Borner vs Wirraway

[borner]

After Mac has done so well to this point out West, I cannot imagine Gen Marshal making any changes!
 
 

[Ike99]

Ourfleet is finally seaworthy again after running back to port with near empty fuel tanks.

Fill up a tanker or two and set them to follow your carrier fleet. When your carriers and escorts run low on fuel hit replenish at sea. You can keep them at sea almost indefinately.

[Wirraway_Ace]

From what my patrol planes tell me, I suspect it was his thirsty battleships making bombardment runs that sucked his replenishment TF dry...He had what looked like all his fleet oilers with the KB for weeks, but I suspect he had to also support his bombardment TFs that where cycling through Port Moresby and Gili Gili almost daily for a month.

[Marc gto]

This is good stuff

[Wirraway_Ace]

13 Aug 42.  All is still quiet in the Solomons.  Betty's from Lunga made a small raid, escorted by zeros, and damaged some transports at Luganville.  Four Betty's were shot down or failed to return to base during the raid.

In New Guinea, Buna fell quietly on the 13th of August to amphibious assault by the 38th division.  Only a few hundred allied troops remained at the base after a reinforced brigade was evacuated in late July.  MacArthur directed the removal of the brigade when the Jap intent became clear to directly assault Port Moresby by sea--making further defense of Buna irrelevant.  At Wau, the Kanga Force is still fighting, but the end is near for allied forces in New Guinea. 

[Wirraway_Ace]

18 AUG 42.  ***NEW FLASH***THE FORCES OF IMPERIAL JAPAN MAKE MAJOR LANDINGS ON SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND--THE SOUTHERN-MOST ISLAND OF THE SOLOMON CHAIN!

MAJOR JAPANESE NAVAL FORCES BEGAN THE ANTICPATED ATTACK ON THE IRAU GARRISON EARLY THIS MORNING.  A LARGE BOMBARDMENT TASKFORCE SHELLED IRAU WHILE JAPANESE GROUND FORCES WERE LANDED AT TWO POINTS ON THE ISLAND.

BRAVE ARMY AND MARINE PILOTS FLEW SUCCESSFUL STRIKES AGAINST THE TRANSPORTS AND ESCORTS AND PATROLLING SUBMARINES SANK TWO ENEMY SHIPS, BUT REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE ENEMY WAS STILL ABLE TO LAND A MAJOR PORTION OF HIS PLANNED INVASION FORCE.

[borner]

Quick update form the good guys.
 
Irau has fallen, so now all bases within there to PM now liberated. The US still has some ground forces in the area tat I should take care of within the week. It will be interesting to see the finaly tally for the Allied ground losses. My losses in AP's has been very heavy. I give Ace credit, he has made some opportunities of his own, and beenable to pounce on a couple of mistakes I have made. At least I had a lot to start with, and still have enough to keep my supplies moving. I was expecting a carrier battle at some point, but nothing developed.
 
Now it's time to try and organize my defence and dig in.

[Wirraway_Ace]

Intelligence Summary, 1 Sep 42

[Wirraway_Ace]

Excerpt from GEN MacArthur’s AAR on the battle for Irau, 18 Aug 42 – 1 Sep 42.

1. Summary: The preponderance of Naval Forces and veteran Army Divisions that Japan has committed to conquer New Guinea and the Solomons made a mockery of our valiant, but doomed attempts to hold these bases. Our delaying actions on New Guinea were successful at giving time to develop a well dug-in and supplied position on Irau supported by bomber capable airfields on Nevea and Luganville. The intent was to defeat the enemy landings through massed air attacks from Nevea and Luganville employing the entire Theater bomber assets reinforced by carrier torpedo and dive-bomber aircraft operating from these bases.

2. Planning.

2.1 Logistics and Ground Operations. Establishing and maintaining supply stocks on Irau and Nevea was challenging in the face of growing Jap air strength on Guadalcanal. The enemy heavily mined Irau soon after their campaign opened in the Coral Sea in May, which further inhibited the troop and supply build-up. Our shipping losses amounted to six small transports and a handful of auxiliary craft. By the middle of August, we had one veteran Australian Bde and the 132nd RCT on Irau with a fighter capable airfield and over 25,000 tons of supplies. Nevea had been fully developed with both a fighter and bomber airfield with adequate taxi-ways and revetments. Supplies had been built up to 15,000 short tons, but no aircraft were moved to the base and the runways were concealed. No enemy reconnaissance of the Nevea base was observed leading up to the campaign.

