Defending the empire 1943, the allies attack - a Jap AAR

[Hortlund]

Well, Hi Pauk, glad you dropped by.
 
Apparently you think it is an exploit to move units too far into allied territory on turn 0. Well, I disagree. It would have been a risk, certainly, but it was not impossible. And since we didnt have any houserules against it, I really dont see a problem with it. Its certainly nothing like the "lets bomb an empty base to make our pilots expert"-exploit you seem so fond of.

[pauk]

very honourable not to have such house rule. I'm not wonder why any of your games didn't last longer than may 42.

[pauk]

i wonder why you posted goats in my AAR. perhaps you what to tell us what are you doing with them?

[Hortlund]

ORIGINAL: pauk
very honourable not to have such house rule. I'm not wonder why any of your games didn't last longer than may 42.

And here I was thinking that it was up to the players to decide on what houserules to use. Silly me.

The reason I havent had a game last longer than May 42 is because the last time I played into May 42 I was allied, and the Japs surrendered after I managed to defend Java. Not much to do about that.

[pauk]

ORIGINAL: Panzerjaeger Hortlund

Its certainly nothing like the "lets bomb an empty base to make our pilots expert"-exploit you seem so fond of.

You are not telling the truth - in fact what you wrote is obvious lie. Please try to read AAR. Oh wait, i'm politely ask you not to ever came there again[:)]

[Hortlund]

ORIGINAL: pauk


i wonder why you posted goats in my AAR. perhaps you what to tell us what are you doing with them?

I blame them. Thats what scapegoats are for.

Main Entry: scape·goat
Pronunciation: \ˈskâp-ˌgôt\
Function: noun
Etymology: 1scape; intended as translation of Hebrew ʽazâzçl (probably name of a demon), as if ʽçz 'ôzçl goat that departs—Lev 16:8(Authorized Version)
Date: 1530
1: a goat upon whose head are symbolically placed the sins of the people after which he is sent into the wilderness in the biblical ceremony for Yom Kippur
2 a: one that bears the blame for others b: one that is the object of irrational hostility

[Hortlund]

ORIGINAL: pauk

ORIGINAL: Panzerjaeger Hortlund

Its certainly nothing like the "lets bomb an empty base to make our pilots expert"-exploit you seem so fond of.

You are not telling the truth - in fact what you wrote is obvious lie. Please try to read AAR. Oh wait, i'm politely ask you not to ever came there again[:)]

Yeah, I mean, its not like you have any Japanese pilot training program in China going on...not at all.

[pauk]

ORIGINAL: Panzerjaeger Hortlund

Yeah, I mean, its not like you have any Japanese pilot training program in China going on...not at all.

I do have. It's not empty bases. So please stop lying. And stop contact with me ever - especially in my AAR.

PS. Will see how long will your game last

[Hortlund]

ORIGINAL: pauk

ORIGINAL: Panzerjaeger Hortlund

Yeah, I mean, its not like you have any Japanese pilot training program in China going on...not at all.

I do have. It's not empty bases. So please stop lying. And stop contact with me ever - especially in my AAR.

PS. Will see how long will your game lasts

LOL, "but the bases are not empty", great defence.

Everybody knows that its a huge exploit to have your airunits gain experience by doing mikruns like you are doing. Why do you think they are changing the way experience works for AE?

And I get to post wherever I want, thankyouverymuch.

[pauk]

no you wont, trust me. I'm asking you that LAST time.

[Hortlund]

I dont even understand what you are trying to say now. Try again?

[jwilkerson]

Just reposting over here what I posted in Pauk's AAR ...

Ok guys - those of you who are making personal attacks here - too numerous to count them up - read and heed the post at this link. And it doesn't matter if you are provoked or not. If you make a personal attack you are guilty. Consider yourselves warned.


http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/fb.asp?m=1649590

[Hortlund]

For the past week, things have been really quiet. I am using this lull in the fighting to organize my defences. I need 2-3 weeks more of this quiet before I can respond to any attacks, so it is a welcome pause right now.

[Hortlund]

Another sweep of mine met with no resistance over Diamond Harbor. Recon tells me there are over 300 aircraft at Diamond Harbor.
 
Therefore I have decided to risk an air offensive. I have relocated 200 Sallys and Helens to Mandalay. They have enough range to reach Diamond Harbor on extended range. I have also moved 200 Bettys to Rangoon. All these bombers will attack Diamond Harbor together with 150 Zeros on sweep from Akyab. Either he will face me in the air, or face my bombs on the ground.

