Headhunter - Lokasenna (A) vs. mind_messing (J) - No MM yet

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I had most of my squadrons on 70-80 CAP at 31k ALT. Never any problems with FAT as long as I kept range at 0.

The problem occurs in wave style attacks...a high percentage CAP gets worn out very quickly and isn't present in later bomber waves, but it does fight the first wave very strongly. That can be good or bad depending upon circumstances. But if you have ample radar warning you get the same effect with lots of planes ready.

I'm not sure this is true. I think it depends as much on how those first battles go than anything else. Your unit is going to get worn down from successive strikes regardless of whether it's at 50% CAP or 80% CAP.


I haven't suffered terrible ops losses or anything from keeping my LBA CAP at high settings. This also helps boost their Exp when not in action, too - CAP 80% for me.

[Lokasenna]

It's been a few more weeks. Given the slightly slower IRL pace of the game right now (MM's got exams or some such, or is otherwise busier than usual), I'd like to get this going again...

Current game date August 19, 1943. Will try to give theater-by-theater updates shortly, as I remember to make an interim save for this op... which got off to an inauspicious start:

Sub attack near Kirakira at 115,142

Japanese Ships
SS I-171, hits 5

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 1
BB Massachusetts
BB North Carolina
CLAA Oakland
CLAA San Juan
DD Carmick
DD Hutchins
DD Clark
DD Selfridge

SS I-171 launches 4 torpedoes at CV Yorktown
DD Clark fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Selfridge attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

Sneaky sub that was either on patrol closer in to Guadalcanal, or on its way to join its sisters near Luganville. I had avoided all of those...



Not so bad, except for the 18 Sys damage. She'll stay as no IJN are in the immediate vicinity, and my entire "Big Blue Fleet" so far is in the area, shepherding dozens upon dozens of ships. The bulk of the USN is in play here. Hopefully a few points of the minor floatation damage drop off, but this combined with the sighted subs on the way to the target has altered where I'm going to be positioning myself.

Also interesting is how my operations in this game and my game against Arto are mirroring each other, although the date in that game is 2 1/2 months earlier. Mirrored right down to the multiple subs in the hex between Lunga and Kirakira.

Status report/screenshots of the inbound op coming in subsequent posts...but I've gotta shower first [:D].

[Lokasenna]

Operation Otter's Ransom
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93tr

I didn't have enough "gold" to cover Tassafaronga (the protruding whisker) with this op... I didn't prep any LCUs for the place.

This action was precipitated by MM's withdrawing of the bulk of the LCUs from Lunga/Tassafaronga. Tulagi and Russell Islands have always only had a few units - presumably JNAF/JAAF AF Units/Bns. Lunga had at least a few divisions/extra brigades. He has ceded control of the air to me for as far north as Shortlands, although he has tried to contest that lately. Shortlands airfield is considered to be operational. Lunga and Tulagi are completely shut down, and Tassafaronga is only AF 4 with minimal air support. It has been deserted. Russell Islands has light damage, but is operational and has periodically based Rufes/A6M3a's over the past weeks. LBA and CVs should be able to suppress/overwhelm.



Amusingly enough, he only has any DL on the CVE TF. That's it. I think he probably thinks it's the Yorktown/etc. He doesn't see ANY of the other TFs. Absolutely astounding, but then his nearest operable search is at Shortlands. The Jakes at Lunga are few, and at least some are still damaged. No planes at Tass/Tulagi, unknown at Russell but I have been bombing it so he has been hesitant to risk airframes.

