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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jun 24, 43
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Sub vs Sub: SS I-7 attacking SS Hoe at 146,91

Japanese Ships
SS I-7

Allied Ships
SS Hoe, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

like I've said before, the game does have it's problems to simulate damage to ships when it comes down to what would be a sure kill... Hoe was reported hit by Helens several times, then she had to retire from her patrol... being damaged she ran over one of my RO subs which hit her with a torp but Hoe just sailed on as if she would be a battleship... it takes another torp from I-7 to sink that sub which makes it several 250kg bombs and two torps to sink that sub... [8|]


SS I-7 launches 2 torpedoes at 3,000 yards


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Sub attack near Bassein at 53,50

Japanese Ships
PB Fuji Maru #4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PB Tosho Maru
PB Shinko Maru #1
xAK Tone Maru
xAK Nitiryu Maru
xAK Chihaya Maru
PB Teibo Maru #2
PB Fuji Maru #3
PB Rokko Maru #2
PB Seki Maru #3

Allied Ships
SS Hake

Hake is one of the subs being reported hit by air ASW uncountable times, now sinking a small PB from a supply convoy...


SS Hake launches 2 torpedoes at PB Fuji Maru #4
PB Teibo Maru #2 fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Fuji Maru #3 fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Rokko Maru #2 fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Seki Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Seki Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Seki Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Seki Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Seki Maru #3 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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Sub attack near Bassein at 53,50

Japanese Ships
xAK Shinsei Maru
PB Seikai Maru
xAK Tsuyama Maru
xAK Boston Maru
PB Teibo Maru #2
PB Fuji Maru #3
PB Rokko Maru #2
PB Seki Maru #3

Allied Ships
SS Hake

damn sub engages again hitting a fully loaded freigther with a dud...


SS Hake launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Shinsei Maru
Hake diving deep ....
PB Teibo Maru #2 fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Fuji Maru #3 fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Rokko Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Seki Maru #3 fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Rokko Maru #2 attacking submerged sub ....
PB Rokko Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Rokko Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Rokko Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Rokko Maru #2 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jun 25, 43
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ASW attack near Addu at 11,49

Japanese Ships
SS I-165, hits 11

Allied Ships
KV Cyclamen
xAK Jalaratna
xAK Jaladuta
xAK Garmula
xAK Egra
KV Freesia

not a really strongly escorted convoy and the sub decides to attack a KV which turns out to be suizide as the sub takes 60+ flt damage...


SS I-165 launches 2 torpedoes at KV Cyclamen
I-165 diving deep ....
KV Freesia fails to find sub, continues to search...
KV Freesia fails to find sub, continues to search...
KV Freesia attacking submerged sub ....
KV Freesia attacking submerged sub ....
KV Freesia fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jun 26, 43
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ASW attack near Addu at 16,49

Japanese Ships
SS I-30

Allied Ships
xAK Empire Kumari
xAK Jalaputra
xAK Howra
xAK Empire Raja
KV Freesia

another sub was trying to engage the same convoy that was attacked yesterday but fails to engage... at least the sub survives...


SS I-30 is sighted by escort
I-30 diving deep ....
KV Freesia fails to find sub, continues to search...
KV Freesia fails to find sub, continues to search...
KV Freesia fails to find sub, continues to search...
KV Freesia fails to find sub, continues to search...
KV Freesia fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jun 27, 43
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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 1 [8|]

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 14
B-24D1 Liberator x 37

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 5 damaged

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 38

the enemy starts bombing Port Moresby again and while it's no biggie Mundy is now aware that we field Franks already, that Frank was a damaged one from CAP over Port Moresby when my heavy cruisers attacked Portland Roads... first I hoped he wouldn't noticed but he commented "Geez, Franks already" so he knows we field both Georges and Franks now...


Aircraft Attacking:
14 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
24th Sentai with Ki-84a Frank (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead



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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 8

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 4 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 9

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 4 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 9

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 9

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb


the 4Es don't do that much damaged, most likely the heavy flak concentration there made it more difficult but in the end none of the many damaged bombers crashed or was a write off... none...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jun 28, 43
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Sub attack near Onnekotan-jima at 136,47

Japanese Ships
AK Asakaze Maru
E Tsubame
AK Yodogawa Maru
AK Tatuharu Maru
E Maeshima
E Nuwashima
E Yurijima
E Niizaki

Allied Ships
SS Gar, hits 2

despite being escorted by 10 E Gar has no probs to attack the convoy that carries construction units...

