Rumble in the Southwest witpqs-A vs Andav-J 2011-11-29 to 2017-02-08

[witpqs]

[:D]

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1942 December 17

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Ambrym

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


One of those tank-only attacks, I think.

Ground combat at 73,49 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 384 troops, 0 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 160

Defending force 21609 troops, 160 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 663

Japanese adjusted assault: 16

Allied adjusted defense: 793

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 49

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Allied ground losses:
111 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment
4th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
48th Chinese Corps
50th Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
14th Chinese Corps
56th Chinese Corps
79th Chinese/B Corps

Cox's Bazar is repaired and again building, now 98% toward a size 7 airfield.

Our ASW TFs around Karachi are putting some hits on IJN subs, but it seems it will be a matter of a little at a time rather than many outright sinkings.

Based on sightings of our subs, I estimate a KB is in the vicinity of Nauru Island. That convoy with AA and coast defense units is at Ndeni now and has been sighted. There are 50 P-40s on CAP at Ndeni, but the carriers (4 x CVE plus 3 x CV) will move north to be in a position to counter attack if a strike comes in from the sea. The second purpose is to (hopefully) make many dive bomber sightings on IJN subs, and give notice that Allied carriers are near. The airfield at Ndeni itself is size 1, but the port is 0 and being worked on first to make size 1.

3rd USMC Div finally finished loading at La Foa (moved from the nice port of Noumea due to over crowding!) and now some additional supplies will load. D-Day for Efate in 2 or 3 days (3rd USMC Div and 2nd USMC Tank Bn).

[witpqs]

1942 December 18

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Holding on...

Ground combat at 72,49 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15095 troops, 110 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 415

Defending force 16063 troops, 68 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 352

Japanese adjusted assault: 146

Allied adjusted defense: 117

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
436 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 62 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
564 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
55th Infantry Brigade
104th/B Division

Defending units:
25th Chinese Corps
100th Chinese Corps
4th Chinese/B Corps
39th New Chinese Division
4th Construction Regiment
16th Construction Regiment
6th Construction Regiment
1st Construction Regiment
5th Construction Regiment


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 73,49 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 366 troops, 0 guns, 71 vehicles, Assault Value = 155

Defending force 21527 troops, 160 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 651

Japanese adjusted assault: 1

Allied adjusted defense: 757

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 757

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker: supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
Vehicles lost 28 (3 destroyed, 25 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment
4th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
50th Chinese Corps
14th Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
56th Chinese Corps
79th Chinese/B Corps

More fun with subs near Karachi, but without much in the way of hits (and none by the subs). Off of Christmas Island an IJN subs torpedoed one of the PCs hunting it. Haida is 47-96(63)-3-0 but made the 40nm to Christmas Island with its size 4 port. Wasp has upgraded and now reports needing 40 days in Sydney's shipyard. Copahee's schedule has been pushed back to 15 days by the diversion of resources. The convoy is at sea and D-Day at Efate is in 2 days.

Search out of Ndeni can barely reach Nauru Island, but search from Nanumea overlaps it nicely. Here is the KB that has been noticed by our subs.

[witpqs]

And here is a bonus - a picket group which our light cruisers will attempt to intercept in the coming days.

[witpqs]

1942 December 19

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Torres Islands

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Holding, holding, holding...

Ground combat at 72,49 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14429 troops, 109 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 341

Defending force 21512 troops, 139 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 506

Japanese adjusted assault: 46

Allied adjusted defense: 313

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 6

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: leaders(+), supply(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1284 casualties reported
Squads: 42 destroyed, 62 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

Allied ground losses:
512 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 33 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
55th Infantry Brigade
104th/B Division

Defending units:
100th Chinese Corps
25th Chinese Corps
14th Chinese Corps
39th New Chinese Division
4th Chinese/B Corps
1st Construction Regiment
4th Construction Regiment
16th Construction Regiment
6th Construction Regiment
5th Construction Regiment

Plucking pesky pickets.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Johnston Island at 153,117, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Sento Maru, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
PB Mikitade Maru, Shell hits 12, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Concord
CL Detroit, Shell hits 1
CL Trenton
DD Wilson
DD Lang
DD Cassin

Poor visibility due to Rain with 89% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 89% moonlight: 1,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
Matsuo J. crosses the 'T'
CL Trenton engages PB Mikitade Maru at 1,000 yards
CL Detroit engages PB Sento Maru at 1,000 yards
PB Mikitade Maru sunk by CL Concord at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 2,000 yards
CL Concord engages PB Sento Maru at 2,000 yards
CL Detroit engages PB Sento Maru at 2,000 yards
orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 3,000 yards
CL Trenton engages PB Sento Maru at 3,000 yards
PB Sento Maru sunk by CL Trenton at 3,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

Enemy carrier strike!

