PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[PzB74]

Thx Fish [;)] I will probably get my payback one day...
Not sure how enjoyable it'll be though [:D] Good luck in the final!

Let's sum up yesterdays action list:

1. Move substantial reinforcements to Tinian.
Success: we moved in a lot of troops and AV is now close to 1600! Andy will feel this one.
2. Destroy large numbers of enemy ac.
Success: We destroyed 125 Allied ac including 94 Hellcats, 12 Wildcats and 2..Corsairs!
Ahem, must admit that our loss list is somewhat gross though. See screenie.
3. Lure an enemy carrier division closer to the Palaus and give em he11.
Failure: Andy sent his 2 CV TF's closer to Ulithi and had 220 fighters on cAP.
Our cve was sunk and our strikes were uncoordinated - AGAIN! So we lost a lot of ac for nothing.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/06/44

Sub/ASW Attacks

Sub attack at 23,54

Japanese Ships
AK China Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PG Seiko Maru
MSW Asahi Maru

Allied Ships
SS Barbero, hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

So Andy attacked Pagan this time - with most ac on LRCAP over Tinian we couldn't stop
the bombers.

Day Air attack on Pagan , at 64,62

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 35
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 11

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 86
F6F Hellcat x 125
Corsair IV x 11
SB2C Helldiver x 60
TBM Avenger x 130

Japanese aircraft losses - the George's were lethal! We only lost 20 pilots and the group will be back in the fight soon.
N1K1-J George: 38 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 19 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 10 destroyed
F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed
J2M Jack: 21 destroyed
C6N Myrt: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 9 destroyed, 2 damaged
F6F Hellcat: 29 destroyed, 2 damaged
SB2C Helldiver: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 76
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Superforts then stomped Pagan well...Annoying that Andy manage to launc these
super long range strikes from a size 5 base 23 hexes away at will.

Day Air attack on Pagan , at 64,62

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-29 Superfortress x 80

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M Jack: 2 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed
C6N Myrt: 1 destroyed
F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 3 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 4 destroyed
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 90
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 57,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 8

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 4
SB2C Helldiver x 27
TBM Avenger x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SB2C Helldiver: 1 destroyed
TBM Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
PG Shotoku Maru, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 57,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 8

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 23
SB2C Helldiver x 51
TBM Avenger x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 1 damaged
SB2C Helldiver: 1 damaged
TBM Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships - short career for this 12 ac cve!
CVE Shimane Maru, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 57,66

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 3

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 2
TBM Avenger x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CVE Shimane Maru, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x TBM Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My 400 fighter + 400 bomber strike was muttled down to a 160 fighter, 90 bomber strike...

Day Air attack on TF at 57,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 109
D4Y Judy x 8
A6M5c Zeke x 19
B6N Jill x 40
G4M1 Betty x 23
G4M2 Betty x 24
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 22

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 207
F4U-1D Corsair x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 109 destroyed
D4Y Judy: 8 destroyed
A6M5c Zeke: 19 destroyed
B6N Jill: 30 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 22 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 22 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 22 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses - well, 42 less Hellcats...
F6F Hellcat: 42 destroyed, 32 damaged
F4U-1D Corsair: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Essex

Aircraft Attacking: HEY, we got through [8|]
1 x G4M2 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following uncoordinated strikes stood no chance!

Day Air attack on TF at 57,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 37
G4M2 Betty x 16
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 23

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 81
F4U-1D Corsair x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 37 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 16 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 18 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 14 destroyed, 10 damaged
F4U-1D Corsair: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Essex
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 57,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 28
A6M5c Zeke x 9
G4M2 Betty x 5
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 8

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 152
F4U-1D Corsair x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 28 destroyed
A6M5c Zeke: 9 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 5 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 3 destroyed, 7 damaged
F4U-1D Corsair: 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 57,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 8
G4M2 Betty x 4
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 10

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 71
F4U-1D Corsair x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 8 destroyed
G4M2 Betty: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 4 destroyed, 9 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 57,63

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9
P1Y Frances x 30

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 117
F4U-1D Corsair x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 9 destroyed
P1Y Frances: 12 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat: 11 damaged
F4U-1D Corsair: 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A strike from Truk found a replenishment carrier group? Again, no chance of getting through.
Day Air attack on TF at 68,68

Japanese aircraft
G4M2 Betty x 12
P1Y Frances x 11
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 22

Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 73
F6F Hellcat x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M2 Betty: 7 destroyed
P1Y Frances: 11 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 15 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 8 damaged
F6F Hellcat: 2 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Losses Marianas

Must admit that Andy's plan was good. Taking advantage of yesterdays unescorted strikes
he moved his attention to Pagan and devastated it with carrier ac and B-29s.

