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Hi
I've scanned your AAR -seems the same problems in CHS come up in all the games -heavy bombers on naval attack is a delicate question -as Japan it is frustrating to not ever be able to stop them, but (I am playing both sides in parrallel games) you have to appreciate how hard it is as Allies to keep them in the air.
I personally do not use them on naval attack -will when I get Navy liberators -saving the B17s for airfield attack

What really struck me -really, really stood out was his lack of garrison troops in Japan.
Fatal mistake
I think it shows several things
1/ he is not monitoring his HI (how much has he lost from sabataged factories)
2/ This is the equivelant of you using all those Bombers in China on a dedicated strategic campaign -a big win for you.
3/ he has vastly increased plane production -but I bet he is not keeping close track on the overall industry picture.
4/ thus -watch a dramatic Japanese collapse early 44.

He can conquer all of china if he likes -but its a hollow victory if nothing is gained in production

Nice AAR -like the red bits

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

Hi
I've scanned your AAR -seems the same problems in CHS come up in all the games -heavy bombers on naval attack is a delicate question -as Japan it is frustrating to not ever be able to stop them, but (I am playing both sides in parrallel games) you have to appreciate how hard it is as Allies to keep them in the air.
I personally do not use them on naval attack -will when I get Navy liberators -saving the B17s for airfield attack

What really struck me -really, really stood out was his lack of garrison troops in Japan.
Fatal mistake
I think it shows several things
1/ he is not monitoring his HI (how much has he lost from sabataged factories)
2/ This is the equivelant of you using all those Bombers in China on a dedicated strategic campaign -a big win for you.
3/ he has vastly increased plane production -but I bet he is not keeping close track on the overall industry picture.
4/ thus -watch a dramatic Japanese collapse early 44.

He can conquer all of china if he likes -but its a hollow victory if nothing is gained in production

Nice AAR -like the red bits

Hi, glad someone´s reading my AAR! [:D]

The good thing is that I have also a game running as the Japanese, only three weeks behind this one at the moment. What Hortlund seems not to see is when he really hurts me. It´s correct that his fighters aren´t able to take down my bombers in satisfying numbers but it´s as severe (if not more) if you have 90% of a strike damaged from combined fire from fighters and flak. I don´t know what´s more frustrating, seeing my bombers attack his shipping or seeing the long range torp attacks from dozens to hundred Betties. If he´s able to send out 80 Zeroes with 80 Betties then such a strike will be VERY dangerous to everything that´s floating around. For sure more dangerous than an unescorted B-17 strike, not to think about if they attack a TF with a BB in it which they can´t hurt but Betties can hurt every ship.

When I saw how the industry in China looked like I was first shocked, then amazed and after that I was shaking my head. I don´t know how much exp Hortlund has as the Japanese but seeing hundreds of HI/ressources/oil being damaged because he just sends out ALL his inf units to the front and not keeping the garrison requirements at those couple of bases is somewhat strange. It´s not just Tientsin it´s also Nanchang that is completely damaged. Have to check if there are more damaged sites in China. We have a truce in China until mid 43 but there aren´t a lot of ressource / HI sites to conquer anyway in Nikmod. And hopefully I will have enough supplies then to put up a fight, forts have long reached level 9 everywhere.

What really strikes me are his shipping losses. In points he has already taken over the lead again, he´s nearing 400 ships lost, worth nearly 3000 points whereas I haven´t lost even 300, if I don´t count the PTs then there were 250 ships lost so far. Though I´m also near 3000 points for ships lost due to the loss of 3BB, 1BC and Yorktown to the damned sub off Brisbane. I know from my Japanese game that my AKs are needed everywhere (due to their reduced capacity) and losing 100 is not something to laugh about.

Regarding his plane losses. Well, I don´t even know why he a) complains about the mod making it so hard for the Japanese regarding production (it isn´t hard at all, saying that as a Japanese player and after looking at his huge output) and b) I have no idea what he wants to do with nearly 500 fighters produced a month.

another thing about the B-17s: if he wouldn´t put 200+ AA guns at every airfield at the front I would use my B-17s mostly for airfieldattacks too, but with 50 fighters on Cap and dozens of AA regiments at front line bases (Japan is surely stripped of AA rgts) I would have all my B-17s damaged after one attack that achieves nothing. So I just keep them back until a fat convoy shows up and then I set them to attack. So with his overstacking of AA guns at his bases he achieves exactly what he complains about - my bombers on naval attack...

