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

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

It looks like you could really wreck the Allied landing force at Horn Island, both on the ground and at sea if he stays there. I wonder if Horn Island will become another Ontong Java -- MAD but with you holding the base at the end of the day.

I'm hopeful this time but still awaiting the turn with nervous anticipation. My opponent has made some pretty shrewd moves to get out of jail in the past so I'm not taking anything for granted here.

[Walker84]

Nov 27, 1942

Well, the day was not as eventful as I had expected but definitely a points victory for Japan.

Battle for Horn Island/other actions in the Coral Sea and PNG

My bombardment TF evades Allied subs and arrives at Horn first to find only the abandoned, listing Allied xAK Makawao, which is promptly sunk by gunfire before the main bombardment proceeds.

Night Naval bombardment of Horn Island at 91,128

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
BB Nagato
+ DD escort
Allied ground losses:
531 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 37 (14 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (5 destroyed, 5 disabled)

BB Hyuga firing at 2nd RAA Med Arty Regiment
BB Ise firing at 13th Australian Brigade
BB Nagato firing at Horn Isl Base Force

It appears that the slow BBs had more ops points or something but that's okay as fortunately my 'fast' TF was not required and it is now in position north of Cooktown, ready to advance or withdraw as the situation dictates. I also took the opportunity to run a TF of CMs in to drop mines in the hex.

Another 'atoll attack lesson' as the disrupted, depleted Allied units are forced to shock attack again due to the TF having unloaded again in the night. The attack is a resounding success - for Japan that is.

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 671 troops, 14 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 29

Defending force 2114 troops, 21 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 51

Allied adjusted assault: 0

Japanese adjusted defense: 15

Allied assault odds: 1 to 99 (fort level 1)

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+)

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

Allied ground losses:
205 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
13th Australian Bde /2
73rd RAAF Base Wing
Horn Isl Base Force
2nd RAA Med Arty Regiment

Defending units:
Kure 2nd SNLF
3rd Raiding Rgt /1 - reinforcements flown in from Rabaul
37th Const Co
3rd JNAF Coy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Horn Isl Base Force Wiped Out at Horn Island by attrition!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
73rd RAAF Base Wing Wiped Out at Horn Island by attrition!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd RAA Med Arty Regiment Wiped Out at Horn Island by attrition!!!

Before we get too excited however, there are undoubtedly a lot of Allied forces still prep'd for Horn in the APs sitting off the Australian coast and now the Allied carriers have reappeared to the south of Milne Bay my opponent might be able to insert them again with enough air support.

At Milne Bay, incidentally, the latest Allied assault reduces the fortifications to 0 so it may be a goner by tomorrow.

In the air, my opponent bombs Tagula and Milne Bay. I bomb Milne Bay. The B-26s cause more casualties than my Sallies. I'd give almost anything for a more effective Japanese medium bomber force [:@].


Akyab

P-40Es sweep the base but are outclassed by the resident Tojos and Oscar IIas and eleven are shot down for no loss.

Summary

A good day for Japan. The invasion of Horn Island is over, temporarily, and my surface fleets remain intact and ready to contest the next phase. It will be interesting to discover what sort of carrier strength the Allies can field after the damage caused in recent actions.

[Lowpe]

If Japan had better bombers, you would most likely run out of supplies in the end game. [:)] Sooner, rather than later.

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

If Japan had better bombers, you would most likely run out of supplies in the end game. [:)] Sooner, rather than later.

True, but we can still afford to bitch about it. [:)]

Now, today's conundrum is that my TF just north of Portland Roads might not have been spotted, so do I run it through the MTBs and try to sink the Allied transports due south of my position, or retreat to preserve my forces (especially as the Allied carriers could end the turn much closer to my current position). Ah, problems decisions!

[jwolf]

At Horn Island, it looks like the 13th Aussie brigade (or rather, some fragment of it) is still there? But even so, this day's results are very good for your side. Well done bringing in the big ships. I'm very curious to see what happens in the next installment of this thrilling spectacle! [8D]

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: Walker84

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

If Japan had better bombers, you would most likely run out of supplies in the end game. [:)] Sooner, rather than later.

True, but we can still afford to bitch about it. [:)]

Helen's are adequate; 4x250kg just means you need to mass a lot of groups. Good news is that you get quite a few 27 ac groups and a fair number of groups up to 36ac.

Sticking with the 27AC group size, you just need to get 8 groups together to get some mass involved. 8x25x4 = 800x250kg. That's the kind of mission profile that will hurt even troops in 3x terrain.

But then Lowpe's comment is relevant ... 800x250KG bombs is a lot of supply, likely far more than the damage inflicted will justify for the IJ. Decisions, Decisions. [:D]

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: PaxMondo

Helen's are adequate; 4x250kg just means you need to mass a lot of groups. Good news is that you get quite a few 27 ac groups and a fair number of groups up to 36ac.

