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

[Walker84]

Dec 7, 1942

First anniversary of the outbreak of war and, as my buddy Apbarog pointed out to me the other day, it's taken us almost exactly a year in real life to get to this point.


As if to celebrate, BB Musashi arrives at Nagasaki/Sasebo which should beef up our shore bombardment capabilities nicely.

Today's main naval combat action is a sub attack on a US escort carrier TF near Cairns. SS I-15 takes 25 hits and is sunk, but before its demise the sub hits CVE Altamaha with two torpedoes, reporting "on fire, heavy damage". Twenty-plus SBDs are later reported as ground losses so the carrier sank, a nice bonus at a time when we are pulling out all the stops in an effort to establish local air and naval superiority.

Still no Allied CAP over Milne Bay as two airfield strikes are launched. In the first, 58 Betties based at Rabaul bomb the airfield but, in severe storms, achieve only 1 airbase supply hit and 1 runway hit. The second attack is worth reporting. I'm hoping that this intended show of strength will convince my opponent to keep his carriers well back to avoid tangling with the KB. At this stage it's still a highly potent force, especially when deployed in a mutually supporting role with LBA.

Afternoon Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 50 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 91
B5N2 Kate x 97

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 19 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
Kittyhawk IA: 3 damaged
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed on ground
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 23

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
20 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
15 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
18 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
13 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

[IdahoNYer]

Congrats on the one year mark!! Really enjoying both of your AARs!

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: IdahoNYer

Congrats on the one year mark!! Really enjoying both of your AARs!

Thanks, much appreciated!

[Walker84]

Dec 8, 1942

Tagula Island becomes an airfield today. I don't launch any air attacks in the Pacific: the KB heads to Rabaul instead to take on more planes and pilots. Several carriers damaged in the Coral Sea air battles are almost repaired in the Home Islands. Zuikaku will take about three months however.

I have built up a strong CAP presence at Lae, my only functioning large-scale airfield on Papua New Guinea presently. If they attack in force, the B-17s will get through regardless, but I want to make them suffer as much damage as possible. In a turn or two, I should be able to re-establish a presence at Port Moresby, provided it is not bombed heavily again in the meantime.

At Rabaul, I have 2/3 of a division 50% prep'd for Rossel Island already loaded in transports, but will have to wait for an opportunity with the Allied carriers still in the vicinity.

[Walker84]

Dec 9-10, 1942

The 9th is a quiet day: couple of sub attacks, some mine clearance in the hex adjacent to Rabaul, and a fairly weak Japanese bomber ground attack on Milne Bay.

Buin bombarded by Allied warships!

The 10th is altogether busier starting, after the obligatory sub actions, with an Allied night naval bombardment of Buin. Although a number of planes are damaged, the airbase holds up pretty well. The other item of interest is that I had ordered the KB and its supporting TFs to the adjacent hex, however they arrive during the day by which time the Allied TF is long gone.

Night Naval bombardment of Buin
Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 7 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 26 damaged
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 10 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
CA Dorsetshire
CA Chicago
CL Marblehead
CL Raleigh
DD Tucker
DD Reid
DD Downes
DD Dunlap
DD O'Bannon

Japanese ground losses:
409 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 40
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 1

Air actions over New Guinea and the Coral Sea

Next up, Zeroes sweep Rossel Island encountering Airacobras and P-40s on CAP from both the base and Tagula Island. Losses are about even but my follow-up bombing raid from Buin is scratched by the night naval bombardment.

Port Moresby receives a heavy raid by B-26s and B-24s just as it was about to open again, and more B-24s mount a nuisance raid on Port Hedland in Western Australia. As a riposte, Sallies and Betties based at Rabaul bomb Milne Bay, causing light damage. The base remains closed.

There have been a bunch of oddly-composed Allied TFs crawling around the map east of Cairns for days now and I couldn't work out what was going on but, as they were within range of Lae, I thought it was worth the risk of setting some Betties to naval attack. The result is highly satisfying, aided by the fact that there was no CAP over the TFs, perhaps because my opponent thought that the bombers were out of range...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 96,139

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 70 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 8 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Idaho, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Leander
CL Concord

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

That solves the mysterious fate of the Idaho, which I was sure took a torpedo or two at Milne Bay weeks ago before disappearing. But has it really been limping back to Oz all of this time, and how come I never spotted it before?