Hi Castor.
 
The losses of the Hurricanes are down to 3 things.  Japanese superiority in plane quality and experience are the obvious tow.  The one that isn't apparent is a result of the way the combat is written in sweep battles.  Basically after the defender bounces the   sh!t out of the frirst of the incoming group (which is always the army fighter ratherthan the zero) the advantage switches over to the attacker with his aircraft normally attacking beforethe defender has a chance to shoot.  The larger the battle the longer the attacker has an advantage.  It is something I am seeing in reverse (playing the japanese). 
 
Airbases are just impossible to defend.  Until you are in a poition to go on the attack there is almost no point in trying to fight an air war.  Once on the attack there is no point in the Japanese trying to defend.  It's a pretty fundament flaw (IOM) in the code.

ORIGINAL: Yakface

Hi Castor.

The losses of the Hurricanes are down to 3 things.  Japanese superiority in plane quality and experience are the obvious tow.  The one that isn't apparent is a result of the way the combat is written in sweep battles.  Basically after the defender bounces the   sh!t out of the frirst of the incoming group (which is always the army fighter ratherthan the zero) the advantage switches over to the attacker with his aircraft normally attacking beforethe defender has a chance to shoot.  The larger the battle the longer the attacker has an advantage.  It is something I am seeing in reverse (playing the japanese). 

Airbases are just impossible to defend.  Until you are in a poition to go on the attack there is almost no point in trying to fight an air war.  Once on the attack there is no point in the Japanese trying to defend.  It's a pretty fundament flaw (IOM) in the code.

Hi!

I think it mostly comes down to pilot exp as the Hurricane isn´t that bad - on paper. But if you have a 80+ pilot in a Zero then your 70 exp pilot (after months of training) in a Hurricane is dead meat. I wasn´t in a position to attack but when will that be? In late 43 when I get decent numbers of Spitfires? The Hurricanes will be my number one British fighter(bomber) until late 43. I get 25 Spitfire Vb until then and that´s it. The Warhawks alone are not enough in numbers, even if they´ve done a good job so far. And when my opponent brings 120+ ships into range of all my front line airfields of India then I just have to attack. It´s better to lose my pilots while I destroy the same number of aircraft that I lost BUT I also sunk a lot of ships. CL Natori was the biggest one but if I would be the Japanese player, I wouldn´t be amused about this operation.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/22/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1074 encounters mine field at Akyab (30,29)

Allied Ships
DD Van Galen, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Van Galen is in sinking condition after hitting a Type 93 mine...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese Ships
PG Eifuku Maru, Shell hits 2
PG Eiko Maru
AK Kazan Maru
AK Daishu Maru

Allied Ships
CL Newcastle
DD Isaac Sweers

we could sink all those ships but the battle is over in no time...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese Ships
DD Nowaki, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PG Saga
PG Chosa Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 12

Allied Ships
CA Devonshire, Shell hits 2
DD Van Galen, on fire, heavy damage

Amazing to see that Nowaki was still not sunk, but it was a floating wreck already and sunk after another 3x8 inch hits... Chosa Maru should be finished also...

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

Japanese Ships
SS I-168

Allied Ships
MSW Rampur
MSW Cuttack
MSW Baroda

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 4 encounters mine field at Akyab (30,29)

Japanese Ships
PG Eifuku Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 28,31

Japanese Ships
AK Hirota Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PC Ch 17
PC Takunan Maru #5

Allied Ships
SS KVII

attack on retiring convoys...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 27,33

Japanese Ships
AP Zenyo Maru, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Permit

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kai Island , at 39,78

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 44
Ki-21 Sally x 22
Ki-48 Lily x 26
Ki-49 Helen x 12

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 23

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 125th IJNAF Base Force, at 100,64


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 43


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 20000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby Defense Brigade, at 54,92

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 3

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x A6M2 Zero bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on No. 112 RAN Base Force, at 54,92

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x A6M2 Zero bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Lautem at 33,78

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 31
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 15

