PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/30/42

Upgraded another 36 ac Daitai with Tont's today, 72 avg exp.
The Combined fleet will reach a position 6 hexes west of Karachi tomorrow.
CAP has been increased to 70%. Several tf's will then be detached at max
speed to reduce the Allied fleet before the Army moves into the city.

Several Zero Daitais have also been moved into position to engage Allied
fighters - this will make the job easier for the KB fighters.

There are 270k troops in Malir with an assault strength of almost 4000.

In the Central Pacific I'm continuing to build bases: Yap, Ulithi, Menando etc.
Got a fair amount of engineers and base units in place now. It will be a hard nut
to crack when David is ready.

Surface Combat

Sub/ASW Attacks

Massed asw attacks, but no hits.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 62,44 (torpedoes fail to detonate)

Japanese Ships
DD Asagao
PC Shonan Maru #6
PC Shonan Maru #2
PC Shonan Maru #1
DD Nenohi

Allied Ships
SS Wahoo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 62,44

Japanese Ships
DD Minekaze
DD Samidare
DD Naganami
PC Ch 3
PC Ch 1
PC Shonan Maru #17

Allied Ships
SS Wahoo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 62,44

Japanese Ships
DD Minekaze
DD Samidare
DD Naganami
PC Ch 3
PC Ch 1
PC Shonan Maru #17

Allied Ships
SS Wahoo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 62,44

Japanese Ships
PC Shonan Maru #6
PC Shonan Maru #2
PC Shonan Maru #1
DD Asagao
DD Nenohi

Allied Ships
SS Wahoo
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on Malir , at 22,4

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 3
Hurricane II x 34
Spitfire Vb x 9
Kittyhawk I x 7

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses: - excessive losses again....
557 casualties reported
Guns lost 11

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
All x Wirraway bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Amboina , at 39,73

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 4
B-17E Fortress x 38

Japanese aircraft losses - forgot to move out my Betties...
G4M1 Betty: 8 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 33

Aircraft Attacking:
All B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[PzB74]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/31/42

Not really a lot to report today, but tomorrow is September 1st - Sumo Day [8D]
Ain't I clockwork eh? Promised you that the siege of Karachi would begin in September
and here we go. The fleet, army and air force are all ready to smash the last British bastion
in mainland India. 60 ships will sweep into the harbour while 250k troops marches into the city.

Expecting moderate to heavy casualties during the first 5-6 days of operations. Then everything
should come under controll - I hope [8|]

So don't miss tomorrows update....

Air Combat

Last day in August - and I sent of another raid against Colombo.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Colombo , at 14,24

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
Ki-21 Sally x 107

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Catalina I: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Wellington III: 3 destroyed, 12 damaged
Hudson I: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Blenheim IV: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 43

Aircraft Attacking:
All Ki-21 Sally bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[soeren01]

Are you sending a few big TF's or rather more small TF's to attack the RN ? It seems that small surface TF's are more effective that big one's.

[PzB74]

I stick with 'medium sized' tf's for the first rounds.
4 fleets with 15 ships will move into Karachi at first and I'm holding the big guns back. Another 2 tf's with 25 ships and 5 bb's will
pound the place after the RN has been taken care of. All of my tf's got ships with radar and good leaders! The long range torpedo batteries
should ultimately make my day.

I've spotted a plethoria of enemy tf's there with all from 2-6 ships in them.

[String]

ORIGINAL: PzB

I stick with 'medium sized' tf's for the first rounds.
4 fleets with 15 ships will move into Karachi at first and I'm holding the big guns back. Another 2 tf's with 25 ships and 5 bb's will
pound the place after the RN has been taken care of. All of my tf's got ships with radar and good leaders! The long range torpedo batteries
should ultimately make my day.

