Bloody Shambles: BossGnome vs. Oleg

[Oleg Mastruko]

Okay, I took Wake on 18th, and ordered recon flights over Marcus and Eniwetok the very same day. For some reason recon flights refused to fly for two days, so I lost two days that might have been spent sailing towards targets. I guess they didn't fly because Wake was wrecked by my bombardments - but Catalinas and Coronados do not need an airfield to fly [;)]

Anyhow, on 21th Oct I got pictures from Marcus and Wake and could plan my next move. Eniwetok was empty (I knew it would be empty it's always empty, I don't know of any IJN player that properly defends the place). Marcus had one smallish SNLF-like or base unit-like entity, plus couple floatplanes, and some transports obviously unloading unit(s) rushed there after fall of Wake.

This is what BG sent me after I took Wake, but before I flew recon over my next targets:

"now just wait and look troops, the allied scum are going to leave back towards pearl harbour, and go and invade tarawa after..."

LOL Tarawa....

Then after I flew recon and he saw that:

"ok, so now its either north to marcus island or south to eniwetok... which one is the allied commander going to pick?"

LOL [:D]

Then, a day after that:

"oh, so its both islands AT THE SAME TIME is it?"

So yes, with invasion fleets couple hexes away from Marcus and Eniwetok, it dawned on him [:D]

Okay, back to Allies. So after first recon, I had to decide what to send where.

Eniwetok is like 5 hexes away from Kwajalein, which is overbuilt to 5/5 base. So theoretically he can have 150 Betties there (it's just that I don't believe he had time to really send them there, as you see he was surprised, as I predicted). Obviously CV TF will have to accompany Eniwetok guys.

US army division is sent towards Eniwetok on 21st, plus big air regiment support unit, plus CV TF (3 CVs, 250 aircraft), plus big surface TF (4 old BBs), plus replenishment TF. They should take the island, and accept aerial and seaborne reinforcements.

Marcus is problematic, it is within torpedo-carrying range from - Tokyo (no less!!). 15 hexes away. Nells and Betties can make torpedo attacks from Tokyo to Marcus. And I have only one CV TF, so Marcus guys (Army division + small airbase unit, escorted by surface force based around 2 modern BBs) will have to do without aircover. Also, I have no idea whether there are surface forces rushing towards Marcus (my patrols reach just a hex or two beyond Marcus). Losses are possible, but I HIGHLY DOUBT BG had time to place 150 Betties at Kwaj + 150 at Tokyo, and/or organize heavy surface TF and send it on time to intercept. If he did we'll have to fight and I'll have to accept losses.

This is Marcus invasion on 24th Oct. IJN icons are his transports, dispersed in fear at the sight of my BBs (run dogs run).

[Oleg Mastruko]

This is southern prong of the second phase of my major Central Pacific offensive: couple hexes away from the empty Eniwetok. Kwajalein, major IJN base (outside of the range of my recon) is just below south border of the picture:

[Oleg Mastruko]

Now... I am running MAJOR risks here, relying almost entirely on surprise. He MIGHT have CV TF just 2 hexes beyond Marcus, and 200 Zeros + 150 Betties in Kwajalein, in which case I am toast. I am about to find out I guess.

He still has more CVs than me, by a factor of at least 1,5 (measured in CV aircraft).

But if my operations succeed, I'd have two incredibly important bases practically for free (ie, I didn't have to fight vs infantry, coastal guns, level 9 forts, Vals and Kates etc.). Had I decided to wait after capturing of Wake he would have built very strong defences there that's for sure.

If just one of my two simoultaneous invasions succeed, and other one does not end in complete disaster, I think it would be overall victory for me. If both succeed, he's majorly screwed.

O.

