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As you can see, the air losses were severe. As Hortlund has the privileg to watch the replay without the synch bug, he told me his Zeroes once again achieved a kill rate between 15 and 20:1 against my Wildcats. Well, those are carrier based Wildcats... 80+ exp... [8|] The results in our PBEM really force us to completely adopt our tactics as it´s mostly an all or nothing thing. Hortlund can´t kill 4Es so he has to completely withdraw from places where I can use them en masse, my Wildcats can´t compete with Zeroes so I can´t use my carriers. This is what I have learnt this turn. My carriers are just sitting ducks, their primary defense will probably be the fact that my TFs all have a flak value of 10.000+!! Yes, 10.000+. I have to be super happy that Hortlund didn´t even try to engage my invasion with a hundred Zeroes and a hundred Betties as they would have surely obliberated at least one CV TF. I just have to wait another two months with the use of my carriers as from then on I get 180 Hellcats a month. I´m sure those fighters can deal with the super Zero.

As it stands now, I will have my carriers one more turn up there and they will then retreat. We will try to catch some transport convoys tomorrow and we pray that Hortlund hasn´t changed his mind to set his Zeroes on escort and his Betties to naval strikes.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/21/43

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TF 1081 encounters mine field at Kai Island (39,78)

Allied Ships
MSW Townsville
MSW Strahan

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TF 78 encounters mine field at Menado (39,67)

Japanese Ships
MSW Rokko Maru
MSW Musashi Maru
MSW Hagoromo Maru

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Night Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 14

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Kai Island at 39,78

Japanese Ships
SS I-34

Allied Ships
MSW Townsville, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Strahan

one of the two remaining MSW at Kai Island is killed...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 37,80

Japanese Ships
SS I-17, hits 4

Allied Ships
DD DeHaven, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Clark
DD Balch
DD Ellet
DD Benham
DD Monssen

another sub scores. DeHaven will live as the ship is already disbanded at Darwin. 2 real hits and 2 near misses on the sub in return doesn´t make the sub show up as heavily damaged.

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TF 1081 encounters mine field at Kai Island (39,78)

Allied Ships
MSW Strahan

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Day Air attack on Lautem , at 33,78

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 24
B-25J Mitchell x 11
B-24D Liberator x 118

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-II Dinah: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
182 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 59

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 26000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiska Island , at 92,35


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 16
P-39D Airacobra x 46
PV-1 Ventura x 31
PB4Y Liberator x 12


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
95 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x TBF Avenger bombing at 22400 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Sorong at 42,74

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 6
A6M3a Zero x 48
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 22

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 56
PV-1 Ventura x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 4 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 6 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 16 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 12 destroyed, 25 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Hikawa Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
50 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x PV-1 Ventura bombing at 6000 feet

isn´t that once again just great? Even though we launch with our elite Lightning group, only 6 bombers take off, instead of 50. Well at least those 6 bombers achieve an excellent hit rate but it´s just not worth our losses. The Zeroes achieved a kill rate in their favour.

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Day Air attack on TF, near Namlea at 38,73

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 10
A6M3a Zero x 31
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft
Seafire x 10
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21
SBD Dauntless x 93
TBF Avenger x 9
Avenger I x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 15 destroyed [8|][8|]
SBD Dauntless: 5 destroyed, 30 damaged
TBF Avenger: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
Avenger I: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Naganami
AP Eli Maru
AP Taigen Maru
AP Ueizuru Maru
AP Teiyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Haguro Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kaisho Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kashi Maru
AP Kaika Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kanayamasan Maru
AP Nachisan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Fukkai Maru, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Choko Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Aratama Maru

Japanese ground losses:
285 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet

I would call those desperate attempts to reinforce New Guinea suicide if you would ask me before but it proves that Hortlund hasn´t to fear anything as my 80 exp fighters get shot down in dozens while his Zeroes just stay Super Zeroes. That the hit rate of US carrier based bombers has been only around 10% through the whole war against slow merchants is the same joke as the kill rates of Zeroes.

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Day Air attack on TF at 40,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 17
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 7
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 5

Allied aircraft
Seafire x 11
F4F-4 Wildcat x 28
TBF Avenger x 12
Avenger I x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed, 16 damaged
TBF Avenger: 1 damaged
Avenger I: 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Tamanami
DD Isokaze
APD APD-35, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PC Iki

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet

48 bombers, 2 hits. Again I have to ask what 48 KB Kates would achieve... [8|]





for the loss of 15 Zeroes, we lose 39 fighters...

Once again the SYNCH BUG strikes... I have no idea what really happened this turn as it´s essential to really wacth the replay... this is the cr that Hortlund sent me...

Does your opponent press letter 'z' to speed up things during the replay?

My opponent did that every now and then, and every time the allied replay was out of synch. He has stopped doing that and our game has been in synch.

ORIGINAL: pionkki

Once again the SYNCH BUG strikes... I have no idea what really happened this turn as it´s essential to really wacth the replay... this is the cr that Hortlund sent me...

Does your opponent press letter 'z' to speed up things during the replay?

My opponent did that every now and then, and every time the allied replay was out of synch. He has stopped doing that and our game has been in synch.

thanks for the tip, I will ask him.

ORIGINAL: castor troy

what can I say? I have no idea what Hortlund is trying to achieve but it once again worked pretty good for him. The Wildcat is a piece of flying chunk, even if flown by pilots with 80+ exp. My carrier based fighters get completely wrecked in one day, 50 Avengers achieve 2 torp hits (those pilots are all between 70 and 85 exp). Tell me how many DOZEN torp hits you expect from 50 attacking Kates with such an experience.

I haven't played this mod or followed an aar of one this far . . . I'm starting to wonder if the hellcats will be much of an improvement.

ORIGINAL: anarchyintheuk

ORIGINAL: castor troy

what can I say? I have no idea what Hortlund is trying to achieve but it once again worked pretty good for him. The Wildcat is a piece of flying chunk, even if flown by pilots with 80+ exp. My carrier based fighters get completely wrecked in one day, 50 Avengers achieve 2 torp hits (those pilots are all between 70 and 85 exp). Tell me how many DOZEN torp hits you expect from 50 attacking Kates with such an experience.

I haven't played this mod or followed an aar of one this far . . . I'm starting to wonder if the hellcats will be much of an improvement.

I haven´t had the Hellcat in this mod before as I never reached mid 43 with this version of Nikmod, but when I look at how the Lightning and the Corsair performs, then I´m sure the Hellcat is a big improvement to the Wildcat. The Hellcat surely won´t be as good as the Corsair or the Lightning but I´m pretty sure that the carrier fighters will achieve killrates of 2:1+ then, even against the so far "super Zeroes". A problem will be that the Hellcat is more durable than the Wildcat (yes, that´s a problem [X(]) because this will lead to a lot of damaged fighters just from flying 60-80% Cap, so max Cap will probably be 50% with 80% for one or two days if in extreme danger. Same goes for the British CVs, while the Corsair will be a real improvement to the Seafire (concerning combat performance) it will also lead to probably only half the fighters on Cap as you wreck half of your fighters with flying 70% Cap.

What really is interesting is the fact that we all know (or at least we were told that all the time) that speed is the most important factor in A2A in WITP. Well, I wonder why the Zeroes are then performing so good and the Tojos so bad. The Tojo is far faster than the Zero and even if the pilots are equally skilled, the Tojo loses 1:5 while the Zero still achieves 2-20:1 kills. Everytime my best fighter unit (the Lightning unit in Northern Australia), that started out at 81 exp when the fights began (now at 76 exp [:(]), achieves 10:1+ kill rates against Tojos easily (far too high IMO), while they only achieve 2:1 kill rates against Zeroes AT BEST!!! Now the Tojo is better in every aspect, except MANEUVERABILITY. Common "thinking or knowledge" on the forum is that man only helps you to avoid being shot at but what I´m experiencing is that this must enable the Zeroes to go into position BEHIND my fighters all the time as there is has been no other fighter (well there is, the Oscar which is as maneuverable but was phased out for the Tojo, which seems to be crap) that attacks from behind so often in the replays.

At the moment I´m waiting for the Hellcat (going online 7/43) and the Corsair for the Brit carriers (going online 6/43) before I will use my carriers the way I have used them the last week as Hortlund MUST have seen that my carriers can´t fight alone, not even one or two days - if the enemy is able to launch massed strikes. This doesn´t mean that my offensive operations are cancelled now for the next three months, but my carriers will only perform escort missions for my invasions, which won´t go deep but will be either within LRCAP range from my bases (which means Kai Island) or at a place where I don´t have to fear massed strikes from several bases (which means Timor).

It´s not just the under performance of my Wildcats that really concerns me, it´s also the absolutely worst hit rate of US carrier based bombers that I´ve ever seen in my PBEMs.

This is from the last days and it has been always the same in this PBEM, 80+ exp carrier bombers can´t even hit slow merchants at an acceptable hit rate:

Day Air attack on TF, near Namlea at 38,73

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 10
A6M3a Zero x 31
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft
Seafire x 10
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21
SBD Dauntless x 93
TBF Avenger x 9
Avenger I x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire: 2 destroyed, 6 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 15 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 5 destroyed, 30 damaged
TBF Avenger: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
Avenger I: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Naganami
AP Eli Maru
AP Taigen Maru
AP Ueizuru Maru
AP Teiyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Haguro Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kaisho Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kashi Maru
AP Kaika Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kanayamasan Maru
AP Nachisan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Fukkai Maru, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Choko Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Aratama Maru

Japanese ground losses:
285 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet


124 bombers, 11 hits = 8,87 % hit rate [8|] not even 10% against merchants, the hit rate against enemy warships is of course even lower, guess somewhere between 3 and 5%.

