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This will be my first ever try to post something resembling an AAR. I will post here information about situation on battlefields and important events.

It is now 14 september 1942 and Japan army and navy turned turtle and ready repel any allied attack. Only Japan offensive operations will take place in China where I got tired of never ending partisan raids and plan to take Chungking and put the end to any serious chinise resistance.

By this date Japan line of defence lay in Shwebo, Koepang, Darvin, Kwajelein, Munda, and Paramushiro. In late days of August and early September my opponent begun his first offensive operations, he landed on Wake and took it, tryed to take Nauri is. but failed and lost two Marine raider battalions and took Makin.


Near Nauri is. took place first carrier battle. It is hard to say who won and who lost. From IJN were present 6 CV's and 1 CVL ( 450 airplanes) devided into two TF's from USN side were 2 CV (Enterprise and Yorktown). Final result of battle - IJN lost Zuikaku and Kaga was moderatly damaged, USN lost both carriers, 1 CA, 1 CLAA, 1 CL and 2 DD. All planes from Zuikaku and Kaga were lost due to the damaged deck, loss of pilot was very low, maybe 12-15 pilots.

I think result was not very good for Empire, I should not loose Zuikaku because I caught USN CV's by suprise and had total supremacy in the air. Despite I had radar on both Zuikaku and Shokaku my 55 Zero fighters took in the air very late and didnt manage to intercept 25 Wildcats with 60 Dauntless.

One thing that warms my heart is that my submarine sank Wasp 2 weeks before this battle, and now allied have only 3 fleet carriers and 3 RN carriers.

Soon I will add pictures with disrciptons.

Air losses

Top pilots

Allied ships sunk

Japan ships sunk

Why take the ground? As Marx would have argued what matters to imperialist warmakers are the means of production ( men and factories/resources ). Why not just bomb the centres of production such that they can no longer sustain the Chinese armies in the field. These armies will then lose 2/3rds of their effectiveness and begin to whither on the vine as their supplies run out.

As to whether or not you shouldn't have lost your CV. It is war, sometimes the die are in your favour, sometimes they aren't, such is life. Losing that CV is well within the expected range of outcomes.

Plane production and R&D

My research goes quite well, I managed to move Tojo production for 1 month, and I hope I will be able to accelerate Judy production to January - February 1943 and other planes too.

We have house rule - no strategic bombings before 1 January 1944.

And I simply want to punish chinise for their arrogant behaviour

Burma.

My initial plan was to take all cities in Burma, including Akyab and Myatkina. At first I moved 2 divisions with 3 AA battalions to take Mytakina. This enterprise almost ended catastrofic to me. This two divisions were traped at Myatkina and cut off supply, only with help of Guards division I was able to occupy one side of hex and to break out of encirclement.

It is to easy for allied player to infiltrate and cut off Myatkina and Akyab. That is why I plan now to build my line of defence in Prome, Magwe, Shwebo and Lashio.

I have there 4 inf divisions, 2 inf independent brigades, 2 paratroop battalions, 1 armor regiment, 2 anti tank battalions.

Air power consist 3 Oscar squdrons, 2 Tojo squadrons, 1 Zero squadron, 2 Sally bombers, 1 Helen, 1 Lily 2, 2 Recon units and 3 transport units.

I planing to move there 2 garrison units each 120 AV when they will arrive at end of September.

I hope this troops will be sufficent for defence.

China.

After I reached initial goals - took Sian and Nanyang in procces destroying 32 enemy units in encirclement near Chengchow I thought China will became quit land without any offencive operations. But my opponent if guerilla warfare fan boy and he sending and sending 1-4 unit corps to sneak behind my lines.

After he sneaked and reatook Pahoi and Kwangwonchan I said to my self - this is enough, Chunking goverment must be overthrown.

I plan big offensive based on force of 15 divisions, 5 tank regiments, 1 tank division wich will arrive in december (i hope I will be near Chungking to that time).

Red arrows show directions of my thrust. I am not sure that i will gain succes because chinise troops show very strong resistence in wooded areas, but in any way my attack will make him to forget about partisan raids and eat his supply.

Massive air battles in Burma today.

Last turn mt scout spotted numerous BB's, CA's, CL's near the Akyab. There were 68 allied fighters on Akyab airfiled, nevertheless I decided to launch Nell's and Betty's raid against this fleet.  I set few fighter squdarons on sweep mission over Akyab and few on the escort. Good thing that sweeps came before the raid, bombers flew with escorts and bad thing is they didnt manage hit anything !!! And there were not a single BB's there [:D] Only few CL's and DD's.


Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 31



Allied aircraft
     P-39D Airacobra x 16
     P-40E Warhawk x 8


Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
     P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed
     P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
 


Aircraft Attacking:
     12 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar sweeping at 12000 feet

Morning Air attack on Akyab , at 54,45

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 18
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 29



Allied aircraft
     P-39D Airacobra x 48
     P-40E Warhawk x 21


Japanese aircraft losses
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 8 destroyed
     Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 6 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
     P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
     P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed


Morning Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 54,45

Weather in hex: Severe storms
 
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 25
     G3M3 Nell x 30
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 38



Allied aircraft
     P-39D Airacobra x 4
     P-40E Warhawk x 1


Japanese aircraft losses
     G3M3 Nell: 1 destroyed, 19 damaged
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
     P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
     CL Durban
     DD Thracian
     DD Stronghold
     DD Scout
     CL Dauntless
 
 
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 54,45

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
 
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
     A6M2 Zero x 25
     G3M3 Nell x 23
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 47



Allied aircraft
     P-39D Airacobra x 6
     P-40E Warhawk x 2


Japanese aircraft losses
     G3M3 Nell: 23 damaged
     Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
     P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
     CL Durban
     CL Dauntless
     DD Thracian



Deduction tells me that it is senseless to make naval attack in bad weather.

In this battle I lost 26 fighters and 4 Nells. Allied side lost 16 fighters.

South Seas Area.



For a long time this place was quite. Exept never ending B-17 raids against Port Moresby. My main bases here are Morsby with 800 AV and 4 lvl forts, Rabaul with 400 AV and 6 lvl forts, Munda 560 AV and 4 lvl forts. I build airfields at Lae, Buka, Buna and Shortlands to 4-5 lvl and have there 60-100 air support on each. 11th air fleet stationed in Rabaul and allows to launch torpedo equiped Nells/Bettys from Buka. 23th air flotilia stationed in Lae. My air powere there composed from- 4 Zero units, 1 Oscar, 1 Nick, 3 Nells/Bettys, 2 Vals, 1 Helen trained for low naval.

September 19th 1942... the day wich all families of fallen crew members of submarine I-25 and CVL Ruijo will honor forever. They were true samurai, and did everything to bring big victory for Japan.
 
Yesterday my Mavis flying boat spoted larfe invasion fleet approaching Gudalcanal, among that armada were two USN CV's, all units were put on alert and additional fighters and bombers were brought from Lae and Truk. My 2 carrier TF were sailing 600 miles away and were ordered immidiatly move to Munda. 4 submarines patroling this area were informed about enemy presence too.
 
This battle begun in early hours of 19 september. I-25 spotted CV Saratoga in very opportunate position for attack. Commander immidiatly ordered to engage large target.
 
 
ub attack near Kirakira  at 114,141
 
Japanese Ships
      SS I-29
 
Allied Ships
      CV Saratoga, Torpedo hits 1
      CA Louisville
      CA Houston
      CA Indianapolis
      CL Boise
      CL Phoenix
      CLAA San Diego
      CLAA Atlanta
      DD Bancroft
      DD Balch
      DD Selfridge
      DD Porter
 
One torpedo hit stern and damaged rudder and and screw. That was succes, Saratoga immidiatly lost spped and ability to maneuver.
 
 
Moving to another position I-25 attacked again.
 
Japanese Ships
      SS I-25, hits 24, and is sunk
 
Allied Ships
      CV Saratoga, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
      CA Houston
      CA Indianapolis
      CL Boise
      CL Phoenix
      CLAA San Diego
      CLAA Atlanta
      DD Hammann
      DD Balch
      DD Selfridge
      DD Porter
 
Two torpedoes hit the target, there was huge exploison when fire got to ammo storage. USN destroyers found I-29 and sunk it using depth charges. But the heroic actions of I-29 will be never forget by people of Japan.
 
After this, only 1 CV's was left and able to defend, but not for long.....
 
 
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kirakira at 114,141
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 51
      B5N2 Kate x 48
      D3A1 Val x 47
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 43 damaged
      D3A1 Val: 7 destroyed, 28 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
      F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
 
Allied Ships
      CV Lexington, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 5,  on fire,  heavy damage
      CL St. Louis
      CA Houston, Bomb hits 1
      CL Phoenix, Torpedo hits 1
      DD Selfridge
      CA Portland
      CLAA San Diego
 
CV Lexington is not sunk yet, but this is only metter of time.
 
