Yes what was I thinking. Actually it was nothing more than a major goof.
I was rotating fighters on LRCAP over PM and over the TF to maintain somewhat rested squadrons. In the middle of the turn I got interrupted and when I came back forgot to put the TF CAP squadron on. Well they're really rested this turn.
Shokaku was not hurt that badly actually. Lots of fires more than SYS damage and for once the fires got put out before major damage. I will probably just leave her in Truk for a while. She could actually run ops if the USN carriers show:D No airgroup losses.
Invasion of PM goes fairly well actually. Fortifications now reduced to 0.
GG is harassing quite effectively. Twice now; once a sub and once Wirraways attacked my bombardment groups causing them to break off. If either one had gotten through the air attack against Shokaku wouldn't have happened. Thus goes the luck of war.
So kudos to AC for the great turn. This invasion is getting quite interesting:( .
Quark
Return to the Valley of the Sun: Condor (USN) vs. Quark (IJN)
-
Attack Condor
- Posts: 424
- Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2002 2:33 am
- Location: Chicago
The Battle Rages on........
Today's combat result:
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/16/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 2
Attacking Level Bombers:
6 x G3M Nell at 4000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 19,42
Japanese Ships
DD Uzuki
Allied Ships
SS S-41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 170th Regiment, at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 19
P-40E Kittyhawk x 22
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 4 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 8 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 64
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,42
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 19
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 9 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CL Tatsuta, Bomb hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 14,43
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 3
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
AP Asakasan Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 170th Regiment, at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 14
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 4 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,42
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 11
no losses
Japanese Ships
AP Mito Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 18388 troops, 192 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 13078 troops, 123 guns, 20 vehicles
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0
WO J.Nagashima of EII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 900
Guns lost 1
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 224
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Nell atack was a nighttime bombardment, and was apparently aimed at the ground troops as opposed to the runways. Little damage on the ground, but I'm sure the LBA force was a bit more fatigued (and damaged) for their attempt. I suspect the IJN commander is husbanding his strength for a massive strike in the hopes of damaging the airfield byeond repair.
At PM, two air attacks were made on the invaders, with a reported loss of just under 100 (84) men. A total of 5 aircraft weer shot down by LRCAP, and one of the Zeroes was shot down in return.
At GG, the Wirraways proved even 250 lb bombs can be useful as Tatsuta was hit once and the troop transport Mito Maru was hit three times. All fighters at GG have been reassigned to CAP duties as the supply ships frantically try to unload and get out of the danger zone as fast as they can (who can blame them?)
The F5A Lightning recon unit has been transferred to GG, and has paid divedends immediately, painting a picture of the freight train of IJN shipping along the south coast of NZ, and spotting the IJN CV TF heading north, apparently back to Rabaul.
On the ground at PM, the fighting grew even more viscious, as the Japanese forces launched a determined attack against my defenders - the boldest attempt yet. 200+ of my defenders were lost, but 900+ of the attackers paid the price for such an assault.
Thankfully, my transport aircraft are fighting their way through the LRCAP and were able to land almost an additional 1000 defenders last turn.
This is becoming a very bloody month, indeed. While not having outright sunk many ships, quite a few IJN vessels are damaged to varying degrees.
Can the defenders hold on to PM???
Can GG attrit enough of the IJN forces attempting to support the invasion of PM?
(you know how tempted I am to say "tune in again tomorrow"??
)
Each CR causes me to close my eyes, thinking if I don't see bad news, then it really didn't happen.... seriously, each time I see the ground combat portion of the CR I move up to the edge of my seat.........
As I said yesterday:
Wow.
More..... indeed.......
Much more to come........
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/16/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 2
Attacking Level Bombers:
6 x G3M Nell at 4000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 19,42
Japanese Ships
DD Uzuki
Allied Ships
SS S-41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 170th Regiment, at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 19
P-40E Kittyhawk x 22
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 4 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 8 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 64
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,42
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 19
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 9 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CL Tatsuta, Bomb hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 14,43
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 3
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
AP Asakasan Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 170th Regiment, at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 14
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 4 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,42
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 11
no losses
Japanese Ships
AP Mito Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 18388 troops, 192 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 13078 troops, 123 guns, 20 vehicles
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0
Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0
WO J.Nagashima of EII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 900
Guns lost 1
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 224
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Nell atack was a nighttime bombardment, and was apparently aimed at the ground troops as opposed to the runways. Little damage on the ground, but I'm sure the LBA force was a bit more fatigued (and damaged) for their attempt. I suspect the IJN commander is husbanding his strength for a massive strike in the hopes of damaging the airfield byeond repair.
At PM, two air attacks were made on the invaders, with a reported loss of just under 100 (84) men. A total of 5 aircraft weer shot down by LRCAP, and one of the Zeroes was shot down in return.
At GG, the Wirraways proved even 250 lb bombs can be useful as Tatsuta was hit once and the troop transport Mito Maru was hit three times. All fighters at GG have been reassigned to CAP duties as the supply ships frantically try to unload and get out of the danger zone as fast as they can (who can blame them?)
The F5A Lightning recon unit has been transferred to GG, and has paid divedends immediately, painting a picture of the freight train of IJN shipping along the south coast of NZ, and spotting the IJN CV TF heading north, apparently back to Rabaul.
On the ground at PM, the fighting grew even more viscious, as the Japanese forces launched a determined attack against my defenders - the boldest attempt yet. 200+ of my defenders were lost, but 900+ of the attackers paid the price for such an assault.
Thankfully, my transport aircraft are fighting their way through the LRCAP and were able to land almost an additional 1000 defenders last turn.
This is becoming a very bloody month, indeed. While not having outright sunk many ships, quite a few IJN vessels are damaged to varying degrees.
Can the defenders hold on to PM???
Can GG attrit enough of the IJN forces attempting to support the invasion of PM?
(you know how tempted I am to say "tune in again tomorrow"??
)Each CR causes me to close my eyes, thinking if I don't see bad news, then it really didn't happen.... seriously, each time I see the ground combat portion of the CR I move up to the edge of my seat.........
As I said yesterday:
Wow.
More..... indeed.......
Much more to come........
"Shouldn't we be leading the shark into shore...instead him leading us out to sea?"
-
Attack Condor
- Posts: 424
- Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2002 2:33 am
- Location: Chicago
On the count of three...BREATHE
Action form May 17 takes a decidedly naval flavor, as the defenders get a night without hearing the ear-piercing scream of "BANZAI!!"
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/17/42
Weather: Clear
Sub attack at 10,41
Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Allied Ships
SS S-37
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese Ships
AP Asahisan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Allied Ships
SS S-47
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 6
no losses
Attacking Level Bombers:
6 x G3M Nell at 4000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 10,40
Allied aircraft
Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 6
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae , at 9,33
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 6
Allied aircraft
Hudson x 6
B-25D Mitchell x 14
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 destroyed
Hudson x 2 damaged
B-25D Mitchell x 2 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 2 damaged
Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 8
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 7000 feet
6 x B-25D Mitchell at 7000 feet
2 x Hudson at 7000 feet
3 x Hudson at 7000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 7000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae , at 9,33
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 6
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 18
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,45
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 12
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
AP China Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Asakasan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Port Moresby at 10,40
LTJG F.Murakami of EIII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
Japanese Ships
AP Heiwa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Allied Ships
SS S-47
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 5
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Shell hits 4, on fire
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 10
CA Kako, Shell hits 6
CL Yubari, Shell hits 1
DD Sazanami, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CA Australia, Shell hits 38, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Hobart, Shell hits 54, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Walke, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Much happiness with the news from the submarines, especially the torpedo hit on Aoba. It didn't deter the bombardment of PM from the sea, but a hit is a hit, and the "severe flooding" damage message was nice to see (well, at least from this side of the periscope it was).
