DBB:C -Stacking to the limits / Cannonfodder (Japan) vs Mundy (Allies)

[KenchiSulla]

Sumatra

[KenchiSulla]

1943-April-09

[obvert]

The Madras move is very aggressive. I would worry about getting slowed up on MTBs or a mine there.

With the score in your game and his need to really come hard at you to eventually get anywhere by 45, I wonder if these kind of moves are more risk than you need to take on at this point? (Says the guy who just ordered his CVs into the hornets nest!). [:D]

If he doesn't know where they are at some point soon it'll slow him down more than if he does. On the other hand the replacement rates are so low for the Commenwealth that this kind of move can really keep them back too.

[KenchiSulla]

Ah, I don't have to take the risk. But Madras has been isolated seaside for more then a year and I'm sure he has no mines there or MTBs (just the occ. submarine). More then 200 aircraft at Madras...

Anyway, the order has been given..

[KenchiSulla]

Mundy withdrew the air based at Madras and the bombardement did only superficial damage..

At Fiji, refilled ammunition ships are in place and all eight battleships will visit Suva tommorow. We'll have to see about the results. At worst it will destroy and disrupt his support troops, making them less of a factor in the coming attacks...

I've left about half my carrier strength to maintain the siege. Together with LBA air that I could concentrate in case of a relief attempt (120 Navy fighters, 80 G4Ms) they can hold and win.

[KenchiSulla]

Level 9 forts at Suva... 300 squads disabled against 50 allied squads disabled, no fort drop (but it was close to 1:1).

I am moving in some combat engineers I have nearby building up bases. By the time they arrive the troops should no longer have that many disablements and we'll go for a fort drop...


Ground combat at Suva (132,160)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36892 troops, 310 guns, 59 vehicles, Assault Value = 1159

Defending force 31280 troops, 467 guns, 289 vehicles, Assault Value = 472

Japanese adjusted assault: 783

Allied adjusted defense: 855

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 9)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1385 casualties reported
Squads: 11 destroyed, 299 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 21 disabled
Guns lost 23 (1 destroyed, 22 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
687 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 55 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled

Assaulting units:
63rd Division
35th Division
36th Division
17th Army
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
Fiji Brigade
8th NZ Brigade
1st Fiji Commando Battalion
Rarotonga Det.
34th Infantry Regiment
Samoa Det.
134th Field Artillery Battalion
12th Marine Defense Battalion
198th Coast AA Regiment
3rd Marine Defense Battalion
216th Coast AA Regiment
2nd Marine Defense Battalion
46th Construction Regiment
276th Coastal Artillery Battalion
2nd RNZAF Base Force
6th Port Maint Engineer Battalion
7th Port Advn Base Force
13th MAG
1st RNZAF Base Force
41st Base Group
24th Base Group
33rd Medium Regiment
Nandi Base Force

[KenchiSulla]

Death Star strength....

Fighter standard A6M5
Divebomber standard D4Y1
Torpedo bomber standard B5N, with B6N2 now coming online

[KenchiSulla]

CONTACT

1943-April-14

IJN carriers, on a perimeter test patrol penetrate from the south. Only PM strikes sadly(one at a mix of BBs and APAs and another at a lowly xAP and xAK convoy) and the results against battleships are disappointing. A large portion of the allied ships will be able to retaliate (if they manage to close the distance). A large number of xAKs, xAPs, two APAs and a few DDs are sunk...



Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Hilo at 181,122

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 36
B5N2 Kate x 51
B6N1 Jill x 17
D4Y1 Judy x 80

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 2 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 16 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
BB Colorado, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Russell
BB Massachusetts, Bomb hits 2
BB Maryland, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1
BB West Virginia, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
APA American Legion, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
APA Hunter Liggett, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Salt Lake City
CA Astoria
APA President Jackson, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Morris
DD Walke
CA Minneapolis
APA President Adams
DD Mustin
DD Barton, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Allied ground losses:
139 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 54 (49 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
12 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
15 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
11 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
3 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
13 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
16 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
20 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
16 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
3 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
5 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB West Virginia
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Barton