Let's sum it all up:

While our loss list is ugly we still manageg a reasonable kill ratio:
258 + 60 Oscars in A2A combat for 92 Hellcats, 9 Wildcats and 2 Corsairs.
That's a 2.5-1 without Oscars and 3.1/1 with them.

The loss of our bombers isn't important, got a lot of them and I can't really use them because
of the Uber CAP. We're now producing 600 Zekes pr month and still got 500 in the pool. More than
400 Franks are also coming off the line. Can anyone tell me how many Hellcats Andy is receiving
pr month? If he run out.... [;)]

The loss of 45 Jack's on the ground was unfortunate. The 3 groups have been moved to Ulithi and
it will take at least a full week to get them back into full strength. Still, all pilots survived.

While the turn was a morale booster for Andy - and I applaud him for Pagan, nice move - I still think
we did well. The enemy carriers are loosing a lot of fighters and still no invasion fleet in sight and
Tinian's garrison has been strengthened.

Tomorrow I upgrade another Tojo Sentai and more Zekes are being moved from China to replace losses.
240 fighters are put on CAP over Saipan today - LRCAP over a PC. Don't want any leakers. T-storms reported
so it should be a quiet turn.

The question is: Will Andy begin his invasion or do we get more time to prepare?

[LittleJoe]

Make sure you do not Garrison the Marinas so much that you actually disuade him to invade, maybe it would be better to stop the build up, perhaps disperse your fighters and bombers, to lull him into a sense that his air attacks have battered you into submission.

Then when the invasion fleet nears, flood the area with your forces again, the setbacks your inflicting on him will only serve for him to pack up and strike somewhere esle, which would be in a way sucess for you, but ideally youll want to be damaging his assets in this battle, not wasting his time.

After all it is he that dictates where battle takes place, not you.

[Nemo121]

Yes, I would agree with LittleJoe... You can hurt his aerial forces significantly but the real guarantee of massively slowing his pace of advance is to seriously harm his ground forces. Would you consider removing your fighters ( except for a little CAP over Tinian just to make it look like you are scraping the bottom of the barrel) in order to let him get a few turns of port attacks in and get the confidence to invade.
 
Once he invades he is committed and you should be able to get a lot of naval strikes in, an excellent return from CAPing Tinian and a good chance of seriously attriting his ground combat units.

[pauk]

ah, I was afraid that i was the only one who think like Joe... must admit that i didn't found Andy's carrier dance logical... of course, he is trying to close AFs and ruin your air force..but, call me paranoic, can that be another divertion?

- perhaps he plans something other, because he knows you expecting him?

further advance in SRA? Marcus & Wake?

[LittleJoe]

With his strength he can go whereever he wants on the map, the only reason he has been halted is the knowledge that even Japanese player has going into a PBEM that his opponent will always seek to take Marinas.

It is the one point that the Allies would really not want to have to bypass, if Andy calls off the invasion it will be a great victory for Japanese players, showing that the Allied deathstar can be halted with proper advance preparation, but not nessasarily for PZB, as Andy could well now go esle where with that death star.

If he does invade however... [:D]


PZB i think you may be suffering from the 1944 strain of Japanese Victory disease, best treatment is to sit back for a few hours and imagine what your opponent must be thinking.

Maybe much like how the Allies must strike where the KB is not in 41/42/43, maybe you should take this chance where Andy has all his eggs in one basket, to launch a localised counter attack, to further frustrate him, and perhaps cause him to make more mistakes.

[Nemo121]

Well, it is always possible that is a deep and cunning plan BUT if you look at Andy's previous operation they are methodical, well-supported, generally succesful but benefit little from subtly nuanced diversionary preparations/distractors. I think that 9 times out of 10 if he looks like he is going to Point A then Point A is where his schwerpunkt will go.
 
I was surprised to hear tell that he admitted going for Tinian though.... That's the one thing that makes me suspicious although, to be fair, he may not see much point in hiding this intentions now that he is attacking Tinian so heavily. So, always possible that there are plans within plans but I think with Andy the plan you see is almost always the plan you get. I may, however, be proven wrong.

[pauk]

you might be right, but if i were Andy i would continue through SRA and go for Marcus and Wake... with so many toys (LBA) he could destroy resources and oil, HI - without supply Japan is unable to respond to Allied offensive...

Perhaps i'm looking to much form the Japanese perspective... but hey, i'm Samurai!

