Matrix Games Forums

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

P400's do it again

In all honesty I am not sure HL sweeps are broken - I whined a fair bit about it but now that I am further on actually I realise it was just that my pilots were crap.

When I got my act together constant long range high level sweeps are what I hope for.

PZB in our game has been sweeping Alice Springs against 50 - 60 xp and A2A and defence P400's and losing with top of the line Zero pilots.

Training Armour and Firepower seem to be winning out and evening the odds.

The issue I potentially have is getting pilots to 60 Exp, 60 A2A and 60 Defensive where you would actually be willing to put them in a fight is a PITA and takes 4 months from pilots being drawn from the pool which means defact we are doing all operational training on map but it does work.

Allies in first 6 months are always short of good pilots and I think its this factor thats giving the whiners a field day yes there is a sweep bonus but I suspect its just not understanding the game we are playing now thats causing some of the grief. (me included)

Andy what are you doing in terms of training your pilots? My PBEM vs Rainer is one month ahead yours now and I´ve got HUNDREDS ! of 70 air skill fighter pilots in my reserve pool. Granted, they don´t have 60 or 70 exp as this is something you won´t ever reach it seems but for combat skill is enough. Every US fighter pilot shot down during the war will be replaced with an air skill 70 from my pool from now on. And this wasn´t any different a month ago. I guess I´ve reached the day when I had ample 70 skilled pilots in the pool sometime in March.

Me as one of the whiners you mention, has had his frontline squadrons equipped with 70 skilled pilots in February. So no, the high alt sweeps have not kicked my a$$ because I´ve forgot about training my pilots. From day one of my campaign on I´ve put hours and hours into training my pilots and moving them to the pool (every second turn I sure spend halve an hour for looking at my training squadrons). As I´ve got more than enough pilots now I will probably only look at the training squadrons every fourth turn as it´s time consuming and not worth doing anyway with my pool drowning in 70 skilled pilots. If an Allied player hasn´t reached a vast pilot surplus stock in May at the latest then he has been pretty lazy IMO. [:D] With the given number of sqadrons on the map and the given number of aircraft replacements throughout the years until mid 44 I can produce several 70 skilled pilots for every single ac that I get.

Problem is my Japanese opponents are training pilots just as fast if not faster. And they get the free bomber training bonus in China. So far I don't like this aspect of the game. Too easy for Japan to crank out good pilots.

Oops something has went wrong my reinforcements for Whyalla have diverted something is up !!!

Oh just had there movement reset ok I can deal with that

Yup its no raid its a full all out attempt and it could still be either target although I now think Portland is really unlikely

 Its an out an out race with my LCU's covering the rail and road net en route to the coast.

My strategic reserve that was sitting already en trained has now arrived and are detraining

Secondary reserves from the East Coast have finished training up and are en route but I suspect I will need the second echelon to give me a chance at stopping him.

Today was not a bad day we took down 22 Zeroes but it cost me 50+

I have another 200 aircraft at Sydney and Melbourne ready to replace the Sqns when they are totally depleted looks like my pilots achieved something today  a few transports got hit by 1000 pounders

Tomorrow my fleet will move into position ready for a mad dash to death or glory tomorrow

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 22, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Esperance
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
 
2 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
 
Japanese Ships
      xAK Asakasan Maru
      xAK Yasukawa Maru
      LSD Akitsu Maru
 
 
 
xAK Asakasan Maru firing at enemy troops
xAK Yasukawa Maru firing at enemy troops
LSD Akitsu Maru firing at enemy troops
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Christmas Island
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
 
6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
 
Japanese Ships
      PB Showa Maru #5
      xAK Ryoyo Maru
 
 
 
PB Showa Maru #5 firing at enemy troops
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Tsu  at 108,63
 
Japanese Ships
      PB Sonan Maru #5
      PB Shuko Maru #5
 
Allied Ships
      SS Saury
 
 
 
SS Saury is located by PB Sonan Maru #5
Saury diving deep ....
PB Shuko Maru #5 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shuko Maru #5 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shuko Maru #5 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shuko Maru #5 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shuko Maru #5 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Christmas Island
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
 
