Moondawggie tries to defeat the AI!

[Moondawggie]

9/21/42:
 
GG is consolidated; the last of the defending Japanese troops are eliminated.  GG is now a fully functioning port and airfield, with its own CAP provided by USAAF P-40s and USN F4Fs, as well as SBDs and TBFs to pound on any IJN surface assets who might want to come to vist.  the Coral Sea is now pretty much an American lake, except for the occasional IJN sub who wanders in.  [:)] 
 
By taking GG, PM is now (I believe) safe from any IJN raids.  As such, it has now changed from a vulnerable defensive outpost to an offensive base.  The Australian 3rd division is moving by land from PM over the Owen Stanley mountains towards Buna; recon suggests that the Japanese garrison there consists of only one or two batallions, so it should fall to a land attack fairly easily (I don't want to invade by sea; Rabaul's bettys and nells ended the GG campaign by taking down the Enterprise, one CA, one CL, and put a torp into BB North Carolina (the latter is docked and repairing 25% flotation damage in Townsville.  System damage is only 25%, her speed is still 21 knots, so she probably won't have to be sent back to Pearl.)  Numerous DDs, APs, and AKs also sank from those damn air-dropped long lance torpedos. [:(]
 
The other nice thing about making PM safe from bombardment is that I can now move my B-17s up from Townsville, and have them hit the airfield at Rabaul.  (Give 'till it hurts!)  Zeros don't do well at high alrtitudes against massed flying fortresses, and the air war of attrition heats up.  [;)]
 
More interesting are developments in the Solomons.    Lunga is strongly defended according to my recon:  the 5 coastal defense units there would rip apart any APs and AKs offloading troops (see image below), so I'm moving the 1st Marine Division by fast transport to Taivu Point, just east of Lunga.  Once I get both the 1st MARDIV and the Americal landed and supplied there, I'll attack Lunga overland---lots of room for armor to maneuver, and his CD guns will become just some more artillery (maybe limited to only pointing out to sea, where they can't support the Japanese INF).  Meanwhile, B-26s out of Irau will hit Lunga daily; PT boats from Irau will visit Lunga nightly, and the SBDs and F4Fs will play havoc in the local skies.  Gato class pigboats lurk in the Slot, making reinforcement of the Lunga garrison a real bitch for the Tokyo Express. 
 
Onward....
 
 

[Moondawggie]

9/24/42:
 
The Japanese army doesn't like having visitors drop in at Taivu Point, so 7,000 infantrymen march east one hex from Lunga to demand the Marines go back home.  However, they have no armor, and the USMC, disturbed by this callous lack of hospitality, shock attacks at 2:1 odds, inflicting 800 Japanese casualties at the cost of 180 Marines.  The Japanese have no air support or attached antiaircraft batteries, so B-26s, P-39s, and SDBs from Irau practice close air support under Taivu's laboratory conditions.  More Marines land nightly via fast transport along with supplies.  It will be time to hit again with a deliberate attack tomorrow; since the resupply and reinforcement of Lunga is effectively interdicted, every Japanese trooper put away now is one fewer left to dig out of Lunga later on. 
 

[Moondawggie]

9/27/42:
 
Japan seems to think Taivu point is crucial (see image below).  The USMC continues to eat away at the Japanese troopers with deliberate attacks, and the Japanese keep moving troops in. 
 
And the Americal is just landing in Irau, soon to be lifted onto Taivu. 
 
Almost like the real Guadalcanal experience... 
 
The IJN transports are taking a shellacking from Irau's air---he's going to run out of sealift at this rate.
 
 

[Moondawggie]

10/01/42:
 
Taivu promises to be a pivotal "schwerpunkt" for land forces of both sides (see image below).  Despite my best efforts at interdiction, Japan continues to pour troops into that hex---now well over 20,000 INF, plus artillery and vehicles (tanks?). 
 
They haven't attacked yet, and I've made a few desultory deliberate attacks and bombardment attacks to keep their heads down, and their C&C broken. My local Irau attack air daily sends unopposed aircraft (including now over 100 B-26s) every day to disrupt them.  My SBDs and PT boats have made artificial reefs offshore from Lunga out of the AGs and DDs who dared to try to resupply that base (hey---great scuba opportunity for tourists 60 years from now!).  The Gato boats in the Slot feast on the wounded leftovers struggling back to Shortland. 
 
