Hairy Asian Experiences - GreyJoy (J) vs. Q-Ball (A)

[1EyedJacks]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

ORIGINAL: Crackaces

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy




Darwin and Bathrust are his main AFs. But in this mod allied Flak is deadlier as ever and the 250kg japanese GP bomb is reduced by 33%... so i don't see a real chance of doing anything spectacular, also because i don't have any operational AF close enoughto those bases...
consider also that i'm losing every day 1 or 2 Dinah III flying at 25,000 feet due to flak[X(]

I think you are loking at 3.7" AA guns which in early days extend to 28K feet and June 1943 upgrade to 39K feet ...the 3.7" MkVI AA gun having the highest altitude reach of any of the Alied AA specfic platforms. and better than your 88's sitting at Truk [;)] The recent beta upgrades to LBA flak make this weapon platform particularly deadly than my previous experiences ... they do extract a toll ....

In DBB everything is different. Even the guns are different, so those numbers aren't maybe still true.
The recent patch have added even more effect... DBB+patch+reduced effect of the 250 Kg GP bomb= bad idea to bomb allied defended airfields

So what happens if you come in low with your MB? Are those bases 2 far away to fighter sweep? Sweep from max altitude and bomb low? Also - doesn't attack port take out the AAA?

Also - Bettys have mines they can air drop?

[princep01]

But hey, like my Master (Princeps) would say in these situations: Do not wheep Reek
 
(Sinister laugh rolls thru the halls of the Forum).  There was a time I could make you weep, young Greyjoy.

[JohnDillworth]

Exactly John, those CLs are that kind of asset against which i DON'T want my CAs to fight against. The Cleveland CLs are better taken by airplanes and not by my precious CAs!

so if you don't want your ships to fight other ships that are threatening your supply lines perhaps just leave them in Tokyo Bay where they will not burn the precious fuel you are about to lose? What are saving your CA's for? Maybe next year he will have less ships to fight? Sorry, cranky tonight.

[JeffroK]

NZ Paras????

Where did he get them from?

[jeffk3510]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Cleveland + Fletcher = sunken Japanese ships [:(]

Very much so.

Mean ships

[GreyJoy]

April 29, 1943
 
A very important news today. I've been monitoring the enemy LCUs at Darwin for more than 3 months now. Suddenly, today, from 100,000 men counted, that number dropped to 70,000 and several big LST/APAs seem to be grouping in transport TFs. Ships disbanded in port dropped from 133 to 60.
He is coming....
As we predicted few weeks ago, a para landing took place at Moa, a little dot base island east of Lautem. I believe Brad will try to land here and avoid the Saumlaki-Babar target area. Enemy's little ships (costal minesweeper TFs) moved up to Dempar (NE of Lautem) and got smashed by 40 Kates from Ambon...
Our BBs are gathering into a firing position, while we moved 300 fighters to Lautem (recently re-opened). Subs are grouping into packs and Betties and Nells are warming their engines at Ambon.
There seems to be not a single CV anywhere close to Darwin... is he really coming only with the LBA support? Risky...
 
We exchanged some A2A blows over Thousands ships Bay, recently took by the NZ Para commando. He's using C-47s to deliver engineers...and i don't really have an easy way to stop it... The Combined Fleet is gathering to Shortland, while the enemy CVL/CVEs popped up again near Ndeni, along with several BB/CAs and transport ships... as always Brad is trying to attack on different vectors. More fighters are reaching SOPAC, along with some more 100 bombers.
 
 
Tomorrow we'll try to bomb Moa, in order to distrupt his paras, while our fleet will get close to Lautem, covered by the huge LBA fighter umbrella present there. His subs are patrolling the waters between Ambon and Lautem, so we're trying to use a western route.
The first group of 30 Frances is operative at Boela. Let's see if these guys can do something.
 
The time has come. Now we'll see if our defensive strategy will pay off.
 
Stay tuned

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

Exactly John, those CLs are that kind of asset against which i DON'T want my CAs to fight against. The Cleveland CLs are better taken by airplanes and not by my precious CAs!

so if you don't want your ships to fight other ships that are threatening your supply lines perhaps just leave them in Tokyo Bay where they will not burn the precious fuel you are about to lose? What are saving your CA's for? Maybe next year he will have less ships to fight? Sorry, cranky tonight.

