AAR-The Italian Affair--Hoepner vs. mc3744

[Gen.Hoepner]

as foreseen, the yankees did not dare to face my LBbombers and sent the BIGGEST Fast transport ever seen!!!!!!!! Something like 100 between DDs and CAs....6000 men at least have been landed at Gili gili....no way my guys can resist[:(]
My bombers did not manage to take those bastard cause the were too fast....now a Counterlanding becomes a must...but i only have the South Sea Det at disposal....so i must face the truth: my plan was a mess[:(]
BTW i won't give up that easy!
Mines did a pretty good job today. Tomorrow gili gili will fall and i do not want to risk to bomb those troops with my 5 dds at Rabaul 'cause those mines will be nasty even for me. Gotta wait for the carriers, than land the S.S.D. and hope for the best...............

Any advice?


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/12/42

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TF 1075 encounters mine field at Gili Gili (56,94)

Allied Ships
DD Phelps, Mine hits 1, on fire[8D]
DD Peary, Mine hits 1, on fire[:D]
DD Lamson, Mine hits 1, on fire[8D]
DD John D. Edwards, Mine hits 1, on fire[:D]


Allied ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

well these dds should be out of order for some days at least
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TF 1056 encounters mine field at Gili Gili (56,94)

TF 1056 troops unloading over beach at Gili Gili, 56,94


Allied Ships
DD Mahan
APD Manley
DD Henley


Allied ground losses:
162 casualties reported

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TF 1072 encounters mine field at Gili Gili (56,94)

TF 1072 troops unloading over beach at Gili Gili, 56,94


Allied Ships
APD Gregory, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Reid, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Craven
CL Perth, Mine hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
117 casualties reported


Allied ground losses:
71 casualties reported

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TF 1075 encounters mine field at Gili Gili (56,94)

TF 1075 troops unloading over beach at Gili Gili, 56,94


Allied Ships
DD John D. Edwards
DD Hull
DD Downes
DD Tucker, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Preston
DD Smith
DD Benham
DD Maury
APD Little, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Worden
DD Phelps, on fire
DD Cassin
DD Flusser
DD Lamson, on fire
DD Gridley
DD Peary, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Jarvis
DD Farragut
DD Selfridge
DD Porter
CL St. Louis, Mine hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
91 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


Allied ground losses:
939 casualties reported


look at this.....how many ships does he have?!?!?
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Day Air attack on 82nd Naval Guard Unit, at 56,94


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 79


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
221 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet

poor bastards[:(]
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Day Air attack on 82nd Naval Guard Unit, at 56,94


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 3
B-17E Fortress x 89


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
62 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
16 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet

a massacre...the Assault value is 0 now[:(][:(]
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[PzB74]

You can't let the Allies have GG! You should have put 5000 men there to begin with. So it's really simple: Assemble a full division, engineers and what else you got and prepare to counterattack. If not the place will crawl with engineers and heavy bombers before you know it, and then PM will be next.

I had to leave PM and Lunga alone since I prioritized India, and it will be impossible to do much about this by late 42.
It simply means that I will pull my front back around Rabaul - a base isn't more than a line in the sand anyway. It's the combined capability
to defend against future attacks that is important. Why stretch your supply lines too far out? But GG is a key element since you got all of PNG.

[Gen.Hoepner]

So, what everybody knew has finally happened.
Gili gili has fallen to the 11,000 allied troops fast transported yesterday. 1 Anzac Brigade,2 Raiders Bns and 2 Paras BNs could not be stopped by 2 little naval garrison units, pounded for ages by the B-17s from Cairns.
He has more than 200 experienced fighters to bring in now, so to cover the upcomming PM invasion.
I moved 3 sally daitais at Rabaul, ordering them to bomb the AF at Gili gili, but i know that they won't close anything.
PzB, if i had put there one full division, now i'd have a division of ghosts....everything which is is range of the b-17 is already dust.
But i have to say that my plans were badly studied. The closest division is at Palau and it will take at least 2 weeks to bring it back to Rabaul. My lack of fuel is becomming a damned big problem.
My 3rd carrier division is now close to Rabaul and it will try to stop any big reinforcement tf that he will try to send to Gili gili.
The South Sea Det. is loaded and ready but against 6 big experienced allied units it can't doanything.
the 65th Brigade is loading at Rabaul along with the 2nd army HQ and 3 Arty units. That's all i can do for the moment. But to make this little army land at Gili gili it will take me at least 2 weeks....and this will probably be too much! I know he's going to use the Fast transport to bring more units and supplies and those DDs are tough to catch!
I'm tempted to order to 3 divisions at Sosarbjia to come back to Rabaul area, but it will take too long and the only result would be to weaken the Timor offensive.
Speaking about Timor, altough the cronic lack of fuel, i've started the loading operations. 3 Divisions,3 Eng. Units, 3 Tank regiments are already loaded . 2 more divisions will be loaded in the next 3 days.
In one week we should land at Timor......my CVs are waiting for a Big 240,000 fuel comming from Japan.....

