Back after a few days way with work and family!
Some good and bad news this turn; We're forced back north of Geraldton and the KB moves next to a single tanker east of Perth.
No strikes but numerous attacks by Val's on search. At least this will force Andy to disperse and change his air dispositions.
Need to buy our grunts on land some time.
The good news I've save for last, see end of report [:)]
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Jul 25, 42
Air Combat
Put a CAP over out troops north of Geraldton.
Didn't think it was possible for fighters to sweep a non base hex but it seems like that's just what happened this turn!
First 18 P-40's arrived and 5-6 ac were lost on both sides but the CAP was exhausted and the follow up strikes could bomb almost at will. Hm....
Morning Air attack on 65th Brigade, at 50,140
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 16 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 6th Guards Division, at 50,140
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
Allied aircraft
B-25B Mitchell x 6
B-26 Marauder x 12
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-25B Mitchell: 1 damaged
B-26 Marauder: 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
132 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25B Mitchell bombing from 7000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 7000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 7000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Raid is overhead
Also attacking 20th Infantry Regiment ...
Also attacking 65th Brigade ...
Also attacking 21st Army ...
Also attacking II./124th Infantry Battalion ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 65th Brigade, at 50,140
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 2
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x P-40E Warhawk sweeping at 11000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground Combat
Bugger, tried hard to avoid a retreat odds, but 898 - 441 is a low margin 2-1 and we're forced out.
Only 2 units pursue.
Ground combat at 50,140
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 12321 troops, 121 guns, 1134 vehicles, Assault Value = 780
Defending force 17271 troops, 151 guns, 22 vehicles, Assault Value = 563
Allied adjusted assault: 898
Japanese adjusted defense: 441
Allied assault odds: 2 to 1
Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
5743 casualties reported
Squads: 143 destroyed, 162 disabled
Non Combat: 192 destroyed, 74 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 5 (4 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Units retreated 7
Allied ground losses:
187 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 26 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 169 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 207 (5 destroyed, 202 disabled)
Units pursuing 2
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
2/9th Armoured Regiment
10th Light Horse Battalion
192nd Tank Battalion
194th Tank Battalion
1st Motor Brigade
2/11th Armoured Car Battalion
255th Armoured Brigade
2/5th Armoured Regiment
159th Mot Infantry Regiment
7th Armoured Brigade
Defending units:
65th Brigade
II./124th Infantry Battalion
20th Infantry Regiment
6th Guards Division
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
40th Field AA Battalion
21st Army
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub Attacks
After the failed attack on Enterprise last turn I thought it was a missed opportunity that you only get a few of during a long war. I didn't order any more subs into Pearl Harbour but we do have subs that sweep past the base routinely.
- First the I-4 makes spots the carrier Hornet; launch 4 torpedoes and score a hit! [8D]
The hit cause an ammo storage explosion..the sub then hits a mine retreating from PH. Damage is serious but she should make it to Kwajalein!
Submarine attack near Pearl Harbor at 180,107
Japanese Ships
SS I-4
Allied Ships
CV Hornet, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CV Hornet is sighted by SS I-4
SS I-4 launches 4 torpedoes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 101 encounters mine field at Pearl Harbor (180,107)
Japanese Ships
SS I-4, Mine hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok a torp hit on a carrier is great...but there is more!! The I-25 has also smelled blood and follows I-4 and
also spots the Hornet, now burning fiercly! Another 6 torpedoes are lanunched and again the Hornet is hit! [:D]
A double whammy!! ..and now damage is heavy.
...again the sub hits a mine heading out of PH and again damage is serious but not critical.
Talk about events repeating themselves.
Submarine attack near Pearl Harbor at 180,107
Japanese Ships
SS I-25
Allied Ships
CV Hornet, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SS I-25 is sighted by CV Hornet
SS I-25 launches 6 torpedoes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 69 encounters mine field at Pearl Harbor (180,107)
Japanese Ships
SS I-25, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hornet takes 2!
The Hornet is - of course - reported sunk but there are no reports of heavy CAG losses, so I assume
she will make it into PH.
Still, over a few weeks we have crippled 2 US carriers and damage a British without taking friendly losses.
This is just what I'm trying to achieve; cause attrition on the enemy and make our carrier dominance complete for
another year. I now doubt Andy can gather a carrier force that can threaten the KB before late 43 [8D]
