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

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: Carny

Sounds like quite a fight going at Wyndham.

I've often (at least against the AI) noticed that ships tend to wander right past each other. I think it's just a certain percentage chance of engaging, and if you don't get lucky, no shooting

As far as the Western offensive is concerned, just be ready to lose, or at least see badly mauled, whatever you put into the attack. Also remember that he can rebase LBA with disturbing speed, so be ready to deal with that, if possible.

That said, maybe Java will work, if you can give the attack serious support, and move some of your own LBA quickly into the area to counteract his.

Yeah, the battle of North Australia is heating up. I expect him to bring reinforcements and perhaps a BB-laden SCTF to soften me up. Not much I can do there now.

For now, I'll go slow on the western offensive planning. I think I can scrape up enough forces to make a good go at it, but I don't want to open myself up to defending an un-defendable position, as you've pointed out.

[floydg]

June 7, 1942

Highlights: Battle rages on in North Oz; CV Soryu and two Japanese subs sink

• More Japanese troops unload at Wyndham. An Allied SCTF finally arrives to scare them away. The invaders make an attack, but it was ineffective.
• Struggling to make it back to Paramushiro, the CV Soryu succumbs to its damage and sinks.
• Allied LBA from Efate attack ships at Luganville. 3xHudson and 3xA-20B are met by 17xA6M2. A few bombers make it past the CAP and score two bomb hits on the AP Batavia Maru (with troops) and the CL Katori.
• In North Australia, many strikes are made from Darwin and Derby. The planes score a bomb hit on the AP Orori Maru. The Japanese also attack the SCTF at Wyndham, but do no damage to the ships.
• The SS I-17 snuck into Pearl Harbor and put two torpedos into the AK Idaho, which was loaded with guns from an AA battalion.
• An ASW attack near Kodiak put four direct hits on the SS I-17 and it soon sunk. Also reported sunk around Dutch Harbor was the SS RO-61, which was attacked on June 5th.
• The Japanese make an attack at Lunga, but the Americal Division is well-prepared and easily hold back the Japanese.
• Coastwatchers report the completion of a rudimentary airfield at Gili-Gili and the port facilities expanded at Wewak.

Analysis: Seeing the Soryu and two subs go down was a big boost. Also, his airwar seems to have ground to a halt -- his CAP hardly flies, his LBA naval attacks are few and ineffective, and his carrier planes don't seem to be doing much. Of course, this is not an invitation for me to go on the offensive, but it is encouraging that I won't be losing as much as I probably should be.
In other areas, I have about 2 divisions-worth enroute to Luganville. I'll scout things out before I strike, but it would be great to re-take that.

[DanielAnsell]

It might be he's hitting a wall on the fatigue issue. His carriers have been pretty busy, as has his LBA, and if he's not watching fatigue, or rotating LBA, it might just be starting to tell on their performance.

He's pretty spread out, a good bit more then the real Japanese were at this point. Pushing hard against both Australia and Alaska is pretty ambitious, after all.

Well done on the Soryu! [&o]

[floydg]

June 8, 1942

Highlights: Japanese continue to disembark at Wyndham; Japanese evacuate (?) at Dutch Harbor

• The Japanese transports again unload at Wyndham before a smaller Allied TF scares them off. Coastal guns did report a hit on a minesweeper and an AP. A Japanese submarine enters the harbor area and puts two torpedoes into the CA Canberra.
• 33xLB-30 hit the resource centers at Taung Gyi, causing minor damage.
• B-17E from Noumea bomb the airfield at Luganville. Minor damage was caused, but several Zeros were shot down in the air or destroyed on the field.
• 33xSonia bombing the troops at Ichang are met by 6xP-40B and 7xI-153c. Several Sonia are shot down and the bombing run only injured a mortar crew (and their mortar).
• American aircraft at Dutch Harbor struck Japanese ships in the area, but caused no damage.
• The Japanese made a surprise bombing of Calcutta with 49 Betty escorted by 44 Zero. Although there was no CAP, damage was light (5 aircraft destroyed).
• Japanese carrier planes (almost 80 bombers) struck the airbase at Dutch Harbor. The CAP did what it could, but fortunately again, the damage was light. American LBA attempted to strike the transports at Dutch Harbor, but they could not penetrate the CAP. The attack by the American ground troops was ineffective.
• The Chinese attacked the Japanese division “scouting” at Changsha, causing them to retreat (after both sides took approximately 1000 casualties each).
• For the second straight day, the re-supply mission for Thursday Island was intercepted by Japanese planes. Some supply is making it through, but not enough to repair the base and keep the troops fed.