[Oleg Mastruko]

Marcus fell on 24th:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/24/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Marcus Island, at 75,56 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

10 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Hull
DD Dewey
DD Downes
DD Cassin
DD Smith
DD Fanning
DD McCall
DD Craven, Shell hits 1
DD Blue, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Vincennes
CA Quincy
CA San Francisco
CA Astoria
CA New Orleans
BB South Dakota
BB Washington

Japanese ground losses:
413 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 41
Port hits 7
Port fuel hits 20
Port supply hits 11

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1054 encounters mine field at Marcus Island (75,56)

TF 1054 troops unloading over beach at Marcus Island, 75,56


Allied Ships
DMS Trevor
DMS Hovey
PG Hollyhock
DD John D. Edwards
AK Don Isidro, Mine hits 1


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported


Allied ground losses:
1603 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1054 encounters mine field at Marcus Island (75,56)

TF 1054 troops unloading over beach at Marcus Island, 75,56


Allied Ships
DMS Trevor
DMS Hovey
PG Hollyhock
DD Lawrence
DD Worden
AK Clevedon, Mine hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Guns lost 2


Allied ground losses:
1005 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Marcus Island

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 11925 troops, 116 guns, 1 vehicles

Defending force 1049 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 156 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Marcus Island base !!!


Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
165 casualties reported

I immediatelly sent flying boats there to fly recon over Bonin, Saipan and - Tokyo! The sight of Coronados over Imperial Palace will make IJN GHQ big heads shit their pants.

[Oleg Mastruko]

Eniwetok, as expected, is more problematic, his Kwaj based Betties tried to interfere with my plans:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 76,73

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 85

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 76,73

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
G4M1 Betty x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 85

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 8 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 76,73

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
G4M1 Betty x 42

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 85

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 36 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed, 13 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Wasp
CV Saratoga

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 76,73

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 4

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 81

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 76,73

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 81

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 76,73

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
G4M1 Betty x 25

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 41

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 11 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
BB Idaho

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

He lost 80+ Betties and dozen Zeros and hit nothing. This is expected result of his Betty pilots being very tired after - presumably - he transferred them to Kwaj from somewhere far away (Rabaul and Lungga I'd guess). Also, notable lack of Zeros stems from them taking even longer to transfer to Kwaj, and BG using them in marginal bull-fights over China and Burma, and not when and where they are really needed.

Still, my invasion is one hex away from Eniwetok, and will most probably have to withstand even more determined attacks tomorrow. CVs are runing HUGE risks just standing there and tomorrow will be the last day they'll provide CAP for Eniwetok invasion, after that they will get the hell outta there.

O.

[Buckeye5]

Interesting AAR.

Quick newbie question for you--which map and icon set mod are you using? I'm assuming whatever it is it's available on Spooky's UV/WiTP site?

Thanks in advance.

[Oleg Mastruko]

Thanks.

It is Sub Chaser's graphic mod for the original stock map. It is available at Spooky's.

I modded the icons myself, so that all English-serving peoples have Union Jack, that's why you don't see Australian, NZ icons etc. It simplifies things. I'd use English cross instead of UJ but there's no such icon already in the game. Also I absolutely hate colonial crap with small flag within larger flag - whoever designed this eyesore stuff oughta be punished but I guess he's already long dead [:D]. When you reduce such an already ugly flag to 5x5 pixel icon it looks terrible.

Many interesting things happened lately in this game and I plan to post some extensive updates to the AAR (I am not one of those guys who update their AARs daily, with millions of combat reports, I try to concentrate on what is important).

Oleg

[Oleg Mastruko]

OK time for another update, we had some very eventful days in this war. Last update was on 24th Oct, when I captured Marcus against token opposition, obviously rushed there at moments notice, and my other invasion force was one hex away from Eniwetok. His response to both my invasion was yet unseen, except for the Betty attack from Kwaj aimed at my Eni invasion force, that got broken by my CV fighters (described in previous posts).

BTW I noticed BossGnome started a thread about "strategic importance of Marcus island" – LOL, so he got scared after all. He asked me not to peek into his thread so I won't.

