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

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Walker84

I think so... although it's difficult to read with any accuracy, this may mean some kind of build-up or it could be a lot of units and supplies off-loading in Oz to garrison the place, and prepare for a further push in 1943. I am wary, however, as my opponent has already launched an offensive in the Solomons, so there is every reason to expect him to look for further gains even though it is relatively early in the war for the Allies to go on the offensive.

Generally, supply alone will not cause the message in my experience. Units, but you cannot know what kind (AC or LCU).

[Walker84]

Thanks for the comments and insights Paxmondo.

Nov 9, 1942

Gilbert and Marshall Is

I spent a lot of time agonising over what to do about my dispositions before completing the turn. There were multiple Allied TFs sitting just to the south of Tabiteuea, with at least 1 CVE spotted. The distance looked ideal for a landing at either Tabiteuea and/or surrounding islands, with a possible push up towards Tarawa itself, which is my main airbase (level 3 with an air flotilla, 45 Nells and 30 Zeroes). I had a pretty strong cruiser force nearby providing cover to various TFs landing reinforcements at Makin and Tarawa and finally decided to run this at full speed towards the Allied TFs under cover of darkness, hoping to find some targets before high-tailing it back to Tarawa. The results were better than I could have imagined, partly due to the low visibility.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tabiteuea at 137,134, Range 2,000 Yards

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 1
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio
DD Yukaze
DD Namikaze

Allied Ships
BB Colorado, Shell hits 36, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
DD Frazier, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Low visibility due to Rain with 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 0% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
Japanese launch Long Lance torpedoes at 2,000 yards before allies detect Japanese presence
CA Suzuya launches Long Lance Torpedoes at BB Colorado at 2,000 yards
DD Frazier sunk by CA Mikuma at 2,000 yards
BB Colorado engages CA Suzuya at 2,000 yards
DD Yukaze engages BB Colorado at 2,000 yards
D'Alessio, K.E. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range increases to 4,000 yards
BB Colorado engages CA Suzuya at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
BB Colorado engages CA Suzuya at 2,000 yards
BB Colorado sunk by CA Suzuya at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...

I guess I struck lucky here as the slow pre-war battleship escorted by a single destroyer was no match at short range for modern cruisers armed with long lance torpedoes.

[Walker84]

But there was more good fortune for Capt. Kimura's cruiser force as it found itself in the middle of an Allied transport TF - the low visibility again working in his favour...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tabiteuea at 137,134, Range 3,000 Yards

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 1
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 2
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 3
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio, Shell hits 1
DD Yukaze
DD Namikaze, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB California, Shell hits 70, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
CL Tromp, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Gansevoort, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Manley, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AP U.S. Grant
AP McCawley
AP Barnett, Shell hits 10, on fire
AP Henderson, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Betelgeuse
xAP Taroona
xAP Nairana
xAP Bloemfontein
xAP Kota Gede
xAP Kota Agoeng
xAP Kota Inten
xAP Kota Baroe
xAP Maetsuycker
xAP Swartenhondt, heavy damage
xAP Van Cloon, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Van Overstraten
xAK Cycle
xAK West Ira
xAK West Ivis
xAK City of Rayville, Shell hits 3

Allied ground losses:
909 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 49 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 47 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 23 (23 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Low visibility due to Rain with 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 0% moonlight: 3,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
Allied ships attempt to get underway
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 3,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 3,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages BB California at 3,000 yards
BB California engages CA Mikuma at 3,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages DD Kortenaer at 3,000 yards
DD Namikaze sunk by BB California at 3,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages APD Manley at 3,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Kortenaer at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages BB California at 2,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages DD Kortenaer at 2,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages BB California at 2,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Gansevoort at 2,000 yards
DD Gansevoort engages DD Hayashio at 2,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages AP Henderson at 2,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages xAP Kota Gede at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages BB California at 3,000 yards
Massive explosion on DD Gansevoort
DD Gansevoort sunk by CA Mikuma at 3,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DD Hayashio at 3,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages APD Manley at 3,000 yards
DD Natsushio engages AP Henderson at 3,000 yards
xAP Van Cloon sunk by DD Natsushio at 3,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages xAK City of Rayville at 3,000 yards
xAK West Ira collides with xAP Swartenhondt at 137 , 134
BB California engages CA Suzuya at 3,000 yards
CL Tromp engages CA Mikuma at 3,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages DD Kortenaer at 3,000 yards
DD Yukaze engages DD Kortenaer at 3,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages AP Henderson at 3,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DD Natsushio at 3,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages AP McCawley at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
BB California engages CA Suzuya at 4,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages BB California at 4,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages BB California at 4,000 yards
APD Manley sunk by CA Chikuma at 4,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages AP Barnett at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
BB California engages CA Suzuya at 2,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages BB California at 2,000 yards
DD Hayashio engages DD Kortenaer at 2,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DD Yukaze at 2,000 yards
DD Yukaze engages AP Barnett at 2,000 yards
DD Natsushio engages DD Kortenaer at 2,000 yards
BB California engages CA Chikuma at 2,000 yards
BB California sunk by CA Mikuma at 2,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages DD Kortenaer at 2,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages AP Henderson at 2,000 yards
DD Yukaze engages AP Barnett at 2,000 yards
DD Natsushio engages DD Kortenaer at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages CL Tromp at 3,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DD Yukaze at 3,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