With the report of the IJN CV TF heading north, the hunt for the irritating fighter base is on, with Lae the most obivious target. A squadron of B25 Marauders rotated into PM and took its shot at the airfield, with some of the bleary-eyed Hudsons accompanying them. 2 B25s shot down by flak, but some damage to the airfield. B17s followed later from a higher altitude and added what little destruction they could.
GG again proves its worth with the plucky Wirraways taking on a TF at PM in the morning, only to be jumped by the LRCAP. Smarting from being forced to abort their attack, the Australians took out their frustration later that day on a five ship AP TF, with two of the transports hit south of the monstrous coral reef east of GG, with one of the ships on fire as the bombers retired. Supply continues to be unloaded at GG without harassment.
The IJN SC TF at PM has me wondering.... reinforcements, or evacuation? The mass of APs steaming "around the outside" of the reef and not through the slot near GG is also curious - just how much INF does the IJN have at the start of the game? Do I dare hope that the IJN contemplates withdrawl of the invaders?
Meanwhile, from Australia, the transport pilots grimly continue their ferry missions, with their commanders screaming for the IJN fighter cover to be dealt with. (note: I have CAP operating at PM during the transport missions - with dubious results; though I do not want to envision the results with no CAP at all).
Other events in Australia are afoot in the Allies camp, but security prohibits I divulge too much about that particular phase of the defense. Sorry
And in the mistake column, the SC TF I sent to interdict the shipping lanes (hoping to catch the odd AK here and there) retired to PM. Instead of finding shelter, they ran into Aoba and her cruiser BB TF. Predictible results Australia, Hobart and Walke now adorn the bottom of PM harbor, at a cost of 1 IJN DD. Damage was taken by the others in the IJN BB TF. Perhaps the subs can mete out some vengenance to the wounded TF.
And on the ground.........nothing. No attacks. Are the IJN ground forces simply regrouping (intelligence estimates their ground losses at 1000+ yesterday alone after their all-out shock assault), or is something more sinister in the works at PM? At any rate, my course of action is simple enough - keep the reinforcements and supplies coming.
Oh yes. One more thing.
The calvary has arrived
More to come.........................
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/17/42
Weather: Clear
Sub attack at 10,41
Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Allied Ships
SS S-37
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese Ships
AP Asahisan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Allied Ships
SS S-47
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 6
no losses
Attacking Level Bombers:
6 x G3M Nell at 4000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 10,40
Allied aircraft
Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 6
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae , at 9,33
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 6
Allied aircraft
Hudson x 6
B-25D Mitchell x 14
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 destroyed
Hudson x 2 damaged
B-25D Mitchell x 2 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 2 damaged
Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 8
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 7000 feet
6 x B-25D Mitchell at 7000 feet
2 x Hudson at 7000 feet
3 x Hudson at 7000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 7000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae , at 9,33
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 6
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 18
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,45
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 12
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
AP China Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Asakasan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Port Moresby at 10,40
LTJG F.Murakami of EIII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
Japanese Ships
AP Heiwa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Allied Ships
SS S-47
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 5
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Shell hits 4, on fire
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 10
CA Kako, Shell hits 6
CL Yubari, Shell hits 1
DD Sazanami, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
CA Australia, Shell hits 38, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Hobart, Shell hits 54, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Walke, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Much happiness with the news from the submarines, especially the torpedo hit on Aoba. It didn't deter the bombardment of PM from the sea, but a hit is a hit, and the "severe flooding" damage message was nice to see (well, at least from this side of the periscope it was).
With the report of the IJN CV TF heading north, the hunt for the irritating fighter base is on, with Lae the most obivious target. A squadron of B25 Marauders rotated into PM and took its shot at the airfield, with some of the bleary-eyed Hudsons accompanying them. 2 B25s shot down by flak, but some damage to the airfield. B17s followed later from a higher altitude and added what little destruction they could.
GG again proves its worth with the plucky Wirraways taking on a TF at PM in the morning, only to be jumped by the LRCAP. Smarting from being forced to abort their attack, the Australians took out their frustration later that day on a five ship AP TF, with two of the transports hit south of the monstrous coral reef east of GG, with one of the ships on fire as the bombers retired. Supply continues to be unloaded at GG without harassment.
The IJN SC TF at PM has me wondering.... reinforcements, or evacuation? The mass of APs steaming "around the outside" of the reef and not through the slot near GG is also curious - just how much INF does the IJN have at the start of the game? Do I dare hope that the IJN contemplates withdrawl of the invaders?
Meanwhile, from Australia, the transport pilots grimly continue their ferry missions, with their commanders screaming for the IJN fighter cover to be dealt with. (note: I have CAP operating at PM during the transport missions - with dubious results; though I do not want to envision the results with no CAP at all).
Other events in Australia are afoot in the Allies camp, but security prohibits I divulge too much about that particular phase of the defense. Sorry
And in the mistake column, the SC TF I sent to interdict the shipping lanes (hoping to catch the odd AK here and there) retired to PM. Instead of finding shelter, they ran into Aoba and her cruiser BB TF. Predictible results Australia, Hobart and Walke now adorn the bottom of PM harbor, at a cost of 1 IJN DD. Damage was taken by the others in the IJN BB TF. Perhaps the subs can mete out some vengenance to the wounded TF.
And on the ground.........nothing. No attacks. Are the IJN ground forces simply regrouping (intelligence estimates their ground losses at 1000+ yesterday alone after their all-out shock assault), or is something more sinister in the works at PM? At any rate, my course of action is simple enough - keep the reinforcements and supplies coming.
Oh yes. One more thing.
The calvary has arrived
More to come.........................
"Shouldn't we be leading the shark into shore...instead him leading us out to sea?"
-
Attack Condor
- Posts: 424
- Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2002 2:33 am
- Location: Chicago
Operation Rose blooms.....
With its completion, Operation Rose can now be declassified for public scrutiny and the Monday morning football quarterbacks (except for our friends whose football is played on a round field, but that's another story ).
At the start of this game, I wanted to hold PM for as long as possible, and to do that I decided GG would be the key. Thus Operation Rose (beautiful to some, thorny to others
) was born.
Phase One - seizing and denying a quick capture of GG. Done with PBY airlift of the 7th Bde of the New Guinea Division. 2 squdrons of PBYs were moved to SWPAC from SOPAC to assist. This was followed up with a FT TF from Brisbane with the 46th ENG Bde, whose combat ability proved helpful in defeating the FT IJN assault on Turn 3.
Phase Two - development of GG airfield: Critical to allow for the resupply of GG with C47s as opposed to sending AKs into hostile waters, in addition to GG being able to provide its own CAP. I did lose Adelade trying to supply GG early, but Rhesus bought GG valuable time for the engineers to continue with their work.
Phase Three - establishing GG as an offensive base to interdict IJN troop, supply and SC TFs. The Wirraways were marvelous in this role, as my esteemed opponent tells me they were responsible for causing at least one BB TF to abort after they were attacked. No sinkings (only 250 lb bombloads on the fighter-bombers), but the IJN was hit, and knew it wasn't going to get free ride to PM past GG.
Phase Four - the culmination of the GG interdiction effort: basing carrier aircraft at GG. While the Wirraways were able to be a nuisance to the IJN - the SBDs and their 1000 lb bombloads are quite another matter. (The Wirraways have been rotated out for a much needed and well-deserved rest).
This turn shows the effectiveness of the SBDs, and - although tired from making the 20+ hex transfer to GG - make their presence felt immediately; especially by a lone destroyer SE of PM, the IJN DD Uzuki is attacked by 3 SBDs from GG with 2 1000 lb bombs hitting home and sinking her.