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 5
B-26B Marauder x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 11 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 3 destroyed, 14 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Hikade Maru
AK Asosan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
APD APD-34, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet

we sent 200 B-25, B-26 to Darwin to attack the spotted convoy. Only 4 B-25 launch but nearly all my Marauders. We lose 6 bombers of this attack, so nearly 10% were lost (would that be realistic? Steve wants to see 40 lost...) but with a high morale from resting a long time again the bombers get through and sink APD-34 with 6x500lb GP bombs. Hortlund isn´t happy about that of course but the way he´s playing it out is more than strange to me. Yes, the Allied bombers are hard to stop BUT: he has 200+ fighters dispersed on 3 bases on Timor. When he sends in a convoy, why on earth isn´t he concentrating those fighters at the base he sends his convoy???? [8|] It´s a level 4 or 5 airfield at Lautern so all those fighters would easily fit there and he would put up a Cap of around 130-150 fighters! And this would be easily enough to take down 30 bombers (means 50%!!!!) and damaging all other. Would mean those bombers wouldn´t attack tomorrow again, those bomber groups would be again out of action for 2 weeks. If he just acts amateurish then what should I do about that? Telling him how he should act? Best thing I would stand down my bombers so even if he brings his convoys in range of hundreds of Allied bombers all the time he would be safe... And so far he never tried to bring in ONE BIG TF so he hasn´t to come every second week again, he comes in with TFs of 4 or 5 ships and has to do that the next week again...

SIG INT REPORT FOR 08/22/42

Radio transmissions detected at Noumea.
31410 men are based at Mutanchiang.
15th AA Regiment is located at 29,31.
South Seas Det. is located at Port Moresby.
18th Mixed Brigade is located at 45,35.
40th Construction Battalion is located at Dili.
252419 men are based at Takao.
Radio transmissions detected at Mili.
Radio transmissions detected at Niigata.
50th Heavy AA Battalion is loaded on AK,Busan Maru moving to Gili Gili.
Radio transmissions detected at Lunga.
34th Road Construction Battalion is located at Christmas Island.
14th Army is located at Rabaul.
4335 men are based at Kadina.
58th Construction Battalion is located at Takamatsu.
2nd Reserve AA Regiment is located at Tokyo.
19th Division is located at Port Arthur.
Radio transmissions detected at Lunga.
211848 men are based at Masan.
235648 men are based at Changkufeng.



While he wants to restrict the use of my bombers (stand down would be perfect) he brings more and more and more and more AA btn right to the front into some jungle bases...


Japan will soon have no more APDs left. Good to see those excellent ASW platforms sunk during unimportant supply missions... wrong decision to use them that way Steve! [:-]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/23/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 27,33

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 9
PC Ch 8
PC Ch 7
PG Kure Maru #5
PG Keiko Maru
PG Chohakusan Maru

Allied Ships
SS Permit, hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 27,33

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 9
PC Ch 8
PC Ch 7
PG Kure Maru #5
PG Keiko Maru
PG Chohakusan Maru

Allied Ships
SS Permit, hits 3, on fire

2 real hits, one near miss...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 132 encounters mine field at Akyab (30,29)

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 12
PG Chosa Maru, heavy damage
PG Saga

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 28,32

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 9
PC Ch 8
PC Ch 7
PG Kure Maru #5
PG Keiko Maru
PG Chohakusan Maru

Allied Ships
SS KVII, hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

3 real hits, immediately sunk... means one sub sunk another one in sinking condition. Japanese ASW works perfect so far, the only one that hasn´t checked that is Hortlund! [:D] He doesn´t need PC, PG, DD... he relies on air ASW. And with all the attacks and spottings I guess hundreds of Helens are on naval search or ASW patrol... [8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 63,71

Japanese Ships
AK Ryuzin Maru
PG Seikai Maru
MSW Hagoromo Maru

Allied Ships
SS Flying Fish

big convoy going to Truk. Torps mis...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kai Island , at 39,78

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 42
Ki-21 Sally x 22
Ki-48 Lily x 25
Ki-49 Helen x 12

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 24

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby Defense Brigade, at 54,92

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x A6M2 Zero bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 33,77


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 4


No Allied losses

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

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

The TF that was attacked at Lautern is retiring North. Only 4 bombers launch...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 27,31


