PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[PzB74]

Quick update before bedtime!

Surface group moved in and met a huuge PT boat TF [8|]
Andy has moved it all the way from Sarmi!

Fortunately Nishimura suffered no losses and sank 5-6 of the small pests.
A sub was attacked by a surface group in the very same hex, lots of dd's and cruisers...but
Nishimura didn't encounter them. Insteas enemy ships including tankers and carriers had moved
a hex to the east, directly below Wasile!

So our dangerous raid ended up with little success, but Andy is now very much aware of the threat.
I sent a cve south of Ambonia and it launched 25 Judy's - which all attacked the enemy carrier group
that had moved directly south of Wasile. 60 CAP fighters brough em all down.

Extremely difficult to achieve anything, even though surprise is achived. The CAP is just 100% air tight!! [:o]
A battle group including 2 Kongo's were attacked by a sub SSW of Palau, enroute to Sarmi to look for cve's.
The sub gave away their position, so it's RTB!

First shock attack at Wasile gained a 1-1 odds, forts down to lvl 4. 550 Allied causalties.
There are ca 160 Hellcats in the Wasile hex, so a strong attack from Menando/Davao could succeed.
Should I?

Andy boasts that 1700 Jap ac have been destroyed over the last 8 days to 350 Allied fighters.
Numbers are high, aye..but a lot have been destroyed on the ground and the bulk are search, transports,
and Oscars. Perhaps 300-400 of the losses are experienced first line fighters/bombers.

As you see Fishbed, I'm trying to split up the enemy - but it's a super dangerous job and a lot of things
can - and usually goes wrong. Hollandia is out of my grasp unfortunately. Getting within 5 hexes of an enemy
base with surface ships can be lethal and I don't have effective long range fighters after the A6M2 became
obsolete.

I agree with you Sneer! Clear Northern Guinea and then focus on the Marianas. He can bomb the Palaus from Guinea
and gain a toehold. But still, Andy's on a tight time schedule and I'm able to make good most of my ac losses.
The Combined Fleet is still in one piece and within 4 months the KB will be back in business.

[pauk]

ORIGINAL: PzB
There are ca 160 Hellcats in the Wasile hex, so a strong attack from Menando/Davao could succeed.
Should I?

It is hard to give advice - as you said it is quite depressing when you planing cuning plans, done everything and than something goes wrong....

how many fighters you can throw in to the battle? did you consider sending them to sweep skies over Wasile (is it possible to do it while Wasile is in your possesion?) and then send LBA with escort?

If you get strikes (but it's important to get sweep mission first) you may score some hits on his CVs....

yeah, right, that is another cuning plan[8|]... but it is better than Baldrick ones, i think[;)]

[Fishbed]

PzB, if you really want to do something, send the fleet there and wreck everything havoc! this kind of situation with stuck TF will not happen so easily in the Marianas - you have to take that chance to slow him!
 
Isn't the Kaigun in Mindanao? Let's flush everything, while covering with your last operationnal reserve in the area...
Im a warmonger I know but let the big guns talk if you suspect you can do something with 'em!

[duckenf]

ORIGINAL: PzB
There are ca 160 Hellcats in the Wasile hex, so a strong attack from Menando/Davao could succeed.
Should I?

60 CAP fighters just brought down 25 Judys and probably could have brought down a lot more with fighter cover -- how many attack aircraft do you think you'll need to break through -- a 2:1 advantage in fighters? So 120-150 fighters and then some bombers? over 200 aircraft?

[Fishbed]

Just realize Im one day late on my thought... Im so dumb[:D]

[PzB74]

Andy certainly didn't expect my surface group!

"You are crazy !!!
If only I hadnt put the whole fleet on Ground attack another of those pesky IJN CA's would down with Davy Jones!"

Yes, if only...but I calculated correctly this time. Unfortunately the outcome wasn't great even though my ships
handled themselves well against large number of PT boats.

I can send 200 Zekes on sweeps over Wasile first Pauk, and then release my bombers and follow up with 250 transports
that can relieve Wasile. If successful Andy will have to withdraw. I consider such an success so important that I'm
willing to risk it!

Fish, read Andy's words - we're two of a kind here! [;)]
Need fast TF's that can move 6 hexes to get to my targets and out again though.

