The Power of Inexperience / GreyJoy(A)-Rader(J)
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: DEPRESSION
Still think it is hogwash that 1000 Jap planes can fly from a base in India to attack on one turn, and that 500 to 600 can fly from places like Rabual on one turn. I ment to say earleir was not 50 planes per airfield size but 50 engines. The South pacific looks like Allied bomber runs over Europe in 44 than any thing that ever really happen in the Pacific war except in 45.
"Ours was the first revolution in the history of mankind that truly reversed the course of government, and with three little words: 'We the people.' 'We the people' tell the government what to do, it doesn't tell us." -Ronald Reagan
RE: DEPRESSION
Sorry guys...very little time and a turn to send...can i air bomb enemy units that landed at Tulagi with my 4Es from Ndani? I cannot sweep Tulagi, i know...but can i bomb them or the system won't allow me?...
thx
thx
RE: DEPRESSION
ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
Sorry guys...very little time and a turn to send...can i air bomb enemy units that landed at Tulagi with my 4Es from Ndani? I cannot sweep Tulagi, i know...but can i bomb them or the system won't allow me?...
thx
As long as Ndeni is at least Level 4, and you have plenty of supplies, your 4Es ought to bomb the Japanese troops at Tulagi quite nicely. Set your bombers to 8K feet on Ground attack. If you have any Cats on Ndeni, set them to Recon Tulagi at 10K too.
If you have an Air HQ on Ndeni that will help the chances of an attack.
Of course, the Weather might not support you, particularly if your 4E pilots aren't well experienced, but it's worth a try anyway.
RE: DEPRESSION
thx! going out tonight...however 6 divisions landed at Tulagi and 20 units already reached PM...kind of a record!!!!!
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Canoerebel
- Posts: 21099
- Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2002 11:21 pm
- Location: Northwestern Georgia, USA
- Contact:
RE: DEPRESSION
Have fun. I hope she's "naturally hairy" in all the ways that you like!
P.S. For those wondering what the *@$#U(#$*# I'm talking about, you'd have to read a number of different threads to understand GreyJoy's rather "shocking" disclosures aabout naturally hair women.
P.S. For those wondering what the *@$#U(#$*# I'm talking about, you'd have to read a number of different threads to understand GreyJoy's rather "shocking" disclosures aabout naturally hair women.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
RE: DEPRESSION
LOL! No, she's not unfortunately:-(
With the BB right now so sorry for mistales in spelling
However he landed with 5 divs at Tulagi,and he's approaching Rennell Island while at Russell there are already 550 AVs.
At Tulagi, already 1800 after only one day of landings...agaist my 390 AVs....:-/
Anyway, i know you guys won't agree...but i decided to do something. Ordered a mass attack at the landings. 2 SCTFs will attack tomorrow night, while 300 bombers will fly from Ndeni.moved to Tulagi 4 crack fighter units and 3 more to Tessafaronga,along with 50 SDBs and 18 torpedo bombers. If i have to lose (and i jave no time to dunkirk here as u may understand) i want to bring as many japanese as possible!
Today finally our PTs did something, sinking 6 transports full of troops!...
ONLY THE BRAVES!!!!!!!!!! HURRAH!!!!
With the BB right now so sorry for mistales in spelling
However he landed with 5 divs at Tulagi,and he's approaching Rennell Island while at Russell there are already 550 AVs.
At Tulagi, already 1800 after only one day of landings...agaist my 390 AVs....:-/
Anyway, i know you guys won't agree...but i decided to do something. Ordered a mass attack at the landings. 2 SCTFs will attack tomorrow night, while 300 bombers will fly from Ndeni.moved to Tulagi 4 crack fighter units and 3 more to Tessafaronga,along with 50 SDBs and 18 torpedo bombers. If i have to lose (and i jave no time to dunkirk here as u may understand) i want to bring as many japanese as possible!
Today finally our PTs did something, sinking 6 transports full of troops!...
ONLY THE BRAVES!!!!!!!!!! HURRAH!!!!
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Canoerebel
- Posts: 21099
- Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2002 11:21 pm
- Location: Northwestern Georgia, USA
- Contact:
RE: DEPRESSION
ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
ONLY THE BRAVES!!!!!!!!!! HURRAH!!!!
Baseball fans in Georgia join in this sentiment even while realizing what you actually meant...
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
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Bullwinkle58
- Posts: 11297
- Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:47 pm
RE: DEPRESSION
ORIGINAL: Canoerebel
ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
ONLY THE BRAVES!!!!!!!!!! HURRAH!!!!
Baseball fans in Georgia join in this sentiment even while realizing what you actually meant...
Nah, he's talking about the Braves of East Scooby-do, Iowa. Class A team . . .
The Moose
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House Stark
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2011 6:30 pm
RE: DEPRESSION
Greyjoy,
First of all, I'd like to say that this has been one of my favorite AARS so far. I'm an AE newb with eventual Allied PBEM ambitions, so I'm watching this closely to learn as much as possible. So I'm going to throw a couple thoughts out there, but that they might very well be horribly wrong.
1) For all that's gone horribly wrong, as people have said you have had two major successes: the holding of Karachi and excellent kill ratios against the Japanese air forces, and the preservation of you're carriers. Imagine what Rader might have done with his navy if you're carriers were out of the picture; or maybe you rather wouldn't.
2) The constant air combat is keeping your pools drained, but is probably keeping his experienced pilot pool drained as well. He has planes, and you have pilots. If you can maintain a good kill ratio until you get good planes, then he might start to be in trouble. Coupled with the fact that if you can retake some of the Indian industry he might begin to lose the ability to manufacture so many aircraft. At the very least, he surely will have less obsolete aircraft to turn into kamikazes later.
3) He clearly has the fuel to move entire armies and fleets across halfway across the map at will, but can he really have that much of a fuel reserve?
4) What's your situation in northern Australia? Do you know how his naval search/attack capabilities are in his resource routes? He clearly has powerful ASW, but could you take advantage of the 2 day turns to send in small destroyer TFs into the Java Sea, or Kuriles, or somewhere? Experienced posters seem to think his air force must be spread thin. If most of his planes outside of India/SWPAC are ASW/Search, could a small surface force maybe get through to hit a convoy, or at the very least force him to withdraw bombers to defend against such raids?
Keep up the good work, even if you're barely holding now, imagine how you'll be doing once you get more stuff to play with.
First of all, I'd like to say that this has been one of my favorite AARS so far. I'm an AE newb with eventual Allied PBEM ambitions, so I'm watching this closely to learn as much as possible. So I'm going to throw a couple thoughts out there, but that they might very well be horribly wrong.
1) For all that's gone horribly wrong, as people have said you have had two major successes: the holding of Karachi and excellent kill ratios against the Japanese air forces, and the preservation of you're carriers. Imagine what Rader might have done with his navy if you're carriers were out of the picture; or maybe you rather wouldn't.
2) The constant air combat is keeping your pools drained, but is probably keeping his experienced pilot pool drained as well. He has planes, and you have pilots. If you can maintain a good kill ratio until you get good planes, then he might start to be in trouble. Coupled with the fact that if you can retake some of the Indian industry he might begin to lose the ability to manufacture so many aircraft. At the very least, he surely will have less obsolete aircraft to turn into kamikazes later.
3) He clearly has the fuel to move entire armies and fleets across halfway across the map at will, but can he really have that much of a fuel reserve?
4) What's your situation in northern Australia? Do you know how his naval search/attack capabilities are in his resource routes? He clearly has powerful ASW, but could you take advantage of the 2 day turns to send in small destroyer TFs into the Java Sea, or Kuriles, or somewhere? Experienced posters seem to think his air force must be spread thin. If most of his planes outside of India/SWPAC are ASW/Search, could a small surface force maybe get through to hit a convoy, or at the very least force him to withdraw bombers to defend against such raids?