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 18


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PG Eifuku Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PG Eiko Maru
AK Kazan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet

not a real good day for my bombers. Eifuku Maru at least takes a 1000lb bomb...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
A6M3 Zero x 30
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 14

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 4 damaged

low morale, all bombers turn back...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 29,30

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 8
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 8

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 3
B-26B Marauder x 22
IL-4c x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 3 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 1 damaged
IL-4c: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
PG Kure Maru #5
PC Ch 9

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x IL-4c bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet

leaking Cap from Akyab into the hex 120 miles SouthWest. All Marauders turn back, the rest achieves no hits...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,91


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 62


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Nissyu Maru, Bomb hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Tokuho Maru #5
AK Tatuno Maru, Bomb hits 17, on fire, heavy damage

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

3 TFs left Thursday Island and end up 2 hexes further South East in range of Cooktown´s bombers. This is again something that I wouldn´t call smart. Would the TFs go NORTHWEST they would have a longer way back to Truk (round New Guinea) but that would be safe. No, while he knows that Cooktown is full of my best bombers (B-17s) he still sends them straight back. I don´t feel for him...

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 6
A6M3 Zero x 52
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 22

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 21 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 destroyed, 27 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Bomb hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 10000 feet

The B-17s are now attacking at 10.000ft - just to make Hortlund happy. He told me if I think it´s okay to use them on 6000ft then I should go ahead and it really sounded like a pretty much pissed of 10 year old, so I decided to use them at 10.000t. He even changed his AAR title into "The giant is awake - and he is pissed"!!! [&:][:D] I can just point it out one more time! I have something around 90-100 B-17s and use them at naval attack. No more 4Es on the whole map, I don´t even use the LB-30 I could use. He has something like 500 Betties that are 20 times more a threat than my B-17s, all Betties drop torps. It really seems that people are so used to see unlimited torp attacks that they think that this was reality, because Hortlund never said a word about his super ability to use Betties (and I pointed that out a dozen times already), but he thinks that my 100 B-17s are the wonder weapon par excellence and the best would be I wouldn´t use them at all, so he could send his ships without any cover to front line bases. The way he acted so far is just careless and that´s why he lost nearly 400 ships.

Of course the fact that I use them at 10.000ft now will in Hortlund´s oppinion prove that I also think it was wrong to use them at 6000ft. Think I have to live with that. Unfortunately we think different in so many aspects of the game that I wonder how long it will really last. I just can´t accept house rules that primary restrict one side, while the other side can do what it wants. As soon as my Mitchels reach 80 exp (below 70 at the moment) I fear I will have to use them at 15.000ft then as they have the same bomb load like the B-17s while the Helens and Sallies will keep attacking shipping at 6000ft. A real problem is the fact that he just sees the GAME, while I see the MOD and the GAME ENGINE.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 27,31


Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 7


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Kazan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x IL-4c bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 50,91

Japanese Ships
AK Montreal Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS O21

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 28,34

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 17
PC Takunan Maru #5

Allied Ships
SS O24


here´s the intel screen. As you can see, with the recent ship losses, the Japanese have again the lead in points for ships lost. The losses in APs is amazing and now also more and more AKs are lost during troop transports. While Hortlund told me he wouldn´t need those APs, he now uses his AKs for troop transports but he will need those for transports of ressources and supplies. So this works perfectly for me and at some point it will get difficult for him to keep up bringing more ressources to the Home Islands than he needs there. Interesting is also that he lost 1000 aircraft more than me. The only ace he still has left are his high exp Zero daitais, really the only ace left. The score is far away to become a problem for me...

The only thing I´m really disappointed about is the loss of my 3BBs the BC and Yorktown as those losses could have mostly been avoided. The loss of my BBs was mostly a misinterpretation of the ability of my airdefense and the loss of Yorktown was because I was too lazy to plot a different path back to Brisbane when I´ve spotted the sub already for days. I was sure the 37 DDs would be enough to guard my CV.




In fact, when I look at the ship losses and don´t count the PTs I´ve lost, then Hortlund nearly has lost TWICE as many ships I did! [:D]

getting quiet again...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/24/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 27,32

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 9
PC Ch 8
PC Ch 7
PG Kure Maru #5
PG Keiko Maru
PG Chohakusan Maru

Allied Ships
SS Permit, heavy damage

Permit should make it home with 54 floatation, if she isn´t hit another time...

