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.
Agree... I could probably attempt some sweeps in tandem with the night bombing against Lae/Hansa. He has enough engineers at Buna that I need to bomb there about once a week, but even then he could probably contest those bombings if he flew in planes, so I am careful to sweep first with P-38s from Portland Roads.
I should search for another frontline USAAF unit that I can upgrade to Jugs. With 4 operational squadrons, I could split 2/2 between Moresby and Lunga/Tulagi (once I capture them...), and use them with P-38s to sweep while my Corsairs/Hellcats ride CAP. We'll see. Fighting against these enormous airfields isn't easy, but I still think it's my best course so far. If I can get to Buka and Ontong Java by the end of the year, I can use B-24s to make even Truk dangerous for his ships and planes - and that opens up options.
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.
Agree... I could probably attempt some sweeps in tandem with the night bombing against Lae/Hansa. He has enough engineers at Buna that I need to bomb there about once a week, but even then he could probably contest those bombings if he flew in planes, so I am careful to sweep first with P-38s from Portland Roads.
I should search for another frontline USAAF unit that I can upgrade to Jugs. With 4 operational squadrons, I could split 2/2 between Moresby and Lunga/Tulagi (once I capture them...), and use them with P-38s to sweep while my Corsairs/Hellcats ride CAP. We'll see. Fighting against these enormous airfields isn't easy, but I still think it's my best course so far. If I can get to Buka and Ontong Java by the end of the year, I can use B-24s to make even Truk dangerous for his ships and planes - and that opens up options.
Once you have a foothold on the Solomons you also won't need so much air supremacy or sea power to move forward. Just LSTs and lots of little landing craft, PTs and Fletchers covered by CAP and AA units.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
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.
Agree... I could probably attempt some sweeps in tandem with the night bombing against Lae/Hansa. He has enough engineers at Buna that I need to bomb there about once a week, but even then he could probably contest those bombings if he flew in planes, so I am careful to sweep first with P-38s from Portland Roads.
I should search for another frontline USAAF unit that I can upgrade to Jugs. With 4 operational squadrons, I could split 2/2 between Moresby and Lunga/Tulagi (once I capture them...), and use them with P-38s to sweep while my Corsairs/Hellcats ride CAP. We'll see. Fighting against these enormous airfields isn't easy, but I still think it's my best course so far. If I can get to Buka and Ontong Java by the end of the year, I can use B-24s to make even Truk dangerous for his ships and planes - and that opens up options.
Once you have a foothold on the Solomons you also won't need so much air supremacy or sea power to move forward. Just LSTs and lots of little landing craft, PTs and Fletchers covered by CAP and AA units.
I've run into initial difficulties in taking the places. I can outlast him, and keep him from competeing in the air by forcing him onto his back foot via airfield bombing... but I should have brought more than just the built-in ARTy in the USMC Div. Forts 4 at Lunga and at Tulagi. I've caused a large amount of casualties at Tulagi, but forts aren't dropping as I am missing 1:1 odds by a small amount. As his supplies dwindle, I will get him. I'm OK with that.
Lunga, I landed the 27th USA Division this turn. Once disruption is down, I am thinking that I should begin knocking down forts and once that happens, he'll be toast in a few turns.
I lost my notes for August 21, apparently... but I landed at Rossel and Tagula Islands. Tagula is defended, and my landing force eventually reembarks because the rifle squads didn't try to unload until August 23. Ah well. I'll come back for it.
CA Cornwall, CL Montpelier, CL Birmingham, and 2 Gridley-class DDs are at Russell Islands, with a reaction set. They react into CL Oyodo and 3 DDs, eventually sinking them all. However, on August 22 Judys from Kiriwina Island hit Cornwall and Birmingham with a few bombs each, and they need to visit a shipyard for a couple days. Major damage of 7 and 6, respectively.
The rest of August 22-23, not much happens. Rossel flips to my control on August 22, and I begin advancing the Port first, starting on August 23. 31% per day. I keep Buna suppressed with 50+ B-25s from Portland Roads.
