An Aussie Affair: Luskan vs Raverdave

[Raverdave]

Originally posted by Luskan


As should be clear to all of you, Raver is on the back foot and I am the one advancing here!!!

....and the poms are gonna win the ashes:rolleyes:

[Luskan]

Yes you heard right folks, Raver's arrogance and dismissive attitude caused him to leave the CS Nisshin unescorted and moored at an island in the Santa Cruz chain. 5 cruisers and 7 destroyers sent her to the bottom with 50 shell hits.

I now have the biggest kill of the game: Nisshin, 63 points!

[CapAndGown]

Originally posted by Raverdave



....and the poms are gonna win the ashes:rolleyes:

Perhaps we could have a little simultaneous translation here from Aussie speak into english? What, pray tell, is a pom? And why should he/she/it wish to win ashes?

[Luskan]

Pom: (n) A pale skinned race of people with with bad teeth, bad hair, bad accent, a tendency to go back packing in Bondi, hang out at the Orient pub, whines a lot about everything and comes from the UK. Poms are the ugliest people on earth, bar none, and when an exception to this rule comes along (Liz Hurley being the only one I can think of) they move to Hollywood and as far from that hole London as possible. n.b. In recent decades the Pom's gene pool has devolved to a point where they are the worst cricket nation in the world.

Ashes: A bunch of burnt cricket balls that are sacred to cricket history. Annually the Poms play the Aussies for possession of these ashes. Am not really a cricket follower, but I can't seem to remember the Poms ever winning in living memory (My cricket memory isn't that long - only goes as far back as the early Alan Border/Dean Jones/Rod Marsh days).

[CynicAl]

Originally posted by Luskan
Pom: (n) A pale skinned race of people with with bad teeth, bad hair, bad accent, a tendency to go back packing in Bondi, hang out at the Orient pub, whines a lot about everything and comes from the UK. Poms are the ugliest people on earth, bar none, and when an exception to this rule comes along (Liz Hurley being the only one I can think of) they move to Hollywood and as far from that hole London as possible. n.b. In recent decades the Pom's gene pool has devolved to a point where they are the worst cricket nation in the world.

Ashes: A bunch of burnt cricket balls that are sacred to cricket history. Annually the Poms play the Aussies for possession of these ashes. Am not really a cricket follower, but I can't seem to remember the Poms ever winning in living memory (My cricket memory isn't that long - only goes as far back as the early Alan Border/Dean Jones/Rod Marsh days).

I never realized how seriously Australians take their entomology. Imagine getting that worked up over crickets!

[SoulBlazer]

Its about as hard as trying to explain to non Americans why we spend all Sunday in front of the TV.

[CapAndGown]

Originally posted by CynicAl

I never realized how seriously Australians take their entomology. Imagine getting that worked up over crickets!

Cricket gonads no less!

[Raverdave]

Ah Cricket! What a game ! One test match (game) can last upto 5 days ! But usually when the Aussies are playing the poms it is only a three day match:rolleyes: :p

[DoomedMantis]

Whats also good is to be world champs of a world series and invite other countries. Now thats a novel idea.

Tell me my American friends who won the world series this year?

[Luskan]

Worst week of Australian sport in several years!!! Let me see, in spite of the usual, boring wiping of the English at the Cricket, McGrath's catch is supposedly being touted as the best catch ever . . . I don't think so. Fatty Vautin, at the Gaba (maybe?) in the celeb match running AWAY from the ball, catching it over his shoulder. Now that was a catch. Who cares about the world series - those guys need gloves to catch the ball!

Next debacle, the Australian open. Not only were the greens too fast, but the aussies were the ones complaining about it. Who cares if you don't get the course record - we only want to find out who wins. It was the same for everyone, nice golf weather etc. What was the problem???? :rolleyes: wimps. As Roy and HG pointed out, they're quite happy to play in some Scottish blizzard etc.

Next and worst disaster, the Wallabies return home, having been beaten by all sorts of nations that are lucky to get a medal at the olympics.


Now, back to the AAR:
Not a lot happening because Raver and I are busy, but that ends tomorrow for me. In the meantime, Raver is fast transporting in troops and I scored a 250 lbs bomb hit on the Yamato (on the way in or out I can't tell). However Raver's troops continue to die in the 200s in futile attacks - there are no engineers amidst his estimated 10000 troops to reduce my fortifications, so my troops, guns and tanks, who slightly outnumber the enemy, just sit back and let them wear themselves out. These troops have been on the island almost a week now - surely they're running low of supplies by now. Getting bombed by lots of b17s, marauders, dauntlesses, bathtubs with wings etc. is having an effect on the enemy troops.