On the land, the APs were definitely not taking the PM invaders away. 23000+ troops now are attacking, and my opponent is getting close to the 2-1 odds he needs to take the base. This turn was his most effective yet on the ground, with reported US losses exceeding reported Japanese ground force losses.
Two medium bomber squadrons have hit Lae twice now, but the only defense mounted was by a dozen Rufes. Intelligence officers are now dubious about the continued attack against Lae, as only a few planes have been spotted there by recon.
Today's results:
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/18/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Sub attack at 20,46
Japanese Ships
SS I-21
Allied Ships
DMS Zane, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
*** note: Zane bolted from GG's harbor trying to get back to Australia. It didn't work ***
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae , at 9,33
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 12
Allied aircraft
B-25D Mitchell x 9
B-26B Marauder x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 3 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 75
Runway hits 12
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
8 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 20,40
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 3
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 3
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 3 destroyed *** ( miscommunication, apparently. No fighter cover, 3 SBDs vs. 8 Zeroes is not a good idea) ***
Japanese Ships
AP Heiwa Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,41
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
SBD Dauntless x 24
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 7 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Oite, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Tenryu, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Goyo Maru, Bomb hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,41
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
SBD Dauntless x 33
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Asakasan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Nichibi Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 11,43
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 3
no losses
Japanese Ships
DD Uzuki, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Port Moresby at 10,40
Allied Ships
SS S-47
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 23801 troops, 255 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 15723 troops, 122 guns, 20 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 216
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 252
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debate continues at USN HQ as to the reaction of the IJN staff concerning the improved effectiveness of "LBA" from GG vs. IJN TFs in support of the PM invasion. The Army will probably want the focus of the efforts to be maintained in NZ, while some in the Navy may see an opportunity to move against the Solomons and further south with the main striking power of the USN on GG.
Staff planners at USN HQ were concerned about a lack of offensive capabilities in the Solomons as well, but with this level of commitment shown by the IJN commander to take PM, I remain resolved in my conclusions that the IJN commander has gone too far to withdraw now. He has to keep PM as his main objective. One doubts he would "throw away' 4 main infantrry units barely 3 weeks into the conflict.
<gawd, I hope so >
More to come......
(btw, my opponent mentioned the "gods of war". Well, they have nothing on the "gods of e-mail servers")
). At the start of this game, I wanted to hold PM for as long as possible, and to do that I decided GG would be the key. Thus Operation Rose (beautiful to some, thorny to others
) was born.Phase One - seizing and denying a quick capture of GG. Done with PBY airlift of the 7th Bde of the New Guinea Division. 2 squdrons of PBYs were moved to SWPAC from SOPAC to assist. This was followed up with a FT TF from Brisbane with the 46th ENG Bde, whose combat ability proved helpful in defeating the FT IJN assault on Turn 3.
Phase Two - development of GG airfield: Critical to allow for the resupply of GG with C47s as opposed to sending AKs into hostile waters, in addition to GG being able to provide its own CAP. I did lose Adelade trying to supply GG early, but Rhesus bought GG valuable time for the engineers to continue with their work.
Phase Three - establishing GG as an offensive base to interdict IJN troop, supply and SC TFs. The Wirraways were marvelous in this role, as my esteemed opponent tells me they were responsible for causing at least one BB TF to abort after they were attacked. No sinkings (only 250 lb bombloads on the fighter-bombers), but the IJN was hit, and knew it wasn't going to get free ride to PM past GG.
Phase Four - the culmination of the GG interdiction effort: basing carrier aircraft at GG. While the Wirraways were able to be a nuisance to the IJN - the SBDs and their 1000 lb bombloads are quite another matter. (The Wirraways have been rotated out for a much needed and well-deserved rest).
This turn shows the effectiveness of the SBDs, and - although tired from making the 20+ hex transfer to GG - make their presence felt immediately; especially by a lone destroyer SE of PM, the IJN DD Uzuki is attacked by 3 SBDs from GG with 2 1000 lb bombs hitting home and sinking her.
On the land, the APs were definitely not taking the PM invaders away. 23000+ troops now are attacking, and my opponent is getting close to the 2-1 odds he needs to take the base. This turn was his most effective yet on the ground, with reported US losses exceeding reported Japanese ground force losses.
Two medium bomber squadrons have hit Lae twice now, but the only defense mounted was by a dozen Rufes. Intelligence officers are now dubious about the continued attack against Lae, as only a few planes have been spotted there by recon.
Today's results:
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/18/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Sub attack at 20,46
Japanese Ships
SS I-21
Allied Ships
DMS Zane, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
*** note: Zane bolted from GG's harbor trying to get back to Australia. It didn't work
***--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae , at 9,33
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 12
Allied aircraft
B-25D Mitchell x 9
B-26B Marauder x 14
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 3 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 75
Runway hits 12
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
8 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 20,40
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 3
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Yubari
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 3
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 3 destroyed *** ( miscommunication, apparently. No fighter cover, 3 SBDs vs. 8 Zeroes is not a good idea) ***
Japanese Ships
AP Heiwa Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,41
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
SBD Dauntless x 24
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 7 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Oite, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Tenryu, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Goyo Maru, Bomb hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,41
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
SBD Dauntless x 33
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Asakasan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Nichibi Maru
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 11,43
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 3
no losses
Japanese Ships
DD Uzuki, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Port Moresby at 10,40
Allied Ships
SS S-47
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 23801 troops, 255 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 15723 troops, 122 guns, 20 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 216
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 252
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debate continues at USN HQ as to the reaction of the IJN staff concerning the improved effectiveness of "LBA" from GG vs. IJN TFs in support of the PM invasion. The Army will probably want the focus of the efforts to be maintained in NZ, while some in the Navy may see an opportunity to move against the Solomons and further south with the main striking power of the USN on GG.
Staff planners at USN HQ were concerned about a lack of offensive capabilities in the Solomons as well, but with this level of commitment shown by the IJN commander to take PM, I remain resolved in my conclusions that the IJN commander has gone too far to withdraw now. He has to keep PM as his main objective. One doubts he would "throw away' 4 main infantrry units barely 3 weeks into the conflict.
<gawd, I hope so
>More to come......
(btw, my opponent mentioned the "gods of war". Well, they have nothing on the "gods of e-mail servers"
)"Shouldn't we be leading the shark into shore...instead him leading us out to sea?"
-
madflava13
- Posts: 1501
- Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2001 10:00 am
- Location: Alexandria, VA
Well it took me awhile
to figure out why I couldn't get 1:1 odds at PM even though I had an almost 3:1 in assault ratios.
I sent the wrong HQ!!!! So I am not getting any combat bonus's and instead am getting a penalty. So as my opponent will find out this turn I am going on the defensive until I can get enough ships in theatre to bring in the right HQ and reinforcements. My troops have enough supplies left to defend but not a sustained offensive.
The continued bombardment aborts forced by subs and Wirraways meant I wasn't able to keep either PM or GG suppressed with the disastrous results you see in the AAR. I now don't have enough transport left to even re-supply Rabaul let alone mount a reinforcement operation. I should not have ignored GG but I had already landed at PM when it became apparent GG wasn't going to be shut down.
So I am forced to sit and wait for several turns. I only hope the pause doesn't become the start of the retreat.
I certainly am not showing how to play the IJN effectively.
Quark
I sent the wrong HQ!!!! So I am not getting any combat bonus's and instead am getting a penalty. So as my opponent will find out this turn I am going on the defensive until I can get enough ships in theatre to bring in the right HQ and reinforcements. My troops have enough supplies left to defend but not a sustained offensive.
The continued bombardment aborts forced by subs and Wirraways meant I wasn't able to keep either PM or GG suppressed with the disastrous results you see in the AAR. I now don't have enough transport left to even re-supply Rabaul let alone mount a reinforcement operation. I should not have ignored GG but I had already landed at PM when it became apparent GG wasn't going to be shut down.
