Matrix Games Forums

September 21, 1942

A DOINK

Sub attack near Ominato at 120,54

Japanese Ships
xAK Kaimei Maru
xAK Rasin Maru
PB Ichiyo Maru

Allied Ships
SS Grunion

SS Grunion launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Kaimei Maru
=============================================
30 x B-17Es bombed Rabaul in Thunderstorms and did minimal damage
No opposition
==============================================
Troops landed at Lunga, no opposition shown.

September 22, 1942

And another DOINK
Sub attack near Ominato at 121,54

Japanese Ships
xAK Kaimei Maru
PB Ichiyo Maru

Allied Ships
SS Grouper

SS Grouper launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Kaimei Maru
====================================================
I occupied Lunga today

Thirty B-17Es bombed Rabaul airfield today for 5 airbase hits and 11 runway hits

September 23, 1942

For some reason the P-38s did not sweep, weather maybe?

Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 45

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 11 damaged

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 26

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 13000.
Raid is overhead
13th Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 13000.
Raid is overhead



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

Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 65 minutes
13th Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes



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

Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
13th Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
====================================================================================

September 24, 1942

He used Ki-45 KAIa Nicks to sweep Cox's Bazaar. I had aircraft flying LRCAP from Chittagong.
I saw a lot of damaged results during the replay, but none showed up on the CR.
Cox's Bazaar now has a size 1 airfield so I will move some Hurricanes there and put them on CAP

Morning Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Extreme overcast

Raid detected at 41 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 36

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIa Trop x 6
Hurricane IIb Trop x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick sweeping at 23000 feet

CAP engaged:
No.17 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIa Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
No.136 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIb Trop (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
51st FG/16th FS with P-40E Warhawk (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
23rd FG/75th FS with P-40E Warhawk (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead

September 25, 1942

So he tried night bombing Cox's Bazaar. But, Sallys with 4 x 250kg bombs are not going to do much
damage at night.

1 Sally lost to ops for 1 runway hit and 2 damaged Hurricanes. I can accept that.

Night Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 49

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 2 damaged

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
11 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
11 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



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

Night Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 9

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



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

Night Air attack on Cox's Bazar , at 54,43

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 9

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

=========================================================

This seems odd:


Southwest Area Fleet is located at Tokyo(114,60).

Isn't that HQ supposed to be in Java somewhere?

And I wonder why this unit is here and not in Burma somewhere.


8th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion is located at Sunwu(113,34).

===============================================

Anyone reading this and ending up playing me should know I read all
the reports every turn.

September 26, 1942

Just a bit of bombing near to Cox's Bazaar

Morning Air attack on 16th Light Cavalry Regiment, at 55,44 (Donbaik)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 28

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



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

Morning Air attack on 16th Light Cavalry Regiment, at 55,44 (Donbaik)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
33 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



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

Morning Air attack on 16th Light Cavalry Regiment, at 55,44 (Donbaik)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 4 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 33

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
33 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
=====================================

AK Titania finished her repairs today.

September 27, 1942

He tried night bombing at Chittagong, it is a clear hex so I will have to put
a few fighters up on night CAP. I have one of the AA Brigades there so flack is heavy.
He flew 64 Sally bombers in 5 waves for 1 runway hit and 4 damaged P-40Es. He lost one Sally
to flack and one to ops.
================================================
I flew 44 P-38Fs over Rabaul, downed 6 A6M2s for no A2A losses. I lost one to ops, pilot survived.
He does not seem to have radar at Rabaul, time to target was 9, 4, 7 minutes.

have you had any naval dust-ups worth mentioning? Your opponent is well past the amphib bonus so it seems odd to me he didnt seem at least feint a press anywhere. perhaps just building that solid defensive perimeter and conserving fuel.

Nope, no naval battles at all the I can remember. I did hit a few amphibious TFs early on. I lost a number of
Dutch and British CLs in the DEI trying to interfere with his landings. I have sunk 74 of his ships for 942 points
and lost 92 ships for 1011 points. I lost 2 BBs at PH on day 1. I do think his total is inflated because the
CV Akagi is shown as sunk and I do not think it is. That is 371 points difference.

It does seem he is digging in somewhere, and is going to wait for me to attack him.

