Return to the Valley of the Sun: Condor (USN) vs. Quark (IJN)

[Attack Condor]

The end of July, and Quark seems to be getting his forces back where they should be. Yamamoto has left, and a cruiser BB TF led by Haguro takes their place.

Their tough luck, as Haguro, Nagara, and Shiratsuyu were sunk when they didn't retire after the nighttime bombardment.

Today's combat report:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/31/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Sub attack at 9,55

Japanese Ships
AP Ceylon Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS S-45

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 18

Every little bit helps, as the first of the invasion transports finds out trouble comes up from beneath the waves as well
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Naval bombardment of Townsville, at 10,62


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
no losses

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 23


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Naval bombardment of Townsville, at 10,62


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
no losses

Airbase hits 8
Runway hits 15


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Sub attack at 11,50

Japanese Ships
DD Kuroshio

Allied Ships
SS Tautog

Tautog is on her way into Cairns to assist with interdiction
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Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 42
A6M3 Zero x 16

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 12
Beaufort x 10
Wirraway x 13
B-26B Marauder x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 10 destroyed
Hudson x 3 damaged
Beaufort x 1 destroyed
Beaufort x 4 damaged
Wirraway x 2 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 3 damaged

PO2 B.Oda of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3

Japanese Ships
APD 31, Shell hits 4
AP Aiyo Maru
APD 35
AP Gosei Maru
AP Kasuga Maru #2
AP Kaito Maru
MSW Seki Maru #3, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 2

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Beaufort at 100 feet
2 x Hudson at 100 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
4 x Beaufort at 100 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 100 feet
1 x Beaufort at 100 feet

The IJN CV fighters LRCAP Cairns, but the lone hit on the MSW may prove to be very important, if I can get more mines laid
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Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 42
A6M3 Zero x 16

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 8

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
APD 35
AP Kaito Maru

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 100 feet

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Air attack on TF at 7,55


Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 3


Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Azumasan Maru

The P-39s are fast learners in their new anti-ship role, as you will soon see
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Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
Hudson x 13
Beaufort x 3
Wirraway x 13
P-39D Airacobra x 21
P-40E Kittyhawk x 13
B-26B Marauder x 18


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 2 destroyed
Hudson x 2 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 1
DD Akebono
CL Nagara, Shell hits 12, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Haguro, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Urakaze, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Shiratsuyu, Shell hits 8, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Attacking Level Bombers:
1 x Hudson at 100 feet
3 x Hudson at 100 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
2 x Hudson at 100 feet
2 x B-26B Marauder at 100 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 100 feet
1 x Hudson at 100 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 100 feet
3 x Beaufort at 100 feet
2 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 100 feet
4 x Hudson at 100 feet

The beginning of the end for this unlucky TF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 27
SBD Dauntless x 29
TBF Avenger x 13


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged
TBF Avenger x 1 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Shiratsuyu, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Nagara, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CA Haguro, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Akebono

This had to be a suprise to Quark, as I'm sure he didn't expect SBDs for opposition. The TBFs had an inauspicious start, but they get a few licks in later.
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Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62


Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 3


no losses

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, on fire, heavy damage


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Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 12


Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CL Nagara, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
1 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet

Nagara's hours are numbered...
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Air attack on TF at 10,59


Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 21
A-24 Dauntless x 9


no losses

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano, Shell hits 36, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

This ship was listed as sunk after the turn, but I saw no message about it sinking during the game. The A24s had 2x1000 lb bomb hits, and the P-39s had the other - 1x500lb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 36,48

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 22
D3A Val x 23
G4M1 Betty x 38

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 3 destroyed
D3A Val x 13 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 11 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 40 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Nashville, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Minneapolis, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Indianapolis, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Canberra, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

The SC TF designated for a bombardment is discovered and attacked, but the attack is very costly to the IJN. 14 destroyed atackers, and 53 more damaged
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Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 4


no losses

Japanese Ships
DD Akebono

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-26B Marauder at 100 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
Hudson x 8
Beaufort x 3
Wirraway x 23
P-39D Airacobra x 22
P-40E Kittyhawk x 13
B-26B Marauder x 12


no losses

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shiratsuyu, Shell hits 12, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Haguro, Shell hits 8, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Beaufort at 100 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson at 100 feet
2 x Hudson at 100 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 100 feet
1 x B-26B Marauder at 100 feet
3 x Hudson at 100 feet

The afternoon atacks begin where the morning left off - pounding the TF in Townsville
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Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 30
SBD Dauntless x 27
TBF Avenger x 10


no losses

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara, on fire, heavy damage
CA Haguro, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

At this point, the fate of the TF is sealed, and it becomes simply target practice - absolutely no AA fire from the ships.
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Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62


Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 22
A-24 Dauntless x 9


no losses

Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Shell hits 16, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shiratsuyu, Shell hits 8, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 7


no losses

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 2


no losses

Japanese Ships
DD Urakaze, Shell hits 4, on fire

Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x Hudson at 100 feet

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Air attack on TF at 13,53


Allied aircraft
Beaufort x 6


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort x 1 destroyed
Beaufort x 5 damaged

SLDR J. Hepburn of No. 100 Sqn RAAF is KILLED

Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CA Mogami, Shell hits 4

Attacking Level Bombers:
1 x Beaufort at 100 feet
4 x Beaufort at 100 feet

Another bombardment TF on its way south
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 36,48

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 12
D3A Val x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 3 destroyed
D3A Val x 11 damaged

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans
CA Indianapolis, on fire

More damaged aircraft now at Lunga
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Sub attack near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese Ships
AP Aiyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS S-46

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 31

The silent service doesn't let me down when I need it most
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Ground combat at Ayton

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 693 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Ayton base !!!



