PzB vs Wobbly - Clash of Steel

[pauk]

ORIGINAL: PzB


It is perhaps the high ground fortification levels that prevents my bombardment
groups from causing the usual high casualties during bombarmdents....almost 50k
enemy troops in Tjilitjap now.

Hi, probably you know it already, but....

Naval bombardments disable support units (Base forces, construction, units AA...) not LCU units. This could be why you achive such weak results. For ground units use Air bombardments.

And, mighty Emperor is certaintly pleased!

KTGW (keep the good work)[&o]

[PzB74]

Thx for reminding me Pauk!

You should believe that base force engineers were much better at digging themselves into the
ground than ordinary grunts [;)] Would have thought that there were quite a few base forces and engineers in Tjlitjap. 59k troops
there now and another 10k have been pushed back. The last 18-20k are in Bandoeng. That means that I will eventually have 200k
troops against 70k. Should be enough, just hope that there are no more than 5-6 forts there.

I was having dinner and reading the news while my troops attacked Colombo today...and suddenly a miracle happened: 2-1 odds - Colombo captured [&o][:D][&o]
The darned place finally fell, what bliss!!! I will leave a division + a bde + support on the island and prepare the other units for the capture of Mandalay.

I'm still 2000 points short of an autovictory..guess that has to come from Java!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/04/42

Bombardments

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Tjilitjap, at 19,62 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

33 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Ushio
DD Fubuki
DD Shiranuhi
DD Yukikaze
CA Kako, Shell hits 3
CA Kinugasa
CA Aoba, Shell hits 6
CA Suzuya
BB Fuso
BB Mutsu, Shell hits 4
BB Haruna

Allied ground losses:
262 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 8
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub/ASW Attacks

Enemy subs are getting better..so are their torpedoes!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 67,44

Japanese Ships
DD Shirayuki, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PC Shonan Maru #17
PC Shonan Maru #6
PC Shonan Maru #2
PC Shonan Maru #1
DD Naganami

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

Air Combat

No more enemy ac in Java? Has David withdrawn them....

Day Air attack on Tjilitjap , at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Behold the final air attacks against Colombo...

Day Air attack on 29th UK Brigade, at 14,24

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 20
Ki-21 Sally x 58

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 7 damaged

Allied ground losses:
63 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
All Ki-21 Sally bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 18th UK/C Division, at 14,24

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 3
Ki-21 Sally x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 3 damaged

Allied ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
All Ki-21 Sally bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Mr Churchill will not be pleased..the last British bridgehead in the East is wiped out.
Only Mandalay remains!

Ground combat at Colombo

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 65929 troops, 383 guns, 2 vehicles

Defending force 18844 troops, 78 guns, 3 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Colombo base !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 6 destroyed
Catalina I: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
490 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Allied ground losses:
26761 casualties reported
Guns lost 71
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bandoeng

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 23017 troops, 240 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 17125 troops, 208 guns, 71 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Djokjakarta

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 73597 troops, 788 guns, 138 vehicles

Defending force 6892 troops, 71 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Djokjakarta base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
213 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
361 casualties reported
Guns lost 20

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

[PzB74]

A quiet turn...I've not edited the report at all so it's mostly training missions in
China! 2 of my divisions had moved 75 of 60 miles without entering Bandoeng [:'(]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/05/42

Air Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 28th Chinese Division, at 32,31

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x A6M2 Zero attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 38th Chinese Division, at 33,26

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 75
Ki-30 Ann x 27

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
68 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-30 Ann bombing at 2000 feet
24 x A6M2 Zero attacking at 100 feet
24 x A6M2 Zero attacking at 100 feet
27 x A6M2 Zero attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 49th Chinese Division, at 33,26

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 26

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
26 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 55th Chinese Corps, at 43,37

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27 Nate x 48
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 16
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 36