SS Gar launches 2 torpedoes at AK Asakaze Maru
E Maeshima fails to find sub and abandons search
E Nuwashima fails to find sub and abandons search
E Yurijima fails to find sub and abandons search
E Niizaki fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Niizaki fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Niizaki fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Niizaki fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Niizaki fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Niizaki attacking submerged sub ....
E Niizaki fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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Morning Air attack on Jaffna , at 31,45

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms



Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 35

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 11
P-40E Warhawk x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 10 destroyed

as the Frank is no longer a secret the IJAAF ordered a fighter sweep from Madras to Jaffna where recon reported some 100 enemy fighters... was first shocked to see 50 Lightnings showing up in the replay but they must have been on training as they didn't take part in the action nor are they mentioned in the combat report... so the Franks only faced an equal number of obsolete Dutch fighters and some Warhawks... the Franks completely tore the enemy apart, killing one enemy fighter after another... two Franks were lost over Jaffna with one more being write offs for over two dozen enemy fighters shot down, we scored a 15:1 in A2A... amazing result but it shouldn't deceive us as we had third generation fighters going in against Allied first generation fighters which weren't even a real threat to Tojos a year ago... while being a nice result it's not meainingful when it comes down to the Frank's performance...


Aircraft Attacking:
26 x Ki-84a Frank sweeping at 30000 feet

CAP engaged:
2-VI.G.V with B-339D (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 5 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 29700.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
23rd FG/76th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 12 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 26600.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes



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Morning Air attack on Jaffna , at 31,45

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 3

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 1
P-40E Warhawk x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-84a Frank sweeping at 30000 feet

CAP engaged:
23rd FG/76th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 6 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 26600.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
2-VI.G.V with B-339D (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 29700.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes



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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 14
B-24D1 Liberator x 34

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 4 damaged

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 27

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 5 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 7

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 7 damaged

Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 9

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 5 damaged

Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 8

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 5 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb


one bomber lost today, whopping...

today's airlosses

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jun 29, 43
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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 14
B-24D1 Liberator x 23

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 7 damaged

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

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 16

enemy heavy bombers attack Port Moresby for the third day in a row but they still fail to close the airfield as it seems flak is reducing accuracy and the engineers at the base work hard... third day, only one bomber lost so far... at the same time we have lost 8 aircraft on nav search / ASW...


Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 15

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 10 damaged

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

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 6

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 6 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 7

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 5 damaged

Airbase hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 7

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 7 damaged

Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jul 02, 43
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Sub attack near Laoag at 81,71

Japanese Ships
xAP Kamo Maru
E Kari
E Sagi
E Uji
E Hashidate
xAP Teikyo Maru
xAP Atsuta Maru
xAP Takatiho Maru
E W-18
E W-17
E W-16
E W-3

Allied Ships
SS Runner, hits 3

pure luck here as Runner missed a big transport with a 4 torp spread... 3 near misses in return but it really strikes me that 12 E can't cover 10 transports...


SS Runner launches 4 torpedoes at xAP Kamo Maru
E W-18 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E W-17 fails to find sub and abandons search
E W-16 fails to find sub and abandons search
E W-3 fails to find sub and abandons search
E W-18 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E W-18 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E W-18 attacking submerged sub ....
E W-18 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E W-18 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

I do not know whether the mod changes something, but the main element for protecting your sea routes is to have a lot of FP in daily+night NavS plus some LB in ASW. And some TF of "free hunters" for enemy subs.
The amount of escort ships per-convoy is relevant, but I do not see is as essential as the former elements of the mix.


Once you have a good share of Es available, you can enjoy relative safety on your routes. I have something like 20-30 permanently out of Onshu and I have lost very few cargo ships so far. Many Es have been sunk, though.


Also, since your air war is extremely peaceful, I guess you can devote a decent amount of production to ASW assets such as FPs and 2Es.

ORIGINAL: ITAKLinus

I do not know whether the mod changes something, but the main element for protecting your sea routes is to have a lot of FP in daily+night NavS plus some LB in ASW. And some TF of "free hunters" for enemy subs.
The amount of escort ships per-convoy is relevant, but I do not see is as essential as the former elements of the mix.