I-123 hits CVE Corregidor on August 23, on the way back to Noumea. Damage is slight, she'll live and need to visit Sydney for a short while, despite an ammo storage explosion.
Lunga: forts are at 4, I can't deal any damage with bombing or bombardment with my lone artillery unit. I'll wait for fatigue on the USMC division to decrease under 20 before I attack again.
Tulagi: forts also at 4, but tanks will eventually overpower him through sheer assault odds.
Russell Islands: forts 3, and my lone regiment isn't going to be enough. I need to bring ships to bombard, get them from the air, etc. I'll do this eventually. Supply is a little low so I'll wait on more assets.
My CVs are almost all over covering Rossel Island, just 1 hex out, and he hasn't detected me. At all. Surprising.
Not much action elsewhere on the map... my subs have been sinking some stuff off and on in the SRA. Only a week now to fully working torpedoes. Speaking of subs, over the past several days, I've sunk 3 or 4 of his. SS Pollack misses finishing off the crippled I-26 this turn. Also of note, I've seen his RO-boats hit "heavy damage" just from 10 or so near misses. Their low durability must really affect the amount of system damage they take from near misses.
He has subs trailing my guys back to Noumea. I lose 2 xAPs this day to single torpedo hits, but no big deal. A previously damaged xAK also sinks. I'm waypointing around the west side of Koumac now.
My 3x 16" BBs bombard Tulagi after running off 3 E's, which he is using to fight my amphibs? Either he's desperate and has few assets in the area, or unwilling to commit any major ships. 2 E's at Rossel Island do sink an AM and damage an xAP with a torpedo.
77 Hellcats on leaky CAP over Rossel shoot down 16x A6M3a's and 17x Bettys (out of 18), for the loss of 4 Hellcats. Great day. The lone torpedo that was dropped was against an AM, and it missed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 105,137
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 157 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 55 minutes
Assaulting units:
3rd USMC Parachute Battalion
27th Infantry Division
2nd Marine Division
221st USN Base Force
34th Aviation Base Force
3rd USN Naval Construction Battalion
Thirteenth USAAF
5th USN Naval Construction Battalion
Defending units:
60th/A Division
60th/B Division
50th Field AA Battalion
55th Field AA Battalion
45th Const Co
4th JAAF Base Force
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
52nd JNAF AF Unit
83rd JAAF AF Bn
Tulagi: The bombardment helped, but the ground bombing not so much (no hits...).
Night Naval bombardment of Tulagi at 114,137
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 3 damaged
E13A1 Jake: 3 destroyed on ground
Allied Ships
BB West Virginia
BB Colorado
BB Maryland
Japanese ground losses:
193 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Am actually -43 VPs this turn, but that'll change. Moresby is in yellow, but more supply coming up from Sydney (nearest available expendable ships). Only 5 VPs for me for his LCUs this turn, but 16 for him (presumably a small amount from the torpedo hit on the xAP).
August 25
We're actually redoing this turn, due to what sounds like either a SNAFU or misunderstanding on his part, involving one of his SCTFs. He's said he's not going to change any of the other orders.... I tried to duplicate what I did. In the combat replay he sent me, a big cruiser force of mine punched through some PBs and stuff at Shortlands before bombarding the place. They also ran into Kako/Furutaka (I think), which weren't supposed to be there, and they later got finished off by my CV aircraft (which he couldn't see). Also captured Tulagi. We'll see if the results hold tomorrow morning...
Am making good progress to that 2:1 that I want by the end of the year. I think I'll beat it, especially as I plan a rapid-fire advance in the short term.
Allied Ships
CA Wichita
CA Salt Lake City
CA Louisville
CA Northampton
CL Honolulu
CL Nashville
DD O'Bannon
DD DeHaven
DD Cony
DD Chevalier
DD Fletcher
Japanese ground losses:
247 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 8 destroyed, 54 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 20 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 5 Runway hits 91
Port hits 41
Port supply hits 9
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Then night bombing goes in, and only finds Rufes on CAP. So his planes are either all damaged, or pilots so demoralized that they won't fly, or the airfield is closed. Good.
