Waiting for 3rd AE patch - bigbaba vs. Castor Troy

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/29/44

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 50
J2M3 Jack x 43
J1N1-S Irving x 27
A6M3a Zero x 27
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 70

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 92

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-44-IIb Tojo bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Blagoveshchensk , at 69,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 47
A6M5 Zeke x 27
N1K1-J George x 48
J2M3 Jack x 156
J1N1-S Irving x 108
A6M5c Zeke x 48
B5N Kate x 9
P1Y Frances x 106
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 36
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 33
Ki-61 Ic x 205

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 285

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-61 Ic bombing at 2000 feet

we gave our crews in China a day rest, only the recon chutais were in the air. Giving me intel about 400!!!! ac at Yunan now. Well, there won´t be 400 I guess but for sure 250+, NOT A SINGLE OTHER BASE IN CHINA HAS AIRCRAFT NOW!!! You can imagine how I jumped up and down in front of my monitor sipitting out curses, so that the GF unit asked me if I would have gone completely nuts now.

What the f*ck is this guy thinking??? How many times did I tell him not to deliberetely ignore hrs? And how many times afterwards did he admit he has broken a hr due to some strange and completely ridicoulos explanation? Everytime! I´ve sent him an email that I´m completely pissed off by such a stupid behaviour and he should not tell me that he totally ignored the stacking rule in Yunan because I wouldn´t believe him anyway. Well, of course he admitted that he has broken the rule again, giving me once again a completely ridicoulos explanation: he moved in Mosquito fighter bombers from Karachi, therefore there are too many ac now! SO WHAT? The airfield is filled up at least two and a half times by the aircraft that are already in China but he still moves in more aircraft? This is a joke, a bloody bad one. He´s constantly slapping me the gauntlet in my face and what do I do? I keep on playing him. [:@][:@][:@]

In my response to my email I made it clear for the LAST time. If I only have the feeling that he breaks the hr about aircraft stacking on a single place on the map I will stop playing him. Either trying to find a new opponent, or just quitting this PBEM as it has become a farce right from the day after Paul quit. One more time ignoring hrs and that´s it my friend.

So perhaps you´re interested why he completely overstacks Yunan, well, he´s on the losing edge again and so he just had to do something. Exploiting the engine wasn´t possible in this case, so he moved out all his ac into Yunan because Yunan is out of range of my bombers at the moment. The most important thing for him always is to cover his mistakes, no matter how. Problem for him is that I don´t accept it anymore. [:@]

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Ground combat at Blagoveshchensk

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 49272 troops, 529 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1020

Defending force 50328 troops, 32 guns, 146 vehicles, Assault Value = 1053

[castor troy]

If there´s someone of the AAR readers interested in taking over the Allied side (don´t worry it doesn´t look that bad) then give me a call, I´m sure it won´t take long until I will bail out playing my current opponent as he surely will ignore the hrs asap...


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/30/44

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Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 92
J2M3 Jack x 47
J1N1-S Irving x 25
A6M3a Zero x 27
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 70

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 95
Port hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-44-IIb Tojo bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Blagoveshchensk , at 69,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 48
A6M5 Zeke x 27
N1K1-J George x 48
J2M3 Jack x 62
J1N1-S Irving x 71
A6M5c Zeke x 48
P1Y Frances x 107
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 36
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 36
Ki-61 Ic x 169

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 209

Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Ki-61 Ic bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Blagoveshchensk

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 49227 troops, 528 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1020

Defending force 50272 troops, 32 guns, 146 vehicles, Assault Value = 1056



Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported


the enemy airforce in China is now located at both Yunan and Kunming. Both together should be just big enough to house all enemy ac without overstacking the airfield. Recon over Yunan now shows 180 ac in total. Well, I accept it for the moment as recon isn´t that exact. 110 ac max can show up as 180 ac in the recon report.

[Ambassador]

Well, I agree you should stop playing him (in fact, I agreed with that a long time ago), but sadly I already don't have enough free time to play WitP/AE, let alone a WitP-PBEM.  It would surely be interesting however.[:(]

[Xxzard]

Well, i've been following for a long time, and am sorry to see how crazy it has become.

Like many others though, I'm already plenty embroiled with AE.

[castor troy]

yeah, most people (if not nearly all) have switched over to AE already. I´m still not in the mood to engage in an AE PBEM as I´m not yet really satisfied with the current patch status. AE is a big leap in the right direction but (for me) it needs another two, perhaps even three patches. One is coming out soon so lets see. That´s no critism of the AE team, it wasn´t different with WITP and even though I have my troubles with the bounce and out of supply shock armies in WITP, WITP nevertheless has always been a wonderful game since 1.5+

That´s the reason I´m still continueing to play my current opponent. I´ve made myself clear in this AAR and also in my emails to him a couple of times already that I won´t tolerate it if he keeps on deliberetely ignoring hrs and like I´ve said above, if I´ve got the feeling one more time that he breaks a rule, then that´s it. Unfortunetely this will also mean that this PBEM dies as I probably won´t find someone to take over. Even if it would be a more than interesting game I guess as the Allied still have more material than they actually need to knock out the Japanese. It needs the right strategy though and at the moment, I can´t see my current opponent even nearly thinking about the right strategy. I may be wrong, would be one of the very few moments I have been wrong in this PBEM.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/01/44

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Day Air attack on Kunming , at 39,33

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 51
Ki-49 Helen x 169

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40N Warhawk: 11 destroyed
B-25J Mitchell: 2 destroyed
C-46 Commando: 12 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
136 casualties reported

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 79

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet

at the moment, action is concentrating on China, while the Allied forces are moving into the Derby/Broome area... Kunming is on extended range of my bombers and obviously has no flak defense. And no fighter defense! [:D] I was quite amazed about the hit rate of my bombers on extended range and a nice amount of aircraft was destroyed on the ground. But destroying Warhawks and Mitchells doesn´t harm the Allied at all, only the Commandos are in "short" supply. And killing Chinese pilots isn´t a big deal either as the Chinese are more or less no threat. We want to kill the British/Australian Spitfire pilots in China, they are at Yunan for sure. Yunan is out of range though. What I don´t want is seeing the Spitfire squadrons being completely rebuilt and moving into a front line base again to meet 80+ of them in the air at some point as this would lead to high losses within our fighter force again. We have to keep them on low operational numbers as we can then maximize the damage done to the enemy fighter squadrons.

