Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walker (J) DBB-B Scen 28

[Walker84]

May 29 - June 1, 1942

May draws to a close fairly quietly - there's still plenty of stuff going on but nothing too dramatic in terms of outcomes.

Burma / India

The Allies mount daily bombardment attacks at Calcutta. Losses on both sides are minimal, but I can see that the AV is creeping up while the force across the river from Diamond Harbour appears to be decreasing in size. I have been launching sporadic bombing missions against the Allied troops stretched out along the Burmese border and these have been unopposed in the air - so far.

Multiple TFs are in the Bay of Bengal plying their way north and miraculously avoiding being detected so far. I have assembled a diversionary TF of cheap AKLs escorted by PBs which will drop supplies off at Akyab and Cox's Bazar before hopefully enticing Allied anti-shipping aircraft to risk my CAP defences over Diamond Harbour.

[Walker84]

DEI

DEI has been bumped up the priority list as any further delay gives succour to the Allies, as well as threatening my consolidation plans...

The remnants of the Dutch air force attack my latest convoy but with no fighter escorts several are shot down by Oscars and no ships are harmed. Semarang falls on the 31st, providing a larger port for my reinforcements to disembark at - once the mines are swept. I have a full division plus a couple of armoured regiments on the way, now that Bataan has been liberated.

China

The quiet theatre. I am making a limited probe in the direction of 2nd Prov Chinese Corps, which has been dug in across the river from Canton for much of the war. My forces crossed the river further north and so will not need to shock attack. The question is whether one division and one armoured regiment will suffice in wooded terrain.

SWPAC

No Allied movement north of Efate, unless you count the recent rash of subs and reconnaissance planes. Kure 3rd SNLF tries to winkle the remains of Lark Force out of the jungle near Rabaul but can't achieve better than 2:1 and the Aussies survive without a single casualty.

The airfield at Buna expands to size 4 and Lae to size 2. Torokina will soon reach size 1 and can go all the way up to 7 if I have time to develop it.

HI/production

A solitary Allied sub, SS Trigger, attacks a convoy near Toyohara but the torps are duds. So far, I have hardly been troubled by subs near the Home Islands but this will inevitably change. Since the start of the war I have been shipping masses of resources from Manchuria, Hokkaido, and Sakhalin to Honshu, making hay while the sun shines.

Some new toys to play with - H6K4 Mavis upgrades to H6K5 Mavis at Osaka/Kyoto; and significantly, the Ki-44 Tojo starts to roll off the production lines.

A number of destroyers and escorts are in dock in various locations receiving their AA and ASW upgrades; the CVs will have wait a little longer for theirs however.

[Walker84]

June 2, 1942

Burma / India

It looks like the Allied offensive to retake Calcutta is about to start. Roger has now amassed 33 units, 160,000 troops, 1773 guns and 1589 AFVs there and I don't think they are just there for show.

No land attack today, but I count no less than 10 waves of Allied aircraft flying in to soften up my ground forces. And a real motley collection they are: I-16-III, I-15-III, Hurricane IIa Trop, Hurricane IIb Trop, B-17E Fortress, P-400 Airacobra, Blenheim IV, B-17D Fortress, LB-30 Liberator, B-26 Marauder, P-39D Airacobra, B-25C Mitchell. Does this 'united nations' attack imply a lack of airpower, or is my opponent conserving his P40s for the next day I wonder?

I have two units on CAP and the experienced Oscar and Zero pilots do well to disrupt most of the attacks while shooting down a decent number of planes. In fact, when I check my ground forces, they have suffered virtually no disruption and no more than 100 casualties. [X(] Possibly bombs don't work as well in urban heavy, especially when you have a Zero on your tail.

I have upped the CAP level of my three fighter units for tomorrow, and the good news is that they took replacements today so remain at full strength, with morale at 92 - 99 and fatigue at 14 - 16. Not bad.

Just to make the situation more interesting, my AKL supply TF has now arrived at Diamond Harbour, plus I have smaller TFs unloading at Cox's Bazar and Akyab. All are CAP'd plus I have an undisclosed number of carriers lurking in the Bay of Bengal.

In a sideshow mission, three P-40s bounce my Sallies over Imphal due to the escorts failing to fly and two are shot down.

In Other News...

The Lark force fragment surrenders today when I attack again. Strange.

Umboi Island expands airfield to size 1. I like its position in the strait between New Guinea and New Britain.

Transports have begun leaving Manila and Bataan laden with troops bound for various points in the DEI. I am also establishing a tactical reserve at Rabaul to react to any Allied advances in the Solomons.

