Port Moresby
After a few days of establishing complete air supremacy the allies launch the invasion of Terapo north of PM. In a stroke of incredible luck all Japanese attack planes comes in without escort! Some 80 planes are shot down for almost no losses at all. The 1st cavalry land almost intact!
Over the following two day they attack the defenders at Terapo and finally drive them out on the 16th!
Ground combat at Terapo (96,127)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 8787 troops, 106 guns, 167 vehicles, Assault Value = 391
Defending force 1673 troops, 21 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 27
Allied adjusted assault: 357
Japanese adjusted defense: 21
Allied assault odds: 17 to 1 (fort level 3)
Allied forces CAPTURE Terapo !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
Attacker: leaders(+)
Japanese ground losses:
778 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 26 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3
Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!
Assaulting units:
1st Cavalry (Spec) Cavalry Division
Defending units:
Maizuru 1st SNLF
I/84th Naval Guard Unit
51st Road Const Co
On the same day the allies with heavy losses closes Buna Airfield. Some 20 4Es are lost during the raid. But losses can be sustained with some 105 4Es in the pools! Sweeps also encounter resistance over PM for the first time in almost two weeks. The outcome is encouraging as loads of Jacks are shot down for some 18 Corsairs. In total it was a bloody day as can see in the screenshot. But I´m happy with the outcome. 16 of the Corsairs were in the USMC group and I have some 800 pilots in the replacement pool. Airframes are a bit more scarce but in only 14 days the A1 variant rolls online with a better service rating and 78 per month instead of 30! The Corsair has been absolutely fantastic for me so far. Destroying anything Erik throws at them with ease. Love it! [:D]
The main Allied effort from now on will be to keep and build up the airfield at Terapo. I took a huge chance today as I flew in 80 Hellcats to provide CAP. All available transports are set to fly in 90 AS and Engineers. 100 P38Gs are set to LRCAP and this is supplemented by massive sweeps over PM. Apparently the AF there is open despite showing 80 damage and a DL of 7/12! How is this possible [&:]
Some bad news as the South Dakota took two torps SW of Sydney. 42 Float damage and she will be out of action for quite some time. [:(] She will pump the water out and the head to the WC. BB Alabama has left Pearl for SOPAC to replace the SD for the time being. I´m still confident I have naval supremacy in the area. Another one of the old BBs will arrive shortly bringing the total number up to 8 BBs.
CENTPAC
I have no idea what happened but the Canton Island invasions was temporarily postponed as the TFs suddenly decided to move only 2 hexes and the bombardment TF only 1? I retreated the TFs. Hopefully Erik will think I´m just trying some silly feints. I`m keeping my CVs close by. My 4CVs and 4 CVLs will soon be augmented by another CV and CVL.
No sign of KB anywhere. I got an ID on the Taiho just outside Sorong a few days ago. No idea what she is doing there.
BURMA
Things are already in position. Just a waiting game. Looking at possible ways to perhaps put some pressure on his Airforce. I have 72 Corsairs, 125 P47s and 125 P38s doing nothing...that feels a bit wrong.
The near future
I´m still feeling guardedly optimistic. The PM operation was the first one where Erik didn´t have the ability to stop me. He has reinforced PM with infantry and there are now some 35.000 troops in place. At first I was pretty upset with the fact that I couldn´t secure PM. If my HQ hadn´t fragmented things would probably have looked differently. But when looking at the map I realized Erik is actually playing into my hands. The allied plan will be to cut off all the troops in the PM - Buna - Milne bay triangle.
Over the coming month I will move in 3 more Allied divisions together with lots of Tanks and arty. I have not decided yet how to bring them in. Might be forced to land them at Terapo in which case it will be a loooong walk through the jungle. If I see and opportunity I might land directly at Milne. Two divisions and 3 tank battalions are 100% prepped! I´m a bit worried if I have to land at PM without any prep. Anyone have any ideas on what kind of effect that will have on the troops?
Here is the loss screen for the 16th!
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