The Turning Point: floydg (A) & Coach Z (J) -- Luganville liberated

[floydg]

May 18, 1942

Highlights: CV Yorktown sunk; third attempt to take Lunga fails.

• Japanese troops continue to disembark at the beaches of Attu Island.
• Japanese troops also continue unloading at the beaches outside Port Moresby. Coastal guns get some hits on an escorting MSW and DD
• Outside Pearl Harbor, an ASW TF of DD attack and sink the SS I-1 with depth charges.
• Allied ASW TF’s at Kodiak and outside Columbo also score some hits on subs.
• A Japanese surface combat TF containing 2xBB, 4xCA, CL and 4xDD pay a night-time visit to Thursday Island. There, they catch an AK and 2xAP unloading and supporting operations. The three merchantmen are quickly sunk, however, it was reported that the CA Mikuma took a small arms hit.
• 50xSally bomb Kunming. 12xI-16c attempt to get to the bombers, but 36xOscar keep them back.
• 21xAnn, 33xSally, 18xLily escorted by 15xOscar attack Kohima. Only 3xMohawkIV are available to counter the attack, all of which are destroyed.
• The CV Yorktown spots the CV Kaga and CV Akagi by Ndini. A strike of 17xSBD escorted by 7xF4F-4 is launched. All SBD are shot down by 34xZero. The Japanese counter-attack in two waves. The first wave blows thru the 15 fighters on CAP and scores numerous hits on the CV Yorktown and the CA Portland. AA does do some damage, however, and more than 2/3 of the attacking planes are shot down or damaged. The second wave finishes off the CV Yorktown and puts on bomb in the CA New Orleans.
• B-26B from Dutch Harbor attack the Japanese TF in the area. One attack goes after the CV Soryu and the second against the BB Ise. Neither scores a hit.
• 11xBlenheim attack a transport TF at Akyab escorted by 15xOscar. One Blenheim scores a hit on the AP Seiwa Maru.
• An Australian/American SC TF is spotted west of Port Moresby and 17xBetty from Rabaul attack. The CL Hobart takes a torpedo hit.
• The Japanese troops SE of Honan make another attack, now that they feel the odds are favorable to them and they now number over 120,000 men. However, the 30,000 Chinese hold their ground and almost 1000 Japanese casualties are reported to under 300 Chinese.
• The Japanese 88th Naval Guard attacks the Americal Division at Lunga. It appears that they were not well-prepared and 282 casualties are reported. The Americal division (secretly reinforced overnight by a Fast Transport TF) suffers two wounded as their mortar exploded due to a malfunction. Major Hamilton orders an attack and the 88th Naval Guard retreats to Tassaforonga.

Analysis: I got lulled into a false sense of security that the CV Shokaku and Zuikaku were gone from the Solomons and I could move the Yorktown up to hit his Lunga invasion forces again. I didn't think the CV Kaga and Akagi were in the area and got caught flat-footed. My first (and only) strike on his carriers didn't even make it past the CAP, which just added to the injury. But at least I was able to sneak in and get some more troops to Lunga, which really burnt up Coach Z, since his carriers were there waiting and never saw me sneak in and out of Lunga. Of course, now these Fast Transport ships are in range of the two carriers.

[floydg]