Analysis: He keeps unloading troops at Wyndham, so I think it could be a losing proposition for me. Especially when his LBA and naval bombardments start up (I assume he'll be doing that). I haven't seen many of his BB in a while, so I assume they will be showing up somewhere "unexpected" soon.
Also, it appears in Dutch Harbor that the transports are loading troops, not unloading more troops or supply. I guess he realized it was a losing proposition and decided to get them out. Unfortunately, I'll have to let them go, since he has 2+ CV and numerous SC TF in the area and my LBA can't seem to penetrate the CAP. But it would be nice to get some shots on his AP/AK/APD.

[floydg]

June 9, 1942

Highlights: Naval combat at Wyndham; Dutch Harbor successfully defended

• More Japanese troops unload at Wyndham. The SC TF of one CL and 2xDD finally forces them to retreat again. Japanese carrier planes later strike the SC TF with no effect.
  However, the Japanese come in with their own SC TF of 2xCA and 2xDD. Three rounds of surface combat ensue. In the first round, a 6” shell from the CL Enterprise hit the DD Arashio, causing a magazine explosion, sinking her. Putting only minor damage on the other three Japanese ships, the CL Enterprise was on fire and the DD Walke and DD Vendetta were seriously damaged. The second round added a little damage to the Allied ships and the third round sunk the two Allied DD and seriously damaged the CL Enterprise. The I-20 puts a torpedo into the CL Enterprise later to help seal the deal (but she didn’t sink yet).
• South of Noumea, the SS I-22 finds the AK Makua and puts two torpedoes and 5 shells into it. Numerous troops onboard are killed.
• B-17’s from Noumea again strike Luganville. Minor damage is caused to the airfield.
• Allied bombers from Efate catch some transports leaving Luganville and score bomb hits on two AP and the CL Katori.
• Japanese carrier aircraft strike Dutch Harbor again with almost 90 bombers. The CAP is not effective and moderate damage is caused to the airfield.
• By Kodiak, an American ASW TF found the SS I-172 and scored three direct depth charge hits, sinking her.
• The American troops at Dutch Harbor wiped out the parts of the 7th Division remaining (1232 men).

Analysis: The naval combat at Wyndham did not go well for the Allies. I now have no servicable ships in the area, and many damaged ships caught in port. I have a SC TF coming from India, but that's still quite a number of days away -- I really should have started them out there a lot sooner.
The Japanese transports at Dutch Harbor were indeed for evacuation and he probably saved most of that division. Too bad. [:(]

[floydg]

June 10, 1942

Highlights: Japanese CV advance on Noumea; Allied naval forces at Wyndham begin to crumble

• More Japanese troops unload at Wyndham. Coastal guns report hitting a PG three times. Allied bombers later score hits on two of the returning transports. The AP Kotobuki Maru #5 sinks. Late in the day, 19 bombers from Darwin break past the CAP and attack the CV Junyo, but score no hits. And finally, the SS Swordfish hit the AP Kozui Maru with a torpedo.
• An ASW TF at Midway finds the SS I-164 and scores one direct depth charge hit and about a dozen near misses.
• Japanese troops reinforce at Lunga. Guns from the Americal Division report hitting a PG.
• Japanese bombers attack the port at Wyndham and score hits on four of the berthed ships. The CL Adelaide and the CL Enterprise both sink.
• B-17s from Noumea again strike Luganville, causing negligible damage.
• Allied bombers attack troop transports NW of Luganville scoring a hit on the AP Biyo Maru.
• The Japanese made another bomb run on Calcutta. This time, there were 20xP-40E waiting. Six escorting Zeros were shot down as well as one Betty. Some planes were destroyed on the ground.
• The Japanese carriers in the New Hebrides area advance on Noumea, striking a TF of two PG, sinking the PG Tui with 2 torpedoes; seriously damage the AO Brazos with two more torpedoes; hit an ASW TF, causing heavy damage to the DMS Trevor and the DD Tucker; and then scoring a bomb hit on the AR Vestal, just arriving from the US West Coast.
• Japanese bomb Merauke again, causing slight damage.
• The Japanese carriers in the Aleutians again hit Dutch Harbor with 73 bombers, destroying 10 American planes and riddling the airfield with divots.
• There were skirmishes in China outside Canton and outside Homan with both sides taking about equal casualties.
• The airfield at Calcutta was expanded (to 7).