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I'll post intentions a bit later in the next post. One last thing here, the Iron Dogs of the 40th FS in their P-39D Airacobras were, in a word, outstanding in their anti-ship role. Their 37mm cannons slice through the armor of destroyers, and their 500-lb bombload is not to be taken lightly. They were the chief instrument responsible for the sinking of the light cruiser Nagara, with innumerable 50 caliber, 30 caliber, and 37mm cannon shell hits, and 5x500 lb hits on the doomed ship.

More to come.......

[Attack Condor]

The attack on Australia was not unforeseen. Ground defense has been given priority followed by airfield development. Cairns and Townsville are the two bases I am most concerned about. I have abandoned Cooktown to shorten my defensive line along the coast. The base at Innisfail will be key, as it holds the supply line between Townsville and Cairns open.

In preparation for a move against Cairns, the IJN has landed a blocking force at Innisfail.

In response, I will FT the 1st Marine Paratrooper Battalion to Rockhampton, where 5 C47 squadrons will be ready to execute an airdrop onto Innisfail.

As with Operation Rose, my primary defense will be the naval aviation assets as well as the submarine force of S-boats (currently, 6 of them stand in the lanes through the Barrier Reef into both Cooktown and Cairns).

I have Cairns mined, but a single IJN MSW has brushed them aside like so much confetti.

Charter Towers and Townsville will be my main airfields for anti-ship operations.

The carrier Saratoga will stand off approximately half-way between Brisbane and Noumea, to act as a stepping stone for more SBDs to assist in Australia’s defense. I think this is the best use of my lone carrier at this time.

A total of 14 IJN troop transport ships have been observed, and there are probably more than that nearby.

The IJN battleship Yamamoto is an awesome weapon, but only if it can be kept fed. I am going to try to run nighttime strikes with a bombardment TF made up of the cruisers Northampton, Louisville, Astoria, St. Louis, and the minesweeper Southard. First target is Woodlark. Maybe I can get a tanker or two.

Reinforcements are on the way, with two Marine SBD squadrons inbound to Noumea: VMSB 232 in 3 days, and VMSB 231 in 7 days.

Three ground units are due into Noumea in 2 days: the 1st Marine Raider Battalion and the 6th SeaBees into Noumea, and the 163rd RCT of the 41st Division into Brisbane. The 17th Marine Engineer Regiment is due into Noumea within 3 days.

Naval assets are not due in theater for another month. Only 2 submarines and 2 cargo vessels are scheduled in during the next 3 weeks. Wasp and the refitted Lexington are still at Pearl, along with the battleship North Carolina.

I think the IJN has sent most, if not all, of his carriers to Australia. Sightings of 5 CVs and 1 CVL are reported within 90 miles of the Barrier Reef at Cairns. They’re probably loaded down with Zeroes. And they’re smack dab in the middle of my submarine nest.

Lots of action expected.

[wobbly]

Great to read that the idea has taken on a life of it's own.

In regard to the taking or holding of innisfail. If he is already landing troops or about to, and you can't get and FT through the sheer wall of Japanese naval craft. Try the PBY ferry thing to hold it and then drop your paratroops on ground that isn't controlled by the enemy, I think this makes a difference. Paras can drop on enemy held locations but take pretty hefty losses.

Looks like we are in for a hectic time as you two tussle - bring it on!

[Attack Condor]

One of the bloodiest days of the war so far, with 62 Allied planes shot down. Two IJN APs were sunk, many damaged, and my pilots and ground crews are beginning to get a vacant look on their faces.

Comments inserted into the CR, and a separate post for intentions follows:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/01/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Sub attack near Cairns at 7,56

Allied Ships
SS S-46

Spotted, but evaded detection
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Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 52
A6M3 Zero x 15

Allied aircraft
Beaufort x 3

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort x 2 destroyed
Beaufort x 1 damaged

LTJG J.Kaneko of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2

The IJN LRCAP begins adding to its kill total
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Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 38
A6M3 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 28
TBF Avenger x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 5 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 3 damaged
TBF Avenger x 5 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 3 damaged

LTJG S.Sakai of BI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4

Japanese Ships
AP Daifuku Maru
AP Toa Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Azuma Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 106

The aircraft in this strike get off relatively cheap as they begin to damage the IJN transports
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Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 52
A6M3 Zero x 15

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
MSW W20
AP Daifuku Maru

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 100 feet

This was a mistake, I thought I grounded all B-17s
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Air attack on TF at 11,60


Allied aircraft
Beaufort x 4


no losses

Japanese Ships
DD Shiratsuyu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Beaufort at 200 feet

This last hit sent the destroyer to the bottom
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Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 52
A6M3 Zero x 15

Allied aircraft
Beaufort x 3
Wirraway x 23
P-400 Airacobra x 24
P-39D Airacobra x 66
P-40E Kittyhawk x 13
A-24 Dauntless x 8
B-26B Marauder x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort x 1 destroyed
Wirraway x 3 destroyed
Wirraway x 5 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 4 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 10 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 3 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 6 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 damaged
A-24 Dauntless x 1 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless x 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 1 damaged

PO2 B.Oda of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4

Japanese Ships
AP Ceylon Maru, Shell hits 72, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 275