On the night of 25th my Eniwetok invasion force was surprised by his surface TF:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Eniwetok at 76,74


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
SOC-3 Seagull: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 6
CA Chokai
CA Mikuma
CA Kumano, Shell hits 5
CA Kako, Shell hits 6
CL Nagara, Shell hits 1
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 5
CL Kuma
CL Kitakami
DD Amatsukaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Nowaki, Shell hits 1
DD Arashi
DD Mutsuki
DD Satsuki
DD Nagatsuki
DD Yukaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hokaze
DD Hasu
DD Chidori
DD Manazuru
DD Tomozuru
DD Kasasagi
DD Kari
DD Kamo

Allied Ships
CL Raleigh, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
DD Laffey, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Buchanan, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
DD Drayton, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Porter
DD Selfridge, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Phelps, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Clark, Shell hits 19, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Dale, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AV Chandeleur
DMS Lamberton, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DMS Wasmuth, Shell hits 1
MSW Robin, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Demodocus
AK American
AK Atlantic, Shell hits 1
AK Hamakua, Shell hits 1
AK Olopana
AK Nabesna
AK Shooting Star
AP Royal T. Frank
AK Barbara Olson, Shell hits 2
AK Empire Selwyn
AK Empire Ortolan, Shell hits 1
AK Empire Prairie, Shell hits 2
AK Empire Summer
AK Empire Mariott, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Moorhen
AK Empire Eagle, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Empire Dryden
AK Autolycus
AK Malda
AK Enggano
AK Bengalen
AK Siantar


Allied ground losses:
154 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Unpleasant, but not in any way tragic. I lost an ancient CL and some DDs, which sacrificed themselves to that transports may escape.

Picture shows the Eni situation on 26th. My invasion force decided to retreat towards SE, which I think is the most curious decision. Note that his surface TF ended the day in the same hex, yet there was no day surface battle (lucky for me). He was lucky as well, in that bad weather prevented my CVs sending a strike against his retreating surface TF (he was in range).

You may notice how I did couple very stupid things. I placed CVs too far away to the NW (I WAS a little bit afraid of his repeated Betty strike I admit), and that I kept my surface TF with CVs, reasoning, Eni is empty, no need to send the bombardment force (had I sent them, a surface battle would ensue).

IJN TF to the W is *another* surface TF rushing to the scene (obviously to do battle tonight).

[Oleg Mastruko]

Marcus part of the story wasn't too rosy either.

His CVs appeared couple hexes away from Marcus and clobbered my conwoy. No way to notice them since I sent patrol a/c only just yesterday.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Marcus Island at 75,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 6
A6M2 Zero x 52
D3A Val x 82
B5N Kate x 49

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 2 damaged
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Lawrence, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Clevedon, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Makua, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Farenholt
AK Elout, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Indianan, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Sipirok
AK Iowan, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Silindoeng, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Hughes, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Siaoe, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Maliko, Bomb hits 1
AK Cynthia Olson, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Pasir, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Whipple, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Poelau Bras, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Sigli
AK Sinabang, Bomb hits 1
AK Boelongan, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Reid, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Illinoian, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP McCawley, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DMS Hovey
AK Hřegh Merchant


Allied ground losses:
115 casualties reported

Well, conwoy hit pretty hard, but they already mostly finished their most important task, that is, unloading of troops and supplies.

Nells, flying from Bonin (level 3 thus no torps) added to the carnage:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Marcus Island at 75,56

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Lawrence, on fire, heavy damage
DD Whipple, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Reid, on fire
DD Farenholt, Bomb hits 1, on fire


And another CV strike, in the afternoon:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Marcus Island at 75,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 6
A6M2 Zero x 47
D3A Val x 77
B5N Kate x 60

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Liloa, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Manoa, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Reid, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Columbian, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP McCawley, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Don Isidro
AK Nordhval, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Boelongan, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Makena, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Makiki, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Siaoe, on fire
AK Lihue, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK De Klerk, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Parigi, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Sigli
DD Farenholt, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Elout, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Makawao, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Silindoeng, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Coast Farmer
AK Exmoor, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Johanne Justesen, Bomb hits 1
AK Pasir, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Cynthia Olson, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Lawrence, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
232 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Day ended with my troops on Marcus eliminating remains of his troops:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Marcus Island

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 14558 troops, 168 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 753 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 295 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
1319 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
2 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

This is Marcus situation, pretty clear, CVs and my transports.