John, no need to ask sorry! We are among friends here[;)]

My view is the following: given the numerical superiority the allies gets in terms of warships (especially cruisers), i will not seek naval engagements with the only pourpose of sinking his ships. I will, probably, sink some of them, but will lose the attritional battle anyway.
I will accept a naval battle ONLY if it will be necessary to obtain a strategical goal. So to say, i will engage his cruisers and BBs if the goal is to sink his transports while unloading on my beaches and so distrupt a landing.
I prefer to leave the attritional role to my air force, which can be rebuilt.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: 1EyedJacks


So what happens if you come in low with your MB? Are those bases 2 far away to fighter sweep? Sweep from max altitude and bomb low? Also - doesn't attack port take out the AAA?

Also - Bettys have mines they can air drop?

Betties cannot mine...think that option will be activated somehow in 1944, not before imho.

At low altitude even the chinese AA is taking out my armoured Helens...
We're doing pretty well recently imho... he doesn't seem to be able to keep my AFs shut all at once... he is constantly jumping from one target to another, thus leaving me time to repair my strips enough to be able to base there some fighters a couple of days later...and, every 2-3 days, his bombers find opposition...and they die in decent numbers. My air defences are jumping every day from one base to another, in the attempt not to be predictable and it seems to be working.
Lautem, for example, despite been heavily damaged 10 days ago (100,100,16) recently managed to be repaired and now, if he comes, he will find 330 fighters waiting for his beloved 4Es.

[obvert]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

April 29, 1943

A very important news today. I've been monitoring the enemy LCUs at Darwin for more than 3 months now. Suddenly, today, from 100,000 men counted, that number dropped to 70,000 and several big LST/APAs seem to be grouping in transport TFs. Ships disbanded in port dropped from 133 to 60.
He is coming....
As we predicted few weeks ago, a para landing took place at Moa, a little dot base island east of Lautem. I believe Brad will try to land here and avoid the Saumlaki-Babar target area. Enemy's little ships (costal minesweeper TFs) moved up to Dempar (NE of Lautem) and got smashed by 40 Kates from Ambon...
Our BBs are gathering into a firing position, while we moved 300 fighters to Lautem (recently re-opened). Subs are grouping into packs and Betties and Nells are warming their engines at Ambon.
There seems to be not a single CV anywhere close to Darwin... is he really coming only with the LBA support? Risky...

We exchanged some A2A blows over Thousands ships Bay, recently took by the NZ Para commando. He's using C-47s to deliver engineers...and i don't really have an easy way to stop it... The Combined Fleet is gathering to Shortland, while the enemy CVL/CVEs popped up again near Ndeni, along with several BB/CAs and transport ships... as always Brad is trying to attack on different vectors. More fighters are reaching SOPAC, along with some more 100 bombers.


Tomorrow we'll try to bomb Moa, in order to distrupt his paras, while our fleet will get close to Lautem, covered by the huge LBA fighter umbrella present there. His subs are patrolling the waters between Ambon and Lautem, so we're trying to use a western route.
The first group of 30 Frances is operative at Boela. Let's see if these guys can do something.

The time has come. Now we'll see if our defensive strategy will pay off.

Stay tuned

That would be a risky move, but a calculated risk by Brad. As I've found out, if the Allies can get it all moving quickly and manage to avoid the worst from the LBA, it only takes a day to achieve a foothold. On the other hand if you get to the transports he's screwed, not to mention he'll be putting a large number of combat ships in the way most likely to ward off your BBs. So it's a great opportunity as well. I'm sure you're taking all precautions, but the CAP traps and false moves have been the most frustrating to my attempts at defense in these situations


Looking forward to seeing how the next few days pan out.
.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

April 29, 1943

A very important news today. I've been monitoring the enemy LCUs at Darwin for more than 3 months now. Suddenly, today, from 100,000 men counted, that number dropped to 70,000 and several big LST/APAs seem to be grouping in transport TFs. Ships disbanded in port dropped from 133 to 60.
He is coming....
As we predicted few weeks ago, a para landing took place at Moa, a little dot base island east of Lautem. I believe Brad will try to land here and avoid the Saumlaki-Babar target area. Enemy's little ships (costal minesweeper TFs) moved up to Dempar (NE of Lautem) and got smashed by 40 Kates from Ambon...
Our BBs are gathering into a firing position, while we moved 300 fighters to Lautem (recently re-opened). Subs are grouping into packs and Betties and Nells are warming their engines at Ambon.
There seems to be not a single CV anywhere close to Darwin... is he really coming only with the LBA support? Risky...