We've intercepted an american Radio Message: the operation for Gili gili is called "Twin Falcons"....that can mean that a second front is in Allied Timetable.....Gosh! i've been caught off guard!


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/13/42

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Day Air attack on 82nd Naval Guard Unit, at 56,94


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 63


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
15 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
11 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
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Day Air attack on 82nd Naval Guard Unit, at 56,94


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 2
B-17E Fortress x 63


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
10 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
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Ground combat at Gili Gili

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6106 troops, 33 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 271 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 19 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Gili Gili base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
31 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!


What shell i do? I could send 2 BBs and 3 CAs to bomb Gili Gili...but there are still 1100 mines there....would be wise to risk?

[AmiralLaurent]

The base had 0 supplies and you may bet that the invasion troops didn't carry much with them either. So your opponent had to bring some supplies (and air force personnel) before sending planes. I also hope you didn't expand the airfield of GG.

I won't pound the base with BBs but try to hold the sea with my ships. Intercepting a FT TF at sea is less difficult than a CV TF. And a big AP convoy will be even easier. As for the mines, let your opponent try to send MSW first.

The only question is: have you a serious chance to win a CV battle off GG with your available forces. Or may your other CV arrive in the area quickly (but your fuel situation is a problem) ?

If you manage to sink supplies before they arrive in GG, you will have the time to counter-invade before the base turns into a giant airbase and the Allied troops will be in a bad shape.
You will probably face disrupted troops with no or few forts but 100% prep for Gili Gili.

Bomb the airfield with your Sallies. You may destroy some badly needed supplies.
Use at least a Zero unit each day to fly LRCAP over GG. C-47 will probably fly in.
Keep the rest of your Betties and Zeroes to hit Allied TFs.
Bring a pack of submarines (have you some left?) and use them against cripples after battles.

In any cases, launch the Timor operation. B-17 and US CVs can't be everywhere at the same time. Try to send your CVs E of Timor and maybe sail past Thursday Island.

[Gen.Hoepner]

The only chance to win a Battle off Gili Gili is to have a good support by the airgroups located at Rabaul. Some tonies are comming down from Truk in these days. I cannot efford to move my CVs in Java for 2 reasons: first fuel. Those ships drink so much gas and at the moment there's only left what is strictly necessary to go to timor and come back.
Second: I need a good CAP to face the allied bombers in Northern Oz....quite sure they're gonna come upon my invasion ships.
Too bad i forgot to place a LRCAP over gili this turn...the next one i'll do it.
Not sure if my oscars can be usefull operating from Gasmata, but i have no other opportunities.
I'll place my Carriers between Gasmata and GG,covering with CAP the ships that are transporting the SSD and the 35th bde. My southern air force will come out from this battle depleted: pretty sure of that! But i cannot leave nothing untried to defend my perimeter, cause if he manages to get his bombers in NG, i'm screwed
Only 3 subs in the area. Already moving there.
More 54 experienced zeros ( 78 exp) are being transfered from PI. In 2 days they'll be operative at Rabaul.

I cross the fingers and hope to get out of this mess...but i'm doubtfull[:(]

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/14/42

The agony of the Empire of the Rising Sun has begun. We're sure about that.
86 sallies did not even scrape the new allied base of Gili gili, where the americans seabees are repairing the damages at an incredible speed!...tomorrow the port and the Af will be opened again[:(]
Now 33 oscars are LRCAPPING there from Gasmata....but my hopes are becomming nightmares...
The first 4 Transport TFs left Sosarbja today heading for Timor
In Burma i hit Akyab during the night, causing only light damages.....