[Pawlock]

Originally posted by Luskan



Next and worst disaster, the Wallabies return home, having been beaten by all sorts of nations that are lucky to get a medal at the olympics.

Oh, really? and pray tell me who beat the Wallabies?.............................My guess is the us Poms showed you guys from the Southern hemisphere how to play the game

We let you win the cricket, but other sports we gotta put our foot down.

p.s. Bring back Skippy !!! ...if only I could get that damm theme tune from skippy outta my head now

[DoomedMantis]

Originally posted by Pawlock


Oh, really? and pray tell me who beat the Wallabies?.............................My guess is the us Poms showed you guys from the Southern hemisphere how to play the game

We let you win the cricket, but other sports we gotta put our foot down.

p.s. Bring back Skippy !!! ...if only I could get that damm theme tune from skippy outta my head now

Are but dont you see, its all part of the plan for the World Cup. Lead you by the nose with complacency, then smash you and take the cup for the third time, thats if England can make it past the quarters that is. Now what was the score last time England toured Australia, does 76-0 sound familiar.

[Raverdave]

Ok stand by every one...... Luskan-the-coward will be posting his AAR annnnyyyyy minute now. I bet that his grin is so big that you spot him on a moonless night 100 feet away.:rolleyes:

[Luskan]

Raver is right - his BBs aren't performing too well. My surface tf (which he has only sunk Portland and damaged Australia - the rest are the original crew from the start of the scenario) have struck again. Not only that, but took extremely light damage in doing so, drowned a few jap troops, preventing the next wave of suicide attackers at Gavigamana from landing, and set my airmen up for some much needed practise. My surface tf have sunk 15 out of the 23 jap ships sunk (North Carolina has got 1 kill with a 16 inch shell hit on a destroyer previously, but the rest, like Nisshin and now Kinugasa and a host of destroyers - are all on the sea floor thanks to Lee and his ships!).

Enjoy. I certainly did.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/28/42

Air attack on Luganville , at 53,53

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 14
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 1 damaged


Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
11 x G3M Nell at 6000 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Gavigamana at 51,47

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Shell hits 9
BB Mutsu, Shell hits 1
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 5, on fire
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage - sank
DD Urakaze
DD Arashi, Shell hits 1
DD Oshio, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage - sank
DD Minegumo, Shell hits 1
DD Akatsuki, Shell hits 36, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 23, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Chester
CA Louisville
CA Salt Lake City
CA Quincy, Shell hits 2
CA Vincennes, Shell hits 2
CL Achillies, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Hobart
CLAA Atlanta, Shell hits 2
CLAA San Diego, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1
CLAA San Juan
CL Phoenix, Shell hits 1
CL Honolulu
DD Grayson
DD Stockton
DD Sims
DD Balch
DD Farragut
DD Hull
DD MacDonough


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Gavigamana at 51,47

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 2
CA Mogami, Shell hits 1
CA Aoba, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Kako, Shell hits 4
CL Kuma
DD Shiranui, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Asashio, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Michishio
DD Arashio
DD Yamagumo, Shell hits 1
DD Kawakaze
DD Hatsuharu
DD Murakumo
DD Uranami, Shell hits 2
DD Uzuki
DD Asakaze, Shell hits 2
DD Yunagi, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage -sank?

Allied Ships
CA Chester
CA Louisville
CA Salt Lake City, Shell hits 2
CA Quincy, Shell hits 1
CA Vincennes, Shell hits 1
CL Achillies, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CL Hobart
CLAA Atlanta
CLAA San Diego
CLAA San Juan
CL Phoenix
CL Honolulu
DD Grayson
DD Stockton, Shell hits 1
DD Sims
DD Balch
DD Farragut
DD Hull, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD MacDonough

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 73


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Air attack on TF at 48,45


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 28


no losses

Japanese Ships
DD Natsugumo, Bomb hits 13, on fire, heavy damage

This was good bombing - but it was a bit excessive. They should have gone after a cruiser or something fatter.