5 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
 
Japanese Ships
      PB Showa Maru #5
      xAK Ryoyo Maru
 
 
 
PB Showa Maru #5 firing at enemy troops
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Christmas Island
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
 
9 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
 
Japanese Ships
      PB Showa Maru #5
      xAK Ryoyo Maru
 
 
 
PB Showa Maru #5 firing at enemy troops
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Sale  at 87,173
 
Japanese Ships
      SS I-2, hits 1
 
Allied Ships
      DD Walke
      DD Blue
      DD Bagley
 
 
 
SS I-2 launches 4 torpedoes at DD Walke
I-2 diving deep ....
DD Blue fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Bagley attacking submerged sub ....
DD Bagley fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Bagley fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Bagley fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Bagley fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rockhampton , at 95,152
 
Weather in hex: Light rain
 
Raid spotted at 31 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 19
 
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      19 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 18000 feet
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on NW Aus Aviation Rgt , at 74,143 (Alice Springs)
 
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
 
Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 7
 
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       7 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet *
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 31st Chinese Corps, at 72,55 (Nanning)
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ia Oscar x 7
 
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       7 x Ki-43-Ia Oscar sweeping at 15000 feet
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 31st Chinese Corps, at 72,55 (Nanning)
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid spotted at 35 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-21-Ic Sally x 20
 
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-21-Ic Sally: 1 damaged
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      6 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      20 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 15000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
 
Also attacking 64th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 31st Chinese Corps ...
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kingscote at 72,162
 
Weather in hex: Light cloud
 
Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 24
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Kittyhawk IA x 7
      P-39D Airacobra x 12
      P-40E Warhawk x 17
      SB2U-3 Vindicator x 15
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Kittyhawk IA: 3 destroyed
      P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
      P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
      SB2U-3 Vindicator: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
      xAP Buenos Aires Maru
      xAK Shinanogawa Maru
      xAP Kamo Maru, Bomb hits 1,  heavy fires
      xAK Manila Maru, Bomb hits 1
 
Japanese ground losses:
      337 casualties reported
         Squads: 3 destroyed, 6 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
      Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       3 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 3000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
       1 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 2000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
       1 x P-39D Airacobra sweeping at 12000 feet
       1 x Kittyhawk IA sweeping at 10000 feet *
       2 x P-40E Warhawk sweeping at 15000 feet *
       4 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 4000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kingscote at 72,162
 
Weather in hex: Light cloud
 
Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 5
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Buffalo I x 2
      Hurricane IIb Trop x 2
      Beaufort V x 6
      Hudson III (LR) x 3
      Kittyhawk IA x 2
      A-24 Banshee x 13
      P-38E Lightning x 9
      P-40E Warhawk x 14
      SBD-3 Dauntless x 3
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Beaufort V: 2 damaged
      A-24 Banshee: 4 damaged
      SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
      CL Tama
      xAP Buenos Aires Maru, Bomb hits 1
      xAK Johore Maru
      xAP Suwa Maru
      xAK Kashiwara Maru
      xAP Mizuho Maru, Bomb hits 4,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
      BB Haruna, Bomb hits 2
 
Japanese ground losses:
      82 casualties reported
         Squads: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
         Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       6 x Beaufort V bombing from 10000 feet
               Naval Attack:  4 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
       2 x Kittyhawk IA sweeping at 12000 feet
       7 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 3000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
       2 x Buffalo I sweeping at 22000 feet
       3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
       3 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 10000 feet
               Naval Attack:  4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
       3 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 4000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
       3 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 4000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
       3 x P-40E Warhawk sweeping at 12000 feet
       7 x P-38E Lightning sweeping at 17000 feet
 
CAP engaged:
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      2 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
 
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Mizuho Maru
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kingscote at 72,162
 
Weather in hex: Light cloud
 
Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIb Trop x 4
      A-24 Banshee x 16
 
 
Allied aircraft losses
      A-24 Banshee: 3 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
      xAK Johore Maru, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
      xAK Shinanogawa Maru, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
      BB Haruna,  on fire
      xAP Mizuho Maru, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
      E Kiku, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
 
