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Re: mini-KB. Aye, he was lucky alright. I got 80 SBDs through in the first two big raids of the day with only about 4 shot down by CAP. So, those SBDs were relatively undisrupted by losses and disorganisation etc. They were at the right altitude and still only managed to get 2 hits. His return raid which could have run into CAP of 50 to 60 fighters ( given my CAP setting ) only ran into just over 20 or so fighters. The end result was his Kates got a free shot at my CVs.

Such is life. Sometimes luck goes your way, sometimes it seems to go all your opponents way. All you can do is roll with the punches and keep maximising the odds in your own favour. Over the course of a long game "luck" will even out and the more skillfull play will win out. That's my belief in any case.

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Re: mini-KB. Aye, he was lucky alright. I got 80 SBDs through in the first two big raids of the day with only about 4 shot down by CAP. So, those SBDs were relatively undisrupted by losses and disorganisation etc. They were at the right altitude and still only managed to get 2 hits. His return raid which could have run into CAP of 50 to 60 fighters ( given my CAP setting ) only ran into just over 20 or so fighters. The end result was his Kates got a free shot at my CVs.

Such is life. Sometimes luck goes your way, sometimes it seems to go all your opponents way. All you can do is roll with the punches and keep maximising the odds in your own favour. Over the course of a long game "luck" will even out and the more skillfull play will win out. That's my belief in any case.

How many were damaged ? It seems that planes that get shot at just dont drop their bombs on target.

Whats teh plan for next turn ? He will prob keep being aggresive will he bombard Eniwetok ?
 
Well you knwo where KB is ... somehwere on a line from Takao to Eniwetok
 
Three torpedoes into Hyuga. I think that's the end of Hyuga. Ise is pretty much unscratched as bombs won't hurt her much. Still, 2 IJN BBs isn't a bad tally for a day's work. It'll really scupper his covering force for the Sumatran operation as he now needs BBs near Truk/Saipan, near the Kuriles AND as escorts for KB. By the time he meets those 3 committments he is going to find that he's running out of BBs ( 8 left, at least 1 or 2 of which should be in dock repairing right now ).

Especially if his strategy is to defend Pacific with mini KB and BBs.  Speaking of his BBs they have a long trip back to Truk or Japan for reloads esp with a bit of sys dam... Masrshals to Truk is a good place for subs. If you take it as 6 split between pacific and Sumatra then id be sending in 4 BBs

ORIGINAL: Nemo121
Ouch, that's a lot of dead troops. Does an AMC really carry that many? I thought they were just minefield tenders.

AMC = Armed Merchant Cruiser (which can carry quite a few troops normally)
AMc = coastal minesweeper
ACM = minefield tender

Confused yet?

ORIGINAL: Rainer79

ORIGINAL: Nemo121
Ouch, that's a lot of dead troops. Does an AMC really carry that many? I thought they were just minefield tenders.

AMC = Armed Merchant Cruiser (which can carry quite a few troops normally)
AMc = coastal minesweeper
ACM = minefield tender

Confused yet?

beat me to it .. hehe .. and yes

almost certain sinking of two BBs including one of the 16 inch gun Ise/Hyuga class

Hello?? Either this is a very different scenario, or you meant 14 inch gun. (But yes, the Nagato is a 16-in-gunned BB, and very valuable to sink.)

LOL! I don't have the turn file with me - Mike is only going to get to it on Friday - but I'm pretty sure I have an AMC tending a minefield somewhere in the Pacific. OOPS!!!

So, what are the plans for tomorrow?

Well I have TKs and multiple TFs with planes loaded aboard arriving so I need to just keep unloading at Ponape, bombard a bit and hang on until my troops can take it. Once I have Ponape I'll have aerial superiority in the region - through sheer numbers if nothing else while KB is elsewhere. Essentially numbers will let me beat mini-KB but not KB proper. That's fine though as KB proper coming into the Marshalls area is already a huge strategic victory as Mike CANNOT cover a Sumatran invasion properly with just LBA.