May 19, 1942

Highlights: Paratroop drop at Ndini; invasion of Kiska begins

• Troops continue to unload at Port Moresby. In the afternoon, APD APD-6 is reportedly hit by coastal gun fire.
• The SS S-31 is depth charged from 6xDD, 1xCL escorting a bombardment TF near Dutch Harbor. The sub takes 3 hits. The bombardment TF continues on and bombards Dutch Harbor (4xBB, 1xCL, 6xDD) causing significant damage to the port and other facilities. Coastal guns report 1 hit on the DD Hatsuharu.
• Two small ASW TF between Kodiak and Anchorage find the SS I-2 and report a total of 5 depth charge hits.
• The SS S-38 puts a torpedo in the AP Midori Maru carrying troops at just SW of Gili-Gili (suspected to be more troops for the Port Moresby invasion) and takes 5 depth charge hits by the escorts.
• A small bombardment of Attu Island by 1xDD and 1xCL cause a small amount of damage.
• A 4xDMS ASW TF scores 10 hits on the SS I-154 at Efate, sinking it.
• Japanese troops land at Kiska Island.
• 56 Japanese bombers attack Kohima causing decent damage to the airbase.
• The CV Kaga and CV Akagi’s planes attack two surface fleets near Vanikolo. The CA Astoria, CA Portland, CL Leander, DD Porter are sunk and several other ships suffer significant damage.
• The AP Chaumont is torpedoed by SS I-157 by Wallis Island. Escorts report 3 depth charge hits on the sub.
• SE of Honan, the Japanese attack again. This time, the Chinese break and retreat to Honan. The casualties are 1300+ for the Japanese and 450+ for the Chinese.
• Japanese attack at Port Moresby. The Japanese 65th Brigade, 21st Mixed Brigade and Kure 7th SNLF attack. Their combat engineers reduce some of the fortifications.
• NW of Naning, the Chinese attack, but the Japanese are ready and the Chinese lose 400+ to the Japanese 100+.
• Allies at Thursday Island attempt to root out remnants of the Japanese defenders. Some casualties are reported.
• Americans make an ill-advised attack on the invaders at Attu Island and are easily repulsed.
• Japanese paratroopers land at Ndini, but the defending base force holds their ground.

Analysis: The ships returning to Noumea from the Fast Transport mission to Lunga were hit by carrier planes, as was the TF which used to escort the CV Yorktown. The latter of which, I made an ill-advised rush to engage the Japanese in a surface action, but didn't get close enough at night and got slammed during the day. And now he's using his paratroopers again, this time at Ndini, which only has a portion of a BF.

[floydg]

May 20, 1942

Highlights: Japan takes Kiska

• Troops continue to unload at Port Moresby.
• Japanese troops continue to unload at Attu Island.
• Sub SS I-18 off the coast of Trincomalee torpedoes the AK Empire Hasksbill and then surfaces to score two hits with the deck gun.
• A Japanese bombing run on Kunming shoots down 5 fighters from the AVG as well as 2 Chinese fighters, at the cost of only 2 Oscars.
• 6xBlenheimIV bomb Akyab and are met by 20xOscar. Only 4 bombers make it thru and cause no damage.
• Japanese carrier aircraft attack the Allied cruisers near the Santa Cruz Islands again. CA New Orleans takes numerous bomb hits, but stays afloat.
• Japanese attack at Port Moresby, taking 300+ casualties to 100+ of the defenders.
• Some Japanese at Thursday Island are rooted out.
• Japanese troops take Kiska Island.
• Diamond Harbor expands the airfield (now 3)

Analysis: Japan now has a good foothold in the Aleutians.

[floydg]

May 21, 1942

Highlights: Japan takes Attu

• Troops continue to unload at Attu Island and the Maizaru 1st SNLF and elements of the 7th Division successfully launch an attack on the American defenders, taking the base and all surviving defenders prisoner.
• More troops land at Port Moresby, now including the 8th Army HQ. Japanese bombers soften up the defenses with some bombing runs, but cause little disruption.
• Japanese bomb Changsha with minor results, except for shooting down 8xI-16c.
• Japanese bomb Kunming causing moderate damage to the airbase and destroying 4 aircraft.
• LB-30 bomb Myitkyina, resulting in minor damage.
• 17xAnn and 18xMary escorted by 14xOscar bomb Imphal and are met with 10xHurricane. Three planes are lost on both sides and minor damage is caused to the airbase.
• Japanese carrier aircraft again attack the retreating Allied cruiser and destroyer TFs 240nm west of Luganville. The DD Dewey and CL Achilles are sunk, CA Minneapolis and DD Morris heavily damaged.
• 58xNell escorted by 42xZero bomb Dimapur. 8xHurricaneII intercept and 6 are shot down. Some damage to the planes on the ground is reported.
• More Japanese paratroopers are dropped at Ndini with no significant results. Carrier aircraft attack the fragment of the Americal Division at the base causing a small number of casualties. Reinforcements by air are intercepted by Japanese fighters.

Analysis: Port Moresby looks lost soon. I attempted to go after his carrier TF with my cruisers, which was a big mistake and I lost a bunch of ships.

