The rant goes on... PBEM QUIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/27/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1071 encounters mine field at Norfolk Island (60,119)

Allied Ships
DD Electra, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

I´m so sick of those f***ing mines... what the he11 is happening in this damned campaign? 60%+ of the times I enter a hex with Japanese mines at least one of my ships hit one...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Derby, at 24,85

Japanese Ships
BB Ise
BB Mutsu


Allied ground losses:
1022 casualties reported
Guns lost 32
Vehicles lost 16

Runway hits 6
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 1

coming close to nukes... next bombardment TF is already spotted. Looks like the IJN is shuttling between Derby and a small jungle base where they replenish. Oh boy, Hortlund will really regret that he´s doing this when I start doing the same with 3 times as many BBs in a year...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Norfolk Island, at 60,119 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

30 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL Detroit
CL Raleigh
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 8

Japanese ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

this proves that the "outrange theory" is just a theory...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 30,76

Japanese Ships
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Natsugumo
DD Isokaze
DD Maikaze
DD Kagero
DD Akizuki
CV Hiyo

Allied Ships
SS S-40, hits 1

we miss of course... the IJN CVs are now at Dili! [X(] Thought they would go in to attack Darwin today...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 3
B-17E Fortress x 35

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 16 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 11000 feet

ahhh, great turn... [8|] half of the bombers take off, we achieve a lousy hit rate of 2... [&o] what a joke... and PM seems to be the next flak base... I will never be able to use carrier air to attack a base as I would only lose 90% of my dive bombers... that´s great. When there´s no limit for flak guns at a base then it´s really possible to defend all outer important bases and this seems to make it impossible to attack them...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 84
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 57
Ki-49 Helen x 15

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 3 destroyed, 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 3 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet

of course a dozen Helens can destroy 12 aircraft on the ground. Twice as many B-17s were sent to PM and all carry 50% more bombs than a Helen. With the reduced bomb load of Allied bombers it get´s even harder to surpress an enemy base...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wyndham , at 30,86

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 117

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 12,85

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 19
E13A1 Jake x 7
E7K2 Alf x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Modjekerto, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet

great, another CS and probably a CVE is sitting off Broome... [>:] I still can´t believe it that one f***ing fighter sweep makes me losing all ships I had in Northern Australia... one f***ing fighter sweep... [8|]

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/28/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Derby, at 24,85

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Ashigara
BB Hiei


Allied ground losses:
626 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
Vehicles lost 3

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 2

I can sustain such bombardments...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 137 encounters mine field at Kwajalein (79,79)

Japanese Ships
MSW Kyo Maru #5

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Broome at 21,85

Japanese Ships
SS I-159

Allied Ships
DD Pakenham

lots of ships retreating to the West. We have enemy subs in every base on Australia´s North coast...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 81
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 39
Ki-49 Helen x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 15 damaged


Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 12

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet

base is completely stripped off aircraft now... wonder what those small strikes try to achieve. Huge escort though...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 94
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

Would be suicide to put fighters into the air with the given situation...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 116

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed, 33 damaged


Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 27

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 16000 feet

IMO Horltund would be better off using his IJA bombers from Timor instead of Betties on long range airfield attack. A dozen is lost again and that´s very good news...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 13,85

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Aylwin, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet

really amazing how super effective a land based Kate daitai can be when used from a CVE... this damned CVE is enough to completely blocade the retreat path to the West... [8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 13,85

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Aylwin, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 13,85

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 7

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x E13A1 Jake bombing at 2000 feet
4 x E13A1 Jake bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 41,86

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 25

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AD Whitney, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Hortlund moved a fleet CV (think Akagi or Kaga) with one or two CVLs or CVEs into position 8 hexes South East of Darwin and the TF exactly shows up the turn when my ships retreat to the East from Darwin. What a timing! I can´t figure out how this CV TF could pass my 40 search planes and 100 bombers at Cooktown... [&:]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 39,85

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 12
B5N Kate x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Sims, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 13,85

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
DD MacDonough, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet

even those CS based floatplanes are able to hit my agile DDs... [8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 13,85

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
DD MacDonough

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 13,85

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD MacDonough

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x E13A1 Jake bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 55

No Japanese losses

another sweep to Darwin...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 14,85

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
MSW Eland Dubois

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x E13A1 Jake bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 42,87

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Sipirok, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 14,85

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Ocean

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 41,89

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AR Medusa, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 14,85

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Fox, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet

running into a disaster...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/29/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 52 encounters mine field at Lautem (33,78)

Japanese Ships
DD Hayashio

sub laid mines, should hit at some point as I´m hitting enemy mines too all the time just from being in the same hex...

Argonaut was hit by air ASW today one hex off Lautern bringing in some mines. If not attacked again then she should make it to Brisbane. Again two subs were hit by air ASW. It´s the all dominating super mission in WITP. Hortlund is partly correct if he says he doesn´t need DDs, he doesn´t need them for ASW... [8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 25,83

Japanese Ships
SS I-159

Allied Ships
AK Eidsvold, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 25,83

Japanese Ships
SS I-159

Allied Ships
AK Eidsvold, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

only one salvo of torps left for I-159. The second attack was a complete waste of torps...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 123

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 2 destroyed, 14 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
559 casualties reported
Guns lost 10

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 46

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Wellington III bombing at 16000 feet

even 16.000ft is still dangerous against a base with only a few flak guns... going up to 21.000 won´t make much sense IMO...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Myitkyina , at 36,28


Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 21
B-26B Marauder x 31


No Allied losses

Runway hits 1 [X(]

Aircraft Attacking:
28 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 16000 feet

would be a good hit rate if we would drop a tactical nuke...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 41
Ki-49 Helen x 51

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 8 destroyed, 35 damaged

Allied Ships
MSW Jan van Amstel, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported

Port hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet

here are the IJA bombers, they are shot up nicely. My airfield and port is empty, so there´s no sense in attacking those bases. Hundreds of engineers in Northern Australia will repaire those airfields and ports anyway within a couple of days. Hortlunds only achievable goal can be to force my ships and aircraft away from Northern Australia and he achieved that with not small losses to his airforce and navy. But as soon as he sees my bases empty, the only thing he should do is doing nothing. As said before, an invasion is impossible IMO.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 16 damaged

Allied Ships
MSW Jan van Amstel, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

Port hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 6000 feet

the only ship in Darwin´s port is sunk! We left the MSW there to have a port symbol at Darwin. Hortlund hasn´t spotted my BBs at this time, so he must have thought they would still be in port and therefor the port symbol... chances are very small that my BBs will make it out. Then this Northern Australia adventure did cost me 3 old BBs and a BC. Unbelievable bad performance of my part, but I thought I could defend at least Darwin with fighters but I would have needed at least 600, not 250 as those were inoperational after one Japanese sweep. The Japanese tactic of completely stripping other parts of the map (like Burma) is also absolutely new to me as I couldn´t imagine someone doing that. Though, losses for the Japanese in aircraft, pilots and ships were severe also.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 42,88