SS RO-67 was then sunk by an Allied TF that I was glad my cruisers had managed to avoid...

Submarine attack near Arorae at 138,136

Japanese Ships
SS RO-67, hits 33, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Concord
CL Java
CL Leander
DD Lansdowne
DD Laffey
DD Caldwell
DD McCalla
BB Tennessee

Kimura then engaged an Allied DMS TF, sinking 1 ship before running into a further transport TF...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Tabiteuea at 137,134, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya
DD Natsushio
DD Hayashio
DD Yukaze

Allied Ships
CL Tromp, Shell hits 18, heavy fires, heavy damage
AP U.S. Grant, Shell hits 2, on fire
AP McCawley, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
AP Barnett, Shell hits 1
AK Betelgeuse
xAP Taroona
xAP Nairana
xAP Bloemfontein
xAP Kota Gede
xAP Kota Agoeng
xAP Kota Inten
xAP Kota Baroe, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAP Maetsuycker
xAP Swartenhondt, and is sunk
xAP Van Overstraten, Shell hits 1
xAK Cycle
xAK West Ira
xAK West Ivis
xAK City of Rayville

Allied ground losses:
761 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 28 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 37 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 20 (19 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Low visibility due to Rain with 3% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 3% moonlight: 3,000 yards

Following this last encounter Kimura retired to Tarawa where the destroyer Yukaze had to be abandoned, having run out of fuel. Kimura will retire north tomorrow to replenish, most of his ships having received enough damage to require yard time.

[Walker84]

At daybreak, Tarawa's air defences were mobilised and two attacks were launched on Allied TFs:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Arorae at 138,136

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
G3M2 Nell x 11

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 4 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVL Hermes
CL Concord
CVE Prince William, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
VRF-3F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 12 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 12000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
VRF-5F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes

And later...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Arorae at 138,136

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 11

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CVE Prince William
CVL Hermes
CVE Nassau, Torpedo hits 1
CVE Copahee

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
VRF-3F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
VRF-5F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes

Allied bombers also hit Tabiteuea and Munda repeatedly. Meanwhile, the Allied TFs spotted in the Coral Sea yesterday had steamed closer to the Australian coast, level with Bundaberg so what their objective is remains to be seen, although BBs and APs have been spotted.

Here is the current position in the Gilberts. One of the Allied TFs appears to contain 5 CVEs. I only have 15 AVs at Tabiteuea and 65 AV at Tarawa so my opponent can land pretty much wherever he likes.

[jwolf]

I am amazed at those combat results. Were both BB crippled early on by long lance hits? Otherwise it's hard to see how you got away with that with so little damage to your own ships. The first battle especially seems incredible that the Allies hardly even got any shots off. As an Allied player myself, I am horrified and alarmed by these results! [X(]

[Walker84]

Hi jwolf,

I agree that the combat results do seem incredible. In fact, I was half expecting that I had sent my cruisers on a suicide mission given the preponderance of Allied TFs in the area. As you will see from my post, my cruisers achieved complete surprise and fired long lance torpedoes before they were even spotted. This is not down to any skill on my part but was determined by the game engine, night time, poor visibility, luck, the die roll etc.

What I would say is that a single BB accompanied by a single DD is no sort of battle formation that I would use in any circumstances, so I can only assume that they became separated from the main body somehow. As far as the later action was concerned, surface ships are always more vulnerable when escorting large transport TFs, especially when they have not got underway. The situation would be somewhat akin to trying to defend the hen coop when the foxes have already got inside...