Over in PNG, I damage but don't close Lae's airfield, as it is unprotected. Hitting Milne Bay tomorrow, leaving the 2x25 P-38 sweeps on Lae. That makes Lae, Buna, Milne Bay, and Shortlands risky places for him, even though I haven't been good about keeping them permanently closed.
Lunga:
Ground combat at Lunga (114,138)
Allied Deliberate attack
Attacking force 27463 troops, 452 guns, 449 vehicles, Assault Value = 716
Defending force 10184 troops, 123 guns, 85 vehicles, Assault Value = 151
Assaulting units:
3rd USMC Parachute Battalion
27th Infantry Division
2nd Marine Division
221st USN Base Force
Thirteenth USAAF
3rd USN Naval Construction Battalion
34th Aviation Base Force
5th USN Naval Construction Battalion
Defending units:
60th/A Division
60th/B Division
52nd JNAF AF Unit
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
45th Const Co
55th Field AA Battalion
50th Field AA Battalion
4th JAAF Base Force
83rd JAAF AF Bn
144th JAAF AF Bn Wiped Out at Tulagi by attrition!!!
Japanese Unit(s) surrounded at Tulagi
Getting there... Here's Tulagi on August 26. Flying in some engineers, with others loading up on landing craft. Same is going for Lunga, which already has a few engineers present. He's only left 60ish bombers at Rabaul, so I think he might be giving up on every day resistance here. I don't expect him to bomb the Guadalcanal area from Rabaul, especially without Shortlands being active.
Assaulting units:
27th Infantry Division
3rd USMC Parachute Battalion
2nd Marine Division
221st USN Base Force
3rd USN Naval Construction Battalion
34th Aviation Base Force
Thirteenth USAAF
5th USN Naval Construction Battalion
Defending units:
60th/B Division
83rd JAAF AF Bn
45th Const Co
50th Field AA Battalion
4th JAAF Base Force
55th Field AA Battalion
52nd JNAF AF Unit
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
60th/A Division
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
55th Field AA Battalion Wiped Out at Lunga by attrition!!!
No plan as yet for taking Tassafaronga, but I have time. I forgot to send any LCUs from Lunga initially, but will do so tomorrow. I haven't decided yet whether it will be the Marines or the 27th. I am thinking the 27th, though, while I prep the Marines for their next target (the 27th will start prep also). The 27th could use the EXP bump more than the USMC Div could. Once the US Fifth Fleet gets based at Tulagi, I should be fine on naval support in the area.
Other action is light, and I spend a lot of time going through my air groups and available pools. I upgrade several veteran units at Ndeni and Luganville to P-38H and P-47D2. I will now have a very large group of sweepers/LRCAPers that I can base at Lunga and begin to dominate the rest of the island chain.
Daylight airfield bombing at Shortlands shows that he's running LRCAP over the place, presumably from Rabaul using DTs (Torokina is almost empty as well as Shortlands, per DL 9/10 recon). I would like to be able to sweep with my P-38s now that my 4Es have punched some holes in the CAP, but it's 1 hex too far. We'll see how the progress goes on the Lunga airfield...
Goal here is to give me the option to skip Rabaul later this year or in early '44 if I want to. Planning to skip Buna for now, maybe come back for those LCU VPs later. The 18th Brit Div is at Cooktown and fully prepped for Buna, and I still have 2 USA IDs at Moresby/Owen Stanley Mtns. All of these targets are either empty or lightly defended.
197 fighters transferred to Lunga on August 31. With DTs I can assist 1 Essex and 3 CVLs in providing cover to Munda invasion, especially as I plan to transfer in 100 P-38s to provide yet more LRCAP. With that many engineers, I should vomit out a base pretty quickly.
And then it's back to Noumea/Luganville to load up and hit Shortlands, while the Milne amphibs run shuttle back to Townsville to grab the new forces for Tagula and those for Woodlark... Don't actually have much prepped for Kiriwina Island, so I'll need to fix that. It's another AF4 that he has lightly defended.
