Guadalcanal it is - A Beginner's PBEM (no Reaper)

[KenchiSulla]

I'm not a fan of searcharcs and have never had problems finding enemy ships while NOT using them... Try without arcs to see if that works out better for you...

[SigUp]

12th August 1942

Not a good day to be a Japanese sub commander. I-122 was sighted by escorts of as TF built around Quincy and Hobart and suffered five hits. She'll most likely make it to Rabaul, but from there it'll go straight to Osaka via Truk. I-171 stumbled across DD Dewey and took 11 hits. Her crew is working hard to contain the floation damage, but right now it doesn't look good. Damage at 61 (major at 25).

The US carriers were spotted 80 miles south of Rennell Island, together with a TK. So they are probably refueling at sea, the sub swarm is dispatched into the region, hoping to catch them. The CA operation against Lunga is postponed. Meanwhile a fast transport group is in reach of Tassafaronga point with close to 900 supplies. Tassafaronga currently has exactly 1000 supplies on hand.

[jmalter]

Hi SigUp, thanks for the link to chemkid's maps.

[SigUp]

ORIGINAL: jmalter

Hi SigUp, thanks for the link to chemkid's maps.

You're welcome. [:)]

13th August 1942

Got the first surface action of the Guadalcanal campaign. The Tokyo Express squadron encountered an Allied force of DM Gamble and Montgomery. While Allied radar located the Japanese at 19,000 yards distance, the Japanese saw the two US ships only at 7,000 yards. APD-39 was hit once for practically no damage, while APD-46 was hit twice for 20 system and 13 flotation damage (8 major). In return DM Montgomery was hit once by a 12cm gun. The APDs will retire back to Rabaul. The question is, were the DMs there to lay mines at Tassafaronga, or to interdict the Tokyo Express? In any case other than the DMs, a task force with a bunch of CAs was spotted at Lunga. I'm thinking about letting a surface combat TF accompany the Tokyo Express on its next trip to to Tassafaronga, but the carriers south of Rennell Island are annoying.

Speaking of the carriers, screwed up a bit with the positioning of the subs. Most of them ended up north of their position, have to be more careful in setting the sequence of the patrol zones (for those with PZ). Not finding the carriers the commanders of I-123 and RO-67 launched their torpedoes on DD Dewey and scored no hit. At least they escaped detection.

At the Kokoda Track the Aussies apparently halted their move back to Port Moresby and returned to their positions.

[SigUp]

14th-18th August 1942

Not terribly much going on. At around 16th August the carriers disappeared again from the picture, as well as the other ships of the US fleet. The IJN subs failed to pick up the track and instead were happy firing (and missing) at USN destroyers. On 15th August an airfield attack was launched against Henderson Field and three Wildcats were damaged.

With the US carriers apparently out of the picture Tanaka took Kako, Furutaka, Kinugasa, Aoba, Yubari and two destroyers down the Slot for a bombardment of Lunga. The bombardment in the night of the 18th didn't do really well and on the return trip Yubari hit a mine near Tassafaronga. She'll survive without problem, but repairs will take her back to Osaka.

Meanwhile a detachment of two destroyers and four small xAPs was spotted at Milne Bay. Type 1 Bettys escorted by A6M2s swooped down on them and sank them all. The question is whether they were reinforcing / resupplying the base, or preparing a pull-out. Was surprised to see that there were no fighters intervening. Also, the report of a halt of the Australian evacuation from the Kokoda Track turned out to be false. By the 18th August the Aussies were back at Port Moresby.

On 17th August the significant fleet assets arrived at Rabaul, but the Combined Fleet will adopt a wait-and-see approach for now. Kido Butai was formed with Shokaku, Zuikaku, Ryujo, Hiei, Kirishima, Atago and several destroyers. Most of the CAs are heading to Rabaul, where they will be based.

[DanSez]

Be sure you are using your Glen equipped subs differently than the others.
Those are very valuable eyes to help you co-ordinate the other subs and to act as a trip-wire watching Allied ships heading toward Lunga and Port Moresby.

I usually put those Glen boats on a tiny 3 hex triangle patrol zone and set the Glens to 40-45 pct search. That gets those planes up and in the air. And don't do this too close to land based air, otherwise you will lose the Glens.

