The 200% solution: SoulBlazer (IJN) vs. Grotius (Allies), Scenario 19

[Grotius]

This contest is Scenario 19, 200% Ship Commitment both sides, Variable Reinforcements, FoW On, Advanced Weather On, Japanese Sub Doctrine Off, Allied Damage Control On, Incredible Strategic Genius On for Both Sides. SoulBlazer controls the forces of Imperial Japan; I have the honor to lead the forces of the Allies (in my first PBEM as the Allies, I might add). Two house rules: sub stacking limited to two per hex except in invasion hexes; no 4-engine bombing at or below 1000 feet.

Good luck, SoulBlazer!

[SoulBlazer]

Glad to finally have one of my games on here for the world to see what a bad player I am.

I've completed the second turn but Hotmail seems to be down right now so I'll try to send it another way.

[Grotius]

BRIDGE, USS LEXINGTON
SOMEWHERE IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC
0600 hours, 3 May 1942

My officers have been bringing me conflicting intelligence about Japanese intentions. Some speak of IJN plans to strike east with their carriers, toward Honolulu, perhaps via Midway Island. Others say the IJN has already changed its mind and has planned to focus all its assets in this theater. It is hot here in the southern Pacific, but a chill wind blows from the north.

Meanwhile the first reports of action in this theater have come trickling back.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/01/42

Weather: Rain

Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 9
P-39D Airacobra x 21

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 4 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged

Runway hits 2

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 11000 feet
6 x Hudson at 11000 feet

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

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/02/42

Weather: Overcast

Sub attack near Gili Gili at 17,42

Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki
CL Tenryu
CL Yubari
DD Oite
DD Asanagi

Allied Ships
SS S-38, Shell hits 3, on fire

[SoulBlazer]

COMMAND POST, JAPANESE SOUTHERN AREA OF OPERATIONS, RABUL, MAY 3 1942

I have been assigned to command our Imperial forces in the area of the Solomons and eastern New Guinea. It is difficult assignment. High command is divided as to what the Japanese forces should do next now that we have taken our inital objectives. The Navy and the Army continue to debate back and forth with each other on if we should hold our gains or keep advancing. I favor a aggresive strategy as long as we continue to have a advantage over the weak Allied forces, but I also realize reality will eventuly set in and we will have to defend. Most of my commanders and Admirals do not realize this yet and I must be carefull as to how we use our forces.

Not much has been assigned to me due to the lack of unity. I have the great carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku, as well as a light carrier and a handfull of cruisers and destroyers.

For now, we have just undertaken limited operations. A fast transport force of a light cruiser and several destroyers transported a assault Eng Brigade from Rabul down to Giri Giri to sieze it before the Allies could put troops there. As they were unloading, they were attacked by a old S Boat but one destroyer found the sub and sank it with several depth charges. Our Zero's have also had our first clashes with heavy bombers coming from Australia and PM, and our planes are not really prepared to shoot down those monsters.

I have pleaded with high command to send as much as they can as fast as they can, because our spies tell me the Americans have the Lexington and the Saratoga in the area as well as a equal ammount of ships and lift. But all of our heavies are returning to Japan from other areas, and I will have to make do with what little I have.

Banzai!

[Grotius]

BRIDGE
USS LEXINGTON
SOMEWHERE IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC
13 May 1942

In the ten days since my past report, the enemy has captured Gili Gili and landed troops at Salamau. Using Fast Transport, the Japanese landed a small contingent of engineers at Buna, but these invaders were greeted by an unexpected welcoming party of Australian infantry. The Aussies threw the invaders back into the ocean. More recently, however, the IJN has landed another force at Buna, again by Fast Transport. The Second Battle of Buna rages as we speak.

Elsewhere in the theater, the IJN has taken Lunga and Tulagi. Our S-boats and Hudsons have sunk three transports; one of his destroyers depth-charged and sank one of our subs. On or about 4 May our recon planes spotted an enemy CV task force moving south-southwest of Guadalcanal, in an apparent effort to engage our carriers. The enemy has since moved back north, or so it would appear.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/03/42

Weather: Rain

Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 9

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 15

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
9 x Hudson at 6000 feet

-----------------------------------
Ground combat at Gili Gili

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 912 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Gili Gili base !!!