IF I can get my 400 bombers to launch, including 120 army bombers + 250 Oscars after a Zeke sweep (and preferably
coordinated with a Judy/Jill strike escorted by another 100 Zekes) - we should achieve results. But if bad weather grounds
one of my wings - R.I.P. [&o]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/10/44

Invasions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Wasile, 41,69, firing at TF 1072
TF 1072 troops unloading over beach at Wasile, 41,69

86 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships

SC SC-742
SC SC-982, Shell hits 4

Allied ground losses:
146 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Wasile, 41,69, firing at TF 1072
TF 1072 troops unloading over beach at Wasile, 41,69

15 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied ground losses:
120 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Wasile, 41,69, firing at TF 1098
TF 1098 troops unloading over beach at Wasile, 41,69

462 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
LCM 592A, Shell hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
LCVP 543R, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-377, Shell hits 3, on fire
LCT LCT-376
LCVP 543Q, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
LCVP 543P, Shell hits 19, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-328, Shell hits 1
LCVP 543K, Shell hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-167, Shell hits 9
LCVP 543J, Shell hits 1, on fire
LCT LCT-65, Shell hits 20

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

Sub/ASW Attacks

ASW attack at 41,70

Japanese Ships
SS I-11, hits 7

Allied Ships
DD Cogswell
DD Claxton
DD Chevalier
DD Charrette
DD Capps
DD Caperton
DD Bush
DD Burns
DD Bullard
DD Brown
DD Braine
DD Bradford
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 41,70

Japanese Ships - may sink, 76 flood and 64 sys.
SS I-11, hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
LST LST-343
LST LST-341
LST LST-338
LST LST-34
LST LST-25
DD Conway
DD Clarence Bronson
DD Bell
DD Beale
CL St. Louis
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My surface groups headed for Sarmi were intercepted by a peski sub and the Hiei almost
torched! [:o]

Sub attack at 52,70

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
DD Asagao
DD Hayate
DD Hatakaze
DD Satsuki
DD Ushio
DD Oboro
DD Sagiri
DD Hatsukaze
DD Makigumo
CA Aoba

Allied Ships
SS Porpoise, hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surface Combat

Night Time Surface Combat at 41,70

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Nachi
CA Mikuma
CL Kitakami
CL Oi
DD Tamanami
DD Onami
DD Okinami
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio
DD Urakaze

Allied Ships
PT PT-462
PT PT-463
PT PT-464
PT PT-465
PT PT-466
PT PT-467
PT PT-468
PT PT-469
PT PT-470, Shell hits 1, on fire
PT PT-471
PT PT-472
PT PT-473
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at 41,70

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Nachi
CA Mikuma
CL Kitakami
CL Oi
DD Tamanami, Shell hits 2
DD Onami
DD Okinami, Shell hits 1
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio
DD Urakaze

Allied Ships
PT PT-522
PT PT-523
PT PT-524
PT PT-525
PT PT-526
PT PT-527
PT PT-528, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
PT PT-529
PT PT-530, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT PT-531, Shell hits 38, and is sunk
PT PT-532, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bombardments

Naval bombardment of Wasile, at 41,69

Allied Ships
CA Chicago
CL Birmingham
CL Santa Fe
CL Montpelier
CA Chester
CA Astoria
CA Louisville
CL Boise
BB New Jersey
BB Iowa

Japanese ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Wasile, at 41,69

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis
CA Boston
BB Idaho
CA Wichita

Japanese ground losses:
310 casualties reported
Guns lost 18

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 30
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Morotai , at 43,68

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
F-5C Lightning x 5
B-24J Liberator x 108

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F-5C Lightning: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 131
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wasile , at 41,69

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 13
F-5C Lightning x 4
PB4Y Liberator x 12
B-24J Liberator x 60

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
3 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 75
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 82,69

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 8
G4M2 Betty x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
TK J.C. Fitzsimmons

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The surprise cve attack! Imagine how kewl it would have been if these Judys snuck through
an opening in the clouds and torched an enemy carrier...

Day Air attack on TF at 42,70

Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 27

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 50
Corsair IV x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y Judy: 18 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 42,70

Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 7

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 50
Corsair IV x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y Judy: 4 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Attack

Wasile needs reinforcements!!