I wish I had more fighters to put a continuous LR CAP over Lunga's airfield, but I don't; I have to rely on TBDs to keep putting holes in the runways there to slow down any potential Topsy transports trying to land troopps and supplies. 
 
Japan still hasn't been able to station either fighters or attack aircraft at Lunga, and what few Betty raids that have come down as far as Taivu and Irau have been unescorted and savaged by the F4F and P-40 CAP out of Irau. 
 
All in all, Taivu Point looks pretty much like a "shoestring" operation for both sides, and could go either way.  But I've got local air and surface force superiority to support the expedition, with plenty of supply coming in daily, so I'm optimistic.  And the Americal should start landing there within the week...Meanwhile, I'm trying to build fortifications like crazy! 
 
Still no sign of the IJN's major surface or air combatants---haven't located anything bigger thatn a DD in weeks; I surmise he's (at least for now) licking his CV, BB, and CA wounds back in Truk.  I know that I am in Noumea and Pearl.  Time will tell.  
 
PM's B-17s have been wrecking the occasional zero and Val on the ground at Rabaul, and his long-range raids have been getting weaker lately.  Maybe the heavies are finally having an effect.
 
The Australian 3rd Division is making slow but steady progress towards Buna.  With any luck, they should arrive there about the same time the Taivu struggle reaches its' climax, and make him divide up any seaborne response. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

[Moondawggie]

10/9/42:

A war of attrition rages in the Solomons. Both the 1st MarDiv and the Americal Divisions have safely landed via fast transport out of Irau at Taivu Point along with support forces and adequate supplies. 2 tank battallions, some engineer units, seabees (one of my own old outfits!) and lots of base forces provide support; fortifications are up to 4, with a level 1 port, but no airfield as yet.

I've moved PM's B-17s to Luganville, where they pound the Japanese forces at taivu, along with Irau's shorter legged B-26s. Lunga's port is at 88% damaged courtesy of Irau's SBDs and TBFs. USAAF P-39s and P-400s gain valuable experience attacking the Taivu INF (they should be frighteningly experienced when they ultimately get to upgrade to P-38s. (Zeros be forewarned!)

No IJN APs have been able to reach Lunga or Buna and make a return trip; so far the IJN has lost ~89 APs to the allies 6 AP/AKs sunk. Supply must be a problem for the Japanese troops on the front lines...

A series of deliberate attacks at Taivu have reduced the Japanese INF by about 6,000 effectives; we've been exchanging casualities at a rate of 1000-1500 per day for the Japanese, versus about 180 per day for the US.

As the Incredible Hulk used to say, it's clobberin' time!

[Moondawggie]

10/11/42:

B-17s from Luganville, B-26s from Irau, and deliberate attacks on the Japanese at Taivu Point have cost the Japanese about 7000 men from the 38th Division, according to intel.

He's getting weaker!

[Moondawggie]

10/12/42

The 3rd Australian Division reaches Buna, and then makes a shock attack against the 800 surprised Japanese NLF garrison troops there. Buna falls!

On Guadacanal, the Japanese forces withdraw under fire to Lunga, abandoning their attack against my beachhead on Taivu Point.. The 1st Mar Div and the Americal drive towards Lunga, but don't contact the fleeing Japanese...

Hey---maybe the shock pursuit model really does suck! Shades of WITP's "griper fanboy!"

[Moondawggie]

10/20/42

The 1st Mar Div and the Americal continue their relentless drive towards Lunga.

In a surprise amphibious assault, fast transports from Irau land SOPACs 112th Cav Reg on Tulagi, much to the dismay of 850 astonished IJN NLF garrison troops. Right before dawn on nthe day of the landing, an allied Bombardment group led by the BB Washington, the CA Northhampton, and the CL Boise run across an IJN surface task force of cruisers and DDs transiting Tulagi, apparently aiming to rough up up the transports offloading supplies nearby at Taivu.

It seems that 16" guns pack a bit more power than the IJN's 8-inchers on their CAs; every IJN ship is badly damaged; one CA sinks, and 5 IJN DDs also grace the floor of Ironbottom Sound. 4 US DDs and 2 CLAAs will slowly head to Noumea and Pearl for refitting, but only one USN DD sinks...