Japanese ground losses:
      175 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
         Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 5 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       3 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 2000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
       2 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 2000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
       3 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 3000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
       4 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 4000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
       4 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 4000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
 
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Mizuho Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring E Kiku
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 9th Infantry Regiment, at 74,143 (Alice Springs)
 
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
 
Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
 
 
Allied aircraft
      B-25C Mitchell x 10
      P-400 Airacobra x 6
 
 
No Allied losses
 
Japanese ground losses:
      28 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 5000 feet *
               Ground Attack:  3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
Also attacking 20th Recon Regiment ...
Also attacking 9th Infantry Regiment ...
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on NW Aus Aviation Rgt , at 74,143 (Alice Springs)
 
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
 
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      G4M1 Betty x 11
 
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      27 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      11 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 15000 feet
               Ground Attack:  2 x 250 kg GP Bomb,  4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kingscote at 71,162
 
Weather in hex: Overcast
 
Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 1
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Albacore I x 6
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Albacore I: 2 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
      xAK Sumiyoshi Maru
      xAK Nako Maru, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
 
Japanese ground losses:
      74 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       3 x Albacore I bombing from 3000 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       3 x Albacore I bombing from 5000 feet
               Naval Attack:  2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kingscote at 72,162
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 20
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Buffalo I x 2
      Hudson III (LR) x 3
      Kittyhawk IA x 8
      P-39D Airacobra x 5
      P-40E Warhawk x 16
      SBD-3 Dauntless x 12
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
      Hudson III (LR): 1 damaged
      Kittyhawk IA: 2 destroyed
      P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed
      P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
      SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
      AK Kinka Maru, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
      xAK Shinanogawa Maru,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
      xAP Kamo Maru, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
      xAP Suwa Maru
      xAK Manila Maru, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
Japanese ground losses:
      125 casualties reported
         Squads: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
         Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 17 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
      Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       1 x Kittyhawk IA sweeping at 12000 feet *
       1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
       3 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 10000 feet
               Naval Attack:  4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
       2 x P-40E Warhawk sweeping at 12000 feet *
       1 x Kittyhawk IA sweeping at 10000 feet *
       2 x P-40E Warhawk sweeping at 15000 feet *
       3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
       8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      3 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      3 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      3 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
 
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Shinanogawa Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Kamo Maru
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kingscote at 71,162
 
Weather in hex: Overcast
 
Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 7
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Beaufort V x 6
      Hudson III (LR) x 3
      A-24 Banshee x 9
      P-38E Lightning x 13
      SB2U-3 Vindicator x 3
      SBD-3 Dauntless x 3
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      P-38E Lightning: 3 destroyed
 
Japanese Ships
      xAP Hakozaki Maru, Bomb hits 3,  on fire
      AK Hirokawa Maru
      xAP Yoshino Maru, Bomb hits 2,  on fire
      AK Azumasan Maru
      xAK Bunzan Maru, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
 
Japanese ground losses:
      330 casualties reported
         Squads: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
         Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 39 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       6 x Beaufort V bombing from 10000 feet
               Naval Attack:  4 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
       3 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 2000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
       3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
       3 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 10000 feet
               Naval Attack:  4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
       3 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 3000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
       3 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 2000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
       3 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 4000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kingscote at 71,162
 
Weather in hex: Overcast
 
Raid spotted at 45 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 23
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      B-17D Fortress x 3
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      B-17D Fortress: 3 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
      xAK Sumiyoshi Maru
      xAK Bunzan Maru, and is sunk
 
Japanese ground losses:
      54 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       3 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
               Naval Attack:  4 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      5 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      5 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kingscote at 71,162
 
Weather in hex: Overcast
 
Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 21
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      A-24 Banshee x 6
      P-39D Airacobra x 2
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      A-24 Banshee: 3 destroyed
      P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
 
Japanese Ships
      xAK Sumiyoshi Maru, Bomb hits 1,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
      xAK Zenyo Maru, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
 
Japanese ground losses:
      180 casualties reported
         Squads: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
         Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 11 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 7 (0 destroyed, 7 disabled)
 
 
 
CAP engaged:
Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      3 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
      2 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuikaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      5 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Akagi-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
Shokaku-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000
      Raid is overhead
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Christmas Island
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
 