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-27 Nate attacking at 100 feet
36 x Ki-61 KAIc Tony attacking at 100 feet
12 x Ki-27 Nate attacking at 100 feet
16 x Ki-44-IIb Tojo bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Hopei Militia Division, at 53,26

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
49 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B5N Kate bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 30th Chinese/B Corps, at 46,32

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
D3A Val x 8
B5N Kate x 8
Ki-27 Nate x 23

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-27 Nate attacking at 100 feet
8 x A6M2 Zero attacking at 100 feet
8 x A6M2 Zero attacking at 100 feet
8 x A6M2 Zero attacking at 100 feet
8 x A6M2 Zero attacking at 100 feet
8 x A6M2 Zero attacking at 100 feet
8 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet
8 x B5N Kate bombing at 7000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 30th Chinese/B Corps, at 46,32

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 15

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Mili , at 84,85

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
P-38G Lightning x 7
B-25C Mitchell x 43

No Allied losses

Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Shortlands , at 63,93

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 13
B-26B Marauder x 54

No Allied losses

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
54 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Tatung

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13918 troops, 137 guns, 2 vehicles

Defending force 3182 troops, 14 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bandoeng

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 24762 troops, 280 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 17103 troops, 207 guns, 71 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
47 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

[PzB74]

A full year has now passed since the attack on Pearl Harbour and most of the
initial operations have been concluded. The forts at Bandoeng are being slowly reduced
while another army marches into Tjilitjap. It may take another 3-4 weeks to reduce the
latter stronghold if their defenders are as tenacious as those in Colombo.

It's a little annoying that 1 bomber can cause just as many ground casualties as
500! Time and again a couple of bombers cause 26 ground casualties - exactly the same
results that I achieve by sending out 50-100 bombers to hit enemy ground units. [8|]
This kind of black and white programming is unfortunate...

In Tokyo the Akagi has finished her upgrades and now fields a better AA armament.
The Zuikaku still has 5 sys damage, the same as her siste at Truk. I will attempt to rest
and upgrade as many of my ships as possible over the next few months.

I'm really not in a position to continue offensive - or defensive - operations until then.
The continued wear and tear has worn down the ships and the fleet is also rather dispersed
for the time being. Does anyone know when it will become possible to upgrade the CS seaplane
tenders? Forgotten how this works!

200 Oscar IIs are now being produced each month and I just upgraded an 80 exp Nate unit.
That should prove useful as I now can provide long range escorts for my Army and Navy bombers.
Otherwise the Oscar IIs will only conduct defensive missions - except from Chinia. I plan to use them
to squash the Chinese AF with a 1943 New Years Offensive that will culminate in a drive on Mandalay.

Here is a 3 day update: relatively quiet days!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/06/42

Air Combat

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Maloelap , at 82,81

Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 5
B-17E Fortress x 68
B-24D Liberator x 45

Allied aircraft losses
F-5A Lightning: 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 14 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 84

Aircraft Attacking:
All bombers bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 28th Chinese Division, at 32,31 - unusual engagement...2
I-16s shoot down 6 Zeros! The Zeros were on a trainining mission strafing
an enemy unit at 200 ft.

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23

Allied aircraft
I-16c x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Tatung

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13858 troops, 137 guns, 2 vehicles

Defending force 3202 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bandoeng

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 25641 troops, 299 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 17077 troops, 206 guns, 68 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
------------------------------------------------------------------------------


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/07/42

Air Combat

Day Air attack on 32nd USA Division, at 19,61

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
A6M3 Zero x 11
Ki-21 Sally x 36
Ki-48 Lily x 45
Ki-49 Helen x 25
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
All bombers bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

David dropped paras into Dobadura, an undeveloped base just below Lae!
Will he attempt to march in an engineer unit and try to build it?

Ground combat at Bandoeng

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 85241 troops, 772 guns, 552 vehicles

Defending force 17060 troops, 204 guns, 68 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 7

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 7)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 7

Japanese ground losses:
476 casualties reported
Guns lost 16
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
622 casualties reported
Guns lost 22
Vehicles lost 12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Dobodura

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 760 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 15 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Dobodura base !!!