Keep up the good work, even if you're barely holding now, imagine how you'll be doing once you get more stuff to play with.
RE: DEPRESSION
breaking news.
PM fell against 5000 AV
2000 AVs at Tulagi
500 AVs conquered Russell Island and now the japs have an AF LvL 3 right in front of Lunga...
Almost over
tomorrow we'll make a comprehenisve review of the last 4 bloody days
PM fell against 5000 AV
2000 AVs at Tulagi
500 AVs conquered Russell Island and now the japs have an AF LvL 3 right in front of Lunga...
Almost over
tomorrow we'll make a comprehenisve review of the last 4 bloody days
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House Stark
- Posts: 184
- Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2011 6:30 pm
RE: DEPRESSION
Rader doesn't seem to do half measures. If you can threaten somewhere else decently important and far away, maybe you can make him burn a lot more fuel as he ships hundreds of thousands of troops and entire fleets across the map, preferably over a line of you subs. He really can't have that much fuel in reserve, can he?
RE: DEPRESSION
ORIGINAL: House Stark
Rader doesn't seem to do half measures. If you can threaten somewhere else decently important and far away, maybe you can make him burn a lot more fuel as he ships hundreds of thousands of troops and entire fleets across the map, preferably over a line of you subs. He really can't have that much fuel in reserve, can he?
What would be "decently important"? It would be much more important for Radar to shoot over anywhere and wipe out more ill-prepared invasions.
Radar likely has more than enough fuel to wander around the Pacific several times over because he has conquered so much of Asia.
Right now, every ship, plane and LCU that Radar destroys means that a serious Allied counterattack is delayed even more. That's the huge risk in sending off Allied forces to isolated bases when the Japanese still have a major combat capability.
Look at the situation in PNG and the Eastern Solomons. What has it gained Greyjoy to have sent his troops there? He is in the process of losing incredibly valuable forces at almost no cost to Radar except for some fuel and supplies.
Radar will get excess Supplies out of China and India that he can send to the big DEI oil bases to repair the refineries and oil fields. This will give him even more fuel. And Greyjoy can't do anything about that.
Until Greyjoy can defeat the KB, every time he sends forces out to isolated bases he risks losing his forces to overwhelming Japanese counterattacks. And even if he hangs on, his forces are then trapped.
Allied players can't afford to waste their forces in 1942 and in early 1943, because that will push the Allied ability to field credible threats into 1944.
There are plenty of places and ways to plan out the Allied counterattack, but random invasions in the hopes of "scaring" an opponent are not the way to do it and essentially just don't work in AE.
RE: DEPRESSION
Ok dear readers. The last 4 days have been full of action and the worst nightmares of us became true.
I'll try to summerize day by day and divide the reports between the two main theatres of operations (PM and the Solomons)
Let's start with Port Moresby.
On Jan 14th 1943 Radio Tokio announced the conquest of Port Moresby by the allmighty Japanese forces.
As you remember, on the 1st Jan 1943 140k japanese marched out on Buna, taking the Owen Stanley route.
In 12 days of marching they reached PM in a very good shape, despite having suffered 2 days of bombings by 70 Allied bombers taking off from Cairns.
On the 13th 50k japanese delivered the first fist on the undersupplied and badly distrupted 2nd Aus Corp, composed by the 27th U.S. Division and the 87th NZ Bde, supported by 2 Artillery units. 3 level of fortifications crumbled down on the first assault.
On the 14th the fate of the PM defensors was already written. 13,000 allied are sent to POWs camp in Luzon and 3 Japanese armies were already able to march back towards Buna.
What really surprise me is the fact that Rader was been able to march on one of the possible worst terrain in the whole pacific with the equivalent of 7 Divisions in making 90 miles in less than 2 weeks!...[:-][:-]
Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 40221 troops, 330 guns, 138 vehicles, Assault Value = 3493
Defending force 17528 troops, 308 guns, 487 vehicles, Assault Value = 484
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0
Japanese adjusted assault: 862
Allied adjusted defense: 375
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Moresby !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1044 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 100 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 75 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Allied ground losses:
13527 casualties reported
Squads: 630 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1405 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 49 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 412 (412 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 665 (665 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 7
Assaulting units:
23rd Nav Gd Unit
5th Garrison Unit
Guards Mixed Brigade
87th Infantry Regiment
88th Infantry Regiment
61st Infantry Group
37th Division
63rd Infantry Group
7th Division
9th Garrison Unit
140th Infantry Regiment
36th Division
19th Division
4th Guards Division
16th Army
14th Army
8th Area Army
17th Army
Defending units:
27th Infantry Division
8th NZ Brigade
II Australian
1st Medium Regiment
Bataan USN Base Force
Cavite USN Base Force
2nd Medium Regiment
But the real action took place in the Solomons.
On the 9th Japanese troops started to unload at Russell Island ( 1 Port, 3 AF) . The base was lightly defended by a para bn and by a company of U.S. soldiers. Despite that, Japan brought two entire big units there, but the landings took at least 6 days.
On the 11th, precedeed by the usual intense air bombing (both from LBA and from KB), supporting by at least 300 sweeping missions over our 3 main bases (Lunga, Tessafaronga and Tulagi), a HUGE Amphibious TF landed at Tulagi. The 155mm guns of the Marine CD unit present there did a good job, inflicting several casualities among the landing ships. The PTs did also a good job sinking or badly damaging a number of transports full of troops and my subs tried to do their best....
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Chokai
CL Katori
CL Kashima
CL Kashii
CM Tsugaru
DMS W-20
PB Nikkai Maru
CM Tsubame
CM Hirashima
CM Niizaki
CM Aotaka
CM Wakataka
AK Sagami Maru
AK Sakito Maru
AK Awazisan Maru
AK Amagisan Maru
AK Azumasan Maru
AK Aratama Maru
AK Yamasimo Maru
xAK Manko Maru
xAK Iburi Maru
xAK Daido Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Akagisan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Osaka Maru
xAK Hankow Maru
xAK Kasagi Maru
xAK Amagi Maru
xAK Tsukuba Maru
xAK Eiko Maru #2, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Manyo Maru
