herbie goes bananas again

[1275psi]

a monster of a day -as i desperately fight back!
25/7/43

59b17,20 corsair,13 thunderbolt vs 11 zero gassmatta -46 hits, i suffer 3 losses
(Im losing about 50!!!! a day at the moment)
17B12,30 hudson,22 liberator vs 11 zero,3 rufe at lae
zeros bug out -moral destroyed - 74 hits
12 oscar at shortlands -21P40,42 corsair,7wildcats,32liberators,10 b-26
59 hits!
lots of barge busting -as my cockies fill the seas again
3 lilly attack munda -miss
from gassmatta -17 zero,8 oscar,20 val,3 lillyattack
10 corsair,9 thunderbolt defend - 4 zero,5 val lost
They miss the tankers at woodlark

But an invasion convoy is enroute from woodlark -to dobadura!
14 zero,50val,9 kate,21 oscar,5 lilly -operating from PORT MORESBY[:D]
attack the convoy
AP -1 bomb
AK -2 bombs
AK -2 bomb
AK -1 bomb
AK-2 bomb
Ak -2 bomb
146 killed
NICE[:'(][:'(][:'(][:)]

then 7 sally operate out of LUNGA!
AK -1 bomb
barge busting by his Dbs
A second strike from PM
5 val and 9 kates
Ak bomb
A nice fat AP is torpedoed as well!

i lose 50 planes to his 2 today
We run away again
A last quiver of my once mighty strength.

[1275psi]

26/7/43
Wobbly promises the kitchen sink will be thrown today!

Dobadura -landings
Lea pounded
Shortland hit hard
Lunga- as if that was not going to happen[8|][8|]
PM is hit
I try to hit the dobadura invasion -miss
gassmatta Vals hit -32 vals attack (he cannot hit every base!)
2 DDs are heavily hit
I suffer terrible losses today - but 2 more AKs are torpedoed -the betties return to the war

98 planes lost to 17

its a furnace consuming my airforce -and the cupboard is getting bare

Overall -a comment
its mid 43 -I have a few crack pilots left -a few mid 60's, and a lot of rookies
yet the results seem to be so much more realistic and better than WITP -how i wish the air model was identical in both games -even the B17s are pretty realistic
I reckon by now i can with some reasonable feeling say that the air model is really standing up very well.
I do not feel that as japan all is pointless -with care and timing -and properly rested pilots -i can still hurt.
Well done matrix -this game powers on![&o][&o][&o]

[1275psi]

27/7/93

back from holidays

AKs hitting mines at dobadura
he goes barge busting
Lillies hit a LCVP

rabual is attacked heavily -56B17 vs 41 tony
No moral, and rabual is hit 92 times
Further raids follow, and the base is smashed

A big raid on kiriwana, 47 zero, 20 oscars,15 lillies vs 13 boomerang
2 oscar, 4 boomerang lost

shortland hammered -10 a/c lost on the ground
I raid munda - 9 zero, 7 oscar, 9 val, 3 kate
The corsairs intercept - the naval attack missed
he pounds lunga

the situation is grim
Port M closed
lae closed
rabual closed
shortland closed

Im pulling out the air groups -back to truk -maybe for a last stand.

[1275psi]

28/7/43

3 enemy Aks hit mines at dobadura
a SC sinks from one as well

he pounds rabual, shortland, lunga

i try a small raid on dobadura - the vals run away

its 1 regiment vs 3 battalions there, and things are not all his way so far
Wobbly is asking me -am i out of A/C yet?

NOPE!
I will not poke my head out again until all units are back to full moral.

[Freddy Fudpucker]

And with this I've just made it 10,000 hits for this AAR.

Congrats on the good work Herb.[:)]

[1275psi]

29/7/43

ENEMY PG HITS MINES AT DOBODURA
Then a SC
rabual is hammered again -every day the field is closed, but the engineers get it open again for the next raid
Lunga hit
Enemy CVs at Munda!!!

We strike, 9 fighters, 3 lilly, 8 val, 3 betty - 18 corsair, 20 warhawks, 2 wildcats

The vals turn back, 3 fighters lost
At Dobodura its 1 regiment of mine vs a aussie division
Being AUSSIES -i expect a swift defeat[:'(][:'(][:'(][:'(][:'(]

[1275psi]

30/7/43

here is the daily rabual raid -51 b17.
25 tony, 26 zeros, an oscar take off and run away -their morale is about 11 average!!

Dobodura bombed

today gassmatta and wewak and lae all attack the dobodura invasion
6 p38 vs 34 oscar, 7 zero,4 rufe, and 11 Val, 9 kate
2 large APs are heavily hit and torpedoed.
Nice that at this stage i can still hurt him

The air model in UV seems so much superior than WITP for "feel"

betties have a go as well -but miss

The japanese sniping continues -and the rebuilding of air units at Truk continues.
Don't tell wobbly -but i still have about 600 planes to use yet!