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Air attack on TF at 46,44


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 5


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Suzuya

Attacking Level Bombers:
1 x Hudson at 1000 feet
4 x Hudson at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,44


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 6
B-26B Marauder x 3


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 destroyed
Hudson x 6 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara, Bomb hits 3
CL Kuma, Bomb hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 34

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 1000 feet
2 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
2 x Hudson at 1000 feet

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Air attack on 41st Regiment, at 51,47


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
Hudson x 10
B-25D Mitchell x 11
B-26B Marauder x 21
B-17E Fortress x 28
B-24D Liberator x 12
A-20B Havoc x 14


no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 179

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
9 x B-24D Liberator at 1000 feet
7 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
3 x Hudson at 1000 feet
5 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
5 x B-25D Mitchell at 1000 feet
6 x B-25D Mitchell at 1000 feet
5 x A-20B Havoc at 1000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 1000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
9 x A-20B Havoc at 1000 feet
3 x Hudson at 1000 feet
4 x Hudson at 1000 feet
9 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
6 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet

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Air attack on TF at 48,44


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 28


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage - not really that heavily smashed I think . . .
CA Ashigara, Bomb hits 1
DD Asakaze
DD Asashio, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage - sank this time?

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 36


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,44


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 3


Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Michishio

Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet

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Sub attack near Townsville at 10,62

Japanese Ships
SS I-122

Allied Ships
MSW Lismore

This is the first time I can remember one of his subs actually missing a target. Bodes well for the future (although Toowoomba hit a mine and sank at brisbane this turn.).

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Ground combat at Lomlom Island

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 818 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 44 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Lomlom Island base !!!



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Of course what isn't contained in this combat report is my other stroke of luck. Astoria, northhampton, a few dds and a CL were on a bombardment mission somewhere at PNG - but for some reason they were too slow and ended up being a whole hex short of their (classified) target. Waiting for the swarms of raver's planes (I'm sure he has some there) to come up and sink them I was a bit nervous, but they were 1 hex away PNG's south coast and they weren't spotted. Thanking my lucky stars I ordered them to return to base immediately since there were no ships reported at anchor or in the port (these would have been my main targets, bombardment would just have been for fun).



On the whole however, Raver's advance is rolling along pretty smoothly up until this point. He now owns all of the Santa Cruz (now off limits for my ships due to his mines, and BBs in the area - no doubt his CVs are just back at Lunga or somewhere out of LBA range waiting for me to try that sort of attack again), and he does have more troops on Gavigamana than I do (I think) with more guns. However they've been there for a week or so, had a few unsuccessful attacks, been bombed pretty nastily and should be getting a bit short on fish rice and saki . . . I hope.

[Grotius]

This is good reading. One newbie question: how do you lay most of your mines? With subs or with minelayers? It seems safer to use subs, no?

[Raverdave]

Depends where I am laying the mines...............deep in enemy territory subs are the ONLY way to go......but in my own back-yard I use ships.

[Luskan]

Raver has GOT to start escorting his CS ships and his supply ships. Now I have the two biggest kills of the game

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/29/42

Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43

Japanese Ships
AV Sanyo Maru, Shell hits 18, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Chester
CA Louisville
CA Salt Lake City
CA Quincy
CA Vincennes
CL Hobart
CLAA Atlanta
CLAA San Juan
CL Phoenix
CL Honolulu
DD Grayson
DD Stockton
DD Sims
DD Balch
DD Farragut
DD Hull
DD MacDonough


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at 0,0

Japanese Ships
AP Otori Maru, Shell hits 11, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Benham
DD Porter
DD Phelps
DD Dale
DD Alwin

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 171
Guns lost 2


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43

Japanese Ships
CS Chiyoda, Shell hits 38, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Chester
CA Louisville
CA Salt Lake City
CA Quincy
CA Vincennes
CL Hobart
CLAA Atlanta
CLAA San Juan
CL Phoenix
CL Honolulu
DD Grayson
DD Stockton
DD Sims
DD Balch
DD Farragut
DD Hull
DD MacDonough


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Naval bombardment of Gavigamana, at 51,47

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 28
Port supply hits 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Irau, at 42,43

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake x 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 61
Port supply hits 1


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Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 38,40


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
TK Kenyo Maru, Bomb hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet

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Air attack on TF at 46,44

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 1 destroyed
B-17E Fortress x 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Michishio
CA Ashigara
CA Aoba, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 9

