An Aussie Affair: Re-Match!

[Raverdave]

Just sunk a BB

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/18/43

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Sub attack at 20,5

Japanese Ships
AV Sanuki Maru

Allied Ships
SS Albacore


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Air attack on Wunpuko , at 51,51

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged

Attacking Level Bombers:
11 x G4M1 Betty at 11000 feet

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Sub attack at 15,49

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Grayling


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Air attack on Gili Gili , at 17,42


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 10
B-17E Fortress x 57
PB4Y Liberator x 24
B-24D Liberator x 32


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 65

Port hits 27
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 5

Attacking Level Bombers:
7 x Hudson at 6000 feet
6 x PB4Y Liberator at 6000 feet
0 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
4 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
8 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator at 6000 feet
9 x PB4Y Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
0 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
0 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
6 x PB4Y Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
8 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet

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Luskan will never again send his uber CV TF South....not now that he has seen the power and might of my MRB and LRB !:D

[Luskan]

You have the most selective memory!

My cvs were within 5 hexes of rockhampton and townesville for 3 turns - where was your might of LRB and MRB while I was opening up a can of Whoop-***-Deluxe on your transports huh?

[Raverdave]

There is nothing wrong with my memory, I will have you know young Luke...er...lung....lank..er whatever you name is.......now what was I going to say?:p

[Luskan]

He must have forgotten our last game as well

No doubt Raver's amnesia will kick in again after this game (but before our first WITP pbem).

I hope to try out both IJN and USN in my first games of WITP. Hoping also that since WITP is the UV engine on a bigger map with more units and a few extras in the way of support and options, that the alpha and beta phases will be very very brief (usually the ironing out of bugs is the nasty, time consuming bit. Since we're re-using the UV engine and balance for naval units and air units and troops, WITP should be out before we know it!).

I have made a fairly important decision: all ships damaged less than 50 sys will remain in theatre and be repaired in port. Too many players complain of the stingy IJN reinforcement AI in late 43, so i will not risk my strength. Hopefully the few battered ships I send back to Tokyo will keep the stream of transports and ships coming.

I could use more subs, and could certainly use a few more CAs (only have 4 undamaged CAs in theatre total). Seems they don't cope as well as my CLs do when escaping Raver's air.

More than enough tankers now thankyou Tokyo - can move over 100,000 points of fuel in one go (twenty five tankers - wouldn't one of Raver's sub commanders love to find that tf!!!!!!!).

[SoulBlazer]

Are you finding the same thing for Japan that I always do when I play them in PBEM -- that for the whole game, you're running a Replenishment transport mission of 100k in fuel back and forth from Truk to Rabul, and STILL don't have enough fuel for your operations? :p

I never have that problem with the Allies.

Bloody Yamato is so fuel inefficent.....

[Luskan]

Actually my tankers have been moving 100k of fuel without interruption or damage the whole game - all of my bases have 100k+ of fuel, and that is including the ones I'm basing my BBs at.

More problems with supplies. Lots of troops out there on the front lines, and damage to APs from Ravers subs (only 5 or 6 losses so far) has slowed supply missions down.

As Raver said, he could leave my troops on PNG alone for the duration of the game and they'd all be dead.

[Raverdave]

Well people, there have been no posts simply because nothing is happening! We have gone for nearly 8 days now and little or no contact. It is just too damned quite....that sneaky littleshit is upto something!

[Luskan]

Still no bombing - on the other hand, Raver snuck a MSW/DMS TF (would have loved to have caught and sunk it = game over!) up to PM to spend a night clearing the mines. Will have to put some more mines in there again now.

At least this is a solid inditcation of his intentions - and better than ever, seems to indicate that the thousands of troops on PNG aren't useless after all.

Also, his CV tf was spotted at Luganville, Tanaka and some DDs were hastily dispatched to catch and cull them in a daring night action, but Tanaka was spotted, so prudently retired back to Irau.

Did mean Raver had to move his CVs for the moment though.

Raver is winding up for his big offensive. Starting to get a little nervous, if the truth be told. As the IJN on the defensive, you're never really "ready".

[Luskan]

Well, after an entire game of training, (with the exception of a couple of night bombing nuisance raids to keep Raver moving his CVs), my level bombers have not launched.

Why? They've all been in Truk, doing ASW or training their asses off.

Raver's CVs were spotted closing with Lunga last turn, and another MSW missions hit PM.