During the afternoon air phase, KB Kates attack but miss a small APD TF south of Rossel Island, then the rest of the Kates escorted by Zeroes hit Rossel itself. Afterwards, some unescorted Vals attack Rossel and a few are lost to CAP. I wish the Vals had attacked the APDs instead and that they would stop flying unescorted!

Last stand on Mindanao

Lastly, a 1:2 deliberate attack at Malaybalay on Mindanao fails to drop the level 2 forts for the second time.

[jwolf]

Really nice map, even better than before! [:)]

I shouldn't comment in detail about the Idaho unless or until you hear it from apbarog; it's a shame she finally went down.

As for the bombardment at Buin, well, what goes around comes around? [;)]

The Allied last stand on Mindanao is pretty cool for this late in the war. You may view it differently, though!

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

Really nice map, even better than before! [:)]

Thanks, I can do it when I have the time!

I shouldn't comment in detail about the Idaho unless or until you hear it from apbarog; it's a shame she finally went down.

Understood - the report said sunk by a single torpedo but there were no float plane casualties (although these may have been flown off previously).

As for the bombardment at Buin, well, what goes around comes around? [;)]

Yep, but this will only continue as I have found that bombardments are far more effective for Japan than bombing - especially in jungle hexes.

The Allied last stand on Mindanao is pretty cool for this late in the war. You may view it differently, though!

Sure, it has little strategic impact but I hate loose ends, which is why I am tidying up [;)]

[Walker84]

Dec 11, 1942

When bombardment missions go wrong

Keen to deny my opponent the ability to build up his bridgehead bases at Tagula and Rossel Island, I ordered two night naval bombardment missions, one for each island respectively.

Spearheaded by BBs Yamato and Kongo, the Rossel TF did a nice job, blasting through the PT boat screen and damaging plenty of planes on the ground and the airfield itself.

I realised that there was a problem with the second operation, however, when it was reported engaging PT boats at Rennell Island, which is a well-established Allied base much further SW in the Solomons, in fact only a few hexes from Lunga. After seeing off the PT boats, the IJN TF sank the French DD Le Triomphant as well as TKs Sunadmiral and War Sirdar.

The massive diversion from its original target left the TF out of ops points and perilously close to substantial Allied LBA at the Guadalcanal base complex once the sun rose, with predictable results:

Morning Air attack on TF, near Rennell Island at 111,139

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 27

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano, Bomb hits 4, on fire
CL Naka, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CL Jintsu

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
20 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Rennell Island at 111,139
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 18
Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Naka, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Kumano, heavy fires
DD Asashio
DD Kuroshio

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Rennell Island at 111,139
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.

Allied aircraft
SBD-2 Dauntless x 18

Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kuroshio
DD Akigumo
DD Makigumo

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rennell Island at 111,139
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 26

Japanese Ships
DD Hagikaze, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asashio
CA Kumano, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shirayuki

Aircraft Attacking:
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
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Kumano
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rennell Island at 111,139
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 17
F4F-3 Wildcat x 16

Japanese Ships
DD Makigumo
DD Akigumo
DD Makinami

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rennell Island at 111,139
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.

Allied aircraft
SBD-2 Dauntless x 18

Japanese Ships
CL Naka, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shirayuki
DD Asashio
CL Jintsu, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
fternoon Air attack on TF, near Rennell Island at 111,139

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Hagikaze, on fire, heavy damage. Sinks later
CL Naka, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage. Sinks later

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

Kumano was to sink the following day but, in the meantime, I had asked my opponent to pause the game while I tried to figure out if this egregious TF diversion was due to a bug or if it was simply an unfortunate case of TF reacting badly. To cut a long story short these things can happen in the game as a result of the bombardment code and the TF reaction settings among other factors, and so I just need to treat this as a learning opportunity [8|]. Those who would like to find out more about the issues when ordering naval bombardments can read the Tech forum thread:

tm.asp?m=3960906

Here's the position on the map:

[Walker84]

Dec 12-13, 1942

A nice success for the silent service as SS I-22 manages to put two torpedoes into BB South Dakota near Tagula Island despite a strong escort force of cruisers and destroyers. There are no carriers reported in the vicinity but they may not be far away. I'm pretty sure that the TF was either supporting supply and reinforcement convoys headed to Milne Bay, Tagula and Rossel or perhaps preparing to ambush one of my bombardment TFs. Either way, S Dakota will now need extensive yard time.

I had prepared another 'big wing' attack against the Allied forward bases today and land-based as well as KB Zeroes launch multiple sweeps of Milne Bay, Rossel and Tagula, shooting down most of the CAP before a mass KB raid:

Afternoon Air attack on Rossel Island , at 105,137

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 117 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 49 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 87
B5N2 Kate x 99

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 10 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed on ground
ZPK: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 25

The Allied riposte is a pinprick raid on 1st Division by 10 B-26s at Port Moresby, but I'm still wary, waiting for the next time the B-17s and B-24s turn up to hammer my airfields.

In fact on the following day B-24D Liberators bomb Tabiteau while B-26s turn their focus on Horn Island again. Otherwise, the 13th is a relatively quiet day.

[Walker84]

Dec 14 - 15, 1942

Back to the Solomons?

I have been getting pretty good naval search intel lately and thought I would show a map with two days worth of developments in the Coral Sea / Solomons area. What has become noticeable is that a lot of Allied ships, including capital ships and transports, are heading east.

Now there could be a variety of explanations for these movements, but I tend to favour the idea that my opponent is not simply shoring up his bases in the Solomons - the bases here are on steroids already (as my recent, ill-fated Rennell Island excursion revealed). So, having established bridgeheads at Milne Bay and nearby islands, is he going back east, possibly to resurrect the abortive Tabiteau invasion, or else planning to start pushing further up the Solomons Island chain?

Whatever the plan, and even if there is no plan, we need to be prepared. In the short-term, KB and additional IJN surface fleet elements will depart New Britain and take up new positions further east from which they can move swiftly to interdict further Allied incursions into the Marshalls and Solomons as soon as the direction of play has been ascertained.

As for the rest of the action, we swept Milne Bay again over the two days and bombed the airfield, causing a reasonable level of damage but also importantly delaying the port build currently going on. The Allies seem to be slipping AKLs into the forward bases in small packets to resupply. We'll have to see if we can deter them from doing this...

[Lowpe]

Try using some small destroyer squadrons. They can get in and out fast, are hard to hit by bombers and are pretty darn tough. Two to three ships.

If you can snake some close or behind him, they can make for a rude surprise especially when they haven't been detected.

If you can't find holes in his search with bigger TFs, the answer is smaller ones!

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

Try using some small destroyer squadrons. They can get in and out fast, are hard to hit by bombers and are pretty darn tough. Two to three ships.

If you can snake some close or behind him, they can make for a rude surprise especially when they haven't been detected.

If you can't find holes in his search with bigger TFs, the answer is smaller ones!

Thanks Lowpe,

I did plan something similar to what you suggested. Unfortunately the Allies got a good DL on the force before it reached Rossel Is and the AKLs had fled by the time we arrived...

16-17 Dec 1942

Night Naval bombardment of Rossel Island

Japanese Ships
DD Shirayuki
DD Usugumo
DD Fubuki
DD Asashio
DD Kuroshio
DD Akigumo

Allied Ships
AM Muritai, Shell hits 2, on fire

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

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8
Port hits 7

DD Shirayuki firing at 4th Air Advn Base Force
DD Usugumo firing at 4th Air Advn Base Force
DD Fubuki firing at Rossel Island
DD Asashio firing at 22nd Marine Regiment
DD Kuroshio firing at 4th Air Advn Base Force
DD Akigumo firing at Rossel Island