Sticking with the 27AC group size, you just need to get 8 groups together to get some mass involved. 8x25x4 = 800x250kg. That's the kind of mission profile that will hurt even troops in 3x terrain.

But then Lowpe's comment is relevant ... 800x250KG bombs is a lot of supply, likely far more than the damage inflicted will justify for the IJ. Decisions, Decisions. [:D]

Thanks Pax, having never done the maths on this properly I didn't fully appreciate the supply implications. I need to come up with a plan however as Milne Bay fell today. I won't get round to posting an update until tomorrow though.

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

At Horn Island, it looks like the 13th Aussie brigade (or rather, some fragment of it) is still there? But even so, this day's results are very good for your side. Well done bringing in the big ships. I'm very curious to see what happens in the next installment of this thrilling spectacle! [8D]

Thanks, there is still the Aussie fragment but it no longer poses a threat. As my forces remain weak I decided to bombard rather than risk a deliberate attack today. And I should be posting the next instalment tomorrow - real life intervened today.

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: Walker84
...real life intervened today.

The super weapon that defeats Japanese and Allies alike! [:(] Hope you get back to the game soon!

[Walker84]

Nov 28, 1942

Quite a lot of sub activity on both sides as always that I rarely report unless something is hit badly or sunk. Allied sub Grampus active near Horn Island takes 3 hits while trying to interdict my shipping there. I have an infantry unit being transported there but will need to sneak it past the Allied air as well as the subs.

Smallish Allied bombing attacks at Tagula and Milne Bay.

Bombardment attack at Horn:

Ground combat at Horn Island (91,128)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1350 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 68

Defending force 498 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Assaulting units:
Kure 2nd SNLF
3rd Raiding Rgt /1
37th Const Co
3rd JNAF Coy

Defending units:
13th Australian Bde /2

Then the Allied riposte at Milne Bay:

Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3324 troops, 57 guns, 61 vehicles, Assault Value = 190

Defending force 1607 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 28

Allied adjusted assault: 50

Japanese adjusted defense: 21

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Milne Bay !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
667 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 21 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Allied ground losses:
58 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
23rd Australian Brigade
30th Australian Bde /1
2/9th Armoured Rgt /1
32nd Aus Lt AA Rgt /1
Katherine RAAF Base Force /1
A/B Hy Cst Arty
2nd US Naval Const Bn /1
2nd Port Advn Base Force /1

Defending units:
86th Naval Guard Unit
51st Const Co
4th Indpt SNLF Coy

Here is the current situation:

[Walker84]

Nov 29-30, 1942

Allied DMS start clearing my mines at Milne Bay. A deliberate attack at Horn Island shatters the remnants of 13th Australian Bde and the unit is wiped out by attrition, clearing the island of Allied troops.

Allied TFs still milling around Milne Bay, Tagula and Rossel Island. Shame I haven't got the strength to naval attack at the moment. The Allied carriers have dropped out of my search range temporarily but I suspect they are not far away.

On the 30th a morning air attack on Milne Bay deploying crack Zero units nets a good tally of defending fighters. I expect I will get a heavy B-17 response over my airfields tomorrow.

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 108 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 68
A6M3 Zero x 29

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 17
P-40E Warhawk x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 7 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
29 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet *
31 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet
22 x A6M3 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet

CAP engaged:
No.75 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 7 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
51st FG/25th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 10 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes

[Walker84]

Dec 1, 1942

Coral Sea / PNG

Allied TFs are still unloading today at each of the newly-captured bases. I imagine by now the quartermasters are trying to figure out how that kitchen sink comes off the xAP without losing its varnish. The Allied carriers appear to be sitting in the shallows around Milne Bay, daring me to send my Netties against them. I'll wait a bit to see if any easier targets become detached from the main force.

I decide not to sweep Milne Bay again today to keep my opponent guessing and in fact it is Allied air that is in action in an offensive capability today. First, B-17s bomb Port Moresby airfield, putting plenty of new craters in the runway just as it was starting to look nice and repaired again.

Then, a couple of waves of Allied carrier planes attack Buna and come off quite badly against my CAP, perhaps 30 F4Fs being shot down or lost operationally protecting the bombers while I lose hardly any fighters. I like it when Allied carrier planes suffer attrition versus LBA, evening the odds a little if there is another carrier battle.

Less satisfactorily, Kittyhawk IAs sweep Horn Island and down about 8 Zeroes belonging to a relatively rookie unit that I put there, hoping that it would only have to fight bombers first time round.

