Herbie goes Bananas

[Philwd]

Well Wobbly since I know what Herbieh is going to do anything I say will be tinged with suspicion. Or maybe because I play the IJN can you really trust anything I say:D ?

To comment on Condor's suggestions they all work very well . Of course the mines he was referring to start the game at Cairns.

You have mentioned in the past Herbieh is the most aggresive player you have seen. So what would a very aggressive player do? What can you do in response?

Cheers,
Quark

[wobbly]

Thanks Quark - very informative to hear from the Jap perspective: anyway the die was cast and tis was the result:

Excellent turn for the allies! Despite that Herbie-san did not play to the dance card and we were unable to grapple with the single carrier isolated from his friends.

Herbie-san's target appears to have been Koumac. A FT transport of DDs and APDs pulls up during the night and 2 of them hit mines unloading a small unit (Condor you'll be pleased about this). These mines slow the TF down.

His 2 Carrier groups move up in the night - however, his CAP layout is very odd: there are no planes above the single Carrier group and none above the FT group. Maybe he wanted them to be bait so that I tired my crews out hitting them before he bought in his carriers - if this is the case - it worked perfectly!

The retreating FT group is still in range of Koumac, and in range of Luganville, and my CV force!!! I could hear Herbie scream ouch all the way from Sydney!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/02/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on 10th Aus Brigade, at 9,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 17
G3M Nell x 19

no losses

Attacking Level Bombers:
19 x G3M Nell at 5000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 10th Aus Brigade, at 9,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
D3A Val x 17
B5N Kate x 16
G3M Nell x 9
G4M1 Betty x 44 (his number s are increasing - I know he has a betty sqd at Lunga)

no losses


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 18

Attacking Level Bombers:
20 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
24 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
9 x G3M Nell at 5000 feet
16 x B5N Kate at 20000 feet

If you look at the number of naval bombers he has in this attack he seriously wants to kill my troops - for the damage he is doing why does he bother - reasonable exp I suppose.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,60


Allied aircraft
TBD Devastator x 13
B-25D Mitchell x 3
B-26B Marauder x 7


Allied aircraft losses
TBD Devastator x 1 destroyed
TBD Devastator x 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
APD 35, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD 31
DD Okikaze, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD 39, on fire

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet

Koumac starts proceedings - 4 more torps hit than the 2 that actually explode.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,60


Allied aircraft
TBD Devastator x 25
B-25D Mitchell x 8
B-26B Marauder x 6


Allied aircraft losses
TBD Devastator x 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Satsuki, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD 35, on fire, heavy damage
APD 39, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD 31, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Okikaze, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
APD 2
DD Kamikaze, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
4 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
4 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,60


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 64


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Satsuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD 35, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
APD 31, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kamikaze, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage

Now the carriers launch - notice no escorts - this would have been ugly against fighters.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,60


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 15
TBF Avenger x 13
Beaufort x 9
A-20B Havoc x 12


Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Okikaze, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shikinami
DD Satsuki, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Beaufort at 6000 feet
4 x Beaufort at 6000 feet
4 x A-20B Havoc at 1000 feet
4 x A-20B Havoc at 1000 feet
1 x Beaufort at 6000 feet
4 x A-20B Havoc at 1000 feet

Luganville joins the carrier planes as they attack the same hapless FT mission.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,60


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4
SBD Dauntless x 34


no losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,60


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD Dauntless x 15
TBF Avenger x 14


Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
APD 39, on fire, heavy damage
APD 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shikinami


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,60


Allied aircraft
TBD Devastator x 27
B-25D Mitchell x 10
B-26B Marauder x 3


Allied aircraft losses
TBD Devastator x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
APD 39, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD 2, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Okikaze, on fire, heavy damage
APD 35, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
4 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,60


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
SBD Dauntless x 62
TBF Avenger x 11


no losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,60


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
SBD Dauntless x 32


no losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,60


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 10
SBD Dauntless x 28
Hudson x 6
B-26B Marauder x 9


no losses

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,60


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
SBD Dauntless x 17


no losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 41,59


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 5


Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Junyo

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

This is the single carrier TF - the carrier being Junyo. Again there is no CAP up! 2 marauders are lost however.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At the conclusion of the day about 7 ships go under the waves. I lost 7 ACs in the battle - many more damaged.
My naval bomber pilots are at about 30 fatigue - the fighters are at 45! I move the lowest moral (and highest fatigue as it happens) sqd to Luganville and replace it with the Lex's F4F-4s and set them to high CAP. The Carriers move back two hexes NE of Luganville. He may try and take on my carriers now - again I try to shorten the range for Luganville to join in.
At Koumac the naval bombers and MRBs are given ground attack missions and the Cavalry regiment their is set up to shock attack.
My transport TF is in luganville and should unload tonight.

Over in Oz my approaching FT mission to Lea Lea notices a DD and an AP in PM harbour - 1 CL and 3 DDs change to a surface group and move to intercept - all of these ships are above 10 SYS damage! However it will be worth trying to grapple with more of his APs. The remaining APD and DMS of the FT group continue with their mission.
These have continued very well - despite all the Naval air he has over in NG they never seem to get attacked.

