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Any chance of an update on this or has it been discarded?

Bump!!

Bump

Haven't you got a new turn 0 you could be getting on with Mike..?[:'(]

Ok, well after a month and a half of my laptop being in the shop ( and then somewhere in Germany TWICE ) over December and Christmas ( which undoubtedly slowed things down ) we are back in action. Jagdfluger is having to re-run a turn and has agreed not to invade Western Oz for 2 months ( he wouldn't be invading there anyways so it costs him nothing ) after he logged in to the thread to see if I'd posted and read my last post ( no biggie at all and since I was entirely netless for the past 4 weeks totally understandable ).

Anyways with that said we're now back on and things'll get up to speed over the next couple of days.

Applause!!!

With a master plan like that it's no wonder you computer ran into problem[:D] carnage I tell ya!!

Yeah, by the time it was all sorted I'd run through three graphics cards and a new motherboard *sigh*.

Well, Khorne would be happy [:D]


Its all change. I see there's a new Admiral's Edition being released sometime soon ( I've been down since 2nd December 07 ) and Pauk's AAR has bitten the dust [:(] [:(] [:(]. PzB's is still up and running though so I can continue to get my dose of PzB-genius. Its a shame the naysayers always bunch up and b**ch about people who are actually doing their best to play the game to a high level. Sheesh

Welcome back -- I was afraid one or both of you couldn't stand looking at the loss reports anymore!![;)]

Bah, we've played 2 days and so far between us we've lost just over 400 planes and 7 ships in those two days. The slaughter's back on [:D]. I'll post the updates tomorrow.

Do I hear the theme song from "Jaws" playing? [8D]

Nemo and Jagdfluger, helping stave off shark extinction since December 7th 1941 [:D]

We're missing a couple of days due to my computer problems. Mainly it featured a slaughter of IJN shipping off Adelaide and a slaughter of my fighters in Java. Today I tried to close Soerabaja airfield. This seems to have been a sub-optimal choice.... a sub-optimal choice it cost me 268 planes to confirm. [:(]


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/24/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Whyalla [Australia] , at 27,114

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 59
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 4

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6
B-25C/D Mitchell x 37
Hudson IV x 9
Wellington IC x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke: 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 destroyed
B-25C/D Mitchell: 26 destroyed
Hudson IV: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Wellington IC: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged

Runway hits 4

Oops

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Batavia [Java] , at 20,60

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 39

Allied aircraft
F4F-4/FM-1 Wildcat x 7
I-16 Type 4 x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4/FM-1 Wildcat: 5 destroyed
I-16 Type 4: 5 destroyed

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Day Air attack on Batavia [Java] , at 20,60

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 11
Ki-32/30 Mary/Ann x 58

Allied aircraft
F4F-4/FM-1 Wildcat x 2
I-16 Type 4 x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-32/30 Mary/Ann: 7 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4/FM-1 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
I-16 Type 4: 2 destroyed
Beaufort VII: 1 destroyed
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless: 3 destroyed
TBF/TBM-1 Avenger: 2 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed
SB2U-2 Vindicator: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
117 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 54

Double Oops.

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Day Air attack on Batavia [Java] , at 20,60

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 78
Ki-46-II/C7M2 Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
F4F-4/FM-1 Wildcat x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4/FM-1 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
I-16 Type 4: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja [Java] , at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 31
Ki-43-I Oscar x 10
Me-109E-4 Mike x 57

Allied aircraft
Seafire I/II x 2
B-25C/D Mitchell x 9
P-40E Warhawk x 11
Beaufort VII x 9
Hudson IV x 45
Hurricane I x 3
Kittyhawk I/P-40 x 6
IL-4C/DB-3F x 2
SB-2M x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe-FF: 14 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-43-I Oscar: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
Me-109E-4 Mike: 10 destroyed, 21 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire I/II: 2 destroyed
B-25C/D Mitchell: 6 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 8 destroyed
Beaufort VII: 5 destroyed
Hudson IV: 33 destroyed
Hurricane I: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk I/P-40: 6 destroyed
IL-4C/DB-3F: 1 destroyed
SB-2M: 7 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 9

