Moondawggie tries to defeat the AI!

[Moondawggie]

11/22/42: More blows are exchanged...

Weather: Thunderstorms (Again!)

The USN BB bombardgroup visits Buin, and enounters an IJN transport TF:
Japanese Ships
DD Usugumo, Shell hits 50, and is sunk
DD Namikaze, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
TK Teiyo Maru, Shell hits 24, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Washington, Shell hits 3
BB South Dakota, Shell hits 2
CA Portland, Shell hits 1
CA New Orleans
CLAA San Juan, Shell hits 3
CL Boise
DD O'Bannon
DD Morris
DD Jarvis
DD Benham
DD Ellet
DD Farragut
DD Worden

Naval bombardment of Buin, at 28,33
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 42





Meanwhile, in New Guinea, an Air attack on an IJN TF near Finschhafen [;)]
Allied aircraft

A-20B Havoc x 14
A-20B Havoc x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kiso, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hagikaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 72
Japanese Ships
CL Kiso, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hayanami
CL Abukuma, Bomb hits 1



Despite the bad weather, the aircrews at Vila are able to take off and reach Shortlands: [:)]
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 4 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 3 damaged
TBF Avenger x 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk x 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Asanagi, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Unkai Maru #6, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
TK Akebono Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
TK Nippon Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Unkai Maru #6, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asanagi, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tenryu Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
TK Nippon Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Sazanami, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Atago, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
DD Ushio, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yudachi, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Samidare, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 122
Guns lost 1
Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 4



In exchange, the Japansese send an air raid towards the retreating USN BB bombardment TF: [:(]

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk x 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk x 1 damaged
P-38G Lightning x 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Washington, Bomb hits 3
BB South Dakota


And back in New Guinea, Allied LBA finds some more IJN ships near Finschhafen

Japanese Ships
CL Kiso, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 106
AP Unkai Maru #6, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
TK Nippon Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage


So it goes. Elements of the 7th Australian Division are being airlifted unopposed to Nazdab, and Vila continues to be well stocked each turn by fast TFs out of Lunga.

A few weeks of build-up should lead to some rather interesting offensive action on my part.

[Moondawggie]

On 11/23/42, PTs raid Shortlands at night, sinking a few IJN AGs. Recon during the day shows that Shortlands has repaired all airfield damage, and suddenly 93 fighters and 50+ IJN dive bombers are on the ground there-----maybe he's looking to attack my transports in the slot, at Vila, and at Lunga.

I have some minesweepers at Vila and the Washington/South Dakota BB TF coming up the slot; time for the BBs to go into Shortland on another Bombardment mission? [&:]

Voila!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/24/42
Weather: Overcast
Night Time Surface Combat, near Shortland Island at 29,34

Japanese Ships
AG 111, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AG 354, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
AG 362, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AG 369, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AG 2058, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
AG 2064, Shell hits 6, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Washington
BB South Dakota
CA Portland
CA New Orleans
CLAA San Juan
CL Boise
DD O'Bannon
DD Morris
DD Jarvis
DD Benham
DD Ellet
DD Farragut
DD Worden


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Shortland Island, at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 23 destroyed [:D]
A6M3 Zero x 27 damaged [:D]
D3A Val x 2 destroyed [:D]
D3A Val x 4 damaged [:D]

Japanese Ships
DD Sazanami, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Atago, Shell hits 2, heavy damage
DD Yudachi, Shell hits 2, heavy damage
DD Shirakumo, Shell hits 2, heavy damage [:D][:D][:D]

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 176
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 74
Port hits 7
Port fuel hits 1

Allied Ships
BB Washington, Shell hits 2 (no biggie!) [:D]

Ouch: all in all, a tremendous thumping on all those IJN planes being readied for attack missions in the morning! [:)]


Then dawn breaks:
Air attack on Shortland Island , at 29,34

Allied aircraft
B-25D Mitchell x 18 at 6000 feet
B-26B Marauder x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 9 destroyed
D3A Val x 1 destroyed [:D]

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Atago, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 218
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 14
Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 1

All in all all, a rotten day for the IJN!!!