[PzB74]

Fubar..someone hacked the site [:@]

Morale is sapping in the other camp! The loss of another 100 Hellcats really put Andy down.
He's leaving the Marianas! [:D] [&o]

I understand your reasoning guys, and since Andy's leaving this is a mute point now.
Let's consider this a major strategic victory [8D]

Remember that TIME is so valuable for Japan right now. We must delay, delay, delay!
That was our main doctrine, right Pauk [;)]

Even if the SRA should be invaded we got enough resources to keep things going for almost a year
afterwards. By then the game will be over....and decisively won [:)]

What we achieve if Marianas isn't invaded:

1. Within 2 months we will have 350 Franks ready and the KB will be fully operational with 800 ac!

2. Because of 1 Andy will again loose his freedom to manvouer freely with his carriers.

3. Dozens of new Army units will arrive in the SRA/PI.

4. An invasion closer to Japan/SRA/PI will release the Kamikaze menace.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/07/44

Sub/ASW Attacks

Sub attack at 34,55

Japanese Ships
TK Mirii Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage *sinks* - full load of crude... [:(]
PC Ch 2
PC Tama Maru #8
PG Santos Maru
PG Saiko Maru
PG Kogyoku Maru

Allied Ships
SS Pogy, hits 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Pagan , at 64,62

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-29 Superfortress x 79

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 9 destroyed
J2M Jack: 12 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 4 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29 Superfortress: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
94 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 110
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Enemy Exit?

If Andy really is low on Hellcats - he's complaining about a very low production output -
it will take him a loong time to build a sizeable pool again [:)]

Personally I think Andy should have spent more time preparing for the invasion of the Marianas.
He could have rolled over Borneo, secured half the islands in the PI, secured PNG, invaded Truk
and bombed the Palaus and Marianas into the stone age. The Palaus is my armory and staging area
for the Marianas.

So what next? I would put my money on an invasion of the islands north of Japan and perhaps Northern
Japan itself in early-mid 45. In the meanwhile Sulawesi, PNG and even Java could be secured.

[PzB74]

Enemy ships are withdrawing and I'm trying to clean up the mess.
Lots of ac from different Daitais and Sentais all over the place.
Logistical nightmsare....

Looks like enemy TFs are heading for Wake Island?

Not sure what to do next. Repair fleet, train ac, re-stock bases
and reshuffle LCUs I guess.

Preparing for a counter-attack in Sulawesi but not sure if the Fleet
can be released yet.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/08/44

Sub/ASW Attacks

Day of the shark...
1 enemy sub reported sunk by asw ac, another one hit.

Sub attack at 34,55

Japanese Ships
TK Nissho Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PC Ch 2
PC Tama Maru #8
PG Santos Maru
PG Saiko Maru
PG Kogyoku Maru
PG Kiso Maru
MSW Hinode Maru #18
MSW Hinode Maru #17
DD Arashio

Allied Ships
SS Pogy, hits 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 41,52

Japanese Ships
PG Kure Maru #5
PG Kaikei Maru
PG Busho Maru
PG Uji
PG Tamo Maru #6
PG Takunan Maru #8
PG Takunan Maru #3
DD Hatakaze

Allied Ships
SS Hammerhead, hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 37,54

Japanese Ships
AK Lushan Maru, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
MSW Wa 104
MSW Wa 102

Allied Ships
SS Kingfish
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 41,52

Japanese Ships
PG Kure Maru #5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
PG Kaikei Maru
PG Busho Maru
PG Uji
PG Tamo Maru #6
PG Takunan Maru #8
PG Takunan Maru #3
DD Hatakaze

Allied Ships
SS Hammerhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 35,55

Japanese Ships
TK Nissho Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Allied Ships
SS Argonaut
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wake Island next?

[PzB74]

What do you think about this brave defender of wake Island? [:D]

[Naskra]

Cpt. Banzai sounds like the right man for the job.
It looks like you have broken the will of the enemy commander; final victory is now assured. -- congrats.
I think you are right that he does not have enough time to pursue a less direct route to Japan.

[Honda]

Has anyone ever thaught that this was just ment to be a raid?

[PzB74]

We shouldn't underestimate Andy...he may have some nasty tricks up his sleave still!
The thought has crossed my mind Honda, but I've received some pretty depressed mails from Andy.
So if it was a faint it was a good one [;)]

Not sure he would achieve a lot by committing his main fleet for weeks on end though. All of them
must have gained sys damage while the KB is getting back into fighting trim!

Time for 1-2 more turns, then it's vacation time [8D]

[Honda]

By the order of the Imperial HQ, your r&r privilages have been revoked. You are to remain in active service until furher notice.

[PzB74]

Time for sake break Honda [:D]
You guys have to find out what Andy's up to while I'm away and come
up with plans for the last half of 1944!

No major actions today...
One of the enemy carrier tf's are heading West towards Woleai?
Will await further developments and but my CAP up just in case.

I'm creating more asw groups and preparing to move shattered units
back to China for more training. Our top ace got 25 kills - impressive
in a Zeke.