Triple oops.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja [Java] , at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 11
Ki-43-I Oscar x 3
Me-109E-4 Mike x 51

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-I Oscar: 1 damaged
Me-109E-4 Mike: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 20 destroyed

Hmm, we're WAY past oops now.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja [Java] , at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 17
Ki-43-I Oscar x 3
Me-109E-4 Mike x 51

Allied aircraft
F4F-4/FM-1 Wildcat x 2
B-17D Fortress x 11
Lancaster III x 3
Pe-2 x 9
TBF/TBM-1 Avenger x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe-FF: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-I Oscar: 1 destroyed
Me-109E-4 Mike: 6 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4/FM-1 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
Lancaster III: 2 destroyed
Pe-2: 2 damaged
TBF/TBM-1 Avenger: 28 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 12

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja [Java] , at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 13
Ki-43-I Oscar x 3
Me-109E-4 Mike x 44

Allied aircraft
A-20B Boston x 10
Mosquito NF x 13
Hudson IV x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Me-109E-4 Mike: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
A-20B Boston: 7 destroyed
Hudson IV: 6 destroyed

The nice thing about massive losses is that after a while you really get numbed to them. "Oh, we lost 300 planes today. Well, that's better than last Tuesday at least." [/b]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja [Java] , at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 16
Ki-43-I Oscar x 9
Me-109E-4 Mike x 46

Allied aircraft
B-17E/F Fortress x 43

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported

Runway hits 1

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Day Air attack on Davao [Mndno] , at 43,61

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 116

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 20

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Cebu [Cebu] , at 43,57

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 30
Ki-27 Nate x 6

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Adelaide [Australia] , at 26,117

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 8
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate x 59

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VII: 9 destroyed
TBF/TBM-1 Avenger: 3 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed
SB2U-2 Vindicator: 2 destroyed

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 27

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Noumea [New Cal] , at 66,117

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-II Sally x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 13

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Day Air attack on Kodiak [Alaska] , at 111,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 30
Ki-46-II/C7M2 Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Prince Rupert [BC] , at 127,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 2
Me-109E-4 Mike x 62

Allied aircraft
Mosquito NF x 15

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Adelaide [Australia] , at 26,117

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 3
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 3

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF/TBM-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed

Runway hits 1

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Ground combat at Liuchow [S China]

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 764 troops, 36 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 3517

Defending force 93651 troops, 1620 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value =
4035

Japanese max assault: 6 - adjusted assault: 0

Allied max defense: 4244 - adjusted defense: 4094

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)


Japanese ground losses:
77 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Liuchow [S China]

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8288 troops, 500 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4035

Defending force 135648 troops, 1537 guns, 2323 vehicles, Assault Value
= 3514


Japanese ground losses:
127 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Makassar [Celebes]

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 28 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Defending force 564 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Allied max assault: 4 - adjusted assault: 4

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 4

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported

In other good news. I don't how or why it happened BUT we're back in synch. I can finally receive intel and ops reports properly again which is going to definitely make playing easier.

Oh, I forgot to mention that an IJN DMS sank off Australia today following a series of air attacks over the past few days. I've also managed to get air search-based hits on another 3 IJN transports.

Since I haven't been able to leapfrog into Borneo itself I won't be able to use my twin-engined bombers for naval attack missions as previously envisioned and will, instead, have to fall back on my fallback plan. What is that? Well, it basically involves evacuating my twin-engined bombers to India for rebuilding and having my offensive punch at Java being made up by:

a) very long-ranged four-engined and twin-engined bombers set a 100% naval search at very low level ( 1000 to 2000 feet ). My concept here is that by setting my very long-ranged bombers up to do naval search I'll avoid doomed and costly massed bomber attacks into the teeth of enemy fighter defences whilst still getting the occasional bomb into a transport or tanker as they run into Borneo to pick up oil and resources.