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Hilo at 186,126

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 22
B5N2 Kate x 53
D4Y1 Judy x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
xAP Nathaniel Bowditch, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
DD Woodworth, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAP Louis Joliet, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK George Chaffey, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
xAK George S. Boutwell
xAK Matthew P. Deady, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAP William Dawes, Bomb hits 1
xAP William Windom, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Asphalion, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAP Morton M. McCarver, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Robert Morris
xAP Zachary Taylor, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAP John Drake Sloat, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP William P. McArthur, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
xAK William S. Young, Bomb hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Phoebe A. Hearst, Bomb hits 3, on fire
xAP Stephen J. Field, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP James Buchanan, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
xAK Robert J. Walker, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Samuel Adams
xAK City of Yokohama
DD Frazier, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
3095 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 85 destroyed, 89 disabled
Engineers: 95 destroyed, 37 disabled
Guns lost 34 (8 destroyed, 26 disabled)
Vehicles lost 96 (55 destroyed, 41 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
5 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
13 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
25 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
6 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg GP Bomb
7 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Nathaniel Bowditch
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Stephen J. Field
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Robert J. Walker
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Asphalion
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Morton M. McCarver
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Frazier

[Sangeli]

Well the ships may have been lowly but you sunk a lot of them and they had units on them! Looks like the BBs will be able to limp away unless pursued, however.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

15 carriers... that is fearsome death star

do you plan to split it between oceans? or would they work all together?

[KenchiSulla]

It depends on the situation. Right now they are in the same ocean but operating independently..

[KenchiSulla]

KB retreats from the detected battleships. Low on fuel and a bit low on escort screening forces, I don't have a choice.....

Then, this little piece of info:

SBD-3 Dauntless attacking SS I-6 at 99,166

That is one of my picket boats 400 miles east of Sidney... He might be coming for Suva... Last time I saw the fleet carriers they were near Perth so it does make sense he moved them towards a potential threat... In addition, we spot a "single" ship TF 22 hexes from Suva, coming from the south west...

I'll assume Mundy will come and fight for now (perhaps assuming all the carriers to be out raiding). The army bombers are exchanged for 72 G4Ms and 45 A6M3a's. The Jack group at Kandavu will receive 45 A6M3a's and 42 Tojo Cs... Together with 270 fighters and 140 strike aircraft aboard the remaining carriers that is a very potent force. Mundy can bring three fleet carriers and a bunch of jeeps...

Colombo is raided today... CAP did ok, one xAKL is sunk..

Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 31
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 36
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 35

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38F Lightning: 3 destroyed

CAP engaged:
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (3 airborne, 15 on standby, 14 scrambling)
22 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
66th Sentai with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 14 scrambling)
14 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
286 Ku S-1 with N1K1-J George (2 airborne, 13 on standby, 12 scrambling)
15 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes

Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 30
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 31
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 31

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 11
B-24D1 Liberator x 25
B-25C Mitchell x 21
B-25D1 Mitchell x 3
B-26 Marauder x 3
B-26B Marauder x 10
F4U-1 Corsair x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-26 Marauder: 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 1 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 3 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Bomb hits 9
APD Matsukaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 8
CL Kiso, Bomb hits 1
xAKL Tonegawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Repair Shipyard hits 3
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 31
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 25
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 13
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 16

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 3
B-25D1 Mitchell x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 17
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 11
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 5

Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

Port hits 1

Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 13
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 7
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 6 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3

Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 11
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 5
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 destroyed

Airbase hits 1

Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 9
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 4
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 1
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1

Allied aircraft
P-38F Lightning x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed

Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-38E Lightning x 15

[KenchiSulla]

No contact established with enemy carriers. Abort or did they head south? I've got long range Nells (G3M3, 21 hexes normal range) now searching from Noumea. If he attacks I'll see him coming for sure....

[KenchiSulla]

1943-April-19

Two taskforces are detected at Savaii, north of Pago Pago. I expected screening forces but we encountered two large troop transport groups. One is slaughtered, the other bloodied by a duo of heavy cruisers... Mundy seriously needs to check his search plan.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Savaii at 146,159, Range 11,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 22 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa
CA Kako, Shell hits 1
DD Inazuma, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
DD Isonami
DD Ayanami
DD Yugiri, Shell hits 1
DD Ushio, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hayate