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Day Air attack on Bombay , at 20,10

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 15
Ki-61 Ic x 15

Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
J2M3 Jack: 2 damaged
Ki-61 Ic: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 5 destroyed, 13 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet

now that was amazing. Unescorted strike from Karachi on Bombay, meeting the usual crappy Japanese Cap (rate was below 50% one again...) Majority of the bombers failed to locate the target and my fighters weren´t that effective. A Jack was lost A2A as it crashed on landing.



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Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 85
J2M3 Jack x 43
J1N1-S Irving x 22
A6M3a Zero x 24
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 64

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 99

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-44-IIb Tojo bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Blagoveshchensk , at 69,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 48
J2M3 Jack x 157
J1N1-S Irving x 106
A6M5c Zeke x 48
B5N Kate x 9
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 36
Ki-61 Ic x 213

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 217

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x Ki-61 Ic bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 108th Region Fortress, at 65,32

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 24
D4Y Judy x 27
B6N Jill x 24

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet

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Ground combat at Blagoveshchensk

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 49277 troops, 527 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1021

Defending force 50234 troops, 33 guns, 146 vehicles, Assault Value = 1056



Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/02/44

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ASW attack at 66,46

Japanese Ships
DD Yukaze
DD Yakaze
DD Shiokaze
DD Akikaze
DD Okikaze
DD Sawakaze

Allied Ships
SS Steelhead

this is half a dozen hexes South of Tokyo, we have spotted subs moving into the area around Japan, coming from the East, probably out of Kiska, which seems to have a lot of shipping in port. We have also spotted subs in the Marshalls and Solomons, in both areas only a couple of them. Though bigbaba has been flooding the area North West of Derby with subs. We spot over a dozen each turn, which probably means there are more than two dozen subs in the area. They seem to form kind of a blockade to the East, while bigbaba probably intends to lure me into a trap. A funny one, but if so, it has already failed. Emilies and Glens spot nearly every turn the Allied CV and BB TFs on the North Western tip of Australia´s coast. They move a hex or two back and forth every turn. I guess this is a weak attempt to get me sending out my carriers (of course going through the Allied sub blockade [:D]), chasing after the enemy carriers.

Lol, now why should I do that? We have spotted a lot of CVEs, also CV Franklin was identified. The majority of Allied flight decks will be CVEs, but again, why should I move out and fight them? bigbaba once again seems to completely miss the situation. I first wondered why on Earth is the (probably complete) Allied CV force and most of the rest of the Allied Navy (capitol ships) near or at Perth (with a couple of hundred merchants) when he moves his LCUs on the railline North. Having all those ships in the area doesn´t make that much sense to me if you do a ground offensive anyway. I "feared" an amphibious operation but with all those LCUs moving onto Derby and 4000+ av moving onto Darwin or Wyndham, there won´t be much left to do an amphibious operation anyway. So we will just sit back and smile when the enemy moves his fleet back and forth without making any sense.

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Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 Ic x 72
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 9
Ki-49 Helen x 125

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 18 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
C-46 Commando: 8 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 46

Aircraft Attacking:
26 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 16000 feet

wanted to keep the flak losses as low as possible, but the only difference between attacking at 11.000ft and 16.000ft is the fact that your hit rate is lower... flak losses are the same...



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Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 141
J2M3 Jack x 47
J1N1-S Irving x 27
A6M3a Zero x 27
G4M1 Betty x 53
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 70

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 125

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-44-IIb Tojo bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Blagoveshchensk , at 69,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 27
N1K1-J George x 46
J2M3 Jack x 96
J1N1-S Irving x 36
B5N Kate x 9
P1Y Frances x 85
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 36
Ki-61 Ic x 169

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 133

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-61 Ic bombing at 2000 feet

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Ground combat at Blagoveshchensk

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 49279 troops, 527 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1021

Defending force 50249 troops, 35 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 1053



Allied ground losses:
40 casualties reported

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/03/44

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Day Air attack on Kunming , at 39,33

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 34
Ki-49 Helen x 152

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40N Warhawk: 9 destroyed
B-25J Mitchell: 3 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
48 casualties reported

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 24

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet

China will see Japanese round the clock bombing the next couple of months I guess, for two reasons: we don´t want to see the enemy having an operational airforce in China, we don´t want to have the Chinese building up Chungking to B-29 size and we don´t want to see the forts at Kweiyang being built up again. Kunming was attacked on extended range again, this time the hit rate was pathetic. Weather was overcast, so I guess the bombers just had a bad day...

working on getting an airfield operational that is in normal range of Yunan and Kunming... only a question of a couple of days...



the Emily was shot down over the enemy CV TFs a 800 miles West of Broome...


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Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 141
J2M3 Jack x 47
J1N1-S Irving x 27
A6M3a Zero x 27
G4M1 Betty x 54
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 68

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 59

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-44-IIb Tojo bombing at 2000 feet

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Day Air attack on Blagoveshchensk , at 69,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 48
A6M5 Zeke x 27
N1K1-J George x 47
J2M3 Jack x 143
J1N1-S Irving x 108
A6M5c Zeke x 48
B5N Kate x 8
P1Y Frances x 107
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 36
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 36
Ki-61 Ic x 333

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 152

Aircraft Attacking:
28 x Ki-61 Ic bombing at 2000 feet

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Day Air attack on 108th Region Fortress, at 65,32

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 24
D4Y Judy x 27
B6N Jill x 27

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
24 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet


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Ground combat at Blagoveshchensk

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 49283 troops, 528 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1021

Defending force 50019 troops, 35 guns, 143 vehicles, Assault Value = 1044



Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported



the first Allied units have moved into the hex South of Derby, 4 Allied LCUs are already reported being on the road West of Derby. This is amazing to me. Does this mean that he will attack Derby and Broome at the same time? Or only Broome? Or just cutting the supply line from Derby to Broome? Hmmm, he must be very confident or he doesn´t have a clear picture of what I have in this area. He´s been reconning both Derby and Broome with a couple of B-29s daily for about two weeks.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/04/44

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ASW attack at 61,47

Japanese Ships
PC PC-17
PC PC-14
PC PC-13
PC PC-2
DD Hayate
DD Kisaragi

Allied Ships
SS Puffer

our ASW forces are sent out to engage spotted Allied subs... with the usual IJN performance...

