Australia Invaded!! NY59Giants (A) vs Olorin (J)

[ny59giants]

August 17, 18, 19,:
Invasion fleet is in position and will sail west into harms way.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons); FG fighter group = 25 fighter planes if American

Subs: [>:]

CVs:
Mine are with the Amphib TFs just to west of Ellice Island group (see screenshot).

India/Burma:
Shwebo area (base and 1 hex to west) - [>:]

@ 55,47 (2 SE of Akyab) - important trail hex to clear

Ground combat at 55,47 (near Akyab)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 13788 troops, 204 guns, 386 vehicles, Assault Value = 753

Defending force 9368 troops, 72 guns, 92 vehicles, Assault Value = 305

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

Assaulting units:
XV Corps Engineer Battalion
50th Tank Brigade
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
17th Indian Division
2/1st Med Regiment
1st Indian Light AA Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
85th British AT Gun Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
14th Indian Light AA Regiment
2nd Indian AA Bde

Defending units:
9th Tank Regiment
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment

Ramree Island -
Nothing on 17th.
On 18th, 4 groups of Tojo sweep vs almost 100 Hurricanes, P-38, and P-40s on CAP/LRCAP. Japan loses 40 planes everywhere vs my 20 planes (but only 5 pilots KIA).
Quiet again on 19th. [:)]

China:
Sining (2 NW of Lanchow) - 12 Oscars escort in up to 45 Sally daily.
His deliberate attack does poorly, 925:1651 - F4. Two days later (19th) he tries again.

Ground combat at Sining (80,32)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 44105 troops, 437 guns, 137 vehicles, Assault Value = 1294

Defending force 14121 troops, 75 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 370

Japanese adjusted assault: 751

Allied adjusted defense: 2512

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 3 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1748 casualties reported
Squads: 42 destroyed, 39 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 18 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 9 (3 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (4 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
787 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 31 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Australia:
Horn Island -
On 17th, 5 groups (16 planes each) hit the AF and then the Spits sweep.
On 18th, the Spits go in first followed by 3 groups of B-25s.
On 19th, surface combat

Night Time Surface Combat, near Horn Island at 91,128, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PC Nire, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
PC Take, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
PC Kaki, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
PC Ashi, Shell hits 16, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Abbot
DD Aulick
DD Conway
DD Cony
DD Jenkins
DD Saufley

Improved night sighting under 85% moonlight

Arleigh Burke is in command!! [&o]

Night Time Surface Combat, near Horn Island at 91,128, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Noshiro
DD Suzunami, Shell hits 1
DD Fujinami
DD Hayanami, Shell hits 1
E Kuri, Shell hits 1
E Tsuga
DD Suresushio

Allied Ships
DD Abbot
DD Aulick
DD Conway
DD Cony
DD Jenkins
DD Saufley

8 PT Boats cannot hit the 2 CM & PB in daylight here. However, they do sink a CMc with gunfire later. Over 100 B-25s hit the AF.

Kalgoorlie -
I switch to the troops due west of base on 17th. A group of P-47s sweep followed by 11 groups (12 planes each) of PV-1/Mitchells to hit the troops. I hope for a few days of this to increase disruption to allow an attack. On the 18th, only the P-47s fly. [&:] Nick moves a group of fighters back into base as repairs go lower damage. I don't get anybody to fly here on 19th. Damn weather! [:@] Orders are for a sweep on 20th.

South Pacific, Solomons, & New Guinea:
Merauke - My sweep of P-38s go in 19th,

Morning Air attack on Merauke , at 89,124

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 65 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 31
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 58
Ki-45 KAIc Nick x 25

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 75

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 3 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 6 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 30000 feet
10 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 30000 feet
12 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 30000 feet

CAP engaged:
9th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (4 airborne, 20 on standby, 0 scrambling)
24 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
66th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIc Nick (4 airborne, 17 on standby, 0 scrambling)
21 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
85th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (8 airborne, 20 on standby, 0 scrambling)
28 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters between 27000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
286 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (4 airborne, 21 on standby, 0 scrambling)
25 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters between 25000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes

Actual losses are 11 P-38s vs 8 Georges, 5 Tojo, 3 Nicks.

Central Pacific:

North Pacific: [>:]

Engineering: Ramree Island AF 3; Sian AF3; Portland Roads F6;

Recon/Intel:

Notes:
Orders are for 4e bombers to hit Luganville from Suva and some to Tulagi from Nauru Island.