Night Air attack on Hanoi , at 36,37


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 9


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 5000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 5000 feet
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Night Air attack on Yunan , at 38,32


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 31
Hudson I x 12


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Hudson I bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Hudson I bombing at 5000 feet
9 x Blenheim IV bombing at 5000 feet
6 x Hudson I bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Blenheim IV bombing at 5000 feet
6 x Blenheim IV bombing at 5000 feet
9 x Blenheim IV bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 5000 feet
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Night Air attack on Chengtu , at 41,29


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 17


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 5000 feet
8 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 5000 feet
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Night Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48 Lily x 44

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48 Lily: 7 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IF: 1 damaged
Hurricane II: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged
SB-2c: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 16

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 6000 feet
8 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 6000 feet
22 x Ki-48 Lily bombing at 6000 feet
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Night Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 Helen x 26

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
SB-2c: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet
14 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet
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Night Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 53

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Blenheim IF: 3 damaged
Hurricane II: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
SB-2c: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Beaufort I: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
15 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
18 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
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Night Air attack on Rahaeng , at 31,35


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 7
Martin 139 x 4
IL-4c x 6


Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 damaged
Martin 139: 1 damaged
IL-4c: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x IL-4c bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Martin 139 bombing at 5000 feet
7 x Wellington III bombing at 5000 feet
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Day Air attack on Myitkyina , at 36,28


Allied aircraft
Mohawk IV x 70
P-40E Warhawk x 22
I-153c x 32


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 33

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x I-153c bombing at 2000 feet
16 x I-153c bombing at 2000 feet
14 x Mohawk IV bombing at 2000 feet
15 x Mohawk IV bombing at 2000 feet
13 x Mohawk IV bombing at 2000 feet
13 x Mohawk IV bombing at 2000 feet
15 x Mohawk IV bombing at 2000 feet
22 x P-40E Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on Myitkyina , at 36,28


Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 22
Buffalo I x 32
P-40E Warhawk x 44


No Allied losses

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 18

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Buffalo I bombing at 2000 feet
14 x Buffalo I bombing at 2000 feet
22 x Fulmar bombing at 2000 feet
22 x P-40E Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
19 x P-40E Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Buffalo I bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Buffalo I bombing at 2000 feet
3 x P-40E Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
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Day Air attack on Gili Gili , at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 55
Ki-21 Sally x 86

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 14[:@][:(]

DEPRESSING!

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 16000 feet
14 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
9 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 16000 feet
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 16000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 16000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
2 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 16000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
2 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
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Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91


Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 23
Brewster 339D x 39
Kittyhawk I x 38
P-40E Warhawk x 10


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 36

Aircraft Attacking:

And all these experinced bastards are ready to be placed at Gili Gili as soon as its AF will be opened
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[Gen.Hoepner]

For the second day 80 bombers hit Gili Gili, and for the second day the results were too limited to worth something.
The seabees have repaired all the damages to the damned base of Gili Gili. Probably tomorrow the first allied fighters will be based here........and a Rainstorm is forecasted[:@]
My Carriers will make some LRCAP over gili. The oscars did not achieve a single hit on the dakotas![:(]
3 more days and I'll be ready for this counterlanding....but he has already 14,000 men there....probably too much to handle[:-][:o]

3 more BBs, 3 CAs and 7 DDs are comming down from Tokyo towards Rabaul...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/15/42

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Day Air attack on Gili Gili , at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 143
A6M3 Zero x 18
Ki-21 Sally x 75

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
34 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 25

Aircraft Attacking:

No way to close GG with my little 2E bombers....i will be forced to commit my Battleships[:(]
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Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91


Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 19
Brewster 339D x 39
Kittyhawk I x 35
P-40E Warhawk x 10


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 30

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Brewster 339D bombing at 2000 feet
7 x Brewster 339D bombing at 2000 feet
7 x CW-21B Demon bombing at 2000 feet
10 x CW-21B Demon bombing at 2000 feet
14 x Brewster 339D bombing at 2000 feet
11 x Kittyhawk I bombing at 2000 feet
9 x Kittyhawk I bombing at 2000 feet
11 x Kittyhawk I bombing at 2000 feet
8 x P-40E Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
2 x CW-21B Demon bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Brewster 339D bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Brewster 339D bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Kittyhawk I bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Kittyhawk I bombing at 2000 feet
2 x P-40E Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
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[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/16/42