According to Intel Monkey/SIGINT, the following units are/were at:
Lunga
2nd Area Army
2nd Army
4th JAAF Base Force
11th JAAF Base Force
12th Ind. Mixed Brigade
83rd JAAF AF Bn
51st Const Bn
55th Field AA Bn

Judging from the troops levels, I'm expecting 1-2 brigades, 0-1 HQ, and several base forces/AF units. On another computer, I had other SIGINT involving 1 division from China, but I think it has since been withdrawn. I sighted many xAP/xAK with KB/MKB and Combined Fleet cover several months ago, while my CVs were in transit to the IO to raid Medan. I actually almost caught his withdrawl fleet/covering SCTF outside of KB cover with a large group of CAs/CLs. I missed them by 1 day and I could have had them, if I had left the coast of Australia on a "just in case KB leaves" instead of waiting for them to actually leave.

Russell Islands
26th JAAF AF Bn
9th Field AF Const Bn
38th JAAF AF Bn

Tulagi
44th Naval Guard Unit
144th JAAF AF Bn
13th Ind. Hvy. Art. Bn (presumed withdrawn)
7th Naval Const Bn (possibly withdrawn)
Kure 3rd SNLF

Tassafaronga
55th JNAF AF Unit
5th Shipping Engineer Regiment (presumed withdrawn)
26th Air Flotilla (presumed withdrawn or at Lunga)
38th Field AA Bn (presumed at Lunga)
39th Field AA Bn (ditto)
1st Art. Mortar Regiment (presumed at Lunga or withdrawn)

Tagula Island
8th Indpt SNLF Coy (turns out I'm lying in my screenshot...)

[Lokasenna]

CV Aircraft and Settings

In the turn I just sent off, I have dropped the Search portion from the orders for the Avengers. All SBD-5's are on 20% Search. Avengers have 10% ASW. All ranges set to 7, except for the dedicated CAP (those VF units on 70% or 80% Escort). I don't expect any IJN resistance, but just in case.

For August 20, I have these guys to sit just 1 hex west of Lunga - where they can cover Russell Islands, Tulagi, and Lunga with just a CAP range of 2.



CV Akagi was heading to Batavia (presumably from Babeldaob) on August 9, so I am assuming that he has 2 KBs operating at this point (if he accelerated ships, he should have 2x Unryu and Taiho operational by now, at least). Akagi wouldn't be by herself in the SRA... At worst, I am expecting that he could have 6x CV and MKB in the Rabaul/Truk area, but they are not based at Babeldaob, Truk, Rabaul, or any of his major AFs. I suspect they are disbanded at a place outside of the 31-hex Recon range from Merauke or Ndeni...

3 Takao-class CAs and 5 DDs were spotted outside Satawal on August 18. They were previous spotted leaving Truk around the time I got the SIGINT hit on Akagi heading to Babeldaob, so I am wondering if they are shadowing some CVs.

CVEs

These will head directly to Tulagi, where they will provide CAP at Range 0 and Range 1 to cover Lunga/Tulagi. Only 6 CVEs, with:

28x F4F-4 Wildcat (Exp 50, Ld Air 63 - kind of low...)
21x F6F-3 Hellcat (Exp 54, Ld Air 63)
18x F6F-3 Hellcat (Exp 55, Ld Air 61)
18x F6F-3 Hellcat (Exp 55, Ld Air 63)
28x F6F-3 Hellcat (Exp 71, Ld Air 64)

Some veteran pilots are mixed in to these units, but most guys are around 50-55 Exp... There are hundreds of fighters at Hansa/Lae/Rabaul, but unless he is willing to severely overstack Shortlands, not very many of them can reach this far down the island chain as he is using Tojos, Georges, and A6M5s. He should have some Oscars and A6M3a's at Rabaul, but last time his Bettys flew (against probing YMS hulls at Lunga), they were without escort.

LBA

I have 50 P-38s on 70% LRCAP over Tulagi, 25 on 70% LRCAP over Lunga, and 25 on LRCAP over Russell Islands - all from Ndeni.

A mega-group of 90 TBFs is ready to transfer to Lunga, along with 36 Hellcats in VF-2 and 28 Wildcats in a VRF unit. 2x25 P-39Ds are ready to transfer to Tulagi.