Analysis: At Wyndham, I lost another two CL and the other ships in port are pretty banged up. And now it appears he has a BB and several CA lurking, so I can't even make an appearance without risking losing it all for no reason. I assume a naval bombardment will be coming soon and I can only hope for bad Japanese luck. If I can hold out on land for a little longer, an Australian tank regiment is not far off.
In the New Caledonia area, he surprised me with a "deep" penetration of the area of Noumea. [X(] He caught me flat-footed with lots of unescorted transports and even put a decent bomb hit on my AR coming to help repair all of the ships recently damaged (now it needs repairs itself).
The only bright spot on the day was I think I put another one of his subs out of action (maybe 20% of his total subs sunk or close to it).

[floydg]

Here is the situation in Northern Australia:

A = Wyndham, defended by Darwin Defense Bde (AV=75), 23rd Australia Bde (AV=114) and a BF (AV=33). He has a Tank Rgt, Engr Rgt, 35th Brigade, a field arty unit and the 1st Paratroopers (who turned out not to have been issued parachutes in this game) - a total of ~23,000 men.
First sighted TF is troops still unloading, second is his SC TF, which has at least BB Haruna, CA Furutaka, CA Kako, CA Aoba and CL Isuzu.
B = Returning empty transports
C = CV Junyo and escorts
D = 2nd Australian Tank Regiment

[floydg]

June 11, 1942

Highlights: Allied sub and anti-subs ops effective

• More Japanese unload at Lunga.
• Additional Japanese troops unload at Wyndham. The Japanese mount an attack, which causes under 300 casualties for both sides, increasing the Australians’ resolve to defend their homeland.
• South of Noumea, an ASW TF finds the SS I-27 and reports two direct hits on the sub.
• At Saipan, the SS Grenadier found the TK San Luis Maru and put a torpedo into her.
• The Dutch sub O24 located the BB Yamato at Attu and scored one torpedo hit, which the crew said appeared to have penetrated the armor and caused some flooding.
• An A6M2 sweep of Changsha shot down six of ten I-16c on CAP.
• Nells bomb the port at Wyndham and score a bomb hit on the CA Chicago, which is now seriously damaged.
• In Burma, the Japanese bomb the 2nd Burma Brigade, which is marching through the jungles towards Japanese-held territories. Minor confusion is caused and the CAP downs one bomber after the escorts take down two Buffalos.
• Allied LBA at Efate score a bomb hit on two APs unloading at Luganville. Japanese carrier aircraft strike back at the airbase, but one valiant F4F-4 pilot mans his plane and shoots down two Kates. AA gets two more Kates and damages some Vals. No real damage is caused to the airfield. Six Hudson from Efate then attempt to strike back at the carriers, but none make it through the CAP.
• The Japanese make two bombing runs on Darwin, destroying half-dozen Wirraway and almost that number of Bettys. Negligible damaged is caused to the facilities.
• The Japanese attack near Canton, but are repulsed by well-placed Chinese defenses.
• SW of Homan, the Japanese attack some Chinese forces and force them to retreat toward Sian.