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ASW attack at 61,47

Japanese Ships
PC PC-17
PC PC-14
PC PC-13
PC PC-2
DD Hayate
DD Kisaragi

Allied Ships
SS Puffer

two tries, not one DC dropped...

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Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 Ic x 36
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 8
Ki-49 Helen x 50

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 21 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40N Warhawk: 2 destroyed
B-25J Mitchell: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
153 casualties reported

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 29

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet

most of the strike failed to locate the target... in a couple of months, when the offensive in China hopefully will have ended, my IJA bomber daitais/sentais will all be wrecked...

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Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 141
J2M3 Jack x 45
J1N1-S Irving x 27
A6M3a Zero x 27
G4M1 Betty x 50
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 70

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 152

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-44-IIb Tojo bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Blagoveshchensk , at 69,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 48
A6M5 Zeke x 27
N1K1-J George x 43
J2M3 Jack x 163
J1N1-S Irving x 104
A6M5c Zeke x 43
B5N Kate x 8
P1Y Frances x 106
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 33
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 32
Ki-61 Ic x 338

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
23 casualties reported

Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 356

Aircraft Attacking:
31 x Ki-61 Ic bombing at 2000 feet

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Day Air attack on Ulan-Ude , at 61,10


Allied aircraft
Liberator VI x 36
MiG-3 x 61
Yak-9D x 45
Pe-2 x 282


Allied aircraft losses
Liberator VI: 5 damaged
Pe-2: 4 destroyed, 31 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
257 casualties reported
Guns lost 10

Airbase hits 36
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 126

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Pe-2 bombing at 15000 feet

bigbaba keeps using all his 1.500 aircraft at Irkutsk... some 200 are flying Cap, 400 are attacking... level 8 airfield...

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ASW attack at 61,47

Japanese Ships
PC PC-17
PC PC-14
PC PC-13
PC PC-2
DD Hayate
DD Kisaragi

Allied Ships
SS Puffer, hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

third attack on Puffer today, one of the new PCs dropped a lot of Type 2 DCs of which two achieved a direct hit that killed the sub off... Puffer is confirmed sunk...

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ASW attack at 66,47

Japanese Ships
DD Sagi
DD Hato
PC PC-28
PC PC-26
PC PC-24
PC PC-19

Allied Ships
SS Tunny

we´ve sent out 11 ASW TFs in total, all are operating around Japan and Truk... here all vessels failed to locate the sub

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Ground combat at Blagoveshchensk

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 49265 troops, 527 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1019

Defending force 49827 troops, 35 guns, 143 vehicles, Assault Value = 1042



Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported


some interesting developments in the Derby/Broome area... the enemy TFs have moved closer to Broome, looks like they are attempting a bombardment. What is even more interesting is the fact though that Allied ground units have moved into the road hex West of Derby. Either this is the movement routine not working (wouldn´t be surprising as some Allied units also jumped off the railline) or bigbaba is trying to move on Broome AND Derby. If so, then he either must be coming in with 10.000 assault points (very doubtful, in best case I estimate the incoming Army to have 5.000 av) or he must think I wouldn´t have garissoned my two bases well. In any case, if he really splits his force then he must think I would just sit back and do nothing.

But that´s just his wet dream, because the first thing I´ve thought when I saw the Allied Army marching towards Derby was that this is an excellent area to fight a moving ground war with us having the possibility to cut the enemy off and with the possibility to fall back into level 9 forts if needed. If he really splits up his force then he´s once again making a BIG mistake...

Broome´s airfield has been evacuated, Derby still has more than 300 fighters. I seriously doubt that the B-29s will attack Derby and I´m not sure the enemy fleet will dare to attack it either. Broome will probably be knocked out though.

[castor troy]

SSPuffer was sunk by IJN ASW forces 360 miles off Japan´s coast.



First and second war patrols, September 1943 – January 1944
Her first war patrol, to intercept Japanese commerce in the Makassar Strait–Celebes Sea area, 7 September to 17 October, resulted in several damaged ships but no sinkings. On 24 November Puffer sailed on her 2nd patrol, in the Sulu Sea and the approaches to Manila. On 13 December, she made an unsuccessful attack on freighter Teiko Maru (ex-Vichy French steamship D'Artagnan).[5] On 20 December she sank 820-ton destroyer Fuyô, and on 1 January 1944, 6,707-ton freighter Ryuyo Maru, before putting in to Fremantle for refit 12 January.

Third and fourth war patrols, February – June 1944
Puffer departed for her 3rd war patrol, in the South China Sea, 4 February. On 22 February, she sank the 15,105-ton transport Teikyo Maru. Returning to Fremantle 4 April, she sailed again 30 April for Madoera Straits, Makassar Straits and the Sulu Sea. She acted as life guard for the first Allied carrier strike on Soerabaia, sank 3,181-ton freighter Shinryu Maru 18 May, then on 5 June, attacked three tankers, sinking 2,166-ton Ashizuri and 2,500-ton Takasaki. She ended this most successful patrol, for which she received the Navy Unit Commendation, at Fremantle 21 June.

Fifth war patrol, July 1944 – ~ 1944
On 14 July Puffer departed for her 5th war patrol, in Makassar Straits, the Celebes, Sulu, and South China Seas. She made contact with a submarine tender screened by five escorts on 21 July, spending three days following the group and using all but nine torpedoes to sink the tender.[6]

Twenty three days later, on 12 August she made contact with a ten large vessels and their escorts. Five of the remaining nine torpedoes sank the 5,113-ton tanker Teikon Maru and a large freighter, with enough damage to beach another tanker. She completed the patrol at Pearl Harbor, whence she continued on to Mare Island for overhaul.

Sixth and seventh war patrols, December 1944 – ~ 1945
Following refresher training at Hawaii, Puffer got underway on her 6th war patrol 16 December. Operating in the Nansei Shoto area, she sank Coast Defense Vessel No. 42 on 10 January 1945; and, prior to her arrival at Guam, 17 January, damaged a destroyer, three freighters, and a tanker.

By 11 February, Puffer was underway again and following patrols in Luzon Straits and the South China Sea where she bombarded Pratas Island, she made an anti-shipping sweep of the Wake Island area.

