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January 1/2 1943

Got my first F4U. Should have my first operational squadron by mid-month or so.

The increase in torpedo effectiveness takes its first victim. I'm setting up a patrol line between Truk and Rabaul.

Allied air losses: 10; Japanese 8.

January 2/3 1942

My opponent panics when he sees the 5th Fleet take up residence at Ndeni.

Cebu invasion.

I sent my carrier pilots to Kirakira to challenge the Japanese.

Allied air losses: 21 (14 carrier F4F4s); Japanese: 15 (4 ground).

January 3/4 1942

Cebu falls.

I had a few ASW groups stonk a sub at Tulagi. That seems to be attracting his attention.

I'll pull out of Ndeni and leave a heavy CAP.

Allied air losses: 35 (mostly escorts in Burma); Japanese: 28 (mostly Zeros near Tulagi).

He tries a deliberate attack at Terapo. Meanwhile, I maneuver a commando unit to put a plug into his Terapo position.

Ground combat at Terapo (96,127)
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 28220 troops, 223 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 851
 
Defending force 20283 troops, 240 guns, 85 vehicles, Assault Value = 511
 
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 382
 
Allied adjusted defense: 843
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 1)
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), fatigue(-)
Attacker:
 
Japanese ground losses:
      4033 casualties reported
         Squads: 18 destroyed, 303 disabled
         Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 20 disabled
      Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      427 casualties reported
         Squads: 4 destroyed, 46 disabled
         Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
      Guns lost 17 (1 destroyed, 16 disabled)

January 4/5 1942

He's pulling out of Terapo. I need to move fast to get that plug in. Next turn, I will have a road block in position.

Kirakira air base is now size 6.

Allied air losses: 9; Japanese 15 (2 ground). The patch has reduced the number of strikes making it to the target at night. I have four bomber aces and four more with 4 kills. How long can he lose ~10 Zeros a day (the current rate)? He has lost a thousand zeros in a year.

January 5/6 1943

Allied air losses: 4; Japanese 14 (8 Zeroes). How long can his fighter squadrons continue to lose 10-15 aircraft a day?

ORIGINAL: herwin

January 5/6 1943

Allied air losses: 4; Japanese 14 (8 Zeroes). How long can his fighter squadrons continue to lose 10-15 aircraft a day?

Not for long. if he not overproducing A6M`s he will now have ~3-4 new planes in day. and 2-3 Ki-43
He can always use Ki-27 planes but they are limited and not as god as modern fighters and without fighters his boombers are doomed
If he will lose planes that fast in few days air over your head will be empty.
He also losing many pilots so his losses can start to grow when he replace veterans with rookies


EDIT:

My mistake i was thinking it is JAN 42, i was mislead by earlier posts

ORIGINAL: koniu

ORIGINAL: herwin

January 5/6 1943

Allied air losses: 4; Japanese 14 (8 Zeroes). How long can his fighter squadrons continue to lose 10-15 aircraft a day?

Not for long. if he not overproducing A6M`s he will now have ~3-4 new planes in day. and 2-3 Ki-43
He can always use Ki-27 planes but they are limited and not as god as modern fighters and without fighters his boombers are doomed
If he will lose planes that fast in few days air over your head will be empty.
He also losing many pilots so his losses can start to grow when he replace veterans with rookies


EDIT:

My mistake i was thinking it is JAN 42, i was mislead by earlier posts

You may appreciate the following turn, when I set up a trap...

January 6/7 1943

Air operations trap at Tulagi.

Allied air losses: 24 (19 fighters); Japanese losses: 61 (23 Vals, 25 Zeros, 10 Tonies).

ORIGINAL: herwin

January 6/7 1943

Air operations trap at Tulagi.

Allied air losses: 24 (19 fighters); Japanese losses: 61 (23 Vals, 25 Zeros, 10 Tonies).

Good hunting

I really hate air traps. In my PBEM Docup shutdown at lest 50 of my bombers like this in first 2 months of war

January 7/8 1942

The previous turn presumably depleted the Japanese air units near Tulagi. I had a lot of operational losses this turn. No need to hang around.

Allied losses: 18 (9 operational); Japanese: 11.