So I am forced to sit and wait for several turns. I only hope the pause doesn't become the start of the retreat.
I certainly am not showing how to play the IJN effectively.
Quark
-
Attack Condor
- Posts: 424
- Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2002 2:33 am
- Location: Chicago
Nightmare at 19,37........
Station Rose (aka GG) again draws blood (and oil) from the AP TF desparately steaming north to get away from the dive bombers.
Today's air action was the most successful in the campaign so far, with a total of 27 1000 lb bomb hits were reported on the APs, and an IJN DD was also hit once by the SBDs - at a cost of only one SBD damaged. It is reported that each of the nine transports discovered is burning brightly..........
At PM, Kanimbla and three other transports successfully delivered the bulldozers of the 808th EAB to PM, before being sunk by an IJN submarine lurking in the harbor. The other three transports, having delivered their load, have already headed south away from PM.
The loss of Kanimbla is regrettable, but the delivery of the bulldozers assures that the engineers on PM are now able to repair base defenses and facilities even faster than they had already been doing.
Action from today's fighting:
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/19/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 12
Attacking Level Bombers:
10 x G3M Nell at 4000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Kiriwina, at 18,37
Naval bombardment of Woodlark Island, at 22,39
Sub attack near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese Ships
SS I-28
Allied Ships
AP Kanimbla, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 26
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 170th Regiment, at 10,40
Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 4
B-25D Mitchell x 4
B-26B Marauder x 9
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 2 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 34
Attacking Level Bombers:
9 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
4 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 13,42
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
SBD Dauntless x 3
P-400 Airacobra x 3
no losses
Japanese Ships
PC Tama Maru #8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,37
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 38
P-400 Airacobra x 4
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Oite
AP China Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Marsue Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PG Keijo Maru
AP Akibasan Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asanagi, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,37
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 14
SBD Dauntless x 17
no losses
Japanese Ships
AP China Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Mogamigawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Oite
AP Marsue Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,37
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 19
SBD Dauntless x 12
P-400 Airacobra x 4
no losses
Japanese Ships
AP Akibasan Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP China Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,37
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 27
no losses
Japanese Ships
AP Goyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Yamakuni Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Mogamigawa Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nichibi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,37
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
SBD Dauntless x 11
P-400 Airacobra x 3
no losses
Japanese Ships
AP Asakasan Maru, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 23612 troops, 255 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 17945 troops, 122 guns, 20 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 349
Guns lost 5
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 265
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SBD pilots want another shot at the AP TF, but the IJN CV Zuikaku has made an appearance NNE of GG, apparently heading SE around the Rennel (?) Is.
Luck continues to favor us, as the IJN CV TF was only 90 miles SE of the AP TF at 19,37. I'm sure the IJN staff debated whether or not to provide LRCAP for the APs, but were still smarting from the mistake in leaving Shokaku uncovered for even one day. If the SBDs had in fact targeted the CV TF instead of the APs, the day's results would have been very different indeed.
With the AP TF trailing oil and limping badly, submarines have been dispatched north to provide the killing blows to the crippled ships.
Staff planners at USN HQ at Noumea are happy about the mauling the Japanese transport fleet has taken so early in the campaign, but remain wary of becoming overconfident. The fact the IJN CV TF did not join the AP TF and escort it home was very suprising. An oversight, or do the carriers have plans of their own.........?
Either way, Operation Rose has been an unparalleled success to this point.
But, like gambling, do I pick up my winnings and go home.... or roll the dice "just one more time..."
More to come......
Today's air action was the most successful in the campaign so far, with a total of 27 1000 lb bomb hits were reported on the APs, and an IJN DD was also hit once by the SBDs - at a cost of only one SBD damaged. It is reported that each of the nine transports discovered is burning brightly..........
At PM, Kanimbla and three other transports successfully delivered the bulldozers of the 808th EAB to PM, before being sunk by an IJN submarine lurking in the harbor. The other three transports, having delivered their load, have already headed south away from PM.
The loss of Kanimbla is regrettable, but the delivery of the bulldozers assures that the engineers on PM are now able to repair base defenses and facilities even faster than they had already been doing.
Action from today's fighting:
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/19/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 12
Attacking Level Bombers:
10 x G3M Nell at 4000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Kiriwina, at 18,37
Naval bombardment of Woodlark Island, at 22,39
Sub attack near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese Ships
SS I-28
Allied Ships
AP Kanimbla, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 26
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 170th Regiment, at 10,40
Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 4
B-25D Mitchell x 4
B-26B Marauder x 9
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 2 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 34
Attacking Level Bombers:
9 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
4 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 13,42
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
SBD Dauntless x 3
P-400 Airacobra x 3
no losses
Japanese Ships
PC Tama Maru #8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,37
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 38
P-400 Airacobra x 4
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Oite
AP China Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Marsue Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PG Keijo Maru
AP Akibasan Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asanagi, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,37
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 14
SBD Dauntless x 17
no losses
Japanese Ships
AP China Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Mogamigawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Oite
AP Marsue Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,37
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 19
SBD Dauntless x 12
P-400 Airacobra x 4
no losses
Japanese Ships
AP Akibasan Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP China Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,37
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 27
no losses
Japanese Ships
AP Goyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Yamakuni Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Mogamigawa Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nichibi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,37
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
SBD Dauntless x 11
P-400 Airacobra x 3
no losses
Japanese Ships
AP Asakasan Maru, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 23612 troops, 255 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 17945 troops, 122 guns, 20 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 349
Guns lost 5
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 265
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SBD pilots want another shot at the AP TF, but the IJN CV Zuikaku has made an appearance NNE of GG, apparently heading SE around the Rennel (?) Is.
Luck continues to favor us, as the IJN CV TF was only 90 miles SE of the AP TF at 19,37. I'm sure the IJN staff debated whether or not to provide LRCAP for the APs, but were still smarting from the mistake in leaving Shokaku uncovered for even one day. If the SBDs had in fact targeted the CV TF instead of the APs, the day's results would have been very different indeed.
With the AP TF trailing oil and limping badly, submarines have been dispatched north to provide the killing blows to the crippled ships.
Staff planners at USN HQ at Noumea are happy about the mauling the Japanese transport fleet has taken so early in the campaign, but remain wary of becoming overconfident. The fact the IJN CV TF did not join the AP TF and escort it home was very suprising. An oversight, or do the carriers have plans of their own.........?
Either way, Operation Rose has been an unparalleled success to this point.
But, like gambling, do I pick up my winnings and go home.... or roll the dice "just one more time..."
More to come......
"Shouldn't we be leading the shark into shore...instead him leading us out to sea?"
27 bomb hits. Wow. I couldn't bring myself to count them:( .
The USN commander is right. I couldn't cover all the TF with LRCAP. I had a couple more he missed. I was trying to combine them all but they didn't quite make it. Last turn I did indeed have the CV escort what was left of my APs and lo and behold no SBD attacks.
Since I couldn't cover all the TF I decided to try and use the CV force as bait hoping the AI would see them as a higher priority. Since the ruse didn't work I can relate it here.
I wasn't sure until AC posted it here that the USN CVs hadn't stopped off in GG. I had seen several CA the turn before and I couldn't be sure what was exactly I didn't see. So I had hoped they were there and I wanted to have react out of GG. Zuik and Shoho had over 90 Zeros crammed onto thier flight decks including both Tainan squadrons. I was hoping to decimate his 4 SBD squadrons. Shok was sitting unseen 100 mi NW with a full deck of Vals and Kates to swoop in. But he didn't take the bait. CVs have now retired north covering the APs.
It will take a few days to bring up reinforcements. Because of variable reinforcements the Yazawa detachment, 2nd and 38th divisions have started to arrive.
We'll see about NG soon enough.....