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

Japanese Ships
MSW Tokuho Maru #5

Allied Ships
SS KXIV

miss with two torps...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 125th IJNAF Base Force, at 100,64


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 45


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 20000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on No. 112 RAN Base Force, at 54,92

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 3

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x A6M2 Zero bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 29,30

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 7
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 20

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 destroyed, 14 damaged

Japanese Ships
PG Chosa Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet

3 Wellington lost today, 2 A2A and 1 to ops... Chosa Maru was sunk with 3x1000lb bombs...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Chandpur at 30,25

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 15
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
MSW Cromer, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Maryborough, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet

[:@][:@] I have two ASW Tfs operating out of Chandpur to hunt subs in the near area during the night and the MSW retire to Chandpur during the day movement phase to be under a Cap umbrella. That was the theory! The problem was that I moved in 200 fighters but didn´t order them to fly Cap. [>:]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/25/42

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

Japanese Ships
AK Ryoka Maru, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXIV

No surprise, the AK sunk immediately...

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

Japanese Ships
MSW Tokuho Maru #5

Allied Ships
SS KXIV

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kai Island , at 39,78

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 44
Ki-21 Sally x 45
Ki-48 Lily x 25
Ki-49 Helen x 11

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 21

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 125th IJNAF Base Force, at 100,64


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 39


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 20000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Chandpur at 30,25

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
A6M3 Zero x 16
B5N Kate x 22

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 21
P-40E Warhawk x 59
Hurricane IIc x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 12 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 5 destroyed, 6 damaged
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 4 destroyed, 13 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed, 15 damaged
Hurricane IIc: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
MSW Baroda, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Cuttack, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW Rampur, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet

Today I have not forgotten about my Cap but it´s disappointing when you see only 86 out of 150 operational fighters in the air. Nevertheless, this time the Zeroes had a hard time, being outnumbered, on escort and bounced most of the time during the engagement. Though we were only able to take down O N E Kate and Hortlund didn´t mention it in his email with a single word! Now hopefully he stops complaining about my superd duper fighters being able to take down 90-100% of his bombers EVERY time... Nikmod works regarding "leakers" for both sides, while I have to say leakers is the wrong word here when 21 out of 22 Kates make it through my Cap. But I´m really thankful about this attack, perhaps the screaming stops now... [;)]

The Warhawks performed excellent, even the Hurricanes were able to take down 3 Zeros for the loss of 4 of their own. 2 British pilots had to be drawn from the pool.



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

Japanese Ships
MSW Tokuho Maru #5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXIV

KXIV kill her second ship today. After sinking three ships, she retires from her combat patrol to Brisbane.

I have my own Lend-Lease going on in India/Burma. Thankfully, I have a HR in my PBEM game that allows TF to travel the west map edge and thus I was able to send 3 squadrons of Wildcats there and in 6 days (1/1/43) I start getting Corsairs, so i hope they do better against the A6M3a Zeros that are running through all but my best Hurricane squadrons. Hopefully, the Spitfires can take over for the best hurricane squadrons.
 
I feel your pain in that theater, but I look at it as my main source of attrition of his pilots as I have encourgaed him to attack over my bases and thus I lose more planes than pilots. I found the LB-30s are very good ASW planes once there experince is build up around India/Ceylon. Continue to use your B-17s on Naval Attack with a secondary mission of AF with PM and/or Gili Gili as their target. They seem to be almost immune to his fighters for now, so use them that way. [;)]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

I have my own Lend-Lease going on in India/Burma. Thankfully, I have a HR in my PBEM game that allows TF to travel the west map edge and thus I was able to send 3 squadrons of Wildcats there and in 6 days (1/1/43) I start getting Corsairs, so i hope they do better against the A6M3a Zeros that are running through all but my best Hurricane squadrons. Hopefully, the Spitfires can take over for the best hurricane squadrons.