e.g. B-24s are arriving in August 42 and I should be getting about 30 of them a month. They have an extended range of 32 hexes which pretty much covers all the way to the Phillipines from Java.
B-25s are arriving at a rate of 46 per month and have a range of 18 hexes which easily covers all of Borneo.
Wellington Is have a range of 27 hexes and I get 30 per month. Again giving me coverage well past Borneo.


b) Il-2s to pound Japanese ground forces - I get 150 of them per month so can afford to lose quite a few to train up a few Soviet squadrons and pound on any counter-invasion force.

c) Avengers ( I have about 500 in my pools ) to torpedo any counter-invasion force

d) many, many fighters to just fly CAP over my own bases and protect these bombers and attack aircraft.


Its quite a bit more defensive-minded than I would like BUT it should force him to retake Java prior to moving on India and that's a big win-win for me as I'm rebuilding significant British and Chinese forces in India. ( Already most of my Chinese formations are up to the high 50%s in terms of TO&E instead of 30s and 40%s). I also have 1 US Division newly in-theatre and another 3 Indian Divisions coming online over the next month. That's an addition of about 1500 AV to my Indian defence forces on top of all the extra fortifications I'm putting up ( most of my main bases are now at Level 7 forts or higher and most of their defenders are at 100% preparation ). I'll do a full update at the end of the month as this success has been bought at the expense of losing most of Australia - that was pretty inevitable though as the Japanese roller-coaster is just so overwhelming in these early months.



Hmm, I've just seen the Vengeance I - A single-engined dive-bomber which can carry a 1000lb bomb to a distance of 16 hexes. Its speed and ceiling make it dead meat in the face of enemy fighters BUT as a cheap long-range naval search attritionist it should be very effective indeed ( and cheap in terms of logistics ).

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/25/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Teloekbetoeng [SM] , at 19,58

Japanese aircraft
A major Japanese strike goes in from Singapore and various other, nearby, bases.

A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 138
Ki-21-II Sally x 104
Ki-49 -I Helen x 3
Ki-46-II/C7M2 Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina/PBV/PBY: 1 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 60

Unfortunately for the enemy I moved my planes out the turn before. The game of shuffle and counter-shuffle continues.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Malang [Java] , at 22,66

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-I Oscar x 6
Me-109E-4 Mike x 6
Ki-32/30 Mary/Ann x 51

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 2 destroyed
Empire: 1 destroyed
Beaufort VII: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 53

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Malang [Java] , at 22,66

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 19
E13A1 Jake x 14

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 12

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja [Java] , at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 18
Ki-43-I Oscar x 38
Me-109E-4 Mike x 42

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane x 3
P-43A Lancer x 7
Spitfire VB x 2
Pe-2 x 9
TBF/TBM-1 Avenger x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe-FF: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-I Oscar: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Sea Hurricane: 3 destroyed
P-43A Lancer: 7 destroyed
Spitfire VB: 2 destroyed
Pe-2: 1 destroyed
TBF/TBM-1 Avenger: 11 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 7

Hmm, forgot to cancel an Avenger strike and paid dearly for it.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja [Java] , at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 16
Ki-43-I Oscar x 38
Me-109E-4 Mike x 42

Allied aircraft
Mosquito NF x 13

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Soerabaja [Java] , at 23,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 16
Ki-43-I Oscar x 38
Me-109E-4 Mike x 42

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 16
B-17E/F Fortress x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe-FF: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Davao [Mndno] , at 43,61

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 104

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-27 Nate: 2 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 24

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Cebu [Cebu] , at 43,57

Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 30
Ki-27 Nate x 7

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Adelaide [Australia] , at 26,117

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 8
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate x 58

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Anson I: 4 destroyed
TBF/TBM-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 34

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Noumea [New Cal] , at 66,117

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-II Sally x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-II Sally: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 26

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Prince Rupert [BC] , at 127,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 5
Me-109E-4 Mike x 55

Allied aircraft
Mosquito NF x 15

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

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Day Air attack on TF, near Whyalla [Australia] at 27,114