Again, another day with little action.
Lack of fuel and supplies for Timor Operation. Cannot wait any longer anyway. In 3 days we should beging the advancing operation towards Timor.
At Gili gili still no sign of enemy planes. My Zeros on LRCAP managed to shoot down 5 catalinas that tried to land men and supplies there.
Another strike over the base with sallies, but the odds are ridiculous.
The 65th brigade is reaching Rabaul, will join the s.s.d. 3 hexes south west of Rabaul to begin the counterlanding operation scheldued.


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Day Air attack on Gili Gili , at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
Ki-21 Sally x 66

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
75 casualties reported

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 32

Aircraft Attacking:

[Gen.Hoepner]

After few days of stop due to Easter Holidays, we're back with our total war.


While my air bomber groups located in Burma are reorganizing themself in safe bases, the allied bombing campaign over Burma and Western China goes on.
The TFs loaded up with 4 divisions have moved from Sosarbja and are now waiting for the main battle fleet to come out and escort them towards Timor ( the fleet is late 'cause the fuel is comming from Japan[:@])
At Gili Gili the americans are fortifying the conquered base, while my bombers keep on pounding the place with poor results.
The counter-invasions convoys are almost ready to come into action, positioning themself 120 miles south east of Rabaul.
No signs of allied air-bridge over Gili Gili....very strange[&:]
In China the last pockets of resistance are being sourrounded and destroyed.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/17/42

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Night Air attack on Yunan , at 38,32


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 22
Hudson I x 17


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
49 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Hudson I bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Hudson I bombing at 5000 feet
9 x Blenheim IV bombing at 5000 feet
9 x Hudson I bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Blenheim IV bombing at 5000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 5000 feet
6 x Blenheim IV bombing at 5000 feet
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Night Air attack on Bangkok , at 29,40

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed


Japanese ground losses:
16 casualties reported

Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x IL-4c bombing at 5000 feet
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Night Air attack on Rahaeng , at 31,35


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 4
Martin 139 x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Martin 139 bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 5000 feet
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TF 1091 encounters mine field at Mannargudi (16,23)



Allied Ships
MSW Poole
MSW Patna
PG Thyme, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage[8D]

sometimes my subs do something good[:D]

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Day Air attack on Gili Gili , at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 56
A6M3 Zero x 15
Ki-21 Sally x 79

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 34

Aircraft Attacking:

never enough.......[:@]
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Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91


Allied aircraft
CW-21B Demon x 23
Brewster 339D x 37
Kittyhawk I x 36
P-40E Warhawk x 27


No Allied losses

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 38

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Brewster 339D bombing at 2000 feet
6 x Brewster 339D bombing at 2000 feet
7 x CW-21B Demon bombing at 2000 feet
14 x CW-21B Demon bombing at 2000 feet
14 x Brewster 339D bombing at 2000 feet
11 x Kittyhawk I bombing at 2000 feet
10 x Kittyhawk I bombing at 2000 feet
9 x Kittyhawk I bombing at 2000 feet
8 x P-40E Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
17 x P-40E Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
2 x CW-21B Demon bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Brewster 339D bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Brewster 339D bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Kittyhawk I bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Kittyhawk I bombing at 2000 feet
2 x Kittyhawk I bombing at 2000 feet
2 x P-40E Warhawk bombing at 2000 feet
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Ground combat at 41,33

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7886 troops, 87 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 5880 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 19 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
2610 casualties reported

more troops to get in the bag...[:)]


Here's a screenshot of the Chinese situation

[Gen.Hoepner]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/18/42

Ok, the twin operation against Gili Gili and Timor has started today.
In 3 days Gili Gili should be counterinvaded , while at Timor, my men should take the beaches in about 6 days.
11 Dakotas were shot down today over gili gili, trying to get more supplies or troops there....