[floydg]

May 22, 1942

Highlights: Attack at Port Moresby; Dutch Harbor bombarded

• Troops continue to swell the beaches by Port Moresby. Bombing runs are made to soften up the Allied defenses. Japanese forces later attack with poor results (25767 attackers on 15914 defenders, suffering 546 casualties to 198 Allied).
• Dutch Harbor is bombarded by the Japanese (4xBB, CL, 5xDD). Coastal guns report 4 hits on the DD Yudichi. Over 500 casualties are reported, along with assorted damage to the facilities. Carrier aircraft also strike the base, destroying some planes on the field and causing more facility damage.
• B-17s from Australia hit the TFs outside Port Moresby. In multiple strikes, all that can be reported was 1 bomb hit on the CL Tenryu.
• Dimapur is bombed by 38xNell, causing minor damage, but CAP shoots down a Zero and a Nell (at a loss of 2xHurricaneII).
• Wyndham is bombed with minor damage.
• Japanese fighters from carriers off the coast of Ndini continue to intercept Allied troops being flown in to Ndini.

Analysis: I have been rushing in as much as I can of a Regimental Combat Team from Kodiak to Dutch Harbor, but it may not be enough. My three CV at Pearl Harbor (Enterprise, Hornet and Saratoga) and a surface force with one BB are on their way up to Dutch Harbor and should be there soon. I also had the 2nd USMC Division loaded up on AKs and headed to Pearl, but diverted them north as well and they should be at Dutch Harbor in about 5 days.
I also have intelligence that an armored unit is moving to Kendari, so he must be staging for something in Northern Australia or PNG. I am moving up some troops from the east coast of Australia to Darwin.

[floydg]

Is this a readable (and understandable) format for my AAR? Any suggestions for improvements would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Terminus]

I'd say it's actually a nice change, although an additional screenshot or two would further enhance the experience. Certainly beats reading pasted-in combat reports...[8|]

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: Terminus

I'd say it's actually a nice change, although an additional screenshot or two would further enhance the experience. Certainly beats reading pasted-in combat reports...[8|]

Thanks. I have some screenshots coming up (May 27 and 28). Yeah, the combatreport.txt AARs give my scrollwheel a lot of exercise.

[floydg]

May 23, 1942

Highlights: Invasion of Dutch Harbor begins

• More Japanese troops unload at Port Moresby.
• The SS Seal by Kendari is attacked by an ASW TF and causes some damage to the sub.
• The SS Sturgeon by Balikpapan undergoes numerous ASW attacks after launching several (non-detonating or non-hitting) torpedoes at a tanker.
• The DD Bulmer is hit by a torpedo at Wallis Island. The TF reports a possible hit on the I-157.
• Over 60 Japanese bombers hit Changsha, causing damage to the facilities.
• An air combat over Wuchow between 31xOscar and 9xI-153c resulted in two I-153c shot down.
• 53xNell bomb Dimapur. CAP of 3xHurricaneII and 4xP-40E intercept 39xZero. One Zero is shot down at a cost of one of each Allied fighter. Minor damage is caused to the airfield and 3 bombers are destroyed on the ground.
• B-17s from Australia hit the TFs at Port Moresby. One bomb hit is made on the CL Tenryu. 4xP-40E from Thursday Island follow in another attack, but three are shot down by the 25 plane CAP (now including some A6M3 Zero's).
• Japanese invasion of Dutch Harbor begins. One AP hits a mine and coastal guns score hits on two AP, a PC and a PG. The Japanese 7th Division unloads.
• Coastwatchers report that Shortlands airfield has expanded to level 3.

Analysis: Okay, so the invasion of Dutch Harbor has begun. My carriers are one day out from there, so I may be able to save Dutch Harbor.