My opponent has had some pc issues so I do not know what his response will be yet. But I would say that as an Allied commander you could pull off exactly the same result as this under the right conditions. One important lesson from this is that neither slow, pre-war battleships nor carriers can be guaranteed to protect your vulnerable shipping against a vigorous night time attack.

[Walker84]

Nov 10 - 11, 1942

The Allied shipping in the Gilberts pulls back on the 10th - two xAPs take torpedoes from my picket subs - and disappears entirely on the 11th so it appears that the defence has worked well this time round. I had moved elements of the KB closer in support but wanted to keep open the option of engaging whatever forces were moving in the Coral Sea so the KB was vectored almost due south from Truk. Those forces have also disappeared so I don't know if it was a feint, or something more substantial. KB will now loiter in the area to make sure.

P-38s sweep Horn Island but losses are fairly even at about 2 apiece.

Cebu in the Philippines falls finally after four successive days of attacks.

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Walker84

CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
Japanese launch Long Lance torpedoes at 2,000 yards before allies detect Japanese presence
CA Suzuya launches Long Lance Torpedoes at BB Colorado at 2,000 yards
DD Frazier sunk by CA Mikuma at 2,000 yards
BB Colorado sunk by CA Suzuya at 2,000 yards

IJ Long Lance tactic paid off exactly as they drew it up on the board. One of the best results I have ever seen. Congrats!!

Banzai!!!

[Walker84]

Nov 12 - 13, 1942

Thanks Pax, it was certainly thrilling to watch on the replay. The conditions were perfect and even though IJN ships had no radar they still got the drop. I have the feeling that I may not get too many more attempts to pull this one off however as my opponent is sure to rebalance his TFs in view of the lesson learned here.

SW Pacific

I always worry about committing the KB in response to potential Allied incursions as the seas around Truk are infested with subs and, sure enough, the replay on the 12th revealed the sight that every KB admiral fears - Hiryu in the sights of an Allied sub...

Sub attack near Ontong Java at 117,125

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
CA Furutaka
CL Sendai
CS Chitose
DD Oyashio
DD Yugumo
DD Akizuki
DD Mutsuki
DD Umikaze
DD Yudachi
DD Shiratsuyu

Allied Ships
SS Trout, hits 1

SS Trout launches 6 torpedoes at CV Hiryu
Trout diving deep ....
DD Mutsuki fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Umikaze fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Yudachi fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shiratsuyu fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Yudachi attacking submerged sub ....
DD Shiratsuyu fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Yudachi fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Fortunately the only torpedo hit was a dud.

B-17s bomb Milne Bay extensively, then my recon picks up that an Allied unit has landed on Tagula Island, which is an empty base due west of Rossel Island which I hold with a small naval guard unit. Tagula will be bombed tomorrow and we will assess whether it can be retaken.

[Walker84]

Nov 14, 1942

Ki-49-Ia Helens carry out a morning air attack at Tagula Island and find that the US 2/3rd Pioneer Battalion is now in situ there. No surface naval activity has been spotted so the unit must have been infiltrated by air or by sub. A perusal of the map dictates that this incursion can't be allowed as Tagula is bang in the middle of my defensive box and only 8 - 10 hexes from Buna / Buin / Torokina / Shortlands and Port Moresby. It is even closer to Milne Bay which would allow the Allies a foothold on New Guinea. Actions are being plotted...

[Walker84]

Nov 15-16, 1942

Coral Sea

I decide on a swift paradrop to retake Tagula Island before the Allies can get established there and the initial result goes well, dropping the forts to 0.

Ground combat at Tagula Island (104,137)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 157 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 11

Defending force 406 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 23

Japanese adjusted assault: 7

Allied adjusted defense: 5

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

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

Japanese ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

Assaulting units:
1st Raiding Rgt /1

Defending units:
2/3rd Pion Bn /2

However, the next day's attack is a failure. My bombers fail to launch two days running due to weather while the Allies are able to bomb my para unit successfully, leaving it disrupted. The 2nd Pion Bn /1 has already joined 2/3rd Pion Bn /2 which means I will have to blast them off the island, or else re-invade by sea.

Meanwhile, more Allied shipping shows up to the south. In my experience, where CLAAs go there are usually carriers in close proximity which could presage air cover being provided to support forthcoming landings. I have two SCTFs in close proximity: a cruiser force at Kiriwina Island a few hexes to the NW, plus a fast battleship force near Rabaul. Multiple Allied SSs are positioned between my forces and Tagula Island.

[Walker84]

The current position...

