THE WAR COLLEGE-Rio Bravo (A) v. El Lobo (J)

[Rio Bravo]

[center]Combat Report[/center]
[center]for[/center]
[center]July 20, 1942[/center]

The Japanese were on vacation today. The four Japanese Carriers have not been sighted in the Bay of Bengal for four days.

Sallys Damaged at Akyab:

Morning Air attack on Akyab, at 54,45

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 28 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 4 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 12000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Some will swear that you shouldn't have more than a single carrier in a TF in '42 due to the coordination penalty, but others, myself included will tell you it's fine to operate in pairs.

The Americans simply don't have enough escorts to enjoy the luxury of single CV TFs.

I use mine in pairs in 42 with at least two CAs, one CLAA if available and 8 DDs of the class with the highest current AA values.

I almost never operate carrier TFs without an escorting surface CA TF (replaced by a fast BB TF once they become available).

The surface TF has a dual role, protection of the carriers against an enemy surface TF and availability for a surface bombardment run.

I will often also assign an ASW TF of fast movers such as DDs if I have enough to escort the carriers.

The short legged ASW TF needs oilers to keep up with the long legged boys so an oiler TF almost always shadows my carrier TFs.

Hans-

The configuration of and Task Forces recommended sound reasonable to me. I will have enough of all ship types to compile the Task Forces you recommend.

I don't think I will need Oilers as all ships can refuel at Midway.

As Always, I appreciate your sage advice.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[pontiouspilot]

Hans' advice is good. I would do 2-3 CVs/TF but certainly no more. You do want them operating in close proximity. I would scout north and west with several of the Concord class of CL for several days ahead of main event and until unloaded. ASAP you will need to get some cats in to scout. Do you have Cats at wake now? If you have been allowed to operate Cats there that is a huge benefit already.

I would take AOs cause you would be a gr grandpa before you would refuel much at Midway! Remember you may have to leave at full speed which will burn lots of fuel.

Has the Marcus scout been sighted? I would worry that the 4xCVs have disappeared outa IO. They cover lots of ground in 4 days. Do you have the ability to long-range recon Singapore? That may be a likely replenishing port. How many days out is your move?

[Rio Bravo]

[center]Combat Report[/center]
[center]for[/center]
[center]July 21, 1942[/center]

Another slow day. Another Sally bites the dust.

A Typical Routine Japanese Aircraft Bombardment in China; This Time Near Ankang:

Morning Air attack on 16th Chinese Corps, at 81,40, near Ankang

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 9 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 23

No Japanese losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
23 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 3000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 57th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 16th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 57th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 16th Chinese Corps ...

Greetings From the Allied Big Guns at Akyab!

Morning Air attack on B Sqn 3rd Hussars Regiment, at 54,45 (Akyab)

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 39 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 2 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 12000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Allied AM Canso Hits Japanese SS I-28 Sub Near Alliford Bay!

Sub attack near Alliford Bay at 199,45

Japanese Ships
SS I-28, hits 1

Allied Ships
AM Canso

SS I-28 launches 2 torpedoes
AM Canso fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Canso fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Canso fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Canso attacking submerged sub ....
AM Canso loses contact with SS I-28
SS I-28 eludes ASW attack from AM Canso
AM Canso cannot reach attack position over SS I-28
AM Canso fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Hudsons Meet Doom at Bathurst Island:

Afternoon Air attack on 6th Base Force, at 76,123 (Bathurst Island)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 3

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson III (LR): 2 destroyed

CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-1/A with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot

Hans' advice is good. I would do 2-3 CVs/TF but certainly no more. You do want them operating in close proximity. I would scout north and west with several of the Concord class of CL for several days ahead of main event and until unloaded. ASAP you will need to get some cats in to scout. Do you have Cats at wake now? If you have been allowed to operate Cats there that is a huge benefit already.

I would take AOs cause you would be a gr grandpa before you would refuel much at Midway! Remember you may have to leave at full speed which will burn lots of fuel.

