Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy


I am not positive, but the TF#s seem to play into the success with a daisy-chained follow - the game engine conducts movement of TFs in sequence by TF#, and any intervening TF#s not part of the exact chain sequence cause the game to lose track of the follow order. Multiple TFs following one lead TF are handled OK because they are individual, one-link chains instead of multi-links in the same chain.

+1

[Bif1961]

I live in south-eastern AL, about 125 miles from where Michael made landfall. I got wind and rain but never lost power as I was on the NW edge of the hurricane as it headed NE. I got off lucky not like those near Panama City, FL and points NE.

[apbarog]

28 Jun 42

After the activity at Tarawa and Portland Roads, nothing today. All of the followup troops have unloaded at Tarawa. The base is very slightly overstacked. I have cargo ships still unloading supply. I will be extracting the tank unit when a few ships are empty.

Allied carriers head south towards Noumea. Allied APs head to Suva. No sign of enemy carriers near Port Moresby. The only detection levels are north of Koumac, but I noticed when his carriers were near Port Moresby that they weren't lighting up my subs. He may be avoiding that by not using his carrier search planes. I do this often.

Imphal is bombed. I'm not defending it in the air. Enemy CVLs have moved out west of Akyab again.

SigInt says that the 21st Infantry Division is planning for Lingayen. This is new. OPilot must figure by now that supply is exhausted on Luzon. Only a matter of time till the cleanup invasion occurs.

[apbarog]

29 Jun 42

Usual bombings in China. Dutch sub KXIII missed a patrol boat near Port Moresby. Lots of shipping at Horn Island now, and carriers may be there. I believe that troops are being loaded there. If he's coming for Australia in bigger numbers, from there I think he'd go to Normanton and try to flank the Aussies in the north. I don't think he's coming in force though.

Most shipping is withdrawing south from Tarawa. I'm looking at invading Nauru rather soon, and using my carriers before doing upgrades. If I go to Nauru, I'm going to Kusaie Island too, as it appears to be undefended. This is a rather big jump north, and will only be done if I'm sure that KB isn't in the area. I'll have to think more about this. It is still pretty earlier for that deep of a move. Troops are mostly ready for it now though. It might send OPilot scrambling and may alter whatever plans he has. Getting the initiative would be a good thing.

[apbarog]

30 Jun 42

I guessed right at Ndeni. I'd seen a cruiser group at Tulagi, and OPilot had seen a bunch of my cargo ships at Ndeni. I figured he'd come in and he did. I moved out all of my cargo ships and sent my fighters to Luganville. First the cruisers engaged 6 PT boats. Visibility was too good for the Allies, with clear weather and 96% moonlight, allowing the ships to spot each other at 9,000 yards. In the first fight, the distance closed to 7,000 but no closer, and no hits were achieved for either side. Then the bombardment occurred.

Night Naval bombardment of Ndeni at 120,143 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa
CA Ashigara
CL Kuma
DD Samidare
DD Yudachi
DD Harusame
DD Murasame

Allied ground losses:
94 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 7
Port supply hits 1

This was a weak bombardment. Combined with not getting my cargo ships or any planes on the ground, I count this as a win. However, during the daylight, the cruisers spotted the PT boats again. The fight started at 24,000 yards and closed to 10,000 yards, so once again the PT boats didn't get a shot off. 2 were sunk.

I sent sweepers and lots of bombers to Cox's Bazar southwest of Chittagong. The base had no ranged CAP. It's a size 1 port and no airfield yet. I want to occasionally hit it and keep the base building down, and destroy some supply on the trail to front. Damage was moderate to the port.

At the same time, Sallys with Oscar escorts bombed Chittagong. Minor damage that was all repaired the same day.

Bettys with A6M2 Zeros hit Cooktown again. Airfield still out of action, but I moved 3 fighter squadrons to nearby Cairns and they will LRCAP Cooktown today.

OPilot told me the other day that he was reading a book on the Flying Tigers, and that they'd be withdrawing soon. He's very well aware that a lot of the P-40s on the Burma/India border (and occasionally in China) are going away. I withdrew 2 of the 3 squadrons today. The last has a few damaged planes in China that need repair and to be flown back to Burma.

[apbarog]

1 Jul 42

Still enemy ships at Horn Island. Still can't tell what their intentions are. Little change in the number of men on the island. Enemy carriers have disappeared. They may have passed Horn Island and gone up toward Darwin. Don't know.

Some of the usual enemy bombing. Imphal is hit. That's been happening from time to time. I was ready at Cooktown when the Bettys and Zeros showed up again. Results weren't great this time.