The Shortlands airfield isn't looking too hot, and my BBs are refueled and reloaded at Vila---maybe it's time to pay one last visit!!!

[Moondawggie]

12/25/42:
Weather: Clear

A lot has happened in the last month.

My 2-pronged strategy worked pretty well. The Aussies attacked Lae overland after being airlifted into Nazdab, and the Japanese forces have been driven back to Finschafen. Lae has been built up into a level 6 airbase, and now houses 225 SBDs and 63 TBFs on loan from SOPAC, as well as 117 LBs. The IJn tried to attack Lae twice, first with an air attack from the Junyo and Ryujo, which resulted in some USN APs/AKs geting roughed up in port, but in return Lae's airpower hit back, with the result that the Junyo was heavily damaged and the Ryujo sunk, along with a lot of DDs.

Last turn the IJN sent in a BB surface TF to Finschafen; Lae's air pulled a Prince of Wals/Repulse style airraid on these guys, who were without LRCAP...

For the loss of one TBF, the IJN pays a heavy price:

Air attack on TF, near Finschhafen at 11,33
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 107
TBF Avenger x 32
Hudson x 34
Beaufort x 27
P-40E Kittyhawk x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 12
A-20B Boston x 8
A-20B Havoc x 21


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 3 damaged
TBF Avenger x 1 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 2 damaged
Beaufort x 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 33, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage [:D]
CL Kuma, Bomb hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ayanami, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 22, Torpedo hits 5, on fire [:D]
DD Oshio, Bomb hits 2
DD Ikazuchi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asagiri
DD Yunagi, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Natsugumo, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Mikazuki
DD Kazegumo, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yunagi, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kazegumo, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
CL Kuma, Shell hits 52, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Wakaba, Shell hits 8, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Ikazuchi, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Natsugumo, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asagiri
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Ayanami, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Meanwhile, I've bypassed Shortland, and bases up and running at Buka and Buin. I'll bomb Shortland for a few more weeks; since they are now cut off from supply, they should get pretty disrupted, and be a set up for an amphibious assault.

Here's the big picture:

[Moondawggie]

1/7/43

Ah---a new year, and a new level 2 airfield at Buka, conveniently located only 6 hexes from Rabaul. And me with 3 experienced P-38 squadrons transferred to Buka, all with plenty of range and loitering time to reach Rabaul, and play with the zeros who liked to duke it out with unescorted allied bombers:

As they say in Red Flag, fight's on!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/07/43

Weather: Clear


Air attack on Rabaul , at 21,28

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 85
A6M3 Zero x 7
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 20

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 52

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 5 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning x 1 destroyed
P-38G Lightning x 3 damaged

1LT K.Schmax of 36th FS is credited with kill number 4

LTJG T.Muranaka of DIII-1 Daitai is KILLED



Air attack on Rabaul , at 21,28

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 81
A6M3 Zero x 7
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 27

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 43

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 7 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning x 3 destroyed
P-38G Lightning x 5 damaged

CPT S.Greer of 36th FS is credited with kill number 7

LTJG N.Kawakami of DIII-1 Daitai is KILLED


Not quite like the Datai's glory days over PM and GG against rookie P-39s and P-400s.


Meanwhile, the rested and undisrupted 1st MARDIV is on it's way to Vila, to join up with the 2nd MARDIV, and then fast transport into Shortland.

So far 1943 looks quite promising...

[Moondawggie]

Ah, January in the Southwest Pacific... balmy breezes, fair seas, and preparations for carnage everywhere...

1/13/43:

In the Solomons, the 1st MARDIV made a virtually unopposed landing over the past few nights via fast transports from Vila onto Shortland. (Amazing what sending in the minesweepers and bombers can do in just one week to a base once its been cut off from resupply!)

