Howlin' At The Moon - DBB Vettim(A) vs Greasylake (J)

[vettim89]

30 June - 1 July 1943

The IJN did not bombard PH on the 30th like I suspected; so I moved my attack a/c back into the base. They flew on the 1st. I realize that this is probably a reflection of a RL problem, but my Allied pilots have the worst case of "BB OCD". I have seen this from the get go with the RNAF attacking BBs in the Java Sea in early 1942 when there were plenty of nice fat troop convoys to be hit. This time I did have maybe five or six runs on the accompanying DD/CA (no hits), but everybody had "BB Fever". First none of the Beauforts hit which would have been nice. Our friend Yamashiro suffered possibly the greatest display of non-pentrating bomb hits in the history of the game. Her topsides are most certainly a wreck as I received many 25 mm AAA gun destroyed as well as plenty of secondary turrets eliminated.

Pending FOW, the final count was 17 1000 lb SAP hits and 30 500 lb GP bomb hits. I lost 3 Beauforts and 3 B-25D1. I didn't even get a heavy fire notice. Curiosity makes me wonder what a BB looks like after receiving 47 bomb hits?

[vettim89]

2-5 July 1943

USAAF heavies hit PM on the 4th and shut the base down. Buna still has about 40 fighters present with 17% damage. As you can see, the IJN carriers are at sea again. Surely Larry does not think I will fall for the same trick again. Even if he did, with PM out of action and Buna damaged, he could hope for similar results. I am wondering if he may just be trying to get some supplies into Buna.

My CVE TF is about 4 days from Auckland. The I will move on the Southern Solomons

[JocMeister]

Just cought up with your AAR. Well written and easy to read! Thank you [:)]

You mentioned this is your fourth PBEM? How would you say DBB differs from the stock game and are you playing with the stacking limits? I have been eyeing DBB for quite some time now since I have some issues with how the stock game handles some things (non existant AA is one). I actually installed the extended map yesterday and it looks stunning!

I´m about 7 months behind you in my stock PBEM and one difference really stands out and that is the CV battles. We have had two so far and they have been very bloody while yours seem to contain a lot less carnage. Could that be the AA effects dispersing the strikes?

[vettim89]

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

Just cought up with your AAR. Well written and easy to read! Thank you [:)]

You mentioned this is your fourth PBEM? How would you say DBB differs from the stock game and are you playing with the stacking limits? I have been eyeing DBB for quite some time now since I have some issues with how the stock game handles some things (non existant AA is one). I actually installed the extended map yesterday and it looks stunning!

I´m about 7 months behind you in my stock PBEM and one difference really stands out and that is the CV battles. We have had two so far and they have been very bloody while yours seem to contain a lot less carnage. Could that be the AA effects dispersing the strikes?

No we are not playing with stacking limts - that option was not available when this game started. There are two big differences between DBB and stock that affect play. The first is that AAA (esp Allied AA) seems to be a lot more effective. The second is that Av support is in short supply. In WitP, I always seemed to have an exces of Av support. In DBB, alot of bases have just enough AV support and some are a little short. This really affects game play a lot as it is hard to have multiple bases built up to high levels in the same general locale

[witpqs]

You can add stacking limits to games in progress! But if you decide to, both of you should look at them first to make sure that neither of you will suffer a Sudden Black Hole Syndrome with supplies in any places you might be over stacked. Looking at them and them agreeing to implement them when you can both have resolved any issues is advisable.

[vettim89]

6-19 July 1943

The previously mentioned IJN CV forray was merely escorting a convoy to Buna.

I moved up and simultaneous occupied Renell Island and KiraKira. On the 19th the IJN respond with both carriers and LBA. I lost 3 CVE but the Japanese lost over 200 strike a/c. This will become important in my next post. In addition, CV Enterprise suffered moderate damage from a sub launched TT. Again, this will be relevant in my next post. These two bases are bulding nicely. Larry tried to shut down Renell Island with a SCTF bombardment, but the engineers repaired all the damage overnight. I did not have enough assault shipping to bring bown engineers and Av support to KiraKira. This led to an enormous CV battle......