Once you have a good share of Es available, you can enjoy relative safety on your routes. I have something like 20-30 permanently out of Onshu and I have lost very few cargo ships so far. Many Es have been sunk, though.


Also, since your air war is extremely peaceful, I guess you can devote a decent amount of production to ASW assets such as FPs and 2Es.

I have roughly 300 Helen flying ASW, all are between 70 and 85 ASW skill plus 100 Judies same skill. Add in some 300 Jakes on nav search on my shipping routes. Had also around 8-10 ASW task forces, all consisted of 1 DD plus 3 E. They were patrolling for several months, reacting around like chicken each turn, sinking exactly 0 subs for the loss of 3 or 4 E. All those ASW groups had the best available commanders.

As nothing worked I was putting all those vessels from ASW groups into convoys. No idea if or what the mod would change, in vanilla (looong ago) as well as Babes games I was sweeping the sealanes clear of enemy subs, never had a problem dealing with them when I was devoting such an effort to ASW.

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: ITAKLinus

I do not know whether the mod changes something, but the main element for protecting your sea routes is to have a lot of FP in daily+night NavS plus some LB in ASW. And some TF of "free hunters" for enemy subs.
The amount of escort ships per-convoy is relevant, but I do not see is as essential as the former elements of the mix.


Once you have a good share of Es available, you can enjoy relative safety on your routes. I have something like 20-30 permanently out of Onshu and I have lost very few cargo ships so far. Many Es have been sunk, though.


Also, since your air war is extremely peaceful, I guess you can devote a decent amount of production to ASW assets such as FPs and 2Es.

I have roughly 300 Helen flying ASW, all are between 70 and 85 ASW skill plus 100 Judies same skill. Add in some 300 Jakes on nav search on my shipping routes. Had also around 8-10 ASW task forces, all consisted of 1 DD plus 3 E. They were patrolling for several months, reacting around like chicken each turn, sinking exactly 0 subs for the loss of 3 or 4 E. All those ASW groups had the best available commanders.

As nothing worked I was putting all those vessels from ASW groups into convoys. No idea if or what the mod would change, in vanilla (looong ago) as well as Babes games I was sweeping the sealanes clear of enemy subs, never had a problem dealing with them when I was devoting such an effort to ASW.

Wow! That's tough! I am only 6 months ahead of you and I have literally zero problems in sinking enemy subs. So far in 1943 I just had a single Tonan-Class torpedoed north of Amami Oshima and she even survived.
I run big convoys. For TKs for example I am just unloading a convoy of 25 ships, of which only 3 are escorts.

Maybe I will find maaaany people opposing what I say, but I found that the reaction to ASW TFs is problematic. I stopped putting the reaction and the guys are doing pretty well, keeping a decent kill/deaths ratio of 1 sub killed per 1.5 E sunk (I count as "killed" only subs which are forced to emerge and sunk).

I run ASW TF of 4 ships, arranged accordingly to the DC they mount (Type 2 in deep waters and DC-95 in shallow ones).


Helen with such a high skill should do wonders in keeping subs at bay!





Also, on a side note, it's quite bizarre that you have such a immense ratio in VPs. In a PBEM similar to this one, the one I mentioned above, I am at roughly 3,5 : 1 at the end of 1943 but I haven't achieved the 4 : 1 in Jan-43. Not even remotely.

It would be interesting for me to compare industrial statistics and the strategic situation. Also, getting India with so few a/c lost looks incredible to me!

ORIGINAL: ITAKLinus

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: ITAKLinus

I do not know whether the mod changes something, but the main element for protecting your sea routes is to have a lot of FP in daily+night NavS plus some LB in ASW. And some TF of "free hunters" for enemy subs.
The amount of escort ships per-convoy is relevant, but I do not see is as essential as the former elements of the mix.


Once you have a good share of Es available, you can enjoy relative safety on your routes. I have something like 20-30 permanently out of Onshu and I have lost very few cargo ships so far. Many Es have been sunk, though.


Also, since your air war is extremely peaceful, I guess you can devote a decent amount of production to ASW assets such as FPs and 2Es.