2x16 B-25D1 are on 100-ft Naval Attack, range 14, from Ndeni.
Over 60x 4E are on Naval Attack at 2000-ft from the various islands around Luganville/Ndeni.

24 Catalinas are searching the sectors between Rossel Island and Nauru Island, from Ndeni.

A multitude of SBD/TBF units are ready to move in anytime now.



I will detail the landing forces in my next post, in a few hours... errands...

[BBfanboy]

Range 7 seems a little far for Avengers on ASW patrol - I wonder if reducing to range 5 would provide about twice the ASW effect within that smaller circle and keep the Glen subs under.
What has been your experience with this?

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Range 7 seems a little far for Avengers on ASW patrol - I wonder if reducing to range 5 would provide about twice the ASW effect within that smaller circle and keep the Glen subs under.
What has been your experience with this?

Setting to range 5 means they will only fly out to 2 hexes. Setting to range 8 means they fly out to 4.

The trouble was I moved 8 hexes that turn, and the sub could have moved into this area from farther to the north or northwest and therefore not had any residual DL. My search from Ndeni/Luganville only detects subs out to about 1 hex SE of Kirakira. I don't reliably detect subs around Guadalcanal.

I definitely need to focus a bit more on overlapping ASW/Nav Search zones, however. MM has made producing subs a priority, it seems. I am seeing subs in action that I haven't even begun to produce yet against Bullwinkle, and I know he accelerated at least one FP-capable sub (I saw the I-32 3 months before I finished her against Bullwinkle), so it wouldn't surprise me if he'd done a lot more. He at least produced, if not accelerated, a lot of the RO-boats, too. So...more ASW.


...perhaps I need to set my 54-plane Avenger unit, currently on CV Victorious, to night ASW. I only have Victorious for another month or so, though.

[BBfanboy]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Range 7 seems a little far for Avengers on ASW patrol - I wonder if reducing to range 5 would provide about twice the ASW effect within that smaller circle and keep the Glen subs under.
What has been your experience with this?

Setting to range 5 means they will only fly out to 2 hexes. Setting to range 8 means they fly out to 4.

Really!? That just seems strange to me, as every other time you set a range for aircraft they fly out that far and come back the same distance. Is there something official that says halving the distances is how ASW patrols work?

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Range 7 seems a little far for Avengers on ASW patrol - I wonder if reducing to range 5 would provide about twice the ASW effect within that smaller circle and keep the Glen subs under.
What has been your experience with this?

Setting to range 5 means they will only fly out to 2 hexes. Setting to range 8 means they fly out to 4.

Really!? That just seems strange to me, as every other time you set a range for aircraft they fly out that far and come back the same distance. Is there something official that says halving the distances is how ASW patrols work?

Yeah - ASW patrols are at half range, and with the "reduced load" as if the plane was flying at extended range. Something about this representing the extra time and work it takes to search for a sub rather than searching for a surface ship, etc.

[Lokasenna]

Lunga Landing Forces

2nd USMC Division
BB Oklahoma
2 DD
1 DE
3 DMS
5 AM
9 APA
1 LSI(L)

9031 Supplies

Thirteenth USAAF HQ, 221st USN Base Force
5 SC
3 DMS
1 AM
4 APA
3 AKA

12691 Supplies

3rd USMC Parachute Bn
1 APD
1 xAP

146 Supplies

34th Engineer Aviation Battalion
4 SC
2 DMS
5 xAP

255 Supplies

27th Infantry Division (1-2 days behind
2 DD
1 DE
1 AM
2 APD
5 APA
2 AKA
1 LSD
6 AK

14342 Supplies



Almost everything should be able to unload in 1.5 days. The stuff on the xAPs should be able to unload in just one phase. The 27th Division was originally prepped when MM had multiple-division strength here, along with other supporting units. I've left the prep for 27th Division in case I need them to break large levels of forts, but I'm expecting that the USMC division will be enough... depending on how quickly I want to take it. The other units have since been re-prepped for other targets.

