Into the Breach

[Ike99]

I am currently sitting on a marginal victory.

It appears that keeping one's opponent off balance at this point would be of great value. A major conflict over a base would bleed the IJN or irreplaceable assets so if it occurs the Allies can't afford to blink, even if it appears to take them to the edge.

I think a major conflict could also hurt him. The minor victory he is sitting on is a 1% point lead. This is all. The sinking of a Allied battleship or aircraft carrier could cost him his game. There is not much time left.

[bigred]

Talk about a pounding, check this out--575 men.
Air attack on Rabaul , at 21,28

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 1
A6M3 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 58
P-47C Thunderbolt x 20
B-26B Marauder x 9
B-17E Fortress x 105
PB4Y Liberator x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 3 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 2 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning x 1 destroyed
P-47C Thunderbolt x 1 destroyed
P-47C Thunderbolt x 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress x 1 destroyed
B-17E Fortress x 3 damaged

PO2 K.Ohara of F2/201st Daitai is credited with kill number 2

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 574
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 22
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 119

[bigred]

8-16-43: the Lunga effect is starting to be felt.  Probably made a mistake by not taking this hex earlier. Heavy damage reported on 2 IJN DDs at shortland.

[Ike99]

Finschafen appears ripe for picking.

[Ike99]

Score
8-20-43

[Ike99]

Score
8-20-43

Two days later..

12075 Japan
12809 Allies

Japan gained 24 points
Allies gained 7

Just a few more points would have thrown him back down to 1.05

I am currently sitting on a marginal victory.

You can´t sit, if you sit you will not win. You will draw.

[bigred]

More food for the fish of the Bismarck sea.

[bigred]

In other news:

[bigred]

Halsey waits for news at irau of the next allied invasion up the soloman chain.  The troops have been loaded.  the orders have been given.  The planes have launched in a thunderstorm.  The admiral awaits the results.

[bigred]

The 1st Marine division goes ashore at Russell Islands.  The naval portion of the attack is uncontested by the IJN.  A massive minefield has been somewhat netralized by a month of mineclearing prep. The IJA tried to push the marines into the sea.  The Marines pushed back w/ a 2bb bombardment TF and 200 planes in ground support. Almost too easy. Not sure a 45/45 vp island is worth the trouble.


Ground combat at Russell Islands

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8028 troops, 92 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 14868 troops, 83 guns, 92 vehicles

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


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 407

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 22


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Ground combat at Russell Islands

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8696 troops, 83 guns, 58 vehicles

Defending force 8678 troops, 99 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 6)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 5


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 56

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 86 

[Ike99]

Halsey waits for news at irau of the next allied invasion up the soloman chain.

The normal Japanese hero type thing.

Ground combat at Russell Islands

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8706 troops, 83 guns, 62 vehicles

Defending force 8577 troops, 99 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5)


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 367

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 91

[Ike99]

edit

[bigred]

The IJ LBA has moved to a forward position at Russell island.
Air attack on 41st Regiment, at 35,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
A6M3 Zero x 11
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 7
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 5

Allied aircraft
F6F Hellcat x 14
F4U-1 Corsair x 32
SBD Dauntless x 118
P-38G Lightning x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 23 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 6 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F6F Hellcat x 1 destroyed
F6F Hellcat x 2 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair x 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
P-38G Lightning x 1 destroyed
P-38G Lightning x 2 damaged

1LT R. Cox of 36th FS is credited with kill number 5

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 55

[bigred]

The Bombardment TF was w/drawn this turn and my troops did not get a fort reduction.  I see reduced allied LBA did not get the job done this turn w/ground support.  Adjustments will be made.
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Ground combat at Russell Islands

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8706 troops, 83 guns, 62 vehicles

Defending force 8577 troops, 99 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5)


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 367

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 91

[bigred]

At Tulagi:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 38,39

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 27

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 13 destroyed
B5N Kate x 15 damaged


1LT H.Barnes of VMF-224 is credited with kill number 7

Allied Ships
DD Converse
BB Colorado, Bomb hits 1
BB Maryland

[bigred]

The Stealth KB has returned:

[bigred]

It appears one air wing from 2 spotted IJN CVs launched an abortive attack also at lunga.

[bigred]

And russell Island is reduced from a 5 to a 3 fort.

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Ground combat at Russell Islands

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 11020 troops, 83 guns, 62 vehicles

Defending force 8053 troops, 98 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 201

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 141
Vehicles lost 1

[bigred]

Here it is, rested and refueled.

[Ike99]

Bigred has reduced the fortifications at Russell to zero but still no surrender. The island remains Japanese.

Score