More Variants - The Allies ride again - No xargun please

[Nomad]

January 8, 1943

I lost an SC off of Kavieng to a sub.

Two Naval bombardments of Kavieng, facility damage, minimal LCU damage

One Naval bombardment of Milne Bay, same, some facility damage, minimal LCU damage.
Landed more troops at Milne Bay, will try another DA and see what happens.

Air bombing of the airfield at Milne Bay and troops in the jungle on New Britain.

I forgot about this, I guess he thinks I do things like he does, take a base and then abandon it.
I keep forces there until it is truly a back water base.

Ground combat at Talasea (103,125)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 39 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4

Defending force 542 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 29

Japanese adjusted assault: 2

Allied adjusted defense: 27

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 13 (fort level 0)

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(+), leaders(-), preparation(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
4th Raiding Rgt /1

Defending units:
1st USMC Parachute Battalion

combatreport.txt

(9.62 KiB) Downloaded 1 time

[Nomad]

January 9, 1943

Naval bombardments of Kavieng continue.

Milne bay is crumbling

Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15061 troops, 248 guns, 332 vehicles, Assault Value = 515

Defending force 6104 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 166

Allied adjusted assault: 436

Japanese adjusted defense: 87

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 4

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
587 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 22 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

Allied ground losses:
184 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 7 (1 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Assaulting units:
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
41st Infantry Division
3rd Australian Brigade
I US Corps

Defending units:
9th GEACPS Brigade
82nd Nav Gd /4

Meanwhile at Cape Gloucester

Ground combat at Cape Gloucester (101,125)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 65 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 7

Allied adjusted defense: 1

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Cape Gloucester !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
4th Raiding Rgt /3

He will probably pick up the troops there

combatreport.txt

(10.83 KiB) Not downloaded yet

[Nomad]

January 10, 1943

Milne Bay is now in Allied Control.

Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14949 troops, 248 guns, 332 vehicles, Assault Value = 498

Defending force 5630 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 125

Allied adjusted assault: 772

Japanese adjusted defense: 109

Allied assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied forces CAPTURE Milne Bay !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1252 casualties reported
Squads: 40 destroyed, 19 disabled
Non Combat: 55 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 31 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units retreated 2

Allied ground losses:
136 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 36 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
41st Infantry Division
637th Tank Destroyer Battalion
3rd Australian Brigade
I US Corps

Defending units:
9th GEACPS Brigade
82nd Nav Gd /4

I am not pursuing, I will bomb them for now.

Talasea has been cleared of enemy troops

Ground combat at Talasea (103,125)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 542 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 29

Defending force 25 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2

Allied adjusted assault: 28

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 28 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker: leaders(+)

Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1

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

Assaulting units:
1st USMC Parachute Battalion

Defending units:
4th Raiding Rgt /1

A Naval bombardment of Kavieng, a few LCU casualties, mostly facility damage
I wonder if he has removed most of the LCUs from Kavieng. It would fit his MO.

Night Naval bombardment of Kavieng at 106,122

Allied Ships
BB Washington
CA Cornwall
CA Canberra
CA Vincennes
CA Minneapolis
CA New Orleans
CA Salt Lake City
CA Chicago
CA Louisville
CL Colombo
CL Capetown
CL Concord
DD Smithers
DD Winter
DD Wyrick

Japanese ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 20
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 87
Port hits 25
Port supply hits 2

OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB Washington
BB Washington firing at 15th GEACPS Brigade
CA Cornwall firing at Kavieng
CA Canberra firing at 15th GEACPS Brigade
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Vincennes
CA Vincennes firing at Kavieng
CA Minneapolis firing at Kavieng
CA New Orleans firing at 15th GEACPS Brigade
CA Salt Lake City firing at Kavieng
CA Chicago firing at Kavieng
CA Louisville firing at 15th GEACPS Brigade
CL Colombo firing at Kavieng
CL Capetown firing at 15th GEACPS Brigade
CL Concord firing at Kavieng
DD Smithers firing at Kavieng
DD Winter firing at Kavieng
DD Wyrick firing at 15th GEACPS Brigade

Still bombing and pursuing the troops on New Britain

combatreport.txt

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[Nomad]