[wobbly]

More tip toeing around each other, he wont come into range of Luganville and I wont step out from its cover.

My surface unit swings into PM - finds only AGs - sinks a few and then sweeps out.

My transport TF in Noumea is all but unloaded bar 1 ship - I create another TF of the empty ships and disband them - 1 ship with its arse in the breeze

The little garrison unit tries a shock attack against my cavalry regiment (plus engineers), the Cav replies with a shock attack of their own.

My naval fighter squadrons are at it again! The Lex group (on board "the big E" now) has 16 flight capable planes, 10 damaged and 10 in reserve - upon transfer last turn they were 35 flight capable and 1 damaged. The land based group is 23 flight capable, 7 damaged and 3 in reserve (after being 32 flight capable and 1 damaged).

Can anyone tell me why this happens??? All the pilots came across - they both have 37 of them. Just what I need before a potential carrier battle!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/03/42

Weather: Clear

Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese Ships
AG 116, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
AG 117, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
AG 119
AG 120, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
AG 121
AG 122, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
AG 123
AG 352
AG 355
AG 356, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AG 357

Allied Ships
CL Nashville
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Mahan
DD Dale

Pointless although it may give me a bit of Exp on these ships - they require a trip back to Pearl anyway so they are unlikely to see heavy action.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Koumac, at 47,63


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
no losses

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 36

I think he was trying to help his garrison unit
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 10th Aus Brigade, at 9,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 17
G3M Nell x 10

no losses


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 6

Attacking Level Bombers:
10 x G3M Nell at 5000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 84th Naval Garrison Unit, at 47,63

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 7

Allied aircraft
TBD Devastator x 29
B-25D Mitchell x 3
B-26B Marauder x 3

no losses

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 7

Attacking Level Bombers:
8 x TBD Devastator at 6000 feet
9 x TBD Devastator at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
12 x TBD Devastator at 6000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet

He is LRCAPing Koumac but the bombers get through.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 39,57


Allied aircraft
B-25D Mitchell x 8


Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 9 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Asakaze

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
4 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet

2 Marauders seccumb to their wounds. The MRBs at Koumac are rested most are damaged - 2 sqds can muster about 7 flyable machines!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Koumac

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 591 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 8063 troops, 54 guns, 20 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5)


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 80

Um ouch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Koumac

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3873 troops, 54 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 520 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 162 to 1 (fort level 0)


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 587
Guns lost 2

More of a rounding up than a shock attack - me thinks some of these guys surrendered!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have chanced my arm rather heavily this turn. My Air TF is lowering its defences to 2 sqds at 30% CAP and the others at 10% - fatigue is just killing the morale! I have moved the surface and air TF as far east (and a little south) as they can go. I am relying on the deterent factor of Luganville to stop him from coming too close - it could so obviously backfire. If he lets me get away with it, I may then try attacking him - his fighters must also be knackered - he has been flying LRCAP after all!

[wobbly]

After all the fun we are back to a quiet day in the South Pacific.

I have decided to retire my carriers back to Noumea - I no longer have his carriers scouted so they may also have retired. I will keep everyone on alert for one more turn and I will also halt FT missions to Lea Lea.

My next mission is to recapture Wunpuko and start a base at Gavigmana. This can start once I get the Wasp.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/04/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 3
B-26B Marauder x 7


Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 17

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

This was a night mission - there are still DDs in harbour at PM, I am trying to put a bomb into one.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Buna at 12,38

Japanese Ships
AP Teizui Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-38

He has two large transport TFs in harbour, I find one but can't sink anything.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 10th Aus Brigade, at 9,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 17
G3M Nell x 19

no losses


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 6

Attacking Level Bombers:
19 x G3M Nell at 5000 feet

Air attacks continue
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Efate Port Vila , at 55,57


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22


no losses

Oops, one of the wildcat sqds had turned to sweep and targets Efate - giving away the position of my carriers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Attack Condor]

originally posted by wobbly[/I]

He has two large transport TFs in harbour, I find one but can't sink anything.

Patience. Find a good spot for your subs (mouth of harbours, choke points, etc.) and leave them be . If you can refrain from moving them, their fuel lasts longer, they even may repair SYS damage, and - sooner or later - a plodding cargo ship will walk into your sights. Try not to park in a shallow water hex though (one exception is parking a sub in an invasion hex and take shot after shot at the unloading transports, while getting constantly resupplied). Your odds of surviving are better than the IJN I-boats in shallow water, but you are still vulnerable.

I know - if you have been reading my AAR, you see that I have a sub at GG myself (been there for about a week now). It's a risk, but I want Quark to know there's a sub there, forcing his tankers to use Woodlark instead of GG as a fueling point for his bombardment TFs; adding a day to their trip each way. Of course, if he wants to bring tankers to my sub, well now I wouldn't complain too loudly

Stay deep, and make him weep.

