We captured Efate today, wiping out the NZ Base Force unit.
Our bombardment force silenced Noumea and destroyed dozens of ac on the ground.
An enemy destroyer was also shot up.
Intel: Andy has hired the ferryman and is air transporting in 3-4000 troops from Suva to Noumea each turn.
Ca 14k troops reported there now. I remember fine well how Allied air transportation stopped all Jap offensives in mid 43 from our last game.
- So we call it a day, leaving a small garrision at Efate.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Apr 12, 43
Surface Combat & Bombardments
Night Time Surface Combat, near Efate at 120,154, Range 7,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki
DD Kisaragi
DD Yayoi
DD Uzuki
Allied Ships
DD Thanet, Shell hits 1
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 50% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Thanet at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Thanet engages DD Uzuki at 2,000 yards
DD Yayoi engages DD Thanet at 2,000 yards
DD Thanet engages DD Kisaragi at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Thanet at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Thanet at 12,000 yards
DD Yayoi engages DD Thanet at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...
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Night Naval bombardment of Noumea at 115,160 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
Hudson III (LR): 2 destroyed on ground
P-39D Airacobra: 4 destroyed on ground
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed on ground
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed on ground
137 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kongo, Shell hits 1
CA Haguro, Shell hits 2
CA Takao
CL Isuzu
DD Myojinami
DD Minazuki
DD Uranami
DD Fubuki
DD Yugumo
Allied ground losses:
152 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (3 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 46
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for BB Haruna
BB Haruna firing at Noumea
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Kongo
BB Kongo firing at 57th Coastal Artillery Regiment
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at BB Kongo
CA Haguro firing at 57th Coastal Artillery Regiment
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at CA Haguro
CA Takao firing at 57th Coastal Artillery Regiment
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at CA Takao
CL Isuzu firing at 57th Coastal Artillery Regiment
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at CL Isuzu
DD Myojinami firing at 14th NZ Brigade
DD Minazuki firing at Noumea
DD Uranami firing at 57th Coastal Artillery Regiment
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at DD Uranami
DD Fubuki firing at 57th Coastal Artillery Regiment
57th Coastal Artillery Regiment firing at DD Fubuki
DD Yugumo firing at Noumea
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Ouv'ea at 117,156, Range 21,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo
BB Haruna
CA Takao
CA Haguro
CL Isuzu
DD Yugumo
DD Fubuki
DD Uranami
DD Minazuki
DD Myojinami
Allied Ships
DD Thanet, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
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Air Combat
Afternoon Air attack on Efate , at 120,154
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 4
G3M3 Nell x 33
G4M1 Betty x 51
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 5 damaged
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 84
Aircraft Attacking:
33 x G3M3 Nell bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
24 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
19 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 9000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 9000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
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Ground Combat
Ground combat at Efate (120,154)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 4939 troops, 35 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 125
Defending force 1363 troops, 23 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 10
Japanese adjusted assault: 55
Allied adjusted defense: 5
Japanese assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 2)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Efate !!!
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), preparation(-)
fatigue(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: fatigue(-)
Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
1214 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 180 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 14 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 25 (25 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1
Assaulting units:
1st Infantry Regiment
15th/C Division
Defending units:
3rd RNZAF Base Force
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Efate