2.2 Air Operations. 4 squadrons of Marauders, 2 squadrons of Mitchells, one RAAF squadron of Hudsons were staged at nearby bases. The Navy and Marines allocated 3 squadrons of Wildcats, 3 squadrons of Dauntless and 3 squadrons of the new Avenger TBFs. All available squadrons were deployed to Irau on 18 Aug. All the experienced B17 squadrons in the theater were based at Luganville and SOPAC HQ moved to Luganville to oversee the operation. A HQ forward detachment was also sent to Nevea to coordinate Air Ops.

2.3 Carrier Operations. The enemy strength was estimated at 7 CVs and 3 CVLs with full airgroups. After my discussions with ADM Nimitz, our 5 available fleet carriers were not committed to face the enemy carriers. Wasp’s arrival into Theater was delayed and only enough of the new TBFs were available to equip 3 of the carriers with an adequate torpedo aircraft. The available Avenger TBFs were to fly out of Nevea against enemy shipping vicinity Irau while 4 CVs with their under-strength airgroups operated to the east of Nevea looking for opportunities to strike transports or bombardment groups left exposed by the enemy.

2.4 Surface Operations. The Combined Fleet was estimated to have 8 BBs including the Yamato and 12 CAs available for operations. A surface combat TF built around the BB North Carolina was deployed within 300 miles of Irau, but opportunities to interdict the landings were not considered likely.

2.5 Submarine Operations. Six submarines guarded the approaches to Irau.

2.6 Mine Operations. Our single available minelayer deployed 3 defensive minefields at Irau and Nevea.

3.0 Combat Operations.
On 17 Aug, enemy tranports were sighted 200 miles NW of Irau. The enemy made a supporting landing 30 miles N of Irau on 18 Aug. Our submarines torpedoed 3 enemy transports 90 miles N of Irau. On 19 Aug, enemy transports were sighted at Irau. A large carrier TF positioned itself 75 miles SW of Irau. Enemy dive-bombers conducted aggressive ASW and our submarines were forced out of the area of operations. Medium bomber, dive bombers and torpedo bombers from Nevea struck the convoys repeatedly over the next week eventually accounting for 10 transports. B17s from Luganville hit and eventually sunk 6 more. Losses to medium bombers, Wildcat escorts and the new Avengers were very high. We lost 200 aircraft in 7 days of combat. The Avengers in particular performed poorly, scoring only 3 hits in over 100 sorties. Three enemy BBs supported the landings. Dive bombers and torpedo bombers caught the BBs but scored only a single hit with a 500lb bomb which failed to penetrate.

The strength of the strikes from Nevea appeared to initially surprise the enemy. He responded with carrier airstrikes and bombardment of the base which did not significantly hinder operations. RADM Mitschner’s carriers were in position for the anticipated bombardment of Nevea, but failed to spot the bombardment group.

Our defenses on Irau were overrun after a week of combat. The two infantry brigades retreated while a single Bn of the 164 RCT (flown in by Dakotas to stiffen the defenses) covered the retreat. The intrepid soldiers humped through the heavy jungle 30 miles to the NE and were successfully evacuated by naval forces under the nose of the IJN. The 1/164 RCT was lost covering the retreat. LTC Davis was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.

4.0 Combat losses summary:
Aircraft: Allied 200, Jap 100
Ships: Allied 6 transports and 5 auxiliaries during the lead-up to the battle
Jap 18 transports, 8 auxiliaries
Ground Forces: Allied 1,500 base personnel and 1,000 infantry
Jap 1,000 infantry

[borner]

Things are looking bad for the IJN. Wirraway is playing aexcellent game. My losses in AP's has been severe. In addition, the Cv situation is now looking down. Akagi was hit by a SS torp early on, and sent back to Japan. Now, in the last 2 turns, two different CV's have hit sub laid mines, traveling through hexes that have had MSW units operating regurally. all in all, not a good week for the KB

[Wirraway_Ace]

Intel Report, 1 Oct 42.

[Wirraway_Ace]

MacArthur's campaign to cripple Jap shipping has had some success. 11 more transports were sunk during the month of September bringing the total Jap AP losses to over 50. Only time will tell whether this has much impact on the IJN's ability to support both the Solomons and New Guinea.