I have roughly 300 Helen flying ASW, all are between 70 and 85 ASW skill plus 100 Judies same skill. Add in some 300 Jakes on nav search on my shipping routes. Had also around 8-10 ASW task forces, all consisted of 1 DD plus 3 E. They were patrolling for several months, reacting around like chicken each turn, sinking exactly 0 subs for the loss of 3 or 4 E. All those ASW groups had the best available commanders.

As nothing worked I was putting all those vessels from ASW groups into convoys. No idea if or what the mod would change, in vanilla (looong ago) as well as Babes games I was sweeping the sealanes clear of enemy subs, never had a problem dealing with them when I was devoting such an effort to ASW.

Wow! That's tough! I am only 6 months ahead of you and I have literally zero problems in sinking enemy subs. So far in 1943 I just had a single Tonan-Class torpedoed north of Amami Oshima and she even survived.
I run big convoys. For TKs for example I am just unloading a convoy of 25 ships, of which only 3 are escorts.

Maybe I will find maaaany people opposing what I say, but I found that the reaction to ASW TFs is problematic. I stopped putting the reaction and the guys are doing pretty well, keeping a decent kill/deaths ratio of 1 sub killed per 1.5 E sunk (I count as "killed" only subs which are forced to emerge and sunk).

I run ASW TF of 4 ships, arranged accordingly to the DC they mount (Type 2 in deep waters and DC-95 in shallow ones).


Helen with such a high skill should do wonders in keeping subs at bay!





Also, on a side note, it's quite bizarre that you have such a immense ratio in VPs. In a PBEM similar to this one, the one I mentioned above, I am at roughly 3,5 : 1 at the end of 1943 but I haven't achieved the 4 : 1 in Jan-43. Not even remotely.

It would be interesting for me to compare industrial statistics and the strategic situation. Also, getting India with so few a/c lost looks incredible to me!

I was using something like 500 IJAAF medium bombers in China but there was no need to do so in India. I would have if there were a must to do so but instead I used the IJA as the real hammer as I had something like 8-10000 av operating there, including the three tank divs and all tank rgts. I never planned to go further than the Calcutta area but we were given some opportunities to destroy more Commonwealth troops so we kept advancing. End result was India taken with pretty much all Allied units destroyed there, capturing 1,5 mio tons of supply and a couple of hundred thousand tons of fuel.

Current Industrial status is something like 5,2 mio tons of supply, 5 mio tons of fuel and 1,2 mio HI points. Also 270,000 arm and 37,000 vehicle points. We have the George, Frank, Judy (last version) and Jill and the A6M5 (since mid 42). Musashi has been built, Taiho and two Unryus commissioned.

As to the victory point ratio, keep in mind that I took all of China (destroying all Chinese units there) and literally all of India (also destroying the majority of units there) and we destroyed dozens of cruisers, destroyers, two BBs and four USN CVs in mid 42. All this for more or less no losses, as it has cost us only 3 fleet DDs. Not trying to sound too arrogant but we have done maximum damage to the enemy while suffering minimal losses. Not a cakewalk though, things can go wrong and the situation can change within a day.

Mundy's decision of forward defense matched perfectly with my strategy and he paid the maximum price. If he wouldn't have tried that kind of forward defense and did a full Sir Robin I would be on the losing end already.

Yeah it looks precisely as my madness, but I am wondering if I did something wrong since I am now 3,37 : 1 in Dec-1943

My opponent is very very experienced, with several games into 1945. I think his forward defence of Calcutta has been a mistake in the long run. I landed in Diamond Harbour on 28 Jan 1942 just to isolate Burma and protect Magwe. He committed everything in Calcutta defence and it turned out badly.



Probably you can grasp better than me where you have outperformed me so much (and maybe.... share your thoughts about this delta [:D][:D][:D] - it would be really helpful since I have not many ideas on what to do):

Hard to say, you sure have way more airlosses than me but you also have nearly 20k more victory points. Not sure if the games can be compared, my opponent has only 9k victory points left at the moment.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jul 04, 43
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Sub attack near Torishima at 110,67

Japanese Ships
AMC Aikoku Maru
E W-23
AMC Hokoku Maru
E W-27
E W-26

Allied Ships
SS Tautog, hits 5

3xE for 2xAMC but Tautog nevertheless attacks and luckily misses... 5 near misses in return...