Afternoon Air attack on Cooktown , at 92,137

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
G4M1 Betty x 27

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 10
P-40E Warhawk x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

The Zeros did well fending off the LRCAP. Total air losses were 11 P-40s and 1 P-39 for the downing of 7 Zeros and 5 Bettys. With the Flying Tigers withdrawing, the pool of P-40Es is now over 100, so no shortage there as there was earlier.

Enemy ground troops start moving back into Bandoeng, again. Looks like another deliberate attack coming. The Dutch are getting slowly ground down, but as I've said before, at such a cost to the enemy. They've been at it for about 6 months. Supply is still over 10,000. Speaking of which, Changsha has gone under 10,000 supply for the first time. Not good. Transports are flying the Hump but it isn't enough.

Allied carriers approach Noumea. One British carrier will continue to Sydney to withdraw, and will be replaced by Wasp which is on the way from Vava'u. We could pull the trigger on an invasion of Nauru and/or Kusaie Islands, but I want to know where the enemy carriers are.

[apbarog]

2 Jul 42

British sub Truant, with working torpedoes, fired 4 at light cruiser Kuma southeast of Rabaul. All missed. Truant was RTB to Townsville from a patrol south of Truk.

I recently unloaded troops at Umnak Island in the Aleutians, and started building the airfield. It became a size 1 airfield yesterday or the day before, and OPilot noticed. There's already a sub there. It spots a patrol craft escort but didn't see the 2 small cargo ships unloading supply. I order them to nearby Dutch Harbor, where small fragments of the units at Umnak are. I'll bring them in bits, using small transport task forces for the size 1 port. I would have preferred getting all the troops here (and to Adak) before any airfield building occurred, alerting OPilot to my newfound interest in the Aleutians, but I need the airfield to protect Dutch Harbor.

Sian gets swept by 21 Tojos. This is the first appearance of a sizable group of Tojos. 24 Oscars then sweep, followed by 35 more. That's a lot of attention. There's no CAP, and no fighters of any kind currently in China.

The surprise today was at Colombo, Ceylon. The CVL task force that disappeared west of Akyab reappeared southeast of Ceylon. Bombers hit both the airfield and the port.

Afternoon Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 62 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 42
B5N2 Kate x 66
D3A1 Val x 15

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 16
P-40E Warhawk x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 13 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 4 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Resolution, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Royal Sovereign, Bomb hits 1, on fire

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

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8
Port hits 1

CAP was lighter than it probably should have been. I'd become a bit complacent about Ceylon. Nothing had happened here, and there had been plenty of time for a strike with enemy carriers roaming between Ceylon and Burma for months. The CAP did a decent job considering the size of the fighter escort, and flak did well against the Kates.

[edit: The 2 hits on the battleships were 800kg AP bombs from Kates]

Total air losses were 23 A6M2 Zeros, 12 Kates (9 to flak), and 1 Val, for the loss of 10 P-40Es and 2 Hurricane IIb's. The Warhawk pilots were only adequately trained, nothing like the now withdrawn Flying Tigers. (Makes me wonder if a Ceylon invasion was intentionally planned for exactly when the the Flying Tigers have to withdraw...)

The battleships were just starting to come out of repairs, as I was going to send them to Bombay in a few days. New damage to them wasn't too worrisome but did tell OPilot that they are there. Resolution is SYS 27 (+3)/FLOT 17-17 (+1)/ENG 4/FIRE 0 and Royal Sovereign is SYS 27 (+26)/FLOT 38-33 (+5)/ENG 0/FIRE 0.

I am wondering about the situation because bombers hit the port and the airfield. If this was intended to be a single strike on the port, then I wouldn't think OPilot would have hit the airfield. I'm not seeing an invasion coming, but I didn't see the carriers coming either. They are in position to protect a landing on the southern coast. We'll see. I've moved fighters and bombers to Ceylon and staged others on the mainland as they couldn't get that far in one day. Ceylon has a decent army. It all depends on how many divisions show up, if they do.

In the South Pacific, detailed planning for possible invasions of Nauru and Kusaie Islands took place. Shipping started to move to embarkation ports. The furthest any has to travel is from Sydney to Vava'u Island, which is a 9 day trip. That's the earliest that invasion loading would begin.

[jwolf]

I'm surprised the 800 kg bombs did only light damage to your BBs.

Makes me wonder if a Ceylon invasion was intentionally planned for exactly when the the Flying Tigers have to withdraw...

It does make one wonder ...

[apbarog]

Jwolf, one AP bomb did increase SYS damage on a battleship from 1 to 27, so it did some damage. Just not enough to worry me too much.

