PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[Honda]

ORIGINAL: PzB


Day Air attack on TF at 53,78

Japanese aircraft
P1Y Frances x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y Frances: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Steel Scientist, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Vermont

I think you owe us a smiley[;)]

[PzB74]

Must be one of the patches, or a miracle [:D]
Just got 130 more competent naval bombers in the Imperial arsenal!

[veji1]

this is great !!!! I mean the Frances being able to launch torps !!!

[PzB74]

Yes it's amazing! [:)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/06/44

A more formal report this time:

Air Combat

Andy launches paras on small dot bases on Satawal. 20 men on the one without troops
and 2000 on the one with forts and a construction unit.

The men came from Wasile - recons report 700+ ac there now.
Guess he's going to 'air bridge' in a division after moving Corsairs in... [8|]

Pretty smug tactics, but somehow I'm neither impressed nor delighted.
Probably a most annoying diversion for some other major offensive. So I'll let him play around.

Morotai and Menando tried to organize a coordinated strike by 100 bombers and 200 fighters
on Wasile, but despite of 2 Air HQs, lots of supplies and fewer than 200 rested ac on each field,
a mere 4 bombers and 40 fighters take of from Menando...That 4 bombers got through only shows what
could have been achieved if orders were followed.

Pretty agonizing that I can't get my air units to fly with any regularity.

Ground Combat

Otherwise the Admiralty Islands fell in the first attack.

Enemy para attack from Wasile

[Fishbed]

Yep, a worth Frances, that rocks [;)]

[Monter_Trismegistos]

Does anybody seen what user Frank said in Andy's AAR?

It's second or third time, when just after PzB told us that he is planning CV raid on Andy's convoys, Frank is "asking" about security of convoy line and about knowing positions of Jap CVs and "giving advices" to watch Allied rears...

I also read both AARs, but I think that giving ANY info for second side is plain unfair. It kills the best thing in this game - effect of surprise.

[pauk]

ORIGINAL: PzB


The men came from Wasile - recons report 700+ ac there now.
Guess he's going to 'air bridge' in a division after moving Corsairs in... [8|]

There is no reasons to be afraid of it, i agree. If he moves Corsairs in that base that will allow you destroying them.

One fast BB and couple of CA on the bombardment run will negate this extravagant move:

a) you will destroy his ac on the ground
b) you will close this AF and no reinforcements could be sent via air..

I've tried that against him in Marshalls area and Akyab and, believe me, he didn't try something like that again[:D]

As for Frank's "advices" (i do not read Andy's part of AAR so i don't know if it is true), but if is true someone must warn him!

[Sneer]

i'm reading both too that's why i try not to give any advices to any side - just ask
but i will check Mr "Frank" - maybe some kind of disciplining will be needed

as far as strategic situation
losing wasile and sooner or later Morotai open doors in the region to allies - number of options increases
From map I see that even dot places are guarded

[String]

It's going to be really hard to bombard Tomini. Due to the geography there PzB has to move his bombardment fleets within 4-5 hexes of Wasile.

[Fishbed]

Maybe overwhelming the places with naval forces may do it...
Or is an approach from the west impossible too?

[PzB74]

I'm not too worried about small 'intel leaks' - sure Andy doesn't really need em!
My carrier operations are quite covert anyway. There are lots of enemy shipping on the East
Coast of PNG, but I've held my cve's back cause I thought it might be a trap.

Releasing them tomorrow in order to hit one of the troop convoys that were hit by Frances
bombers today. And yes, the Frances is truly valuable asset [:)]

Regarding Andy's para drops: These are highly annoying and will undermine the defense of the
DEI and perhaps even the PI. I'm not going to use massive resources to counter this threat though.
Rear area bases will be strengthened to sustain a para attack. They all got fort levels already,
so it shouldn't be a problem. Released an engineer regiment from China today that will move to
Borneo.

A powerful bombing attack by 100+ Army bombers today caused little damage, even from 5000 feet.
I think it should have closed a dirt-strip like Makale completely. The level bombing ability of
Japan is pretty much zero [:(]

By mistake I landed 350 paras at Tomini instead of Makale - seems like Andy got in enough reinforcements
to dupe any counter by air though. He tells me that he needs new air fields for all his ac and that
over-stacking is inefficient [:'(]

Still, Andy's only using minor resources in the region. No carriers to follow up and the road to Japan is
long and painful from Suwalesi. So I will continue to strengthen the Marianas/Palaus with a secondary effort
on the DEI. As I said, it's impossible to be strong everywhere, so why not invite Andy to take the long road?