We exchanged some A2A blows over Thousands ships Bay, recently took by the NZ Para commando. He's using C-47s to deliver engineers...and i don't really have an easy way to stop it... The Combined Fleet is gathering to Shortland, while the enemy CVL/CVEs popped up again near Ndeni, along with several BB/CAs and transport ships... as always Brad is trying to attack on different vectors. More fighters are reaching SOPAC, along with some more 100 bombers.


Tomorrow we'll try to bomb Moa, in order to distrupt his paras, while our fleet will get close to Lautem, covered by the huge LBA fighter umbrella present there. His subs are patrolling the waters between Ambon and Lautem, so we're trying to use a western route.
The first group of 30 Frances is operative at Boela. Let's see if these guys can do something.

The time has come. Now we'll see if our defensive strategy will pay off.

Stay tuned

That would be a risky move, but a calculated risk by Brad. As I've found out, if the Allies can get it all moving quickly and manage to avoid the worst from the LBA, it only takes a day to achieve a foothold. On the other hand if you get to the transports he's screwed, not to mention he'll be putting a large number of combat ships in the way most likely to ward off your BBs. So it's a great opportunity as well. I'm sure you're taking all precautions, but the CAP traps and false moves have been the most frustrating to my attempts at defense in these situations


Looking forward to seeing how the next few days pan out.
.

Yes Erik, and i'm well aware of the fact that Brad is very skilled in using all the tactical smoke&mirrors tricks like, CAP traps, decoy TFs etc. He's also always flood the waters with a lot of useless TFs (PTs, AMs, PCs etc) in order to create chaos among my naval spotters. I know all of these...but i cannot do much to avoid them. i need to take my risks and hope my LBAs will get a decent DL in order not to waste runs against PTs or such.
It will be a close call. Yes, allied amphib capabilities are great and they can unload everything during a night-day phase. I'll do my best

[1EyedJacks]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

ORIGINAL: 1EyedJacks


So what happens if you come in low with your MB? Are those bases 2 far away to fighter sweep? Sweep from max altitude and bomb low? Also - doesn't attack port take out the AAA?

Also - Bettys have mines they can air drop?

Betties cannot mine...think that option will be activated somehow in 1944, not before imho.

At low altitude even the chinese AA is taking out my armoured Helens...
We're doing pretty well recently imho... he doesn't seem to be able to keep my AFs shut all at once... he is constantly jumping from one target to another, thus leaving me time to repair my strips enough to be able to base there some fighters a couple of days later...and, every 2-3 days, his bombers find opposition...and they die in decent numbers. My air defences are jumping every day from one base to another, in the attempt not to be predictable and it seems to be working.
Lautem, for example, despite been heavily damaged 10 days ago (100,100,16) recently managed to be repaired and now, if he comes, he will find 330 fighters waiting for his beloved 4Es.

Japan's Type 3 mine comes on the board at the end of 1942 - at least in the stock 2 version of AE... They are deployed using the city attack command...

Referencing the City Attack command from the manual:
"Also, air dropped mines are an option here if a city with a port is targeted. Air dropped mine Missions may not be flown before 1943." - page 152 of the manual

[GreyJoy]

April 30, 1943

Well, a mixed day. We've been hurt badly....

Brad again sends 2 strong bombardment TFs against Lautem... i should have foresee this move, but i was counting too much on the reaction of my BB/CAs and on mines//DDs role in expending the op points of the enemy...

