7 Aug 42
Small enemy cruiser force returned to Ndeni and bombarded, but it was a very poor effort this time. I'd seen them south of Guadalcanal and moved out the 2 fighter squadrons.
Night Naval bombardment of Ndeni at 120,143 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
5 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
CL Kuma
DD Asagumo
DD Minegumo
DD Yamagumo
DD Natsugumo
Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4
Port hits 4
Sian got the same heavy fighter sweeps and bombing as yesterday. Short of moving 100 plus fighters there, there isn't much that can be done. Supply continues to dwindle in China. C-47s are flying the Hump. Ledo can support 7 air units and I need some of them to be fighters. OPilot hasn't gone after Ledo yet but someday he will. I'm building up Tezpur in India. It's behind the lines but close enough for B-17s to fly to China.
Kukong got a big enemy strike but was light on fighters. I moved Hurricanes and P-40s to Kukong for today. They'd been sitting at Chungking and been seen there every day. OPilot sweeps heavily and escorts almost all strikes.
Final ship assignments for the Guadalcanal invasions have been made. Some shipping heading from New Caledonia to Brisbane. I had turned on upgrades for all of the US infantry divisions and regiments. I had split the divisions. Since just one unit in the Pacific upgrades per day, I turned off all of the units except the 2 US Army divisions preparing for Lunga and Tulagi.
Lexington and Saratoga arrived at Pearl Harbor. Lexington has 11 SYS damage and will take 13 days at the pier. Saratoga is SYS 16/FLOT 6/ENG 2/FIRE 0 and will take 34 days in the shipyard. Then both carriers will have 45 day refits. I flew off the planes and pulled out all of their pilots. I'll use the squadrons as training while the carriers repair and refit.
Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
ORIGINAL: apbarog
7 Aug 42
Kukong got a big enemy strike but was light on fighters. I moved Hurricanes and P-40s to Kukong for today. They'd been sitting at Chungking and been seen there every day. OPilot sweeps heavily and escorts almost all strikes.
This is the kind of intel available to the player every turn that most do not gather. Taking the time to learn your opponent's habits pays off nicely. Kudos to you!
I turned off all of the units except the 2 US Army divisions preparing for Lunga and Tulagi.
What!? No marines?! History is not gonna like that! BTW, there is no harm in letting other units that do not use the same devices as the USA Divisions upgrade their devices. Tanks and AA come to mind.
Lexington and Saratoga arrived at Pearl Harbor. Lexington has 11 SYS damage and will take 13 days at the pier. Saratoga is SYS 16/FLOT 6/ENG 2/FIRE 0 and will take 34 days in the shipyard. Then both carriers will have 45 day refits. I flew off the planes and pulled out all of their pilots. I'll use the squadrons as training while the carriers repair and refit.
Chances are good that all of that damage to Saratoga will repair during the refit and not impose any extra time.
Can PH provide air support for all those carrier aircraft?
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
The US 2nd Marine Division is also going to Lunga. Only the US Army divisions and regiments get the squad upgrade that I mentioned.
US 41st Infantry Division is going to Lunga with the Marines. The Americal Division is going to Tulagi.
Yes, Pearl can support all those planes, and many more.
OPilot has an interest in the history of the Flying Tigers. He knows how they historically jumped around in China, ambushing Japanese bomber strikes. OPilot is very good at changing up his targets, and rarely goes after the same target two days in a row. It's difficult to catch him, and is mostly luck. I've tried to discern a pattern in his operations, but cannot. He could have made a table of targets and is rolling dice to pick them, I don't know. Seems so random. I catch him once in a while but most of the time, my fighters are just a visible threat unused. It may encourage the enemy to keep using overwhelming numbers, when, on most days, they aren't needed.
US 41st Infantry Division is going to Lunga with the Marines. The Americal Division is going to Tulagi.
Yes, Pearl can support all those planes, and many more.
OPilot has an interest in the history of the Flying Tigers. He knows how they historically jumped around in China, ambushing Japanese bomber strikes. OPilot is very good at changing up his targets, and rarely goes after the same target two days in a row. It's difficult to catch him, and is mostly luck. I've tried to discern a pattern in his operations, but cannot. He could have made a table of targets and is rolling dice to pick them, I don't know. Seems so random. I catch him once in a while but most of the time, my fighters are just a visible threat unused. It may encourage the enemy to keep using overwhelming numbers, when, on most days, they aren't needed.
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
9 Aug 42
It was a bombardment force spotted near Ponape yesterday, and included 2 battleships. Kusaie had just built a size 1 airfield and port. The bombardment was weak, causing 109 troop casualties but no infrastructure damage. Bettys arrived later and did minor damage. 2 fighter squadrons were moved into Kusaie today, ready to move out when I sense another bombardment incoming.
British sub spotted the task force leaving Kusaie, but didn't get a shot, and didn't get hit.
I-7 is spotted by a 4 destroyer ASW task force. 2 torpedoes missed DD Anderson and no hits were achieved on the sub.
Sub Searaven spotted xAP Hoten Maru and a destroyer several hexes west of the Burma coast, after the ship left Akyab. Two torpedoes were fired and one hit, but it was a dud. OPilot is using some indirect routing to and from Akyab. He's seen my subs within a couple hexes of the coast. So I adjust my sub patrols.
25 Sallys with 42 Oscars hit Chittagong and do minor damage in bad weather.
Many B-17s hit Portland Roads, doing moderate damage to the port and airfield in rainy weather. No enemy fighters. There are 5 enemy units there now, and enough men that there may be 2/3 of the 4th Infantry Division instead of 1/3 as before.
The last ship transport movements will occur today for the Guadalcanal campaign. I need 4 more days for the rest of the US Army divisions to upgrade. Then we load.
It was a bombardment force spotted near Ponape yesterday, and included 2 battleships. Kusaie had just built a size 1 airfield and port. The bombardment was weak, causing 109 troop casualties but no infrastructure damage. Bettys arrived later and did minor damage. 2 fighter squadrons were moved into Kusaie today, ready to move out when I sense another bombardment incoming.
British sub spotted the task force leaving Kusaie, but didn't get a shot, and didn't get hit.
I-7 is spotted by a 4 destroyer ASW task force. 2 torpedoes missed DD Anderson and no hits were achieved on the sub.
Sub Searaven spotted xAP Hoten Maru and a destroyer several hexes west of the Burma coast, after the ship left Akyab. Two torpedoes were fired and one hit, but it was a dud. OPilot is using some indirect routing to and from Akyab. He's seen my subs within a couple hexes of the coast. So I adjust my sub patrols.
25 Sallys with 42 Oscars hit Chittagong and do minor damage in bad weather.
Many B-17s hit Portland Roads, doing moderate damage to the port and airfield in rainy weather. No enemy fighters. There are 5 enemy units there now, and enough men that there may be 2/3 of the 4th Infantry Division instead of 1/3 as before.
The last ship transport movements will occur today for the Guadalcanal campaign. I need 4 more days for the rest of the US Army divisions to upgrade. Then we load.
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
10 Aug 42
Battleships return to Kusaie after bombarding yesterday also. OPilot guesses that the spotted xAKL task force near Kusaie would go to port seeing the battleships leave. He was right.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kusaie Island at 125,118, Range 1,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 1
CL Tama
CL Kiso
DD Oite
DD Hayate
DD Asanagi
DD Yunagi
Allied Ships
AM Launceton, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
xAKL Bangalow, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Georgian, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 37 (37 destroyed, 0 disabled)
The vehicles lost were engineering vehicles and motorized support for a CB unit already at Kusaie. I figured that OPilot wouldn't return having expended ammo, but he did. The lower ammo may have resulted in the poor bombardment that followed though. It damaged just one plane of the two fighter squadrons I just moved in. This was important in the air battle during the day.
Morning Air attack on Kusaie Island , at 125,118
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29
G4M1 Betty x 26
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 20
P-40E Warhawk x 22
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
Runway hits 7
8 Bettys and 6 A6M2 Zeros were downed for the loss of 3 P-39Ds. With low supply at Kusaie, the air units transfer back out to Nauru Island. 3 SSTs unloaded most of their supply before the bombardment, and will finish unloading today. They are shuttling from Nauru.