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet

Apparently, this ship was slow to unload, and almost 300 soldiers paid the price
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Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 48
A6M3 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft
Beaufort x 6
Wirraway x 5
P-400 Airacobra x 16
P-39D Airacobra x 31
P-40E Kittyhawk x 3
B-26B Marauder x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort x 1 destroyed
Beaufort x 1 damaged
Wirraway x 2 destroyed
Wirraway x 1 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 2 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 3 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 4 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 2 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 1 damaged

CPO T. Okumura of DI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3

Japanese Ships
AP Hokko Maru
AP Kyokusei Maru
AP Azuma Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire
AP Daifuku Maru, Shell hits 8
AP Toa Maru, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Oigawa Maru, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Canberra Maru, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 121

Attacking Level Bombers:
1 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet

More troops in the water, and more APs have their speed reduced
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Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
A6M3 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 4 damaged

WO A. Shirane of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2

Japanese Ships
AP Azuma Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Oigawa Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Montevideo Maru, Bomb hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 69
Guns lost 1

The SBDs from Charter Towers get their shot, adding to the carnage
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Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 48
A6M3 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 5 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged

CPO P.Ogawa of DI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4

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Sub attack near Cairns at 7,56


Japanese Ships
AP Boston Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-46

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 39

Way to go down there!!!!
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Ground combat at Innisfail

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 787 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Innisfail base !!!



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Ground combat at Cooktown

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 363 troops, 5 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 5)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Cooktown base !!!



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Almost 600 Japanese soldiers didn't even get a chance to get ashore. I know he has a lot of troops coming in, but that has to hurt.

Intentions post follows.

[Attack Condor]

After today’s action (62 planes lost in one day), my pilots need rest, and the ground crews need to service the planes. I’m hoping that one day will be enough. I have a feeling it will have to be.

Air strikes did damage – once they fought through the LRCAP. Ceylon Maru sunk outright from air strikes, and Chowa Maru hit 5 Mk16 mines while the 4 MSWs were sweeping the harbor.

A correction to yesterday’s info – Haguro and Nagara did not sink, but Shiratsuyu did slip beneath the waves today. Kumano remains the only confirmed IJN CA sunk.

I have two TFs ready to execute night attacks. First, TF 204 is a 3 ship SC TF made up of the Gridley class destroyers Mugford, Ralph Talbot, and Patterson. They currently are 12 hexes away from their target, Cairns, and set for SC retirement allowed. The TF can make 36 knots. The Gridley class destroyers carry 16 torpedoes each, and I’m hoping at least some of the 48 weapons (plus whatever 5 inch shells they can lob in) find their mark.

My second SC TF is the cruiser bombardment TF I described earlier, TF 210 is slower, at 31 knots, but is only 10 hexes away from their bombardment target, the IJN base at Woodlark Island. I’m glad the DMS Southard is along for this strike. Last turn, the battleships were observed at GG. I hope they stay there one more night.

Target: transports at Cairns, and tankers at Woodlark. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

The paratroopers are about halfway to Brisbane in their DD FT TF. Five squadrons of C47s are in SOPAC, ready to fly the marines to Innisfail. I’m aware it’s going to be a drop into a hostile zone, but I’m rolling the dice with this one, and don’t think I’m risking that much. I’m also hoping the IJN commander won’t move one of his main regiments needed at Cairns to support the blocking force.

The LRCAP placed by the IJN was successful – too bloody successful. I was lucky I was able to overwhelm him with sheer numbers, and hope his pilots accrued some major fatigue responding to the many attacks today. I hit on a new thought (new for me, anyway) about sending 4 or 5 squadrons of F4F-3 and F4F-4 fighters to LRCAP Cairns myself, hopefully to engage the IJN fighters.

Saratoga has just landed VS-8, VB-8, and VF-8 from Noumea, and will send them into Charter Towers tomorrow, allowing the SBDs there to rotate back to Rockhampton to rest.

Meanwhile, Wasp and Lexington still sit in PH. I’ll now have to send Saratoga back to SWPAC, reload Yorktown’s air wing and begin a hit and run operation on any cripples out of Oz. Hopefully the two carrier air wings in Australia can rotate in and out of the main battle to keep the pressure on the IJN admiral and his precious transports.

I have grounded all level bombers in Australia in preparation for strikes against Cairns should it fall.

>phew<

more to come…….

[Attack Condor]

The strike into Cairns pays off handsomely, as the IJN still appears to have trouble coordinating their forces into a single element with a common goal. Also, a very bad oversight on my part causing 14 SBDs to fly unescorted into a LRCAP nightmare. I forgot to set them to Stand Down . Meanwhile, the strike into Woodlark wasn’t as successful in sinkings, but did hole the field a bit and may get out unscathed, which in itself is a victory. The results, with notations intersperses and intentions in the next post:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/02/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Sub attack at 7,55

Japanese Ships
AP Teizui Maru, Shell hits 9

Allied Ships
SS Tautog, Shell hits 10

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 42

Tautog is out of action, with SYS and FLT damage at 20+ and 30+ respectively
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 2
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 3
DD Tanikaze, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Ariake

Allied Ships
DD Mugford
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 1
DD Patterson, Shell hits 4, on fire

The decoy force
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 2
BB Kirishima
DD Tanikaze, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Suzukaze
DD Ariake, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Mugford
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 1
DD Patterson, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Patterson begins to absorb punishment, as she is caught with a single round from the battleship, nearly breaking her in half
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 3
BB Kirishima
DD Tanikaze, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Ariake, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Mugford, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ralph Talbot, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Patterson, Shell hits 27, and is sunk