Quark out
The USN commander is right. I couldn't cover all the TF with LRCAP. I had a couple more he missed. I was trying to combine them all but they didn't quite make it. Last turn I did indeed have the CV escort what was left of my APs and lo and behold no SBD attacks.
Since I couldn't cover all the TF I decided to try and use the CV force as bait hoping the AI would see them as a higher priority. Since the ruse didn't work I can relate it here.
I wasn't sure until AC posted it here that the USN CVs hadn't stopped off in GG. I had seen several CA the turn before and I couldn't be sure what was exactly I didn't see. So I had hoped they were there and I wanted to have react out of GG. Zuik and Shoho had over 90 Zeros crammed onto thier flight decks including both Tainan squadrons. I was hoping to decimate his 4 SBD squadrons. Shok was sitting unseen 100 mi NW with a full deck of Vals and Kates to swoop in. But he didn't take the bait. CVs have now retired north covering the APs.
It will take a few days to bring up reinforcements. Because of variable reinforcements the Yazawa detachment, 2nd and 38th divisions have started to arrive.
We'll see about NG soon enough.....
Quark out
-
Attack Condor
- Posts: 424
- Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2002 2:33 am
- Location: Chicago
Today's combat results...
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/20/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
No.
It's not a mistake.
It's not a misprint.
It's not a corrupted file.
The simple fact is.... after 8 days of combat (seems like a lot longer time than that) no reports of conflict.
Anywhere.
One bit of news...the IJN troop transport Mito Maru is confirmed sunk.
Cautiously, the defenders' heads pop out of their defenses and look around.... wondering if the lull can last more than one day.....
More to come...
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/20/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
No.
It's not a mistake.
It's not a misprint.
It's not a corrupted file.
The simple fact is.... after 8 days of combat (seems like a lot longer time than that) no reports of conflict.
Anywhere.
One bit of news...the IJN troop transport Mito Maru is confirmed sunk.
Cautiously, the defenders' heads pop out of their defenses and look around.... wondering if the lull can last more than one day.....
More to come...
"Shouldn't we be leading the shark into shore...instead him leading us out to sea?"
-
Attack Condor
- Posts: 424
- Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2002 2:33 am
- Location: Chicago
Running the gauntlet.......
I think this is the last group of APs from the PM invasion... if I'm wrong, then the SBDs will let me know. From the reports of the pilots, men and material were observed in the water after the attack - leading intelligence officers to conclude the APs left PM before fully unloading.
Two additional IJN sinkings were confirmed today by my intelligence staff: the Asahisan Maru (sp?) and the coastal vessel PC Ch 32 now sit on the bottom of the Coral Sea (the PC sinking was a result of 5x1000lb bombs in this morning's attack).
Total shipping sunk to date:
The USN has lost 8 ships: 2xCA, 1xCL, 2xDD, 1xAP, 2xAK
Confirmed sinkings of the IJN stands at 6: 3xDD, 2xAP, 1xPC.
By now, word has probably been passed among the IJN ship commanders about the price of getting to close to the New Zealand Rose. I'm sure the transport ship captains knew what lay ahead of them as they made their way home - and tried to avoid the channel by going east and then north around Rennel Is. but, although the trip to the target was a bit longer, today's report shows it made little difference to the outcome.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/21/42
Weather: Clear
Air attack on 170th Regiment, at 10,40
Allied aircraft
P-40E Kittyhawk x 19
no losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,46
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 45
SBD Dauntless x 31
Wirraway x 18
no losses
Japanese Ships
AP Heiwa Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nana Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chihaya Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PC Ch 11
AP Enju Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PC Ch 32, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 50
Guns lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 170th Regiment, at 10,40
Allied aircraft
P-40E Kittyhawk x 19
no losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,46
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 45
SBD Dauntless x 26
Wirraway x 15
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
PC Ch 11
AP Heiwa Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chihaya Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Enju Maru, on fire
PC Tama Maru #8, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nana Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 13
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The SBDs - having performed very well indeed are due for downtime. Priorities now include:
(1) Supply PM and GG. This early in the game, I cannot afford any mistakes with anything floating that can carry supplies to the NZ bases. 4 squadrons of C47s out of Townsville supply PM and GG rotating 2 days on and 3 days off. The C47s seem to get 40+ fatigue even when the pilots just walk to the darn planes, but seem to hover there for a couple of days. Supply will also be facilitated with whatever shipping I can muster. The SC fleet of 5 ships that start the game in Australia is gone, but the supply ships are still available, and they've gone from 20 EXP to 40 EXP in one heck of a short time.
2) Harassment of the stranded invasion force at PM. They can't be allowed to just sit there waiting for their headquarters and reinforcements to arrive. They must be bled, and the effort will come from the air. The attacks today were designed to try and gauge AA strength before the P-39s go in. A proposal has been made to move the Wirraways to PM to aid in this effort, and the idea does have merit. Having the 250lb bombs along for the ride for attacks on TFs in nice, but perhaps they can be better served at PM. When 5x1000lb bombs rip up a ship, I doubt the loss of another 250lb bomb hit will be noticable (as a rule).
3) ASW effort to be intensified in the Coral Sea - With the high price exacted on surface shipping by the SBDs at Rose (the new Allied name for GG), I expect the IJN to try and interdict by submarine. LBA from Australia can keep me informed reasonably well about the undersea threat close to shore, and I have allocated one squadron of the SBDs from Rose to cycle to PM and operate as ASW as necessary. With their EXP in the high 70s, they have a good chance of not only spotting, but attacking any I-boats in te area.
That covers the shores of NZ and OZ, but the opean ocean is a bit out of the range of effective LBA ASW operations. To plug that gap, DDs from the original CV TF are now re-assigned to SOPAC for escort duty with the supply ships.
The title of this thread is very appropiate - as the IJN runs the gauntlet to get out of the Coral Sea, I expect his undersea forces to set up and exact a toll on my supply ships heading north.
Two additional IJN sinkings were confirmed today by my intelligence staff: the Asahisan Maru (sp?) and the coastal vessel PC Ch 32 now sit on the bottom of the Coral Sea (the PC sinking was a result of 5x1000lb bombs in this morning's attack).
Total shipping sunk to date:
The USN has lost 8 ships: 2xCA, 1xCL, 2xDD, 1xAP, 2xAK
Confirmed sinkings of the IJN stands at 6: 3xDD, 2xAP, 1xPC.
By now, word has probably been passed among the IJN ship commanders about the price of getting to close to the New Zealand Rose. I'm sure the transport ship captains knew what lay ahead of them as they made their way home - and tried to avoid the channel by going east and then north around Rennel Is. but, although the trip to the target was a bit longer, today's report shows it made little difference to the outcome.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/21/42
Weather: Clear
Air attack on 170th Regiment, at 10,40
Allied aircraft
P-40E Kittyhawk x 19
no losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,46
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 45
SBD Dauntless x 31
Wirraway x 18
no losses
Japanese Ships
AP Heiwa Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nana Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chihaya Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PC Ch 11
AP Enju Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PC Ch 32, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 50
Guns lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 170th Regiment, at 10,40
Allied aircraft
P-40E Kittyhawk x 19
no losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 19,46
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 45
SBD Dauntless x 26
Wirraway x 15
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
PC Ch 11
AP Heiwa Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chihaya Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Enju Maru, on fire
PC Tama Maru #8, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nana Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 13
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The SBDs - having performed very well indeed are due for downtime. Priorities now include:
(1) Supply PM and GG. This early in the game, I cannot afford any mistakes with anything floating that can carry supplies to the NZ bases. 4 squadrons of C47s out of Townsville supply PM and GG rotating 2 days on and 3 days off. The C47s seem to get 40+ fatigue even when the pilots just walk to the darn planes, but seem to hover there for a couple of days. Supply will also be facilitated with whatever shipping I can muster. The SC fleet of 5 ships that start the game in Australia is gone, but the supply ships are still available, and they've gone from 20 EXP to 40 EXP in one heck of a short time
.2) Harassment of the stranded invasion force at PM. They can't be allowed to just sit there waiting for their headquarters and reinforcements to arrive. They must be bled, and the effort will come from the air. The attacks today were designed to try and gauge AA strength before the P-39s go in. A proposal has been made to move the Wirraways to PM to aid in this effort, and the idea does have merit. Having the 250lb bombs along for the ride for attacks on TFs in nice, but perhaps they can be better served at PM. When 5x1000lb bombs rip up a ship, I doubt the loss of another 250lb bomb hit will be noticable (as a rule).