I've spotted a plethoria of enemy tf's there with all from 2-6 ships in them.

oh the night surface combats should be fun. If a few occur then care to upload the replay somewhere? I'd love to watch it [:)]

[PzB74]

Not received anything from David yet - but I can try to send the replay to one of the fansites if you're interested.
A massive surface combat should take place between four Jap and four or five Allied tf's [8D]

ORIGINAL: String

oh the night surface combats should be fun. If a few occur then care to upload the replay somewhere? I'd love to watch it [:)]

[String]

ORIGINAL: PzB

Not received anything from David yet - but I can try to send the replay to one of the fansites if you're interested.
A massive surface combat should take place between four Jap and four or five Allied tf's [8D]

ORIGINAL: String

oh the night surface combats should be fun. If a few occur then care to upload the replay somewhere? I'd love to watch it [:)]

[:)] You can always email it to me @ string58@gmail.com

[PzB74]

What a turn...dunno were to start [:'(]

Todays actions can be divided into 5 different parts:
Naval battle outside of Lautern
Anti shipping strikes of Lautern
Naval battles outside Karachi
Anti shipping strikes outside of Karachi
Air battles over Tjilitjap and Karachi

A large airstike against Tjilitjap destroyed many Allied ac on the ground. Good one as it didn't
cose me anything.

I deliberately sent 2 half trained Zero Daitais on LRCAP over Karachi in order to reduce the Allied
fighter strength here. I expected it to be costly, and it was. Spitfires claimed many killes, but I'm not
displeased since there were quite a few poorly trained pilots on my roster. Wobbly once told me that
there wasn't many UK pilots left in the pools, and I expect that there are only untrained replacements
available.

My fast transport group of Timor again went head to head with 2 US battleships! Usually I wouldn't
have bothered to much, but today the big guys hit all and everything. Good results for David as I lost
1 destroyer and had 3 heavily damaged. Medium bombers also succeeded in hitting two of the damaged
ships later on in the day, and I expect them to sink. The ships will try to unload at Lautern tomorrow before
returning to base.

The naval battles around Karachi must be deemed a success! Only one of my 3 TF's suffered damage and
many Allied ships were destroyed. The only major IJN ship to be lost was the heavy cruiser Tone which was
damaged by the battleship Valiant and sunk by torpedo bombers in the evening (I usually use this ship
as a carrier escort, but I had several Furutaka class cruisers with sys damage in their teens to use for this
purpose).

Jap losses:
1 ca
1 dd

Allied losses:
1 ca
2 cl
5 dd

There were also dozens of Allied msw's and transports around: guess David placed them there to prevent bombardments!?
We sank most of them including:

MSW Cairns, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
MSW Patna, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
MSW Romney, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
MSW Bendigo, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
MSW Burnie, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
MSW Pieter de Bitter, Shell hits 8, and is sunk

AK F.J.Luckenbach, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
AK Empire Rennie, Shell hits 46, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Empire Haven, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Empire Barracuda, Shell hits 50, and is sunk
AK Empire Adur, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Empire Taw, Shell hits 21, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Empire Bunting, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
AK Empire Buckler, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
AK Empire Geraint, Shell hits 34, and is sunk
AK Empire Standard, Shell hits 20, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Empire Nile, Shell hits 40, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Empire Elaine, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Empire Tennyson, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Empire Gareth, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Empire Boswell, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Empire Spey, Shell hits 29, and is sunk
AK Shinai, Shell hits 4, on fire
AK Tai Sang, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Empire Pintail, Shell hits 25, and is sunk
AK Munlock, Shell hits 32, and is sunk
AK Tantalus, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Tjisaroea, Shell hits 34, and is sunk
AK Langkoeas, Shell hits 20, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Herstein, Shell hits 5, on fire
AK Lematang, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Meroendoeng, Shell hits 11, on fire
AK Pasir, Shell hits 2
AK Siberoet, Shell hits 4, on fire
AK Sipora, Shell hits 23, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Halldor, Shell hits 40, and is sunk
AK Herleik, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Ngow Hok, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
AK Nord, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Solviken, Shell hits 30, and is sunk
AK Woolgar, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Gandara, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Federlock, Shell hits 26, and is sunk
AK Hosang, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Soochow, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Beatrice, Shell hits 31, and is sunk
AK Ban Ho Guan, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

That's 6 msw's, 36 transports sunk [:)]

Tomorrow the Army will move in, thought they would arrive today - but traffic jams
caused a delay! The KB will move to a position just 4 hexes out from Karachi and more
surface combat tf's will be sent in. There are still 1 bb, 3 ca/cl and 10 Allied destroyers
left.