In the recent attack against the enemy´s BBs (where KB would have killed both BBs 100%!!!!, no doubt) we achieved that:

Day Air attack on TF at 35,75

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 14
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 42

Allied aircraft
Seafire x 15
F4F-4 Wildcat x 48
SBD Dauntless x 97
TBF Avenger x 50

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 2 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 22 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire: 14 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 26 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 14 destroyed, 69 damaged
TBF Avenger: 6 destroyed, 38 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Mogami
CA Atago
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Oi
DD Hayashio
CA Nachi

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet

147 bombers, 7 hits = 4,76% hit rate. A guess what the Kates from KB would have achieved is 25% hit rate which meanst 5 or 6 torp hits on each BB and the confirmation of both BBs sunk with the last 30% of the attacking Kates not being able to locate the target because the target would have been sunk already.

Again, my fighter and bomber pilots are (better say were) 80+ exp. Especially the SBD pilots start out with a VERY HIGH exp, mostly in the high 80s!!! This doesn´t enable them to achieve an acceptable hit, not even against merchants. Even in real life, I would expect 100 attacking bombers to completely annihilate an enemy transport fleet of 10 transports. In this PBEM 100 attacking carrier based bombers are at best able to sink O N E out of those 10 transports. That´s not acceptable.

If Nik is reading this: Have you changed the accuracy of the loadouts? Hard to imagine anyway as my LBA is achieving really excellent hit rates as soon as they reached 75 exp. In fact, 25 Venturas are far more deadly than 6 of my fleet carriers... [8|]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/22/43

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TF 1081 encounters mine field at Kai Island (39,78)

Allied Ships
MSW Strahan

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TF 55 encounters mine field at Namlea (38,73)

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuzuki, Mine hits 1, on fire

sub laid VH2, but it´s not good news to see a new TF coming to Namlea as we have dispatched a CL and two DDs from our carriers to raid Namlea tonight...

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ASW attack at 38,79

Japanese Ships
SS I-19

Allied Ships
DD Clark
DD Balch
DD Ellet
DD Benham
DD Monssen

beginning of a series of ASW attacks today...

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ASW attack at 39,76

Japanese Ships
SS I-15, hits 11, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Phelps
DD Porter

only two of the 6 DDs show up in the cr but Porter alone was enough to seriously damage I-15 with 2 hits and 9 near misses. I-15 was reported sunk at the end of the day.

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ASW attack at 38,78

Japanese Ships
SS I-174

Allied Ships
DD Jarvis
DD Patterson
DD Henley
DD Ralph Talbot

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ASW attack at 38,78

Japanese Ships
SS I-174, hits 5, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Phelps
DD Porter
DD Perkins
DD Cushing
DD Shaw

2 real hits, no heavy damage...

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Night Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 20

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Namlea at 38,73

Japanese Ships
CL Oyodo, Shell hits 4, on fire
CL Agano
CL Sendai, Shell hits 1
CL Naka
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hatsuzuki, on fire
DD Hatsukaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Phoenix, Shell hits 4
DD Sterett
DD Flusser, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

again, this combat is over just too quickly. And of course the enemy achieves yet another torp hit while our torps all missed. Phoenix took only non penetrating hits while she achieved a couple of penetrating 6 inch hits on the enemy ships, none is in trouble though. Flusser will make it to Darwin if not hit by a sub. It´s amazing, while I haven´t really lost a lot of DD (in fact I have lost really few, not even half of what the Japanese have lost!! [:D]) I really have problems to find enough DDs for all the escort duty (only for CVs,BBs,CAs,CLs - I don´t use DDs for convoy duty at all), the ASW TFs and the small surface combat TFs to attack enemy shipping. I could need at least another 50 DDs. The carrier TFs alone have some 30 DDs with them.



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ASW attack at 38,78

Japanese Ships
SS I-174, hits 12

Allied Ships
DD Wilson
DD Philip
DD O'Bannon
DD Eaton
DD Aulick

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ASW attack at 38,78

Japanese Ships
SS I-174, hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Phelps
DD Porter
DD Perkins
DD Cushing
DD Shaw
DD Case
DD Lamson
DD Taylor

also I-174 is reported sunk later in the day. Excellent work of the DDs today!

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TF 1081 encounters mine field at Kai Island (39,78)

Allied Ships
MSW Strahan

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TF 4 encounters mine field at Sorong (42,74)

Japanese Ships
DD Isokaze

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TF 1009 encounters mine field at Aru Island (39,80)

Allied Ships
PT PT-236, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aru Island had a visit from a mine laying sub and PT-236 sinks after hitting a Type 88 mine...

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TF 1129 encounters mine field at Bulla (40,75)

Allied Ships
PT PT-149, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

mmm, another PT is lost to a mine today. This one hits a Type 93 at Bulla where I tried to engage barges during the night, but even though the PTs could reach it easily and even though they were set to retire, the PT movement once again is borked and they go in at daylight, missing the barges and they stayed there just like with patrol do not retire. PT movement has had it´s own special problems for a long time already.

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Day Air attack on Lautem , at 33,78

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 20
B-25J Mitchell x 14
B-24D Liberator x 115

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed


Japanese ground losses:
116 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 47

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 26000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiska Island , at 92,35


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 16
P-39D Airacobra x 38
PV-1 Ventura x 27
PB4Y Liberator x 12


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
86 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x TBF Avenger bombing at 22400 feet

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: pionkki

Once again the SYNCH BUG strikes... I have no idea what really happened this turn as it´s essential to really wacth the replay... this is the cr that Hortlund sent me...

Does your opponent press letter 'z' to speed up things during the replay?

My opponent did that every now and then, and every time the allied replay was out of synch. He has stopped doing that and our game has been in synch.

thanks for the tip, I will ask him.

I'm pionkki's opponenet. In the end I found out what was causing it (turned out not to be the Z key). Someone posted about 9-12 months ago that if you open a saved turn change, something and resave(something like that - can't remember the exact process), before running the new turn, the you get a sync problem. I tried the process he described and it did seem to produce the problem. Now I open the application afresh before running the turn. No problems for the last year or so.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/23/43

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TF 1081 encounters mine field at Kai Island (39,78)

Allied Ships
MSW Strahan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 10

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 41,72

Japanese Ships
AP Taigen Maru
DD Naganami

Allied Ships
SS O23

Torps failed to detonate. Unfortunate considering the fact that the dud rate of those torps is only 10%...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1081 encounters mine field at Kai Island (39,78)

Allied Ships
MSW Strahan

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Sub attack near Kai Island at 39,78

Japanese Ships
SS I-34

Allied Ships
MSW Strahan, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

I-34 is still sitting at Kai Island and kills the second MSW. So much about the fact how "ineffective" subs are when they sit in a base hex, being spotted several times every day. New MSWs are en route.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Namlea , at 38,73 [:(]


Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 64


No Allied losses

as we´ve encountered heavy LRCAP over the TFs at Namlea I thought it would be worth to send the Corsairs on a visit. There are still ships at Namlea, no LRCAP anymore though. Once again the enemy proves to have a very good intuition.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiska Island , at 92,35


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 2
P-39D Airacobra x 30
PV-1 Ventura x 23
PB4Y Liberator x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Runway hits 5
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x PV-1 Ventura bombing at 25800 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Sorong at 42,74


Allied aircraft
Barracuda x 9


Allied aircraft losses
Barracuda: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Hikawa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hokuriku Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Barracuda launching torpedoes at 200 feet

the first strike from my newly arrived Barracudas! Two big APs are hit. The British torp bombers can lug a torp out to five hexes, so all those bases in Northern New Guinea are in torp range from Kai Island. Barracudas and Corsairs, a dangerous mix.

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Day Air attack on TF, near Namlea at 38,73


Allied aircraft
Avenger I x 7


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Hatsukaze

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Avenger I bombing at 5000 feet

would have preferred to see the Barracudas go after the cruisers at Namlea though.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Namlea at 38,73


Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 16
PV-1 Ventura x 11


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x PV-1 Ventura bombing at 6000 feet

the Venturas from Tenimbar launch also, but again only a small part of the bombers stationed there. One penetrating 500lb bomb hit.

In this screenshot you can see the situation at the moment. Like I´ve mentioned earlier, Hortlund uses the very good tactic of bullet prove BB/CA in a TF under a big Cap umbrella to draw in airstrikes against the high value targets (where my bombers can´t do damage at all but take a punishment in return). This way I have to limit the range of my bombers so that they don´t attack this TF at Kendari... [8|] I expect Hortlund to move this TF a couple of hexes out now and then and to LRCAP it to draw my bombers in. Then my bombers will launch (with or without escort) just to see my bombs bouncing off the deckarmor. This tactic can only be employed by the Japanese as the Allied bombers don´t drop torps, but the Allied BBs are of course highly vulnerable to the always torp dropping Betty / Nell threat.

Kai Island reached level 3 airfield already today. We can now station some 150 aircraft there and have already flown in some of the very high exp Venturas to fly attacks against enemy shipping. Range is limited not to meet the death CAP over Kendari...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/24/43

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TF 55 encounters mine field at Amboina (39,73)

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsukaze

New TF at Amboina...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 78 encounters mine field at Sorong (42,74)

Japanese Ships
MSW Rokko Maru
MSW Musashi Maru
MSW Hagoromo Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1052 encounters mine field at Aru Island (39,80)

Allied Ships
MSW Geelong
MSW Deloraine

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 2

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 14

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 40,66

Japanese Ships
AK Mansei Maru

Allied Ships
SS Thresher

Thresher missed... sub is East of Sulawesi, retiring to Darwin...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1052 encounters mine field at Aru Island (39,80)

Allied Ships
MSW Geelong
MSW Deloraine

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 42,73

Japanese Ships
MSW Hagoromo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Rokko Maru
MSW Musashi Maru

Allied Ships
SS O24

O24 kills a MSW... launched 7!! torps. This is one of the subs that has one forward torp tube damaged, therefore I now see 7 torps launched instead of 4. So either the sub is really firing 7 torps or it´s not just the display of the tubes that is bugged but the combat replay also.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Andaman Island , at 23,34


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 2
LB-30 Liberator x 93


Allied aircraft losses
LB-30 Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
86 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 33
Port hits 7
Port supply hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x LB-30 Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lautem , at 33,78


Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 3
B-25J Mitchell x 6
B-24D Liberator x 65


Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 42

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 26000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Thursday Island , at 49,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 4

Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 71
Hudson I x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 damaged


Runway hits 1 [8|]

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Liberator VI bombing at 26000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiska Island , at 92,35


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 16
P-39D Airacobra x 16
PV-1 Ventura x 30
PB4Y Liberator x 18


Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator: 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
131 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 15
Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x TBF Avenger bombing at 22400 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Sorong at 42,74


Allied aircraft
Barracuda x 10
Avenger I x 7
F4U-1 Corsair x 36


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Hokuriku Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hikawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Avenger I bombing at 5000 feet

Instead of attacking the warships at Amboina, the torp bombers once again attack the two dead big APs at Sorong achieving more hits. Both ships sank later in the day...