My BBs at Shimushiri Jima will withdraw after bombarding the IJN troops and reprovision at PH before being redeployed. I am considering forming a Fast BB raiding force... although I may just opt for a Fast CA raiding force or two... to slip into Mike's shipping lanes from time to time. There's lots of ocean out there to hide in and use to slip around isolated airbases. I can't be sure but I do get the idea that my raiding is slowing him down, forcing him to convoy lots more than he'd like and maintain standing surface patrols at some bases... Particularly Singkawang, the Phillipines and Singapore. I'd like to begin spreading his naval forces into Saipan, Truk and elsewhere also and I think some fast raiding action might just achieve this. I'll probably lose more in terms of materiel than Mike from these actions but the mathematics behind these actions is not:

USN losses: 2 CA, 6 DDs lost, IJN 4 DDs and 10 planes lost... IJN wins.

It is much more along the lines of:
USN forces not available in Sumatra - 2 CA, 6 DDs, IJN forces not available for Sumatra, 2 BBs, mini-KB, 2 CAs and 15 to 20 DDs.

Plus there's always the chance the USN TFs will find a juicy TK or xAP convoy and blow a huge hole in Japan's war plan.



As to US CVs... Well, they're pretty much out of the war for a few months. I am giving consideration to running them to Darwin, linking up with the British CV stooging around there, offloading their planes into Sumatra and then running them all into Capetown for some upgrading and repairing. They'll also be handy there for the odd trip to Ceylon to pick up reinforcing fighter and light bomber groups which they can bring to within transfer range of Benkoenen and then offload. In another month I could see myself having 800+ planes on Sumatra...

Well that's it for now really.

I can't see what I'm typing so I've just posted the combat report below.... Must be some windows update or something.

Anyways, big news is that over the past 2 days both the USN and IJN have lost 3 BBs and that Roi-Namur looks set to fall. Once it does I will move B17s and other planes in and try to take Wotje. Once that's done the B17s will pound Truk. Already A CL has taken a 500lb bomb through the deck there.


LOL! I had that wrong. I thought the Hyugas were the more modern ones. Ah well. Nagato is the one I celebrate most then [:D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 08, 42

This seems to be working again so here goes....

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Roi-Namur at 132,114, Range 8,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 10, on fire
CA Myoko
CA Haguro, Shell hits 1
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Natsushio, Shell hits 3

Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
CL Achilles, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Walke
DD Farragut, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Dewey, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hull
DD MacDonough, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
DD Worden
DD Dale
DD Monaghan
DD Aylwin
DD Fox
DD Lawrence, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kane, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
DD Rathburne, Shell hits 2, heavy fires

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Roi-Namur at 132,114, Range 8,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 17, on fire, heavy damage
CA Myoko, Shell hits 3
CA Haguro
DD Natsushio, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Nevada, Shell hits 26, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CA Northampton
CA Chester, Shell hits 5, on fire
CA Astoria
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Lamson, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Shaw
DD Perkins
DD Porter
DD Selfridge
DD Phelps, heavy damage
DD Balch


By the end of this battle Yamashiro was pretty much doomed but she had managed to put paid to the USN BB Nevada also. I was hoping this force would take care of the CA escort also but the IJN admiral "crossed the T" and thus I was lucky to get away with the exchange I got given the unfavourable conditions, including night.

Of note: The Nevada went down after being torpedoed by the IJN CA Haguro. Guess those Long Lances paid off.

Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 50% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
Obata, Chozaemon crosses the 'T'

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Roi-Namur at 132,114, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso
CA Myoko, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
DM Gamble
DM Montgomery, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DM Ramsay
DM Breese
DM Tracy
DM Preble, Shell hits 1
DM Pruitt, Shell hits 2, on fire
DM Sicard, Shell hits 3, and is sunk

These guys laid a 300 mine+ offensive minefield at Kwajalein before running into the Fuso so I'm hoping a couple of CVLs will run into that when they try to reprovision. I was saving it for Ponape as I expect the IJN to bombard there but CVLs have to be a prime target right now.

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Roi-Namur at 132,114, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 1
CA Myoko, on fire

Allied Ships
AS Fulton
AV Curtiss, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AV Tangier, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
AV Wright
AD Dixie
AVD Ballard
AVD McFarland
AVD Thornton
AVD Hulbert
AVD Williamson
AM Kingfisher
AM Turkey
AM Rail
AM Tern
AM Grebe
AM Vireo
AM Robin
AM Bobolink
AE Mauna Loa
AE Lassen
AG Aldebaran
AG Vega, Shell hits 1
AG Sirius
PC Tiger
PC Reliance
PC Kimball
PC Jackson
PC Travis
PG Charleston
PG Swan
PG Warrego
PG Moresby

So, the IJN had the mass to break into my support TF but not into the amphibious TF. Mobbing them overnight worked and kept the amphibious TF safe.