However... at night they arrive...we sunk the DD blue with one of our subs...but they proceeded nonetheless

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Moa at 73,117

Japanese Ships
SS I-9

Allied Ships
DD Blue, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CA Dorsetshire
CA Chicago
CL Nashville
CL Honolulu
DD Helm
DD Morris
DD Reid
DD Shaw


Then our DDs engaged...losing badly...not a single torp hit...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Lautem at 72,115, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Wakatake, Shell hits 3
DD Kuretake
DD Sanae, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Asagao, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Achilles
CL Helena
CL Denver
CL Montpelier
DD Buchanan
DD O'Brien
DD Walke
DD Craven
DD Fanning, Shell hits 1
DD Isaac Sweers

Reduced sighting due to 17% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 17% moonlight: 2,000 yards


Then our MGBs...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Lautem at 72,115, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
MGB G-4
MGB G-5

Allied Ships
CL Achilles
CL Helena
CL Denver
CL Montpelier
DD Buchanan
DD O'Brien
DD Walke
DD Craven
DD Fanning
DD Isaac Sweers


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Lautem at 72,115, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
MTB G-1, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Achilles
CL Helena
CL Denver
CL Montpelier
DD Buchanan
DD O'Brien
DD Walke
DD Craven
DD Fanning
DD Isaac Sweers



And then the bastards still had enough ammos to wreck my base and leave more than 300 planes grounded...(55 destroyed on the ground)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Lautem at 72,115

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 82 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed on ground
A6M5 Zero: 83 damaged
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed on ground
N1K1-J George: 47 damaged
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed on ground
B5N2 Kate: 19 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 21 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
CL Montpelier
CL Denver
CL Helena
CL Achilles
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Fanning
DD Craven
DD Walke
DD O'Brien
DD Buchanan

Japanese ground losses:
445 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 96
Port hits 13
Port supply hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Lautem at 72,115

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 56 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground
A6M2 Zero: 42 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed on ground
A6M5 Zero: 152 damaged
A6M5 Zero: 6 destroyed on ground
N1K1-J George: 39 damaged
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed on ground
B5N2 Kate: 16 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire
CA Chicago
CL Nashville
CL Honolulu
DD Reid
DD Shaw
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Helm
DD Morris

Japanese ground losses:
676 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 44 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 15 (2 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Airbase hits 15
Runway hits 49
Port hits 11
Port supply hits 2



However we managed to make a little revenge as they retired....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Moa at 73,117

Japanese Ships
SS I-2

Allied Ships
CL Helena, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
CL Montpelier
CL Denver
DD O'Brien
DD Buchanan
DD Isaac Sweers
DD Fanning
DD Craven


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Moa at 73,117

Japanese Ships
SS I-123

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Chicago
CL Nashville
CL Honolulu
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Helm
DD Morris
DD Reid
DD Shaw


Helena and Dorsetire were left behind...burning furiously....




When the day arrived his 4Es didn't come to finish the job (thanks God) and our Betties from Ambon took off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Moa at 73,117

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 15
G4M1 Betty x 12
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Helena, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Isaac Sweers




DD Isaac Sweers was attacked later in the afternoon by 20 Vals that managed to place a single bomb in it...

However, while all this was happening, the enemy invasion fleet was gathering south of Salroe... LRCAP was nonexistent and a lone sentai of Betties from Koepang managed to get through....



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Bathurst Island at 76,121

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 5 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 28

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 13 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
AK Procyon, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
AK Castor, Torpedo hits 1
AK Betelgeuse
AKA Aquarius, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
DMS Dorsey
AP McCawley, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
AK Almaack, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 104 (89 destroyed, 15 disabled)


Seems like we took off a whole Tank Regiment! Not bad!... This is the evidence we were looking for: The enemy is coming!

Several more TFs are grouping north of Bathrust Island... we spotted DDs, CLs and every kind of ship (APA, AKA, AP, xAKs, LSTs etc)



So, at the end of this day, we lost 4 DDs, 60 planes (on the ground) and a base is wreck along with the combat effectiveness of more than 300 planes... the enemy lost 1 CL, 1 CA, 2 DDs, 1 AKA, 3 AKs and 1 AP... let's call it a draw...

But no wonder that tomorrow it will be worse. His 4Es are probably re-grouping and resting and will be ready to attack tomorrow.
He will be landing? Where? Will he retire?

...the Empire holds its breath....

My BB/CAs are 4 hexes north of Lautem. Will move them into a good position in order to be able the next day to run and catch them wherever they decide to land

[Cap Mandrake]

Amazing amount of damage dished out by his CA/CL's.

