Trousers of the mind [No Unsplittableatom]

[Saros]

Onto the 24 May. Not an awful lot happening.
Kfsgo is complaining about me bombing Changsha airfield, something about it killing all his supplies, I silently wonder why he has stacked all his supplies there if i'm bombing it every day.

More excitingly I suffer some confusion over why my naval shipyards are suddenly flush with capacity



Oh yeah this guy has apparently been sitting there for a few days and I didn't notice. [8|]

I'm a touch bored so I am taking the 2nd division which is at Suva and 100% prepped for Pago Pago and going to pay it a visit. There are a couple of units therethat I ought to be able to wipe out pretty easily and it should stop the Cat overflights of Fiji. Batdiv SOPAC and a 4 CA 3CL force provide cover with 27 Rufe fighters flying from three AV's. KB may or may not be moving into striking range in the hope I can intercept some of those US cruisers I think are hanging around Tahiti if they come to meddle.

Coco's island force is loading, A bde, a rgt and a SNLF totaling about 260AV all about 80 prep for Coco's. There are several units there but there don't appear to be huge numbers of troops on the island. Mostly dutch refugee's it appears.

[Saros]

A bit of excitement is SOPAC today as Kfsgo strikes my forward base as Norfolk island with Heavies and P-38's. The 13 plane zero detachment does well despite being outnumbered and in return for 5 zeroes shoots down 2 P-38's and another '38 is lost to ops. Only 1 A6M2 Pilot is KIA.

I'm going to have to abandon Norfolk as its basically an untenable position as the 4E are extremely destructive when attacking units on small islands. However he can't occupy it either as I am capable of generating a 150 Zero 200 Nettie strike with 1 days notice by pulling in units from Rabaul/Fiji to supplement the Noumea Garrison.
I expect he will airdrop some Ausy Para's once I pull out the NavG unit but I can easily blow them away with Bombardment runs and bombers.


Afternoon Air attack on Norfolk Island , at 113,170
 
Weather in hex: Severe storms
 
Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 12
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      B-17D Fortress x 7
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      B-17D Fortress: 4 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
      4 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
 
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       7 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1/A with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 10 scrambling)
      2 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on Norfolk Island , at 113,170
 
Weather in hex: Severe storms
 
Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 10
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      P-38E Lightning x 12
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      P-38E Lightning: 1 destroyed
 
 
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       1 x P-38E Lightning sweeping at 25000 feet *
 
CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1/A with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 10 scrambling)
      Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on Norfolk Island , at 113,170
 
Weather in hex: Severe storms
 
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 4
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      LB-30 Liberator x 8
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground
 
No Allied losses
 
Japanese ground losses:
      4 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
 
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 17
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       8 x LB-30 Liberator bombing from 5000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1/A with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 27000 and 31000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Afternoon Air attack on Norfolk Island , at 113,170
 
Weather in hex: Severe storms
 
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 4
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      B-17D Fortress x 6
 
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      B-17D Fortress: 1 damaged
 
 
 
Runway hits 5
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       6 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 5000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1/A with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      4 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 10000
      Raid is overhead

[Saros]

MAY 25 1942

A bit of a tussle over southern India today. Unfortunately the groups based at Trincomalee didn't fly (80 oscar 45 zero) and the zeroes/oscars that sortied from Colombo got split up and only flew about half their planes. 18 losses for me and 16 for Kfsgo with a few more down on each side to ops.
All the planes were flying at 25K ft against CAP that was stationed at 10-15K. Oddly the zeroes suffered an endless dive and did quite poorly.

Morning Air attack on Madurai , at 30,42

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 101 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 23



Allied aircraft
     Hurricane IIb Trop x 24
     Kittyhawk I x 10
     P-39D Airacobra x 13
     P-40E Warhawk x 26


Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M2 Zero: 10 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     Hurricane IIb Trop: 2 destroyed
     Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed
     P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed



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

Morning Air attack on Madurai , at 30,42

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 47
     Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4



Allied aircraft
     Hurricane IIb Trop x 19
     Kittyhawk I x 9
     P-39D Airacobra x 12
     P-40E Warhawk x 20


Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
     P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed
     P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed



Lashio is looking promising, I am waiting another turn for the artillery train to arrive, 8 or so arty units.