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/08/42

Sub/ASW Attacks

An interesting little engagement between the I-27 and 4 destroyers..
First the dd's hunt the sub and shakes it badly with lots of depth charges.
The hit only caused 27 floatation damage. In a reverse engagement a full
salvo of torpedoes are fired at one of the dds - but fails to detonate!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 84,88

Japanese Ships
SS I-27, hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Barton
DD McCalla
DD Lansdowne
DD Laffey
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 84,88

Japanese Ships
SS I-27

Allied Ships
DD McCalla
DD Barton
DD Lansdowne
DD Laffey
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Day Air attack on 32nd USA Division, at 19,61

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 13
Ki-21 Sally x 40
Ki-48 Lily x 44
Ki-49 Helen x 27

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
All bombers bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Bandoeng

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 84374 troops, 744 guns, 546 vehicles

Defending force 16097 troops, 172 guns, 48 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 7)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 6

Japanese ground losses:
852 casualties reported
Guns lost 16
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
495 casualties reported
Guns lost 13
Vehicles lost 12

[PzB74]

Most of my fleet units are now enroute to repair yards or to main fleet bases
around the Pacific. For the rest of the month you will most likely read about
air strikes and the reduction of the Allied forces on Java.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/09/42

Air Combat

Heavy allied air strikes against the usual undefended targets today...

Day Air attack on Buna , at 55,90

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 33
B-17E Fortress x 55
B-24D Liberator x 39

No Allied losses

Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
All bombers bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 32nd USA Division, at 19,61

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
A6M3 Zero x 10
Ki-21 Sally x 40
Ki-48 Lily x 52
Ki-49 Helen x 20
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

No Japanese losses

Allied ground losses: - isn't this a very....unrewarding casualty count after sending in more than 100 bombers!?? [:(]
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
All bombers bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Maloelap , at 82,81

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 6
B-25C Mitchell x 40

Allied aircraft losses - my ack ack gunners are doing excellent work!
B-25C Mitchell: 4 destroyed, 10 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 29

Aircraft Attacking:
26 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Bandoen should fall within a day or two...tomorrow all my encirclement units
should be in place.

Ground combat at Bandoeng

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 83412 troops, 725 guns, 545 vehicles

Defending force 15331 troops, 151 guns, 31 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 6)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 5

Japanese ground losses:
323 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
424 casualties reported
Guns lost 10
Vehicles lost 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tjilitjap

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 80681 troops, 977 guns, 10 vehicles

Defending force 50697 troops, 387 guns, 98 vehicles

Allied ground losses: - this was a very good bombardment result!
450 casualties reported
Guns lost 13
Vehicles lost 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Map: Tjilitjap

This picture shows the enemy units trapped in Tjilitjap! As you can see there are
lots and lots of enemy base and engineer units. Yesterday the base was upgraded to a size
4 af - and still my massive fleet bombardments didn't cause much damage [&:]

[PzB74]

Bandoeng gives in and a full US division is captured - 17000 troops are marched into
captivity and I now only need 1600 points to achieve an autovictory. The 70k troops
at Tjilitjap should be just sufficient [;)]

David lands a para unit in an undefended atoll in the Marshalls. I considered sending in
an SNLF unit, but lots and lots of enemy ships surrounded the place the next day.
So I'll leave em alone for now and strike back when I'm ready... I hate being reactive
anyway [:'(]

When Tjilitjap is captured I will have 6 divisions that can be sent to the South Pacific
and still be able to leave 2 divs in Java. When the Combined Fleet sorties again in
support of such a mighty force David will soon learn that 1943 isn't going to be a
pleasent year for him either! [;)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/10/42

Air Combat

Heavy air strikes against Tjilitjap today - I'm trying to keep Davids engineers
busy fixing damaged infrastructure instead of building fortifications!

