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

[Walker84]

Mar 18, 1943

Buna falls today. The defeated units are now over-stacked in Kokoda. Some will make their way north while the rest remain in position to defend the back door to Port Moresby.

Ground combat at Buna (99,129)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36365 troops, 700 guns, 559 vehicles, Assault Value = 1226

Defending force 21476 troops, 151 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 421

Allied adjusted assault: 1093

Japanese adjusted defense: 327

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Buna !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
9100 casualties reported
Squads: 145 destroyed, 54 disabled
Non Combat: 233 destroyed, 50 disabled
Engineers: 29 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 88 (82 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 29 (29 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 11

Allied ground losses:
546 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 125 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 32 (1 destroyed, 31 disabled)

Assaulting units:
43rd Infantry Division
19th Australian Brigade
1st Tank Battalion
2nd Marine Division
3rd Marine Division
2/8th Armoured Regiment
Aus II Corps
I Marine Amphib Corps
205th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd USMC Field Artillery Battalion
4th Aus Lt AA Regiment

Defending units:
87th Naval Guard Unit
9th Division
III/66th Naval Guard Unit
47th JNAF AF Unit
19th Army
43rd JNAF AF Unit
1st Naval Construction Battalion
Kure 5th SNLF
2nd Area Army /1
14th Naval Construction Battalion
5th Air Div /1

Map to show current dispositions (note concentration of Allied subs south of Rabaul!)

[jwolf]

Wow that was fast! [X(] I know his units were well prepped and supplied, but still that seems amazingly efficient. Almost like some of those miracle instant Japanese wins in the early days. I'm guessing you can't reasonably take Buna back -- or can you? Unlike Taberfane and Dobo, I would assume the Allies mean to stay here for good. At least you only had a handful of damaged planes stuck in the base at the end.

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

Wow that was fast! [X(] I know his units were well prepped and supplied, but still that seems amazingly efficient. Almost like some of those miracle instant Japanese wins in the early days. I'm guessing you can't reasonably take Buna back -- or can you? Unlike Taberfane and Dobo, I would assume the Allies mean to stay here for good. At least you only had a handful of damaged planes stuck in the base at the end.

Given that Apbarog brought three strong divisions plus armour and artillery this was always going to trump the one division plus ancillary troops at the base. Buna also suffered disrupting bombardments in the days preceding its fall so even the jungle terrain and level 3 forts only delayed the outcome by a matter of days. I'm assuming that he has been planning this for some time and the troops were 100% prepped.

My overall approach in this theatre is a delaying strategy, although at the speed that Apbarog is advancing any delay may be short-lived! At least the oil in the DEI continues to flow unabated for now while the focus is on Papua New Guinea and the Solomons.

[Walker84]

The pace of turns slowed down this week while we had government inspectors in at the college where I teach. Glad to say that we passed the inspection with flying colours [8D]

Mar 19 - 20

Sub War

The war is going very much in the Allies favour at the moment as my submarines continue to take damage for very little gain. A rare success is an attack near Rossel Island which puts a single torpedo into AO Suamico, although probably not enough to sink her.

Elsewhere, SS I-34 is forced to surface near Goodenough Island and gamely dukes it out with four SCs, hitting one with a single shell. The sub managed to escape but probably won't make Rabaul though, in hostile seas with 84 float damage.

Sub attack

Japanese Ships
SS I-34, hits 11, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SC-705
SC-739
SC-738, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SC-707

SS I-34 launches 2 torpedoes at SC-705
I-34 bottoming out ....
SC-739 attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-34 forced to surface!
SC-739 firing on surfaced sub ....
SC-738 firing on surfaced sub ....
SC-707 firing on surfaced sub ....
SC-739 firing on surfaced sub ....
SC-738 firing on surfaced sub ....
SC-707 firing on surfaced sub ....
SC-739 firing on surfaced sub ....
SC-738 firing on surfaced sub ....
SC-707 firing on surfaced sub ....
SC-707 firing on surfaced sub ....
SC-739 firing on surfaced sub ....
SC-707 firing on surfaced sub ....
SC-739 firing on surfaced sub ....
SC-707 firing on surfaced sub ....
SC-739 firing on surfaced sub ....
SC-707 firing on surfaced sub ....
SC-739 firing on surfaced sub ....
SC-707 firing on surfaced sub ....
Contact with submarine is lost

As my subs are consistently failing to penetrate Allied ASW escort screens to attack the bigger targets while sustaining significant damage, it seems about half of the fleet I had allocated to the Solomon Sea is now heading to port for repairs or under repair already.