Morning Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 120,143

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 115 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 49 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
A6M3a Zero x 8
B5N2 Kate x 34

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Sumatra
AK Electra, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
AM Rail, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AM Token
AM Lark
AM Swallow
AK Procyon, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
8 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
343rd FG/11th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
15th FG/72nd FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes

Procyon and Rail were indeed lost. Electra can survive if she is not attacked again. Too slow to keep up, she has detached and disbanded to attempt hiding along the shoreline. Weather over the base was extreme overcast, no doubt hampering attackers and defending fighters both. It looks as though our carriers were not even scouted, a mere 9 hexes from the nearest IJN carriers.

The USN Battle Fleet will move 6 hexes NE. About 336 carrier aircraft are currently embarked. Ndeni airfield is too small for offensive operations.

[BBfanboy]

Lotsa Luck!

[JocMeister]

Good luck! [:)]

That looks like a mini KB. Any idea on where he has the rest?

[princep01]

Hummm....Devious Admiral Wa may have played the trap w/i the trap card here.  I would doubt he would send in an isolated CVL group into this area without a backup plan including the big boys.  The frequent presence of the Allied battle fleet has to be all to obvious aftert the not so long ago slaughter of most of the LKB.
 
Soooooo, I'm betting the big boys (less Akagi) may be in the background ready to jump the Allies should they go for the CVL(s).  However, given your willingness to engage the full KB at this stage, it will be a matter of positioning carefullly to avoid the big KB engaging at its optium range.  Knowing where to place the Allied battle fleet to get at big KB effectively will be a challenge for Admiral witpqs.
 
The Battle of Ndeni is proving to be the critical battle of the war in the Pacific.

[witpqs]

Notice that the strike was launched from the closest TF, while the farthest TF is scouted as having carrier aircraft and at least one carrier.

Akagi certainly isn't there due to torpedo damage ("Admiral, they can't have repaired Yorktown and brought her so far this quickly!"), and I have no info on whether other IJN fleet carriers might be refitting. So without knowing just what carriers he has in theater presently, I believe they are all in the currently sighted fleet.

One thing I did not show is how far past the current sightings Allied naval search currently extends. Search can always miss things but I think he would not split the currently available assets into more than two TFs (unless operating in different places, I mean).

That's the reason for the oblique course. I want to be either within range of only one TF or neither one. I figure these are the reasonable possibilities for the IJN's fleet movement.

1) Move westward, taking advantage of fighters stationed at Tulagi. If this course is followed, we have a chance of hitting one element of the fleet.

2) Withdraw, as this was a limited risk raid. Most likely.

3) Move eastward to raid harass supply efforts at Nanumea and the Ellice Islands. This is what the small IJN carrier force did before. This allows time for Allied forces to close and negates all chance of surprise above the lowest tactical level. Very unlikely.

4) Plunge significantly southward past Ndeni, both in pursuit of the convoy now at Ndeni and other as yet unseen prey. Very risky! Luganville airfield is small but capable of offensive operations. 4 and 2 engine bombers from Fiji and New Caledonia can reach this area with ease, and support from Tulagi is totally lacking here. Allied naval forces including any carriers and surface forces in the area are likely to be found here. They were here prior to the IJN fleet being spotted!

I think withdrawal is most likely. If the Allied carriers, at al - a large number of ships - were not sighted last turn, IJ search is poor and DAW HQ must realize that. This was a raid calculated with limited risk, made in the knowledge of both damage to heavy USN assets and the USN refit schedule.

[witpqs]

And here is a look at the Allied search coverage in the area.

[princep01]

Yes, I agree that w?D is most likely.  However, I amm surprised Wa is still messing about with these CV/CVL raids this far removed from LBA support.  It is something of a death-wish to do this at this stage.
 
Knowing Wa is no fool, this leads me to think he is living up to his name (at least the devious part) and setting traps to draw the US fleet into a "decisive engagement". 
 
Nonetheless, were I he, I'd have my CVs positioned at Truk or, if at sea, then somewhat north and west of Ontong Java to counter a landing in th elower Solomons.  Down Akagi and the CVLs lost in the previous CV battle, a decisive engagement could well lead to an Allied victory!
 
