The Power of Inexperience / GreyJoy(A)-Rader(J)

[JeffroK]

rader didnt need it.
 
if Greyjoy goes further around NG this could make a good base to interdict the rear.
It can also provide support to a drive along the north coast of NG.
 
Sometimes you occupy a base to deny it to your enemy even though it isnt in the direction you are heading.
 
Its worth a BF & a Bn.
 
 

[CaptBeefheart]

Greyjoy: I once read where subs in the path of your aircraft can reduce KIAs and/or MIAs for raids over enemy territory, representing subs that pick up downed pilots (like George Bush). My question: Do you have any subs in the Russell Island hex or other hexes where your fighters are conducting sweeps, and if so, has this noticeably helped retrieve downed pilots? I personally have never tested this function.

Keep up the good work.

Cheers,
CC

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

Greyjoy: I once read where subs in the path of your aircraft can reduce KIAs and/or MIAs for raids over enemy territory, representing subs that pick up downed pilots (like George Bush). My question: Do you have any subs in the Russell Island hex or other hexes where your fighters are conducting sweeps, and if so, has this noticeably helped retrieve downed pilots? I personally have never tested this function.

Keep up the good work.

Cheers,
CC

It has been confirmed to work by developers.

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: princep01

Reek, Marauke??? Whatever for? Explain yourself, young man.

Don't start with the poison pawn stuff. Dvelop a coherent strategic plan and go with it. No side diversions to waste troops. Gather yourself and start moving in accord with your plan to develop operational momentum.

If this isolated "nowhere" is part of your plan, then explain. Consider. It is currently empty because.......?

princepBolton

Basing bombers at Merauke, particularly the Naval Libs, will allow GJ to interdict LOC to the Solomons. He will also force Rader to move fighters into the Wewak area, thus denuding his front line. If his best squadrons are at the front then he will have greener ones there meaning P-38's will have a field day and chew them up. Its all about attrition. Considering R's deployment in India a quick development and upgrading of Merauke may add an extra thorn in Japan's side. GJ make sure a few SeeBees join in the invasion force at Merauke.

[GreyJoy]

Before analyzing the strategical importance of Mereuake, let me spend a couple of words on the last 2 turns...4 days of Hell on Earth in the Solomons...

On the 7th and 8th the KB came out in force again.... this time Rader splitted it in two parts, one east and one south west of Shortland...he saw my BBs were at Tulagi and Rader decided that he wanted to destroy, once for all, the threat posed by my big boys...
My BBs, divided in 2 different TFs, were patrolling Thousands and Russell, looking for his CAs that were suppoed to take their usual journey to pick troops up...

For two days in a row the KB attacked...and our ships were often out of their supposed position...and we had devoted 100 fighters for sweeping pourposes that were not capping the ships...
...but we repulsed them!
We ended the turn with 300 KB planes shot down, 1 bomb on the Massachusset, 1 bomb on the Washington and 1 torp on CL Birmingham....(a part from the Birmingham that will need some R&R, the BBs are just fine).

North of Ndeni he sent a CL TF dealing with my ASW TFs...he sunk 2 DEs and 2 SCs but ate a couple of bombs from my SDBs from Reef Island...

while west of Timor SS Triton attacked and sunk a scouting AV...[8D]

We lost 4 transports at Auki due to his KB attack...nothing serious...couple of xAKs and xAPs...but for the rest we managed to attritt once again his KB and LBA...

And now Mareuke is ours...a NZ Bde fully prepped is already on its route and 3 construction units will be moved right now to the base, along with a base force and a NZ kittihawk squadron...

Milne Bay is only 1 day from AF level 1....