CV airgroup setting are 50% CAP, DB/TB range to 6 (DBs at 10 Naval Search), FPs to either Naval Search or ASW. No LRCAP as CV/CVL/CVEs will follow on one hex behind. Will adjust when close to targets.

This is the undercard fight to John vs Dan and GreyJoy vs Q-Ball's AARs.

[BBfanboy]

Undercard fight? No CV vs CV battle should ever be an undercard fight!
I have forgotten, among all the AARs I read, what the potential opposition might be for your battle.
Can you recap what he has left in terms of CV/BB/CA strength? Will you have LBA to contend with too?

[ny59giants]

I have lost Big "E" and a CVE.

He has operational bases at Ndeni, Luganville, Tulagi, Lunga for his LBA. I have 4e bombers out of Suva and Nauru Island.

I will have about 650 fighters (around 500 Hellcats), 250 DBs, and 250 TBs. Some of the newer CV/CVLs will not have the pilot skills I truly want, but they should be able to handle his Zeros.

The question is my fighter settings?? I will change them from 50% CAP to what?? How much LRCAP of various TFs?? Keep every type of carrier in one hex or split into two hexes. See prior postings about invasion targets.

[ny59giants]

Got to step out for 4 hours (one hour drive each way plus my two hours of supervision for my LPC - counselor's licensure). Here is what faces me to decide when i get back home.

I just saw three CVs worth of Zeros over Tulagi vs my PB4Y-1 bombers.
Looks like 2 SC TF at Kirakira.
Lots of his damn subs which have been my main menace to date. [:@]
No sign of KB. I have PBYs from Oz and Nauru which makes it hard to get through, but he could have.
I was going to invade both Ndeni and Vanikoro, but may just go for Vanikoro and send in my own SC TFs. Place everybody just to SE of this base. I have 2 SC TF with just 5 fast BBS and DDs, multiple just CAS with DDS, and the dreaded Clevelands with DDs.
All my CVs are 5 due east of Vanokoro.
Moonlight is at 67%.

Input while I'm gone, please.

[JocMeister]

Sent you a PM!

[BBfanboy]

I would not be confident in the nav search from Ndeni and Oz, as I have read that they do not search efficiently beyond 12 hex range. Not sure how much less efficient they would be beyond that.

I wonder if he has been gathering an invasion force of his own, with all that shipping in the area, or if he just guessed right about where you will come next.

As for CV arrangement, I prefer to split into multiple CV TFs [as many as you can have good ASW/AA support for] and put them in the same hex so their CAP can mutually support. His strikes will have multiple targets and are likely to leave some of your CV TFs untouched.

Don't know how I would form up my SCTFs until I set up the CVs and see what is left. I would certainly want at least 3 TFs guarding the invasion site. I favour the CA/CL/DDs for this, keeping the fast BBs with the CVs for AA and to soak up strikes.

[ny59giants]

Decisions were made and counsel sought.

I didn't go away from my original plans. Even slept on them.

Invasion TFs head the four hexes due west to land at Vanikoro.
4 of 6 SC TF ordered to cover them.
1) 2 CA & 8 DDs
2) 4 CA (British and Aussie) & 7 DDs
3) 2 CL & 8 DDs (Clevelands & Fletchers)
4) 4 CL & 8 DDs (Clevelands & Fletchers)
The rest of the Amphib TFs, the other two SC TF (the 5 fast BBs & 12 DDs), and all carriers ordered to the hex due SE of Vanikoro.
CAP set at 50% with 30% LRCAP over Vanikoro TFs. All aircraft ranges reduce down to 5 hexes.
4e bombers from Nauru will try again to hit Tulagi despite losses last turn (23 planes) vs CAP/LRCAP from three CVs. I did destroy 24 Nells on the ground. [:D]
4e bombers from Suva will continue to hit Luganville AF.

I will update the AAR after this turn.

[BBfanboy]

Sounds like a plan! Waiting for the action ...

[ny59giants]

August 20, 21,:
Invasion fleet is approaching Santa Cruz Island group.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons); FG fighter group = 25 fighter planes if American

Subs:
S-42 gets a TT hit on PB, NE of Horn Is.

Sub attack near Lunga at 113,139

Japanese Ships
CV Katsuragi [X(] [:@]
DD Mutsuki
DD Inazuma

Allied Ships
SS Crevalle

SS Crevalle launches 4 torpedoes at CV Katsuragi

Swordfish gets a TT hit on CM Tokiwa to NW of Merauke.

CVs:
Mine are to east of Santa Cruz Islands.
Mini-KB is still at Perth. Part of KB 'may' be near Guadalcanal.