I moved my LBA into Shortlands and Rabaul and let fly with the following (fighters from Lunga and Russel Islands). Enjoyed it immensely - although they were there to kill Raver's CVs (which had backed off, they got spotted and I think it was just a snap at catching my bombardment group aimed at Nevea - which I'd pulled back earlier too).

Enjoy - I know I did. Isn't really a game winner - and to preserve my striking force I've pulled my LBA back to Truk for some R+R out of Raver's B17 range before he sends his CVs back to play

Pity about no hits on his BBs at Cairns - no cap - but their flak was more than effective enough. Also annoyed I missed the DMS - but Raver has plenty of those so it probably wouldn't matter so much.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/04/43

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on TF, near Nevea at 50,43

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
A6M3 Zero x 25
G4M1 Betty x 74

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 11 damaged

Allied Ships
LCI 67, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage sunk
AP American Legion, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Lesuth, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
LCI 64
SC 700
LCI 71, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage sunk
LCI 70
APD Gilmer, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
LCI 61, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage sunk
LCI 65
LCM 7/2ESB, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage sunk

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

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Air attack on TF, near Nevea at 50,43

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 7
G4M1 Betty x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
APD Gilmer, on fire, heavy damage
AP American Legion, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage sunk
LCI 62, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage sunk
LCI 65
SC 700

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

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Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 4 destroyed
G3M Nell x 3 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Washington
BB Colorado

Almost!

Attacking Level Bombers:
1 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
2 x G3M Nell at 200 feet

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Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 1 destroyed
G3M Nell x 5 damaged

LCDR V.Bando of G1/Mihoro Daitai bails out and is CAPTURED

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet

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Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 1 destroyed
G3M Nell x 5 damaged

Allied Ships
DMS Southard escaped
DD LaValette, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Ammen, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
1 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet

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Air attack on TF, near Nevea at 50,43

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
A6M3 Zero x 25
G4M1 Betty x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Lesuth, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage, sunk

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

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Air attack on TF, near Nevea at 50,43

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 8 damaged

Allied Ships
APD Gilmer, on fire, heavy damage sunk
LCI 65 bloody lucky ship - last few raids I'd launched a LOT of torpedoes at her.
LCI 67, on fire, heavy damage sunk

Attacking Level Bombers:
1 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

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[Mike_B20]

Interesting.

Using LBA like a carrier surprise strike...in and out.

I'll have to try that tactic sometime.

[Raverdave]

You shouldn't be allowed to stack so many Jap LRBs at only two bases.:rolleyes:

[Luskan]

What do you mean so many? There are about 150 at Rabaul and exactly 100 planes (most level bombers) at shortlands. I've built those bases up so that I could support that many bombers - it was the whole idea of buliding the place with precious IJN eng units, and then sending in bases forces.

What I shouldn't be allowed to do is transfer them into and out of those bases and back to Truk and use them in the same turn.

Air groups should have an "in transit" time for moving bases i think. Even if it just means you can't use them the turn you moved them etc.

Raver's probably out manouvred me in the waters around Lunga - I think he has his CVs moving up clsoe through the tuhnderstorms - I just sent all my LBA back to Truk and have transports unloading at Lunga that he will probably get if his planes fly during the storms.

[Raverdave]

Originally posted by Luskan
What do you mean so many?

I was being sarcastic and using the chiteng whine:p

[Raverdave]

This is nail-biting stuff......currently Luskan and I are playing cat and mouse with our CV groups, a feint here, a mad dash there, manouvering under cover of thunderstorms, each of us is trying to gain an advantage, lots of reports from both sides of CV TFs spotted, but as of yet no contact.

I suspect thatLuskan is trying to using his LRB to support his CV group. Reports indicate that there are upto 11 IJN CVs, while I only have 9. When contact is made to is doing to be a huge clash of steel and will decide the game. If I loose then the prospect of invasion is lost, if Luskan CVs get sunk or badly damaged then he will soon be swamped by vast invasion forces landing at multiple sites.

[Luskan]

The problem is that regardless of the CV battle, wherever it occurs, Raver will move at the opposite end of the map. I think that it might be smarter for me to avoid such a clash until after Raver is forced to launch his invasion.

I'm hoping that my LBA can beat him off, and my surface fleet can inflict some serious casualties - as it is I think I am out of position: Raver's CVs and forces around Irau have taken a beating from my LBA - and may possibly do it again if I bring them back from Truk.