[vettim89]

20-29 July 1943

So all my assault shipping pulled back to load up more support troops. The first move was to get some Av support into KiraKira followed by getting more engineers onto Renell Island. The KiraKira force arrive two days ago but too late to unload. Last turn the IJN appeared north of Guadacanal but no air action occured. This turn my CVTF reacted to close the range. I had Lex, Sara, Essex, Yorktown II, plus two CVL. The CVLs had dumped their VT squadrons in favor of an addition VMF with Hellcats. Larry was LRCAP his force with fighters from both Lunga and Munda. I had some spillover CAP from KiraKira that was not LRCAP (I was not expecting the reaction)

IJN strikes first

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 21
A6M5c Zero x 7
B6N1 Jill x 41
D4Y1 Judy x 31



Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 11
P-40K Warhawk x 29
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
FM-1 Wildcat x 11
F6F-3 Hellcat x 57


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 11 destroyed
A6M5c Zero: 2 destroyed
B6N1 Jill: 15 destroyed, 7 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 3 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 8 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships

BB Washington, Bomb hits 1
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 1
CV Saratoga, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires (magazine explosing - she is in trouble)
CVL Princeton
BB Indiana, Bomb hits 1

A sweep by Tojos over KiraKira followed with no a/c loss on either side

The Allies counterstrike. Continue to be frustrated with my inability to hit anything with CV air. Pilots all have NavAttack skills in to high 60s/low 70s

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 21
A6M5c Zero x 53
N1K1-J George x 2
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 30
SBD-5 Dauntless x 29
TBF-1 Avenger x 14


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 7 destroyed
SBD-5 Dauntless: 10 destroyed, 4 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 2 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Akagi
CV Hiyo
CV Junyo

A second IJN strike for no hist but Sara is showing her damage

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 13
B6N2 Jill x 17
D4Y1 Judy x 20



Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 10
P-40K Warhawk x 24
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
FM-1 Wildcat x 8
F6F-3 Hellcat x 53


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 5 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 7 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 4 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 8 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVL Princeton
CV Saratoga, heavy fires
CV Lexington
DD Philip
BB Washington

They come again for no joy

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 38
B6N1 Jill x 15
B6N2 Jill x 6
D4Y1 Judy x 21



Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 1
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
FM-1 Wildcat x 6
F6F-3 Hellcat x 104


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 12 destroyed
B6N1 Jill: 5 destroyed, 4 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
B6N2 Jill: 2 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 9 destroyed, 1 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown II
BB Massachusetts
CV Essex
BB South Dakota

And again with similar results

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 30
B6N2 Jill x 26
D4Y1 Judy x 20
D4Y3 Judy x 17



Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 1
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
FM-1 Wildcat x 2
F6F-3 Hellcat x 69


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 2 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 10 destroyed, 4 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 6 destroyed by flak
D4Y3 Judy: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVL Independence
BB South Dakota
CV Yorktown II
BB Massachusetts

A larger Allied Counterstrike gets some results

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 21
A6M5c Zero x 39
N1K1-J George x 2
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 27
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 51
TBF-1 Avenger x 28


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 5 destroyed, 3 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Hiyo, Bomb hits 2
CV Akagi
CVL Ryuho, Bomb hits 1
BB Hiei

A strike against a smaller IJN CVTF gets a hit on Unryu

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 44



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
TBF-1 Avenger x 19


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 7 destroyed, 4 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
BB Haruna
CV Amagi
CV Unryu, Torpedo hits 1

Coordination is breaking down. A small unescorted strike is wiped

Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 6
B6N2 Jill x 5
D4Y1 Judy x 11



Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 4
FM-1 Wildcat x 3
F6F-3 Hellcat x 18


Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 4 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 3 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 6 destroyed

No Allied losses

PM strikes. leakers do quite a bit of damage. Sara is hurt badly but everybody else is ok

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 12
A6M5c Zero x 32
B6N1 Jill x 32
D4Y1 Judy x 31



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
FM-1 Wildcat x 12
F6F-3 Hellcat x 79


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 3 destroyed
A6M5c Zero: 10 destroyed
B6N1 Jill: 14 destroyed, 5 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 2 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 14 destroyed, 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Saratoga, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Montpelier, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 1
DD Lamson
CVL Princeton
BB Washington, Torpedo hits 1
BB Indiana

My PM counterstrike probably does in Junyo

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 13
A6M5c Zero x 66
N1K1-J George x 2
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 51
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 37
SBD-5 Dauntless x 11
TBF-1 Avenger x 30


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed
A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 15 destroyed
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 9 destroyed, 3 damaged
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 destroyed by flak
SBD-5 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 9 destroyed, 10 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CVL Ryuho
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