Just need to be mindful during all of this that some form of KB could show up at any point. Planning to put Cats at Munda almost immediately.
tm.asp?m=2885601
Per this thread, I'm waaaaay over the engineer maximum here. It is only 890. Tulagi only has 130 effective engineers at the moment, so I've begun loading some up to take across the sound...
88/90 TBFs on ASW/Nav Search from here. Planning to land at Munda this turn, and will begin using the transport groups to fly USMC paras around, scooping up the rest of the middle of the chain.
The 197 fighters are almost all on CAP. Will transfer some over to Tulagi soon, and bring in 100 P-38s to begin establishing air superiority over Shortlands
The next phase of the operation: Milne Bay and Munda, which has been stepped up by 1-2 days due to the lack of DL on the Milne Bay forces. This turns out to be an unwise decision, as I don't have enough CAP available on September 4, but first September 3:
On the 3rd, Tagula continues to be pounded from the air. His units there can't have much left, several hundred casualties in the destroyed column over the past few days.
Russell Islands fortifications are dropped to 2 in a 3:1 attack by the lone USA regiment there. Bombers and bombardments have helped reduce the troops.
Speaking of the bombardment TF, BB West Virginia was hit by a submarine torpedo outside Kirakira today. Damage is moderate - I'll probably send her all the way back to Pearl. Sydney is busy enough as it is with a couple of CVEs and some slight cruiser/submarine damage (Brisbane also busy).
Milne Bay LCUs have landed completely, with 7200 supplies - more than enough to last for a few months if I need to. Which I don't. I'll withdraw the TFs to the W for now, just in case he has a bunch of bombers waiting. Also just in case he has a bunch of bombers, I'm ordering heavy night bombing on Buna along with cruiser bombardment and P-38/P-47 sweeps to follow during the day - if he makes the mistake of bringing in a huge Kate/Jill unit, or any bombers/fighters, I want to knock as many down to the ground as possible to be destroyed from the air.
Will also bombard Shortlands with my other large cruiser group south of Rossel Island - DL 1/4. 100 fighters and a few bombers/auxiliaries listed at Shortlands today. I would like to knock it back out of commission.
He hasn't detected the Munda forces at all, at one full day's movement away. Expecting Munda to be undefended, I order everybody in. I fail to set LRCAP...
Attachments
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Ah, then this happens... No turn yet, but September 4 combat text follows. Highlights:
Not enough CAP over Munda. I should have flown the P-38s to Lunga and LRCAPed. Or even with the 50 Jugs there using DTs. Only 43 of the 72 available CAP from the CV/CVLs covers Munda. I shoot down my CAP's share of planes, but they take a toll in ships. Looks like at least 4-5 APA sunk, with men on board. But there's a silver lining, right? Yep - the sunk ships were all carrying support troops, so at least I didn't lose any of my USMC or Aussie squads. Engineers, support, aviation support, etc. - all stuff that I have plenty to spare. Still, the VPs from the ships hurts, and knocking so many amphibs out of action temporarily (and sinking a handful) is not something I wanted to happen right now.
BB Oklahoma sunk as well.
I could have just taken Munda by paratrooper and flown in engineers, but I'm on a timetable here. I want to be at an established Buka or farther by the end of the year. Even with my plethora of transport aircraft, it would have taken much longer to land so many engineers at Munda. A bunch of them just drowned, but... oh well. As I said in my email in response to chastisement from my opponent, not the end of the world.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Sep 04, 43
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Sub attack near Perth at 45,147
Japanese Ships
SS I-37
Allied Ships
xAK Nova Scotia
xAK Clan Macnaughton
SS I-37 launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Nova Scotia
I-37 diving deep ....
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Malacca at 49,82
Japanese Ships
E Susuki
xAP Ural Maru
xAP Taizan Maru
xAK Atago Maru
xAK Matsue Maru
Allied Ships
SS Swordfish
SS Swordfish launches 4 torpedoes at E Susuki
E Susuki attacking submerged sub ....
E Susuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Susuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Susuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
E Susuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Chichi-jima at 114,78
SS Gunnel launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Taigen Maru
Gunnel diving deep ....
E Ishizaki fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Fukuei Maru fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Taian Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Taian Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Taian Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Taian Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Taian Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Taian Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Shortlands at 109,131
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 34 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 3 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 9 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 49 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M5b Zero: 19 damaged
A6M5b Zero: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 43 damaged
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 3 destroyed on ground
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 59 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M5 Zero: 3 damaged
A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
E13A1 Jake: 2 damaged
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground
D4Y1-C Judy: 3 damaged
A6M2-N Rufe: 5 damaged
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied Ships
CA Wichita
CA Salt Lake City
CA Louisville
CA Northampton
CL Honolulu
CL Nashville
DD O'Bannon
DD DeHaven
DD Cony
DD Chevalier
DD Fletcher
Japanese ground losses:
648 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 43 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 90
Port hits 29
Port supply hits 3
CA Wichita firing at Shortlands
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Salt Lake City
CA Salt Lake City firing at Shortlands
CA Louisville firing at Shortlands
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Northampton
CA Northampton firing at 26th Ind.Mixed Brigade
CL Honolulu firing at Shortlands
CL Nashville firing at 26th Ind.Mixed Brigade
DD O'Bannon firing at Shortlands
DD DeHaven firing at Shortlands
DD Cony firing at Shortlands
DD Chevalier firing at Shortlands
DD Fletcher firing at Shortlands
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Buna at 99,129
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 3 damaged
Allied Ships
CA Pensacola
CA Indianapolis
CL Santa Fe
CL Cleveland
DD Tucker
DD Preston
DD Perkins
DD McCall
DD Gridley
DD Monssen
DD Gwin
Japanese ground losses:
174 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 19 (4 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 42
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 2
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Pensacola
CA Pensacola firing at Buna
CA Indianapolis firing at 52nd Division
CL Santa Fe firing at 64th Division
CL Cleveland firing at 52nd Division
DD Tucker firing at 64th Division
DD Preston firing at 52nd Division
DD Perkins firing at 52nd Division
DD McCall firing at Buna
DD Gridley firing at 52nd Division
DD Monssen firing at 52nd Division
DD Gwin firing at 52nd Division
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Sub attack near Tandjoengbalai at 47,79
Japanese Ships
SC CHa-29, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
SC CHa-15
Allied Ships
SS Trident
SS Trident launches 6 torpedoes at SC CHa-29
Trident bottoming out ....
SC CHa-15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC CHa-15 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Perth at 48,147
Japanese Ships
SS I-37
Allied Ships
xAK Clan Macnaughton
SS I-37 is sighted by escort
I-37 diving deep ....
Escort abandons search for sub
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Morning Air attack on Rossel Island , at 105,137
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 17
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 42
P-40K Warhawk x 18
CAP engaged:
No.898 Sqn FAA with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 28 on standby, 0 scrambling)
14 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
15th FG/47th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 28000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 13
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 25
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
F6F-3 Hellcat x 35
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
CAP engaged:
VF-1 with F6F-3 Hellcat (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(25 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 16 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
VF-22 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
VF-24 with F4F-4 Wildcat (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 46
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
F6F-3 Hellcat x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 9 destroyed, 5 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Perry
DD Endicott
Aircraft Attacking:
29 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
CAP engaged:
VF-1 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 60 minutes
VF-22 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
VF-24 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 92 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 38
P1Y1 Frances x 9
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
F6F-3 Hellcat x 4
Allied Ships
APA Wayne, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
APA La Salle, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Smith
APA Sheridan, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
APA Fayette, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Cassin
APA Warren, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
33 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
9 x P1Y1 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
CAP engaged:
VF-1 with F6F-3 Hellcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