xAK Okuyo Maru
xAK Seikyo Maru
xAK Shinkyo Maru
xAK Aden Maru
xAK Belgium Maru
xAK China Maru
xAK Naples Maru
xAK Ohio Maru
xAK Gokoku Maru #2, Shell hits 1
xAK Keihuku Maru
xAK Kizan Maru
xAK Heian Maru
xAK Hokko Maru
xAK Hukusei Maru
xAK Heiei Maru
xAK Mansyu Maru
xAK Zuiko Maru
xAK Ehime Maru
xAK Aki Maru
xAK Azuchi Maru
xAK Ayato Maru
xAK Bandoeng Maru
xAK Boston Maru
xAK Chowa Maru
xAK Chihaya Maru
xAK Yamura Maru, and is sunk
Allied Ships
PT-26
PT-29
PT-42, Shell hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
2261 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 78 destroyed, 51 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Chokai
CL Katori
CL Kashima
CL Kashii
CM Tsugaru
DMS W-20
PB Nikkai Maru
CM Tsubame
CM Hirashima
CM Niizaki
CM Aotaka
CM Wakataka
AK Sagami Maru
AK Sakito Maru
AK Awazisan Maru
AK Amagisan Maru
AK Azumasan Maru
AK Aratama Maru
AK Yamasimo Maru
xAK Manko Maru
xAK Iburi Maru
xAK Daido Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Akagisan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Osaka Maru
xAK Hankow Maru
xAK Kasagi Maru
xAK Amagi Maru
xAK Tsukuba Maru
xAK Eiko Maru #2, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Manyo Maru
xAK Okuyo Maru
xAK Seikyo Maru
xAK Shinkyo Maru
xAK Aden Maru
xAK Belgium Maru
xAK China Maru
xAK Naples Maru
xAK Ohio Maru
xAK Gokoku Maru #2, Shell hits 1
xAK Keihuku Maru
xAK Kizan Maru
xAK Heian Maru
xAK Hokko Maru
xAK Hukusei Maru
xAK Heiei Maru
xAK Mansyu Maru
xAK Zuiko Maru
xAK Ehime Maru
xAK Aki Maru
xAK Azuchi Maru
xAK Ayato Maru
xAK Bandoeng Maru
xAK Boston Maru
xAK Chowa Maru
xAK Chihaya Maru
xAK Yamura Maru, and is sunk
Allied Ships
PT-26
PT-29
PT-42, Shell hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
2261 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 78 destroyed, 51 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 5,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Chokai
CL Katori
CL Kashima
CL Kashii
CM Tsugaru
DMS W-20
PB Nikkai Maru
CM Tsubame
CM Hirashima
CM Niizaki
CM Aotaka
CM Wakataka
AK Sagami Maru
AK Sakito Maru
AK Awazisan Maru
AK Amagisan Maru
AK Azumasan Maru
AK Aratama Maru
AK Yamasimo Maru
xAK Manko Maru
xAK Iburi Maru
xAK Osaka Maru
xAK Hankow Maru
xAK Kasagi Maru
xAK Amagi Maru
xAK Tsukuba Maru
xAK Manyo Maru
xAK Okuyo Maru
xAK Seikyo Maru
xAK Shinkyo Maru
xAK Aden Maru
xAK Belgium Maru
xAK China Maru
xAK Naples Maru
xAK Ohio Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Gokoku Maru #2
xAK Keihuku Maru
xAK Kizan Maru
xAK Heian Maru
xAK Hokko Maru
xAK Hukusei Maru
xAK Heiei Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Mansyu Maru
xAK Zuiko Maru
xAK Ehime Maru
xAK Aki Maru
xAK Azuchi Maru
xAK Ayato Maru
xAK Bandoeng Maru
xAK Boston Maru
xAK Chowa Maru
xAK Chihaya Maru
xAK Daihachikyo Maru
xAK Kashiwara Maru
xAK Kinjosan Maru
xAK Sakido Maru
Allied Ships
PT-21
PT-23
Japanese ground losses:
2929 casualties reported
Squads: 42 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 110 destroyed, 48 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 20 (20 destroyed, 0 disabled)
After the PTs the Japs start to land.....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Tulagi (114,137) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
588 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Shell hits 2
CA Atago
CA Takao
CL Kashii
CL Kashima, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Katori, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAK Manko Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
xAK Iburi Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
PB Naruto Maru #3
PB Yokae Maru
PB Yahada Maru
PB Hakata Maru #2
PB Ryusei Maru
PB Nikkai Maru
AK Yamasimo Maru
xAK Amakusa Maru
CM Tsugaru
xAK Sakido Maru
Japanese ground losses:
993 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 55 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 19 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Tulagi (114,137)
TF 63 troops unloading over beach at Tulagi, 114,137
Japanese ground losses:
1241 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Tulagi (114,137) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
582 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
CA Atago, Shell hits 3
CA Takao, Shell hits 1
CL Kashii, Shell hits 4, on fire
CL Kashima, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Iburi Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
DMS W-20
xAK Manko Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Nikkai Maru
PB Yokae Maru
PB Yahada Maru
PB Hakata Maru #2
PB Naruto Maru #3
PB Ryusei Maru
AK Yamasimo Maru
xAK Keihuku Maru
CM Tsugaru
Japanese ground losses:
655 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 43 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
After the first day of landings (the 12th Jan), Japan had already unloaded 50k men for 1800 AVs[X(]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 8417 troops, 216 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 402
Defending force 48447 troops, 348 guns, 150 vehicles, Assault Value = 1819
Japanese ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st Marine Raider Battalion
23rd Marine Regiment
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
102nd USN Base Force
97th Field Artillery Battalion
804th Engineer Aviation Battalion
353rd Construction Regiment
369th Coast AA Regiment
139th USA Base Force
7th Marine Defense Battalion
16th USN Naval Construction Battalion
21st USN Naval Construction Battalion
Defending units:
52nd Infantry Bde /1
5th Div /6
36th Infantry Rgt /4
Ichiki Det. /1
4th Div /1
13th Ind.Mixed Bde /3
38th Div /6
90th Infantry Rgt /1
4th Ind.Mixed Bde /1
2nd Area Army /1
By the 12th Jan the situation was the following:
Anderson Field was closed for good, after 10 days of constant air and naval bombings. Tessafaronga and Tulagi AFs were still operating despite the bombings suffered. I have 1 Air HQ at Lunga and 60 aviation supports both at Tulagi and Tessafaronga. I so decided to try to do something.
Moved to Tessafaronga 36 Wildcats and 36 SDBs plus 18 CRACK Beauforts torpedo bombers (consider that at Russell Island and Tulagi there were at least 250 ships, among them 6 BBs and 10 CA/CLs), while 16 spits and 40 wildcats were moved to Tulagi from Ndani, in order to provide CAP against his LRCAP that was preventing me to bring supplies with my transports from Ndeni and to conquer back -temporarly- the air space over the constested base.
At the same time i ordered to 150 bombers based at Ndeni to ground bomb the beaches at Tulagi were those 50k japs were unloading, while a B26 unit, provided with the best LowN skilled pilots, was ordered to attack the enemy shippings.
2 SCTFs were also ordered from Ndani to move at flank speed to Tulagi in order to try to make a "Leyte Gulf" manouvre (so penetrate the screen of enemy ships and assault the transports).
So we were full of expectations for the 13th and 14th Jan...