Has the Marcus scout been sighted? I would worry that the 4xCVs have disappeared outa IO. They cover lots of ground in 4 days. Do you have the ability to long-range recon Singapore? That may be a likely replenishing port. How many days out is your move?

pontiouspilot-

In response to your recommendations and advice:

1.) The Allies will orchestrate three carrier Task Forces (each with two carriers) and either one or two surface combat Task Forces.

2.) I don't think there are any Concord Class CLs at Pearl.

3.) Presently, there are nine PBY-5a Catalinas on Wake Island.

4.) To be on the safe side, I will load up and send an Oiler Task Force to trail well behind the Air and Surface Combat Task Forces.

5.) I don't know whether the PG Sacramento has been spotted at Marcus Island. The Sacramento has sat in the bay at Marcus for about 5 days now.

6.) Nope, the Allies don't have anything close to Singapore for fear of getting creamed!

7.) The Wasp needs one more day to complete repairs and I will need to send the slow moving Oiler Task Force out prior to moving the faster carrier and surface combat task forces. So, perhaps three to four days before leaving Pearl for Wake Island?

Lastly, I plan to station the Carriers and Surface Combat Task Forces about two or three hexes East of Wake Island. Does this sound about right?

Thank you for your advice.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

[center]Combat Report[/center]
[center]for[/center]
[center]July 22, 1942[/center]

Japanese Carriers turn into ghosts. China fights for its very existence. The Americal Infantry Division with supporting troops move toward Kalemyo, Burma. Allies break Guiness Book of Records for most tequila shots downed in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico.

Japanese Amphibious Assault Ruteng:

Amphibious Assault at Ruteng (64,111)

TF 334 troops unloading over beach at Ruteng, 64,111

Japanese ground losses:
115 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

17 troops of a SNLF Squad lost in surf during unload of 1st Sasebo SNLF Coy /2

Brave Chinese Hang Tough at Tienshui!

Ground combat at Tienshui (81,38)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34132 troops, 885 guns, 604 vehicles, Assault Value = 903

Defending force 18149 troops, 73 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 364

Japanese adjusted assault: 602

Allied adjusted defense: 319

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
359 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
859 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 46 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 9 disabled

Assaulting units:
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
10th Division
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
7th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
10th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
15th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
4th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
11th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
1st Mobile Field Artillery Regiment
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
7th RF Gun Battalion
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
8th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd RF Gun Battalion
12th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
4th RF Gun Battalion
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Field Artillery Regiment
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
26th Field Artillery Regiment
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
6th RF Gun Battalion

Defending units:
17th Chinese Corps
42nd Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps
5th Chinese Base Force
Red Chinese Army
5th War Area
15th Chinese Base Force
6th Chinese Base Force
1st Construction Regiment

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

[center]Combat Report[/center]
[center]for[/center]
[center]July 23, 1942[/center]

A slow day in the war. However, of significance, El Lob has begun his Bombing Campaign against Chungking. Fortunately, today, the bombing results were minor.

Japanese Aircraft Bomb Chungking:

Afternoon Air attack on Chungking, at 76,45

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 1 destroyed by flak

Resources hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

[center]Combat Report[/center]
[center]for[/center]
[center]July 24, 1942[/center]

American Carrier and Surface Combat Task Forces will leave for Wake Island tomorrow. DDs headed out yesterday to scout the waters around Wake. AOs left yesterday and will station 6 hexes South of Midway. 5 submarines are in route to Wake.

A Bf, Marine Defense Battalion, and PBY-5 Catalina left for Marcus Island two days ago. The Long Island Task Force left for Marcus Island today. 5 Submarines are in route to Marcus.

Japanese Capture Tienshui:

Ground combat at Tienshui (81,38)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36765 troops, 894 guns, 604 vehicles, Assault Value = 979

Defending force 17279 troops, 72 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 299

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 835

Allied adjusted defense: 274

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 1)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tienshui !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
510 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 64 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
6048 casualties reported
Squads: 163 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 290 destroyed, 44 disabled
Engineers: 51 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (10 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 9

Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
9th Ind.Mixed Brigade
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
10th Division
4th Garrison Unit
1st Mobile Field Artillery Regiment
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
11th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
5th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion
4th RF Gun Battalion
12th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
2nd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
7th RF Gun Battalion
15th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Tonei Hvy Gun Regiment
5th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
7th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
12th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
26th Field Artillery Regiment
4th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
8th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
10th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
13th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd RF Gun Battalion
6th RF Gun Battalion

Defending units:
42nd Chinese Corps
17th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps
Red Chinese Army
5th Chinese Base Force
5th War Area
6th Chinese Base Force
15th Chinese Base Force
1st Construction Regiment

Allied Fighters Shred Japanese Sallys at Chungking!

