More Variants - The Allies ride again - No xargun please

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Fri Sep 16, 2022 4:31 pm

March 29, 1943

Fires are out on xAP Nairana at Woodlark Island, now she needs to repair some damage before making the trek to a repair shipyard.

A local minesweeper TF swept some mines at Rabaul.

Troops unloaded at Manus, need a couple of turns more to get fully unloaded.

Bombing of Truk continues.

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Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Fri Sep 16, 2022 7:32 pm

March 30, 1943

Mines all swept at Rabaul and Woodlark Island.

BB bombardment of Manus, a larger one tonight and a DA tomorrow to see where I stand.
I have more troops available at Rabaul but I only have xAP and xAKL shipping at Rabaul
All of my APAs, AKAs and LSTs are assembling for a secret mission that will start loading
in 2 or 3 days. More troops landed at Manus and more will land tonight, mostly motorized
support.

Aerial bombing of Truk continues, it was reported that I-169 was hit with 4 bombs and sunk
at Truk. The repair shipyard is about completely disabled, airfield and port are well damaged
and hopefully much supply has been destroyed, but it appears that Truk has very good forts
since my bombers are not causing a lot of damage. There are also some good AA guns there
I am losing a bomber or two each turn.

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Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Fri Sep 16, 2022 9:06 pm

March 31, 1943

The end of another month.

Manus is taken

Ground combat at Manus (101,119)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1554 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 54

Defending force 9978 troops, 208 guns, 160 vehicles, Assault Value = 335

Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
42nd Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
43rd Infantry Division

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

Ground combat at Manus (101,119)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9978 troops, 208 guns, 160 vehicles, Assault Value = 335

Defending force 1519 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 51

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 307

Japanese adjusted defense: 51

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Manus !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), leaders(-), fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
217 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (4 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
43rd Infantry Division

Defending units:
42nd Naval Guard Unit

Everything at Truk is bombed so more. The repair shipyards have been showing 4(27) for a couple of turns dispite
reports of repair shipyard hits. Must be some kind of FoW thing.

A lot of my Heavy Bombers are getting damaged, he surely must have some large flak guns there. I might try and see
if I can disable or destroy some.

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Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sat Sep 17, 2022 11:07 pm

April 1, 1943

Not much to talk about. Bombing of Truk continues. Grinding down the defenders on Manus continues.
Truk repair shipyard still shows 4(27) despite another hit today

Next operation will start loading the next turn, I have some APAs that need one more day to repair.

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BBfanboy · Post by **BBfanboy** » Sun Sep 18, 2022 4:45 am

I think hits on the Shipyard can land on already-damaged sections and get no further result. So in that size 30 SY (the rollover always adds an extra one), 4 undamaged sections is about 12% and you have an 88% chance of hitting the already-damaged portion.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sun Sep 18, 2022 5:30 pm

April 2, 1943

That very well could be BBfanboy. The CR shows two hits today and the repair shipyard went to 2(29)

I am going to suspend bombing of Truk for now, I will rest and let my heavy bombers repair. I expect to
periodically bomb the airfield and port to maintain control, just not every day. My bombers are fatigued
and need down time. And I do not intend to land troops at Truk for a few months yet. When I am getting
close to that date a I will restart daily bombing raids.

All resistance on Manus is eliminated.

Ground combat at Manus (101,119)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9925 troops, 210 guns, 161 vehicles, Assault Value = 325

Defending force 953 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Allied adjusted assault: 147

Japanese adjusted defense: 3

Allied assault odds: 49 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
184 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
43rd Infantry Division
32nd Aviation Base Force

Defending units:
42nd Naval Guard Unit
=================================================
42nd Naval Guard Unit Wiped Out at Manus by attrition!!!

Next operation is loading now.

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Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Sun Sep 18, 2022 8:34 pm

April 3, 1943

Not much. Bombers are resting so no air attacks.

Interesting ASW action

ASW attack near Rambutyo at 103,120

Japanese Ships
SS I-23, hits 5

Allied Ships
LCM 542C
LCM 532C
LCT-139
LCT-137
LCT-132
LCT-67
LCT-58
SC-703

SS I-23 is sighted by escort
I-23 diving deep ....
SC-703 attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

One of the hits was listed as a direct hit, the others as damage. I assume that this sub will have to
go to Babeldaob for repairs since Truk is trashed.