January 8/9 1943

It appears the KB is out hunting. The USN has 10 carriers in the Solomons, but most of them are CVEs. Time to be discrete.

Allied air losses: 2; Japanese 6.

January 9/10 1943

The 41st Japanese Division is loaded on transports headed towards Rennell Island, where the 1st Marine Division is settled in.

Allied air losses: 2; Japanese 6.

Pearl Harbor Day--Lest We Forget.

January 10/11 1943

It appears the Japanese are planning to invade Rennell Island. The KB is just off Auki. Rennell Island is right-sized.

That, by the way, is my criticism of the ground combat engine. Battle results are totally at variance with the results of any other serious wargame and the actual combat statistics. There is no payoff for right-sizing a force for defence or attack.

Allied air losses: 14, mostly in Burma; Japanese: 10.

Interesting combat outcome given the density of defending AA (9-90mm AA, 12-75mm AA, 24-37mm AA, 57-40mm AA, and miscellaneous smaller calibers). Is AA nerfed?

Morning Air attack on Kirakira , at 116,140
 
Weather in hex: Clear sky
 
Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 19
 
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      19 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 16000 feet
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Kirakira , at 116,140
 
Weather in hex: Clear sky
 
Raid detected at 43 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-61-Ia Tony x 10
 
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      10 x Ki-61-Ia Tony sweeping at 16000 feet *
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Kirakira , at 116,140
 
Weather in hex: Clear sky
 
Raid detected at 102 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 3
 
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       3 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 16000 feet
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on Kirakira , at 116,140
 
Weather in hex: Clear sky
 
Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-61-Ia Tony x 2
 
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       2 x Ki-61-Ia Tony sweeping at 16000 feet *
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on Kirakira , at 116,140
 
Weather in hex: Light rain
 
Raid detected at 15 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M3 Zero x 9
 
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       9 x A6M3 Zero sweeping at 17000 feet
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on Kirakira , at 116,140
 
Weather in hex: Light rain
 
Raid detected at 114 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 37 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M3 Zero x 7
 
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       7 x A6M3 Zero sweeping at 17000 feet
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on Kirakira , at 116,140
 
Weather in hex: Light rain
 
Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 66
      A6M3a Zero x 83
      B5N2 Kate x 174
      D4Y1 Judy x 120
 
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
      D4Y1 Judy: 2 damaged
 
Allied Ships
      PT-122, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      PT-155, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      PT-128, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      PT-152, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      PT-126, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      PT-124, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      PT-151, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      PT-119, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
      PT-120, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      16 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
 
 
Airbase hits 39
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 71
Port hits 7
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      17 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
      27 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
       8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
      27 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Port Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
      12 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
      18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
      11 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
      27 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
       6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
      27 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
      12 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
       6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
       9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
       6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
       9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
       9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
       9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 11000 feet
               Port Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP 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
       8 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
       3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
       8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
       6 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
       1 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
       4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
       4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
               Airfield Attack:  1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
 
Massive explosion on PT-122
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on Kirakira , at 116,140
 
Weather in hex: Light rain
 
Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 21
 
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      21 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 17000 feet

January 11/12 1943

Japanese invasion at Auki. Auki was always intended to be a trap. I guess we'll find out. The large minefield did not discourage a Japanese BB bombardment.

Allied air losses: 2; Japanese 18.

January 12/13 1942

My asthma has put me in bed. I hate sick buildings!

Sync problem!

Not a good day for Allied F4Fs, although I don't know where. Combat Reporter shows no air to air engagements involving F4Fs.

Allied air losses: 31 (20 F4Fs); Japanese: 12.

Landing at Auki continues.

We have a patch, so there will be a couple of turns until the sync bug works its way out of the system. It affects surface naval combat, so I really don't know where I stand until then.

January 15/16 1943

Well' I'm back, with a nasty case of asthma.

He has invaded at Auki and Rennell, which were set up as traps.

Allied air losses on the 13/14/15 have been averaging 9 or so, while the Japanese have been averaging 32.

Hi all,

Goodbye Harry - fair winds mate!


Leo "Apollo11"

[:(]

Fair winds Harry ...