The previous day, an Allied TF hit Torokina, causing rather more airfield damage and sinking an xAK and a PB that were unloading supplies. They must have come in at full speed because there was no sign of them by daylight. I'll have to put a stop to such reckless incursions.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Torokina at 109,130, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Rokko Maru #2, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
xAK Sugiyama Maru, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Detroit
CL Trenton
DD Aaron Ward
DD Buchanan
DD Farenholt
DD Mustin

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Torokina

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
H8K1 Emily: 12 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Trenton
CL Detroit
DD Mustin
DD Farenholt
DD Buchanan
DD Aaron Ward

Japanese ground losses:
73 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 25
Port hits 7
Port supply hits 2

CL Trenton firing at Torokina
CL Detroit firing at Torokina
DD Mustin firing at Torokina
DD Farenholt firing at Torokina
DD Buchanan firing at Torokina
DD Aaron Ward firing at Torokina

Most Allied shipping has gone off the screen over the last two days so I can't detect the various big TFs that were milling around Luganville recently. I am going to let the KB disappear so that it is back in deterrent mode, having spent time recently supporting my hard-pressed LBA in the Solomons and New Guinea.

[Walker84]

Dec 18, 1942

Bay of Bengal

The whole India/Burma front has been very quiet of late, with both sides seemingly content to go softly softly here while committing significant resources to the Solomon Is and Coral Sea campaigns. However, I noticed last turn that Allied recon over Port Blair had increased so added some more Nicks to the CAP there and, lo and behold, about 50 Liberator IIs and B-24s attacked today in waves. The Nicks gave a good account of themselves and 12 Liberators were reported shot down for only 3 Nick operational losses. The field took a pasting but I hope to keep it open with extra reinforcements just flown in. I'm also going to send a surface TF up there in case a bombardment mission shows up...

SW Pac

Still no sign of Allied major surface assets but there are a lot of APDs mooching around the Solomons, an ominous sign perhaps...

B-17s bomb Buna to keep it shut and lose a couple of planes to CAP leaking from Lae. B-25s also bomb Horn Island which I can't afford to CAP. The JAAF bombs Milne Bay but only 15 runway damage points are recorded when I mouse over the base later in the day.



Mindanao

DA at Malaybalay drops the forts to 1. Only a matter of time now.

[jwolf]

ORIGINAL: Walker84

Mindanao

DA at Malaybalay drops the forts to 1. Only a matter of time now.

Well, that's actually been true for quite a while. [:'(] Kudos on catching onto the Allied bombing threat at Port Blair. I'm very much enjoying following both of the AARS and you two are putting up a really good fight!

[Walker84]

Thanks jwolf,

In my experience, it’s always worth tracking your opponent's search and recon efforts. If a base hasn't had a DL for a while a sudden increase in enemy interest can often be the harbinger of foul play to come!

Mindanao is just a slow grind. I could have committed more forces here but it wouldn't have been worth it for the limited nuisance value of the Allied troops still holed up there. I don't want my opponent to benefit long term from holding bases behind my lines however.

Dec 19, 1942

Port Blair
B-24D Liberators return in force and do rather better than their counterparts, losing only three of their number and shooting down one Nick and destroying one on the ground. Airfield damage mounts up.

Allied subs...
...score a couple of nice successes, damaging xAKs in separate actions near Rangoon and Umboi Island. The latter attack is more serious as the ship contained infantry reinforcements heading for Lae. There is fire in the hold so we are going to put in to Umboi in an attempt to save some of the troops. More Allied subs make contact with some of my tanker convoys in the vicinity of Brunei and Tarakan but fail to hit anything. This is a worrying development given that we have been shipping oil and fuel back to the Home Islands more or less with impunity up to now.

Coral Sea
Fearing a possible Allied CAP trap I decided to rest my bombers today. Here's a map showing the steady Allied build up on Papua and the islands S and E. My opponent is nothing if not thorough...

[Walker84]

Dec 20, 1942

Phuket...
..once went there on holiday, swam in the sea, ate tasty food, drank Singha beer. Today, however, its newsworthy for four separate sub attacks on my SCTF as it heads past the island. CA Haguro is hit by a dud, thankfully.