When the night of the 13th came, our PTs did again wonders
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 4,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Chokai
CL Katori
CL Kashima
CL Kashii
CM Tsugaru
DMS W-20, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CM Tsubame
CM Hirashima
CM Niizaki
CM Aotaka
CM Wakataka
AK Sagami Maru
AK Sakito Maru
AK Awazisan Maru
AK Amagisan Maru
AK Azumasan Maru
AK Aratama Maru
AK Yamasimo Maru
xAK Iburi Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Osaka Maru, Shell hits 8
xAK Hankow Maru
xAK Kasagi Maru
xAK Amagi Maru
xAK Tsukuba Maru
xAK Manyo Maru
xAK Okuyo Maru
xAK Seikyo Maru
xAK Shinkyo Maru
xAK Aden Maru
xAK Belgium Maru
xAK China Maru
xAK Naples Maru
xAK Gokoku Maru #2
xAK Keihuku Maru
xAK Kizan Maru
xAK Heian Maru
xAK Hokko Maru
xAK Hukusei Maru
xAK Mansyu Maru
xAK Zuiko Maru
xAK Ehime Maru
xAK Aki Maru
xAK Azuchi Maru
xAK Ayato Maru
xAK Bandoeng Maru
xAK Boston Maru
xAK Chowa Maru
xAK Chihaya Maru
xAK Daihachikyo Maru
xAK Kashiwara Maru
xAK Kinjosan Maru
xAK Sakido Maru
xAK Nitiryu Maru
xAK Sugiyama Maru
xAK Tsuyama Maru
xAK Tofuku Maru
xAK Yubari Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Allied Ships
PT-128
PT-142
ight Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 1,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Chokai
CL Katori
CL Kashima
CL Kashii
CM Tsugaru
DMS W-20, and is sunk
CM Tsubame
CM Hirashima
CM Niizaki
CM Aotaka
CM Wakataka
AK Sagami Maru
AK Sakito Maru
AK Awazisan Maru
AK Amagisan Maru
AK Azumasan Maru
AK Aratama Maru
AK Yamasimo Maru
xAK Iburi Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Osaka Maru
xAK Hankow Maru
xAK Kasagi Maru
xAK Amagi Maru
xAK Tsukuba Maru
xAK Manyo Maru
xAK Okuyo Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Seikyo Maru
xAK Shinkyo Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Aden Maru
xAK Belgium Maru
xAK China Maru
xAK Naples Maru
xAK Gokoku Maru #2
xAK Keihuku Maru
xAK Kizan Maru
xAK Heian Maru
xAK Hokko Maru, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Hukusei Maru
xAK Mansyu Maru
xAK Zuiko Maru
xAK Ehime Maru
xAK Aki Maru
xAK Azuchi Maru
xAK Ayato Maru
xAK Bandoeng Maru
xAK Boston Maru
xAK Chowa Maru
xAK Chihaya Maru
xAK Daihachikyo Maru
xAK Kashiwara Maru
xAK Kinjosan Maru
xAK Sakido Maru
xAK Nitiryu Maru
xAK Sugiyama Maru
xAK Tsuyama Maru
Allied Ships
PT-143
PT-144
PT-145
----------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Chokai
CL Katori
CL Kashima
CL Kashii
CM Tsugaru
CM Tsubame, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CM Hirashima
CM Niizaki
CM Aotaka
CM Wakataka
AK Sagami Maru
AK Sakito Maru
AK Awazisan Maru
AK Amagisan Maru
AK Azumasan Maru
AK Aratama Maru
AK Yamasimo Maru
xAK Iburi Maru, and is sunk
xAK Osaka Maru
xAK Hankow Maru
xAK Kasagi Maru
xAK Amagi Maru
xAK Tsukuba Maru
xAK Manyo Maru
xAK Okuyo Maru
xAK Seikyo Maru
xAK Shinkyo Maru
xAK Aden Maru
xAK Belgium Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK China Maru
xAK Naples Maru
xAK Gokoku Maru #2, Shell hits 4
xAK Keihuku Maru
xAK Kizan Maru
xAK Heian Maru
xAK Hukusei Maru
xAK Mansyu Maru
xAK Zuiko Maru
xAK Ehime Maru
xAK Aki Maru
xAK Azuchi Maru
xAK Ayato Maru
xAK Bandoeng Maru
xAK Boston Maru
xAK Chowa Maru
xAK Chihaya Maru
xAK Daihachikyo Maru
xAK Kashiwara Maru
xAK Kinjosan Maru
xAK Sakido Maru
xAK Nitiryu Maru
xAK Sugiyama Maru
xAK Tsuyama Maru
xAK Tofuku Maru
xAK Tokusima Maru
xAK Chuko Maru, and is sunk
xAK Oyashima Maru, and is sunk
xAK Zenoa Maru, and is sunk
Allied Ships
PT-147
PT-148
PT-149
Japanese ground losses:
393 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 22 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Then 2 Japanese SCTFs sunk all my PT groups....
And then arrived the allied SCTFs from Ndani...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 3,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Kinu, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Fubuki, Shell hits 21, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Shinonome, Shell hits 2
Allied Ships
CL Leander, Shell hits 2
CL Achilles
DD Pillsbury, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
DD Arunta, Shell hits 2
DD Van Galen, Shell hits 1
The japs went away with a bloody nose but our ships had used all their guns and didn't push any further....leaving the transport TFs free to do their bloody task....
But i still had hopes... i had a bigger TF on its way for Tulagi...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 1,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Murasame, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Yugure
DD Ariake, Shell hits 26, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CL Trenton, Shell hits 1
DD Sims, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Hughes, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Russell, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
DD McCall, Shell hits 1
DD Maury
DD Wilson, Shell hits 3
DD Monaghan, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
Japs this time, despite our superiority in numbers, were able to deliver many torpedos, sinking 3 of our DDs....the CL Trenton almost didn't take part in the battle, remaining in the back of our formation....needless to say neither this time our TF managed to get through and retired to Ndani without achieving the goal...
Then the sun came up and we know it would have been a bloody day in the air...
Japan sent the usual Wave of planes over Lunga. I was carefull enough not to let my fighters to be leaking CAP over Lunga, knowing he was surely going to keep the main AF suppressed...
During the morning phase 180 Helens escorted by 200 fighters bombed the hell out of Lunga, while more 50 helens pounded Russell Island. He didn't bomb Tulagi nor Tessafaronga....
Then it was our time to give some payback to the japanese troops.
Rader has ordered a strong LRCAP over Tulagi, but having placed there fighters saved my day.
Our bombers came escorted by the P-38s from Ndani, while F4Fs and Spits were based at Tulagi.
Won't copy all the bombing reports cause they are boring, however 150 allied bombers flew over Tulagi. The spits and the Wildcats provided an excelent cover and we destroyed the LRCAP of the japs, bombing without op position the enemy divisions on the beaches.
The during the same morning 50 Tojos, 50 zeros and 80 oscars Swept Tulagi, but again our fighters did wonders.
And the nit was the time of our naval bombers based at Tassafaronga to attack the enemy TFs near Tulagi and Russell Island.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 5
Beaufort VIII x 8
A-24 Banshee x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
SBD-3 Dauntless x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAP Shanghai Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
xAK Heian Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Yoshino Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Sakido Maru
xAK Kurogane Maru, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Aden Maru
xAP Horai Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
170 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 113,136
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 6
A-24 Banshee x 27
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 1 damaged
Beaufort VIII: 1 destroyed by flak
A-24 Banshee: 1 damaged
A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed by flak
Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
xAK Kokai Maru, heavy damage
DD Suruyame
xAK Syoka Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB Nagato
xAK Kinugawa Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Suresushio
The big ships went away with luck¡K.none of my Beauforts cared to attack the BBs or the CAs¡Kƒ¼
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 5
B-26B Marauder x 3
P-38G Lightning x 9
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4
Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Daihachikyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Then the KB decided to deliver its blows on Russell Island¡Kwhat a waste of bombs ƒº
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 1393rd Construction Regiment, at 113,136 (Russell Islands)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
A6M3a Zero x 101
B5N1 Kate x 50
B5N2 Kate x 108
D3A1 Val x 198
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 4 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 8 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 damaged
Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 1393rd Construction Regiment, at 113,136 (Russell Islands)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
A6M3a Zero x 10
B5N1 Kate x 6
B5N2 Kate x 44
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 14000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 14000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
29 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 14000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 5th USN Naval Construction Battalion, at 113,136 (Russell Islands)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
B5N2 Kate x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
On the 14th the situation didn¡¦t change much. Landings at Tulagi kept on going on and the aerial battle raged over Tulagi with our Spits doing WONDERS against overwhelming odds
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 7
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 7
Beaufort VIII x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 2 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
AK Sagami Maru
xAK Ehime Maru
xAK Bandoeng Maru
xAK Tofuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 113,136
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 8
A-24 Banshee x 14
SBD-3 Dauntless x 2
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
SC Ch 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Taito Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tsuga, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SC Ch 1
DD Namikaze, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
Tassafaronga on the afternoon of the 14th was finally bombed¡Kbut not enough to prevent my SDB sto fly again!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Tassafaronga , at 113,137
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 83 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 39
A6M3a Zero x 35
G3M2 Nell x 11
G4M1 Betty x 56
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 40
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 6
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
SBD-3 Dauntless x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Kizan Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Utide Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Zuiko Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 113,136
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 4
A-24 Banshee x 16
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Ryoyo Maru
xAK Hiyoshi Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
SC Ch 1, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kokai Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kozan Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Senko Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Thousand Ships Bay at 114,136
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 13
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Suruyame
SC Ch 27, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 3
B-26B Marauder x 6
P-38G Lightning x 9
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Gokoku Maru #2, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Unkai Maru #6, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
By the end of the day Japs delivered their attack at Russell and got the base¡K
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Russell Islands (113,136)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 8088 troops, 73 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 255
Defending force 2112 troops, 4 guns, 90 vehicles, Assault Value = 17
Japanese adjusted assault: 84
Allied adjusted defense: 13
Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Russell Islands !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
Japanese ground losses:
173 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
1196 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 175 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 114 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 118 (118 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 6
Assaulting units:
64th Infantry Group
10th Garrison Unit
Yokosuka Assault SNLF /1
1st Raiding Rgt /1
Defending units:
1st USMC Parachute Battalion
138th(Sep) Infantry Rgt /1
1393rd Construction Regiment
5th USN Naval Construction Battalion
46th Construction Regiment
D Det USN Port Svc
The base is now already full of fighters and bombers¡K.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 8403 troops, 216 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 403
Defending force 58119 troops, 477 guns, 182 vehicles, Assault Value = 1995
Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st Marine Raider Battalion
23rd Marine Regiment
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
353rd Construction Regiment
7th Marine Defense Battalion
97th Field Artillery Battalion
369th Coast AA Regiment
102nd USN Base Force
804th Engineer Aviation Battalion
16th USN Naval Construction Battalion
139th USA Base Force
21st USN Naval Construction Battalion
Defending units:
4th Division
52nd Infantry Brigade
36th Infantry Regiment
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
90th Infantry Regiment
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
38th Division
5th Division
Ichiki Det.