Move your Glen boats to new zones occasional or whenever they have a detection level to keep from losing them to concentrated ASW searches.

[SigUp]

I've been using a couple of them to keep an eye on what's leaving Noumea, but indeed your suggestion's good, I'll keep that in mind for the next turn.

[SigUp]

19th-26th August 1942

The week in between the 19th and 26th August was fairly uneventful. Rengo Kantai showed up in force. The cruisers were ordered to anchor at Rabaul while Kido Butai was formed using the three carriers, Hiei, Kirishima, a CA and destroyer escorts. But as I don't have a particular target worth the committment the fleet is still anchoring at Truk, while the air groups of Ryujo were resized to take better use of Ryujo's plane capacity.

For the most part of the first half of the week the American carriers were cruising some 120 miles south of Milne Bay. The IJN subs were unable to penetrate the screen. A surface bombardment group and a fast transport group took the opportunity to head towards Guadalcanal. The surface bombardment on 24th August was a failure, in part due to me forgetting to set the float planes to night recon. A day after the bombardment the carriers were spotted south of Guadalcanal and on 26th August I-19 reported the first IJN subs success of the campaign. Despite getting sighted early the commander still managed to maneuver through the screening force and put two torpedoes into Enterprise. Although the damage is probably minimal with the Allied damage control.



The Japanese air arm meanwhile conducted daily night raids against the US air strip on Guadalcanal, taking advantage of good weather and moonlight. Probably the most damage was done on 26th August as 19 Type 1 attack bombers damaged a couple of Catalinas and P-40s while recording 12 runway hits, 2 airbase hits and 2 supply hits.

[Justus2]

SigUp,

Interesting AAR so far! I am getting back into WITP after a year and a half, and starting with Guadalcanal as the Japanese vs AI, so this is very timely!

One question, you mentioned the Allies pulled their forces off the Kokoda trail, are you leaving the Horii group there, are you going to advance them to PM, or are you going to pull them back?

[SigUp]

As long as I don't have another use for them I'm leaving them up there.

[SigUp]

Haven't updated the AAR in quite some time while the game's in the late September days. Not much happened anyway in early to mid September. All this changed in late September when I decided that I also wanted to have some fun and tried a landing in Milne Bay. Knew this probably was a foolish maneuver beforehand with recon indicating some 15.000 Australians with over 100 guns and 150 AFVs at the base (by the way, is there a way to estimate the AV of a stack using recon info alone?), but went ahead anyway. If anything it could perhaps set the stage for a CV battle under favourable circumstances. So I hoped.

Kidō Butai left Truk in mid-September, first going for a feint against Guadalcanal, trying to draw the American CVs away from the vicinity of Milne Bay. After bombing the airstrip at Lunga Kidō Butai retreated north and then entered the Solomon Sea around 23rd September. In the meantime the invasion fleet left Rabaul with three SNLF units and an army regiment, supported by a bombardment squadron consisting of Kako, Furutaka, Kinugasa and Aoba, along with Kongō and Haruna coming down from Truk. The force landed on 23rd September, but it was a fairly good disaster. While the fleet containing the three SNLFs were disembarking P-39s from Port Moresby hit it pretty hard. Didn't know that P-39s can do significant damage when on naval attack duties.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 69

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 3 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
xAK Kano Maru, Shell hits 6, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
AP Toa Maru, Shell hits 3, Bomb hits 1
DD Kawakaze, Shell hits 4
xAK Sakura Maru, Shell hits 3, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Harusame, Shell hits 4
xAK Sagami Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AP Tatumiya Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 5, Bomb hits 2

Japanese ground losses:
639 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 41 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 17 (3 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x P-39D Airacobra bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
18 x P-39D Airacobra bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
12 x P-39D Airacobra bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
14 x P-39D Airacobra bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
6th Ku S-1 - Det with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters to 23000.
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Three xAKs were sunk and the SNLFs lost all combat value. Instead of having about 200 AV (after invasion losses) on shore only the army regiment was of any use.