[Hortlund]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/09/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1030 encounters mine field at Koepang (28,77)

Allied Ships
CL Enterprise, Mine hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 37,59

Japanese Ships
PG Kanko Maru
PG Toyotsu Maru
PG Kaiun Maru
PG Busho Maru
APD APD-31

Allied Ships
SS S-39, hits 6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Koepang at 28,77

Japanese Ships
PT Gyoraitei #1
PT Gyoraitei #2, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PT Gyoraitei #4

Allied Ships
CL Enterprise

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 24,54

Japanese Ships
MSW W.9
MSW W.7

Allied Ships
SS O24, hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 42,63

Japanese Ships
AK Nichii Maru

Allied Ships
SS Growler

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Diamond Harbor , at 28,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 66

No Japanese losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Diamond Harbor , at 28,23

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 124
Ki-49 Helen x 46

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 8 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 6 damaged


Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 11

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 20000 feet
7 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 20000 feet
15 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 20000 feet
13 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 20000 feet
11 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 20000 feet
9 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 20000 feet
15 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 20000 feet
14 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 20000 feet
9 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 20000 feet
10 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 20000 feet
9 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 20000 feet
7 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 20000 feet
6 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 20000 feet
9 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 20000 feet
2 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 20000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 20000 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 20000 feet
4 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 20000 feet
5 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 20000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 20000 feet
2 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 20000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Diamond Harbor , at 28,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
G3M Nell x 9
G4M1 Betty x 84

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 5 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 20 damaged


Allied ground losses:
18 casualties reported

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 16

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 17000 feet
14 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 17000 feet
16 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 20000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 17000 feet
9 x G3M Nell bombing at 17000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 17000 feet
10 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 17000 feet
6 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 20000 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 17000 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 17000 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 20000 feet

So, that went well. 200 bombers and not a single aircraft hit on the ground? A whooping victory for the Imperial airforce. Amazingly enough all the airunits have experience between 75-85...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby Defense Brigade, at 54,92

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 8

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby Defense Brigade, at 54,92

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x A6M2 Zero bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 37,60

Japanese Ships
AP Yuzan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS S-40

[Hortlund]

Mid May 1942 has seen lots of air action over Burma. The allies had a good couple of days where first a shore bombardment managed to close Akyab where I had 3 Zero wings with 50-something Zeros. After that over 150 bombers attacked the base. The result was a slaughter of Zeros, I think I lost something like 60 Zeros that turn.

However, I only lost the airframes, all the pilots are well.

He returned two days later with his 150 bombers and closed the base again. Well. Lesson learned. I had planned to go over on the defensive and use my bombers for ASW duty only. Now I will have to mount a limited offensive in this area.





Yellow = defensive CAP-orders.
Blue = fighter sweep
Red = Bombing mission

Today will have fine weather. Im expecting him to launch another bombardment mission on my positions. I doubt he will attack Akyab again, but I will defend the base anyway. He lacks the range to hit Rangoon, and I have too much fighters in Mandalay for me to be concerned with an attack there.

I have ordered the entire Burma airforce to mount an attack today. Regrettably I will only have 40-something Zeros in the air, as the damaged wings from Akyab are rebuilding at Rangoon. These wings will need a week or two to recover morale.

200 Sallys and Helens are attacking from Mandalay. 30 Zeros are sweeping from Rangoon. The Sallys are escorted by 60 Oscars. Meanwhile Im using all my Bettys and Nells to recon his bases deep inside India. I want to see if I can find any targets for my Paratroopers. I have both Para-regiments in Rangoon and I can use over 50 L3Y Tinas to mount a serious attack deep behind his lines if I want to.

[Hortlund]

My fighter forces in the theater:

1st Fighter wing (Oscar) 36 pilots, 72 experience, 7 kills, 21 operational aircraft
59th Fighter wing (Oscar) 36 pilots, 70 experience, 11 kills, 27 operational aircraft
24th Fighter wing (Oscar) 36 pilots, 74 experience, 5 kills, 23 operational aircraft
50th Fighter wing (Oscar) 31 pilots, 78 experience, 38 kills, 18 operational aircraft

64th Fighter wing (Oscar) 39 pilots, 73 experience, 50 kills, 30 operational aircraft
77th Fighter wing (Oscar) 35 pilots, 76 experience, 0 kills, 35 operational aircraft
65th Fighter wing (Oscar) 30 pilots, 64 experience, 30 kills, 16 operational aircraft

F1 Tainan wing (A6M3) 28 pilots, 76 experience, 41 kills, 6 operational aircraft
F1 Yamada wing (A6M2) 27 pilots, 73 experience, 8 kills, 27 operational aircraft
F2/3rd wing (A6M2) 27 pilots, 74 experience, 26 kills, 6 operational aircraft
F1 Ominato wing (A6M2) 27 pilots, 78 experience, 4 kills, 6 operational aircraft
F2 Kanoya wing (A6M2) 26 pilots, 73 experience, 13 kills, 17 operational aircraft