You may notice that the Ki-43 Oscar II undertook its first escort mission
from Palembang today!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tjilitjap , at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
A6M3 Zero x 10
Ki-21 Sally x 40
Ki-48 Lily x 53
Ki-49 Helen x 26
Ki-46-II Dinah x 2

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
39 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 72

Aircraft Attacking:
All bombers bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tjilitjap , at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-21 Sally x 117

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 16 damaged

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port supply hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
All bombersy bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Maloelap , at 82,81

Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 3
B-17E Fortress x 26


Allied aircraft losses
F-5A Lightning: 3 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 28

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 20000 feet
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 20000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Bandoeng is ripe for picking and a shock attack has been ordered for
tomorrow!

Ground combat at Bandoeng

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 83136 troops, 712 guns, 545 vehicles

Defending force 14724 troops, 137 guns, 25 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 4

Japanese ground losses:
693 casualties reported
Guns lost 23
Vehicles lost 10

Allied ground losses:
280 casualties reported
Guns lost 15
Vehicles lost 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tjilitjap - my 1100+ guns are causing a lot of casualties [:)]

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 102314 troops, 1176 guns, 10 vehicles

Defending force 49493 troops, 361 guns, 89 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
407 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Mili - this is a size 1(1) 1(1) atoll and David will probably attempt to build it into a size 4 af

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 250 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 16 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Mili base !!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/11/42

Air Combat

Another heavy raid against Kwajalein - a costly one for the heavies,
22 were shot down. I don't loose many pilots, so I don't really mind these efforts - yet...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 79,79

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 30

Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 5
B-17E Fortress x 81
B-24D Liberator x 44

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed, 16 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 11 destroyed, 28 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 6 destroyed, 14 damaged

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 30000 feet
13 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 20000 feet
10 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 30000 feet
2 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 30000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 25000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 25000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 30000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Bandoeng

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 82306 troops, 686 guns, 541 vehicles

Defending force 14327 troops, 115 guns, 18 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese assault odds: 15 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Bandoeng base !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
A-20B Boston: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
1436 casualties reported
Guns lost 20
Vehicles lost 8

Allied ground losses:
16740 casualties reported [8D]
Guns lost 141
Vehicles lost 20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tjilitjap

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 102669 troops, 1183 guns, 10 vehicles

Defending force 48557 troops, 347 guns, 87 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
652 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

[Captain Cruft]

I've never done it but I think you just let Chitose and Chiyoda upgrade as per normal.

EDIT: It seems I was wrong. The ships must be in Osaka at the beginning of a month some time after 1 Jan 1943. A bit like the AK conversions ...

[CapAndGown]

ORIGINAL: PzB

David lands a para unit in an undefended atoll in the Marshalls. I considered sending in
an SNLF unit, but lots and lots of enemy ships surrounded the place the next day.
So I'll leave em alone for now and strike back when I'm ready... I hate being reactive
anyway [:'(]

Hmm. A scent of Guadacanal, perhaps?

[PzB74]

Thanx for the comments guys.. I'm sending the Chitose and Chioyda to Osaka now, it's almost 43
and I'd like to upgrade em as soon as possible. I see an opportunity to maintain carrier superiority (or parity)
for at least another year now.

I'll promise you that I'm going to show David were Goliath bought his beer when time is ripe Cap & Gown [;)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/12/42

Air Combat

We really massacred the Allied heavy bomber formations today [8D]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tjilitjap , at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
A6M3 Zero x 12
Ki-21 Sally x 46
Ki-48 Lily x 53
Ki-49 Helen x 26
Ki-46-II Dinah x 3

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 6 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 80

Aircraft Attacking:
All bombers bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tjilitjap , at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-21 Sally x 118

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port hits 5
Port supply hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
All bombers bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kendari , at 33,71

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
A6M3 Zero x 14
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 31

