Surprise! 3 day turns vs Japan AI

[dr. smith]

Playing Allies, vs Japan AI, Historic, Surprise, Scenario 1, using 3 days (since I could only get a year in doing 1 day turns in WitP) - so waited about 40 minutes for my chance to actually LOOK at things - here are my main results, one totally unexpected.

No BBs initially sunk in Pearl attack, just 3 DDs and 2 subs, though Arizona succumbs on Day 2.
=============================================================================
BB California, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 1
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Tennessee, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 12, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires
CM Oglala
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Oklahoma, Bomb hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
SS Tautog, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
BB Nevada, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Helm, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA San Francisco, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Chew, Bomb hits 1
CL St. Louis, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Raleigh, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CL Helena, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Honolulu, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
DD Dewey, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
CL Detroit, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Henley, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Cassin, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAP St. Mihel, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
DD Downes, Bomb hits 1
SS Narwhal, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
DD Worden, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Mugford, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
=========================================================================
Prince of Wales and Repulse barely make it out of Singapore before being hammered:
=========================================================================
BB Prince of Wales, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
BC Repulse, Torpedo hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Vampire
DD Express
===============================
Then in the PM, the end.
===============================
BB Prince of Wales, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
BC Repulse, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
DD Tenedos
DD Electra, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
===========================================================================
2nd day, the Indianapolis TF is caught at long range just 1 hex W of Pearl, and it's totally wiped out:
==========================================================================
Morning Air attack on TF, near Pearl Harbor at 179,107

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
B5N2 Kate x 57
D3A1 Val x 22

Allied aircraft
P-36A Mohawk x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 9 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DMS Hopkins, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DMS Elliot, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DMS Dorsey, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DMS Long, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DMS Southard, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
========================================================== =====
But the big surprise for me comes the 3rd day, Lady Lex strikes!
================================================================
Morning Air attack on TF, near Wake Island at 136,98

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 10
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
SBD-2 Dauntless x 14
SBD-3 Dauntless x 7
TBD-1 Devastator x 11

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 2 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Tatsuta, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AMC Kongo Maru, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Kinryu Maru
PB Ikunta Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Yubari
DD Kisaragi

Japanese ground losses:
62 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
=======================
And in the PM!
========================
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wake Island at 136,98

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 9
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
SBD-2 Dauntless x 14
SBD-3 Dauntless x 7
TBD-1 Devastator x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 2 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AMC Kinryu Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Kisaragi
CL Yubari
DD Hayate
CL Tenryu
CL Tatsuta

Japanese ground losses:
92 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
================================================

So Lady Lex is still 3 hexes SE of Wake, but with destination of Pearl. Enterprise is dangerously close to the KB, about 5 hexes WSW of Layson Is. (KB about 6 hexes east of same). Excited to strike back so soon, hopefully the sinkings of the PB and AMC with another AMC ablaze will enable Wake to hold for a few more turns.

The damage to the BBs is pretty severe, they'll be bound for the mainland once patched up enough (of course, by 9 Dec, all fires are out):
Sys Flt Eng Fire
Maryland 59 78 24 0
W Virginia 39 16 4 0
Nevada 39 72 3 0
Oklahoma 72 61 5 0
Pensylvania 43 34 4 0
California 70 81 5 0
Tennessee 76 56 9 0

[wdolson]

The key to safely moving damaged ships is to keep them at Pearl until the remaining float damage is only major float damage.  Ships with no minor damage are patched up for moving with only a minor risk for taking on more water when at sea.  If you move ships with minor float damage, the ship may take on more water when at sea.

Bill

[John Lansford]

My first turn ended up with 4 BB's at Pearl sunk, three badly damaged, plus a big handful of smaller ships damaged and/or sunk as well, including a midget sub torpedo hit on WV.  Repulse is limping back to Singapore with three torpedo hits, but Prince of Wales is now headed for Trincomalee with only bomb damage.  I also had Indianapolis and her TF get clobbered on the second day, but I'm hoping she will make it into Pearl on Day 3 although 3 of her DMS escorts are sunk.  Lexington is almost within striking range of Wake Island and I diverted Enterprise SW away from Midway and a possible lethal encounter with KB.  I've got ships scurrying for safety all over the place but the AI is a LOT more aggressive in hunting them down, and so far several little TF's in the Philippines have been found and sunk by airstrikes.