Analysis: It was nice getting a torpedo into the BB Yamato. I'm sure it was just a scratch, but if that puts her in dry-dock for a while, it was worth it.
In Northern Australia, I appear to have made a mistake and sent the 2nd Tank Rgt to Darwin and not Wyndham. I have turned them around, but that will now be a two-day delay for the relief of the seige. [:@] But the troops do seem to be holding their own, but the AV difference to get to a 1-to-1 attack is getting slimmer (it's 0-to-1 now for him, and I have 3 forts).
It looks like he's withdrawn the carriers in New Caledonia back to the north, so my TFs are back in the swing. Once he moves them back to Rabaul (which is what I expect, for fueling, restocking of planes, etc), I'll move in on Luganville with almost three divisions. I think all he has there is still the South Seas Detachment and now a Base Force and maybe an AA regiment. I'm also thinking to hit Ndini at the same time with some smaller units. I'll see how things go there. I need some better scouting at Ndini, which shows three units (one is a BF for sure).

[DanielAnsell]

You are putting up quite a defense. I'm thinking that he is losing the war, right there in Australia, since even if he took the entire north, he'd have roads leading basically nowhere. The hit on Yamato is very cool, and who knows, maybe you can get another fish into it, if the flooding slows it any.

Do you have any LBA you can bring to bear from elsewhere in Northern Australia? The more planes you can cost him, the greater your progress later. Turning NA into a quagmire is just what you need to let your Carrier forces recover.

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: Carny

You are putting up quite a defense. I'm thinking that he is losing the war, right there in Australia, since even if he took the entire north, he'd have roads leading basically nowhere. The hit on Yamato is very cool, and who knows, maybe you can get another fish into it, if the flooding slows it any.

Do you have any LBA you can bring to bear from elsewhere in Northern Australia? The more planes you can cost him, the greater your progress later. Turning NA into a quagmire is just what you need to let your Carrier forces recover.

I have some LBA in Eastern Australia and some B-17's at Noumea. I can move them up, but I don't really have the aviation support in the area to manage so many planes.

But yes, I hope this does become a quagmire for him. I'm surprised he went for Wyndham, which is in the middle of the four bases and not Broome, at the western end, which leaves me a lot less LBA I can put up against him. Maybe he didn't think my LBA would do much.

I think I've put up some effective speed bumps on his advance and maybe soon the tide will indeed turn.

[floydg]

June 12, 1942

Highlights: Darwin bombarded

• The Japanese conduct a naval bombardment of Darwin. The BB Haruna, 6xCA and a CL do the work and leave the place a burning mess. Many troops are disabled and 17 planes are destroyed and countless others are damaged. Only a few fighters are still able to scramble to defend the area.
• At Wyndham, the SS Permit scored a torpedo hit on the AK Tairyo Maru, which was probably loaded with supply.
• The Japanese in Burma launch another bombing raid on the 2nd Burma Brigade, which is now hiding in the jungle.
• Japanese again bomb Imphal, causing minor damage, but the CAP, after losing 9 planes, did manage to shoot down 4 Zero.
• Thursday Island is lightly bombed.
• Japanese carrier planes again strike the airbase at Efate, causing minor damage. The Allied LBA strike back, putting a bomb on the AP Tango Maru, probably killing some troops onboard.
• At Kwajalein, the SS S-42 hits the MSW W.12 and sinks her.
• East of Pearl Harbor, ASW TF’s converge on the SS I-32, scoring many hits and sinking her. But she did get a torpedo into the DD Ward, causing significant damage to the ship.
• Near Noumea, the I-27 sinks from the damage caused the previous day.
• The port of Bombay expanded (to 7).

Analysis: An invasion of Darwin is now certain. I have spotted many transports around Timor heading that way, and the bombardment was a warning sign. The bombardment was effective and my disruption level is high. I'll need to speed up the British TF's coming in for relief.
In the New Hebrides area, I can't wait for the Japanese carriers to withdraw so I can make a move there.