3) ASW effort to be intensified in the Coral Sea - With the high price exacted on surface shipping by the SBDs at Rose (the new Allied name for GG), I expect the IJN to try and interdict by submarine. LBA from Australia can keep me informed reasonably well about the undersea threat close to shore, and I have allocated one squadron of the SBDs from Rose to cycle to PM and operate as ASW as necessary. With their EXP in the high 70s, they have a good chance of not only spotting, but attacking any I-boats in te area.
That covers the shores of NZ and OZ, but the opean ocean is a bit out of the range of effective LBA ASW operations. To plug that gap, DDs from the original CV TF are now re-assigned to SOPAC for escort duty with the supply ships.
The title of this thread is very appropiate - as the IJN runs the gauntlet to get out of the Coral Sea, I expect his undersea forces to set up and exact a toll on my supply ships heading north.
"Shouldn't we be leading the shark into shore...instead him leading us out to sea?"
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Attack Condor
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Wishful thinking...
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/22/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Sub attack at 51,68
Japanese Ships
SS I-27
Allied Ships
AP President Hayes, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The lull in action was shattered in the night as President Hayes is hit and damaged. Trying to escort her across the ocean to Brisbane, the 3 PGs, led by Kiwi were unable to detect the attacker. Unfortunate, as the sub commander probably will hang around. An emergency recall order has been sent to three DDS who have also transited to Brisbane, to help with ASW operations in the south.
That was a mistake on my part (or perhaps wishful thinking), hoping that the PGs could serve as even semi-effective ASW platforms.
The attack also signaled the end of the lull in combat operations. Rested and fed, the SBD pilots at Station Rose are at their planes, waiting for any more TF sightings.
Supply TF 202 is tracked to 30 miles west of Rose, and a squadron of fighters has been assigned to provide CAP. A second squadron of fighters has been assigned for Rose CAP, while the third group is assigned escort duties for the SBDs.
As discussed in yesterday's report, the Wirraway transfer to PM has been approved, and they are scheduled to participate in the attack on the enemy ground forces there.
Meanwhile in SOPAC, both Noumea and Luganville have improved their fortifications, and continue to improve their base facilities.
Back in Australia, units of the 3rd infantry division are arriving in Brisbane. Always happy to see more good guys.
More to come.......
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Sub attack at 51,68
Japanese Ships
SS I-27
Allied Ships
AP President Hayes, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The lull in action was shattered in the night as President Hayes is hit and damaged. Trying to escort her across the ocean to Brisbane, the 3 PGs, led by Kiwi were unable to detect the attacker. Unfortunate, as the sub commander probably will hang around. An emergency recall order has been sent to three DDS who have also transited to Brisbane, to help with ASW operations in the south.
That was a mistake on my part (or perhaps wishful thinking), hoping that the PGs could serve as even semi-effective ASW platforms.
The attack also signaled the end of the lull in combat operations. Rested and fed, the SBD pilots at Station Rose are at their planes, waiting for any more TF sightings.
Supply TF 202 is tracked to 30 miles west of Rose, and a squadron of fighters has been assigned to provide CAP. A second squadron of fighters has been assigned for Rose CAP, while the third group is assigned escort duties for the SBDs.
As discussed in yesterday's report, the Wirraway transfer to PM has been approved, and they are scheduled to participate in the attack on the enemy ground forces there.
Meanwhile in SOPAC, both Noumea and Luganville have improved their fortifications, and continue to improve their base facilities.
Back in Australia, units of the 3rd infantry division are arriving in Brisbane. Always happy to see more good guys
.More to come.......
"Shouldn't we be leading the shark into shore...instead him leading us out to sea?"
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Attack Condor
- Posts: 424
- Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2002 2:33 am
- Location: Chicago
Whoops..........
From today's combat reports, the following:
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/23/42
Weather: Overcast
Sub attack at 21,30
Japanese Ships
AP Mogamigawa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS Greenling
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Sub attack at 21,30
Japanese Ships
AP Mogamigawa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS Greenling
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 170th Regiment, at 10,40
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 13
Wirraway x 16
P-400 Airacobra x 10
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 46
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese Ships
SS I-28
Allied Ships
AK Murada, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 2651 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 16277 troops, 121 guns, 20 vehicles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the down side, my plan to use the SBDs to provide some ASW at PM was sabotaged by an itchy mouse finger and a bad case of greed I attached the SBDs to the attack on the Japanese ground troops instead of assigning it to ASW. Murada pays the price for my bravado as she is sunk by I-28. Not that the SBDs would have attacked, or even spotted the sub, but at least there would have been a reasonable chance..... Curses on my stupidity and the sharp eyes of the sub commander!!! I NEEDED THOSE SUPPLIES!!! 
<ahem> Sorry about that... where were we...oh yes, on the plus side, Greenling finished off Mogamigawa Maru 90 miles outside of the safety of Rabaul harbor.
Also confirmed today by intelligence were the sinkings of Marsue Maru and Goyo Maru. These additional sinkings level the ship lost score at 9 apiece. I have lost more combat vessels, but Quark has lost more supply ships.
The Japanese ground forces launched a bombardment attack, with no success.
Search aircraft are scanning the skies for the reinforcement convoy that has to come... but something tells me they may try to bull rush GG despite the danger of the SBDs.
I can take nothing for granted.
More to come......
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/23/42
Weather: Overcast
Sub attack at 21,30
Japanese Ships
AP Mogamigawa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS Greenling
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 21,30
Japanese Ships
AP Mogamigawa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS Greenling
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 170th Regiment, at 10,40
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 13
Wirraway x 16
P-400 Airacobra x 10
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 46
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese Ships
SS I-28
Allied Ships
AK Murada, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 2651 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 16277 troops, 121 guns, 20 vehicles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the down side, my plan to use the SBDs to provide some ASW at PM was sabotaged by an itchy mouse finger and a bad case of greed
I attached the SBDs to the attack on the Japanese ground troops instead of assigning it to ASW. Murada pays the price for my bravado as she is sunk by I-28. Not that the SBDs would have attacked, or even spotted the sub, but at least there would have been a reasonable chance..... Curses on my stupidity and the sharp eyes of the sub commander!!! I NEEDED THOSE SUPPLIES!!! <ahem> Sorry about that... where were we...oh yes, on the plus side, Greenling finished off Mogamigawa Maru 90 miles outside of the safety of Rabaul harbor.
Also confirmed today by intelligence were the sinkings of Marsue Maru and Goyo Maru. These additional sinkings level the ship lost score at 9 apiece. I have lost more combat vessels, but Quark has lost more supply ships.
The Japanese ground forces launched a bombardment attack, with no success.
Search aircraft are scanning the skies for the reinforcement convoy that has to come... but something tells me they may try to bull rush GG despite the danger of the SBDs.
I can take nothing for granted.
More to come......
"Shouldn't we be leading the shark into shore...instead him leading us out to sea?"
Use the lull to send in the allied minelayers!!!