(can you tell I just made that up?:p )

[wobbly]

Condor - disregarded your advice and tried for another wee intercept in harbour - S-37 shoots and misses but is also left unharmed; it is leaving harbour this turn.

Little to report, Herbie-san bombs me at Lea Lea again and also sights my carriers at Noumea. I unload the F4F-3s and send them to Luganville. The F4F-4s there transfer to Noumea to rest and will then take a place on the Yorktown to fill out my compliment in F4F-4s.
THe Wasp is 6 days out.
At 2 days out I will make a transport group to ferry troops, engineers adn a base unit to Wunpuko - time we took that back.
I make a small 2 ship transport TF, load it with supplies adn send it to Luganville. Not all the troops that we wanted gathered in the previous rescue effort actually got on the boats. 2 guilty units so I hope we can get them back when these 2 ships return.

I notice the Jap CVs at Luganville and therefore continue FT missions to Lea Lea - this seems like it has been going on forever - there are still plenty of men left there!

[wobbly]

New mode of attack was today shown by the enemy - fighter sweeps over Australian airfields. They net 2 wirraways for him. This change of tactics is interesting. I doubt it is for experience - he is escorting the raids against my men in Lea Lea so they will be getting very well trained by now.

He may be setting himself up to attack my ports - I therefore build transport TFs of the spare transport ships I had in port and send them further to the rear. One of them (from Cairns) will load the remains of the base unit I originally sent into PM and had to be evacuated from Lea Lea.

I build a transport Tf to carry supplies to luganville - despite the massive reduction they take (depending on the amount there is the amount lost in a supply hit) I think it is better to have the level up.

I detach another DD from the FT mission going to Lea Lea to hit the AGs he has at PM - nice to get their numbers down - he must have lost about 10 now: 4 to my surface ships and about 6 to his own mines.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/06/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 7
B-26B Marauder x 11


no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 14

Port supply hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
5 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
6 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
7 x Hudson at 6000 feet

Night attack again - no ship hits but I will take the supply hit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Gasmata at 17,32

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

Allied Ships
SS S-37

Condor wont be happy with me - another harbour attack- this time I did know that there were only PGs defending - and this time I also get a hit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Townsville , at 10,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 9

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 2 destroyed

ENS U.Kanda of BII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2

I don't expect him to be back the next day as he will have high fatigue - but we will have to be more vigilant the day after.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Cooktown , at 6,53

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 27

no losses


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

[wobbly]

Good news and bad news. First, good: the night attacks on PM eventually provide fruit and I put a bomb into Sendai - don't know how bad she is but better than nothing.
The bad news is that Condor's advice should have been heeded far closer than it was! The S-37 - hunting APs in Gasmata harbour comes afoul of a PG boat - that's right not only do I loose a sub to an MSW but now I loose one to a PG. So much for incompetent Jap ASW capability! I must admit I thought I would be able to disregard the PGs - even in harbour, the price of complacency. This is the fifth sub (all S boats) I have lost.

The large transport TF at Noumea is about to put to sea - the 2 APs heading to Luganville disengage the 3 PT boats that were stashed to their decks and they cruise off to their new home - Luganville.

A FT mission of supplies is moving into Lea Lea this next night. This is very timely as Herbie-san is at last sick of my troops sitting there; he has moved a regiment of fresh troops to Lea Lea.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/07/42

Weather: Overcast

Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 12


Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 5

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Gasmata at 17,32

Japanese Ships
AP Sasago Maru
PC Ch 23

Allied Ships
SS S-37, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

The PG CH 23 gets a huge victory - SS-37 sinks!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese Ships
AG 119, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AG 121, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AG 123
AG 352
AG 355
AG 357

Allied Ships
DD Ralph Talbot

Both AGs sink - not much of a battle but 5" shells are too hard on AGs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lea Lea

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6923 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 9006 troops, 36 guns, 5 vehicles

I am expecting actual attacks from these guys now - I still don't think he has quite enough firepower to displace the aussies yet - I have a fort level 3 at Lea Lea and supplies coming in this turn.

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

[wobbly]

Operation Wunpuko is a go!
The 186th RCT still coming off the ships from Brisbane are loading another set of ships to sail to Wunpuko.
The brand new sub "Drum" is loaded with a handpicked group of men from the 186th to recon the island before the rest of the lads, along with the - now rested - Kiwi CD unit, 41st HQ and an air base unit.
The Wasp is now 2 days out and it will join the carrier force to cover the landings. Again the mighty battleship North Carolina will form a surface group to halt sneaky Jap attempts to disrupt the landings. A group of minelayers swept in and out of Wunpuko this turn with no reports of mines - all is in readiness.