[Walker84]

Nov 16 Air attacks in the Solomon Is, Coral Sea and New Guinea

Meanwhile, 36 Wildcat F4F-4s from Lunga sweep my base at Torokina, encountering a strong CAP presence comprising both A6M2 and A6M3 Zeros and Ki-43-IIa Oscars, based at Torokina and Buin.

Losses are about equal but the B-24D Liberators that follow the Wildcats in are still met by plenty of CAP and put off their aim enough to only score a few minor airbase hits.

Allied bombers also hit Tagula Island and Milne Bay (again), which makes me think that this is where the next action is likely to happen.

[jwolf]

The action at Tagula reminds me of the earlier battle at Ontong Java, although this time I think the location is more strategically important.

[Walker84]

Agreed, holding Tagula and perhaps some of the other dot bases nearby will provide the Allies with a dagger pointing at the heart of my core PNG/New Britain/Solomons defence. For this reason, I must be prepared to sell it dearly.

[Walker84]

Nov 17, 1942

Coral Sea

ASW attack near Fraser Island, SS I-22, hits 2. Allied Ships:SC-702, SC-707, SC-704.

ASW attack near Rockhampton. SS I-30, hits 1 but manages to torpedo DD Sims causing heavy damage. Allied ships spotted: BB New Mexico, CA Dorsetshire, CL Trenton, CL Detroit and three additional DDs.

SS I-25 launches 2 torpedoes at APD Colhoun at 104,140 only 4 hexes south of Rossel Island but misses and takes a hit. Suspected landing taking place at Rossel or Tagula.

My Helens finally fly and hit Tagula, but it is a pinprick raid against a jungle target - 34 casualties and 3 squads disabled. The US engineers attack my disrupted para unit, causing more disruption and casualties. Sorry lads for sending you on a suicide mission.

During the daytime my air search spots multiple Allied TFs sailing close to the Australian coast, the leading ships only 8 hexes south of Tagula. I can't assume that this armada has been assembled simply to capture a couple of dot bases so have put all main bases including Port Moresby and Buna on full alert.

[Walker84]

Burma

I had planned an air attack on Ledo, as a distraction from the Pacific build-up, and because I hope to establish air superiority on this front in the coming few months. Unfortunately only one fighter unit out of three flies and, for the second time, the outnumbered Tojos come off worse.

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 16 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 23

Allied aircraft
P-43A-1 Lancer x 14
P-66 Vanguard x 7
Hurricane IIc Trop x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-43A-1 Lancer: 1 destroyed
P-66 Vanguard: 2 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 20000 feet

CAP engaged:
3rd FG/7th FS CAF with P-66 Vanguard (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
4th FG/21st FS CAF with P-43A-1 Lancer (0 airborne, 5 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 22000 and 26000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
4th FG/22nd FS CAF with P-43A-1 Lancer (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 26000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
No.615 Sqn RAF with Hurricane IIc Trop (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
23rd FG/76th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 24000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes

The overall losses listed, including ops, are 15 Tojos vs. 9 Allied planes. Ah well, back to the drawing board I guess.

[Walker84]

Nov 18, 1942

There will be blood...!

[Walker84]

Pre-invasion formalities - combat report posted to provide a flavour...

ASW attack near Rossel Island at 102,143

Japanese Ships
SS I-166, hits 1

Allied Ships
SC-700
SC-708
SC-706

SS I-166 is sighted by escort
I-166 diving deep ....
SC-708 attacking submerged sub ....
SC-706 attacking submerged sub ....
SC-706 loses contact with SS I-166
SC-706 is out of ASW ammo
SC-706 is out of ASW ammo
SC-708 fails to find sub and abandons search
SC-706 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Rossel Island at 102,143

Japanese Ships
SS I-166

Allied Ships
SC-708
SC-700

SS I-166 is located by SC-708
I-166 diving deep ....
SC-708 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Rossel Island at 101,145

Japanese Ships
SS I-171, hits 2

Allied Ships
SC-519
SC-641
SC-521

Captain of SS I-171 elects not to launch torpedoes at this target
I-171 diving deep ....
SC-641 attacking submerged sub ....
SC-521 fails to find sub and abandons search
SC-641 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-641 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-641 attacking submerged sub ....
SC-641 cannot establish contact with SS I-171
SC-641 is out of ASW ammo
SC-641 is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 7th Indpt SNLF Coy , at 115,131 (Ontong Java)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 22 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 15

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

[jwolf]

Well I guess you found the Allied carriers. Does he really have PT boats in the middle of the Coral Sea?