VF-22 with F6F-3 Hellcat (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 10000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
VF-24 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes
Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 damaged
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
DM Sicard
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x E13A1 Jake bombing from 100 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 60 kg GP Bomb
Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 119 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 10
P1Y1 Frances x 9
Allied Ships
BB Oklahoma, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APA Heywood
DE Pope
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x P1Y1 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rossel Island , at 105,137
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 191 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 62 minutes
Japanese aircraft
J2M2 Jack x 2
Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIc Trop x 26
P-40K Warhawk x 13
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
CAP engaged:
No.898 Sqn FAA with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
24 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 26000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 61 minutes
15th FG/47th FS with P-40K Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
13 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 23000 and 27000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 109 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 29
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 26
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 7 damaged
Allied Ships
LSI(L) Dunedin Star, Bomb hits 1, on fire
APA J. Franklin Bell, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AM Strahan, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
APA American Legion, Bomb hits 3, on fire
DD Endicott
APA Heywood, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
APA George F. Elliot, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
10 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
15 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring APA Heywood
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring APA George F. Elliot
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 62 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 20
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 8 damaged
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
APA Fayette, on fire, heavy damage
APA Callaway, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
APA Bolivar, Bomb hits 4, on fire
APA Cambria, Bomb hits 2, on fire
APA Warren, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
6 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
8 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring APA Callaway
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring APA Cambria
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring APA Warren
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 18th Naval Guard Unit, at 113,136 (Russell Islands)
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-17F Fortress x 6
B-24D1 Liberator x 15
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 7
PV-1 Ventura x 21
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 2000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x PV-1 Ventura bombing from 2000 feet *
Ground Attack: 3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Also attacking 38th JAAF AF Bn ...
Also attacking 1st Raiding Rgt /2 ...
Also attacking 26th JAAF AF Bn ...
Also attacking 18th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 9th Field AF Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking 18th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 38th JAAF AF Bn ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 39th JAAF AF Bn , at 101,133 (Milne Bay)
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
CAP engaged:
204 Ku S-1/C with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead
802 Ku S-1/B with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead
802 Ku S-1/C with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead
Also attacking Maizuru 1st SNLF ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 1st Raiding Regiment, at 113,136 (Russell Islands)
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-17F Fortress x 6
B-24D1 Liberator x 12
B-25D1 Mitchell x 15
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Also attacking 18th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 1st Raiding Rgt /2 ...
Also attacking 18th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 1st Raiding Rgt /2 ...
Also attacking 18th Naval Guard Unit ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 60th Division, at 113,137 (Tassafaronga)
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 6
Allied aircraft losses
Hudson III (LR): 3 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 2000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 110th Division, at 55,45 , near Akyab
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
Hudson IIIa x 14
Liberator B.III x 2
Liberator GR.III x 12
B-24D1 Liberator x 24
B-25C Mitchell x 28
Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Hudson IIIa bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
12 x Liberator GR.III bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 250 lb GP Bomb
2 x Liberator B.III bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
16 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Also attacking 16th Division ...
Also attacking 55th Division ...
Also attacking 33rd Division ...
Also attacking 13th Army ...
Also attacking 110th Division ...
Also attacking 16th Division ...
Also attacking 55th Division ...
Also attacking 33rd Division ...
Also attacking 13th Army ...
Also attacking 33rd Division ...
Also attacking 110th Division ...
Also attacking 16th Division ...
Also attacking 55th Division ...
Also attacking 33rd Division ...
Also attacking 13th Army ...
Also attacking 110th Division ...
Also attacking 16th Division ...
Also attacking 55th Division ...
Also attacking 33rd Division ...
Also attacking 13th Army ...