Ground combat at Lashio (62,46)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 78865 troops, 887 guns, 348 vehicles, Assault Value = 2715

Defending force 23446 troops, 197 guns, 13 vehicles, Assault Value = 830

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


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


Assaulting units:
   Imperial Guards Division
   56th Division
   16th Division
   18th Division
   5th Division
   55th Division
   25th Army
   15th Army
   3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
   23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
   3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
   18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
   5th Mortar Battalion

Defending units:
   Railway BAF Battalion
   200th Chinese Division
   Mandalay BMP Battalion
   10th Burma Rifles Battalion
   96th Chinese Division
   3rd Burma Rifles Battalion
   66th Chinese Corps
   106th RAF Base Force
   103rd RN Base Force
   100th RAF Base Force
   23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment


Finally in SOPAC about 40 allied heavies pound Norfolk island. Plane evac of all the troops should be complete in about 3 days.

[Saros]

26 March

Today was not a good day.

Also Coco's isalnd is an auto shock attack island, who knew.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Cocos Islands at 33,101, Range 22,000 Yards
 
Japanese Ships
      BB Kongo
      BB Haruna
      CA Myoko
      CA Haguro
      DD Akatsuki
      DD Fubuki
      DD Shinonome
      DD Usugumo
      DD Murakumo
      DD Uranami
 
Allied Ships
      PT-34, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
      PT TM-5, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
      PT TM-6, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
      PT TM-8, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
      PT TM-9, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
 
 
 
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 21,000 yards
Allied TF attempts to evade combat
Range increases to 22,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 22,000 yards
Range increases to 24,000 yards
PT-34 sunk by BB Kongo at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards
PT TM-9 sunk by CA Myoko at 22,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards
DD Uranami engages PT TM-5 at 19,000 yards
PT TM-5 sunk by DD Murakumo at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards
PT TM-6 sunk by DD Shinonome at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
PT TM-8 sunk by CA Haguro at 11,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...


Ground combat at Cocos Islands (33,101)
 
Allied Bombardment attack
 
Attacking force 2327 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 174
 
Defending force 4435 troops, 44 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 182
 
Japanese ground losses:
      1573 casualties reported
         Squads: 74 destroyed, 25 disabled
         Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 19 (14 destroyed, 5 disabled)
      Units destroyed 1
 
 
 
Assaulting units:
    Zuid KNIL Battalion
    SE Borneo KNIL Battalion
    Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
    Van Altena Battalion
    2nd KNIL Regiment
    WS KNIL Territory Regiment
    Timor Garrison Battalion
    Palembang Base Force
    24th NZ Pioneer Coy
    Timor Base Force
    Ternate Det. Base Force
    Teloekbetoeng Base Force
    KNIL Army Command
    107th RN Base Force
 
Defending units:
    4th Ind.Mixed Rgt /4
    Yokosuka 4th SNLF /2
    65th Bde /8
 
 
---------------------------------------------

 
Ground combat at Cocos Islands (33,101)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 3225 troops, 31 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 108
 
Defending force 5626 troops, 36 guns, 21 vehicles, Assault Value = 174
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 0
 
Allied adjusted defense: 78
 
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 99 (fort level 3)
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-), supply(-)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      2421 casualties reported
         Squads: 99 destroyed, 13 disabled
         Non Combat: 18 destroyed, 31 disabled
         Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 29 (24 destroyed, 5 disabled)
      Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
 
 
 
Assaulting units:
    Yokosuka 4th SNLF /2
    65th Bde /8
 
Defending units:
    WS KNIL Territory Regiment
    2nd KNIL Regiment
    Van Altena Battalion
    SE Borneo KNIL Battalion
    Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
    Zuid KNIL Battalion
    Timor Garrison Battalion
    KNIL Army Command
    Ternate Det. Base Force
    Teloekbetoeng Base Force
    Palembang Base Force
    Timor Base Force
    24th NZ Pioneer Coy
    107th RN Base Force



Well that was a bloody fiasco.
I think the BB TF reacted into the PT boats at Coco's (despite being set to not react) and dragged the amphibious ships who were set to follow the BB's with them. They were meant to lie offshore and invade tomorrow =/

Of course this put them there in the last unload phase so only half the troops and no supplies got unloaded despite the TF having basically all the IJN's decent amphibious assault ships (the LSD's and all!)
Also whatever those guys on Coco's are using in their artillery is some crazy shit.

