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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/13/43

Tonigh my "crap DDs" TF arrived at Rossel and sunk 2 PTs
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
DD Wakatake
DD Sanae, Shell hits 1
DD Chidori, Shell hits 3
DD Hatsukari
DD Tomozuru

Allied Ships
PT PT-150
PT PT-151
PT PT-152, Shell hits 19, and is sunk
PT PT-153
PT PT-154, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PT PT-155
PT PT-156
PT PT-158
PT PT-159
PT PT-161

Unfortunately after this "success" they just run away leaving another 2 PT TFs untouched. And they are low on fuel so has to go back to Shortlands to refuel..

I have set also 2 Betty daitais from Munda to 100ft. They will help me to clean the nest:
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Day Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
PT PT-151, Shell hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 9 damaged

Allied Ships
PT PT-165
PT PT-164, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-168
PT PT-163, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-167, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Good! Another PTs are sunk. I hate them. Too easy to build them and they are too effective considering how expendable they are..



KB arrived at its place and the truth is I don´t know what to do with it right now. Transport TF left the harbor, but it will take a few days before I will kill all PTs (hopefully PjH will not summon another 36 meanwhile..). I still fear that he will capture Thursday Is while I will be patroling near Rossel, because his TFs can move under the LBA cover and I´m blind there. Well, not totaly as I have some patrols in PM and Gili Gili, but not enough of them to be 100% sure they will spot anything passing alongside the Australia coast. So I will move KB from time to time to position to attack any shipping in "blinded area" and maybe I will get something else except bomb to my flattop. Meanwhile I will form another strong surface TF in Rabaul to assist during the invasion, which will be shielded by KB too. In 3-4 days I will try to retake the Rossel Is..


In USSR I spotted he get some fighters repaired so I put whole K-43-II sentai to escort:
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Day Air attack on Irkutsk , at 59,6

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 36
Ki-21 Sally x 174
Ki-49 Helen x 158
Ki-46-III Dinah x 4

Allied aircraft
I-16 Type 24 x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 8 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 10 destroyed, 15 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 5 destroyed, 12 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
I-16 Type 24: 10 destroyed
MiG-3: 1 destroyed
SB-2: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
130 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 35

Oscars are really bad planes. Even when they outnumber obsolete russian planes 2:1 they can´t protect the herd.. On the other hand 10 russian firghters shot down 15 bombers.. [:@] I´m continuing to clear my rear. Most of his units are trapped, but as they have no retreat path they are fightings like a rats in corner.

Good! Another PTs are sunk. I hate them. Too easy to build them and they are too effective considering how expendable they are..

 
Fighters at naval attack at 100 feet is also a great way to destroy PT boats!

ORIGINAL: dennishe

Good! Another PTs are sunk. I hate them. Too easy to build them and they are too effective considering how expendable they are..

Fighters at naval attack at 100 feet is also a great way to destroy PT boats!

Hi dennishe,
I know, but Rossel Is is far and the possible ops losses wouldn´t be worth of it. It seems Betties work fine too and I can afford to loose them as these units have spare pilots. Would be great if I could move some fighter bombers to Gili Gili, but I have only one sentai on the whole map and it is training in China right now. I really look forward when i will have more of these useful units. This is job for fighter bombers..

During the siege of Irkutsk I have realized interesting issue. No matter how many units you have in the stack, only first 6 positions are affected by artillery fire:



All my units in the first 6 places are nearly totally disabled, but all other are untouched and 100% ready (30+ are there). Originaly I had 3 divisions on the first 3 places, but after 10 days I had to pull them out as they were 10/95 disabled (russian artillery inflicted 3000+ losses per day). 3 fresh artillery units were moved "ahead" from their 7-9th position and in a few days they dropped from 100/100 to the status you can see on the screenshot (again russian artillery disabled several thousands per day). And now enemy artillery inflict only 200-300 losses per day as in those first 6 units nearly noone left to be hit. It would also explain why HQ units allways suffer the most from enemy artillery fire - they are allways at the beginning! No matter when you move them in, they allways go to the front.

Turns are slow as I´m a bit busy this week. It should change from the beginning of the next week..
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/14/43

Not much happened this turn. KB didn´t found any pray and is going back to shield Rossel Is, while surface TF are approaching. Bad weather prevented any air strikes in this area.
 