[floydg]

June 13, 1942

Highlights: Darwin invaded

• In the thick of night, the SS Plunger locates the MSW Toshi Maru #2 at Wake and puts a torpedo into her, sinking her.
• The Japanese invasion of Darwin begins. One AP reportedly hits a mine and a DD takes a coastal gun shell hit. Over 1800 casualties are reported for the landing force in the first day. Still, over 5000 Japanese are already unloaded, but to the Japanese commander’s surprise, the 5th Australian Division was there to defend (and almost fully recovered from the previous day’s bombardment) and only a weak resistance was expected due to the defense of Wyndham.
• The Japanese in Burma launch yet another bombing raid on the 2nd Burma Brigade, which is still hiding in the jungle.
• Allied bombers at Efate again attempt to strike the ships at Luganville, but the CAP is quite good (carrier planes on LR CAP) and almost all bombers are shot down. Carrier planes then strike back at Efate and cause some damage to the facilities and destroy a few more aircraft on the ground.
• Japanese bombers again take a shot at the ships in port at Wyndham and score another bomb hit on the CA Canberra.
• South of Gasmata, the SS Tautog locates the AK Akagisan Maru and puts a torpedo into her.
• At Wyndham, despite the Japanese forces facing ever strengthening defense, engineers reduced the fortresses to level 2.
• Southeast of Yenen, a Japanese division crossed the river to attack the Hopei Militia. General Chang was so surprised and estimated incorrectly that numerous Japanese divisions were crossing, so he immediately ordered a withdrawal. The withdrawal was orderly and only a handful of casualties were reported.
• At Homan, the Chinese launched an attack to repel the Japanese camped outside the city. The attack is successful and the Japanese retreat, taking over 2000 casualties.
• The Japanese airfield at Jehol increased to level 4, while the Allied port at Norfolk Island increased to level 1 (so now the damaged aircraft there can be loaded).

Analysis: Darwin was invaded as expected. The troops there recovered almost all of their disruption over night, it appears. The 2nd Tank Regiment ignored my orders to go to Wyndham and is still on the way to Darwin, which I guess may work out okay in the end. So far, part of a division has landed, but I expect armor and engineers. Holding Darwin looks promising.
Getting the forts knocked down a level at Wyndham was a blow, but his AV was shown adjusted from 323 to 9, so maybe he's reached his limit. My defense is at 188, but probably will be lower with lower forts.
The British SCTF and Air Combat TF are on their way. They'll be late, but hopefully they can make a difference. And if not, I suppose it's better to use them instead of sitting in port at Trincomalee.
I also finished the port construction at Norfolk Island (between Australia and Noumea). I transferred planes from Australia to Noumea and used Norfolk as a way-point. Some planes were damaged, so I sent an AK to pick them up. Unfortunately, there was no port there, so I couldn't load the planes. I brought in some Seabees to build a port and somehow the construction went in 1% increments for a few days up to 6% and then jumped to completed in a day.[X(] This game is an enigma sometimes.

[floydg]

June 14, 1942

Highlights: More pot-shots on Japanese transports; Luganville airfield open for business for the Japanese

• Japanese troops continue to unload at Darwin. The Japanese now have elements of the 5th Division, 4th Tank Regiment and 15th Mortar Battalion. Coastal defenses report a shell hit on an AP and a CL, and another AP hits a mine. The defending Australians barrage the Japanese invaders, causing minor casualties.
• Outside Rabaul, a Japanese ASW TF hit the SS Flying Fish with a depth charge.
• Two Japanese DD bombard Lunga and do negligible damage. The ground forces then launch an attack, which the Americal Division easily repulses.
• Near Wyndham, Hudsons put a bomb on two AP’s probably unloading supply to the Japanese troops.
• The Japanese bomb Thursday Island, causing minor damage.
• NW of Luganville, Hudsons from Efate hit an AP leaving Luganville. The Japanese reveal that the airbase of Luganville is now operational, launching some small attacks by Betty’s on ships at Noumea. No damage was done to the ships and the CAP shot down two escorting Zeros.
• The Japanese airfield at Shortlands expands to a level 4 and the airfield at Diamond Harbor expands to level 5.

Analysis: The defense of Darwin is going well, as I don't think he has enough AV to take it. But if he makes a few concentrated bombardment runs, I could be in trouble. The 2nd Tank Regiment is now one hex out of Darwin and he's spotted it (he made mention of some more units coming to the "beach party"). Wyndham is a little more iffy, but we'll see how things play out. I do have some more units on the way, but they're maybe 1-2 weeks out still. And I need to find a way to get supply over to Darwin - I may need to move some B-17's over and make supply runs that way. My British SCTF is now off the coast of Java, so I'm getting close. The two carriers are a few days behind them.
In Burma, I noticed Myitkyina now has 4 units in it (used to be two), so he's probably moved them in by air. So I'll fly some LRCAP over there to interdict some of his transports. If he's really beefed it up, I may need to move south instead of east.
Seeing Luganville AF operational and Betty's flying out (although only with bombs, since it's level 2) gives me some headaches. Now I'll need to at least make some bombardment runs.