[Saros]

Low level night attack by allied bombers are hideously effective and there appears to be no counter. Night CAP was present at Colombo today but it didn't fly. The result is 33 planes lost on the ground to two dozen B17 and a few wellingtons. The wellington attack was particularly ridiculous.
Colombo hex has 6 AA rgt with a dozen searchlights each and 8 other AA units as well as those that come with the airfield Bns

Night Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     no flights


Allied aircraft
     Blenheim IV x 8
     B-17E Fortress x 23


Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-21-Ic Sally: 1 destroyed on ground
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed on ground
     H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground
     Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
     A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
     B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

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



Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
      8 x Blenheim IV bombing from 7000 feet
              Airfield Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
      6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 7000 feet
              Airfield Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 7000 feet
              Airfield Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 7000 feet
              Airfield Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 7000 feet
              Airfield Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
      4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 7000 feet
              Airfield Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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

Night Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     no flights


Allied aircraft
     Wellington Ic x 9


Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 5 destroyed on ground
     H6K4 Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground
     Ki-21-Ic Sally: 1 destroyed on ground
     A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed on ground
     Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
     Wellington Ic: 1 damaged



Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 25

Aircraft Attacking:
      9 x Wellington Ic bombing from 7000 feet
              Airfield Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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


Lashio also gets its first attack, comes off at 1:1 and drops the forts to 2. Minimal disruption to the units so after 1 day of rest they should be ready to attack again.


Ground combat at Lashio (62,46)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 81092 troops, 1047 guns, 470 vehicles, Assault Value = 2744

Defending force 22807 troops, 192 guns, 97 vehicles, Assault Value = 865

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 2715

Allied adjusted defense: 2515

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
     1405 casualties reported
        Squads: 7 destroyed, 276 disabled
        Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 24 disabled
        Engineers: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
     Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
     1288 casualties reported
        Squads: 47 destroyed, 25 disabled
        Non Combat: 34 destroyed, 22 disabled
        Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
     Vehicles lost 23 (3 destroyed, 20 disabled)
     Units destroyed 1


Assaulting units:
   18th Division
   5th Division
   Imperial Guards Division
   56th Division
   16th Division
   55th Division
   3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
   9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
   15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
   15th Army
   2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
   1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
   5th Mortar Battalion
   25th Army
   3rd Mortar Battalion
   18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
   3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
   8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
   14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
   23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
   21st Medium Field Artillery Battalion

Defending units:
   Railway BAF Battalion
   16th Light Cavalry Regiment
   10th Burma Rifles Battalion
   Mandalay BMP Battalion
   96th Chinese Division
   200th Chinese Division
   3rd Burma Rifles Battalion
   66th Chinese Corps
   106th RAF Base Force
   103rd RN Base Force
   23rd Indian Mountain Gun Regiment

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


Finally The KB and Batdiv 1 take some measure of revenge on the inhabitants of Coco's island.


Night Naval bombardment of Cocos Islands at 33,101

Allied aircraft
     no flights

Allied aircraft losses
     139WH-3: 3 destroyed on ground
     P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
     Hudson I: 1 destroyed on ground
     PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
     BB Haruna
     BB Kongo
     CA Haguro
     CA Myoko
     DD Uranami
     DD Usugumo
     DD Shinonome
     DD Fubuki
     DD Akatsuki


Allied ground losses:
     161 casualties reported
        Squads: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
        Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 18 disabled
        Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled


Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 36
Port hits 38
Port supply hits 23

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

Afternoon Air attack on Timor Garrison Battalion, at 33,101 (Cocos Islands)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 93
     B5N2 Kate x 166
     D3A1 Val x 56



Japanese aircraft losses
     B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged
     D3A1 Val: 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
     482 casualties reported
        Squads: 1 destroyed, 26 disabled
        Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 32 disabled
        Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

[Saros]

28 May 1942

More gimmicky night attacks at 7K. Again the wellingtons do ridiculous damage. Losses were about twice what was displayed in the combat reports.