Ground combat at Wasile

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 19474 troops, 214 guns, 154 vehicles, Assault Value = 724

Defending force 11976 troops, 115 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 282

Allied max assault: 826 - adjusted assault: 367

Japanese max defense: 155 - adjusted defense: 213

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 4

Japanese ground losses:
149 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
520 casualties reported
Guns lost 10
Vehicles lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kavieng

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 7680 troops, 41 guns, 123 vehicles, Assault Value = 180

Defending force 2751 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9

Allied max assault: 342 - adjusted assault: 89

Japanese max defense: 3 - adjusted defense: 15

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
56 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Counterattacks

[Sneer]

few days ago when number of fighters in reserve crossed 2.5k i halted
production for a while
now when i see number of planes shot down .......
how about your reserves - I mean how many modern fighters you have in the pool?
how many modern fighters do you consider enough for early 44 ?

[PzB74]

You can never get enough Sneer...
5000 A6M5 Zekes in the pool would be great! I got a mere 125 now, 1000 George,
250 Oscars (extremely heavy usage), out of Tonys (producing 60 pr month
for years), 500 Tojos and 335 Franks (soon to go into production).

Seems like Andy got a bit nervous, mosved his carriers south. He considers Wasile
conquered already. This base is 8 hexes from Sarmi, so he'll be hard pressed to support it!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/11/44

Invasions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Wasile, 41,69, firing at TF 1072
TF 1072 troops unloading over beach at Wasile, 41,69

32 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
AK William H. Dall

Allied ground losses:
180 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub/ASW Attacks

ASW attack at 41,71

Japanese Ships
SS I-45, hits 5

Allied Ships
DD Cummings
DD Welles
DD Farenholt
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 41,71

Japanese Ships
SS I-45, hits 3

Allied Ships
DMS Elliot
DMS Chandler
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ahhhh, again we get one of the most valuable prizes in torpedo range - and MISS! [X(]
Sub attack at 41,71

Japanese Ships
SS I-45

Allied Ships
BB Iowa
DMS Elliot
DMS Chandler
DMS Howard
DMS Palmer
DD Gatling
DD Franks
DD Foote
DD Eaton
DD Dyson
CA Chester
CA Louisville
CL Boise
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Morotai , at 43,68

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
F-5C Lightning x 4
PB4Y Liberator x 5
B-24J Liberator x 80

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F-5C Lightning: 1 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 8 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
61 casualties reported

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 78
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wasile , at 41,69

Allied aircraft
F-5C Lightning x 6
PB4Y Liberator x 10
B-24J Liberator x 70

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 58
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 84,68

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 10
G4M2 Betty x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
TK J.C. Fitzsimmons, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Wasile is in trouble...

Ground combat at Wasile

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 20431 troops, 204 guns, 173 vehicles, Assault Value = 704

Defending force 10893 troops, 86 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 252

Allied max assault: 944 - adjusted assault: 365

Japanese max defense: 148 - adjusted defense: 149

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Japanese ground losses:
353 casualties reported
Guns lost 11

Allied ground losses:
637 casualties reported
Guns lost 14
Vehicles lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kavieng

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 7656 troops, 40 guns, 123 vehicles, Assault Value = 178

Defending force 2595 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7

Allied max assault: 332 - adjusted assault: 30

Japanese max defense: 1 - adjusted defense: 13

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
102 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Iowa!

[PzB74]

Andy kept his carriers away from Wasile and landed the last of his marooned troops.
This was enough to capture the place with overwhelming force, some 30k troops landed
in all.

Will see what happens next - will the enemy carriers move back to Rabaul for some R&R?
The bulk of the naval bombers and Zeke force is still intact and in 2 days the first Franks
arrive. In a couple of months I hope to meet the next major offensive with a lot more capable
units. Should have 6-7 carriers ready again by then as well.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/12/44

Sub/ASW Attacks

Lost 2 subs, one to asw group and another to asw ac!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 42,71

Japanese Ships
SS I-45, hits 11, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Allied Ships
DD Cogswell
DD Claxton
DD Chevalier
DD Charrette
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Invasions

Coastal Guns at Wasile, 41,69, firing at TF 1098
TF 1098 troops unloading over beach at Wasile, 41,69