Philippines

Ground combat at Malaybalay on Mindanao as 4th div tries to winkle the last Allied defenders out of the mountains. Nothing doing so I will have to start bombing them and bring up more artillery.

[Walker84]

Dec 2, 1942

Coral Sea, PNG

I'll include a map at the end of the post to give some appreciation of the scale of Allied operations in the Coral Sea at the moment.

During the night phase, a couple of my subs take ASW hits and have to retire before I-35 finally manages to hit something - in the shape of CLAA San Juan, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage. The rest of the Allied ships are bearing charmed lives at the moment it seems, although my opponent's extensive deployment of sub chasers may have more to do with it than Lady Luck herself.

Morning Air attack on Milne Bay, and this time my Zeroes come in split sweeps, encountering the new CAP roster of Hurricane IIb Trop x 11 & F4F-4 Wildcat x 18. Losses are about even at 14 Zeroes vs 7 Hurris and 6 Wildcats but at least Milne Bay is cleared of CAP once again. I'm happy to trade land-based Zeroes for F4Fs as I'm hoping that this is eating into the Allied replacement rate more than my own, and there are still a few more months before the Hellcat appears. I would really like to push the Allied carriers back from the war zone due to aircraft losses in the next few days to regain the initiative as it will be my best opportunity to counter-attack before everything gets too embedded...

Meanwhile, I saw an opportunity to attack Allied shipping at Rossel Island from Buna last turn so Betties were duly deployed. Shame that the APs had almost finished unloading but every little helps...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 105,137

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
G4M1 Betty x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AM Cootamundra, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Van der Lijn
AM Katoomba

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 105,137

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2
G4M1 Betty x 9
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 4

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAP Van der Lijn, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Van Heemskerck, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AM Katoomba

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 7 (5 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

Finally, the 1st Raiding Regiment's epic defence at Tagula Island continues...

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4333 troops, 61 guns, 52 vehicles, Assault Value = 185

Defending force 473 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 14

Allied adjusted assault: 28

Japanese adjusted defense: 5

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1

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

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

Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
2/3rd Pioneer Battalion
5th Australian Brigade
2nd Pioneer Battalion
Rabaul Base Force
4th RAAF Construction Battalion

Defending units:
1st Raiding Regiment

[jwolf]

With so many Allied resources committed in this theater, they presumably (??) don't have anything left to contest any move you might make elsewhere. But that wouldn't be much help if you, too, are forced to commit just about everything in this theater as well.

Amazing that those guys at Tabula are still holding out.

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

With so many Allied resources committed in this theater, they presumably (??) don't have anything left to contest any move you might make elsewhere. But that wouldn't be much help if you, too, are forced to commit just about everything in this theater as well.

Amazing that those guys at Tabula are still holding out.

Yes, if one side commits to a theatre it means that the other side must match that commitment so, even now, I have reinforcements making their way there. I do have a decent-sized force in Burma but probably not enough to force a breakthrough now, so the focus will be on mounting an aggressive defence wherever necessary. As my opponent is very thorough there have been few enough opportunities to punish his mistakes, although Tabiteau and Horn Island can be counted as moderate successes.

[Walker84]

Dec 3 1942

Coral Sea

Many sub sightings and sub attacks but only two significant combats - SS Grayling takes 5 ASW hits near Emirau Island while SS I-121 falls foul of Allied SCs near Milne Bay, takes 9 hits, suffers an underwater explosion, debris and oil appear on surface - and is lost.

The 1st Raiding Rgt weathers a final Allied attack before being wiped out at Tagula Island by attrition. A cadre remains at Rabaul and will be rebuilt.

Zeroes sweep Milne Bay but no CAP is present. In addition to plentiful Allied subs, there are still several Allied surface TFs in the vicinity of Tagula and Milne Bay but no sign of the carriers so I inch the KB forward under LRCAP protection to a point just SW of Rabaul. I don't want to risk a carrier battle just yet, but I might just be able to pick off some stray Allied ships tomorrow..

[Walker84]

Dec 4 1942

Allied B-26s bomb Horn Island and B-24s bomb Nauru, no CAP is home and moderate damage is caused. Elements of my carrier TF are spotted by Allied subs south of Rabaul.

In the afternoon Japanese carrier planes target an Allied SCTF near Deboyne Island. Unfortunately several groups fail to find the target and turn back so Allied losses are comparatively light. The composition of the TF is slightly odd, and it looks even stranger on the naval search report received later on (see map below). What is BB Indiana doing out here in the open with a small accompanying cruiser force? Strange.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 103,136

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 70
B5N2 Kate x 20
D3A1 Val x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 6 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 9 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
BB Indiana, Bomb hits 6, on fire
CA San Francisco, Bomb hits 2
CA Minneapolis

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
19 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
11 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb

[jwolf]

Early sighting reports on a TF can be misleading and sometimes just wacky. Maybe that's what you're seeing in the map above. BTW I like your map annotations -- clean and classy looking. [:)]

[Walker84]

Thanks jwolf, in any case the TF managed to sneak away by morning so perhaps I'll never know.[:(] I'll try to keep the annotations coming. I find going over this stuff in the AAR helps with my thought processes in planning the next move - its nice to get feedback as well!