 
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138
 
Weather in hex: Light rain
 
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      B5N2 Kate x 10
 
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
 
Allied Ships
      CA Astoria
      xAP Bloemfontein, Torpedo hits 1
      DMS Hovey
 
 
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kirakira at 114,141
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 51 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      B5N2 Kate x 11
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
 
 
Allied Ships
      CA Houston
      CL Boise, Torpedo hits 1
      CA Louisville
 
 
Morning Air attack on TF, near Rekata Bay at 112,135
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 18
      A6M3 Zero x 5
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 3
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
      SBD-3 Dauntless x 29
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
      SBD-3 Dauntless: 14 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
      CA Aoba, Bomb hits 1
      CL Abukuma
      CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 5,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
 
But USN managed to complete landing on Lunga and took it. Afte USN carrier force was reduced to 1 CV, marines will have very hard time. I am ready to move 2 divisions from reserve on Philippines, and 19th division from Korea to destroy US troops on Gudalcanal.
 
 
round combat at Lunga (114,138)
 
Allied Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 9104 troops, 282 guns, 323 vehicles, Assault Value = 562
 
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0
 
Allied adjusted assault: 306
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
 
Allied assault odds: 306 to 1 (fort level 0)
 
Allied forces CAPTURE Lunga !!!
 
Combat modifiers
Attacker:
 
 
 
Assaulting units:
    1st USMC Tank Battalion
    1st Marine Division
    2nd USMC Tank Battalion
    1st USMC Engineer Aviation Battalion
    1st USMC Field Artillery Battalion
    11th USN Naval Construction Battalion
 

coupe de grace

Naval battle for Solomon islands continue to ravage.



Wyrmm tried to intercept my carriers with his BB's force but missed. At the morning my air raids continued, my carrier planes found Lextington TF escaping south with carrier suprisingly afloat, but not for long



Morning Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
D3A1 Val x 15



No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
CL Ceres, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD La Triomphant
DD Bulmer, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage






Morning Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 112,136

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 5
G3M2 Nell x 4



Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 1



Morning Air attack on TF, near Kirakira at 116,143

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
B5N2 Kate x 21
D3A1 Val x 26



Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 1
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 20 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed, 21 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CA Indianapolis, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CL Helena, Torpedo hits 1
CA Portland, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CLAA San Diego
CL Boise, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CL Phoenix
CA Houston
CA Louisville





Meanwhile as moonligt more 50% wyrmm begun usuall night bombing operation in Burma. At day time he is not able to attack me, but at night his bombers supernaturally effective, even when they attacking 7 lvl not overstacked airfield...



ight Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 5


Allied aircraft
Wellington Ic x 16


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 3 damaged
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-II Dinah: 3 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 3 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
Wellington Ic: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
4 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled









Next turn I will try to destroy his another amphibious TF on Tulagi using my BB's.

At China theatre I took Ichang, now I can free 2 divisions, 1 tank regiment and 1 art regiment and move them towards Ankang.
 
round combat at Ichang (83,48)
 
Japanese Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 45188 troops, 550 guns, 242 vehicles, Assault Value = 1400
 
Defending force 17712 troops, 166 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 316
 
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 672
 
Allied adjusted defense: 75
 
Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 0)
 
Japanese forces CAPTURE Ichang !!!
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
 
Japanese ground losses:
      752 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 58 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 38 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
      Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
 
 
Allied ground losses:
      7340 casualties reported
         Squads: 271 destroyed, 89 disabled
         Non Combat: 391 destroyed, 55 disabled
         Engineers: 163 destroyed, 1 disabled
      Guns lost 23 (23 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Units retreated 13
 
 
Defeated Allied Units Retreating!
 
Assaulting units:
    34th Division
    13th Division
    40th Division
    26th Division
    11th Tank Regiment
    2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
    1st Mortar Battalion
    14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
    12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
 
Defending units:
    98th Chinese Corps
    93rd Chinese Corps
    2nd Chinese Cavalry Corps
    80th Chinese Corps
    27th Chinese Corps
    9th Chinese Corps
    13th Construction Regiment
    14th Group Army
    15th Group Army
    1st War Area
    4th Chinese Base Force
    39th Group Army
    3rd Construction Regiment

Here is list of sunk japan and allied ships for last month.

I doubt that all this subs are sunk and CL Boise is only heavy damaged.

Hi Swenslim !!
Very impresive ship sunk report !... Four USN carriers at bottom !! You need to chase USS Wasp to complete collection. Good work [;)]
Regards
ramón

Hi Fletcher, glad to see you visit my humble page

Wasp was sunk month ago by my submurine, so I need Hornet for collection My subs showed themself very good, sinking BB Maryland, CV Wasp and CV Saratoga.

Only CV Hornet is alive in USN and 3 CV's in RN.

Wyrmm continued his landings on Tulagi when my BB's went to to Truk to replenish ammuniton. His B-17 is pure evil, every day they bomb my aurbase on Munda where my Vals are stationed. I simply cant do nothin to stop them. After my BB's will replensih I plan to send Bombardment TF to destroy Luganville airbase from where all B-17 fly.

Like in IRL its gonna be bloody battle for Canal, I am transporting 1 dvision, 1 art regiment and 1 AA regiment from Munda to Tassafaronga, and 1 division is embedding on ships at Pusan.

By the way, in my game Japan submarine doctrine works like IRL, lots of time I saw like my subs attacked 1 single DD in task force insted of attacking AP, AK and tankers.