The anti shipping strikes form Karachi only managed to sink the heavily damaged cruiser
Tone - a few sorties flew against the KB, but 136 Zeros made short process of them. It's
a risk to move the fleet closer tomorrow, but it should be possible to cut down Allied attack
planes in droves. I got a scear today as a recon plane hit the Zuikaku, damage was limited
to 1 sys fortunately - I've had enough bad luck with just such chance attacks earlier!!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/01/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Lautem at 33,78 - today's least fortunate naval battle!

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsushima, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Kamikaze, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
DD Asanagi
DD Okikaze, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shiokaze
DD Nokaze, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kuri, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kuretake, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Manazuru, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
BB Colorado, Shell hits 4
BB Idaho, Shell hits 3
DD Monssen
DD Sims, Shell hits 2
DD O'Brien

Japanese ground losses:
252 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 21,3

Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Chikuma
CL Naka, Shell hits 2
CL Natori, Shell hits 1
DD Akizuki, Shell hits 3
DD Yugumo, Shell hits 2
DD Hatsukaze, Shell hits 2
DD Hayashio
DD Urakaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hamakaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Nowaki
DD Hatsuharu, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Wakaba
DD Ariake, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
DD Uzuki

Allied Ships - unfortunately the Valiant is left alone!
BB Valiant, Shell hits 1
CL Birmingham, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Patterson, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
DD Express, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Foxhound, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Isis, Shell hits 4
DD Panther, Shell hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 21,3

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Myoko
CA Nachi, Shell hits 1
CA Ashigara
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
CL Jintsu
DD Natsushio
DD Yugure
DD Ikazuchi
DD Shinonome
DD Shirayuki
DD Sagiri
DD Amagiri
DD Oboro

Allied Ships - this fleet was surprised and didn't put up much resistance
CL De Ruyter
CLAA Van Heemskerck, Shell hits 1
DD Banckert
DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Fortune, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Nepal, Shell hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 21,3

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Torpedo hits 1
CA Atago
CA Myoko, Shell hits 2
CA Nachi
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 1
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 1
DD Natsushio
DD Yugure
DD Ikazuchi
DD Shinonome
DD Shirayuki
DD Sagiri
DD Amagiri
DD Oboro

Allied Ships
CA Devonshire, Shell hits 4
DD Barker
DD Stewart
DD Vampire, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Napier, Shell hits 1
DD Paladin
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 21,3

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Myoko
CA Nachi
CA Ashigara
CA Mogami
CL Jintsu
DD Natsushio
DD Yugure
DD Ikazuchi
DD Shinonome
DD Shirayuki
DD Sagiri
DD Amagiri
DD Oboro

Allied Ships - another surprise attack and the Allied fleet was annihilated!
CA Exeter, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
CL Danae, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Witte de With, Shell hits 30, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Here comes the IJNAF contribution to the battle, it was bloody!

Day Air attack on Karachi , at 21,3

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 47
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 5
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
Wirraway x 5
Mohawk IV x 11
Hurricane II x 23
Spitfire Vb x 21
Kittyhawk I x 13
P-40E Warhawk x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 70 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
Wirraway: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
Mohawk IV: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged
Hurricane II: 11 destroyed, 2 damaged
Spitfire Vb: 17 destroyed, 4 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 15 destroyed, 4 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tjilitjap , at 19,62 - another large strike against Java!

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
A6M3 Zero x 7
Ki-21 Sally x 166
Ki-49 Helen x 18

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 14 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 6 destroyed, 14 damaged
A-20B Boston: 6 destroyed, 7 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 12 destroyed, 8 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 8 destroyed, 6 damaged
PBY Catalina: 2 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
45 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 96 - af damage was reported to be 17 - US engineers are great...

