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January '43 is -20% to the dud rate; September '43 is anything above a certain amount is reduced to 10% dud rate.

It's November/December 1942 and my subs are getting really good.

December 17/18 1942

Exciting night as the Allies shore bombard Japanese troops at Terapo and Tarawa.

Allied air losses: 10 (0 F4Fs); Japanese losses: 12 (3 ground).

December 18/19 1942

I'm not planning to futz around. I have enough prepared divisions at Noumea to work my way up the Solomons. I'll start moving them to Ndeni with the first invasion planned for January or February.

In Burma, my opponent has abandoned Shwebo and I've taken Myitkyina. Time to march south in mass.

Broad smile... (this happened on the channel to Rangoon) The subs nearby can follow up...

TF 92 encounters mine field at 54,54
 
Japanese Ships
      AK Arima Maru
      AK Kinka Maru, Mine hits 1
      AK Kaga Maru, Mine hits 1,  heavy damage
      xAK Kirishima Maru, Mine hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
Japanese ground losses:
      5 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

The Japanese entered Lanchow from the SE. I have a force following him to set the cork.

Even with the patch, his fighters are taking it on the chin at night.

Allied air losses: 6; Japanese: 19 (6 ground).

December 19/20 1942

The last few turns have been an alpha test of code intended to resolve some of the problems involving fighter/bomber interactions at night. My opponent will be reporting that it doesn't work as desired. "17 Ki-45 vs 3 B-24 and the result is 2x Ki-45 shot down."

Ground combat is absurd, but by now that goes without saying...

Allied air losses: 7 (3 F4F); Japanese: 21 (7 ground, 8 Ki61 and 4 Ki45 in the air). Japanese air ops against Terapo have stopped, suggesting the casualty disparity is having an effect.

While planning my move, I noticed some Japanese carriers north of Ndeni, either chasing the slow BBs that hit Tarawa or trying to cut off my carriers as they approach Ndeni. My slow BBs are redirected to Palmyra, and my warships around Ndeni move behind the island.

December 20/21 1942

The KB swoops down near Ndeni with its entourage. Why don't large airbases launch against the KB? I have the equivalent of five carriers worth of airfields in the area, but everyone hunkers down, so that they get squashed one by one. Completely imaginary...

Allied air losses: 32 (22 in air-to-air combat); Japanese: 10 (5 air-to-air).

December 21/22 1942

The KB and its entourage sail calmly among my bases, each holding several naval attack, escort, and naval search squadrons, confident that the massed American aircraft will fail to launch. There's something to be said for a game engine that assumes even the best USMC, USN and USAAF pilots are cowards, unwilling to take on a carrier death star just because it has 500-600 aircraft.

Allied air losses: 16; Japanese: 47 (11 ground).

He sinks an AP at Lungaville and follows my carriers as they retire towards Noumea. I think I'll set up a trap at Efate.

My opponent advanced on Lanchow, and I followed up, sealing him into the hex. Now he has a problem. Nobody around to rescue him, either...

Ground combat at Lanchow (81,34)
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 10682 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 287
 
Defending force 11771 troops, 96 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 119
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 34
 
Allied adjusted defense: 161
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4 (fort level 1)
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: supply(-)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      1039 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 66 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      161 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 32 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
 
 
Assaulting units:
    12th Indpt Infantry Regiment
    11th Indpt Infantry Regiment
    13th Indpt Infantry Regiment
 
Defending units:
    17th Chinese/A Corps
    82nd Chinese Corps
    81st Chinese Corps
    22nd Chinese Corps
    17th Chinese/B Corps
    8th War Area
    17th Group Army

I'm trying to set the same thing at Terapo, but it will take a while.

December 22/23 1942

I'm wondering what it would be like playing Japan using the tactics I've been learning by watching. Given enough time and fuel, I believe I could methodically take out every Allied naval and air base. Land based air won't launch against the massed KB, so the KB can move down the coast and kill every base in turn.

The KB is currently cruising three hexes north of Ndeni, while hundreds of Navy and Marine Corps pilots cower in their slit trenches and ready white flags. (At least that's what the game engine is suggesting.) I'm getting rather tired of this message. Given the performance of Allied pilots when out-numbered in WWII, I don't believe it, either. Certainly, leaders like Halsey would have found some way to get back.

For maps and story, go to the War Room. If at least my PBYs will launch, I guess I'll go for a night strike with everything.

At least, I'm killing more planes than I'm losing.

Allied losses: 6; Japanese losses: 23 (11 ground).

I'm wondering what it would be like playing Japan using the tactics I've been learning by watching. Given enough time and fuel, I believe I could methodically take out every Allied naval and air base. Land based air won't launch against the massed KB, so the KB can move down the coast and kill every base in turn.