[Oleg Mastruko]

That surface TF on the Marcus picture above is my surface-bombardment force which supported Marcus operation, and which I was SMART enough to retreat full speed a day before (otherwise it would be bye bye to couple BBs).

So now I was faced with some tough decisions regarding Eni. Marcus is pretty clear. He does not appear to be forming any counter attack (I mean, counter invasion). His CVs are just the usual angry reaction, but I am well prepared to lose some AKs and DDs. Some ships are ordered to save themselves, if possible, but most just stay and finish unloading.

But Eni? What do I do there? Obviously he is running another surface TF to Eni, to interfere with my, already damaged conwoy. I decided to reform CVs and transports one hex NE of Eni, and run my own surface TF to the island to fight vs his BBs. My surviving ships would retire high speed towards Wake, while his damaged ships will be in the range of my CVs in the morning, bwaghahaha Invasion will have to wait till I sort these "surface matters".

This plan, surprisingly, worked:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Eniwetok at 76,74

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 3
CA Chokai
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 3
CA Kumano, Shell hits 1
CA Kako
CL Nagara, Shell hits 2
CL Isuzu
CL Kuma, Shell hits 2, on fire
CL Kitakami
DD Amatsukaze
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Mutsuki
DD Satsuki
DD Nagatsuki
DD Hokaze
DD Hasu
DD Chidori, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Manazuru
DD Tomozuru
DD Kasasagi
DD Kari
DD Kamo

Allied Ships
BB Arizona, Shell hits 5, on fire
BB Idaho, Shell hits 1
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 1
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 2
CA Portland, Shell hits 2
CA Northampton
CA Chester, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CA Chicago
CL Perth, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Aaron Ward
DD Woodworth, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Bailey
DD Caldwell, Shell hits 1
DD Meade
DD Sims
DD O'Brien

Surprising thing is I didn't fight vs TF coming from the west, but rather vs the same TF that surprised me the night ago, he basically sent them back to attack again. Surface force from the west simply proceeded towards Kwaj presumably to refuel.

In the morning CV aircraft attack damaged ships:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 77,75


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 18
TBF Avenger x 14


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Arashi, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
9 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBF Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Bikini at 78,76


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
SBD Dauntless x 84
TBF Avenger x 25


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 6 damaged
TBF Avenger: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Bomb hits 16, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Kuma, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

BB Fuso goes down. I feel kinda sorry for this ship, because in WPO Justin made ME the captain of Fuso. CL and DD go down as well. So my plan, sorta, worked. I have some ships damaged in the night battle but they will all live, and are reatreating towards Wake.

His CVs near Marcus continue clobbering my transports there. I will not post a looongggg list of air attacks, you can just imagine, many AKs hit, nearly 10-12 of them sinking, so this kinda tainted my joy over sinking his BB.

BGs coment for the day was:

"had i not lost BB fuso I would've considered it a victorious day for me... I'd say about 1-1..."

Well I would not agree, certainly a BB, CL and DD are more worth than dozen or so empty transports, plus couple escorting DDs.

[Oleg Mastruko]

So it's all cool and dandy, but now my Eni invasion force lost it's surface component, and it's just CVs + already damaged invasion conwoy, escorted by just a couple DDs (+ AOs to accompany CVs, but they don't count except as targets).

His CVs, on the other hand, may stop attacking the already clobbered Marcus guys, and rush SE and attack my Eni force. I actually expected him to do exactly that. I thought he'll realise Marcus thing is, for now, over, while Eni operation is not, and I have more stuff there, so...