India/Burma:
Shwebo area - [>:]
Stack with 2000 AV is now on west side of Irrawaddy River marching SW.

55,47 (2 SE of Akyab) - important trail hex to clear
47 Tojo from four different Sentai are on LRCAP or leaky CAP from Magwe as I send in my Corsairs and P-38s to sweep. Losses are 17:3 in my favor. [8D] Six 2e bomber groups go in after and get few to no casualties.

Ground combat at 55,47 (near Akyab)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18762 troops, 204 guns, 538 vehicles, Assault Value = 753

Defending force 9350 troops, 72 guns, 92 vehicles, Assault Value = 303

Allied adjusted assault: 454

Japanese adjusted defense: 598

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
280 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled)
Vehicles lost 26 (4 destroyed, 22 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
182 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 47 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Vehicles lost 23 (5 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Assaulting units:
50th Tank Brigade
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
XV Corps Engineer Battalion
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
17th Indian Division
85th British AT Gun Regiment
2/1st Med Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
14th Indian Light AA Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
1st Indian Light AA Regiment
2nd Indian AA Bde

Defending units:
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th Tank Regiment
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment

Will rest and try again in a few days.

Ramree Island -
Nothing but base expansion and more troops being shipped in. I like!! [8D]

China:
Sining (2 NW of Lanchow) - 12 Oscars escort in up to 45 Sally daily.

Ground combat at Sining (80,32)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 43010 troops, 434 guns, 134 vehicles, Assault Value = 1239

Defending force 13360 troops, 74 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 302

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Japanese adjusted assault: 804

Allied adjusted defense: 556

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3

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

Japanese ground losses:
1526 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 91 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
333 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 3 disabled

Assaulting units:
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
27th Division
3rd Division
15th Tank Regiment
34th Division
5th Mongol Cavalry Division
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion

Defending units:
82nd Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Base Force

My lone Corp will not survive much longer.

Australia:
Horn Island -
7 PT Boats are able to sink 2 of 4 SC at night. Arleigh Burke's 6 DDs are sent back up without reloading TT at Portland Roads (need to get an AD & AKE up here!). They face a CL, 4 DD, 2 E and each side gets less than 4 shell hits each before they break off. Need to bring some CLs next time. The 2 Dutch CL & 4 DDs go after same SC TF. I have DD sunk vs his E sunk.
I find a LRCAP of 28 Tojo, 15 George, and 19 Nicks vs my three groups of P-38s and one of the slow Spits. I lose 2 P-38s vs 18, but 4 to 2 when it was the Spits. The Kitty escort in the B-25s, but not until the afternoon which allows more of his LRCAP to be there. I lose too many then.
A day of rest on 21st.

Kalgoorlie -
Three Corsair and two P-47 groups sweep the empty skies.
The same five groups sweep on 21st, but this time my bombers go in with Hellcats and P-40Ks as escorts. Over 130 PV/Mitchells hit the AF.

New Guinea: [>:]

South Pacific & Solomons:
Luganville -
42 Zero & 34 Nicks are on CAP as the 96 B-17/24s come in to try to shut the AF down. Too bad it is at extended range with reduced bomb loads. I lose at least 5 bombers.
Only 20 zero & 4 Nicks rise up on 21st vs 60 B-17/24s.

Tulagi - On 21st,

Morning Air attack on Tulagi , at 114,137

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 62

Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 7 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 39

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Unryu-1 with A6M5b Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 13 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
Amagi-1 with A6M5b Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 13 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
Katsuragi-1 with A6M5b Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
202 Ku S-1 with A6M5b Zero (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 28 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes

Another 36 follow this initial attack. I lose 23 for 24 Nells on the ground. I'm surprised to see Zeros from three new CVs overhead. They will go back again on 22nd, despite losses.

Engineering: Majuro P4; Silchar AF7;

Recon/Intel:

Notes:
Invasion TF for Vanikoro head in. This will be followed by invasion of Vanua Lava.

Air losses for two days are 137 for Allies vs 149 for Japan.

[ny59giants]

August 22, 23,:
22nd is surprisingly quiet except for Luganville, Tulagi, and north China.
Damn his I-boats!! [:@][:@]
Vanikoro falls and Vanua Lava invaded.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons); FG fighter group = 25 fighter planes if American

Subs:

ASW attack near Lunga at 113,138

Japanese Ships [X(]
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso
CL Ninaru
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Shinonome
DD Kawakaze

Allied Ships
SS Crevalle

I-179 misses CL Mobile and is hit by my DDs, but not sunk off Vanikoro.
I-172 misses CVE Sangamon near Vanikoro, but my DDs are unable to inflict any hits. [:(]
Amberjacks sinks an AV south of Lunga with 2 TT hits and then moves slightly further south to get a TT hit on PB.