Eighth and ninth war patrols, May 1945 – ~ 1945
Refitted at Midway she departed 20 May en route to the South China and Java Seas to conduct her 8th war patrol. In a surface sweep of the northern Bali coast, Puffer destroyed, by gunfire, two Japanese sea trucks and six landing craft, 5 July, and inflicted extensive damage to harbor installations at Chelukan Bawang and Buleleng, Bali. A brief respite at Fremantle followed, whence she headed north for her last war patrol, in the Java Sea.

Puffer earned 9 battle stars for World War II service in the Pacific Theater, with a total tonnage of 36,392 tons (eight ships).

Post-war service
Completing that patrol with the cessation of hostilities, Puffer headed for Subic Bay, thence to the United States, reaching San Francisco 15 October. With the new year, 1946, Puffer returned to Hawaii where she trained officers and men in submarine warfare until returning to San Francisco, 19 March, for inactivation.

Puffer decommissioned 28 June 1946, and was berthed at Mare Island as a unit of the Pacific Reserve Fleet. At the end of the year Puffer was ordered activated and assigned to the 13th Naval District for training Naval Reservists. Employed in that status, at Seattle, until relieved by Bowfin 10 June 1960, Puffer was placed out of service and sold for scrapping to the Zidell Corp., Portland, Oreg. 4 November 1960.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/05/44

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Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 141
J2M3 Jack x 45
J1N1-S Irving x 27
A6M3a Zero x 27
G4M1 Betty x 52
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 69

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 109

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-44-IIb Tojo bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Blagoveshchensk , at 69,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 48
A6M5 Zeke x 27
N1K1-J George x 47
J2M3 Jack x 170
J1N1-S Irving x 108
A6M5c Zeke x 48
B5N Kate x 9
P1Y Frances x 106
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 36
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 36
Ki-61 Ic x 349

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 11
Runway hits 298

Aircraft Attacking:
33 x Ki-61 Ic bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 108th Region Fortress, at 65,32

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 27
D4Y Judy x 27
B6N Jill x 24

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x D3A Val bombing at 2000 feet


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Ground combat at Blagoveshchensk

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 49266 troops, 526 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1021

Defending force 49771 troops, 35 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 1036



Allied ground losses:
9 casualties reported


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Ground combat at Colombo

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3784 troops, 45 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 96

Defending force 12470 troops, 101 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4

Japanese max assault: 77 - adjusted assault: 84

Allied max defense: 3 - adjusted defense: 175

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 9)


Japanese ground losses:
101 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Guns lost 3


I´ve moved another para rgt into Colombo (overland) and both attacked today. Fully supplied, low disruption, low fatigue. While our adjusted av doesn´t look like it was bad (in fact it was very good), the enemy once again gets 3 base av adjusted to 175. This is completely nuts. A positive 55 multiplier? Must be the magic date when Allied units can´t be defeated anymore. There must be something different between 42 and 44 because in 42 you could take out two base forces with 0 assault value when you dropped one or two para rgts. Now in 44 this isn´t true anymore. Getting a 55 multiplier is just a joke.


There was no naval bombardment today, nor was there a B-29 strike on Broome. Though the enemy fleet has taken closer position to Broome today, so I expect naval bombardments tomorrow. Looks like there are slow US BBs in the TFs that can only move three hexes at full speed.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/06/44

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1037 encounters mine field at Broome (21,85)

Allied Ships
DD Flusser, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Wilson, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

while one day late, we now see the expected naval bombardments... bigbaba seems to be using the whole Allied Navy around Northern Australia at the moment... Broome has a lot of mines...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1039 encounters mine field at Broome (21,85)

Allied Ships
DD Hailey, Mine hits 1, on fire

task force after task force enter the hex to let hell lose over Broome´s defenders... Type 93 mine hits but those eggs are too small to really hurt an Allied DD, I don´t expect any of the DDs to sink, even though the way to Perth is a long one...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1058 encounters mine field at Broome (21,85)

Allied Ships
DD Van Ghent, Mine hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1099 encounters mine field at Broome (21,85)

Allied Ships
DD Mertz, Mine hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1120 encounters mine field at Broome (21,85)

Allied Ships
DD Mustin, Mine hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 61,50

Japanese Ships
AK Imaji Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS Pompon

South West of Osaka, an empty AK is hit but has a good chance to make it...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Broome, at 21,85 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

15 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CA Adelaide
CA Sussex, Shell hits 7
CA Australia
CA Chester

Japanese ground losses:
185 casualties reported
Guns lost 12

and here we go... the last weeks B-29s were reconning the base and the last two days there were also 3 float planes flying recon over Broome... seems like it wasn´t enough to see the nukes I was used to while playing Miller.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Broome, at 21,85 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

11 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL Raleigh
CL Newcastle
CL Birmingham
CA Louisville
BC Renown, Shell hits 3
BB Alabama

Japanese ground losses:
156 casualties reported
Guns lost 12

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Broome, at 21,85

Allied Ships
CL Mobile
CL Nashville
CL Phoenix
CL St. Louis
CL Pensacola
CA Pittsburgh
BB New Jersey

Japanese ground losses:
288 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 7
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 2

not even my support troops at Broome are really shot up, highly disrupted but not hit hard...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Broome, at 21,85

Allied Ships
CL Denver
CL Concord
CL Marblehead
CL Perth

Japanese ground losses:
81 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Broome, at 21,85

Allied Ships
CA Boston
CA Astoria
CA New Orleans

Japanese ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Broome, at 21,85

Allied Ships
CL Biloxi
CL Birmingham
CL Santa Fe
CA Wichita
CA Quincy

Japanese ground losses:
172 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

I especially like those bombardments that don´t even achieve hits on the base...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Broome, at 21,85 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

15 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL Columbia
CL Cleveland
CL Honolulu
CL Boise
CL Helena, Shell hits 8
CL Detroit
CLAA Oakland
CL Glasgow
CL Mauritius

Japanese ground losses:
179 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Runway hits 9
Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Broome, at 21,85

Allied Ships
CA San Francisco
CA Chicago
BB Queen Elizabeth

Japanese ground losses:
236 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 19
Port hits 15
Port supply hits 4

just look at the number of TFs that bombarded today... Add in at least half a dozen DDs per TF and the CV TFs that are waiting offshore then we´re speaking about over 200 warships I guess... I haven´t spotted any transports though, which means this is purely a support mission for the Allied ground offensive... fine with me, my carriers will stay in port... [:D]

this was the only bombardement that achieved a couple more hits on the base, overall it wasn´t that bad for us...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Broome , at 21,85