I ´m operating only two I-boats between Noumea and Brisbane now and today they both scored![&o] I know those losses aren´t any problem for allies, but it is nice to see japanese subs taking their toll:
 
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Sub attack at 56,114

Japanese Ships
SS I-168

Allied Ships
AK William G. Fargo, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported

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Sub attack at 48,112

Japanese Ships
SS I-15

Allied Ships
AK Allioth, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
One AK is sunk and the second one will follow soon I hope. I think I got something like 10 ships in this area in the last 2 weeks . Not bad..

 
 
In USSR another surrounded division gave up finally:
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Ground combat at Chita

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 58245 troops, 275 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 875

Defending force 9838 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 148

Japanese max assault: 825 - adjusted assault: 608

Allied max defense: 75 - adjusted defense: 5

Japanese assault odds: 121 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
174 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
7034 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
 
Only few more remains.. [;)]

 
 

It is heating up..
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/15/43


And another allied ship was sunk.. Guess where? Yes, it was between Noumea and Brisbane [:D]
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Sub attack at 53,114

Japanese Ships
SS I-168, hits 5

Allied Ships
AK Empire Activity, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Empire Hawk
AK Empire Sunrise
AGP Jamestown
APD Sands
APD Talbot
DD Case
DD Edwards


Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported
 
The ship went down immedietly with part of Seebee unit aboard. Now only billion of them remains..
 
 
 
In NG/Solomons allied bomber hammer hit Thursday Is. Not the base, but the defending unit. And hit it hard:
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Day Air attack on Maizuru 4th SNLF, at 49,90


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 24
Liberator VI x 62
P-40N Warhawk x 36
B-17E Fortress x 162
LB-30 Liberator x 40
PB4Y Liberator x 75
B-24D Liberator x 416


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
961 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
 
4th Maizuru SNLF is not combat capable anymore. Only 5 (five!!!) support squad are ready. All other SNLF/support troops are disabled and many killed. The unit status was 84/92. Now it is 5/81 and the assault value is 0.. 750 4E is really a BIG hammer [;)] I wonder how many supplies this raid had to cost? 3-4k?
When he is attacking units and not base I think the invasion is coming soon and he doesn´t want to damage the base. I have ordered KB to move towards Port Moresby again. If he will use fast transport TF I might get it on its way back..
 
 
Meanwhile I continue with clearing the way for my transports heading to Rossel Is:
 
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Day Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged

Allied Ships
PT PT-151, Shell hits 4
PT PT-158, Bomb hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
PT PT-156
PT PT-155, Shell hits 4
PT PT-159
 
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Day Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
PT PT-180
PT PT-174, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
PT PT-175
PT PT-178

2 more PTs are down..
 
 
And after a long time some action took place in Gilberts. It seems PjH has lost one convoy and it decided it would be clever idea to use the way through Tarawa. The funny thing is that it nearly worked! My recons sucks (there is about 60 Jakes, Alfs and Emillies on 100% naval search) and the TF was spotted 1 hex NE of Tarawa!!!! Unbelievable.[:(]
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Day Air attack on TF at 86,90

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 18
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 8
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 15 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Charles Ausburne
DE Jaccard
AK Smith Thompson
 
That was a crack daitai from Abenama..

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

Then came another wave from Majuro:
 
Day Air attack on TF at 86,90

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied Ships
DE Jaccard, Torpedo hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Charles Ausburne, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 86,90

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Charles Ausburne, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
AK Sheldon Jackson
 
DD and DE sinks immedietly, but transports are untouched.. 75% of Betties are damaged so I have moved 2 daitais from Munda to Tarawa. These 54 Betties will try to hit the transports tommorrow and then they will go back to Munda..

 
Keeping Irkutsk suppressed is not cheap. Good news are that my combat engs are nearly ready and tommorrow they will march back to Irkutsk.
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Day Air attack on Irkutsk , at 59,6

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 63
Ki-21 Sally x 178
Ki-49 Helen x 155
Ki-46-III Dinah x 3

Allied aircraft
I-16 Type 24 x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 13 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
I-16 Type 24: 5 destroyed
Li-2: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
310 casualties reported
Guns lost 9

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 80

 
 

I forgot to mention: N1K1 George is accelerated by another month and now it should enter serial production in 11/43! [&o] I´m producing 200 of them in research mode and I got 2 months already. Not bad at all. With a bit of luck I could get 1-2 more months yet..
 
btw I wonder if Chinese LCU destroyed by attrition respawn. Anybody knows it?