The IJN tries again but no one got through

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 35
B6N2 Jill x 6
D4Y1 Judy x 3



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
FM-1 Wildcat x 9
F6F-3 Hellcat x 46


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 3 destroyed
B6N2 Jill: 4 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
FM-1 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

A small strike by the USN yields no hits

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 4



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
FM-1 Wildcat x 12
TBF-1 Avenger x 7


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Unryu
CV Amagi

Saratoga sinks after the battle but only takes 16 damaged a/c with her. Hiyo, Unryu, Akagi, and Ryuho likely will all need some yard time. The realy story is in the next image

[vettim89]

Air craft losses. Over 600 total for both sides this turn. While fighter losses were near equal, Larry lost over 220 strike aircraft this turn. The Av support is ashore on KiraKira. With now 150 fighters on the two sisters (Renell and KiraKira), my carriers will have help next time I need to move forward. I have another CV plus a CVL 5 days off the map edge from Panama. Cannot help but think that things may have been even more in my favor if The Big E hadn't swollowed a TT ten turns ago.

[vettim89]

30 July 1943

Image says it all. Lex is too big for the yard at Sydney; so she'll have to go to PH or WC. Raids on Buna and Lunga yield almost 20 N1K1 George shot down. Should have two sq of P-47 in a few days with four more inbound from the WCUSA

No sinkings reported from yesterday but the IJN has withdrawn

[MBF]

Nice work on this AAR ! Too bad about Enterprise .... things would probably have been much different but superb job on all those kills - that must really hurt the air crew quality of the Japanese

[vettim89]

31 July - 6 August 1943

Game consited mostly of air battles over PM and Lunga this week as Larry tried to reopen them. Took some attrition of my forces but they are both closed again.

I am moving supplies and reinforcements into the the Twin Sisters of Renell and KiraKira. I have had an occasional problem of TFs "ghosting" the orders of other TFs in the same hex. The first two times it was PT boats that magically picked up the orders from submarines and headed off into "Injun Country" on their own. Unfortunately this time it was my replenishment group with all four of my CVE-R that picked up a AMPH Tf's orders and headed to Renell Island. With so many TFs moving back and forth in this area and trying to turn turns rather rapidly, I missed this error. The Japanese through the kitchen sink at this TF this turn. I lost all four CVE-R plus two AO. In a way this actually helps becasue by disbanding the CVE-R Air Groups, my Navy pilot pools are in much better shape

That said, this is a Strategic loss (I will wish I had those CVE-R later) but a HUGE tactical victory. The Japanese lost a/c at a rate of 5 to 1 when you pull the Replinishment Air Group losses out. Look how many NiK1 went down!!!!! As in WitP, the answer for the George is still the P-47. I have four more groups just two days out of Noumea. This is turning into a meat grinder but I really feel I have the edge right now. You will notice Vals and Kates on the loss list - two weeks ago those were Jills and Judys - my opponent has burnt through his pools of the modern TB and DB

Enterprise is at Syndney with 50 days of yard time ahead of her. Lexington is south of the Tonga Islands heading for WCUSA. CV Valley Forge (formerly Lexington II) with a CVL consort is just west of Hiva Oa

[vettim89]

7-14 August 1943

Mostly some sprarring around teh twin sisters. LBA is keeping Lunga, PM, and Buna shut down. Several supply runs have both Renell and Kira Kira well supplied. Then last turn the IJN hit KiraKira with all four Kongos plus a couple of CA for good measure. The base will be unusable for several days, but the SeaBees will clean the mes up pretty quickly. Of note the IJN carriers suddenly reappear north of the Solomons. Is Larry preparing a counter invasion? Just in case the Northern Santa Cruz and New Hebrides AB are now filled with attack a/c.

I am really not sure that Larry wanted to go here with the Nuke bombardment. I have the ability to do the same to Munda. I have one BB and two CA/CL based SCTF at Luganville. I have refrained from hitting Munda out of a sense of fairness as I personally feel BOMB missions are overpowered. Now that he let the cat out of the bag, I no longer feel the hesitancy to hit him back. Really think he will regret opening this can of worms.

[vettim89]

15-23 August

The IJN hit Renell Island with a SCTF based Bombardment on the 21st. No where near as much damge as the previous raid on KiraKira. Base should be up at 100% next turn. I was trying to move an AGP and some PTs to Renell but the IJN CVTF showed up. The Support TF ran away (did not set movement orders). The IJNAF impaled itself against my CAP over two days but then a sub sank the AGP last turn - grrrr. This is rapidly becoming a stalemate. I need to move forward but keep losing carriers.