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Invasion Support action off Roi-Namur

15 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
PG Sacramento
AP President Polk


Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


PG Sacramento firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 228 encounters mine field at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Ships
DMS W-19
DMS W-18
DMS W-17
DMS W-16
DMS W-15
DMS W-14
DMS W-13

176 mines cleared

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Roi-Namur at 132,114, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
CA Myoko, on fire

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Portland
CA Indianapolis, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Leander
DD Sims
DD Hughes, Shell hits 1
DD Anderson
DD Hammann
DD Russell
DD O'Brien
DD Gilmer
DD Sands
DD King

Most of this engagement occurred at 2,000 yards and featured each BB putting multiple main gun shells right into the opposing BB. Oklahoma sunk later while Fuso looks like she won't make it home. It is a LONG way to Truk from Roi-Namur.


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Submarine attack near Madjene at 65,102

Japanese Ships
SS I-165

Allied Ships
xAKL Taurus, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Kwajalein Island at 132,116, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo
CVL Zuiho
CVE Taiyo
CS Chiyoda
CL Yura
DD Tadeshiwa
DD Tachekaze

Allied Ships
DM Gamble
DM Ramsay
DM Breese
DM Tracy
DM Preble, Shell hits 1, heavy fires

A rather stronger mini-KB than I was expecting. It looks like I was expecting to find 3 CVLs/CVEs but, instead, was facing 6 CVLs/CVEs + a CS. No wonder my CVs got roughly handled.

My DMs fired multiple salvoes at the CVLs etc but none hit. Rather a pity really.

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Roi-Namur at 131,116, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo
CVL Zuiho
CVE Taiyo
CS Chiyoda
CL Yura
DD Tadeshiwa
DD Tachekaze

Allied Ships
AS Fulton
AV Wright
AD Dixie
AVD Ballard
AVD McFarland
AVD Thornton
AVD Hulbert
AVD Williamson
AM Kingfisher
AM Turkey
AM Rail
AM Tern
AM Grebe
AM Vireo
AM Robin
AM Bobolink
AE Mauna Loa
AE Lassen
AG Aldebaran
AG Vega
AG Sirius
PC Tiger
PC Reliance
PC Kimball
PC Jackson
PC Travis
PG Charleston
PG Swan
PG Warrego

Both Task Forces evade combat

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Ebadon at 130,116, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo
CVL Zuiho
CVE Taiyo
CS Chiyoda
CL Yura
DD Tadeshiwa
DD Tachekaze

Allied Ships
TK Agwiworld
TK Gulfbreeze

Both Task Forces evade combat


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Kwajalein Island at 132,115, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Asanagi

Allied Ships
CL Trenton
DD Litchfield
DD Chew
DD Schley
DD Ward
DD Talbot, Shell hits 1
DD Dent
DD Crosby
DD Kennison
DD Crane
DD Kilty
DD Brooks
DD Humphreys

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Roi-Namur at 132,114, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, on fire, heavy damage
CA Haguro
DD Natsushio, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Phoenix
CL Honolulu
DD Dunlap
DD Fanning
DD Mahan
DD Cummings
DD Cushing
DD Preston

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Roi-Namur

16 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
PG Sacramento
AP President Polk


Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


PG Sacramento firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


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Amphibious Assault at Wotje

TF 268 troops unloading over beach at Wotje, 135,115


Allied ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Wotje - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

160 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 30, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Henry S Grove
xAK Mobile City
AP Crescent City

Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Key point, the troops are getting ashore and while the CA is badly damaged it won't sink.... and in taking the hits it has protected dozens of AKs.

