

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 99
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hm...

Day Air attack on Manokwari , at 44,75

Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 11
B-24J Liberator x 68

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wotje , at 82,79

Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 13
P-40N Warhawk x 2
A-20G Havoc x 48
PB4Y Liberator x 21
B-24D Liberator x 28

Allied aircraft losses
A-20G Havoc: 3 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
49 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kusaie Island , at 75,82

Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 15
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 9
P-40N Warhawk x 16
B-25J Mitchell x 37

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 58
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 32nd Ind.Mixed Brigade, at 45,76

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 14
F4U-1D Corsair x 28
Spitfire VIII x 9
Kittyhawk III x 54
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 12
P-38J Lightning x 25
P-47D Thunderbolt x 15
A-20G Havoc x 9
B-25J Mitchell x 10

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
A-20G Havoc: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 107th IJA Base Force, at 39,78

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 18
F-5A Lightning x 1
B-25J Mitchell x 45

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
146 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Amphibious/B Brigade, at 45,76

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 6
F4U-1D Corsair x 8
Spitfire VIII x 3
Kittyhawk III x 21
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 4
P-47D Thunderbolt x 14
B-25J Mitchell x 3

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk III: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

A small para detachment occupied a dot base on the Western side of Norther New Guinea.

Ground combat at Timoeka

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 60 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Timoeka base !!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

A large concentration of enemy ships are coming up the Eastern Coast of New Guinea.
Passing Aitape and Dagua presently.

Andy tried another deliberate attack on Noemfoor today, failed miserably. I don't think
he would have done this if he was about to land reinforcements in a few days. So I think
he will land on Sansapor or Manokwari. Both places got some 1000 AP together and 5/6 forts.

Anyway, I'm moving my assets to the rear and await Andy's move. I hope he's gotten impatient
and does something rash [;)] The sensible thing would be to finish business on Noemfoor, he
got way too many troops bogged down in the malaria pits there.

Lots of ac are being moved into the Central/Southern PI.
More bad news: only 8 Zekes in the pool today despite me having turned of all Zeke replacements
for 3 days. Really getting worried [&:]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/26/44

Bombardments

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1030 encounters mine field at Noemfoor (45,76)

Allied Ships
DMS Elliot
DMS Chandler
DMS Howard
DMS Palmer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Noemfoor, at 45,76 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CA Chicago
CL Birmingham, Shell hits 1
CL Santa Fe, Shell hits 1
CL Montpelier
CA Chester
CA Astoria
CA Louisville
CL Boise
BB New Jersey
BB Iowa

Japanese ground losses:
717 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 21
Port supply hits 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Moved 75 ac out of Biak yesterday

Day Air attack on Biak , at 46,77

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 17
F-5C Lightning x 3
B-25J Mitchell x 54

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y Judy: 1 destroyed
J1N1-S Irving: 1 destroyed
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F-5C Lightning: 1 damaged
B-25J Mitchell: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manokwari , at 44,75

Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 6
B-24J Liberator x 28

No Allied losses

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

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Noemfoor

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 29634 troops, 258 guns, 85 vehicles

Defending force 32751 troops, 221 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 8)

Japanese ground losses:
420 casualties reported
Guns lost 13

Allied ground losses:
1462 casualties reported
Guns lost 24
Vehicles lost 2
---------------------------------------------------------------------

[Speedysteve]

ORIGINAL: PzB
More bad news: only 8 Zekes in the pool today despite me having turned of all Zeke replacements
for 3 days. Really getting worried [&:]

Hi John,

I swear I remember this being mentioned in the general discussion forum a good few months ago. In someone elses game they found Zeke's 'leaking' all over the place. I thought it was looked at. Maybe worth posting in there or the support forum?

Regards,

Steven

[ChezDaJez]

More bad news: only 8 Zekes in the pool today despite me having turned of all Zeke replacements
for 3 days. Really getting worried

Check your heavy industry status. It might not be a leak. I had an occasion where the game stopped producing aircraft because the home islands ran low on oil and resources. As soon as I corrected that, my aircraft production went back to normal.

It appears that the first aircraft factories to stop productions when this happens are the ones producing large quantities of aircraft such as the Zeke. The samller ones like those producing the Pete or whatever still produced.

Chez

[String]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

ORIGINAL: PzB
More bad news: only 8 Zekes in the pool today despite me having turned of all Zeke replacements
for 3 days. Really getting worried [&:]

Hi John,

I swear I remember this being mentioned in the general discussion forum a good few months ago. In someone elses game they found Zeke's 'leaking' all over the place. I thought it was looked at. Maybe worth posting in there or the support forum?

Regards,

Steven

AFAIK it was fixed in some later patch.

[Bliztk]

IIRC was sunken carriers squadrons getting replacements

[saj42]

Have you had any Zeke units arrive lin the last few days?
Or have any Zero units upgraded?

I'm sure you have checked this, but sometimes these things get overlooked - so much detail - so much to forget LOL

[PzB74]

Thx for the input guys! I've been suspecting that my broken carrier Daitais
have been receiving reinforcements. Got some size (0) units etc. They should all
be replenished shortly though. ALL other Zeke Daitai's have been ordered not to
receive replacements.

Yesterday there were 8 Zekes in the pool and 4541 ac had been used.
Today: 5 Zekes in the pool and 4561 ac had been used.

This means that another 17 Zekes have been distributed to unknown destinations.
I got 4 fleet carriers arriving, 2 are due in 1-2 months. One 48 ac Zeke Daitai
has been due for 2 weeks, but these units only arrive when there are enough Zekes
in the pool to fill out all missing ac at once.

So yes, Zekes ARE leaking without me being able to do much about it. Trying to increase
production - plenty industry/resources/heavy industry available!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/27/44

Nothing much to report, 2 dozen bombing missions and Andy's huge fleet is crawling north towards
Sarmi. The big question is were it will go from there.... I got a few plans taking shape.

One minelaying TF has moved over to the Marianas while another has gone in the other direction
to the Morotai/Menando area. Don't dare sending em too far south, valuable little ships since I'm
not receiving new ones. Pretty $hite since I got 100 useless msw's respawning all over the place.

[2ndACR]

 Those MSW's are for when you go over on the offensive against Andy.[:D] That should surprise him.

[String]

You really should upgrade to 1.8, the problem was fixed in some patch before that.

[PzB74]

Good point, we will shower Andy with msw's when he expect it the least [:D]
Upgrading to V1.8 is a risky business...difficult to say whether it'll do more good than harm! [&:]
Andy is doing some hardware upgrades, so no more turns until tomorrow.

What do you think about anchoring 2-3 cve's and a cvl under an umbrella of 6-700 fighters when
Andy moves further north? I'll be willingto let parts of the surface fleet hang around as well.
This could be costly, but the US carriers will loose a lot of CAP fighters and make them vulnerable
to a vicious counter strikes. I don't have to touch the crack George and Zeke units that
are held in reserve and there are 500 new fully trained fighters in China.

[Arstavidios]

How long does it take you to train fighter pilots in China?