Yorktown is being repaired with ARD Dewey at Vava'u. It is repairing a FLOT point every 3 or 4 days. When the damaged gets to a lower level, I'll move it to a shipyard to finish repairs.
41st Infantry Division is now fully upgraded to 1942 squads. Now Americal should take 3 days to upgrades it's divided parts. Then everything is ready for the Guadalcanal campaign. Slow battleships are leaving Auckland today to participate.
Battleships return to Kusaie after bombarding yesterday also. OPilot guesses that the spotted xAKL task force near Kusaie would go to port seeing the battleships leave. He was right.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kusaie Island at 125,118, Range 1,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Hiei
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 1
CL Tama
CL Kiso
DD Oite
DD Hayate
DD Asanagi
DD Yunagi
Allied Ships
AM Launceton, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
xAKL Bangalow, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
xAKL Georgian, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 37 (37 destroyed, 0 disabled)
The vehicles lost were engineering vehicles and motorized support for a CB unit already at Kusaie. I figured that OPilot wouldn't return having expended ammo, but he did. The lower ammo may have resulted in the poor bombardment that followed though. It damaged just one plane of the two fighter squadrons I just moved in. This was important in the air battle during the day.
Morning Air attack on Kusaie Island , at 125,118
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29
G4M1 Betty x 26
Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 20
P-40E Warhawk x 22
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
Runway hits 7
8 Bettys and 6 A6M2 Zeros were downed for the loss of 3 P-39Ds. With low supply at Kusaie, the air units transfer back out to Nauru Island. 3 SSTs unloaded most of their supply before the bombardment, and will finish unloading today. They are shuttling from Nauru.
Yorktown is being repaired with ARD Dewey at Vava'u. It is repairing a FLOT point every 3 or 4 days. When the damaged gets to a lower level, I'll move it to a shipyard to finish repairs.
41st Infantry Division is now fully upgraded to 1942 squads. Now Americal should take 3 days to upgrades it's divided parts. Then everything is ready for the Guadalcanal campaign. Slow battleships are leaving Auckland today to participate.
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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
11 Aug 42
About a week ago, a US sub dropped some mines outside of Tokyo. Nothing found them until a minewsweeper did today. No luck.
I-3 fired 4 torpedoes at APD Stringham, which was escorting an xAK south of Tabiteuea. No hits.
Sian was bombed by 25 Helens and 25 Lilys escorted by 41 Tojos and 27 Oscars. 32 Oscars then swept. Too much to try to go against.
Many transports continue to fly supply from Ledo to China. 2 B-17 squadrons and a B-25 squadron have joined in. Ledo is at maximum capacity, so the bombers are at the newly built base at Tezpur, which is building quickly with several engineer units there. It's a maximum effort to supply China, but I don't think it's enough. Earlier in the war, I was resting the transports in bad weather, trying to keep the ops losses to a minimum. That worked. But now, everything is flying every day, till they can't fly any longer.
I'm glad that I snuck 25,000 supply from Luzon to China early in the war. Luzon is slowly being lost now, 8 months after the war. The extra supply at Luzon would have prolonged that somewhat longer, but not changed the outcome. China is more important to keep supplied. I don't know if China is going to collapse like a house of cards when supply runs out, if supply runs out, but I'm doing what I can to save China. Or at least prolong the fight as long as possible.
About a week ago, a US sub dropped some mines outside of Tokyo. Nothing found them until a minewsweeper did today. No luck.
I-3 fired 4 torpedoes at APD Stringham, which was escorting an xAK south of Tabiteuea. No hits.
Sian was bombed by 25 Helens and 25 Lilys escorted by 41 Tojos and 27 Oscars. 32 Oscars then swept. Too much to try to go against.
Many transports continue to fly supply from Ledo to China. 2 B-17 squadrons and a B-25 squadron have joined in. Ledo is at maximum capacity, so the bombers are at the newly built base at Tezpur, which is building quickly with several engineer units there. It's a maximum effort to supply China, but I don't think it's enough. Earlier in the war, I was resting the transports in bad weather, trying to keep the ops losses to a minimum. That worked. But now, everything is flying every day, till they can't fly any longer.
I'm glad that I snuck 25,000 supply from Luzon to China early in the war. Luzon is slowly being lost now, 8 months after the war. The extra supply at Luzon would have prolonged that somewhat longer, but not changed the outcome. China is more important to keep supplied. I don't know if China is going to collapse like a house of cards when supply runs out, if supply runs out, but I'm doing what I can to save China. Or at least prolong the fight as long as possible.
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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
12 Aug 42
Cuttlefish fired two torpedoes at patrol boat Yahada Maru near Jaluit. One hit but was a dud.
Dutch sub KXVI was headed on a long voyage, from Ceylon to the South China Sea, hoping to cause some mischief way behind the lines. Going south through the Malacca Straits, destroyer Karukaya spotted it and hit KXVI with a depth charge. Damage is moderate and the sub is now headed back to Ceylon.
A fast transport APD task force will run into Kusaie Island tonight and drop supply. There's enough supply at nearby Nauru Island that the APDs can now pick up supply there. This will shorten the trip to Kusaie to 2 days. Eventually the APDs are going to run into battleships at Kusaie at night, but I need to risk them and get supply into Kusaie. This plan works if I see the battleships coming near Ponape, and the enemy doesn't see the APDs headed north.
Two important things for today. First, Manila fell.
Ground combat at Manila (79,77)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 32949 troops, 333 guns, 209 vehicles, Assault Value = 995
Defending force 22889 troops, 188 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 645
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Japanese adjusted assault: 1280
Allied adjusted defense: 165
Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Manila !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
439 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Allied ground losses:
32891 casualties reported
Squads: 984 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1470 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 34 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 235 (235 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 13
Assaulting units:
21st Division
38th Division
24th Infantry Regiment
2nd Engineer Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
1st Ind Engineer Regiment
16th Army
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
2nd Field Artillery Regiment
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Defending units:
1st PA Infantry Division
91st PA Infantry Division
41st PA Infantry Division
51st PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
2nd Constabulary Regiment
1st USMC AA Battalion
II Corps
Nichols Field AAF Base Force
I/43rd PS Inf Battalion
27th Avn Sup
4th PAAC Avn Sup
Cavite USN Base Force
That was a boost to OPilot's victory points. Something that was coming all along but finally took place.
The second thing for today is that tomorrow the many ships for the Guadalcanal campaign start loading up.
Cuttlefish fired two torpedoes at patrol boat Yahada Maru near Jaluit. One hit but was a dud.
Dutch sub KXVI was headed on a long voyage, from Ceylon to the South China Sea, hoping to cause some mischief way behind the lines. Going south through the Malacca Straits, destroyer Karukaya spotted it and hit KXVI with a depth charge. Damage is moderate and the sub is now headed back to Ceylon.
A fast transport APD task force will run into Kusaie Island tonight and drop supply. There's enough supply at nearby Nauru Island that the APDs can now pick up supply there. This will shorten the trip to Kusaie to 2 days. Eventually the APDs are going to run into battleships at Kusaie at night, but I need to risk them and get supply into Kusaie. This plan works if I see the battleships coming near Ponape, and the enemy doesn't see the APDs headed north.
Two important things for today. First, Manila fell.
Ground combat at Manila (79,77)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 32949 troops, 333 guns, 209 vehicles, Assault Value = 995
Defending force 22889 troops, 188 guns, 5 vehicles, Assault Value = 645
Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 1
Japanese adjusted assault: 1280
Allied adjusted defense: 165
Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 1)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Manila !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), preparation(-), experience(-)
supply(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
439 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 28 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Allied ground losses:
32891 casualties reported
Squads: 984 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1470 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 34 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 235 (235 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 13
Assaulting units:
21st Division
38th Division
24th Infantry Regiment
2nd Engineer Regiment
2nd Tank Regiment
1st Ind Engineer Regiment
16th Army
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
2nd Field Artillery Regiment
23rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
Defending units:
1st PA Infantry Division
91st PA Infantry Division
41st PA Infantry Division
51st PA Infantry Division
71st PA Infantry Division
2nd Constabulary Regiment
1st USMC AA Battalion
II Corps
Nichols Field AAF Base Force
I/43rd PS Inf Battalion
27th Avn Sup
4th PAAC Avn Sup
Cavite USN Base Force
That was a boost to OPilot's victory points. Something that was coming all along but finally took place.