ORIGINAL: jumper

I forgot to mention: N1K1 George is accelerated by another month and now it should enter serial production in 11/43! [&o] I´m producing 200 of them in research mode and I got 2 months already. Not bad at all. With a bit of luck I could get 1-2 more months yet..

btw I wonder if Chinese LCU destroyed by attrition respawn. Anybody knows it?

They do.

Thank you String. Good to know it..

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/16/43

This time no luck and US transports will reach Brisbane without any other loss:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 51,114

Japanese Ships
SS I-168

Allied Ships
AK Elizabeth Blackwell

I-168 is out of torps and is heading back to Rabaul..


US subs tried their luck too:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
DD Chidori
DD Sanae
DD Wakatake
CL Yubari

Allied Ships
SS Seahorse

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Sub attack near Normanby Island at 57,95

Japanese Ships
PC Ishigaki, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Iki
PC Etoforu
PC Kunashiri
PC Hachijo

Allied Ships
SS Rasher, hits 7, on fire, heavy damage

SS Rasher sinks with all hands aboard and PC Ishigaki followed her a few hours later..


Then my surface TF made of old units reached the Rossel Is and the battle with those pesky PTs begins:
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
DD Wakatake
DD Sanae, Shell hits 1
DD Chidori
DD Hatsukari
DD Tomozuru

Allied Ships
PT PT-150
PT PT-151
PT PT-153
PT PT-155
PT PT-156, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-159
PT PT-161, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
DD Wakatake, Shell hits 2
DD Sanae, Shell hits 3
DD Chidori, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatsukari
DD Tomozuru

Allied Ships
PT PT-166
PT PT-168
PT PT-169
PT PT-171
PT PT-172, Shell hits 10, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
DD Wakatake, Shell hits 2
DD Sanae
DD Chidori, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatsukari
DD Tomozuru, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
PT PT-175
PT PT-176
PT PT-177
PT PT-178, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-179
PT PT-180
PT PT-182
PT PT-185

I will loose 2 DDs in exchange for 4 PTs [:(] But at least they pushed them off the way of my heavy units:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Rossel Island, at 58,97

Japanese Ships
CL Oi
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami
CA Myoko
BB Hyuga
BB Yamashiro
BB Mutsu


Allied ground losses:
232 casualties reported
Guns lost 12

In the morning G4M1 from Munda attacked several times remaining PTs, but with no luck. 1 Betty was shot down by AA..It is the most effective way for allies - grab some base, send there hordes of PTs and watch the fun. Once they are destroyed, click the button and send another wave.. [8|]
My recon planes spotted allied CV TF hidden under the LBA umbrella, but no transports heading to Thursday Is. KB will be moved southwards again and then back to north.. Another of my subs was hit by B-24 and is heading back Rabaul. I´m loosing them really quickly. 5-6 subs were lost to B-24 in the last 10 days. These waters are dangerous, but I need some eyes there..



The lost convoy was finished in Gilberts:
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Day Air attack on TF at 88,86

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 54
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Smith Thompson, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Sheldon Jackson, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 3

These ships had 64 Dakotas aboard.. [:D]


And in USSR the last russian bandits in Chita finaly surrendered:
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Ground combat at Chita

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 58924 troops, 296 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 900

Defending force 5294 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 75

Japanese max assault: 864 - adjusted assault: 830

Allied max defense: 37 - adjusted defense: 2

Japanese assault odds: 415 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
6430 casualties reported
Guns lost 37

Only 3 more such groups remains, but none of them is dangerous or at some sensitive place. Irkutsk enjoyed another bomber raid, where I have lost 6 bombers to AA. It is daily toll..

I visited Vienna during the weekend, so there were no turns. It is really nice city. As I´m from Prague I felt like home there. These two cities are very similar if you leave behind those specific historical monuments.  
But now we are back on the road..
 