September 28, 1942

A DOINK and a BOOM
Sub attack near Shikotan at 125,54

Japanese Ships
xAK Kensin Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Magane Maru
PB Okuyo Maru #2

Allied Ships
SS Growler

SS Growler launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Kensin Maru
========================================================
He changed his night bombing to Silchar, not what he wanted
Flak at Silchar is pretty good

Night Air attack on Silchar , at 59,39

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 94 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 11 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 destroyed by flak

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
7 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



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

Night Air attack on Silchar , at 59,39

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 3 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



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

Night Air attack on Silchar , at 59,39

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
======================================================
My sweeps over Rabaul found no aircraft on patrol

September 29, 1942

Me bombing at Rabaul

Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 13 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 16

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet *



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

Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 13 NM, estimated altitude 45,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 16

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet *



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

Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 51

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
ACM Toshi Maru #3, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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

Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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

Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 42,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 15

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet *
6 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet *

Sinking an ACM means I should expect to find mines at Rabaul

There has been a small TF, looks like some PBs hanging out at Rabaul
the last few turns. I expect that he is trying to lure me into a minefield.
I have moved a Aussie FB squadron and a B-25C Squadron, both trained in LowN
and set them for Naval Attack. I wonder if they will fly?

ORIGINAL: Nomad

Nope, no naval battles at all the I can remember. I did hit a few amphibious TFs early on. I lost a number of
Dutch and British CLs in the DEI trying to interfere with his landings. I have sunk 74 of his ships for 942 points
and lost 92 ships for 1011 points. I lost 2 BBs at PH on day 1. I do think his total is inflated because the
CV Akagi is shown as sunk and I do not think it is. That is 371 points difference.

It does seem he is digging in somewhere, and is going to wait for me to attack him.

Digging in at this date without a need due to losses seems a bit early to me. As soon as you hand over the initiative it's game over for the Japanese. As long as one keeps the Allied busy and losing stuff it's hard to build up in 42 until mid 43. If you aren't pressed as the Allied you will have enough stuff to easily push in the door in early 43.

Amazing that you can bomb Rabaul from 10000ft end of Sep 42 without any flak there. He doesn't seem to see Rabaul an important base, for me it has always been as important as Port Moresby in that region.

September 30, 1942

More bombing at Rabaul

Opposition is minimal, I lost one B-17E to flak
There were a number of sweeps with P-38s that met no CAP

Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 42

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 25

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 64th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking Rabaul ...


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

Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Allied losses

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on 1st Air Army, at 106,125 (Rabaul)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

1st Air Army HQ and no CAP?

October 1, 1942

A new month

SS Herring returning from Midway to her patrol point
Kind of out in the middle of nowhere.

Submarine attack near Sendai at 124,67

Japanese Ships
xAKL Eiwa Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Herring

xAKL Eiwa Maru is sighted by SS Herring
SS Herring attacking on the surface
========================================================
More bombing of Rabaul

IDed 10th Special Base Force present along with
1st Air Army HQ
64th Naval Guard Unit

Recon says 6 units, so more to find
=================================
I still cannot get my FBs and MBs to do a Naval Attack, not sure why not.
=============================
Tassafaronga switched to my control.

You need a good DL on a naval target so they can find it, projecting its movement. Then you need to load up without using drop tanks to displace bombs/torps. And of course weather and pilot experience can be factors. Keep trying, they should fly when the combination of factors is right.

The TF in question is at Rabaul, I have two different PBY units that fly over it and I am flying recon every turn.
It has not moved in many turns. I took the B-25s off of Naval Attack this turn and will use them against the port
instead. The FBs do not have drop tanks available but they are flying at max extended range. They would have 2 x 100lb
bombs and 4 20MM cannon each.

Only thing I can think of there is the lack of fighter escort may allow the bomber squadron leaders to refuse? I assume Rabaul is showing fighters based there.

As above, no fighters at Rabaul, I am sweeping every turn. The bombers are bombing Rabaul. It is just the FB that are not flying.

October 2, 1942

Sweeps at Rabaul find nothing in the air.

B-17Es and B-25s bomb, airfield, port, and troops.

IDed 83rd Naval Guard Unit, that is 4 of 6 now identified.

October 3, 1942

I guess I will have to escort my small xAKLs
Submarine attack near Cox's Bazar at 54,43

Japanese Ships
SS I-153

Allied Ships
xAKL Oklahoman, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

xAKL Oklahoman is sighted by SS I-153
SS I-153 attacking on the surface


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

Submarine attack near Cox's Bazar at 54,43

Japanese Ships
SS I-153

Allied Ships
xAKL Kalarand, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

xAKL Kalarand is sighted by SS I-153
SS I-153 attacking on the surface
==============================================
I had my FBs at Port Moresby set for Naval Attack, but
no secondary mission set. They chose to do an air attack on Rabaul
I have no idea what they were shooting at

Afternoon Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Ic x 10

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Ic: 3 damaged
Beaufighter Ic: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Beaufighter Ic strafing at 100 feet *

I have them set to rest for now.

================================================
30 B-17Es and 8 B-25Cs bombed Rabaul in Heavy Rain for minimal damage