Historical AE. Cantona2 (A) vs Fletcher (J)

[traskott]

No idea, but congratulations for your good management of the Chinese Air Force..

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: traskott

No idea, but congratulations for your good management of the Chinese Air Force..

Muchas Gracias

[cantona2]

Turn Synopsis 20th July 1942

The first reports of the day were sent by SS Nautilus, patrolling in the Sea of Japan. She reported a successful attack on a Japanese transport ship off Ominato. This success has prompted Admiral Nimitz to organise a long range Wolf Pack centered around 5 long range Ocean Going subs coming out of the repair yards at Pearl. Their destination, the Sea of Japan. Make the enemy paranoid in his back yard.

Submarine attack near Ominato at 118,53

Japanese Ships
xAK Ryuzan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Nautilus



xAK Ryuzan Maru is sighted by SS Nautilus
SS Nautilus launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Ryuzan Maru

Ndeni was the scene of intensive air-air action. The first action of the day caught a CAP of Wildcats from VMF-111 aloft when radar detected an incoming fighter sweep. 20 odd A6M2s, likely base of origin Munda, were quickly engaged by the Marine flyers and later joined by the P-40s of the USAAF's 6th Fighter Squadron. 4 enemy planes were reported shot down for the loss of one P-40.

Morning Air attack on Ndeni , at 120,143

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26



Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 14
F4F-3A Wildcat x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed



CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F4F-3A Wildcat (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 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
18th FG/6th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 14 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes

Accustomed to unopposed sweeps over Ndeni the Japanese fighters soon beat a hasty retreate, but the radar had detected a larger incoming raid. VMF-111 and 6th Fighter Sqaudron were ordered to remain aloft over Ndeni and they hit the jackpot. Over 60 unescorted bombers of the G4M Type were engaged and by days end 14 of them had been shot down. Being in the air when the raid was detected was a boon as it meant our fighters were in a prime position to intercept.

Morning Air attack on Ndeni , at 120,143

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 66



Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 9
F4F-3A Wildcat x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 7 destroyed, 7 damaged




Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 32

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
26 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
12 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMF-111 with F4F-3A Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 82 minutes
18th FG/6th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 134 minutes

However, Catalina's of VP-61 operating out of Vanikoro had spotted a large number of Japanese ships about 228 NMs NE off Duff Islands. The identity of these ships was soon established when carrier borne planes carried out a surprise raid on Vanikoro. Light damage was inflicted on the air strip and light casualties suffered by Base Support troops. The fact that most of our fighters were over Ndeni at the time meant that no CAP cover was available, yet no planes were caught on the ground either.



17 B-17s from Townsville, Australia, attacked the enemy aerodrome at Munda scoring some hits on the field but with little or no real significance. Likewise the USAAF made its first presence known in China with the 11th Bomber Squadron (B-25C) attacking an enemy tank unit to the south of Tuyun.

[SoliInvictus202]

if I haven't said it so far: I really enjoy reading your AAR [8D]

and it's great to see that some people actually use their CVs, even before they are more powerful than the combined KB - gives me lots of information on how I would be able to successfully employ my CVs in the foreseeable future!

R.

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: SoliInvictus202

if I haven't said it so far: I really enjoy reading your AAR [8D]

and it's great to see that some people actually use their CVs, even before they are more powerful than the combined KB - gives me lots of information on how I would be able to successfully employ my CVs in the foreseeable future!

R.

Thanks for the praise SolInvictus, glad you enjoy

[cantona2]

Turn Synopsis 21st July 1942

SS Nautilus under the command of LCDR Kirkpatrik was carrying out her War Patrol Number 4 deep inside the Sea of Japan, just off the coast near Ominato to be exact. The bravery of her captain and crew were rewarded by the most successful submarine attack to date! Sonar reported a larfge number of contacts from the direction of Ominato heading NW. Kirkpatrik ordered his boat to attack and so begun this one boat attack on the Japanese Merchant navy



His first target was the 5,300 ton Calcutta Maru that was attacked and hit 46 nm's NW of Ominato (a nice piece of historical symmetry as the real life Calcutta Maru was sunk by Kirkpatrik commanding the Triton). The enemy ship took one torpedo to the prow and was seen to catch fire. No escorts appeared to be accompanying the striken Japanese ship.

Sonar continued to report more contacts. The blazing fires from the Calcutta Maru silhouetted another target and one again the Nautilus's torpedoes were penetrating the hull of a Japanese merchant ship. Later identified as the Hiteru Maru, she took a fish to the bow and also appeared to catch fire. Aware of stirring up a hornets nest in the enemy's back garden Kirkpatrik ordered his boat NE towards the approaches to Sapporo.



There he stumbled upon his third victim of the evening, well early morning. A lone merchant was hugging the Northern Japanese coast. A third torpedo entered a Japanese ship this time sonar contacts indicated braking bulkheads confirming a sinking emeny ship.

[cantona2]

Action continued further South when IJN battleships led by the majestic Yamato carried out a bombardment of the budding base at Vanikoro. Night turned into day as the Yamato and the Nagato along with attending destroyers raked their fire along the port areas of the base. Costal guns engaged the Japanese behemoths but to no avail. Yet despite the pyrotechnics light damage was suffered. An order was put forward to lay a defensive minefield around Vanikoro as soon as resources became available.



The action at Vanikoro hotted up during the day when Japanese carriers in the Coral Sea launched a raid over the airbase. A strong CAP of F4F-3A's and P-40E's was flying over the base and they engaged the Japanese planes on their inbound, tussling with the Zero escorts and diving on the returning bombers. One P-40 was lost in return for three enemy planes.