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-29 Superfortress x 211

Japanese aircraft losses
H8K Emily: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-29 Superfortress: 16 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported

Airbase hits 43
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 145

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-29 Superfortress bombing at 10000 feet

and here´s the expected B-29 strike... I first thought it would be worth putting some Franks on LRCAP from Derby, but thinking about the op losses I would suffer I thought it wouldn´t be worth it... the Allied bombardement TFs have to withdraw now, I guess the CVs will follow them back to Perth. Means the only thing left to keep my base closed are the B-29 and they can only come unescorted. The fact that they accumulate 50 fat points with each mission is probably something good for us too. With a couple of hundred engineers at Broome it will be hard for the Allied to keep the base closed, not to talk about the fact to close Derby and Broome. Derby is a nogo for the B-29, hundreds of fighters would kill off any attack, with surely most B-29s turning back...

for the moment though, Broome´s level 8 airfield is inoperational. Also the port was hit hard, but I don´t need the port anyway. With us having retreated from Townsville we will also soon have more flak in Northern Australia, which will be something to be thought about, as the long range to Perth could result in more losses to flak also... today, only 6 B-29 were lost...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Blagoveshchensk , at 69,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 48
A6M5 Zeke x 27
N1K1-J George x 48
J2M3 Jack x 163
J1N1-S Irving x 108
A6M5c Zeke x 47
B5N Kate x 8
P1Y Frances x 107
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 36
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 36
Ki-61 Ic x 349

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported

Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 339

Aircraft Attacking:
35 x Ki-61 Ic bombing at 2000 feet


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Blagoveshchensk

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 49284 troops, 528 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1020

Defending force 49692 troops, 35 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 1027



Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/07/44

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1044 encounters mine field at Broome (21,85)

Allied Ships
DD Sigourney
DD Knapp
DD Ingersoll
DD Spence, Mine hits 1, on fire

seems like the Allied still have TFs left able to do a bombardment... guess those are the SC TFs that were covering the CV TFs...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1062 encounters mine field at Broome (21,85)

Allied Ships
DD Quiberon, Mine hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1121 encounters mine field at Broome (21,85)

Allied Ships
DD Picking, Mine hits 1, on fire

result of the Allied Navy´s operation around Broome is probably 100.000 - 200.000 fuel burnt, some sys damage on the ships, nearly a dozen DDs that have hit mines and nearly no damage done to Broome´s defenders...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Broome, at 21,85

Allied Ships
CL Achilles
CA Shropshire
CA Baltimore
CA Indianapolis
BB Arizona
BB West Virginia

Japanese ground losses:
302 casualties reported
Guns lost 12

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Broome, at 21,85

Allied Ships
CA Vincennes
CA Minneapolis
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico
BB Idaho

Japanese ground losses:
281 casualties reported
Guns lost 15

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 2

the bombardments are again pathetic...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Broome, at 21,85

Allied Ships
BB Resolution
BB Ramilles
BB Royal Sovereign
BB Oklahoma
BB Nevada

Japanese ground losses:
723 casualties reported
Guns lost 14

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 20
Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 1

another very strong TF, I guess we are facing at least two dozen BBs around Broome... a force we can´t compete with, even though we´ve only lost two BBs, one CV and one CA so far... We´ve got a stronger CV force than the Allied I guess. Over 1.100 carrier based ac with high experienced pilots. This includes our CVEs though. Without the CVEs we can form two strong 450 ac CV TFs. The Allied surely have to rely on their CVEs for the next months until enough Essex class CVs will be around again...

the enemy fleet is now retiring to Perth...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kweiyang , at 41,35

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 Ic x 36
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 52
Ki-49 Helen x 117

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 16 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell: 4 destroyed
P-40N Warhawk: 8 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
197 casualties reported

Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 16
Runway hits 69

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet

Chinese aircraft are destroyed at Kweiyang again, weather has been preventing us from attacking Yunan for days already, that´s where I expect the Spitfires to be... not one Helen was lost today, a very unusual result...



note that it´s mid 44 and the Japanese have flown more aircraft sorties than the Allied, one of the reasons we´re in such a good shape. While I know about enough possibilities to fly air attacks against my positions (attacks that also would make sense), both Miller and bigbaba missed the opportunity to do so. In this campaign I have more or less always chosed to where I want to fight and where not.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 141
J2M3 Jack x 47
J1N1-S Irving x 27
A6M3a Zero x 27
G4M1 Betty x 53
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 70

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 168

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-44-IIb Tojo bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Blagoveshchensk , at 69,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 48
A6M5 Zeke x 27
N1K1-J George x 48
J2M3 Jack x 75
J1N1-S Irving x 72
A6M5c Zeke x 48
P1Y Frances x 107
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 36
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 36
Ki-61 Ic x 209

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 238

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x Ki-61 Ic bombing at 2000 feet


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Blagoveshchensk

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 49246 troops, 528 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1020

Defending force 49733 troops, 37 guns, 145 vehicles, Assault Value = 1030



Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported

[castor troy]

the current situation. The enemy fleet is now retiring to Perth, also the carriers seem to be moving back. But the really amazing fact (and to be honest, it´s a shocking one) is the fact that bigbaba really is moving dozens of units towards BROOME! Has he gone nuts or is it really that hard to figure out that this is suicide. I was smiling when I saw him moving towards Derby because this immedietely offered the chance to hold position at Derby and cut him off with troops coming from Broome. But now the nice situation seems to have changed into Jackpot as moving dozens of units onto Broome is the worst he could do. I´ve got enough troops at Broome to hold against everything below 5.000 av long enough to bring in reinforcements (possible now that the Allied fleet withdraws - which means also this is a fault and a complete misinterpretation of the situation by my opponent). While I doubt that he moves 5.000 av on Broome anyway, I also doubt that he has 5.000 av South of Derby on the railline now.