Enterprise still has 40 days in the yard. Lexington arrives next turn at San Diego. I lose Victorious in a few weeks. Just keep beating my head against this wall. Very frustrated that I can't seem to win a CV battle. Even when the odds are in my favor an I-Boat has evened them out for my Opponent. Have another CV/CVL duo due in 22/24 days. By the time they reach the theatre I should have Enterprise and Lexington back.

Would help if my susb were not experiencing near an 80% dud rate of late (That is not an exageration). Only good news is I probably sunk two I-boats in the last two turns

[vettim89]

24 August 1943

So an I-Boat missed a Tk. The SCs took exception to that and forced it to the surface. What ensued was a gun battle between the sub and the TK. TK WIN!!!!!!!!!!!



Oh IJN CVTF witdrawing. SCTF between Munda and Russell Islands. Likely Kira Kira will be hit agin next turn

[vettim89]

25-27 August 1943

The Kongos do hit KiraKira again on the 25th doing less damage this time than the previous trip. Base should be fully operational again in one or two turns. The IJN detects my attempt to reinforce Rennell again and send the CVs. Before that an I-Boat sinks my AGP again!!!!!!!!! Actually having a shortage of these precious tenders now.

So the USN/IJN get within knife fighting range on the 27th but nothing happens. LBA is active and a bunch of Nells and Francis bombers die. The USAAFF sends B-25D1s against the SCTF built around Yamato and Musashi putting five non-penetrating bombs into each of them. A CL also takes one hit. The total carier based attacks consists of one weak raid on the Superbattleships with the USN losing 10 SBDs for no hits.

Larry and I both figure weather must have been the deciding factor here. I so want to hit Munda with some SCTF but every time I get units into position, the damn IJN shows up. Still, a lot of fuel is being burnt up in all these forays. CV Bunker Hill is 17 days away. Enterprise has about 30 days left in the yard. Considering transit time, these two carriers should arrive in theatre about the same time. To my great disappointment, CV Lexington has a 120 day repair time. I don't understand this as she was much less damaged than the Big E. I guess it has to do with her larger displacement but still, really?

[vettim89]

28-30 August 1943

The super-BB TF engages a PT TF on the 28th but the PT skipper gets away. The rest of the USN forces withdrew to Luganville. Another AGP is loaded up and will head to Rennell Island in two turns.
A SCTF built around Ise, Yamashiro, and Hyuga bombards Aussie troops that just arrived at Broome. Very little damage done. BB Mutsu was seen off Port Blair this turn. That likely means that the BB force committed to SoPac consists only of the two Yamato class and the four Kongos. While that is still a lot of firepower, it is nice to know that all the IJB BB are accounted for at this moment. I am considering breaking my fast BB off the CVTF to meet Yamato and Musashi the next time them come calling. I know I will likely lose the battle, but I might be able to put one or both of them out of commision for a while. Anybody have any experience with the modern USN BBs taking on the superbattleships?

The Japanese swept Rennell Island on the 30th. I doubt this was the result my oponent was after. The best news is I didn't lose any pilots - unlikely the Japanese pilots met the same fate. This is a little unusual as most of the air battles have been pretty even until now. Wondering if I am finally seeing the tipping point as far as pilot quality.

[vettim89]

31 August - 1 September 1943

The USAAF/RAAF catch the IJN trying to sneak supplies into Broome on the 31st. Why after letting this garrison languish for so long is my opponent trying to save them. The Beaforts, B-25s, and A-24 work over this TF prtty badly. Even if they had made Broome, there were two Allied SCTF waiting for them. They were escorting supplies into the Aussie troops who had just arrived via the overland route.

Then on the 1st, all hell broke loose. First an IJN SCTF built around CL Juntsu (wondering if Tanaka was aboard) roughed up the PTs at Rennell Island sinking two at night and three more during the day. Unforunately the USAAF B-25s did not find this TF during the day phase to exact revenge.

Then it got fun as the previously seen SCTF built around the old IJB BBs showed up at Broome. The "Combined Nations" TF took them on and gave better than they got. The LBA kicked in with the Allied air scoring seven 500 lb bombs into CA Mogami which was last seen with "heavy fires, heavy damage". BB Hyuga took five 1000 lb bomb hits and Ise took four. BB Yamashiro took one 1000 lb hit and was last seen "on fire, heavy damage" IJNAAF got into the act putting two TT into Cornwall and one into an AK.