The trapped 10,000+ Japanese troopers there can only mount an assault strength 6 bombardment attack on the beachhead; not a single Jarhead is injured.

Ground combat at Shortland Island
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 3140 troops, 108 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 14626 troops, 102 guns, 98 vehicles

No USMC casualties!

Next turn, the marines will probe with a deliberate attack on their defenses. When the IJA strength is reduced to zero, I'll turn the tankers and riflemen loose in a shock attack, and hopefully send all of the defenders to the Yakasuni Shrine...

Meanwhile, in New Guinea, the Australian 7th Division has completed its march from Lae to Finschaufen. The IJA forces there have been trying to evacuate via APs and AGs; the Lae-based airpower has torn them up badly...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/13/43
Air attack on TF, near Finschhafen at 11,33
Japanese Ships
AP Shintoku Maru, Shell hits 28, Bomb hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tokai Maru, Shell hits 12, Bomb hits 20, on fire, heavy damage
AP Shinsei Maru, Shell hits 48, Bomb hits 9, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 201

Air attack on TF, near Finschhafen at 11,33
Japanese Ships
AP Tokai Maru, Shell hits 56, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP Shinsei Maru, Shell hits 8, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Shintoku Maru, Shell hits 20, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The IJA counterattacks the Aussie's incursion:

Ground combat at Finschhafen

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16259 troops, 158 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 28501 troops, 155 guns, 10 vehicles

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 325
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 102

The IJA counterattack at Finschaufen fails. Next turn will start the prep on these guys for the final clean-out as well...

[Moondawggie]

1/14/43

The 1st MarDiv probes Shortland's defenders with a deliberate attack: sometimes you get a lot more than you expected to:

Ground combat at Shortland Island

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13704 troops, 112 guns, 98 vehicles

Defending force 6972 troops, 177 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Allied assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Shortland Island base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 7851
Guns lost 153

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 10

Take home lesson: cutting the enemy off from supply makes all the fortifications in the world worthless!

I've learned something here: 10 USMC casualties to 7800+ for the IJA---somehow this seems much more satisfactory than landing on the beach without warning, and trying to pull off a costly shock attack on the evening of the landing.

Meanwhile, Finschafen will be a bit tougher, but the trapped IJA forces there seem equally doomed:

Ground combat at Finschhafen
Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3779 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 28308 troops, 155 guns, 10 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 7

Ground combat at Finschhafen
Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24867 troops, 155 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 19466 troops, 192 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 564
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 274

Meanwhile, this is one pretty looking map of the Solomons:

[Mike Wethington]

Huah MoonDawggie, Huah

[Moondawggie]

Thanks, Mike! But it ain't over until it's over...

Time to regroup, refit, resupply, and then beat the stuffing out of Rabaul and (the linchpin) Kavieng...and then, just maybe Truk!

I can't wait until my F4Fs get upgraded to Corsairs and Hellcats---and I would really appreciate it if Pearl Harbor would release some CVs and CVLs my way---3 CVEs aren't enough to cut it with Shikoku still alive somewhere...Those IJN Daitais are still very lethal...

[Moondawggie]

1/26/43



The Australian 6th and 7th Divisions make a series of deliberate attacks on Finschafen after marching overland from Lae. LBA hammers the IJA troops there, fortifications are systematically reduced to zero, and ultimately the last IJA bastion in Papua falls:

Ground combat at Finschhafen
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 26515 troops, 155 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 17537 troops, 184 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Finschhafen base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 10124
Guns lost 85
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 60
Guns lost 1


The next day, allied forces shock attack the remaining Japanese troopers caught in the hex:

Ground combat at Finschhafen
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 26499 troops, 154 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 3691 troops, 34 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 20 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 5019
Guns lost 42
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 84

In all, the IJA suffers over 15,000 casualties in the final 2 days, compared to 150 for the allies.

Onward!