Sub attack near Vanikoro at 122,146

Japanese Ships
SS I-24, hits 1

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina, Torpedo hits 1 [17-19(15)-0-0]
BB Washington
DD Helm
DD Maury
DD Gridley
DD Ralph Talbot

SS I-24 launches 8 torpedoes at BB North Carolina

I'm more fearful of his subs than KB, which is still MIA. She will be out of the war until late '43.

Sub attack near Vanikoro at 122,146

Japanese Ships
SS I-24, hits 2

Allied Ships
CVE Nassau, Torpedo hits 1, on fire [30-51(31)-7-0]
BB Pennsylvania
CA Houston
CL Leander
CLAA Prince Robert
DD Hobby
DD Mustin
DD Hammann
DD Anderson
DD Hughes

Fuel storage explosion on CVE Nassau
SS I-24 launches 6 torpedoes at CVE Nassau

I'm upset that another large warship is hit. But more angry that my escorts fail to get any good hits on I-24 in either attack. Any advice on Allied ASW??

CVs:
Mine are off Vanikoro.

India/Burma:
Shwebo area - [>:]

55,47 (2 SE of Akyab) - important trail hex to clear
4 groups of P-38s from Akyab sweep the troops and find easy kills from the low number of Tojo present (11:1 ratio).
We try again on 23rd...

Ground combat at 55,47 (near Akyab)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18571 troops, 205 guns, 536 vehicles, Assault Value = 719

Defending force 9126 troops, 72 guns, 92 vehicles, Assault Value = 265

Allied adjusted assault: 303

Japanese adjusted defense: 514

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
435 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 50 (15 destroyed, 35 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
475 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 30 disabled
Vehicles lost 13 (1 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Assaulting units:
XV Corps Engineer Battalion
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
50th Tank Brigade
17th Indian Division
2/11th Field Regiment
14th Indian Light AA Regiment
2/9th Field Regiment
85th British AT Gun Regiment
1st Indian Light AA Regiment
2/1st Med Regiment
2nd Indian AA Bde

Defending units:
9th Tank Regiment
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment

His Tank Rgt number went to 0 while watching the replay. I hope to push him out in a week or so.

Ramree Island -
Nothing but base expansion and more troops being shipped in. I like!! [8D]

China:
Sining (2 NW of Lanchow) - 12 Oscars escort in up to 45 Sally daily. This bases days in Allied hands are numbered.

Ground combat at Sining (80,32)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 41940 troops, 433 guns, 133 vehicles, Assault Value = 1160

Defending force 13068 troops, 74 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 281

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 589

Allied adjusted defense: 289

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Australia:
Horn Island -
Almost 100 B-25s hit the AF on 23rd.

Kalgoorlie -
Three Corsair and two P-47 groups sweep the empty skies on 23rd. They are followed by 130 2e bombers with Hellcats and P-40Ks as escorts.

New Guinea: [>:]

South Pacific & Solomons:
Tulagi -
Only 22 PB4Y-1s make the trip to find 24 Tojo and 18 Zero on CAP. We each lose two planes.
Nothing on 23rd.

Luganville -
No CAP is overhead on 22nd & 23rd. Wow!! Around 60 B-17/24s hit the AF both days.

Vanikoro - Landings on 22nd. Base switches sides on 23rd. All 3 Amphib TF are emptied in two days and will head to east next turn. The 3 SC TF will head for Vanua Lava. AF 0(4) is ordered to expand with 113 engineers and 32 engineer vehicles. I have 20k supply ashore and 155 aviation support here. I hope to get to level 1 next turn or in two days, worse case.

Vanua Lava -
Landings start on 23rd. The rest of my fleet (CV, Amphib TF, SC TF, etc.) are ordered to position one hex due east of base (moving two hex south from current position).

Engineering: Mytikyina F3; Diego Garcia P4; Ramree AF4;

Recon/Intel:

Notes:
I'm still recovering from another poor effort by my ASW attacks. I have 8 DDs with each of my CV TF. Is that enough??

KB will need to intervene in the next day or two before I can get a few AF built up and get some PBYs and other aircraft moved up. After I get Vanua Lava next turn, Luganville will be next. Thankfully, none of these base require a shock attack upon landing as some troops have been loaded for over two weeks.