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Amphibious Assault at Wotje

TF 300 troops unloading over beach at Wotje, 135,115


Allied ground losses:
302 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 78 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (0 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


10 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 8th NZ Bde /8


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Amphibious Assault at Namu

TF 337 troops unloading over beach at Namu, 133,116


Allied ground losses:
74 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled




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Invasion Support action off Roi-Namur

16 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
PG Sacramento
AP President Polk


Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


PG Sacramento firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


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Invasion Support action off Wotje
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

45 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
xAK Santa Teresa
CA San Francisco, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Henry S Grove
xAP President Tyler, Shell hits 8, on fire
xAP President Buchanan
xAP President Taylor
AP Crescent City


Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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TF 228 encounters mine field at Singapore (50,84)

Japanese Ships
DMS W-19
DMS W-18
DMS W-17
DMS W-16
DMS W-15
DMS W-14
DMS W-13



24 mines cleared


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Day Time Surface Combat, near Kwajalein Island at 132,115, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Asanagi, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Trenton
DD Litchfield
DD Chew
DD Schley
DD Ward
DD Talbot
DD Dent
DD Crosby
DD Kennison
DD Crane
DD Kilty
DD Brooks
DD Humphreys

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Kwajalein Island at 132,116, Range 16,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Asanagi

Allied Ships
TK Agwiworld
TK Gulfbreeze, Shell hits 1, heavy fires

Fuel go boom when hit...

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Kwajalein Island at 132,115, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 24, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CA Haguro, Shell hits 10
DD Natsushio, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Trenton, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Litchfield
DD Chew
DD Schley
DD Ward
DD Talbot
DD Dent
DD Crosby, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Kennison
DD Crane
DD Kilty
DD Brooks, Shell hits 1
DD Humphreys

Ah, the Trenton CL TF finally got its scalp. Bye bye Yamashiro. Only Fuso left now.

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Mili at 135,121, Range 21,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho
CVE Hosho

Hmm, at least one of these appears to be the CVL I put a 1000lber in earlier. Strange, it doesn't show as heavily damaged yet a 1,000lber would crucify a CVL. I think this ID is a FOW ID.

Allied Ships
xAK J.L. Luckenbach
xAK Julia Luckenbach
xAK Mathew Luckenbach
xAK Admiral Halstead
xAK Crown City
xAK Admiral Y. Williams
xAK Coast Farmer
xAK Cold Brook

Both Task Forces evade combat

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Taongi at 138,104, Range 24,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Fuyo
DD Kuri

Allied Ships
CV Saratoga
CV Yorktown
CV Enterprise
CL Helena
DD Reid
DD Flusser
DD Tucker
DD Cassin
DD Downes

CV Enterprise , CV Yorktown screened from combat
- escorted by DD Downes , DD Cassin , DD Tucker ,
DD Flusser , DD Reid
Range increases to 30,000 yards
CV Enterprise , CV Yorktown screened from combat
- escorted by DD Downes , DD Cassin , DD Tucker ,
DD Flusser , DD Reid
Both Task Forces evade combat


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Day Time Surface Combat, near Mili at 136,122, Range 21,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho
CVE Hosho

Allied Ships
xAK J.L. Luckenbach
xAK Julia Luckenbach
xAK Mathew Luckenbach
xAK Admiral Halstead
xAK Crown City
xAK Admiral Y. Williams
xAK Coast Farmer
xAK Cold Brook


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Jaluit at 134,120, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko

Allied Ships
xAKL Argus, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
xAKL Prusa, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
xAKL Darvel, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
xAKL Kini, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
xAKL Lorinna, Shell hits 9, and is sunk


Allied ground losses:
643 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 27 (15 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Ouch!!! There was an EAB Regiment on these ships. Ah well, engineers I have a lot of... Time to ship in a few more regiments from CONUSA. I had stripped the CL and DD from this TF to bolster the forces at Roi-Namur.

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Submarine attack near Kwajalein Island at 132,115

Japanese Ships
SS RO-61

Allied Ships
DD Crosby, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Kusaie Island at 127,117

Japanese Ships
SS I-25

Allied Ships
DD Russell
CA Indianapolis
CL Leander
DD King
DD Sands

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 64,97

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 8



Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 10


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 6 destroyed

Another nice ambush at the Netty graveyard of Balikpapan. All 8 Netties were downed today.


