Into the Breach

[bigred]

And Tulagi falls:

[bigred]

And the base is captured:

[bigred]

ORIGINAL: bigbaba

it seems that for both of you, the Ac loses were very light up to this time. a combined lose number of 700 planes in mid 1943 shows a good ressouce management of both sides.[&o]

I thought this was interesting. Look at the losses since the beginning of May 43.

[bigred]

The IJA never moved out of Lae. The astute reader knows the answer why.
edit-11-17-10, (topsecret-if you see this then you have learned a major tactical issue)a para shock attack will freeze the movement of any combat force. I used a PBY w/ one squad of infantry every 5th day to insure Ike never left the hex..If he had he would have crushed my airdrop at nazib.

ORIGINAL: Ike99

You better bring the kitchen sink.

Will 30,000+ Japanese in Nadzab in 3 turns do?

Bigred places 100 or so Allied aircraft in Nadzab, with any luck he´ll place the whole Allied airforce there. C47´s are being shredded and the airfields closed.

[Kingfisher]

A little less than 6 months and a little more than 1,000 points. You may just pull this off.

[Ike99]

And the base is captured:

It is interesting in Bigreds latest attack after capturing Lae, after the majority of Japanese forces have retreated the assault odds were 1 to 1.

This is because the majortiy of Japanese troops were just suppressed and not killed. Thunderstorms have allowed them time to recover from the bombings.

Ground combat at Lae

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 29327 troops, 227 guns, 108 vehicles

Defending force 8767 troops, 105 guns, 0 vehicles

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



2LT C. Doyle of VMF-121 is KILLED
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 149
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 3

So the combat value of the division is not destroyed, just suppressed from the constant bombing. Not cutting off the retreat route and destroying the division completely was a mistake and he will have to spend resources to keep the division down or it will recover.

Majority of 2nd marine division is ashore at Tulagi. Medium casualties by minefields to the USN.

I counted 25+ ships hitting mines. I would consider this heavy as you have a long way to go.

[Ike99]

The IJA never moved out of Lae. The astute reader knows the answer why.

Why?

[Ike99]

6-7-43: Here is a pre attack look at bombing at lae from here at Dobadura and PM. The LBA used at Dobadura and PM represents about 60% of planes available currently.

You are going back to square one.

[bigred]

I was making my turn, brinking my beer, and noticed all these jap infantry units next to Lae.  I know fast trans had been running to finchaven.  I figured to pick up units.  No way Ike is coming to retake Lae. All my previous recon never showed a HQ.

[bigred]

A better look:

[bigred]

Really Kiriwina.  In other news the IJA lost about 15 Betties in an unescorted strike at GG.  A USN CL was sitting in the harbor and provoked the airstrike. 

[Ike99]

note the 8 hex range...

I know the game system in this section.[8D]

[Ike99]

Around a thousand men have been killed through fighter strafing and this port attack from the division that landed at Tulagi in the past week.

Air attack on Tulagi , at 38,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
D3A Val x 132
B5N Kate x 136

no losses

Allied Ships
AV Thornton, Bomb hits 2, on fire
APD Sands, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
APD Gilmer, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
SC 645, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCM 9/2ESB, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AV Tangier, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD LaValette, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCM 1/2ESB, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCM 2/2ESB, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Grayson, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 762
Vehicles lost 3

[bigred]

Alot of action on 6-17 as noted by Ike.  Below is a pleasant surprise. My date is wrong on the jpeg.

[bigred]

Another air battle same day:




Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 1
CV Kaga

[bigred]

Development of the battle area.

[bigred]

6-18-43: the combat report states the hit was on Zuiho.

[Ike99]

Kiriwina is very close to Japanese airbases. Several Allied PT boats, a destroyer and light cruiser have recently been sunk. It is also close enough for the KI-61 to get in the game and score.

Bigreds Guncam

[Ike99]

6-18-43

Almost 250 planes attacked a small surface group and 50 attacked Bigreds carrier force. Half of those unescorted Kates-[:@]

What might have been?

[Ike99]

We are coming up on the close of the month and the points sit almost the same despite Bigreds attempts to over take me. Bigreds problem is how to take ground and not lose ships. The Japanese defense is designed to become more dangerous as he comes closer.