The IJN ran across my CL based SCTF and sank two ships but as you can see, we can add Hyuga to the stricken ship list. Of note: no Yamishiro to be found at this point. Adm Howland crossed the "T" here also.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Broome at 62,127, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Shell hits 7
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 29, heavy fires
CA Nachi, Shell hits 18, on fire
DD Yudachi, Shell hits 21, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Achilles, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
CL Hobart, Shell hits 4
DD Vampire, Shell hits 2
DD Arunta, Shell hits 1
DD Warramunga, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Nepal, Shell hits 1
DD Van Galen, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

Confirmed kills for the Allies are the above ships. Cornwall and Nashville are in extremis and may or may not make Port Hedland. Only one DD is listed as sunk for the IJN but I have to believe Yamashiro is a goner as is Mogami. The question now is who will still be in the neighborhood when the sun rises on 2 Sept. 1943. I may have just traded two CLs and a CA for two BBs. I can live with that if I must

[vettim89]

2 September 1943

Two IJN ships sink during the night. Intel says it was Mogami and a DD - likely correct. LBA snipes at retreating IJN ships only putting three 500 lb bombs into BB Yamashiro; ergo she was not sunk. Nonetheless, I expect all three IJN BBs will be out of the war for 120 days or more. The TF with Nashville and Cornwall can only make 2 kts - ugh. They are sitting in the waters between Broome and Port Hedland like low hanging fruit.

Three Kongos once again hit Rennell Island doing heavy damage. Still all the ENG will repair it all in two days max. Hiei was not with them. Somebody ran into a mine a few weeks ago - perhaps it was her? If that is true, four IJN BBs are incapacitated right now plus the already confirmed sunk Nagato. This is a good thing. IJN CVTF are just South of Munda. Need to work on the time where my SCTF can hit Munda on the heels of the IJN retreating from one of their runs.

With the coming of 1 September, my sub TT are working nicely sinking four xAK over the first two days of the month.

Broome falls under the weight of the 7th AUS Div supported by two ARM RGT. Only Derby remains in IJA hands now.

Lastly all the major damage is repaired on the Big E. I hit the "high" pririty button and her repair time went from 32 to 15 days. Finally some good news. CV Bunker Hill just 13 days out.

[vettim89]

3 September 1943.

Dutch sub adds to Hyuga's distress. USAAF continues to peck away at the retreating BBs putting three more 500 lb bombs into Hyuga and one into Ise. I know the non-penetrating hits do not do much, but it still has to be like a death by 1000 cuts for these poor ships. I have no idea how long, but these three BBs are likely out of the war for a long time.

My SCTF continues to inch toward Port Hedland with float damage remaining stable. Three more hexes to go. No new intel on sinking so the butchers bill remains two DD and a CA for the IJN offset by one CL and a DD for the Allies.

A convoy with SC escort roughs up I-19 south of Fiji. The older ships of this type are now getting enough crew EXP to be dangerous.

[vettim89]

4 September 1942.

Odd, odd battle. Weather seemed to play a major factor here and it was not in the IJN's favor. US CVTF escorting a convoy to Rennell island encounter the IJN CV to the west. Both sides CVTF react towards each other. No am strikes by either carrier based a/c. Just odd

The USN strike gets through relatively unscathed and rips the one IJN group not in a bad weather hex to shreds:

Japanese aircraft
A6M5c Zero x 107
N1K1-J George x 7
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 34
Ki-61-Ib Tony x 6



Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 70
SBD-5 Dauntless x 49
TBF-1 Avenger x 42


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5c Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 10 destroyed
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CV Hiyo, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CVL Ryuho, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Oshio
CA Tone
DD Asagumo

The IJN strike of just Jills escorted by A6M5c is wiped out. A Francis strike fromm Buin (Shortlands) is wiped out. One VT gets lost and loses 5 o7 air frames.

Then a Nell strike out of Buin (Shortlands) gets past the F4F-4 escort and puts two TT into Correigador and one into Santee. I think both might make port even if out of the war for a while.

I do a full retreat as I have twice snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in CV battles. I will take one CV and one CVL surely sunk plus another in extremis in exchanged for two badly damaged CVE.

I finally won a carrier battle.