Aircraft Attacking:
All bombers bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 32,79 - anti shipping strike of Lautern

Allied aircraft
Hudson I x 17

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson I: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Asanagi
DD Nokaze, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kuri, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kuretake, on fire
DD Hatsushima

Aircraft Attacking:
All Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 32,79

Allied aircraft
Brewster 339D x 4
Hudson I x 20

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Shiokaze
DD Nokaze, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asanagi
DD Manazuru
DD Okikaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
All Hudson I bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 20,4 - anti shipping strikes of Karachi Over 150 Allied ac took part but didn't hit much.

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 11
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12
Swordfish x 9
Wirraway x 2
Mohawk IV x 20
Hurricane II x 27
Spitfire Vb x 29
Kittyhawk I x 14
Vildebeest IV x 2
Beaufort I x 7
Beaufort V-IX x 11
P-40E Warhawk x 23

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 2 damaged
Beaufort I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatsuharu, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
All fighters Wirraway bombing at 2000 feet
All Beaufort I bombing at 6000 feet
All Swordfish launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 16,3 - the strikes against the KB were fended of

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 4
A6M2 Zero x 136

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 4 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 16,3

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 4
A6M2 Zero x 136

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 7 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at 23,8

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22175 troops, 112 guns, 145 vehicles

Defending force 1916 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 216 to 1 - don't tell me that it's only Jap troops that can resist heavy odds [:'(]

Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Picture: Naval battle of Karachi

[PzB74]

Sent you the turn in the mail String!

Can't say that may 15 ship tf's performed badly. I'm still of the conviction that surface combat tf's perform better in combat
than fast transport and bombardment tf's. My 10 dd's of Lautern didn't perform well at all. I'm going to send in several
small/medium sized tf's tomorrow together with a big one. The ships that are in need of ammo and fuel will move to Bombay and
then back to the KB before moving back into Karachi. Should take at least a week to pacify the place...if at all possible.

Will be a tough nut, but I'm convinced that it wouldn't have been possible without removing the enemy fleet and reducing their AF.

Btw: several ships suffered magazine explosions today including 2 Jap dd's. The cl Birmingham and 2 dd's were the Allied fire crackers!


[/quote]

oh the night surface combats should be fun. If a few occur then care to upload the replay somewhere? I'd love to watch it [:)]

[:)] You can always email it to me @ string58@gmail.com

[/quote]

[Tom Hunter]

ADavidB made a mistake when he put Valiant in a small TF. From my experience you lose a lot of hits if the enemy outnumbers you even if its DDs to a BB. If there had been more ships in Valiants TF I think he would have smashed your CAs up.

Fun to watch anyway

[toraq]

Good turn, but I can´t understand very well why didn´t you send the vals and kates at the same time you strike with your SC TF. COmbination of both could be deadly and the KB will surely distract some air attacks (at long range)
Losses could be severe but it seems that it is easy to recover high-skilled pilots with a brief China tour of duty.

On the other hand, PzB, you must admit that you´ve been mauled in the Timor sea. You´ve lost several DDs in that waters!. How many lost so far?. Knowing your strategy, I can´t undersand why you took that unnecesary risk and those high losses.
Any loss in the Karachi or Java battles could be undestandable but losses in the Timor sea (although it is also important) are more difficult to justify. FT missions in "hot areas" are a rol of dice and should be avoided unless life or dead situation. A veteran player like you should know this.[:'(]

[PzB74]

If you know my history with unescorted carrier attacks you'll understand! And those 60 fighters on CAP would have cost me 30 Zeros and perhaps even more crack bomber crews. In addition I could have come within range of 100+ bombers and escorts, the KB would have been threatened. I can risk surface ships but not
carriers and their crack crews.

The plan is therefore to move the KB 1 hex closer to Karachi and slowly maul the Allied af there - the remaining Allied warships will be picked off by my fleet.
I'd like to preserve my KB fliers to fight enemy carriers.