November 7, 8 1943

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Sub attack near Mataram at 56,115

Japanese Ships
AV Kinugasa Maru, Torpedo hits 2
PB Hayakafuku Maru

Allied Ships
SS Triton



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We sent 120 fighters to sweep Russell....
Morning Air attack on Russell Islands , at 113,136

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 40,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
N1K1-J George x 19



Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 25


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 3 destroyed



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And it begins....
Morning Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 113,136

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 62 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6
N1K1-J George x 15



Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 2
Kittyhawk III x 3
Spitfire Vc Trop x 3
Kittyhawk IV x 1
P-38G Lightning x 3
P-38H Lightning x 6
P-40K Warhawk x 7
P-40N5 Warhawk x 3
FM-1 Wildcat x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 6
F4U-1A Corsair x 2
F6F-3 Hellcat x 17


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
N1K1-J George: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Denver


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 113,136

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 10
A6M5 Zero x 11
B6N2 Jill x 13



Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 2
Kittyhawk III x 3
Spitfire Vc Trop x 2
Kittyhawk IV x 1
P-38G Lightning x 3
P-38H Lightning x 5
P-40K Warhawk x 6
P-40N5 Warhawk x 2
FM-1 Wildcat x 4
F4U-1 Corsair x 6
F4U-1A Corsair x 1
F6F-3 Hellcat x 15


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 5 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CA Baltimore
CL Birmingham


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Thousand Ships Bay at 114,136

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
P1Y1 Frances x 6
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 24



Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 1
Kittyhawk III x 7
Spitfire Vc Trop x 8
Kittyhawk IV x 4
P-38H Lightning x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 2
F4U-1 Corsair x 4
F4U-1A Corsair x 1
F6F-3 Hellcat x 1


Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y1 Frances: 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 5 destroyed

No Allied losses




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Morning Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137 Pure KB attack
Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 155 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 51 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 27
A6M5 Zero x 116
A6M5b Zero x 12
D4Y3 Judy x 11



Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 4
P-38G Lightning x 6
P-38H Lightning x 8
P-40K Warhawk x 15
P-40N5 Warhawk x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 12
F4U-1A Corsair x 4
F6F-3 Hellcat x 20


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 15 destroyed
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed
D4Y3 Judy: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Mahan
DD Dunlap


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Auki at 115,136

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 11
B6N2 Jill x 9
D4Y3 Judy x 13



Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 3
P-38G Lightning x 2
P-38H Lightning x 2
P-40K Warhawk x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 2
F4U-1A Corsair x 3
F6F-3 Hellcat x 1


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed
D4Y3 Judy: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
xAP Iron Knob, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Iron Master, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
xAK R. C. Brennan, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage




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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Thousand Ships Bay at 114,136

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 50 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
P1Y1 Frances x 6
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 16



Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 2
Spitfire Vc Trop x 2
Kittyhawk IV x 1
FM-1 Wildcat x 1
F4U-1 Corsair x 6
F4U-1A Corsair x 2
F6F-3 Hellcat x 9


Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y1 Frances: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 5 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
DD Taylor
DD Strong


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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 136 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 31
A6M5 Zero x 175
A6M5b Zero x 11
B6N2 Jill x 42
D4Y3 Judy x 41


Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 5
Kittyhawk III x 10
Spitfire Vc Trop x 7
Kittyhawk IV x 4
P-38G Lightning x 8
P-38H Lightning x 17
P-40K Warhawk x 21
P-40N5 Warhawk x 7
FM-1 Wildcat x 3
F4U-1 Corsair x 13
F4U-1A Corsair x 4
F6F-3 Hellcat x 23


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 23 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y3 Judy: 7 destroyed, 8 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Washington, Bomb hits 1
DD Mahan
DD Eaton
AM Cowra, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Massachusetts
DD Conyngham
AM Bowen, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Rockhampton, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AM Kalgoorlie, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Dunlap
DD Dyson
AM Wallaroo, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Auki at 115,136

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 150 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 49 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 10
B6N2 Jill x 18



Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IV x 4
P-38G Lightning x 2
P-38H Lightning x 4
P-40K Warhawk x 3
P-40N5 Warhawk x 2
F4U-1 Corsair x 7
F4U-1A Corsair x 4
F6F-3 Hellcat x 5


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 11 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
xAP Iron Warrior, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
xAK Robert C. Grier