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 7 damaged

Allied Ships
AS Griffin

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 42,88

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
AS Griffin, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet

this is the CV TF South East of Darwin...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 25,83

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
G4M1 Betty x 25

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Loa Koeloe, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Betties from Koepang are also on nav attack now... surely looking for my BBs...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 25,83

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Pasir, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 43,88

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 15
B5N Kate x 19

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Foxhound, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 12,85

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Fox, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet


super Alfs... wonder how it would have like in real life if a float plane attacks a ship that has a couple of AA guns...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 12,85

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Fox, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x E13A1 Jake bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 12,85

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Fox, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 12,83

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Sumatra, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet

the slow, low endurance CL Sumatra was sent to intercept the CVE at night but we missed the CVE TF by one hex I think. Now the CL is sunk. First ship bigger than a DD that was sunk during our escape from the North coast. At the moment, my BBs are still not spotted and with their current position it would be pure luck if the Japanese will ever spot them. But who knows. Interesting this turn is that the small CV TF South East of Darwin is all the time in range of 100 B-17s with high morale and high exp. Range to target 9 hexes and only a small Cap over the TF but unfortunately my bombers didn´t even try to attack them. Sooner or later those moves of Hortlund just have to be punished. At some point luck simply has to run out. It seems that Hortlund uses his carriers in 2 or probably even 3 different TFs far away from each other. This is also something that is normally an absolutely no go and just has to lead to a sunken Japanese fleet carrier sooner or later. 100 high exp B-17 with 1000lb bombs attacking would be a good first step...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 12,83

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 7

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CL Sumatra, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x E13A1 Jake bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 12,83

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CL Sumatra, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 12,85

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Ocean, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 43,89

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AR Medusa, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 9,87

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Pakenham, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5N Kate bombing at 6000 feet

the Kates from the CVE at max range against an agile DD are achieving super hit rates... [8|] I was never able to figure out if torp bombers in level bombing mode have a different routine than level bombers as I guess if I would send 10 Wellingtons with the same exp at 6000 ft to attack a DD then I would achieve 1 or 2 hits. And the Wellingtons carry 9 bombs, not one...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 33,80

Japanese Ships
PG Nagata Maru
PG Kyo Maru #10
PG Kyo Maru #8
PG Kogyoku Maru

Allied Ships
SS Perch

All Japanese TFs North of Darwin are in the same hex like our subs, but none attacks...


And here you can see why I have problems taking on the IJA/IJN aircraft! It´s not only the problem that the unit was expected to arrive with P-40B and they didn´t because the Tomahawk pool is empty. I thought Allied aircraft reinforcements come in with their expected aircraft even if the pool has not enough planes?? [&:]

The real problem is the Allied experience in Nikmod. How on Earth should I send those fighters into combat with an average exp of 43???? [8|] While the AAR´s name is The rant goes on, honestly I don´t want to rant around all the time, but don´t you think that it´s ridicoulos to have Allied fighter squadrons with an exp of 43 when I have to take on Japanese fighters with an experience of 75-85?

[castor troy]

CL Sumatra was sunk during the escape from Australia´s North coast...


Navy The Royal Dutch Navy
Type Light cruiser
Class Java
Pennant 40
Built by Nederlandse Scheepsbouw Maatschappij (Amsterdam, Holland)
Ordered
Laid down 15 Jun, 1916
Launched 19 Dec, 1921
Commissioned 26 May, 1926
End service 30 Apr, 1944
Loss position

History On the outbreak of the war between Holland and Germany on 10 May 1940, HrMs Sumatra was stationed in Flushing, she left for England the following day.
The ship was given pennant number 40 by the British during the war.

Laid up at Portsmouth, England 6 November 1942.

Transferred to the Royal Navy on 30 April 1944.

Expended as blockship during the Normandy landings for Gooseberry 5 in position 147 degrees of the Quistreham lightship, distance 4500 meters and sunk in 7,5 meters water.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/30/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 33,79

Japanese Ships
DD Natsugumo
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Isokaze
DD Maikaze
DD Kagero
DD Akizuki

Allied Ships
SS Pike

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 92
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

Hortlund is still flying sweeps but my airfield is empty, as is the port. 5 Zeroes are lost to ops today...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 27,82


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Eizan Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet

Hortlund uses AKs as picket ships near Australia´s North coast. Strange, but I have no problem with that. I can´t hurt his BBs, CAs, CVs anyway and this way I can damage or sink some ships that he needs also. But as with other things, he seems to just not care about his material. Something he will surely regret later on...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,81


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 10


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Oyashima Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Sinko Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet

those Hudsons are 70+ exp but if I compare the hit rate to the CVE base Kates then I can only shake my head...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 29,80

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16

Allied aircraft
A-20B Boston x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
A-20B Boston: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Koshin Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet

leaking Cap from his carriers...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 26,83


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Bunzan Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 8,89

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
MSW Latrobe

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 8,89

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
MSW Latrobe

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x E13A1 Jake bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 8,89

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
MSW Latrobe

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 45,89

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AR Medusa, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 7,91

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 12
E13A1 Jake x 7
E7K2 Alf x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD MacDonough, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 6000 feet

as I have said, CVE based Kates are 10 times more effective than land based level bombers...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 33,80


Allied aircraft
A-20B Boston x 10


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PG Kyo Maru #10
PG Kogyoku Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet

hey, great! We hit a PG with a 500lb bomb...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,81


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 6


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Sinko Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Oyashima Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 9,88

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
MSW Eland Dubois

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x E13A1 Jake bombing at 2000 feet
4 x E13A1 Jake bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 9,88

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Latimer, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet

1 Kate is worth more than an Allied bomber group...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 10,86

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Ocean

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 44,89

Japanese Ships
DD Akebono
DD Nenohi

Allied Ships
SS Grayling, hits 1

1 near miss...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 34,80

Japanese Ships
DD Nagatsuki
DD Kisaragi

Allied Ships
SS KXV

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Darwin, at 36,84 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CA Haguro
CA Maya, Shell hits 7, on fire
CA Chikuma


Allied ground losses:
177 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

first bombardment of Derby with nearly no effect. 9.1 inch guns fired back but it seems they can´t penetrate the CA´s armor. 500lb bombs can´t and 9.1 inch guns can´t... [8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 34,80

Japanese Ships
APD APD-39
APD APD-36
APD APD-35
DD Oboro
DD Hatsuharu

Allied Ships
SS KXV, hits 9, on fire

[8|] not just that Hortlund sweeps the sea of my subs with his carrier based Vals on ASW attack, no, he also gets excellent results with his ASW ships. Wonder why my IJN ASW TFs never do anything in my game against Swift...

[castor troy]

good day for us...