He also had at least 2 (say, one and a half) surface forces based in Kwaj, to run nightly attacks vs Eni (6 hexes away). Whole Eniwetok invasion now seemed like a crazy idea. What I was thinking anyway? Why didn't you guys talk me out of that craziness?? [:D][;)]

Invading an island 6 hexes away from his major base, where he can run nightly bombardment runs, within Betty+Zero range from Kwaj, etc. he could keep me from ever building the place to level 2 airbase just by running bombardment TFs to pound the place.

So, on 26th I did a very stupid thing, that would later cost me losing two capital ships.

I reformed Eni guys to provide cover by CVs, and planned to retreat them all, at transports speed, towards somewhere between Wake and Midway, basically cancelling the whole Eni operation. For now, I was content with utterly surprising him on strategic level, taking Marcus (and Wake before that) and sinking his BB.

This is the situation on evening 26th. In the north, Marcus, very damaged AKs still unload some stuff, I also "conjured" a PT force there. Damaged and sinking AKs flee to the left and right. NW IJN TF are BBs, SE IJN TF is KB. As you see KB is 1,5-2 days away from my Eni invasion force (which is at the very bottom of the picture), provided KBs have enough fuel, of course. Danger for my Eni guys is VERY real. Surface dudes NE of Eni guys are bits and pieces of surface TF that participated in Eni operation.

Wake is still port 2 air 3, so not exactly a safe haven for damaged ships.

[Oleg Mastruko]

That was obviously a stupid decision, because this is what happened on 27th Oct:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 78,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 54
A6M3 Zero x 14
G4M1 Betty x 45

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 57

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 25 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 10 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 10 destroyed, 25 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 35 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Hornet, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CV Wasp, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
BB North Carolina, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CV Saratoga

His Kwajalein Bettys attacked with reinvigorated strength, supported by more Zeros!

And again:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 78,72

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29
A6M3 Zero x 4
G4M1 Betty x 30

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 7 destroyed, 16 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Hornet, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CV Saratoga

His CVs near Marcus didn't move AT ALL, he stood there finishing off the last remnants of my transports (I did manage to save some by running them back to Wake).

So, I literally managed to snatch the defeat from the jaws of victory.

Hornet and North Carolina were so damaged it was obvious they will sink in a day or two, before they manage to reach any base under my control (I don't think Wake port 2 would help them anyway). Wasp, although somewhat damaged, would live.

Of course all danger was not over yet. I will stil be within Betty range tomorrow, and with almost no CAP. What I planned ar organised retreat now turned into "sauve qui pas" or however the saying goes, ie mad rush towards NE. I also had full INF division + air regiment loaded on transports (initially earmarked for Eni) now without either CV or BB cover... Bad day for USN....

[Oleg Mastruko]

If it is of any consolation, his air losses for the day were 90 for 60 of my own, but this will soon change when Hornet sinks with its complement of aircraft.

[Oleg Mastruko]

On 28th, he sent two bombardment TFs against Marcus (where does he find all those surface TFs?):

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/28/42

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Marcus Island at 75,56

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
CA Atago
CA Aoba
CL Sendai
CL Kinu
CL Oi
DD Teruzuki
DD Asagumo
DD Isonami
DD Murakumo
DD Yuzuki
DD Hayate
DD Tsuga
DD Asagao
DD Hiyodori

Allied Ships
AK Montanan, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
AK Coast Farmer, Shell hits 12, and is sunk


Allied ground losses:
72 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Marcus Island at 75,56

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
CA Atago
CA Aoba
CL Sendai
CL Kinu
CL Oi, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Teruzuki, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asagumo
DD Isonami, Shell hits 2
DD Murakumo, Shell hits 3
DD Yuzuki, Shell hits 1
DD Hayate, Shell hits 2
DD Tsuga
DD Asagao, Shell hits 2
DD Hiyodori, Shell hits 3