[Moondawggie]

2/7/43

One problem with taking Finschafen and Lae is that they need a lot of supplies and support to maintain the troops who captured those bases. So, I send a massive supply/transport TF commanded by Kincaid up to Lae loaded with goodies. Knowing that I would be well within range of Rabaul's LBA, I cover it with Spruance's carrier TF consisting of 3 CVE's---only 90 planes, but I manage to get to Finschafen unscathed, and start disembarking the supplies and reinforcements.

Then, who should come blasting down the Truk to Kavieng freeway but the Shokaku. [X(]

I've swarmed all of my subs into the Bismarck Sea, hoping for a lucky shot at Shokaku:

Standing about 7 hexes away from Finschafen, she sends an air attack against the ships there, which is beaten back with only minor damage by Spruance's Wildcats and LRCAP from P-40Es out of Lae. All the transports head south, CVE's in tow, trying to get clear of the Vals and Kates:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/06/43

Air attack on TF at 12,34
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
A6M3 Zero x 4
D3A Val x 22
B5N Kate x 12
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 20
P-40E Warhawk x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 7 destroyed
D3A Val x 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Adelong
AK Bellatrix
AK Etamin, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Alchiba
DD Wilson, Bomb hits 2, on fireAK Alcyone


Then the gutsy litte S-40 makes my day! [:D]

Sub attack at 18,27

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
Allied Ships
SS S-40

So, Shokaku has to be slowed down some: I send every SBD, B-26 and B-25 I have to Buka (a mere level 2 airfield; can they operate out of there?), to get them in range of Shokaku's last known position, and do the same with SWPACs Havocs and Bostons to Finschafen. The heavies (B-17s, Hudsons, etc) are poised at Lae. My CVEs are so slow and underplaned that I don't risk having them close on Shokaku and Rabaul: damn I could use a CV or two!

The next day may gets quite exciting...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/07/43

Weather: Clear

Air attack on TF at 18,27

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
A6M3 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 3
SBD Dauntless x 6
P-38G Lightning x 12
B-25J Mitchell x 3
B-26B Marauder x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 3 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 3 damaged
P-38G Lightning x 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 5 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 11 damaged

LCDR S. Komachi of EI-1 Daitai is KILLED

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 1, on fire [:D]
CA Tone, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 1
CL Tama
CA Suzuya, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Akikaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire

And who should be escorting the Shokaku but the Ryuho!

Air attack on TF at 18,27
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 6
Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 3

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryuho

Another allied air raid from Buka goes in for the money shot!

Air attack on TF at 18,27
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 6
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 13
P-38G Lightning x 9
B-25J Mitchell x 7
B-26B Marauder x 6

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Isokaze, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Akikaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage [:D]
DD Shiokaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Tama, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Tone, Bomb hits 1, on fire

And the Lae/Finschafen's airdales are right behind:

Air attack on TF at 18,27
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 6
Allied aircraft
Hudson x 8
A-20B Havoc x 6

no losses
Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 7 damaged
A-20B Havoc x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shiokaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Tama, on fire, heavy damage


The Bismarck Sea is a real mess at this time. I hope the clear weather holds for one more day, and the subs lock onto their prey...

[Moondawggie]

On 2/8/43, the Shokaku ran out of luck.

LBA air from Buka (B-25s and -26s) found her one hex out of Kavieng. The escorting P-38s brushed aside the remaining CAP, and 45 twin engine bombers put 31 (count 'em, 31!) 500 pound bombs into her tough hide. 2 huge secondary ammo explosions, and one secondary fuel storage explosion sealed the deal; by the time By the time LBA from Lae (B-17s and Hudsons) appeared overhead, there was nothing left to drop on.


The next day, both the chasing subs and LBA from Buka/Lae caught the other cripples from Shokaku's task force, as well as a fast transport TF near Kavieng:

02/09/43
Japanese Ships

CL Tama, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS Tarpon

Sub attack near Meteiai at 17,24
Japanese Ships
CL Tama, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage [8D]
Allied Ships
SS Tarpon

The Tarpon wins that duel!