India is strongly held, Malaya less so - perhaps I have to reshuffle some of our troops. A but reluctant since
the deployment in India is just strong enough to thwart an enemy invasion. Weaken it and the garrison will be
fighting a loosing battle if invaded. Still, I don't think Andy can afford such a detour, would actually be
doing us a great favor. So I will have to consider this more closely.

Still, Frances bombes scored a lot of hits today and even sank a transport loaded with a Base Force unit.
Hopefully more will go down tomorrow. Ordered another strike on Tomini and expect to take some losses.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/07/44

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Tomini , at 34,65

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 33
Ki-21 Sally x 117
Ki-49 Helen x 23

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 3 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 6 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 10
Runway hits 48
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
All Helen and Ki-21 Sally bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 503rd USA Para Regiment, at 34,65

Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 27
Ki-30 Ann x 8

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y Judy: 5 destroyed
Ki-30 Ann: 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x D4Y Judy bombing at 2000 feet
8 x Ki-30 Ann bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd Naval Construction Battalion, at 34,65

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 7
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 31

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38J Lightning: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 38,68

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Capps
DE Manlove
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 38,68

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 6
P1Y Frances x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
P1Y Frances: 8 damaged

Allied Ships
DE Cloues
DD Burns, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DE Reynolds
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,76

Japanese aircraft
P1Y Frances x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y Frances: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Empire Ridley, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK James Gordon Bennett, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Henry Dearborn, Torpedo hits 1

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

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Admiralty Islands

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3722 troops, 20 guns, 54 vehicles, Assault Value = 135

Defending force 620 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Allied max assault: 188 - adjusted assault: 89

Japanese max defense: 11 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 89 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
105 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tomini

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 748 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 44

Defending force 1992 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 109

Japanese max assault: 34 - adjusted assault: 0

Allied max defense: 84 - adjusted defense: 91

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese ground losses:
375 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tomini

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 802 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 109

Defending force 966 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4

Allied max assault: 42 - adjusted assault: 11

Japanese max defense: 1 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 11 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japanese Unit(s) surrounded at Tomini - now this is a new kind of msg!?

Counter-attack by IJA bombers!

Contemplating a counter landing at Makale, this can be done easily by a Bde from Java.
Tomini is another matter as you can see. Reinforced it only a month ago with a construction
unit and some supplies. There is one more size 0(1) dot base without defenses on next to Makale.
I really don't have enough units to defend them all.

[veji1]

don't you have peggies now ?

[PzB74]

Peggies are 8/44 me thinks...don't think they'll be more efficient thant Sallys though!?

[Mynok]

You are flying your Oscars as untrained bait, right?

[Sneer]

if i'm not wrong Peggy can carry a torp

[PzB74]

Of course - but most of these were LRCAP and couldn't defend the attacking bombers.
The few Spits had a good day....afraid there will be more tomorrow. Hopefully Andy will be low on
supplies and the field damage reduce their effectiveness.

[PzB74]

Fairly good turn! A bit strange to see so many enemy convoys without air cover or naval
support. All these para drops makes this look like a huge decoy operation, cause Andy
doesn't 'work' like this. Hope I'm not wrong, cause that would be bad....

The Combined Fleet - except Strike Force I and II - are gathering at Naha and completing repairs.
The bulk of our Air Force is getting ready to strike back at the enemy and soon 128 George and 128
Jack's will be fully trained together with 1500 Zekes.

In a few days the first Jill Daitai will upgrade to the Grace - and even better: the Frank has been
accelerated another month, 06/44 now [:D] With 320 ac researched and 150 Tojos that will convert, this
means that we will be producing 450 Franks in 3 weeks. In 2 months there will be 400 trained operational
ac available. This will strengthen our LBA CAP immensly.

1300 AP at Saipan, 1200 at Guam, 1100 at Tinian and 700 at Pagan. Will move the Imp Div to Pagan to complete
the defenses there. 1000-700 AP in all the Palau islands. If Andy does not invade these islands, he will make
a big mistake. The way I'm going to defend them will also mean that an attack will be a big mistake [;)]
A true Catch 22 for you Andy! Remember this line when you read my AAR when the guns fell silent! [;)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/08/44

Air Combat

Nigh air attacks are SO inefficient, very realistic for once and uncomparable to
the night attacks by level bombers. Good thing we banned those.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Makale , at 32,67

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 28

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
28 x J1N1-S Irving bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preparations for another para drop....