[floydg]

May 24, 1942

Highlights: Japan invades Ndini and Luganville; Carrier battle by Dutch Harbor

• Japanese continue to unload troops at Dutch Harbor. 2xBB, CL and 3xDD bombard, causing some damage to the facilities. Coastal gunners report hitting the BB Kirishima once and then later scoring a hit on a PG escorting the transports.
• More Japanese troops unload at Port Moresby and more softening bombing runs are made. B-17s from Australia attempt to hit the ships, but none do
• Japanese invasion of Ndini begins.
• Near Soerabaja, the SS Permit is attacked by 3xDD after a failed torpedo attack on an AP. A direct hit on the sub is scored by ASW.
• It is reported that PG Ikunta Maru hit a mine at Marcus Island.
• Japanese bomb Changsha again, causing some more damage. CAP was able to shoot down 4xOscar.
• Japanese then bomb Yunan, causing minor damage.
• A small bombing raid is made on Kohima and the 6xP-40E on CAP shoot down a Sally and a Lily.
• Aircraft from the CV Enterprise, Hornet and Saratoga attack the ships by Dutch Harbor. The transports are missed, but it is reported that there were 11 bomb hits on the BB Hiei and 6 on the BB Kirishima. Japanese carriers retaliate, scoring two bomb hits on the Enterprise, a bomb on the Saratoga, and a bomb hit on the Hornet. CAP was able to shoot down 21xVal and 10xKate.
• ASW TF attacks Japanese sub I-175 NW of Pearl Harbor and scores 5 direct hits, sinking it.
• Japanese invasion of Luganville begins.
• A Chinese Corps SE of Honan is forced to retreat.
• Japanese forces at Thursday Island are wiped out.

Anaysis: Our first carrier battle and I think I came out in the red on that one. The Japanese carriers were out of range for my carrier planes (he loves that damn fifth hex), so I went after his BB at Dutch Harbor. His strike then hit the Saratoga with moderate damage and the Enterprise with minor and Hornet with slight damage. But I did shoot down about half of his aircraft, so he will be hurting. In order to get a better handle on the damage, I'll pull back the carriers towards Anchorage.
In the South Pacific, I now need to worry about the invasion of Ndini and Luganville. My 9 remaining BB and a few CA and CL are on their way there to see what kind of damage they can cause. I also have a USA Infantry division on AP's just out of Efate ready to reinforce Luganville. I also have a NZ brigade on it's way up.

[floydg]

May 25, 1942

Highlights: Ndini falls to Japan; Luganville reinforcements struck and seriously damaged; Port Moresby defenses weaken

• Japanese continue to unload at Dutch Harbor. The Japanese ground attack causes very little loss.
• More Japanese troops unload at Port Moresby. Coastal guns report 2 hits on the CL Naka. A Japanese attack destroys some of the fortifications and causes a small amount of casualties.
• The invasion of Ndini continues. The attack overwhelms the defenders and the remaining portions of the 31st Naval Base Force and Americal Division surrender as the Japanese capture Ndini.
• Japanese continue to unload at Luganville. Coastal guns report a hit on the DD Wakaba.
• ASW TF attacks Japanese sub I-15 NW of Pearl Harbor and scores a direct hit.
• The Japanese sub SS I-155 locates a troop transport TF at Efate. The sub scores a torpedo hit on the AP McCawley. Carrier planes later strike, scoring hits on all five APs and the escorting DD. The DD Hughes and AP George F. Elliot are sunk. Numerous troops are killed in the attack.
• 20xSonia bomb Yenen. 6xI-16c intercept and face 12xNate. One I-16c is shot down, as is one Sonia. Minor damage is done to the airbase.
• 20xSally bomb Ichang. 10xI-153c intercept and are met with a 21xZero and 7xNate escorting. 5 I-153c are shot down at the cost of 1 Zero.
• 31xOscar sweep Imphal. 7xBuffalo and 9xHurricaneII intercept. Two Oscar are lost to 3 Buffalo and one Hurricane.
• B-17s from Noumea strike escorts at Ndini. The BB Haruna and BB Kongo were unscathed.

Analysis: Ndini fell, so now he'll be able to harrass me to no end from there, and prevent me from reinforcing/resupplying Lunga (which is starting to starve). My reinforcements to Luganville got pounded and I decided to unload them at Efate and save the ships (not as many AP's as I'd like), plus it makes for good defense. I also moved some LBA over from Australia to Efate, but since there's no BF there, the damaged planes are sitting with no aviation support (a BF is on the way...).
In the Aleutians, the carrier fires are under controls and it appears I did do some damage to his BB's, as they're now heading back west. So I'll move the carriers back for another shot at the Soryu and Hiryu. With all of his air losses, it seems I may have 2-1 air superiority (in number of planes, my TBDs still have yet to do anything).
Port Moresby will fall soon - he reduced the forts, landing of troops continue and I'm almost out of supplies and no way to get them in...