5 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
 
Japanese Ships
      PB Showa Maru #5
      xAK Ryoyo Maru
 
 
 
PB Showa Maru #5 firing at enemy troops
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Alice Springs (74,143)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 10253 troops, 120 guns, 384 vehicles, Assault Value = 408
 
Defending force 4237 troops, 35 guns, 111 vehicles, Assault Value = 124
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 182
 
Allied adjusted defense: 203
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      191 casualties reported
         Squads: 2 destroyed, 11 disabled
         Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 23 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Vehicles lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      398 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
         Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 58 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
      Vehicles lost 35 (32 destroyed, 3 disabled)
 
 
Assaulting units:
    26th Recon Regiment
    9th Infantry Regiment
    48th Recon Regiment
    20th Recon Regiment
    1st Recon Regiment
    8th Tank Regiment
    8th Recon Regiment
    Yokosuka Assault SNLF /14
    3rd Mortar Battalion
    8th RF Gun Battalion
 
Defending units:
    2nd Recce Battalion
    3rd Australian Brigade
    Tennant Creek RAAF Base Force
    107th RN Base Force
    10th Patl RAAF Wing
    24th NZ Pioneer Coy
    Katherine RAAF Base Force
    1st Fgtr RAAF Wing
    NW Aus Aviation Rgt /15
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Christmas Island (174,141)
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 2677 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 93
 
Defending force 679 troops, 2 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 3
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 57
 
Allied adjusted defense: 3
 
Japanese assault odds: 19 to 1 (fort level 2)
 
Japanese forces CAPTURE Christmas Island !!!
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(-), preparation(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: disruption(-)
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      905 casualties reported
         Squads: 5 destroyed, 3 disabled
         Non Combat: 117 destroyed, 52 disabled
         Engineers: 19 destroyed, 3 disabled
      Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 9 (8 destroyed, 1 disabled)
      Units destroyed 2
 
 
Assaulting units:
    18th Naval Guard Unit
    I/19th Naval Guard Unit
    31st Infantry Rgt /6
 
Defending units:
    Christmas USN CPNAB
    E Det USN Port Svc
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Geraldton (49,141)
 
Allied Bombardment attack
 
Attacking force 585 troops, 15 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 178
 
Defending force 9945 troops, 143 guns, 153 vehicles, Assault Value = 342
 
Japanese ground losses:
      31 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      3 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
Assaulting units:
    Geraldton Fortress
    276th Coastal Artillery Battalion
    10th Light Horse Battalion
    27th Infantry/C Division
    1st RAN Base Force
 
Defending units:
    2nd Tank Regiment
    65th Brigade
    16th Recon Regiment
    20th Infantry Regiment
    1st Engineer Co
    40th Field AA Battalion
    2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
    18th Mountain Gun Regiment
 

Despite the nearly 3:1 loss rate I am pretty happy with how my pilots performed they got the job done and a lot of my sqns had aircraft in reserve.

So tomorrow I will attrit a bit more wait and see where he lands and then I will send in my carriers to deal with KB and my battle line will go in to attack the landing grounds

7 Battleships, 17 Cruisers and 40 Destroyers and I will split them into 7 or 8 SCTF's with orders to base themselves at whatever port he invades so they will stay on station

Even if my carriers lose the battle with KB my SCTF's will hopefully annihalate a large part of the japanese merchant marine and will hopefully be covered by LBA CAP

This feels like a really really dumb attack this could win the war for the allies in one day if I destroy enough of his transport fleet - it may in face be briliiant I may be 100% wrong but attacking over 2000 miles from a friendly port with a minimal carrier advantage (less now as I killed about 35 carrier aircraft so far) into the teeth of massed LBA.

If he bombards to neutralise my LBA advantage (ignoring all the inland bases) then my SCTF's that he knows from sub contacts are in the area get a free ride.

Tomorrow is a key day but the real test will come the day after when I commit my fleet



Andy

Am I missing something ??

This feels completely barmy - even if he wins the attritional damage he will take will kill him this feels like a real strategic over reach if he had Perth maybe but without Perth as a port close to hand this attack just feels crazy

The japanese get what about 11 Divs at start that are free to attack plus 3 for Scen 2 and maybe another 3 that he has bought out ??