While I´ve got no info on the kind of troops moving on Broome and Derby (only see the number of units, not their strenght) I have decided to send out 3.000 av from Derby going one hex South West on the rail. We then try to force the bunch of troops there to retreat and this already would have cut off the units moving on Broome. It´s a gamble, but thinking about what he could have in the area, the odds are probably in my favour. One more big mistake was identified anyway. The Allied didn´t move their units in one or two big stacks, they are coming in piecemeal. Another advantage for us.

The Allied are doing once again everything to run into another disaster. If I´m able to destroy a lot of combat units in this area, this will be the worst that can happen to the Allied. They still will have enough carriers but they will sooner than later run out of enough ground units.

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/08/44

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 98
J2M3 Jack x 47
J1N1-S Irving x 27
A6M3a Zero x 27
G4M1 Betty x 14
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 70

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 101

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-44-IIb Tojo bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Blagoveshchensk , at 69,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 27
N1K1-J George x 46
P1Y Frances x 106
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 35
Ki-61 Ic x 105

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 94

Aircraft Attacking:
33 x Ki-61 Ic bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 67,78

Japanese Ships
DD Michishio
PC PC-22
PC PC-9
PC PC-6
PC PC-5
PC PC-4

Allied Ships
SS Aspro

our ASW TFs keep trying to hunt down Allied subs but they aren´t really succesful doing so... again, not a single DC dropped...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Blagoveshchensk

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 49309 troops, 529 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1021

Defending force 49582 troops, 38 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 1025



Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported


Our troops at Derby are set to march and more troops are ordered to reinforce this area. Either it will turn out as a disaster for us, or for the enemy. I would bet on our side considering the gived situation...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/09/44

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 68,78

Japanese Ships
PC PC-22
PC PC-9
PC PC-6
PC PC-5
PC PC-4
DD Michishio

Allied Ships
SS Haddock

first try, not one DC dropped... [8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 68,78

Japanese Ships
PC PC-22
PC PC-9
PC PC-6
PC PC-5
PC PC-4
DD Michishio

Allied Ships
SS Haddock

second try, not one DC dropped...[8|][8|]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 68,78

Japanese Ships
PC PC-22
PC PC-9
PC PC-6
PC PC-5
PC PC-4
DD Michishio

Allied Ships
SS Haddock

third try, not one DC dropped...[8|][8|][8|] boy, my ASW forces suck hard... [>:]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 61,50

Japanese Ships
PC PC-17
PC PC-14
PC PC-13
PC PC-2
DD Hayate
DD Kisaragi

Allied Ships
SS Pompon

other place, same result... with the dozen encounters of IJN ASW forces vs. Allied subs we have sunk at least one. This was the only time in the last days when actually DCs were dropped... a dozen encounters of Allied ASW forces and IJN subs would mean 6 IJN subs sunk and another 4 heavily damaged...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 141
J2M3 Jack x 47
J1N1-S Irving x 27
A6M3a Zero x 27
G4M1 Betty x 53
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 70

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 138

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-44-IIb Tojo bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Luganville , at 72,107


Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 45


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 32

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 5000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Blagoveshchensk , at 69,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 47
A6M5 Zeke x 27
N1K1-J George x 47
J2M3 Jack x 73
J1N1-S Irving x 72
A6M5c Zeke x 48
P1Y Frances x 107
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 36
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 35
Ki-61 Ic x 214

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 279

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x Ki-61 Ic bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 61,50

Japanese Ships
PC PC-17
PC PC-14
PC PC-13
PC PC-2
DD Hayate
DD Kisaragi

Allied Ships
SS Pompon

[8|][8|] fith attack today, fith time not one DC dropped...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 61,50

Japanese Ships
PC PC-17
PC PC-14
PC PC-13
PC PC-2
DD Hayate
DD Kisaragi

Allied Ships
SS Pompon

hey, if a turn pisses you off, why not making it worse? Sixth try, sixth time not one DC dropped...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 71,41

Japanese Ships
DD Sagi
DD Hato
PC PC-28
PC PC-26
PC PC-24
PC PC-19

Allied Ships
SS Skate

hey, we didn´t attack Skate so far... seventh try this turn, seventh time not one DC dropped... shaking my head... [>:]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Blagoveshchensk

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 49263 troops, 528 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1020

Defending force 49485 troops, 38 guns, 141 vehicles, Assault Value = 1028



Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 24,86

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 163692 troops, 1992 guns, 28 vehicles, Assault Value = 3409

Defending force 40773 troops, 215 guns, 521 vehicles, Assault Value = 483

Japanese max assault: 7296 - adjusted assault: 5794

Allied max defense: 473 - adjusted defense: 247

Japanese assault odds: 23 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
2426 casualties reported
Guns lost 41
Vehicles lost 15

Allied ground losses:
1803 casualties reported
Guns lost 40
Vehicles lost 22


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Hex South West of Derby. My units took position last turn and I´ve ordered them to shock attack today. A dozen Allied units were forced to retreat without much of a problem. The only combat worthy unit we identified was a US cav bgd. Once again I´m wondering what my opponent is doing. In this case, I´m wondering about the units we engaged today. There were several constuction engineer units in this stack, also a FLEET HQ. Why on earth is he sending construction units? And even more strange is the naval HQ. It´s a good idea to have them as soon as you take a base, but not having them in the front line! Most of those 500+ vehicles are eng vehicles. The enemy was forced to retreat one hex to the West, where over two dozen Allied units are holding position now. The Allied units on the road West of Derby are cut off now, wonder what my opponent will do now. The enemy West of Derby is now in between of my troops at Broome (a combat worth Army), my garisson at Derby (something not easy to overcome) and my 160.000 high experienced troops South West of Derby. If I play it out right and with a little luck, this is the beginning of the next major Allied disaster. If we keep on playing like that, then we will really WIN, because at some point I will have so many more ground troops that I will be able to take the US West Coast. [;)]

We scored 90 points for Allied ground losses today, soon reaching 29.000!!! points... [8D]

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/10/44

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Chungking , at 43,32

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 Ic x 36
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 70
Ki-49 Helen x 118

Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 56

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 Ic: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
Ki-84-Ia Frank: 10 destroyed, 21 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 3 destroyed, 33 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire VIII: 43 destroyed
P-40N Warhawk: 4 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
74 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 89

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet

boy can´t I have a little more luck again soon? Once again the perfect timing of my opponent is scaring me (same excellent timing Miller proved to have). While my aircraft haven´t attacked Yunan for over a week due to bad weather, I´ve ordered a strike on Chungking again this turn. And exactly this turn, the Spitfires from Yunan were transferred back into Chungking again. The enemy bounced the first of our three escorting fighter sentais and took out 10 Franks of this high experienced unit (my best fighter unit on the map with 92 exp). Would I have been aware of the Spitfires at Chungking again, I would have ordered a sweep before my bomber strike. The kill rate looks good but losing a third of this veteran sentai is nothing to cheer about. All pilots are lost all the time while I only kill 40-50% of the Allied pilots at best (probably only 20-30%). Still, it seems that the quality of the Spitfire squadrons is going down, during the bounce they remain to be killers though and they will have the bounce 100% of the time when I´m going to attack an enemy base. That´s just how it is.