[Walker84]

June 3, 1942

India / Burma

The sledgehammer falls at Calcutta...and the result is not all that bad, the forts, terrain and Yamashita's experience all counting in the Japanese defenders favour. The adjusted odds are 1:2 and the Allies take a lot more disablements.

Ground combat at Calcutta (52,37)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 112927 troops, 1597 guns, 1329 vehicles, Assault Value = 3667

Defending force 35473 troops, 384 guns, 258 vehicles, Assault Value = 969

Allied adjusted assault: 2927

Japanese adjusted defense: 7733

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
3060 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 67 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 74 disabled
Engineers: 29 destroyed, 30 disabled
Guns lost 45 (3 destroyed, 42 disabled)
Vehicles lost 18 (6 destroyed, 12 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
3854 casualties reported
Squads: 20 destroyed, 340 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 87 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 81 disabled
Guns lost 91 (3 destroyed, 88 disabled)
Vehicles lost 61 (8 destroyed, 53 disabled)

Assaulting units:
11th Indian Division
18th Australian Brigade
7th Indian Division
16th Australian Brigade
70th British Division
43rd Cavalry Regiment
23rd Indian Division
20th Indian Division
25th Australian Brigade
9th Indian Division
18th British Division
254th Armoured Brigade
Fort William
Waziristan Division
5th Chinese Corps
AHQ Bengal
224 Group Base Force
25th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
6th Heavy AA Regiment
Eastern Command
1st Bombay Construction Battalion
3rd Indian Coastal Artillery Regiment
XV Indian Corps
24th Indian Mountain Gun Regiment
2/11th Fld RAA Regiment
43rd Construction Regiment
85th British AT Gun Regiment
94th Coast AA Regiment
6th Medium Regiment
95th Heavy AA Regiment
2/9th Fld RAA Regiment
21st Light AA Regiment
22nd Light AA Regiment

Defending units:
5th Division
4th Ind Engineer Regiment
18th Division
15th Ind Engineer Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
25th Army
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Mortar Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
10th RF Gun Battalion

My opponent will likely have to wait a turn or two to let his forces recover before attacking again. I think I used the Stalingrad analogy earlier in the AAR and I am starting to wonder if I should now reinforce the position, rather than commencing withdrawing my units to the ships waiting in the bay. The terrain which prevented me from carrying the city in the first place is now working in my favour. My units are in good shape, low in fatigue and high in morale. I have just dropped off another 20,000 in supplies at Diamond Harbour. Attacking at these odds will impose a heavy toll on low Allied pool levels, and I think that Roger will need to consider a more extended bombing campaign to degrade my troops. Does he have the planes for this however?

I will make a decision in the next day or two but, meanwhile, I am going to start some units moving towards Calcutta to let the movement arrows give my opponent something to think about.

Imphal

The 143rd Infantry Regiment reaches the town and a bombardment attack reveals AV parity with the defending units, 75th Indian Brigade and 103rd RN Base Force. Unfortunately there will be no breakthrough here, but at least it keeps the pressure up along the border.

Ouch!

Steaming south of Truk to link up with my other carriers CV Junyo eats a torpedo courtesy of SS Cachalot. Escorts don't even spot the sub until its too late. The damage is not fatal at 12-8-25 but it does throw a temporary spanner in the works for my plans to mount a more aggressive defence of the Solomons. Ah, well.

[Walker84]

June 4, 1942

Burma / India

Calcutta receives an Allied bombardment attack this turn, causing just 19 casualties. Today's main event however is a sustained air attack on Diamond Harbour airfield. Multiple waves fly in again; my opponent seems to be the master of the multiple wave attack. This time there are plenty of Warhawks and Airacobras, plus B-17s. At the end of it all, the airfield is hardly harmed and the loss ratio remains in favour of the air defence. Details below.

In the afternoon, 8 Beaufort Is and 16 Vildebeeste attack my shipping and although they are intercepted none are shot down. I guess the pilots were tired after their morning run. A couple of small xAKs are torpedoed and/or sunk but the supply run has been a success overall. Some Chinese SB-2's attack later and a couple are shot down.

I drop some paras on Kalemyo because I can and I also want to keep consolidating the front line as far forward as possible.

[Walker84]

June 5, 1942

Burma / India

The air attack on Diamond Harbour continues unabated with slightly better results for the Allies, although by the end of the day there is still only 18 runway and 15 service damage. More worrying is the toll on my pilots and planes: all three units are down to about 1/2 strength due to plane damage, and fatigue is rising. All told, there are 49 Allied air losses today vs. 31 Japanese.