2nd Area Army
Now we have to decide what to do....Japan has now a base right in the heart of the Solomons and Tulagi is in real danger...
I think we'll try to bomb Russell using all the 4Es we can spare, while a BB TF (arrived today at Ndeni) will try to engage the enemy at Tulagi. Fighters and bombers will be retired from Tassafaronga and Tulagi back to Ndeni...i do expect a reaction from the KB....
Overall...not a bad day...we reacted and we inflict some damage!
I'll try to summerize day by day and divide the reports between the two main theatres of operations (PM and the Solomons)
Let's start with Port Moresby.
On Jan 14th 1943 Radio Tokio announced the conquest of Port Moresby by the allmighty Japanese forces.
As you remember, on the 1st Jan 1943 140k japanese marched out on Buna, taking the Owen Stanley route.
In 12 days of marching they reached PM in a very good shape, despite having suffered 2 days of bombings by 70 Allied bombers taking off from Cairns.
On the 13th 50k japanese delivered the first fist on the undersupplied and badly distrupted 2nd Aus Corp, composed by the 27th U.S. Division and the 87th NZ Bde, supported by 2 Artillery units. 3 level of fortifications crumbled down on the first assault.
On the 14th the fate of the PM defensors was already written. 13,000 allied are sent to POWs camp in Luzon and 3 Japanese armies were already able to march back towards Buna.
What really surprise me is the fact that Rader was been able to march on one of the possible worst terrain in the whole pacific with the equivalent of 7 Divisions in making 90 miles in less than 2 weeks!...[:-][:-]
Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 40221 troops, 330 guns, 138 vehicles, Assault Value = 3493
Defending force 17528 troops, 308 guns, 487 vehicles, Assault Value = 484
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0
Japanese adjusted assault: 862
Allied adjusted defense: 375
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Moresby !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1044 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 100 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 75 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Allied ground losses:
13527 casualties reported
Squads: 630 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1405 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 49 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 412 (412 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 665 (665 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 7
Assaulting units:
23rd Nav Gd Unit
5th Garrison Unit
Guards Mixed Brigade
87th Infantry Regiment
88th Infantry Regiment
61st Infantry Group
37th Division
63rd Infantry Group
7th Division
9th Garrison Unit
140th Infantry Regiment
36th Division
19th Division
4th Guards Division
16th Army
14th Army
8th Area Army
17th Army
Defending units:
27th Infantry Division
8th NZ Brigade
II Australian
1st Medium Regiment
Bataan USN Base Force
Cavite USN Base Force
2nd Medium Regiment
But the real action took place in the Solomons.
On the 9th Japanese troops started to unload at Russell Island ( 1 Port, 3 AF) . The base was lightly defended by a para bn and by a company of U.S. soldiers. Despite that, Japan brought two entire big units there, but the landings took at least 6 days.
On the 11th, precedeed by the usual intense air bombing (both from LBA and from KB), supporting by at least 300 sweeping missions over our 3 main bases (Lunga, Tessafaronga and Tulagi), a HUGE Amphibious TF landed at Tulagi. The 155mm guns of the Marine CD unit present there did a good job, inflicting several casualities among the landing ships. The PTs did also a good job sinking or badly damaging a number of transports full of troops and my subs tried to do their best....
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Chokai
CL Katori
CL Kashima
CL Kashii
CM Tsugaru
DMS W-20
PB Nikkai Maru
CM Tsubame
CM Hirashima
CM Niizaki
CM Aotaka
CM Wakataka
AK Sagami Maru
AK Sakito Maru
AK Awazisan Maru
AK Amagisan Maru
AK Azumasan Maru
AK Aratama Maru
AK Yamasimo Maru
xAK Manko Maru
xAK Iburi Maru
xAK Daido Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Akagisan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Osaka Maru
xAK Hankow Maru
xAK Kasagi Maru
xAK Amagi Maru
xAK Tsukuba Maru
xAK Eiko Maru #2, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Manyo Maru
xAK Okuyo Maru
xAK Seikyo Maru
xAK Shinkyo Maru
xAK Aden Maru
xAK Belgium Maru
xAK China Maru
xAK Naples Maru
xAK Ohio Maru
xAK Gokoku Maru #2, Shell hits 1
xAK Keihuku Maru
xAK Kizan Maru
xAK Heian Maru
xAK Hokko Maru
xAK Hukusei Maru
xAK Heiei Maru
xAK Mansyu Maru
xAK Zuiko Maru
xAK Ehime Maru
xAK Aki Maru
xAK Azuchi Maru
xAK Ayato Maru
xAK Bandoeng Maru
xAK Boston Maru
xAK Chowa Maru
xAK Chihaya Maru
xAK Yamura Maru, and is sunk
Allied Ships
PT-26
PT-29
PT-42, Shell hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
2261 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 78 destroyed, 51 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Chokai
CL Katori
CL Kashima
CL Kashii
CM Tsugaru
DMS W-20
PB Nikkai Maru
CM Tsubame
CM Hirashima
CM Niizaki
CM Aotaka
CM Wakataka
AK Sagami Maru
AK Sakito Maru
AK Awazisan Maru
AK Amagisan Maru
AK Azumasan Maru
AK Aratama Maru
AK Yamasimo Maru
xAK Manko Maru
xAK Iburi Maru
xAK Daido Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Akagisan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Osaka Maru
xAK Hankow Maru
xAK Kasagi Maru
xAK Amagi Maru
xAK Tsukuba Maru
xAK Eiko Maru #2, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Manyo Maru
xAK Okuyo Maru
xAK Seikyo Maru
xAK Shinkyo Maru
xAK Aden Maru
xAK Belgium Maru
xAK China Maru
xAK Naples Maru
xAK Ohio Maru
xAK Gokoku Maru #2, Shell hits 1
xAK Keihuku Maru
xAK Kizan Maru
xAK Heian Maru
xAK Hokko Maru
xAK Hukusei Maru
xAK Heiei Maru
xAK Mansyu Maru
xAK Zuiko Maru
xAK Ehime Maru
xAK Aki Maru
xAK Azuchi Maru
xAK Ayato Maru
xAK Bandoeng Maru
xAK Boston Maru
xAK Chowa Maru
xAK Chihaya Maru
xAK Yamura Maru, and is sunk
Allied Ships
PT-26
PT-29
PT-42, Shell hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
2261 casualties reported
Squads: 23 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 78 destroyed, 51 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 5,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Chokai
CL Katori
CL Kashima
CL Kashii
CM Tsugaru
DMS W-20
PB Nikkai Maru
CM Tsubame
CM Hirashima
CM Niizaki
CM Aotaka
CM Wakataka
AK Sagami Maru
AK Sakito Maru
AK Awazisan Maru
AK Amagisan Maru
AK Azumasan Maru
AK Aratama Maru
AK Yamasimo Maru
xAK Manko Maru
xAK Iburi Maru
xAK Osaka Maru
xAK Hankow Maru
xAK Kasagi Maru
xAK Amagi Maru
xAK Tsukuba Maru
xAK Manyo Maru
xAK Okuyo Maru
xAK Seikyo Maru
xAK Shinkyo Maru
xAK Aden Maru
xAK Belgium Maru
xAK China Maru
xAK Naples Maru
xAK Ohio Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Gokoku Maru #2
xAK Keihuku Maru
xAK Kizan Maru
xAK Heian Maru
xAK Hokko Maru
xAK Hukusei Maru
xAK Heiei Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Mansyu Maru
xAK Zuiko Maru
xAK Ehime Maru
xAK Aki Maru
xAK Azuchi Maru
xAK Ayato Maru
xAK Bandoeng Maru
xAK Boston Maru
xAK Chowa Maru
xAK Chihaya Maru
xAK Daihachikyo Maru
xAK Kashiwara Maru
xAK Kinjosan Maru
xAK Sakido Maru
Allied Ships
PT-21
PT-23
Japanese ground losses:
2929 casualties reported
Squads: 42 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 110 destroyed, 48 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 20 (20 destroyed, 0 disabled)