772 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
LCVP 593P
LCVP 593M, Shell hits 1
LCVP 593J, Shell hits 1
LCVP 593H, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
LCVP 593G
LCVP 542M, Shell hits 3
LCVP 542F, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
LCM 542D, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
LCM 542C, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
LCM 542B, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-475, Shell hits 4
LCT LCT-461, Shell hits 19
LCT LCT-374, Shell hits 6, on fire
LCT LCT-373, Shell hits 1
LCT LCT-372
LCT LCT-370, Shell hits 1
LCT LCT-363, Shell hits 1
LCT LCT-362, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-356
LCT LCT-354, Shell hits 2
LCT LCT-352, Shell hits 1
LCT LCT-325, Shell hits 2
LCT LCT-323, Shell hits 3
LCT LCT-177, Shell hits 1
LCT LCT-175, Shell hits 1
LCT LCT-166, Shell hits 4
LCT LCT-67, Shell hits 1, on fire
LCT LCT-58, Shell hits 16

Allied ground losses:
1469 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Morotai , at 43,68

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
F-5C Lightning x 6
PB4Y Liberator x 8
B-24J Liberator x 88

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 8 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
128 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 152
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 24th Ind.Mixed/A Brigade, at 41,69

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 36
F6F Hellcat x 32
SB2C Helldiver x 204
TBM Avenger x 188

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
405 casualties reported
Guns lost 11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Wasile at 41,69

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
DE Manning, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 47,75

Japanese aircraft
B6N Jill x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N Jill: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
LCI(G) LCI-61, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground troops retreated to a dot base next to Morotai, already with 3-4 forts.
Wasile is bottled up between my major bases in the area and the tip of Northern New Guinea.
Andy is going to have to work a bit to make this base into an effective forward strong point.

Ground combat at Wasile

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 20340 troops, 210 guns, 172 vehicles, Assault Value = 769

Defending force 12052 troops, 106 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 293

Allied max assault: 948 - adjusted assault: 594

Japanese max defense: 182 - adjusted defense: 69

Allied assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Wasile base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
454 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Allied ground losses:
386 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kavieng

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 7676 troops, 40 guns, 124 vehicles, Assault Value = 177

Defending force 2444 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Allied max assault: 328 - adjusted assault: 145

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 9

Allied assault odds: 16 to 1

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

A nice hit to the DE Mannning!

[The Duke]

I have to admit I love this thread - I'm playing the Japanese in a PBEM grand campaign....currently in October '43 and this thread is the only one I've seen where another player has kept on plugging as long as I have.  Keep on plugging and hopefully the Franks will help give you a bit of an edge back.
 
P.S. How do you like those Georges?  I start getting them in a month, and hope they can put up a better fight against the Corsairs and Hellcats.
 

[PzB74]

Duke, nice to hear from you! Do you have an AAR of your own? So many threads I ought to
follow regularly..so many wars and so little time [;)]

I keep on plugging ok, still a long way to go! How are you doing in your game then, got
a solid defensive line prepped for the storm?

The George isn't a revolution in its own...I only had 2x27 ac Daitais for a long time.
Now I've trained a new 54 ac Daitai bringing the total up to 108 by April 44. Used one
in my flawed strike at Morotai and I didn't notice that they performed that well. Were
up against a huge force of Hellcats though. Think they come into their own in a defensive
role supported by lots of other fighters.

Tomorrow we receive two Daitais equipped with 36 Franks each. Will rest and
get moral up before moving to China.

5 Home Island Divisions arrived today as well as 2 Northern Force Divs + a Bde.
Planning to send one Northern Force division to the Marianas - will split it in
3 regiments and reinforce 3 islands.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/13/44

Air Combat

Tried to send in the Army bombers with a heavy Oscar escort.
Andy has already moved in CAP fighters - and they minced the Oscars.
The bombers did little damage from 20k feet. Don't think it's advicable
to try again....

Day Air attack on Wasile , at 41,69

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 192
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 7
Ki-21 Sally x 117
Ki-49 Helen x 20

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 11
P-38J Lightning x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 104 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
P-38J Lightning: 4 destroyed, 7 damaged
SB2C Helldiver: 2 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surprise carrier strike!

Day Air attack on TF at 88,68

Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 15
B6N Jill x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
TK J.C. Fitzsimmons, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The damaged Manning is finished of!

Day Air attack on TF at 43,70

Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 8
B6N Jill x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N Jill: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DE Manning, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Kavieng

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 7594 troops, 39 guns, 121 vehicles, Assault Value = 175

Defending force 2252 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5

Allied max assault: 322 - adjusted assault: 484

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 7

Allied assault odds: 69 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
658 casualties reported
Guns lost 68
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surprise Strike!