Lots of Spits were destroyed again but that´s not counting, only the killed Allied veteran pilots count and I´m not sure how many of them were shot down today. We haven´t encountered Mosquito fighter bombers on Cap yet, I know they are in China as we´ve seen them flying Cap already. Will be interesting how they will perform against the Franks. They are as fast but not that maneuverable, they´ve got an absolutely deadly armament though, giving them a gun value of 16. Deadly for our fighters and bombers. Hopefully they are dead meat if they encounter high exp Franks. More and more Tony units are upgraded to Franks, within the next couple of weeks, all our front line units will have upgraded to the new fighter wich definetely seems to be an improvement over the Tony, even though it´s has nearly the same stats, though being 12 mph faster.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 47
G4M1 Betty x 53

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 28

Aircraft Attacking:
43 x A6M5 Zeke bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Luganville , at 72,107


Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 26


No Allied losses

Runway hits 18

Aircraft Attacking:
26 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Blagoveshchensk , at 69,23

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 47
J2M3 Jack x 74
J1N1-S Irving x 71
A6M5c Zeke x 47
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 36
Ki-61 Ic x 108

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 192

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x Ki-61 Ic bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 16th Division, at 24,86

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 Ic x 26
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 24

Allied aircraft
B-29 Superfortress x 66

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-61 Ic: 6 damaged
Ki-84-Ia Frank: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-29 Superfortress: 7 destroyed, 49 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
137 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-29 Superfortress bombing at 5000 feet

A B-29 ground attack strike from 23 hexes? At 5.000ft??? [8|] I knew that the Allied get an advantage when it comes down to ground strikes (for what reason ever, if I order bombers to strike something, they should just f*cking do it, no matter if a ground unit, a port or an airfield). But I was not aware that the Allied would get ground strikes out to 23 hexes. They probably can bomb LCUs 27 hexes away, max range of the B-29. [8|] Why there´s a difference between strikes being flown by the Japanese and the Allied, only the dev understand their arguments why it was done like this. While I haven´t heard about any argument, I only read that this is just how it is...

The fact that there is this strike pretty much convinces me that the Allied already have identified the bad situation they find themselve in now. I hate leaking Cap, in this case I took advantage of it. Still, I don´t like leaking Cap and would prefer not seeing it at all. Two of my sentais attacked the incoming bombers and 7 were shot down over their target with another 8 crashing on their way home. The result achieved wasn´t worth their losses I guess. But who cares about B-29 losses? There are thousands of US Army pilots in the pool and 150 B-29 are coming out of the factory each month. Both facts together mean an unlimited supply of super heavy bombers that can lay waste on every uncapped target 27 hexes away from their staging airfield.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 68,78

Japanese Ships
DD Michishio
PC PC-22
PC PC-9
PC PC-6
PC PC-5
PC PC-4

Allied Ships
SS Haddock

[8|] nothing new... we don´t drop a single DC... the sub didn´t even move. In the end we were lucky, the torps missed the DD...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Blagoveshchensk

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 49242 troops, 529 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 1019

Defending force 49484 troops, 39 guns, 141 vehicles, Assault Value = 1033



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 24,86

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 160280 troops, 1885 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 3258

Defending force 2098 troops, 67 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 20

Japanese max assault: 2614 - adjusted assault: 5581

Allied max defense: 19 - adjusted defense: 2

Japanese assault odds: 2790 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
108 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
2792 casualties reported
Guns lost 89
Vehicles lost 11


A USMC def btn was the only unit left in this hex, it was forced to surrender. Pretty surprising as it had a retreat path. Perhaps the odds where too overwhelming... Scored another 40 points for ground losses today... the question is now if we should attack the Allied troops 60 miles to the West or attack the Allied troops between Derby and Broome...

[castor troy]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/11/44

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Yunan , at 38,32

Japanese aircraft
Ki-84-Ia Frank x 79
Ki-49 Helen x 178

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
C-46 Commando: 13 destroyed
Spitfire VIII: 46 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported

Airbase hits 31
Airbase supply hits 12
Runway hits 143

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 6000 feet

after seeing the Spitfires at Chungking yesterday, they were transferred via the road (all being damaged obviously) to Yunan which was target of a big airstrike finally happening today... more about this (for the game) important happening later... many enemy ac were destroyed on this airfield... a level 2 airfield.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 141
J2M3 Jack x 47
J1N1-S Irving x 27
A6M3a Zero x 27
G4M1 Betty x 52
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 70

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
14 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 159
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-44-IIb Tojo bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Luganville , at 72,107


Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 37


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 44

Aircraft Attacking:
33 x B-25J Mitchell bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Blagoveshchensk , at 69,23

Japanese aircraft
J2M3 Jack x 96
J1N1-S Irving x 36
B5N Kate x 9
Ki-61 Ic x 108

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 157

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x Ki-61 Ic bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Blagoveshchensk

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 49215 troops, 529 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 1019

Defending force 49615 troops, 39 guns, 141 vehicles, Assault Value = 1035



Allied ground losses:
29 casualties reported



sooo....

being very glad about the succesful air attack on Yunan today I immedietely turned my attention at the aircraft lost screen to see how many ac really were destroyed (usually you get exactly twice the number of ac destroyed on the ground - that´s what FOW means in WITP [8|]). Then I saw this:



118 enemy ac destroyed on the ground at Yunan! It´s a level 2 airfield that allows 100 + 10% ac on the field, means not more than 110 ac. Now the bomber attack destroyed 118 ac alone, as I 100% surely didn´t destroy all ac on the airfield I was pissed off once again about the fact that my so called "opponent" didn´t care about agreed hrs at all. Estimated ac on this airfield for sure 150+. First thing I´ve thought: what an a**hole! Can this be real? After telling him again and again he should obey to agreed hrs he just kept breaking them, probably with every single turn I´ve played him. Enough was enough I´ve thought, I warned him time after time. Sending him back the turn with the result, I got a reply (proving my opponent´s character) that my whining is ridicoulos, how should that become when I would lose. Lol, second thought was: what an a**hole.