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/01/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 69 encounters mine field at Lautem (33,78)

Japanese Ships
PG Kogyoku Maru, on fire

would be nice if a ship would finally hit a MK10 mine...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 35,80

Japanese Ships
CL Oi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire [:D]
DD Akigumo

Allied Ships
SS Shark

one MK14 won´t be enough to sink Oi but she surely needs some yard time, but what´s even more important is the fact that Hortlund can´t feel safe in the waters North of Darwin... those waters are sub infested... looks like my opponent is already low on DD escorts or why is there only ONE DD as escort? This TF is reported as a CV TF and a Val spotted a sub one hex next to this TF. Does this mean Hortlund drives around a CV TF with ONE escort?? [X(]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 34,81

Japanese Ships
DD Uranami

Allied Ships
SS Perch

same here, only one DD as escort...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 34,80

Japanese Ships
DD Nagatsuki
DD Kisaragi

Allied Ships
SS Tarpon

only 2 DDs as escort...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 34,79

Japanese Ships
CVE Unyo, Torpedo hits 1, on fire [:D][:D]
DD Ushio

Allied Ships
SS Searaven

and we hit another capital ship! This should finally scare Hortlund as those attacks could have also happened against a CV or BB in this area. Again only ONE DD as escort! Looks like it already pays off that we´ve sunk around 45 Japanese DDs! And Hortlund tells me he doesn´t need them! [:D] Don´t know how many DDs the Japanese start with but I doubt that there are 100 with ASW ability right from the start. Would mean he nearly lost half of them already! [:D]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 34,80

Japanese Ships
PG Nagata Maru
PG Kyo Maru #10
PG Kyo Maru #8

Allied Ships
SS Tarpon

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 13


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
3 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Hurricane IIb bombing at 2000 feet

probing attack on Lashio´s airfield. One unit spotted there but no flak fire. We have to hit more airfields to force Hortlund to spread out his flak units. He can´t put 6 AA rgt at every base in Northern Burma.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 11

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 4
B-17E Fortress x 105

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed
Ki-57-II Topsy: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 20 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 17

Aircraft Attacking:
33 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 16000 feet

hit rate is lousy. Looking at my two bomber groups, after being 100% operational before this strike, the groups dropped to 65% as many more than those 20 aircraft are damaged now... [8|] Can´t keep up attacks over a couple of days and one attack just achieves nothing...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Derby , at 24,85

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
Ki-49 Helen x 48
Ki-46-II Dinah x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 7 destroyed, 26 damaged [:D]
Ki-46-II Dinah: 3 damaged


Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 22

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet

unbelievable again, but Hortlund still sends in the bombers to do nearly no damage but a lot of them are shot out of the sky... damage at the end of the turn: airfield undamaged, airbase 8% damaged... will be fully operational tomorrow again...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 26,83


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Bunzan Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet

only 3 out of 60 bombers attack and we don´t hit the picket ship of course...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 7,91

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
MSW Eland Dubois

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 7,91

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
MSW Eland Dubois

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x E13A1 Jake bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 7,92

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
MSW Latrobe

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 7,89

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Latimer, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet

the usual one Kate one hit attack, Empire Latimer is doomed...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 8,88

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 7
E7K2 Alf x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Empire Ocean, Bomb hits 4, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:

1 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 41,74

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 Helen x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AS Colombia

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet

this is near Amboina! I retreated parts of my fleet to the NORTH! [:D] I´m sure this has surprised Hortlund as there are no Betties nor Kates or carriers in that position. I knew he waits to the West and South East, so going North wasn´t a bad idea I think... My BBs are still afloat, if I can bring them home, then the Japanese offensive pretty much achieved nothing but sinking an old Dutch CL, some cargoes, a couple of DDs and some AS, AR... This for losing a BB and hundreds of aircraft. Oh yes, we lost some 100+ aircraft too. Can´t see how Hortlund can keep up his attacks and my airfields won´t be ever out of action. I can transfer in my bombers at will, only the short legged fighters will have some problems and have to be transfered in by rail, the time until they get repaired could be a problem.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 7,93

Japanese aircraft
E7K2 Alf x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD MacDonough, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x E7K2 Alf bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 34,80

Japanese Ships
PG Nagata Maru
PG Kyo Maru #10
PG Kyo Maru #8

Allied Ships
SS Tarpon

air losses for today. Not spectacular but it sums up...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/02/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 43,88

Japanese Ships
DD Akebono
DD Nenohi
DD Kawakaze
DD Shigure
DD Natsushio
DD Kuroshio
DD Makigumo
CVL Shoho

Allied Ships
SS Flying Fish

as you can see, at least for his CV TFs there are a couple of DDs left... in this TF there should be at least a fleet carrier also...[:D]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 33,79

Japanese Ships
PG Nagata Maru
PG Kyo Maru #10
PG Kyo Maru #8

Allied Ships
SS Searaven, hits 4, on fire

one real hit, Searaven needs yard time...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 31 encounters mine field at Lautem (33,78)

Japanese Ships
PG Kyo Maru #10
PG Nagata Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Dutch Harbor at 103,36

Japanese Ships
AK Kashii Maru, Shell hits 15, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Farragut
DD Dewey
DD Hull

damn, last couple of turns I spotted at least half a dozen ships here loading or unloading. This turn, only an already damaged (by nav search) AK is left. The positiv aspect is the fact that all three DDs were below 40 night experience and now all are at 55!! [X(]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 60
P-40E Warhawk x 19


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 31

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Hurricane IIb bombing at 2000 feet

Lashio has one unit that has no AA guns... 60 Hurricanes achieved more airfield hits than 100 B-17 just recently at Port Moresby...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 30
Ki-49 Helen x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 7 destroyed, 34 damaged

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 25

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet

I really like those attacks! Keep it up Steve! [:D] For whatever reason, Hortlund still bombs my bases in Northern Australia. No damage at the end of the turn but a lot of destroyed/damaged bombers again. I´m shifting around my aircraft (only around 100 left in Northern Australia) most turns so if the Japanese aren´t lucky then they bomb empty, but heavily defended, airfields...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,80


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 12


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Koshin Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet

already heavily damaged picket ship Koshin Maru is sunk...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 27,80


Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 8
A-20B Boston x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Bunzan Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 6000 feet

1x500lb bomb hit and 3x250lb bomb hits on the picket ship Bunzan Maru North West of Wyndham... does anyone understand this tactic??