Yes, David got me in the Timor Sea - I hoped that 10 destroyers would be able to take care of themselves but I've been surprised twice now.
Not lost more than 2 + another possible 2 dd's even though several have been damaged. At least I have to delay David from bringing in more troops, can't
have B-17's on Timor, I'd have to evacuate southern Borneo [:'(]

So since I can't place bombers or search planes anywere near the place, the navy got the dirty job. Yes, I knew it was a risk but was willing to take it.
Everything can't go according to plan and I just have to live and learn!

I'll be back [:-]

[toraq]

If you know my history with unescorted carrier attacks you'll understand! And those 60 fighters on CAP would have cost me 30 Zeros and perhaps even more crack bomber crews. In addition I could have come within range of 100+ bombers and escorts, the KB would have been threatened. I can risk surface ships but not
carriers and their crack crews.

Yes, possibly you´re right. And what about put the KB at the range of LB but out of range of escorts...this could harm his air power over Karachi.

About Timor...maybe you can wait until your invasion of Java. It is curious, but big ship losses in a game are caused when players stubbornly want to "risk" or to "try" a FT / bombardment missions. Most of the times these operations are not needed at all or just bad planned. (not knowing where is the enemy or something like that)

People like to risk (in games). That´s why sometimes losses (in ships) are higher than historically

[PzB74]

That's the plan - move 1 hex closer each day and gradually engage his AF! Yesterday bad weather grounded them, so I expect them to be out in
force tomorrow. 140 fighters should be a reasonable assurance. (70% CAP with max range 4 and all bombers set to range 2) Also had to reduce searhc plane settings, lost a lot of em over Karachi.

Also hoping that 2 Kongo battleships and 4 ca's will break through the reduced enemy surface ship screen and bombard Karachi tomorrow. That would
hurt him with a lot of troops and ac stashed there.

I think it's the threat of the somewhat over efficient B-17's that made me reluctant to leave Timor alone. It must also be mentioned that several of the destroyers were detached escorts without the best weapons. I will unload what I can now and go home... The problem is that the army and navy are busy: India, Java, Colombo, Mandalay AND Timor!

David also took a risk with his 2 bb's - the Idaho obviously didn't take too much damage from that torpedo hit. Guess Allied radar put me at an disadvantage.
In hindsight I should have moved 5 dd's as escort for a 5 ship FT TF. I wanted to move as many troops as possible, and this was probably the wrong choice!

[ragtopcars_slith]

PzB, I probably wouldn't worry too much about Timor... in my campaign game against Desert Fox, he is a damn good player, and I have not been able to remove him from Timor[8|] However, althought his B17's can hit me, it's more of a nuisance than a real threat... There are no supplies at Timor, so everything that fly's there or is built there needs to be supplied, so I watch for convoys!
I decided in my game that risking the KB and a lot of surface vessels is not worth it in that jungle rot!
oh yeah, I should have mentioned we are at about 17 Oct 42... waiting for the 1.5 patch because we have had some strangeness with land movement in china.
I think from reading both AAR's, you are gonna get a good fight.

Banzai[:D]

[String]

Looks like timor will turn into this games Guadalcanal [:D]

Thanks for the replay Pzb [8D]

[Gen.Hoepner]

My question is: now that your surface TFs ran out of ammo, where are you going to reload them? Will they be back in time to play their role again in the Karachi massacre?
Why not night bombing his AF at Karachi with your Army Bombers?

[PzB74]

Nah, I'm not turning Timor into another Iron Bottom sound. I've managed to land 1000 troops there, that's
twice as many as the enemy. David sent out his carrier(s) and hit my dying dd's today. They sank outright, no
big surprise.

I'm reloading my 'cannons' at Karachi Hoepner, and I've brought an AD (torpedo transport with the fleet) [;)]

Today was another blood soaked day around Karachi - only lost another destroyer here and sank or disabled half
the remaining Allied warships and most of the transports. No bombardment attacks, but we got a lot more coming!
Guess there are 7-8 transports and 7-8 operational enemy warships left. Tanaka will soon have em all for breakfast [8D]

David has evacuated his heavy and level bombers to Java and China. A bunch of them hit the Norway Maru today, what
an insult!!! [:-]

A few Stringbags tried to hit the fleet today, but they were all shot down - and that's good cause I hate their lousy existence.
David is keeping his other bombers in place though, can't wait to hit em with 14" shells!