All told, this force didn’t perform badly at all. The sacrifice of Patterson, and the possible loss of Mugford and Ralph Talbot (it doesn’t look good for them, I may have to scuttle) may be one of the turning points in the war – as the battleships, (who Quark told me were on their way to protect the transports at Cairns) apparently retired leaving the invasion force wide open
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Sub attack at 8,55

Japanese Ships
DD Suzukaze, on fire

Allied Ships
SS Grenadier

Almost was able to take advantage of the confusion wrought by the surface action to bad another destroyer
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Sub attack near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese Ships
AP Azumasan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS S-46

S-46 gets the party started in Cairns. The transport is damaged, but this is just the opening move
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Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 46
A6M3 Zero x 12

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 14

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 10 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 5 damaged

PO2 G.Ikeda of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 5

the aforementioned mistake, nearly wiping out an entire squadron. Quark told me in his combat save e-mail that this attack was another bloody one. I thought the SBD screw-up is what he was referring to. Little did I know what was about to happen
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Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 47
A6M3 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 3
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 destroyed

PO D.Picton of No. 76 Sqn RAAF is credited with kill number 2

At least I get an IJN fighter this time
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese Ships
MSW Wa 1
AP Atlantic Maru, Shell hits 29, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Azumasan Maru, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
AP Boston Maru
AP Ryuko Maru

Allied Ships
DD Lamson
DD Case, Shell hits 3
DD Smith
DD Preston
DD Porter
DD Selfridge

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 349
Guns lost 1

It begins. Strangely, I did feel a twinge of pity for Quark here, but it passed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese Ships
MSW W20
AP Azuma Maru, Shell hits 38, and is sunk
AP Canberra Maru, Shell hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
AP Daifuku Maru, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AP Hokko Maru
AP Kinugasa Maru, Shell hits 1
AP Koyo Maru, Shell hits 52, and is sunk
AP Kyokusei Maru
AP Montevideo Maru, Shell hits 21, on fire, heavy damage
AP Oigawa Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Toa Maru, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Lamson, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Case, Shell hits 2
DD Smith, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Preston
DD Porter
DD Selfridge

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 201
Guns lost 1

Lamson did take a 3 inch shell hit in the wrong place, causing a critical damage result. Montevideo Maru was the culprit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Woodlark Island, at 22,39

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 10

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 15

I’ll take it, especially if my cruisers can get out clean
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quark admitted to me he lost almost 1 regiment worth of troops as a result of today’s action. So far, getting to the beach the past two days has cost him 1000+ troops.

For his honesty, I then admitted to him I don’t have three carriers in theater (I hope he thinks it means I have four! – with only Saratoga in theater, I feel awful naked with the feeling the spotlight is about to shine directly on me.

7 IJN APs a second IJN CA (the Furutaka)were confirmed sunk this turn. Patterson was the sole Allied casuality. Ship loss count to date: Allied - 65/905, IJN 45/455.

Intentions follow.

[Attack Condor]

First thought is to get the raiders home. Mugford and Ralph Talbot are probably goners, but I’ll see what they can do for one turn before deciding to scuttle.

The six destroyer TF that caused so much havoc in Cairns is code named TF Barracuda. They’re on their way home. Lamson is hurt, SYS 20+, FLT 10+, but we may be able to let her heal in Brissy for a few weeks and not have to send her back.

More destroyers are on the way from Noumea. TF 224 (TF Thorn) is a 4 ship destroyer TF commanded by CDR Callaghan. The TF is made up of the ships Bagley, Drayton, Balch and MacDonough. Its destination is Rockhampton.

The DM Gamble is on her way to Brisbane. I’ll have my only two DMs in Brisbane, and adding to the minefield at Townsville is their mission.

Noumea has 2 ASW TFs: TF Yankee has 5 Benson class destroyers and a Bristol class destroyer, all with ASW values of 8. They are the Meredith, Swanson, Grayson, Gwin, Monssen, and the Bristol class Arunta. Also in Noumea is a second ASW TF of 11 SC vessels, named TF Tarheel. TF Yankee is commanded by Mendenhall, and TF Tarheel is commanded by CDR Bannister. Both are aggressive officers.

I am sending my tankers to Efate as TF 220. It consists of 8AOs, 1TK, and 5 destroyers. Their mission is to anchor and get out of the way. Maybe the DDs can repair a bit as well.

I have also sent two destroyers with 50 caliber Browning machineguns for AA back for upgrading. I also sent back about 10 APs who were just playing their role as targets. I’ll get them back just about the time I contemplate moves north in SOPAC.

I have sent to Pearl the remnants of the first cruiser TF attacked from Lunga by IJN aviation. Indianapolis, Minneapolis, and Canberra should reach PH within a month. Maybe they can form a group that the two carriers in drydock can sortie with back to Noumea.

I am transferring the 102nd Base Force from Noumea to Rockhampton. The reason is simple, Rockhampton’s BF was airlifted to support Charter Towers. The BF is fully loaded and sails tonight aboard TF 213 (6xAP, 6xDD). The destroyers will stay and form a third raider group to harass the shipping at Cairns.

The paratroopers are 1 day out of Brisbane. I had to switch destinations because of the lack of a BF at Rockhampton. The 5 squadrons of C47s are ready to go as soon as the troops unload.

Saratoga transferred the 2 SBD squadrons and 1 F4F-4 squadron to Brisbane. They will head west soon.