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Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Mon Sep 19, 2022 1:35 am

April 4, 1943

Nothing happened, but my next invasion is moving.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Mon Sep 19, 2022 4:19 pm

April 5, 1943

Nothing

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Mon Sep 19, 2022 6:29 pm

April 6, 1943

No real action.

FT TF will land troops at Tabiteuea next turn. It appears that most if not all the islands in the Gilberts are unoccupied.
I will take them. It shortens my supply lines and moves my Naval Search forward. Tabiteuea is the only island with
a capacity of 60k, so it will be the main base in the Gilberts. I have troops that will occupy and build Tarawa and Makin.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Mon Sep 19, 2022 9:33 pm

April 7, 1943

A good day.

First SS Tuna finds 2 working Mk-14

Sub attack near Babeldaob at 92,101

Japanese Ships
xAK Kyosei Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Tensin Maru
PB Fumi Maru #3

Allied Ships
SS Tuna

SS Tuna launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Kyosei Maru
Tuna diving deep ....
PB Fumi Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Fumi Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Fumi Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Fumi Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Fumi Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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

Sub attack near Babeldaob at 92,101

Japanese Ships
xAK Kyosei Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PB Toshi Maru #7

Allied Ships
SS Tuna

SS Tuna launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Kyosei Maru
Tuna diving deep ....
PB Toshi Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Toshi Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Toshi Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Toshi Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Toshi Maru #7 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

And Tabiteuea is taken, there was no opposition.

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Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Tue Sep 20, 2022 2:16 am

April 8, 1943

A little fun at Truk

TF 92 encounters mine field at Truk (112,108) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
AM Bombay, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage

Truk Naval Fortress firing at AM Bombay
Truk Naval Fortress firing at AM Bombay
4 mines cleared
==========================================
Sub attack near Truk at 112,108

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-10

Allied Ships
AM Bombay, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

AM Bombay is sighted by SSX Ha-10
SSX Ha-10 launches 2 torpedoes

Recon shows Truk is repairing its facilities, so all the Heavies are tasked to hit the runway.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Tue Sep 20, 2022 4:02 pm

April 9, 1943

The air attacks at Truk were not a good idea. I lost 8 Heavy bombers in the attack for some
airbase and supply hits.

Troops land at Ocean Island.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Tue Sep 20, 2022 6:21 pm

April 10, 1943

Proceeding with taking islands in the Phoenix and Gilbert Islands.

Baker is taken by a USMC raider Bn and a USMC Defense Bn lands at Nauru Island
and Ocean Island flips without any combat. The USMC Defense Bn at Ocean will reload
and is tasked to take Tarawa Island.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Tue Sep 20, 2022 10:03 pm

April 11, 1943

Nauru Island is taken. Forces moving to Tarawa and Howland Island

And SS Albacore finds a working Mk-14

Sub attack near Toyohara at 125,48

Japanese Ships
xAK Wales Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
E Hachijo

Allied Ships
SS Albacore

SS Albacore launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Wales Maru

Sinking sounds heard after a bit.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Sep 21, 2022 1:10 am

April 12, 1943

Well, I wonder. Bad recon, bad top level commander error( me ), or did Xargun ship in an LCU fragment while I wasn't looking?

Anyway, the 1st USMC Raider Bn landed at Howland Island and found troops there.

Ground combat at Howland Island (148,135)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 503 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 10

Defending force 236 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 10

Allied adjusted assault: 0

Japanese adjusted defense: 3

Allied assault odds: 1 to 99 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(-), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-), disruption(-)

Allied ground losses:
180 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Marine Raider Battalion

Defending units:
53rd Nav Gd /1

There is a SCTF showing in the hex next to Howland Island, so I split up my FTTF and sent the APDs back to Tabiteuea and set up
a 4 DD SCTF at Howland Island and sent a CL/DD TF there also. It started at Tabiteuea and is set for full speed so it should make it
in the day naval movement phase. It will be interesting to see what happens.

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Sep 21, 2022 4:48 pm

April 13, 1943

An eventful, somewhat even turn.