The second thing for today is that tomorrow the many ships for the Guadalcanal campaign start loading up.
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
I played a bit of psychological warfare with OPilot concerning Kusaie Island. He had mentioned that my Gilberts campaign was effective and I moved in base support quickly. I said that Kusaie was in his backyard and that we'd have an interesting battle there. Implied in this is that I expect a big battle, and that I'd be doing my part in it. In reality, Kusaie is out on a limb, a limb that OPilot can chop off if he spends the time to prep ground units. I want his attention here, and I think it is. I'd like to keep Kusaie, and I intend to keep Kusaie, but if OPilot puts forth the effort with carrier cover and battleship bombardments and a counter-invasion, then I could lose it. If I keep it, it's a stepping stone to Ponape and then Truk.
The loading for the Lunga and Tulagi invasions starts with the next turn. I'll be working on the turn this evening, and it will take longer than usual. I'll sort out all of the shipping I have, including combat ships, and form up all of the needed task forces.
Assuming that Lunga and Tulagi go well, it would have been nice to have troops ready for Shortlands and Buin, since the enemy hasn't built airfields on either yet. I've only recently started prepping Australian troops for those bases.
I expect that a division will take Tulagi quickly. I don't expect 2 divisions to take Lunga quickly. Enemy strength there is estimated to be a division and support units. But I should have the upper hand. B-17s are basing at Luganville. Ship support will move from Noumea to Luganville to expedite rearming for bombardments. An AS is moving to Luganville too. Up until now, Luganville was on the front line. After these landings, Luganville will be safe.
Paras at Ndeni will drop on Tassafronga, which I think is unprotected. Other troops will land at Tassafronga simultaneously with the other landings. Same for nearby Rennell and Kirakira Islands.
Where's KB? Don't know. How many enemy carriers are out of the fight from the previous battle? Don't know.
The loading for the Lunga and Tulagi invasions starts with the next turn. I'll be working on the turn this evening, and it will take longer than usual. I'll sort out all of the shipping I have, including combat ships, and form up all of the needed task forces.
Assuming that Lunga and Tulagi go well, it would have been nice to have troops ready for Shortlands and Buin, since the enemy hasn't built airfields on either yet. I've only recently started prepping Australian troops for those bases.
I expect that a division will take Tulagi quickly. I don't expect 2 divisions to take Lunga quickly. Enemy strength there is estimated to be a division and support units. But I should have the upper hand. B-17s are basing at Luganville. Ship support will move from Noumea to Luganville to expedite rearming for bombardments. An AS is moving to Luganville too. Up until now, Luganville was on the front line. After these landings, Luganville will be safe.
Paras at Ndeni will drop on Tassafronga, which I think is unprotected. Other troops will land at Tassafronga simultaneously with the other landings. Same for nearby Rennell and Kirakira Islands.
Where's KB? Don't know. How many enemy carriers are out of the fight from the previous battle? Don't know.
-
anarchyintheuk
- Posts: 3958
- Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 7:08 pm
- Location: Dallas
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
Re: the hump. I set them from Ledo to Tsuyung at 20% rest and flew them everyday. Didn't think the ops losses were that bad.
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
Trying your settings anarchyintheuk. Thanks. I've been running them 100% and then manually resting occasionally in bad weather.
13 Aug 42
I-169 fired 2 torpedoes at AMc Goonambee but missed.
Grouper fired 4 torpedoes at destroyer Harukaze near Ponape but missed. CL spotted also.
Little bombing in China today.
Enemy cruiser force spotted at Lunga. Could bombard Ndeni. No planes or ships there.
Loading has begun. It will be a bit slower at Koumac, with its size 3 port, compare to Brisbane and Noumea. But it's a bit further north so the delay may not be too long. Slower cargo ships with supply start to move to the rendezvous location, northwest of Koumac.
13 Aug 42
I-169 fired 2 torpedoes at AMc Goonambee but missed.
Grouper fired 4 torpedoes at destroyer Harukaze near Ponape but missed. CL spotted also.
Little bombing in China today.
Enemy cruiser force spotted at Lunga. Could bombard Ndeni. No planes or ships there.
Loading has begun. It will be a bit slower at Koumac, with its size 3 port, compare to Brisbane and Noumea. But it's a bit further north so the delay may not be too long. Slower cargo ships with supply start to move to the rendezvous location, northwest of Koumac.
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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
14 Aug 42
Seal spotted an xAK task force near Phuket but missed PB Heiei Maru #7 with 2 torpedoes.
Cuttlefish fired 2 torpedoes at xAKL Tenposan Maru northwest of Jaluit. One hit, but it was a dud. The xAKL was escorted by an PB and just left Jaluit. That's 2 dud hits for Cuttlefish in 3 days.
With enemy cruisers spotted at Lunga, I didn't put aircraft on Ndeni. 42 Bettys and 43 Zeros showed up and did moderate damage to the airfield. I think that OPilot is on to my game there. I want to keep Ndeni operational as I will be flying paras from there to Tassafronga on invasion day. I tasked one of my cruiser groups for the invasions to go to Luganville instead of escorting the armada. I'll go to Ndeni and protect it, and then bombard Lunga prior to my other ships getting in range to do so.
The enemy, having captured Clark and Manila on Luzon, is now moving towards Bataan.
Almost no bombing in China today. I moved P-40s to Changsha.
Bandoeng is down to 2,300 supply. Bataan has been completely out of supply. Both have held for 8 months.
There's an enemy task force 5 hexes northeast of Kusaie Island. It shows 4 or 5 ships, and one is reported to be a CM. They came from Kwajalein most likely. It may be an incoming bombardment to Kusaie, but it may be something else. A bit close for the start of a bombardment run, unless it didn't move as OPilot planned. A small transport task force is one hex southwest of Kusaie, and has the rest of a Marine defense unit on it, and it was spotted. I'm running it into Kusaie. The last attempt like this was destroyed by battleships. If I do get to unload some at night, they may get hit by Bettys during the day. I didn't put fighters there due to low supply.
Ships from Brisbane, Koumac and Noumea are headed to the rendezvous point northwest of Koumac. They will all be within one hex of the spot tomorrow. AOs are there to top off any fuel tanks. Most don't need the fuel. Some from Koumac may, as it had no fuel recently when its task forces were forming. Noumea was hogging the fuel for its many ships. Lots of tankers are unloading at Noumea now.
My plan is to approach Guadalcanal from the south, getting to Rennell Island on D-1. That's 3 hexes from Lunga but 4 from Tulagi. We'll invade the next day.
Seal spotted an xAK task force near Phuket but missed PB Heiei Maru #7 with 2 torpedoes.
Cuttlefish fired 2 torpedoes at xAKL Tenposan Maru northwest of Jaluit. One hit, but it was a dud. The xAKL was escorted by an PB and just left Jaluit. That's 2 dud hits for Cuttlefish in 3 days.
With enemy cruisers spotted at Lunga, I didn't put aircraft on Ndeni. 42 Bettys and 43 Zeros showed up and did moderate damage to the airfield. I think that OPilot is on to my game there. I want to keep Ndeni operational as I will be flying paras from there to Tassafronga on invasion day. I tasked one of my cruiser groups for the invasions to go to Luganville instead of escorting the armada. I'll go to Ndeni and protect it, and then bombard Lunga prior to my other ships getting in range to do so.
The enemy, having captured Clark and Manila on Luzon, is now moving towards Bataan.
Almost no bombing in China today. I moved P-40s to Changsha.
Bandoeng is down to 2,300 supply. Bataan has been completely out of supply. Both have held for 8 months.