Port Blair
Still getting a daily pasting. Wonder if this is the prelude to something bigger?

Chittagong
The JAAF bombs the base in retaliation, causing a reasonable amount of damage. No CAP.

Katherine, Northern Australia
The base receives a rare bombing by Liberators. I suspect this is to distract me as there are no Allied land forces north of Tennant Creek, which itself is lightly held.

Coral Sea / Solomons

The Allies bomb Port Moresby, Japan bombs Milne Bay. Minor results in both cases.

Skip-bombing B-25s are active in the Solomons again. I might try to set a big trap for them tomorrow...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Green Island at 109,127

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Kuri
CM Itsukushima, Bomb hits 1 Remarkably the ship is showing no bomb damage when I inspect it later.

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

A flurry of excitement as I recreate the Scharnhorst's Channel Dash by running an LRCAP'd SCTF past Port Moresby and down towards Milne Bay. It's a good test of Allied anti-shipping capability down the East coast of Oz...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,133

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Ic x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter Ic: 2 destroyed, 5 damaged
Beaufighter Ic: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Beaufighter Ic bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
582 Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,133

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 5 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 2 damaged
Beaufort VIII: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
CA Takao

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,133

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 5 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
CA Takao

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,133

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 4

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.

CAP engaged:
582 Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,133

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 12

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Tomorrow, Hiei and co will bombard Milne Bay, unless they bump into some other TFs in the meantime. Fingers crossed they won't react towards Cooktown. [:D]

Here's the latest map position. The only Allied shipping west of the Solomons right now amounts to sub-chasers, PTs and AKLs. APDs are spotted at Tulagi, only 7 hexes from Shortlands. Are they loading or unloading, I wonder. Allied TF comprising at least one battleship and several cruisers spotted near the Santa Cruz Islands and heading NW. Looking at the map position, I have decided to move the KB closer to Shortlands. If nothing else, I might net a brace or two of skip-bombing B-25s. There is also the deterrent effect if my opponent is planning a move towards Shortlands itself.

[Walker84]

Dec 21, 1942

Munda invaded!

After running over two of my picket subs, Allied cruisers bombard the base and then 19 or so APDs land the 102nd(Sep) Infantry Rgt at Munda, with a separate invasion of Vangunu by 3rd Marine Raider Bn. Both are dot bases defended by Naval Guard units and the Americans suffer quite a number of disrupted squads getting ashore. The defensive bombardments reveal the forces arrayed against each other...

Ground combat at Munda (111,134)
Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1830 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 61

Defending force 1764 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 72

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

Assaulting units:
89th Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
102nd(Sep) Infantry Rgt /18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Vangunu (111,135)
Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 502 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 16

Defending force 584 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 28

Assaulting units:
II/84th Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
3rd Marine Raider Bn /7

With the KB only ten hexes away from Munda there may be a chance to disrupt this little invasion, but we will need to watch the massive potential Allied LRCAP from Guadalcanal. I also fear the ability of my torpedo bombers to hit small APD targets and don't want to waste my most experienced navy pilots if I can't hit much.

Perhaps a better option will be to run the Hiei battle group in at full speed, but that needs to reload at Rabaul after bombarding Milne Bay overnight. Apart from sinking 3 PT boats, the bombardment caused only light ground casualties. Then there was a scare as SS Halibut fired 6 torpedoes at Akagi near Kusaie Island and missed.

Allied bombing campaign stepped up

All of the following airbases were visited by Allied heavy bombers today: Port Blair, Port Moresby, Katherine, Tabiteuea. The first two are effectively shut down.

Japanese forces CAPTURE Malaybalay

The Allied remnants retreated to Butuan, but they won't last long in clear terrain.

[jwolf]

Well I'm guessing Munda is a base you really have to defend. Looks like a very interesting tactical situation as the CVs may fight each other and/or attempt to support the ground troops or shipping at Munda and could lead to some real chaos.

[Walker84]

The interesting thing is that my opponent hasn't really landed enough troops to take either base, so now I'm wondering if this is more of a feint to draw my ships away from some other target. An Allied TF has just shown up south of Tarawa today so maybe the Marshalls was the target all along.