Tranferring IJN MSWs into IJN surface combat groups is tedious for the IJN because they slow the battlewagons down so much (And they don't have DMS ships). Will gain you time on the pre-re-invasion bombardment (the TFs being slower with MSWs) to bomb him on the way in, and maybe even have his ships hit a mine or two!
Tranferring IJN MSWs into IJN surface combat groups is tedious for the IJN because they slow the battlewagons down so much (And they don't have DMS ships). Will gain you time on the pre-re-invasion bombardment (the TFs being slower with MSWs) to bomb him on the way in, and maybe even have his ships hit a mine or two!
With dancing Bananas and Storm Troopers who needs BBs?
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Attack Condor
- Posts: 424
- Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2002 2:33 am
- Location: Chicago
Minelayers? Yes sir, aisle 7, on the left side - by the "feminine products"
An excellent suggestion, (and one new players shouldn't overlookoriginally posted by Luskan
Use the lull to send in the allied minelayers!!!
Tranferring IJN MSWs into IJN surface combat groups is tedious for the IJN because they slow the battlewagons down so much (And they don't have DMS ships). Will gain you time on the pre-re-invasion bombardment (the TFs being slower with MSWs) to bomb him on the way in, and maybe even have his ships hit a mine or two!
) unfortunately, this early in the game the minelayers are still back at Pearl saying, "We're supposed to go where???" (Another factor which probably led to such a heavy commitment of the IJN this early)Subs are doing what little they can, but Argonaut is still not in theater - leaving me with a question if two Mk 10 mines in an S-boat is worth the removal of one torpedo load. S-boats have been doing well "culling the herd" as it were
so I am a bit leery of sending them back to Brissy to load up. Make no mistake, mines have been laid - just not as many as I would like (as if one is ever satisfied with the # of mines in a hex :rolleyes: )As to other activities during the lull - supplies are being landed (as I alluded to in an earlier post), fortifications are being rebuilt (gawd I love the bulldozers
) and squadrons are being rested/reformed. The SOPAC area is not forgotten, as the wily IJN commander may try to take advantage of the lack of an air threat there to possibly go after L'ville or Efate, though I doubt that because of two points:
(1) Supply - what you take you have to supply, and it's a long trip down the Solomons through exposed ocean to supply L'ville from the Shortlands or even Lunga, and with the damage inflicted on the supply ships (I'm sure more than what I've seen posted as sunk are beneath the waves as well - or will soon be) supporting a two pronged offensive may be beyond the capabilities of the IJN.
(2) Taking Luganville would be a major step to threatening Noumea, but the odds of Noumea falling decrease every day as the base develops and troops arrive in theater. So one would imagine the question would be not whether Luganville could be taken, but why take it at all? By taking it, the enemy is denied the base, but without taking both Luganville and Efate the tables can be easily turned on the attackers (In our last game, the IJN took Efate to use as a submarine base. I was able to LBA it into submission, with one notable from Basse-Poya mission inflicting 107 hits on the runway! The port was soon closed as well, sinking one docked IJN sub in the process).
So while I remain vigilant in the east, I believe my opponent has very few options at his disposal with his main ground force isolated at PM other than to try and finish off the attack and take PM.
Although this time he'll probably preface this with a carrier force loaded up with fighters to try and draw the SBDs out (like he did before), with an invasion force behind the carriers. It's what I would do.
"Shouldn't we be leading the shark into shore...instead him leading us out to sea?"
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Attack Condor
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- Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2002 2:33 am
- Location: Chicago
Time Out
Entries to the AAR will be delayed while the staff at Matrix tries to find out what happened to Quark's ground troops who disappeared from Rabaul.
(In a related story, hundreds of Japanese "refugees" have arrived in "Horrywood" to take jobs as even more extras in JW films - don't tell Quark )
(In a related story, hundreds of Japanese "refugees" have arrived in "Horrywood" to take jobs as even more extras in JW films - don't tell Quark
)"Shouldn't we be leading the shark into shore...instead him leading us out to sea?"
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Attack Condor
- Posts: 424
- Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2002 2:33 am
- Location: Chicago
Tick, tock, tick, tock.....
As a result of the bug encountered by Quark and his traitorous 4th division, we have turned the clock back two days, and replayed the two turns. A summary of the turns:
President Hayes is still torpedoed and heading home.
Murada was not torpedoed and sunk in PM.
Mogamigawa Maru was not torpedoed twice by Greenling so the two changes may sort themselves out.
We're now back at the 24th, and Quark says so far, so good about his unit not disappearing.
More to come...
4th division, we have turned the clock back two days, and replayed the two turns. A summary of the turns:President Hayes is still torpedoed and heading home.
Murada was not torpedoed and sunk in PM.
Mogamigawa Maru was not torpedoed twice by Greenling so the two changes may sort themselves out
.We're now back at the 24th, and Quark says so far, so good about his unit not disappearing.
More to come...
"Shouldn't we be leading the shark into shore...instead him leading us out to sea?"
-
Attack Condor
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- Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2002 2:33 am
- Location: Chicago
Time marches on...
Back in business, Quark reports the 4th division is as it should be, so without further ado, time to say goodbye to the nice guy named Quark and recast him in the role of evil, wily IJN commander
Today's action from the 24th centers around PM, as the Wirraway and P-400 squadrons still try to harass the invaders waiting for re-supply and reinforcement - but their efforts were ineffectual, at best. At least they are forcing the AA units there to use ammunition up:
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/24/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Air attack on 170th Regiment, at 10,40
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 17
P-400 Airacobra x 21
P-40E Kittyhawk x 10
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 4 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also sighted hovering in and around PM were IJN TFs.... one confirmed sub 30 miles south of PM and another unidentified (probably submarine) TF in PM itself. Although transports are precious to me now, I cannot stop unloading the supplies and have to rely on the SBDs at PM to keep the subs' heads down. Fortunately, these are experienced pilots who have tasted combat and emerged victorious.
LBA is a worry, but I have fighters to help deal with that. The IJN submarines...right now...are by consensus the greatest threat to the resupply of PM.
Time will tell. Having the experienced SBDs within 30 miles of both threats assuages my fears a bit.
I have positioned what assets I can in what I believe is the best proximity to the perceived threat axis'. Now the hard part: watching the clock as well as the supplies move ever so slowly.
More to come........
Today's action from the 24th centers around PM, as the Wirraway and P-400 squadrons still try to harass the invaders waiting for re-supply and reinforcement - but their efforts were ineffectual, at best. At least they are forcing the AA units there to use ammunition up:
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/24/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Air attack on 170th Regiment, at 10,40
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 17
P-400 Airacobra x 21
P-40E Kittyhawk x 10
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 4 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 1 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also sighted hovering in and around PM were IJN TFs.... one confirmed sub 30 miles south of PM and another unidentified (probably submarine) TF in PM itself. Although transports are precious to me now, I cannot stop unloading the supplies and have to rely on the SBDs at PM to keep the subs' heads down. Fortunately, these are experienced pilots who have tasted combat and emerged victorious.
LBA is a worry, but I have fighters to help deal with that. The IJN submarines...right now...are by consensus the greatest threat to the resupply of PM.
Time will tell. Having the experienced SBDs within 30 miles of both threats assuages my fears a bit.
I have positioned what assets I can in what I believe is the best proximity to the perceived threat axis'. Now the hard part: watching the clock as well as the supplies move ever so slowly.
More to come........
"Shouldn't we be leading the shark into shore...instead him leading us out to sea?"
-
Attack Condor
- Posts: 424
- Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2002 2:33 am
- Location: Chicago
Possibilities...
Action on the 25th reveals yet another piece of luck going in the Allies favor:
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/25/42
Weather: Clear
Sub attack near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese Ships
SS I-28
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This seemingly unimportant action was the result of the destroyer Sims on a FT mission to put the remnant of a unit with its parent being in the right place at the right time as the submarine I-28 commenced a night attack. Sims couldn't find the target, but forced the sub down, allowing the AKs to finish unloading and get out of PM. The AKs were subsequently spotted later in the day by a Mavis patrol aircraft 120 miles S of PM.
