June 17, 1942
Darwin was invaded today. This was quite a lesson on the mechanics of the game.
Before the landings commenced, a TF made up of 3xBB and 6xCA (plus DDs) bombarded Darwin to try to suppress the CD guns before the amphibious force landed. What a reception they got! 531 coastal guns shots fired. As I watched the replay I was wondering if these guns ever missed. One shot after the next kept hitting my ships. Fortunately, most of them bounced off. Nevertheless, the did knock off AA guns and cause some damage.
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Naval bombardment of Darwin at 76,124 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
531 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 34, on fire
BB Mutsu, Shell hits 33, on fire
BB Nagato, Shell hits 10
CA Kako, Shell hits 6, on fire
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 8, on fire
(a few of these penetrated)
CA Nachi, Shell hits 2
CA Haguro
CA Myoko, Shell hits 3
CA Chokai, Shell hits 8, on fire
Allied ground losses:
235 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 10 (0 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 11
Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 5
After watching that I was chagrined about what would happen to my amphibious force. But apparently the BBs had done there job. The firing on the landing force was extremely weak. No ships were sunk outright, though I did end up scuttling a PB.
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Pre-Invasion action off Darwin
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
8 Coastal gun shots fired in defense. [&o]
Japanese Ships
AK Sakito Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
PB Shuko Maru #2, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
PB Toshi Maru #2
PB Busho Maru
AK Akagi Maru
PB Shonan Maru #6
AK Ayatosan Maru
Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported [8D]
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Then the actual landing began. And lo and behold, almost no casualties.
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Amphibious Assault at Darwin
TF 113 troops unloading over beach at Darwin, 76,124
Japanese ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
10 Support troops lost in surf during unload of 24th/A Div
Once the troops were ashore, the enemy bombardment showed that they are very, very weak. My troops have disruption in the low 20s and are somewhat short on supply, so I won't attack next turn, but the turn after I will shock attack and that should be sufficient to capture the place. Let's hope so because I don't want to have to face those CD guns again! [:-]
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Ground combat at Darwin (76,124)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 866 troops, 22 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 16
Defending force 4325 troops, 41 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 152
Assaulting units:
Emery Point Fortress
Defending units:
24th/A Div /80
