Rook749 vs Lam0ttePicquet (DBB028-C)

[rook749]

If I could only remember whom to thank.....

Someone hammered into my head to pay very close attention to signal intelligence as the allies, I have gotten some really nice information on coming attacks but this is the first time I had forces in the right area to respond. I don't remember whom from the last AAR bur this one is for you.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Vaitupu at 138,144, Range 14,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
TB Hato, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
TB Sagi, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Shinryu Maru, Shell hits 19, and is sunk
xAK Toei Maru, Shell hits 7, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Colorado
BB New Mexico
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 2
BB Warspite
DD Sims
DD Mustin
DD Russell

Japanese ground losses:
889 casualties reported
Squads: 32 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 27 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Poor visibility due to Rain
Maximum visibility in Rain: 15,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 14,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 14,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages TB Hato at 14,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages TB Hato at 14,000 yards
DD Russell engages TB Hato at 14,000 yards
DD Mustin engages TB Hato at 14,000 yards
DD Sims engages TB Hato at 14,000 yards

[Leandros]

Quite an over-kill, if you ask me.....[:)]...Hope your "heavies" didn't use up all their ammo. It's often difficult to replenish.

Keep up the good work!

Fred

[rook749]

ORIGINAL: Leandros

Quite an over-kill, if you ask me.....[:)]...Hope your "heavies" didn't use up all their ammo. It's often difficult to replenish.

Keep up the good work!

Fred

I was hoping he might have a more ships but as long as I get away without any losses all should be well. I have AKE's deployed at Pago Pago so if I make it there I can reload the ammo but the big ships are at 7/10 so I have at least one more battle in them if needed.

[rook749]

Clear as Mud

So the Carriers will make for Fiji and the BB's that just fought will fall back towards the east. Reinforcements and supply are in route to Fiji but SigInt has noted several new units preparing for Suva. Not sure if this is feint or the real deal. If he does not land in the next 30 days with all of the reinforcements and supply in route I don't see how he can take it without a six month long siege.

[rook749]

Where in the World is the KB Today?

[rook749]

And in the Air

Last turn went well, some of the turns have not but over all I think I am doing ok. The British are out of reserve airframes. But There is a Chinese ACU and a Canadian ACU almost ready for air combat in Burma. There is an American ACU that could also be added if needed but its airframes will need to be upgraded from P-36's.

[rook749]

Fighter Pools

In the middle of March a bunch of P-40E's will return to the pool as the Fighter ACU's in Australia disband.

[rook749]

And Again at Wake........

He has had some of the CV/CVL running air strikes and ensuring I can't land any additional forces. But it seems that Wake will be a thorn for a while longer.

Ground combat at Wake Island (136,98)

Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 2679 troops, 27 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 73
Defending force 2482 troops, 28 guns, 21 vehicles, Assault Value = 44

Japanese adjusted assault: 10
Allied adjusted defense: 19

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
459 casualties reported
Squads: 10 destroyed, 50 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
143 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 15 destroyed, 12 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Maizuru 2nd SNLF
83rd Naval Guard Unit
II/81st Naval Guard Unit

Defending units:
134th Cmbt Engineer Battalion
141st USN Stn Base Force
Wake (Det.) Defense Battalion

[rook749]

And Again at Wake........

Thunderstorms prevented any launches but I am undetected for a strike on New Caledonia. I will risk one more day....

[rook749]

Some of his CV are hitting Wake....

For the second day my CV forces at New Caledonia don't strike due to heavy cloud cover. But I will stick around, while shifting positions to try one more time. At least this time there is a surface bombardment and B-17 strike that will go in. I think the KB is in route but I should have one more day to try.....

[rook749]

The Not so Good....

The weather breaks and the KB finds reinforcements for Efate.


