AARl----Wilson vs Lay Senario 19

[joliverlay]

I've not done this before....let me know if this style of AAR is OK. I normally play the Allies...but Im having fun as the IJN this time.

Allied Intercept of Japanese code......text as follows....Message from I. Yamamoto to IJN HQ...May 6, 1942

Our glorious, but not to smart, local commander launched a major Banzi Attack at PM immediately after being dropped of by fast transport. IHQ finds reports that no allied forces were killed whatsoever to be unbelievable, especially since the attacking force was all but wiped out. I wonder if they know anything about allied firepower. Oh well....we will consider it a 'reconnance in force'. At least we know the port is defended by a full strength brigade.

After several air attacks by our naval air at Rabul failed to report any hits on parked aircraft or even failed to encounter defensive forces over the last few nights....air attacks have been scaled back to rest the aircrews. Perhaps we can find some naval forces or submarine targets.

Fortunately the IJN forces report another successfull naval engagement at PM. Good results on 2 successive nights. 2DDs sunk each night. Tanaka is expected to accomplish more when heavier units arrive in theater. NO sign of allied CVs in theater. We have one report of a single CA near PM. Additional surface engagements expected at PM over the next few nights.

The emperor will be pleased to see we have already sunk 4 allied DDs with no losses. Perhaps this will mitigate the loss of over 1000 naval infantry. Perhaps we should have landed the IJA forces, but I hate to use them in our operations, especially loaded on our combat vessels on fast transport missions. The Army commanders are so difficult to deal with.

Signed...I. Yamamoto

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

The fast transport task force belowunloaded the units on May 5 and returned on May 6 as a surface combat TF.....This used lots of fuel but was probably unexpected by the allied commander. The previous night a bombardment TF visited PM and also sunk 2 DDs. This allowed me to seek surface engagements on 2 consecutive nights. I expected the Allies might withdraw from PM.

May 6, 1942

Weather: Partly Cloudy

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

Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 1
CL Tatsuta, Shell hits 1
CL Yubari
DD Mutsuki, Shell hits 1
DD Yayoi, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 1
DD Mochizuki
DD Oite
DD Asanagi

Allied Ships
DD Walke, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Farragut, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk


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

Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu
CL Tatsuta
CL Yubari
DD Mutsuki, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yayoi, on fire
DD Uzuki
DD Mochizuki
DD Oite
DD Asanagi

Allied Ships
DD Phelps, Shell hits 54, and is sunk


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Ground combat at Port Moresby

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 2555 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 7862 troops, 78 guns, 0 vehicles

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


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 1105
Guns lost 1

[joliverlay]

Message from Combined Fleet HQ-Turk to Imperial Navy HQ-Tokyo as follows:

Last night (May 9, 1942) Tanaka arrived off PM with surface bombardment group. Once again IJN forces encounter a small force (this time one DD) in waters around the port. Our forces managed to sink the enemy DD in a brief nightime encounter. No other action reported. Air crews are resting as fields are prepared closer to PM. Currently we plan to expand towards both PM and down the Solomons chain towards Nomea. Release of forces to theater or from reserve in the home waters is warrented. Although no significant naval opposition has been encountered, I beleive that movement to cut the allied supply lines will force the allies to commit their forces for the decisive battle.

I. Yamamoto, Commander




AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/09/42

Weather: Clear

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

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
CA Furutaka
CA Kako
DD Sazanami
DD Ushio
DD Yuzuki
DD Kikuzuki

Allied Ships
DD Aylwin, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk


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Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 10,40

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2
Port hits 1
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2


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

[joliverlay]

To IJN HQ Toyoko:

Date 5/22/42

Since the last report we have landed three regiments at PM using a combination of fast and slow transport taskforces. The CA/DD fast transport landed enough forces to proclude a rapid counterattack from crushing our initial landing forces. This allowed a few days to unload troops from the subsequent tradational transport task force. We were also able to use the CA/DDs to cover the tradational transports after they droped off their troops. They simply shadowed the slower moving transports as the neared PM. This eliminated the need for a separate surface combat task force. Fortunately after the loss of 8 DDs in night actions the allies seem unwilling to seek a surface engagement. We might have lost many troops had an engagement occured prior to unloading the troops....but it was a risk worth taking. Still no air forces spoted at PM.

Last nights attack reached the outskirts of the airfield. I expect PM to fall in 1-2 days. It appears the opposition is about 1 regiment and supporting forces. We should take a large bag of prisioners. Especially since we hold nearby postions on the Koda trail.

I expect it will be about a week or so before base forces arrive and our own air operations from PM commence.

Expedite the shipment of more fuel to our main advanced bases. Fuel is in short supply. Also, any intellegence on the whereabouts of the allied carriers would be appreciated. As of this date nothing larger than a DD has been spotted anywhere in theater. Even the Mavis operating out of Luga have seen nothing between Brisbane and Nomea.

Signed, I.Y. Commander Combined Fleet.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/22/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on 94th Coast AA Regiment, at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
G4M1 Betty x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 36
Guns lost 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
26 x G4M1 Betty at 12000 feet

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Ground combat at Port Moresby

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6148 troops, 101 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 7097 troops, 77 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 41

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 265

[Veer]

Excellent AAR so far! Keep it up!!!