Night Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47
 
Weather in hex: Clear sky
 
Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 11
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Blenheim IV x 37
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 8 damaged
      E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground
      A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
      Ki-21-Ic Sally: 1 destroyed on ground
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Blenheim IV: 3 damaged
 
 
 
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 12
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       4 x Blenheim IV bombing from 7000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
       8 x Blenheim IV bombing from 7000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
      16 x Blenheim IV bombing from 7000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
       9 x Blenheim IV bombing from 7000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
203rd Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 3 scrambling)
      2 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 10000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 53 minutes
 
 
 
---------------------------------------------

Night Air attack on Trincomalee , at 31,47
 
Weather in hex: Clear sky
 
Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 4
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Wellington Ic x 12
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 4 damaged
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed on ground
      A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
      E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Wellington Ic: 1 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
      12 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 
 
Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 10
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      12 x Wellington Ic bombing from 7000 feet
               Airfield Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
203rd Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
      1 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes

[Erkki]

Yeah, the night attacks are as or nearly as effective as day attacks, with little or no increased OPS losses, but defending AAA's fire reduced a lot and next to next to useless CAP(that interestingly takes lots of casualties against bomber gunners, lol). Probably better to just forbid all night flying like in my PBEM or at least limit the number of planes that can do it... Sure banning night flying removes one dimension from the game but with how it works and what kind of results it has the game is imho more fun without it, for both Allied and Japanese player.

As additional insult if you set a night CAP and the enemy attacks in daylight those fighters wont fly at all and get destroyed for sure.

[PaxMondo]

Well if we examine the results of the last bombing runs:

Blenheims:
37x4 = 148 bombs. 16 hits => 11% hit rate. Ok, that is possible, but you would expect this to be near the high end of results with high EXP/SKILL pilots.

Wellingtons:
12x8= 96 bombs. 19 hits => 20% hit rate. Again, possible, but in this case highly improbable. This would have been considered a good day result. For night it should be <<1% probability .

Just my thoughts ...

[Saros]

Something just seems off in general with the hit rate of bombers that drop 8 bombs be they heavies or wellingtons. Kfsgo can fly 10 heavies and kill 300-400 Japanese ground troops with a 40-50% hit rate in rough terrain with both CAP and AA present but when I sortie 150+ bombers against an undefended target (IJA bombers cant hit defended targets as they just die in droves) I get 15-20 hits total and maybe a disabled squad or so. Almost all my bomber pilots are 60-70xp 75+ skill.

[PaxMondo]

Well, clearly there is (and should be) bonuses for heavy versus medium bombers in terms of hit%.&nbsp; There may also be a bias towards allied bombers in general as it seems as though Mitchells hit harder than Helens.
&nbsp;
My opinion is the biggest issue is that bomb effectiveness versus fortification level is not a steep enough effect.&nbsp; I have been told that this is one of the variables.&nbsp; I think that the team needs to crunch through the data now available in the many AAR's and note the high hit % irregardless of fortification level.
&nbsp;
We have some&nbsp;very solid RL data points to run with.&nbsp; Iwo was pounded for over 6 months non-stop by LBA and then a week of naval bombardment prior to the assaults.&nbsp; The post invasion assessments I have read clearly state that the bombings were quite ineffective and caused only minor inconvenience despite the 1000's of tons of HE dropped.&nbsp; In game, this would say that level 6 forts are essentially immune to 500 lb bombs.&nbsp; This will add great emphasis to fort building by IJ, impede IJ's expansion after Feb '42, and will force the allies to put forth their Armada carefully to take islands that have not been completely reduced by LBA.
&nbsp;
I think it would be in the right direction.&nbsp; My opinion.

[Saros]

Well Kfsgo is too busy to get any turns out at the moment so I figured I may as well do a quick rundown of the state of the game from tracker. Currently the 30 May '42.

Naval losses:

Rather minimal so far as Kfsgo has not employed his fleet in a single offensive operation apart from one or two DD raids at Norfolk island.




Notable lost allied ships




I have done a decent number on allied subs. Tracker says 17 in the above summary so who really knows. The Soerabaja and Auckland ones were caught in port by the KB




Air Losses




Air production




So far a not too thrilling war. I have no real targets left but I am considering an invasion somewhere to keep Kfsgo reacting while I build a very strong outer perimiter and start digging a second line of defense. It would likely not be a occupation in force, merely a smash and grab to destroy forces and cause some trouble with Kfsgo's supply lines.
Probably 3 divisions are available as a mobile reserve plus I almost have enough PP to buy out another Kwantung division. Assault shipping is a bit of a bottleneck but there are a lot of xAK converting to AK tomorrow so that ought to help a lot.
I am going to be using most of my PP to fill out recently arrived 17th army with Kwantung troops for the forseeable future. After which it will form the Pacific strategic reserve while the DEI reserve is covered by the divisions attached to the 'southern army' HQ.