Anxious to see what happens here, but I do think you're right and he'll simply disappear.

[JocMeister]

Ha! Thats some serious naval search you have set up there! [:)]

[witpqs]

1942 December 20

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:


There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Efate

IJN carrier forces withdrew, I believe to the NW. As weather was very bad this is the only evidence of their passing/whereabouts.

ASW attack near Auki at 121,134

Japanese Ships
DD Samidare
CA Chikuma
CA Tone
CS Nisshin
DD Oyashio
DD Hayashio

Allied Ships
SS S-31

SS S-31 launches 4 torpedoes at DD Samidare
S-31 diving deep ....
DD Samidare fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hayashio fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Samidare fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Samidare fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Samidare fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Samidare fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

The invasion force is ashore at Efate in good shape and will attack tomorrow.

Chinese forces continue to hold, and Imperial forces continue to both attack and simultaneously outflank them.

Ground combat at 79,47 (near Patung)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36257 troops, 274 guns, 18 vehicles, Assault Value = 1130

Defending force 25605 troops, 147 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 701

Japanese adjusted assault: 848

Allied adjusted defense: 1528

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1948 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 220 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled

Allied ground losses:
734 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 52 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Assaulting units:
6th Division
35th Division
15th Ind.Mixed Brigade
104th/A Division

Defending units:
13th Chinese Corps
84th Chinese Corps
49th Chinese Corps
88th Chinese Corps


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Ground combat at Patung (81,46)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 40518 troops, 283 guns, 27 vehicles, Assault Value = 1245

Defending force 22837 troops, 147 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 476

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 479

Allied adjusted defense: 820

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 2)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1233 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 221 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
1691 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 46 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 25 (1 destroyed, 24 disabled)

Assaulting units:
3rd Infantry Regiment
17th Ind.Mixed Brigade
41st Division
17th/A Division
60th Infantry Brigade
58th Infantry Regiment
13th/C Division

Defending units:
45th Chinese Corps
8th Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Cavalry Corps
7th Construction Regiment
39th Group Army
8th Construction Regiment


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Ground combat at 73,49 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4219 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 142

Defending force 22632 troops, 119 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 685

Assaulting units:
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment
4th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
70th Chinese Corps
50th Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
56th Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
79th Chinese/B Corps


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Ground combat at 80,47 (near Patung)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 5007 troops, 41 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 1018

Defending force 27743 troops, 137 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 672

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
110th Division
17th/B Division
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade
15th/C Division

Defending units:
71st Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
13th Group Army

[witpqs]

A little more mischief from the devious one! Those are the two fast BBs with Admiral Willis Lee in command heading back to the States for refit. The destroyers had ot refuel so they won't be at full speed tomorrow, but they still might make a catch.

[BBfanboy]

An AD???? [&:] They are only good for re-arming and doing minor repairs on DDs, but don't they have to be in port to do that? If not, there must be raiding DDs nearby - unless the ship type is FOW and it is really an AMC [also good target practice for fast BBs]![:)]

[witpqs]

I'm sure that was just a wacky sighting.

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1942 December 21

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Pentecost Island
Efate

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:
Efate

Holding, I think.

Ground combat at 73,49 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4228 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 144

Defending force 22660 troops, 119 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 687

Assaulting units:
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment
4th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
70th Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
50th Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
56th Chinese Corps
79th Chinese/B Corps


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Ground combat at 80,47 (near Patung)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 5007 troops, 41 guns, 12 vehicles, Assault Value = 1021

Defending force 27793 troops, 137 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 676

Assaulting units:
17th/B Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade
110th Division
15th/C Division

Defending units:
71st Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
13th Group Army

An xAK fell to a sub near Bombay. Efate not only fell to the Allies, it was secured in one day.

Ground combat at Efate (120,154)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13619 troops, 186 guns, 215 vehicles, Assault Value = 456

Defending force 483 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Allied adjusted assault: 243

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 243 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Efate !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker: fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
487 casualties reported
Squads: 25 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 52 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
3rd Marine Division
2nd USMC Tank Battalion

Defending units:
61st Nav Gd /1

The raiders nearing the West Coast have disappeared. The battleships will make a sweep to try and find them, but them move on to refit. They have more important things to do.

The IJN carriers did not make an appearance, and our own carriers are still unspotted. Where to position them? For the moment they'll stay put. Within about two days they will be required nearer to Ndeni to cover that convoy with base forces. It's possible that the 41st ID will be picked up at the same time if the island gets too crowded. APDs are also loading paratroopers to make landings on the unoccupied Reef Islands and Duff Islands to hasten their liberation. They are just a bit farther out than Ndeni and will make nice search bases. Luganville airfield is building fast, now size 3.