Day Air attack on 48th Construction Battalion, at 32,69

Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x PB4Y Liberator bombing at 8000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 40,71

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
DE Cloues
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First of 2 carrier strikes on enemy shipping of PNG!

Day Air attack on TF at 46,74

Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 25
B6N Jill x 22

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y Judy: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
B6N Jill: 3 damaged

Allied Ships [8D]
AK Kwangtung, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Ralph Barnes
AK Seaman A. Knapp, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Johanne Justesen, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK William Dunbar
AK Henry Dearborn
AK Empire Ridley, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
234 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 47,75

Japanese aircraft
D4Y Judy x 20
B6N Jill x 17

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y Judy: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
B6N Jill: 3 damaged

Allied Ships [8D]
AK Alamosa, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Francisco Coronado
SC SC-705
SC SC-1063, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Frederick Billings, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK George Vancouver, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Henry C. Payne
AK Beltrami

Allied ground losses:
53 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 44,72

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 2

Allied aircraft
P-38J Lightning x 5

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
AK Wallingford
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 38,75

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 4
P1Y Frances x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Ben B. Lindsey, Torpedo hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 34,74

Japanese aircraft
P1Y Frances x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y Frances: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Alcoa Pennant, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

I've built almost all size 0 and 1 dot bases to contain 3-4 fort levels. Planned to
move small garrisons here to prevent airborne landings. Of course Andy found a couple
of weak spots that he exploited. Todays airborne landing was thwarted though and I'm
moving in some reinforcements by air. Just enough to keep the place safe.

Ground combat at Admiralty Islands

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3677 troops, 16 guns, 54 vehicles, Assault Value = 131

Defending force 508 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 17

Allied max assault: 214 - adjusted assault: 76

Japanese max defense: 9 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 76 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
104 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
50 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tomini

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 771 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 107

Defending force 806 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Allied max assault: 52 - adjusted assault: 11

Japanese max defense: 2 - adjusted defense: 4

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Pomala

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 2372 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 41

Defending force 1328 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5

Allied max assault: 34 - adjusted assault: 8

Japanese max defense: 3 - adjusted defense: 9

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Strike Force II of PNG!

Landed 2 good strikes on 2 enemy convoys today [8D]

[Speedysteve]

Nice strikes John[8D]

[PzB74]

Thx Speedy! A bit too easy if you ask me...not been a lot of easy kills thus far.

Question: does Andy's invasion of Tomini trigger Kamikaze missions!?
If it does he may have miscalculated! [;)]

How was it again: any invasion of a base 16? hexes from Formosa and/or which bases?
will trigger Kamikaze missions!?

Just checked...15 hexes from Tokyo, Takao (Formosa) or Saigon after 1/44 will trigger kamikazes.
Tomini is 20 hexes from Saigon, but an attack on any base NORTH of Tomini will.

[PzB74]

More enemy paras have been landed...Andy must be running out of chutes by now!
2 more days and carrier Aso arrives in Tokyo. Then the 3rd Car Div will be reformed at Naha.

Enemy carriers haven't been observed for a several weeks. Must be getting a badly needed
refit in preparations for new offensives. How long will this take? Knowing Andy, a month at most.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/09/44

Air Combat

A slightly more effective strike on Tomini!

Day Air attack on Tomini , at 34,65

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 52
Ki-21 Sally x 110
Ki-49 Helen x 21

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
105 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 39
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sorong , at 42,74

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 3
P-38J Lightning x 12
B-29 Superfortress x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-29 Superfortress: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's possible that Ponape will be invaded. I've withdrawn the crack regiment there.
Out of supply and of strategically little value I decided those troops were more needed
elsewhere.

Day Air attack on Ponape , at 71,79

Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 12
P-40N Warhawk x 9
B-25J Mitchell x 42

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 34
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ponape , at 71,79

Allied aircraft
F-5C Lightning x 5
B-25J Mitchell x 5
PB4Y Liberator x 16
B-24J Liberator x 74

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 131
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Tomini

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1678 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 105

Defending force 806 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japanese Unit(s) surrounded at Admiralty Islands