Allied Ships
DD Abbot, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Aulick, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
DD Cony, Shell hits 23, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APA La Salle, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Libra, Shell hits 32, and is sunk
AK Fomalhaut, Shell hits 17, on fire
AK Alhena, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Alchiba, Shell hits 23, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Henry S Grove, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Adabelle Lykes, Shell hits 30, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Mount McKinley, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
2267 casualties reported
Squads: 25 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 183 destroyed, 117 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 204 (165 destroyed, 39 disabled)
Vehicles lost 88 (74 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 100% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 26,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Cony at 11,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages DD Cony at 11,000 yards
DD Cony engages DD Hayate at 11,000 yards
DD Ushio engages DD Cony at 11,000 yards
DD Ushio engages AK Alchiba at 11,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Cony at 11,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages AK Libra at 11,000 yards
DD Hayate engages xAP Henry S Grove at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Yugiri at 8,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD Cony at 8,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages AK Alchiba at 8,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Cony at 8,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages AK Libra at 8,000 yards
DD Ushio engages xAP Henry S Grove at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CA Kako engages AK Libra at 6,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Aulick at 6,000 yards
DD Abbot engages DD Isonami at 6,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages APA La Salle at 6,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Yugiri at 6,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Aulick at 6,000 yards
DD Ushio engages AK Fomalhaut at 6,000 yards
DD Abbot engages DD Inazuma at 6,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages xAP Mount McKinley at 6,000 yards
DD Hayate engages xAP Henry S Grove at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
DD Cony engages DD Yugiri at 3,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages AK Libra at 3,000 yards
DD Abbot engages DD Isonami at 3,000 yards
DD Cony engages DD Ushio at 3,000 yards
AK Alhena sunk by DD Ushio at 3,000 yards
DD Cony engages DD Isonami at 3,000 yards
AK Libra sunk by DD Yugiri at 3,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages xAP Mount McKinley at 3,000 yards
xAP Henry S Grove sunk by DD Hayate at 3,000 yards
DD Isonami engages xAK Adabelle Lykes at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Cony at 2,000 yards
AK Alchiba sunk by CA Kinugasa at 2,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD Abbot at 2,000 yards
DD Abbot engages DD Ushio at 2,000 yards
DD Isonami engages AK Fomalhaut at 2,000 yards
DD Isonami engages xAP Mount McKinley at 2,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages xAK Adabelle Lykes at 2,000 yards
DD Cony engages DD Ushio at 2,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages DD Aulick at 2,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD Abbot at 2,000 yards
DD Cony sunk by DD Ushio at 2,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages AK Fomalhaut at 2,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages xAK Adabelle Lykes at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CA Kako engages DD Aulick at 4,000 yards
DD Abbot sunk by CA Kinugasa at 4,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages APA La Salle at 4,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Aulick at 4,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Isonami at 4,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Inazuma at 4,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Ayanami at 4,000 yards
Massive explosion on DD Aulick
CA Kinugasa engages DD Aulick at 4,000 yards
DD Ushio engages AK Fomalhaut at 4,000 yards
DD Ushio engages xAK Adabelle Lykes at 4,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Yugiri at 4,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Aulick at 4,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Aulick at 4,000 yards
DD Inazuma engages DD Aulick at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Aulick at 5,000 yards
DD Hayate engages APA La Salle at 5,000 yards
DD Inazuma engages AK Fomalhaut at 5,000 yards
DD Ushio engages xAK Adabelle Lykes at 5,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Yugiri at 5,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Ayanami at 5,000 yards
DD Isonami engages xAK Adabelle Lykes at 5,000 yards
DD Inazuma engages DD Aulick at 5,000 yards
CA Kako engages DD Aulick at 5,000 yards
APA La Salle sunk by DD Yugiri at 5,000 yards
