Speedy vs Fabertong - the old foes meet again.....

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Faber and I decided to go at it again. Before starting a GC though we're playing the Guadalcanal scenario. I'm the Allies and Faber the Japanese.

With the Lunga and Tulagi troops already aboard their respective transports I'm moving ahead historically for now- 1st USMC invading Luinga with elements of 2nd USMC + 1st USMC Para/Raider invading Tulagi. CA/CL and DD's will provide cover and fire support for the invasions with the CV's loitering 80 miles east of Tulagi.

I don't want to venture too far west of Guadalcanal for now for fear of Betty strikes from Rabaul. At the same time I'm concious that the invasion forcesd could do with fighter cover during the landings. As such one of the CV's CAP will fly cover over Lunga - probably Wasp's......

My early plans involve the securing of Lunga and Tulagi from the Japanese, reinforcing PM with additional supply (17,000 tonnes loaded on AK's from Sydney), additional Aviation Support at PM flown in from Aus, 6000 tonnes of supply to Luganville from Noumea and an extra 6000 tonnes of supply for Lunga from Noumea.

Short-medium term I want to get Aviation Support into Lunga and additional troops at PM and Milne Bay. I'll need to pay the politicians to gather these resources though.....

Of course all of these plans are subject to Japanese intervention and I'll need to adjust accordingly. A key milestone though is Hornet's arrival in over 20 days time......will give me the CV edge IMO.

The first day sees my forces edge nearer to Guadalcanal, SBD/TBF bomb enemy positions on Tulagi in preparation for the upcoming landings.

In New Guinea the Japanese launch Zero sweeps over 39th Bn on Kokoda and follo that up with a Betty raid which auses a few casualties. Frustratingly Kittyhawks and P39's intervene from PM (against my orders) and lose 5 of their number to enemy Zeroes.....

Any questions all please ask[:)]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

2 days out from invasions and the allied commader does a boo boo by neglecting the fact that the Japanese can stage aircraft from Lunga/Tulagi! Rufe's take off from Tulagi harbour and attack the Lunga invasion force 160 miles out. A 60kg big pea boncing off of CA Astoria but an afternoon raid at 2.16PM finds 2 bombs hitting AP Henderson causing ires and moderate damage. Luckily she's not too damaged and can keep formation with a speed of 12 knots.

Lessons learnt for tomorrow though. Some of Wasp's F4F's will fly CAP as planned and the Seagulls from the cruisers will also fly some CAP! Could be fun seeing Rufe's vs Seagulls[;)]

Lunga should be invaded tomorrow and depending on weather conditions Tulagi force may also be on station.

Over at New Guinea Japanese forces led by Horii stormed over 39th Bn positions on Kokoda routing them back to PM causing 1100 casualties. This make the reinforcement of PM even more paramount.

SS Greenling patrolling 120 miles SW of Truk found a small enemy convoy heading SW. She submerged firing 6 fish at xAKL Chohakusan Maru. 2 of which hit but failed to detonate[:-] The commander 'correctly' surfaced and decided to attack xAKL Shinko Maru. She slammed 8 x 3" shells into her for no noticeable damage (notes been made to higher command to up-gun these babies in the future). In return a 5" shell bounced off the oblique hull ([;)]) for no damage.

Tomorrow we've ordered PM's 7 x Beauforts to bomb enemy troops on Kokoda. 29 x B17 are ordered to bomb Lae's airfields from Cooktown.

[Mynok]

Frustratingly Kittyhawks and P39's intervene from PM (against my orders) and lose 5 of their number to enemy Zeroes.....

CAP migrates in this game. If you had them on CAP is it highly likely they would zoom over to the next hex to help out against the raid if it was detected early enough.

[herwin]

My experience with the Guadalcanal scenario is that the naval action will be hot and heavy around Lunga and Tulagi as soon as the Japanese player is able to react. Also, it is extremely important to escort your merchies with something more than AMs--Japanese subs are aggressive. I recommend you deploy a bunch of ASW TFs quickly. You'll run out of sorties and torpedoes on your carriers fairly soon, so plan for a pit stop from time to time. Finally, supply will be an utter pain.

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

Hi Alien friend - I know. I know [:)] Just adding flavour to the game by saying I would rebuke those who did it[:)]

Hi Herwin - yes these are my thoughts too. Supply will be scarce. I expect it to be just the same if not worse for my opponent mind you. At present I'm more concerned about the arrival of I-Boats than I am of Sho and Zui [;)]

--------------------------

All action today.

Both Lunga and Tulagi were invaded successfully with few mishaps on dis-embarkation. The escorting cruisers and destroyers duelled with enemy positions and a 5" shell even hit DD Henley on the bow causing minor damage.

More damage was caused by the environment than by the Japanese. Both AP Fuller and AP Henry T. Allen hit underwater rocks whilst moving offshore causing extensive damage. Both will probably sink[8|]

Overhead Wildcats and FP's patrolled. The Rufe's duly arrived late morning from nearby Tulagi and they tangled with the Walrus's and Seagull's[:D] Neither of which caused any noticeable damage. All their bombing runs came to nothing though and the arrival of 20 x Wildcat from Wasp soon put paid to their party easily catching and dispatching 5 of their number.