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 36
F1M2 Pete-FF x 1
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 4

Allied aircraft
Wirraway CA-1 x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway CA-1: 6 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 46,57


Allied aircraft
SB-2M x 12


Allied aircraft losses
SB-2M: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Hagikaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Burisuben Maru, Bomb hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported

I ran a number of bombers into the Phillipines today to try and interdict enemy convoys and managed to score quite a few hits. My SB-2Ms hit a DD and AP while my naval searching medium bombers hit another 4 transports in the region. They won't be too seriously damaged but every little bit helps and lessens his sealift capability for the counter-invasions to come.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Whyalla [Australia] at 27,114

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 36
F1M2 Pete-FF x 1
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 4

Allied aircraft
B-25C/D Mitchell x 2
Wellington IC x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C/D Mitchell: 1 destroyed
Wellington IC: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AK Bunzan Maru, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Whyalla [Australia] at 27,114

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 36
F1M2 Pete-FF x 1
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 4

Allied aircraft
Wirraway CA-1 x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway CA-1: 2 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Lingayan [Luzon] at 43,50

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 3
Me-109E-4 Mike x 6

Allied aircraft
SB-2M x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Me-109E-4 Mike: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SB-2M: 4 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AP Chifuku Maru
AK Nichii Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Teloekbetoeng [SM] , at 19,58

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 63
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 4
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 188
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate x 173

KB shows up. It seems that Musashi, Yamato, Kaga and several other carriers are operating off the western coast of Java. Fully 361 strike aircraft rise from Japanese carriers to pound Teloekbetoeng. I'm looking at at least 6 to 7 carriers in this TF if they are able to put 360+ strike aircraft into the air.

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val/Ki-52: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N2/Ki-47 Kate: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Tromp, Bomb hits 16, on fire, heavy damage
CL Newcastle, Bomb hits 13, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CL De Ruyter, Bomb hits 24, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CLAA Montpelier, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
ML William van der Zaan, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy
damage
CA Devonshire, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD FF Le Triomphant, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy
damage
PG Falmouth, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SS SHCH117, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
DD Norman, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
DD Stewart, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Not unexpectedly the Devonshire, 2 CLs, a DD and the ML sink. hese ships were massively damaged anyway and can be replaced by new builds so it isn't actually a major disaster.

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Port hits 11
Port fuel hits 6
Port supply hits 10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila/Cavite [PH] , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-I Lily x 54

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-I Lily: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VII: 4 destroyed
Hudson IV: 1 destroyed
SB-2M: 5 destroyed
A-20B Boston: 2 destroyed
B-25C/D Mitchell: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 51

Damn, lost quite a few bombers on the ground here. It'll take me a month to rebuild my bomber squadrons BUT that's ok, I can happily afford that month now that the delay that is Java is fully in play.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Adelaide [Australia] , at 26,117

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 4
D3A2 Val/Ki-52 x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val/Ki-52: 1 damaged

Runway hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Whyalla [Australia] at 27,114

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 36
F1M2 Pete-FF x 1
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 3

Allied aircraft
B-25C/D Mitchell x 3
Hudson IV x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C/D Mitchell: 1 destroyed
Hudson IV: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 43,46

Allied aircraft
SB-2M x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Nankai Maru
CL Kasuga Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Whyalla [Australia] at 27,114

Japanese aircraft
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke x 36
F1M2 Pete-FF x 1
A6M2-N Rufe-FF x 3

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 3
Wellington IC x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2/Ki-65 Zeke: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 destroyed
Wellington IC: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 30,72

Japanese Ships
AK Hakonesan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS SHCH122


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 46,36

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1942 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 404

Defending force 26365 troops, 403 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value =
1369

Japanese max assault: 15 - adjusted assault: 0

Allied max defense: 1423 - adjusted defense: 4123

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
262 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Muntok [Banka]

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2178 troops, 30 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 80

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

Allied max assault: 64 - adjusted assault: 60

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 60 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Muntok [Banka] base !!!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Makassar [Celebes]

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 38 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4