If there was some positives gained from that day, it was that the bombardment of Milne Bay apparently robbed the Allies of their eyes above the Solomon Sea. No fleet there had any detection value of them, most importantly of course, Kidō Butai. With the American CVs coming back, Kidō Butai was moved into position to strike them on the 24th September. To bolster the air defense a Daitai of Zeroes equipped with drop tanks provided long range cap over Kidō Butai.



Indeed, on 24th September the expected CV battle happened, with the Japanese having a go at the first strike. However, the weather was pretty bad and the American anti-air proved to be very formidable. In the end all that was achieved was a torpedo and bomb hit on Wasp and a torpedo hit on Washington, despite the Zeroes successfully shielding the Kankō and Kanbaku from the Wildcats. 13 Kanbaku and 6 Kankō were lost, all due to flak fire. Zero losses totaled 24 (14 due to air-to-air, 10 operational), with Kidō Butai losing 14 of them.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 99,137

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
B5N1 Kate x 15
D3A2 Val x 35

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 2 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A2 Val: 11 damaged
D3A2 Val: 6 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Washington
CV Wasp, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Phelps
CV Saratoga

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
14 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm T91 Mod 3 Torp
10 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
9 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
9 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
1 x D3A2 Val releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 15 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Wasp

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 99,137

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 21 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N1 Kate x 13

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 2 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City
BB Washington, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm T91 Mod 3 Torp

CAP engaged:
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When the Americans counterattacked in between the first and second Japanese strikes, Japanese flak proved to be as useless as during Midway, although the Zero cap did a solid job, shooting down 24 of the 26 downed Dauntlesses and 4 of the 6 Avengers. Still, the lack of flak meant that the American bombers were able to put more hits on the Japanese with Kirishima taking a bomb and a torpedo hit, Hiei two bomb and a torpedo hit, Shōkaku a bomb and Zuikaku two bomb hits.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 103,134

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 70 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 50

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 20
SBD-3 Dauntless x 68
TBF-1 Avenger x 42

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 destroyed, 14 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 2
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVL Ryujo
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1
CA Tone

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
15 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
6th Ku S-1 - Det with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
Tainan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
DI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 13 on standby, 3 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 18000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

But apparently the Japanese learned from the Midway debacle and the damage on the CVs was contained. Shōkaku's damage was 43 sys, 10 flood (1 major), 27 engine (1 major) and 10 fire. Zuikaku, despite taking two bombs, didn't suffer any fires and had 35 sys, 8 flood and 2 engine damage, none of which were major. The BBs' damage was more serious with Hiei at 24/24 (6 major)/23 (13 major)/0 and Kirishima at 22/29 (23 major)/3/0.

Following this encounter Kidō Butai was withdrawn to Rabaul to refuel, after which it will immediately head to Truk, avoiding possible exposure to B-17 raids. Hiei is left at Rabaul to conduct emeergency repairs before also returning to Truk (and then back to the mainland).

25th September saw another screw-up on my part. Since recon indicated a surface force at Milne Bay a cruiser task force was sent from Rabaul to shield the retreating Kidō Butai. The idea was to dash in and dash out at night at full speed. Should've done this with a waypoint probably, but since I used destination the force was picked up by American airstrikes. No ship was critically hit, but Takao and Kinugasa will have to return to Japan for repairs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kiriwina Island at 103,131

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 54
SBD-3 Dauntless x 50
TBF-1 Avenger x 26

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 10 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Chokai
CA Takao, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Aoba
CA Maya, Bomb hits 1
DD Yuzuki
DD Yayoi

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
10 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
15 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Takao
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

But the day also saw some positive results for the IJN. On the way back Wasp was hit by a torpedo from I-2 and was reported to be heavily damaged. Later that day I-7 put three fish into Canberra and I-121 a torpedo into Fletcher.

The target of the next few turns will be trying to get as many troops off Milne Bay as possible, using fast transport task forces. In a first step two task forces are dispatched to get two of the beaten up SNLFs back to Rabaul. A cruiser force will provide protection. Kidō Butai will hopefully be safely back at Truk by 30th September (two four DD ASW squadrons are accompanying Kidō Butai back to Truk), where I hope that Akashi can handle the damage of Shōkaku and spare the trip back to Japan. In any case, the CVs need about two months repair time before they can head out again.