I did have a Dutch SS fire torpedoes at a surfaced Jap sub on Day One; although they missed it was still a pleasant surprise.  Not so pleasant was the discovery of an enemy minefield in Bataan when one of my destroyers struck a mine...

[dr. smith]

Bill,

Thanks!  So my battered battleship row will be at Pearl awhile.

What I forgot was the Lex was on a mission to ferry planes to Wake - with the 3 day turns, she doesn't abort her mission, but continues for all 3 days to Wake where she ends up in a prime position to hammer the invasion force precisely when they appear at Wake.

Now, need to get her and the Big E out of harms way . . .

So John, it looks like the escapee singleton TFs are not the solution to getting assets out of the PI - thanks for the warning - though it certainly doesn't offer any other solutions!

[HistoryGuy]

Yeah - I was very surprised to have one of the US transports sailing from Manila on December 8 strike a mine in that area. At first I thought it might be fratricide but then I realized the Japanese might have laid the mines.

[John Lansford]

Since there's no mine countermeasure ships in the Philippines, that minefield really makes keeping the subs resupplied from Manila with an AS in the port.  Fortunately my subs all sortied on Turn One along with most of the surface ships, but IIRC there's one of the AS still in there.  I guess I'm going to have to wait while the minefield degrades or risk some DD's to clear the minefield (or let some old merchant ship tubs do the clearing for me)...

[dr. smith]

I had 2 subs hit:
SS Tarpon hits Type 88 Mine at Bataan
SS Pickerel hits Type 88 Mine at Bataan

Can only be a sub-laid minefield - so shouldn't be too many mines.

[thunar]

I was shocked when I saw my Subs leaving Manilla bump into that minefield at Bataan... I love the tougher AI!

[Don Bowen]

ORIGINAL: John Lansford

Since there's no mine countermeasure ships in the Philippines, that minefield really makes keeping the subs resupplied from Manila with an AS in the port.  Fortunately my subs all sortied on Turn One along with most of the surface ships, but IIRC there's one of the AS still in there.  I guess I'm going to have to wait while the minefield degrades or risk some DD's to clear the minefield (or let some old merchant ship tubs do the clearing for me)...

The Asiatic Fleet had six fleet minesweepers and all are at Manila at the start of Scenario One. As to where did the mines come from, search the web for I-124....

[John Lansford]

ORIGINAL: Don Bowen

ORIGINAL: John Lansford

Since there's no mine countermeasure ships in the Philippines, that minefield really makes keeping the subs resupplied from Manila with an AS in the port.  Fortunately my subs all sortied on Turn One along with most of the surface ships, but IIRC there's one of the AS still in there.  I guess I'm going to have to wait while the minefield degrades or risk some DD's to clear the minefield (or let some old merchant ship tubs do the clearing for me)...

The Asiatic Fleet had six fleet minesweepers and all are at Manila at the start of Scenario One. As to where did the mines come from, search the web for I-124....

Ok, now I need to go find out where those minesweepers went, then. I may have used them as escorts for one of the big transport TF's I sent out of there on Day One. If I did I'll turn a couple around and sweep that minefield out of there.

[dr. smith]

Slowly plodding around the map, giving orders, trying to get some semblance of a "feel" for ALL the units, ships and planes over half the globe.

So will talk about 1 little part, Repairs. These ships at Pearl are of interest:

xAP St. Mihel, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Battleship==Sys==Flt==Eng==Fire
Maryland ==59==78==24 ==0
W Virginia==39==16===4 ==0
Nevada ===39==72===3 ==0
Oklahoma ==72==61===5 ==0
Pennsylvania 44==34===4 ==0
California =70==81===5 ==0
Tennessee =76==56===9 ==0

Deciding how to prioritize the Shipyard repairs - Pearl has 100k tonnage limit, would like to shore up the worst damages ones to send to the mainland - but that may be a VERY long task. So decided to get High Demand assets, and lightly damaged ships out first - so put some DDs, the xAP St. Mihel, the BB WeeVee, Penny, and 2 Cruisers in the Yard. The rest are on Readiness repair til I clear 1 thing up.