F3/3rd wing (A6M2) 9 pilots, 77 experience, 3 kills, 9 operational aircraft
F1 Tainan wing (A6M3) 9 pilots, 80 experience, 0 kills, 9 operational aircraft

[Hortlund]

One thing to remember is that this is the nikmod variant where the Jap has a much lower aircraft production. And its starting to take its toll. Right now Im producing something like 150 Oscars, 150 A6M3 and 100 A6M2 per month. The Oscar pool is empty right now, and the A6M2 Zero pool has 100-something fighters in it. The A6M3 are ramping up and I have 30-something in the pool, and three converted units on map.

[Hortlund]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/15/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Amboina at 39,73

Japanese Ships
AP Nichiro Maru, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Tjerk Hiddes
DD Griffin
DD Nizam

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 40,51

Japanese Ships
DD Kuretake, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Grampus

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 17

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 130
P-40B Tomahawk x 8
B-26B Marauder x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 13 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 3 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 1 destroyed, 27 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 2 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
707 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 153

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
8 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
5 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
9 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
12 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
6 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
6 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
13 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
2 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
5 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
6 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
2 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
2 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
10 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 11000 feet
2 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
2 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 11000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 11000 feet

So he attacked Mandalay after all. My losses are very small, but the fact that he went for the base forces me to reconsider my defensive CAP for the future.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Dacca , at 31,24

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
Ki-21 Sally x 89
Ki-49 Helen x 75
Ki-46-II Dinah x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 5 destroyed, 18 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 5 destroyed, 21 damaged

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 28

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 11000 feet
26 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
16 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 11000 feet
6 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 11000 feet
15 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 11000 feet
17 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
8 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
9 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 11000 feet
9 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 11000 feet
5 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
4 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Ki-21 Sally bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Dacca , at 31,24

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
G3M Nell x 10
G4M1 Betty x 100

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed, 24 damaged

Allied aircraft losses


Allied ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 58

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
9 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
14 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
9 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
4 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
5 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
12 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
5 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
3 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
2 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet

My attack on Dacca is completely wasted. Not a single aircraft damaged on the ground. Very annoying.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kendari , at 33,71


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 98


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 11 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Otori Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shiratsuyu, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Tosan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Nittai Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Otake Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Sasago Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Gosyu Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Unyo Maru, Bomb hits 1
AK Toa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Dainiunyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Momoyama Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Milan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Matue Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Matsukaze, Bomb hits 1
AP Sanfuku Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Kokko Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Tensyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Mikage Maru #20, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Nozima Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kogi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Okuni Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Yoneyama Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Akatsuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Murakumo, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
238 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 6
Port supply hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 6000 feet

B-17s do a port strike. First time Ive ever seen that. I had alot of AKs at Kendari because I use Kendari as the supply hub for the region. Unfortunately that means I had lots of ships in port.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby Defense Brigade, at 54,92

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing at 2000 feet






Target for tomorrow: Dacca again.
I dont know how I managed not to hit a single Hurricane today. Maybe he railed away his airunits, and maybe that is why he is so anxious about a paradrop in India. In his mail he said something along the lines of "if you do a paradrop on India, I will bomb your resources with my B17s". I find the statement rather puzzling, because he is bombing me with his B17s right now and he has used them on naval attack, port attack and with an altitude setting of 2000 and 3000 feet, so Im really not of the opinion that he is withholding his punches or using the B17s carefully or something.

Anyway, I considered doing a L3Y-drop in India. I have 50 L3Ys in Rangoon and I can pretty much airlift a regiment to any spot on the map in India, but I decided against it. I want him to garrison his rear bases, but I dont want to waste my paratroopers.

We return to Dacca tomorrow. I have rotated my Sally/Helen-bombers to Saigon, but the Bettys and Nells are resting today. Ive ordered a huge CAP over Akyab today, I think that is where he will strike next, and I have the ML-TF coming in to mine the base tomorrow.

[Hortlund]

Oh, and one more thing. That last strike on Kendari convinced me that I cant fight for Timor/Kendari/Ambiona with airpower anymore. His B17s are untouchable for my fighters, and he will just cycle through my bases and destroy anything on the ground.

Im pulling back the airforce from this area, and Im going to swamp the bases with flak instead. I will try to build all bases on Timor up to at least 3, and then I will do hit and run moves where I might send in fighters from time to time to do a local counterattack.