So thats about 17 Divs total

2 - 3 on the Townsville front
1 at Geraldton

Maybe another 3 in Burma any less would be nuts

Assuming he has left 1 on java to stop me landing direct from Capetown

Maybe another one at Truk or Rabaul as a reserve

1 at Alice Springs - That means at best he can have about 7 or 8 Divs.

In 8 days I will have 6 Divs in the line so thats not a huge edge to be taking me on with

I do wonder if this is still a bluff

The forces that are there so far more are en route

Schedule of reinforcements

Day + 1
182nd US Regt Adeilade

Day + 2
2nd USMC Tank Regt Port Augusta

Day + 3
159th Mot Regt Portland
4th Aus Cav Bde Adeilade

Day + 4
2nd USMC Regt Port Augusta

Day 7 - 10
40th US Div
3rd Aus Div
5th Aus Div
2/7th Armoured Regt
6th Aus Cav Bde
2nd Aus Cav Bde

This is better than watching a Packers/Bears game (Manchester United/Liverpool match for the rest of the world)- but only getting to see one side of the game. I have been only reading your AAR for many weeks now.

Some thoughts:

I think that combat reports for bomb hits are fairly accurate so those transports are sunk or sinking. Those pilots have lot exp levels so you did well with what you had at hand. Keep sending the B17 and B25s at the fleet. They tend to ignore Zeros but will make them attack you thus soaking up air time.

Fatigue must be an issue for the troops aboard-they must have been at sea for a while now.

I would not expect KB to be overly weakened by the fighting to date. At this stage in the war, the pilot superiority really helps. 30 fighters down is probably 10% or less depending on what he brought to the party. You might want to harry his forces for another day or two before committing your CV's. He probably has twice the air power you have with higher exp pilots. If you have some P38's to LRCAP your CV's that might make a difference. I have never successfully sent the 4 early war US CVs against KB. On the other hand, I never had to worry about KB around Portland!!!


Good luck.

Quite the lineup you have marching in. His troops have to be in bad shape along time on board those ships, and he no longer has the amphib bonus anymore. You should be able to throw him off the beaches easily depending on what he brought to the party. Keep pressing those naval attacks, the more transports you slam here far away from any friendly ports will cost him badly.

ORIGINAL: Andy Mac

Am I missing something ??

This feels completely barmy - even if he wins the attritional damage he will take will kill him this feels like a real strategic over reach if he had Perth maybe but without Perth as a port close to hand this attack just feels crazy

I've been following this AAR for a while, and my reaction was the same as yours on seeing the last map you posted. Seems to me he's gambling the entire Empire on one very high-risk operation.

Having said that, the one way he can win is if this is his version of the historical Midway plan. His hope must be that you feel compelled to commit your CVs at a disadvantage. Throw in as many SCTFs and LBA groups as you like, but in your place I'd still be conservative with the CVs. Whatever happens though he doesn't deserve a win. This plan is mad. (based on knowledge from this AAR only - I haven't read his for a month or so).

I am an IJN player and from my expirience he is just insane.

Oz can be taken but only after a blokade and the anihilation of most of allied CV and no later than a middle of 42.

4 USN carriers are an equivalent of 12 IJN carriers. Kido Butai or not, if "they" wont screw coordination and You will not faile with settings You will win.

Have You considered to fight defensive carrier battle? Only cap and LBFs LR cap on day one?

If you have 4 biggies You should won.

Take care!

[:)]

ORIGINAL: WITPPL

I am an IJN player and from my expirience he is just insane.

Oz can be taken but only after a blokade and the anihilation of most of allied CV and no later than a middle of 42.

4 USN carriers are an equivalent of 12 IJN carriers. Kido Butai or not, if "they" wont screw coordination and You will not faile with settings You will win.

Have You considered to fight defensive carrier battle? Only cap and LBFs LR cap on day one?

If you have 4 biggies You should won.

Take care!