[wobbly]

First thing in the morning - well first thing at work - I look at the forums to see if anyone has updated their AAR's. It is always a pleasure to see someone else take the plunge.
It can appear that knowone is reading but I for one can say that I read them pretty religiously - so great work - welcome to the band of AAR idiots/entertainers

[joliverlay]

To: IJN HQ
From: Combined Fleet CNC

Date: 5/25/42

Our three regiments at PM captured the airfield and base the day after our last report. Fighting continues over the last few days as the Australians put up a suprising resistance. Even when we attack with a numerical advantage our casulties are comparable.

To deal with the engineer detachment on a nearby outpost we are embarking the weaker of the three regiments by transport to avoid the 20 mile trek across the dismal trail.

We have dispatched reinforcements to Luga to speed construction of the base and are planning operations against IRAU and Luganville. Recon of Luganville did not reveal much but the weather has been a problem. Irau is belived unoccupied.

We appreciate the CVs and CVLs now in route to the theater. Thank the Naval Chief of Staff for his support.

Also, one DD heavily damaged by mines at PM should be en route to Tokyo after flooding is controlled....if she can make it to part. She hit a mine at Luga escorting a minesweeper. {We can either lose DDs to mines or MSWs to subs.}

Signed. I.Y. CNC

[joliverlay]

Message from Combined Fleet, Truk to IJN HQ Tokoyo:

Date: 5/31/42

After about 1 weeks fighting around PM we have nearly eleminated the reminants of an Australian brigade. However we have now encountered rear-guard forces retreating down the Koda trail to the cost near PM. As we control the costal area this will tie down troops but cause no significant threat to the port as we rebuild it.

Two B-17 raids have hit the port this week...about 7 planes each. The amount of damage they cause is considerable. While we have base forces en route we may withdraw them if casulties amongst specialist forces are high. Clearly we can cover the south cost of NG from airfileds at Buna or Lea.

Arial Recon or Luganville is not showing any sign of allied ground forces. The base looks deserted. We have a very large force of naval infantry embarked on a CA/CL/DD fast transport group which should land tonight. If the base has been abandoned by a withdrawl south we will sieze it immediately. It is more likely that this is a trick by the allies (or poor recon), but the opportunity cannot be missed. At any rate even with troops on deck are CAs will defeat the allies in a night encounter. My only concern is the allied CVs. There whereabouts has not been reported in theater or by IJN-Intel assest for over a month.

We should get more reliable recon as soon as we can move float planes into the harbor on Irau. We took the harbor with a small force of naval infantry (landed by a CL/DD task force) two nights ago. I dont want to risk an AV or CS until the harbor is improved. Allied subs are a real problem in these constricted waters. Within about 1 month we should have the harbor improved and some base forces landed.

We are not starting to ease our fuel shortage at Rabul, Kevrieng, and Shortlands. Can any additional engineering/base force specialists be released. We simply cant move our airfields south quickly enought and I don't want to rely entirely on carrier based aircraft. Until Allied CVs are located I dont want to sortie without the entire complement of the 1st mobile stike force. We should not underestimate the cunning of our enemy or the power of allied land based air.

By the way.....I really don't believe our intel reports that these messages are being read by the allies. Please suggest to your staff that this is comletely beyond the capabilities of our enemy.

Signed: I. Y.4

[joliverlay]

Message from CNC-Combined Fleet to IJN HQ Tokoyo:

Date: 6/2/42

Message as follows....

Last night we landed two batillions of Naval Infantry on Luganville. As best we can tell the port was hastily abandoned. We expect to fully occupy the abondoned positions by morning. Forces are sufficient to repluse regimental sized air or seaborne landing and additional forces will arrive almost immediately.

Recon reports a small force of float planes on an island just north of Luganville, and no forces detected at the larger base at Efante Port Villa. Recon of Nomea expected pending good weather.

Our now 5 regiments of infantry have completley eleminated all allied forces in N.G. The kanga force was stoped near the cost after a long trip down the Owen Stanely Mts. Meanwhile Austrailian resistance at PM ended abruptly. While our forces have been successful, it will now be necessiary to replace our offensive forces with garrison forces as we shift emphesis towards Nomea.

After considerable problems with minor maintenance failures I have ordered a force of 12 CA/CL/DDs to return Japan for repair. Perhaps this will facilitate the release of Yamato. I would like to move CNC CF flag their as I am not comfortable with my feet dry.

Massive shipments of fuel are now arriving at Rabul and Shortlands. Additional shipments are expected at Kevreng, and Luganville. Rather than create an advanced base at Irau we may elect to transport fuel directly to Luganville. That decision will not need to be made for another few days.

As yet still no sign of the Allied CV forces. I expect that rumors of a large scale repeat of the recent attacks on the home-islands is an excuse by the Army to increse the size of their air defense forces. I am convinced the Allied CVs are either nearby or simply being refitted.

Signed, I. Y., CNC Combined Fleet.