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/17/43

Another surface TF arrived at Rossel Is to fight its way through PTs:
 
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
CA Nachi
DD Oshio
DD Michishio
DD Arashio
DD Yamagumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo

Allied Ships
PT PT-150
PT PT-151, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
PT PT-153, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PT PT-155
PT PT-159

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 1
CA Nachi
DD Oshio, Shell hits 4,  on fire
DD Michishio, Shell hits 2
DD Arashio
DD Yamagumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo

Allied Ships
PT PT-166, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
PT PT-168
PT PT-169, Shell hits 115, and is sunk
PT PT-171, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
CA Nachi
DD Oshio,  on fire
DD Michishio
DD Arashio
DD Yamagumo
DD Minegumo
DD Asagumo

Allied Ships
PT PT-175
PT PT-176
PT PT-177
PT PT-179, Shell hits 1,  on fire
PT PT-180
PT PT-182
PT PT-185, Shell hits 7, and is sunk

 
Good! 6 PTs were sunk, while only DD Oshio was lightly damaged (15/10/0).. Tommorrow the transport TF should arrive, covered by CL Yubari + 3 old DDs (separate TF) and CL Kashii as a close escort. 9 remaining PTs should be out of torps and fuel already.
 
 
Allied 4E hammer hit poor Maizuru marines at Thursday Is again and the unit is now at 0/81:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Maizuru 4th SNLF, at 49,90


Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 10
Liberator VI x 32
B-17E Fortress x 78
LB-30 Liberator x 20
PB4Y Liberator x 41
B-24D Liberator x 183


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
44 casualties reported
 
Besides that, allied TF was spotted 120miles NE of Cooktown. About 10 ships and my pilots identified all of them as CAs. I think these are allied CV TF under LBA umbrella and PjH hopes my CVs will react and will be divided and sloughtered. Well it didn´t work because I have moved KB south, but now it is returning back to north. I really wonder what will happen..[;)]
 
 
 
In USSR another bandits lair was cleaned up..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 62,19

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 22878 troops, 251 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 496

Defending force 1263 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 14

Japanese max assault: 922 - adjusted assault: 882

Allied max defense: 7 - adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 882 to 1



Allied ground losses:
2968 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
 

Combat engs and HQs started their march into Irkutsk! The attack will be launched in 2-3 days..

And here comes the awaited allied invasion..


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/18/43

The turn started badly as my surface TF was mauled by PTs at Rossel Is. Those pesky boats are out of torps but their machine guns are true DDs killers:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
DD Wakatake, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Sanae, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Hatsukari

Allied Ships
PT PT-150
PT PT-155
PT PT-159

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
DD Wakatake, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Sanae, on fire
DD Hatsukari

Allied Ships
PT PT-168

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
DD Wakatake, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
DD Sanae, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatsukari

Allied Ships
PT PT-175
PT PT-176
PT PT-177
PT PT-179, on fire
PT PT-180
PT PT-182

Both DDs are dead. I doubt they coud reach some safe friendly port.. During the day 2 PTs were sunk by betties.. [:(]



Then allied fast transport TF arrived at Thursday Is and US marines stormed the beach. Two modern CLs hit mine in the process:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1051 encounters mine field at Thursday Island (49,90)

Allied Ships
CL Honolulu, Mine hits 1, on fire
CL Denver, Mine hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1051 troops unloading over beach at Thursday Island, 49,90

Allied Ships
DD Kortenaer
DD Banckert
DD Paul Jones
DD O'Brien
DD Dyson
DD Bulmer, Mine hits 1, on fire

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
702 casualties reported


When the day comes, allied bombers once more attacked our garrison at Thursday Is to soften up the defences, while the
fast transports retreated:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 43rd Construction Battalion, at 49,90

Allied aircraft
Wellington III x 20
Liberator VI x 47
B-17E Fortress x 140
LB-30 Liberator x 26
PB4Y Liberator x 55
B-24D Liberator x 265


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
825 casualties reported

I knew the base was lost as both my units were totally destroyed, but at least I had KB on its place. It was clouded in the morning, but the weather got better in the afternoon and KB could finally launch devastating strike against retreating allied ships:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,93