3 Jul 42

Dutch sub KX fired 4 torpedoes at APD Fuji near Milne Bay but missed. Fuji is part of the huge transport force seen at Port Moresby and maybe at the Portland Roads landing. The big task force is now northbound, passing through Milne Bay.

A week ago, Makin Island was empty. Now the 51st Naval Guard Unit is there. I've been doing regular recon on it. My interest probably provoked OPilot to garrison the base. I'm not going there any time soon.

Over 20 B-17s bombed Milne Bay's new airfield, doing moderate damage. No CAP, but that will probably be the last day that is true.

I recently guessed that a cruiser bombardment was coming to Ndeni and pulled out the fighters there. I was right. I forgot to move some back to the island as I moved a small task force with unit fragments on it.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ndeni at 120,143

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 116 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 40 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 37
G4M1 Betty x 16

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAKL Kailua, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAKL Island Mail
PC Daphne, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 12 (4 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Fighters are now there.

Enemy CVLs that hit Colombo yesterday are not seen today, but I have strong detection levels on a sub to the southeast of where they were yesterday. Far enough southeast that it looks like the ships are retiring, at least for today. No sign of an invasion. Ceylon air strength has been increased, but I didn't send everything that I rushed to Madras on the way to Ceylon. Maybe it was just a raid.

OPilot made a move in China, moving a big stack out of a contested hex. Looks like a move to penetrate an opening in the Chinese line.

CLAA Van Heemskerck was scuttled today, between Cocanada and Madra. I thought it would make it to the bigger base for repairs, but it flooded quickly. Should have left it where it was. SYS damage was 70 and FLOT was 45. FLOT increased to 97 today and the crew reported that the decks were awash and they were preparing to abandon ship. They did so.

[apbarog]

4 Jul 42

Enemy cruiser force went back to Ndeni and found some shipping this time.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Ndeni at 120,143, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CA Kinugasa
CL Kuma
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
YO-53, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

and

Night Time Surface Combat, near Ndeni at 120,143, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CA Kinugasa
CL Kuma
DD Murasame
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Samidare

Allied Ships
xAKL Island Mail, Shell hits 21, and is sunk

YO-53 had just moved from north of Ndeni where it did an emergency refueling of PT boats that reacted away from Ndeni in the last enemy bombardment and ran out of fuel there. The xAKL was in the task force that lost a PC and another xAKL last time. It managed to completely unload its ground unit fragment before sinking.

I see that the enemy retired to Lunga this time. It can bombard Ndeni at any time, when it has full movement. It may need to refuel and rearm today, then it would be back the next day. I formed up a strong cruiser TF at Noumea, consisting of 3 heavy cruisers, 5 light cruisers, and 6 destroyers. It will move at full speed to a point one hex west of Luganville, where ranged CAP can protect it some if it is spotted. If not spotted, it will run into Luganville the following night and try to catch the regular visitors.

After these engagements, the enemy bombarded Ndeni, and did a better job than last time.

Night Naval bombardment of Ndeni at 120,143 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 5 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40E Warhawk: 12 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa
CA Ashigara
CL Kuma
DD Samidare
DD Yudachi
DD Harusame
DD Murasame

Allied ground losses:
247 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 6
Port hits 10
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

One P-39 was destroyed on the ground.

Cooktown was swept by 40 A6M3s from Horn Island and then bombed by the usual suspects from Port Moresby. The US 3rd Marine Division was just formed in San Diego. It begins prepping for Horn Island.

Looks like the Allied held portion of Luzon will be attacked soon. Enemy troops south of Manila show movement into the city. I also expect a landing on the west coast, as the coast is undefended and I've seen units still prepping for it. Most Allied units on Luzon are out of supply.

Heavy enemy bombing in China. All I can say is that such a big air effort there is burning supply.

Enemy air strike on Tarawa from Roi Namur (I think).

Afternoon Air attack on Tarawa , at 136,128

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 112 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 39 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
G4M1 Betty x 9

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Runway hits 1

Good protection by the Warhawks. It was obvious that the Zero pilots were not of the quality that the ones at Port Moresby and Horn Island are. Total air losses are 12 A6M2s and 2 Bettys, for the loss of 1 P-40E.

The 2 damaged British battleships will leave Colombo today and race 8 hexes to the north and along the Indian coast (hopefully).

[apbarog]

5 Jul 42

The first enemy unit entered Manila. The defenders are there, in strength, but mostly out of supply.