There's an enemy task force 5 hexes northeast of Kusaie Island. It shows 4 or 5 ships, and one is reported to be a CM. They came from Kwajalein most likely. It may be an incoming bombardment to Kusaie, but it may be something else. A bit close for the start of a bombardment run, unless it didn't move as OPilot planned. A small transport task force is one hex southwest of Kusaie, and has the rest of a Marine defense unit on it, and it was spotted. I'm running it into Kusaie. The last attempt like this was destroyed by battleships. If I do get to unload some at night, they may get hit by Bettys during the day. I didn't put fighters there due to low supply.
Ships from Brisbane, Koumac and Noumea are headed to the rendezvous point northwest of Koumac. They will all be within one hex of the spot tomorrow. AOs are there to top off any fuel tanks. Most don't need the fuel. Some from Koumac may, as it had no fuel recently when its task forces were forming. Noumea was hogging the fuel for its many ships. Lots of tankers are unloading at Noumea now.
My plan is to approach Guadalcanal from the south, getting to Rennell Island on D-1. That's 3 hexes from Lunga but 4 from Tulagi. We'll invade the next day.
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
15 Aug 42
Dutch sub KX is guarding the bend near Milne Bay. It spotted a tanker with 2 destroyers and a patrol boat. Destroyer Nowaki got a depth charge hit on KX, which will head to Townsville and then Brisbane for repairs.
O23 spotted an enemy task force inbound to Kusaie from Ponape but didn't get a shot, and didn't get hit by the destroyers. I had a good idea that I wasn't going to like what happened next.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kusaie Island at 125,118, Range 10,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Hyuga
CL Tatsuta
DD Asakaze
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Hatakaze
Allied Ships
xAP Princess Charlotte, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
xAKL Nicarata, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
xAP Van den Bosch, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
1724 casualties reported
Squads: 36 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 75 destroyed, 40 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 63 (61 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
The bulk of a Marine defense battalion is lost. I hated to see this happen but it's my own fault. I'd already had a small task force destroyed at Kusaie in this way. This time, like the last, my ships were seen south of Kusaie and OPilot knew they were inbound. Yesterday I posted that I was going to force the ships in anyhow. So I was burned twice. No more shipping into Kusaie, except for the fast transport destroyers and the SST subs, all carrying supply. I considered turning these ships around after being spotted, but I decided that they'd come all this way and were just one hex from unloading.
The ships were expendable. Princess Charlotte is a tiny short-ranged transport. Van den Bosch is one of those small Dutch transports I've spoken of. Losing the bulk of a unit wasn't good though.
The battleships then bombarded the base and caused moderate to heavy damage to the facilities, and most importantly, destroyed all of the supply except for 8. The troops there are going to go hungry often, that's for sure.
I could easily set a trap for these battleships, but all of my forces are concentrating on Guadalcanal now. I do have subs around Kusaie, like O23, but no luck with them so far. Maybe they'll get a battleship eventually.
18 Bettys then hit Kusaie, causing minimal damage.
I guessed Changsha for my P-40s in China and came up empty. Minimal bombing there today, all in the north.
Ships are headed to the rendezvous point, coming from Brisbane, Noumea and Koumac. Nothing spotted so far.
Dutch sub KX is guarding the bend near Milne Bay. It spotted a tanker with 2 destroyers and a patrol boat. Destroyer Nowaki got a depth charge hit on KX, which will head to Townsville and then Brisbane for repairs.
O23 spotted an enemy task force inbound to Kusaie from Ponape but didn't get a shot, and didn't get hit by the destroyers. I had a good idea that I wasn't going to like what happened next.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kusaie Island at 125,118, Range 10,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro
BB Hyuga
CL Tatsuta
DD Asakaze
DD Harukaze
DD Matsukaze
DD Hatakaze
Allied Ships
xAP Princess Charlotte, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
xAKL Nicarata, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
xAP Van den Bosch, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
1724 casualties reported
Squads: 36 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 75 destroyed, 40 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 63 (61 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 8 (8 destroyed, 0 disabled)
The bulk of a Marine defense battalion is lost. I hated to see this happen but it's my own fault. I'd already had a small task force destroyed at Kusaie in this way. This time, like the last, my ships were seen south of Kusaie and OPilot knew they were inbound. Yesterday I posted that I was going to force the ships in anyhow. So I was burned twice. No more shipping into Kusaie, except for the fast transport destroyers and the SST subs, all carrying supply. I considered turning these ships around after being spotted, but I decided that they'd come all this way and were just one hex from unloading.
The ships were expendable. Princess Charlotte is a tiny short-ranged transport. Van den Bosch is one of those small Dutch transports I've spoken of. Losing the bulk of a unit wasn't good though.
The battleships then bombarded the base and caused moderate to heavy damage to the facilities, and most importantly, destroyed all of the supply except for 8. The troops there are going to go hungry often, that's for sure.
I could easily set a trap for these battleships, but all of my forces are concentrating on Guadalcanal now. I do have subs around Kusaie, like O23, but no luck with them so far. Maybe they'll get a battleship eventually.
18 Bettys then hit Kusaie, causing minimal damage.
I guessed Changsha for my P-40s in China and came up empty. Minimal bombing there today, all in the north.
Ships are headed to the rendezvous point, coming from Brisbane, Noumea and Koumac. Nothing spotted so far.
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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
16 Aug 42
AM Abraham Crijnssen spotted enemy mines just northwest of Luganville. They will be swept soon.
Between Buka and Rabaul, S-27 fired 4 torpedoes at AO Ashizuri. One hit, setting the tanker on fire. There was no fuel on it though. However, in the afternoon, S-27 attacked again, firing 2 torpedoes and getting 2 hits, sinking the AO.
Sian and Kweilin were enemy bomber targets in China today.
SigInt says that the 16th Infantry Division is planning to attack Darwin. So an attack here is finally coming, most likely.
6 units are spotted heading towards Bandoeng. This could be the final stand for the Dutch there. There's still some supply, over 2,000, but it is dwindling. Maybe the enemy can make one more costly attack before supply runs out. The Dutch have slowly weakened over time, with constant bombing and artillery attacks, and the occasional enemy deliberate attack. It's been quite an epic defense. All due to the mountains and hoarding the supply there when Batavia and Soerabaja were about to fall.
"Spotted enemy carriers" audio but not seen on the map again. Some destroyers again on the map 2 hexes northwest of Ponape. These have to be the enemy carriers, lurking there.
The storm gathers south of the Solomons.
AM Abraham Crijnssen spotted enemy mines just northwest of Luganville. They will be swept soon.
Between Buka and Rabaul, S-27 fired 4 torpedoes at AO Ashizuri. One hit, setting the tanker on fire. There was no fuel on it though. However, in the afternoon, S-27 attacked again, firing 2 torpedoes and getting 2 hits, sinking the AO.
Sian and Kweilin were enemy bomber targets in China today.
SigInt says that the 16th Infantry Division is planning to attack Darwin. So an attack here is finally coming, most likely.
6 units are spotted heading towards Bandoeng. This could be the final stand for the Dutch there. There's still some supply, over 2,000, but it is dwindling. Maybe the enemy can make one more costly attack before supply runs out. The Dutch have slowly weakened over time, with constant bombing and artillery attacks, and the occasional enemy deliberate attack. It's been quite an epic defense. All due to the mountains and hoarding the supply there when Batavia and Soerabaja were about to fall.
"Spotted enemy carriers" audio but not seen on the map again. Some destroyers again on the map 2 hexes northwest of Ponape. These have to be the enemy carriers, lurking there.
The storm gathers south of the Solomons.
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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
17 Aug 42
Still enemy subs around Ceylon, but a bit further out now. Plenty of ASW ships are out looking, as well as a few squadrons of aircraft.