[floydg]

June 15, 1942

Highlights: Noumea in the "hot seat"

• More troops clog the beaches at Darwin. Now the 16th Army HQ and parts of the 38th Division have been spotted. Coastal guns report a hit on a PC and four hits on the DD Maikaze. Just outside the harbor, the SS Sailfish puts a torpedo into the MSW Tomozono Maru #3 and sinks her.
• Mysteriously, Japanese troops unload at Rennell Island.
• LB-30’s bomb the oilfields at Mandalay. The Oscar CAP shoots down one bomber, but at a cost of 2 fighters.
• Betty bombers from Shortlands and Luganville attack the ships at Noumea harbor. The AK Jacob Luckenbach took three bomb hits and the DD Flusser one, but about half a dozen bombers were shot down by the CAP.
• Thursday Island is bombed again, but only light damage.
• Bombers from the CV Junyo hit the airfield at Darwin, destroying some aircraft and putting some holes in the tarmac.
• Chinese forces advance on the Japanese-controlled city of Nanning and begin a siege.

Analysis: Japanese naval forces appear to be converging on Noumea now. The Shokaku/Zuikaku/Shoho/Zuiho TF is moving in, as are some "main body" sightings. I didn't notice any transport forces coming in, but the LCU icon at Luganville disappeared, so I hope he didn't pack up the South Seas Detachment for a Noumea invasion. Right now, most of my forces are loaded on transports for a counter-invasion, so I'm kinda screwed. We're making our way back now, but it may be too late... [:(] I guess that was a mistake.
In North Australia, he hasn't attacked at Wyndham in a few days, so he must be seriously disrupted and/or out of supply. I'm sure he's unloaded supply there, so he must be resting. In the mean time, I keep bombarding, but I can't keep it up forever, since my supply level is dipping a little. At Darwin, it looks like he'll have two divisions and other troops there, so it could be touchy. Not confident any more.

[floydg]

June 16, 1942

Highlights: New Caledonia invaded; Wyndham defense faltering

• Still more Japanese troops at Darwin. The allied LBA spots a bombardment TF headed for the base and a torpedo hit is scored on the BB Haruna. Japanese carrier planes retaliate, destroying some aircraft and putting a few divots on the runway.
• An American ASW TF locates the SS I-6 and hits it twice with depth charges. Later that day, the sub is found again and another hit is scored, sinking the sub.
• Japanese DD’s at Koumac are attacked repeatedly by TBD from Noumea and LBA from Efate, but no hits are scored.
• Betty’s from Luganville attack the ships at Noumea again, but only succeed in getting some of the planes shot up. The carrier planes then strike the airfield again, this time losing 5 planes and destroying 8 American planes, along with some moderate runway damage.
• Two Hudsons from Efate attack a MSW at Ndini and score one bomb hit.
• The Japanese attack at Wyndham further reduces the fortifications as well as causes about 300 casualties on each side.
• The Japanese land paratroopers at Koumac. The defenders somehow hold off the attack and dig in at the base.
• The port of Palau expands to level 5 and the airfield at Perth expands to level 5.

Analysis: Wyndham will probably fall in a few days. Darwin may be next. I get the feeling now that he'll also go for Derby and Broome, but perhaps over land.
The invasion of New Caledonia has started. He landed paratroops at Koumac, but they didn't dislodge the defenders (an EAB, which really made him angry). I will have to ferry in some troops to defend, but my forces are kinda weak. If he hits me at Noumea, which I expect, I'm probably screwed. Especially since he has 2xCV and 2xCVL keeping my AK/AP away. I have spotted a bunch of BB headed to Noumea and I'll have some DD and PT's there to hopefully slow him down.
One highlight for me is that I have sunk a dozen subs in just 45 days, and I think that's about 25% of his subs. [X(]