Using the analogy of American football, its time to play "smash mouth." This is when a team would just continue to rush the football and dare the other team to stop them  (even if they know its coming). In your game, just keep pounding on targets within the lethal range of your fighters and invade those bases. If he wants to try stop you, he will have to figure out the cost/reward factors. [;)]
 
Plus, once you invade and get Lautem up and running he will not be able to retreat fast enough. [:D]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Using the analogy of American football, its time to play "smash mouth." This is when a team would just continue to rush the football and dare the other team to stop them  (even if they know its coming). In your game, just keep pounding on targets within the lethal range of your fighters and invade those bases. If he wants to try stop you, he will have to figure out the cost/reward factors. [;)]

Plus, once you invade and get Lautem up and running he will not be able to retreat fast enough. [:D]

Lautern and Koepang are still real fortresses and I haven´t decided yet if it´s really worth attacking those bases. Recon (which has been flown for months and should be fairly accurate - at least so accurate that I don´t have to double or half the numbers) indicates between 70.000 and 100.000 troops at those bases. I don´t expect to be more troops there, I would say 70.000 should be pretty much what is there. Speaking in assault value I expect to meet between 700 and 1000 assault points there, same what I have expected at the bases in Southern New Guinea, which has made me cancelling the invasions there (or delaying as I have to take them at some point - I prefer taking them when Hortlund has shifted his forces North, which he just has to do now). So if I have to take a base in a wooden hex, level 9 forts and 100% prep of the defender I have to send at least 2,5 x the troops, also 100% prepped. I just don´t want to send 2500 assault points to take O N E base. And I have to say I doubt that it´s really necessary to take such a stronghold, I will try to bypass them. I think that if I bypass them, then Hortlund will surely evac most of those troops (probably mostly by airtransport or barge) and then it´s time to take them.

Surely, Hortlund can move in aircraft now and then to attack me, but when he´s doing this he will face 200 B-24 escorted by P38 that can knock out those bases at will and inflicting heavy losses within the enemy´s airforce. What we can´t do is to try to close those bases constantly. I think it´s no secret that my next invasions will target bases on Northern Guinea, this must be 100% obvious for the enemy. He has already moved in reinforcements, but there are 5 bases up there and I doubt he can make a fortress out of every base. And I don´t need every base, I need two, perhaps three. This would already enable me to make the jump further North - as soon as I have 250 Hellcats on my carriers. The bypass strategy is one of the most dangerous IMO and it will result in shipping losses that I don´t like, but on the other side, I´m already knocking on the most important area for the Japanese - the SRA. With one base on Northern Guinea I can already cut the shipping lanes on the East of Sulawesi. One big leap to take a base NW of Timor (let´s say Maumere, level 2(2) built up to level 5 in 3 weeks) and this would mean the resources from Kendari are already lost for the Japanese and my Venturas can attack shipping that is going to Java and Southern Borneo. At this point we would already be near game over for the Japanese, even if it takes probably a year to really show the effects. And that´s the reason why I don´t understand why Hortlund isn´t fighting like wild at the moment trying to kill as much shipping as possible. Heck, IMO it would be the best for him to try to mount a counter offensive with 3 divisions to retake Kai Island. With KB as cover, lots of land based Zeroes and the IJN BBs I couldn´t do much about it. It certainly would be better for him than to split the same three divisions around those bases in Northern NG. As soon as I´ve got a real stronghold on Sulawesi (even to take a base on Java in the near future isn´t complete phantasy) my opponent will be in super trouble as I doubt he can Cap every resource, oil or supply convoy in this huge area and it doesn´t take long to see the effects if the Japanese lose a dozen TKs with the really reduced cargo capacities of TKs in Nikmod. Big TKs have 11.000 (instead of 16.000 in stock), small TKs have 6.000 (instead of 9.000 in stock).

I was absolutely amazed not to see him acting against this Kai Island invasion at all. With the 500.000 troops that were stationed in Southern NG and on Timor I guess he was 100% sure that those two locations will be the area of my first attack. But the REAL mistake he made was his decision to take back all those aircraft from Timor and Southern New Guinea after this one bloody attack on Lautern when the Corsairs, Lightnings and B-24 crushed his Tojos there. Aircraft in Southern NG would not have stopped my invasion of Kai Island as my invasion TF moved around Australia anyway but there were also a lot of TFs (including the carriers) going North from Brisbane via Thursday Island to Darwin. 300 aircraft at Lae for example would have made it far more difficult to move things North. At Timor, I could reach the East with Corsairs and now with P-47, but Koepang for example could be a torn in my flank as this base can only be reached by P-38s and in soon by more and more P-40N. With P-38s alone, I wouldn´t have really like to wear down this base. It would surely have been possible, but it wouldn´t have done me any good to lose a complete FG with high skilled pilots and the P-38 replacement rate of two months.

The initiative is absolutely on our side now and as mentioned earlier, bases at 5 hexes range (Corsair and Barracudas), 6 hexes range (P-47 in limited numbers already), 8 hexes (big numbers of P-40N soon - 90/month) and 9 hexes (P-38) are bases that are highly vulnerable and they can´t all be garrisoned with 2 divs+. The only thing that is limiting my advance at the moment are the carrier based Wildcats as they really suck, not even the Seafires can deal with the high exp Zeroes. Beginning 6/43 the British CV based fighters will upgrade to Corsair IV and beginning 7/43 the US CV based fighters will start upgrading to Hellcats. This will be the time where we will have more operational freedom I guess.

This will then also be the time when I will move the British CVs back to India to go on the offense into Burma also. As there are not enough Brit CVs and with the fact that I can´t set the Corsairs to 80 or 90% Cap (40-50% max as they would get all damaged otherwise) I´m thinking about moving 4 or 5 US CVLs to India also as this would be some 100 Hellcats more to cover any invasion. But this is still a couple of months away and we´ll see what will happen until then. Perhaps Hortlund will do something unexpected and I have to take serious losses which would force me to change plans again.

What might also be interesting is that Hortlund mentioned that our truce in China will run out in a good month (6/43)! [:D] So I guess we will see major Japanese operations there. Japanese success there will probably be a must to take some resource centers and the limited oil production centers. But this won´t be accomplished within one or two months and as soon as I see the first Japanese unit closing in on one of my bases or the first Japanese fighter or bomber over one of my Chinese bases I will then fly in some long range bombers to attack Chinese industry deep behind the front lines. High exp Spitfires, Corsairs or if needed P-40s will defend the bomber bases. Even though I have had 200 C47s flying supply to China for months, supply situation there is still bad. Not desperate, but bad. The difference to the beginning of the war is the fact that my troops are now in position where I want them to be and they are nearly all at 100% combat ready. So this time it won´t be that easy to blitz through my lines. And hopefully for Hortlund, this time he won´t strip one area in China completely as I would again advance deep into his territory, destroying his precious HI or resource centers.

But I guess his biggest problem will be my bomber strikes as a B-24 has 14 hexes range and could bomb targets in Manchuko. To defend against this, he has to use A LOT of fighters, I would say at least two sentais for every big target as every Cap below 50 fighters won´t do real damage to 150 attacking bombers. The next months will be really interesting... [:D]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/25/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1052 encounters mine field at Aru Island (39,80)

Allied Ships
MSW Geelong
MSW Deloraine

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 37,81

Japanese Ships
SS I-23

Allied Ships
DD Clark
DD Balch
DD Ellet
DD Benham
DD Monssen

all fail to locate the bugger...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Lashio , at 35,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 6

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 9

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 43,73

Japanese Ships
DD Isokaze
DD Tamanami

Allied Ships
SS S-44, hits 2

but the two IJN DDs manage to severly hit our S-class sub. One hit, one near miss result in 38/36/2 damage.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 18 encounters mine field at Gili Gili (56,94)

Japanese Ships
PC Takuna Maru #7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 43,73

Japanese Ships
DD Isokaze
DD Tamanami

Allied Ships
SS S-44

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/26/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 44,73

Japanese Ships
DD Isokaze
DD Tamanami

Allied Ships
SS S-39

the two IJN DDs are still hunting our subs North of Sorong...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Luang Prabang , at 34,35 [:D]

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 138
Liberator VI x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
J1N1-S Irving: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIb Nick: 6 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 4 destroyed


Japanese ground losses:
27 casualties reported

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 76

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Liberator VI bombing at 10000 feet
8 x Wellington III bombing at 10000 feet

I liked that attack! Nothing severe for the Japanese but it was nice to see. I moved my bombers to the front and attacked the base from where the IJAAF night fighters / fighter bombers were LRCAPing Lashio which my nightfighters use for training night attacks. I expected two or perhaps three IJA base forces there and to lose half a dozen bombers to flak but instead there was only one unit (obviously an aviation regiment as there was no flak at all) at this base. We torch 21 aircraft on the ground for the loss of two bombers. Two more bombers were lost when I transferred the sqadrons back to Calcutta.