[BBfanboy]

Just an impression because I did not keep stats, but when I used ASW TFs with four ships, they often failed to find their quarry and when they did, they often missed [1941-early 1942]. They did better in three-ship TFs, and even better in two-ship TFs, except they could easily run out of d/c's in the latter case. I had day after day of effort with about a dozen TFs around PH at game start . In a week or so of gaming I think I got three attacks and a couple of hits. It got better after that as the ships got experience.

Maybe there is a coordination penalty for a max size ASW effort?

[leehunt27@bloomberg.net]

Nice amphibious landings at Vanikoro. I would say those landings were a tempting target for Japanese nighttime surface raiders (protected during the daylight return by LR CAP from Ndeni and Tulagi), but you wisely had a large amount of surface TF's to protect the amphibs.

Also your B-17's can just level Luganville daily and its like they are not even there, until you want to send the National Guard months later to clean up the unsupplied, miserable Japanese infantry.

So his CV's didn't show up for the fight?

[JocMeister]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants
I'm still recovering from another poor effort by my ASW attacks. I have 8 DDs with each of my CV TF. Is that enough??

Basically, no. [:(] You know my experience from this has not been a happy one. Despite having 8-10 ASW TFs in the same hex and over 100 ASW value in the CV TFs Eriks subs has managed to get to the CVs nonetheless. But I do feel that always having some (2-4) ASW TFs with the TFs helps. I´m using PFs for this right now since that gets most "bang for the buck" with 44 ASW value in a single TF. Earlier I relied on AMs (due to DD shortages) for this and the did soak a few hits.

[ny59giants]

August 24, 25,:
Another American CV is hit by sub launched TT. [:(] [:@]
Landings at Luganville.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons); FG fighter group = 25 fighter planes if American

Subs:

Sub attack near Vanua Lava at 122,148

Japanese Ships
SS I-22, hits 3

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 1 [11-27(17)-0-0]
CA Quincy
CA Chicago
CL Phoenix
CLAA San Juan
DD Caldwell
DD Lang
DD Wilson
DD Sterett
DD Stack

SS I-22 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Lexington

ASW attack near Aoba Island at 121,149

Japanese Ships
SS I-168, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Kalk
BB Pennsylvania
CA Houston
CL Leander
CLAA Prince Robert
DD Anderson
DD Hughes
DD Endicott

SS I-168 launches 4 torpedoes at DD Kalk
I-168 diving deep ....
DD Anderson fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Hughes fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Endicott fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Anderson fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Anderson fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Anderson attacking submerged sub ....
DD Anderson fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Aoba Island at 121,149

Japanese Ships
SS I-168, hits 4, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Massachusetts
BB South Dakota
DD DeHaven
DD Claxton
DD Chevalier
DD O'Bannon
DD LaVallette
DD Dyson

SS I-168 is sighted by escort
DD O'Bannon firing on surfaced sub ....
DD LaVallette firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Dyson firing on surfaced sub ....
DD O'Bannon firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves [:D]

CVs:
Mine are off Luganville.

India/Burma:
Shwebo area - [>:]

55,47 (2 SE of Akyab) - important trail hex to clear
Three groups (25 each) of P-38s sweep the empty skies.

Ramree Island -
One P-38 group sweeps the hex due east.
Two P-38 groups sweep prior to a long line of bombers hitting the troops - 128 B-25s, 49 Blenheim, 28 Liberators, 84 B-24s, 16 Wellington,

Also attacking 3rd RTA/B Division ...
Also attacking 7th Burma Militia Regiment ...
Also attacking 9th Armored Car Co ...

China:
Sining (2 NW of Lanchow) - 12 Oscars escort up to 45 Sally daily.

Ground combat at Sining (80,32)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 40794 troops, 432 guns, 129 vehicles, Assault Value = 1134

Defending force 12339 troops, 74 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 237

Japanese adjusted assault: 574

Allied adjusted defense: 394

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Australia:
Horn Island -
Sweeps by only three groups of P-38s.
Sweeps continue with almost 100 B-25s hitting AF.

Kalgoorlie -
Three Corsair and two P-47 groups sweep the empty skies. They are followed by over 130 2e bombers with part of one Hellcat group and part of three P-40K groups as escorts.
Switch bombers over to ground attacks on 25th. 48 ID is the primary target.

New Guinea: [>:]

South Pacific & Solomons:
Tulagi -
Recon shows 110 fighters.

Luganville -
Almost 60 B-17/24s hit the AF again (both days).
Landings on 25th. 241 Avengers attack the troops.