One thing is apparent: by advancing methodically on a broad front, Apbarog is managing to pick off some of the low-hanging fruit. It's tough to counter-attack when he has shut down several of my forward airfields using the Allied 4e bomber advantage, backed up with carriers close by. I also have to watch as the KB is effectively four carriers down after the last flat-top battle (although three of the damaged ships will be coming out of the yard in a few days time).

Dec 22, 1942

Solomons / Coral Sea

There is no major surface or carrier action as KB moves closer to Rabaul while the Allied carriers hug the coast close to the Guadalcanal airbases. I sent four DDs in to raid Munda but all they encounter are some PT boats, all the APDs having fled during the night. This means that the Allies have a foothold but will need to bring more reinforcements if they hope to capture either Munda or Vangunu.

In the daytime, Liberators blast through the CAP to bomb my airfield at Buin while B-26s hit the Naval Guard unit at Munda. Few casualties are caused due to the jungle terrain. I'm kind of glad its a dot base because it will hamper the Allies landing supplies and reinforcements. I set a big sweep of Munda in case the shipping there was being LRCAP'd but nothing flies so we will have to see what happens tomorrow.

Marshall Islands

An Allied TF is spotted a few hexes south of Tarawa which means it has bypassed Tabiteau altogether. Tarawa is my main south Marshalls airbase and I think it may be about to get bombarded unless this is the advance guard for an invasion.

[Walker84]

Dec 23, 1942

Solomons/ Coral Sea

An interesting day in the air and at sea as both sides probe for the other's weaknesses.

- Allied P-39s sweep Munda but lose about 7 planes to 1 against the Tojos on CAP at Shortlands.
- We sweep and launch a morning air attack on Deboyne Islands, which has recently acquired some Catalinas and SBD dive bombers but no CAP as yet. A few planes are destroyed on the ground and moderate damage is caused to the airfield.
- Horn Island is bombed again. The airfield is now just a load of craters.
- Allied DDs bombard the Japanese Naval Guard unit at Vangunu, just south of Munda but only cause 11 port hits.

Keeping the Hiei afloat...

I sent the Hiei Battle Group to bombard the Allies on Munda and had a feeling that it might not arrive until daylight, having just reloaded at Rabaul. Sure enough, the task force is forced to run the gauntlet of Allied anti-shipping planes before it can get into position. Fortunately the CAP from Shortlands and Buna lends a hand...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 1 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 0 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 5
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 15

Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 27

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

Allied aircraft losses
P-400 Airacobra: 2 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134

Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 11
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 6

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 3 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
DD Harusame

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x P-39D Airacobra bombing from 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 5
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 5

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
CA Takao
CA Maya

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Munda at 111,134

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 2
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 4

Allied aircraft
SBD-2 Dauntless x 16

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

Possibly we had a very lucky break there, but the overall tally of Allied planes shot down or lost operationally today is pretty good at 29 versus 9, without a single hit on the task force.

Hiei goes on to bombard the Allied unit at Munda which helps to secure a pretty favourable ground combat result for the defenders later on...

Allied Deliberate attack at Munda (111,134)

Attacking force 1766 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 75
Defending force 1830 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 61

Allied adjusted assault: 60
Japanese adjusted defense: 178

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
152 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
102nd(Sep) Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
89th Naval Guard Unit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Deliberate attack at Vangunu (111,135)

Attacking force 622 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 29
Defending force 510 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 16

Allied adjusted assault: 10
Japanese adjusted defense: 28

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
73 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd Marine Raider Battalion

Defending units:
II/84th Naval Guard Unit

The map shows that the Allied carriers have sailed west, putting them in a good position to support operations anywhere from Milne Bay all the way to the Solomons. I'm tempted to reinforce Munda - it will be a bit of a propaganda coup if we can hurl the attackers back into the sea...

Marshalls

The Allied TF spotted south of Tarawa yesterday has simply disappeared. I had run two DD TFs to Tarawa at high speed to intercept and they will now mosey around in the vicinity to provide local support.