Today's bombardment attack at Calcutta causes 8 Allied casualties for a change.
In AV terms, 3318 plays 878 but I have another division moving back into Calcutta in just over a day.

I include the screenshot for an appreciation of just how sub-infested the Bay of Bengal is nowadays.

[Walker84]

June 6, 1942

Burma / India

No Allied air attacks today, providing a welcome respite for my pilots. Diamond Harbour has been rapidly rebuilt by my tireless engineers and the airbase damage is already down to a measly 4. Fighters now in residence: two groups of A6M2s and two of Ki-43 Ic = 117 planes in total. The 3rd KuS-1 alone has now amassed 201 kills for 70 A2A losses.

I have decided that the time is not yet ripe for evacuation and consequently have pulled my surface ships further out into the Bay of Bengal. SS Pike spots my oilers but fires at an escort and misses. I don't want to count my chickens but I'm still pretty amazed that so many Allied subs have failed to obtain more sightings and hits given the massive amount of shipping I have had in the Bay for the last week or so.

DEI

Cheribon falls to a purely armoured attack and forces are set to head to Tjilatjap next. Judging by the numbers of units present, it looks as if Bandoeng will be defended more strongly, along with Batavia, Soerabaja and Malang, which was the original thorn in my side. All the other bases should fall in quick succession.

SWPAC

DLs on Allied TFs at Ndeni and Luganville and regular Allied recon over Port Moresby. I have planned a little diversionary attack for tomorrow.

[Walker84]

June 7, 1942

SW Pacific

Night Naval bombardment of Ndeni at 120,143

A cruiser TF probes the Allied set-up at Ndeni in the Santa Cruz islands. A reasonable amount of damage is caused and my opponent is put on notice that I will not allow him to base build in this theatre with impunity. Better watch out now for any retaliation. Various Allied TFs are milling around Luganville but no sign of the carriers.

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 5 damaged
PBY-5 Catalina: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40E Warhawk: 10 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Myoko
CA Chokai
CA Chikuma
CA Tone

Allied ground losses:
323 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 14 (2 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 23
Port supply hits 1

Coral Sea / Port Moresby

... is treated to a B-17 raid but there is plenty of Zero CAP and 5 x B-17Ds are reported to be shot down, although this seems a little high possibly due to 'fog of war'.

A small SNLF in Fast Transport mode lands at Rossel Island.

[Walker84]

Burma / India

My opponent throws the kitchen sink at me again with 9 air attacks on Diamond Harbour. Here's an edited version to show how each wave was met by the defending fighters:

Morning Air attack on Diamond Harbour

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

WAVE 1
A6M2 Zero x 51
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 40
vs
P-40E Warhawk x 17

WAVE 2
A6M2 Zero x 46
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 35
vs
P-40E Warhawk x 18

WAVE 3
A6M2 Zero x 44
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 29
vs
P-400 Airacobra x 20

WAVE 4
A6M2 Zero x 36
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 21
vs
P-40E Warhawk x 25

WAVE 5
A6M2 Zero x 28
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 9
vs
I-16-III x 8
SB-III x 12
Blenheim IV x 8
Wellington Ic x 12
P-39D Airacobra x 42
P-40E Warhawk x 19

WAVE 6
A6M2 Zero x 17
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 5
vs
Blenheim IV x 5
B-25C Mitchell x 14

WAVE 7
A6M2 Zero x 2
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 1
vs
Blenheim IV x 4
Wellington Ic x 8

WAVE 8

vs
Blenheim IV x 6

WAVE 9

vs
B-26 Marauder x 22

All that effort resulted in just 10 runway hits and a couple of airbase hits. I guess I'm just fortunate that the B-17s didn't fly today. Today's air losses: for how many turns will Roger be prepared to trade this loss ratio I wonder?

[Walker84]

Burma / India (still)

The 144th Infantry Regiment shock attacks across the river on the Burmese border north of Warazup, defeating the 13th Burma Rifles Battalion which I guess was on picket duty. The regiment could now threaten Ledo or Kohima, although progress will be slow in difficult terrain. I am still stalemated at Imphal and thought about committing my reserve division sitting at Rangoon but perhaps I don't want my reserves stuck in the jungle many days march from the nearest railhead.

Another bombardment attack at Calcutta reveals Assault Value = 3217 (Allies) vs 1348 (Japanese). Not good enough odds for Roger to risk another deliberate attack I'll wager. I have another 700 AV at Diamond Harbour so now that the supplies have been dropped the position looks pretty secure as long as I can keep the airfield open. Allied movement arrows spotted at Calcutta today: are troops arriving or leaving I wonder?