The war is a big chess match. Actually, it's a collection of many smaller chess matches. My plan at Ndeni worked, with limited results.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Ndeni at 120,143, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 16, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kuma, Shell hits 1
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 1
DD Yamagumo, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Minegumo, Shell hits 1
DD Asagumo
Allied Ships
CA Louisville
CA Chicago, Shell hits 1
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Raleigh, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Detroit
CL Trenton
DD Case
DD Shaw
DD Flusser, Shell hits 1
DD Downes, Shell hits 1
DD Reid
Day 1 I saw the enemy cruiser force at Lunga. Day 2 I moved fighters to Ndeni as bait, as OPilot has bombarded there a couple of time before. US cruisers started to move towards the area. Day 3, OPilot stayed at Lunga, but my planes stayed at Ndeni, and he didn't see any ship protection there. I had moved the US ships to a point southeast of Ndeni, unseen. Day 4 I moved the ships to Ndeni and so did he.
[edit: Note that if I had thought one turn further ahead in the chess match, I would have put divebombers at Ndeni and hit the enemy ships still in range. I feared the bombardment though.]
The Japanese were outgunned but fought bravely. Ashigara fought a valiant action, causing most of the hits to the US ships. Results were fairly even but even is always an Allied win. Ashigara is believed to have sunk on the way back to Lunga. 2 Jakes and 2 Petes were lost "on the ground" today. Raleigh was gravely damaged. I like to save my ships, but Raleigh was too far gone with SYS 62/FLOT 96/ENG 14/FIRE 0. Ndeni is just a size 1 port, so no hope. New Orleans and Downes will head to Luganville and then elsewhere for repairs. The rest will bombard Lunga tonight. Gun ammo is slightly used up, but most torpedoes are expended. With the armada approaching from the south, I wanted a bombardment.
I-4 spotted a ship minelaying task force leaving Sydney. It is destined for the Solomons, to mine bases after they are taken.
Enemy troops start to enter Bataan. And rested and reorganized enemy troops start to reenter Bandoeng, coming for a deliberate attack. Both bases' days are numbered. And it's a low number.
Broome was attacked by Nells from Koepang. It's interesting to note that A6M3 Zeros escorted, the first time I've seen them on Timor. They may be the unit that was at Port Moresby. Another indication of increased interest there, and maybe a Darwin invasion soon.
Most of the US fleet is approaching the Solomons from the south.
Still enemy subs around Ceylon, but a bit further out now. Plenty of ASW ships are out looking, as well as a few squadrons of aircraft.
The war is a big chess match. Actually, it's a collection of many smaller chess matches. My plan at Ndeni worked, with limited results.
Night Time Surface Combat, near Ndeni at 120,143, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara, Shell hits 16, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kuma, Shell hits 1
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 1
DD Yamagumo, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Minegumo, Shell hits 1
DD Asagumo
Allied Ships
CA Louisville
CA Chicago, Shell hits 1
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Raleigh, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Detroit
CL Trenton
DD Case
DD Shaw
DD Flusser, Shell hits 1
DD Downes, Shell hits 1
DD Reid
Day 1 I saw the enemy cruiser force at Lunga. Day 2 I moved fighters to Ndeni as bait, as OPilot has bombarded there a couple of time before. US cruisers started to move towards the area. Day 3, OPilot stayed at Lunga, but my planes stayed at Ndeni, and he didn't see any ship protection there. I had moved the US ships to a point southeast of Ndeni, unseen. Day 4 I moved the ships to Ndeni and so did he.
[edit: Note that if I had thought one turn further ahead in the chess match, I would have put divebombers at Ndeni and hit the enemy ships still in range. I feared the bombardment though.]
The Japanese were outgunned but fought bravely. Ashigara fought a valiant action, causing most of the hits to the US ships. Results were fairly even but even is always an Allied win. Ashigara is believed to have sunk on the way back to Lunga. 2 Jakes and 2 Petes were lost "on the ground" today. Raleigh was gravely damaged. I like to save my ships, but Raleigh was too far gone with SYS 62/FLOT 96/ENG 14/FIRE 0. Ndeni is just a size 1 port, so no hope. New Orleans and Downes will head to Luganville and then elsewhere for repairs. The rest will bombard Lunga tonight. Gun ammo is slightly used up, but most torpedoes are expended. With the armada approaching from the south, I wanted a bombardment.
I-4 spotted a ship minelaying task force leaving Sydney. It is destined for the Solomons, to mine bases after they are taken.
Enemy troops start to enter Bataan. And rested and reorganized enemy troops start to reenter Bandoeng, coming for a deliberate attack. Both bases' days are numbered. And it's a low number.
Broome was attacked by Nells from Koepang. It's interesting to note that A6M3 Zeros escorted, the first time I've seen them on Timor. They may be the unit that was at Port Moresby. Another indication of increased interest there, and maybe a Darwin invasion soon.
Most of the US fleet is approaching the Solomons from the south.
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RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
August 1942 - the start of a tipping point where Allied ships and aircraft can challenge for command of the sea and air. Always interesting to see two well-matched players go at it in this period of time. I like your results so far - good luck in your big invasion ops! [&o]
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
18 Aug 42
DMS Perry finished clearing the mines northwest of Luganville. This is important because the Luganville to Lunga route is becoming busy with bombardment task forces.
Near Munda, S-42 fired 2 torpedoes at PB Syozui Maru but missed. Mostly patrol boats in the slot. Hope it isn't a distraction for my carrier bombers.
Lunga is bombarded to good effect.
Night Naval bombardment of Lunga at 114,138
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 25 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M3 Zero: 2 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 10 damaged
Allied Ships
CA Chicago
CA Louisville
CL Trenton
CL Detroit
Japanese ground losses:
183 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 25
Port hits 3
Most of the Bettys are damaged. Cruisers retire towards Luganville and will shuttle back and forth as needed.
Battleships Ise and Fuso bombard Kusaie Island, doing minimal damage to the airfield and causing 180 casualties. I consider this a good turn of events. These battleships now have to rearm, and are probably headed back to Truk for that. That keeps them out of the Solomons for a couple of extra days.
I-160 sank tiny HDML 1101 west of Colombo. The other 1100 HDMLs continue to hunt for subs. Well, not quite that many.
Ndeni is swept by Zeros from Lunga. The CAP does well against the first wave.
Morning Air attack on Ndeni , at 120,143
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 23
P-40E Warhawk x 23
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-400 Airacobra: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Then the newer airframes with undoubtedly the best pilots tear into the defenders.
Morning Air attack on Ndeni , at 120,143
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 36
Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 11
P-40E Warhawk x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-400 Airacobra: 4 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
Total air losses were 17 A6M2 Zeros and 4 A6M3 Zeros, for the loss of 11 P-400s and 9 P-40Es. But I'm happy that the Zeros went to Ndeni. There was no CAP at Lunga when the B-17s arrived. They did moderate damage to the airfield and destroyed a few planes and damaged many more. A total of 7 Bettys were lost, 6 on the ground.
DB-7s go for Portland Roads at 1000 feet. The Zeros intercepted but never engaged the bombers.
Morning Air attack on Portland Roads , at 91,132
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 1,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
Allied aircraft
DB-7B x 14
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 6
Then B-26s tried their luck at 9000 feet and got massacred. 9 B-26s lost.
9-B-17Ds bombed Tulagi's port and did minimal damage. Again, no CAP from Lunga. 9 LB-30s then followed.
Afternoon Air attack on Tulagi , at 114,137
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
LB-30 Liberator x 9
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Yamagumo, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
Port hits 3
And finally, a tribute to the brave Dutch defenders at Bandoeng on Java. I'd go back and tally the enemy lost trying to conquer them, but it would take a lot of digging. [edit: Now that's funny! I meant that it would take work to go back and tally the losses, looking at all of the old posts. Not that I'd have to dig up the enemy to count them. Unintended doublemeaning but a good one!] I'd estimate over 1000 squads destroyed and more disrupted over the 8 months of defending the mountain base. I expected it to be a thorn in the side of the enemy, but never dreamed that it would hold for so long. Supply there started out over 40,000 and ended up around 2,000 when the base fell. As I've said before, the enemy should have encircled the base, controlled the hexsides, pinned the Dutch there with minimal forces in the mountains, and forgot about them. OPilot had no idea how well supplied they were, though.
Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 42091 troops, 532 guns, 318 vehicles, Assault Value = 1184
Defending force 19344 troops, 150 guns, 37 vehicles, Assault Value = 175
Japanese adjusted assault: 1102
Allied adjusted defense: 397
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Bandoeng !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1007 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 108 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 51 disabled
Guns lost 12 (3 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
23625 casualties reported
Squads: 166 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1598 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 217 (217 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 51 (51 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 15
Assaulting units:
48th Engineer Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
2nd Formosa Inf. Regiment
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
65th Brigade
16th Division
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
48th Field Artillery Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
Defending units:
1st KNIL Regiment
2nd KNIL Regiment
4th KNIL Regiment
KNI Zeemacht
Andir ML Base Force
A-III-Ld AA Battalion
IV Landstorm Cdo
HQ I KNIL Division
1st Cav Regiment
VLG-V Sup Groep
KNI Leger
ABDA
ML-KNIL
Mobiele Battalion
VkA-1 Sup Afd
Lots of enemy units, especially artillery, are now freed up to go do something else. I'll be watching SigInt closely for these units.
In the Coral Sea, the Guadalcanal armada has great luck and is in severe storms today. Nothing is spotted! I altered the planned approach to Guadalcanal a bit, getting the armada within 7 hexes of Shortlands tomorrow, where enemy ships are. The ones that survived Ndeni. Naval bombers are reset to a range of 7 hexes, with one squadron of fighters escorting. Shouldn't be needed though, as Shortlands and Buin still don't have an airfield.
All ship search planes are activated, as well as some on ASW. Others will recon landing spots and nearby islands. B-17s will again hit Lunga, and will expect all the Zeros that weren't there today. Hopefully another cruiser bombardment tonight will help with the Zero problem.
Nervous times for the Allied commander. So many ships at risk. I believe that enemy defenses on Lunga are about a division with support. I'm landing 2 divisions with armor and artillery. It won't fall immediately. Tulagi should fall quicker, with a weaker defense expected and a division landing there.
OPilot will be traveling again this week, from Wednesday to Sunday, so we may have a cliffhanger with the Guadalcanal invasions.
DMS Perry finished clearing the mines northwest of Luganville. This is important because the Luganville to Lunga route is becoming busy with bombardment task forces.
Near Munda, S-42 fired 2 torpedoes at PB Syozui Maru but missed. Mostly patrol boats in the slot. Hope it isn't a distraction for my carrier bombers.
Lunga is bombarded to good effect.
Night Naval bombardment of Lunga at 114,138
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 25 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M3 Zero: 2 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 10 damaged
Allied Ships
CA Chicago
CA Louisville
CL Trenton
CL Detroit
Japanese ground losses:
183 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 25
Port hits 3
Most of the Bettys are damaged. Cruisers retire towards Luganville and will shuttle back and forth as needed.
Battleships Ise and Fuso bombard Kusaie Island, doing minimal damage to the airfield and causing 180 casualties. I consider this a good turn of events. These battleships now have to rearm, and are probably headed back to Truk for that. That keeps them out of the Solomons for a couple of extra days.
I-160 sank tiny HDML 1101 west of Colombo. The other 1100 HDMLs continue to hunt for subs. Well, not quite that many.
Ndeni is swept by Zeros from Lunga. The CAP does well against the first wave.
Morning Air attack on Ndeni , at 120,143
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 47 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 23
P-40E Warhawk x 23
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-400 Airacobra: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Then the newer airframes with undoubtedly the best pilots tear into the defenders.
Morning Air attack on Ndeni , at 120,143
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 36
Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 11
P-40E Warhawk x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-400 Airacobra: 4 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed
Total air losses were 17 A6M2 Zeros and 4 A6M3 Zeros, for the loss of 11 P-400s and 9 P-40Es. But I'm happy that the Zeros went to Ndeni. There was no CAP at Lunga when the B-17s arrived. They did moderate damage to the airfield and destroyed a few planes and damaged many more. A total of 7 Bettys were lost, 6 on the ground.
DB-7s go for Portland Roads at 1000 feet. The Zeros intercepted but never engaged the bombers.
Morning Air attack on Portland Roads , at 91,132
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 1,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
Allied aircraft
DB-7B x 14
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 6
Then B-26s tried their luck at 9000 feet and got massacred. 9 B-26s lost.
9-B-17Ds bombed Tulagi's port and did minimal damage. Again, no CAP from Lunga. 9 LB-30s then followed.
Afternoon Air attack on Tulagi , at 114,137
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 14 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
Allied aircraft
LB-30 Liberator x 9
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Yamagumo, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
Port hits 3
And finally, a tribute to the brave Dutch defenders at Bandoeng on Java. I'd go back and tally the enemy lost trying to conquer them, but it would take a lot of digging. [edit: Now that's funny! I meant that it would take work to go back and tally the losses, looking at all of the old posts. Not that I'd have to dig up the enemy to count them. Unintended doublemeaning but a good one!] I'd estimate over 1000 squads destroyed and more disrupted over the 8 months of defending the mountain base. I expected it to be a thorn in the side of the enemy, but never dreamed that it would hold for so long. Supply there started out over 40,000 and ended up around 2,000 when the base fell. As I've said before, the enemy should have encircled the base, controlled the hexsides, pinned the Dutch there with minimal forces in the mountains, and forgot about them. OPilot had no idea how well supplied they were, though.
Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100)
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 42091 troops, 532 guns, 318 vehicles, Assault Value = 1184
Defending force 19344 troops, 150 guns, 37 vehicles, Assault Value = 175
Japanese adjusted assault: 1102
Allied adjusted defense: 397
Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Bandoeng !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), experience(-)
Attacker:
Japanese ground losses:
1007 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 108 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 51 disabled
Guns lost 12 (3 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
23625 casualties reported
Squads: 166 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1598 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 217 (217 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 51 (51 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 15
Assaulting units:
48th Engineer Regiment
47th Infantry Regiment
2nd Formosa Inf. Regiment
19th Ind Engineer Regiment
65th Brigade
16th Division
3rd Ind Engineer Regiment
1st Formosa Inf. Regiment
21st Ind Engineer Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
48th Field Artillery Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
2nd Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
8th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Medium Field Artillery Regiment
9th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
Defending units:
1st KNIL Regiment
2nd KNIL Regiment
4th KNIL Regiment
KNI Zeemacht
Andir ML Base Force
A-III-Ld AA Battalion
IV Landstorm Cdo
HQ I KNIL Division
1st Cav Regiment
VLG-V Sup Groep
KNI Leger
ABDA
ML-KNIL
Mobiele Battalion
VkA-1 Sup Afd
Lots of enemy units, especially artillery, are now freed up to go do something else. I'll be watching SigInt closely for these units.
In the Coral Sea, the Guadalcanal armada has great luck and is in severe storms today. Nothing is spotted! I altered the planned approach to Guadalcanal a bit, getting the armada within 7 hexes of Shortlands tomorrow, where enemy ships are. The ones that survived Ndeni. Naval bombers are reset to a range of 7 hexes, with one squadron of fighters escorting. Shouldn't be needed though, as Shortlands and Buin still don't have an airfield.
All ship search planes are activated, as well as some on ASW. Others will recon landing spots and nearby islands. B-17s will again hit Lunga, and will expect all the Zeros that weren't there today. Hopefully another cruiser bombardment tonight will help with the Zero problem.
Nervous times for the Allied commander. So many ships at risk. I believe that enemy defenses on Lunga are about a division with support. I'm landing 2 divisions with armor and artillery. It won't fall immediately. Tulagi should fall quicker, with a weaker defense expected and a division landing there.
OPilot will be traveling again this week, from Wednesday to Sunday, so we may have a cliffhanger with the Guadalcanal invasions.
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- 18Aug42..CROPPED.gif (439.7 KiB) Viewed 262 times
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
Good luck! I hope you can pull a good invasion there!
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
19 Aug 42
An enemy patrol boat hit a mine at Kusaie Island. Maybe it was looking for ships sneaking into Kusaie. Battleships Ise and Fuso bombard Kusaie for the second night in a row, doing very minor damage. Island supply is at 300 but all units have supply.