There is a fright when SS Saury launches 4 torpedoes at CVL Ryuho near Sorong but fortunately is not as lucky as the sub that sank Akagi. I also lose an xAK in a separate action near Saumlaki.

Darwin

With the Allied airbase at Gove now operational, a visiting SCTF is attacked by Beaufighters and B-25s which run into my CAP fortunately, and there is only a single minor shell hit on a DD. Resupplying or evacuating Darwin will now be problematic however.


Attack on shipping at Lae

I ran a fast transport TF into the port to unload more reinforcements now that Buna is under Allied control. It may be that the Allies had sigint that I was coming as multiple air strikes were laid on to hit one of the SCTFs escorting the shipping:

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lae at 99,126

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
Some CAP was taken out responding to a separate Allied raid on Kokoda. Plus some LR CAP didn't fly, but the main problem is that Lae airfield is shut through Allied bombardment.

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 21
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17
SBD-3 Dauntless x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CA Maya
DD Murasame, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Samidare

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
15 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 10000 feet
18 x P-40K Warhawk sweeping at 10000 feet *
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
251 Ku S-1/B with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
252 Ku S-1/C with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 15000.
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Takao
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Murasame

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lae at 99,126

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 67 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17
SBD-3 Dauntless x 22

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
DD Samidare, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
CA Maya
DD Murasame, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage Murasame sinks later.

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Takao
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Murasame


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lae at 99,126

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
Hudson III (LR) x 4

Japanese Ships
DD Yudachi

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lae at 99,126

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 6

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yudachi

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Takao. Takao has a fair amount of damage and will need to avoid both the Allied mines at Finchhaven and the subs round about to get out of there alive.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lae at 99,126

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 6

Japanese Ships
CA Maya

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bom

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lae at 99,126

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 55 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Maya

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lae at 99,126

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 32 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 6

Japanese Ships
CA Maya

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-26B Marauder bombing from 6000 feet *
Naval Attack: 3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

[Walker84]

Mar 21

Papua New Guinea

No follow up Allied air attacks as my ships are no longer in range of Milne Bay. Plus Apbarog probably suspected (rightly) that I would have flooded CAP in to redress the situation. The TF containing the damaged cruiser Tokai had an uneventful passage north from Lae during the night and is now two hexes away from Hansa Bay. With the Allied base at Merauke in bombing range I can't really afford to let any ships disband to reduce their damage, so they will have to continue limping north.

Having lost Buna, I'm fairly resigned to losing Lae as well. Not only is it fairly weakly defended in AV terms but, as an airbase, its untenable now that its within easy bombardment range of Milne Bay. Accordingly, I am focusing on reinforcing Hansa Bay and Madang. Although they can be bombed from the air, Allied SCTFs will need to negotiate the heavily-mined waters around Umboi Island in order to mount bombardment attacks. The fact that Apbarog has already captured bases on the western side of PNG means that I will need to defend all the bases on the east coast or he may be able to paradrop and steal a march.

Rabaul is still a fortress but is increasingly at risk of being flanked if the Allies manage to add Lae to their recent gains.

Meanwhile, Sallies and Betties mount a morning air attack on 17th Australian Brigade at Timoeka, one of those west coast PNG bases causing 125+ casualties. I'd really like to eject the Aussies from the base altogether as it forms a salient into my defensive line if it can be improved. Coincidentally, a small Allied supply TF arrived at Timoeka today. I had Lillies trained on low level naval attack in range, but for some reason none flew so I'll have to rely on a SCTF getting there tomorrow.

Another missed opportunity for the Japanese submarine arm:

Sub vs Sub: SS I-21 attacking SS S-42 at 107,130 - near Torokina

Japanese Ships
SS I-21

Allied Ships
SS S-42

SS I-21 launches 2 torpedoes at 2,000 yards

[jwolf]

It looks like you're at an interesting and critical point in your defensive strategy, needing some kind of defense that will bend but not break. I'm speaking in ignorance here, having no idea how one would do that, but that's the sort of defense you will need. It looks like that is your strategy regarding Lae and a fallback position at Hansa Bay or other bases to the north. The key is how long Rabaul can be maintained securely.