So he´s not just a bad player IMO, driving this PBEM onto the wall with extremely bad performance near the Gilberts when we sank most, if not all US fleet carriers and with this ground campaign against Derby/Broome that was stopped cold immedietely, now having cut off three dozen units, he also has the bad character of constantly cheating me, then telling me I should stop whining about him being a cheater.

Honestly, after seeing him reading my AAR at the start of the game (by accident, he didn´t know that this isn´t allowed [8|][>:]) I should have known better. After this incident Miller took over, giving me (hopefully both of us) a good and enyoable game, to see Miller stop at the point when he unfortunately chose the wrong target, landing his troops on Makin, with all of his fleet being fully intact. My cheating opponent took over again, losing a dozen CVs/BBs in the following weeks. The best thing would have been to just stop when Miller bailed out. It´s a pity about the time I´ve spent for the game and the AAR in the last weeks, not worth the effort, if you notice you´re being cheated all the time. The funniest thing in the end is, everytime I caught him cheating, he admitted that he cheated, but having an "explantion" why he did so immedietely. An explanation, being equal to a three year old being caught stealing a lollipop. If I´m rude and/or offensive, this is intended and surely not worth an excuse as I can´t think about something worse than having to PBEM someone that cheats on you.

This PBEM has been stopped!

[Ambassador]

I'm sorry for you.[:(]  And for us : the strategic situation is really interesting, with such a strong Japan in mid-'44.  I'm not sure the Allies could overcome Nippon before '46, given the "ground" they have to cross before reaching the home islands.

[castor troy]

The situation at the end of this PBEM can only be described as being a complete Allied defeat. I dare to declare myself as the winner, not by points, but by knock out!

The Japanese Empire is holding more territory than after our initial thrust in 42/early 43. We took the SRA, India, Russia, reduced China to the central bases (where we stopped and would be in the process of taking them out - except Chungking - now). We retook Port Moresby that was evacuated (another unbelievable huge mistake by my "opponent") and are holding all our positions in the Solomons, New Guinea, Marshalls, Gilberts and the Kuriles.

A very good move by Miller in 43 was the capture of Koepang on Timor, which lead to my all out move of countering this with my invasion of Northern Australia, that didn´t meet the stiff Allied resistance it should have. Taking out Northern Australia and moving South East finally lead to taking back Port Moresby, a complete misinterpretation of the strategic situation of Miller´s replacement player.

Our airforce is in perfect shape, my pilots are trained up, being mostly elite pilots. The IJNAF is flying only Frances torpedo bombers, mostly Jacks and Georges (with a couple of daitais still being A6M3s for long range escort duty), Jills (soon being upgraded to Graces) and Judies. The IJAAF is mostly flying Tonies with all of them soon being upgraded to Franks, Helens for the frontline with half of them being upgraded to the Peggy torp bomber in half a year at the latest. Interesting sidenote is the fact that while we of course only use the best available aircraft, production numbers of REAL LIFE of total aircraft is by far higher than what we have produced so far. So if thinking about numbers only, real life Japan has built more ac than I have until this date. So it´s not that I would outproduce the Allied in any way.

The IJN is in better shape than at the beginning of the war, having the same number of BBs available like at start, with nearly twice the carrier based ac capacity on their CVs. The IJN can field 1100 carrier based ac with top notch crews. The IJA has lost nearly nothing, with dozens of divisions more already than at start, dozens more coming in as reinforcements. Our economy is running at full capacity, having built up a stock of 600k+ of HI points, 2 mio+ of resources and 2 mio+ of oil. Our tanker fleet has been untouched, we have more tankers than at the start of the war. Enemy subs have never really tried to interfere with our convoys, the Allied must have something like 100-150 subs (if not more) in their ports.

During the early stages of the war, during the fights near Australia´s North Coast and especially during the carrier engagements near the Gilberts, the Allied Navy has been defeated time after time. This has resulted in 17 Allied CV/CVLs being sunk (several carriers have been sunk, came back as Essex classes and been sunk again [:D]). Over half a dozen CVEs have been sunk, 9 BBs, over a dozen CAs and CLs, several dozen DDs, several dozens of subs and countless AKs/APs,TKs or other ships. Only concern is the high fuel consumption in this mod due to the fact that you need far more AKs/TKs to transport stuff around due to the reduced cargo capacity. Less cargo capacity but same fuel production leads to a problem, while the fuel stocks slowly grow if you only use your merchant navy and keep all warships in port.

While inflicting such a high toll on the enemy, the IJN has lost 1 CV (Junyo as result of battle damage near the Gilberts), two BBs (one near Karachi and one near the Gilberts), one CA (lucky hit by a sub near Darwin that ignited a mag explosion) and a CL (second class CL that was sunk by Allied LBA near Derby IIRC). We lost three to four dozen DDs though (mostly due to mine hits and PTs near Northern Australia) which is the only thing that really concerned me for some time. With dozens of modern PCs being available already, there is no shortage of DDs anymore though, as I now have the DDs for front line duty available with my PCs taking over the task of rear area ASW work.

All this resulted in autovictory anyway, with us still being at a 4.4 victory ratio at this stage of the war. Not bad for 5/44 eh? [8D] We have destroyed an amazing number of Allied ground forces, resulting in nearly 29.000 victory points for Allied ground losses alone. With the recent poorly performance of this completely over the top ground offensive against Derby/Broome, we have the fair chance to score thousands of points more for destroyed Allied ground units.

As I won´t have someone to take over the trashed Allied side (not being trashed because I´m a genius, but being trashed because of AI like performance since Miller bailed out), I will now turn over to AE to play vs the AI to get a real feel of what is possible in AE. Hoping for the next two patches bringing up the game to something more satisfying (for me) than what AE is at the moment.

Thanks again to Paul, who played against me for the most part of this PBEM and thanks to the AAR readers and contributors.