We have spotted several TFs around Northern New Guinea (in reality Western New Guinea) but just like yesterday, not a single strike was flown. [8|]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/27/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Pagan , at 31,31


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 17


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 43,73

Japanese Ships
DD Isokaze
DD Tamanami

Allied Ships
SS S-40

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 58 encounters mine field at Rabaul (61,88)

Japanese Ships
MSW W.23
MSW Wa 104
MSW Wa 12
MSW Wa 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 43,73

Japanese Ships
PC Iki
PC Sado

Allied Ships
SS S-40

two of the excellent ASW PCs are operating against the dozen subs I have in this area...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Kai Island at 39,78

Japanese Ships
SS I-34

Allied Ships
AK Californian, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Kapunda

so... subs at bases are sooooo in danger... WRONG. This is the third succesful attack of I-34 and the sub has been sitting in this base without being moved for two weeks, under my ASW TFs, being spotted EVERY DAY a couple of times.... fuel loaden AK will sink... the sub is out of torps now and has to retire... [8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Koepang , at 28,77

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 3
B-24D Liberator x 99

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed


Japanese ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 18

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 26000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 43,73

Japanese Ships
PC Sado, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Iki

Allied Ships
SS S-40, hits 8, on fire

at least a S-class sub takes revenge as S-40 hit a PC. In return the sub is heavily damaged, retiring with 60+ flt damage to Darwin...


I have mentioned it before, the nav search routines are [8|], especially regarding subs. 95% of my subs on the map are spotted EVERY turn, 100% of my subs around New Guinea are spotted EVERY TURN. Before the always arising question, YES I MOVE THEM EVERY DAY. Handling the subs takes 5 mins every turn and has NO effect. This is more than [8|]. Example of how the operational report looks like EVERY TURN:

OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR 04/27/43

Ki-49 Helen sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 42,70 , Speed 7 , Moving Northeast
Ki-49 Helen sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 41,72 , Speed 13 , Moving Northeast
Ki-49 Helen sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 51,47 , Speed 10 , Moving West
Ki-49 Helen sighting report: 9 Allied ships at 39,78 , Speed 7 , Moving Northwest
Ki-49 Helen sighting report: 3 Allied ships at 41,78 , Speed 8 , Moving Northeast
Ki-49 Helen sighting report: 10 Allied ships at 41,78 , Speed 12 , Moving Northeast
Ki-49 Helen sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 41,78 , Speed 22 , Moving Northeast
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 51, 47
H8K Emily sighting report: 6 Allied ships at 36,84 , Speed 17 , Moving East
H8K Emily sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 41,78 , Speed 15 , Moving Northeast
H8K Emily sighting report: 2 Allied ships at 39,80 , Speed 8 , Moving Southeast
H8K Emily sighting report: 6 Allied ships at 41,78 , Speed 25 , Moving Northeast
H8K Emily sighting report: 9 Allied ships at 39,78 , Speed 3 , Moving Northeast
H8K Emily sighting report: 7 Allied ships at 39,78 , Speed 8 , Moving Northwest
H8K Emily sighting report: 5 Allied ships at 37,81 , Speed 15 , Moving East
H8K Emily has spotted Benham at 37,81
H8K Emily sighting report: 6 Allied ships at 36,81 , Speed 12 , Moving Northeast
H8K Emily sighting report: 9 Allied ships at 41,78 , Speed 7 , Moving Northeast
H8K Emily sighting report: 10 Allied ships at 41,78 , Speed 12 , Moving Northeast
H8K Emily has spotted Virginian at 41,78
G4M1 Betty sighting report: 8 Allied ships at 39,80 , Speed 3 , Moving Northeast
G4M1 Betty sighting report: 4 Allied ships at 36,84 , Speed 17 , Moving East
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 43, 73
G4M1 Betty sighting report: 6 Allied ships at 39,80 , Speed 17 , Moving Northeast
G4M1 Betty reports suspected submarine at 43, 73
G4M1 Betty reports diving submarine at 44, 73
G4M1 Betty sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 42,72 , Speed 10 , Moving East
H6K4 Mavis has spotted PT-113 at 39,80
H6K4 Mavis reports periscope at 41, 74
H6K4 Mavis has spotted Illustrious at 41,78
E7K2 Alf has spotted PT-77 at 39,80
E7K2 Alf has spotted PT-150 at 36,81
B5N Kate reports shadow in water at 42, 72
B5N Kate reports radio transmissions at 41, 72
D3A Val reports diving submarine at 42, 72
D3A Val reports shadow in water at 42, 70
B5N Kate reports shadow in water at 41, 75
B5N Kate has spotted Columbia at 41,78
G4M1 Betty reports suspected submarine at 43, 73
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 41, 75
G4M1 Betty reports suspected submarine at 42, 72
G4M1 Betty has spotted PT-232 at 39,78
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 41, 72
G4M1 Betty sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 41,78 , Speed 22 , Moving Northeast
G3M Nell reports shadow in water at 41, 75
G3M Nell reports periscope at 42, 72
G3M Nell sighting report: 6 Allied ships at 30,86 , Speed 15 , Moving Southwest
G3M Nell sighting report: 8 Allied ships at 36,81 , Speed 15 , Moving Northeast
G3M Nell sighting report: 6 Allied ships at 36,84 , Speed 8 , Moving Southwest
G3M Nell has spotted Cache at 36,84
G3M Nell has spotted Empire Launcelot at 41,78
E13A1 Jake reports periscope at 42, 70
E13A1 Jake reports suspected submarine at 26, 64
E7K2 Alf reports shadow in water at 42, 72
Sighting report: 2 Japanese ships at 66,94 , Speed 7 , Moving West
F-5A Lightning attacking I-34 at 39,78
PV-1 Ventura reports periscope at 39,78
PBM Mariner sighting report: 10 Japanese ships at 42,74 , Speed 6 , Moving Northeast
PBM Mariner reports shadow in water at 39,78
PB2Y Coronado sighting report: 1 Japanese ship at 45,76 , Speed 6 , Moving West
SBD Dauntless has spotted AG-5143 at 42,74
AG-5143 is reported HIT
SBD Dauntless attacking I-34 at 39,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 39,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports diving submarine at 39,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports suspected submarine at 39,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports diving submarine at 39,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted AG-5070 at 42,74
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 39,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 39,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shadow in water at 39,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports diving submarine at 39,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports oil slick at 39,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted Tama Maru at 45,76
Walrus reports diving submarine at 39,78
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Sian
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Kunming
J1N1-R Irving takes recon photos of Yunan
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Kweiyang
Ki-15 Babs takes recon photos of Kweiyang
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Chungking
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of Chengtu
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Rangoon
A-20B Boston takes recon photos of Mandalay
A-20B Boston takes recon photos of Mandalay
B-25J Mitchell takes recon photos of Akyab
B-25J Mitchell takes recon photos of Myitkyina
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Andaman Island
B-25J Mitchell takes recon photos of Koepang
B-25J Mitchell takes recon photos of Dili
B-25J Mitchell takes recon photos of Lautem
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Babo
PB2Y Coronado takes recon photos of Gili Gili
PB2Y Coronado takes recon photos of Port Moresby
Hudson I takes recon photos of Thursday Island
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of Wyndham
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Derby
Ki-30 Ann takes recon photos of 12th Chinese Corps
Ki-15 Babs takes recon photos of 81st Chinese Corps
J1N1-R Irving takes recon photos of 2nd Naval Construction Battalion
Ki-49 Helen sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 40,73 , Speed 6 , Moving Southwest
Ki-49 Helen reports suspected submarine at 43, 73
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 42, 73
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 40, 72
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 42, 72
Ki-49 Helen reports periscope at 42, 70
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 41, 72
Ki-49 Helen reports suspected submarine at 42, 72
Ki-49 Helen reports periscope at 42, 70
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 41, 71
Ki-49 Helen reports periscope at 40, 73
Ki-49 Helen sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 39,78 , Speed 8 , Moving East
Ki-49 Helen has spotted LCT-63 at 39,78
Ki-49 Helen attacking Wahoo at 51,47
Wahoo is reported HIT
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 43, 73
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 42, 72
G4M1 Betty reports periscope at 42, 70
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 41, 71
H8K Emily reports shadow in water at 40, 72
H8K Emily reports periscope at 41, 72
H8K Emily has spotted Californian at 39,78
H8K Emily attacking S-44 at 41,75
H8K Emily sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 40,76 , Speed 19 , Moving Southeast
H8K Emily reports radio transmissions at 40, 72
H8K Emily has spotted 542B at 39,78
H8K Emily has spotted PT-74 at 39,80
G4M1 Betty has spotted PT-223 at 39,78
G4M1 Betty reports periscope at 43, 73
G4M1 Betty reports diving submarine at 41, 75
G4M1 Betty reports radio transmissions at 41, 74
G4M1 Betty reports periscope at 42, 72
G4M1 Betty reports suspected submarine at 39, 72
G4M1 Betty attacking KXIV at 42,70
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 40, 73
G4M1 Betty attacking S-39 at 44,73
G4M1 Betty reports diving submarine at 40, 72
G4M1 Betty attacking KXVI at 41,72
G4M1 Betty reports suspected submarine at 40, 73
G4M1 Betty attacking S-40 at 43,73
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 44, 73
G4M1 Betty attacking S-44 at 41,75
G4M1 Betty reports periscope at 41, 74
G4M1 Betty reports suspected submarine at 40, 72
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 42, 70
H6K4 Mavis reports suspected submarine at 42, 72
H6K4 Mavis reports radio transmissions at 41, 72
H6K4 Mavis has spotted Concord at 41,78
E7K2 Alf reports periscope at 106, 70
E7K2 Alf has spotted PT-154 at 36,81
LTJG Pierce I. of VF-6 is credited with kill number 3
B5N Kate reports shadow in water at 39, 72
B5N Kate reports diving submarine at 42, 70
G4M1 Betty reports diving submarine at 44, 73
G4M1 Betty has spotted Carolinian at 39,78
D3A Val reports shadow in water at 40, 73
D3A Val attacking O24 at 42,73
D3A Val reports shadow in water at 41, 72
B5N Kate attacking S-40 at 43,73
B5N Kate reports radio transmissions at 41, 75
B5N Kate reports shadow in water at 42, 73
B5N Kate reports suspected submarine at 41, 74
B5N Kate has spotted San Francisco at 41,78
G4M1 Betty reports suspected submarine at 44, 73
G4M1 Betty reports periscope at 40, 73
G4M1 Betty reports suspected submarine at 40, 73
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 43, 73
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 44, 73
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 41, 75
G4M1 Betty reports periscope at 42, 73
G4M1 Betty attacking Cachalot at 41,74
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 40, 72
G4M1 Betty reports diving submarine at 42, 72
G4M1 Betty attacking S-42 at 39,72
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 42, 70
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 41, 71
G4M1 Betty has spotted PT-229 at 39,78
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 41, 72
G4M1 Betty has spotted Horsham at 41,78
LT O'Neill N. of VF-2 is credited with kill number 4
G3M Nell reports suspected submarine at 44, 73
G3M Nell reports periscope at 41, 75
G3M Nell reports diving submarine at 41, 75
G3M Nell reports shadow in water at 42, 72
G3M Nell reports shadow in water at 42, 70
E13A1 Jake reports suspected submarine at 61, 89
E8N Dave reports suspected submarine at 31, 75
E7K2 Alf reports periscope at 42, 70
PBM Mariner reports submarine at 39,78
PV-1 Ventura attacking I-34 at 39,78
PBM Mariner sighting report: 10 Japanese ships at 33,71 , Speed 7 , Moving Northwest
PBM Mariner has spotted Sado at 43,73
PBM Mariner has spotted Showa Maru #3 at 45,76
PBM Mariner reports diving submarine at 39,78
PB2Y Coronado reports oil slick at 39,78
SBD Dauntless has spotted AG-5091 at 42,74
SBD Dauntless attacking I-34 at 39,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports conning tower at 39,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope at 39,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 39,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports shadow in water at 39,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted AG-5071 at 42,74
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted AG-5140 at 42,74
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope at 38,79
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope at 39,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope at 39,78
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Yenen
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Sian
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Kunming
J1N1-R Irving takes recon photos of Yunan
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Kweiyang
Ki-15 Babs takes recon photos of Kweiyang
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Chungking
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of Chengtu
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Rangoon
A-20B Boston takes recon photos of Mandalay
A-20B Boston takes recon photos of Mandalay
B-25J Mitchell takes recon photos of Akyab
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Andaman Island
B-25J Mitchell takes recon photos of Koepang
B-25J Mitchell takes recon photos of Dili
B-25J Mitchell takes recon photos of Lautem
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Babo
PB2Y Coronado takes recon photos of Port Moresby
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of Wyndham
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Derby
H8K Emily takes recon photos of Brisbane
PBM Mariner takes recon photos of Johnston Island
Ki-30 Ann takes recon photos of 78th Chinese Corps
Ki-15 Babs takes recon photos of 90th Chinese Corps
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of 90th Chinese Corps
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of 90th Chinese Corps
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of 90th Chinese Corps
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of 90th Chinese Corps
J1N1-R Irving takes recon photos of 2nd Naval Construction Battalion
Namlea expands port to size 2
Torokina expands airfield to size 1