After the PTs the Japs start to land.....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Tulagi (114,137) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
588 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CA Chokai, Shell hits 2
CA Atago
CA Takao
CL Kashii
CL Kashima, Shell hits 3, on fire
CL Katori, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAK Manko Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
xAK Iburi Maru, Shell hits 5, on fire
PB Naruto Maru #3
PB Yokae Maru
PB Yahada Maru
PB Hakata Maru #2
PB Ryusei Maru
PB Nikkai Maru
AK Yamasimo Maru
xAK Amakusa Maru
CM Tsugaru
xAK Sakido Maru
Japanese ground losses:
993 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 55 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 19 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Tulagi (114,137)
TF 63 troops unloading over beach at Tulagi, 114,137
Japanese ground losses:
1241 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Tulagi (114,137) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force
582 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
CA Atago, Shell hits 3
CA Takao, Shell hits 1
CL Kashii, Shell hits 4, on fire
CL Kashima, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Iburi Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
DMS W-20
xAK Manko Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
PB Nikkai Maru
PB Yokae Maru
PB Yahada Maru
PB Hakata Maru #2
PB Naruto Maru #3
PB Ryusei Maru
AK Yamasimo Maru
xAK Keihuku Maru
CM Tsugaru
Japanese ground losses:
655 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 43 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
After the first day of landings (the 12th Jan), Japan had already unloaded 50k men for 1800 AVs[X(]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 8417 troops, 216 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 402
Defending force 48447 troops, 348 guns, 150 vehicles, Assault Value = 1819
Japanese ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st Marine Raider Battalion
23rd Marine Regiment
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
102nd USN Base Force
97th Field Artillery Battalion
804th Engineer Aviation Battalion
353rd Construction Regiment
369th Coast AA Regiment
139th USA Base Force
7th Marine Defense Battalion
16th USN Naval Construction Battalion
21st USN Naval Construction Battalion
Defending units:
52nd Infantry Bde /1
5th Div /6
36th Infantry Rgt /4
Ichiki Det. /1
4th Div /1
13th Ind.Mixed Bde /3
38th Div /6
90th Infantry Rgt /1
4th Ind.Mixed Bde /1
2nd Area Army /1
By the 12th Jan the situation was the following:
Anderson Field was closed for good, after 10 days of constant air and naval bombings. Tessafaronga and Tulagi AFs were still operating despite the bombings suffered. I have 1 Air HQ at Lunga and 60 aviation supports both at Tulagi and Tessafaronga. I so decided to try to do something.
Moved to Tessafaronga 36 Wildcats and 36 SDBs plus 18 CRACK Beauforts torpedo bombers (consider that at Russell Island and Tulagi there were at least 250 ships, among them 6 BBs and 10 CA/CLs), while 16 spits and 40 wildcats were moved to Tulagi from Ndani, in order to provide CAP against his LRCAP that was preventing me to bring supplies with my transports from Ndeni and to conquer back -temporarly- the air space over the constested base.
At the same time i ordered to 150 bombers based at Ndeni to ground bomb the beaches at Tulagi were those 50k japs were unloading, while a B26 unit, provided with the best LowN skilled pilots, was ordered to attack the enemy shippings.
2 SCTFs were also ordered from Ndani to move at flank speed to Tulagi in order to try to make a "Leyte Gulf" manouvre (so penetrate the screen of enemy ships and assault the transports).
So we were full of expectations for the 13th and 14th Jan...
When the night of the 13th came, our PTs did again wonders
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 4,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Chokai
CL Katori
CL Kashima
CL Kashii
CM Tsugaru
DMS W-20, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CM Tsubame
CM Hirashima
CM Niizaki
CM Aotaka
CM Wakataka
AK Sagami Maru
AK Sakito Maru
AK Awazisan Maru
AK Amagisan Maru
AK Azumasan Maru
AK Aratama Maru
AK Yamasimo Maru
xAK Iburi Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Osaka Maru, Shell hits 8
xAK Hankow Maru
xAK Kasagi Maru
xAK Amagi Maru
xAK Tsukuba Maru
xAK Manyo Maru
xAK Okuyo Maru
xAK Seikyo Maru
xAK Shinkyo Maru
xAK Aden Maru
xAK Belgium Maru
xAK China Maru
xAK Naples Maru
xAK Gokoku Maru #2
xAK Keihuku Maru
xAK Kizan Maru
xAK Heian Maru
xAK Hokko Maru
xAK Hukusei Maru
xAK Mansyu Maru
xAK Zuiko Maru
xAK Ehime Maru
xAK Aki Maru
xAK Azuchi Maru
xAK Ayato Maru
xAK Bandoeng Maru
xAK Boston Maru
xAK Chowa Maru
xAK Chihaya Maru
xAK Daihachikyo Maru
xAK Kashiwara Maru
xAK Kinjosan Maru
xAK Sakido Maru
xAK Nitiryu Maru
xAK Sugiyama Maru
xAK Tsuyama Maru
xAK Tofuku Maru
xAK Yubari Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Allied Ships
PT-128
PT-142
ight Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 1,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Chokai
CL Katori
CL Kashima
CL Kashii
CM Tsugaru
DMS W-20, and is sunk
CM Tsubame
CM Hirashima
CM Niizaki
CM Aotaka
CM Wakataka
AK Sagami Maru
AK Sakito Maru
AK Awazisan Maru
AK Amagisan Maru
AK Azumasan Maru
AK Aratama Maru
AK Yamasimo Maru
xAK Iburi Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Osaka Maru
xAK Hankow Maru
xAK Kasagi Maru
xAK Amagi Maru
xAK Tsukuba Maru
xAK Manyo Maru
xAK Okuyo Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Seikyo Maru
xAK Shinkyo Maru, Shell hits 1
xAK Aden Maru
xAK Belgium Maru
xAK China Maru
xAK Naples Maru
xAK Gokoku Maru #2
xAK Keihuku Maru
xAK Kizan Maru
xAK Heian Maru
xAK Hokko Maru, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Hukusei Maru
xAK Mansyu Maru
xAK Zuiko Maru
xAK Ehime Maru
xAK Aki Maru
xAK Azuchi Maru
xAK Ayato Maru
xAK Bandoeng Maru
xAK Boston Maru
xAK Chowa Maru
xAK Chihaya Maru
xAK Daihachikyo Maru
xAK Kashiwara Maru
xAK Kinjosan Maru
xAK Sakido Maru
xAK Nitiryu Maru
xAK Sugiyama Maru
xAK Tsuyama Maru
Allied Ships
PT-143
PT-144
PT-145
----------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 2,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CA Chokai
CL Katori
CL Kashima
CL Kashii
CM Tsugaru
CM Tsubame, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CM Hirashima
CM Niizaki
CM Aotaka
CM Wakataka
AK Sagami Maru
AK Sakito Maru
AK Awazisan Maru
AK Amagisan Maru
AK Azumasan Maru
AK Aratama Maru
AK Yamasimo Maru
xAK Iburi Maru, and is sunk
xAK Osaka Maru
xAK Hankow Maru
xAK Kasagi Maru
xAK Amagi Maru
xAK Tsukuba Maru
xAK Manyo Maru
xAK Okuyo Maru
xAK Seikyo Maru
xAK Shinkyo Maru
xAK Aden Maru
xAK Belgium Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK China Maru
xAK Naples Maru
xAK Gokoku Maru #2, Shell hits 4
xAK Keihuku Maru
xAK Kizan Maru
xAK Heian Maru
xAK Hukusei Maru
xAK Mansyu Maru
xAK Zuiko Maru
xAK Ehime Maru
xAK Aki Maru
xAK Azuchi Maru
xAK Ayato Maru
xAK Bandoeng Maru
xAK Boston Maru
xAK Chowa Maru
xAK Chihaya Maru
xAK Daihachikyo Maru
xAK Kashiwara Maru
xAK Kinjosan Maru
xAK Sakido Maru
xAK Nitiryu Maru
xAK Sugiyama Maru
xAK Tsuyama Maru
xAK Tofuku Maru
xAK Tokusima Maru
xAK Chuko Maru, and is sunk
xAK Oyashima Maru, and is sunk
xAK Zenoa Maru, and is sunk
Allied Ships
PT-147
PT-148
PT-149
Japanese ground losses:
393 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 22 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Then 2 Japanese SCTFs sunk all my PT groups....