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 89
B-24D Liberator x 45

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 2 destroyed, 12 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 15 destroyed, 35 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 12 destroyed, 21 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 25000 feet
12 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 25000 feet
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 25000 feet
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 25000 feet
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 25000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 25000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 25000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 61,88

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 47
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 27

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 14
P-38G Lightning x 23
B-17E Fortress x 52
B-24D Liberator x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 7 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 9 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 10 destroyed, 3 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 18 destroyed, 16 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 6 destroyed, 19 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
16 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 25000 feet
10 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 25000 feet
1 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 25000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Tomorrow the Army from Bandoeng will arrive in Tjilitjap and boost the
already 140k troops there. Then we'll start reducing the forts. I hope to have it
all wrapped up by New Years Eve...

Ground combat at Tjilitjap

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 102926 troops, 1187 guns, 10 vehicles

Defending force 47598 troops, 337 guns, 80 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
287 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Map: Air to Air Losses

Losses on this scale are not acceptable to anyone..not even the US!
Not until large numbers of P38s are available will it be possible to swamp my heavily
defended bases.

[PzB74]

David was not pleased after the heavy losses inflicted to his heavy bombers.
Right or wrong - it is now a fact that each bombers need 1 P38 escort fighter
in order to hit my major bases.

I upgraded another Nate unit, 75 exp - with Oscar IIs today. The best units will
go to the South Pacific while the lesser experienced ones will remain in Burma,
China and India. Second rate units for secondary theaters!

Soon the first Nick fighter bombers and night fighter units will also arrive.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/13/42

Air Combat

Several enemy surface units were engaged in the Marshalls and Solomons
today. Several were hit even though a total of ca 15 bombers were lost to CAP,
flak and accidents.

Tomorrow the first deliberate attack will go in against Tjilitjap, so we're continuing
to pound the place from the air.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tjilitjap , at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
A6M3 Zero x 12
Ki-21 Sally x 46
Ki-48 Lily x 50
Ki-49 Helen x 27
Ki-46-II Dinah x 3

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 71

Aircraft Attacking:
All bomers bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Tjilitjap , at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-21 Sally x 108

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged

Port hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
All Ki-21 Sally bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Goodenough island at 56,93 - David wants to build Goodenough island. This is his approach, an inch at a time...

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
G4M1 Betty x 19
Ki-49 Helen x 20

Allied aircraft - most of the CAP was fatigued escort fighters that turned away early
P-38G Lightning x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AP Empire Chivalry, Shell hits 12
AP St. Mihel, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 2
AP Empire Tamar, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Pirie

Allied ground losses:
187 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Aircraft Attacking: - the Helens are highly experienced and I ordered them to skip bomb!
2 x Ki-49 Helen attacking at 100 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x Ki-49 Helen attacking at 100 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Ki-49 Helen attacking at 100 feet
4 x Ki-49 Helen attacking at 100 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen attacking at 100 feet
4 x Ki-49 Helen attacking at 100 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Mili at 84,85 - this was a good strike...

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 15

Allied aircraft - most of the bombers evaded the CAP!
P-40E Warhawk x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Florence D., Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Eridanus, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Eldorado, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
MSW Canso, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
100 casualties reported

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Goodenough island at 56,93

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
G4M1 Betty x 8
Ki-49 Helen x 12

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AP Empire Chivalry
AP Empire Tamar, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Pirie, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP St. Mihel
AP Thomas Jefferson

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Ki-49 Helen attacking at 100 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen attacking at 100 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Ki-49 Helen attacking at 100 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 4

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
TK Brandywine

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G3M Nell bombing at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Ground combat at Tjilitjap

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 118556 troops, 1312 guns, 19 vehicles

Defending force 46839 troops, 328 guns, 78 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
566 casualties reported
Guns lost 5
Vehicles lost 2

[PzB74]

Imagine my surprise as a single deliberate attack was enough to capture Tjilitjap and
force 70k enemy troops to lay down their arms!! [8D] This will most likely be the final big
victory of 1942 - a year that has seen one Allied defeat followed by another.