ORIGINAL: castor troy


so... subs at bases are sooooo in danger... WRONG. This is the third succesful attack of I-34 and the sub has been sitting in this base without being moved for two weeks, under my ASW TFs, being spotted EVERY DAY a couple of times.... fuel loaden AK will sink... the sub is out of torps now and has to retire... [8|]

I have the same experience. In my other game I have japanese sub sitting nearly at every of my ports. ASW TFs ignore them totaly if they are not attacking. One of these subs shared the hex of Diamond Harbour with 3 separate ASW TF for more then 3 weeks without any engagement. Since that time I´m using ASW TF only at open sea. The only way how to deal with subs in port hexes are planes. Send some bombers there, set them on 100% naval search at 1000ft and set their range to 1..

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/28/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1131 encounters mine field at Babo (42,77)

Allied Ships
MSW Grebe
MSW Turkey
MSW Mildura
MSW Lithgow
MSW Launceton
MSW Katoomba
MSW Horsham
MSW Gladstone
MSW Echuca

we land at BABO...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1133 encounters mine field at Babo (42,77)

Allied Ships
MSW Bobolink
MSW Robin
AK Mintaka, Mine hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Pagan , at 31,31


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIF x 16


No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Beaufighter VIF bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Babo, at 42,77

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
BB Idaho
BB Pennsylvania
BB Arizona

Japanese ground losses:
637 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 7
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1131 encounters mine field at Babo (42,77)

TF 1131 troops unloading over beach at Babo, 42,77


Allied Ships
MSW Grebe
MSW Turkey
MSW Mildura
MSW Lithgow
MSW Launceton
MSW Katoomba
MSW Horsham
MSW Gladstone
MSW Echuca
AK Haraldsvang, Mine hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Babo, 42,77, firing at TF 1131
1039 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
MSW Grebe, Shell hits 10
CL Concord
CL Detroit
CL Richmond
CL De Ruyter
AK Brastagi, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
1780 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1131 encounters mine field at Babo (42,77)

TF 1131 troops unloading over beach at Babo, 42,77


Allied Ships
MSW Grebe
MSW Turkey
MSW Mildura
MSW Lithgow
MSW Launceton
MSW Katoomba
MSW Horsham
MSW Gladstone
MSW Echuca

Coastal Guns at Babo, 42,77, firing at TF 1131
103 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL Concord

Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
241 casualties reported

99% of the troops unloaded in one turn. The amphibious TF consisted of 100 ships...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 41,78

Japanese Ships
SS I-23

Allied Ships
AK Diomed, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Lihue
MSW Ipswitch


Allied ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

the last IJN sub in this area ends up in the same hex as my support TF (scheduled to land at Babo when the base is taken). The single escort trick didn´t work for me, the big AK sunk immediately, taking down 1/3 of a sea bee unit...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Andaman Island , at 23,34


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 4
LB-30 Liberator x 88


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
86 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 53
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x LB-30 Liberator bombing at 10000 feet

doubt that Andaman Island will every be operational again...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kiska Island , at 92,35


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 16
P-39D Airacobra x 45
PV-1 Ventura x 24
PB4Y Liberator x 21


Allied aircraft losses
PV-1 Ventura: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
131 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 29
Port hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x TBF Avenger bombing at 22400 feet

same goes for Kiska, but flak is still firing...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Sorong at 42,74

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 9 [:(]
A6M3a Zero x 55 [:(]
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 19
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 25

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 36
PV-1 Ventura x 13 [8|][8|][8|]

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 7 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 16 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 19 destroyed
PV-1 Ventura: 7 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AP Hokusho Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x PV-1 Ventura bombing at 6000 feet

big numbers of ships are at Sorong! This is the morning phase, Kai Island is clouded and no Corsairs launch as the attacks are cancelled. 36 out of 58 Lightnings escort 13 out of 86!!! Venturas. This sucks, I never get real strikes, no matter if in range of an air HQ, supply... blah blah blah...

Well, the super Zero is super, it will stay super and will still rule the sky in 45... they have a super high man rating in Nikmod and this seems to be more important as speed, at least in my PBEMs. The Tojos have ever been dead meat, even against 70 exp Hurricanes. The Zeroes achieve a kill rate of something like 18:3 vs the Lightnings. Ok, you will ask about the exp. Guess the Zeroes are around 80, my Lightnings were 78...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Sorong at 42,74

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 9
A6M3a Zero x 54
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 16
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 19

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 8 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 5 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 destroyed, 17 damaged

all bombers turned back. We launched 23 out of 100+ bombers from Darwin... [8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Sorong at 42,74

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 9
A6M3a Zero x 54
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 16
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 19

Allied aircraft
Seafire x 5
F4F-4 Wildcat x 23
SBD Dauntless x 54
TBF Avenger x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 2 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 5 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire: 5 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 18 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 23 damaged
TBF Avenger: 3 destroyed, 21 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Konan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Kiyama Maru
AP Juko Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Mitsu Maru #3
AP Mikage Maru #2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Kuraido Maru, Torpedo hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
102 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet

I have asked before and have to ask again. Is something wrong??? Oh, the Zeroes only achieved a 21:0 kill rate against my carrier based 70-80 exp fighters (nothing new in this PBEM) and then 54 80+ exp SBDs achieve ONE bomb hit on the merchants... never seen this before, not in stock, not in BigB, not in earlier versions of Nikmod. Don´t know if something was changed in this version, the results (through one and a half years game time) have always been like that, carrier based bombers HIt NOTHING!!! Why this is like this, no idea. It has nothing to do with the myth that my bombers are disrupted or something like that, they hit nothing even if they attack an uncapped merchant TF. Just ridicoulos, those bombers started out at 85 exp and can´t hit merchants, how should they hit a fast moving carrier. Hortlund could move KB in, set his Cap to 10% (to take down 50 Wildcats with 10 Zeroes) and if 150 of my bombers would make attack runs, they would achieve 6 hits, of which 3 would be probably only deck armor hits on BBs... [8|]

Note, there was not a single British torp bomber in the attck (once again...)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Babo , at 42,77


Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 1


No Allied losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 28th Chinese Division, at 38,32

Japanese aircraft
Ki-46-III Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 42,73

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 8

Allied aircraft
Seafire x 13
F4F-4 Wildcat x 37
SBD Dauntless x 39
TBF Avenger x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire: 5 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 6 damaged
TBF Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Isokaze, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Tamanami, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet

we are super lucky that the attack routine decided in the afternoon to launch only 20% of my aircraft and this time against a target with only a very small LRCAP. No Zeroes, the Tojos even die against Wildcats like flies. The Tojo is the far better aircraft than the Wildcat but here the exp of the pilots must be totally in our favour. We just can´t kill Zeroes, no matter what we send against them.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Sorong at 42,74

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 11
A6M3a Zero x 36
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 8
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 13

Allied aircraft
Barracuda x 14
Avenger I x 5
F4U-1 Corsair x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Barracuda: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
Avenger I: 5 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 10 destroyed, 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Jinshu Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Huso Maru
AP Izan Maru

Japanese ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Avenger I bombing at 5000 feet
2 x Barracuda launching torpedoes at 200 feet

then in the afternoon, the Corsairs arrive and achieve a 1:1, but only because they were able to take some IJAAF fighters down, the Zeroes achieve a 2:1. At least that´s not as severe as the 10-20:1 kill rates against 80 exp Wildcats... Still, all the losses today were once again not worth the result, as once again our bombers hit NOTHING...