Harry - you really do need to try out the Japanese side in a pbem in order to get a true feel for AE. Go for it!

December 23/24 1942

The night strike with everything seemed to work better. What I did was put everything except the fighters and day search aircraft on night shift, and had everyone except the dedicated search aircraft run 10% random search.

Night Air attack on TF, near Stewart Island at 120,138
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid detected at 67 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M3a Zero x 21
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      TBF-1 Avenger x 27
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      TBF-1 Avenger: 4 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
      CL Oyodo
      CV Hiyo
      CVL Shoho
      CVL Ryujo
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      11 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
       5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
 
CAP engaged:
Zuiho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      14 plane(s) intercepting now.
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 12000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Night Air attack on TF, near Stewart Island at 120,138
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 48 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M3a Zero x 20
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      PBY-4 Catalina x 6
      PBY-5A Catalina x 12
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      PBY-4 Catalina: 2 damaged
      PBY-4 Catalina: 1 destroyed by flak
      PBY-5A Catalina: 2 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
      CV Kaga
      BB Haruna
      CV Junyo
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       5 x PBY-4 Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
       4 x PBY-5A Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
 
CAP engaged:
Zuiho-1 with A6M3a Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 9 being recalled, 7 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 8000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 50 minutes
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Night Air attack on TF, near Stewart Island at 120,138
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M3a Zero x 18
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      PBY-5 Catalina x 3
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      PBY-5 Catalina: 2 damaged
      PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed by flak
 
Japanese Ships
      CVL Ryujo
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       3 x PBY-5 Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
 
CAP engaged:
Zuiho-1 with A6M3a Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      3 plane(s) intercepting now.
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 13 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 8000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Night Air attack on TF, near Stewart Island at 120,138
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M3a Zero x 17
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      PBY-5 Catalina x 3
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
      BB Kongo
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       1 x PBY-5 Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
 
CAP engaged:
Zuiho-1 with A6M3a Zero (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      9 plane(s) intercepting now.
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 8000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes

Allied air losses: 11; Japanese: 14 (2 ground). I have a B-24 bomber pilot with 7 kills and about a half dozen with 4.

I asked my opponent why he didn't take advantage of the fact that nothing land-based would launch against the massed KB to sail around and stonk all my bases. He indicated that his plan was to monitor my shipping and sortie with the KB whenever he noticed me loading or unloading troops. He finds that the shipping I use is frozen at the port during loading/unloading and he can sink it at his leisure.

December 24/25 1942

I'm currently listening to the stories about research grants being delayed here for months due to lack of government funding. I suppose I might as well work on game AI. In another article, the UK is "no longer a serious player in the field." See this story.

Another long-range sub pops up off Karachi. I guess I need to hunt it down.

A flak trap:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Portland Roads at 93,131
 
Weather in hex: Severe storms
 
Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M3a Zero x 31
      G3M2 Nell x 35
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Spitfire Vc Trop x 3
      P-39D Airacobra x 7
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed
      G3M2 Nell: 14 damaged
      G3M2 Nell: 4 destroyed by flak
 
Allied aircraft losses
      P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
 
Allied Ships
      CL Perth
      CL Achilles
      BB Prince of Wales, Torpedo hits 2
      CA Australia
      CA Canberra
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      21 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
       9 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
 
CAP engaged:
No.452 Sqn RAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
12th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 9000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
8th FG/36th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Portland Roads at 93,131
 
Weather in hex: Light rain
 
Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M3a Zero x 11
      G3M2 Nell x 21
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Spitfire Vc Trop x 3
      P-39D Airacobra x 6
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
      G3M2 Nell: 12 damaged
      G3M2 Nell: 4 destroyed by flak
 
Allied aircraft losses
      P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
 
Allied Ships
      CA Australia
      CL Perth, Torpedo hits 1
      BB Prince of Wales, Torpedo hits 1
      CA Cornwall, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      13 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
       4 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
 
CAP engaged:
No.452 Sqn RAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
12th FS with P-39D Airacobra (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      3 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 9000
      Raid is overhead
8th FG/36th FS with P-39D Airacobra (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      3 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Portland Roads at 93,131
 
Weather in hex: Light rain
 
Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      G4M1 Betty x 13
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Spitfire Vc Trop x 2
      P-39D Airacobra x 1
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
      G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak
 
No Allied losses
 
Allied Ships
      BB Prince of Wales, Torpedo hits 2,  heavy damage
      CA Cornwall, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       9 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
 
CAP engaged:
No.452 Sqn RAF with Spitfire Vc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 18000 and 19000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
12th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes

The ships are damaged but not sunk.