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 45,73

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
Ki-49 Helen x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied Ships
AS Colombia, Bomb hits 4, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet

what a pity! My AS escaping North is hit by 4x250kg AP bombs...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 35,81 [X(]

Japanese Ships
AP Ginyo Maru, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS O21, hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
72 casualties reported

a troop loaden convoy is aproaching the island 3 hexes North of Darwin! [X(] I can´t believe that this is really happening. Steve must be crazy to take this island. Even though I would lose the two sea bee units there, he would provide me a training ground only 3 hexes off a level 8 airfield!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 29,27

Japanese Ships
SS I-28

Allied Ships
MSW Romney
MSW Poole

2 hexes North of Akyab. We send those two MSW one hex next to Akyab as MSW should be able to clear also hexes around them. We will see, I always forgot about this feature... I can´t send them into the Akyab hex as there are surely CD guns present that would shoot up my vessels.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/03/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 173 encounters mine field at Lautem (33,78)

Japanese Ships
DD Hato, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage [:D]
DD Hasu
DD Isonami

finally, my mines at Lautern find another victim! Hato sinks immediately after hitting one MK10 mine... amazing... [X(]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 24,61

Japanese Ships
ML Hirashima
ML Hoko

Allied Ships
SS S-45, hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

unfortunately my sub sinks too. 3 real hits and 5 near misses. Those big MLs seem to be very good ASW platforms. Both attacked, both have 4 Type 95 DC mounts...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 72
P-40E Warhawk x 2


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
90 casualties reported

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 21

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Hurricane IIb bombing at 2000 feet

We will keep on attacking here until Hortlund moves back big numbers of aircraft to Burma. At Rangoon today we spot again some 50+ fighters. Looks like he´s shifting back from his North Australia adventure...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 48,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
B5N Kate x 24

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AS Colombia, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 6000 feet

Colombia is sunk... Kates from E-II daitai, either Zuikaku or Shokaku

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/04/42


this is the combat report for 7/4/42 [:D]

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/05/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 82 encounters mine field at Georgetown (23,44)

Japanese Ships
ML Katashima, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage [:D]

VH2 mine, the ML sinks immediately... [:D]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 33,50

Japanese Ships
TK Kokuyo Maru
DD Yuzuki
DD Uzuki

Allied Ships
SS Silversides

Silversides unfortunately misses the big TK with 4 MK14 torps...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/06/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 44,88

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho, Torpedo hits 1
DD Makigumo

Allied Ships
SS Tambor

short combat report again, but a nice one! I like my subs. One of the 6 MK14 hit Shoho. There must be more CVs in this TF as my subs in this area are spotted by Vals and Kates. Looks like this TF is heading towards Port Moresby, coming from Timor. Surely no danger of sinking but there are a lot of subs in this area, two torps could be enough for a CVL far from port. At least the ship needs some yard time. Amazing again, only one DD as escort! [:D]

[castor troy]

things are heating up again and that can´t be good news for us...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/07/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 28,50

Japanese Ships
TK Kokuyo Maru
DD Yuzuki
DD Uzuki

Allied Ships
SS Gudgeon, hits 2

again, we miss the lucky TK... one real hit and Gudgeon is out of action... [8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 27,67

Japanese Ships
PG Kamitsu Maru
MSW W.18

Allied Ships
SS Thresher

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,97

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
G4M1 Betty x 17

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 52
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11
F4F-4 Wildcat x 138

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 15 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 17 damaged

Our CV fighters performed very well! We bounced the attacker and took out the whole attack...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,97

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 31

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 52
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
F4F-4 Wildcat x 111

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 24 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 1 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 10 damaged

same here, Hortlund must not complain if he sees his bombers going down if he sends them in unescorted against the best I can field...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 41,96

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
AS Sperry, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5N Kate bombing at 6000 feet

and this is the bad news. Lucky as Hortlund is, he spotted our ships far off the shipping lanes to the North West of Cooktown. There are hiding my BBs and a couple of AR, AS... [:(]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 41,96

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
B5N Kate x 20

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AD Dixie, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 41,96

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
B5N Kate x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 18 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Colorado, Bomb hits 7, on fire
BB Ramilles, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B5N Kate bombing at 6000 feet

the Kates stay super effective, even if only dropping bombs...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,97

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
G4M1 Betty x 5

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 42
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9
F4F-4 Wildcat x 105

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 damaged

Our Cap is already 50 fighters less than what we saw against the first incoming attack...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,97

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 14

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 42
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9
F4F-4 Wildcat x 100

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 damaged

most of the bombers turn back...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 41,96

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AR Vestal, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N Kate bombing at 6000 feet


we will move our CVs to a position 2 hexes West of Thursday island, then the enemy CVs will be in range of our bombers and hopefully the IJN will launch against our CVs, not the helpless old BBs further South West. If Hortlund is smart than he would run with his CV and probably 2 CVLs. We are fielding 5 US CVs, 2 British CVs and a British CVL. I expect heavy attacks from Port Moresby and Gili Gili by land based Japanese bombers tomorrow. If we are just a little lucky, then clouds should prevent at least one base from launching any strikes. Weather forecast is THUNDERSTORMS...

today, some 65 Japanese aircraft were shot down for only 3 Allied aircraft lost!

[castor troy]

looks like we´re running into a disaster... luck isn´t on our side, but on the Japanese...


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/08/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 24,50

Japanese Ships
TK Kokuyo Maru
DD Yuzuki
DD Uzuki

Allied Ships
SS Trout

third time in three turns that we attack this damned TK. This time we hit, but the torps fail to detonate... [8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1052 encounters mine field at Port Moresby (53,91)

Allied Ships
CA Astoria, Mine hits 1 [8|][8|][8|]

should I even comment the mine hits in this campaign anymore?? [8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 47,89

Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio
DD Natsushio

Allied Ships
SS S-32

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 12 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 3 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed
D3A Val: 4 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 4 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Portland
CA Dorsetshire
CA Chester
CL Detroit
CL Raleigh

Japanese ground losses:
475 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 17
Runway hits 129

the remaining CAs take out the airfield. Wonder why there aren´t more Betties at this airfield, looks like this was a feint again...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 26,64

Japanese Ships
AK Taiko Maru #3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Akagane Maru
AP Hawaii Maru
PG Kamitsu Maru
MSW W.18

Allied Ships
SS Thresher

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 89
P-40E Warhawk x 24
Hurricane IIc x 16


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
16 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 27

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Hurricane IIb bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 4

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 104

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 7 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 4 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed
B5N Kate: 8 destroyed
D3A Val: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 21 damaged

Airbase hits 8
Runway hits 80

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 11000 feet

nearly no flak fire and we have only 20% of our bombers damaged this turn... a lot more aircraft are destroyed, Port Moresby should be closed...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 48,89


Allied aircraft
Albacore x 16
Martlet II x 3
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
SBD Dauntless x 85


Allied aircraft losses
Albacore: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Natsushio, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet

I can´t believe that Hortlund is again using two of his DDs as picket ships - this isn´t just crazy, it realy seems to be kind of "dumb". To take away the surprise, my CVs are NOT in range of the enemy CVs because of the fact that they moved 2 hexes short as they were ordered. Even though my DDs were all above 5000 and the TF was ordered to "do not refuel" one of my CV TFs must have refuelled and we are 6 hexes away from the enemy CV... [:@][:@] Of course, it´s also not like usual, neither the IJN CVs nor the Allied CVs are reacting... [8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 48,89


Allied aircraft
Albacore x 22
Martlet II x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio, on fire, heavy damage
DD Natsushio, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Albacore launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 48,89


Allied aircraft
Albacore x 12
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 34
TBD Devastator x 15


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Natsushio, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 48,89


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 17
TBD Devastator x 15


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 48,89


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 17
TBD Devastator x 15


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 48,89


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 17


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet

all our bombers launch again 2 Japanese DDs...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 45,93 [:@]