Possible targets which have occured to me are Perth, North pacific, Midway, Christmas island and Tahiti.

Also of note is that as the threat from allied heavies dawns on Imperial HQ large numbers of 88mm and 100mm AA tubes have been purchased from the home islands and Manchuria and distributed around the perimiter with maybe 60% ending in Burma/Ceylon. Magwe oilfields and Colombo especially are covered by enormous numbers of AAA to take a fearful toll on any bombers that come visiting.

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo
In game, this would say that level 6 forts are essentially immune to 500 lb bombs.  This will add great emphasis to fort building by IJ, impede IJ's expansion after Feb '42, and will force the allies to put forth their Armada carefully to take islands that have not been completely reduced by LBA.

I think it would be in the right direction.  My opinion.

Liking this idea, PaxMondo...

[Saros]

Onto the 9th June 1942

Slow turns for the past while as I have been away and Kfsgo has been busy. We had a bit of a squabble in Burma and I lost about 50 Sallies and 50 fighters for 30 or so allied fighters and a handful of bombers. I also had a pair of Rgt rendered combat ineffective by 4E strikes.
My main fighter losses were to the 25 or so P-38 which pretty much mopped the floor with everything I sent against them and a day strike on Calcutta in which 40 Sallies got separated and promptly massacred by the CAP.

Luckily most of the fighting was over my territory so I only lost 8 fighter pilots and 20 or so bomber pilots.

Of course when I caught the 4E without sweepers I managed to lose two oscars to ops for a single B-17.


Morning Air attack on 41st Infantry Regiment, at 56,47 , near Magwe

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 30
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 102

Allied aircraft
     B-17E Fortress x 95

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
     B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
     434 casualties reported
        Squads: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
        Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 32 disabled
        Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


However things are stirring in SOPAC. About a week ago a huge swarm of subs turned up around Fiji, no doubt hunting my battleship division I bombarded Pago Pago with.
There have been some ongoing sigint reports of heavy traffic in both Wellington and Tahiti and some suspicious ship transmissions in the ocean. No intel on whatis happening but the three probable targets are Noumea, Fiji and a sort of general grab of several undefended bases to put Kfsgo nearer to the aforementioned two major targets.



Suva/Noumea both have a division with a NavG or two along in 2x terrain with at least lvl 4 forts. I would expect a minimum of 3 div equivalent assault would be needed to take either of them before reinforcements could arrive. Kfsgo may just be making an opportunistic grab however as he knows the KB was in the SRA only a week ago when it last bombed Christmas island.

KB isn't going to be able to interfere as both Shokaku/Zuikaku are still two weeks away from completing their all important Radar refit and half of KB's destroyers are also in refit due at the same time.

This leaves naval forces in SOPAC of 2BB 10CA 12CL and some destroyers. Also 5 AV each carrying 9 A6M2 Rufe Floatplanes as a sort of poor mans CVE cover force. A dozen or so subs are moving to take up picket positions around the two main bases, half with glen scouts so hopefully I can pick up whatever is going on.

In the meantime I have flown some more Netties into Suva and put them on ASW to harass the submarines swarming about the approaches to the base.

[Saros]

10th June 1942

Nothing happens other than a few Liberators cratering the craters on Norfolk Island.

Suva gets the usual overflight from a Pago Pago based Catalina. I am keeping my warships out of the base hex as much as possible so they dont continually get spotted.

[Saros]

11 June 1942


Landings at 3 islands in the Tonga chain and a para drop at Raoul Island which brushes aside the Air Coy I had there with a pair of mavis spying on NZ.
Looks like Niue has a serious occupation force and the other minor islands are sub based raiders as there don't appear to be any ships doing the drop off. Niue is out of Zero range from Fiji so there isn't a lot I can do right now about it. I can easily supress the other two islands however.
I wonder if there is a Carrier force lurking out there somewhere? I am gathering ground forces (mostly SNLF marines) to contest some other islands between Fiji and Niue but it will be a little bit before I can deliver them.

Noncombat shipping is withdrawing from the area while CL/DD forces will be in position to interdict any landings closer to Fiji. I don't want to stray from LRCAP cover while I am unsure about allied CV dispositions.