The 2nd best option is Pierside Repair - does this impact Port Pierside unloading? I guess it doesn't - Shipyard & Port 2 separate entities, but am not totally sure - since I've placed ships in Shipyard already, what's left but the port? Right now Pearl has a lot of supply, but will need to send more.

The California is the only one requiring major Gun repairs, it can't be done at Pearl (is in red with a big X in front of the repair), so will need to be patched up stateside. But I don't expect to see Maryland, Okie, Cali and Tenny for a while so are last in priority. I will repair those ships that I can use soon, first.

Also, in Manilla had 2 AK damaged, put both in Shipyard - one will take only 5 days to repair - hopefully will escape any Port attacks in that time.

Debating whether to try to repair any Limeys in Singers, or just hightail it, probably flee.

China - looked at China a bit - is Ichang ungarrisoned by Japanese? China has it surrounded, just need to walk in? We'll see . . . .

PS One further note, the text files of Sigint, Operations, Combat and Events are in the Save file folder (I hope I recall that correctly). There are two copies of each with slightly different names so it may be one is the current one, the other campaign cumulative (like Bodhi's utility used to do). This is great!

[dr. smith]

Now up to 12 December, Highlights:

ARMY:
Hong Kong falls 11 December, only took 2 assaults (1st shock 1-1; 2nd shock 4-1),

NAVY:
i had sent 3 DDs from HK down to Manilla - they intercepted a convoy 2 hexes SE of HK, sank an APD and a TB.  After fall of HK, the MTBs based there started their escape - again ran into 2 convoys  just S of HK, sank 3 ships, lost 2.

On Wake, the Maizuru 2nd SNLF is still there, but the Marines cannot attack (bombard, yes; attack, no), so they remain and wait for the planning 3/Guards Mixed Brigade.

SUBS:
IJN sub I-122 sinks CL Java in 2 attacks, then DD Van Nes is ALSO sunk in a 3rd, as the Dutch try to rendesvous with Boise & Houston at Balikpapan.  I-153 put 7 shells into xAKL Haldor.

All Allied Sub attacks have been fruitless, except Porpoise put 1 torp in troop transport, and  SS Permit surfaced and put 13 shells into a xAK, ran out of ammo, then threw stones at it.

AIR
Through 11 Dec, bombing raids on PI were unescorted, then started being joined by Nates out of Vigan, then Zeroes from Taiwan again escorted, as many as 39 of them in the last raid.

Raids of 30 or so Bettys and Nells have almost wiped out the F4Fs in Wake.

INTEL:
Here's a summary comparing Signals Intel and the capture of my bases so far (assume landings occur at least a day prior - should've used that instead of capture date).  If Warning has *, means NO landings have taken place yet.  If **, means no landings, but TF off shore:
----------------------------------------------------------------
7 Dec = Batan Is. Falls === Warning-Plans for Kotu Bharu, Legaspi

8 Dec = Kota Bharu, Makin Fall === Warning-Plans for Madang*, Aparri, Guam, Miri*, Vigan

9 Dec = Vigan Falls === Warning-Plans for Miri*, Rabaul*

10 Dec = Aparri, Tarawa Fall === No Warnings deciphered.

11 Dec = Hong Kong Falls === Warnings for Davao**, Lingayen*, Miri*

12 Dec = Legaspi, Guam Fall === Warnings for Jolo*, Wake(residual force left over)

Also, in China, Chengchow & Hwaiyin Fall on 12 Dec.

PLANS:
Rest of Dutch, Boise & Houston, will swing by Jolo on way to Davao, where Jap TF has been sighted offshore.   IJN invasion of Davao and Rabaul are about to commence, may be able to disrupt tail end of Davao, but think they have CAs around.  May be able to prevent Jolo landings.