Ground combat at Luganville (120,150)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1860 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 124

Defending force 31720 troops, 626 guns, 631 vehicles, Assault Value = 953

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

Assaulting units:
24th Nav Gsn Unit
32nd Nav Gsn Unit
12th Ind. AA Battalion
32nd Port Unit
23rd Fld AA Gun Co
24th Port Unit
2nd JNAF AF Unit
40th JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
194th Tank Battalion
640th Tank Destroyer Battalion
134th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
151st Cmbt Engineer Battalion
3rd Marine Division
41st Infantry Div /3
3rd Pioneer Battalion
347th base Group
1/592nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
3/592nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
2/592nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
8th Marine Defense Battalion
I Marine Amphib Corps
198th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
507th Coast AA Regiment
145th Field Artillery Battalion
11th Marine Defense Battalion
Fifth USAAF
6th Port Advn Base Force /2

Vanikoro -
8 Zero from Ndeni sweep and find a leaky CAP of 10 Hellcats. Losses are 1:3 in his favor.
16 Zeros find the skies empty.

Vanua Lava -
AF is at 83% to level 1.

Engineering: Socotra AF5; Vanikoro AF1;

Notes:
Again, I'm frustrated by another CV being hit. Lexington will leave the invasion area after Luganville falls to head back to Vava'u along with Saratoga. Lex will remain pierside while Sara goes back into the 55,000 capacity ARD to get rid of her 10 major flotation damage (about 30 days). By the time Sara is repaired, Lex should have repaired what she can pierside. OR, would it be better to send both back to Pearl?? COMMENTS??

Once Luganville falls (next day or two, I hope), the fleet will shift north to invade Ndeni (screenshot shows only 3 LCUs present). That will complete the four bases I had planned to invade now. I have the next series of invasions in the lower Solomons (Kirakira and Rennell Island) and South Pacific (Efate and Tanna) ready to go once assault shipping returns. The lower Solomons gets priority.

The damage to BB North Carloina is lessened as BB Alabama arrives at Panama. [:)]

[CowboyRonin]

My $.02 - I would definitely repair Sara in-theater. That timeline's not bad, when you factor in the longer times transiting to and from Pearl. Lex is a bit of a different story, because of the wait time. I would definitely send her to Vava'u first and see if she has any additional flooding. If not, I would look at a transit back to Pearl to get her into a shipyard. If her system damage is enough to have her springing leaks, I'd go with your original plan and not risk a cascade of pump failures and lose her.

[ny59giants]

August 26, 27,:
Luganville captured.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons); FG fighter group = 25 fighter planes if American

Subs:
Sculpin is hit once off Perth by 4 SCs.

CVs:
Mine are moving from Luganville to off Ndeni.

India/Burma:
Shwebo area - [>:]

55,47 (2 SE of Akyab) - important trail hex to clear
One group of P-38s sweep.
42 Tojo sweep and my leaky CAP of 9 Hurricanes & 10 P-40s lose 4 planes. However, his 30 Oscars with 38 Helens lose 5 to flak.

Ramree Island -
One hex east - three groups of P-38s and two of Corsairs sweep. 30 Oscars escort in 62 Helens. My three AA units do well as they destroy 4 of them and I suffer no casualties. [:)]
On 27th...
base - The first serious attacks on the base happen. 35 Tojo face 95 Hurricanes on CAP. He losses 2 planes. 36 Oscars with 29 Helens vs 84 Hurricanes = 4 to my 2 planes. A second wave of bombers, 36 Oscars and 33 Helens find a CAP of still 66 Hurricanes = 5:1 in my favor.
one hex due east - Corsairs and P-38s on LRCAP with 136 B-25s, 32 Wellington, 49 Blenheim, 28 Liberators, 96 B-24s hitting the troops before my Brit Para cross over and shock attack.

Ground combat at 55,48 (near Ramree Island)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 2461 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 89

Defending force 3603 troops, 17 guns, 32 vehicles, Assault Value = 129

Allied adjusted assault: 13

Japanese adjusted defense: 94

Allied assault odds: 1 to 7

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), disruption(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-), fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
34 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
300 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 48 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 15 (1 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Assaulting units:
50th Indian Para Brigade

Defending units:
9th Armored Car Co
7th Burma Militia Regiment
3rd RTA/B Division

My air attacks didn't do enough, but an Indian Bde is at 41/46 to cross over. Behind this is 9th Aussie Div/A marching (10/46). 9th Aus Div/B will unload in the next few days.

China:
Sining (2 NW of Lanchow) - 12 Oscars escort up to 45 Sally daily.