[Lokasenna]

Tulagi Landing Forces

Armoured Assault: 2nd USMC Tank Bn, 2/7th Armoured Regiment, 632nd TD Bn, 205th FA Bn
4 DD
7 AKA

17827 Supply

15th USMC Defense Bn
1 SC
2 AM
4 APD
1 APA
1 AP
4 AK

13291 Supplies


No current Engineer/Base Force/HQ units prepped for Tulagi... this is a weak spot, but I didn't anticipate the IJA ground forces to be so weak and expected to have to fight for each base individually, rather than landing all at once. The Armoured Assault should break the 3 units at Tulagi fairly quickly - within 2 or 3 attacks - and I can then fly in ample Aviation Support from Luganville.

One USN Naval HQ is prepped for Tulagi. I intend to make it a significant port, at level 6 + 200 or so Naval Support I'll be able to rearm BBs and torpedo sorties there.

[Lokasenna]

Russell Islands

Here is the weak point. I ran out of assault shipping, due to losses in early '42, but I might be able to get enough ashore in one day to stick it out. If not, well... Lunga/Tulagi should fall soon enough that I'll be able to reinforce. At the very least, what SIGINT tells me is there for him isn't enough to beat even a fragment of a 1943 USA regiment.

35th Infantry Regiment
1 DD
1 DE
14 xAP

1074 Supplies

The individual load level on each xAP is around 500 for the troops, plus supplies - so about 3 phases to fully unload. That would be the 1 phase I will get on August 19, and if I am able to stay for one full day after that.... they will be fully ashore.

[Lokasenna]

Rossel Island

Torres Strait Battalion
1 AM
2 APD
1 APA

1892 Supplies

24th Seabees / 7th Seabees
1 AM
2 APD
1 LSI(L)
1 AKA

3414 Supplies

34th Engineer Aviation Battalion
1 AM
2 xAP

264 Supplies

1st USMC AA Battalion
1 AM
3 LST

4251 Supplies

Tagula Island

18th RAAF Base Force / 33rd Engr. Av. Bn. / Wren Detachment
2 AM
12 xAP

29981 Supplies


The Tagula landing is admittedly on the light side (very light), but it's what was prepped and with the ships available. With CV support, I should still be able to at least stalemate with the SNLF unit present.

Rossel is presumed undefended per aerial recon several weeks ago, and no SIGINT/sighted ships (Catalinas based at Moresby/NE Australia) since then. Given its potential size compared to Tagula, it is getting the bulk of the engineers and Aviation Support.

Still, the Wren Det. and RAAF Base Force built in AV might be able to kill that SNLF - he has no engineers, so should have no forts.

[Lokasenna]

Day 1 - August 19, 1943

The landings pretty much go off without a hitch. A few bombardments were ordered at Shortlands and across the map at Taberfane (remnants of a diversionary force to make him think I was going west), but I forgot to turn off "remain on station" so I had a scare from a dozen Nells, but CL Perth escaped unscathed.

Several sub attacks, but the I-181 was sunk and the I-155 sent running. A few escorts are low on ASW ammo, but that's OK. The goods are on the beach. Selected bits from combat report below:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Rennell Island at 114,140

Japanese Ships
SS I-181, hits 25, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma
DMS Dorsey
DMS Lamberton
AM Wallaroo
AM Strahan
APA U.S. Grant
APA John Penn
APA William P. Biddle
APA Hunter Liggett
APA J. Franklin Bell
LSI(L) Dunedin Star
DD McCook
DD Endicott
DE Pope, Shell hits 1
DMS Perry