After the paradorp, I’m going to re-arrange my Oz bases. Townsville will be a forward attack base for fighter-bombers, SBDs, and TBFs. Fighters will be there as well. Townsville aircraft, having “short legs” will rotate to Rockhampton for rest.

Meanwhile, Charter Towers will be a level bomber base. Naval searches will also be conducted from there. Since these aircraft have longer ranges, they will use Brisbane for rest.

Additionally, my P-39s currently at Townsville will begin to attack the blocking force at Innisfail. I have three squadrons ready to go: the 67th FS, the 36th FS, and the famed Iron Dogs of the 40th FS. Also participation is a 16 plane squadron of A-20s from Charter Towers.

Priority after servicing operational aircraft is given to getting the damaged aircraft from transferred units operational and with their own squadrons.

5 B-17 squadrons and 1 B-26 squadron have been transferred from Brisbane to Noumea, making way for the ship killers and transport planes.

The 6th SeaBees unit is en route to Tomo - making 4 engineer units there. The 151st BF is due to get into Noumea in 2 days and will be forwarded to Tomo. Tomo is going to be a R&R airfield for my level bombers.

I don’t mind telling you, this past turn took the better part of two days – I watched the CR last night, and spent almost two hours getting things sorted out.

More to come….

[Attack Condor]

Much quieter today……

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/03/42

Weather: Clear

Sub attack near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese Ships
AP Boston Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-46


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 8,55

Japanese Ships
APD 35, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-45

This ship was hit on its way out of Cairns
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 19th Naval Garrison Unit, at 7,57


Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 55


no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 45

Happy with the results, but happier that 55 aircraft flew this mission
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 9,57

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
D3A Val x 115
B5N Kate x 70

no losses

Allied Ships
DD Mugford, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ralph Talbot, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

Not much to say here – I’m sure the IJN aviators got their revenge
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 9,57

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
B5N Kate x 29

no losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 9,57

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
B5N Kate x 28

no losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 9,57

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 39
A6M3 Zero x 5
D3A Val x 109
B5N Kate x 120

no losses

All these attacks for two destroyers, who were already sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Cairns

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 25770 troops, 331 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 16813 troops, 120 guns, 0 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 7

The gunners of the 3rd Division have been practicing
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After all this, 7 IJN APs with troops went down. An eighth AP, the Toa Maru was reported sunk today. I’m sure more are gone as well, but this isn’t confirmed, yet. Not a bad haul for the price of 3 destroyers.

No Intentions post this time, all is going according to plan, but I do have one concern – last turn the IJN spotted my AP TF carrying the BF to Rockhampton from Noumea. If the carriers (currently NE of Cooktown) are spotted heading east, then I’m sending the AP TF back to Noumea. There are two BF units due into Brisbane in two days, and, if necessary, I’ll just road march them to Rockhampton.

Still only 3 ships due to arrive in 3 weeks.

Finally, I've created 2 PT boats to help with the harassment at Cairns and Cooktown. Not sure how much good they'll be, but everything that floats and carries a weapon is needed.

More to come....

[Attack Condor]

I can sum this day's action up with a quote from an e-mail from Quark, "I really hate your subs."



Today’s combat results:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/04/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Sub attack at 7,55

Japanese Ships
AP Taimei Maru

Allied Ships
SS Grenadier

I’m beginning to think Grenadier is an albatross
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 8,55

Japanese Ships
AP Sakido Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-45

Missed again
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese Ships
AP Montevideo Maru, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage (4 shots, 4 hits – OUTSTANDING!! Needless to say, this ship is sunk and probably in a whole lot of tiny little pieces)

Allied Ships
SS S-46

The crew aboard the Lamson cheer loudly when they hear the ship that damaged them is erased from the IJN roll
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Cooktown at 6,53

Japanese Ships
AP Aiyo Maru

Allied Ships
SS Grenadier

My albatross theory is gaining momentum
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Cooktown at 6,53

Japanese Ships
AP Kasuga Maru #2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Grenadier

Finally!!! Although, I will salute any sub that can make three attacks in one day, it’s nice to get positive results as well
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 44
A6M3 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 28
SBD Dauntless x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 6 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 5 damaged

PO2 H.Minami of DII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2

CPO A.Kurihara of AII-1 Daitai is KILLED

Japanese Ships
CA Takao

My elation turns to horror when I realize I again forgot to set this squadron to Stand Down. IIRC, 5 of the SBDs destroyed were from the AA of Takao. Very good shooting – too good to be allowed to stay in the war. At least I took one of Japan’s finest down as well
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The disparity between the S-boats and subs like Grenadier and Tautog is astounding. Example: Grenadier has a seasoned commander(63/51), a seasoned crew (73/71) yet is continually out-performed in the result column by the S-boats. S-46, who had the first and only 4/4 performance I’ve seen, has a much less experienced commander (39/43), a somewhat less seasoned crew (60/61). Are the new torpedoes that bad?

Intentions follow.

[Attack Condor]

Thunderstorms today caused a few operational losses in my aircraft transfers, but I can’t wait for the weather to clear. The 1st Marine Parachute battalion is in place at Charter Towers. The transports are there. The weather has been bad, and I would like to wait for it to clear.

At Townsville, I have 2 full SBD squadrons with morale in the 90’s ready to go. I have 3 F4F-4 squadrons and 1 P-40E squadron there as well, for a total of 100+ fighters for escort. Unfortunately, their morale is in the 50’s. I may have to risk sending them out to escort the SBDs when the weather clears. I hope they can get a few kills – best way to improve morale.