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 5
A6M5 Zeke x 4
D3A Val x 69
D4Y Judy x 20
A6M3a Zero x 26
B5N Kate x 111
E13A1 Jake x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 8 destroyed, 29 damaged
D4Y Judy: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
B5N Kate: 4 destroyed, 9 damaged
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Denver, Bomb hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
CL Boise, Bomb hits 15, on fire, heavy damage
CL Cleveland, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
DD O'Brien, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Vendetta, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Fox, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Banckert, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Welles
DD Kortenaer, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Evertsen, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
CL Santa Fe, Bomb hits 3, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,93

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 41
A6M3a Zero x 12
B5N Kate x 72

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Boise, Bomb hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
CL Denver, Bomb hits 31, on fire, heavy damage
CL Cleveland, on fire, heavy damage
CL Santa Fe, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Dyson
DD Pope

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,93

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 4
D4Y Judy x 20
A6M3a Zero x 3
B5N Kate x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Bache
DD Welles, Bomb hits 1
CL Boise, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Santa Fe, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Aulick, Bomb hits 2, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,93

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 16
B5N Kate x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Santa Fe, Bomb hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
CL Cleveland, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,93

Japanese aircraft
B6N Jill x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N Jill: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Honolulu, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,93

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Bulmer, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

5 modern US cruisers were hit hard and 2 of them sinks immedietly. I think those remaining 3 will follow soon. Also some DDs were hit, but PjH has many of them, so he can afford to loose them. But my recons spotted some more ships parked in Thursday Is and identified them as CVs ??? I considered a surface by ships detached from KB, but I think that he will build hordes of PTs there immedietly and there are mines too. With my luck I would hit every single mine which remains there and then got myself mauled by PTs for no gain. I will rather move whole KB closer (5 hexes) to Thursday Is and will limit planes range to 4 hexes. If there are CVs they might react and get into my range. If not, I will not strike some empty AK under Corsair cover.. I have 54 Betties at Lae, and they should finaly join the fray..




As predicted the Thursday Is falls. PjH unloaded also some paras and they shock attacked the base immedietly:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Thursday Island

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 1430 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 205

Defending force 40 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Allied max assault: 50 - adjusted assault: 14

Japanese max defense: 0 - adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Thursday Island base !!!

3000 men were on the base, but only 40 were in fighting condition..[X(]

In USSR I have destroyed another two partisans units:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 67,11

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15918 troops, 183 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 413

Defending force 2561 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 56

Japanese max assault: 289 - adjusted assault: 267

Allied max defense: 48 - adjusted defense: 5

Japanese assault odds: 53 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
3691 casualties reported
Guns lost 17


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 59,8

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8672 troops, 52 guns, 145 vehicles, Assault Value = 192

Defending force 1601 troops, 0 guns, 79 vehicles, Assault Value = 22

Japanese max assault: 184 - adjusted assault: 314

Allied max defense: 16 - adjusted defense: 3

Japanese assault odds: 104 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
19 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
2367 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 138

This was the last tank brigade near Irkutsk..

Hortlund won´t like it to lose those modern CLs...[:D]

Well, I´m sure he will miss them [;)]. The truth is that I don´t understand why he sacrificed them so easily. He certainly have some old Omaha class CLs left which should better for this task. Not so painful to loose them. It is interesting how players handle their TF composition. I pay a lot of attention to what ships I´m using at certain tasks, but it seems that for PjH one CL is the same as other CL. The same with DDs. 5 moder CLs were escorted by unbelievable mix of all availble allied DDs. There were old dutch units, flush decks, old australian DDs and modern US DDs all with endurance from 2500-8000. If "Le Trioumphant" would be still afloat, I´m sure it would be there too.. If I were him I would use only Omaha CLs and flush decks. These are "throw away" types IMO.
 