Allied Ships
PT PT-82
PT PT-83
PT PT-84
PT PT-115
PT PT-116
PT PT-117
PT PT-118
PT PT-119
PT PT-120
PT PT-121
PT PT-122
PT PT-123

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Marcus Island at 75,56

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
CA Atago
CA Aoba
CL Sendai
CL Kinu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Teruzuki, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
DD Asagumo
DD Isonami
DD Murakumo, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Yuzuki
DD Hayate, Shell hits 1
DD Tsuga
DD Asagao
DD Hiyodori, Shell hits 8

Allied Ships
PT PT-82
PT PT-83
PT PT-84
PT PT-115
PT PT-116
PT PT-117
PT PT-118, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
PT PT-119
PT PT-120, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT PT-121, Shell hits 1
PT PT-122
PT PT-123

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Marcus Island, at 75,56 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

84 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CL Kinu, Shell hits 6, on fire
CL Sendai
CA Aoba, Shell hits 1
CA Atago, Shell hits 5
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 3


Allied ground losses:
369 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Marcus Island, at 75,56 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

57 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Shell hits 2
CA Maya, Shell hits 3
BB Hyuga
BB Ise, Shell hits 1
BB Mutsu


Allied ground losses:
1349 casualties reported
Guns lost 22

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4
Port supply hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Marcus Island at 75,56

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
CA Maya
CA Mogami
DD Kazegumo
DD Samidare
DD Hibiki
DD Sagiri
DD Uzuki
DD Hatsukari

Allied Ships
PT PT-82
PT PT-83
PT PT-84, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT PT-115
PT PT-116
PT PT-117
PT PT-119, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT PT-121, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
PT PT-122
PT PT-123


He lost a very valuable CL Oi (torpedo cruiser) + a DD and some other ships damaged, to my PTs. His bombardment was kinda bad, but since I took care not to have too many aircraft on tiny Marcus airfield (level 1) he didn't destroy any of my aircraft, which, I guess, was his goal all along. I think results of this bombardment run were disappointing for him.

Thing to note, is that we both rushed significant minelaying forces towards Marcus as soon as it fell, so the sea around this island is now full of IJN and USN mines. (Not all mine hits appear in combat reports).

Luckily, my shattered Eniwetok forces retreated today without interference from Kwaj (I guess most were too far). This is good. I don't want to lose another CV.

This is BGs comment of recent operations:

"well, looks like the Marcus Island/Eniwetok island battles have come to an end... On my part it went rather according to how I hoped it would go (I only spotted you 2 hexes away or so from Marcus so I knew I could never reach it in time to prevent you from taking it). I wish I hadn't lost the Fuso, but oh well... "

Now, one thing is for sure. I will not have CV force to go toe to toe vs him for another couple months. I plan to get Essex early 43, have Lex repaired by then (sys 55 now, repairing in Seattle), also Wasp repaired from it's moderate damage. Then I will form CV TF: Essex, Lex, Sara, Wasp.

Talking about CVs....

All this time I had interesting race vs time, in that I was ordered to send back a RN CV. I found one in Australia (what a joke). I rushed the ship back to Karachi, but oh man! It took him so LONG to get there I actually might have missed the deadline and sucked 2000 PPs penalty!!! Man that would suck. On the very last day of October I disbanded the damn ship, and sent it back to Churchill. (I refused any demands for DDs though, preferring to pay the PP price.)

[Oleg Mastruko]

29th is peaceful. My damaged ships retreat, and even though I am afraid of his subs, I kinda breath the sigh of semi relief.

Some ships hit mines, my subs torpedo some TKs in South Seas, he sends DD TF to clear Marcus PTs:

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Marcus Island at 75,56

Japanese Ships
DD Makinami, Shell hits 1
DD Oyashio
DD Tanikaze
DD Arashio
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 4
DD Asagumo
DD Umikaze
DD Shirakumo
DD Sazanami
DD Kisaragi
DD Yayoi
DD Mikazuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Hayate
DD Asanagi
DD Tsuga

Allied Ships
PT PT-82
PT PT-83
PT PT-115, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
PT PT-116
PT PT-117, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PT PT-122
PT PT-123, Shell hits 3, and is sunk


...but I can always make more.