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Ground combat at Merauke (89,124)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 255 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 22

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

Allied adjusted assault: 19

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 19 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Merauke !!!
Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)



Assaulting units:
1st Australian Para Bn /1



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Rekata Bay at 113,135

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 92 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 36 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 28
G3M2 Nell x 9
N1K1-J George x 114
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 13
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 33
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 16
Ki-84a Frank x 63



Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 7
Kittyhawk III x 8
Spitfire Vc Trop x 6
Kittyhawk IV x 5
P-38G Lightning x 8
P-38H Lightning x 16
P-40K Warhawk x 25
P-40N5 Warhawk x 2
FM-1 Wildcat x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 14
F4U-1A Corsair x 6
F6F-3 Hellcat x 26


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 5 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 2 destroyed by flak
N1K1-J George: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-84a Frank: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk IV: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Boise
DD Warrington
CA Baltimore


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 158 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 52 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 27
A6M5 Zero x 103
A6M5b Zero x 12
D4Y3 Judy x 5



Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk III x 4
P-40N5 Warhawk x 4
F4U-1 Corsair x 4
F6F-3 Hellcat x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 4 destroyed
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed
D4Y3 Judy: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40N5 Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AM Cowra, heavy damage
AM Geelong, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

[GreyJoy]

.

[GreyJoy]

.

[GreyJoy]

.

[GreyJoy]

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[GreyJoy]

And then there's another bloody turn...but i have to rush to work...will try to update from there...

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: princep01

Reek, Marauke??? Whatever for? Explain yourself, young man.

Don't start with the poison pawn stuff. Dvelop a coherent strategic plan and go with it. No side diversions to waste troops. Gather yourself and start moving in accord with your plan to develop operational momentum.

If this isolated "nowhere" is part of your plan, then explain. Consider. It is currently empty because.......?

princepBolton

My Lord,

Merauke is a sound target according to this servant of yours thoughs.

It's a possible level 8 AF and its position threatens everything up to Wewak, Hollandia and Hansa Bay.
As Cantona just said, the presence of an allied air base in that area may force Rader to move out of the front line some more squadrons, thus weaking his positions.
Moreover, it rapresents the eastern jaw of a slow but steady advance of northern OZ.
I've already built up Exmouth and Port Heland at their max and lots of troops and base forces are moving there. With a strong position in NE OZ Rader's position in southern DEI could be threatened and, again, force him to devote more assets into this region.

It's a cheap target...and can be built up easily without risking much...to my eyes it's a good strategic point

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Commander Cody

Greyjoy: I once read where subs in the path of your aircraft can reduce KIAs and/or MIAs for raids over enemy territory, representing subs that pick up downed pilots (like George Bush). My question: Do you have any subs in the Russell Island hex or other hexes where your fighters are conducting sweeps, and if so, has this noticeably helped retrieve downed pilots? I personally have never tested this function.

Keep up the good work.

Cheers,
CC

I have several PTs at Russell and Thousands...i just hope they act as subs for what concerns rescuing pourposes...logic tells me they should...

[GreyJoy]

Ok guys...here we go

Nov 9, 10 1943

Another damn bloody turn.

The fact that my surface assets were not sunk yesterday forced Rader to withdraw his CAs (they were waiting at Munda yesterday)...they moved with the KB back to Rabaul (the KB is clearly licking her wounds[:D])...I noticed that Rader is using Mavis-L to rescue his troops now...lots of men have been evacuating in 2 turns (something like 10k troops[:@]). Tomorrow we'll LRCAP!

However....my Cruisers and Battleships were again patrolling the waters around Russell and Thousands...no sign of enemy naval activity but he came again with his torpedo bombers...
I didn't have any dedicated LRCAP...only normal CAP with a radius of 5 from Lunga, Tassa, Tulagi and Auki...