DD Hayate engages AK Fomalhaut at 5,000 yards
DD Ushio engages AK Fomalhaut at 5,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Aulick at 5,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Ayanami at 5,000 yards
DD Inazuma engages DD Aulick at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CA Kako engages DD Aulick at 4,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages DD Aulick at 4,000 yards
DD Hayate engages xAK Adabelle Lykes at 4,000 yards
DD Ushio engages DD Aulick at 4,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages xAK Adabelle Lykes at 4,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Aulick at 4,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Aulick at 4,000 yards
DD Inazuma engages AK Fomalhaut at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CA Kako engages DD Aulick at 3,000 yards
DD Isonami engages AK Fomalhaut at 3,000 yards
DD Hayate engages xAK Adabelle Lykes at 3,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Ushio at 3,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Yugiri at 3,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Aulick at 3,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Aulick at 3,000 yards
DD Inazuma engages DD Aulick at 3,000 yards
CA Kako engages DD Aulick at 3,000 yards
DD Inazuma engages AK Fomalhaut at 3,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages xAK Adabelle Lykes at 3,000 yards
DD Ushio engages DD Aulick at 3,000 yards
DD Aulick engages DD Yugiri at 3,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Aulick at 3,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Aulick at 3,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Savaii at 146,159, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa
CA Kako
DD Inazuma, heavy fires
DD Isonami
DD Ayanami
DD Yugiri
DD Ushio, on fire
DD Hayate, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
DD Selfridge, Shell hits 1
DD Balch, Shell hits 2
DE Austin, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Hermitage, Shell hits 15, on fire
xAP Matsonia, Shell hits 5, on fire
xAP Santa Elena, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Mormacwave, Shell hits 1
xAK Santa Monica, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
221 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 15 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (2 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 20 (10 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 100% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
CA Kako engages DD Balch at 9,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages DD Balch at 9,000 yards
DD Balch engages DD Hayate at 9,000 yards
DD Hayate engages xAP Santa Elena at 9,000 yards
DD Hayate engages xAP Hermitage at 9,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Balch at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD Balch at 5,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages DD Balch at 5,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages DE Austin at 5,000 yards
DD Ushio engages xAP Santa Elena at 5,000 yards
DD Balch engages DD Yugiri at 5,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages xAP Matsonia at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CA Kako engages xAP Hermitage at 2,000 yards
DD Inazuma engages DD Selfridge at 2,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DE Austin at 2,000 yards
DD Ushio engages DD Selfridge at 2,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Balch at 2,000 yards
DD Ushio engages xAP Hermitage at 2,000 yards
DD Ushio engages xAK Santa Monica at 2,000 yards
DD Inazuma engages DD Balch at 2,000 yards
Sawa, Masao orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 5,000 yards
DD Balch engages DD Inazuma at 5,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Inazuma at 5,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DE Austin at 5,000 yards
DD Ushio engages DD Selfridge at 5,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Balch at 5,000 yards
DD Inazuma engages xAP Hermitage at 5,000 yards
DD Ushio engages xAK Santa Monica at 5,000 yards
DD Inazuma engages xAK Mormacwave at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Kako engages DE Austin at 10,000 yards
DD Ushio engages xAP Santa Elena at 10,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Selfridge at 10,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages xAP Hermitage at 10,000 yards
DD Isonami engages xAK Santa Monica at 10,000 yards
DD Hayate engages xAK Mormacwave at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CA Kako engages xAP Matsonia at 13,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages xAP Santa Elena at 13,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD Balch at 13,000 yards
DD Ushio engages xAP Santa Elena at 13,000 yards
DD Yugiri engages DD Balch at 13,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Balch at 13,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Selfridge at 13,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Inazuma at 13,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages DD Inazuma at 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...