On the Sea, a set of surface encounters

Night Time Surface Combat, near Baker Island at 149,135, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Kyukaze
DD Tachekaze
DD Aoi

Allied Ships
DD Smith, Shell hits 1
DD Preston
DD Reid
DD Flusser
--------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Howland Island at 148,135, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Kyukaze
DD Tachekaze
DD Aoi

Allied Ships
DD Smith, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Preston, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Reid
DD Flusser, Shell hits 1
-------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Howland Island at 147,135, Range 17,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Kyukaze
DD Tachekaze, Shell hits 1
DD Aoi

Allied Ships
DD Smith
DD Preston, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Reid, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Flusser, Shell hits 3, on fire
--------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Nikunau at 143,129, Range 23,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Kyukaze
DD Tachekaze, Shell hits 1
DD Aoi, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Danae
CL Dragon
CL Richmond, Shell hits 1
CL Detroit, Shell hits 3
DD Hobby
DD Hammann

I have no ships in bad shape, they should all make it back to port
DD Aoi might not make it, it is a long way from a good port
All of my ships involved gained some day and/or night experience.

I tried sweeping Truk, last turn he had moved KB away from Truk and I expected about 30-40 Tojos
But, he moved KB back and put up 200 Zeros that I did not expect. He did only put up
20 Tojos, but 200 Zeros made it a 1:1 loss ratio. Not a good one for me since I am about out of P-38Gs and
they are the only ones that can make the trip.

Here are the losses for the day
At least some of his IJN pilots will have died, that is plus, but not a good day in the air.

: 430413 air losses.png (225.53 KiB) Viewed 520 times

At Howland Island he did not attack, I am putting some more troops by fast transport today and will move
move via normal APA based amphibious TF.

I have a modern 28 knot 3 x BB TF in range of Truk, I will see if I can get an intercept and I am moving another
SCTF, this one with 3 New Jersey BBs and 6 Fletcher DDs. The DS is also in the area, and KB is showing only
about 34 bombers. I am thing about moving the DS into range about 4 hexes West of Truk to see what might happen.

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Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Wed Sep 21, 2022 9:23 pm

April 14, 1943

Another turn where if I didn't have bad luck I would not have any luck.

We will start outside of Truk
My CVs launched an attack on KB when it was it the Yellow hex, 7 hexes away, 1 hex too far for my TBs to launch
then more than 1/2 of my SBDs turned back because of weather or they got lost. My CV TF did NOT react and close
the distance, but KB did and ended up in the red hex. Probably lucky for me his bombers did not launch, probably
weather related.

: 430415 Truk area.png (152.57 KiB) Viewed 497 times

Here is the CR

Morning Air attack on TF, near Truk at 113,106

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 167

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 210
SBD-3 Dauntless x 83

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 5 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 49 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga
BB Yamato 2
CVL Shoho
CVL Yedo

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Zuikaku-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 23 on standby, 8 scrambling)
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 21 on standby, 8 scrambling)
10 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
Shoho-1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 23 on standby, 8 scrambling)
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
Yedo - 1 with A6M5c Zero (0 airborne, 24 on standby, 9 scrambling)
11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes

Here is the air losses for the turn

: 430415 air losses.png (220.4 KiB) Viewed 497 times

What I do not understand is that I only lost 9 F6F-3s to air-2-air. Most of the turn they just stood by
and let the bombers get slaughtered. This is not the first time I have seen this. There is a brief fighter
vs fighter combat and then my fighters just stand by while the enemy fighters shoot down large numbers
of bombers.

To be honest I am sick of it, and am close to just saying the hell with it. Most likely this will be my last game
it is just not much fun when things do not seem to happen right and then there is no feedback on why things
happened the way they did.

I did take Madang and Makin this turn

I sent a SCTF into Truk, I am not sure, but I think I was going to remove the DMSs from it, but didn't
There were no SCTFs to fight but they did sink two SSXs
The 4 DMSs were sunk by shore batteries.

deaniks · Post by **deaniks** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 4:02 am

I would hate to see you quit nomad your aars are quite amazing. I've recently been reading through it and hope after more time and you've cooled down you'll reconsider.

SolInvictus202 · Post by **SolInvictus202** » Thu Sep 22, 2022 12:45 pm

I know your pain, Nomad - I have been there many times...

the 100 fire passes will not go away..
the fact that sometimes fighters get vectored onto bombers and other times not - won't go away.. (and pls don't list the possible reasons for it now - as it is not consistent

)

the air combat resolution as well as the similar limits to the naval combat resolution are the single biggest issue with this game - and one either accepts them and plays anyway, as it is still an amazing game - or one quits.

I myself have quit for many years because of it - my current game is now starting to show similar issues - but so far I am still enjoying the heck out of it - which is pretty much all a game needs to provide...