[Moondawggie]

10/22/42

The 112th CAV shock attacks Tulagi; the Japanese lose 800+ troopers, and Tulagi now flys the Stars and Stripes.

[Moondawggie]

10/28/42

THe 1st Mar Div and the Americal reached Lunga a few turns ago. The BB Washington's bombardment TF visits Lunga nightly, and B-17s, B-26s, SBDs, and TBFs vist the Japanese troops during the day.

A series of deliberate attacks have reduced Lunga's fortifications to zero. Tomorrow a shock attack should drive the Japanese off the Island for good.

No sign of any IJN surface or air combat TFs---they must be badly beat up right now.

In New Guinea, one of my P-400 squads upgrades to the P-38----suddenly Japanese LBA escorted raids out of Rabaul start losing 2 planes for each allied aircraft downed over GG, instead of the inverse.

You gotta love those fork-tailed devils...

[Moondawggie]

10/29/42:


Yes!

[Moondawggie]

11/4/42

Lunga's poat and airfield have been repaired, and all of Taivu Point's troops have been shited to Lunga. Most of Irau's personnel have also been transferred; Lunga's airfield is now at Level 6.

The B-26s have been transferred to Lunga, along with virtually all of the SBDs, F4Fs, and TBFs. Daily raids on Shortland have resulted in several IJN APs and DDs being hit, as well as a few bombs landing on (but not penetrating though) the armor of the Yamato and Mushashi in port there. One of their covering CLs wasn't as lucky...

Air attack on TF, near Shortland Island at 29,34
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 6
A6M3 Zero x 16
Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 49

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Nana Maru, Bomb hits 2
AP Azuma Maru, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kirishima Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP Katsuragisan Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tarushima Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Nokaze
CL Kuma, Bomb hits 2

One IJN CS was sunk of Buin by 500# bombs from the B-26s, the Japanese are also building up a base at Buin.

I'm sending up the USMC 1st Raider Batallion to take Vila. I'll then fast transport in some seabees and EABs, and build up an airfield there, which will put me within fighter range of Shortland. Then Shortland can really get pounded by air.

Shortland or Buin will be the next major sites of ground combat in the Solomons.

In New Guinea, I'm airlifting the New Guinea Force and a base force to Nazdab; it's a level one airfield, now with some FBs to give Lae a hard time. The B-25s, etc from PM have taken Lae's airfield damage up to 100%, so now they will start working over Lae's port. I'd like to get enough forces into Nazdab to attack Lae from the ground, rather than risk a seaborne invasion launched from GG. I still have very healthy respect for Rabaul's Betties and Nells---they are dangerous ship killers.

[Moondawggie]

11/9/42

A forward airbase has been established at Vila, reinforced and supplied by nightly fast transport runs using DDs out of Lunga.

The IJN is not pleased.

The IJN sends a supply TF towards Lae in New Guinea. I bite, and transfer most of my Lunga SBDs and TBFs to the enlarging bases at Buna and Nazdab, where their vulnerable transports will come in range of these dive and torpedo bombers.

Only problem is, the IJN sends a BB-led TF down the Slot---

I guess that the target will be my exposed outpost at Vila, and send a surface TF including BBs South Dakota and Washington from Irau to intercept him: they miss. [:@]

He heads for Lunga, a classic night-time bombardment attack, and all I have at Lunga are some PTs and vulnerable transports offloading troops and supplies. [&o]

Darn!

So the festivities begin:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/09/42

Night Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 38,40

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
CA Haguro
CA Nachi
CA Mogami
DD Ariake
DD Murakumo
DD Shikinami
DD Yugiri
DD Oboro
DD Ushio
DD Nagatsuki

Allied Ships
PT 114, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
PT 115, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PT 124
PT 120
PT 122
PT 128, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
The PTs get cleaned in inning one!


Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Shell hits 3
CA Haguro
CA Nachi
CA Mogami, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Ariake
DD Murakumo
DD Shikinami
DD Yugiri
DD Oboro
DD Ushio
DD Nagatsuki

Allied Ships
PT 123
PT 121
PT 142, Shell hits 1
PT 143, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
PT 146
PT 121, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
The PTs get some revenge in inning 2!,

But then, the DDs protecting transports get their clocks cleaned after the BBs get thru the PT belt!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 38,40

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Shell hits 2
CA Haguro, Shell hits 1
CA Nachi, Shell hits 1
CA Mogami, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Ariake, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Murakumo
DD Shikinami
DD Yugiri
DD Oboro
DD Ushio
DD Nagatsuki

Allied Ships
DD Anderson, Shell hits 28, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Sterett, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Aylwin, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AP American Legion, Shell hits 23, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Harris
AP Wharton
TK Suamico
TK Tallulah
TK Pecos
TK Bishopdale
TK Kurumba

The IJN then bombards Lunga (a weak effort!)-
Naval bombardment of Lunga, at 38,40
Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 2 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 16 damaged
Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 37

Lunga's airpower strikes back at the retreating IJN BB bombardment TF: [:D]

Air attack on TF at 34,37
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
B-26B Marauder x 21
Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 13 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 2
CA Haguro, on fire
CA Nachi, Bomb hits 1
CA Nachi, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yugiri
CA Mogami, on fire
CA Haguro, Bomb hits 2, on fire
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 2
DD Shikinami, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Nagatsuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Oboro, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ushio
DD Murakumo, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

The Japanese LBA out of Shortland decides to get involved!
Air attack on TF, near Shortland Island at 29,34
Allied Ships
DD Jarvis
BB Washington, Bomb hits 4
BB South Dakota
CA Portland
DD Fletcher
CL Nashville, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage


Meanwhile, at Lae...
Air attack on TF at 11,34
Allied aircraft
P-40E Kittyhawk x 3
A-20B Havoc x 12
no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Jusan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 10, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Koei Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AP Miike Maru, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AP Miike Maru, Bomb hits 9, on fire, heavy damage

And, at the end of a very confusing day, the picture below shows the disposition of forces: [8|]

His BB-led, damaged bombardment TF is caught in the Slot between Lunga's LBA and the South Dakota/Washington surface TF loitering near Vila...

Every available allied bomber will be working over the Slot tomorrow...

It looks like "Guns! Guns! Guns!" [:'(] I hope we win this one....

[Moondawggie]

11/13/42:

A major airborne brawl breaks out throughout the Solomons. I seem to have located the Yamato, Mushashi, and the CV Hiyo---now if only I can do something about it! [&:]

A submarine surface duel at night off Buka:

Japanese Ships
AP Keisho Maru, Shell hits 24, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Sculpin, Shell hits 8

An allied air raid on a IJN CA limping towards Truk:Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 3

SBD Dauntless x 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Bomb hits 1


Then the allies attack the IJN BB task force in harbor at Shortland:

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 4 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk x 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 1
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 6
CA Atago, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Fumizuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Matsukaze
CL Tenryu, Bomb hits 1, on fire


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 44

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Bomb hits 1
BB Musashi
DD Fumizuki, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CL Tenryu, on fire
CA Atago, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Matsukaze

An air raid in the waters near Buin:
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 4
P-39D Airacobra x 8

Japanese Ships
DD Hakaze
TK Nissan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Yamakaze, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

The IJN attacks shipping at Lunga:
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 93
G3M Nell x 4

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 37

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 4 destroyed
G3M Nell x 2 damaged

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

Allied Ships
AP Zeilin, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

The IJN also raids Vila:
Air attack on Vila , at 32,36

A6M2-N Rufe x 1 destroyed

F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk x 1 destroyed


Vila-based Catalinas locate an IJN carrier TF west of Lunga:

A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 3 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Suzuya, Bomb hits 1
CV Hiyo !!!!! (Darn--and me completely "carrier-less for now!)

Vila-based SBDs again raid the BB TF in Shortland harbor:

SBD Dauntless x 7 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Satsuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 3
CL Tenryu, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Matsukaze
BB Yamato


Another air attack goes in east of Buin:
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
SBD Dauntless x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 3

TK Nissan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Okikaze, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage


IJN carrier-based air tries to attack shipping offshore of Lunga, but the US DDs avoid damage, and Lunga’s CAP wins this exchange: [:-]
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
A6M3 Zero x 5
B5N Kate x 13
F4F-4 Wildcat x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 4 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged

Tomorrow should be an interesting day to see just how many cripples can't escape...