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

It looks like you're at an interesting and critical point in your defensive strategy, needing some kind of defense that will bend but not break. I'm speaking in ignorance here, having no idea how one would do that, but that's the sort of defense you will need. It looks like that is your strategy regarding Lae and a fallback position at Hansa Bay or other bases to the north. The key is how long Rabaul can be maintained securely.

Indeed, its a question of trying to bend rather than break. All I can really do is trade ground for time and hope that Apbarog slips up somewhere so that I can punish him. He doesn't seem to make very many mistakes unfortunately.


Mar 22, 1943

Another lucky day for American submariners as SS Pickerel puts a torpedo into CV Soryu south of Manus. Although there is a fuel storage explosion on Soryu, there are no subsequent fires and the ship should escape - unless she is hit again...

Apbarog confirmed that SS I-34 actually sank a sub-chaser in a surface action two days ago near Goodenough Island. Today, the sub was trying to creep home at 2 kts with 84 float damage when SS KVIII attacked, putting two torpedoes into SS I-34 and sinking her.

Elsewhere, we have some minor successes...

- A cruiser TF sinks the solitary Allied supply ship at Timoeka and goes on to bombard the port.

- Japanese carrier planes intercept a few stray Allied ships south-east of Buna. AM Junee is sunk and AM Mirimichi badly damaged.

More Allied troops land at Port Moresby, and there is a lot of Allied shipping on the move. What's on the menu next, I wonder?

[jwolf]

Ouch about the Soryu. Amazing that it could withstand a fuel explosion and not be crippled! [X(]

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

Ouch about the Soryu. Amazing that it could withstand a fuel explosion and not be crippled! [X(]

Yes, a lucky ship - so far. Soryu has 22 SYS, 33 FLT and 3 ENG damage and can still make 22 kts so is rapidly escaping the danger zone, although some subs still lie between her and safety, and none of her squadrons can fly off yet due to the damage. I may have to rethink how I use the KB, now that its been amply proven that US subs have been equipped with CV-homing torpedoes.[:D]


Mar 23, 1943

Papua New Guinea

Apbarog launches his next wave of attacks with paradrops at Nadzab and Wau, bases to the north and west of Lae, clearly an attempt to isolate my forces at Port Moresby and Lae itself.

Wau falls unopposed, but I had been flying an airborne unit in to Nadzab, which had already been identified as a vulnerability should I need to evacuate Lae by land, so the Aussie paras suffer a bloody nose. The next few turns will be interesting to see who can reinforce the most in order to hold these bases.

Ground combat at Nadzab (98,125)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 528 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 19

Defending force 650 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 29

Allied adjusted assault: 0

Japanese adjusted defense: 22

Allied assault odds: 1 to 99 (fort level 0)

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

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

Allied ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
1st Aus Para Bn /1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Wau (98,126)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 258 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 20

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

Allied assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Wau !!!

Assaulting units:
2nd USMC Parachute Bn /1

Another success in the air today as 17 unescorted B-26s are downed over Nadzab by Zeroes and Tojos flying CAP from Madang. I expect the air war could hot up in this area tomorrow. Must check the sweep ranges of Allied fighters based at Milne Bay.


DEI

The island of Saumlaki north of Darwin takes a pasting from B-24s, possibly an isolated attack although Apbarog generally does things so methodically that I have to assume he is planning to return in force to this theatre again fairly soon.


Sub wars

My TFs around Hansa Bay manage to get some pretty decent ASW attacks on the Allied subs in the vicinity that are starting to resemble shoals of herring: SS Pickerel, hits 5; SS Blackfish, hits 6; SS Pollack (the one that torpedoed Soryu), hits 4.


The current situation...

[jwolf]

CV-homing torpedoes

Not a good sign. [;)]

How long will it take before Apbarog can utilize the airfield at Buna? That would put his fighters much close than they would be from Milne Bay.

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

How long will it take before Apbarog can utilize the airfield at Buna? That would put his fighters much close than they would be from Milne Bay.

That's correct - the Allies won't take more than a few days to repair Buna's airfield with the engineers they can deploy, which is why Lae is now untenable. I have had air transports working round the clock to pull all of my air support units from Lae and Port Moresby to the bases that will form the new front line - Hansa Bay, Madang etc.