All troops are ashore at both Lunga and Tulagi and attacks go in tomorrow to gain control of the main areas.

As per today SBD/TBF's will bomb the sh*t out of enemy positions to keep them occupied.

The Beauforts attacked 144th Rgt positions NE of PM causing 15 casualties. No enemy fighters were present.

In conjunction with this B17's from Townsville raided Lae with Kittyhawk/P39 support from PM. Throughout the battle approximately 17 enemy Zeroes on were counted on CAP. Damage was sustained by several planes from both sides but only a Fort was shot down. Minor damage was dished out to the airfields.

So far we've had no confirmed reports of any Zero kill by my Kittyhawks or P39's!

The sub war continued in the same manner. Both SS Gudgeon and SS Greenling launched torpedoes which were dud's against xAK Meiyo Maru and xAK Toa Maru.

[Mynok]

Ah yes...I forget you liked to role play these things. [8|][:'(]

[Capt. Harlock]

So far we've had no confirmed reports of any Zero kill by my Kittyhawks or P39's!

Not surprising for the P-39's. But those Kittyhawk pilots need a tongue-lashing!

[scott64]

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,

The past 5 days have seen the securing of both Lunga and Tulagi. The Japanese at Lunga retreated to Tassafaronga whilst the Japanese at Tulagi fought on for 2 more days.

All invasion convoys and CV's have moved back to Luganville/Noumea for refuelling (and in the Luganville case to load up a BF for shipment to Lunga).

6000 tonnes of supply are aboard 2 freighters that have just reached Lunga under CA/DD cover.

The only interference the Japanese have made so far in the Solomans has been a 4 x CA bombardment of Tulagi which was pretty ineffectual.

Supply and fuel are at a premium with 300 tonnes at Tulagi , 3000 at Lunga and 11000 at Noumea. A further 4000 tonnes are on their way to Lunga (with the above mentioned BF and an Av. Rgt).

My biggest concern at the moment is New Guinea. The past 5 days have seen no attacks on PM itself but it's pretty obvious to me that the Japanese are marching over the Owen Stanley's with 5 units upto 40 miles away and 6 more spotted at Buna. This is a concern and as such I'll be beginnign to fly up an Aussie Bde from Cairns starting in 2 days time.

Ship transport is too risky as a recent 4 freighter convoy has shown. One 3000 tonne freighter was sunk 60 miles SW of PM by a Japanese I-Boat and yesterday Vals and Zeroes attacked from Lae sinking 2 of the remaining freighters (despite 30 CAP fighters which shot down 2 Zeroes and 2 Vals for 3 P39 losses). This leaves 4000 tonnes of supply aboard a lone freighter desperately trying to unload. There are currently just over 7000 tonnes of supply at PM. 3 fort levels have been constructed.

Townsville's B17's managed to attack Lae again yesterday and reportedly destroyed a Zero on the ground.

My Subs have performed admirably sinking 2 x Large AK's and an S-Boat snuck into Lae sinkign a Large PB. She unfortunately became very brave the next day surfacing to duel with an AK which heavily damaged (33/86/17) the S-Boat.

[anarchyintheuk]

Sorry to bother . . . but have you noticed any randomly shifting squadrons? No matter where I based them, my A-20 squadrons kept homing to PM so often I finally disbanded them.

[Speedysteve]

Hi Anarchy,

No problem at all. None of my squadrons appear to have shifted I'm afraid. Sounds odd[&:]

--------------------------------

The 14th and 15th August saw Japanese air assets strike at shipping off Lunga and at PM. At PM Vals from Lae sank the last Freighter there xAK Santa Rita which had unloaded a vital 1000 tonnes of supply. The raid on the 15th appears to have proved costly though with a reported 9 x Vals and 1 x Zero shot down by my 7 x Kittyhawk and 23 x P39 on CAP. In return though I lost 6 x P39 and 1 x Kittyhawk. With no freighters there now I've tasked the P39's on a low level strafing attack on the Kokoda Trail Japanese tomorrow.

Coupled with this 3 squadrons of Marauders are now based at Cooktown and have been tasked with bombing the Kokoda area tomorrow too.

Townsville's B17's will hopefully take off to bomb Lae again tomorrow as well.

I have 2 Catalina squadrons flying in additional Av. Support to PM now and in time I will release an Aussie Bde and fly her in to.

Over at Lunga the supply freighter was attacked before much could be unloaded with 30ish Betties from Rabaul! She sank after 3 torpedo hits.

On the 15th my coverign CA force was attacked there also and CA Astoria took a torpedo which fortunately did virtually no damage (8 major FLT). Intel reports 10 Betties were lost though - 4 to A and 6 Ops. I hope this is the case. The good news is that within a day or 2 USA BF should be operational on Lunga allowing me to fly in Wildcats and PBY's. This will be the first step to getting some air control in the area....hopefully.

My CV's are at Noumea waiting for fuel to turn up to fully refuel. For now we wait since I need to see where Faer will move. My gut feel and intel indicates it will be over the Owen Stanleys to PM..................

[Speedysteve]

Hi all,
 
Afraid work has taken a turn to intervene which means I'll be especially snowed under and will probably not have time to update this anymore.
 
Sorry,
 
Steven