I am currently undecided as to whether to commit the KB without Zuikaku/Shokaku. In any matter unless this is more than a raid the allies will be gone before she can arrive in theater.

In other news CV Hiyo arrived today with the most ridiculously talented zero squad I have ever seen.



And something has gone wrong with the 21st Ind Bde. I wonder if they are now paradroppable?

[Saros]

12 June 1942

Well today was quite the exciting turn I must say.

A massive allied Carrier task force materialises 2 hexes south of Fiji. The Suva Netty force strikes! AAR follows.



Kfsgo sweeps Suva. Low cap % means it went alright for him. The Martlets got handled a lot rougher in the combat replay, at least a dozen shot down there.

Morning Air attack on Suva , at 132,160

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 14 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 23
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 18



Allied aircraft
     Martlet II x 24


Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     Martlet II: 5 destroyed



CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     5 plane(s) intercepting now.
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 26000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
Kanoya Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     4 plane(s) intercepting now.
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 26000 and 27000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
1st Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 6 scrambling)
     5 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 27000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
50th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 7 scrambling)
     8 plane(s) intercepting now.
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 28000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes



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

Morning Air attack on Suva , at 132,160

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 10 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 10
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 13



Allied aircraft
     F4F-4 Wildcat x 16


Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed



CAP engaged:
50th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     11 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 7000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
Chitose Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters to 26000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
Kanoya Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 6000
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
1st Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 10000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes



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

Morning Air attack on Suva , at 132,160

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 4
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 5



Allied aircraft
     F4F-4 Wildcat x 27


Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
     26 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet

CAP engaged:
50th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     2 plane(s) intercepting now.
     1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 13000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
Chitose 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 6000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
1st Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 12000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes



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

Morning Air attack on Suva , at 132,160

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes


Allied aircraft
     F4F-4 Wildcat x 18


No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
     18 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 25000 feet



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

Then the Betties strike the Carriers.


Morning Air attack on TF, near Moala at 133,163

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms   <--- This really screwed the torpedo runs up, at least 40 Netties launched but mostly missed.

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 55
     G3M2 Nell x 16
     G3M3 Nell x 10
     G4M1 Betty x 37
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 18



Allied aircraft
     Sea Hurricane Ib x 16
     Martlet II x 11
     F4F-3A Wildcat x 18
     F4F-3 Wildcat x 87
     F4F-4 Wildcat x 27


Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed
     G3M2 Nell: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
     G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak
     G3M3 Nell: 6 destroyed
     G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak
     G4M1 Betty: 21 destroyed, 6 damaged
     G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed by flak
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     Martlet II: 1 destroyed
     F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
     CV Enterprise
     CV Hornet, Torpedo hits 1  Reported severe flooding and having to flood to counter the list
     CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 1  Reported a 'critical hit'. Not too sure about the damage here.



Aircraft Attacking:
      8 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
      8 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
      5 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-3 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 15000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
     1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-42 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 11 scrambling)
     5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 15000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
     16 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 19 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 15000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
     8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 13 scrambling)
     4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 10000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
     8 planes vectored on to bombers
No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 15000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
     9 planes vectored on to bombers
No.881 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
     4 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-111 with F4F-3A Wildcat (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 13 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 15000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
     7 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-211 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 9 scrambling)
     3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 11000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
     8 planes vectored on to bombers



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

Morning Air attack on TF, near Moala at 133,163   This strike was separated from the main body by the storms, what a waste.

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 10
     G3M3 Nell x 6
     G4M1 Betty x 12
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 10



Allied aircraft
     Sea Hurricane Ib x 12
     Martlet II x 4
     F4F-3A Wildcat x 16
     F4F-3 Wildcat x 62
     F4F-4 Wildcat x 22


Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
     G3M3 Nell: 4 destroyed
     G4M1 Betty: 8 destroyed
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed



CAP engaged:
VF-3 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     10 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
     7 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-42 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     20 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 5000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 45 minutes
     15 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     4 plane(s) intercepting now.
     6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 12 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 12810.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
     17 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     22 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 11000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
     16 planes vectored on to bombers
No.881 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
     4 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-111 with F4F-3A Wildcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     4 plane(s) intercepting now.
     8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 10000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
     8 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-211 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     10 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 5000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
     5 planes vectored on to bombers
No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 6340.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
     8 planes vectored on to bombers



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

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Moala at 133,163   Afternoon attack. CAP still strong if somewhat reduced.