Your Bettys and subs did great.

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

Amazing amount of damage dished out by his CA/CL's.

Your Bettys and subs did great.

Yes, they saved a day that could have been a disaster. His losses must hurt him at least as much as mine own hurt me[:D]

[GreyJoy]

May 01, 1943

Could have been a total victory. It has been only a marginal one.... [:(]

2 of our TFs (a BB-CA one and a CL one) pressed forward, hoping to engage his grouping amphib. The BBs were supposed to tangle with his warships...but the cowards didn't show up covering the transports...[&:]

Instead we engaged... a HUGE barges TF full of support troops!![&:][&:]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Babar at 77,118, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Fuso
BB Ise
CA Mogami
CA Suzuya
DD Onami
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Shigure
DD Harusame
DD Kawakaze
DD Suzukaze
DD Shirayuki
DD Uranami
DD Arikaze
DD Susukaze
DD Ishikaze

Allied Ships
LCT-58, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
LCT-60
LCT-61, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
LCT-64, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
LCT-65
LCT-128
LCT-129
LCT-134
LCT-136, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LCT-137, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-138, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
LCT-139, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
LCT-147, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LCT-152
LCT-153, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LCT-154, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
LCT-158, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LCM-46, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LCM-76, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCM-89, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCM 532B, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCM 532E, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCVP 532F
SC-638, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
1543 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 139 destroyed, 130 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 37 (28 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 52 (23 destroyed, 29 disabled)


Then our CLs took out the pletora of AM TFs that were parked there

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Babar at 76,119, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
CL Jintsu
CL Nagara
CL Natori
CL Abukuma
CL Yubari
DD Uzuki
DD Satsuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Nagatsuki
DD Mikazuki
DD Oite
DD Susuki
DD Yanagi
DD Tachekaze

Allied Ships
AM Dubbo, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
AM Echuca, Shell hits 11, and is sunk

Finally some juicy targets south of Babar....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Babar at 76,119, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
CL Jintsu
CL Nagara, Shell hits 2
CL Natori
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 2
CL Yubari
DD Uzuki
DD Satsuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Nagatsuki
DD Mikazuki
DD Oite
DD Susuki
DD Yanagi
DD Tachekaze

Allied Ships
APD Humphreys, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
APD Sands, Shell hits 2
APD King
APD Hatfield, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Rathburne
APA American Legion, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
APA John Penn, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APA President Jackson, Shell hits 2, on fire
APA Sumter, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
LSI(L) Manoora, Shell hits 2

Allied ground losses:
3876 casualties reported
Squads: 235 destroyed, 111 disabled
Non Combat: 130 destroyed, 62 disabled
Engineers: 41 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 169 (163 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 58 (58 destroyed, 0 disabled)



Escaped...DAMN!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Babar at 76,119, Range 29,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
CL Jintsu
CL Nagara
CL Natori
CL Abukuma
CL Yubari
DD Uzuki
DD Satsuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Nagatsuki
DD Mikazuki
DD Oite
DD Susuki
DD Yanagi
DD Tachekaze

Allied Ships
APD Manley
APD Stringham
APD Talbot
APD Waters
APD Dent
DMS Wasmuth
APA Heywood
APA George F. Elliot
APA Fuller
APA Crescent City
APA Arthur Middleton
APA Bolivar
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Babar at 76,119, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Agano
CL Yura
CL Kinu
CL Oi
DD Kiyonami
DD Kuri
DD Tsuga
DD Kiku
E Hato
E Sagi
E Kari
E Kiji
E Kamo
CL Teshio

Allied Ships
AM Cootamundra, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Horsham, Shell hits 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Babar at 76,119

Japanese Ships
SS I-32, hits 2

Allied Ships
APD Humphreys, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD Hatfield, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Rathburne




...probably a supply TF....