====================

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/04/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 3
A-24 Dauntless x 9

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 damaged
A-24 Dauntless x 5 damaged

Runway hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet

----------------------------------
Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 46

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 5

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 12000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 12000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 12000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 12000 feet

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

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/05/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 6
A-24 Dauntless x 6

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Dauntless x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 10

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 4

Attacking Level Bombers:
6 x Hudson at 7000 feet

---------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Buna at 12,38

Allied Ships
SS S-47

----------------------------------------
Air attack on Gili Gili , at 17,42

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

no losses

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
==================

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/06/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Ground combat at Buna

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 912 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 209 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 11

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 7
Guns lost 1
=====================
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/07/42 (Pearl+5: think we've forgotten?)

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged

Runway hits 2

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet

--------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lunga at 38,40

Japanese Ships
AP Azumasan Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-45

----------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lunga at 38,40

Allied Ships
SS S-45

---------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 7 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 85

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 8

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet

-----------------------------------
Air attack on 15th Ind Engineer Regiment, at 12,38

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 11

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 10

-----------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Salamaua at 9,34

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 12
P-40E Kittyhawk x 10

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Asakasan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Marsue Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire [later sunk]
AP Chowa Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire [later sunk]

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Hudson at 7000 feet
4 x Hudson at 7000 feet
1 x Hudson at 7000 feet
3 x Hudson at 7000 feet

-------------------------------------
Sub attack near Salamaua at 9,34

Japanese Ships
AP Asakasan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire [later sunk, I think]

Allied Ships
SS S-47

-------------------------------------
Ground combat at Buna

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 883 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 895 troops, 21 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 27

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 6

[Grotius]

(This continues my previous report.) I omitted one other detail: my forces marched north from Wau to Mariliman, which we captured unopposed.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/08/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Sub attack near Lae at 9,33

Japanese Ships
AP Asakasan Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
[later sunk]

Allied Ships
SS S-46

--------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet

-----------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lae at 9,33

Japanese Ships
AP Marsue Maru, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-46

------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lunga at 38,40

Japanese Ships
DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
SS S-45

-------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lae at 9,33

Japanese Ships
AP Marsue Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage [sunk]

Allied Ships
SS S-46

-----------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 43
Guns lost 1

Runway hits 3

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet

---------------------------------
Air attack on 15th Ind Engineer Regiment, at 12,38

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 11
P-40E Kittyhawk x 10

no losses

------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lunga

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1604 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 40 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Lunga base !!!

----------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Buna

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 890 troops, 21 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 847 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 1067

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 4

-------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/09/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 5

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet

---------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Rabaul at 21,28

Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu

Allied Ships
SS S-42

-------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lae at 9,33

Japanese Ships
AP Chowa Maru, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-43

-----------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Rabaul at 21,28

Japanese Ships
CL Tatsuta

Allied Ships
SS S-42

-------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lae at 9,33

Japanese Ships
AP Chowa Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage [sunk]

Allied Ships
SS S-43

------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/10/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 4

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 damaged

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Hudson at 7000 feet

-------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tulagi

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 978 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tulagi base !!!

-------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/11/42

Weather: Rain

Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 13
P-40E Kittyhawk x 11
B-17E Fortress x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 6 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress x 4 damaged

FO L. Meng of 36th FS is credited with kill number 2

CDR Y. Kozono of F1/Tainan Daitai is KILLED

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 35
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet [snip]

--------------------------------
Ground combat at Marilinan

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1392 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 22 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Marilinan base !!!

----------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/12/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 3

no losses

Airbase hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 7000 feet

---------------------------------------------
Air attack on Gili Gili , at 17,42

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

no losses

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet

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

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/13/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Japanese aircraft

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
no losses

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 8

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

Attacking Level Bombers:
6 x Hudson at 7000 feet

---------------------------------------
Air attack on 14th Naval Garrison Unit, at 12,38

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 18

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 10

-----------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Rabaul at 21,28

Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki, Torpedo hits 1
DD Uzuki

Allied Ships
SS S-42

-----------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Buna

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1977 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 882 troops, 21 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 89
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 23

-----------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Buna

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 864 troops, 21 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1888 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 7

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

[SoulBlazer]

OFF THE COAST OF RABUL, IJN SHOKAKU, MAY 30 1942

I decided to break the boredom of my usuall days spent in a stuffy room in a stuffy base by going out with one of our two fleet carriers on a training mission. The carriers were last used in a active operation a few weeks ago, to cover our invasions of Guadalcanal and Tulagi and engage the Americans should they show up. However, the American admiral is smart -- he knows time is with him and kept his ships away.