[BBfanboy]

You are catching up fast in the VP reckoning. You are beating the Japanese by 1000 in the air loss points - well done!

[witpqs]

1942 December 22

The Empire captured:


The Allies captured:
Utupua

There were Imperial amphibious operations at:


There were Allied amphibious operations at:


Very tenuous in China.

Ground combat at 80,47 (near Patung)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 35001 troops, 266 guns, 44 vehicles, Assault Value = 1023

Defending force 27816 troops, 137 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 677

Japanese adjusted assault: 500

Allied adjusted defense: 793

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1878 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 158 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1274 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 110 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Assaulting units:
17th/B Division
110th Division
1st Ind.Mixed Brigade
19th Ind.Mixed Brigade
15th/C Division

Defending units:
71st Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
4th Chinese Cavalry Corps
13th Group Army


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at 73,49 (near Kweiyang)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4228 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 147

Defending force 22691 troops, 119 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 691

Japanese ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment
4th Tank Regiment

Defending units:
56th Chinese Corps
48th Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Cavalry Corps
50th Chinese Corps
70th Chinese Corps
79th Chinese/B Corps

There are presently 2 IJN subs seen operating around Christmas Island and 6 around Ndeni. We're turning up the heat on them with the addition of an 18-strong float plane squadron at each base, well trained in ASW, flying that mission at 2,000ft.

Our carriers are still not spotted ENE Ndeni. Our subs are not reporting any carrier air contacts. Smart money says the IJN carriers retired to Rabaul, content to let the Allies scramble and waste resources. We're not in this case, as the convoy bearing down on Ndeni must be covered anyway. Then the carriers will make a foray for the purpose of being sighted and making the IJN waste resources.

Back near the West Coast those raiders have disappeared. The battleships will make one sweep NW and then NE from their present position before continuing on their journey. The Omaha class light cruisers with destroyers will take up patrolling the waters off the west coast in the near future. In turn the CLAAs currently with the fleet carriers will detach and patrol the area W and NW of the Line Islands.

The Aleutians have been very quiet, with Umnak Island only now being built up. That will change over the winter, and to support efforts in the region we will have to assign a fleet to the area. Currently they get occasional visits by forces moving to and fro, with only small escorts for troop convoys. OK so far, but not for long.

Here is the overview map.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

You are catching up fast in the VP reckoning. You are beating the Japanese by 1000 in the air loss points - well done!

Thanks! We're well stocked with trained pilots, thanks to the air war being pretty quiet for quite a while now. The bad news is that surely the Empire is well stocked too!

BTW, I'm finding it a royal pain in the butt to fly aircraft across the Pacific to relocate them. The weather is awful for days at a stretch causing it to take two, three, or four times longer than it might unless you are willing to roll the dice on losing planes and pilots. Sheesh. I love that realism!

[princep01]

Map is slowly getting over the measels:).  Ready to reveal where the next push(s) are going to be?
 
Ndeni makes a reasonably good base for heavy bomber sorties on the lower Solomons.  Getting a good foothold there, the Allies have some good opportunities to engage Japanese air with the USAAF fighters and medium bombers.
 
Clearing northern Oz can be a pain and can be dangerous if operating by sea, but it offers the opportunity to stab at the DEI.
 
Lots of options available to the Allies at this point, especially w/ KB shoerthanded.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: princep01

Map is slowly getting over the measels:).  Ready to reveal where the next push(s) are going to be?

Ndeni makes a reasonably good base for heavy bomber sorties on the lower Solomons.  Getting a good foothold there, the Allies have some good opportunities to engage Japanese air with the USAAF fighters and medium bombers.

Clearing northern Oz can be a pain and can be dangerous if operating by sea, but it offers the opportunity to stab at the DEI.

Lots of options available to the Allies at this point, especially w/ KB shoerthanded.

Southern Solomons, although maybe minor adventures in the Gilberts to keep the Empire's attention from getting too focused.

That will take time, as the fleet really needs to refit both to repair minor damage and really really get those late '42 AA suite upgrades. Plus Ndeni and Luganville will be built to major bases first so they can close Tulagi. The Tulagi air campaign will kick off with the previously mentioned para drop on Russell Island and Kirakira. The following day, when (hopefully) the Empire goes to LRCAP one or both, the 4EBs will hit Tulagi en masse.

You like?