[floydg]

May 26, 1942

Highlights: Carrier battle Take 2 by Dutch Harbor; Port Moresby falls to Japan

• More troops unload at Dutch Harbor. Coastal guns report one hit on the AP Sakido Maru.
• Japanese landings continue at Port Moresby. Coastal guns report a hit on the PG Shinko Maru #5. Arial bombardments continue to soften up the base. The attack succeeds and Port Moresby falls to the Japanese. All surviving troops surrender.
• The Japanese invasion of Luganville proceeds on. Coastal guns report a hit on the AP Nichibi Maru. The Japanese attack fails.
• An ASW attack W of Pearl Harbor against the SS I-169 scores four minor hits.
• The SS Sargo off the coast of Gili-Gili locates the CL Tenryu attempting to pass through. One torpedo hits and the Tenryu was sunk.
• An ASW attack near Trincomalee locates the SS I-18 and reports two minor hits.
• Another ASW attack in New Caledonia locates the SS I-28 near Koumac and scores one direct hit and two minor hits.
• In China, Japanese bomb Yenen, Kweiyang and Changsha with minor results.
• 28xOscar sweep at Chandpur and meet 12xHurricane. One Oscar is shot down at the cost of two Hurricane.
• North of Dutch Harbor, Japanese and American carriers duel again. The first strikes are by the Americans: 30xDauntless,24xF4F-4 are met by a CAP of 31xZero. Enough bombers make it through to score 3 hits on the CV Soryu. Second and third attacks each score another hit on the Soryu. The fifth attack scores a hit on the Hiryu. Japanese counter-attack with one strike, scoring two bomb hits and a torpedo hit on the CV Saratoga and a bomb hit on the Hornet. In the afternoon, American bombers score a hit on the CL Nagara at Dutch Harbor and another bomb hit on the Hiryu.
• Bombers from Noumea and Efate attack the invasion ships at and around Luganville. B-17s, A-20’s and Hudsons attack a MSW, DDs, a CL, the BB Kongo and BB Haruna, but no hits are scored. Japanese carrier planes bomb Luganville, damaging the airbase and injuring some troops.
• Chinese troops east of Ichang are attacked and retreat back NE of Ichang.

Analysis: I think I put the Soryu and Hiryu out of commission for air ops (and even if they are still working, he has almost no strike planes left)! The Saratoga needs to retire for repairs, but the Enterprise and Hornet will stay on and try to get at his transports and bomb the troops. My bombardment force is two days out and the Marines are about 3-4 days out. It could still be close.
My BB's are just east of Luganville and will get in and attempt to sink his transports still unloading.
Losing Port Moresby kinda lessened the thrill of the day, but I made the mistake of moving the troops to Thursday Island to get it back when I should have moved them to PM when I had the chance. But maybe it would have fell anyhow. Now the Australian coast is vulnerable and he'll probably make a go at Thursday Island again. [:(]
I also got intelligence that a paratrooper is moving to Koepang, so perhaps an invasion of North Oz is coming soon.[X(]

[floydg]