Even though we nearly achieve a 1:1 in total losses of aircraft today, especially the Lightning losses did hurt, the fact that my carrier based, high exp fighters are total crap wasn´t surprising, the inability of my high exp bombers to hit slow merchants wasn´t surprising either - something we have encountered in the last 18 months already...

Once again the Zeroes prove to be the all dominating fighter, even against Lightnings with equally (or even higher) exp pilots. For 10 Zeroes shot down A2A they killed some 65 Allied aircraft today. 6,5:1 against high exp Lightnings, Corsairs, Seafires, Wildcats and numerous bombers.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Babo

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12758 troops, 100 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 558 [X(][X(][:(][:(]

Defending force 14985 troops, 128 guns, 48 vehicles, Assault Value = 368

to be honest I was shocked to see such a high assault value at Babo. Nearly no support units but a lot of fragments of TK units, part of an IJA div, nav guard units. Haven´t reconned nor bombed this base as I tried to take it by surprise, I estimated some 100 Japanese assault points at Babo, a level 1/1 base at the moment. LRCAP fighters over the invasion TF encountered Topsys so this obviously means that all those units were flown in (except the TK unit of course). We have no more assault units nearby but we will land the support troops tomorrow which we wanted to land after the base is taken.

This is the situation at the moment. Hortlund can fly in more troops, but it will be harder to bring in convoys as we "could" attack those convoys with full strength from several bases. Same goes for supply, supply convoys would probably killed off before they could unload big numbers of supply at the level 1 port. I have switched two divs to prepare for Babo, they will be landed in two weeks at the latest with a very low preparation but I guess disablements won´t exceed 25%. No matter how many troops it will take, the next base we will take is Babo!

ops report for today. As you can see, the usual we can see EVERY sub on the map...

what else can you see? You can see, that all our airstrikes are only for one purpose: to create more and more Zero aces... end of April 1943...

OPERATIONAL REPORT FOR 04/28/43

Sighting report: 10 Allied ships at 42,77 , Speed 4 , Moving Northeast
Sighting report: 10 Allied ships at 42,77 , Speed 12 , Moving Northeast
Ki-46-III Dinah reports diving submarine at 56, 94
Ki-49 Helen reports periscope at 39, 72
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 42, 72
Ki-49 Helen sighting report: 9 Allied ships at 41,77 , Speed 24 , Moving Northeast
Ki-49 Helen reports suspected submarine at 42, 70
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 42, 72
Ki-49 Helen sighting report: 10 Allied ships at 41,77 , Speed 31 , Moving Northeast
Ki-49 Helen sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 42,78 , Speed 8 , Moving Southwest
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 40, 76
Ki-49 Helen sighting report: 9 Allied ships at 41,77 , Speed 23 , Moving Northeast
Ki-49 Helen sighting report: 9 Allied ships at 39,78 , Speed 13 , Moving Northeast
Ki-49 Helen sighting report: 6 Allied ships at 39,78 , Speed 4 , Moving Northwest
Ki-49 Helen sighting report: 6 Allied ships at 39,78 , Speed 11 , Moving Northeast
Ki-49 Helen sighting report: 4 Allied ships at 39,78 , Speed 33 , Moving Northeast
Ki-49 Helen sighting report: 4 Allied ships at 39,78 , Speed 5 , Moving Northeast
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 29, 71
H8K Emily sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 38,80 , Speed 6 , Moving Southwest
H8K Emily sighting report: 6 Allied ships at 39,78 , Speed 3 , Moving Northwest
H8K Emily reports diving submarine at 40, 76
H8K Emily sighting report: 6 Allied ships at 30,86 , Speed 17 , Moving Southwest
H8K Emily has spotted PT-156 at 30,86
H8K Emily sighting report: 6 Allied ships at 36,81 , Speed 18 , Moving Northeast
H8K Emily has spotted PT-173 at 36,81
H8K Emily has spotted Benham at 39,78
H8K Emily sighting report: 7 Allied ships at 39,80 , Speed 2 , Moving Northeast
H8K Emily has spotted PT-79 at 39,80
H8K Emily has spotted Carolinian at 39,78
H8K Emily has spotted Surigao at 42,77
H8K Emily sighting report: 8 Allied ships at 39,79 , Speed 22 , Moving West
G4M1 Betty sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 42,73 , Speed 11 , Moving West
G4M1 Betty attacking S-39 at 42,73
G4M1 Betty reports periscope at 42, 72
G4M1 Betty sighting report: 6 Allied ships at 36,81 , Speed 13 , Moving Northeast
G4M1 Betty sighting report: 6 Allied ships at 39,80 , Speed 6 , Moving Northeast
G4M1 Betty has spotted PT-221 at 39,78
G4M1 Betty sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 40,73 , Speed 2 , Moving Northwest
G4M1 Betty sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 40,72 , Speed 9 , Moving East
1LT Jeffries K. of VMF-211 is credited with kill number 2
G4M1 Betty has spotted Empire Antelope at 42,77
G4M1 Betty sighting report: 5 Allied ships at 41,77 , Speed 17 , Moving Northeast
H6K4 Mavis reports suspected submarine at 42, 73
E7K2 Alf has spotted LCT-137 at 39,78
LTJG Farley U. of VF-6 is credited with kill number 2
D3A Val sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 42,72 , Speed 3 , Moving West
D3A Val sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 41,71 , Speed 16 , Moving Southwest
D3A Val reports suspected submarine at 42, 72
B5N Kate reports shadow in water at 42, 73
B5N Kate has spotted Enterprise at 41,77
B5N Kate reports radio transmissions at 42, 70
B5N Kate has spotted Mississippi at 39,79
G4M1 Betty has spotted Mintaka at 42,78
G4M1 Betty attacking S-40 at 42,72
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 42, 73
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 40, 73
G4M1 Betty attacking S-42 at 40,72
G4M1 Betty reports suspected submarine at 41, 71
G4M1 Betty has spotted Kapunda at 39,78
G4M1 Betty has spotted West Isleta at 42,77
G3M Nell sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 43,73 , Speed 23 , Moving East
G3M Nell reports periscope at 42, 72
G3M Nell reports periscope at 42, 73
G3M Nell reports shadow in water at 44, 73
G3M Nell reports shadow in water at 39, 72
G3M Nell reports suspected submarine at 40, 72
G3M Nell sighting report: 6 Allied ships at 30,86 , Speed 16 , Moving Southwest
G3M Nell reports suspected submarine at 41, 71
G3M Nell reports periscope at 42, 70
G3M Nell reports periscope at 42, 72
F1M2 Pete reports suspected submarine at 42, 70
E7K2 Alf reports diving submarine at 42, 70
E14Y1 Glen sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 11,86 , Speed 11 , Moving East
PBM Mariner sighting report: 1 Japanese ship at 42,74 , Speed 2 , Moving Southwest
PBM Mariner sighting report: 9 Japanese ships at 42,74 , Speed 5 , Moving Southwest
PBM Mariner has spotted Juko Maru at 42,74
PBM Mariner has spotted Minryo Maru at 42,74
C.XI-W sighting report: 1 Japanese ship at 42,74 , Speed 7 , Moving Southwest
PBM Mariner sighting report: 5 Japanese ships at 47,78 , Speed 13 , Moving Southeast
PBM Mariner sighting report: 1 Japanese ship at 42,74 , Speed 7 , Moving Northeast
PBM Mariner sighting report: 1 Japanese ship at 98,44 , Speed 8 , Moving West
PB2Y Coronado sighting report: 6 Japanese ships at 33,71 , Speed 15 , Moving Northwest
PB2Y Coronado has spotted Hokusho Maru at 42,74
Hokusho Maru is reported HIT
PB2Y Coronado sighting report: 10 Japanese ships at 42,74 , Speed 5 , Moving Northeast
PB2Y Coronado sighting report: 1 Japanese ship at 42,74 , Speed 4 , Moving Southwest
PB2Y Coronado sighting report: 3 Japanese ships at 42,71 , Speed 17 , Moving Northeast
PB2Y Coronado attacking I-23 at 41,78
SBD Dauntless has spotted Minryo Maru at 42,74
SBD Dauntless has spotted AG-5138 at 42,74
SBD Dauntless has spotted Jinshu Maru at 42,74
SBD Dauntless has spotted Izan Maru at 42,74
SBD Dauntless has spotted Jinshu Maru at 42,74
PO2 Oyama R. of F2/Tainan Daitai is credited with kill number 2
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted Jinshu Maru at 42,74
WO Ryuzaki G. of 204th Ftr.Sentai is credited with kill number 2
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports diving submarine at 41,78
WO Tsukamoto U. of 244th Ftr.Sentai is credited with kill number 2
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 41,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope at 41,78
LTJG Kotani N. of F2/Yamada Daitai is credited with kill number 3
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports diving submarine at 41,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 40,73
OS2U-3 Kingfisher sighting report: 1 Japanese ship at 46,77 , Speed 8 , Moving Southeast
OS2U-3 Kingfisher attacking I-23 at 41,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 41,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted Jusan Maru at 42,74
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports conning tower at 41,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports conning tower at 41,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted Izan Maru at 42,74
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports periscope at 41,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports diving submarine at 41,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports diving submarine at 41,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports suspected submarine at 41,78
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Yenen
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of Yenen
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Sian
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Kunming
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Kweiyang
Ki-15 Babs takes recon photos of Kweiyang
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Chungking
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of Chengtu
J1N1-R Irving takes recon photos of Chengtu
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Rangoon
A-20B Boston takes recon photos of Mandalay
A-20B Boston takes recon photos of Mandalay
B-25J Mitchell takes recon photos of Akyab
B-25J Mitchell takes recon photos of Myitkyina
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Andaman Island
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Andaman Island
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Andaman Island
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Andaman Island
B-25J Mitchell takes recon photos of Koepang
B-25J Mitchell takes recon photos of Dili
B-25J Mitchell takes recon photos of Lautem
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Babo
PB2Y Coronado takes recon photos of Gili Gili
Hudson I takes recon photos of Thursday Island
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Darwin
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of Wyndham
H8K Emily takes recon photos of Brisbane
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of Cooktown
Ki-30 Ann takes recon photos of 12th Chinese Corps
Ki-15 Babs takes recon photos of 90th Chinese Corps
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of 90th Chinese Corps
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of 90th Chinese Corps
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of 90th Chinese Corps
Ki-15 Babs takes recon photos of 90th Chinese Corps
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of 90th Chinese Corps
1LT Grant M. of 54th FG is credited with kill number 2
LTJG Murakami F. of F1/Tainan Daitai is credited with kill number 2
1LT Simo O. of 54th FG is credited with kill number 2
1LT Jenkins M. of 54th FG is credited with kill number 8
LTJG Sugiyama E. of F2/3rd Daitai is credited with kill number 3
LTJG Nakasawa O. of F2/3rd Daitai is credited with kill number 2
WO Tsukamoto U. of 244th Ftr.Sentai is credited with kill number 3
CPO Nomura R. of F3/Chitose Daitai is credited with kill number 2
WO Matsuyama O. of F3/Chitose Daitai is credited with kill number 2
1LT Grant R. of 54th FG is credited with kill number 15
1LT Grant R. of 54th FG is KILLED