Corronados finally go on the terror mission over Tokyo, disseminating propaganda leaflets, BG comments:

"lol i bet your recon flight over ahem...tokyo scared a few geishas... "

Yeah dude, like don't tell me Imperial GHQ didn't have an urgent session over this issue?

[Oleg Mastruko]

I forgot, on 28th, he tried to run some APs to Buna, just opposite Port Moresby, I noticed that and obliterated his conwoy:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Buna at 55,90


Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 22
Beaufort V-IX x 25
P-40E Warhawk x 57
A-20B Boston x 55
B-25C Mitchell x 20
B-26B Marauder x 39
B-17E Fortress x 27


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Jinsai Maru, Bomb hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
AP Michiyu Maru, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Eli Maru, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Jinshu Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Nankai Maru, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

It's not much but it's always nice to see IJN APs burning and sinking [8D] That is 5 troop transports less for any future use.

[Oleg Mastruko]

Not much on 30th, again some IJN TK torpedoed by a sub (it happens more and more frequently), again his massive strike vs Chungking:

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

Japanese aircraft
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 38
Ki-51 Sonia x 46
Ki-21 Sally x 71
Ki-48 Lily x 18
Ki-49 Helen x 45

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 3 destroyed, 8 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-48 Lily: 1 damaged

Oil hits 19
Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 32

He runs them all the time, I don't even report those strikes, as I pulled my fighters back until I get beck RAF stuff my predecessors sent to DAMN AUSTRALIA. Man that conwoy bringing the RAF stuff back to India is the slowest conwoy, ever.

He sent ridicolous land based strike vs Marcus:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Marcus Island , at 75,56

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 49

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses


Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 3


His subs preying on the Wake-Marcus route fall prey to my patrols, like this:

B-24D Liberator attacking I-158 at 81,66
I-158 is reported HIT

[Oleg Mastruko]

31st, Kleinkrieg near Marcus, ships hit mines, shipy lay mines, ships get surprised while laying mines, the usual stuff..

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/31/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Marcus Island at 75,56

Japanese Ships
DD Makinami, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 1
DD Tanikaze
DD Arashio
DD Natsugumo
DD Asagumo
DD Umikaze
DD Shirakumo
DD Sazanami
DD Kisaragi
DD Yayoi
DD Mikazuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Hayate
DD Asanagi
DD Tsuga

Allied Ships
PT PT-82
PT PT-83, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
PT PT-116, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT PT-122, Shell hits 17, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Marcus Island at 75,56

Japanese Ships
DD Makinami, on fire, heavy damage
DD Oyashio
DD Tanikaze
DD Arashio
DD Natsugumo
DD Asagumo
DD Umikaze
DD Shirakumo
DD Sazanami
DD Kisaragi
DD Yayoi
DD Mikazuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Hayate
DD Asanagi
DD Tsuga

Allied Ships
DM Montgomery, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DM Breese, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Marcus Island at 75,56

Japanese Ships
DD Makinami, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Oyashio
DD Tanikaze
DD Arashio
DD Natsugumo
DD Asagumo
DD Umikaze
DD Shirakumo
DD Sazanami
DD Kisaragi
DD Yayoi
DD Mikazuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Hayate
DD Asanagi
DD Tsuga

Allied Ships
PT PT-82, Shell hits 2, and is sunk

[Oleg Mastruko]

double post, ignore

[Oleg Mastruko]

London is again playing cruel jokes with me:

Previous British Withdraw Penalty Paid = 600
For 11/42, the British Must Withdraw: 1 BB + 2 DD

NO WAY I am going to send them a BB back, no way dude.

I currently have 3 BBs in Indian waters, plus I sent two older USN BBs to India as well. I am not sending any back to England. BTW after paying the PP price for not sending the DDs, I am now in minus PP range.