May 27, 1942

Highlights: Big BB combat at Luganville

• Japanese continue to unload at Luganville. At night, an Allied Surface Fleet appears and the transport TF retreats. A Japanese surface fleet also arrives and two heated rounds of naval combat proceed during the night.
  For the Japanese, they have the BB Kongo, BB Haruna, CA Takao, CA Atago, CA Maya, CA Chokai, CL Jintsu, CL Isuzu, DD Kuroshio, DD Tokitsukaze, DD Michishio, DD Minekaze and DD Swakaze. The Allies have the BB Colorado, BB West Virginia, BB Nevada, BB Pennsylvania, BB California, BB Tennessee, BB Idaho, BB New Mexico, BB Mississippi, CA Indianapolis, CA Pensacola, CA San Francisco, CL Concord and CL St. Louis.
  After the two engagements, the reports showed the following damage: BB Kongo – 20 shell hits, BB Haruna – 6 shell hits, CA Takao – 4 shell hits, CA Atago – 4 shell hits, CA Maya – 1 shell hit, CA Chokai – 8 shell hits, CL Jintsu – 8 shell hits, CL Isuzu – 2 shell hits, DD Kuroshio – sunk, DD Tokitsukaze – 2 shell hits, DD Michishio – sunk, DD Minekaze – 5 shell hits and DD Swakaze – sunk; BB Colorado – 7 shell hits, BB West Virginia – 3 shell hits, BB Nevada – 14 shell and 2 torpedo hits, BB Pennsylvania – 6 shell hits, BB California – 4 shell and 1 torpedo hit, BB Tennessee – 4 shell hits, BB Idaho – 6 shell hits, BB New Mexico – 1 shell hit, BB Mississippi – 2 shell hits, CA Indianapolis – 3 shell hits, CA Pensacola – 2 shell hits, CA San Francisco – 1 shell hit, CL Concord – 4 shell hits and CL St. Louis – no damage.
  But before breaking off, the Japanese bombard Luganville (RADM Tanaka is quite aggressive), causing some damage to the base and casualties to the troops.
  When the sun came up, various Allied land-based air struck the Japanese ships in the area, scoring 4 bomb hits on the DD Minekaze. Japanese carrier planes struck allied ships and scored a bomb hit on the BB Idaho.
• Japanese bomb Changsha and cause some damage to the airbase.
• Allies bomb Mandalay, but the CAP appears to have driven off all of the bombers.
• Japanese bomb Thursday Island. 47xSally, 19xHelen escorted by 22xA6M2 and 27xA6M3 Zeros. CAP was 10xP-40E. One of each plane type was destroyed (2xSally) and moderate damage was done to the runway.
• In the Aleutians, American carrier planes struck at TF leaving Dutch Harbor, scoring 6 hits on the CL Nagara and a hit on the MSW Banshu Maru #18, and later three torpedo hits on the AP Sakido Maru, which later sinks.
• The Japanese made an attack to capture Dutch Harbor, which failed, causing only 51 allied casualties to 550+ Japanese.
• Japanese and Chinese troops exchanged bombardments at Ichang.
• Wewak expands the airfield to level 3.

Analysis: Well, that BB combat was somewhat disappointing - I expected to sink more than a few DD. And two of my BB are in bad shape. But I did shoo away the invaders and may get a chance to get in some relief to hold Luganville. If he comes back (and I'm sure he will), he'll bring a bunch of CV and surface forces.
It flashed by quickly, but I may have spotted carriers near Midway (which has been nicely reinforced), which would close the loop on almost all of the places I thought would be invaded in the first month.

[floydg]

May 28, 1942

Highlights: CV Enterprise torpedoed

• NW of Dutch Harbor, the SS I-7 goes on a torpedo frenzy, scoring a hit on the CL Nashville and then later two in the CV Enterprise. An ASW attack scores a few possible hits on the sub.
• Japanese 2xBB, 4xCA, CL and 4xDD bombard Thursday Island causing significant damage (almost 1000 casualties and shut down the airfield).
• American BB, 4xCL and 6xDD bombard the Japanese 7th Division at Dutch Harbor, causing 280+ casualties. A few more casualties are caused when carrier planes also bomb the troops.
• American 7xBB, 3xCA and CL bombard the Japanese South Seas Detachment at Luganville and cause 550+ casualties.
• Japanese invade Adak Island and Atka Island in the Aleutians.
• The SS I-30 is attacked near Pearl Harbor by 6xDD and they score two direct hits and sink the sub.
• In China, Japanese bomb Yenen and Changsha.
• Japanese bomb the airbase at Wyndham.
• East of Canton, a Chinese Corps is attacked by a Japanese Division and retreats back to Chinese positions north of Canton.
• Japanese and Chinese troops exchanged bombardments at Ichang again.
• Chinese bombard Japanese 11th Independent Brigade NW of Nanning.