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/19/43

I know I wrote it already several times, but I realy HATE PTs:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
BB Yamashiro
BB Hyuga
CA Myoko
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CL Oi
DD Maikaze, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
DD Isokaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Nowaki

Allied Ships
PT PT-150, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
PT PT-155
PT PT-159

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
BB Yamashiro
BB Hyuga
CA Myoko
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
CA Mikuma
CL Oi
DD Maikaze,  on fire
DD Isokaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Nowaki

Allied Ships
PT PT-168, Shell hits 3, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu, Shell hits 1
BB Yamashiro
BB Hyuga
CA Myoko
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CL Oi
DD Maikaze,  on fire
DD Isokaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Nowaki

Allied Ships
PT PT-177
PT PT-179,  heavy damage
PT PT-180
PT PT-182, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
BB Yamashiro
BB Hyuga
CA Myoko
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CL Oi
DD Maikaze, Shell hits 1,  on fire
DD Isokaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Nowaki, Shell hits 3,  on fire

Allied Ships
PT PT-155, Shell hits 1
PT PT-159

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
BB Yamashiro
BB Hyuga
CA Myoko
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CL Oi
DD Maikaze,  on fire
DD Isokaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Nowaki,  on fire

Allied Ships
PT PT-177, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
PT PT-179,  heavy damage
PT PT-180

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
BB Yamashiro
BB Hyuga
CA Myoko
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CL Oi
DD Maikaze, Shell hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Isokaze, Shell hits 2
DD Hamakaze, Shell hits 2
DD Nowaki,  on fire

Allied Ships
PT PT-155
PT PT-159

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 58,97

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
BB Yamashiro
BB Hyuga
CA Myoko
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma
CL Oi
DD Maikaze,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Isokaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Nowaki,  on fire

Allied Ships
PT PT-179, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
PT PT-180

My battle line engaged his PTs again, again, again and again. They sunk some, but DD Maikaze is heavily damaged. She should make it to Rabaul though..
 
Then I have finally prepared the ground for my transports: 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Rossel Island, at 58,97

Japanese Ships
CL Oi
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami
CA Myoko
BB Hyuga
BB Yamashiro
BB Mutsu


Allied ground losses:
134 casualties reported
Guns lost 13

And marines are pouring from ships:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Rossel Island, 58,97, firing at TF 60
TF 60 troops unloading over beach at Rossel Island, 58,97


70 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
PG Nishho Maru, Shell hits 1
PG Keijo Maru
AP Kaisho Maru

Japanese ground losses:
783 casualties reported
 
I think I should be able to take Rossel Is back. There is australian bde and part of US div, but with air and naval support I think they are doomed:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rossel Island

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1366 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 106

Defending force 10194 troops, 71 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 376

Now I fear his CVs will appear 4-5 hexes south of Rossel Is and will decimate the transports, but all troops should get on ground during the nigh with enough supplies so all I would loose are some transports which I have more then I need. Only surface raiders could cause me troubles. I hope he doesn´t have them ready..


The problem is Thusrday Is. PTs are already there together with some Corsairs on CAP. I´m sure Dakotas are flying in reinforcemnets in hundreds. But as long as KB is loitering around, he can´t get convoys there and it means the base will not be a serious threat for a while. Currently he can anly start dropping paras all around, as there is a lot of empty bases in Coronado range. That woudl be nasty.. [:(]
 
In the a.m. the KB was clouded, but in p.m. phase the weather got better and I have finished some damaged DDs heading to Cairns. Surprisingly those 3 heavily damaged CLs are stil floating and limping slowly to Cairns too. Subs are heading to their estimated path. They were under the the cloud whole day and survived another day and avoided KB. Tommorrow they will be too close to australian bases and with poor coordination on 5 hexes distance I don´t want to risk that some leaking CAP will decimate my unescoretd strikes. So KB will not move closer and I will hope they will go down on themselves:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,97

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 37
D4Y Judy x 38
B5N Kate x 103
B6N Jill x 19

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Kortenaer, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
DD Fox, Torpedo hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,95

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 6
A6M5 Zeke x 8
A6M3a Zero x 45
B5N Kate x 23

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD O'Brien, Torpedo hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,97

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 19
B5N Kate x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Welles, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,96

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 22
B5N Kate x 23

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
DD Bulmer, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
I´m not going to counterattack at Thursday Is. Hopefully my "overreaction" at Rossel Is will lead him to conclusion that I will try it, and so he will focus on defence at first rather the quick advance. This should gave me some time to prepare the defensive line. IMO he will try to go to Merauke next and then towards Timor or Amboina and those three small islands north of Darwin. His problem will be lack of air support. Thursday Is and Merauke are max Lvl 4 AF and so it means only 200 planes per base. 4Es can fly only normal range with reduced load and without escort. That is something my fighters can handle well [;)]. If get enough time to organize the defence, I will prepare him a true bloodbath if will try to push his army towards Timor or Amboina.. Time is everything now.. And it won´t change till the end of war..
 