To make Andy divert some forces and worry a bit I sent a carrier south of Wake Island.
It shadowed two TFs and caught up with a tanker.

[toraq]

Spanish HQ advices:

Well done, PzB!. You´re performing very well against those weak americans [:'(]. Almost like Spanish soldiers in Cuba [;)].
I´d like to point out some few thoughts. I know you already know them, but I´d like to see your opinion anyway.

1) There´s been a lot of talk about whether or not attack the American KB. I see it almost impossible. We´ve seen recently the results but even if 40 or 50 navy bombers get through enemy CAP, it is still difficult to score a hit. USS Navy Flak is SOOOOO heavy and accurate that probably you only put a couple of torpedoes in two different ships. Moreover, not always all your naval bombers attack enemy CVs so you can spend 500 fighters and 100 bombers to get two hits.[:(]
Even if the hist are scored on fleet carriers...I don´t see the benefits. You put 2 CVs out of action for a couple of moths but that won´t delay Andy offensive. On the other side, train 600 planes cost you 2-3 moths of training (plus 100 more planes lost due to operational losses during training)

So...no point...no benefits [:-]

2) Lets face it: you´ve lost iniciative, air/naval supremacy and pilot/aircraft quality. In these conditions YOU CAN´T get a decisive victory. I would not spend my time trying to get one. You´ve already archived some of them in the early years. Now it is time to defend and defend and defend and...DEFEND!! [:)]

3) Yes, you can still attack but to get minor victories. Last actions with a few aircraft attacking from a hidden CV and so on are the ones I would try to repeat. A goog way to recover your morale

4) Noooooo! Don´t sacrife the KB in an early action. The more it survives, the more it will disturb enemy intentions!. Don´t use it unless you are sure to get some minor results at 0 costs.

5) I´m afraid I disagree with some of your last actions. Some "japanese traps" were done with a lot of risk and requiring many enemy mistakes. I consider them as "boy-strategies". Common! we´ve seen you managing your navy, planes and troops much better!!! I know you can do better and make those americans to withdraw in shame. BANZAI!!!!!!!!! [:@]

6) Be careful with inactivity. In this game sometimes you do things cos you can´t stand the inactivity of so many resources (planes, ships, etc). It´s hard to see that you got 10 BBs and you could fight with them but they are just in the harbour. No way!! Time to wait and wait!. Better to see them in the harbour than in the bottom of the sea!

I know you´re planning something...you´ve already wrote it some post ago....But you don´t want to tell us!!

Good luck and good fight!

[PzB74]

Good to hear from you again Toraq, always appreciate input from Spanish HQ [:)]

In many ways I agree with you, but not forget what we want to achieve by defensive fighting: Gain time!
To achieve this we have to crack some eggs! Inactivity doesn't win much time I'm afraid. I'm also fighting the war
in typical 'Bushido spirit'. No way the Japs would sit idle with ample resources at their hands and let the Americans
invade their ground [:-]

Agree, Andy's carriers are very difficult to hurt - and I would like to hit his transports and surface ships.
The problem is that these are usually protected by an uber CAP most of the time. There are a few opening, but I have
to 'sniff them out' and launch my birds of prey in the right moment, and this is difficult to say the least.

Subs may achieve more, you saw that both the Franklin and Iowa almost got hit in the Wasile Campaign.
Still, Wasile didn't cost any of the sides a lot of ships. Andy lost some transports, landing ships, 1 DD and 1 DE.
Japan lost 2 cve's and some transports. Main losses were in ac, some 1800 to 400 me thinks. 300 Hellcats are difficult
to replace according to Andy. We can only hope. Our own losses will be made good within a month or two.

Minor victories doesn't really gain the Empire more time, and points doesn't really matter - not for me anyway.
Will be all but impossible for Andy to win on points, 34 to 62k at the moment I think.

The KB has seen enough sacrifice for a while, will remain a fleet in being from now on [;)]
My plans depends on Andy's actions, so they are prone to change! I send out ships and return them to base if
I don't find the openings I've been looking for.

Still, this is a game and I intend to have as much fun as possible. Sitting on my arse for a whole year would be
a waste of my precious time and I don't want to bore my readers either [:D]

So let the guns roar and bombs soar!