Analysis: The Enterprise is really hurting. I need to get it to port quickly -- aiming for Anchorage. Only one operational American CV now. I have two UK at Trincomalee, but I'm getting uneasy about the Indian Ocean area, as it's been really quiet. Maybe I should go on the offensive?
Transports are showing up by Koepeng, so the 1st Parachute must be there now.
I also got intel that the 4th Division is moving from the Phillippines to Rabaul, so something else is brewing in the Solomons area - probably Thursday Island.

Here is the situation in the Aleutians:


A = CV Hiryu and Soryu retreating
B = Invasion force retiring
C = BB, CLx4, DDx6. Enemy troops at 17,000
D = CV Enterprise (pre-torpedo attack)
E = CV Hornet
F = CV Saratoga
G = 1st USMC Division
H = Replenishment force, including CVE Long Island

[floydg]

And here is the situation in the New Hebrides Islands area:


A = Two Japanese CV leaving (Shokaku and Zuikaku)
B = CVL Shoho and CVL Zuiho
C = BB and CA's leaving
D = Transports
E = More transports (second wave?)
F = Probably heavily damaged Japanese ships
G = One Japanese CA (too damaged to make it out?) Japan has 5340 troops against a part of the Americal Division and the No 103 RAN BF (total AV of 33)
H = DD and AO which were misdirected (!!!)
I = BB Colorado and BB Nevada (both in bad shape)
J = Remainder of BB's and CA's
K = CL Concord limping to port
L = 4xAP heavily damaged going to Suva
M = Supply TF for Noumea

[floydg]

May 29, 1942

Highlights: BB Pennsylvania sinks; I-7 sinks; Japan captures Adak and Atka; Lunga invasion attempt #4 starts; battles rage in China.

• Japanese begin their fourth invasion attempt of Lunga. As the ships are unloading troops, coastal guns report 16 shell hits on the MSW Kyo Maru #5. Later in the day, Nell’s come from Rabaul and cause some casualties.
• An invasion of Ogliuga Island and Amchitka Island in the Aleutians begins.
• The sub I-22 puts a torpedo in the BB Pennsylvania at Luganville.
• As revenge for the attack on the CL Nashville and CV Enterprise, a 6xDD ASW TF searches for and finds the I-7. They score four direct depth charge hits and sink the sub.
• Japanese bomb Yenen and cause slight damage.
• A bombing raid on the airfield at Dacca by 30xSally and 6xLily, escorted by 57xOscar are met by 10xHurricaneII. One Oscar is shot down, but 6 Hurricanes are destroyed in the air and on the ground, as well as three Beaufort V-IX. There was also moderate damage caused to the airbase.
• Wyndham is bombed by the Japanese with very slight damage.
• Aircraft from the two Japanese light carriers near Luganville strike the surface force at Luganville. A torpedo hit is scored on the BB Pennsylvania and BB New Mexico. The BB Pennsylvania sinks.
• The Japanese attack at Ichang, but the Chinese defenders are too well-fortified and the Japanese suffer over 3000 casualties to 470 Chinese.
• NE of Ichang, the Chinese (2xCorp, 1xHQ) are attacked NE of Ichang by a Japanese Division, Brigade and Tank Regiment. The Chinese have no supply and retreat towards Homan.
• NW of Nanning, the Chinese have amassed four corps against a single Japanese brigade. The Chinese attack fails despite overwhelming numbers.
• Japanese capture Adak Island and Atka Island.

Analysis: The BB Pennsylvania was a needless loss - I didn't expect the carrier planes to do much (and the extra hit from the sub didn't help). But I think between the Shoho and the Zuiho, he has about 10 Kates left, so maybe the coast is clearing up.
In China, I don't think I'm making any progress and it seems like I really can't - supplies are short and the troops can't seem to pull it together. Do people really have any success in China as the Allies? If so, how?