I feel your pain in that theater, but I look at it as my main source of attrition of his pilots as I have encourgaed him to attack over my bases and thus I lose more planes than pilots. I found the LB-30s are very good ASW planes once there experince is build up around India/Ceylon. Continue to use your B-17s on Naval Attack with a secondary mission of AF with PM and/or Gili Gili as their target. They seem to be almost immune to his fighters for now, so use them that way. [;)]

even though the B-17s seem to be immune to his fighters, after one airfield attack 90% are damaged with a couple of bombers lost, so this seems not to be an option at the moment. We´re entering 9/42 soon and starting 10/42 I will get Lightnings (35/month) so this means starting in late 42 I will have escorts that can reach Thursday Island and Port Moresby. There will be Liberators also then and I hope to bomb those two bases to dust from an altitude around 20.000 ft... [:D]

Perhaps I should just use my CVs to escort a huge convoy to India, they don´t have anything to do at the moment anyway. My carriers are waiting for their 10/42 upgrade. I could also have another Brit carrier join the rest when I send them to India. Don´t know at the moment, I think I won´t do a big invasion with my carriers only at the moment. I need Lightnings and Liberators to supress airfields in the near of an invasion.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/26/42

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Day Air attack on Kai Island , at 39,78

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 43
Ki-21 Sally x 47
Ki-48 Lily x 27
Ki-49 Helen x 12

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 43

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet
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Day Air attack on 125th IJNAF Base Force, at 100,64


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 35


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 20000 feet

nothing happens but training runs from both sides. Unfortunately I need a spot where I can train my fighters, but I don´t have one. With an exp of around 50 I can´t use them at all... My fighter bombers with exp 70+ lose 7 or 8:1 against Zeroes...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/27/42

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Day Air attack on Kai Island , at 39,78

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 42
Ki-21 Sally x 50
Ki-48 Lily x 27
Ki-49 Helen x 12

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 56

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF at 27,31


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 5
IL-4c x 9


Allied aircraft losses
IL-4c: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 7
PG Chohakusan Maru
PG Keiko Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x IL-4c bombing at 6000 feet

another ASW TF is coming North, probably heading to Akyab. As we already know Hortlund doesn´t need his ASW ships. Can´t understand it, but that´s how it is. There are no subs of mine in this area at the moment so I don´t understand that he thinks it´s worth it to send his ships within range of my high exp bombers. And still he is lucky as only this small strike launches the whole day, even though we had 300 bombers on nav attack and excellent flight weather.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/28/42

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TF 115 encounters mine field at Victoria Point (25,39)

Japanese Ships
APD APD-39

what a pity the APD didn´t struck a mine. So far, Hortlund was never really interested to clear my sub laid mine fields - and he clearly suffered from them! I just think about the two VH2 mine hits on his BB!

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TF 134 encounters mine field at Akyab (30,29)

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 9, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 8
PG Kure Maru #5
PG Chohakusan Maru

another victim of a VH2 mine! [:D] Normally I consider sub laid mines more or less a wasted effort, but in this game they work excellent. It´s just a matter of what your opponent is doing. Still, I only use my 3 mine layer subs for mine laying missions and Argonaut is still in the repair yards with 30+ sys dam. The PC sunk later after taking a bomb from a bomber on nav search. Works great, first the ships take a mine, then they are finished by my search planes!

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Day Air attack on 225 Group RAF , at 30,28

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 24
Ki-51 Sonia x 5
Ki-21 Sally x 19
Ki-49 Helen x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 3 destroyed, 13 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 5 destroyed, 13 damaged


Allied ground losses:
159 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing at 2000 feet

This is an attack on my stack that is marching to Akyab. There are a lot of flak guns and the attacking bombers suffer. 14 aircraft are lost to flak in the end. Great way to reduce the Japanese pilot pool!

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Day Air attack on Kai Island , at 39,78

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 42
Ki-21 Sally x 50
Ki-48 Lily x 27
Ki-49 Helen x 11

No Japanese losses

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 71

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
A6M3 Zero x 29
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 48

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged

A lot of fighters in the air at the important bases in Burma. Finally Hortlund seems to have realized how important the Burma front is. Thank god our Marauders have a very low morale and most turn back before being shot down.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/29/42

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TF 5 encounters mine field at Rangoon (29,34)

Japanese Ships
PG Keiko Maru, heavy damage



silence.... [>:][>:][>:]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/30/42