Looks like Lady Lex and Big E escaped Kido Butai and will make Pearl in a day or two.  Saratoga on its way to Pearl.  Diverting 2 brigades due for Singapore to Akyab.  Debating where place 1st available Port Service group - Pago Pago or Noumea.

Sending lots of xAKs to Capetown (for supply), majority of xAPs to Aden (troops) and TKs to Abadan.  US TKs going to LA, 1st reinforcement convoy ready to leave San Fran.

Due to other AARs and posters talking about PTs might, plus my own 2 results, may disband those now in play and do without.  They weren't really an impact until Guadalcanal - seems strange for them to try the Hong Kong - Manilla route - if they were restricted to only coastal hexes, it'd be better.

[Captain57]

Dec 12th, Pearl Harbor is still under attack. My two carrier groups are sailing desperately to relieve the island. A pack of subs has gone out to harass the Jap fleet but with no success so far. If I can't drive them off soon, this thing may be over before it starts. Doh!

[dr. smith]

Alas all ye fans of the Super Ship, CL Boise, she is no more, sunk after 3 attempts to break up the Davao invasion force, it took no less than a BB to put her in Davey Jones locker.

She and Houston had joined up with the Dutch Boyz at Tarakan and with word of impending IJN invaders heading to Jolo and Davao, the TF was ordered to do a drive by on Jolo, then assess the situation at Davao - where IJN Marines were about to disembark.

Nothing at Jolo, the mighty Boise led the TF to Davao where this the Yanks and Dutch Dike Pluggers got the drop on a napping battlewagon!:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Davao at 79,91, Range 1,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
     BB Hyuga, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1
     CA Mogami
     DD Yakaze, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
     DD Hokaze

Allied Ships
     CA Houston, Shell hits 7
     CL De Ruyter
     CL Tromp
     CL Boise
     DD Banckert
     DD Witte de With
     DD Evertsen
     DD Kortenaer
     DD Piet Hein

Conolly, Richard L. crosses the 'T'
------------------------------

Once the surprise was lost, so too the advantage, with the Allies pounding the Hyuga with all they had, and receiving the same:

Day Time Surface Combat, near Davao at 79,91, Range 16,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
     BB Hyuga, Shell hits 24,  on fire
     CA Mogami
     DD Hokaze

Allied Ships
     CA Houston, Shell hits 4,  on fire
     CL De Ruyter, Shell hits 2
     CL Tromp
     CL Boise, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1,  heavy fires
     DD Banckert
     DD Witte de With
     DD Evertsen, Shell hits 1
     DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 1,  on fire
     DD Piet Hein
----------------------------------
Kates from CVL Ryujo go after the Dutch Boyz and take their toll:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Davao at 80,92
Japanese aircraft
     B5N1 Kate x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
     B5N1 Kate: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
     DD Evertsen
     CL Tromp, Torpedo hits 1
     CL De Ruyter, Torpedo hits 1,  heavy damage

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Davao at 80,92
Japanese aircraft
     B5N1 Kate x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
     B5N1 Kate: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied Ships
     CL Tromp, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
     CL De Ruyter, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
     DD Witte de With
---------------------------

Night finds the Houston and Boise leaving a long trail of oil, which is followed by the pursuing CA Mogami, who delivers the coup de grace.  She seems particularly focused on Boise (perhaps captained by a WitP-JFB?).

Night Time Surface Combat, near Dadjangas at 80,94, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
     CA Mogami, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
     CA Houston, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
     CL Boise, Shell hits 26, and is sunk
     DD Kortenaer
     DD Piet Hein
-----------------------------

Those 2 Dutch DDs, then make good their escape.  But whither the remnants of the main Battle Force?  2 more Dutch DDs, Banckert and the Witte de With??

They had a mission, break up the Davao Invasion and they stayed true to their task, no mere BB would stop them, perhaps a SUPER BATTLESHIP might, but there can't be ANY of those around . . .