Wasu Near the very northern part of China

Ground combat at Wasu (79,8)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2318 troops, 24 guns, 118 vehicles, Assault Value = 106

Defending force 527 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Japanese adjusted assault: 61

Allied adjusted defense: 7

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Wasu !!!

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

Allied ground losses:
542 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 41 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
4th Cavalry Brigade
12th Tank Regiment
2nd Ching An Tui Brigade

Defending units:
259th Brigade

Australia:
Horn Island -
Almost 100 B-25s hit AF on 26th.

Kalgoorlie -
Three Corsair and two P-47 groups sweep the empty skies. They are followed by over 130 2e bombers with part of one Hellcat group and part of three P-40K groups as escorts. The troops are again targeted (18 & 48 ID).
On the 27th, I switch the Mitchells (44) back to AF attacks while the PV-1s (82) remain on the troops.

New Guinea: [>:]

South Pacific & Solomons:
Tulagi -
Recon shows his fighters strength went from 110 to 137 in two days.

Luganville -

Ground combat at Luganville (120,150)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32550 troops, 570 guns, 533 vehicles, Assault Value = 1040

Defending force 11244 troops, 69 guns, 22 vehicles, Assault Value = 119

Allied adjusted assault: 1089

Japanese adjusted defense: 85

Allied assault odds: 12 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Luganville !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 6 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
2049 casualties reported
Squads: 55 destroyed, 54 disabled
Non Combat: 20 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 40 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 43 (36 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (20 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
476 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 16 disabled
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Base damage is 11-76-67.

Another attack on 27th eliminates 4 more units. The rest are surrounded.

Vanikoro -
16 Zero sweep vs 6 Wildcats and 10 P-40s. I lose 2:1.

Ndeni - On 27th...

Afternoon Air attack on 19th Naval Guard Unit, at 120,143 (Ndeni)

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5b Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 14
F6F-3 Hellcat x 141
TBF-1 Avenger x 204

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet IV: 1 destroyed
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Also attacking 50th JNAF Coy ...
Also attacking 19th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking Kure 5th SNLF ...

Engineering: Vanua Lava AF1; Esperance F6; Shemya P3;

Notes:
Both Vanikoro and Vanua Lava should go to AF 2 next turn. Landing at Ndeni will take place next turn.

Mega-stack will end up due NW of Magwe next turn across the Irrawaddy Rriver. That should get Nicks attention. [:D]

Screenshot shows (using "Z" button) my naval search in SoPac. So where is KB??

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: CowboyRonin

My $.02 - I would definitely repair Sara in-theater. That timeline's not bad, when you factor in the longer times transiting to and from Pearl. Lex is a bit of a different story, because of the wait time. I would definitely send her to Vava'u first and see if she has any additional flooding. If not, I would look at a transit back to Pearl to get her into a shipyard. If her system damage is enough to have her springing leaks, I'd go with your original plan and not risk a cascade of pump failures and lose her.

My preference is to keep my options open. In the case of the ARD, this means not tying it up in case it is needed to save a heavily damaged major ship like another carrier or BB. Tying it up for thirty days seems a long time for a gain of about ten days transit time for Sara.

I would send both Sara and Lex to PH for repair and any outstanding upgrades needed. Lex is a big, well protected ship and is not going to sink from a single torp hit unless there messages of heavy flooding/counterflooding or ammo storage explosion with that hit.

[ny59giants]

Disaster at Esperance!! [:(][:(]

The Allies will have trouble winning the war, IMO. Depends how much I can save as they walk east across the desert....again.

Updates to follow.

[JocMeister]

Hang in there Michael! I took a peek at your opponents AAR to find out what was up. There is always some positives to be found.

One of the more obvious positives are that with the amount of troops and naval assets he has at Esperance he will be wide open somewhere else NG? Marianas? Eastern DEI? Time to find out? [:)] What do you have prepped for those locations?

You don´t need western OZ, he doesn´t need it. What he doesn´t need is the allies closer to the HI. Thats what important! And as you usually say to me: Don´t worry about the losses. Allies get plenty of new toys! [:)]

But kudos to Olorin. Wow. Simply wow. Thats a really nice move. [X(]

[ny59giants]

August 28, 29,.
Ndeni Invaded.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons); FG fighter group = 25 fighter planes if American

Subs:
Sign of things to come on 29th...