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Day Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 11 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Shinyubari Maru
AK Tamishima Maru
AK Zogen Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AK Shojin Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Chikuzan Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 10000 feet

the only attack today and a very good example of what Hortlund is doing, while complaining about his inability to hurt my bombers. There are 50 figthers on Cap over Thursday Island, there are 100 fighters on Cap over Port Moresby and the place where he sends his supply convoy has 18!!!! Zeroes on Cap. [8|] Both other bases in this area have NO ships unloading supplies and still he keeps his two other bases very well capped but the IMPORTANT base has a tiny cap. Now he will again complain about why 18 Zeroes can´t stop 34 B-17s. At least I have them at 10.000ft now, so he can´t complain about the alt (or perhaps I will soon hear it´s ridicoulos also to attack at 10.000ft), while it´s okay that all 500 Betties can drop torps. I was pretty much sure that there won´t be much of a difference regarding hit rates between 6.000ft and 10.000ft so it´s not a real problem. Two of those small Aks are surely sunk. Perhaps he realized what he´s doing and puts up a bigger Cap tomorrow, so I have reduced the range of my bombers to 8 (distance to Gili Gili is 9). There are also Lightnings flying recon to Gili Gili so it will be interesting to see the number of aircraft on Cap.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/31/42

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TF 1065 troops unloading over beach at Umnak Island, 102,36



Allied ground losses:
61 casualties reported

first attempt to retake a base that was occupied by our enemy. While there are troops at Dutch Harbour (base to the East on the same island), there are no troops at Umnak Island. We dropped a USMC raider btn by fast transport and should seize the base tomorrow. The next base that has enemy aircraft is 20 hexes away. If we take Unmak Island tomorrow we will build it up (level 6 airfield possible) and then we will use it as training base for our new arrived fighter squadrons that will then attack Dutch Harbour.

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Day Air attack on Kai Island , at 39,78

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 11
Ki-21 Sally x 24
Ki-48 Lily x 27
Ki-49 Helen x 10

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 44

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

and the daily Japanese training raid to Kai Island...


my recon reported 30 Zeroes on Cap today over Gili Gili, so there were 12 more in the air than yesterday, but this would have been again completely insufficient against an incoming B-17 raid. I don´t understand Hortlund. There were still 100+ fighters on Cap over Port Moresby. I should have let my B-17s on nav attack 9 hexes to attack the rest of this convoy. Oh well, 2 AKs out of 6 reported are sunk.

What is the size of your sub force in India?? 
Besides the British and some Dutch subs, I like to send most of the American Fleet subs with an endurance of 11,000 there to assist them and then use most of the subs to mine various hexes from Ragoon to Singapore. With him running so much back and forth to Akyab, I would form 2 sub minelaying TF and start sending them out from one or both Ceylon ports.

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

What is the size of your sub force in India?? 
Besides the British and some Dutch subs, I like to send most of the American Fleet subs with an endurance of 11,000 there to assist them and then use most of the subs to mine various hexes from Ragoon to Singapore. With him running so much back and forth to Akyab, I would form 2 sub minelaying TF and start sending them out from one or both Ceylon ports.

not much subs left to use out of India. So forming them into mine laying TFs would mostly only bring two dozen mines into position. One mine layer sub alone can carry 48 mines. The subs I have in India are being mostly used for sub patrol but it´s just too dangerous to stay in the area when they have to face a hundred Helens on ASW duty. All my US subs are operating out of Australia, but at the moment I want to have most of them in port to get a complete repair to do their most important upgrade in 10/42. With radar I will send them out in dozens again. Hopefully we can then continue the excellent warfare we were able to do in the early months of the war.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/01/42

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Day Air attack on Kai Island , at 39,78

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 11
Ki-21 Sally x 20
Ki-48 Lily x 22
Ki-49 Helen x 11

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 19

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet
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Sub attack at 63,71

Japanese Ships
TK Rikko Maru

Allied Ships
SS Triton

[:@] we miss the lucky big TK... hits on TKs would be very important... attack happened a couple of hexes North of Truk...

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Ground combat at Umnak Island

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 700 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 27

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

Allied max assault: 26 - adjusted assault: 8

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Umnak Island base !!!

hurrey!! First base seized from the enemy! We will now build it up as fast as possible.