The army has now arrived in Karachi, another 2 divisions will follow suit tomorrow while 1 is left in Malir. We're going to start
out with bombardment attacks and first start reducing the forts when the battleships starts pounding the defenders.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/02/42

Surface Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 21,3

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Hiei
CA Suzuya
CA Aoba
CA Furutaka
CL Tama
CL Oi
DD Kazegumo
DD Shiranuhi
DD Amatsukaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Natsugumo
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships - it's plain impossible to hurt the Valiant [:'(]
BB Valiant
CA Devonshire
DD Napier
DD Nepal, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Paladin
DD Panther
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 21,3 - the entire 'Dutch' flotilla is wrecked!

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Hiei, Shell hits 2
CA Suzuya
CA Aoba, Shell hits 4
CA Furutaka
CL Tama, Shell hits 4
CL Oi, Shell hits 1
DD Kazegumo
DD Shiranuhi, Shell hits 1
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Natsugumo
DD Yamakaze, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *sinks later in the day*

Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 17, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CLAA Van Heemskerck, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Barker, Shell hits 2
DD Stewart, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Banckert, Shell hits 3, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 21,3 - a small destroyer tf is also dispatched of

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 1
BB Hiei, Shell hits 1
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 2
CA Aoba
CA Furutaka
CL Tama
CL Oi
DD Kazegumo
DD Shiranuhi
DD Amatsukaze, on fire
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Natsugumo
DD Yamakaze, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Vampire, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
DD Express, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
DD Isis, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Karachi at 21,3 - no long lance attacks today either...

Japanese Ships
DD Yugumo
DD Hatsukaze
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 1
DD Wakaba, Shell hits 1
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
BB Valiant
CA Devonshire, Shell hits 1
DD Napier, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Nepal, on fire
DD Paladin
DD Panther
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In addition 12 transports were sunk:

AK Meroendoeng, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
AK Shinai, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Siberoet, Shell hits 37, and is sunk
AK Silindoeng, Shell hits 37, and is sunk
AK Vitorlock, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Belawan, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
AK Pasir, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AP Ormiston, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AP Westralia, Shell hits 25, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AP Empire Trooper, Shell hits 32, and is sunk
AK Herstein, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
AP Ariadne Moller, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Another 7 were damaged:

AP Van Imhoff, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Neptuna, Shell hits 1
AP Taiyuan, Shell hits 7, on fire
AP Zealandia, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
AP Camphuys, Shell hits 8, on fire
AP Speelman, Shell hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
AP Le Maire, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Sub/ASW Attacks

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Karachi at 21,3 - nice hit, too bad it wasn't the Valiant or Devonshire

Japanese Ships
SS I-7

Allied Ships
DD Paladin, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Napier
DD Nepal
DD Panther
CA Devonshire
BB Valiant
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Bombay at 20,10

Japanese Ships
DD Natsushio
DD Sagiri
DD Yugure
DD Ikazuchi
DD Shirayuki
DD Amagiri
DD Oboro
DD Shinonome
CA Myoko

Allied Ships
SS Tarpon, hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 17,3

Japanese Ships - a troop transport is hit...and may sink later as it got 70 flood damage
AP Minryo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Wakatake
PG Chohakusan Maru
PG Chitose Maru
MSW Banshu Maru #52
MSW Banshu Maru #18
MSW Aoi Maru
MSW Wa 3
MSW Toshi Maru #2
MSW Tama Maru
AP Neikai Maru
PC Ch 32
PG Yoshida Maru
PG Kyo Maru #8
PG Kaikei Maru
PG Daido Maru
PG Uji

Allied Ships
SS KVII

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 33,77 - the damaged dd's are barely afloat when the dive bombers arrive!