SOPAC is starting to worry more about the buildup of troops they can see forming in Lunga. Many ships have been able to waltz in and out with little in the way of harrassment - this may be attributed to my lack of carefulness with my sub arm.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/08/42

Weather: Clear

Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 6
B-26B Marauder x 3


no losses

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage

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

Another night attack and another report of a hit on the Sendai, I wonder how much lower than the level of the port it sits?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 4th Aus Brigade, at 9,39

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 9

no losses


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 14

Attacking Level Bombers:
9 x G3M Nell at 5000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 4th Aus Brigade, at 9,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
D3A Val x 17
B5N Kate x 18
G3M Nell x 7
G4M1 Betty x 45

no losses


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 105

Attacking Level Bombers:
18 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
18 x B5N Kate at 20000 feet
7 x G3M Nell at 5000 feet
27 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet

With the realisation I have been trying to get the men out as best as possible, herbie-san steps up his aerial assault.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 18th Coastal Gun Battalion, at 55,57


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 24
Hudson x 7
Beaufort x 15
B-25D Mitchell x 15
B-26B Marauder x 9
A-20B Havoc x 15


no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 31

Attacking Level Bombers:
12 x Beaufort at 6000 feet
12 x A-20B Havoc at 6000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
4 x Hudson at 6000 feet
6 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
12 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
3 x A-20B Havoc at 6000 feet
3 x Beaufort at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet

more training for the planes at Luganville - thanks for the target at Efate Tojo!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lea Lea

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6923 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 8894 troops, 36 guns, 5 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 3)


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 81

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 94

The - now very tired - Aussies hold off the first attack from the newly arrived Jap regiment; notice the level of fortifications there - he has no engineers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[wobbly]

More bad form from my sub captains. One has attacked an AG - thankfully it oblidges by disappearing beneath the waves without returning any fire.

The Drum should be at Wunpuko this night and with it my recon unit.

The transport ships are still loading there cargo and the whole lot waits on the Carrier Wasp. Incidentily another of my Devastator units has transformed to Avengers. They replace one of the least experienced Dauntless squadrons on the Enterprise.

More FT missions are sent from Cairns and Townsville to pick up Lea Lea units. I don't know how much longer he will let me get away with this - surely he has to up his search aircraft and set the level bombers to naval attack?

The small armada he had at PM resting after damage from the long forgotten battle for PM have had enoug of being in the firing line from the planes visiting PM at night. they move out - hopefully into the waiting arms of 3 subs that are moving into position of likely travel.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/09/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Sub attack at 12,37

Japanese Ships
AG 106, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-38


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lea Lea

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6839 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 8859 troops, 34 guns, 5 vehicles



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

[Attack Condor]

FWIW, another piece of advice about subs: when I see barges, I stay well away from them. I think they're the evil incarnation of a twisted mentality - whose sole purpose is to draw fire from innocent submarines and cause them harm with the occasional "shell hit" from drunken machinegun operators. And if one obliges you by sinking, you get a whole zero victory points :rolleyes:

My subs would rather face a ASW TF of 9 x DD than a single barge.

[wobbly]

Condor, I so hear you! I was after biger fish but he is screening his more valuable targets beautifully with AG TFs. This was the real reason for sending in lone DDs I wanted to clear away a few of his pesky barges; they clutter up the screen and they tempt my sub drivers!

[wobbly]

Operation Wunpuko continues with the departure of the transport Tf and the arrival of the Wasp.

An Air TF is created around the (now) 5 carriers under Spruance and they head to 60 miles off the west coast of Wunpuko.

A surface group under Lee will be formed tomorrow to head there to provide warship protection.

The recon sub is at Wunpuko this turn and will unload its men tonight.

In other news the supply Tf moving into Luganville arrives tonight - some CAP is raised to defend it - it holds 31000 units of much needed supply. A small surface unit of 4 DDs is created and heads over to Townsville to help the very tired DDs currently doing the FT run to Lea Lea.

2 transport TFs are created in Brisbane, one with the 41st Div engineers - bound for Wunpuko, and another supply mission bound for Cooktown: which is down to 10000 supply units.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/10/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Air attack on TF, near Finschhafen at 11,33


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 6


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 destroyed
Hudson x 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Tama
DD Shigure

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Hudson at 6000 feet
1 x Hudson at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 38,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
A6M3 Zero x 2

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
BB Nagato

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

Despite thunderstorms 2 sqds of bombers manage to fly out after very longe range targets: the hudsons fly from Cooktown to Finschafen, and a brand new sqd of forts - with default naval attack settings - attacks Lunga harbour (through 16 zeros). A pain to say the least (3 ACs lost).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lea Lea

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6850 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 8847 troops, 34 guns, 5 vehicles


More bombardment by Herbie-san, he is probably trying to gauge when I have reduced them enough to allow a successful attack.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[wobbly]

Herbie notices the recon unit at Wunpuko - what to make of this??

The surface unit built around N Carolina under Lee heads to Wunpuko.

Spruance puts more CAP into the air and readies the Naval bombers to attack.