Also attacking 33rd Division ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 110th Division, at 55,45 , near Akyab
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 26th JAAF AF Bn , at 113,136 (Russell Islands)
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-25D1 Mitchell x 3
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 damaged
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
Also attacking 18th Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking 26th JAAF AF Bn ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 18th Naval Guard Unit, at 113,136 (Russell Islands)
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 18th Naval Guard Unit, at 113,136 (Russell Islands)
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 18th Naval Guard Unit, at 113,136 (Russell Islands)
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 18th Naval Guard Unit, at 113,136 (Russell Islands)
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 2000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 43,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 19
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
19 x P-38E Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Mandalay , at 59,46
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 43,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 25
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
25 x P-38F Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Buna , at 99,129
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 42 NM, estimated altitude 47,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 22
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
22 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 42000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Buna , at 99,129
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 44,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 22
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
22 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 42000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Buna , at 99,129
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 41,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 21
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
21 x P-38H Lightning sweeping at 40000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Buna , at 99,129
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 42,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 17
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
17 x P-38E Lightning sweeping at 39000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 13
N1K1-J George x 9
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 29
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
F6F-3 Hellcat x 22
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
CAP engaged:
VF-1 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(18 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 18 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
VF-22 with F6F-3 Hellcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
VF-24 with F4F-4 Wildcat (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 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 27
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 10
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
F6F-3 Hellcat x 6
Allied Ships
DD Cassin
LSD Carter Hall
APA Elmore, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
APA Cambria, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
APA Callaway, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
25 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
CAP engaged:
VF-22 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 32000 and 33000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-1 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 28000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes
VF-24 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 34000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B6N2 Jill x 23
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
DM Sicard
DD Conyngham
AKA Virgo
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
CAP engaged:
VF-22 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
VF-1 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 21000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 52 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
P1Y1 Frances x 9
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 1
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
DD Endicott
AM Wallaroo
APA Hunter Liggett, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x P1Y1 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
CAP engaged:
VF-22 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 61 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 23
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 6 damaged
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
DMS Dorsey
APA Hunter Liggett, heavy damage
DE Pope, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AM Wagga, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
AM Wallaroo, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
APA Leonard Wood, Bomb hits 3, on fire
LSI(L) Dunedin Star, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
8 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
14 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AM Wagga
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring LSI(L) Dunedin Star
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 17
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 10 damaged
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
APA John Penn, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
DD McCook
APA George F. Elliot, on fire
APA Heywood, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Endicott
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
4 x Ki-48-IIb Lily releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg SAP Bomb
Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 3rd Tank Division, at 59,46 (Mandalay)
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes
Allied aircraft
Liberator II x 16
Wellington Ic x 16
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
43 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 13 (1 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
16 x Liberator II bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
16 x Wellington Ic bombing from 8000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Buna , at 99,129
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 44,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 22
No Allied losses
Aircraft Attacking:
22 x P-47D2 Thunderbolt sweeping at 42000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Munda (111,134)
TF 95 troops unloading over beach at Munda, 111,134
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Munda (111,134)
TF 243 troops unloading over beach at Munda, 111,134
Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Munda (111,134)
TF 323 troops unloading over beach at Munda, 111,134
Something to consider in this area is using a bunch of landing craft at 3-4 hex distance and never putting big ships at risk in these tight quarters close to the enemy. Sure, he could send in surface forces, but even risking DDs with your fleets around could be good for you. I think it's also tougher for the Japanese to guess what's coming if you're using small craft that can be disbanded anywhere, filed and moving out in a day, and covered by PTs and Fletchers. I've done this extensively, sometimes also adding in some of the smaller xAKL with troop hauling ability (out of the Philipenes) and the one time he tried to go for them he lost 6-8 older DDs for a few 2 point xAKLs and two AMs. Your risk vs reward is much better this way.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
It takes too long to do that. It's my plan for the little dot bases, but I want(ed) Munda up and running very quickly. I still may be able to do that. We'll see. Going south of Rabaul is already a bad idea for his ships, although he could bring KB if he wanted to and timed it right.
The one thing I could have changed here is not had my CVEs all back at Sydney. I didn't need to have 6-7 of them escorting one damaged hull to the shipyard. These ships were available and not being used. I should have used them. Another 150 planes of CAP may have made all the difference.
Still haven't got the turn, so I haven't loaded into Tracker and don't know the actual results. We know 4 APAs are sunk for sure from the combat report, and I imagine another few will sink from damage sustained. I'm not too torn up about the Oklahoma. I didn't need her in the TF given what I knew about Munda, but she's also not the most important ship right now. Losing her may bring me up to historical loss numbers for USN pre-war BBs (5). VP-wise, the Seabees are going to give him a couple hundred as well, I think.