Search planes located three seperate enemy task forces in the Coral Sea. The battleships that had attacked Vanikoro were seen on a north westerly heading off Stewart Island, while enemy carriers were seen on a westerly heading to the north of Ndeni. B-17s on Koumac and Lugnaville were ordered to try and attack the enemy ships while the submarine packs in the Solomons vectored on the battleship's likely routes back to Truk.

[cantona2]

A day of intensive action in China as well. The USAAF made its bow in the theatre when the 11th Bomber Squadron was ordered to take its B-25s on a raid over Ichang airfield. Surprise was total and 7 enemy planes were caught on the ground. No enemy fighters were on CAP and it was clear that the Japanese high command regarded the airspace over Ichang as safe. P-40s of the 76th Fighter Squadron have also flown into Henyang and will tomorrow attempt to ambush Ki-51's that have been raiding Kweilin over the past few days.



Yet the most significant action fought in China was to the north of Sian. A powerful Japanese attack, the equivalent of 4 Infantry and 2 armoured divisions routed Chinese forces defending the Sian-Tienshui railway. A devastating defeat and the battle to the south of Sian would now take on an even greater significance!

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 49912 troops, 422 guns, 802 vehicles, Assault Value = 2072

Defending force 26325 troops, 204 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 659

Japanese adjusted assault: 1313

Allied adjusted defense: 533

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1207 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 102 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 148 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled
Vehicles lost 29 (2 destroyed, 27 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
10542 casualties reported
Squads: 467 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 381 destroyed, 43 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 5 (3 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 10

[1275psi]

Hi cantona!

yes, your ARR is one of the best -the maps ect are brilliant

I too think an allied player who actually uses his CVs early -and realistically makes for a better game - and sometimes brings good results (as robert lee can attest against me) and sometimes bad!
keep up the entertainment!.

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

Hi cantona!

yes, your ARR is one of the best -the maps ect are brilliant

I too think an allied player who actually uses his CVs early -and realistically makes for a better game - and sometimes brings good results (as robert lee can attest against me) and sometimes bad!
keep up the entertainment!.

Thanks esteemed opponent, you'll be getting your turn today.

[cantona2]

Turn Synopsis 24th July 1942

B-17s found nothing as Japanese carriers disappeared from the search arcs flown by US search planes.

Unloading of troops on Arorae and Tabiteuea restarted after the expected move by enemy carriers did not matierialse. Likewise ambushing subs did not find anything either.

The Japanese sun is also on the rise in China as the IJAAF mounts a massive offensive to swatter the USAAF out of Chinese skies. More American planes are going to be needed if control of the air is going to be wrested away from the Japanese.

Meanwhile Admiral Chester Nimitz eyes the Japanese perimeter looking for one chink in its armour where America can start its counter offensive. As he does that Royal Navy aircraft carriers approach the Western coast of Sumatra undetected and unopposed. Their target, Japanese oil refining and producing facilities at Palembang!

[SoliInvictus202]

I hope that the Naval Aviators of your RN CVs have better aim than mine - I recently tried that against the AI -and how many hits did I score? - ONE oil hit - that was it - taking part were the planes of Formidable and Indomitable... [:@][:D]

[cantona2]

Turn Synopsis 27th July 1942

Well Soli, I guess Fremen's assertion that Fletcher is the luckiest player on the boards, and in on way detracting from his obvious skill at this game, has been proved.

Having sailed undetected across the Indian Ocean, come right up to the coast of Sumatra undetected and launched its surprise raid over Palembang, the RN finds an active CAP of Zeroes over the former Dutch holding. It shoots down 14 of my planes and only score 2 bomb hits on the oil facilities there! Pah!

[traskott]

2 hits are 2.000 supplies he must spend !!! Besides, since this, he will be pressed to cover Palembang for years !!!

[cantona2]

I have a question.

Once again a couple of my DDs ambushed his FTTF's at Tarawa. It took 40 hits, mostly 4 and 5 inch hits with deck penetration messages and upperworks carried away messages for the enemy PB to sink. In the similar engagement a few turns ago it also took a large number of shell hits to sink the transports! Can someone suggest why this is so? If it takes 40 hits to sink a PB how much will it take for a large, military vessel? It make me wonder if there is some database change that may have occured in the armour rating of IJN ships after applying the last patch? Anyone else seeing this in their games?

[traskott]

Hummm...check if all of those hits are from 5'' guns. Perhaps some of them are from 40 and 20 mm guns...which have more sense. 

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: traskott

Hummm...check if all of those hits are from 5'' guns. Perhaps some of them are from 40 and 20 mm guns...which have more sense. 

traskott, there were some 40mm and 20mm hits but as far as i saw most of the hits were 5inch and 4inchers

[traskott]

HUmmmm... perhaps the smart Fletcher has upgraded the PBs with kevlar ?

Check if your captains or the admiral of the T.F. are very agressive..."Don't stop firing til the enemy ship is under the waves!!"

[cantona2]

ORIGINAL: traskott

HUmmmm... perhaps the smart Fletcher has upgraded the PBs with kevlar ?

Check if your captains or the admiral of the T.F. are very agressive..."Don't stop firing til the enemy ship is under the waves!!"

Probably!

[cantona2]

Looking at the ammo situation of the two DDs involved, most of the expenditure seems to have been of 4inch and 5inch shells, with some 20mm ordinance.