A long way to go ...

[decaro]

As IJ vs. Tocaff's Allies, I'm trying to hold on to what I have before his inevitable push; to that end, my planes will go after every transport in range, but at what price?

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/29/42

Weather: Clear ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Luganville at 53,53

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 52
G3M Nell x 5
G4M1 Betty x 12

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 48
P-40E Warhawk x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 4 destroyed
G3M Nell x 3 destroyed
G3M Nell x 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 23 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 damaged
P-40E Warhawk x 8 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk x 3 damaged

PO2 M.Banno of EI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 6

PO2 M.Banno of EI-1 Daitai is KILLED Scratch another of my Aces!
Allied Ships
AP Crescent City
AP Manoora
AP President Hayes, Torpedo hits 1
AP Heywood

Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
2 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Luganville at 53,53

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 46
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 49
P-40E Warhawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 8 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6 damaged

PO2 G.Kanzaki of F1/253rd Daitai is credited with kill number 5

Allied Ships
AP President Polk

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

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

A 2nd sortie in the same day over distance always puts the attacking planes at a disadvantage, which is also reflected in my ops losses considering my pilots are already tired; Tocaff has home field advantage over Luganville.

[tocaff]

Actually Joe should mention that over 2 days he made 3 attacks and to my knowledge lost about 50 planes, not counting ops losses in return for 2 lightly damaged transports. 

This is a point in our game that I've been trying to reach for a while as Joe has been tearing up transports at Luganville on a regular prior to this.  Wait until I throw the P-38s into the fray!

We had a CV battle earlier in the game that cost the IJN 2 of it's flat tops and of my 4 only 1 has any lingering damage, though it's fit for action.

Joe always seemed to know what I was doing before I did and these 2 bits of good news are a rarity for me against him and his awesome telepathic powers.

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: tocaff

... Joe always seemed to know what I was doing before I did and these 2 bits of good news are a rarity for me against him and his awesome telepathic powers.

I simply assume what I would do in your situation, but that doesn't always help as the die rolls for our last CV battle were disappointing for me; I suspect that the heavy CLAA presence in your CV TFs chewed-up my B5Ns w/their flak. Unfortunately for me, the IJN has nothing comperable to these ships, although some IJN DDs have heavy AA values.

My fighters were outnumbered for their first sortie over Luganville since tocaff wisely beefed-up his CAP, but after I adjusted those odds, the kill ratios were much better for me.

In any event, better to deal w/Todd now than later, esp. after his P-38s start gaining experience; I suspect I'll be losing more of my aces, but that's what sammurai are bred for.

[tocaff]

That's right, make the other b@st@rd die for his country.  P-38s are trained up and waiting for you and I'm waiting for the state bird of CT-the Corsair to arrive.

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: tocaff

...  P-38s are trained up and waiting for you and I'm waiting for the state bird of CT-the Corsair to arrive.

How ironic; to die by my own "state bird"!

[tocaff]

Joe's planes attacked again at Luganville and got slaughtered for their efforts as only about 6 Zeros flew as escorts. The bombers were chopped to ribbons before they go close to their intended targets.

The Japanese hold Nevea and seem to be trying to make it tough for me to take as there are 2 inf units there.  Intel suspects a naval garrison and a SNLF.  They must be evicted.

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: tocaff

Joe's planes attacked again at Luganville and got slaughtered for their efforts as only about 6 Zeros flew as escorts. The bombers were chopped to ribbons before they go close to their intended targets.

The AI should have known better, but attacked anyway.

ORIGINAL: tocaff
The Japanese hold Nevea and seem to be trying to make it tough for me to take as there are 2 inf units there.  Intel suspects a naval garrison and a SNLF.  They must be evicted.

Eviction can prove costly. In any case, Napoleon said something to the effect that war was about managing time and space; we can recover territory, but not time, so I just have to hold on to my point advantage -- roughly 2:1 -- well into next year.

[tocaff]

Rain, rain and more rain.....

The only thing going on is action with subs and mines because air is virtually grounded and recon is nil.  Well maybe it is covering an op somewhere.....

[decaro]

There re so many minefields in our game that 2 subs -- one Allied, one IJN -- have already hit mines (!), which is something you don't often see.

[decaro]

A long way to go and now too expensive ...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/24/42

Weather: Rain

Air attack on TF, near Luganville at 53,53

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 70
G3M Nell x 11
G4M1 Betty x 4

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
P-38G Lightning x 55

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 13 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged
G3M Nell x 1 destroyed
G3M Nell x 7 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 damaged
P-38G Lightning x 7 destroyed
P-38G Lightning x 9 damaged

ENS F.Shibata of DI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 5

LCDR O.Kaneko of DI-1 Daitai bails out and is CAPTURED

Allied Ships
DD Shaw
DD Conyngham
DD Balch
AV Curtiss, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
2 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet

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

[tocaff]

I figure that if my (Allied) subs have defective fish that I might as well leave calling cards, mines, everywhere and the old S class boats, which have working fish, are my hunters.

We're up to the tail end of December '42 so Joe is expected me to start getting busy.  Like he says I do have to go to him if I want a chance at winning.  So far it's been a chess match with short, but furious, bursts of action.

[decaro]

The end of IJ air domination in the S. Solomons, but the IJA soldiers on.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/05/43

Weather: Overcast

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Luganville at 53,53

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 38
G4M1 Betty x 11

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 33
P-38G Lightning x 38

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 18 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 5 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6 damaged
P-38G Lightning x 3 destroyed

1LT B.Gallagher of VMF-223 is credited with kill number 4

Allied Ships
PG Tui

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Palasu'u

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 153 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Palasu'u base !!!