Time, however, is NOT on our side. Our capital units are just now ariving back in Japan from other operations and I expect some -- hopefully most -- to be sent down to me. I'm impressed upon the Combined Fleet Staff back at Truk and Tokyo that we need to strike as fast and hard as we can, but only once we have sufficent forces.

Since returning to Rabul, the carriers and other heavy units have been sitting in port -- especily since a recent American sub attack about a week ago on one of our heavy cruisers that was escorting a fast transport fleet. The cruiser took a torpedo hit in the stern and damaged the engine room heavily. It's beyond what can we be fixed here, so with a heavy heart I sent it back to Japan. However, the destroyers with the fleet reported depth charging the attacking American sub hard, and just two days ago a patrol plane reported spotting oil, debries, and bodies in the general area while doing a routine flight. I'm sure the sub has been sunk, our second confirmed sub kill in the area. Our own subs, however, have not been terribly effective yet.

With no confirmed sightings of US subs near Rabul for several days, though, I allowed the carriers to leave port for a couple days to do training flights and keep the pilots and crews in top shape. Their sword edge must not be allowed to rust.

There has been action over the last couple weeks, however. After the shock of losing our initial combat Eng unit sent to take Buna faded, I sent in another combat unit by fast transport. The Aussies hung tough, though -- they are tough fighters, espeicly in that awfull terrain -- and I had to repeat the convoy duty twice more, bringing in more combat units, finally one of our best divisions I had hoped not to commit yet. It did the trick, though, and broke the defenders and sent them to the east. One last FT convoy dropping off small units cut them off, however, and drove the Allies back to PM.

We also succeeded in taking Wau after a few days of battle and now have taken all of NG outside of PM.

Air attacks from our bombers in Rabul also continued on PM for a few weeks. About two weeks ago they had a beautiful day -- an Allied transport fleet, bringing in more troops and supplies into the base (I assume) was caught in port. By the time the shooting and bombing was done, we confirmed sinking two cargo ships, a minesweeper, and a sub chaser, with several other ships damaged. The port raids continued for several days after, trying to catch the ships in port to do more damage, but we started to suffer more and more losses until I ordered the raids stopped three days ago.

The Allies, on the other hand, have been doing night bombing attacks from PM on Lae. Why they are bombing at night is beyond me. Allies aircrews and planes are not designed for making night attacks, most of the planes have been damaged thanks to our AA fire, and the damage done is very minor. It is our planes and crews that are better suited to make night raids, but we don't do them either for the same reason.

Now is it a matter of waiting. I have been able to accomplish everything I had hoped for this first month of being in command -- except for being able to engage the American carriers. Hopefully that chance will come soon.

To victory!

[Feinder]

I love a good story! (But y'all already knew that).

Excellent stuff from both of you!
-F-

[SoulBlazer]

Just so people know....

Posting in this thread is quite slow right now as nothing much is going on. I'm waiting for all my heavy stuff to arive from Japan and he's waiting to see what I do. Things should pick up in a game month or so.

[Grotius]

Little does SoulBlazer know that the Allies have already won the war in Europe, and as a result I have about 50 infantry and armor divisions milling around in Noumea looking for a ride to Truk. Be afraid, Axis of Evil!

[Grotius]

BRIDGE
U.S.S. YORKTOWN
SOMEWHERE IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC
6 June 1942, 0600 hours

The last three weeks have been relatively quiet, but the Japanese menace has strengthened its grip on most (but not all) of New Guinea. We still hold Port Moresby, but the enemy has Lunga and Tulagi.

Our forces surprised the enemy by destroying one of its precious engineer units in Buna, but we didn't hold the base for long. The Japanese counterattacked in force, chasing a brigade of Allied troops to Dobadura. A miniature "Dunkirk" operation followed: a combination of Fast Transport TFs and Allied submarines hustled to Dobadura and carried about half the brigade to safety. Interestingly, the enemy landed a FT TF at Dobadura at the same moment that our evacuation TF arrived, but for some reason the opposing task forces did not engage each other.

Unfortunately, not all the troops could be evacuated, and the remainder of our force was left on Dobadura, where it was again attacked by the Japanese. These troops had to retreat west, toward Port Moresby. Since then, they have spent the past two weeks marching across the mountains from Dobadura to Port Moresby. Most recent reports indicate that the troops now have Port Moresby in sight, so it appears that most of the brigade will survive the Battles of Buna and Dobadura.

