Jorge's(A) crusade to the fabled kingdom of PresterJohn(J) DBB-C --- Allied AAR

[Jorge_Stanbury]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Tarawa , at 136,128

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
Martlet IV x 6
F4F-4 Wildcat x 72
SBD-3 Dauntless x 154
TBF-1 Avenger x 91

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed on ground

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

Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 52

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
17 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
20 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
17 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
24 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
17 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
17 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
13 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

[IdahoNYer]

Very impressive strike coordination both land based and sea! Nicely done!

What size CV TF(s?)and how do you manage most of your bombers in a single raid??

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Pure luck,

it helped that all units were well rested (this strike was supposed to happen last turn, but all air units canceled because of weather) + a level 9 airfield with lots of supply and air support might have helped too

And I actually didn't include in the report one last P-38 sweep; in other words, one of the sweeps happened after all bombers had hit their target

CV TF:
2 TFs actually, one with 5 USN Fleet CVs; the other one with Victorious CV + 3 Sangamons
both in the same hex; all dive/ torpedo bombers with this order:

[IdahoNYer]

FIVE CVs in a single TF??? How many ships total/composition? I'm real curious....

[Jorge_Stanbury]

I don't have it here, but it was around 22 ships in the 5CV TF and around 20 in the Sangamon+British.. game maximum is of course 25 ships

I had:
5 CVs, 1 BB, 2 CA, 2 CLAA + 12 DDs
1 CV, 3 CVE, 2 CA, 2 CLAA + 12 DDs

But last turn I already detached 4 CAs + 6 DDs for naval bombardment and another 4 DDs to move to Makin, for distant cover of a surprise invasion (recon tells me it is empty, so I want to grab it quickly).
so each TF now is at around ~16 ships

[Jorge_Stanbury]

This is the situation on April 26th:
I have successfully invaded 3 new "dot" bases. This defines the strategy, from now on, regarding the SW Pacific:
- capture dots, with minimal force/ minimal risk: meaning no fleet carriers involved
- use air supply/ LSTs/ fast transport to build some fortification and airfield
- bring fighter CAP
- reinforce
- keep building, then bring level/ dive/ torpedo bombers
- repeat


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

Ground combat at Thousand Ships Bay (114,136)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 549 troops, 8 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 24

Defending force 132 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Allied adjusted assault: 21

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 21 to 1

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

Assaulting units:
158th(Sep) Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
4th Raiding Rgt /1


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

Ground combat at Vella Lavella (110,133)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 264 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 16

Defending force 550 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 30

Allied adjusted assault: 8

Japanese adjusted defense: 13

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2

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

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

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

Assaulting units:
20th LH Motor Rgt /4
35th Port Maint Engineer Battalion

Defending units:
4th Raiding Rgt /2
3rd Raiding Rgt /2


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

Ground combat at Vella Lavella (110,133)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 181 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 21

Defending force 1052 troops, 6 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 11

Japanese adjusted assault: 7

Allied adjusted defense: 16

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

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

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

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

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

Defending units:
20th LH Motor Rgt /4
35th Port Maint Engineer Battalion

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Where are the carriers??



Fleet:
Lexington is still repairing damage from Coral Sea, 74 days left
All others will be ready in 9 days; they are waiting for Wasp's refit
3 fighter squadrons are carrying Hellcats

Sangamons/ British:
Sangamons and Victorious were supporting "dot base" attacks, Suwannee got hit by 2 500KG bombs and is therefore withdrawing to Sydney; Victorious hit a mine, laid by a damned sub at Rossel island. Since damage was not too bad and it was critical to for the operation, I decided it should continue operations "as is". They are now moving to Luganville to rearm, refuel and repair (minor damage).
Hermes is at Colombo, I send it near Pt Blair from time to time; just to confirm he is still guarding the area

Bogue/ Long Island:
- they are refitting, all except recently commissioned Barnes at Sydney. they will be ready in 5 days

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Battleships:



Fast:
Massachusetts and North Carolina are at PH, waiting for the fleet carriers they will escort
South Dakota and Washington were providing distant support to the Sangamons, as there was a significant Japanese TF near Buin a few turns ago
Prince of Wales was bombed, will be back online in 16 days

Slow:
Revenge, Pennsylvania, Arizona, West Virginia, Maryland. Idaho are supporting operations in NE Australia
Resolution reparing bomb damage at Sydney, I won't be using it (or Revenge) on offensive operations anymore, as they have to withdraw in 150+ days.
Mississippi and New Mexico seriously damaged by torpedo carrying Kates, it will take a long time to repair; a few months for New Mexico, probably until '44 for Mississippi

Rebuilding:
Oklahoma, Nevada: 64 days
California, Tennessee, 155 days
I decided to do the full rebuild because I didn't lose a single ship at PH strike. Having 4 on lengthy rebuild meant that even in a worst case scenario, I would still have BBs in late 43

[jwolf]

What do you mean by the "full rebuild" of the old battleships? Is that the very long refits some of those ships have scheduled -- up to 9 months in some cases?