SS I-181 is sighted by escort
DD McCook attacking submerged sub ....
DD Endicott fails to find sub, continues to search...
DE Pope attacking submerged sub ....
DMS Perry fails to find sub and abandons search
DD McCook fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Endicott fails to find sub and abandons search
DE Pope fails to find sub and abandons search
DD McCook attacking submerged sub ....
DD McCook loses contact with SS I-181
SS I-181 forced to surface!
DD Endicott firing on surfaced sub ....
DE Pope firing on surfaced sub ....
DMS Perry firing on surfaced sub ....
DD McCook firing on surfaced sub ....
DMS Perry firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Endicott firing on surfaced sub ....
DE Pope firing on surfaced sub ....
DMS Perry firing on surfaced sub ....
DD McCook firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Endicott firing on surfaced sub ....
DE Pope firing on surfaced sub ....
DMS Perry firing on surfaced sub ....
DD McCook firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Endicott firing on surfaced sub ....
DE Pope firing on surfaced sub ....
DMS Perry firing on surfaced sub ....
DD McCook firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Endicott firing on surfaced sub ....
DE Pope firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Rennell Island at 114,140

Japanese Ships
SS I-155, hits 11, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Foote
DD Renshaw
DD Pringle

SS I-155 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Foote
DD Renshaw fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Pringle fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Foote fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Renshaw attacking submerged sub ....
DD Pringle fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Foote fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Renshaw fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Renshaw attacking submerged sub ....
DD Renshaw fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Renshaw fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Renshaw fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


Here's what my night bombing looks like sometimes [:)] Only about 1/3 of the 4Es actually flew
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Night Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
J1N1-S Irving x 2

Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 3 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 2000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Endo Det with J1N1-S Irving (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 7000.
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hansa Bay , at 97,121

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 5
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 6
B-24D1 Liberator x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 2 destroyed on ground
J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17D Fortress: 2 damaged
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed by flak
B-24D1 Liberator: 5 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17D Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
802 Ku S-1/B with A6M5 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 5000.
Raid is overhead
5th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 49 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Allied aircraft
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 5

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 damaged
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 2000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Shortlands , at 109,131

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1-C Judy: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 3 damaged

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 2000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 5 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hansa Bay , at 97,121

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 2

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 6 damaged

Airbase hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters to 2000.
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hansa Bay , at 97,121

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 48 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged

Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters to 2000.
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hansa Bay , at 97,121

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed on ground
J2M2 Jack: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Hansa Bay , at 97,121

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 3 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak

Airbase hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Tulagi (114,137)

66 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DD Ward
DD Wilson
DD Sterett
AKA Arcturus

DD Ward firing at 44th Naval Guard Unit
DD Wilson firing at 44th Naval Guard Unit
DD Sterett firing at Kure 3rd SNLF
DD Ward fired at enemy troops
DD Sterett fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Tulagi (114,137)

TF 84 troops unloading over beach at Tulagi, 114,137

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Motorized Support lost from landing craft during unload of 2/7th Armoured Rgt /4


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Lunga (114,138)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

182 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
APD Litchfield

Allied ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

APD Litchfield fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Lunga (114,138)

TF 95 troops unloading over beach at Lunga, 114,138

Allied ground losses:
54 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Lunga (114,138)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

157 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma
DD Endicott
APA U.S. Grant
DD McCook

Japanese ground losses:
62 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
113 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

BB Oklahoma firing at 60th/A Division
DD Endicott firing at 60th/B Division
DD Endicott fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Lunga (114,138)

TF 323 troops unloading over beach at Lunga, 114,138

Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 8 (0 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

12 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 2nd Marine Div /5
Motorized Support accidentally lost during unload of 2nd Marine Div /10


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Lunga (114,138)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

173 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
SC Constant
SC-744
SC-743
SC-742
SC-740
APA George Clymer

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

SC Constant fired at enemy troops
SC-744 fired at enemy troops
SC-743 fired at enemy troops
SC-742 fired at enemy troops
SC-740 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Lunga (114,138)

TF 342 troops unloading over beach at Lunga, 114,138

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



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Lunga (114,138)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