Allied Ships
xAK Itria


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Singkawang at 56,88

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 52
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 27



Allied aircraft
PBY-5 Catalina x 7


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed

Oops, all the PBYs got downed. Damn!!! I had thought they might just hit some passing shipping, instead they went in against the most heavily defended port Mike has. Ah well, c'est la guerre.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Balikpapan at 64,97

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 1



Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 9


No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

The lone Netty was downed by the CAP. So that's 9 Netties today. Normally I run away after this ambush. Tomorrow though I'll stick around and see how the AVG measures up against the Zeroes. This is the lesser-experienced of my AVG units ( Exp 60 to 65 ). The 3rd AVG squadron has exp 65+ pilots only. Still, a bit of blooding won't do any harm and I have enough P40s to replace some losses at this stage.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Truk , at 112,108

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kashima, Bomb hits 1

They'll have to go in higher next time but I'm happy to mark his card re: using Truk as a base for CLs/DDs and CVLs/CVEs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Truk , at 112,108

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 3


Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

AMusing report I'd never seen before... Apparently one of my B17s ran into a barrage balloon. Cool thing to see in the CR.

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Taongi at 137,106

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes


Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 1
F4F-3A Wildcat x 4
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7
SBD-3 Dauntless x 2
TBD-1 Devastator x 15


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Kuri
DD Fuyo, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage


My CVs are almost out of fuel but only 2 days from meeting AOs... I am going to keep them near the Marshalls for two reasons:

1. Drawing KB north from Roi-Namur if it seeks to intervene and
2. Staying within transfer range of Roi-Namur.

When Roi-Namur falls I want to be able to fly my devastators and Wildcats into land bases....


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kusaie Island at 127,117

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 52 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
B5N1 Kate x 6



Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 6 damaged

Allied Ships
DD King, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CA Indianapolis, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

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ASW attack near Singapore at 50,84

Japanese Ships
DMS W-19
DMS W-18
DMS W-17

Allied Ships
SS KXVII, hits 3

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Kwajalein Island at 132,115, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Shell hits 4

Allied Ships
DD Litchfield
DD Chew
DD Schley
DD Ward
DD Talbot
DD Dent
DD Kennison
DD Crane
DD Kilty
DD Brooks
DD Humphreys

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Kwajalein Island at 132,115, Range 14,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Litchfield
DD Chew
DD Schley
DD Ward
DD Talbot
DD Dent
DD Kennison
DD Crane
DD Kilty
DD Brooks
DD Humphreys

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Roi-Namur

17 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
PG Sacramento
AP President Polk


Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)


PG Sacramento firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Wotje
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

21 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
xAK Mobile City
CA San Francisco, heavy damage
xAK Santa Teresa
xAP President Fillmore
xAP President Buchanan
xAP President Taylor
AP Crescent City


Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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Ground combat at Eniwetok (127,108)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1354 troops, 19 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 51

Defending force 1055 troops, 33 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 20



Assaulting units:
Maizuru 1st SNLF

Defending units:
1st/298th Infantry Battalion
2nd/298th Infantry Bn /15
Palmyra (Det.) Defense Battalion

So, my forces at Eniwetok are outnumbered about 3:1.... I have about 100 AV there once all disablements are repaired so I'll bide my time and recover disablements and disruption. Once I have the strength I'll try striking again.

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Ground combat at Wotje (135,115)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 399 troops, 20 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 30

Defending force 4144 troops, 30 guns, 21 vehicles, Assault Value = 131

Assaulting units:
Wotje Naval Fortress
Wotje Base Force

Defending units:
1st Australian Bde /21
8th NZ Bde /21
19th Combat Engr Rgt /21

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Ground combat at Roi-Namur (132,114)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 5202 troops, 141 guns, 182 vehicles, Assault Value = 153

Defending force 2849 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 30

Allied adjusted assault: 59

Japanese adjusted defense: 16

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
667 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 153 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled


Allied ground losses:
599 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 34 disabled
Engineers: 29 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 35 (13 destroyed, 22 disabled)


Assaulting units:
34th Combat Engineer Regiment
8th Marine Regiment
193rd Tank Bn /23
3rd Marine Def Bn /20

Defending units:
6th Base Force

Really heavy losses to both sides but I have more AV and the supplies required to recover disruption quickly. and next turn should take it.

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Ground combat at 55,56

I decided to keep up the pressure on the Imperial Guards division, throwing more and more troops into action against it and continuing a slow, steady drip of deliberate attacks. Over time my forces will gain experience and slowly attrit the Imperial Guards division into nothingness.

Well, they won't attrit it to nothingness as the IJA and IJN will have to mount some sort of rescue mission.... Such a rescue mission will require either transports flying in supplies or an amphibious resupply + reinforcement run. Either of those options requires a significant diversion of resources from the Sumatran invasion and so serves my overall strategic purpose.