Herbie-san is vigourously transporting something into Lunga and there are currently 3 TFs at Buna.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/11/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Sub attack at 38,37

Japanese Ships
AP Shoan Maru
PC Takunan Maru #2

Allied Ships
SS S-43, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

I cannot believe this another PC manages to sink one of my subs. Talk about bad luck on the ASW front
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 11th Aus Engineer Battalion, at 9,39

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 14

no losses


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 11

Attacking Level Bombers:
14 x G3M Nell at 5000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 11th Aus Engineer Battalion, at 9,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
D3A Val x 15
B5N Kate x 18
G3M Nell x 12
G4M1 Betty x 30

no losses


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 95
Vehicles lost 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
12 x G3M Nell at 5000 feet
18 x B5N Kate at 20000 feet
15 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
15 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet

The aerial hammering continues - the only way out is to remove the men
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Buna at 12,38


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 3


no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Shoho Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet

I forgot to set these guys back to training - so they fly again - and it pays off - 3 bomb hits for no AC loss.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Buna at 12,38


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 4


no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Tamashima Maru

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Hudson at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 18th Coastal Gun Battalion, at 55,57


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 26
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18
SBD Dauntless x 26
Hudson x 9
Beaufort x 11
B-25D Mitchell x 14
B-26B Marauder x 12
A-20B Havoc x 11


no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 39

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
9 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
5 x Beaufort at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet
5 x A-20B Havoc at 6000 feet
6 x Hudson at 6000 feet
6 x Beaufort at 6000 feet
6 x A-20B Havoc at 6000 feet
9 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
5 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet

more training - I set these guys back to Naval only.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Buna at 12,38


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 3


no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Nagara Maru

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Buna at 12,38


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 3


no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Tamashima Maru, Bomb hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet

They try again but no luck
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lea Lea

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6850 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 5988 troops, 19 guns, 4 vehicles



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

[wobbly]

Oops I overwrote my combat report, so I'll try and remember what happened and what my intentions were.

First stage of "Operation Wunpuko" has been completed: the recon unit find mouldy rice, spent cartridges and demolished facilities; but no Japs. Intelligence had surmised as much but so far in this war "intelligence" has been a bit of an oxymoron (in one word!)

The recon group transmit their findings to the transport TF that pulls into Wunpuko and starts unloading - currently wunpuko is: port 1 airfield 2. The base unit that unloads will have a sqd of wildcats and dauntlesses to look after tomorrow.

Weather is playing its part with more thunderstorms so it is possible that the landings may go uncontested.

Back in Oz the small DD unit sent to replace the worst crocks in the FT groups will arrive in Townsville. During email banter Herbie professed to having missed something - I suspect it was my FT missions. I noticed an increased level of warships below GG so that may have been it.

My subs in the GG strait have not seen hide nor hair of the ships leaving PM or coming from further North - he may now be going around the coral rather than through the straits - unfortunately I have so few subs (most of the more effective SS types are sunk) that I can't cover both.

I have hit a bit of an empass, if I keep retrieving the troops from Lea Lea, their numbers will drop to the point the Jap regiment currently keeping the aussies on their toes will be powerful enough to kill/capture them. I have a portion of every unit out of Lea Lea now so I should get replacements, but lost troops still equals points.

[wobbly]

(I have had a bit of a problem posting my turns - couldn't get to the forum page)
We are still manouevering units into positions to take our next steps. It is difficult to know when the defensive moves over to the offensive.

With operation Wunpuko moving along according to plan - 2 Wildcat sqds have moved there and are now taking up the job of CAP - we can start thinking ahead to the next step. I don't want to run before I can walk, so finish what we start first - the landing troops need to get off the boats and get some supply moved in.

Then I think operation "stepping stone" will start. Currently the plan will be to move 2 Seabees units to Luganville and the FT them and supplies to Gavigmana. Then, when we have an airbase get some air support there, then aircraft and we can actually get the place operational.

Two more FT missions are off to Lea Lea - 4 damaged ships are returning to Noumea and from there probably to PH to get sys damage repaired and AAA upgraded.

I have commissioned some recon of PM - for little other than to make Herbie wonder what I am up to.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/13/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Ground combat at Lea Lea

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6856 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 6044 troops, 18 guns, 4 vehicles



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

[wobbly]

Woah - herbie-san is on the move again!!

In Oz a surface unit is scouted in Lea Lea bay (and marauders attempt to hit it - only to damage themselves). This is obviously a welcoming committee for my FT missions - looks like I retrieved the last survivors of the Aussie brigades. The 2 FT missions - instead of moving into Lea Lea - are split into 5 groups:

1 FT TF of 3 AVs an APD and the DMS: they will return to Cairns
3 single DD surface TFs that are going to try and intercept more of his AGs on their way to PM (mid ocean). They are all in their teens for sys damage.
1 surface TF of the most servicable DDs that are going into PM - he has, what is scouted as, a transport TF with APs and a DD in harbour. This unit gets LRCAP (of kittyhawks) from cooktown allocated to its return.

He has also disbanded and docked some ships in GG; these may be the ships that left PM. I set the 3 B-17 sqds in Cairns to night bomb the port.

In the east it appears Wunpuko HAS caused some consternation. A BB led surface unit now stands one sprint from Wunpuko, above it is an Air TF of at least 1 CV and 1 CS; I expect it is actually all his CVs.

