Interesting happenings. The invasions begin in earnest, it seems. I've already lost Luganville and the Solomons up through Munda, but I decided I didn't want to waste assets defending them. However, now he's coming into the Gilberts. Like the Solomons, I don't want to waste assets, however I do want to sting where possible.
Here's my issue... I don't want to commit my 8 CVs and get an even trade. I think that works in his favor. From combat reports with his CAP, there are at least 3 USN fleet CVs plus the Illustrious, and from the most recent turn's combats there are at least 2 CVLs.
VF-1, -3, -6, -71, and -16 all present. So that's Yorktown, Enterprise, Wasp, Essex (16?), and I forget which ship VF-1 is on. 3 FAA units with Martlets - that's Illustrious. VRF-6F also present, with VMF-221, so some CVEs also it seems. My search keeps getting shot down, but I am getting enough to get decent DLs on them. Here's the rundown:
August 23, I sight them 8 hexes from Tarawa. 36 Zeroes and 12 Bettys mostly die to get the intel on the CAP composition. 1 torpedo dudded on an AK, so I know he's going somewhat slow. I sortie 14 subs from Truk (some to lay mines at Makin/Tabit as Tarawa is already a goner if he's going there), and vector in the few that were already nearby. I've been expecting him to move for this area at some point. In fact, I sniffed his CVs near Baker about a week ago and sent KB from Truk and Rabaul to rendezvous near Kusaie.
August 24, the USN is now 4 hexes out from Tarawa. So he's taking his time and knows he's sighted. I have LBA from Tabit but that's about it. They don't strike today.
August 25 (the most recent combat replay):
ASW attack near Tarawa at 139,128
Japanese Ships
SS I-26, hits 5, heavy damage
Allied Ships
BB Pennsylvania, Torpedo hits 1
BB Maryland
DD Farragut
DD Dale
OK good, one slow BB hurt. There were damage messages, and 2 more of my subs make contact with this TF during the night phase, confirming that Pennsylvania split off in an escort TF. I-26 should live, but RO-62 was lost and RO-61 missed Farragut.
Then:
Sub attack near Tarawa at 137,128
Japanese Ships
SS RO-61
Allied Ships
CV Essex, Torpedo hits 1
CL Montpelier
CLAA San Diego
DD McCook
DD Kalk
DD Braine
DD Conyngham
DD Benham
DD Henley
DD Mustin
Banzai! Maybe not enough to knock her out of the action, but it would weaken her to a KB strike...
Then:
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 138,128
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 13
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 10 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
CVL Belleau Wood, Torpedo hits 1
CVL Princeton
Aircraft Attacking:
13 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
I had them set to attack at 1000. They flew right under his CAP, awesome! Also got 1 dud. So that's a damaged CV, BB, and CVL. Without that, I wouldn't even be considering.
What I ended up doing is sending KB and the Kongo TF to rendezvous near Namorik. I'll decide in the next turn if I want to do a strike. I am only 9 hexes away from Tarawa, so if he comes past Tarawa there is a risk that my KB will strike... they're locked and loaded for 8 hexes.
About a week, maybe 10 days ago, he used APDs to slip past my search and take Abemama. I think he did this because he had SIGINT on my BB Yamashiro/CL Agano/5 DDs disbanded there as a potential reactionary force to a Tabiteuea invasion. They all lived. Agano and the DDs hunted down the APDs on the 22nd.
...more info coming in a bit...