Mar 24, 1943

Naval action off Wessel Islands

Having spotted Allied TFs unloading at Wessel Islands on the north coast of Australia I decided to run a SCTF in at high speed to see what could be done. The outcome of the action was inconclusive, although Allied radar probably gave them the edge...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Wessel Islands at 83,126, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Shell hits 3, on fire
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 1
CL Nagara
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 1
CL Kinu
DD Asashio
DD Hibiki
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Oboro
DD Akebono

Allied Ships
CA Cornwall, Shell hits 3
CA Exeter
CL Trenton, Shell hits 1
DD Lardner
DD Farenholt, Shell hits 2, on fire

Improved night sighting under 89% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 89% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
Manwaring, P.C.W. crosses the 'T'
CA Kinugasa engages CA Exeter at 8,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CA Aoba at 8,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CL Trenton at 8,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CA Cornwall at 8,000 yards
DD Akebono engages CA Cornwall at 8,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Farenholt at 8,000 yards
DD Hatsuyuki engages CA Cornwall at 8,000 yards
DD Farenholt engages DD Hibiki at 8,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Farenholt at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Cornwall at 6,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CA Aoba at 6,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Cornwall at 6,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CA Cornwall at 6,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Farenholt at 6,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Farenholt at 6,000 yards
DD Farenholt engages DD Hatsuyuki at 6,000 yards
DD Hibiki engages DD Farenholt at 6,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Farenholt at 6,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CA Kinugasa at 6,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CA Cornwall at 6,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CL Kinu at 6,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CL Isuzu at 6,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CL Nagara at 6,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Akebono at 6,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Farenholt at 6,000 yards
DD Hatsuyuki engages DD Farenholt at 6,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Farenholt at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Cornwall at 7,000 yards
CA Aoba engages CA Cornwall at 7,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CL Isuzu at 7,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CA Cornwall at 7,000 yards
DD Akebono engages DD Farenholt at 7,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Farenholt at 7,000 yards
DD Farenholt engages DD Hatsuyuki at 7,000 yards
DD Farenholt engages DD Hibiki at 7,000 yards
DD Asashio engages DD Farenholt at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Exeter engages CA Kinugasa at 10,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages CA Cornwall at 10,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Cornwall at 10,000 yards
DD Hatsuyuki engages DD Farenholt at 10,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages DD Akebono at 10,000 yards
DD Oboro engages DD Farenholt at 10,000 yards
DD Hatsuyuki engages DD Farenholt at 10,000 yards
DD Lardner engages DD Asashio at 10,000 yards
Task forces break off...

Although fires were put out most of my ships will require a short time in the yard for repairs. Time to go for those radar upgrades too...


PNG

Two Allied carrier TFs are spotted cruising 5 hexes SW of Port Moresby on the west side of PNG. This is usually the precursor to some kind of landing but no transports are sighted as yet. Hansa Bay and Madang have a lot of CAP over them today.

KB Div 1 hits the airbase at Wau, scene of yesterday's US paradrop and causes moderate damage. I doubt if I'll be able to retake it but I land more paras at Nadzab to start ejecting the Aussies. The action is less than decisive...

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 636 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 51

Defending force 360 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese adjusted assault: 24

Allied adjusted defense: 4

Japanese assault odds: 6 to 1

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

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

Assaulting units:
3rd Raiding Regiment
4th Raiding Rgt /1
3rd Raiding Rgt /2

Defending units:
1st Aus Para Battalion

[Lowpe]

I don't think you get a lot of your naval search radar until July of 44; what you get first is the air search radar...

[Walker84]

Great, just when I have no ships left to mount the radar on[:D]

[Walker84]

Mar 25-26, 1943

PNG

Big Allied bomber raids on Hansa Bay on March 25, with subsidiary attacks on Finchhaven. My CAP holds up pretty well and 15+ bombers are reported shot down for 20-odd defenders plus some ground losses. P-38s follow up with sweeps and do rather well as my CAP was mostly set to 15k altitude. However, the damage to Hansa Bay is moderate and undamaged planes are able to get in the air again on the 26th but there is no repetition of the raid. I guess too many 4e bombers were damaged in the encounter and will need to be rested up for a few days.

I suspect the attack is a diversion to tie up my LBA as Allied transports arrive at Buna, presumably to unload more troops or else to pick up units that may be required elsewhere. The Allied carriers move closer to Port Moresby as additional small landings take place there. I am keeping my own carriers out of range for now given that 150+ Allied fighters are now showing at Buna to add to the 190+ at Milne Bay.

One positive development occurs as the 1st Aus Para Battalion is wiped out at Nadzab by attrition after another attack by my own paras.