In the meantime, there has been a fair amount of submarine activity on both sides, and land-based air from Rabaul has tagged a couple of our transports. Excerpts from AARs follow:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/17/42

Weather: Rain

Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

no losses

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet

--------------------------------------------
Air attack on 8th Naval Garrison Unit, at 12,38

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 11
P-39D Airacobra x 13
P-40E Kittyhawk x 8

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 2

Attacking Level Bombers:
11 x Hudson at 7000 feet

--------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
G3M Nell x 23

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 8
P-40E Kittyhawk x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Murada, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Rhesus, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Idomeneus, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet [snip]

------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
G3M Nell x 7
G4M1 Betty x 19

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 8
P-40E Kittyhawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 2 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 destroyed

LTJG E.Kawakami of EIII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2

Allied Ships
AK Mungana
AK Diomed, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Murada, on fire, heavy damage
AK Lycaon, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AK Idomeneus, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Whyalla, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
[I believe one or more of these sank, but I don't recall for sure]

----------------------------------------
Ground combat at Wau

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1166 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 220 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

SLDR J. Perrin of No. 76 Sqn RAAF is credited with kill number 2

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

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/18/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Sub attack near Buna at 12,38

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Yugure
DD Ariake
DD Sazanami
DD Yayoi

Allied Ships
SS S-39, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 23

--------------------------------------
Air attack on 8th Naval Garrison Unit, at 12,38

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 8
P-40E Kittyhawk x 5

no losses

Attacking Level Bombers:
8 x Hudson at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------
Air attack on Buna , at 12,38

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
G3M Nell x 16
G4M1 Betty x 11

no losses

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 7

Attacking Level Bombers:
7 x G3M Nell at 6000 feet
9 x G3M Nell at 6000 feet
11 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet

------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Wau

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2348 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 220 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 8

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 11

------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Buna

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3729 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 10150 troops, 105 guns, 0 vehicles

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/19/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 1 damaged

Runway hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 11000 feet

---------------------------------
Sub attack near Rabaul at 21,28

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa, Torpedo hits 1

Allied Ships
SS S-40

-----------------------------------------
Sub attack at 49,66

Japanese Ships
SS I-27

Allied Ships
SC 640, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

-------------------------------------
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
G3M Nell x 17
G4M1 Betty x 12

Allied aircraft
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 17

Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
9 x G3M Nell at 6000 feet
12 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
8 x G3M Nell at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Buna

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10142 troops, 105 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 3721 troops, 26 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 11 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Buna base !!!


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 115

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 166

--------------------------------------
Ground combat at Wau

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2344 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 209 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 13

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 25

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/20/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 3

no losses

Runway hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet

-----------------------------------------
Ground combat at Wau

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2322 troops, 11 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 189 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 21 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Wau base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 4

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 39

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/23/42

Weather: Rain

Air attack on 8th Naval Garrison Unit, at 13,38

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 9
P-39D Airacobra x 10
P-40E Kittyhawk x 5

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 15

Attacking Level Bombers:
9 x Hudson at 6000 feet

-----------------------------
Ground combat at Dobadura

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 280 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1943 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Dobadura base !!!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/28/42

Weather: Rain

Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 9

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 11

Runway hits 6

Attacking Level Bombers:
9 x Hudson at 6000 feet

----------------------------------------
Ground combat at Marilinan

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1984 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1440 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Marilinan base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 2

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 96

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/31/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Sub attack near Rabaul at 21,28

Japanese Ships
AO Sata, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS S-46
[snip]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/01/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Sub attack near Rabaul at 21,28

Japanese Ships
AP Heiyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
APD 1

Allied Ships
SS S-46

-------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Meteiai at 17,24

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 11

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Tsunushima Maru
AP Arizona Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Manju Maru

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Hudson at 6000 feet
[snip]
---------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 21,28

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 10
A6M2 Zero x 70

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 1 damaged
A6M2 Zero x 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
TK Kuremente Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 13000 feet

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/02/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Ground combat at Marilinan

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1852 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1217 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 19

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 1011

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/03/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Sub attack near Rabaul at 21,28

Japanese Ships
DD Ushio
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Mochizuki

Allied Ships
SS S-44, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage [sunk]
Guns lost 9

[SoulBlazer]

COMMAND POST, RABUL
JUNE 20, 1942

The weeks have passed with much grief here at the command base. Many of our younger officers are demanding we launch our major operations, but I refuse to do anything until enough strength has arived from the other parts of the Empire. I can not say over un-classifed lines what has arived and what we plan to do, but heavy units are slowly coming into the area and I hope to be able to make our major attacks soon.