Attacking Level Bombers:
1 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Gavigamana at 51,47

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 2 destroyed
G3M Nell x 14 damaged

Allied Ships
CLAA Atlanta
CL Honolulu, Torpedo hits 1
CL Phoenix, Torpedo hits 1
CA Vincennes, Torpedo hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
2 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet

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Ground combat at Gavigamana

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 10953 troops, 168 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 12830 troops, 102 guns, 19 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 1100
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 96


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[Luskan]

Will be interesting to see if Raver's troops were starving or not (I think they were supplied). If they were supplied, no one will question the power of the level bomber again. 4 days of bombing and my inferior force of troops (not much smaller, but a few tanks could be what went a long way?).

Now I know Raver is about to post that really I only killed 1500 of his troops and they died doing "armed recon" but you can't trust a word he says


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/31/42

Air attack on 41st Regiment, at 51,47


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 28
P-400 Airacobra x 5


no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 56
Guns lost 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 41st Regiment, at 51,47


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 11
B-26B Marauder x 19


no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 47

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Beaufighter VIC at 1000 feet
6 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
8 x Beaufighter VIC at 1000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
10 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 41st Regiment, at 51,47


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 25
Hudson x 21
B-25D Mitchell x 14
B-26B Marauder x 27
B-17E Fortress x 26
B-24D Liberator x 12
A-20B Havoc x 15


no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 177

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 1000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
6 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
5 x B-25D Mitchell at 1000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
5 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
12 x A-20B Havoc at 1000 feet
3 x Hudson at 1000 feet
3 x A-20B Havoc at 1000 feet
9 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
9 x B-25D Mitchell at 1000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
3 x Hudson at 1000 feet
9 x B-24D Liberator at 1000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
3 x Hudson at 1000 feet
8 x Hudson at 1000 feet
4 x Hudson at 1000 feet

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Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 52,67

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 1 destroyed
G3M Nell x 6 damaged

Allied Ships
SC 647
MSW Skylark

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
2 x G3M Nell at 200 feet

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Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 52,67

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 6
G4M1 Betty x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 9 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Adhara, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
SC 647
AK Mercury, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
AK Crater

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet

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Ground combat at Gavigamana

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 9495 troops, 164 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 13594 troops, 118 guns, 19 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 1028
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 5


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Ground combat at Gavigamana

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8852 troops, 90 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 8585 troops, 161 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 9701
Guns lost 215

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 7


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[Raverdave]

It was simply a probing force.......I never did hold out any expectations that they would win.........but the OTHER force that is being built up WILL play for keeps;)

The airpower was not the straw that broke the camel's back......lack of supply did.

[Luskan]

Originally posted by Raverdave
It was simply a probing force.......I never did hold out any expectations that they would win

Told you he'd say this.

Now my paratroops are "probing" at Irau in what I consider probe force - fifty soldiers and a hundred second line troops, a few mortars and plenty of supplies (as well as a handy fast transport group to EVACUATE them if Raver's got too much in the area). Hear that Raver? EVACUATING my troops so as not to waste their lives

On the other hand, yesterday's turn showed me something like twenty different task forces at Lunga (all compositions either unknown or there were just too many to fit in the box). Then this turn, they were gone - probably off to Truk to get some more troops to sacrifice? Or are on their way to Irau with enough troops to properly secure it from my probe?

Either that or the catalina pilot was drunk (not an impossibility I think).

As far as my staff is concerned, the war seems to be going in the right direction - especially with the arrival of two more p-40 squadrons at brisbane tomorrow, which gives me a much needed boost in the fighter capacity of Australia (although Raver's nasty little zero sweeps have stopped).

Some more fighters at Noumea wouldn't hurt either - he scored a lucky hit on the Honalulu in a night raid on Noumea. Not much damage, but with the betty/nell range able to go anywhere I could be hiding my carriers, I would prefer to keep this port at least, secure.

As for stratagy - until I get more fighter replacements, and some b17 replacements (although getting plenty of reinforcements) I will probably do no more than sit back and wait for my turtle like opponent to stretch his neck out too far once again - before I chop it off. again

Raver may build Irau large enough to support zeroes which can in turn enable his carriers to extend their influence right down to Noumea under his LBA CAP. However to supply those zeros he is going to need to clear his own mines to get transports in (and he is going to need to clear a few of mine too!).

Will post a score and a few details tomorrow sometime.