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 18
B5N Kate x 47

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged
B5N Kate: 2 destroyed, 18 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Ramilles, Torpedo hits 2
BB Colorado, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
DD Tjerk Hiddes

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet

and hey, the IJN CVs end up 4 hexes from our BBs, 6 hexes from our CVs... the result isn´t surprising...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 51,96

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 108
A6M3 Zero x 25
G4M1 Betty x 49

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Astoria, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet

and the mine hit is responsible for this CA ending up in front of 49 torp carrying Betties... just look at the escort! Hortlund was able to move in some 300+ Zeroes in one turn...[8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 85
G4M1 Betty x 29

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 50
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9
F4F-4 Wildcat x 108

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 59 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 17 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 14 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 7 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 13 destroyed, 57 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Indomitable
BB Warspite, Torpedo hits 1
CV Formidable
CV Hornet

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet

of course, we have not the luck we need, none of the Japanese airbases is clouded in and we see strike after strike now. This one is shot up badly as we had the bounce for a long time, but still the Betties manage to get through and flak wasn´t as effective as I wished, Warspite takes a torp...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 43,95

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
D3A Val x 12
B5N Kate x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AS Sperry, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet

of course all my AR and AS are sunk too today...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 42,95

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 23

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AD Dixie, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 45,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 47
D3A Val x 15
B5N Kate x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AR Vestal, Bomb hits 15, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet

would the IJN CVs be in range of my carriers than those strikes would have mostly gotten shot out of sky with a CAP of nearly 170 fighters in the beginning...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 45,93

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 43
D3A Val x 24
B5N Kate x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 3 damaged
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Ramilles, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Stuart

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet

after Colorado was sunk, now Ramilles is of course sunk also...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 45,93

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
D3A Val x 11
B5N Kate x 34

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 45,93

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
BB Colorado, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
G4M1 Betty x 9

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 37
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 60

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 13 destroyed, 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 5 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed, 10 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Warspite
CV Hornet

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet

again, 3 Betties launched torps but thank god, they missed. Our Cap is far from being bullet proof. Our fighter pilots are doing good though.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 54
A6M3 Zero x 16
G4M1 Betty x 14

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 26
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1
F4F-4 Wildcat x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 22 destroyed, 10 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 3 destroyed, 11 damaged
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 12 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Formidable
BB Warspite, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CV Hornet

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet

we have only a very small Cap left and we are not able to bounce this last wave. Especially the A6M3 pilots must be very experienced, they are credited with the most kills. There must be some 80 Betties at Gili Gili with more than 120 Zeroes. My operational fighters are down to 94 so we will see a max of 75 in the air tomorrow, this could (or probably will) lead to a disaster. In three days, our CV fighters are completely depleted and we couldn´t even stop the small number of bomber when we had our full Cap.

In the last two turns we destroyed more than 330 Japanese aircraft for the loss of around 50 Allied aircraft but still, the Japanese will be able to obliberate our fleet with another good timed attack tomorrow. If weather is again on the Japanese side, then our CVs are probably doomed as we just can´t stop the bombers. If there are 40 Betties able to launch torps then this will lead to 2 CVs sunk...

[castor troy]

BB Colorado was sunk by Japanese carrier based aircraft... [:(]

USS Colorado (BB-45), 1923-1959

USS Colorado, a 32,600-ton battleship built at Camden, New Jersey, was commissioned in August 1923. She made an initial cruise to European waters in late 1923 and early 1924, then transferred to the Pacific, where she spent most of the remainder of her active career. Prior to World War II, Colorado served with the Battle Fleet, taking part in exercises and training. Among other peacetime operations, she took part in the fleet's 1925 trans-Pacific voyage to Australia and New Zealand, and helped in the search for missing aviator Amelia Earhart in 1937.

Colorado was undergoing overhaul at the Puget Sound Navy Yard when Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor opened the Pacific War. She was stationed on the U.S. West Coast during March-August 1942, then steamed west to Pearl Harbor. From November 1942 into September 1943, she was one of the older battleships deployed to the South Pacific to guard against possible Japanese offensive actions in that area. In November 1943, Colorado took part in the Tarawa invasion. She supported the landings at Kwajalein and Eniwetok in January and February 1944 and the Marianas operation in June and July. On 24 July 1944, while bombarding Tinian, she was hit by enemy shore batteries, suffering serious casualties among exposed personnel topside.

Colorado's next combat duty was off Leyte in November 1944, where she was hit by two "Kamikaze" suicide planes late in the month. Remaining in the combat zone, she supported the Mindoro invasion in December and the Lingayen Gulf landings in January. During March, April and May 1945, Colorado's sixteen-inch guns bombarded Okinawa in support of U.S. troops ashore. In August and September 1945, she covered the occupation of Japan, then departed for the United States. Following transport service in late 1945, she was inactivated. USS Colorado was decommissioned in January 1947. After more than twelve years in "mothballs", she was sold for scrapping in July 1959.

[castor troy]

Also BB Ramilles was lost in action against Japanese carriers... [:(]


H. M. S. R A M I L L I E S



"ROYAL SOVEREIGN” Class battleship ordered under the 1913 Build Programme from William Beardmore at Dalmuir, Glasgow and laid down on 12th November 1913. She was launched on 12th September 1916 and was the 5th RN ship to carry this name. It had been introduced in 1706 to commemorate the victory of the Duke of Marlborough and given to a 2nd Rate, which was wrecked in 1760. The previous RAMILLIES was a battleship sold in 1913. Build was completed in October 1917 and the ship continued in full commission during the post WW1 years. This ship is not recorded as having been adopted by a civil community as a result of a WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign during 1941-42.



B a t t l e H o n o u r s

MINORCA 1756 - USHANT 1778 - GLORIOUS FIRST OF JUNE 1794 - ATLANTIC 1939-45 - SPARTIVENTO 1940 - MEDITERRANEAN 1940-45 - DIEGO SAUREZ 1942 - NORMANDY 1944 - SOUTH OF FRANCE 1944

H e r a l d i c D a t a

Badge: On a Field Black, a Lion couchant silver with a banner red thereon

a hand Gold all on a wreath red and gold.



M o t t o

Fiel Pero Deodichado: ‘Faithful though disinherited’



D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e



1 9 3 9



September Deployed in Home Fleet.

3rd Detached for Atlantic convoy defence.

Escorted troop convoy to Gibraltar.



October Atlantic trade protection duties in continuation.



November Transferred to Indian Ocean for trade defence.

Carried out search for German ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE



December Indian Ocean trade defence duty in continuation.

Passage to New Zealand for escort of military convoy.



1 9 4 0



January

6th Sailed with HM Australian Cruiser CANBERRA as escort for military convoy. Joined

military convoy US1 for escort from Australian waters to Suez.



February Passage to Suez as escort for Convoy US1.



March Transferred to Mediterranean Fleet.



April

19th Detached to join escort of Convoy US2 from Melbourne to Middle East.

Passage to join HM Australian Cruisers ADELAIDE and SYDNEY.



May Deployed for defence of Convoy US2.