171 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
SC-750
SC-749
SC-741
SC-739
xAP Santa Inez
DMS Chandler

Allied ground losses:
78 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

SC-750 fired at enemy troops
SC-749 fired at enemy troops
SC-741 fired at enemy troops
SC-739 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Lunga (114,138)

TF 350 troops unloading over beach at Lunga, 114,138



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Invasion Support action off Tulagi (114,137)

59 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DD Ward
DD Schley
DD Chew
AKA Arcturus
DD Wilson

DD Schley firing at 144th JAAF AF Bn
DD Chew firing at Kure 3rd SNLF
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Lunga (114,138)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

110 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
APD Litchfield

Allied ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

APD Litchfield fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Lunga (114,138)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

192 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma
DD McCook
DD Endicott
APA U.S. Grant
DE Pope

Allied ground losses:
117 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

BB Oklahoma firing at 60th/B Division
DD McCook fired at enemy troops
DD Endicott fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Lunga (114,138)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

83 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
SC-744
SC-743
SC-742
SC-740
APA George Clymer
SC Constant

Allied ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

SC-744 fired at enemy troops
SC-743 fired at enemy troops
SC-742 fired at enemy troops
SC-740 fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Lunga (114,138)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

17 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
SC-749
SC-741
SC-739
xAP Santa Inez

SC-749 fired at enemy troops
SC-741 fired at enemy troops
SC-739 fired at enemy troops


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 289 encounters mine field at Lunga (114,138)

Allied Ships
AM Sheldrake
AM Herald
AM Heed
AM Pursuit

34 mines cleared

Then a few raids during the day, mostly me bombing Lunga and the lone attack on CL Perth at Taberfane. Then more:

Naval bombardment of Shortlands at 109,131

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 4 damaged
A6M5b Zero: 22 damaged
D4Y1-C Judy: 7 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 27 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Philip
DD Jenkins
DD Bache

Japanese ground losses:
57 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Airbase hits 9
Runway hits 20
Port hits 19
Port supply hits 1

DD Philip firing at Shortlands
DD Jenkins firing at Shortlands
DD Bache firing at Shortlands


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Taberfane at 82,117

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 11 damaged
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-III Dinah: 7 damaged
D4Y1-C Judy: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Perth
CL Leander

Japanese ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 28
Port hits 5

CL Perth firing at Taberfane
CL Leander firing at Taberfane

Put a few hits on some Recon units today.

Then the post-invasion reveal:

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

Ground combat at Lunga (114,138)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6292 troops, 49 guns, 10 vehicles, Assault Value = 256

Defending force 20270 troops, 242 guns, 276 vehicles, Assault Value = 477

Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
60th/A Division
60th/B Division
45th Const Co
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
52nd JNAF AF Unit
4th JAAF Base Force
50th Field AA Battalion
55th Field AA Battalion
83rd JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
3rd USMC Parachute Battalion
2nd Marine Division
Thirteenth USAAF
221st USN Base Force
34th Aviation Base Force


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

Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3339 troops, 31 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 132

Defending force 3673 troops, 71 guns, 365 vehicles, Assault Value = 219

Assaulting units:
Kure 3rd SNLF
44th Naval Guard Unit
144th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
2/7th Armoured Regiment
15th Marine Defense Battalion
205th Field Artillery Battalion

One landing phase went ashore at Russell Islands, but no bombardment happened. Says to me that his forces there are too weak to do so, or have no guns.

I appeared to get 2 unloading phases at Lunga/Tulagi. ALL of the troops in each set of landing forces made it ashore, making me extremely happy that I decided to load up on so many ships to get it done that way. Although no danger appears to be on the horizon, about half of the landing TFs can retire immediately! 10000 Supplies are present at Lunga, 4300 at Tulagi, and Fatigue/Disruption are below 50 on all units. We will shock attack in both locations. More supply will be unloaded for at least one more day.