 
 

i would say a good stragegy. Fool him as long as posible, pretend that you will attack Thursday. As you mentioned it will give you a time. Also start thinking about your 2nd defensive line (Amboina, Sorong, Bulla..etc), just in case that something went wrong..


a good job indeed.[:)]

I´m afraid I can´t fool him long enough. Soon he will realize I´m not going to do anything with this base. It would be insane to try it. There is unbelievable amount of PTs. I have already recognized 7 separate TFs. And as he has operated them in groups of 12 so far and some of those spotted TF has 9+ ships in them I´m afraid it is 7x12 PT waiting there. 84 PTs defending single base!!! Well, even half of this number would make the base off limit to me, unless I would be willing to loose half of my destroyers.. [;)] 
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/20/43

Last troops left ships at Rossel Is and tommorrow they attack:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Rossel Island, 58,97, firing at TF 60
TF 60 troops unloading over beach at Rossel Island, 58,97


39 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
PG Nishho Maru

Japanese ground losses:
496 casualties reported

KB and replenishment TF moved as planned through subs infested waters. I was lucky so far, when my capital ships evaded several attacks, but today my luck run out:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 53,94

Japanese Ships
AO Erimo, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
DD Inazuma
DD Akatsuki
CS Mizuho

Allied Ships
SS S-30, hits 4,  on fire
 
AO Erimo is moderately damaged and is heading to Gili Gili to pump out the water, before continuing to Rabaul and Japan to repairs.
 
 
Well, I made a mistake. I limited range of all KB bombers and therefore I thought it is pointless to limit also range for fighters. But I forgot, that CS attached to replenishment TF has Jakes set to naval attack at 5 hexes.. And of course they attacked some CAPed TF leading the escort fighters into the pointless fight. I really love myself in such moments.. [:(]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,96

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 5
A6M5 Zeke x 8
A6M3a Zero x 44
E13A1 Jake x 3

Allied aircraft
P-40N Warhawk x 20
P-47C Thunderbolt x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5 Zeke: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
A6M3a Zero: 14 destroyed, 1 damaged
E13A1 Jake: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40N Warhawk: 10 destroyed
P-47C Thunderbolt: 8 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Pakenham
 
crap..
 
 
Then his 4Es attacked Merauke garrison again:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Maizuru 1st SNLF, at 47,87


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 289


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
649 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
 
And surprisingly our landed troops at Rossle Is were targeted too:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 85th Naval Guard Unit, at 58,97


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 138


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
578 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
 
I have to take the base quickly, otherwise he will destroy my units one by one..
 
But his troops at Rossel Is were hit today too:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 1st Australian Brigade, at 58,97

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 Helen x 54

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
112 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Tommorrow surface TF of 2 CA and 4 DDs will arrive at Rossel to sink last remaining PTs and bombard the troops to soften the defence. I have also despatched 2 surface raiding TFs from KB escorts and will try to intercept his retreating damaged CLs and some bunch of LRCAPed transport TFs waiting 120 NE of Cooktown. KB is heading to Port Moresby. I will risk one day of halved CAP in exchange of loading new planes as I´m about 30 fighters short and also about 20-30 bombers were lost so far. And then.. I don´t know what to do with then.. Have to think about that..
 
I expect him to push towards Amboina/Timor, but it will not be easy for him. Only Merauke (max lvl4) can support the advance and as he depends on 4Es he will miss them a lot. I have to garrison all bases, but fortunately there is not so many of them. I´m surprised he hasn´t used small paradrops all around yet. I have noticed in Castors AAR he loves to drop a few men at all bases and consider it as briliant tactic. Maybe I will be spared of that? I hope so, but I doubt it..
 