Morning Air attack on Chungking, at 76,45

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 13

Allied aircraft
I-16-III x 4
I-15-III x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th FG/17th FS CAF with I-15-III (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
5th FG/29th FS CAF with I-15-III (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
3rd FG/32nd FS CAF with I-15-III (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
11th FG/41st FS CAF with I-16-III (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
11th FG/42nd FS CAF with I-16-III (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
11th FG/43rd FS CAF with I-15-III (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead

Best Regards,

-Terry

[pontiouspilot]

I guess the TF composition is ok. Your scouting and searches are more critical than ever with KB in hiding. The goal of ambushing the Wake invasion sounds good but sometimes those intel reports take ages to come to fruition. I wouldn't hang around too long. Do you have a APD along to set up shop in Marcus? You will want that ASAP since you aren't hauling any other air support along.

[HansBolter]

I'm a bit confused about why a Catalina is included in an amphibious invasion.

I hope you haven't crated that squadron for unloading at a beach.

Cats have very long range, at least for Allied planes, and can easy hop there from Wake or maybe even Midway.

All you need is some aviation support landed and you can stage them in the next turn. Unloaded over the beaches you would be lucky to get any rebuilt and operational by the next day anyway.

Sending and AVP or a couple of AVDs to disband into the port after you take it is all the aviation support a squad of 12 Cats needs, although a base force is less vulnerable to the ensuing reaction.

[Rio Bravo]

[center]Combat Report[/center]
[center]for[/center]
[center]July 25, 1942[/center]

The Bay of Bengal is quiet. No Japanese Carriers in sight.

Three American Carrier Task Forces and two Surface Combat Task Forces left Pearl Harbor for Wake Island today. The DD Scout Task Force and AO Replenishment Task Force left Pearl Harbor a couple of days ago.


El Lobo Amphibious Assaults Memboro:

Amphibious Assault at Memboro (63,112)

TF 240 troops unloading over beach at Memboro, 63,112

Japanese ground losses:
795 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 102 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (0 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Japanese Air Attack at Chungking Fails Again!

Morning Air attack on Chungking, at 76,45

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 10

Allied aircraft
I-16-III x 4
I-15-III x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th FG/17th FS CAF with I-15-III (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
5th FG/29th FS CAF with I-15-III (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
3rd FG/32nd FS CAF with I-15-III (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
11th FG/41st FS CAF with I-16-III (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
11th FG/42nd FS CAF with I-16-III (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
11th FG/43rd FS CAF with I-15-III (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot

I guess the TF composition is ok. Your scouting and searches are more critical than ever with KB in hiding. The goal of ambushing the Wake invasion sounds good but sometimes those intel reports take ages to come to fruition. I wouldn't hang around too long. Do you have a APD along to set up shop in Marcus? You will want that ASAP since you aren't hauling any other air support along.

pontiouspilot-

I haven't sent an APD to Wake Island nor Marcus Island. I have seven APDs at Mare Island.

Yes, it is a bit tense now considering the Allies haven't spotted any Japanese Carriers in the Bay of Bengal for about a week now.

Not sure how long the Carrier and Surface Combat Task Forces will tread the waters around Wake Island.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

I'm a bit confused about why a Catalina is included in an amphibious invasion.

I hope you haven't crated that squadron for unloading at a beach.

Cats have very long range, at least for Allied planes, and can easy hop there from Wake or maybe even Midway.

All you need is some aviation support landed and you can stage them in the next turn. Unloaded over the beaches you would be lucky to get any rebuilt and operational by the next day anyway.

Sending and AVP or a couple of AVDs to disband into the port after you take it is all the aviation support a squad of 12 Cats needs, although a base force is less vulnerable to the ensuing reaction.