I've posted a summary picture at the end of this report: it shows that I'm still 450 points
short of a 4-1 auto victory. It will be very difficult to manage this, perhaps in a few months
depending on the outcome of future operations.

Large transport fleets will now bring troops from Colombo and Java to Burma and the
South Pacific. In a month I will be able to plan massive mobile amphibious operations again.
I have already told you that Mandalay, Lashio and Myiriki in Burma are slated for capture.
That will leave 5 isolated Chinese bases that will be used as target practice for the Army AF!

It is also obvious that some respons has to be provided both in the Solomons and in the Marshalls.
I will sleep on this and come up with a devious plan for the first quarter of 1943 [:)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/14/42

Bombardments

David is doing his best to distract me - a bombardment attack against Paramushiro Jima
by two old battleships...! [&:]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Paramushiro Jima, at 82,34 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

3 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB Arizona
BB Nevada, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Todays final attacks against enemy positions in Java!
David also continued his unescorted bombing runs against Kwajalein and Rabaul.
They were both turned back with heavy losses - another 28 heavies were torched.

In all 40 enemy ac were shot down today, another 20 destroyed on the ground (20 P-40s in Tjilitjap).

Day Air attack on Tjilitjap , at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
A6M3 Zero x 8
Ki-21 Sally x 38
Ki-48 Lily x 50
Ki-49 Helen x 23
Ki-46-II Dinah x 3

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 5 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 67

Aircraft Attacking:
All bombers bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kwajalein , at 79,79

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 13

Allied aircraft
F-5A Lightning x 5
B-17E Fortress x 38
B-24D Liberator x 37

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 destroyed, 14 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 3 destroyed, 6 damaged

Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 30000 feet
2 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 30000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 30000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rabaul , at 61,88

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 36
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 28

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 26
B-24D Liberator x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 7 destroyed, 9 damaged
B-24D Liberator: 8 destroyed, 7 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 25th USA Division, at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12
Ki-21 Sally x 56

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied ground losses:
83 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
All Ki-21 Sally bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 27th USA/A Division, at 19,62

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 9 damaged


Allied ground losses:
36 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
All Ki-21 Sally bombing at 15000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
TK Brandywine

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Mili at 84,85 - I ordered my Zeros at Kwajalein to escort the Bettys to Mili.
After a fierce dogfight the bombers managed to sink a large transport that carrier parts of an aviation unit [8D]

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
G4M1 Betty x 11

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
P-40E Warhawk x 21
P-38G Lightning x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 8 destroyed, 3 damaged
P-38G Lightning: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
AP Talthibius
AP President Coolidge, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*

Allied ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground Combat

Only 2 forts in Tjilitjap...!? My heavy assault broke the defenders and
another 2 US divisions and numerous support troops surrendered. This is
the largest US surrender ever - even bigger than the one in the PI!! [:)]

Ground combat at Tjilitjap

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 179263 troops, 1713 guns, 456 vehicles

Defending force 45559 troops, 307 guns, 73 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tjilitjap base !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 8 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
1934 casualties reported
Guns lost 42
Vehicles lost 14

Allied ground losses:
69006 casualties reported [:D]
Guns lost 326
Vehicles lost 42
------------------------------------------------------------------

Mid December 1942 Summary

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: PzB

I'm still 450 points short of a 4-1 auto victory.

Bombardments

David is doing his best to distract me - a bombardment attack against Paramushiro Jima
by two old battleships...! [&:]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Paramushiro Jima, at 82,34 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

3 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
BB Arizona
BB Nevada, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How many VP for those two BB's? [:)]

[Lord_Calidor]

PzB, I think you may be on the receiveng edge of my Katana-tactic posted earlier. [:D]

Sure, his distraction is obvious, but I think he is a careful and thorough planner, so be careful of his main charge, which will undoubtably pack quite a punch.