[Walker84]

June 8, 1942

Burma / India

In a rare sub-on-sub action, SS I-155 launches 4 torpedoes at SS S-40 in the Bay of Bengal but misses.

Allied bombers return to Diamond Harbour in force but with weak fighter escorts this time it almost becomes a massacre, with 54 Allied vs 18 Japanese losses . Today's lead formation comprises Blenheim IVs and SB-IIIs escorted by I-15s and I-16s. Not many return. Later raids are made up of better aircraft - B-25s, B-26s and B-17s, and some runway hits are scored but, by the end of it all, the damage caused is merely 8 runway and 9 service.

The better Allied fighters - P-39s, P-40s and Hurris - were all conspicuous by their absence in the air today. I wonder if this is simply a coordination issue, or have they been held back to sweep again tomorrow? Better still would be the possibility that they are no longer operational due to the heavy losses sustained in recent days. Before I invaded India, our air losses were approximately at parity. Now they stand at 1135 Allied losses to 981 Japanese, and the gap has been growing as long as my opponent continues to contest the 'killing zone' over Diamond Harbour. I have Ki-44 IIas and K-45 KAIas entering service which should help to establish Army air superiority in India, although the Oscars have already been doing a good job supporting the Zeroes. If Roger can't close DH by bombing it he could surely cause extensive damage through naval bombardment, which is why I must keep some carriers in the vicinity - and ensure that he suspects they are there. The deterrent effect of the KB can be as effective as its use in action.

Allied Assault Value at Calcutta has dropped to 2361 overnight. Looks like my opponent has abandoned attempts to storm the city for now and I wouldn't be surprised if the units that have left show up soon along the Burmese frontier.

[Walker84]

June 9, 1942

The only remarkable thing about June 9 was that there were no further Allied air attacks on Diamond Harbour. I want to get on to June 10, which was a more eventful turn...

[Walker84]

June 10, 1942

India / Burma

A bit of a scare when SS Pike launches 2 torpedoes at CV Soryu near Trincomalee. I have been edging closer to Ceylon in the hope of catching some shipping but the alarum has now been raised!

Diamond Harbour remains peaceful again. It reminds me a bit of the scene in the film 'Battle of Britain' when the exhausted Brit pilots are waiting by their planes ready to scramble again and the big German formations fail to turn up...


SW Pacific - Attack on Shortlands


SS Seawolf fires off a couple of torpedoes at an ASW TF near Shortlands and shortly afterwards all hell breaks loose. Picket sub SS I-166 spots part of an Allied TF identifying CL Achilles and two US DDs near Vangunu. The same sub then spots US cruisers Salt Lake City and Pensacola, plus some light cruisers and destroyers.

Meanwhile during the air phase we are receiving a lot of signals about our carriers reacting to carrier TFs in the vicinity of Shortlands. How exciting! The mini-KB launches its aircraft first:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 110,136

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 38
B5N1 Kate x 20
B5N2 Kate x 12
D3A1 Val x 6

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 6
F4F-3A Wildcat x 27
F4F-4 Wildcat x 52

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 8 destroyed, 3 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise
CV Yorktown

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
3 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
1 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
1 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 12 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F4F-3A Wildcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 13 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 13 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 2 on standby, 3 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 17000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers

[Walker84]

...so despite first mover advantage not a lot for the Japanese pilots to brag about. The Allied strike is considerably more effective:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 110,132

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 61

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 27
SBD-2 Dauntless x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 72
TBD-1 Devastator x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 7 destroyed
SBD-2 Dauntless: 4 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 10 destroyed, 8 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed by flak
TBD-1 Devastator: 3 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 1
BB Kirishima, Torpedo hits 1
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CA Aoba
DD Ariake
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 2, on fire
TB Kasasagi
CS Chitose

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1/C with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
1st Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
7 planes vectored on to bombers
Kaga-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 5 on standby, 1 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 8 on standby, 6 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 5 on standby, 6 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
Zuiho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 6 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Kaga
Fuel storage explosion on CVL Shoho
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Shoho
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Ryujo

Fortunately this is the only strike to hit my carriers as a destroyer TF on ASW patrol then bears the brunt of the pain...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 109,133

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
TBD-1 Devastator x 15

Allied aircraft losses
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
DD Ikazuchi
DD Inazuma
DD Usugumo