I get it. If you want/need to speed up the process there are risks, and that's something we all decide as we go. I've just made a similar choice in Cent Pac and don't know the results yet!
You can also look at this as a prep for next time. I know we all get trigger happy, so when you can there is also the possibility he'll go all in for another of these medium sized invasions and you can either heavily CAP it or pull it back and use that aggressiveness against him. Jocke started to do that in 44 really well against me, and I had to adjust to change my practices too! Always a cat and mouse.
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
Here is my two bit commentary take it for what it is worth. It is sept 43, in a no rules game, where your Japan has maxed the sizes of his navy squadrons making them very formidable, indeed!
You should not be in a hurry, doing multi pronged assaults. You should be attacking serially. First this, then that, each with heavy protection especially where you decide to commit very valuable APAs! Even then, those supersized squadrons will get thru.
In addition you should take pressure off your front lines by taking some of those dot bases around Green Island, and Ontong. Why even fight him bayonet to bayonet. Take the dots, build them and punish him by air.
But then I think I was advocating a fast grab on Umboi a while back when your recon showed it was next to empty. Would have corked him up good!
Back seat driver mode off!
On a totally different topic, when do you get aerial mines?
I get it. If you want/need to speed up the process there are risks, and that's something we all decide as we go. I've just made a similar choice in Cent Pac and don't know the results yet!
You can also look at this as a prep for next time. I know we all get trigger happy, so when you can there is also the possibility he'll go all in for another of these medium sized invasions and you can either heavily CAP it or pull it back and use that aggressiveness against him. Jocke started to do that in 44 really well against me, and I had to adjust to change my practices too! Always a cat and mouse.
ORIGINAL: JocMeister
If its any consolation I highly doubt more CAP would have changed much.
I could have done more to mitigate them. Should have. I have 100x P-38s at Ndeni that I could have moved to Lunga for LRCAP, and I could have had my CVEs in-hex. The strike packages weren't that big - no "super groups". I kinda did this one to myself. Next time...
ORIGINAL: Lowpe
Tough blow![:(]
Here is my two bit commentary take it for what it is worth. It is sept 43, in a no rules game, where your Japan has maxed the sizes of his navy squadrons making them very formidable, indeed!
You should not be in a hurry, doing multi pronged assaults. You should be attacking serially. First this, then that, each with heavy protection especially where you decide to commit very valuable APAs! Even then, those supersized squadrons will get thru.
In addition you should take pressure off your front lines by taking some of those dot bases around Green Island, and Ontong. Why even fight him bayonet to bayonet. Take the dots, build them and punish him by air.
But then I think I was advocating a fast grab on Umboi a while back when your recon showed it was next to empty. Would have corked him up good!
Back seat driver mode off!
On a totally different topic, when do you get aerial mines?
Have had mines for a while, but haven't been using them much. I've used them here and there, as well as sub mines, to keep him honest with AMc's and whatnot.
I have super groups of my own. Just a few, but they exist. I have deep TBF (later TBM) and F6F/F4F pools. Yes, the Wildcat is obsolete, but I need to be protecting bases as far out as 23 hexes or I might suffer a Nell port strike at any point. 90-plane F4F units split into 30-plane units can perform rear area CAP while my good planes are up front. Or I can upgrade to 90 Corsairs if I want to. It's getting to the point where I can combat the super units with my own ones, if I pick the time/place.
This was/is an effort to take a dot base, in this case a good one that he had neglected. My stuff was completely undetected 6 hexes out and I got complacent. Won't happen next time. I didn't need to land on this day, I could have waited. until all of my CVs were back on the eastern side of the Coral Sea.
Almost to the point where I can conduct 2 operations, although losing some APAs is obviously going to set me back there. But I could conduct landings as well as raids or undertake more ambitious actions (such as going for Tabiteuea, finally).