3 more IJN APs listed as sunk: Toa Maru, Canbera Maru and Montevideo Maru. A total of about 900 supplies listed as still on board – no way to tell if they were troops. It would help immensely if they were.

Tomo is operational, with a BF having 100 aircraft support troops. I have transferred 2 B-25 units and 2 B-26 units (total of 64 level bombers) there. Once space is available at Charter Towers and the weather is clear, they’ll re-locate there.

The B-17s are finally getting replacements. Another B-17 unit is due to Brisbane in 4 days.

Lots of planes due in, but still only 1 SS and 2 AKs due in the next 20 days.

More to come……

[Attack Condor]

Flipping through the manual for help with ground force movement, I saw something that caused me to sit up and take notice.

Cairns isn't an "auto-victory" base.

This makes the airdrop at Innisfail even more critical - I can't leave the entire 3rd Division hanging out to dry . I've already lost the New Guinea division, I'm not about to p*** away this one too.

If the airdrop doesn't open up Innisfail, or at least give my troops at Cairns an opportunity to move there, I have another option.

But first, today's combat report:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/05/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Sub attack at 10,51

Japanese Ships
AP Hinko Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-43


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 10,51

Japanese Ships
AP Josho Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-43


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Gili Gili at 17,42

Allied Ships
SS S-37


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Cairns

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 49199 troops, 567 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 16813 troops, 120 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 9)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 8


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 313

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 186


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

From the looks of this battle, I've got about a week before I start suffering serious losses. Even with all that damage I've done to his fleet, he still landed almost 50K of troops at Cairns, plus units at Cooktown, Ayton, and Innisfail. Amazing.

More to come...

[fcooke]

If you have any at Cairns get them building forts again now that you're down from 9. If you have enough there you can build one or two over the course of the invasion. Stop building any ports or AF in the meantime. Puts all resource towards the forts and you don't want to hand him better facilities anyway....

[Attack Condor]

After the belated realization the loss of Cairns would not even put Quark in range of an autovictory (my guess is Townsville has to be his real target) I am going to try and save the 3rd. They can't possibly hold out against such odds. to effect such a move, I am initiating Operation Last Call. Its strategic objective is simple, get the 3rd back to Townsville. To do this, I am going to try the following:

1. The paradrop onto Innisfail is a go, and the troops are on their way. If I can get troops to Innisfail and keep them there for a few days, the 3rd may be able to march south and achieve a breakthrough, then able to get to Townsville. I don't know if this will work. If it does, great. If not, evacuation will have to be made by sea, specifically, by FTing as many troops as I can under the nose of his carriers.

2. In addition to the paradrop today, P-39Ds from Townsville will fly ground support missions at Innisfail. Hopefully, this will keep the heads of the invaders down while my paratroops land.

3. Also, I am sending my 2 SBD squadrons and 1 TBF squadron on Naval Attack missions with 4 fighter squadrons as escort (120 fighters). I hope they hit Cairns, but I have no control over this. Recon shows 4 cruisers at Cairns (possibly a battleship) and I need them out of there.

4. A total of approximately 20 destroyers and my lone APD are enroute or already in the area to begin the sea evacuation, if necessary.

5. The C47 squadrons, after this turn, will rebase at Cairns, (all other aircraft must leave, only about 60 air support there) and begin to evacuate by air. LRCAP shouldn't affect aircraft leaving a base as bad.

As I said, if I can get the 3rd out via Innisfail and then march them to Townsville, I would be ecstatic. If not, it'll be another bloody operation all due to yours truly not taking the time to understand the rules correctly.

Live (I hope) and learn.....

Also, on a happier note, another IJN AP - the Tamashima Maru was confirmed sunk and is on the list . What a coup it would be to pin his troops on Cairns and Cooktown because his transports were not able to get them out.

We'll see about that. The next two days are critical.

And I have this feeling Quark is waiting for me to try a stunt like this. I know he is... but I have to - there's no other option

[Attack Condor]

originally posted by fcooke

If you have any at Cairns get them building forts again now that you're down from 9. If you have enough there you can build one or two over the course of the invasion. Stop building any ports or AF in the meantime. Puts all resource towards the forts and you don't want to hand him better facilities anyway....

Thanks for the advice, unfortunately, I have only the 3rd Division and a single BF unit there. I sent the ENGs back to T'ville to max it out. T'ville finally cleared the level 8 airfield damage and upgraded it to level 9.

If I can get the 3rd out and back to Townsville, they'll aid its defense. With both the 3rd division and Northern command in Townsville, that would make 6 combat regiments at a base with Fort level 9, excess engineers, and unlimited supply. All the more of which makes me cry that I may have wasted the 3rd for nothing.

2 regiments and the HQ of the 32nd division are on the road to Townsville. If the 3rd cannot be saved as a fighting force, the 32nd will reinforce Townsville, and the remnants of the 3rd can go to Charter Towers.

I still have the 7th Division at Rockhampton, the 41st at Brisbane, and elements of the 6th are now only a month away from arrival.

I have to wonder at my stupidity this game, but must also learn my lessons.

[AmiralLaurent]

If you have 20 DD available, don't try to evacuate the Cairns garnison by sea, but bring another regiment to Innisfail by FT. This will certainly be sufficient to take the dot back, and then you can order the 3rd division out of Cairns by land, that is a lot less risky.
If 50000 Japanese are at Cairns and other at Cooktwosn, Ayton and Innis, and some thousand drowned allready, there is no immediate threat to Townsville, you can pick a regiment here and throw him to Innis to save your division.
If you watch the old combat reports, you may know how much troops landed in Innis and took it. Send twice this number with P-39 support and you will win. Send four time this number and you are sure to hold it enough to allow your division to be saved (either by marching or by being driven off Cairns by an assault).