Hans-

Good point.

I will unload the PBY at Wake Island and fly it to Marcus Island once Marcus Island is captured.

Thank you for pointing out to me that a PBY can easily make it from Wake to MArcus.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Rio Bravo]

[center]Invasion of Marcus Island[/center]
[center]Task Forces In route[/center]
[center]As of July 25, 1942[/center]

TF 147 Air Combat

Destination: Hex 128,85; 4 Hexes due East of Marcus Island.

CVE Long Island
BB North Carolina
CL St. Louis
CL Helena
DD John D. Edwards
DD Hatfield
DD Parrott
DD Peary
DD Edsall

(Clemson Class DDs)

TF 312 Surface Combat

Destination: Marcus Island

PG Sacramento

TF Sub Patrols

Destination: Scout waters North and West of Marcus Island

SS Perch
SS Polluck
SS Pickerel
SS Permit
SS Pompano
SS Plunger

(Perch Class Submarines)

TF 158 Transport (PBY-5 Catalinas)

Destination: Wake Island. Upon capture of Marcus Island, the Catalinas will fly to Marcus Island.

DD Stuart
xAK Buoegi

TF 298 Amphibious Assault (177 USAAF BF)

Destination: Marcus Island

DD Dewey
xAK Ewa
xAK Mana
xAK Manulani
xAK San Anselmo
xAK San Gabriel
xAK Admiral Wiley

TF 346 Amphibious Assault (5 Marine Defense Battalion)

Destination: Marcus Island

DD Worden
xAK Steel Worker
xAK Susan Luchenbach
xAK Admiral Senn
xAK President Quezon
xAK West Camargo
xAK West Shipper

Best Regards,

-Terry

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Rio Bravo

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

I'm a bit confused about why a Catalina is included in an amphibious invasion.

I hope you haven't crated that squadron for unloading at a beach.

Cats have very long range, at least for Allied planes, and can easy hop there from Wake or maybe even Midway.

All you need is some aviation support landed and you can stage them in the next turn. Unloaded over the beaches you would be lucky to get any rebuilt and operational by the next day anyway.

Sending and AVP or a couple of AVDs to disband into the port after you take it is all the aviation support a squad of 12 Cats needs, although a base force is less vulnerable to the ensuing reaction.

Hans-

Good point.

I will unload the PBY at Wake Island and fly it to Marcus Island once Marcus Island is captured.

Thank you for pointing out to me that a PBY can easily make it from Wake to MArcus.

Best Regards,

-Terry

Another point I forgot to mention that may add complication is that you need to be able to dock to unload aircraft.
If the port is too small for the ship carrying the aircraft to dock you will be screwed.

If Wake is still level one you may be better off unloading at Pearl.

PBYs have a great transfer range. I typically shuttle mine to SoPac by staging from Pearl to Christmas to Pago Pago and onward.

In one game I mas staged PBYs from Pearl to Timor to evac as much of the Dutch army to a Timor bastion as possible.


p.s. I see you have the Cats loaded on an xAKL. It may be small enough to unload at Wake. However, the limited aviation support at Wake may take considerable time to reassemble the aircraft.

The vast aviation support at Pearl would likely do the job in one day. You could also simply send another Cat squad from Pearl and return the one in the transport to replace it.

Even though I may suffer a few ops losses form staging long distances I prefer that to the risk of losing the entire squadron to a submarine.

I use air transport by ship only when other options aren't available.

[Rio Bravo]

[center]Wake Island Interdiction[/center]
[center]Task Forces In Route[/center]
[center]As of July 25, 1942[/center]


TF 192 Air Combat

Destination: Hex 139,98; 4 Hexes due East of Wake Island

CV Enterprise
CV Lexington
BB Idaho
CA New Orleans
CA San Francisco
CL Honolulu
CLAA Atlanta
DD Jarvis
DD Henley
DD Patterson
DD Mugford
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Blue
DD Helm

(Bagley Class DDs)