[floydg]

June 17, 1942

Highlights: Darwin bombarded and defensese weaken; Noumea bombarded and bombed; Koumac holds

• Transports unload at Darwin. Then 6xCA, CL and 3xDD bombard the port. Just under 200 casualties are reported and no facility damage is reported. The Australian commanders breathe a sigh of relief. Allied bombers attempt to hit the Japanese ships, but the attacks are ineffective.
  Then the Japanese troops make an attack. The Japanese combat engineers are able to reduce some of the Australian fortifications, but still, the Australians hold.
• More Japanese troops unload at Lunga. There are now six Japanese units facing the Americal Division. Later in the day, 38xSally bomb them, causing a few dozen casualties.
• The Japanese come to bombard Noumea. Five American DD intercept 2xBB, 5xCA, CL and 4xDD. Two American DD are sunk the other three are seriously damaged. A few hits were made on the Japanese ships, but nothing significant.
  Then 8xPT boats intercept the Japanese. Two PT are sunk and only one shell hit is reported on the CA Maya.
  The Japanese then bombard, hitting some ships in port and causing a small number of casualties. The Japanese carrier planes follow up and do much more damage, destroying 10 planes and causing slight damage to the facilities. The F4F-3 CAP does manage to shoot down 2 escorting Zeros.
• Japanese reinforce at Wyndham, unloading more troops. Nells, escorted by Zeros, later strike. The Zeros shoot down 8 Wirraway out of 18, but for some reason, the Nells decide to abort the mission and return to their base. The later Japanese ground attack is repulsed by the defenders.
• The SS I-5 wandered into the port at Anchorage and an ASW TF located and sunk it.
• The SS I-17 NW of Pearl Harbor took a direct depth charge hit.
• In Burma, a few Allied bombing raids were made on Japanese troops outside of Myitkyina, but it was mostly a waste.
• In China, the Japanese make an attack at Ichang, causing over 1000 casualties on both sides. Outside Canton, the Japanese attack does proceed well, but the Chinese hold their ground and the Japanese take almost 850 casualties to the 580 Chinese.
• At Koumac, the Japanese make another all-out attack, but the Americans were able to send in some reinforcements, so the attack fails.

Analysis: Northern Australia could be falling soon. I don't think I can stop it, so I'll have to start planning the liberation.
In New Caledonia, perhaps he's planning to go overland from Koumac to La Foa and then to Noumea. But it does give me a chance to get my troops back there. He did admit he noticed I pulled troops out (damn recon!) and figured it was for a counter at Luganville, so he had to hit me before I got there. I may still make a move with some troops floating around.

[DanielAnsell]

Well done on the sub hunting. Keep at it, it'll hurt his intel considerably, not to mention reducing the wear and tear on your boats!

I still think he's winning a road to nowhere in Northern Oz. Still, some reinforcement of the big southern cities might be worthwhile if it's practical. Given his big fleet in the Solomons, it might not be beyond possibility for him to be planning a shot at Brisbane fairly soon.

[floydg]

ORIGINAL: Carny
Well done on the sub hunting. Keep at it, it'll hurt his intel considerably, not to mention reducing the wear and tear on your boats!

Thanks. I think this amounts to about 25% of his sub force. I assume I've damaged a few more, so I suppose he has only 2/3 of his initial sub strength. But now his ASW is starting to find me, so my subs are starting to take some real hits and I have to pull them back for repairs.

I still think he's winning a road to nowhere in Northern Oz. Still, some reinforcement of the big southern cities might be worthwhile if it's practical. Given his big fleet in the Solomons, it might not be beyond possibility for him to be planning a shot at Brisbane fairly soon.

I may be able to hold him off a bit, as his advance there seems to be grinding to a halt.

And his luck has really run out. I suppose he's ranting about it in his AAR, because I think he may be trying to make me feel guilty that his attacks aren't going as well as they should be.