[1275psi]

31/7/43
I continue to bounce units about the fields
Today shortlands reactivates
10 zeros, 8 oscar and 6 lilly attack shortlands
6 thunderbolts and 5 corsair shoot down 6 planes -for one annoying port hit
But its another base he has to close down again!![:'(]

Dobodura is pounded really heavily

6 val attack and hit a DD at dobodura

I move a lot of bombers to rabual for a op tomorrow -it was not hit today!

[1275psi]

1/8/43

Well the clock continues to tick

A ss of mine sinks a damaged Dd today, misses a AO
lots of shipping -LCHs at dobodura
And Kiriwana island has only a single engineer regiment on it -may be an opportunity

My CVs approach the admiralties -almost time for another effort

rabual is hit today -28 liberators -again the fighters mostly fail moral -but 3 p38 are shot down , for 4 tonies lost

rabual launches a 100 ft strafing attack today on kiriwana -34 lilly,22 sally, 15 helen, 4 zero
3 p40 and 3 boomerang totally fail to intercept -and we destroy 7 a/c on the ground for 62 hits
Nice

I pull the air groups out again

Allies absolutely throw everything at dobodura today -and the base -still only a dot falls.
I win a small battle today -he continues the bulldozer run!

[1275psi]

Well i must say its nice to know some people are still reading this

Wobbly remains only about 15000 points to my 11000 odd -no idea what he need s for a decisive victory, or what, but boy the adventure sure is fun .

I actually am thinking this is better thanWITP on many fronts

2/8/43
Wobbly e mails surprise that rabual keeps fighting -well tomorrow He might be infor even more surprises[:'(]
Today the whole map was storms -just 3 kates at shortland committed suicide attacking woodlark
Fighting continues at dobodura -the regiment fights on.

Today I plotted some 12 full fighter units, some 3 bomber units and quite a few Vals and Kates to fields all over the place - all to attack or sweep woodlark, or shipping.
As well 1CV and 1 CVL will charge through the Bismark straight, and cause trouble
I actually expect the 2 carriers to be sunk, the escorts will then revert to fast transport.
Kiriwana island , his furtherest push has just a single engineer unit onit
Its wide open for a counter invasion -if i can get my poo into a sock

Will not achieve much -except the inestiable value of annoying my worthy opponent!
Roll on the war!!!

[1275psi]

3/8/43
The replay begins with a lovely message

MSWs at Buna!!!
Another base for his stretched air force to pound, another invasion to cover.

there is only one way to shut down the japanese bases full time -he must occupy them!
Today the action heats up again -but a prelude to what I plan for tomorrow

Gassmatta is hit 42 hits -56 B17s, 19 corsairs, 8 thunderbolts. No a/c destroyed -they are all headed in the other direction.
I no longer fly any CAP of any kind -all fighters now fly escort or sweep, this way the bombers at least get a chance at the enemy.

16 zero sweep dobodura -no CAP
34 lilly,21 sally,16 helen bomb kiriwana from 29000 feet -no CAP, but no hits iether[8|] these come from rabual
22 betties with just 4 zeros fly from Kevieg -15 thunderbolts, 8 corsair engage
I lose 4 zeros and 4 betties, and 1 thunderbolt
A DD is sunk[:)]
62 oscars, 17 nick, 11 lilly from gassmatta - 10 boomerang and 7 p40s are covering the incoming invasion fleet of buna

16 nick break through -but miss the AKs
4 oscar,3 nick shot down -1 boomerang and 5 P 40 shot down

From Lea 58 zero sweep kiriwana -no opposition

and 3 betty commit suicide against corsairs over woodlark

The score is 15991 him, 11320 me
I lost 62 planes today -he lost 9

Tomorrow every plane i can gather will launch from sag, sag, lae, gassmatta, rabual, even some from buna and port moresby.
Its the last hurrah!
In addition 2 CA, and a CL will attack the invasion of buna, and 1CV, 1 CVL will charge through the bismark straight -and attack!!!

Finally -the bombs did not fall onto rabual today -and masses of moral destroyed planes bug out to Truk.
A new division landed arrived today -heaps of troops unloading at madang, and the admiralties.
I fight for every inch now.

[1275psi]

[8|][8|]Hiatus -wobbly away for a week - just when i had him at my mercy too[:'(]

[1275psi]

japan wins a day in late 43!

4/8/43

Msws at buna

CA Mikuma,Myoko and CL yubari surprise tha allies at Buna, sinking promptly 5 msws!

Then they tackle the invasion fleet
The allied DDs fight heroically -just 3 of them against me
2 allied DDs smashed - a screen full of ships get away[:@]

daylight
rabual pounded
38 zero/25 p38 over buna - 1 p38 shot down
16zero,15 kate/21p38 over buna - this strike fails
5 snia attack- miss

The CV strike goes in, combines with land based attack
68zero,7 zeke,21kate,11 val,6 judy/ 21 p38
9 zeros lost,3 zeke lost, 1 judy, 4 kate lost. 4 p38 shot down
1 ak bombed, 1 AP will sink, 1 DD will sink

10 betty, 14 zero / 17 p38
1 LCI torped,
1 AK torped
30 zero, 6 nell, only 8 p38 now- 3 shot down, no hits

