8 Jul 43
Sub War
Ted apparently found my FOB at Ambon. The Peto moved into that base and took a shot at a TK dropping off fuel, but luckily missed. She got away from the escorting PB.
The Rasher sank an xAKL off Truk. That damn sub has been reported sunk half a dozen times. [8|] As my mother-in-law would say, they (the intel weenies) are a piece of work. [:D]
Finally, the I-31 sank an xAK off Cold Bay, which was part of an empty convoy heading back to the US west coast after dropping off supply at Dutch Harbor. That’s the third cargo ship of that convoy hit. Two were sunk enroute to Dutch Harbor a few days ago.
5 Fleet
4 Fleet
Nothing to report.
SE Fleet
Rabaul’s port was the main target today. Over 200 bombing sorties didn’t do much at all really.
Current damage:
Rabaul: 44-79-90, port damage up only 4(!) and runway down 6.
Kavieng: 78-88-7, runway down 9.
Manus: 92-100-54, port up 1 and runway down 11.
Pretty soon it’ll be time to station some fighters at Kavieng to work over the bombers when they come back. I won’t do it until the service damage is <50.
I thought I was doing pretty well against his bombers. Obviously, that’s a pipe dream. I can’t cut down his numbers no matter how many fighters I have opposing them. That’s truly amazing. I cheer when I get a new air unit. They’re pretty few and far between for the most part. I have no model getting more than 4 replacement airframes a day. Sheesh.
SRA
Yesterday, I noticed that one of the carrier TFs (not sure whether CV or CVE) stopped off in Pt. Moresby. I figured it was to replenish but thought it might be headed toward Merauke. Turns out I was right. That carrier group is passing Horn Island. I have a sub there keeping an eye on it as well as naval search from Hollandia and some Betties stationed in the SRA.
I have 36 Betties in the area but only a dozen Tojos. I moved a 31 plane G3M3 Nell daitai there from Little Andaman Island. All the Betties and Nells are on night naval attack. Let’s see if some of them fly. In addition, I have that elite Tojo sentai moving toward the area. I’d love for them to tangle with some Hellcats and put those carrier fighters in their place.
It actually turned out to be a nice move on my part. First, and most important, it got Ted reacting to me for a change. I assume the carrier TF is the CV TF. (I’m hoping that is the case). It pulls a major asset away from his current focus, Rabaul. Sure he has 200+ bombers still there, but they can’t take ground. Without carrier support, I can chew up invasion forces pretty easily. Well, at least until they land. It gives me carrier superiority in the SE Fleet AO. It also gives me a reason to go on the offensive. Here’s what I did this turn:
KB1 (Akagi, Kaga, Ryujo and Hosho) is steaming west from Truk to support MKB (Ryuho, Unyo, Taiyo, Chuyo) should the US carriers get ambitious. Between them, they have 123 fighters, 99 Judies/Vals and 90 Kates. In addition to that there are 12 land based fighters and 67 Nells/Betties with another 42 elite Tojos enroute. I’m hoping to set up a trap to whittle down the carrier planes (and maybe a carrier or two). I’ll settle for damage to force the carriers to withdraw. I’m moving subs in position to pick off the odd damaged ship or two. It is a potential danger for those subs since it's all shallow hexes, but isn't that what they get paid for? [:D]
KB2 (Shokaku, Zuikaku and Soryu), composed of 98 Zeros (including 26 A6M5c), 54 Judies and 54 Kates is heading SE from Truk to see if they can surprise some Allied shipping around the Solomons. The second US carrier TF was last spotted at Milne Bay (yesterday). I think it is the CVE TF. If they spot my carriers, they’ll run. If I can’t find any suitable targets, I may have some of the fighters fly LRCAP over Rabaul for a couple of days to whittle down the bombers a bit. At any rate, it’s all about delaying the Allied monster. Death of a thousand cuts would be nice too.
Once Rabaul’s airfield is back in business, I can fly in a bunch of rested fighters to work on the bombers once again.
Burma
Five more Allied fighters are shot down. Another elite pilot to add to TRACOM. I keep 6 elite pilots with this sentai and ship the rest to TRACOM to work over the flying monkeys and try to accelerate a few.
China
Nothing to report.
Other Stuff
I noticed something very interesting today. Every day, I check my aircraft R&D. I look for repairing factories as well as % gain for plane types. I accidentally moused over the five Sam factories and noticed it is at 7%! I have no clue how that happened because the factories are currently at 3(27), 3(27), 2(28), 1(29) and 1(29). Anyone have an idea how that happened? I didn’t think R&D could advance if there wasn’t a fully repaired factory. Apparently it can!
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