Air attack on TF, near Kavieng at 18,24

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M3 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 51
B-25J Mitchell x 20
B-26B Marauder x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning x 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Michishio
DD Hatsukaze, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Arashi, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kiyonami, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 80

Air attack on TF, near Kavieng at 18,24
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 4
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 20

Japanese Ships
DD Michishio, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shimakaze
DD Arashi, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatsukaze, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 125

Air attack on TF, near Kavieng at 18,24

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M3 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 35
B-25J Mitchell x 9
B-26B Marauder x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning x 3 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Kiyonami, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Shimakaze, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Hatsukaze, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Arashi, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 165


All in all, a very nasty outcome for the IJN in the Bismarck Sea: the only 2 USN ships damaged by Shokaku's airwing made it back to port safely in Finschafen; they are badly damaged, but the fires are out, the floatation damage is being repaired, and they will both ultimately back to Noumea and then Pearl, where they will likely sit out the rest of this scenario.

Here's the IJN damage update:

[Moondawggie]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/20/43

Weather: Clear

After the demise of the Shokaku, Pearl Harbor rewarded me with the return of the Lexington. She forms a one CV air TF and left Noumea for the formerly unknown waters between Rabaul and Truk. Meanwhile, Spruance's 3 CVE TF moved to Finschafen, where it provides air cover for some fast transports landing troops in Saidor, which falls easily, costing the IJA over 800 casualties.

Next, more Finschafen troops are lifted to Madang. Air from Lae keeps the IJA troopers under pressure, but they still shock attack the Aussie invaders on the day of landing---unsuccessfully!

Ground combat at Madang

Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 7676 troops, 108 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 5593 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 193
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 102

Madang should fall within the next few days, now that I'm assured of holding onto the beachhead.

Meanwhile, the Lex finds some tankers and APs on the resupply route from Truk to Rabaul to Kavieng/Rabaul. They are easy game for Lexington's SBDs and TBDs. A few weak raids of unescorted Nells and Betties out of Truk counterattrack the Lex, but the with 80% CAp assigned, the 36-plane strong F4F VF-2 squadron doesn't let anyone score.

The next day the IJN sends a weak air TF build around the CVL Ruyho to challenge the Lex; the Lex spots the Ruyho first:


Air attack on TF at 20,10
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
SBD Dauntless x 30
TBF Avenger x 18

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 8 damaged
TBF Avenger x 3 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryuho, Bomb hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
CL Tenryu, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Mikuma

The Lex wins round one at little cost! [:)]


The Ruyho air wing counterpunches; 2 Kates make their way through the CAP, but neither scores...

Air attack on TF at 25,14
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 5
B5N Kate x 3
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 2 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged

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

Allied Ships
CV Lexington


A miss is as good as a mile! [:D]


Let's see if the Ruyho can make it back to port; I'm laying odds that she is done for...[:-]


Meanwhile, my LBA in Buka (now a level 4 airfield) continues to clobber Rabaul...

Air attack on Rabaul , at 21,28

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 47
F4U-1 Corsair x 16
P-40E Warhawk x 15
P-38G Lightning x 53
B-25J Mitchell x 59
B-26B Marauder x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 5 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3 destroyed
J1N1-R Irving x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell x 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 419

Airbase hits 14
Runway hits 155

The next step will be to build up a New Britain base in a hex adjacent to Rabaul, fast transport in a few divisions after first staging them at Buka, and then attack Rabaul overland like I did Lunga/Taivu, rather than risk a direct Amphibious attack directly into Rabaul...

[Mike Wethington]

Moondawggie:

Could you tell us the altitude your flying your LBAs (especially your medium bombers) against Rabaul? I'm not gettting a lot of success on ground units flying similar numbers at 6000 feet.
Mike

[Moondawggie]

Mike, the medium bombers (B-25s and -26s) are going in at 5000 feet. (The B-17s go in at 20,000.)