[:)]

any reason why you think 4 US carriers are the equivalent of 12 IJN carriers? Granted, there aren´t 12 IJN fleet carriers in the game at this date but I can guarantee you that 12 IJN fleet carriers whipe the floor with 4 US carriers in 999 out of 1000 days. If you only take an average of 60 ac on each IJN carrier you would get 720 IJN aircraft vs. 360 US aircraft (4x90). Add in the higher number of IJN torpedo bombers that actually carry working torps vs. the non working USN torps and you even get a better ratio of strike aircraft. No idea why the USN should win in such encounters.

I do not want to start a discussion here. It is Andy's AAR after all.

I wrote this wrong: Just to be sure to win, IJN need 2 big carriers per allied 1. And it is still risky.

Under this circumstances in this particural example (damage levels, distance to major ports, subs activities) Andy 4 carriers are an equivalent of IJN 12 in my opinion.
Of Course PzB can not have 12 so Andy will win.

It was a short cut. Sorry.

P.S.
Your calculation of total number of planes are correct but Fighters are much more important now. Counting fihgters we are nearly even. Better AA and damage control and proximity of port instalations favors USN here. Plus torpedoe planes are less important than DBs in a carrier battle.

4 USN carriers are an equivalent of 12 IJN carriers. Kido Butai or not, if "they" wont screw coordination and You will not faile with settings You will win.

Can you provide an example of 4 USN carriers defeating 12 IJN carriers this early in the war? Andy may not have even upgraded to F4F-4s yet on all his CV's.

WTIPPL must not be keeping up with the Shattered Vow AAR. You can't say that the fighters predominant at this stage because of the effect of shooting up the first waves, neutralizing the effect of the CAP for later waves. As at Midway or the Battle of Morotai in the Shattered Vow scenario - several waves of attacks where the escort/CAP ratio was 1-5 put the Allied CAP largely out of commission for other waves to come up and cripple the receiving fleet.

It can be very individualized and chancy to fight a defensive carrier battle, even at even odds or superiority - you may massacre the pilots like the Marianas turkey shoot or the Battle of Darwin in the Shattered Vow AAR, or you can wind up with a crippled fleet when the final waves come in. The Japanese TB pilots are so good that it doesn't take many survivors to put 2-4 CV's under.

To amplify, one strike with 1 CV's attack group that gets through unmolested can easily sink 2 or cripple 3 USN CVs.

I sorta agree with the logic
 
I have 4 CV's and an RN CV with 400 aircraft between them.
 
If he has 6 CV's at say 60 per so thats 400 ish when you add in a couple of CVL/CVE's
 
He has lost 30 ish already.
 
So at worst its even odds.
 
Still not turn so i dont know which base he has landed at.
 
The purpose in sending my cariers into battle win lose or draw is simple - kill his carrier aircraft
 
Win lose or draw if I remove KB as a fighting force even if its at the cost of my own carriers his transports are dead meat to my SCTF's he cannot have the edge over me in SCTF's not this far from home - he cannot have the gas to keep them moving.
 
At best he will have the Kongos
 
I have 7 old but still dangerous BB's and over 30 Cruisers and 60 ish DD's if I kill a large chunk of his transports its game over his economy will implode.
 
Thats a prize worth losing my carriers for - if I lose them at all.
 
So when he is at anchor unloading I will hit him with a full on toe to toe slugging match between my birdfarms and his at the same time as massed SCTF's go in and kill his transports.
 
And even if I lose round one I have 400+ aircraft in reserve to keep attriting the transports.
 
IMO this is a no win scenario for PZB - even if the carrier battle is totally one sided it will leave his birdfarms as toothless wrecks.
 
My biggest fear is that he cuts and runs now (as I did at marianas when I realised I was in trouble last game) he is a good enough player to put 2 and 2 together and bug out.
 
I think he will feel pot committed and go for it I don't think he can get away from this hand.
 
Andy

I don't disagree that after a landing and another round of attrition attacking his troop escorts and perhaps him attacking SCTF's, it would be time to commit, but not until you have a sitting duck target. that KB is tied to defending.

From my expirience,

Surface TFs on patrol in the night with range set to 3 - 4 hexes are DEADLY.

If he will turn then He is still at Your disposal with slow transports.