The air battle raged with fury for 2 days...we again inflicted a terrible bloody nose to his air forces...i'm very happy about the results of the last 4 days...as Miller just said it seems that even when he outnumbers me, the odds have shifted strongly on my part and my superior pilot quality is finally starting to pay off...
The "British Flying Circus", for example, who just arrived at Tulagi with 14 Spits VIII hasn't lost a single a/c in these 4 days of harsh fighting and has collected an astonishing kill ratio of 51-0[X(]

Ok...let's take a look at the turn...



AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 09, 43

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Nauru Island at 125,131, Range 11,000 Yards

This engagement took place 12 hexes north of Ndeni...that damned CL wasn't damaged as i hoped after the 2 bombs of yesterday...however enough to leave along my ASW ships...

Japanese Ships
     CL Abukuma, Shell hits 2
     DD Tamanami
     DD Tanikaze

Allied Ships
     DD Grayson
     APD Dent
     APD Herbert
     APD Dickerson

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

...and here it starts...


Morning Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 113,136

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 81 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     G3M2 Nell x 11
     N1K1-J George x 22
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 14
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 34
     Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 18
     Ki-84a Frank x 53



Allied aircraft
     Spitfire VIII x 3
     Kittyhawk III x 9
     Spitfire Vc Trop x 9
     Kittyhawk IV x 4
     P-38G Lightning x 6
     P-38H Lightning x 20
     P-39N1 Airacobra x 8
     P-40K Warhawk x 19
     P-40N5 Warhawk x 4
     P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 34
     FM-1 Wildcat x 6
     F4U-1 Corsair x 28
     F4U-1A Corsair x 5
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 40


Japanese aircraft losses
     G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
     N1K1-J George: 2 destroyed
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 2 destroyed
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed
     Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 3 destroyed
     Ki-84a Frank: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
     F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
     DD O'Brien
     CL Boise

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 113,136

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     N1K1-J George x 30
     P1Y1 Frances x 9
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 9
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 28
     Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 10
     Ki-84a Frank x 31



Allied aircraft
     Spitfire VIII x 7
     Kittyhawk III x 9
     Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
     Kittyhawk IV x 3
     P-38G Lightning x 8
     P-38H Lightning x 29
     P-39N1 Airacobra x 11
     P-40K Warhawk x 21
     P-40N5 Warhawk x 7
     P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 51
     FM-1 Wildcat x 5
     F4U-1 Corsair x 25
     F4U-1A Corsair x 7
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 30


Japanese aircraft losses
     N1K1-J George: 3 destroyed
     P1Y1 Frances: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
     Ki-84a Frank: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     P-39N1 Airacobra: 1 destroyed
     P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
     DD Strong
     DD Radford


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 113,136

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 81 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     G4M1 Betty x 9
     N1K1-J George x 20
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 8
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 22
     Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 9
     Ki-84a Frank x 22



Allied aircraft
     Spitfire VIII x 6
     Kittyhawk III x 7
     Spitfire Vc Trop x 6
     Kittyhawk IV x 3
     P-38G Lightning x 6
     P-38H Lightning x 20
     P-39N1 Airacobra x 7
     P-40K Warhawk x 10
     P-40N5 Warhawk x 6
     P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 42
     FM-1 Wildcat x 3
     F4U-1 Corsair x 19
     F4U-1A Corsair x 5
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 22


Japanese aircraft losses
     G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed
     N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed
     Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
     Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed
     P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed
     P-40N5 Warhawk: 1 destroyed
     F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
     F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed


 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 113,136

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     G3M2 Nell x 6
     N1K1-J George x 19
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 9
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 21
     Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 11
     Ki-84a Frank x 25



Allied aircraft
     Spitfire VIII x 3
     Kittyhawk III x 7
     Spitfire Vc Trop x 10
     Kittyhawk IV x 2
     P-38G Lightning x 2
     P-38H Lightning x 14
     P-39N1 Airacobra x 3
     P-40K Warhawk x 7
     P-40N5 Warhawk x 2
     P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 27
     FM-1 Wildcat x 5
     F4U-1 Corsair x 15
     F4U-1A Corsair x 5
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 22