Speaking of main charge, where do you think it'll happen? Marshalls, Solomons...?

When it happens, note which forces he deploys, and if he overstretches a bit, maybe you could strike in the weakened flank?

[PzB74]

Witpqs - I'm not sure the old crates will be back anytime soon...Weather is awful up there, but I've moved in a squadron
of Dinah IIIs. They should be wortch ca 350 points together, so I'd still be a couple of hundred points short - but that's ok.
A 4-1 autovictory would be the result of the strategy and not the strategy in itself!

You may be right Calidor, David is a very good planner...and the good Doctor is probably planning something nasty [;)]
But it's always the man with the biggest hammer that draws the longest straw - and for another 6 months that's still moi! [:D]
So give me 38 days and I will be able to field 10 cv/cvls together with a powerful fleet and air force.

I'm in the process of upgrading a lot of Nates that will release a lot of Zeros for service in the South Pacific. It's a major reorganization
of the entire Army and Navy really. This has to be carried out as the 'schwerepunkt' of the war has now moved to the South Pacific.

The first divsions are now being loaded for Burma and Mandalay will soon be hit by a torrent of fire!
Another 2 fleet carriers are also enroute to Tokyo in order to upgrade their flak suite - this is a very necessary process as enemy
air opposition will become increasingly heavy in the months to come.

The question is whether we should plan an offensive or defensive campaign! I would very much like to wipe out as many enemy
ground units as possible. The Gilberts are too heavily defended to be assaulted, but if I want to I could capture Port Moresby and the
rest of New Guinea! This would be a costly affair and not remove the threat from the Solomons...so I'm more in favor of a more limited
offenisve in the area. Perhaps a recapture of Goodenough and Milne bay. I have to draw a line in the sand and make David pay dearly,
even for his 'sneaking offensive' after the reorganization has been completed.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/15/42

Sub/ASW Attacks

A local supply group in the Marshalls ran into a sub..and got the better of the engagement!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 81,80

Japanese Ships
DD Yuzuki
APD APD-39
APD APD-36
APD APD-2
DD Matsukaze
DD Harukaze
DD Satsuki
DD Yayoi
DD Wakaba

Allied Ships
SS Haddo, hits 3, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Air Combat

Lots of 'milk runs' today...! Enemy heavies hit Maloelap and destroyed a few old
dive bombers on ASW duty there.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Maloelap , at 82,81

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 36
B-24D Liberator x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-30 Ann: 2 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 28
Port hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 25000 feet
15 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 25000 feet
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 25000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 25000 feet
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 25000 feet
5 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 25000 feet
2 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 25000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Situation Map: Papua New Guinea & The Solomons

The map shows how David is slowly 'creeping northwards'.

[Speedysteve]

PZB,

Thanks for the screenie. Makes things much more life like (I must post more in my AAR). What are your thoughts on what David will try to do over the next few months? Do you think he will attack or sit back?

What air assets do you have at Rabaul, Truk and Kwajalein? According to your screenie he seems to have a lot of air dotted around the south Pacific.

Steven

[PzB74]

Thx for the input Speedy!
I usually post a few screenshots now and then...Tomorrow I'll post one from the Gilberts/Marshalls.

David knows that he doesn't have enough forces for a full scale offensive yet. His crack troops got wiped out in Java and his fleet
was severely weakened. So he will continue to creep forward while trying to disperse my strength.

In order to counter this tactic I will have to chop his ugly heads of one by one using overwhelming strength. Thus it will be possible to
get as much as possible out of the resources that are available.

In Rabaul I got ca 100 fighters and 30 bombers + recon.
In Kwajalein its ca 80 fighters and another 30 bombers + recon.