And then arrived the allied SCTFs from Ndani...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 3,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Kinu, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Fubuki, Shell hits 21, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Shinonome, Shell hits 2
Allied Ships
CL Leander, Shell hits 2
CL Achilles
DD Pillsbury, Shell hits 6, heavy fires
DD Arunta, Shell hits 2
DD Van Galen, Shell hits 1
The japs went away with a bloody nose but our ships had used all their guns and didn't push any further....leaving the transport TFs free to do their bloody task....
But i still had hopes... i had a bigger TF on its way for Tulagi...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tulagi at 114,137, Range 1,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
DD Murasame, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Yugure
DD Ariake, Shell hits 26, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CL Trenton, Shell hits 1
DD Sims, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Hughes, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Russell, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
DD McCall, Shell hits 1
DD Maury
DD Wilson, Shell hits 3
DD Monaghan, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
Japs this time, despite our superiority in numbers, were able to deliver many torpedos, sinking 3 of our DDs....the CL Trenton almost didn't take part in the battle, remaining in the back of our formation....needless to say neither this time our TF managed to get through and retired to Ndani without achieving the goal...
Then the sun came up and we know it would have been a bloody day in the air...
Japan sent the usual Wave of planes over Lunga. I was carefull enough not to let my fighters to be leaking CAP over Lunga, knowing he was surely going to keep the main AF suppressed...
During the morning phase 180 Helens escorted by 200 fighters bombed the hell out of Lunga, while more 50 helens pounded Russell Island. He didn't bomb Tulagi nor Tessafaronga....
Then it was our time to give some payback to the japanese troops.
Rader has ordered a strong LRCAP over Tulagi, but having placed there fighters saved my day.
Our bombers came escorted by the P-38s from Ndani, while F4Fs and Spits were based at Tulagi.
Won't copy all the bombing reports cause they are boring, however 150 allied bombers flew over Tulagi. The spits and the Wildcats provided an excelent cover and we destroyed the LRCAP of the japs, bombing without op position the enemy divisions on the beaches.
The during the same morning 50 Tojos, 50 zeros and 80 oscars Swept Tulagi, but again our fighters did wonders.
And the nit was the time of our naval bombers based at Tassafaronga to attack the enemy TFs near Tulagi and Russell Island.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2
Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 5
Beaufort VIII x 8
A-24 Banshee x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
SBD-3 Dauntless x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAP Shanghai Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
xAK Heian Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Yoshino Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Sakido Maru
xAK Kurogane Maru, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Aden Maru
xAP Horai Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
170 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 113,136
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 6
A-24 Banshee x 27
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 1 damaged
Beaufort VIII: 1 destroyed by flak
A-24 Banshee: 1 damaged
A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed by flak
Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima
xAK Kokai Maru, heavy damage
DD Suruyame
xAK Syoka Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB Nagato
xAK Kinugawa Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Suresushio
The big ships went away with luck¡K.none of my Beauforts cared to attack the BBs or the CAs¡Kƒ¼
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 5
B-26B Marauder x 3
P-38G Lightning x 9
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4
Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Daihachikyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Then the KB decided to deliver its blows on Russell Island¡Kwhat a waste of bombs ƒº
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 1393rd Construction Regiment, at 113,136 (Russell Islands)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
A6M3a Zero x 101
B5N1 Kate x 50
B5N2 Kate x 108
D3A1 Val x 198
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 4 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 8 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 damaged
Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 1393rd Construction Regiment, at 113,136 (Russell Islands)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
A6M3a Zero x 10
B5N1 Kate x 6
B5N2 Kate x 44
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 4 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 14000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
6 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 14000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
29 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 14000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 5th USN Naval Construction Battalion, at 113,136 (Russell Islands)
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
B5N2 Kate x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
11 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
On the 14th the situation didn¡¦t change much. Landings at Tulagi kept on going on and the aerial battle raged over Tulagi with our Spits doing WONDERS against overwhelming odds
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 7
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 7
Beaufort VIII x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 2 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Chokai
AK Sagami Maru
xAK Ehime Maru
xAK Bandoeng Maru
xAK Tofuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 113,136
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 8
A-24 Banshee x 14
SBD-3 Dauntless x 2
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
SC Ch 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Taito Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tsuga, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
SC Ch 1
DD Namikaze, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
Tassafaronga on the afternoon of the 14th was finally bombed¡Kbut not enough to prevent my SDB sto fly again!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Tassafaronga , at 113,137
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 83 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 39
A6M3a Zero x 35
G3M2 Nell x 11
G4M1 Betty x 56
Allied aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 1 destroyed on ground
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed on ground
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 40
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 6
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
SBD-3 Dauntless x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Kizan Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK Utide Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Zuiko Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Russell Islands at 113,136
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 4
A-24 Banshee x 16
Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Ryoyo Maru
xAK Hiyoshi Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
SC Ch 1, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kokai Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kozan Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Senko Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Thousand Ships Bay at 114,136
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Allied aircraft
A-24 Banshee x 13
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Suruyame
SC Ch 27, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1
Allied aircraft
Spitfire VIII x 3
B-26B Marauder x 6
P-38G Lightning x 9
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Gokoku Maru #2, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Unkai Maru #6, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
By the end of the day Japs delivered their attack at Russell and got the base¡K
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Russell Islands (113,136)
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 8088 troops, 73 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 255
Defending force 2112 troops, 4 guns, 90 vehicles, Assault Value = 17
Japanese adjusted assault: 84
Allied adjusted defense: 13
Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Russell Islands !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
Japanese ground losses:
173 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
1196 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 175 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 114 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 118 (118 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 6
Assaulting units:
64th Infantry Group
10th Garrison Unit
Yokosuka Assault SNLF /1
1st Raiding Rgt /1
Defending units:
1st USMC Parachute Battalion
138th(Sep) Infantry Rgt /1
1393rd Construction Regiment
5th USN Naval Construction Battalion
46th Construction Regiment
D Det USN Port Svc
The base is now already full of fighters and bombers¡K.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137)
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 8403 troops, 216 guns, 102 vehicles, Assault Value = 403
Defending force 58119 troops, 477 guns, 182 vehicles, Assault Value = 1995
Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
24th (Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st Marine Raider Battalion
23rd Marine Regiment
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
353rd Construction Regiment
7th Marine Defense Battalion
97th Field Artillery Battalion
369th Coast AA Regiment
102nd USN Base Force
804th Engineer Aviation Battalion
16th USN Naval Construction Battalion
139th USA Base Force
21st USN Naval Construction Battalion
Defending units:
4th Division
52nd Infantry Brigade
36th Infantry Regiment
13th Ind.Mixed Brigade
90th Infantry Regiment
4th Ind.Mixed Brigade
38th Division
5th Division
Ichiki Det.