DEI

Apbarog tries a paradrop at Saumlaki, the island west of Taberfane. He's clearly keen to start isolating Darwin with all of this focus on the eastern DEI but it doesn't go well for the Allied paras as the naval guard unit I landed a few days ago more than holds its own...

Ground combat at Saumlaki (78,117)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 649 troops, 7 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 55

Defending force 2052 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 62

Allied adjusted assault: 1

Japanese adjusted defense: 25

Allied assault odds: 1 to 25 (fort level 1)

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

Allied ground losses:
410 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 46 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
77th LRP Bde /1

Defending units:
83rd Naval Guard Unit
34th Const Co

Australia

PB4Y-1 Liberators bomb the undefended airbase at Katherine on two successive days. I'm pretty sure now that Apbarog has built up his bases at Gove and Wessel islands he will be coming this way soon. I haven't detected any signs of overland movement from the south so it will likely by sea when it happens. The good news is that I still hold Taberfane and Saumlaki for now; its a shame that the bases are not built up enough yet to carry torpedo bombers but they soon will be...

[jwolf]

it's a shame that the bases are not built up enough yet to carry torpedo bombers but they soon will be...

Isn't Darwin well within range form Koepang, though? And I think there's a good base on the east side of that island too, can't remember the name.

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

it's a shame that the bases are not built up enough yet to carry torpedo bombers but they soon will be...

Isn't Darwin well within range form Koepang, though? And I think there's a good base on the east side of that island too, can't remember the name.

True, but those bases are almost too far for my fighter escorts. Anyway it turns out that Apbarog has invaded Lae and the adjacent base at Salamaua first...


Mar 27, 1942

PNG

Preceded by night naval bombardments, Allied forces land at Lae and the adjacent base at Salamaua. Both landings are contested and, rather wonderfully, my subs actually manage to sink an Allied CL from the covering force.

CL Marblehead, Torpedo hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

In the air, Allied planes sweep Lae uncontested, while Japanese planes sweep Buna and do quite well, achieving a 2 to 1 kill ratio over the defenders. It would be a good day in the air if a bunch of Tina transport planes had not been intercepted and shot down over Port Moresby while withdrawing troops from the base.

Bombardment combats show the forces aligned against each other...

Ground combat at Lae (99,126)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6300 troops, 104 guns, 17 vehicles, Assault Value = 272

Defending force 5966 troops, 15 guns, 72 vehicles, Assault Value = 476

Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Maizuru 1st SNLF
24th Ind Engineer Regiment
4th Div /7
2nd Area Army
305th Ship Eng Coy
2nd RF Gun Battalion
C/50th JNAF Coy
59th JNAF AF Unit
18th JAAF AF Bn
27th Fld AA Gun Co
51st JNAF AF Unit
6th Air Division
205th JAAF AF Bn

Defending units:
37th Infantry Div /1
632nd TD Bn /3
Americal Infantry Div /1
762nd Tank Bn /1
11th USN Special Const Bn /1
145th FA Bn /1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Salamaua (98,127)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1919 troops, 19 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 64

Defending force 2223 troops, 6 guns, 179 vehicles, Assault Value = 106

Assaulting units:
Sasebo 6th SNLF
58th Construction Battalion

Defending units:
754th Tank Bn /1
763rd Tank Bn /1
Aus I Corps /1

I'm expecting more to land tomorrow and the bases to fall fairly soon.

Map situation...

[Walker84]

Mar 28, 1943

Asymmetric warfare continues in the DEI and New Guinea

I wrote this heading conscious of the asymmetric nature of the campaigns going on right now.

In the DEI, my forces manage to clear Saumlaki of the 77th LRP Bde's remaining fragment, destroyed by attrition after a final naval guard attack. In the jungle east of Taberfane, both 53rd Aus Lt AA Regiment and 8th USN Special Construction Battalion surrender after a further attack by the 8th division. The 147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment holds out for a further day but will surrender tomorrow.

But important though these small victories are, the main action is taking place on New Guinea. With Lae, Salamaua, Terapo and Port Moresby all invested, prospects are starting to look grim for my units at Kokoda, still ploughing slowly north through mountainous jungle terrain in an attempt to escape encirclement.

[Walker84]

Mar 29, 1943


New Guinea

A temporary bonus as the initial Allied attack at Lae fails to come off, and Salamaua also manages to hold out for a further day...