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Yes, that is what I meant;
their refit are very long, up to 9 months or a year, if I remember correctly.

Some people prefer not to refit them, and let them remain on their pre-refit capacity: great for naval bombardments, but very vulnerable to torpedo bombers.

The refit in the other hand makes them very good AA platforms and very strong flagships of amphibious assault TFs but at a trade-off of not using them in 1943.
If I had lost multiple BBs in 1942, then I would might argue that I need to keep them "as is", so that they can support operations in 1943. Since I only lost British BBs, then I had enough ships to support 1943

[Jorge_Stanbury]

He is reinforcing Vella Lavella... things will get interesting:

H6K4-L Mavis damaged by flak
H6K4-L Mavis destroyed by flak
H6K4-L Mavis damaged by flak
Ki-57-I Topsy damaged by flak
Ki-57-I Topsy damaged by flak

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Vella Lavella (110,133)

6 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
PB Koei Maru

PB Koei Maru fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Vella Lavella (110,133)

TF 239 troops unloading over beach at Vella Lavella, 110,133

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Vella Lavella , at 110,133

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 26 NM, estimated altitude 27,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 10

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x N1K1-J George sweeping at 25000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 35th Port Maint Engineer Battalion, at 110,133 (Vella Lavella)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 100 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 7
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 1
Ki-46 KAI Dinah x 4
Ki-49-Ia Helen x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-Ia Helen: 2 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-49-Ia Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 20th LH Motor Rgt /4 ...
Also attacking 35th Port Maint Engineer Battalion ...

[Jorge_Stanbury]

I decided to reinforce Vella Lavella with Paras:
3rd USMC Parachute Bn jumped into the battle, I would say they arrived just in time

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

Ground combat at Vella Lavella (110,133)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1177 troops, 24 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 35

Defending force 1768 troops, 6 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 36

Japanese adjusted assault: 1

Allied adjusted defense: 70

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 70 (fort level 1)

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

Japanese ground losses:
283 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 21 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
4th Raiding Rgt /2
Sasebo 6th SNLF /2
3rd Raiding Rgt /2

Defending units:
20th LH Motor Rgt /4
3rd USMC Parachute Bn /1
35th Port Maint Engineer Battalion

[Jorge_Stanbury]

I haven't been updating this AAR, as really nothing too interesting had happened in the last few months..

until now...

I decided to do a major offensive, a mass assault on Port Moresby, Terapo and Buin followed by multiple invasions on the DEI

The 1st part, Port Moresby, Terapo and Buin were just "diversion in force", with the objective to fight and destroy LBAs and then to maintain pressure, so that he won't rebase LBAs into the DEI

The second part of the plan consisted on a deep thrust into the DEI.

Situation is as follows:
- Horrendous Allied losses last turn: 2 CVE sunk, another one following tomorrow, 2 heavy damaged
- DEI force was able to access Timor sea with no damage
- Pt Moresby captured on 1st attempt. Time to build another level 9 airfield
- Terapo was a failure (this is where most of my CVEs sank), probably will need to wait until Pt Moresby is repaired... A stupid mistake: I should had kept all CVEs concentrated in Pt Moresby. By splitting I made it easier for LBAs



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Terapo at 96,127

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 14
D4Y1 Judy x 30
J2M2 Jack x 20
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 53

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 41

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 3 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 2 destroyed by flak
J2M2 Jack: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 8 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Sangamon, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Chenango, Bomb hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Resolution
CVE Suwannee, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
9 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-35 with F6F-3 Hellcat (8 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
VF-37 with F6F-3 Hellcat (8 airborne, 4 on standby, 4 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 27000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
VF-60 with F6F-3 Hellcat (2 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes

Fuel storage explosion on CVE Sangamon
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVE Sangamon

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 11
P1Y1 Frances x 12

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 79

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
P1Y1 Frances: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Copahee, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
CVE Altamaha

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x P1Y1 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
VRF-1F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
VRF-2F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 18 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
22 planes vectored on to bombers
VRF-3F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 19 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 24000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
20 planes vectored on to bombers
VRF-5F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
20 planes vectored on to bombers

Fuel storage explosion on CVE Copahee

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Terapo at 96,127

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 38
N1K1-J George x 27

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 5 destroyed, 5 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Suwannee, on fire
BB Resolution
DD Warramunga
DD Flusser

Aircraft Attacking:
28 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
VF-35 with F6F-3 Hellcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 7 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 20000 and 29000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 31 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-60 with F6F-3 Hellcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 24000 and 27000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-37 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 10 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 17000 and 28000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Terapo at 96,127

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 27,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
P1Y1 Frances x 6
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 14

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
P1Y1 Frances: 2 damaged
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CVE Suwannee, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x P1Y1 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
VF-60 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 24000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Terapo at 96,127

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 8
D4Y1 Judy x 20
J2M2 Jack x 11
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 16

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 3 damaged
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
APD Kilty
xAP Koolama, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Hatfield
xAP Durenda, Bomb hits 1

Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
8 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 9000 feet
1 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x Ki-44-IIc Tojo sweeping at 9000 feet
2 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-60 with F6F-3 Hellcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters to 32000.
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAP Koolama

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 22,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 30
P1Y1 Frances x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 47

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 2 destroyed
P1Y1 Frances: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Altamaha

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x P1Y1 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
VRF-1F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
VRF-3F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 5000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
VRF-2F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 16 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
12 planes vectored on to bombers
VRF-5F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 23000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 28,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 24

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
APA President Jackson, Torpedo hits 1
APA Fuller
DMS Hopkins
APA Henry T. Allen, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
VRF-1F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
VRF-2F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
14 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 26000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
VRF-5F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
10 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 25000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes

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

Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30028 troops, 708 guns, 701 vehicles, Assault Value = 1319

Defending force 7491 troops, 33 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 184

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Allied adjusted assault: 2023

Japanese adjusted defense: 21

Allied assault odds: 96 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Port Moresby !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
H8K1 Emily: 1 destroyed

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

Japanese ground losses:
4631 casualties reported
Squads: 59 destroyed, 123 disabled
Non Combat: 80 destroyed, 44 disabled
Engineers: 35 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 25 (8 destroyed, 17 disabled)
Vehicles lost 7 (7 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 4

Allied ground losses:
593 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 53 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled

Assaulting units:
4th Australian Brigade
9th Australian Brigade
2nd Australian Brigade
193rd Tank Battalion
2/3rd Pioneer Battalion
7th Australian Brigade
19th Australian Brigade
1st Tank Battalion
2/7th Armoured Regiment
15th Australian Brigade
11th Australian Brigade
29th Australian Brigade
30th Australian Brigade
53rd Aus Lt AA Regiment
34th Aus Lt AA Regiment
4th Aus Lt AA Rgt /1
198th Field Artillery Battalion
98th FA Bn /1
21st Fld RAA Regiment
2nd RAA Jungle FA Rgt /1
Aus II Corps
113th Aus Lt AA Regiment
4th Field Artillery Battalion
1st RAA Jungle FA Rgt /1

Defending units:
10th Garrison Unit
22nd Ind Engineer Regiment
II/81st Naval Guard Unit
45th JNAF AF Unit

[BBfanboy]

Ouch on the CVEs - were any of the aircraft able to divert to other carriers or land bases? If you need to clear decks of refugees you could perhaps send them to Pt. Moresby?

[Jorge_Stanbury]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Ouch on the CVEs - were any of the aircraft able to divert to other carriers or land bases? If you need to clear decks of refugees you could perhaps send them to Pt. Moresby?

Lots of planes went to Horn and Merauke, Pt Moresby is useless (thanks to my 4E bombers) and it will need some time to get repaired

I had to pay for 3 squadrons that were desttroyed, and I am not too concerned about the planes since I have too many Wildcats now, and even the Hellcats' pool is OK, even with all fleet carriers at max + reserves.. but carrier losses are sad, even CVE losses

I am playing sloppy lately..

[BBfanboy]

Well it's OK to be sloppy once, but try to avoid the sloppy seconds ... [;)]

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Well at least the sustained enemy losses (in airframes) would reduce the pool of DEI reinforcements

[jwolf]

Even with most or all of the Japanese carrier force destroyed, they will still have plenty of LBA available throughout the DEI area. Maybe you tried too much at once?

Where did the Japanese ground losses of planes (about 80 fighters) take place?

[Jorge_Stanbury]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

Even with most or all of the Japanese carrier force destroyed, they will still have plenty of LBA available throughout the DEI area. Maybe you tried too much at once?

Where did the Japanese ground losses of planes (about 80 fighters) take place?

He has not lost the carrier force, he has lost the carriers.. so now all the KB squadrons that lost their carriers are deadly (and big) LBAs [X(]

Most of the dead was on Kai-Eilanden or something, on the Timor sea,I will post a picture tomorrow
Darwin is basically now a 4E hammer that is pounding each and every airbase in range... nothing he can do about it. I mean I will eventually lose some bombers, but once the bombs start to fall, then it is over for Japan, with 100% airfield damage guaranteed and heavy ground losses guaranteed after one or two days

That said, he surprised me with attacks from a level-2 base (so sneaky), it didn't work because of long range, but I could had lost a few ships.. Of course next turn this base will be closed

The idea is to leave a path of destruction so that the carriers and TFs can pass with minimal damage.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

So this campaign would probably be the definition of pyrrhic victory; or maybe something that the Soviets would feel proud about.

Long story short, I gained Pt Moresby and soon Terapo. I have also degraded LBA's capabilities, so that there will be less opposition to the DEI landings

but in order to do so, I spent have spent, so far:

- 5 CVEs sunk (Barnes, Suwanee, Sangamon, Copahee, Chenango
- 3 APAs, 5 xAPs sunk

Damaged ships:
- BB Pennsylvania got 3 submarine launched torpedoes, it is pretty much dead in water
- CVE Nassau and Prince William at high risk, Altamaha and Long Island at some risk