 
Meanwhile it is heating up in India. Now only 10 units are sitting W of Ahmadabad and 19 NW of it, but huge force is flanking from the north through the open fields. I have already identified 18th and 2nd UK divs, 23rd India div, 7th US divs and several chinese corps and india bdes. Also many tanks were spotted, so I think 7th Armoured and both Indian tank units are there. Together with support and artillery about 50 LCUs is on the march.. I have send my bombers to hit him today to keep him attrited a bit with high disruption and supply consumption. Should be a problem to him ro supply his army deep in my territory off the rail or road. I will post pic when I get home..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 18th UK Division, at 24,6

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 15
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 14
Ki-49 Helen x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
143 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 18th UK Division, at 24,6

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 2
Ki-21 Sally x 2
Ki-49 Helen x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 5 damaged


Allied ground losses:
84 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 2nd UK Division, at 24,6

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 18
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 16
Ki-21 Sally x 10
Ki-49 Helen x 37

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
239 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
 

In USSR my engineers and HQ entered the city and tommorrow will launch deliberate attack with all forces (11000 AV). I expect 0:1 and heavy losses, but forts should go down:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Irkutsk , at 59,6

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 63
Ki-21 Sally x 203
Ki-49 Helen x 158
Ki-46-III Dinah x 8

Allied aircraft
I-16 Type 24 x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
I-16 Type 24: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
448 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 68
 

I'm sorry, sure that ive missed something... regarding PT boats: you have a HR about max number of PTs, right?

ORIGINAL: pauk


I'm sorry, sure that ive missed something... regarding PT boats: you have a HR about max number of PTs, right?

I thought we have. It was:

"PTs are only defensive weapon. Max 2 TF of 6 boats each is allowed per base. They can be build only in ports lvl 6 and higher."

But after the discussion about too many PTs at Rossel Is it seems we have none anymore. I tried to explain that those numbers he had there are insane and against the HR, but despite that he insisted they are reasonable and that this is the right way to go. He said that the mentioned HR limits him to build [&:] max 2 TF of 6 boats in LVL6 port and higher but then he can use them in whatever amount he consider reasonable. I became tired of this "missunderstanding" issue and decided to ignore it and don´t open it anymore. Unless he will start doing PT sweeps out of the base, I will let him use as many PTs at he wants. It takes some fun from the game, but I can live with it. Truly I have no other option.. Some players simply love PTs and small paradrops and won´t let you touch it or take it from them.
That is the "dark side" of this game, but to be fair playing against PjH is entertaing in many others aspects and he is sending turns daily. That means a lot, besides the fact that he took the game in very difficult situation for allies without much hesitation and seems willing to kick my as* despite the odds. He is not afraid to risk and on the strategic level of planning he is truly formidable oponent. He found the weak spot immedietly. Much much sooner then I hoped for..
PTs and paras will make my life miserable, but certainly they are not going to win him the war. He will have to show something more then that and that is what I´m really looking forward to. BANZAI!!! [:)]

It looks like he has a serious problems.[:D]

Oh, boy...

But you are right, keep going and kick some ass. BONSAI!

Situation in India:



As you can see on the picture, he is trying to flank me from the north now. I had 20th Army south of Ahmadabad with 4 divisions for a long time but now only 10 of his units remains and I think these are just a few understrenghened chinese units. I have divided one divison while I´m pulling 2 divisions east of Ahmadabad. He will still see 5 units there [;)] Another division is leaving Ahmadabad as under current circumstances 15th army with 3 division is enough to hold the place. This way I will have now reserve of 3 divisions which can boost PGI (Panzer Gruppe India) on the north. If he will continue to march to the east, I will use them to stop him, while PGI will cut his supply/retreat path. Or I will use PGI to stop him and these 3 divisions will cut his supply. It will depend on the situation. But no doubt he knows the danger. It is literally offering itselfs when you look on the map, so he must have something ready for me. I wonder what he has up in his sleeves.. He can´t hope the RAF will shift the balance. My air presence is really strong here and he knows it.

Besides that I have fresh 46th division on the way from Culcutta to Delphi. It might come handy..

well,
 
if he love to exploit the pts... you could exploit the Army-Bombers on ASW-Duty... i bet he will fast come in with "that is silly, nobody would use 1200 Army-bombers for that".
And that is the point you could answer "as long as some others use 90 PTs to defend a small base" it is absolutly okay and sane.

Sorry, but this PT-problem would be a gamestopper for me. Fun is okay, but this strategy means he can conquer at will and you loose half of your fleet to wipe em out (for 2 weeks).
 
With or without the difficult situation in the game
 
just my 2cents.