This turn he scouted my transport TF in Wunpuko but as yet he has not seen the surface TF or the air TF now 2 hexes west of Wunpuko.
The transport TF in Wunpuko harbour has not completely disembarked all its troops and supplies; I decide the area is just too hot - they undock and leave harbour. They will return once the danger lowers a little. Before they leave however, 2 more of the PTs lashed to the transports decks are unloaded and added to the 3 that are in harbour.

1 sqd of dauntlesses is moved to Wunpuko airfield to be escorted by the 2 marine F4F sqds housed here. Another sqd at Luganville (marines again) is set to LRCAP over Wunpuko. The transport TF that was unloading supplies here is now empty and returning to Noumea post haste.

The plan is simple but workable: his surface fleets may attack Wunpuko and will meet my surface fleet, any cripples from my bunch will retire to their homebase - luganville - 4 hexes away. His will have miles to go and be able to be hit by my Navy air or aircraft from Luganville.
What is likely to happen is my air TF and his will Duke it out - I have 5 carriers now with the best units I can muster, I should do OK. Any LRCAP he is flying will reduce CAP and any injured surface units will be moving slower than the original surface fleet (targeted by LRCAP) and therefore not be covered - this should mean my LBA will hit them.

If he targets Luganville with his surface fleet he will find nothing - it is empty.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/14/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on TF, near Lea Lea at 9,39


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 22


Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 11 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Tama
CA Takao
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Yugure

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

Pointless - I set my MLBA to training
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 18,43

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-40

The immortal Sendai meets a sub in the gili straight - will this persude it to take up underwater activities?
P.S. I still don't know if I sunk the Kaga - I am leaning towards no now: that is one tough ship!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lea Lea

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6847 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 6065 troops, 17 guns, 4 vehicles

When will this turn to attack?

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

[wobbly]

The battle of Nevea will go down in history as the turning of the tide!

"Early in the morning of August the 15th it became clear to Allied naval planners that the conniving jap was trying something south of the Solomon Sea. With the current invasion and mop up of Wunpuko Island coincidentally taking place, the navy decided the pieces were in place to give the Jap a bloody nose. Strike forces of naval dive bombers and torpedo planes fell like an ancient plague on the Jap carriers smashing bombs and torpedoes into 7 enemy carriers! All are reported to have sunk! Jap replies were beaten off with the allied force suffering no damage."

OK, so this may not be entirely true - in fact I wouldn't be too surprised if none of the CVs have sunk. However, with no damaged ships myself (that's right - completely unscathed) I am going to overwork my naval attack aviators.
All the carrier action occured in the morning, then the weather turned for the worse and I couldn't put afternoon strikes against the CVs. I think my strikes came as a complete surprise to Herbie-san - he knew I had carriers obviously but they had been sitting in the same spot for about 3 turns without being sighted. I think he may have thought he had a little more time - his CAP was minimal or maybe, as hoped, he was LRCAPing?

Afternoon strikes then turned against his surface forces, the most disrupted of which was the one built around BB Nagato. I put enough ordinance into her so that she may actually be in trouble.

So, as stated, the naval aviators are not going to get any rest this turn. He has about 10 TFs on a latitude of Nevea (I am pleased he did not hit Wunpuko, I think my surface force would have been swamped!) and my carriers are going to advance as far as they can go, I expect he will retire without air cover but there will be many wounded ducks that need the chop. In fact I may split my Air TF into two to cover more area. To help matters I move 1 fresh sqd of dauntlesses from Wunpuko and one marine sqd form Luganville to Yorktown and Saratoga.

In Oz all does not go to plan, despite ordering my remaining FT ships to retire to Cairns they disobey orders and continue with their "pick up troops" orders. It appears changing their destination (I changed their homebase and then told them to retire there.... now) gets over-riden by orders to pick up troops. I knew he had a surface unit at Lea Lea but my ships still go there - Bang.
The ships still afloat will regroup at Cairns and we will see whether Herbie-san stays at Lea Lea. I have had 5 APDs released from PH.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/15/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on Gili Gili , at 17,42


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3


no losses

Port hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
That was pretty pointless
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at 14,42

Japanese Ships
AG 123, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AG 352
AG 355
AG 357, Shell hits 16, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Mahan

One of my mid ocean intercepts manages to hit pay dirt - they only seem to sink 2 AGs at a time though.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese Ships
DD Tachikaze, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AP Kaiko Maru, Shell hits 10, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Sims, Shell hits 2
DD Conyngham
DD Tucker
DD Hull
DD MacDonough

My other DD force also manages to find his transport TF in PM harbour. The AP looked in dire trouble - that is the first surface launched torp that has managed to detonate for me.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Lea Lea at 9,39

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 2
CL Tama, Shell hits 1
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Shigure
DD Yugure
DD Amagiri, Shell hits 1
DD Minazuki

Allied Ships
APD Colhoun, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AV Ballard
AV McFarland, Shell hits 23, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AV Thornton, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Hovey