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

[tocaff]

Yep, after the last week or so there should be a shortage of Nells & Bettys, not to mention veteran pilots.

I am casting longing eyes on PM, GG, Nevea and Irau while Joe wonders where the blow will fall.  Soon, very soon it begins.  Loses should be heavy on both sides.

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: tocaff

... I am casting longing eyes on PM, GG, Nevea and Irau while Joe wonders where the blow will fall.  Soon, very soon it begins.  Loses should be heavy on both sides.

Not unexpectedly, it was Nevea; Todd took it in 2 truns, but paid for it from both mines and LBA.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/21/43

Weather: Clear

Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40 Todd attacks my airfield to try to stop LBA vs. Nevea.

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 18
A6M3 Zero x 45

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 52

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 11 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 2 destroyed
B-17E Fortress x 20 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 107
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 47

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Nevea at 50,43

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 66
G3M Nell x 16
G4M1 Betty x 39

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 28
P-38G Lightning x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 12 destroyed
G3M Nell x 1 destroyed
G3M Nell x 11 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 8 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6 damaged

CPT D. Thomas of 35th FS is credited with kill number 5

Allied Ships
DD Blue
AP William Ward Burrows, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Fuller, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Orungal
MSW Heed
AP McCawley
AP Wanganella
DD Mustin
DD Warramunga
AP Neville
DD Beale, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Barnett

Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
1 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Nevea at 50,43

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 13

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
P-38G Lightning x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged


Allied Ships
DD Mustin
AP Ormsby

Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 6th Cavalry Regiment, at 50,43


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 48
SBD Dauntless x 72
TBF Avenger x 19


no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 87

Attacking Level Bombers:
9 x TBF Avenger at 15000 feet
10 x TBF Avenger at 15000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 6th Cavalry Regiment, at 50,43


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD Dauntless x 17
TBF Avenger x 16
P-39D Airacobra x 72
P-40E Warhawk x 15


no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 25

Attacking Level Bombers:
16 x TBF Avenger at 15000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Nevea at 50,43

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 48
G3M Nell x 10
G4M1 Betty x 20

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
P-38G Lightning x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 7 destroyed
G3M Nell x 5 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 destroyed
P-38G Lightning x 1 destroyed

LTJG W. Webb of VF-2 is credited with kill number 3

Allied Ships
DD Beale, on fire, heavy damage
AP Neville
DD Mustin
AP Fuller, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Westralia
DD Blue
MSW Skylark, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Warramunga

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Nevea at 50,43

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
P-38G Lightning x 3

no losses

no losses

Allied Ships
AP William P. Biddle
AP Westralia
AP Pierce

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Nevea

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8673 troops, 124 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 676 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 94 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Nevea base !!!


LCDR K.Minowa of EI-3 Daitai bails out and is RESCUED
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 872

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

[decaro]

A 2nd sortie vs. Todd's shipping in and around Nevea proved futile as my tired Betty's bailed-out on me despite their heavy A6 escort!

Where's the kamikaze button!

That I need to have 2:1 odds just to break even in dogfights is ominus; eventually I will not be able to post these #s in the face of ever-increasing Allied materiel.

Yes, that's materiel, not material; I once belonged to Army Materiel Command ("Mission First, People Always"), and if that second word was wrong, it stuck out like a sore thumb in the headings of any military correspondence.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/22/43

Weather: Thunderstorms

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Nevea at 50,43

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 63
A6M3 Zero x 24
G3M Nell x 14

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 43

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 8 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 3 destroyed
G3M Nell x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 damaged

ENS J. Daly of VF-6 is credited with kill number 7

LCDR A. Vraciu of VF-6 is KILLED


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

[tocaff]

With Nevea firmly in the fold and my loses lighter than expected I can cast my eyes elsewhere.  I do have to wonder where the IJN is though.  I expected a large series of sharp, violent fleet actions, both air and surface.  No complaints from me as I know the going gets tougher the closer I get to Joe's larger bases.  The good news is that his LBA has been weakened and that looms large because Nells & Bettys can wreck havoc on an invasion force.

[tocaff]

Now with the Allies holding Irau in 2/43 the first big step in the long way to go has been taken.  Of course there remains a mop up op on the island, but the airbase is up and running and construction continues with the aim of putting 2E bombers there to close the supply route to Tulagi & Guadalcanal.  I, of course, expect the IJN to respond to this as soon as Joe has regrouped his forces.  We had our second large carrier duel and the Allies came out on top again so I expect that the KB is kaput.  My ac loses have been heavy of late but the replacement pool is adequate to rapidly fill out my depleted CV squadrons.  My shipping suffered in this invasion, though not nearly as heavily as I expected.

Now my staff wants to open a second front in PNG.  We shall see....

Joe is an excellent opponent who keeps you on your toes and the turns flying.

[decaro]

I find myself in a similar position to that of IJ in WW II; this compels me to stall for time while bleeding Todd's forces white before he can make up the point difference.

But whatever route Todd chooses -- PNG, the Solomons, or both -- can IJ hold out for 9 more months?

[tocaff]

A classic slow game now escalates to a quicker pace as the Allied and Japanese forces try to deal death blows where opportunities arise.

[tocaff]

March 6,1943

The Japanese tried 2 air raids on the shipping unloading at Irau and ran into Corsairs.  You'd expect the raids to be hurt, but these were totally shredded and the CAP didn't even suffer a damaged plane!  Now how unrealistic is that?  We're not talking Zeros vs Tomcats here.....  I have to admit it was better to be giving and not receiving.