However having my CVs in the same area is foolish - especially when Raver his been demining PM for several turns and I've got nothing in the area that can worry him in the area. Much better if my CVs were over there!

[Raverdave]

Trying to engage Luskans CV in battle is proving hard...the fact that he keeps running is not helping matters, so in the mean time I am spending my time beating up on PM and Irau, and clearing mines. He has sent a few bombers in to try and sink some ships with little success....infact he has done everything but cry about it........bloody wuss!:rolleyes:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/12/43

Weather: Thunderstorms

Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 9
B-17E Fortress x 48
PB4Y Liberator x 21
B-24D Liberator x 31


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress x 1 damaged
PB4Y Liberator x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 652
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 20
Runway hits 194

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
5 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
6 x Hudson at 6000 feet
10 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
6 x PB4Y Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
7 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
9 x PB4Y Liberator at 6000 feet
4 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet

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Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
G3M Nell x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 2 destroyed
G3M Nell x 5 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Monaghan
BB Colorado

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
1 x G3M Nell at 200 feet

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Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
G3M Nell x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 1 destroyed
G3M Nell x 5 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Astoria
BB Colorado

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
1 x G3M Nell at 200 feet

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 7
DD Hayanami, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hatsukaze, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Hamakaze, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Samidare, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hibiki

Allied Ships
BB Colorado, Shell hits 1
BB Washington, Shell hits 5
CA Astoria, Shell hits 4
CL Montpelier, Shell hits 3
DD McCalla
DD Mugford
DD Dale, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Monaghan, Shell hits 1
DD Alwin, Shell hits 4, on fire
DMS Southard, Shell hits 2, on fire
DMS Hovey, Shell hits 1, on fire
DMS Hamilton, Shell hits 1


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Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 10,40

Allied Ships
DD Mugford, Shell hits 3, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 120
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 15
Port hits 6


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[Luskan]

If we're going to have a CV battle, it is going to be my part of the map! Raver keeps letting his CVs hang around halfway between Irau and Noumea (somewhere just off Luganville) and seems to think I'm dumb enough to come and play?

Of course, my CVs MAY come out to oppose an invasion - not sure yet. I doubt Raver will want to try an invasion with my CV forces and LBA intact, but weirder things have happened.

[SoulBlazer]

I'm facing the same question in my game with Drex -- at what point does the Combined Fleet and my 1000+ planes come out to play? When a critical base like PM or Lunga is targeted?

[Luskan]

A turn of thunderstorms appears, so Raver comes out to play.

I was expecting him to, and although I got unlucky, I still come out on top.

First, and most important - a surface combat group hit Nevea - Raver's LCIs were the target - but they reacted to safety. his two DMS mine clearers, didn't, and were sunk for their troubles. This is way overdue - Raver has about 4 DMSs left, and maybe 12 MSWs all working overtime to sneak in, clear some of my mines and run like hell before I can do anything about it. nice to slow this process down a little. The downside is that I hit some of his mines oging in - and have 3 damaged dds and a lightly damaged CL for my troubles. None in danger of sinking, but all got pretty carefully reconned by 50 dauntlesses on naval search - yes, Raver's CVs were obviously hidden somewhere in the storm, very, very close by. Will be a few months before those ships return to active duty (bugger - two of them were my long lance torpedo experts with extremely high exp).

Raver hit Lunga for the first time, and closed it (pretty much for good in one hit) and then tried tos neak DMs into the gap between Irau and Lunga to mine them. My betties launched in thunderstorms from the Russell Islands and managed to torpedo one of them - although it ended up causing damaged to 12 betties and costing about 4 destroyed on landing.

Tension mounting.

[Raverdave]

Bloody thunderstorms are a two-edged sword! While they are great for hiding huge fleets in, they also tend to knock your ships and planes around.
Saratoga had a huge accident with a Dauntless crashing into the Island structure on landing, while a second Dauntless was flagged off but lost it engine on the go-round and clipped the military mast. Although it was seen to crash into the sea, no sign of the crew could be found by the Guard ship on duty.
And they would have been pushing it to rescue anyone with the seas that high at any rate.
And the bad day did not end there! Lexington had a major fire break out in the main galley which has caused a lot of damage. It looks like a vat of boiling oil was the cause and although the fire was quickly brought under control the damage was done. No lives were lost in this incident.