ASW attack near Albany at 49,152

Japanese Ships
PB Taikei Maru
PB Ansyu Maru
PB Nanpo Maru
AS Hikawa Maru
AV Mikage Maru
AR Tenryu Maru
AKE Lisbon Maru
PB Spey Maru
PB Nishi Maru
PB Yamadori Maru
PB Tenzan Maru

Allied Ships
SS Cabrilla

Jack sinks a PB to west of Albany.
Gar is hit once after sinking a xAK with 2 TT hits off Exmouth.

CVs:
Mine are off Ndeni.

India/Burma:
55,47 (2 SE of Akyab) - important trail hex to clear
29th - 19 Tojos are on LRCAP vs 70 P-40s and 83 B-25s (multiple attacks). I lose 2 to his 3.

Ground combat at 55,47 (near Akyab)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18406 troops, 205 guns, 535 vehicles, Assault Value = 701

Defending force 8898 troops, 72 guns, 85 vehicles, Assault Value = 235

Allied adjusted assault: 377

Japanese adjusted defense: 298

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
378 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 63 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Vehicles lost 28 (5 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
145 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Assaulting units:
XV Corps Engineer Battalion
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
50th Tank Brigade
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
17th Indian Division
2/9th Field Regiment
14th Indian Light AA Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
2/1st Med Regiment
85th British AT Gun Regiment
1st Indian Light AA Regiment
2nd Indian AA Bde

Defending units:
21st Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th Tank Regiment
4th Ind.Mixed Regiment

I finally get better than 1:1 odds. It shows that his troops are trying to leave the hex now.

Ramree Island -
One hex east -
29th - 41 Tojos tangle with 28 P-38s and 17 Corsairs. I lose 2 Corsairs vs 10 Tojos.
base -
28th - 37 Tojos try to sweep aside the 96 Hurricanes and 12 Corsairs. This is followed by 90 Oscars with 41 Helens. A second sweep of 26 Tojos comes in. Losses for day are 19 Hurricanes vs 35 Tojo, 26 Oscars, and 13 Helens (across the board). [:)]
29th - Only 19 Tojo sweep to find a good size CAP/LRCAP of 35 Hurricanes, 12 P-38s, and 70 P-40s. Another 35 Tojos follow. Then, the 70 Oscars with 44 Helens to hit the AF. 27 Helens have a brave leader to come in without any escorts. [:-] Losses are 24 Japan vs 7 Allies.

China:
Sining (2 NW of Lanchow) - 12 Oscars escort up to 45 Sally daily.

Sian - 9 Sonia hit AF.

Australia:
Horn Island -
28th - 29 Tojo and 19 Nicks are on LRCAP vs 11 Kittyhawk IIIs. I lose 2 planes. 14 P-40s get the best of the Tojos (6:1). Then, the 2e bombers come in - 101 B-25s.
29th - bombers rest while I sweep with three groups each P-38s & 40s. I don't encounter any enemy planes which I expected.

Kalgoorlie -
28th - 33 Corsairs and 34 P-47s sweep in multiple strikes. 84 PVs and 54 Mitchells escorted by 26 Hellcats and 30 P-40s hit the AF/troops.

New Guinea: [>:]

South Pacific & Solomons:
Tulagi - 151 fighters stationed here.

Luganville - Enemy troops wiped out on 28th.

Ndeni - 165 SBDs and 204 Avengers hit the troops before the ground attack on 29th.

Ground combat at Ndeni (120,143)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18328 troops, 214 guns, 214 vehicles, Assault Value = 508

Defending force 3830 troops, 35 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 111

Allied adjusted assault: 177

Japanese adjusted defense: 43

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(+), fatigue(-), morale(-)
experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1055 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 115 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 28 (10 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
268 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled

Assaulting units:
40th Infantry Division
110th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
212th Coast AA Regiment
3/532nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
226th Field Artillery Battalion
39th Port Maint Engineer Battalion
1st AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
8th US Naval Construction Battalion
14th Base Maint Engineer Battalion
1/532nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
35th Base Maint Engineer Battalion
15th US Naval Construction Battalion
2/532nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
475th Base Group
ComAirSoPac
Thirteenth USAAF
16th US Naval Construction Battalion

Defending units:
Kure 5th SNLF
19th Naval Guard Unit
50th JNAF Coy

Engineering: Vanikoro AF2; Vanua Lava AF2; Ramree AF5 & P2;

Notes:
Foreshadowing...227 fighters at Albany.

B-25s attack bombers with those nasty nose guns continue to do well vs enemy fighters.

This is my last happy posting before I get to the next two days of my disaster at Esperance. It has taken some time to recover my morale and have the lesson of ignoring my Allied Intel reports for too long. [:@]