Lots of enemy bombing in China, as usual.
33 Sonias and 30 Nates at Changteh
21 Lilys and 27 Oscars near Yenan
27 Sallys and 12 Oscars at Kukong
21 Helens and 24 Tojos near Yenan
36 Sonias at Kukong
9 Sonias at Nanning
12 Sonias at Kweilin
9 Sonias and 12 Nates at Sian

Damaged Brit battleship will leave Madras for Trincomalee today. 2 others safely left Colombo and are heading up the west coast of India to Bombay. They weren't spotted.

[apbarog]

6 Jul 42

Just outside of Port Moresby, S-38 spotted 2 patrol boats and fired 2 torpedoes at PB Sonan Maru #6. One hit and sank the patrol boat.

With the enemy CVLs apparently gone from the Ceylon area, the subchasers go back to work. Still lots of subs here, west and south of the coast of Ceylon. None taken out today.

Today Cooktown got 40 A6M3s sweeping from Horn Island and 24 A6M2s sweeping from Port Moresby. No CAP.

Chittagong was hit by 50 Sallys and 42 Oscars escorting. Substantial damage to the airfield but there are many engineers here, so it won't matter much. No CAP.

China. Bombing. Yea.

My strong cruiser force will move to Ndeni tonight and stay. 2 fighter squadrons will protect. Hopefully the smaller enemy cruiser task force will come back. It wasn't seen today at Shortlands, but wasn't spotted at Lunga or Tulagi either.

Carrier Hermes made a sprint from Belep Island to Noumea today, and did so successfully and not seen. It will spend some time repairing SYS damage before moving on to a shipyard. One Brit battleship is now repairing at Bombay. 2 more on approaching Bombay on the coast. The 4th is between Madras and Trincomalee now. One damaged cruiser is at Trincomalee.

At Manila, just one enemy unit has entered. Multiple units are still south and not moving yet.

Lots of shipping still heading to multiple embarkation points for the upcoming invasions of Nauru Island and Kusaie Island. No sign of KB for quite awhile. Heavy activity reported at Truk though. But it could be anywhere now. With the SigInt of the interest in the Aleutians, I'd expect some carriers to go that direction when OPilot wants to make a move. He sees my activity at Umnak Island now. That may cause him to move. I have a big task force forming at Prince Rupert, loading with multiple ground units for Adak, which is still empty. It will be a dangerous journey, done without combat escort, and no friendly bombers in the Aleutians. Umnak airfield is just a size 1. I am sending 4 destroyers from Pearl Harbor to Dutch Harbor now. I don't want a big fight, just a proper garrisoning and building of Umnak Island (complete) and Adak Island (in progress).

[apbarog]

7 Jul 42

My big cruiser task force steamed towards Ndeni, but was spotted by I-173 just to the southwest. 4 torpedoes missed destroyer Preston. The force continued on but the enemy did not show up today. We'll retire back to Noumea, now that surprise is lost. The ships will be part of the Nauru operation.

Hudsons bombed Makin Island and the 51st Naval Guard unit there, just to show interest in a place that I'm not interested in.

Enemy movements northeast of Sian show that they will try to gain an advantage at a different point on the front. Generally, the Chinese can hold, but supply is the wildcard, and it's slowly draining in all of China.

Ships still continue to points of embarkation for the Nauru operation. No sign of KB.

[CaptBeefheart]

Great AAR. Keep up the good work. I finally caught up after a three-page hiatus.

If I could offer some advice, it would be to not move ships with SYS damage of more than 30 or so, unless there is a very compelling reason to move, like imminent air attack and not enough CAP. SYS represents the ship's ability to remain seaworthy, and moving a ship with 70 damage is asking for trouble.

Your Bandung troops should all receive medals. What they've done is amazing.

I'm mystified by the lack of garrisons at Kusaie and Ponape. Maybe they are bait? Could the KB be waiting at Truk? EDIT: With their high stacking, they represent great staging bases.

Cheers,
CB

[apbarog]

Thanks CaptBeefheart. You are right, I should have had more patience and left the damaged Dutch CLAA at Cocanada longer. Cocanada is just a size 1 port, and with Madras nearby and much larger, I thought it would be ok to move it a short distance. At least I've saved the other cruiser, and the 4 battleships. And Hermes, which was quite a save, is now at Noumea. I greatly enjoy the saving of damaged ships. Reminds me of how I enjoyed the old game Great Naval Battles for the damage control in the game.

I'm not 100% sure that Kusaie is empty, but I'll know before I show up. Ponape has been base building all along, so I'm sure that it is not empty. KB could very well be at Truk. In fact, it is likely that it is there. But it's an unknown right now.

