SOPAC
Its a bad day for the Japanese merchant marine..
AM first attack on US carriers
Morning Air attack on TF, near Green Island at 112,127
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
G3M2 Nell x 6
Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 17
F4F-3A Wildcat x 17
F4F-3 Wildcat x 37
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CV Enterprise
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
AM strike
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lihir at 113,122
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 9
F4F-3A Wildcat x 13
SBD-2 Dauntless x 26
SBD-3 Dauntless x 50
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAK Yamadori Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Tatukami Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
xAK Shinyubari Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Takaoka Maru, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Keisho Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kotoku Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Sydney Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Anyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Okiyu Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kamoi Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Fukuei Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PB Kyo Maru #11, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Hokuan Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Nagara Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lihir at 109,124
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
SBD-2 Dauntless x 15
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Kumagawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kosei Maru, heavy fires, heavy damage
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lihir at 113,122
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 16
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAK Yamadori Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Anyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Takaoka Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Tatukami Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Korei Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lihir at 113,122
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 16
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAK Hokuan Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Keisho Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Sydney Maru, and is sunk
xAK Tatukami Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Anyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
PM air attack against supporting cruisers (somehow lagged behind a hex, so CAP is leaking..)
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Buka at 112,128
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
G3M2 Nell x 6
Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 11
F4F-3A Wildcat x 8
F4F-3 Wildcat x 23
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F2A-3 Buffalo: 1 destroyed
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CL Achilles
CA Pensacola
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Buka at 112,128
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
G4M1 Betty x 6
Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 7
F4F-3A Wildcat x 3
F4F-3 Wildcat x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
CA Louisville
The USN is withdrawing in the general direction of Suva. CAP wasn't performing as good as expected so lingering would just put the ships at risk for no apparent gain. My estimate is the Japanese lost about 6000 men in Navguards and baseforces/construction troops with about 15-20 ships sunk or about to sink..
30+ IJN aircraft destroyed...
US losses about 25 aircraft with 15 pilots KIA and MIA...
Not bad for an early march action....