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 109,133

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft
Fulmar II x 9
F4F-3 Wildcat x 32
SBD-2 Dauntless x 15
SBD-3 Dauntless x 25
TBD-1 Devastator x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Ikazuchi, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Murakumo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Inazuma, Bomb hits 1
DD Usugumo, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x F4F-3 Wildcat sweeping at 10000 feet
11 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
10 x F4F-3 Wildcat sweeping at 10000 feet
11 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x Fulmar II sweeping at 10000 feet
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
1st Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Murakumo
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Usugumo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 109,133

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Murakumo, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Inazuma, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Ikazuchi, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Usugumo, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
1st Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (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 15000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 66 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Murakumo
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Ikazuchi
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Usugumo

[Walker84]

Map view

[Walker84]

Damage limitation

Although the combat report looked pretty bad all of the Japanese carriers are afloat and can still make 5 hexes travelling at full speed. The plan to get out of Dodge will involve a high speed exit from Shortlands to the NE. I have a lot of small TFs scattering in all directions at the same time which should improve the odds of getting away. I have also flooded Rabaul, Buna, Torokina, Buin and Shortlands with all the available LBA - masses of Zeroes and Netties so if the Allies hang around they will come under attack. I may lose more aircraft but preserving the carriers is paramount at the moment. Some of the land-based fighters will also be set to LRCAP the withdrawing carriers.

We live to experience carrier battles in this game and, although it may not have come off well for Japan today, tomorrow is another day. I am going to crack open another beer or two and will wait to see what happens [8D]

Today's air losses

[Walker84]

Postscript

An audacious attack which I didn't see coming. I have significant naval search capability based at Tulagi, Shortlands, Rabaul and Buna. However it seems that multiple large Allied TFs can walz all the way up to a position a few hexes from Shortlands without being spotted. I'm sure the weather had something to do with it too, but the lesson is that I will need to keep my major assets further back. I should also consider myself extremely fortunate if I can escape without losing a single carrier as a result of this action. I doubt now that I will get the next turn back tonight, so roll on tomorrow!

[jwolf]

How bad are the fires? Or did the combat report overstate things?

Meanwhile ...

I am going to crack open another beer or two and will wait to see what happens

... your calm attitude is commendable! [:)] My reaction would not have been so ... printable.

Now I'm anxious for apbarog to update his AAR so I can get his side of it!

Edit: Fuel storage explosion on Shoho sounds pretty bad ...

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

How bad are the fires? Or did the combat report overstate things?

Meanwhile ...

I am going to crack open another beer or two and will wait to see what happens

... your calm attitude is commendable! [:)] My reaction would not have been so ... printable.

Now I'm anxious for apbarog to update his AAR so I can get his side of it!

Edit: Fuel storage explosion on Shoho sounds pretty bad ...

Thanks for your comments, I have posted a view of the damage to my carriers below. As you can see, they can still make a reasonable head of steam although two no longer have serviceable flight decks which is why I will be CAPing them with LBA today.

I guess I might have been less composed last night if a couple had been lying at the bottom of Shortlands harbour. [:D]

Uncharacteristically, my opponent has failed to send me the turn overnight so I guess he has had plenty to think about as well...

[Walker84]

June 11, 1942

SW Pacific - the calm after the storm

The Allied carriers have gone - no doubt hightailing it south at flank speed. Otherwise, there were only multiple sub sightings by my escorted merchant ships fleeing Shortlands but no successful attacks made. Annoyingly, all of my multiple search arcs only manage to pick up a sighting of two BBs and a couple of CAs far away at Luganville. None of my picket subs in the Coral Sea spots a darned thing either, despite the size of the cavalcade that has just moved past them. Time to replan and refocus my Solomons defences methinks.

The withdrawing Japanese carrier force reached a point level with Kavieng overnight and will drop back to mission speed now that the imminent danger is past. My opponent is bound to have issued an APB to all subs to converge on Truk to pick off survivors, so I will avoid that route. Barring any mishaps, all of the carriers should make the yards in the Home Islands in due course and might as well have their scheduled refits at the same time as repairing the damage.

That leaves the question of what to do while 1/3 of our carrier force is out of action. I am still loathe to move the KB from the Indian Ocean as it is protecting my flank at Diamond Harbour and keeping the British fleet bottled up somewhere West of Ceylon. I did note that one Brit carrier was present in the force that raided Shortlands. So Rabaul will have to rely on LBA cover for the foreseeable future. Fortunately there is plenty of that around and Roger is unlikely to risk his carriers if there are no surface assets to attack. Until he comes for some of my bases that is...


In other news today...

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tjilatjap !!!