The biggest change in the area is that CVEs are spotted at Ponape. There could be a counter-invasion of Kusaie in the works. US APDs are loading supply at Nauru for another run into Kusaie, if possible.
Allied ships bombard Lunga to good effect, and will return to Luganville.
Night Naval bombardment of Lunga at 114,138
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 23 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 15 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
C5M2 Babs: 2 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied Ships
CA Australia
CL Tromp
CL Sumatra
CL Java
Japanese ground losses:
368 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 1
LB-30s and B-17Ds from Koumac hit Shortland's port, doing very minor damage but hitting no ships. 3 Rufes were on CAP.
B-17s then bombed Lunga's airfield, doing damage to planes and facilites and destroying some aircraft. 23 A6M3 Zeros were on CAP to begin the day. They barely damaged the B-17s and Zeros were downed.
Then, the surprise. Carriers north of the Solomons! The Japanese strike first, at range 7. (Good thing I had adjusted my bomber range from 6 to 7 yesterday. I had hoped to hit ships at Shortlands, but they were gone. Instead, a carrier battle at range 7!)
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rennell Island at 112,139
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
B5N2 Kate x 42
Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 11
F4F-4 Wildcat x 101
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 29 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
BB North Carolina
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
The Allied fighters have no problems with the strike. Just one Kate survives to drop a torpedo, and the plane is shot down by flak.
It was a weak strike. I discovered why next. Just 2 enemy carriers. Unfortunately, a lot of Allied planes aborted their mission on the counter-strike. Weather was thunderstorms over the enemy.
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ontong Java at 116,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 55 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 36
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 6 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo
CV Zuikaku
Aircraft Attacking:
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
There were just enough F4F-3s so that the last one was fighting the last Zero on CAP, leaving the bombers unscathed. However, despite 36 SBDs dropping bombs, none hit.
In the afternoon, we try again, again with a limited strike.
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ontong Java at 116,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 8 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
DD Arare
CVL Ryujo
CS Chitose
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
The Zeros did get to the bombers this time. Still, 17 SBDs dropped bombs and none hit.
Then an unescorted strike.
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ontong Java at 116,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Bombers lost but one bomb hit. Then another unescorted strike, which found just a few Zeros still on CAP.
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ontong Java at 116,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 8 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Hatsukaze
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Just one hit out of 18 this time. And that was it for the day. Weather saved Zuikaku. Ryujo is burning but no telling how bad the damage is. SBD pilots were trained sufficiently, generally between 60 and 70. I think weather was the main factor. This happened with the earlier battle in the Gilberts too. A non-decisive battle. 3 US big carriers and 2 British carriers against Zuikaku and Ryujo could have resulted in a big win. Instead, it's a strategic win, it appears, with the invasions about to occur.
Seeing just one CV and one CVL here, and CVEs at Ponape, I have to think that the previously damaged big carriers are out of action and repairing somewhere. Lesser damage could be being repaired at Truk. More damaged carriers are probably heading back to or at Japan.
Total air losses for the day were 24 Kates, 21 A6M2 Zeros (7 on the ground at Lunga), 13 A6M3 Zeros (3 on the ground at Lunga), 2 Bettys on the ground at Lunga, and 2 Babs, also on the ground at Lunga. US losses were 18 SBD-3s, 18 F4F-3s (escorting), 5 F4F-4s, 1 B-17E and 1 B-17D. 10 US pilots were KIA.
An enemy patrol boat hit a mine at Kusaie Island. Maybe it was looking for ships sneaking into Kusaie. Battleships Ise and Fuso bombard Kusaie for the second night in a row, doing very minor damage. Island supply is at 300 but all units have supply.
The biggest change in the area is that CVEs are spotted at Ponape. There could be a counter-invasion of Kusaie in the works. US APDs are loading supply at Nauru for another run into Kusaie, if possible.
Allied ships bombard Lunga to good effect, and will return to Luganville.
Night Naval bombardment of Lunga at 114,138
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 23 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 15 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
C5M2 Babs: 2 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied Ships
CA Australia
CL Tromp
CL Sumatra
CL Java
Japanese ground losses:
368 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 5 disabled
Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 1
LB-30s and B-17Ds from Koumac hit Shortland's port, doing very minor damage but hitting no ships. 3 Rufes were on CAP.
B-17s then bombed Lunga's airfield, doing damage to planes and facilites and destroying some aircraft. 23 A6M3 Zeros were on CAP to begin the day. They barely damaged the B-17s and Zeros were downed.
Then, the surprise. Carriers north of the Solomons! The Japanese strike first, at range 7. (Good thing I had adjusted my bomber range from 6 to 7 yesterday. I had hoped to hit ships at Shortlands, but they were gone. Instead, a carrier battle at range 7!)
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rennell Island at 112,139
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
B5N2 Kate x 42
Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 11
F4F-4 Wildcat x 101
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 29 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
BB North Carolina
Aircraft Attacking:
1 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
The Allied fighters have no problems with the strike. Just one Kate survives to drop a torpedo, and the plane is shot down by flak.
It was a weak strike. I discovered why next. Just 2 enemy carriers. Unfortunately, a lot of Allied planes aborted their mission on the counter-strike. Weather was thunderstorms over the enemy.
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ontong Java at 116,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 55 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 36
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 6 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged
Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo
CV Zuikaku
Aircraft Attacking:
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
There were just enough F4F-3s so that the last one was fighting the last Zero on CAP, leaving the bombers unscathed. However, despite 36 SBDs dropping bombs, none hit.
In the afternoon, we try again, again with a limited strike.
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ontong Java at 116,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 8 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak
Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
DD Arare
CVL Ryujo
CS Chitose
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
The Zeros did get to the bombers this time. Still, 17 SBDs dropped bombs and none hit.
Then an unescorted strike.
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ontong Java at 116,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 25 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 5 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Bombers lost but one bomb hit. Then another unescorted strike, which found just a few Zeros still on CAP.
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Ontong Java at 116,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 8 damaged
Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Hatsukaze
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Just one hit out of 18 this time. And that was it for the day. Weather saved Zuikaku. Ryujo is burning but no telling how bad the damage is. SBD pilots were trained sufficiently, generally between 60 and 70. I think weather was the main factor. This happened with the earlier battle in the Gilberts too. A non-decisive battle. 3 US big carriers and 2 British carriers against Zuikaku and Ryujo could have resulted in a big win. Instead, it's a strategic win, it appears, with the invasions about to occur.
Seeing just one CV and one CVL here, and CVEs at Ponape, I have to think that the previously damaged big carriers are out of action and repairing somewhere. Lesser damage could be being repaired at Truk. More damaged carriers are probably heading back to or at Japan.
Total air losses for the day were 24 Kates, 21 A6M2 Zeros (7 on the ground at Lunga), 13 A6M3 Zeros (3 on the ground at Lunga), 2 Bettys on the ground at Lunga, and 2 Babs, also on the ground at Lunga. US losses were 18 SBD-3s, 18 F4F-3s (escorting), 5 F4F-4s, 1 B-17E and 1 B-17D. 10 US pilots were KIA.
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- 19Aug42..CROPPED.gif (427.68 KiB) Viewed 262 times
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
20 Aug 42
Sian continues to get enemy attention.
35 Oscars sweep.
25 Lilys and 33 Sonias bomb with 27 Oscars escorting.
25 Helens bomb with 42 Tojos escorting.
Lunga is bombarded.
Night Naval bombardment of Lunga at 114,138
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 30 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M3 Zero: 5 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
C5M2 Babs: 1 damaged
C5M2 Babs: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico
Japanese ground losses:
651 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 7
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1
Tulagi is bombarded.