Lightning pilot, 86 exp, leading ace...

WO Minami G. of F1/Tainan Daitai is credited with kill number 3
CPO Sugiyama I. of F2/3rd Daitai is credited with kill number 8
WO Nakasawa K. of F2/3rd Daitai is credited with kill number 7
CPO Sugiyama I. of F2/3rd Daitai is credited with kill number 8
LTJG Minobe F. of F2/Tainan Daitai is credited with kill number 2
LTJG Minowa G. of F2/Yamada Daitai is credited with kill number 5
FLT Kershaw W. of 888 Squadron is credited with kill number 2
LTJG Matsuki A. of F1/Yamada Daitai is credited with kill number 3
LTJG Muranaka B. of F1/Yamada Daitai is credited with kill number 2
LTJG Oda O. of F2/Yamada Daitai is credited with kill number 2
WO Matsunaga E. of F2/3rd Daitai is credited with kill number 11
ENS Maki M. of F4/Chitose Chutai is credited with kill number 2
1LT Jeffries O. of VMF-122 is credited with kill number 2
WO Muto W. of F1/Tainan Daitai is credited with kill number 2
CPO Nomura R. of F3/Chitose Daitai is credited with kill number 3
ENS Powell L. of VF-8 is credited with kill number 2
LTJG Bando A. of F2/Tainan Daitai is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Oyama R. of F2/Tainan Daitai is credited with kill number 3
LTJG Kaneko G. of F2/3rd Daitai is credited with kill number 6
ENS Allison K. of VF-9 is credited with kill number 2
PO2 Shiga S. of F1/Tainan Daitai is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Asada S. of F3/Chitose Daitai is credited with kill number 2
LTJG Nomura L. of F3/Chitose Daitai is credited with kill number 2
ENS Maki M. of F4/Chitose Chutai is credited with kill number 3
LTJG Hagiri J. of F2/3rd Daitai is credited with kill number 2
LTJG Kaneko D. of F2/Ominato Daitai is credited with kill number 2
PO1 Minowa S. of F2/Ominato Daitai is credited with kill number 2
WO Matsunaga E. of F2/3rd Daitai is credited with kill number 11
PO2 Murakami F. of F3/Chitose Daitai is credited with kill number 3
LTJG Fujita E. of F2/3rd Daitai is credited with kill number 4
LTJG Kubota I. of F1/Yamada Daitai is credited with kill number 3
Ki-49 Helen reports diving submarine at 41, 71
Ki-46-III Dinah reports diving submarine at 56, 94
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 42, 72
Ki-49 Helen reports diving submarine at 42, 73
Ki-49 Helen attacking KXIV at 41,71
Ki-49 Helen reports periscope at 42, 70
Ki-49 Helen reports radio transmissions at 42, 72
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 40, 72
Ki-49 Helen reports periscope at 41, 71
Ki-49 Helen reports suspected submarine at 42, 70
Ki-49 Helen reports periscope at 42, 72
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 42, 73
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 40, 73
Ki-49 Helen attacking S-42 at 40,72
S-42 is reported HIT
Ki-49 Helen reports radio transmissions at 42, 70
Ki-49 Helen reports suspected submarine at 42, 72
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 29, 71
Ki-49 Helen attacking S-39 at 42,73
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 40, 73
Ki-49 Helen reports shadow in water at 29, 71
G4M1 Betty reports diving submarine at 42, 70
H8K Emily reports shadow in water at 40, 72
H8K Emily reports periscope at 42, 73
H8K Emily has spotted PT-233 at 39,78
H8K Emily reports radio transmissions at 42, 72
H8K Emily has spotted Arided at 42,77
G4M1 Betty has spotted PT-221 at 39,78
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 42, 72
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 40, 72
G4M1 Betty reports diving submarine at 41, 71
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 42, 70
G4M1 Betty reports suspected submarine at 42, 72
G4M1 Betty has spotted Soerabaja at 42,77
G4M1 Betty has spotted Boreas at 42,77
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 42, 72
G4M1 Betty reports suspected submarine at 42, 73
G4M1 Betty reports periscope at 40, 73
G4M1 Betty sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 41,72 , Speed 10 , Moving West
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 41, 71
J1N1-R Irving reports periscope at 56, 94
G4M1 Betty sighting report: 2 Allied ships at 36,84 , Speed 11 , Moving Southwest
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 39, 77
G4M1 Betty reports radio transmissions at 42, 70
H6K4 Mavis attacking S-40 at 42,72
H6K4 Mavis attacking S-39 at 42,73
G4M1 Betty has spotted Mintaka at 42,78
G4M1 Betty has spotted Draco at 42,77
D3A Val attacking S-39 at 42,73
D3A Val reports radio transmissions at 40, 73
D3A Val reports suspected submarine at 41, 72
D3A Val reports suspected submarine at 40, 72
D3A Val reports periscope at 41, 71
D3A Val reports suspected submarine at 42, 70
D3A Val reports suspected submarine at 42, 72
B5N Kate has spotted Mintaka at 42,78
B5N Kate reports shadow in water at 42, 73
B5N Kate reports periscope at 42, 70
B5N Kate damaged by flak
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 41, 71
G4M1 Betty reports suspected submarine at 39, 77
G4M1 Betty reports suspected submarine at 43, 73
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 42, 73
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 40, 76
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 41, 72
G4M1 Betty has spotted Hornet at 41,77
G4M1 Betty reports periscope at 41, 71
G4M1 Betty reports shadow in water at 42, 70
G4M1 Betty has spotted LCT-147 at 39,78
G4M1 Betty has spotted West Virginia at 41,77
G3M Nell attacking S-40 at 42,72
G3M Nell reports suspected submarine at 40, 73
G3M Nell reports suspected submarine at 39, 72
G3M Nell reports shadow in water at 41, 72
G3M Nell reports suspected submarine at 40, 72
G3M Nell has spotted Atlanta at 41,77
G3M Nell attacking KXVII at 42,70
G3M Nell has spotted Carolinian at 39,78
G3M Nell reports suspected submarine at 42, 72
E13A1 Jake reports periscope at 42, 70
E7K2 Alf reports shadow in water at 42, 70
E7K2 Alf reports shadow in water at 42, 70
PBM Mariner has spotted Kurohime Maru at 42,74
F-5A Lightning has spotted Tamanami at 42,73
PBM Mariner has spotted AG-5139 at 42,74
PBM Mariner has spotted Fusemi Maru at 42,74
PBM Mariner has spotted AG-5067 at 42,74
PBM Mariner attacking I-23 at 41,78
PB2Y Coronado has spotted AG-5140 at 42,74
SBD Dauntless has spotted Hokusho Maru at 42,74
SBD Dauntless has spotted Izan Maru at 42,74
SBD Dauntless has spotted AG-5070 at 42,74
SBD Dauntless has spotted Kiyama Maru at 42,74
SBD Dauntless damaged by flak
SBD Dauntless has spotted AG-5089 at 42,74
AG-5089 is reported HIT
SBD Dauntless has spotted Huso Maru at 42,74
SBD Dauntless reports shadow in water at 41,78
SBD Dauntless has spotted Hokusho Maru at 42,74
SBD Dauntless has spotted Hokusho Maru at 42,74
SBD Dauntless has spotted Juko Maru at 42,74
SBD Dauntless has spotted AG-5050 at 42,74
AG-5050 is reported HIT
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports oil slick at 41,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted Makigumo at 42,74
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted Jusan Maru at 42,74
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted Izan Maru at 42,74
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 41,78
1LT Aino U. of 11th Ftr.Sentai is credited with kill number 6
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted Kuroshio Maru at 42,74
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted AG-5088 at 42,74
OS2U-3 Kingfisher attacking I-23 at 41,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports diving submarine at 41,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted Higashiyama Maru at 42,74
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted Kurohime Maru at 42,74
Kurohime Maru is reported HIT
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted Juko Maru at 42,74
1LT Ishihara N. of 11th Ftr.Sentai is credited with kill number 2
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports suspected submarine at 41,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted Kurohime Maru at 42,74
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports conning tower at 41,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 41,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports diving submarine at 41,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted Hotsukawa Maru at 42,74
Hotsukawa Maru is reported HIT
LTJG Oda O. of F2/Yamada Daitai is credited with kill number 3
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted AG-5069 at 42,74
OS2U-3 Kingfisher reports submarine at 41,78
OS2U-3 Kingfisher has spotted Jinshu Maru at 42,74
WO Hashiguchi C. of 64th Ftr.Sentai is credited with kill number 3
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Kunming
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Kweiyang
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of Chengtu
J1N1-R Irving takes recon photos of Chengtu
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Rangoon
A-20B Boston takes recon photos of Mandalay
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Andaman Island
B-25J Mitchell takes recon photos of Koepang
B-25J Mitchell takes recon photos of Dili
B-25J Mitchell takes recon photos of Lautem
F-5A Lightning takes recon photos of Babo
PB2Y Coronado takes recon photos of Gili Gili
Hudson I takes recon photos of Thursday Island
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of Darwin
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of Wyndham
H8K Emily takes recon photos of Brisbane
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of Cooktown
PBM Mariner takes recon photos of Johnston Island
Ki-46-III Dinah takes recon photos of 28th Chinese Division
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of 30th Chinese Corps
Ki-15 Babs takes recon photos of 56th Chinese Corps
Ki-15 Babs takes recon photos of 47th Chinese Corps
Ki-46-II Dinah takes recon photos of 39th Chinese Corps
ENS Lange U. of VF-8 is credited with kill number 2
LTJG Nomura L. of F3/Chitose Daitai is credited with kill number 3
CPT Mitsumasa F. of 244th Ftr.Sentai is credited with kill number 2
CPT Mitsumasa F. of 244th Ftr.Sentai is credited with kill number 2
Camranh Bay expands airfield to size 8