[The Duke]

PzB, I don't have a thread on this forum for my PBEM - we're playing PDU-on, and although I got some big victories early (knocked out Russia and 95% of China) I'm now feeling the brunt of unlimited allied upgrades to 4-engine bomber groups.
 
Around summer '43 I had 200 CAP fighters at the Admiralties, most of them 80+ exp, most of them Tony's....he sends in 1,100+ planes, including around 900 4-engine bombers and 150 P-38s.....I shot down about 150 of his planes, he ahnilliates my entire size 6 airfield and most of my planes.  Effectively, put that base out of the war in a single raid. [:@]
 
Anyway, I still have most of my defensive perimiter up, he retook Baker island, but I have most of the traditional Japanese bases, and he's been able to take one base near Maumere....I have six fleet CVs plus all my CVEs and CLs remaining, and about half my BBs and 2/3 of my cruisers.  Unfortunately, I had KB (with an avg of 90 exp w/ Zekes) slaughtered by a smaller number of F4-Us recently.  The corsair is simply unstoppable in this game, and he's using them on many of his carriers.  Tough nut to crack.
 
So, I sit back, re-train, and try to build out my bases (particularly size 5+ airfields to avoid more 1000-plane 4-engine raids) and see where I can hurt him some and slow him down.
 
Really is a great game.....I'm pretty stubborn too, so I may be fighting on the home islands before I call it quits.  [8D]
 
I'm really hoping the George can at least get me on semi-equal footing w/ the Hellcat....and hopefully the Frank is the plane I hope it can be, b/c a glitch in the game is giving my opponent B29s as we speak (fall of '43) and he'll use them against everything.....I really don't want to see my fleets get sunk at 20 hexes by a strategic bomber, but it may well happen.
 
Keep up the fight!
 

[Akos Gergely]

Sorry for getting into the Big Boys game, but I could not stand to ask this. I'm following this AAR for a long time now and I know what happened to KB, but I presume most f the damage was cleared and you have some operational units and hopefully Taiho is coming soon on line, so:
 
why don't You try a nice little commerce rading on the supply lines of Andy when his TF58 is engaged in landing support? Surely he can not be in two separate places.

[Fishbed]

I agree, raiding is the best use you could make of the KB, hitting vulnerable spots while dividing up Andy's assets. If he wants to keep up with the clock, he can't afford sending his convoies around the Pacific and avoid taking direct routes. But I suspect this was already PzB's idea, isn't it? [;)]

[PzB74]

No house rules and PDU is NASTY on the Japs in the long run Duke....!
The Frank isn't as hot as you'd like it to be I'm afraid. The Jack has proved itself in battle and
so will the Georige and Frank if they defend their own turf together with lots of 'decoy' Oscars [;)]

Andy currently got several carriers at Pearl according to himself. Commerce raiding is dangerous,
can be cut down by subs or enemy carriers...but I hope to conduct a limited campaign while the
cat is away! [:)]

The KB needs another 2+ months to be back in business.
Status is as follows:

CV Hiyo and 2 cvl's are fully operational together with 4-5 cve's.
CV Taiho is down to 29 sys damage.
CV Shokaku and Zuikakau are down to 57-58 sys damage.
CV Akagi is down to 56 sys damage.
CV Katsuragi still got 80 sys damage.
CVL Chitose is down to 19 sys damage.

3 new fleet carriers will arrive within 90 days as well as 1 cvl and 3 cve's.

So in 3 months the KB should consist of:
9 cv's - ca 600 ac
3 cvl's - ca 100 ac
7-8 cve's - ca 150 ac

This should be a sizeable force, even big enough to threaten Andy's mega fleets and force
him to keep his fleets together.

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: PzB

So in 3 months the KB should consist of:
9 cv's - ca 600 ac
3 cvl's - ca 100 ac
7-8 cve's - ca 150 ac

Wow, 850 carrier planes. Pretty impressive. What kind of experience levels do you expect?

[PzB74]

It is ...but don't put too much value in numbers anymore!
I will not keep the cve's with the fleet carriers, so say 600+ highly trained carrier ac.
Experience levels will lie between 75 and 80.

The problem with operating such a large number of carriers is that most of my capable surface combatants
get tied up for escort duty. So it's tempting to create 2 TFs with a relatively light escort.

[Mike Solli]

Yeah, I understand. But, having 600 highly experienced carrier pilots (and carriers for them!) in mid 44 is pretty cool.