My strategy would be to take back Innis with one regiment, then bring here more troops by PBY from Rockhampton (that will not be attacked soon) and see what happens in Cairns. IJN may fall short of supplies or suffer from high disruption and so be obliged to stop its offensive before having destroyed enough of your fortification.
If the Cairns airfield is operationnal, I would also send troops by air there, combat engineers for example. If you manage to hold, four Japanese divisions will be stranded on Australian shores with short supplies and hard to supply by IJN. Japan would have lost almost all chances of autovictory.

If you win this battle, you win the game. If you lose Cairns but save the 3rd (that should be assured if you take back Innis), you are still in a good position. If you lose both the base and the troops, you still have enough to hold the other bases.

Good luck

[Attack Condor]

originally posted by AmiralLaurent

If you have 20 DD available, don't try to evacuate the Cairns garnison by sea, but bring another regiment to Innisfail by FT. This will certainly be sufficient to take the dot back, and then you can order the 3rd division out of Cairns by land, that is a lot less risky.

An excellent suggestion. The paras are on the ground, and I should have a good read on what's at Innisfail (I'm at work, got the combat save file with the note "clever little para drop" attached from Quark - haven't seen the turn yet). I didn't think Northern Command units would board any kind of transport. Something new to add to the notebook - next game, Northern Command units that can't ship anywhere will be at Brisbane.

A possibility would be to order the 32nd units on the road back to Rocky and pick up what 7th Division units I can from there with the shipping available and send them in. I'll also move a sub there so I don't waltz into 4 cruisers with my FT.

Actually, what I'm hoping for is that I would be allowed to move the 3rd division to Innisfail as long as it's "contested". If I can, great. If not, the FT into Innisfail looks like the way to go. Thanks for the help!

[AmiralLaurent]

An unit in an hex with enemy units can't move to an enemy base or dot. If you want your units to Cairns to move to Innis, you have to take Innis back before or to push away the 50000 Japs in Cairns. The first is certainly easier.

If you have only Northern Command units in TVille, you can't ship any. Try to send troops in Innis as soon as possible. Send also subs off Cairns to make your opponent believe you want his ships out of there. You want them to stay here and not in Innis.

The more I thought to your situation, the more I would try to hold Cairns. You have 5 divisions not engaged (NC, 7th, 32nd, 41st) and Japan has almost as many. But you have level 9 fort everywhere and now that IJN has landed, you can keep only two regiments in each base (TV, Rock and Brisbane... let a full division there to be sure) as IJN has no more troops to launch on the battle. That is 5 regiments that you can throw in the battle. If they arrive in Cairns before the fort crumble, you will hold and Japan can afford to stop attacking, or his main troops will fall short of supply on the worst place in earth, right under the nose of your planes in TV.

Don't know where are your troops but I would:
1) use all C-47 and PBY to bring troops to Cairns and Innis, and engineers in TV.
2) replace the PBY by B-17 on naval search just to be sure.
3) pick up troops in a DD FT and land them in Innis.

All depends on when the 32nd ID will arrive in TV. From memory I don't know either how much time an unit will have to walk from TV to Innis but certainly too much.

[Attack Condor]

Today's action saw a lot of demoralized fighters go down, the ever-present sub nightmare for the IJN transports, and the daring airdrop into Innisfail, retaking the base from a suprised Naval Garrison unit!

Today's action:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/06/42

Weather: Rain

Sub attack at 7,55

Japanese Ships
AP Kenshin Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-42

Later this turn, the Kenshin Maru is confirmed as sunk on the list.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 7,55

Japanese Ships
AP Miike Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS S-42

The subs continue to deal out damage to the invaders.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Gili Gili at 17,42

Allied Ships
SS S-37


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 19th Naval Garrison Unit, at 7,57


Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 40


no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 24

This little attack may be one of the most important of the Australian defense
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 19th Naval Garrison Unit, at 7,57


Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 19
P-40E Kittyhawk x 19


no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 19

Preparations…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 15th Aus Brigade, at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
A6M3 Zero x 8
D3A Val x 54

no losses


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 2

I hope this incurs lots of fatigue
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 49

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 72
SBD Dauntless x 32
TBF Avenger x 7
P-40E Kittyhawk x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 4 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 5 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 13 damaged
TBF Avenger x 2 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 5 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 destroyed

PO2 B.Oda of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 5

Japanese Ships
CA Suzuya, Bomb hits 1
DD Hayashio
BB Mutsu
DD Hatsushimo
CL Kuma

As expected, with low morale, the fighters serve as little more than bait, but I was hoping for more out of 2 SBD squadrons with morale in the 90+ range. Oh well
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 47

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8 destroyed

PO1 T.Matsumura of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 5

The price of showing up 15 minutes late, after everyone else has gone home
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 37

no losses

Allied Ships
MSW Cairns
MSW Launceton, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW Toowoomba

Guess the Kates are out of practice
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 61

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Drayton
DD MacDonough
DD Balch

This can only be attributed to the teenaged replacement pilots. Have I hurt him that bad?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Gili Gili at 17,42

Allied Ships
SS S-37

Poor S-37 can’t even get a shot off in GG. She isn’t leaving, though. The sub commander reports reading a sign in harbor which translates “US sub in area, tankers, dock at your own risk”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Gili Gili at 17,42

Allied Ships
SS S-37

I can wait……
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Cairns

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 54169 troops, 608 guns, 35 vehicles

Defending force 16691 troops, 120 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 8)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 6


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 273
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 222

Down come the barricades
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Innisfail

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 943 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 657 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Innisfail base !!!