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
SBD Dauntless x 34
TBF Avenger x 14

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Kuri, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Okikaze, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Nokaze, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
All SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
All TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 17,3 - Goodbye & Good riddance crossed my mind

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 4
A6M2 Zero x 141

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 17 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 17,3

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 4
A6M2 Zero x 141

Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Haiphong at 37,38

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 9
Hudson I x 9
IL-4c x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Norway Maru
AK England Maru
AK Shunsei Maru
AK Ehime Maru, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
All bombers bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Haiphong at 37,38

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 22

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Ehime Maru
PC Fumi Maru
AK Norway Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage *grumph!*
AK England Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Shunsei Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
All Wellington III bombing at 6000 feet


Ground Combat

My ground units in Lautern need a rest before attackin again!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lautem

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 541 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1069 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported

[PzB74]

Da plan is working! [8D] A torrent of Allied ac hit the fleet today, ran head on into the might
of the KB. For the price of 16 Zeros we brought down 120 enemy ac in a2a combat. Guess that
blunted the sword a bit.

No surface combat, but I've refuelled and rearmed my ships and they're going back in tomorrow!
Should see some pretty nice fireworks soon. The army conducted its first bombardment attack, there
are ca 100k enemy troops in Karachi. With 9 forts this is a hard nut, but we'll get there.

100 Army bombers and 100 Zeros have been brought to Ahmadabad, we'll hit Karachi as soon as the
Spits have been torched on the ground...

Also witnessed a rarity: Blenheims attacked my ships at night, didn't hit anything - of course - but
an Allied sub took part [&:] Sooo many rarities in this game!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/03/42

Air Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on TF at 20,9 - the strange nightbombing attack....

Allied aircraft
Blenheim IF x 5

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Myoko

Allied Ships
SS Halibut

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Blenheim IF bombing at 2000 feet
4 x Blenheim IF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The rest of the ball shows how the Allied AF attacks the fleet and is slaughtered...I won't edit anything.

Day Air attack on TF at 18,5

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M2 Zero x 136

Allied aircraft
Beaufort I x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort I: 6 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 18,5

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M2 Zero x 136

Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 18,5

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M2 Zero x 136

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 6
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
Swordfish x 2
Wirraway x 3
Kittyhawk I x 12
Beaufort I x 11
Beaufort V-IX x 13
P-40E Warhawk x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 11 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses - big snafu for the Allies!
Fulmar: 15 destroyed, 2 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 21 destroyed, 1 damaged
Swordfish: 5 destroyed
Wirraway: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 24 destroyed
Beaufort I: 25 destroyed, 2 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 25 destroyed, 6 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 42 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CV Akagi
CV Zuikaku

Aircraft Attacking: - 4 ac got through...
1 x Beaufort V-IX launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x Beaufort V-IX launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x Wirraway bombing at 2000 feet
1 x Beaufort V-IX launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 19,7 - the fleet also provided CAP for a fleet 2-3 hexes away

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 1
A6M2 Zero x 29

Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Naka

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Beaufort V-IX launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 18,5

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 94

Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
Kittyhawk I x 6
Beaufort I x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 6

Japanese aircraft losses - the Warhawks fought well
A6M2 Zero: 17 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Fulmar: 7 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 9 destroyed, 2 damaged
Beaufort I: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 18,5

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 86

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
Beaufort V-IX x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 6 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 18,5

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 84

Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 6 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 18,5

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 84

Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 18,5

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 84

Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 18,5

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 84

Allied aircraft
Beaufort I x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort I: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
PC Shonan Maru #7

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Beaufort I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Karachi

Japanese Bombardment attack - the first bombardment. Lots of enemy tanks, but we got more on the way

Attacking force 134880 troops, 1319 guns, 16 vehicles

Defending force 97819 troops, 768 guns, 493 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
103 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 23,8 - the Bde is finally subdued and another division is heading for Karachi

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22369 troops, 114 guns, 146 vehicles

Defending force 1744 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 224 to 1

Allied ground losses:
2607 casualties reported
Guns lost 11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Map: Karachi offensive

[Tom Hunter]

The Blehiem 1Fs are radar equipped night fighters. I suspect ADavidB is just trying to use them historically though I have no proof of this.