Defending force 937 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 17

Allied max assault: 6 - adjusted assault: 4

Japanese max defense: 9 - adjusted defense: 10

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

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported

Overall today saw the first full committment of KB off Java and it was a pretty awesome committment. In the next week or so I am definitely going to see him hit Batavia with these forces. When he does he is going to cause me significant loss BUT I expect my FlAK will devastate his naval strike capability. I have 9 AAA Regiments at Batavia and that equates to over 400 FlAK guns with which to shoot down attacking torpedo and dive-bombers. Still, he should definitely make the strike as he can't afford to leave me with a fully functional base in Java from which to expand my predations.

Well I am bored waiting for jagdfluger's turn in my inbox so in between reading Trollelite & Hoeppner's AARs I did a little research...

The next major change in airforces occurs on January 1st 1943. At that time the Ki-44 III becomes available. it is a carrier-capable fighter which can equip both his naval and army air squadrons. It has a top speed of 394mph, a manoeuvrability of 34, an armour rating of 1 and a ceiling of just under 31,000 feet. It has a normal range of 3 and an extended range of 4. It carries 4 x 20mm cannon and requires a Nissan engine. I expect jagdfluger to replace pretty much of all his fighters with this plane. It is massively superior to anything else he has until well into 1944 and being capable of supplying both is army and naval fighter squadrons really means he can streamline his production concerns.

The F4U-1 Corsair which is also available in January 1943 boasts a top speed of 417, an Mvr of 31, armour rating of 1 and a slightly lower ceiling ( 29,520 ). It also only features 4 x MGs instead of 4 cannon. Overall it is probably slightly inferior to the Ki-44 III as it should get more firing opportunities but due to its inferior armament will score fewer kills and more damages.

F6F-5. Speed 380, Mvr 35, Armour 1, 6 x MGs, range 4/5. So, slower than the Ki-44 III but not by much, superior Mvr and with enough MGs to get a kill when it fires. Again, slightly inferior but should get more kills and fewer damages than the F4U-1s.

P-51B XP: Speed 442, , Mvr 30, armour and 4 MGs. Range 9/12 and a ceiling of 37,800. A great plane for sweeps. Should massacre the Ki-44 III when sweeping.

P-38 G: Speed 400, ceiling 31,200 ( higher than the Ki-44 III), Mvr 16, armour 1, 1 cannon and 4 MGs. Range 6/8. Again, should be able to kill Ki-44 IIIs at better than 1:1 on sweeps.


Here's what I'm looking at in terms of new planes coming on-stream over the next 6 months...
July.
Martlett IV: 13 ( Basically just F4F-4s. They won't make much of a difference but they are better than the Sea Hurris some of my units are currently using. )

August
Vengeance I: 16 ( Nice long-range... 16 hexes .... dive-bomber with 1000lb bombs. Great for naval search missions out of Java. )
B-24D: 46 ( Great long-range four-engined bombers which could do some harm to targets deep behind Japanese lines from Burma, China or Java )

September
P-51XP: 15 ( A superb fighter which can equip one of my squadrons from October 42. Will crucify what it meets but can only equip 1 squadron till late 43 )
Hurri IIc: 26 ( Not a great fighter at all but it helps make up the numbers )

October 42
P-38G: 46 ( A good fighter which I'll use aggressively until the Ki-44 III becomes available )

December:
PV-1: 30 ( A very nice torpedo-bomber with good range )


January 43
F4U1-CV: 54
F4U1: 120
F6F5: 170

Well this is the real boost. 340 top-flight fighters PER MONTH joining my forces. Combine that with the Spitfires, P-51B XPs and P-38 Gs and I have a solid core of 400 fighters per month which can meet the Ki-44 III on equal terms and since I'm getting close to 1:1 overall these days even with inferior planes I would expect to be able to really seriously attrit his Ki-44 IIIs the instant they begin showing up on the front lines.

A-20G: 30 ( another nice twin-engined short-ranged bomber. Not tremendously useful but good for training and low-level strikes ).