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 31
     G3M2 Nell x 9
     G4M1 Betty x 11
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 6



Allied aircraft
     Sea Hurricane Ib x 14
     Martlet II x 9
     F4F-3A Wildcat x 5
     F4F-3 Wildcat x 50
     F4F-4 Wildcat x 8


Japanese aircraft losses
     A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
     G3M2 Nell: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
     G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
     CV Hornet



Aircraft Attacking:
      1 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
              Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-8 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
     2 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-3 Wildcat (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 10000
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 12000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
     1 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-211 with F4F-3 Wildcat (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 9000
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 3 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 10000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
     2 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-211 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 9000
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
VF-3 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 11000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
     9 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-42 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 9 scrambling)
     4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
     15 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 34000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
     4 planes vectored on to bombers
No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
     8 planes vectored on to bombers
No.881 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 7000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
     4 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-111 with F4F-3A Wildcat (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
     1 plane(s) intercepting now.
     Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
     Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
     4 planes vectored on to bombers

So all in all we apparently swapped 120 planes and 60 pilots for 30 CV fighters + two torpedo hits on Yorktown class CV's. Hornet I suspect is unable to conduct flight ops due to flooding the underlined wildcat ops losses reinforce this as they are hopefully from them having to ditch.
Also notably is the 40 less F4F-3 on CAP in the afternoon. This segues nicely with my hope for some decent damage to Hornet.


Kfsgo didn't fly strikes today as far as I can tell and must have maxed out his CAP to keep a large number of fighters in the air. Will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow, I wonder if he will hang around and have a go at Suva.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Saros

In other news CV Hiyo arrived today with the most ridiculously talented zero squad I have ever seen.

WOW!!, I want your die rolls!!!

[;)]

ORIGINAL: Saros


And something has gone wrong with the 21st Ind Bde. I wonder if they are now paradroppable?

Did you post this in the tech forum yet? I can't recall, but there are others seeing issues like this. Michael is chasing them down. They won't be droppable as it is not indicated in the top left.

[Erkki]

Average experience 85, huh? [:D] I seem to have one average exp 84 Zero unit but its on a CV that is still far from completed, and 4 more that are above or at exp 80.... [;)]

Good trade with against the USN CVs. Those ships, if they'll make it home(which they'll probably do as they're Allied) will be out of the war for some time. Submarine time! [8D]

[Saros]

The nice rolling for the zero squad was more than made up for by having to watch the betties miss again and again and again.

There are around a dozen submarines that will be along the likely withdraw routes to Tahiti and Auckland and I have the midget sub carriers moving down from Truk carrying midgets so I will try scout out where the CV's hole up to patch system damage with glen subs and sneak some midgets into the&nbsp; harbor.
Its down to the subs for now!
Also Hornet reported as sunk in tracker and the ingame intel screen. I'm not hopeful.

As for pilot losses the zero losses are the most painful, luckily I had basically completed my program of pulling out the elite starting pilots from land based navy units and reserving them for carrier duty. Most of the losses were 45xp 70 skill pilots trained since the start of the game.

[Saros]

13 June 1942

I forgot to get a screenshot.

The allied CV fleet withdraws SE towards Tahiti, looks like it's making 20-25 knots. Hornet and Yorktown are reported sunk by intel along the retire route but that seems unlikely, at least I know which way the damaged carriers went.
A mad dash by the Suva PT boats fails to reach the CV's and they end up short. They are not spotted and therefore the LRCAP I had over them is unable to have a go at any possible carrier strikes. None of my other surface units are in position to reach the cariers before they disappear.
Half a dozen subs I had staking out Tahiti are taking up position to intercept the Carrier forces, I should have them in search range for one more turn.

5 SBD's were lost to ops today so I assume that the carrier squadrons from the damaged carriers transfered to Pago Pago which they will no doubt help defend until the carriers are out of drydock.

The first A6M3 wing is up to strength and flies into Burma today. Hopefully Kfsgo will get a little surprise there next time he attacks.
A6M3a R&D advances to 10/42. I have 3 30 plane R&D factories fully repaired so hopefully we can get it to September or even August!

A quiet day elsewhere on the map.

10 Days until the final components of the 1st and second Tank divisions arrive in Manchuko. I should just have enough PP to buy out the components. I am not 100% about where to send them although I think one will join the Burma army.