Morning Air attack on TF, near Efate at 120,154
Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 50
B5N2 Kate x 54
D3A1 Val x 44

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
xAK Kauri, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Talune, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
AVD Casco, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk
xAK Time, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AVP Orion, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
xAK Wulin, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
527 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
27 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
7 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
27 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D3A1 Val releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
16 x D3A1 Val releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AVP Orion
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AVD Casco
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Kauri
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Time

[rook749]

The Upside

The KB is located and the US Inf Bn lands at Vaitupe to support the base force in place. The base force also lands at Funafui.

[rook749]

The Oz/Kiwi Force

Now in route back to Auckland.

Night Naval bombardment of Noumea at 115,160

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4 Mavis: 9 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Pensacola
CA Houston
CL Caledon
CL Ceres
CL Achilles
CL Leander
DD Le Triomphant
DD Thracian

Japanese ground losses:
103 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 19
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 1

CA Pensacola firing at 19th Division
CA Houston firing at Noumea
CL Caledon firing at 19th Division
CL Ceres firing at 19th Division
CL Achilles firing at 19th Division
CL Leander firing at 19th Division
DD Le Triomphant firing at 19th Division
DD Thracian firing at Noumea

[rook749]

Carrier and B-17 strikes go in....

Morning Air attack on Noumea , at 115,160

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
F1M2 Pete x 9

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 26

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

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

Afternoon Air attack on Noumea , at 115,160

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
F1M2 Pete x 3

Allied aircraft
F2A-3 Buffalo x 20
F4F-3A Wildcat x 22
F4F-3 Wildcat x 39
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 36
SBD-2 Dauntless x 45
SBD-1 Dauntless x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 105

Japanese aircraft losses
F1M2 Pete: 2 destroyed
F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 2 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
PB Nagata Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
LSD Shinshu Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kamikaze Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AMc Tsuneshima Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 22
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
7 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
9 x F4F-3 Wildcat sweeping at 15000 feet
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
7 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
3 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
18 x SB2U-3 Vindicator bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
18 x SBD-1 Dauntless bombing from 8000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x F4F-3A Wildcat sweeping at 15000 feet
8 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x F4F-3 Wildcat sweeping at 15000 feet
10 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 4000'
Port Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

[rook749]

Now What????

The US Carriers will run at full speed south of Raoul Island. Raoul Island will go to a level 1 airfield this turn and next turn 50 P-39's will cover the CV fleet and a replenishment task force.

The Oz/Kiwi Force will fall back to Auckland.

The US BB and Hermes CLV Forces will make to Vaitupe/Funafui to cover the landing for combat forces to hold the islands.

We pray to the dice gods.

[Bif1961]

Pray he is low on fuel and can't do a flank speed sprint in either direction. He finds himself in a target rich environment.

[BBfanboy]

If the numbers of aircraft reported on the KB are to be believed, you have superiority in both fighters and bombers. Furthermore, you can make his strikes split up among your many TFs. Do you have any reason to believe that the full KB is present? Or any reason to believe some CVs are not able to be with it?

[Bif1961]

On 2nd thought it looks like he has 3 CVs here and you said some were hitting Wake so he split the KB. Looking at your strike package and his it seems u have 4 CVs+. This might be a good chance to take on half the KB a long way from home while you are closer to your bases. I know you have some Buffalos and Vindicators but numbers might overwhelm him. He also expended 54 torpedos with his earlier strike. It appears he might be light of his best weapon.

[rook749]

Well nothing happened this turn, he hit the transport force falling back from New Caledonia. I went south and east trying to draw him in near my replenishment task force and to my fighter base at Raoul Island. It did not work but it was worth the long shot.....


Morning Air attack on TF, near Belep Islands at 106,158
Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
B5N2 Kate x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
APD Edsall, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Morinda
xAP Stagen, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Allied ground losses:
120 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Stagen

[rook749]

We will replenish at Raoul and see how things shake out. I expect to fall back to Pearl and refit but we will see. Some of his carriers strike Wake again.

I thought (for a long time before I sent in last turn) about trying to engage his CV fleet as I think the odds favor me but I suspect he has some land bases air that can relocate to Luganville as it is a level 2 airfield.