[Nicholas Bell]

Thanks for the interesting reports! I enjoy reading them. Currently I'm playing Scenario 19 vs the AI, so I see some similarities. Anyway, just want to let you know your efforts are appreciated.

[Moondawggie]

Thanks, Nick!

11/21/42:

Thunderstorms lashed the SWPAC for the last 10 days, giving every hurting ship from the last series of air/surface battles a chance to limp towards safety, with minimal threat of further damage from above.

A few air raids tear up some transports, but the center of gravity has definitely shifted from GG/PM to Shortlands/Vila.

PTs out of Vila raid Shortlands nightly, sinking some barges. There is no sign of the IJN carrier TF; it was last seen clearing Choiseul, heading north to Truk for refitting. Their surface forces also disappeared heding north between New Britain and Bougainville, apparently on the way to Truk as well.

The Solomon Sea has at last come under allied air superiority, if not air supremacy...few IJN surface assets dare voyage there, although the occasional air raid out of Rabaul doesn't hesitate to strike at PM, GG, Vila or Lunga when an opportunity arises.

My next move will be a 2-pronged approach: First, to reinforce the forward Nazdab airbase by air from PM, sending the largest pieces of equipment over the Owen Stanleys. Once Nazdab has sufficient assault strength, it will attack Lae and subsequently Finschhausen by land, rather than run Rabaul's air gauntlet with an invasion by sea out of GG.

Meanwhile in the Solomons, as Vila builds up I'm transferring the 2nd MARDIV there...from that base the next attack will either be an amphip assault directly into Shortlands, or more likely onto nearby Buin, to cut Shortlands "off on the vine," behind my forward assets. Let em' die there alone without hope of resupply or reinforcement!

Hey---when you don't have carriers to protect an invasion TF, island-hopping under the cover of LBA is the only way you can advance safely.

Here's the current AAR, and the picture in the central Solomons-------------

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/21/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Night Time Surface Combat, near Shortland Island at 29,34

A Vila based PT raid:
AG 122, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
AG 2060, Shell hits 20, on fire, heavy damage


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air attack on TF, near Vila at 32,36

A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 10 destroyed
D3A Val x 6 damaged


F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged

Allied Ships
BB South Dakota
CL Boise, Bomb hits 2
CLAA San Juan


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air attack on Shortland Island

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Shirakumo, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Samidare, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Atago, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Oyashio, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Sazanami, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Uzuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 138
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 4

[Mike Wethington]

How many B-26s (# of planes & # of squadrons) attacked Shortland and at what altitude (I assume it's a Port Attack)? This looks to be a much more successful raid than I am used to seeing flying 2-3 squadrons of B-26s at Ports.
 
Just curious.

[Moondawggie]

Thanks, Mike. The B-26s were based at Lunga, and went in at Shortlands at 6000 feet, with 95 planes/6 squadrons accompanied by about 20 various fighters on escort.

They were programmed for Naval Strike first, with Port attack as a secondary objective, with the destination of Shortland.

My best guess is that they actually pulled off a port attack, and the IJN ships docked at Shortlands really took a pasting from all of the 500 pounders they dropped. The combat replay showed a raid on a port/airfield facility, not a naval attack against individual ships.

When a bunch of damaged ships are docked in port, this technique seems quite effective, although I've never actually seen a ship hit there actually "sink.'

More to come later on----work calls.....


Moondawggie

[Mike Wethington]

Moondawggie:

Thanks for the info. I've been flying the Marauders lower and they are not doing as well. I'll up the concentrations and try again. I'd recommend positioning some subs near Shortland to pick up damaged ships redeploying to Truk.

The Japanese AI will hold the ships in port until they have no float damage, then 'truck' them back to Truk. The only ships I've managed to sink in harbor were AGs but I've bottomed enough stuff to keep them totally out of the war. Also, the more damaged ships in the harbor, the slower they all get repairs so your keeping CAs & CLs damaged by getting those DDs and AKs.

Keep 'em flying and keep us posted, your PBP is a good read.

[british exil]

Great AAR really enjoying it.
As a newbie I really find AAR's of great benefit.
Keep us posted on the war.
Your're doing a brilliant job
Thanks