SS Tautog launches 2 torpedoes at AMC Aikoku Maru
E W-27 fails to find sub and abandons search
E W-26 attacking submerged sub ....
E W-26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E W-26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E W-26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E W-26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
E W-26 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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Sub attack near Hengchun at 85,68

Japanese Ships
AMC Kiyosumi Maru
E Aotaka
E Wakataka

Allied Ships
SS Pogy

same here, two E escort a single (empty) AMC and Pogy misses with 4 torps...


SS Pogy launches 4 torpedoes at AMC Kiyosumi Maru
Pogy diving deep ....
E Wakataka fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Wakataka fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Wakataka attacking submerged sub ....
E Wakataka fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Wakataka fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jul 06, 43
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Afternoon Air attack on Jaffna , at 31,45

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 36

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 2
P-40E Warhawk x 2
P-38G Lightning x 50

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Ki-84a Frank sweeping at 31000 feet

hmmm... ordered this sweep out of boredom actually and it turned out to be a silly idea as there's just no need to do so and every pilot lost is a waste... the Franks come in at 31k feet and guess what, the Lightnings were diving on them... [8|] the dive being the only real thing important in the A2A routine the Franks were pretty badly shot up, it's absolutely amazing not more were shot down as most only got damaged...



CAP engaged:
1-Vl.G.IV with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
2-Vl.G.IV with Hurricane IIb Trop (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 25000.
Raid is overhead
23rd FG/74th FS with P-38G Lightning (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 10 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
23rd FG/75th FS with P-38G Lightning (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 10 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 25000 and 34550.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Jaffna , at 31,45

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 37,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84a Frank x 36

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 4 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x Ki-84a Frank sweeping at 31000 feet

second sweep did way better than the first one but again, the Lightnings were diving way more often than the Franks... end result is more or less a 1:1 as many Franks were write offs at the end of the day... what totally struck me though were the pilot losses: 1... in words: ONE [X(] those are really high exp pilots but it seems the only pilot lost was the one that was directly shot down over Jaffna, all others were able to bring their damaged fighter back to Madras... WOW!




CAP engaged:
23rd FG/74th FS with P-38G Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
15 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 24000 and 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
23rd FG/75th FS with P-38G Lightning (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes

Those look like crazy-low A/C losses for a game in 1943. 130 Tojos? That's about a month's worth of losses for me. Looks like there just hasn't been alot of air combat, period, as Allied losses are also low....

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Those look like crazy-low A/C losses for a game in 1943. 130 Tojos? That's about a month's worth of losses for me. Looks like there just hasn't been alot of air combat, period, as Allied losses are also low....

yup, not going to engage in the air if I haven't to. If the enemy wants to bomb an airfield I can easily repair, let him bomb. If he wants to sweep, let him sweep. If I see a real reason to engage, I'm usually going to throw in the kitchen sink.

By far the most losses are the Jakes, all lost on nav search to ops, without ever being near enemy carriers.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jul 08, 43

nothing happened except the idiotic losses on ASW... 5 Judies out of the same unit crashed on landing today, no fat, high exp, high skill, nice base... all fine, except those air routines...[8|]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jul 13, 43
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Sub attack near Kwajalein Island at 132,115

Japanese Ships
PB Kunitu Maru
xAK Syunsei Maru
xAK Momoyama Maru
xAK Hokko Maru
PB Shirogane Maru
PB Kasyu Maru

Allied Ships
SS Grayback, hits 2

the enemy has flooded the Marshalls with subs the last days which is unusual... that's a convoy bringing troops so not seeing a freighter being targetted was a good thing as Grayback missed...


SS Grayback launches 2 torpedoes at PB Kunitu Maru
Grayback bottoming out ....
PB Shirogane Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Kunitu Maru fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Kasyu Maru fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Shirogane Maru attacking submerged sub ....
PB Shirogane Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shirogane Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shirogane Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Shirogane Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 51

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 4 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 22

a milk run to Port Moresby... two bombers were reported shot down today and damage done wasn't all that good...


Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 9

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 3 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 9

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 3 damaged

Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 8

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 3 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 9

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 damaged

Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb


here's the real happening this turn as long range nav search picked up an Allied fleet consisting of several enemy task forces East of the Marshalls, heading West... the aircraft was shot down but was able to detect quite an enemy fleet and I'm pretty sure this is going to be an Allied offensive operation...