Japanese aircraft losses
     G3M2 Nell: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
     N1K1-J George: 5 destroyed
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed
     Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed
     Ki-84a Frank: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
     CA Baltimore


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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 113,136

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 94 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     N1K1-J George x 18
     P1Y1 Frances x 9
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 7
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17
     Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 5
     Ki-84a Frank x 15



Allied aircraft
     Spitfire VIII x 7
     Kittyhawk III x 10
     Spitfire Vc Trop x 8
     Kittyhawk IV x 2
     P-38G Lightning x 3
     P-38H Lightning x 21
     P-39N1 Airacobra x 8
     P-40K Warhawk x 14
     P-40N5 Warhawk x 2
     P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 39
     FM-1 Wildcat x 5
     F4U-1 Corsair x 25
     F4U-1A Corsair x 8
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 27


Japanese aircraft losses
     N1K1-J George: 3 destroyed
     P1Y1 Frances: 5 destroyed
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 2 destroyed
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 6 destroyed
     Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 2 destroyed
     Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     Kittyhawk III: 1 destroyed
     P-38H Lightning: 1 destroyed
     P-39N1 Airacobra: 2 destroyed
     P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
     P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 1 destroyed
     F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
     F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
     DD Taylor
     DD Radford

 
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 113,136

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 68 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     G4M1 Betty x 9
     N1K1-J George x 2
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 3
     Ki-84a Frank x 7



Allied aircraft
     Spitfire VIII x 5
     Kittyhawk III x 7
     Spitfire Vc Trop x 7
     P-38G Lightning x 7
     P-38H Lightning x 16
     P-39N1 Airacobra x 1
     P-40K Warhawk x 19
     P-40N5 Warhawk x 5
     P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 38
     FM-1 Wildcat x 3
     F4U-1 Corsair x 17
     F4U-1A Corsair x 8
     F6F-3 Hellcat x 22


Japanese aircraft losses
     G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed
     N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
     Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed


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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 10, 43
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Oh yes, forgot to say...in NG we got a bloody nose at Wau...the base was strongly defended and our sweep didn't launch...so our 4Es ended up flying alone...the biggst raid was able to defend itself, but then 40 4Es arrived in 7 different raids [:@]...and got slaughtered... 20 4Es lost [:o]

However another base is out of business in this area...Rader isn't walking in a park here...


Morning Air attack on Wau , at 98,126

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M3a Zero x 20
     N1K1-J George x 6
     Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 11
     Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 13
     Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 35
     Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 24



Allied aircraft
     Beaufighter Ic x 3
     B-24D1 Liberator x 110
     B-24J Liberator x 35


Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed, 16 damaged
     Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
     Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 24 damaged
     Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 10 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
     Beaufighter Ic: 1 destroyed
     B-24D1 Liberator: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
     B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
     13 casualties reported
        Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
        Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
        Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Airbase hits 57
Airbase supply hits 17
Runway hits 178



Milne Bay reached level 1 AF...already a NZ squadron of Kittihawk has been based here...now more units are flowing, along with a great air bridge of 100 transports...the base is more or less secure, with already 150 AVs in place...

[GreyJoy]

Now we're waiting for a japanese offensive in NG... Rader has moved back to Rabaul 150 bombers and some 200 fighters, along with the whole KB...

PM isn't strong enough to be able to fight alone...but it has a decent amount of flak and 200 fighters providing a good CAP...and supply well above 80k......if rader wants to shut it down he will need a tremendous effort

[GreyJoy]

The british 54th RAF Squadron...the FLYING CIRCUS

[GreyJoy]

Now i propose you all a "game"...

I wanna follow a single squadron that is just arrived.
It's the 79th RAAF Squadron.

It has green Australian Pilots, just come out of the training school. They perfomed some CAP missions over Cairns during the last 2 months, but they nevered encountered the enemy.
This squadron is completely green...with 0 kills and 0 passive kills in its record books...

It has been recently equipped with the new Australian Spit mk. VIII and based at PM... it will face the next japanese counteroffensive.

Let's follow its story...let's remember the names...let's see what these aussies are able to do...