Night Naval bombardment of Tulagi at 114,137
Allied Ships
BB Idaho
BB West Virginia
Japanese ground losses:
119 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Port hits 14
Port supply hits 2
Here's the opposing forces on Lunga:
Ground combat at Lunga (114,138)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 7794 troops, 55 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 285
Defending force 28578 troops, 439 guns, 407 vehicles, Assault Value = 899
Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
83rd Naval Guard Unit
Kure 3rd SNLF
88th Naval Guard Unit
87th Naval Guard Unit
6th Indpt SNLF Coy
43rd JNAF AF Unit
13th Naval Construction Battalion
17th Naval Construction Battalion
38th JNAF AF Unit
23rd Air Flotilla
46th JNAF AF Unit
Defending units:
2nd Marine Division
754th Tank Battalion
41st Infantry Division
193rd Tank Battalion
97th FA Bn /1
2nd RAA Med Arty Rgt /2
2nd USMC FA Bn /1
43rd Base Group
223rd FA Bn /1
and Tulagi:
Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 2702 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 99
Defending force 3413 troops, 15 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 249
Assaulting units:
1st Indpt SNLF Coy
82nd Naval Guard Unit
Bandasan SNLF
5th Naval Construction Battalion
55th JNAF AF Unit
Defending units:
Americal Infantry Div /7
Tassafronga is taken with the help of paras. It was undefended.
Troops land at Lunga, Tulagi and Tassafronga. Paratroopers drop on Tassafronga from Ndeni.
B-17s bomb the airfield and troops at Lunga. Others bomb the port and troops on Tulagi. Destroyer Yamagumo is hit by 3 bombs and sunk in port at Tulagi. Carrier strikes hit enemy troops on Lunga and Tulagi in the afternoon.
Artillery will bombard at Lunga while other troops recover disruption from landing. Americal continues to unload at Tulagi from regular xAPs and will rest today also. Seeing favorable odds at Lunga, I don't think it will take long to take the base. With Tassafronga captured today, there will be no escape for the enemy. Followup units for Lunga begin to load at Noumea. I'd held off with Lunga followup units because I thought that Lunga could be a protracted campaign. I think not now.
Sian continues to get enemy attention.
35 Oscars sweep.
25 Lilys and 33 Sonias bomb with 27 Oscars escorting.
25 Helens bomb with 42 Tojos escorting.
Lunga is bombarded.
Night Naval bombardment of Lunga at 114,138
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 30 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed on ground
A6M3 Zero: 5 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
C5M2 Babs: 1 damaged
C5M2 Babs: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
BB New Mexico
Japanese ground losses:
651 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 6 (2 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 7
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1
Tulagi is bombarded.
Night Naval bombardment of Tulagi at 114,137
Allied Ships
BB Idaho
BB West Virginia
Japanese ground losses:
119 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Port hits 14
Port supply hits 2
Here's the opposing forces on Lunga:
Ground combat at Lunga (114,138)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 7794 troops, 55 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 285
Defending force 28578 troops, 439 guns, 407 vehicles, Assault Value = 899
Japanese ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
83rd Naval Guard Unit
Kure 3rd SNLF
88th Naval Guard Unit
87th Naval Guard Unit
6th Indpt SNLF Coy
43rd JNAF AF Unit
13th Naval Construction Battalion
17th Naval Construction Battalion
38th JNAF AF Unit
23rd Air Flotilla
46th JNAF AF Unit
Defending units:
2nd Marine Division
754th Tank Battalion
41st Infantry Division
193rd Tank Battalion
97th FA Bn /1
2nd RAA Med Arty Rgt /2
2nd USMC FA Bn /1
43rd Base Group
223rd FA Bn /1
and Tulagi:
Ground combat at Tulagi (114,137)
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 2702 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 99
Defending force 3413 troops, 15 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 249
Assaulting units:
1st Indpt SNLF Coy
82nd Naval Guard Unit
Bandasan SNLF
5th Naval Construction Battalion
55th JNAF AF Unit
Defending units:
Americal Infantry Div /7
Tassafronga is taken with the help of paras. It was undefended.
Troops land at Lunga, Tulagi and Tassafronga. Paratroopers drop on Tassafronga from Ndeni.
B-17s bomb the airfield and troops at Lunga. Others bomb the port and troops on Tulagi. Destroyer Yamagumo is hit by 3 bombs and sunk in port at Tulagi. Carrier strikes hit enemy troops on Lunga and Tulagi in the afternoon.
Artillery will bombard at Lunga while other troops recover disruption from landing. Americal continues to unload at Tulagi from regular xAPs and will rest today also. Seeing favorable odds at Lunga, I don't think it will take long to take the base. With Tassafronga captured today, there will be no escape for the enemy. Followup units for Lunga begin to load at Noumea. I'd held off with Lunga followup units because I thought that Lunga could be a protracted campaign. I think not now.
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- 20Aug42..CROPPED.gif (369.17 KiB) Viewed 262 times
RE: Did You Know I Used to Drive a Rollercoaster?: Apbarog(A) vs OPilot(J)
I have the next turn but haven't watched the replay yet. OPilot is traveling and won't be back home until Sunday, so I'm trying to pace myself with the turn. I'll probably watch the replay on Wednesday or Thursday, and work on the turn through Saturday.
Some things that I've noted recently include a Glen sub looking at Diego Garcia for the first time, and where all of those units, mostly artillery, on Java will go now that Bandoeng was lost. The enemy is now at Bataan but hasn't tried a deliberate attack yet, waiting for another unit or two that is moving from Clark. Bataan won't last long with zero supply.
The defense around Sian is important too. It seems that I'm doing better with my transports flying supply into China now that I've tried the suggestion to put them on 20% rest and fly them every day. I had been flying them 100% and resting occasionally, mostly during bad weather.
Will there be an enemy counter-invasion at Kusaie Island? There were CVEs at nearby Ponape for the first time. And if my Guadalcanal invasion continues to go smoothly, what next? I could go hunting around Kusaie, but that's risky so close to Truk. I should send 2 US carriers to Sydney for a 10 day refit, and probably will. Also, one of the Brit carriers has to withdraw in less than 2 weeks, so it will definitely head to Sydney soon.
Shortlands and Buna are ripe for the taking, with no airfields, but Australian troops aren't nearly prepped enough for that. I do want to take the islands by Milne Bay, and Milne Bay itself, to start to cut off Port Moresby. Horn Island is enemy held, so OPilot still has that route, but Marines are prepping for that also.
Lots of options. I want to keep the pressure on during this part of the war, when both sides can attack. Given enough time, that will go away for the Japanese. For now though, after Bataan falls, OPilot has options for about 4 divisions-worth of troops and lots of artillery. He can push from Burma harder, or do more in Australia, or reinforce China for the knockout blow. My guess is China. We'll see.
Some things that I've noted recently include a Glen sub looking at Diego Garcia for the first time, and where all of those units, mostly artillery, on Java will go now that Bandoeng was lost. The enemy is now at Bataan but hasn't tried a deliberate attack yet, waiting for another unit or two that is moving from Clark. Bataan won't last long with zero supply.
The defense around Sian is important too. It seems that I'm doing better with my transports flying supply into China now that I've tried the suggestion to put them on 20% rest and fly them every day. I had been flying them 100% and resting occasionally, mostly during bad weather.
Will there be an enemy counter-invasion at Kusaie Island? There were CVEs at nearby Ponape for the first time. And if my Guadalcanal invasion continues to go smoothly, what next? I could go hunting around Kusaie, but that's risky so close to Truk. I should send 2 US carriers to Sydney for a 10 day refit, and probably will. Also, one of the Brit carriers has to withdraw in less than 2 weeks, so it will definitely head to Sydney soon.
Shortlands and Buna are ripe for the taking, with no airfields, but Australian troops aren't nearly prepped enough for that. I do want to take the islands by Milne Bay, and Milne Bay itself, to start to cut off Port Moresby. Horn Island is enemy held, so OPilot still has that route, but Marines are prepping for that also.
Lots of options. I want to keep the pressure on during this part of the war, when both sides can attack. Given enough time, that will go away for the Japanese. For now though, after Bataan falls, OPilot has options for about 4 divisions-worth of troops and lots of artillery. He can push from Burma harder, or do more in Australia, or reinforce China for the knockout blow. My guess is China. We'll see.