But the plucky Dutch go from the fire to the inferno, with unbelieveable skill, escape it!!  With torpedoes already expended, their "prey" escapes further damage:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Davao at 79,91, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
     BB Mutsu, Shell hits 4
     BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 1
     CA Haguro
     CA Nachi
     DD Ikazuchi
     DD Inazuma
     DD Fubuki
     DD Usugumo, Shell hits 2,  on fire

Allied Ships
     DD Banckert
     DD Witte de With
-----------------------------
Are they doomed to never regale their comrades over Heinekens at a Soerbaja brothel? This time CVL Zuiho strikes:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Sangihe at 77,96
Japanese aircraft
     A5M4 Claude x 10
     B5N1 Kate x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
     B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied Ships
     DD Banckert, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
     DD Witte de With

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Sangihe at 77,96
Japanese aircraft
     A5M4 Claude x 9
     B5N1 Kate x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
     B5N1 Kate: 5 damaged

Allied Ships
     DD Witte de With
-----------------------------

So 3 Dutch DD are the only remnants to tell the tale of the Mighty Boise, and especially their own Dutch Legend of when they took on the BB Mutsu AND BB Yamashiro and made them run away!

[Q-Ball]

Boise? Bah! Not to hijack your thread, but here is my game (I am JAPAN vs. AI):

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tarakan at 67,91, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
APD Hagi, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
TB Hayabusa, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
xAK Atago Maru, and is sunk
xAK Meiyo Maru, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
xAK Santos Maru, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
xAK Zyuyo Maru, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
xAKL Raizan Maru, Shell hits 8, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Boise, Shell hits 6, on fire




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tarakan at 68,91, Range 5,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Shell hits 2
DD Fubuki
DD Usugumo, Shell hits 1
DD Shirayuki
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Sagiri

Allied Ships
CL Boise, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk


I wonder if the previous combat she had expended all her ammo. At the cost of a bunch of transports though, this menace is gone![8D]

[dr. smith]

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Boise? Bah! Not to hijack your thread, but here is my game (I am JAPAN vs. AI):

. . . .

Hijack away, that's some price for a mere CL!

BTW CL Adelaide is causing a ruckus at Madang, she is solo.
===============================================================
Night Time Surface Combat, near Madang at 97,123, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAKL Hagoromo Maru
xAKL Noshiro Maru #2
xAKL Takunan Maru #10
xAKL Tama Maru #2, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
CM Takashima, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
xAK Hokkai Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK KunituMaru
xAK Ryunan Maru
xAK Kazan Maru, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Eizan Maru
xAK Yae Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Daihachikyo Maru
xAK Daijukyo Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Kotobuki Maru #5
xAKL Tsuneshima Maru, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
xAKL Kanaiyama Maru
xAKL Konsan Maru
PB Kosin Maru #3, Shell hits 15, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 1

[dr. smith]

CL Adelaide needs to re-arm, so is sent to Brisbane.  To take her place, CL Leander & Achilles join up with DD La Triomphant at Port Moresby to pay another visit to Madang.  A few hours short of Madang, in the sleepy village of Finschhafen, the quiet come to an abrupt halt:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Finschhafen at 100,126, Range 1,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
     PB Kyo Maru #2, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
     xAK Kinugawa Maru, Shell hits 25, and is sunk

Allied Ships
     CL Leander
     CL Achilles
     DD La Triomphant

Japanese ground losses:
     330 casualties reported
        Squads: 5 destroyed, 19 disabled
        Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 21 disabled
        Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
     Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
-------
AND:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Finschhafen at 100,126, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
     PB Shonan Maru #6, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
     xAP Koan Maru, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Allied Ships
     CL Leander
     CL Achilles
     DD La Triomphant

Japanese ground losses:
     284 casualties reported
        Squads: 3 destroyed, 13 disabled
        Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 18 disabled
        Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
     Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

AND!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Finschhafen at 100,126, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
     PB Shuko Maru #2, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
     xAP Kongo Maru, Shell hits 31, and is sunk

Allied Ships
     CL Leander
     CL Achilles
     DD La Triomphant

Japanese ground losses:
     379 casualties reported
        Squads: 2 destroyed, 27 disabled
        Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 17 disabled
        Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

===============
with 73 Shell hits along with 3 Torpedo hits, its a wonder they have any ammo left.  They continue on to Madany while limeys check out nooks and crannies for overlooked ammo.