They medium bomber pilots are very experienced at this point in the war; average experience level is in the low 80s, ranging from 72 to a high of 98. [&o]

Good luck!

[Moondawggie]

3/4/43

Relatively quiet the past several days in the SOPAC.

Buka is being flooded with supplies and land forces, which are just as rapidly fast transported to Ganai, the land hex adjacent to Rabaul. Seabees have finished a level 1 port there, and are working on an airfield. LRCAP from Buka covers these troops, but no IJA/IJN airpower has yet attacked this outpost. My only problem right now is a lack of base force support for the troops.

The Lex continues to hunt in the waters between Kavieng and Truk, but pickings are getting slim---only an occasional IJN DD shows up on the search patterns.

In SWPAC's sector, aussie and USA troops fast transported from Finschafen grew in numbers at Madang, and a series of deliberate attacks brought the fortification level down to zero.

The rest is history:

Ground combat at Madang

Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 15271 troops, 107 guns, 49 vehicles
Defending force 7883 troops, 101 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Madang base !!! [:D][:D][:D]
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 3516
Guns lost 17

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 32

Tomorrow I'll shock attack the survivors in Madang, start bombing Wewak from Lae, marshall a bunch of forces at Madang, and then start the move on Wewak. With enemy airpower so weakened, it will be time to try my luck there with a direct amhibious assault.

Here's the current map on New Guinea:

[Moondawggie]

3/13/43

After refueling and refitting at Lunga following her last foray into the waters south of Truk, the Lexington TF ventures up there again to see what she can scare up.

On 3/11 and 3/12, she whups up on some TKs and APs trying to supply Kavieng, then heads further west to see if anyone is moving towards the Admiralties.

Who should show up to the northeast but an IJN carrier TF centered around CVL Hosho. Weather is clear, and both TFs detect each other at midday. The Lex hits first with SBDs and F4Fs, brushes aside the IJN CAP, and drops ten 1000-pounders onto Hosho's thin decks. In turn, 3 major secondary explosions cook off; one fuel storage, one ammo storage, and one "massive explosive damage."

Next, Hosho's strike comes in on the Lex, but 80% of VF-2 is on CAP duty, so I have 28 F4Fs against 6 zeros and 10 Kates. My CAP nails 2 zeros, and badly disrupts the Kates; 3 Kates fall to the Wildcats, 7 are gunned down by AAA, and not one Kate scores a hit. 2 Wildcats fall defending the Lex...

Still, although Hosho is a hurting puppy, she remains afloat and under power, and is only 12 hexes from Truk, making her way slowly north at the end of the day.

The Lex charges north to close on her, into the range of Truks LBA, in an attempt to take Hosho down once and for all---I'm thinking that Truk can't have much left in the way of attack planes. Tomorrow I will learn the correct answer to that question. [&:]

3/14/43

The Lex finds both Hosho and another IJN supply TF centered around a CS. [X(]

The SBDs strike northeast: [&o]

Air attack on TF at 21,10
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
SBD Dauntless x 17
no losses

Japanese Ships
CVL Hosho, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage [:)]

(I don't think she's going to make Truk!)

Then, it's SBDs to the northwest:

Air attack on TF at 20,8
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 6
no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Bengal Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CS Chitose, Bomb hits 1 [:D]

Air attack on TF at 20,8
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 14
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Ujigawa Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Bengal Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CS Chitose, Bomb hits 2, on fire [:D]

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 87

Altogher, a satisfying day for the naval aviators! [8D]

Meanwhile, Ganai is fully stocked with over 3 well-rested divisions: next turn they will begin the march overland into Rabaul---

[Moondawggie]

Since the last post, the Chitose sank on 3/15 . An IJN surface task force raided Madang, but caused little damage. They tried getting away to Kavieng, but I sent two BB-led surface TFs out of Buka to head them off; they then drove east into Rabaul----bad decision; Buka's LBA caught them there before they could dock, and every IJN BB, CA, CL, and DD seeking shelter in Rabaul ate some thousand pounders. The Lex came south and also tore into them with SBDs and TBFs; now they are heavily damaged and sitting in port. 2 IJN CAs sank in Rabaul harbor outright, along with 4 DDs.