[floydg]

June 18, 1942

Highlights: Japanese reinforce at Koumac; Allies hold their defenses

• More troops unload at Darwin. Then the Japanese attack, causing very little damage.
• The Japanese reinforcements pour in at Wyndham. The CL Tromp, DD Dale and DD Arunta attempt to intercept the transports and are pounded by two DD, a MSW and two PG escorting 9xAP. They do hit each DD and the MSW and force the task force to withdraw. As they leave Wyndham harbor, Hudsons from Derby and Broome hit them, scoring 2 bomb hits on an AP and two on the MSW (sinking her).
• The Japanese 16th Division begins to unload at Koumac. Over 1000 casualties are reported as they disembark.
• The damaged AP Gyoko Maru meets up with two DD heading to Noumea. The AP scores a shell hit on the DD Cassin and the DDs never get off a shot before the AP disappears. When the sun came up, TBD’s from Noumea struck and put a torpedo into the AP.
• At Kwajalein, the SS Pollack is hit by a depth charge.
• The Japanese bomb the BR Burma Corps HQ heading towards Myitkyina. Two Buffalo’s on CAP are shot down to 1 Oscar and 5 damaged bombers. Some casualties are reported.
• Sally’s from Shortlands again hit the Americal Division at Lunga, causing some casualties. And then the Japanese make another attack, which is again repulsed.
• Japanese carrier planes bomb the three damaged DD’s at Noumea and score hits on each. A later attack by other carrier planes destroys a few planes on the ground. But the CAP does do well and shoots down a few Kates.
• The Japanese locate a British SCTF nearing Wyndham. Betty’s score two torpedo hits on the BB Revenge and later, carrier planes from the Junyo score a bomb hit on her, totaling moderate damage.
• Outside Canton, the Japanese again make an attack, but are handed almost 1000 casualties to under 200 Chinese.

Analysis: Looks like he's making an overland attempt at Noumea. I'll need to bring some of my divisions back as soon as I can. I also have a portion of the Americal Division parked west of Ndeni, still deciding if I want to liberate it or not. It could be a great diversion to save Noumea, so I'm still considering it. I wonder when his carriers are going to run low on missions so he needs to retire for replenishment (he needs to return to port for that, right? You can't get more strikes from just refueling from oilers, can you?).
In North Australia, my British TF arrived. Coach Z claims to have spotted them for a while as they cruised past Java, but his planes never struck. He is convinced the game hates him... [8|] In any case, the Revenge was hit well, so I need to pull her back. But I still have 2 BB and numerous CL/CLAA still viable. I'll start by shelling him at Wyndham. His cruisers are still at Darwin and I don't want to meet up with them until at least one shelling of his troops.

[floydg]

June 19, 1942

Highlights: Allied land forces hold their ground

• More Japanese troops unload at Koumac. More of the 16th Division and now an Engineer regiment. The Japanese then make another massive attack, reducing the fortifications, but doing little else.
• At Kwajalein, the DD Kiji, while minesweeping, hits a mine.
• Outside Guadalcanal, the SS S-28 locates the MSW Wa 2, puts two torpedoes into her and sinks her.
• LB-30 bomb the resources at Mandalay. 21 fighters intercept and destroy 2 bombers and damage about 1/3 of the remainder. A few bomb hits are scored.
• B-26B’s from Darwin bomb the airbase at Adak Island. The 13 Oscar intercept and damage all 12 incoming bombers. Barely a scratch is done to the facilities.
• The Americans attempt to bring in a TF into Noumea with the 41st Division onboard. The Japanese carrier planes in the area massacre the transports, sinking two outright and badly damaging two more. Many infantrymen are lost.
• The Japanese launch another attack at Lunga and are repulsed again, taking almost 500 casualties.
• At Wyndham, the Japanese attack also, but again are repulsed, taking almost 600 casualties to about 350 Australians.
• Meanwhile, at Darwin, another attack is made by the Japanese. The Japanese take almost 900 casualties to under 200 Australians.

Analysis: I guess sending the APs in to Noumea to unload the infantry was a mistake. I guess I just wanted to get them in, regardless of the cost.
But all over the map, my troops held their ground, which is really good.
At Wyndham, I have the British TF ready to bombard Wyndham. Then I'll move over to Darwin, because I suspect Tanaka and his cruisers probably have almost no ammo left and if they bombard Darwin (where they are now), I'll may be able to make a good go at them.