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Babar at 76,119, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Agano
CL Yura
CL Kinu
CL Oi
DD Kiyonami
DD Kuri
DD Tsuga
DD Kiku
E Hato
E Sagi
E Kari
E Kiji
E Kamo
CL Teshio

Allied Ships
AM Requisite, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
xAK Admiral Halstead, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Howell Lykes, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Gideon Welles, Shell hits 18, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Henry Villard, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Babar at 76,119, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
CL Jintsu
CL Nagara
CL Natori
CL Abukuma
CL Yubari
DD Uzuki
DD Satsuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Nagatsuki
DD Mikazuki
DD Oite
DD Susuki
DD Yanagi
DD Tachekaze

Allied Ships
AM Cowra, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
AG King John, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk



Early in the morning we managed to sink another barge TF near Thousands Ships Bay...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Auki at 114,135, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Yukaze
DD Tachikaze
DD Urukaze
DD Tawakaze

Allied Ships
LCT-130, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LCT-131, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
LCT-132, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-133, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-135, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LCT-140, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-141, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LCT-142, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
1220 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 73 destroyed, 112 disabled
Engineers: 23 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 11 (11 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 25 (23 destroyed, 2 disabled)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Selaroe at 78,120

Japanese Ships
SS RO-65

Allied Ships
LCT-134, Shell hits 16, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

LCT-134 is sighted by SS RO-65
SS RO-65 attacking LCT-134 on the surface





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Bathurst Island at 77,122

Japanese Ships
SS RO-63, hits 2

Allied Ships
DD Hughes
BB Royal Sovereign
BB Colorado
CL Java
DD Van Nes
DD Worden
DD Aylwin


Here they are so...one hex north of Bathrust Is....




6 (repeat SIX) Japanese CVs suddenly popped up north east of Samulaki...this was a surprise... unfortunately weather was awfull...and we achieved nothing[:(]

MY CVs have been hidden for 56 turns...light off...just waiting for this moment... 56 turns... [:@][:@][:@]

He plastered Lautem with 100 4Es, torching more 50 planes on the ground...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Saumlaki , at 78,117

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 9
A6M5 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 9
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Saumlaki , at 78,117

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 4
A6M5 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged




We then engaged...but not my CVs....[:-]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Bathurst Island at 76,121

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
G4M1 Betty x 18

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
LST-447
AK Carina
LST-446
AK Adhara, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
593 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 60 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 39 (39 destroyed, 0 disabled)



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


And that's all my CVs were able to achieve... not a single Dive bomber...not a single one....
-------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Bathurst Island at 77,122

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 27
B6N1 Jill x 13

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 34
P-40K Warhawk x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 9 destroyed
B6N1 Jill: 8 destroyed

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
49th FG/8th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 12 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
343rd FG/11th FS with P-38G Lightning (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
318th FG/19th FS with P-38G Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 12 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
18th FG/70th FS with P-38G Lightning (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 12 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bathurst Island at 77,121

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 37
A6M5 Zero x 12
B5N2 Kate x 25

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 34
P-40K Warhawk x 4
F4U-1 Corsair x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 11 destroyed
A6M5 Zero: 4 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
DD DeHaven
DD Chevalier
CL Leander

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Bathurst Island at 77,122

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 64 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 14
B6N1 Jill x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 5 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 3 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
BB Colorado
BB Royal Sovereign, Torpedo hits 1
CL Java

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp



And that was all.... months of preparation...for nothing...damned weather[:o]




However, the landing TFs are distrupted...the CVs are in place... doubt he will seriously land anywhere in the nearby future in the southern DEI

More later....

[GreyJoy]

.

[GreyJoy]

The CVs attack the enemy's BBs...with no luck

[GreyJoy]

We lost 150 planes today and 90 pilots...a bloody day for IJNAF... but i guess at this stage of the war we have to accept these as natural losses and live with them.
 
The allies have lost at least 100 combat squads and several hundreds support squads, along with lots of guns, engineers and vehicles. Not bad.
 
Let's see if tomorrow we can bag some more enemy troops
 
Really don't understand why the enemy warships weren't defending all those exposed transports full of troops...[&:]

[GreyJoy]

It's amazing that our CVs remained unspotted for all these turns. Their D/L has been 0 for 65 turns in a row now. It would have been the perfect ambush...

[BBfanboy]

Why do you say "minor victory"? Sure it could have been better but getting those APAs and thousands of troops is not "small potatos". Your trap was very effective! [&o]
Just remember, even at Midway, the allies could not get both the Japanese landing force AND the CVs. It was still a great victory!