Then on 3/24, my land forces finished the march from Ganai into Rabaul. Tomorrow I'll lead off with a bombardment attack to see how strong the infantry there are after weeks of bombing and no supplies. The trapped ships there are in for a very nasty surprise.

Rabaul is going down hard!

[:-]

[Moondawggie]

3/25/43

One thing you can generally count on is that once land forces tear into a hex, anybody who really doesn't have to stay there usually hits the road ASAP. [:-]

Today is a perfect example: some IJN DDs hiding in port at Rabaul decide now is the time to bug out, but some Buka-based PTs interrupt their hasty exit: [X(]

Weather: Overcast

Night Time Surface Combat, near Rabaul at 21,28
Japanese Ships
DD Onami
DD Nokaze

Allied Ships
PT 123
PT 120
PT 146, Shell hits 10, and is sunk [:@]
PT 151
PT 152
PT 157
PT 162
PT 163
PT 167
PT 168
PT 169
PT 170
PT 171
PT 176

Still, the PTs slow them down, and when dawn breaks, Buka's LBA finds them at sea, out of ideas, but with some aircover from Rabaul's Japanese flyboys :

Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 21,28

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 4
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 2
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 85
F4U-1 Corsair x 42
SBD Dauntless x 163 Damn! I'd hate to have to watch 160+ SBDs drop on me!
B-25J Mitchell x 48
B-26B Marauder x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Nokaze, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Onami, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage

Ouch---all the sudden losing a PT seems acceptable. [:)]

After the destroyer action, I launch my first deliberate attack at the IJA land forces in Rabaul: it is going to be a very tough nut to crack. Still, with air supremacy and sea-lane superiority, I think that ultimately 40,000+ IJA troopers are going to be removed from the equation...

[Moondawggie]

The land battle AAR for 3/25/43 at Rabaul:

Ground combat at Rabaul

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7009 troops, 76 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 94019 troops, 791 guns, 427 vehicles

No casualties!

Ground combat at Rabaul

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 59216 troops, 677 guns, 289 vehicles

Defending force 46891 troops, 452 guns, 19 vehicles

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 325

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 381
This is going to b a slog... [8|]

[Moondawggie]

I'm back after a week touring the Seattle area: great salmon and halibut (the Copper River salmon run was in!), and a great time checking out all of the planes at the Museum of Flight at Boeing Field. I got to walk thru the first Air Force 1 (saw the lavatory where Nikita Kruschiev and JFK got to take care of businesss) as well as walk thru a Concorde. The Red Barn had a great display of the Wright Brothers paraphenalia, and the WW1 and WW2 static displays were impressive, as were the more recent aircraft---Dark Star is pretty wild looking, and I've always liked the looks of the "Habu" (what we called the SR-71 when they seemed to appear near Kadena Air Force base on Okinawa).

Check it out if you ever get the chance!

Back to 4/2/43:

The IJA is well entrenched at Rabaul: despite my having 4 Divisions landed there, the fortifications are at 9, so each deliberate attack ends up with each side losing about 500 men, and no reduction in fortifications---allied assault odds 0 to 1. So, right now a stalemate.

I'm going to bring in more and more troops, bomb and bombard Rabaul mercilessly (the thunderstorms of late haven't helped the B-17s/B-24s do their jobs), and ultimately take down that base.



Ground combat at Rabaul

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6730 troops, 65 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 97370 troops, 862 guns, 426 vehicles (Good grief: I have a lot of men there!) [8|]


Ground combat at Rabaul

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 59843 troops, 835 guns, 36 vehicles

Defending force 44035 troops, 430 guns, 19 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 12