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 44481 troops, 365 guns, 24 vehicles, Assault Value = 1945

Defending force 16473 troops, 175 guns, 174 vehicles, Assault Value = 516

Allied adjusted assault: 486

Japanese adjusted defense: 445

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
333 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 22 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Vehicles lost 77 (74 destroyed, 3 disabled)

I think the 14th Tank Regiment actually disappeared from the screen during combat. Combined with the high vehicle losses I think this might mean I wiped out this armoured unit... I've never seen a unit wiped out in combat in this manner before in AE so amn't sure though. Either way, 74 vehicles destroyed is a great result.


Allied ground losses:
579 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 99 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 90 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:
14th Chinese Corps
54th Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Corps
1st Burma Division
BFF Brigade
60th Chinese Corps
66th Chinese Corps

Defending units:
14th Tank Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
1st RTA/B Division
55th Engineer Regiment
1st RTA/C Division
15th Army
55th Mountain Gun Regiment
21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion


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Ground combat at Wotje (135,115)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4144 troops, 30 guns, 21 vehicles, Assault Value = 131

Defending force 1329 troops, 29 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 30

Allied adjusted assault: 7

Japanese adjusted defense: 24

Allied assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
281 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled


Allied ground losses:
740 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Guns lost 8 (0 destroyed, 8 disabled)


My losses are much heavier but, as with Ponape, I have mass on my side and expect Wotje to fall in 2 to 3 days. Not the immediate collapse I had hoped for but acceptable.


Assaulting units:
1st Australian Bde /21
8th NZ Bde /21
19th Combat Engr Rgt /21

Defending units:
Wotje Naval Fortress
Wotje Base Force


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Ground combat at Namu (133,116)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 130 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 8

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

Allied adjusted assault: 8

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Namu !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-)


Assaulting units:
2nd USMC Parachute Bn /21


So, Kusaie, Ponape, Wotje and Roi-Namur. The nearest large airfield the IJNAF/ IJAAF could use would be Truk and I can close that with B17s and bombardment TFs - which will draw SC TFs to resist them .... which would allow me to attrit those TFs and play right into my hands re: Sumatra.

With Marcus and Wake safely in Allied hands and fortifying nicely and with the aggressive USN actions in the North Pacific I think this rather nicely puts a stop to IJNA expansion plans in the Pacific. Not that he was expanding that much but from now on I don't think he even has the option unless he commits mutliple divisions to any thrust --- which, if he does, will, again, play into my hands by weakening his thrust into Sumatra.


In other news... Whatever the bug is at Manilla it is still happening. Every day I lose 1,000 tons of supplies there. Right now my supply is in the red entirely - despite the absence of bombardments - and the 1,000 tons or so is being taken from my troops, such that they are also beginning to go into the red.

It is disappointing to see a supply bug have such an impact but as it hastens the invasion of Sumatra I'm not too bothered... I really want to see what comes of the invasion of Sumatra. I counted my forces there and have just over 4,200 AV deployed in southern Sumatra ( Palembang, Djambi, Oosthaven and Benkoenen ). I think that ought to be enough to hold the entire SRA at bay.

In terms of airplanes I have just 800 planes in Southern Sumatra but am looking to bump that up to 1,000 over the next month...

So I think using Firefox will allow this to work now... My initial assessment was incorrect.

The IJN lost Nagato and Huyga yesterday. Today Yamashiro and Fuso went into action at Roi Namur and Yamashiro is confirmed sunk while Fuso is heavily damaged with multiple penetrating 14 inch hits and a torpedo hit. I am certain Fuso is also certain to sink...

So, that's 4 IJN BBs sunk in return for 3 USN BBs (Pennsylvania and Oklahoma sank today ).

Out of all of the IJN surface raiders in the area it looks like the CAs Myoko and Haguro are the only survivors. My DMs, before they got hit hard, managed to dump some 300 mines at Kwajalein in order to take a toll of the IJN CAs or CVLs if they try to dock there to reprovision.

I still have 5 combat-worthy BBs in the area with 2 more about 1 week away and another 2 two weeks away if I wish ( the two from the Northern Pacific ). Once Roi Namur falls I can dock my AGs, reprovision everything, unload fuel and begin sending CL TFs and CA TFs out to attempt surface intercepts of mini-KB.