In the meantime, we have been doing small operations to keep our forces busy, to build for the future, and try to keep the Allies off balance. Small Eng units from Truk and Rabul have been dropped off at several islands -- at the southern point of San Cristobal island, at three points in the Solomons, at a couple other places -- to take the area and start building bases there. I am always thinking of the defense, knowing that in the near future we will nee large bases with good ports and airbases to try to hold off the Allied counter-attacks.

I also have been ordering air raids from Rabul on a Allied fleet docking at PM, thinking back to our wonderfull success of last month. However, our planes have failed to hit any ships either at port or docked in port, and our losses stacked up to the point where I canceled the attacks a couple days ago.

The Allies intentions remain unclear. That they are re-inforcing PM and Luganville can be confirmed by our patrol planes. Beyond that, very little is known.

We have also finished our operations in eastern New Guinea for now. After finally taking Buna and driving the remaining Allied unit into the interior, I persuded it with the strongest Japanese division we had landed at Buna. About half way to PM we overtook the Allied unit and destroyed it. The division then continued marching down the trail to PM in case they could take it, but finding the base too defended they made do with blocking off access north of the base in case any other straggelers heading to PM should show up.

I have just received a report from our of our subs, and it is a mixed bag, and very interesting. The I-27 today was in a position a hundred miles or so east of Brisbane, sitting on the path that any Allied ships coming from Australia to Noumea might take, when she detected a carrier group -- the Enterprise with her escorts! The sub wanted to attack the carrier, but could not get a good shot, so she made do with attacking the light cruiser Nashville. Only one torpedo was reported as making contact, thoguh, without fatal damage, and our sub was depth charged and sunk after the battle. I am grieved by the failed attack and the loss of our first sub but at least now we have some clue as to where the Allies are. Why is the Enterprise off the coast off Australia? Where are the Yorktown and Lexington -- did they stay around Noumea-Luganville? How many other carriers have the Americans receieved recently? We know of at least three other fleet carriers they could possibly get as reinforcements. Until this sub report came in, we did'nt even know the 'Big E' was in the area.

I must attack soon, but I also must make sure our attacks are crushing when they occur. The Americans must be delt a major blow, our objectives taken, and two lines of defense well dug and well prepared. I can not wait more then another month, but it it is a difficult decision to choose the right time to attack. At least now there are more flattops for our valient planes to send to the bottom of the Coral Sea!

Our losses in the southern Pacific to date have been three transports, one sub, and a destroyer sank by US destroyers. The Allies have lost three subs (all of the inferior S-Boat class), two cargo ships, a sub chaser, and a minesweeper. Those four ships were sunk in our air raid on PM last month. We can not confirm any other losses besides those seven ships.

To victory!

[Raverdave]

Great AAR guys! Keep up the good work. It is a lot of fun lookg at this and trying to figure out what the both of you are going to do next. SoulBlazer MUST take PM, if he fails then come '43 he will be flooded with US LRB strikes. And what the heck is Grotius doing pissing around with such a small CAP at PM (or so it seems from my POV). The Allied player must be VERY clear from the get-go....defend PM or abandon it, there can no half measures either you do it, or you don't do. And I am preaching here from some HARD lessons.

Anyway, keep up the good work guys.

[SoulBlazer]

Thanks Raver, glad to know someone else is reading this.

I of course can't say on here what I have planned, but one does not HAVE to take PM to win. I could go for Aussie cities, or down to Luganville, or just build bases like crazy and siege PM.

[Raverdave]

Originally posted by SoulBlazer
Thanks Raver, glad to know someone else is reading this.

I of course can't say on here what I have planned, but one does not HAVE to take PM to win. I could go for Aussie cities, or down to Luganville, or just build bases like crazy and siege PM.

Brave words cobber, I like to see you do that, yours must be the size of coconuts to be even thinking that thought aloud.

[Grotius]

Well, I have had considerable success with my fighters defending PM -- our air-to-air kill ratio has been quite favorable. I have a large number of fighters on the scene, but I only fly those who are well-rested. Even so, we do plan to reinforce the air and land defenses at PM even further.