So, overall, once we hit January 1943 I'll have enough fighters and enough replacements available that I will be able to mob him at our points of contact. My whole problem is staying in the game until then. I don't think he'll be able to counter-invade Java for about two months and I expect it'll take him a month to actually retake it - he'll try to draw my forces south toward Soerabaja and then land behind them cutting me off from Batavia and defeating me piecemeal. The trick will be making it look like i'm falling for that but actually keeping enough mobility in my force to retreat northward in good order. That takes me to October 1942. He will probably be closing in on Perth around that time which should take till the beginning of November 42. That gives him two months to re-organise and take on India and I fully expect him to do that.

I was having a look at ships sunk yesterday while waiting for the turn ( jagdfluger is still working on the turn as he wants to get everything perfect before continuing the fight. Hehe, not really necessary methinks)....

I've paid a lot of attention to tankers in this game and things are going pretty well. Japan started with 52 tankers with a capability of 517,000 tons. I've sunk 14 of them which had a total carrying capacity of 96,000 tons ( I've sunk 10 of the 19 x 4,000 ton tankers but only 4 of the 30 x 12,000 tonners) and damaged at least another dozen so I'd say his oil carrying capacity has to be in trouble now. Those are very heavy losses for Japan. It might even be worth sneaking a few subs to the Kuriles to try to bag a few tankers there as with 20% of his capacity gone he's really going to find himself running into trouble, particularly as his loading is going to be highly inefficient as he can't use 4,000 tonners to load oil in small ports and trans-ship to larger ports where the 12,000 tonners can re-load it for the trip to Japan.

Jagdfluger and I have been talking and as we'e reached the 6 month point in time I am making some changes to the mod-

1. Reducing the initial IJN and IJA pilot reserves down from 882 pilots to only 183. In return I am boosting the IJN and IJA pilot experience by 5 Exp each to 70 and 65 respectively. This weakens Japan in the first 6 months but actually boosts them over the course of the war.

2. I am making the Yamato and Musashi arrive 3 months later each. Again delaying the massively tough IJN CVAs keeps Japan as strong in 1943 as ever BUT it makes them less strong in the first half of 1942.

3. I am also delaying the Ki-109 from December 41 to March 1942. This is done with a view to forcing the IJA to either keep their Oscars etc or switch over to Zeroes. The Zeroes a great fighter for IJA units so forcing IJA units to use the Zero doesn't weaken them but it DOES spread the Japanese thinner in the first 3 months and mean that Zero production isn't going to suffice to re-equip the IJN and IJA in the first 2 or 3 months of the war. Functionally this will rob Zeroes from the point of the spear in order to protect important rear echelon bases and this will slow the pace of the Japanese advance a little.

4. I've reduced the massive Avenger replacement rate ( 142 per month ) a little and used the numbers freed up to boost SBD-3 replacement rates.

5. I've also boosted the Kittyhawk and P-40E replacement rates.

6. I've also freed up the upgrade paths of several NZ and Oz squadrons so that they aren't stuck with Wirraways now but can upgrade to something useful ( like a Kittyhawk ). It doesn't boost Oz or Nz numbers but it does let them make best use of what they have.

7. I've delayed the IJA four-engined bomber programme a little so that it comes online 3 months later than previously. Again done with a view to letting them be as strong in 1943 but just not as strong in mid-42.


The problem now is that jagdfluger seems to think that since I'm saying the current game is balanced a bit too much in favour of Japan in the early months that we should restart --- which I don't want to do as, frankly, my situation is absolutely atrocious... I'm outnumbered, outgunned and backed up against a wall.... This is a GREAT situation as it really adds a bit of spice to the conflict and, frankly, its a lot more fun to fight when you are the underdog and have to "make do" as opposed to when you are the ueber-strong side and have more than enough resources available. So, fingers crossed he opts to continue and we get to take this to its bloody conclusion ( an invasion of India sometime near the end of 1942/beginning of 1943).