27 zero sweep - HIS MORALE fails, 3 p38 shot down
7 kate attack, 34 zero - dobodura, 4 p40s
1 DMS torped

gassmatta air attacks
28 va, 38 oscar - 22 corsair, 11 thunderbolts
24 val break through
1 ao sunk

The CVs attack again
only 7 p38 CAP left
LST torp
AK sunk

Air to air losses today -14 to my 47
We run away
claiming 5 msw sunk
1 dd sunk
3 ak sunk
1 ap sunk
1LCI sunk
1LST sunk
1AO sunk

1 of my DDs damaged

We remain fighting
Wobbly says - WHOA!!! -that got my attention

hope so[:D]

[1275psi]

herbiesan makes a mistake today

CS Nisshin attempts to drop of troops at Kiriwana island

Runs into 3 DDs, recieves 15 hits and a torpedoe -she must be tough, and is fleeing north
The DDs I ordered to attack do not -so in disgust they are sent north with my other fleeing ships

The Wobbly reply is brutal -almost can hear him say -here I go AGAIN -more airfield suppression
rabual -40 heavies
Gassmatta -40 heavies
Buna -40 heavies

And the poor nisshin is pounded by Dive bombers - and sunk

lae launches one attack -28 zeros and 4 kates, 18 corsairs today
13 zeros shot down -4 corsairs shot down

The allies shock the regiment at dobodura -and force it to retreat to buna

And this is the nail in the coffin I feel -Dobodura becomes an airfield

BB nagato arrives at Truk
But what to do with the fleet now?

[1275psi]

6/8/43

Wobbly returns from holidays

He claims that the 3 DDs that fought Nisshin are it for his surface combatants -
how would you read that?

Not much action today -he pounds buna, and gassmatta today.
The interesting news is at Buna -I actually have more troops there than him -but mine are bits and pieces.
Orders given -Kept pulling the air forces back for yet another rest, recuperation, and will form a new battle group.
A full division is at Truk -it awaits transports -where I put it will decide the war i think -no rest for the wicked - i will attempt to put it into Buna.
Using barges, Im going to try to reinforce buka -I fear a jump past Shortlands.

To get a division into Buna -I will use the CV and CVL as LRCAP, and shuttle troops into buna via fast transport and anything that floats.

With nagato on the map - and her escorts, I actually have a task force again.
Time to use it!

[1275psi]

another day , another bombing

rabual heavily pounded -so is Buna

His troops at Buna DO NOT ATTACK
they are on the defensive -obviously in a lot of trouble after a lot of them went swimming[:'(]
My orders
Troops are loading at truk
nagato is forming up, and headed south
The CV and CVL take on fighters only
And the buna counter landing operation is underway!!!

4 DDs refuel at kavieg
If i could believe the wobbly propaganda -these 4 ships are more powerful than what he posses[:'(][:D][8|] - lets try them out
They head to SAG SAG, to pick up troops.

Truk is rapidly reforming the air groups -still 500 available.[:D]

The big question -where are the Allied Carriers - if I was Wobbly I would be sailing North of Rabual -sinking everything -and detroying my airforce as it expends against a death star CAP

But then again -this game has been going for so long in real life i can't remember how many of them I have sunk[:D]

[1275psi]

8/8/43

ss-33 misses a smoking DD -but not an AK, sinking it south of woodlark

rabual crater enlarged somewhat again today[8|]
Lea reconned, and I bombard at Buna

4 DD north of the bismark straight are ordered to attack, and nagato is north of the Admiralties

Nissihin is scuttled- bummer

[1275psi]

Well it was Wobblypropaganda about lack of ships ect
i have been taunting him -here I come, ect, ect, and sure enough, out come the big boys to play

A ss sinks a AP near truk
Buna harbour, and dobodura fill with APs, MSWs, DDs and the like
My DDs do not attack [:o]
And then the reason why is exposed

Lea is pounded and its clouded in -so my strike is caught on the ground -bad doo doo -lots of planes destroyed -including a lot of very good Kates -they probably will not contribute again[:(]

The enemy is revealed -headed to the bismark straight -2 task forces -2CV, 4CLAA in one -2BB, 4 CA in another

Bummer[:@]
there is only one counter to this -RUN AWAY!
So I do.[8D]
The troops headed south will try for Buka -after that -the Solomons will be abandoned -I will not commit anything else until we begin the battle for Truk
(well maybe[:'(])

[Shadow of the Condor]

Herbieh...great that you've kept the AAR going! Although I don't have a lot of time anymore, I still enjoy the reads. Kudos to you and wobbly!

[1275psi]

The enemy battleships turn their attention to Lea
A very heavy naval bombardment totally trashes the place - and the LBA then finishes the job

All the planes there -mostly a lot of precious Kates -are gone for good
PNG is lost
If this was WITP I would be writing off the Solomons I think -but it aint -so i fight on, for Wobbly the clock is still ticking, he needs another 5000 points to get 2 to 1 ratio.

I will now try to get the troops into Buka, and then the last division to arrive will stay in Truk, for the last stand.
I am in two minds -keep fighting, or go turtle to minimise losses.
In the meantime I pull all the air I can to truk, and Nagato hides here too.