June On arrival at Alexandria taken in hand for refit.

11th Refit suspended after Italy entered war.

27th Deployed with HM Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN, HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE,

HM Cruisers LIVERPOOL, NEPTUNE, ORION and SYDNEY (RAN) screened by

11 Destroyers to cover the passage of Convoys MF1 and MS1 from Malta.

(Operation MA3 - These convoys were evacuating non-essential personnel).

28th Cruisers in action against 3 Italian destroyers one of which (ESPERO) was sunk.

29th Fleet units returned to Alexandria because of high expenditure of ammunition and

Operation cancelled.



July

4th At Alexandria when French warships crisis was resolved (Operation CATAPULT).

(See RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute).

27th Deployed with HM Battleships MALAYA and WARSPITE, HMS EAGLE, HM

Cruisers NEPTUNE and SYDNEY south of Crete in search for shipping. Under air

attack.



August

17th Joined Force B with HMS MALAYA for bombardment of Bardia and Fort Capuzzo.



September Mediterranean Fleet deployment in continuation.



October

8th Deployed with HM Battleships MALAYA, VALIANT and WARSPITE. HM Aircraft

Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS and EAGLE, HM Cruisers AJAX, GLOUCESTER,

LIVERPOOL, ORION, SYDNEY and YORK screened by 9 destroyers to cover

passage of Convoy MF3 to Malta and Convoy MF4 to Port Said (Operation MB6).

12th Under attack by Italian torpedo boats some of which were engaged by HMS YORK

(See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett).

14th Covered air operations against Leros by carriers.



November

6th Deployed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS MALAYA, HMS VALIANT HMS

WARSPITE, HM Cruisers AJAX, GLOUCESTER, ORION, SYDNEY (RAN)

and YORK with screen of 13 destroyers. (Operation COAT).

Operation COAT - Major operations involving both Force H ships at Gibraltar and

Mediterranean Fleet based at Alexandria. This included passage of reinforcements to

join Mediterranean Fleet and passage of Convoy MW3 to Malta and Convoy MW4 to

Port Said (Operation MB8)

10th Escorted Convoy ME3 from Malta with HM Cruiser COVENTRY, HM Destroyers

DEFENDER, DECOY, VAMPIRE (RAN) and WATERHEN (RAN).

Attack by Italian submarine CAPRONI failed.

13th Under air attacks.

(For details of Mediterranean Fleet activities in 1940-41 see THE BATTLE FOR THE

MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre).

20th Nominated for withdrawal from Mediterranean Fleet and to return to UK.

25th Deployed with HM Cruisers BERWICK, COVENTRY and NEWCASTLE, screened

by five destroyers as Force D to cover passage of Convoy MW4 to Malta and Convoy

ME3 to Port Said. (Operation MB9 - Coincident with Operation COLLAR – Major

operation to pass more reinforcement ships to Alexandria and pass convoys to Malta

from East and West).

27th Detached with HMS NEWCASTLE and HMS BERWICK to join Force H during

passage to Gibraltar with HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Aircraft Carrier ARK

ROYAL, HM Cruisers SHEFFIELD and DESPATCH.

Took part in brief engagement with Italian units, which withdrew at speed and were

not pursued in order to ensure safe passage of convoy (Battle of Cape Spativento).



December Passage to UK with HMS MALAYA.

Rejoined Home Fleet for Atlantic convoy defence duty on arrival.



1 9 4 1



January

12th Joined military convoy WS5B in NW Approaches for escort during Atlantic Passage.

(Note: HM Cruisers NAIAD, PHEOPBE and EMERALD also deployed for this

convoy.)

17th Detached from WS5B and resumed Atlantic trade defence duty.



February Atlantic deployment in continuation.

6th During cover of Convoy HXl06 sighted German battleship SCHARNHORST which

withdrew at high speed to avoid damage in action with a battleship.



March Home Fleet deployment in continuation.



April Covered passage of convoys HX118 and SC27 whose escort included HM armed

Merchant Cruiser SALOPIAN, French submarine SURCOUF and Polish destroyer

ORP PIORUN.



May Deployed to cover passage of Convoy HX127.

25th Detached from Convoy HX127 and joined Home Fleet search for the German

battleship BISMARCK which had sunk HM Battlecruiser HOOD on 24th May.



June Home Fleet deployment for Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to

July



August Atlantic deployment in continuation.

18th Passage from Hvalfjord, Iceland to Scapa Flow with HM Battleship PRINCE OF

WALES, HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE, HM Destroyer Depot Ship HECLA screened

by five destroyers.

(Note: The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill was embarked in HMS PRINCE OF

WALES for return to UK after the Atlantic Charter meeting in

Newfoundland).



September Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to Under refit:

November Radar for aircraft and surface warning as well as for fire control of main and

secondary armament. (See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)

Nominated for service in East Indies.



December On completion of post refit trials prepared for foreign service.

13th Joined military convoy WS14 with HM Destroyers BADSWORTH and BEAUFORT

as escort during passage to Indian Ocean.

21st At Freetown with WS14.

25th Rejoined WS14 with HMS BEAUFORT on departure from Freetown as escort for

passage to Capetown with HM Sloop BRIDGEWATER, HM Destroyers

BEAUFORT and HURWORTH.



1 9 4 2



January

4th Detached from WS14 on relief by HM Armed Merchant Cruiser DERBYSHIRE off

Cape of Good Hope.

10th Rejoined ships of WS14 which had entered Capetown and provided Ocean Escort for

passage in Indian Ocean.

13th Remained with WS14 on arrival at Durban where convoy divided into sections bound

for Aden, Bombay and Singapore.

20th Detached from WS14 on relief by HM Cruiser COLOMBO.

Took passage to Durban for further convoy escort duty.



February

20th Joined military convoy DM3 with HM Destroyer NORMAN as escort for its passage

in Indian Ocean from Durban.

(Note: Originally bound for Singapore, the destination was changed to Batavia).

28th Detached from DM3 with HMS NORMAN to refuel at Addu Atoll and returned on 29th



March

2nd Destination of convoy changed to Bombay and Columbo.

Detached from DM3 and took passage to Columbo with designated mercantiles.

4th On arrival at Columbo detached from DM3 to join ships of East Indies Squadron.

26th Joined HM Battleships WARSPITE, RESOLUTION, REVENGE and ROYAL

SOVEREIGN and formed 3rd Battle Squadron.

Carried out tactical and gunnery exercises at Addu Atoll with squadron.

31st Joined Force B of Eastern Fleet with HM Battleships RESOLUTION, REVENGE,

and ROYAL SOVEREIGN, HM Aircraft Carrier HERMES, HM Cruisers

CALEDON, DRAGON and Dutch cruiser HEEMSKERK (Neth) screened by 8

destroyers.

Deployed to cover search by Force A for Japanese warships reported heading toward

Ceylon.

(For details of Indian Ocean operations in 1942 see OPERATION PACIFIC by E Gray).



April

4th Deployed with Force B in support of Force A during further search operation to the

south of Ceylon.