**** **** **** - Thornton follows her sister ships under the waves - they served me well; and it is not as if I "wanted" them to destroy themselves...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,44

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
A6M3 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17
SBD Dauntless x 117
TBF Avenger x 12

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 19 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 42 damaged
TBF Avenger x 5 damaged

PO2 F.Hanamoto of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 7, on fire
CS Nisshin
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CS Chiyoda, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CS Chitose, Bomb hits 1, on fire

I really don't think he was ready for me - 21 planes on CAP - they get inundated with targets and invariably the post gets through. Despite taking 7 1000lb bombs I don't think Akagi is going down.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,44

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
A6M3 Zero x 2

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
SBD Dauntless x 17
TBF Avenger x 14

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 7 damaged
TBF Avenger x 1 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 16 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Junyo, on fire
CA Tone
CV Akagi, on fire

Avengers make a hash of this run
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,44

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
A6M3 Zero x 2

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
SBD Dauntless x 32
TBF Avenger x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 3 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 3 damaged
TBF Avenger x 1 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 13 damaged

ENS R.Imamura of F2/1st Daitai is credited with kill number 4

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Akagi, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Tone

Far better strikes from the Avengers and it looks like the Soryo, Hiryo and Junyo are in trouble. Hopefully I can catch them next turn.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 50,42


Allied aircraft
B-25D Mitchell x 9


Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 1 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 8 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Naka
DD Yamagumo, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 1000 feet
4 x B-25D Mitchell at 1000 feet
1 x B-25D Mitchell at 1000 feet

at 1000 feet these guys get two hits - they pay for it though. 1 of the planes is lost.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 50,51

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
D3A Val x 14

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 104

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 15 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 damaged

LT R. Hoyle of VF-6 is credited with kill number 7

They were never getting through.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 50,51

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
B5N Kate x 16

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 102

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 11 destroyed
B5N Kate x 17 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 damaged

LTJG S.Walton of VF-6 is credited with kill number 3

LCDR C. Shands of VF-71 is KILLED

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise

About 30 of the defending F4Fs are at 7000 feet - they are probably amongst the destroyed planes but they also fill their boots with the incoming Kates.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 50,51

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
B5N Kate x 18

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 97

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 3 destroyed
B5N Kate x 15 destroyed
B5N Kate x 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 destroyed

LTJG F. Register of VF-6 is credited with kill number 2

Allied Ships
CV Hornet
CV Enterprise
CV Saratoga

This attack was a bit more worrying but again, with ballet dancer like prowess, the CVs dodge the incoming torps.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Wunpuko at 51,51

Japanese aircraft
E13A1 Jake x 20

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 49

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake x 15 destroyed
E13A1 Jake x 7 damaged


1LT E.Scott of VMF-212 is credited with kill number 2

Allied Ships
CA Salt Lake City
CA Northampton
BB North Carolina
DD McCall

Not wanting to take on 100 fighters over the CVs these float planes instead try against the surface TF - there was still 50 fighters in defense, the float planes get slaughtered - they would have had trouble hurting anything other than the McCall anyway.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,43


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 3


Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Otori Maru

Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,43


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
SBD Dauntless x 85
TBF Avenger x 11


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 14 damaged
TBF Avenger x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Suzukaze
DD Arashi
BB Nagato, Bomb hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
CA Ashigara, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
CL Kinu, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Kumano, Bomb hits 1
DD Hibiki

The afternoon strikes have to find a new target (weather has socked in the CVs). The Nagato is reported with Heavy damage - we will see. The Kinu is the only ship reported sunk for the day.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,43


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
SBD Dauntless x 11
TBF Avenger x 10


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
TBF Avenger x 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Kinu, on fire, heavy damage
CA Kumano

More for Nagato
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,43


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
SBD Dauntless x 28
TBF Avenger x 9


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged
TBF Avenger x 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Kinu, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
BB Nagato, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

And still more - I think she should be slowed down enough for me to catch this next turn.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 48,43


Allied aircraft
Beaufort x 7
A-20B Havoc x 9


no losses

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Kinu, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hibiki

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x A-20B Havoc at 1000 feet
4 x A-20B Havoc at 1000 feet
4 x Beaufort at 6000 feet
3 x Beaufort at 6000 feet
1 x A-20B Havoc at 1000 feet

The Havocs at 1000 ft are devastating - their bombs however are not that effective against the tough hide of the Nagato. These Havocs are my boys - it is funny how you start backing individual ships or squadrons, they are on average exp of 78! They've battled at PM, out of Cooktown and now Luganville.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Wunpuko at 51,51

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
A6M3 Zero x 12
D3A Val x 17

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 37

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 damaged

WO U.Muranaka of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4

Now this is a funny one - these guys attack from Efate!! Did herbie-san move them here before the attack or did they fly there after the attacks on my carriers? I suspect the second. In either case the North Carolina group is going to bombard them this turn. My marine wildcats take a bit of a beating.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lea Lea

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6844 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 5711 troops, 17 guns, 4 vehicles


All in all I lost about 50 ACs - he lost about the same (therefore no CV has sunk yet) my air TF has 370 ACs still on board. Alot of the planes are damaged but I just cannot pass this opportunity by.
I split the CVs into a group of 3 and a group of 2 to try and get differing targets in the strike tomorrow.