In the mean time, the allies take back Attu... So much for the Aleutian outpost thing I had going... Serious defenses are in place at the Kurile Island chain, so no harm done (it was part of the defense plan...)

[Sangeli]

The only explanation of being able to catch him off guard like this with a surface fleet is that Mundy isn't using his PBY properly to watch the likely approaches as you guess as well. Maybe he will learn to use naval search properly if you keep catching transport fleets like this. Keep testing his PBY coverage and see if you can find other holes.

[KenchiSulla]

A couple of turns ago Mundy raided Colombo. It was a badly coordinated strike and my CAP was on alert... The result was light damage to ships stationed there and the loss of 3 dozen allied bombers so I thought nothing of it, rested two of the groups (high service rating aircraft) and contintued..

Last two turns Mundy came in again, this time fully coordinated and all aircraft on port attack. The result is pretty devestation with two battleships, two AVs and two old 53cm cruisers lost. for about 70 allied aircraft shot down. Almost a hundred 500 pounder hits on the battleships ...


First strike
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 45

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9
B-17F Fortress x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 20
B-25C Mitchell x 31
B-25D1 Mitchell x 7
B-26 Marauder x 6
B-26B Marauder x 3
F4U-1 Corsair x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 44, heavy fires
E Hiyodori, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Fuso, Bomb hits 43, heavy fires
AV Kamikawa Maru, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kiso, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires
DD Shirakumo, Bomb hits 1
AV Sanyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CL Tama, Bomb hits 4, on fire
DD Shirayuki, Bomb hits 1
xAKL Nittatsu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Maikaze, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
APD Asakaze, Bomb hits 1

Repair Shipyard hits 4
Port hits 45
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
1 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
9 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 9000 feet
City Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
5 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-24D1 Liberator bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
1st Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
34 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 36540.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 50 minutes
16 planes vectored on to bombers
59th Sentai with Ki-44-IIc Tojo (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
11 planes vectored on to bombers

At this point the most valuable shipping is lost or not able to depart due to fire/damage so I decide to put the CAP on full alert and ride it out in case Mundy comes back for seconds (which he does)

Second strike
Morning Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 33
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 30
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 36

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-24D1 Liberator x 19
B-25C Mitchell x 24
B-25D1 Mitchell x 7
B-26 Marauder x 3
B-26B Marauder x 6
F4U-1 Corsair x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-24D1 Liberator: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 6 destroyed, 6 damaged
B-25D1 Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
B-26 Marauder: 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 2 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
xAK Kinkasan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Daigen Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Matsukaze, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Tama, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Zuiko Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Kiso, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shirayuki, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
TK Ceram Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Hokusho Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
E Taboko, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Fuji, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Nitiran Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Shirakumo, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Asakaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Koyu Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Maikaze, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
SS I-11, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
xAKL Fukuyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
E W-18, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Kashima Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

And some follow up groups that are intercepted and mostly destroyed

Two reasons why this happened:

- I underestimated the allied ability to strike accurately enough to destroy the 500 pounder sponge battleships. About 7 turns ago, Mundy tried something similar with about 20 hits on the ships for a few points of system damage. This time they burned out...
- 2/3s of the fighters and all of my cannon fighters were still on rest because I forgot to switch them back to duty

Silly me... At least we destroy a large portion of strike aircraft. The loss of the ships stings but it does not alter the strategic situation. I move another G4M squadron in to prevent the allies from getting to bold and we move to repair the ships at Colombo.

It is probably a big morale boost for Mundy, which he deserves after getting abused for so long....

[obvert]

Ouch!!

Ships in port in range of 4Es is trouble. Now that he's got a taste for it too, it's like foxes that have tasted chicken. They may not come back tomorrow, but they'll be back.

It's especially tough once B-29s are in play. I lost about 25 subs in port that were 30+ hexes away from the front lines in Okinawa.

[KenchiSulla]

Yes, the only thing I'll be keeping at Colombo is a few small cargoes and perhaps a destroyer squadron...

[KenchiSulla]

Suva

First fort level drop... the troops should recover within a couple of days... I've got combat engineers (100 squads total) coming in to help...

Ground combat at Suva (132,160)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36792 troops, 315 guns, 59 vehicles, Assault Value = 1137

Defending force 31404 troops, 470 guns, 284 vehicles, Assault Value = 467

Japanese adjusted assault: 1051

Allied adjusted defense: 985

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 9)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 8

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

Japanese ground losses:
3110 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 242 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled

Allied ground losses:
477 casualties reported
Squads: 6 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Assaulting units:
63rd Division
35th Division
36th Division
17th Army
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
1st Fiji Commando Battalion
34th Infantry Regiment
Fiji Brigade
8th NZ Brigade
Rarotonga Det.
Samoa Det.
276th Coastal Artillery Battalion
13th MAG
3rd Marine Defense Battalion
6th Port Maint Engineer Battalion
24th Base Group
12th Marine Defense Battalion
134th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd Marine Defense Battalion
198th Coast AA Regiment
33rd Medium Regiment
41st Base Group
216th Coast AA Regiment
1st RNZAF Base Force
7th Port Advn Base Force
2nd RNZAF Base Force
46th Construction Regiment
Nandi Base Force

[KenchiSulla]

Things are quiet at the moment. 3rd Tank Division has arrived at Fiji and is starting to move into position. My main carrier group arrived at Luganville after sinking transports and attacking battleships (they ran out of fuel and used 32000 units from AOs that I had near..). Some system damage to repair but overal they are in good shape and fully re-armed and planed now..

The limited resources of Japan start to show. Fiji is a major fuel and supply suck and it takes a lot of shipping to keep the show on the road. I am digging into my local reserves and it is hard to replenish without having the HI situation deteriorate. Meanwhile, Mundy might have gotten some good intel (or my recon tipped him) as he seems to be reinforcing Lord Howe.

I've discovered 180 ships at Brisbane and I might take a shot at that with my carriers...