I have indeed revealed little of my intentions, or of the disposition of my forces. This is scenario 19, so the Japanese have a lot of troops and materiel, but we Allies were also blessed with 200% ship commitment, which may explain why SoulBlazer was startled to see the USS Enterprise already patrolling around Australia. Nonetheless, even with 200% commitment, I fear it will be difficult to contain the first wave of IJN attacks, wherever and whenever they come. Our hope lies in the long term. As my opponent has noted before, time is on my side.

[Grotius]

<< I persuded it with the strongest Japanese division we had landed at Buna. About half way to PM we overtook the Allied unit and destroyed it. >>

This comes as news to the healthy boys of the 14th Australian brigade, half of whom were evacuated by Fast Transport from Dobadura, and the other half of whom made it back to Port Moresby tired but intact. They were required to retreat once, but that only hastened their movement to Port Moresby, so I suppose we should thank the IJA for accelerating our redeployment. <grin>

The 14th has since been flown out of PM back to Australia and replaced with fresh troops from the mainland.

Speaking of air transport: the single most stupid mistake in the game surely belongs to me. On at least one occasion, the Dakota squadron that was supposed to be evacuating the 14th instead flew "supply transport" from PM to Australia. As you can imagine, the brass back in Pearl are still giving me an earful about that one. "Way to keep Townsville and Brisbane supplied, Grotius!"

[SoulBlazer]

Well, I'm SURE I did some damage to one Allied unit, cause I attacked, I saw a couple thousand casualities, and the unit vanished. Very weird.

We're still playing our game, folks, but everything has been quiet save for Grotius's occesional air attacks on me. Biggest coup so far, I think, has been having to send one of my heavy cruisers and a tanker back to Japan due to sub damage. US subs seem to be effective so far.

We've also upgraded to 2.30, so the rest of the game will be played in that version.

Grotius will post the next part once anything major happens.

[Grotius]

Still quiet as we head into July, but I fear a storm is brewing. A captured Japanese airman demanded to see Admiral Spruance and then delivered this haiku:

A red morning dawns;
New-Guinea and Nou-mea
Salute a new sun.

I have ordered my lieutenants to counter with some Frost or Tennyson.

[Grotius]

BRIDGE, U.S.S. YORKTOWN
SOMEWHERE IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC
5 JULY 1942, 1800 HOURS

Our recon over Rabaul on 3 July 1942 showed 141 ships in port! One of my lieutenants speculated that the Japanese were gathering to celebrate the Fourth of July. The next day, America's Independence Day, we saw only 23 ships in port, and sure enough two large carrier task forces -- including 6 CVs and one CVL -- appeared northeast of Gili Gili. Our boys in Port Moresby braced themselves for the inevitable onslaught.

The Japanese assault on Port Moresby indeed started the next day, as the IJN carriers moved just a bit south or southeast of Gili Gili, standing off about 250 miles from Port Moresby itself -- just outside the range of our fighters and short-range bombers. Cleverly, the IJN commander sent barges into nearby Buna to soak off some of our air attacks. So, with dozens of ships bearing down on them, our Airacobras and Wirraways chose to attack ... barges. At least my Hudsons flew: 6 of them, unescorted, into a buzzsaw of 100 Zeroes flying CAP over the carriers. My fighters, out of range, could not escort.

Fortunately, our fighters did mount a reasonably effective defense against a land-based air strike on the airfield at PM.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/05/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on TF, near Buna at 12,38

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 11
P-39D Airacobra x 10

no losses

Japanese Ships
AG 359, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AG 2049
AG 2052
AG 2051
AG 117, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage [woo. hoo.]

-------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 17,44

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 105 [!]

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 6 [!!]

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 4 destroyed

PO2 O.Inano of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2

Attacking Level Bombers:
0 x Hudson at 15000 feet

-------------------------------------------
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 28
A6M3 Zero x 18
G3M Nell x 12
G4M1 Betty x 24

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 9
P-39D Airacobra x 12
P-40E Kittyhawk x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 1 destroyed
G3M Nell x 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 2 destroyed
Wirraway x 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 3 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 damaged

FLT K.Blackwell of No. 75 Sqn RAAF is credited with kill number 4

WCDR A. Charlton of No. 5 Sqn RAAF bails out and is RESCUED

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 6

Attacking Level Bombers:
6 x G3M Nell at 6000 feet
5 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
5 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
6 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
6 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
2 x G3M Nell at 6000 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 6000 feet

-------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Buna at 12,38

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 11
P-39D Airacobra x 10

no losses

Japanese Ships
AG 358, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AG 113
AG 2053, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AG 355