Naval CAP shot down 4 Jakes and 2 Dinahs on Naval Search during the day. Well done, boys.

[Lokasenna]

Who knows what "US Assault Squad" is? I can't find it in Tracker's Device list.

[Lokasenna]

Lunga

Depending on Forts, we should do well here. BBs Maryland, Colorado, and West Virginia will bombard today and retire to Ndeni, while the rest of the surface fleet remains with the CVs.

[Lokasenna]

Tulagi

Should be a cakewalk, even if he has forts 4 or something. May not take it on day 1 if he does, but he doesn't have the TOE in those units to compete with any kind of armour.

[Lokasenna]

Russell Islands

Will bombard here, given that I have no support ashore... I will move a CV TF 1 hex closer here, as this is the most vulnerable group and there are still some troops onboard. I need both unloading phases to get them ashore.

A small TF of 1-3 cruisers and 2-3 DDs will break off and cover, in case what looks to be 5-6 DDs at Rabaul decide to run down on full speed to get this group.

[Lokasenna]

Otter's Ransom - Day 2



Sorry if that's a bit cluttered, but all the highlights are in the image itself...

I briefly considered moving the CVEs to Russell Island, but decided that I didn't want a repeat of the last experience, and it isn't worth losing even a single CVE to save those xAPs. Better if they remain at Tulagi and maintain coverage over the main zone, while my 2x CV + CV Victorious (with 54 Avengers) moves up to cover Russell. If any IJN shows up unexpectedly, those 54 Avengers should do some damage.

Note that I have 276 Av Supp ready and waiting at Lunga. Although the airfield is damaged a large amount (shows as 100 in recon, and I've been bombing it for days) and I only landed 88 Engineers, so I may not be able to transfer in planes right away. We'll see. He can't keep all 5 bases that I'm taking suppressed with just Rabaul active, and Shortlands damaged. Torokina may be able to assist, but my last recon showed that it was Port 1/AF 4 with no troops present.

For Lunga's defense, the only planes that can reach from Rabaul on sweep are A6M3a and earlier, and his latest Oscar model. He could use Georges, Jacks, and Tojos from Shortlands, but that place has to be operable first. It's my next "shut it down" target, and Venturas + USAAF operating from Lunga and the surrounding fields should be able to accomplish this, I hope.

Nice of him to build Russell Islands, Tassafaronga to AF 4, and Lunga to AF 5 for me, yeah?

[Lokasenna]

Port Moresby

Sadly, after a poor day of sweeps by him (using over 200 Fighters) against my CAP at Moresby, where he went 1:2 on kill ratio in the air, and then a good day of sweeps by him (using 160 fighters against my Corsair-less CAP) where he got 2:1 kill ratio, although less than I got against him...

He hasn't come back this time. He seems willing/eager to try to deplete my airframe pools, but thus far I have been using models with deep pools - over 340 P-40K, for example, and still 200 P-39Ds. I have 100 Jugs in the pools and only these 3 operational units. I plan to transfer them to Lunga to help keep Shortlands suppressed once I have the airfield there operational.

Since I moved on Lunga, I'm doubting he'll come back here with sweeps, but I sure would like him to. I'll be keeping my eyes on Rabaul. I have AF 5 at Moresby, almost 6, and almost 400 Av. Supp. I could fly in 150x 4Es and run a large night-time raid on his airfield. August 20 may actually be an ideal day, as he may be focusing on striking back at Lunga, and I could catch a ton of planes on the ground.

Unfortunately, I just don't have space for that at Moresby, and while CAP doesn't seem to suffer much from overstacked airfields, a lot of times bomber raids just won't fly if you're overstacked. On top of wanting to fly at night, well... I'll see what happens tomorrow.

[obvert]

Even if you have to wait a week or two to use what you have at PM, eventually you'll be crushing the smaller bases in the area and can just follow on with airfield strikes after there are bullet riddled planes littering the fields at Lae and Hansa Bay.