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/29/43

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TF 1131 encounters mine field at Babo (42,77)

TF 1131 troops unloading over beach at Babo, 42,77


Allied Ships
MSW Grebe
MSW Turkey
MSW Mildura
MSW Lithgow
MSW Launceton
MSW Katoomba
MSW Horsham
MSW Gladstone
MSW Echuca
AK Silindoeng, Mine hits 1, on fire

Coastal Guns at Babo, 42,77, firing at TF 1131
111 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL De Ruyter


Allied ground losses:
103 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 1

the last troops unloaded from the invasion TF...

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Sub attack near Babo at 42,77

Japanese Ships
SS I-23

Allied Ships
AK Texan
AK Honomu
MSW Ipswitch

torps miss... sub operates in the invasion hex how...

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Sorong at 42,74

Japanese Ships
CL Agano
CL Naka, Shell hits 1
DD Naganami
DD Hatsukaze, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
CL Helena, Shell hits 1
DD Abbot, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Aulick, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Taylor

Allied ships track the enemy on radar and.... GET SURPRISED... [8|] Abbot and Aulick are shot to pieces by 5,5 inch shells, counterfire is light, no real damage on the Japanese ships...

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Sorong at 42,74

Japanese Ships
CL Agano
CL Naka, Shell hits 1
DD Naganami
DD Hatsukaze, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
CL Helena, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Abbot, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Aulick, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Taylor

[8|][8|][8|] what can I say... I should just know it better and try to play the game gamewise and not to try to play it and to expect it to play out realistically. I don´t want to say that this result couldn´t have happened in real life, BUT I clearly have to say that the super duper Long Lance torpedo attacks are so overrated, there´s once again something wrong with the results the game. Someone mentioned that historically the hit rate of the LL that were launched was somewhere between 1 and 3% IIRC. In the game the long lance attacks are most times deadly as seen in this example. Again we spotted and tracked the enemy on radar, both TFs maneuvered, then the message: "Japanese units launch long lance attack", so my undamaged CL and DD were hit by an enemy that was even spotted. How often did that happen? In the game, this is totally the NORM when Japanese forces encounter Allied forces. The hit rates of Allied torps are very low, which seems reasonable, the hit rates of Japanese LL shouldn´t be higher IMO.

How realistic is it to see three torps hit an undamaged CL and another one a DD, launched from ships that are already spotted.

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Coastal Guns at Babo, 42,77, firing at TF 1131
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TF 1131 encounters mine field at Babo (42,77)

TF 1131 troops unloading over beach at Babo, 42,77



Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported

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TF 1131 encounters mine field at Babo (42,77)

TF 1131 troops unloading over beach at Babo, 42,77



Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported

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Coastal Guns at Babo, 42,77, firing at TF 1139
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TF 1139 encounters mine field at Babo (42,77)

TF 1139 troops unloading over beach at Babo, 42,77


65 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied ground losses:
389 casualties reported

unloading the support troops...

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Day Air attack on Koepang , at 28,77

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 23
B-24D Liberator x 187

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 70

Aircraft Attacking:
34 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 26000 feet
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Day Air attack on Sorong , at 42,74

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 48
A6M3a Zero x 39
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 14
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 6

Allied aircraft
P-47C Thunderbolt x 44
F4U-1 Corsair x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 10 destroyed, 7 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 18 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 8 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-47C Thunderbolt: 10 destroyed, 24 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair: 4 destroyed, 25 damaged

Sweep from Kai Island as I was sure that the enemy TFs would still be at Sorong, so the enemy LRCAP would still be there also. With 80 exp Thunderbolts and 65 exp Corsairs we manage to achieve a 2:1 kill rate against the Zeroes. I only have one FG equipped with P-47, as soon as those pilots are dead, we have to send 50 exp pilots again (that will be dead meat against the Zeroes).

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Day Air attack on Kiska Island , at 92,35


Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 16
P-39D Airacobra x 45
PV-1 Ventura x 23
PB4Y Liberator x 19


Allied aircraft losses
PV-1 Ventura: 1 damaged
PB4Y Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 19
Port hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x TBF Avenger bombing at 22400 feet
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Day Air attack on TF, near Sorong at 42,74

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 39
A6M3a Zero x 32
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 2
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3

Allied aircraft
Seafire x 14
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21
SBD Dauntless x 47
TBF Avenger x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 7 destroyed, 8 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 6 destroyed, 9 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 10 damaged
TBF Avenger: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Kuroshio Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Mitsu Maru #3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP La Plata Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kuraido Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kiyama Maru
AP Minryo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Konan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Mikage Maru #2, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet

morning strike. No clue why it´s not possible to launch a bigger strike from the carriers. I´m at the max of our stacking limit (550 carrier based aircraft) and we launch those laughable strikes. The enemy Cap must have been disrupted by our sweep as our escorts performed far better than usual. Even our bombers achieved some hits today...

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Day Air attack on TF, near Waigeu Island at 41,73


Allied aircraft
Barracuda x 17
Avenger I x 4


Allied aircraft losses
Barracuda: 9 damaged
Avenger I: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Kisaragi
DD Suzukaze, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yugure
DD Nagatsuki

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Avenger I bombing at 5000 feet
4 x Barracuda launching torpedoes at 200 feet

don´t know if this is an ASW TF or a DD LONG LANCE ATTACK GROUP to shoot up my invasion at Babo...

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Day Air attack on TF, near Waigeu Island at 41,73


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 15


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Kasasagi, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yugure
DD Yamakaze

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 10000 feet

one 500lb bomb hit...

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Day Air attack on TF, near Waigeu Island at 41,73

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 29

Allied aircraft
PV-1 Ventura x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
PV-1 Ventura: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Kasasagi, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Suzukaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x PV-1 Ventura bombing at 6000 feet

long range strike of high exp Venturas from Darwin. Excellent job, they finish the two damaged DDs...

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Day Air attack on TF, near Sorong at 42,74

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 3
A6M3a Zero x 20
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 6
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 5 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

the bombers are low on morale and turn back. Best they can do, this way they are risking nothing and will nevertheless attack uncapped targets...

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Day Air attack on TF, near Sorong at 42,74

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 3
A6M3a Zero x 20
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 2
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
Seafire x 11
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
SBD Dauntless x 38
TBF Avenger x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 8 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire: 5 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed, 14 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged
TBF Avenger: 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Naganami
CL Agano, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Naka, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet

afternoon strike! Note, again not a single British torp bomber, again a f*cking number of bombers, we could have launched 200 DBs and 150 TBs against this TF alone... twice a 1000lb bomb hit, the CLs will be operational again in 6 weeks...

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Day Air attack on TF, near Waigeu Island at 41,73

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 29

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 4
PV-1 Ventura x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 damaged
PV-1 Ventura: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Shinonome
DD Ayanami
DD Nagatsuki
DD Akatsuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x PV-1 Ventura bombing at 6000 feet

last strike today. From the aircraft that could launch, we manage to get perhaps 20% into the air... This is a good example, 4 out of 50 Lightnings escort 15 out of 80 Venturas. This is a big TF with half a dozen DDs, so why don´t we launch a strike that could be a threat to the DDs?? [8|]

Oh well, it turns out to become a war of attrition now and this is exactly what Hortlund can´t afford. The enemy lost more aircraft than we did this turn, most important are the 45 Zeroes that were shot down A2A. We have lost 20+ Kingfishers in two turns that are flying nav search... [8|] Overall this was a good turn, the downside is of course the loss of CL Helena to the super Long Lance. Lol, super Zeroes, super Long Lance and the so crippled Japanese side...[:D]



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Ground combat at Babo

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13476 troops, 107 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 575

Defending force 18290 troops, 159 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 417



Allied ground losses:
32 casualties reported
Guns lost 1