Night engagement off Auki

Night Air attack on TF, near Auki at 119,136
 
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
 
Raid detected at 55 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M3a Zero x 21
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      TBF-1 Avenger x 7
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      TBF-1 Avenger: 5 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
      CV Hiryu
      CV Akagi
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       7 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet *
               Naval Attack:  2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
Zuiho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 13000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Night Air attack on TF, near Auki at 119,136
 
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
 
Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M3a Zero x 20
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      TBF-1 Avenger x 8
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed
 
Japanese Ships
      BB Kirishima
      CV Shokaku
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       7 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet *
               Naval Attack:  2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
Zuiho-1 with A6M3a Zero (13 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      13 plane(s) intercepting now.
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 7 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 8000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Night Air attack on TF, near Auki at 119,136
 
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
 
Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M3a Zero x 15
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      PBY-4 Catalina x 3
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      PBY-4 Catalina: 3 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
      BB Hiei
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       3 x PBY-4 Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
 
CAP engaged:
Zuiho-1 with A6M3a Zero (15 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      15 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 8000
      Raid is overhead
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Night Air attack on TF, near Auki at 119,136
 
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
 
Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M3a Zero x 12
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      PBY-5 Catalina x 3
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      PBY-5 Catalina: 3 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
      CV Soryu
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       3 x PBY-5 Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
 
CAP engaged:
Zuiho-1 with A6M3a Zero (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      12 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 8000
      Raid is overhead
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Night Air attack on TF, near Auki at 119,136
 
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
 
Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M3a Zero x 11
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      PBY-5A Catalina x 3
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      PBY-5A Catalina: 1 damaged
      PBY-5A Catalina: 1 destroyed by flak
 
Japanese Ships
      CV Shokaku
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       3 x PBY-5A Catalina launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
 
CAP engaged:
Zuiho-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 11 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 8000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes

Allied air losses: 23; Japanese air losses: 65 (17 ground, 18 Nells, 7 Betties).

December 25/26 1942

The KB stonks Kirakira. Just to illustrate the issue from the receiving end:

Afternoon Air attack on Kirakira , at 116,140
 
Weather in hex: Clear sky
 
Raid detected at 115 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 57
      A6M3a Zero x 44
      B5N2 Kate x 169
      D3A1 Val x 33
      D4Y1 Judy x 79
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      no flights
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
      D3A1 Val: 1 damaged
      D4Y1 Judy: 5 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
      SBD-3 Dauntless: 16 damaged
      SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed on ground
 
Allied Ships
      SC-520, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      SC-517, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      SC-521, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      ACM Hazel, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      52 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
 
 
Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 51
Port hits 12
Port supply hits 2
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      10 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
      25 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Port Attack:  1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
       3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
      25 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Port Attack:  1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
      12 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
      18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Port Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
       5 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
      26 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Port Attack:  1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
      10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
      27 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Port Attack:  1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
      12 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Port Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
       8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
       9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Port Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
      11 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
       9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Port Attack:  1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
       9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Port Attack:  1 x 800 kg AP Bomb
       9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Port Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
       5 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
       8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
       2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
       8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
       7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
       5 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
       2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
       4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
       4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
       4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
       4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on Kirakira , at 116,140
 
Weather in hex: Clear sky
 
Raid detected at 11 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 21
 
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      21 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet

Allied air losses: 15; Japanese: 27 (4 ground).

December 26/27

Allied air losses: 14, Japanese 23 (5 ground).

The KB is headed off, apparently to Truk.

December 27/28 1942

Allied air losses: 15; Japanese: 22 (6 ground).

December 28/29 1942

I now tend to pass over imaginary actions in silence.

Allied air losses: 9; Japanese: 16 (1 ground).

I think I'll redeploy my heavy bombers to Northeastern Australia. That will take two turns, but it will have more strategic impact.

He has a couple of subs at Terapo. I need to squash them like flies.

Imaginary ground battle near Magwe.

December 29/30 1942

Most allied fighters in 1942, even the more modern ones--even the F4F4s which actually held their own!--are losers in air-to-air combat, so setting things up to fight leads to unbalanced losses. Back to night ops.

Allied air losses: 26; Japanese: 7.

December 30/31 1942

Allied air losses: 4; Japanese: 10, mostly Tonies taking on B-24s at night.

December 31 1942/Jan 1 1943

What Churchill called the end of the beginning.

Allied air losses: 15; Japanese: 19 (8 ground).

ORIGINAL: herwin

December 31 1942/Jan 1 1942

What Churchill called the end of the beginning.

Allied air losses: 15; Japanese: 19 (8 ground).

I think that would be Jan 1 1943 Unless your game is replaying that toture all over again ...[;)]