[Canoerebel]

GreyJoy is right. Merauke is a hugely important base. In Japanese hands and supplied it prevents the Allies from using the Torres Straights. In Allied hands:

1) Big airfield that helps with bombing of northern New Guinea bases
2) Helps cover next step of Allied expansion to important bases in southwestern New Guinea, which is really the NE flank of the DEI.

GJ, what are your plans now for those bases in SW NG?

Also, look at the chain of islands west of Darwin reaching up towards the New Guinea coast. All of those islands can be buit into good airfields. Controlling them puts enormous pressure on Japan as they pose a very clear and present danger to Timor, Ambon and the Moluccas (I think that's the name).

One more step for GJ and he's on the eastern fringes of the DEI. If he's caught rader flatfooted, with too much of his army posted in the Solomons and India, he might be in trouble here.

If open, western New Guinea and those islands west of Darwin are a quick path into Japan's vitals, while th middle Solomons are of relatively little importance - except that they are proving to be a great killing field. IE, keep up the attacking pressure with combat ships and aircraft as long as the enemy is there in force, but if you can shift your expansion plans into the eastern fringes of the DEI, rader is in for a bad time.

Another advantage - if his airforce really is fighting on the backs of poor pilots, how will he handle yet another hot theater (eastern DEI)?

[Canoerebel]

GJ, thinking about this further, you need to be prepared for a "paradim shift" in your thinking. You may have just opened a door of unlimited opportunity, but you might not be ready to take advantage of it if you haven't fully realized it yet.

If rader hasn't adequately garrisoned the eastern flank of the DEI - those islands west of Darwin (the dot hexes and so forth that reach up to New Guinea) and the bases in southwestern NG and NG's western end, you should strongly consider shifting all emphais to this vector of attack.

If that indeed is an option for you, then you've just rendered Port Moresby, Milne Bay and everything in the Solomons strategically irrelevant (except for purposes of killing enemy units that are there). They are irrelevant because you would have suddenly arrived in the Japanese vitals 1,000 miles to the west.

So, look at your options - potential bases, undefended bases - and be prepared to shift your line of attack to the DEI as opposed to the Solomons, New Georgia, northern New Guinea (Buna, Lae, etc). Why fight 1,000 miles to the east if a knife in Japan's vitals is wide open 1,000 miles to the west?

[GreyJoy]

CR...what time is up there?!?!?![X(]  Don't you sleep?
 
Anyway, Rader has strongly fortified all the bases north of Darwin and the whole Timor and southern DEI area is full of AFs built at their max...So i still have to decide what to do...in the meanwhile i wanna build Mereuake and Milne and then i wanna get on Terapo (north of PM). At the same time i wanna march from PM to Buna with the II Aus Corp.
Rader is gonna have hard times redeploying from the Solomons...and if i manage to keep him engaged here i may really get him overstretched
 
I think the northern Coast of NG is a better route for me than DEI...but DEI cannot be left alone...so we'll for sure put some pressure there....we still need some more time to gather enough forces in western Oz...but we're almost there...
 
 

[Canoerebel]

If rader has garrisoned all those great dot hexes between Timor and New Guinea, and those bases in southwestern NG, then I tip my hat to him. But I don't think there's any way he could have covered them all. Take another look - PLEASE.

I fought a campaign out of Darwin and west from Merauke in my game vs. Miller. It involved the very bases I'm talking about. They were built huge and and allowed the Allies to methodically advance into the eastern DEI. If you want to see how large and interlocking those bases are, see my "Shattered Vow" AAR: tm.asp?m=2236335

In that game, Japan's airforce was much stronger, and mine much weaker than yours. I had a tough time campaigning in the DEI, but you're relatively much stronger.

If that way truly is blocked by rader's defensive network, I apologize for taking so much of your time.

As for what I'm doing awake now, good question. I got a good five hours sleep and suddenly awakened at 3 a.m. and haven't been able to go back to sleep. So I'm reading a favorite AAR....