Dec 5, 1942

Night of the Naval Bombardments

I decided to split my surface forces and bombard the two forward Allied airbases established in my domain which yesterday's intel indicated had just received new fighters.

The group spearheaded by Yamato heads for Milne Bay. AM Benalla on picket duty is sunk by a single 18-inch shell. Aided by spotter planes, the bombardment is pretty devastating, to the extent that there is no Allied CAP in the air when Zeroes sweep the base in the morning...

Night Naval bombardment of Milne Bay at 101,133

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 67 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed on ground
F4F-4 Wildcat: 6 damaged
Kittyhawk IA: 46 damaged
Kittyhawk IA: 3 destroyed on ground
Hurricane IIb Trop: 4 damaged
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
BB Kongo
CA Kumano
CL Naka
DD Shirayuki
DD Arare
DD Asashio
DD Hagikaze
DD Kuroshio
DD Akigumo
DD Akizuki

Allied ground losses:
866 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 25 destroyed, 78 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 22 (1 destroyed, 21 disabled)
Vehicles lost 36 (13 destroyed, 23 disabled)

Airbase hits 21
Airbase supply hits 16
Runway hits 110
Port hits 2

The force that hits Rossel is a lot lighter but performs its duties well nevertheless, sinking at least one PT boat on the way in and out.

Night Naval bombardment of Rossel Island at 105,137

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 12 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
ZPK: 3 damaged
ZPK: 1 destroyed on ground I had to look these up - they are USN dirigibles.

Japanese Ships
CL Abukuma
CL Isuzu
CL Jintsu
DD Isonami
DD Usugumo
DD Shinonome
DD Fubuki
DD Kawakaze

Allied ground losses:
134 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 41
Port hits 10
Port supply hits 2

The only downer is that DDs Shinonome and Isonami have sustained pretty heavy damage and will have to limp back to Rabaul. There is no explanation for this in the combat report so I can only assume that both were unlucky enough to hit Allied mines on the way back.

Allied ships were also active during the night...

Night Naval bombardment of Horn Island at 91,128

Allied Ships
CA Chicago
DD Reid
DD Downes
DD O'Bannon

Japanese ground losses:
388 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 14
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 5

This is followed up by another punitive air raid which makes me think that holding on to Horn, although essential strategically, is going to become a costly exercise.

Allied carriers show up again to the south of Tagula but not close enough to force a duel with the KB, which is currently in position to cover the withdrawal of the bombardment units.

Later in the day, a convoy bringing reinforcements to Buin is treated to a display of Allied low level anti-shipping expertise:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Torokina at 110,129

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 7
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Tamahoko Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Kotohira Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Sugiyama Maru

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

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

And finally, a nice shot of Yamato firing its guns in anger during the Milne Bay operation...

[Walker84]

Dec 6, 1942

The Allied carriers have moved overnight and taken up position just to the south of Rossel Island where APs are unloading reinforcements. My subs make various contacts but, as usual, fire torpedoes at Allied DDs, miss, then have to dive deep to avoid the inevitable counter-attack. At least the sub attrition rate is relatively low at the moment.

Sixty-plus B-17s blast Buna airfield back into the stone age. I had used the base for LRCAP over my TFs yesterday but was prescient enough to move the fighters out as they had been spotted. B-26s also bomb Port Moresby. I am beginning to wonder if I will ever get these important bases fully operational again.

Annoyingly, when my own bombers hit Milne Bay I realise that in my haste I had set them to ground rather than airfield attack so the Aussie infantry receive a minor pasting while the engineers gain a valuable extra day to repair the runways. 'Drat, drat and double drat', as Dick Dastardly might say.

Further east, xAK Kotohira Maru sinks in Shortlands harbour after yesterday's B-25 strike. At least the ship was only carrying supplies but a worrying harbinger that keeping the Solomons reinforced and resupplied is going to be problematic.

I was hoping my Netties would target some of the slow-moving Allied TFs to the south of Milne Bay but, unfortunately, they decide to attack an AP at Rossel Island, right under the nose of the Allied carrier CAP. On the plus side, at least that's a few more valuable F4Fs scratched...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 105,137

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 22 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
G3M2 Nell x 14

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 10
F4F-4 Wildcat x 43

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAP Raranga

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