TF 223 Air Combat

Destination: Hex 139,98; 4 Hexes due East of Wake Island

CV Yorktown
CV Saratoga
BB New Mexico
CA Astoria
CA Minneapolis
CL Nashville
CLAA San Juan
DD Craven
DD Gridley
DD McCall
DD Maury
DD Phelps
DD Porter
DD Selfridge

(Gridley & Porter Class DDs)

TF 226 Air Combat

Destination: Hex 139,98; 4 Hexes due East of Wake Island

CV Hornet
CV Wasp
BB Mississippi
CA Vincennes
CA Quincy
CL Phoenix
CLAA San Diego
DD Balch
DD Benhem
DD Lang
DD Stack
DD Sterett
DD Ellet
DD Wilson

(Porter & Benhem Class DDs)

TF 305 Surface Combat

Destination: Hex 139,98; 4 Hexes due East of Wake Island

BB Nevada
BB Oklahoma
BB Arizona
BB Pennsylvania
CA Louisville
CA Chicago
CA Chester
CA Northampton
CL Detroit
CL Trenton
DD Mahan
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
DD Case
DD Congyham
DD Shaw
DD Smith
DD Preston

(Mahan Class DDs)

TF 307 Surface Combat

Destination: Hex 139,98; 4 Hexes due East of Wake Island

BB Maryland
BB West Virginia
BB Tennessee
BB California
CA Pensacola
CA Salt Lake City
CA Portland
CA Indianapolis
DD Flusser
DD Cassin
DD Downes
DD Cummings
DD Perkins
DD Reed
DD Tucker
DD Dunlap

(Mahan & Fanning Class DDs)

TF 254 Surface Combat

Destination: Hex 139,98; 4 Hexes due East of Wake Island

DD Aaron Ward
DD Lansdowne
DD Lardner
DD Duncan
DD McCall
DD Buchanan
DD Laffey
DD Bancroft

(Bristol Class DDs)

TF Sub Patrols

Destination: Scout waters North and West of Wake Island

SS Salmon
SS Seal
SS Skipjack
SS Sturgeon
SS Stingray

(Salmon Class Submarines)

TF 199 Replenishment

Destination: Hex 158,23; 7 hexes due South of Midway Island; 23 hexes to Wake Island; 27 hexes to Pearl Harbor.

Fuel on Board: 74,750

DD Hughes
DD Russell
DD Anderson
DD Hamann
DD Mustin
AO Sabine
AO Kaskaskia
AO Cimarron
AO Platte
AO Guadalupe

(Sims Class DDs)

TF 297 Transport (176 USAAF BF)

Destination: Wake Island

DD Paul Jones
xAK Steel Exporter
xAK Steel Inventor
xAK Steel Scientist

Best Regards,

-Terry

[HansBolter]

Be aware that by embedding the slow BBs in your carrier TFs you slow their movement and restrict their range for a high speed run to either react or escape.

If push comes to shove you may have to remove them if a fight gets dicey.

[Rio Bravo]

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Be aware that by embedding the slow BBs in your carrier TFs you slow their movement and restrict their range for a high speed run to either react or escape.

If push comes to shove you may have to remove them if a fight gets dicey.

Hans-

Yes, I was and am aware that that i may need to dash to save the Carriers or chase something worth sinking and that the BBs might be left behind.

Wish us luck.

Best Regards,

-Terry

[Bif1961]

Are the BBs in the Carrier TFs the ones with the best AA?

[Rio Bravo]

[center]Combat Report[/center]
[center]for[/center]
[center]July 26, 1942[/center]

Two Japanese Air Raids today. The Japanese suffered damage to one Sonia at Kienko. The other air raid is shown below. No other action.

Goodbye Tojo!

Morning Air attack on Chungking, at 76,45

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-Ic Sally x 9
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 2

Allied aircraft
I-16-III x 4
I-15-III x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-Ic Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-21-Ic Sally bombing from 10000 feet *
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th FG/17th FS CAF with I-15-III (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
5th FG/29th FS CAF with I-15-III (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
3rd FG/32nd FS CAF with I-15-III (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
11th FG/41st FS CAF with I-16-III (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
11th FG/42nd FS CAF with I-16-III (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
11th FG/43rd FS CAF with I-15-III (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes

Best Regards,

-Terry