2nd Area Army
Now we have to decide what to do....Japan has now a base right in the heart of the Solomons and Tulagi is in real danger...
I think we'll try to bomb Russell using all the 4Es we can spare, while a BB TF (arrived today at Ndeni) will try to engage the enemy at Tulagi. Fighters and bombers will be retired from Tassafaronga and Tulagi back to Ndeni...i do expect a reaction from the KB....
Overall...not a bad day...we reacted and we inflict some damage!
RE: DEPRESSION
by the end of these 2 days we've shot down 140 japanese fighters in A2A engagements over Tulagi, losing only 20 wildcats and 2 spits[8D] and we've sunk nearly 30 ships, losing 3 DDs. Only 7 pilots of mine are KIA with 11 WIA...really a good result!
At Tulagi my 400 AVs are behind 5 forts, with 12k supplies and the jungle modifier...so should be something around 400x5x3...no bad if i can keep somehow the supply level...
I know have to decide what to do. I cannot dunkirk, as you may understand. I have to fight and delay him as much as possible. Thinking about moving my CVs and CVEs...i have 5 fully operative CVs at the moment and 6 CVEs...
I know...i know...
I'll take a couple more hours to think about it....
At Tulagi my 400 AVs are behind 5 forts, with 12k supplies and the jungle modifier...so should be something around 400x5x3...no bad if i can keep somehow the supply level...
I know have to decide what to do. I cannot dunkirk, as you may understand. I have to fight and delay him as much as possible. Thinking about moving my CVs and CVEs...i have 5 fully operative CVs at the moment and 6 CVEs...
I know...i know...
I'll take a couple more hours to think about it....
-
Canoerebel
- Posts: 21099
- Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2002 11:21 pm
- Location: Northwestern Georgia, USA
- Contact:
RE: DEPRESSION
I would report rader to the Kangaroo Court for marcing 5,000 AV across the Owen Stanleys, but I have a conflict of interest (in that I've been active in GreyJoy's AAR). This is one of those "have you no shame?" moments.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
-
Canoerebel
- Posts: 21099
- Joined: Fri Dec 13, 2002 11:21 pm
- Location: Northwestern Georgia, USA
- Contact:
RE: DEPRESSION
Five forts doesn't = x5 multiplier - it's something less than a 2x multiplier.
"Rats set fire to Mr. Cooper’s store in Fort Valley. No damage done." Columbus (Ga) Enquirer-Sun, October 2, 1880.
RE: DEPRESSION
How far is he positioning the KB from the landing sites? Would it be possible to move your CV's into range to strike at the landings on day1 then retire day2 before the KB gets a shot at you?
RE: DEPRESSION
Sorry guys...i have another question...very important in planning next turn...
Am i able to Naval Bombard enemy units landed at Tulagi? Or i can just send SCTFs to sweep the enemy transports?
Thanks..i'll try to reply later to all of your suggestions and comments
Am i able to Naval Bombard enemy units landed at Tulagi? Or i can just send SCTFs to sweep the enemy transports?
Thanks..i'll try to reply later to all of your suggestions and comments
RE: DEPRESSION
Yes.ORIGINAL: GreyJoy
Am i able to Naval Bombard enemy units landed at Tulagi?
Yes to that, too.Or i can just send SCTFs to sweep the enemy transports?
Something else to keep in mind for other times. It is quite likely that you did not see when his troops actually started marching from Buna. FOW extends quite well to on-map icons and very often you do not see movement on icons that are, in fact, moving.
Intel Monkey: https://sites.google.com/view/staffmonkeys/home
RE: DEPRESSION
Here i am guys.
Sorry for the delay but was a very long turn to plan. We took some important decisions.
Foreseeing a stiff Japanese reaction against Tassafaronga and Tulagi (in order to suppress the bases from where our planes attacked yesterday and to soften the troops at Tulagi), and having my brave engineers (400 of them present!) finally repaired the strip at Handerson field, we moved 140 fighters at Lunga, along with 50 SDBs and 18 bombers (10 Torpedo Bombers and 8 B26s equipped with crack LowN pilots). unfortunately my fighters are really fatigued after the victories of yesterday...
At the same time 25 P-38s with droptanks will escort 70 4Es and 16 B-25s from Ndani to Russell Island in order to try to close the AF.
He shouldn't have any base force present there yet. He moved in his fighters and bombers anyway but if we manage to close the AF on the first day we'll probably by safe for the second day.
Everything will depend on how the KB will move. Will it bomb Tulagi? Will it bomb Lunga? Will it cover the Russell island strip?
1 SCTF composed by the CL Achilles supported by 3 DDs will move at flank speed towards Russell island. I'm pretty sure he's having a transport TF with his base forces there so i'd like to catch it...we're going into enemy waters with the KB around...so it's kind of a suicide mission...
A strong bombardment TF (2 BBs, 1 CA, 2 CLs and 8 DDs) will move at flank speed towards Tulagi. We ashould arrive there at the first lights of the morning so we're probably going to do something before his bombers will come into action...
The idea is to bomb the beachheads and possibly to catch his transport TFs. The Achilles TF will open the way if there are enemy SCTFs...let's see... It will be a kind of a "Leyte Gulf" approach...let's see if i can be more lucky than Kurita (was Kurita!?).
Another wave of PTs will move from Lunga to Tulagi...i fear that his ships will be gone by then but...who knows...
So history is repeating in the Solomons...but the allies are on the losing side this time[8|]
Sorry for the delay but was a very long turn to plan. We took some important decisions.
Foreseeing a stiff Japanese reaction against Tassafaronga and Tulagi (in order to suppress the bases from where our planes attacked yesterday and to soften the troops at Tulagi), and having my brave engineers (400 of them present!) finally repaired the strip at Handerson field, we moved 140 fighters at Lunga, along with 50 SDBs and 18 bombers (10 Torpedo Bombers and 8 B26s equipped with crack LowN pilots). unfortunately my fighters are really fatigued after the victories of yesterday...
At the same time 25 P-38s with droptanks will escort 70 4Es and 16 B-25s from Ndani to Russell Island in order to try to close the AF.
He shouldn't have any base force present there yet. He moved in his fighters and bombers anyway but if we manage to close the AF on the first day we'll probably by safe for the second day.
Everything will depend on how the KB will move. Will it bomb Tulagi? Will it bomb Lunga? Will it cover the Russell island strip?
1 SCTF composed by the CL Achilles supported by 3 DDs will move at flank speed towards Russell island. I'm pretty sure he's having a transport TF with his base forces there so i'd like to catch it...we're going into enemy waters with the KB around...so it's kind of a suicide mission...
A strong bombardment TF (2 BBs, 1 CA, 2 CLs and 8 DDs) will move at flank speed towards Tulagi. We ashould arrive there at the first lights of the morning so we're probably going to do something before his bombers will come into action...
The idea is to bomb the beachheads and possibly to catch his transport TFs. The Achilles TF will open the way if there are enemy SCTFs...let's see... It will be a kind of a "Leyte Gulf" approach...let's see if i can be more lucky than Kurita (was Kurita!?).
Another wave of PTs will move from Lunga to Tulagi...i fear that his ships will be gone by then but...who knows...
So history is repeating in the Solomons...but the allies are on the losing side this time[8|]
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