(A point for new players who may be reading this: don't get in the habit of using the same shipping lanes again and again)
Also later in the day, a Catalina sighting near Rossell island of 4 APs and a DD. Intelligence is not sure if this is a feint to draw the SBDs from Rose in an effort to trade shipping for fatigue, but most doubt that is case. It may be a feint, but with the amount of transports vessels already sunk or badly damaged, it's hard to believe the IJN commander can afford such a move.....
Staff planners theorize the IJN will take some action against Rose within the week. Their proposed threat axis' are included in the attachment below. While the IJN may follow different routes, the proposed course of action is logical. The theorized OOB has been played out and is as follows:
#1. The IJN will send a CV TF as bait, loaded with fighters. It's purpose being to draw the SBDs out and destroy them in air - to -air engagements. Intelligence believes this move is the key - if successful, a BB TF of possibly 2 battleships with escorts would move to shut down the runways at Rose. If not successful, the invasion would probably be recalled.
#2. An invasion group would move in from the west, from Rabaul or possibly Lae, staying out of range of the SBDs until their fate is known to the IJN.
#3. The supply efforts to support the invasion would probably emanate from the Shortland base.
If he doesn't move against Rose, then he will sail south to Oz and try and move outside the range of the SBDs, taking the chance that Australia's LBA would attrit fewer ships than the SBDs from Rose would. Then, trying to support his troops on PM from the west, his ships would be exposed for a minimum of time.
A theory, to be sure.
But I have to be ready for what is possible....
More to come.......
__________________
"Shouldn't we be leading the shark into shore...instead him leading us out to sea?"
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/25/42
Weather: Clear
Sub attack near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese Ships
SS I-28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This seemingly unimportant action was the result of the destroyer Sims on a FT mission to put the remnant of a unit with its parent being in the right place at the right time as the submarine I-28 commenced a night attack. Sims couldn't find the target, but forced the sub down, allowing the AKs to finish unloading and get out of PM. The AKs were subsequently spotted later in the day by a Mavis patrol aircraft 120 miles S of PM.
(A point for new players who may be reading this: don't get in the habit of using the same shipping lanes again and again)
Also later in the day, a Catalina sighting near Rossell island of 4 APs and a DD. Intelligence is not sure if this is a feint to draw the SBDs from Rose in an effort to trade shipping for fatigue, but most doubt that is case. It may be a feint, but with the amount of transports vessels already sunk or badly damaged, it's hard to believe the IJN commander can afford such a move.....
Staff planners theorize the IJN will take some action against Rose within the week. Their proposed threat axis' are included in the attachment below. While the IJN may follow different routes, the proposed course of action is logical. The theorized OOB has been played out and is as follows:
#1. The IJN will send a CV TF as bait, loaded with fighters. It's purpose being to draw the SBDs out and destroy them in air - to -air engagements. Intelligence believes this move is the key - if successful, a BB TF of possibly 2 battleships with escorts would move to shut down the runways at Rose. If not successful, the invasion would probably be recalled.
#2. An invasion group would move in from the west, from Rabaul or possibly Lae, staying out of range of the SBDs until their fate is known to the IJN.
#3. The supply efforts to support the invasion would probably emanate from the Shortland base.
If he doesn't move against Rose, then he will sail south to Oz and try and move outside the range of the SBDs, taking the chance that Australia's LBA would attrit fewer ships than the SBDs from Rose would. Then, trying to support his troops on PM from the west, his ships would be exposed for a minimum of time.
A theory, to be sure.
But I have to be ready for what is possible....
More to come.......
__________________
"Shouldn't we be leading the shark into shore...instead him leading us out to sea?"
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"Shouldn't we be leading the shark into shore...instead him leading us out to sea?"
How to respond??
How to respond to a strategy more thought out than your own?:D Me-thinks the code breakers have been reading a bit too much post sake ramblings.
Will I go for PM, GG, Oz or Luganville? I haven't decided yet. Need a couple more turns to get things in place. Then I will need to decide. Forward elements already in place.
Major elements of the 2nd and 38th divisions arrived at Truk.
I seriously doubt the USN commander will leave his SBD's on naval attack if he gets a hint my CVs are in the area. They ran the last time.
I'll let you in a something the USN commander would have remembered if we hadn't had to wait for the deserters of the 4th naval to regain their senses:D . Those APs and DD near Rossell are the last remnants of the PM landing forces.
We expect complete victory in the coming battle. We certainly can't do any worse than we have so far
.
Quark
Will I go for PM, GG, Oz or Luganville? I haven't decided yet. Need a couple more turns to get things in place. Then I will need to decide. Forward elements already in place.
Major elements of the 2nd and 38th divisions arrived at Truk.
I seriously doubt the USN commander will leave his SBD's on naval attack if he gets a hint my CVs are in the area. They ran the last time.
I'll let you in a something the USN commander would have remembered if we hadn't had to wait for the deserters of the 4th naval to regain their senses:D . Those APs and DD near Rossell are the last remnants of the PM landing forces.
We expect complete victory in the coming battle. We certainly can't do any worse than we have so far
.Quark
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Attack Condor
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- Joined: Fri Dec 27, 2002 2:33 am
- Location: Chicago
And the answer is...........
Okay, but when is too much sake a bad thing?
Anyhow, nice to know the IJN is completely amazed by my ability to lay out a plan of action (yeah, rightttt :rolleyes: ).
Back to the war, in today's report, combat limited to the mongoose vs. cobra dance between Sims and I-28
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/26/42
Weather: Thunderstorms
Sub attack at 10,41
Japanese Ships
SS I-28
Allied Ships
DD Sims
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sims must be frustrating the IJN sub commander by now... yesterday she chased the sub below the waves before an attack on the transports could be launched, and today she baits the sub commander into launching his precious torpedoes - nimbly dancing out of the way before charging the sub to find..... nothing .
The commander of the I-28 is apparently no amateur. (Line paraphrased and blatantly stolen from the U-Boat captain (played by Curt Jurgens) in the movie The Enemy Below - probably - IMHO - the best DD vs. SS movie made).
Of course, one mistake by my little "mongoose" and the ships sunk count will be tied at 9 apiece. Does the sub continue to strike at the infuriatingly quick Sims or back away and wait for a fat transport to wander into his crosshairs.........
(Where oh where is Swanson or Wilkes when I need them? )
More to come......
Anyhow, nice to know the IJN is completely amazed by my ability to lay out a plan of action (yeah, rightttt :rolleyes: ).
Back to the war, in today's report, combat limited to the mongoose vs. cobra dance between Sims and I-28
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/26/42
Weather: Thunderstorms
Sub attack at 10,41
Japanese Ships
SS I-28
Allied Ships
DD Sims
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sims must be frustrating the IJN sub commander by now... yesterday she chased the sub below the waves before an attack on the transports could be launched, and today she baits the sub commander into launching his precious torpedoes - nimbly dancing out of the way before charging the sub to find..... nothing
. The commander of the I-28 is apparently no amateur. (Line paraphrased and blatantly stolen
from the U-Boat captain (played by Curt Jurgens) in the movie The Enemy Below - probably - IMHO - the best DD vs. SS movie made).Of course, one mistake by my little "mongoose" and the ships sunk count will be tied at 9 apiece. Does the sub continue to strike at the infuriatingly quick Sims or back away and wait for a fat transport to wander into his crosshairs.........
(Where oh where is Swanson or Wilkes when I need them?
)More to come......
"Shouldn't we be leading the shark into shore...instead him leading us out to sea?"