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Day Air attack on Gili Gili , at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 52
Ki-21 Sally x 10

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet

I tried to split my bombers in two tranches. One in the morning and another one in the afternoon.....results were insignificant[:(]
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Day Air attack on Gili Gili , at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 49
Ki-21 Sally x 37

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
12 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 6000 feet


again....these sallies are really crappy[:@]
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Ground combat at 38,36

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15816 troops, 176 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 11855 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 45 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
191 casualties reported

More chinese trapped here[:D]
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Ground combat at 41,33

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7818 troops, 87 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 4633 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 40 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
3211 casualties reported

And more chinese eliminated here[8D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

Emperor Hiroito has ordered an urgent meeting with the General Army Staff.
Seems that a recent massive raid over Rabaul has destroyed the entire Japanese Air Army in the souther Pacific.
Admiral Yamamoto is supposed to have been killed during this allied raid.

more news to come soon...

[Gen.Hoepner]

Radio Tokyo trasmitted for few minutes today.
The population remained astonished listening to what the national radio was saying.
Nothing really precise about the so called " Rabaul Massacre ", but one fact is clear: The southern pacific air force has been annihilated in one single raid.
Hiroito announced today to the people that the Empire of Japan has formally asked for a peace traty with the allied powers....

...more news to come

[Gen.Hoepner]

BREAKING NEWS......


Presindent Roosvelt and W.Churchill agreed the terms of peace proposed by the Japanese Empire.
Japan surrenders with no conditions.
All the overseas territories occupied by the soldiers of Mikado will be given back.
China will be completely abbandoned.
Philippines,Malaya,Burma,Java,Sumatra,Borneo,Macassar, Carolines,Mariannas,Marshalls,Gilberts,Solomons,N.G.......all these regions will be given to the allied powers.
The Japanese Navy has been completely scuttled

The war is over.


Many thanks to my opponent Mc3744 ( Max ), who has been a gentleman and a good game-friend in these 4 months IRL of playing.
Many thanks to all of you who spent their time to read and to post in this thread.
Thanks to everybody: it has been fun and i've learnt a lot!

bye

Hoepner

[PzB74]

Sorry to hear this!
A rebuff at Rabaul may be serious, but it'll only destroy ac and not pilots and you were well on your way towards an autovictory!

So why quit....?

[Gen.Hoepner]

Thanks PzB, but the problem are NOT the planes destroyed on the ground. What has pushed me towards this conclusion was the fact that i based my entire south pacific strategy on an assumption that only today i discovered was a wrong one.
Since the beginning of the game my plan was to secure Rabaul. Lunga and PM were taken to guarantee the safety of Rabaul. When i invaded PM , if i only had known that from Thursday it could have been possible to use the 4E bombers, i would have invaded it too, and for sure, i would not have built up and developped a serie of bases that now, after this discovery, are useless to say the least.My overall sourthern pac strategy was totally wrong and i have to face this fact.

[AmiralLaurent]

What a schocking piece of news.... I can't believe what Radio Tokyo said today.

[Tom Hunter]

I can't say that I blame you for withdrawing under these circumstances but I am dissapointed that this AAR is ending. It was very interesting, thank you for spending the time to write it.

[Gen.Hoepner]

Thank you so much guys for understanding. As soon as 1.5 comes out we'll start another match ( my revenge i hope[:)]) and i'll start a brand new AAR thread.

Still thanks and see you on the board!

[mogami]

Hi, Thursday Island should not permit B-17 missions that reach Rabaul. It can only build to size 4 so B-17 can never fly extended range missions and always carry extended bomb loads. It is 13 hexes from Rabaul. Normal range is 10 hexes. Are you using a map mod?

[Gen.Hoepner]

ORIGINAL: Mogami

Hi, Thursday Island should not permit B-17 missions that reach Rabaul. It can only build to size 4 so B-17 can never fly extended range missions and always carry extended bomb loads. It is 13 hexes from Rabaul. Normal range is 10 hexes. Are you using a map mod?

No map mod at all.
Thanks what i thought Mogami and that's exactly the point around which i've planned my strategy since the first days of December 2004. I know it can seem that i am dropping this game only because i got a defeat, but, believe me or not, i just cannot efford to go on with a game where i misunderstood the basic rules related with 4E bombers and based my overall strategy on those mistakes