Really, the results of the invasions have exceeded expectations. Roi Namur and Wotje will fall. Kusaie and Ponape are mine and with Wake having shrugged off an attempted invasion and Marcus more secure every day I think it'll only be a matter of time before B-17s and SC TFs push the IJN out of Truk. 4 IJN BBs sunk is also far more than I was hoping for... Sure I've lost at least as much in the surface combat but, already, in the DEI I have BB PoW, BC Repulse and 2 R class BBs. I am receiving another 2 in 2 days. So, once I divert a few more DDs and CLs/CAs into the area from the USN I'll be able to meet the IJN at Sumatra with, at least, parity in BBs.

The action at the Marshalls has, strategically, utterly succeeded in the goal of destroying the heavy IJN assets ( BBs and CAs ) which will be needed to cover the invasion of Sumatra. I'm not sure if Mike realises it but I think the last 2 days of action have just cost him the game... It'll also make him much more likely to send KB into the area to retrieve the situation - which will help me hugely also....

So, all in all, apart from the bad luck with the Lexington this has actually exceeded the strategic goals I set for it.

he action at the Marshalls has, strategically, utterly succeeded in the goal of destroying the heavy IJN assets ( BBs and CAs ) which will be needed to cover the invasion of Sumatra. I'm not sure if Mike realises it but I think the last 2 days of action have just cost him the game...

As usual, massive casualties, but a highly valuable result. Oklahoma and Nevada are two of the weaker USN battlewagons, but I was a bit sorry to see Salt Lake City go: her extra main gun is useful for fast bombardment missions.

During the war, there was considerable anxiety that the IJN would use its potent CA's as convoy raiders. (That's part of why they built the Alaska class.) AE seems to model that they would have been effective indeed.

Why dont you submit a save a s a bug for manilla ?

This Marshal invation is quite interesting not just for this AAR but in many cases Japanese players choose to bomb Manilla Harbour the strategic consequence is a Pacific attack with the Old BBs and Cvs the moment KB is in the DEI.

bklooste,

I'm not so sure that the strategic consequence of not bombing Manilla is a significant Pacific attack once KB is in the DEI.... For that to be the case we have to have several other conditions met ( which may not commonly be met )...

1. Once Manilla is hit KB remains in the DEI area and doesn't just transfer to the Pacific.

2. other IJN/IJA actions in the Pacific may well pin the Allies back even in the absence of PH and KB.

3. I quite doubt that most players would launch an attack designed at taken an entire geographical region/island chain in late January 1942. They might pin-prick with the occasional raid etc but I doubt most people would try anything strategically important. Don't forget that I'm only doing this in order to bolster Sumatra.

In the absence of Sumatra taking the Marshalls etc doesn't make all that much sense really unless you are really paranoid about Truk and have maintained control of Rabaul, as I have, and wish to limit Truk's utility as a jumping off point for future Pacific adventures.

As it is the lack of APs and the rather unfortunate troop loading algorithms which prevent them being spread " too thinly" --- too thinly being defined at a level of about 400 load points per ship --- or about 50% more than an xAK or xAP can unload in a single turn ---- have pretty much combined to make landings which should have been relatively easy knife-edge affairs which almost failed massively at Roi-Namur. If his BBs had gotten among the transports or my 2nd day of attacks hadn't gone well I'd have no hope of takign Roi-Namur and that'd be the end of this attack. Fortunately I brought along several hundred AV vs about 30 AV and so my sheer numbers should win out.

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

bklooste,

I'm not so sure that the strategic consequence of not bombing Manilla is a significant Pacific attack once KB is in the DEI.... For that to be the case we have to have several other conditions met ( which may not commonly be met )...

1. Once Manilla is hit KB remains in the DEI area and doesn't just transfer to the Pacific.

2. other IJN/IJA actions in the Pacific may well pin the Allies back even in the absence of PH and KB.

3. I quite doubt that most players would launch an attack designed at taken an entire geographical region/island chain in late January 1942. They might pin-prick with the occasional raid etc but I doubt most people would try anything strategically important. Don't forget that I'm only doing this in order to bolster Sumatra.

In the absence of Sumatra taking the Marshalls etc doesn't make all that much sense really unless you are really paranoid about Truk and have maintained control of Rabaul, as I have, and wish to limit Truk's utility as a jumping off point for future Pacific adventures.