[wobbly]

My split CV fleets manage to find about a dozen targets to attack and promptly only attack one - again and again and again (the first 2 attacks kill both ships in the TF). Very disappointing as this was the reason I split my forces - I wanted to have more than one target.
The larger TF moved into range of his LBA and they launch 2 major strikes, unfortunately for Herbie their escorts decide to visit Luganville...?? Either way I do suffer my 2nd CV hit of the game - but the damage I caused is worth it!
In Oz a 7 ship convoy of supplies arrives in cooktown to feed the MRBs there. I have substantial CAP up over them (and I know I just devastated a sizable quantity of his LBA) so they should be safe from the skies. However I have not seen his surface force in Lea Lea this turn so I will set my MRBs to a higher percentage of search to try and offset a nasty surprise.
I have 4 base units in Brisbane now and nowhere to really put them - I can imagine another one going into Cooktown for a future invasion of PM - but they will suffer malaria so that can wait.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/16/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on Gili Gili , at 17,42


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3


no losses

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

I think I will halt this - no effect.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Efate Port Vila, at 55,57

Allied Ships
DD Blue, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Wilson, Shell hits 1
DD Drayton, Shell hits 3

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 9

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 14
Port hits 9
Port supply hits 3

Doh - forgot about adding DDs to the bombardment force - I knew there was a CD at Efate!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,43


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 13
TBF Avenger x 8


no losses

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Even this little strike would have sufficed!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,43


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
SBD Dauntless x 9
TBF Avenger x 8


no losses

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu, on fire, heavy damage
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

But just to make sure
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,43


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
SBD Dauntless x 29


no losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,43


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
SBD Dauntless x 21
TBF Avenger x 12


no losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,43


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
SBD Dauntless x 36


no losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,43


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
SBD Dauntless x 13
TBF Avenger x 12


no losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,43


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
SBD Dauntless x 15


no losses

Bah - how rubbish is that - the sea was crawling with other targets - including another wounded carrier.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 45,46

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 15

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 72

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 14 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged

LT R. Hoyle of VF-6 is credited with kill number 8

Attacking Level Bombers:
0 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

Suicide
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 45,46

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 27
G4M1 Betty x 36

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 72

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 19 destroyed
G3M Nell x 7 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 32 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6 damaged

ENS J. Schell of VF-3 is credited with kill number 4

Allied Ships
CV Saratoga
CV Enterprise
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 1 (Sys 25 float 5 fire 4) Always gets me how torps can do more sys than float damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
1 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
0 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
2 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

Can't fault their tenacity - it isn't without reward this time though.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Efate Port Vila , at 55,57


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 14
Hudson x 12
Beaufort x 14
P-39D Airacobra x 24
B-26B Marauder x 11
A-20B Havoc x 16


no losses

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 19

Attacking Level Bombers:
6 x A-20B Havoc at 6000 feet
8 x Beaufort at 6000 feet
3 x Beaufort at 6000 feet
3 x A-20B Havoc at 6000 feet
7 x A-20B Havoc at 6000 feet
3 x Beaufort at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet
8 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
6 x Hudson at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet

He still has an "AC are present" icon at Efate.
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Air attack on TF at 47,43


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
SBD Dauntless x 31
TBF Avenger x 7


no losses

So, the afternoon rolls around and what do the CV planes do? They all go to the same bit of empty ocean rather than strike something else.
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Air attack on TF at 47,43


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 15


no losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,43


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5
SBD Dauntless x 11
TBF Avenger x 10


no losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,43


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 26
SBD Dauntless x 48
TBF Avenger x 20


no losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,43


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 29


no losses

That is just crap!
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Ground combat at Lea Lea

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6844 troops, 84 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 5747 troops, 17 guns, 4 vehicles



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He is a spent force air attack wise so my CVs are king of the field (76 zeros were reported lost last turn, none were lost attacking Luganville so they must have been on the carriers) while they are I am going to ram home the advantage as far as I can:
Despite her injuries Yorktown can still conduct flight ops - she is reduced in speed to about 26 knots but that should not impact to heavily.
To get away from the same problems we had in the last turn I am going to separate the 2 TFs so they both can't hit the same targets. The larger TF (Yorktown, Saratoga and Enterprise) will target ships around Lunga. The TF built around Wasp and Hornet - Bee force will travel north but stay west of the Solomons - they are still looking for cripples.
With his carriers sunk or damaged and his LRBs hurt I can advance "Operation Stepping Stone" and use APs rather than FTing the troops in.

[Mike Wood]

Hello...

Just wanted you to know how much I am enjoying your AAR. I catch up ever day, before I continue programming on WIP.

Thanks Again...

Michael Wood