Ground combat at Lae (99,126)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10964 troops, 230 guns, 237 vehicles, Assault Value = 783

Defending force 13991 troops, 139 guns, 160 vehicles, Assault Value = 270

Allied adjusted assault: 314

Japanese adjusted defense: 610

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 4)

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

Japanese ground losses:
487 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 15 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1269 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 111 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 16 (2 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Assaulting units:
37th Infantry Division
Americal Infantry Division
632nd Tank Destroyer Battalion
762nd Tank Battalion
145th Field Artillery Battalion
11th USN Special Construction Battalion

Defending units:
Maizuru 1st SNLF
24th Ind Engineer Regiment
4th Div /7
27th Fld AA Gun Co
305th Ship Eng Coy
59th JNAF AF Unit
51st JNAF AF Unit
18th JAAF AF Bn
6th Air Division
2nd Area Army
C/50th JNAF Coy
2nd RF Gun Battalion
205th JAAF AF Bn


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Ground combat at Salamaua (98,127)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3629 troops, 25 guns, 178 vehicles, Assault Value = 302

Defending force 2861 troops, 19 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 64

Allied adjusted assault: 130

Japanese adjusted defense: 169

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
348 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 13 (7 destroyed, 6 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
66 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Assaulting units:
754th Tank Battalion
763rd Tank Battalion
2nd Marine Div /22
Aus I Corps

Defending units:
Sasebo 6th SNLF
58th Construction Battalion

Critically, the fort levels remain intact. I can hope that the Allies are sufficiently extended with their multiple attacks that they don't have a lot more combat engineers to land in the immediate term. On the other hand, this is sure to bring a weight of degrading air and naval bombardments down on the defenders.

DEI

Apbarog shifts focus back towards Taberfane with bomber attacks accompanied by P-38G Lightnings and, in their first combat action, P-70 Havocs. The squadron of Oscar IIbs defending is not up to the task and will have to be pulled back. On the brighter side, the last Allied troops on Taberfane are forced to surrender...

Ground combat at 83,117 (near Taberfane)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13144 troops, 147 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 336

Defending force 1258 troops, 29 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 9

Japanese adjusted assault: 163

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 163 to 1

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

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

Allied ground losses:
1567 casualties reported
Squads: 28 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 73 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 35 (35 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
8th Division

Defending units:
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment

Loss of the Takao

A sad day - Takao was bombed at Lae while escorting reinforcements and managed to limp to Manus before attempting the passage back to Truk. En route, an Allied sub evaded her escorts and put a further torpedo into the ailing cruiser which sank today after the pumps failed.

[Walker84]

Been too busy to post updates for the last few days...


Mar 30, 1943

Allied air attacks on Darwin intensify with multiple sweeps by Corsairs and Lightnings followed by medium bomber bombing raids. The Oscars and Tojos are simply overwhelmed and with no supporting airbases in close range the field will soon be a mass of craters.

Allied troops continue unloading at various locations and a ground assault at Terapo on New Guinea reduces the fortifications to 1. Port Moresby is looking increasingly isolated...

In a slightly unusual result Sub vs Sub: SS Grampus attacks SS I-9 near Lae

Japanese Ships
SS I-9, Torpedo hits 1

Allied Ships
SS Grampus

SS Grampus launches 2 torpedoes at 3,000 yards

I-9 survives with 33 float damage and is able to return to Rabaul.

[Walker84]

Mar 31, 1943



Having noticed that the Allies have withdrawn all fighter cover from Tulagi and Lunga, High Command ordered a nuisance raid against shipping in the harbour...

Morning Air attack on Tulagi , at 114,137

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 35 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 20
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 3 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
xAKL Sarangami, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
AGP Sirius, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
ACM Birch, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
9 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb



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Morning Air attack on Tulagi , at 114,137

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 117 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 9
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 22
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
ACM Birch, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
20 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 9000 feet
Port Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Preceded by fighter sweeps, the raid forces Apbarog to divert some fighters back from front line locations.


Elsewhere, the Allied heavies hit Salamaua, Terapo, Fenton and effectively shut Darwin's airfield today. Assault at Terapo reduces the fortifications to 0 and the base will fall soon.

Last but not least, significant Allied TFs are spotted westbound between Horn Island and Gove. Possibly heading for Darwin but we will have to see. Darwin is virtually undefendable at this stage but I have considerable naval assets in the vicinity of Ambon and Sorong ready to dispute any attempted landings in the DEI.