[floydg]

May 30, 1942

Highlights: Airstrike from carriers at Midway

• More troops disembark at Lunga.
• Additional troops unload at Amchitka Island, but no attempt is made to the capture the base, despite no defenders being present.
• ASW attacks the SS I-172 in the Aleutians, scoring two possible hits.
• At Luganville, an Allied ASW TF is attacked by the SS I-22, which scores a hit on the DD Hull. A depth charge attack reports 4 hits on the sub.
• Japanese ASW attack south of Tokyo scores two hits on the SS Tambor.
• Also at Luganville, the battleship TF bombards the invading South Seas Detachment again, but causes very minor damage.
• Japanese bomb Changsha and cause moderate damage; and also bomb Imphal, causing superficial damage to the field, but the air combat traded 1 Oscar for 5 HurricaneII’s.
• 8 Zeros engage the 10xWirraway and 4xKittyhawkI at Darwin and 1 Kittyhawk are downed.
• Japanese bomb Wyndham and do superficial damage, but 3 defending Wirraway are shot down.
• Over 100 Japanese strike planes from the CV Kaga, CV Akagi and CVL Ryujo strike a tanker and its’ escorts at Midway. 25 (wave 1) and 22 (wave 2) escorting A6M2 Zero’s meet 16 defending Buffalos. Ten Buffalos are reportedly shot down and the CAP does mostly nothing to the attackers. The DD Jarvis is sunk and the DD McCall and TK Paul M Greg will sink soon.
• At Dutch Harbor, the 1st USMC Division unloads and is spotted during a bombardment attack on the Japanese.
• In addition, Japanese bombard at Ichang and Allies bombard at Lunga and Luganville.

Analysis: I'm not sure why he's attacking at Midway unless he's planning for an invasion or looking to provoke a response. Too bad I have nothing with which to respond, but maybe I need to get some 2E bombers there in case he does try to invade, which he'd need to come with a lot, since I'm dug in with an AV over 300...
In North Australia, defenses are shaping up. I transferred part of the Darwin Defense Brigade to Wyndham and another Brigade is on the way via train. All four bases up north have fighter cover in case of a paratroop drop. I also snuck over from Cairns a few Australian CA and CL, in case he wants a surface combat, but I hope to not have to use them, since his Bettys and Nells are in range (from Kendari?) and he's already done enough damage with them so far.

[floydg]

May 31, 1942

Hightlights: North Australia simmering

• More troops disembark at Lunga.
• Allies navally bombard the Japanese troops at Dutch Harbor and cause 100 casualties. A handful of B-26B bomb later, but mostly miss.
• Japanese bombard Yenen, causing slight damage.
• At Changsha, the Japanese bombers are met by some Chinese fighters and a portion of the AVG. The AVG must have been too well rested, since they outnumbered the Oscars, yet shot down nothing, losing 3 of their own. The airfield was slightly damaged.
• LB-30’s bombed Pagan, causing some damage to the resource center.
• Japanese pounded Imphal with almost 80 bombers and almost 60 Oscar escorting. The weak CAP got mostly blown away and the airbase was moderately damaged.
• A Zero sweep at Darwin shot down 7 Wirraway and 1 Kittyhawk to just 3 A6M2’s.
• 23xHudsonI from Darwin attack two DD near Lautem (Timor), but all bombs miss.
• 6xNell from Attu attack the transports unloading Marines and supply at Dutch Harbor. Two Wildcats from the Hornet are up on CAP, but do nothing. Two torpedoes score on one AK and one torpedo on another.
• Japanese bombard again at Ichang and Allies bombard at Lunga and Dutch Harbor.

Analysis: The "big" attack at Dutch Harbor is coming up - the whole 1st USMC is unloaded and reading to take on the IJA 7th Division.
The Japanese carriers are now far NW of Midway and out of range - not sure what his intentions were there, but he's gone and now my two surviving ships have to limp back to a decent port, if they make it (doubtful).
In the New Hebrides area, the Japanese CVL's are being relieved/augmented by the Shokaku and Zuikaku, so now I need to be more careful about the reinforcements on the way to Luganville. It could be close, so I'll pull them back for now.

[floydg]

May 1942 Summary - Part 1

Here is the score so far:



As can be seen, I've lost a lot of troops (Port Moresby, mostly; and China). My ship losses are more, which can easily be understood in the next two posts. For aircraft, I guess I'm not doing too badly.

[floydg]

May 1942 Summary - Part 2

Allied ship losses:



The loss of the Yorktown, Pennsylvania and 4 CA pretty much account for the points. Also lost was one sub and some AP and AK.