I move my naval bombers to and from contested areas and I use Truk as a hub. Now as Timor and Java have been recaptured I got ca 200
naval bombers and another 200 fighters that I can move south. There are ample amounts of Army bombers - and now also long range fighters available (Oscar II).
More and more new Tonys and Tojos are also available - so it should be possible to defend my key installations in both the Marhsalls and the Gilberts over the next 6 months or so.

Davids major strength is the infinite number of fighters bombers and - trained pilots. If I get too close to a size 2-3-4 air field dozens of deadly Dauntless dive bombers will
make my stay very unpleasent. So I have to bring local air superiority in order to counter such a threat.

From now on I will operate my carriers together in 2 large divisions. Only by maximizing and concentrating my force will it be possible to neutralize the enemy and
continue to achieve favorable outcomes.

[Bradley7735]

Bombing the resources at Darwin might put you over the 4-1 point ratio. It depends on what fighters he has for defence.

Of course, you can probably focus on one island he's invaded and just kill more troops.

[Speedysteve]

Seems pretty good idea to use Truk as a hub. Allow's flexibility depending on which way the threat comes.

Also 1 thing I have noticed from my playing is that even though Oscar II's are better than Nates they are pretty ineffective against any modernish Allied plane. P40's will eat them for lunch. In short be careful placing them in exposed forward areas. Just my 2 cents. A cracking AAR this is. I doubt mine will live upto it but this AAR and Thayne's inspired me and swift to write our's.

Steven

[toraq]

The question is whether we should plan an offensive or defensive campaign! I would very much like to wipe out as many enemy
ground units as possible.

You know I admire your defensive tactic when an invasion occurs. I will wait until David carry on a big invasion. Then with surprise and all available forces, strike him hard, even taking some casualities. This should end in an allied massacre vs. heavy losses in your side...but yóu´re still have air and naval superiority.

I disagree with new advances, unless they could lead you to a big anhiquilation battle. Guadalcanal is maybe a good option, better than PM. Or invade his supply islands between Australia and USA, just the same when you tried (and failed) long time ago, when you lost your CV.
But invading little islands which are difficult to resupply...how long will it take him to isolate and wipe your defenses there?.

[PzB74]

Bradley - I would have to use my naval bombers to hit Darwin + most of my long range Zeros as escorts.
This would again make my staging bases vulnerable. So an early 43 bomber offensive would be to painful I'm afraid!
Would be easier to bomb resources in China then....

Thx Speedy, glad you enjoy the read. Wobbly - and now David are great opponents that are fun to play.
Good luck with your own AAR, will have a look now and then. You may find that it's rather time consuming, espcially when
real life interrupts.

Appreciate your advice Toraq! In UV I was able to stay on the offensive in my game against Nomad/Crocky throughout 1943.
Well, it was mostly a defensive offensive - and you're right. That's also what I should aspire for in this game.

I've attached another map over the Gilberts and Marshalls. As you can see David has moved into the Marshalls and captured
Mili. The base can be built to a size 4 airfield, and that is not desirable. It is also possible to move north and capture a size 0(2) airfield.
On the positive side there is a gap between Makin and Mili. There are already 14k enemy troops on Mili and a powerful counteroffensive
would bag a lot of POWs.

If we look at the Solomons and New Guinea the situation is different. I'm not in a position to run supply convoys into Shortland, Buna - or even
Lae. So an offensive towards Goodenough Island and Milne Bay would put my own men in a bad position - but at least the bases would be denied to
the Allies.

In the Solomons the situation is much the same. There are too many islands and bases and any invasion would be a prolonged affair that would cost
me. Jumping directly to Baker or any other island 'behind enemy lines' would only isolate my own troops in the long run...

It is important to avoid a battle of attrition and seek short decisive - and bloody - battles that will favor the side with the largest hammer.
So I'm leaning most towards an all out offensive to clear Mili and build all of the islands in the Marshalls. That will force David to find another
entrance into the Empire!

Situation Map: Gilberts and Marshalls