8th Transferred to Mombassa after Trincomalee and Colombo were considered unsafe due

to Japanese air raids on Ceylon.

Deployed on convoy protection in Indian Ocean.

28th Escorted Convoy Z with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and HM Cruiser HERMIONE

screened by six destroyers from Durban to Diego Suarez for assault landings.

(Operation IRONCLAD - see RELUCTANT ENEMIES and Naval Staff History)



May

5th Provided naval gunfire support during landings.

6th Royal Marines transferred to HM Destroyer ANTHONY for landing at French Naval

Base in Diego Suarez.

30th Hit by torpedo on port side forward of A turret from Japanese midget submarine in

Diego Suarez Bay.

Extensive damage and flooding prevented further use before major repair.



June

3rd Passage to Durban escorted by HM Cruiser EMERALD and 3 destroyers after

temporary repair had been completed.

Taken in hand for repair on arrival.



July Under repair at Durban.

to Ship to return to UK for refit and completion of repair outstanding.

August



September Passage to UK.



October Under repair and refit.

to

December



1 9 4 3



January Under refit

to

June



July Re-commissioned and carried out post refit trials.

Nominated for service in Eastern Fleet.



August Passage to Scapa Flow for work-up with Home Fleet.

Prepared for foreign service.



September Passage to join Eastern Fleet in Ceylon.



October Deployed for convoy defence in Indian Ocean.

to

November



December Nominated for return to UK for support of military operations in Home waters.



1 9 4 4



January Passage to UK



February Defence against Aircraft improved including fit of radar for close weapons.



March Joined Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.



April Took part in preparatory exercises for planned assault landings.

to Nominated for service in Eastern Task Force with Bombarding Force D. Target in

May Pre-arranged Fire Plan - Benerville Battery.

(Operation NEPTUNE - For details of naval activities prior to and during landings see

OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, JUNE

1944 (HMSO).).



June Joined HMS WARSPITE, HM Monitor ROBERTS, HM Cruisers MAURITIUS,

ARETHUSA, FROBISHER, DANAE and Polish ORP DRAGON of Bombarding

Force D at Portsmouth.

4th Operation delayed 24 hours.

5th Passage through swept channel to Assault area with ships of Force D in Convoy S6

escorted by HM Destroyers SAUMAREZ, SWIFT, Norwegian destroyers SVENNER

and STORD, HM Frigates ROWLEY and HOLMES.

6th Arrived in the bombardment position and provided support during landings on

SWORD Beach.

Came under attack by E-Boats and Norwegian destroyer SVENNER (ex SUCCESS)

sunk.

Bombarded Benerville battery in support of landings and remained off beaches

with HMS WARSPITE (till withdrawn), HM Battleships NELSON and RODNEY.



July After release from NEPTUNE prepared for bombardment duties in Mediterranean.

Allocated for service under US Command for support of landings in South France.

(Operation DRAGOON - For details see LANDINGS IN SOUTH FRANCE (HMSO).



August Passage to Gibraltar

11th Arrived at Algiers to join ALPHA Gunfire Support Group in Task Force 84.

(Note: The Group had already sailed for Malta and programme rearranged).

10th Took passage to join HM Cruisers ORION, AURORA, AJAX and BLACK PRINCE,

US cruiser USS QUINCY and French cruiser GLOIRE in Assault area.

15th Joined Gunfire Support Group.

Provided naval gunfire support with ships of Group during landings by 3rd US Div

in Baie de Cavalaire. Batteries at St Tropez and Cape Camarat silenced.

19th Transferred to SITKA area. Fired 12 rounds at fort.

After defence collapsed in SITKA area took passage to Propriano.



August

24th Took passage to Algiers from Propriano.

Recalled to support military operations in Marseilles Bay.

25th Arrived at Porquerolles with HM Cruiser SIRIUS and US cruiser OMAHA. Joined in

bombardment of batteries on St. Mendrier peninsula.

26th Resumed bombardment of batteries.

27th Bombardment in continuation. (See above references for details).

29th Released from US command and remained in Mediterranean.



September Deployed in Mediterranean.



October Passage to UK



November Deployed with Home Fleet

to

December



1 9 4 5



January Home waters deployment in continuation

to

February



March Withdrawn from operational service



April Deployed as Accommodation Ship and for training

to

August

[castor troy]

what a disastrous turn...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/09/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 25,63

Japanese Ships
AK Taiko Maru #3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXIV

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 24,60

Japanese Ships
AK Yahiko Maru, Torpedo hits 1
PG Kamitsu Maru
MSW W.18

Allied Ships
SS S-36

not even on fire? probably FOW...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Gili Gili , at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 8
B-17E Fortress x 70

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed
H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 48

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 11000 feet

we only destroy a dozen aircraft, this means the majority took already off to attack my carriers...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Thursday Island at 49,90


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 16


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Isokaze
DD Maikaze

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet

as usual, one Kate would be achieving more than 16 Allied level bombers with a crappy exp...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,96

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 55
A6M3 Zero x 13
G4M1 Betty x 26

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2 [8|][8|][8|]
F4F-4 Wildcat x 38 [8|][8|][8|]

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed, 4 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 22 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 11 destroyed, 16 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise, Torpedo hits 1, on fire ammo storage explosion... [8|]
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Idaho, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet

this game always was, is and will ever stay a piece of bugged crap. Of 94 operational fighters on 90% Cap we see a whopping number of 40 in the air, not able to take down a single Betty. NOT A SINGLE BRITISH FIGHTER IN THE AIR. It looks like as if a whole CV TF wasn´t able to launch a single fighter. Means the two British CVs and a US CV didn´t launch fighters... that´s great...

we will even be in range of the all dominating Betty next turn... [8|] Enterprise needs 3 months of yard time, Yorktown 1 month...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,96

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed


Allied Ships
CV Saratoga, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet

this hit is thank god FOW... [8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,96

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
G4M1 Betty x 12

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet


So the last two turns everything that could go wrong went wrong!! [:@] First my CV TFs don´t even move 8 hexes because the stupid game engine decides to refuel DDs that still have a range of 70 hexes. Setting the TFs to "do not refuel" doesn´t do anything when the ships are at sea. It´s super dumb to refuel your DDs exactly that day you need a full speed run to engage the enemy carriers - AND SINK THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE COMPLETELY SPLIT UP!!!!!!!!! [:@][:@][:@] Result: my two BBs get sunk by a CV and a CVL... [8|]

The second day: we put up a good number of fighters on CAP and take a toll on the fatigued incoming IJN fighters and bombers, we even torch 130 on the ground. One BB in my CV TFs takes a torp, reduces max speed to 3.

The third day: the disaster is complete! We have 94 fighters that were still operational set on 90% Cap and we see a full CV TF not launching ANY fighters, 40 fighters on CAP are a bad joke in Nikmod, would be the same as if you put no fighters in the air. We all know that flak doesn´t reduce the accuracy of incoming bombers (as a sidenote: this is an excellent design decision [>:]) and all Betties make it through my cap to put a torp into two CVs and a BB... the ammo storage explosion tops it off!