As it is the lack of APs and the rather unfortunate troop loading algorithms which prevent them being spread " too thinly" --- too thinly being defined at a level of about 400 load points per ship --- or about 50% more than an xAK or xAP can unload in a single turn ---- have pretty much combined to make landings which should have been relatively easy knife-edge affairs which almost failed massively at Roi-Namur. If his BBs had gotten among the transports or my 2nd day of attacks hadn't gone well I'd have no hope of takign Roi-Namur and that'd be the end of this attack. Fortunately I brought along several hundred AV vs about 30 AV and so my sheer numbers should win out.

Good points but you can get your attack ready and the moment Kb shows in the DEI (after Manilla) unleash it ,you should have a week or so.

Agree about the whole island chain but Tarawa & Makin and Wake are very fine targets from which you can then do a fuller invasion. Nauru/Kusaie/Ponape are also interesting. While Japan can take these back it will require a huge commitment which will hinder his DEI advance You still had Wake which wont often be the case.

re Truk . As an allied player you may not be paranoid about Truk but as a Japanese player im paranoid about it , All those Soloman /Fiji /Tonga adventures become a whole lot of cut off troops ( except via a massive KB escorted convoy) once Truk is untennable.

Yes, you can get an attack ready the moment KB shows up but between loading time and travel time it'll take 2 weeks to get into position to actually invade anything.

That then leaves the question as to what you invade with. The dispositions of deployable units in the Pacific at the beginning of the war are extremely sub-optimal. If you want to have troops in position to load and invade anything it'll take you a month MINIMUM ( 2 weeks to transport to where you are going to base your invasion and 2 weeks to load and transport to the invasion beaches ). Sure you could just bombard a base more quickly but that's pointless and will cost you more damage than you inflict.

I think you need to actually look at what is available and what scale of invasion you talk of. Taking Ponape should take about 300 AV worth of troops - getting that requires 1 month work - and holding Ponape without holding Roi-Namur or Wotje/Maloelap is pretty pointless. You'd just have stuck your head into a meatgrinder of Netties hitting your support TFs on both flanks.


I was looking at the ships sunk list around Kwajalein... It is looking quite favourable actually:

Allied losses: 1 CV, 3 BB, 1 CA, 3 CL, 8 DD.
IJN losses: 4 BB, 16 DD, 1 AMC

Given that 2 additional IJN BBs have been torpedoed in the last month that gives him a maximum of 4 to 5 BBs available on-map... I have 12 BBs available for action ( 5 around the DEI and 7 in the Pacific ).

KB should show up soon enough and so I am ordering empty AKs and APs to begin heading home. damaged shipping is still congregating at Roi-Namur as that is an invasion which MUST succeed. Once it falls I'll pull that shipping out and, hopefully, KB's claws will close on relatively empty air...


As re: Truk... There's no point being paranoid about it, just make a rational assessment of its worth and possibilities given your strategic concept and the enemy's probably course of action/strategy and then decide whether you will hold it and if so in what strength.

Oh in China I can see another huge number of IJA units flooding the road to Sian. Fortunately I've managed to thin my lines elsewhere just in time and am going to have just over 4,000 AV available to hold the line... I have also been moving my AT units into position and while they aren't quite there yet they are just 3 or 4 days away. If I hold the first attack all future attacks should find their armoured components pretty badly shot up.

Warplan Orange would be invoked now... And only KB can stop it.

Warplan Orange right now would be the perfect way to lose the entire Pacific fleet... I think that IF the USN had enacted warplan orange then Netties + night-time SC TF strikes would have been sufficient to attrit the fleet before a decisive battle. If one adds in KB then it would have been sufficient to annihilate the USN Pacific fleet long before the IJN had to commit its battleline.

ORIGINAL: Nemo121

Warplan Orange right now would be the perfect way to lose the entire Pacific fleet... I think that IF the USN had enacted warplan orange then Netties + night-time SC TF strikes would have been sufficient to attrit the fleet before a decisive battle. If one adds in KB then it would have been sufficient to annihilate the USN Pacific fleet long before the IJN had to commit its battleline.

In WITP you were right but Netties seem, to go down so quick to any form of significant cap. Resuplying Manilla must be tempting though...WHat would Macarthur ask ?

bklooste,

Well, if you want to go on a suicide ride feel free to do so. I'd love to read that AAR, it'd lose you the entire US Pacific fleet vs any competent opponent but, hey, feel free to do it and AAR it.