A big sigh of relief! Fortunately, the IJN could only spare a Naval Garrison unit to keep the troops at Cairns bottled up. The paratroopers perform brilliantly
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A surprised IJN will most certainly use one of his APDs at Cairns to try and FT combat troops to Innisfail in hopes they can plug the bottle back up. Of course, I’m hoping he thinks that I’m going to try and hold Cairns, limiting what he can pull away from the assault force.

I'm not claiming any military genius here, I'm actually taken aback a bit that the airdrop actually captured the base so soon. I would have thought Quark wuold have had a combat engineer unit there, at a minimum; something capable of defense.

All ground troops have been ordered to Innisfail. I hope they don't take to long to get there.

Intentions follow.

[Attack Condor]

Tomorrow’s actions:

1. The 32nd division has been ordered back to Rockhampton.

2. 6xDD will FT units of the 21st BDE from Rocky to Innisfail. ETA – 2 days.

3. 4xDD will sail to Innisfail immediately from TV to act as a blocking force to an IJN APD or DD FT from Cairns designed to evict the paras.

4. 31 PBY aircraft will airlift elements of the 162nd RCT from Brissy to Innisfail.

5. TF 231 consists of PT38 and PT60. They will refuel at TV and sail for Innisfail. I’m hoping the IJN will still use the Vals to ground attack at Cairns, leaving the suddenly ineffectual Kates for anti-ship operations. Either way, I want something there to counter a FT move of the IJN. (edit: I don't expect 2 PT boats to stop an FT move, but if a couple of torps put a few troops in the water, so much the better. I just don't want him to move in unopposed)

6. A piece of subterfuge (pun intended) here – I have two S-boats at Cairns. Each will transport 2 squads from the Cairns defenders (1 squad from each BDE) to Innisfail. My hope if that by the end of the turn tomorrow, the IJN scouts will report 4 INF units at Innisfail. They will know 1 is the paratroop battalion, but I’m praying that the other 3 squad size elements will bluff him into thinking more is there than really is… maybe even think it’s a push to reinforce Cairns. Of course, if the subs are spotted there, it may let the cat out of the bag, but it’s a chance I’ll take.

My B17s are all refitting at Noumea, 51 active and ready to fly, but there are 6 squadrons there and still need to be fleshed out a bit. Two of the squadrons are at 11 planes, so I'll probably send them to Brissy when the weather allows.

2E bombers are in a better situation, and Charter Towers is ready to accept them. I have the Beaufort squadron already there, and am waiting on weather to rebase the B26s and B25s from Tomo (64 bombers, all with 90+ morale)

Brissy is chock full of aircraft, and the C47s have been sent there to make room for the bombers at Charter Towers. If the airdrop hadn’t gone off so well, I would have sent them into Cairns and started airlifting the defenders back to TV.

As to defense, I have the entire Northern Command division at TV. The 3rd is to join them there to defend the base.

In Rocky, I have 2 BDEs of the 7th division with HQ, and the 32nd division is on their way back to join them to defend Rocky.

Brisbane has the 41st division in situ, and the 6th division is slated to join them when it begins to arrive (about a month from now). If a push to Brissy is observed, I can airlift the 7th south to assist (once the dust clears, the Australian C47s will base at Rocky to airlift the 7th where needed as a reaction force).

The only question is Charter Towers – I’m not too sure how much defense to allocate to it. I’m currently leaning toward a couple of combat engineer units, perhaps an overall combat strength of 30. I’ll probably leave the paras there for a while as well.

If I can extricate myself from Cairns, I’ll be very happy. Quark will have both Cairns and Cooktown, but he’ll be bombed back into the Stone Age as level bombers cycle from CT to/from Brissy. He’ll also have a lot of troops in a foreign country with very little in the way of supply. The one place I have hurt him bad is in supply ships. Heito Maru was also confirmed as sunk yesterday, bringing the total of IJN vessels sunk to 51, 34 of which are APs.

I hope this explains my situation a bit better. Again, get the troops out of Cairns, bomb his newly acquired bases incessantly, sink his transports at Cairns with subs and P-39s, CAP TV with F4Fs and to hell with his carriers.

Still release date for my two CVs at PH, although 3 APDs were released, and are 19 days out.

Timetable:
Shipping: APDx3 (19 days), SS Trout (18 days), AKx1 (15 days), AKx1(6 days)
Aircraft: VMSB231 (SBD) to Noumea, 1 day out. 63BS (B-17) to Brissy, 2 days out. VNF223 (F4F4) to Noumea, 2 days out.
Ground: 1st Marine Regiment to Noumea, 1 day out.

I’ll get more details out ASAP.

[Attack Condor]

At the crux of the battle.... will the paratroopers hold Innisfail long enough to save the 3rd division? Will Condor's moves continue to confound, confuse and constrain the mighty IJN empire?

Will Doris find out that her baby wasn't fathered by Dr. John Goodhunk, who - while snokerling in the shallows of the barrier reef, met a salty and his untimely end - but in fact the love child of Doris and Jimbo (the manchild just now coming to grips with his pubiscent emotions runing amok in his body)????


See what happens when the d**n email servers dont cooperate???????:mad:

More to come as soon as we get this farm animal sacrifice to the e-mail gods completed.