In other news, the COMSUBSWPAC CO was relieved this past week for dereliction of duty. He apparantly allowed his staff to order submarines repairing in Brisbane and Noumea to go on patrol with key systems inop only to have them immediately return to port. MacArthur ordered these auto-sub ops to be immediately discontinued due to the deleterous effect on allied sub efficacy.

[borner]

The US carriers have made an apperance. 2 of them blasted an AP and MSW on a run to Gili Gili. At this point I am waiting to see where Wirraway will chose to hit me first. There have been some scattered boming raids, but no sustained campaign as of yet. Will be interested to see where he chooses to go.

[borner]

Dunno what's worse. US CV's catching some APD's SW of Gili Gili, or my bombers being afraid to fly against them!

[Wirraway_Ace]

MacArthur has bided his time. Two squadrons of P38s just made their first sweep over Lunga, heralding the beginning of the airwar over the Southern Solomons.

[borner]

looks like the US may be trying to knock Irau out of supply. 3 PT's showed up at the base and were sunk this turn. He is also starting to play with his P-38's. Nothing serious yet, but I am sure it is coming

[Wirraway_Ace]

***BREAKING NEWS*** JAPS HAMMER FORWARD ALLIED BASES!
The Jap Navy has launched a series of major strikes against the forward airbases at Nevea and Gavigamana. Carrier-based airstrikes of over 300 aircraft hammered Nevea on 22 Nov and a large bombardment group hit the base that night. A Jap Mogami-class cruiser struck a mine and a PT boat put one of its deadly fish into a battleship, but the carnage among allied pursuit aircraft on the base was heavy.

The next night brought a large land-based strike by bombers from Lunga against the airstrips on Gavigamana atoll. Another bombardment group hit the base that night and another massed carrier airstrike further hammered the pursuit aircraft and dive-bombers on the field. Allied medium and heavy bombers responded from nearby bases catching the bombardment TF still in range. Army pilots report sinking 3 battleships, 2 cruisers and 2 destroyers; however, Army pilot reports of sinking naval vessels are often greatly exaggerated. SOPAC Intel suggest the big battlewagons and larger cruisers may well have been hit more than once, but that the 500lb bombs were unlikely to have done serious damage. It is possible the destroyers were seriously damaged.

All told, approximately 70 pursuit aircraft were destroyed at the two bases along with a handful of fighter-bombers and dive bombers.

[Wirraway_Ace]

***BREAKING NEWS*** SS GREENLING SINKS YAMATO
Gleeful submariners told reporters today (24 Nov 42) that the SS Greenling “had broken the heart of the IJN” by sinking the massive Battleship Yamato off Rabual. “We finally got the BIG ONE we had been hunting for over the past few days,” another submariner said, raising a beer in salute to the brave and skillful men of the SS Greenling.

It should be noted that a more sober submariner accompanying the revelers had a different perspective. He noted that S43 reported she had put two fish into a large fleet minelayer (believed to be the Okinoshima) on 21 Nov. Initial reports placed the contact 300 miles East of Rabaul. Fleet intelligence believed the damaged ship would make for Rabaul and the Greenling was close enough to intercept. While the Okinoshima was large, she could not easily have been mistaken for the Yamato through a periscope lens, but might be mistaken for the super-battleship through the bottom of a beer glass…

[Wirraway_Ace]

***BREAKING NEWS*** FLEET INTEL RELEASE SUMMARY OF SHIPPING LOSSES THROUGH 11/23/42
If you are keeping score of how MacArthur is doing in the South Pacific in terms of naval losses:
Allied/IJN
CV 0/ 0 1 Jap CV damaged by torps
CVL 0/ 0 1 Jap CVL damaged by mines
CVE 0/ 0
BB 0/ 0
CA 0/ 0
CL 0/ 0
DD 0/ 4
APD 0/ 6
PG/PC 1/ 5
SS 2/ 2 Both Allied boats were “S” Class
ML (Large) 0/ 1
ML (Small) 0/ 5
MSW 5/ 7
TK 0 / 1
TRANSPORT
LARGE 0/ 17
MED 3/ 27
SMALL 16/ 22
SC 3/
PT 9/
BARGE / 10

[Ike99]

***BREAKING NEWS*** SS GREENLING SINKS YAMATO
Gleeful submariners told reporters today (24 Nov 42) that the SS Greenling “had broken the heart of the IJN” by sinking the massive Battleship Yamato off Rabual. “We finally got the BIG ONE we had been hunting for over the past few days,”

Now that IS a bitter pill to swallow!