[apbarog]

8 Jul 42

Southwest of Truk, sub Sculpin spotted a big AO with a patrol boat escorting. 4 torpedoes are fired at AO Shiretoko and one hit, but it was a dud.

Just outside of Port Moresby, S-38 spotted a big transport with destroyer Susuki escorting. 4 torpedoes were fired at xAP Montevideo Maru. 2 hit, causing a massive explosion. No troops were noted. The ship is on fire and has heavy damage, but was not reported sinking, and no sinking audio was heard. Being just one hex from Port Moresby, the ship may or may not sink.

First enemy attack at Manila, a probing artillery attack.

Ground combat at Manila (79,77)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12810 troops, 127 guns, 60 vehicles, Assault Value = 406

Defending force 25587 troops, 201 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 834

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

Assaulting units:
38th Division
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
1st PA Infantry Division
27th Avn Sup
71st PA Infantry Division
91st PA Infantry Division
41st PA Infantry Division
I/43rd PS Inf Battalion
51st PA Infantry Division
2nd Constabulary Regiment
1st USMC AA Battalion
4th PAAC Avn Sup
Nichols Field AAF Base Force
II Corps
Cavite USN Base Force

The defenders have plenty of strength to hold, but only about half of the units have supply. Since the start of the war, the Luzon defenders have been resting and training, so those numbers are good. Now they are starving. Manila generates a little bit of supply, so these troops get to eat occasionally. The rest of the Luzon defenders, including Bataan, have zero supply.

High detection level near Shortlands. Could be from land based search, could be KB. Tomorrow is the big day when loading begins at Vava'u for the Nauru invasion. Other units at Suva, Noumea, and Koumac will start loading soon after.

[apbarog]

9 Jul 42

Southwest of Tabiteuea, S-45 was spotted by I-19, which fired 2 torpedoes. One hit S-45, sinking the sub. This is only the 3rd Allied sub lost in the war. S-36 was sunk by bombers while repairing in Manila. Dutch sub KVII was sunk by an enemy sub. No Allied subs lost to ship ASW so far. I count 12 enemy subs destroyed. This is an approximation; some were probably not. 4 midget subs were lost at Pearl Harbor. They didn't get the memo that the attack was called off there.

3/3 detection level near Rossel Island, southeast of Milne Bay. Could be carriers.

Troops begin loading today at Koumac, Noumea and Vava'u for the Nauru and Kusaie invasions. Loading will begin tomorrow at Suva.

The US 3rd Marine Division will begin to load on fast transports at San Francisco and head to Sydney. This division is starting to plan for Horn Island.

[apbarog]

10 Jul 42

Destroyer Decoy found I-166 west of Colombo. The sub got the first shot and missed with 2 torpedoes. Decoy couldn't hit the sub.

Imphal was bombed.

Bombing in China, mostly in the north in the rough terrain. Little can be done for the Chinese there. They need to hold the line without fighter protection.

Loading continues at Koumac, Noumea and Suva. Ships are leaving Vava'u. All will rendezvous well north of Suva for the run into Nauru. A big carrier battle is likely. I don't know where KB is, but I don't have a reason to think it left the Truk/Rabaul area. Nauru, and particularly Kusaie, are very close to both of those spots. No more than a 2 day trip. There's going to be a fight. I'm not 100% sure this is a fight I want, just yet.

[apbarog]

11 Jul 42

ASW attack near Gasmata at 103,129

Japanese Ships
APD Fuji, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CM Tsugaru
APD Tade
APD Nadakaze

Allied Ships
SS S-47

SS S-47 launches 4 torpedoes at APD Fuji

I know the exact route that OPilot is using to go from Rabaul to Port Moresby with these smaller task forces. S-47 was waiting. I knew that he was hugging the New Guinea coast, but I wasn't sure of the route from Rabaul to the New Guinea coast. Now I know. APD Fuji sank just after the combat. No troops on it though. Actually 2 torpedoes hit but one was a dud.

Lingayen on Luzon was invaded. No defenders. All Luzon defenders stay in place and will do the best they can with what they have. And that isn't supply.

West of Truk, sub Pollack fired 4 torpedoes at destroyer Oboro but missed. 2 AOs are spotted in the task force.

Lots of invasion shipping moving out and heading for a rendezvous in a few days.

[BBfanboy]

The composition of that APD/CM TF suggests a Fast Transport mission. It seems a misuse of such ships to simply haul supply to PM, so I am thinking maybe he plans to lift a unit off PM to go elsewhere. Might be worth looking at islands within about 20 hexes of PM to try and guess a target.