Total Allied Moron in PBEM AAR

[Admiral DadMan]

WELL...

After a few days off for the Veteran's Day (Armistice Day/VE WW1 in French Rail Car to be Used 21 Years Later to Slap the French in the Pride Day) lay off, things have begun anew...

The Monster IJN CV TF is again wandering the Coral Sea, chasing after my CV assets. The surprise was at TF built around Wasp attacking his supply shipping lines between Gili Gili and Port Moresby, but that Monster CV TF sniffed it out, and is Reacting toward it. This can't be good. I had drawn those CV's east with a well executed fake to Lunga.

Wasp may get trapped in Oz and smushed, unless I can make her TF disappear, "Bravely running away, away" like Sir Robbin in Monty Python's Holy Grail.

We will see. Dam*ed IJN subs keep picking off my convoys, so I think I'll have to give them "the treatment"...

[Admiral DadMan]

All Hail Poor Wasp! She fought bravely against overwhelming odds, but sadly she sleeps with the fishes...

She could not get away fast enough, and was caught outside Cairns Harbor, where she and her escorts were torn asunder by an immense IJN air-strike.

Once I spotted the CV TF, I knew they were in trouble, had I access to the full Western half of the map, I would have sent her that way to escape to western Oz.

Luganville continues to be harassed from Lunga, and my campers are roughing it at Lea Lea outside Port Moresby. The radioed that all is well, but requested an air drop of a few hundred kegs of Fosters...

My opponent has graciously offered me terms of surrender. I am torn between my desire to right wrongs now, or from a fresh start.

I think I will continue this struggle, as there is no "re-start" in real life...

I probably won't post for a while unless something major happens...

[Admiral DadMan]

10 Aug 42 and all is relatively quiet in theatre since the loss of Wasp. My Opponent landed small garrisons next to Cairns and Cooktown, which I was able to respond to and wipe them out. Unfortunately, it was a gamble, because I stripped defenders from those towns to dispatch the incursion. I'll have to address that...

If he had been smart, he would hit me with those landings, and then when I moved to respond, drop a landing right behind them, and capture those bases with ease. I have enough ground forces to garrison both now, with smaller forces to wipe out threats like that one.

Adm Lee with North Carolina beat back an IJN bombardment force at Luganville a few turns ago, but lost a few cruisers to do it.

No more surprise "stunts" from me, things will get boring for a while, as I cannot cover any offensive moves for several months at least...

[Admiral DadMan]

Well, it certainly has been a bit quiet, but now (29 Aug 42) my IJN opponent has been assaulting Australia in small amounts.

For some reason, he fast transported small SNLF squads to the areas next to Cooktown and Cairns. Twice. The first time, I forced marched an RCT to each and wiped out the invaders. The second time, I transported an entire RCT from reserve and have now left them there after wiping them out. There is still a small unit to the north of Cairns, but I just might let them stay so I can use them for target practice.

One concern I had was that he was doing this as a feint to pull me out of position, but I used forces that I was already planning to commit to that area anyway, so there is no exposure that worries me.

To the East, the IJN has started a new operation for Koumac and landed and entire RCT there. Fortunately for me I anticipated this and had the 7th Marines of the 1st Marine Div waiting, and I had been digging in to boot.

On top of this, his SuperCV TF with at least 4 CV's and 2 CVL's went to pound my supply lines. I had been cramming Luganville with troops and supplies, so stopping for a week or two won't even dent me.

The CV TF came to visit Noumea, and was greeted with a hot reception with strikes from both Koumac and Noumea:

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/29/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on TF at 48,68

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 79
A6M3 Zero x 40

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 44
SBD Dauntless x 41
TBF Avenger x 10
Hudson x 8
B-26B Marauder x 8
B-17E Fortress x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 23 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 4 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 7 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 28 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 24 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 29 damaged
TBF Avenger x 6 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 5 damaged
Hudson x 6 destroyed
Hudson x 2 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 2 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 7 damaged
B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged

LTJG I.Hagiri of CII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 5

PO1 R.Fujita of AII-1 Daitai is KILLED

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Hiryu
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 1
CV Zuikaku, Torpedo hits 1
BB Kongo
CVL Zuiho
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
3 x Hudson at 1000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet

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Unfortunately, he put a torp into North Carolina , forcing her to retire to Noumea for repairs.

It's getting serious, hopefully I can hit him hard before he escapes.

Admiral Dadman, commanding.