I was having a trawl through the loss reports and starting totting up IJN losses. They are actually more severe than I had even imagined, especially when one takes into account that for every ship sunk at least one more ship of that class has recently been heavily damaged and is tied up in port being repaired. The first number after the class ID is the number which were available on December 7th 1941 PLUS what could be built in the first 6 months of the war. The number in parentheses is the number jagdfluger has confirmed lost.

CV: 8 (1)
CVL: 9
CVE: 4
BB: 10 (3)
CA: 18 (3)
CL: 33 (5)
CLAA: 2
DDs: 115 (33)
DEs: 13 (5)
APD: 20 (4)
AP: 222 (41)
AK: 535 (95)
AO: 20 (3)
TK: 57 (14)
SS: 35 (17)

In contrast Allied losses are:
CV: 4
BB: 16
CA: 13
CL: 33
CLAA: 1
DD: 101
AP: 50
AK: 216
AO: 10
TK: 26
SS: 94


In terms of CVs lost we're actually pretty much even since those 3 IJN BBs would all convert to CVAs in January 1944 so I've lost 4 CVs ( non-respawning ) and the IJN has lost 4 CVs off of our 1944 battlefleets. In terms of BBs I've lost 1/3rd of my total build ( 48 BBs) and he's lost 30% of his total build with massive damage to at least 3 others. CAs and CLs he's not in bad shape although he has at least as many damaged as he has had sunk but in terms of DDs he's pretty badly hurt. He's lost 33 out of a current build of 115 and has had at least as many badly damaged over the last 4 months. He's lost 1/4 of his tankers and roughly 50% of his subs --- a testament to the effectiveness of my RN hunter-killer groups. His APs have also taken one hell of a battering.

My sub losses are embarrassing but one must remember that by the end of Day 2 he had effectively sunk about 150 of my ships including almost the entire Soviet fleet ( subs, CAs, DDs etc ) so a lot of those sub losses were inevitable. Overall though for the first 6 months of the war I've got to admit I think I've put a major hurt on his surface fleet. He's hurt mine too but I can replace my losses a lot easier and my air force only gets stronger over time ( and thus more capable of causing even more damage in the future ).

Maybe I'm just being over-optimistic though? Still, I really would like to continue because it really brings out the best in you when you have no reserves, inferior forces, an inferior strategic position and have lost the initiative. Anyone can achieve great things when they have lots of everything but its a real challenge to achieve anything when the odds are stacked against you --- and when push comes to shove I believe that, ultimately, the best reason to play any strategy game is to play well --- which has very little to do with whether you win or lose or anything like that. This current situation is an opportunity for the Allied player to play well ( silver linings and all that )

I think those are sensible changes out of interest how did supplies at Aden hold up
 
My recollection was that they were a bit too low I would be interested if I was wrong ?

frankly, my situation is absolutely atrocious... I'm outnumbered, outgunned and backed up against a wall.... This is a GREAT situation as it really adds a bit of spice to the conflict and, frankly, its a lot more fun to fight when you are the underdog and have to "make do" as opposed to when you are the ueber-strong side and have more than enough resources available.

A mind-set entirely different from my own. I rather favor Churchill when he said "The problems of victory are more agreeable than the problems of defeat, but they are no less difficult." Still, given the massive damage you have managed to inflict on the Japanese forces (which are much superior at this point of the war), I can't say you're wrong.

Hi Nemo,

Just curious - what are the differences between your mod and RHS for naval and merchie ship building? I thought you mod kind of spun off of RHSEEO - right?

My naval and merchant shipbuilding is almost entirely as in stock. I diverged from EOS LONG before the super-AAA and absurdity of tankers costing several times as much as a BB etc.
 
FWIW though if someone is interested in starting an Empires Ablaze mod they should hold off till after the weekend as I've been having a trawl through the entire aerial OOB with a view to:
a) balancing the first 6 months of war a little better --- less heavily in favour of Japan ...
b) improving the Allied aircraft upgrade situation such that certain low-replacement rate planes ( the Li-2 etc) get access to more generous Allied plane pools ( e.g. Li-2 swaps to lend-lease C-47s ).