....so if he bombards Tulagi with his BBs we're gonna have a great clash between his 6 BBs (+19 DDs) and my 4 modern BBs (along with 2 CAs, 3 CLs and 11 modern DDs)...then the survivability of my ships after the battle will depend on what he does with his LBA bombers....will he encrease back their range? Will my LRCAP be able to cover them till they safely reach Ndeni? Will my light cruiser division that has swept nighttime Thousands Ships Bay and retired to Tassafaronga will grab the attention of his naval attacks thus letting the BBs to get back to Ndeni unmolested?....so many questions...so few answers....
well - I would wonder most about the actual outcome of such a surface battle... - I have seen almost EVERYTHING
- from a fight between 4 IJN BBs against 1 US BB (where 2 IJN BBs were sent back in sinking condition and the 1 USN BB only took minor hits) to the complete destruction of a USN-BB Fleet in a surface battle... (Yamato and Musashi... - well you DO NOT want to engage them in a surface action)... - so should such a battle occur, it might be that your LRCAP will only have to defend the remaining DDs, or an almost fully battle ready battle fleet [8D]
The F4U-1A is significantly better than the F4U-1: the stats are better, it carries drop tanks and it can be flown off flattops. You'll be happier when those come around.
One thing I've noticed is that with surface TFs bigger isn't necessarily better. You might pare that TF you mentioned a bit for better results.
My TF has 15 ships, enough to provide protection and not to far from the 12 "best" configuration.
He had 25 ships-TF.....hope he remains with that conf [:)]
....so if he bombards Tulagi with his BBs we're gonna have a great clash between his 6 BBs (+19 DDs) and my 4 modern BBs (along with 2 CAs, 3 CLs and 11 modern DDs)...then the survivability of my ships after the battle will depend on what he does with his LBA bombers....will he encrease back their range? Will my LRCAP be able to cover them till they safely reach Ndeni? Will my light cruiser division that has swept nighttime Thousands Ships Bay and retired to Tassafaronga will grab the attention of his naval attacks thus letting the BBs to get back to Ndeni unmolested?....so many questions...so few answers....
well - I would wonder most about the actual outcome of such a surface battle... - I have seen almost EVERYTHING
- from a fight between 4 IJN BBs against 1 US BB (where 2 IJN BBs were sent back in sinking condition and the 1 USN BB only took minor hits) to the complete destruction of a USN-BB Fleet in a surface battle... (Yamato and Musashi... - well you DO NOT want to engage them in a surface action)... - so should such a battle occur, it might be that your LRCAP will only have to defend the remaining DDs, or an almost fully battle ready battle fleet [8D]
I know i'm risking....but he's risking too....and considering we are at that stage of the war where the balance is slowly shifting on my side, i think he's taking more risks than i am...so hope for the best and finger crossed
Today I come bearing an olive branch in one hand, and the freedom fighter's gun in the other. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat, do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. - Yasser Arafat Speech to UN General Assembly
Never fear, gents. The egregious violations by GreJoy and John Dillworth have been reported to the Court of the Kangaroos.
Women, don't listen to this servant of the shaving-system!
You can all be free! You just need to want it!
Every single one out of you has inside her the potential of becoming (back) a NATURAL WOMAN and break the chains of shaving-slavery. Just want it!
They will curse you...
They will spit at you...
They will call you freak, monster, abominion...
You need to be strong. You must be stronger than this... go on and never shave back!
Now come and follow me and we'll put a-fire the "Braun" Industries[&o]
Hmmm whats the white spot on her right breast? I think we have another white house scandal on our hands. Grey remind her to take her dress to the dry cleaners afterwards.[:D]
I do have to say you are a great sport for all the ribbing you get on this topic Greyjoy
You know guys...it's all Rader's fault if we're ending up talking about hairy girls and GreyJoy's miss-spellings He went on a little vacation this long week-end and he's not yet back fully operative.... so don't blame me! [:D]
Nothing happened.
My 4Es were grounded for 2 night in a row due to bad weather.
His BBs fled away towards Rabaul so my BBTF found noone at Tulagi and got safely back to Ndeni.
My CLTF sunk a PB at Thousands Bay and nothing more...
My Eastern Army has crossed the river and now is positioned right 1 hex north of Multan...he still has 84 units at Multan...and his bombers keep on hitting my troops from above my max AA cieling...
Tomorrow we'll try to bomb Rabaul after a long period with 80 4Es. Target will be the port where 350 ships are reported anchored. 20 P-38s will try to sweep first....let's see what happens...
My CLTF will bomb the enemy at Tulagi and then will retire to Karaikira, where it will be joined by 12 more modern DDs...
PS: all his bombers were grounded in the Solomons and from what reports my recon it seems that he has moved them way back somewhere north of Bouganville....
The last air defeats seem to have made Rader less confident about the use of his bombers. It's been now 4 days that they are grounded...and the fact that his BB fled away may mean that he doesn't want to risk his precious ships in a 1vs1...so far so good
Finally a good turn!
Rader wasn't prepared at Rabaul and our 4Es moved to Lunga did have a wonderfull 2 days "hunting" in Rabaul harbour...
My P-38s suffered a lot instead...
Apr 21,22 43
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ASW attack near Wakayama at 108,62
Japanese Ships
CA Tone
DD Tanikaze
DD Susuzuki
DD Susukaze
DD Hikokaze
DD Katsutade
DD Samidare
Allied Ships
SS Drum, hits 1
So some of his surface assets are moving back to Japan finally...probably some upgrades...
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Night Naval bombardment of Tulagi at 114,137
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 22, heavy fires[:D]
CMc Ma 3, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Hokuan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Ashigara, Bomb hits 1
xAKL Kasui Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 16, heavy fires[:D]
AV Asosan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Usugumo, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Abukuma, Bomb hits 3, on fire
xAK Jusan Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
APD Asakaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AR Asakasan Maru, Bomb hits 1
CL Katori, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Chojun Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Hokutatsu Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Kashiwara Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CMc Takunan Maru #2, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Jinsan Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CA Mogami, Bomb hits 2
xAK Josho Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SC CHa-26, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Boston Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Aki Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CA Chikuma, Bomb hits 1
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Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 23
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 31
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 2
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAKL Ryua Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Akita Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAKL Nichizui Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAKL Junpo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAKL Penang Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Katori, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAKL Kasui Maru, and is sunk
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lunga at 113,138
Japanese Ships
CM Wakataka, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS Salmon
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 29
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 41
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 3
Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 10
B-24D Liberator x 15
B-24D1 Liberator x 73
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 11, heavy fires[:D]
CA Chikuma, Bomb hits 5
xAK Nitiyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CL Katori, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage[:D]
CA Ashigara, Bomb hits 3
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 17, heavy fires[:D]
APD Kamikaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Kisogawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Abukuma, Bomb hits 1
xAKL Bunzan Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
APD Nagatsuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PB Muroran Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AV Hakkai Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
PB Fukuei Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Nissen Maru #3, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Shozan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Sakito Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Jusan Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Ina Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CMc Ma 1, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Nitiho Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Hopefully few major ships will have to get back to a repair yard in order to refit all those sys damages [8D]...and now Rader will have to consider Rabaul not anymore a "safe" harbour...[:)]
very nice move there! - should somewhat deminish the "overconfidence" of the Japanese Empire!
leaving such a high number of high-value combat vessels so close to the frontline...oh well...he will probably relocate them somewhere to the rear - thus giving you an increased window of Japanese reaction for 1 or perhaps even 2 days - depending on where he will relocate his main fleet vessels! - which will give you 1/2 more days to do your stuff.... - keep that in mind for the future counteroffensive!