Had to order almost all my Combined Fleet ships not to upgrade 6/44.
Seems like there's a major overhauled scheduled for this date. Can't
afford that right now. Kaga is down to 15 sys damagem, Taiho just a few
points behind. Now we need to get Shok, Zuik and Katsuragi back in shape.
Then we got our 9 cv's and 3 cvl's. Cvl Ibiki will join the fleet in 2
weeks. Our last carrier reinforcement of the war. After this we only
got 1 cl, dd's and subs on our slips.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/09/44

[AmiralLaurent]

PzB, any idea of the body count of the battle.... I would say you lose between 2000 and 3500 AC, while Andy lost between 500 and 1000 ?

Andy should be disgusted to see that you are still able to bring fresh reinforcements on the scene.

Or it could be psychological warfare and what he intended was to raid the Mariannas and decimate your air force before going back to base, refuel, recomplete the air units and come back with the invasion TFs.

Anyway, you will have some time to try to reorganize your air units.

[Fishbed]

Zidane just f****d everything up, hope my team will make it to the penalties... You are my last hope for anykind of victory PzB, don't waste it! [:D] [;)]

[PzB74]

Zidane really lost his head...indeed! Let's try not to commit the same mistake! [X(]
5-4 to France in penalties! [;)]

Air losses were heavy Laurent - didn't count em. Perhaps someone will add the numbers up!
I estimate that some 500 trained Zekes were lost as well as 50 trained George pilots.
In addition a similar number of average exp Tony and Zeke's were lost plus 500-600 Oscars.
Another 200 ac were destroyed on the ground and another 500 bombers were shot down.

That's my guesstimate:
500
50
550
600
200
500
--------
2400 ac
--------

Sounds about right?
Of these losses only the 550 trained Zeke and George pilots will be missed.
The Zekes will be replaced by lesser trained pilots before the old cadre can be re-trained.
Bombers, Tonys, and Oscars are in abundance.

Of Andy's losses I would say that some 5-600 were Hellcats, 40? Corsairs, 50 Wildcats and 250-300
bombers. Some 8-900 ac in totalt. That would leave us a 1-4 loss ratio.

Here is one of the mails I got from Andy. Judge for yourself, is this a bluff?

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Not reallly sure how in the he1l I am supposed to achieve anything out of range of LBA.

I pull off another good trap and lose damn near a months production of Hellcats

How is it possible for the Japanese to out produce the US this way I get 144 Hellcats a month I guess you are producing 750 zekes a month and with Chinese training your pilot quality is ok if I give you any time to train.

With PDU's this would be suicide

I am very depressed

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Fishbed]

Well I suppose this is not Top Secret and cheating to reveal you Andy is really pissed off by certain game mechanics - I mean he is being honest to you in the mail, there's no trick or that kind of thing, he really doesn't understand why the F6F production ratio is such a joke... Maybe you'd better support him a little, he seems to get a little upset by the situation. Honestly. [:(]

[PzB74]

Yes, I understood that Andy was frustrated. Again, we all have to live with what the
game hands us. We all get frustrated, some times more than others. If it was possible I'd
allow the mods to add 1000 Hellcats to Andy's pool. That's about all I can do.

Sent my last turn before going to bed.

Too bad about France Fish, guess we all saw the writing on the wall when Zidane used his head
the wrong way...[8|]

I'm logging out for 15 days gents [8D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/10/44

Nothing much to report - 2 large carrier formations moving north of Truk towards PNG.
Andy's moving his schwerpunkt back to 'the soft underbelly'. 4 more days and 7 divs/bdes
arrive.

Sub/ASW Attacks

ASW attack at 25,50

Japanese Ships
MSW Toshi Maru #5
MSW W.14
PG Nanpo Maru
PG Chosa Maru
PG Nikkai Maru
PC Shonan Maru #17
PC Fumi Maru #3

Allied Ships
SS Wahoo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 41,52

Japanese Ships
PG Kaikei Maru
PG Busho Maru
PG Uji
PG Tamo Maru #6
PG Takunan Maru #8
PG Takunan Maru #3
DD Hatakaze

Allied Ships
SS Hammerhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 41,52

Japanese Ships
TK Tonan Maru #2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PC Ch 2
PC Tama Maru #8
PG Santos Maru
PG Saiko Maru
PG Kogyoku Maru
PG Kiso Maru
MSW Hinode Maru #18
MSW Hinode Maru #17
DD Arashio

Allied Ships
SS Hammerhead
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Land Based Fighters

Some 2500 + 300 on carriers as well as 200 fighter bombers and 400 night fighters.
Some 3400 in all. Numbers stays the same, exp. leves are reduced but the introduction
of new crack Frank formations make up for this.