Tomorrow, the fourth day: we will see, my CVs will still be in range of Betties, THOUGH they SHOULD be 12 hexes away from Gili Gili. I bet they will slow down and stay in Zero range, this would mean that tomorrow my CVs will suffer even more... perhaps I will have a cap of 20 fighters then???? [>:]


Wouldn´t I have had the chance to sink this IJN CV and CVL then I would have never moved so far North with my carriers, but I thought I could withstand at least two or three days. In fact we were dead meat after ONE bigger attack... my BBs were sunk nevertheless, we had no luck in seeing even one Japanese airfield being clouded and now my CVs take serious damage, making any offensive in the next four months impossible. A couple of days ago, before I sent my carriers North I thought I checked Lae, seeing it a 1/1 base, don´t know if I´m dumb, now it´s a 3/4 base and there were hundreds of aircraft... [8|]

I was dumb to do this move!!!! Too far, too early... what can be done in real life just can´t be done in WITP and vice versa.

You just have to use the usual Allied tactic: doing nothing all 42 and take out the 4E and P38 hammer starting in early 43. Though this will be even harder in Nikmod as I only get 30 P38/month, starting in 10/42, my fighters have an average exp of 50. As I will face hundreds of Tojos, flown by pilots with an average exp between 65-85, I will be probably again dead meat. So what should I rely on then? Perhaps the 40 B-24 I will get, starting in 10/42?? One thing is obvious, there won´t be an offensive through the Pacific! It´s hard enough in stock, it is probably impossible in Nikmod. I just have to grab an airfield that is somewhere on New Guinea to build it up and then hop to the next base five hexes away, this is the only thing I can do as this is the range of 98% of my fighters until late 44... [8|]. The only problem is that I have to use my carriers to grab the first base and at the moment, this seems to be more than hard.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/10/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 51,48

Japanese Ships
MSW Atsu Maru

Allied Ships
SS Gar

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 51,48

Japanese Ships
MSW Atsu Maru

Allied Ships
SS Gar

this single MSW prevents us from attacking the TF...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 49,100

Japanese Ships
SS I-172

Allied Ships
DD Stuart
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Arunta
DD Walke
DD Morris

our ASW is just pathetic...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 47,114

Japanese Ships
SS I-23

Allied Ships
AK Electra

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 101
P-40E Warhawk x 3
Hurricane IIc x 18


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 17

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Hurricane IIb bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 44
P-40E Warhawk x 3


No Allied losses

Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Hurricane IIb bombing at 2000 feet

we have to bring our British fighter bombers back to strenght to take on the IJA when the Oscars will return...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 27
Ki-49 Helen x 82

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 3 destroyed, 31 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 1 destroyed
A-20B Boston: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported

Airbase hits 29
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 67

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet

It seems our flak had a bad day today. 7 IJA bombers lost though, 3 of our bombers destroyed on the ground...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 47,114

Japanese Ships
SS I-23

Allied Ships
CA Portland, Torpedo hits 1
DD Mustin
DD Hammann
DD Hughes
DD Cushing
DD Fanning
CL Detroit

while one IJN MSW prevents our subs from attacking, 5 Allied DDs can´t defend our CA. Not much damage though. Only 5 sys 23 float and 4 fire. One hex off Brisbane, so the CA will end up with 6 or 7 sys damage only. The area will be flooded with ASW vessels now, unbelievable we didn´t spot the sub before with around 60 aircraft on nav search...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese Ships
DD Isokaze
DD Maikaze

Allied Ships
SS Halibut

as you can see, no further attacks on our carriers, they weren´t spotted today. Hortlund now has to put fighters en masse on New Guinea and Timor to prevent us from our next bomber offensive. Burma is empty but as soon as our Hurricane pilots have gained enough experience we will surely start a ground offensive there. This should force hundreds of fighters back to Burma. And at some point, Hortlund just has to run out of daitais. To stop 150 bombers he has to put 100 fighters at an airfield, probably even more.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/11/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 49,48

Japanese Ships
MSW Atsu Maru

Allied Ships
SS Drum

the third time that this single MSW prevents a sub from attacking this convoy... [&:]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 89
P-40E Warhawk x 24
Hurricane IIc x 30


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
51 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 33

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Hurricane IIb bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 77
P-40E Warhawk x 20


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Hurricane IIb bombing at 2000 feet

while Rangoon already saw nearly 70 Oscars on Cap today, the airfields in Northern Burma are all empty. We will take the chance to do further airfield attacks, to either force the Japanese flak units to further spread out, or to force the IJAAF to return in force.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 47,114

Japanese Ships
SS I-23

Allied Ships
DD Lamson
DD Drayton
DD Cummings
DD Mahan
DD Russell
DD Meredith

[8|]


With the Japanese operations against Northern Australia, the Japanese have lost 1000+ aircraft more than we did. 1900 against 2900 at the moment. Hortlund stated in an email that he only lost 300-400 aircraft, but he must be totally off with his numbers. The first day when he engaged my carriers, he lost 350 aircraft already and there were hundreds lost over Northern Australia also. Unfortunately, with the loss of two old BBs we took over the lead in points for ship losses again. Only marginal more points for Allied ship losses, but in numbers of ships lost the Japanese are still leading with dozens ships lost more than we did.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/12/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1028 encounters mine field at Akyab (30,29)

Allied Ships
MSW Agra
MSW Cochin

it works!!! [&o] Minesweeping of adjacent hexes works!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at 29,29

Japanese Ships
AK Tetsuzan Maru, Shell hits 26, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AG AG-101
AG AG-104
AG AG-117
AG AG-358
AG AG-362
AG AG-367, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AG AG-374, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
AG AG-375

Allied Ships
DD Alden
DD Barker
DD John D. Edwards

we spotted some ships moving towards Akyab last turn, so we sent out three Flush Deck DDs for a mid ocean intercept. They boosted their night exp. to 56-58 and only very few supplies will reach Akyab. Recon spots more than 30.000 troops at Akyab, I guess there are some 20.000 in the hex.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30


Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 86
P-40E Warhawk x 19


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Hurricane IIb bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 29,28


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 31
P-40B Tomahawk x 20
P-40E Warhawk x 21


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AG AG-358, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AG AG-104, Bomb hits 3, heavy damage
AG AG-117, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet

this was amazing! Those Wellingtons shouldn´t attack a TF that consists of barges only. Probably the game went crazy because there was this AK in this TF first. But when this attack happened, the AK was long sunk... A couple of 1000lb bomb hits...

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Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Maikaze, Bomb hits 1
DD Isokaze

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet

only one 500lb bomb hit. My most experienced units...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Penang Maru, Bomb hits 1
AK Sanyo Maru
AK Saigon Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet

2x500lb bomb hits...

[pauk]

hi Castor... you may ask your honourable opponent for redo. I'm sure he will understand that. It is bug, and his attitude about that stuff is clear - redo. At least he that is what he said to me...