A few shells and torps remain:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Madang at 97,123, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
     PB Shonan Maru #17, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
     xAK Shinanogawa Maru, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Allied Ships
     CL Leander
     CL Achilles, Shell hits 1
     DD La Triomphant

Japanese ground losses:
     289 casualties reported
        Squads: 3 destroyed, 2 disabled
        Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 23 disabled
        Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Day's work well done, oh well, back to Port Moresby, for sure NOW, there's certainly can NOT be any no more ammo- but wait, we found some in the closet!
-------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Finschhafen at 100,126, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
     PB Chitose Maru
     xAK Nichiryo Maru, Shell hits 7,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
     xAP Montevideo Maru, Shell hits 8,  heavy fires,  heavy damage

Allied Ships
     CL Leander
     CL Achilles
     DD La Triomphant
========================================

Meanwhile, Lady Lex is on a return visit to Wake, which is now being invaded by the Guards Mixed Brigade, which joins the starving remnants of the Maizuru 2nd SNLF.  Attacks on 19 December are fruitless (1-2), as are those on 20 December (1-99).  Lady Lex is within extended range on the 20th, but weather socks her in.  In her stead, the coastal guns of Wake bark to life:
     xAK Alaska Maru, Shell hits 1
     xAK Hauraki Maru, Shell hits 2
     xAK Hauraki Maru, Shell hits 4,  on fire
    xAK Hauraki Maru, Shell hits 1,  on fire
     AMC Bankok Maru, Shell hits 1

Finally on the 21st, Lady Lex is in range and ready:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Wake Island at 136,98
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Allied aircraft
     F2A-3 Buffalo x 10
     SBD-2 Dauntless x 11
     SBD-3 Dauntless x 9
     TBD-1 Devastator x 12


Allied aircraft losses
     SBD-2 Dauntless: 2 damaged
     SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged
     TBD-1 Devastator: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
     AMC Bankok Maru, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires
     xAK Hauraki Maru, Bomb hits 1,  heavy fires
     xAK Manzyu Maru, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
     xAK Alaska Maru, Bomb hits 2,  on fire
     xAP Shanghai Maru, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
     xAKL Heizan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And then the last IJN ships in the invasion TF is added to the reef:
==========================================
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Wake Island at 136,98
Weather in hex: Overcast

Allied aircraft
     F2A-3 Buffalo x 10
     SBD-2 Dauntless x 11
     SBD-3 Dauntless x 9
     TBD-1 Devastator x 11

Allied aircraft losses
     SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 damaged
     TBD-1 Devastator: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
     AMC Bankok Maru, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
     E Uji, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
     xAK Alaska Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
========================================
But it's too little too late for the brave Marines of Wake:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Wake Island (136,98)

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 8210 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 267
Defending force 1085 troops, 24 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 23

Japanese adjusted assault: 50
Allied adjusted defense: 2

Japanese assault odds: 25 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Wake Island !!!

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
     414 casualties reported
        Squads: 8 destroyed, 8 disabled
        Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 4 disabled
        Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
     2299 casualties reported
        Squads: 22 destroyed, 16 disabled
        Non Combat: 106 destroyed, 14 disabled
        Engineers: 26 destroyed, 0 disabled
     Guns lost 47 (47 destroyed, 0 disabled)
     Vehicles lost 10 (10 destroyed, 0 disabled)
     Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
   Guards Mixed Brigade
   Maizuru 2nd SNLF

Defending units:
   Wake USN CPNAB
   1st Marine Defense Battalion

[dr. smith]

One oddity: I've the CVL Ryujo TF sail INTO Tarakan and now Manado while the Allies still possess them.  But no coastal guns fired at them.

Thought carrier ops were decreased by being in base/coastal hexes in old WitP, not true now?

[Sardaukar]

I think even in WitP CVs stayed away from CD guns, at least I have never read any AAR or encountered situation where CD guns had fired CV TF. That is, even if they were in same hex, game apparently considered them staying too far away to be engaged by CD guns.

[british exil]

Allied Ships
CL Leander
CL Achilles
DD La Triomphant

The crew of these ships deserve an extra ration of rum. Nice fighting[:D]