January 11, 1943

Cape Gloucester is retaken by the Allies

Ground combat at Cape Gloucester (101,125)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 522 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 28

Defending force 65 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 6

Allied adjusted assault: 22

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 22 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Cape Gloucester !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+), leaders(-)

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

Assaulting units:
2nd USMC Parachute Bn /1

Defending units:
4th Raiding Rgt /3

Usual Naval Bombardment of Kavieng and bombing of troops outside of Milne Bay. Weather scrubbed many missions in the area.

combatreport.txt

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[Nomad]

January 12, 1943

Not much, usual stuff, Naval Bombardment of Kavieng, some bombing of troops, many air sorties scrubbed for weather.

combatreport.txt

(5.9 KiB) Not downloaded yet

[Nomad]

January 13, 1943

Not much, usual stuff, Naval Bombardment of Kavieng, some bombing of troops, many air sorties scrubbed for weather.

combatreport.txt

(6.79 KiB) Not downloaded yet

[Nomad]

Like a broken record

January 14, 1943

Not much, usual stuff, Naval Bombardment of Kavieng, some bombing of troops, many air sorties scrubbed for weather.

combatreport.txt

(7.12 KiB) Not downloaded yet

[Nomad]

January 15, 1943

Not much, usual stuff, Naval Bombardment of Kavieng, some bombing of troops, many air sorties scrubbed for weather.

[Nomad]

January 16, 1943

Mostly the same, but I did add one thing.

If you look at Xarguns Variant Point expenditures, you will see he made 24 Ansyu-C xAKs. It seems that he is using them
for fast transport mission. There are now less of them

Day Time Surface Combat, near Aitape at 95,118, Range 14,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB CHa-24, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
PB Tokyo Maru, Shell hits 23, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Blue
DD Helm, Shell hits 1

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 28,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 19,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
DD Helm engages PB Tokyo Maru at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB Tokyo Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-24 at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB Tokyo Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-24 at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB Tokyo Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-24 at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB Tokyo Maru at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB Tokyo Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Blue engages PB CHa-24 at 6,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-24 at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-24 at 5,000 yards
DD Blue engages PB Tokyo Maru at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
DD Blue engages PB Tokyo Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-24 at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB Tokyo Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Blue engages PB CHa-24 at 2,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-24 at 2,000 yards
DD Blue engages PB CHa-24 at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB Tokyo Maru at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-24 at 2,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-24 at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB Tokyo Maru at 3,000 yards
DD Blue engages PB CHa-24 at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB Tokyo Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-24 at 4,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-24 at 4,000 yards
DD Blue engages PB CHa-24 at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB Tokyo Maru at 3,000 yards
PB Tokyo Maru sunk by DD Blue at 3,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...


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

Day Time Surface Combat, near Aitape at 95,118, Range 14,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB CHa-2, Shell hits 31, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Blue
DD Helm

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 29,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 29,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
DD Blue engages PB CHa-2 at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-2 at 9,000 yards
DD Blue engages PB CHa-2 at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-2 at 7,000 yards
DD Blue engages PB CHa-2 at 7,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-2 at 7,000 yards
DD Blue engages PB CHa-2 at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
DD Blue engages PB CHa-2 at 8,000 yards
DD Blue engages PB CHa-2 at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-2 at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-2 at 4,000 yards
DD Blue engages PB CHa-2 at 4,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-2 at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-2 at 3,000 yards
DD Blue engages PB CHa-2 at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
DD Blue engages PB CHa-2 at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
DD Helm engages PB CHa-2 at 3,000 yards
PB CHa-2 sunk by DD Blue at 3,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

combatreport.txt

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[Nomad]

January 17, 1943

Not a lot to report.

Naval bombardment of Kavieng. I am not doing a lot of casualties, lots of facility damage.
Recon shows steadily diminishing troop strength, he is probably air lifting troops out since he
would have problems with Fast Transport loading at a port with 100% damage.

Port Moresby recon also shows only one unit with only about 5600 troops. It seems he is evacuating
Port Moresby also. I really do not understand the strategy of this, take bases and then when I get close evacuate
them. It just means I need to move close, wait for him to evacuate and then take the base with minimal force
and almost no casualties. I wonder if someone can shed some light on this, is it a good strategy for him? I can
understand moving out a fragment so it can be rebuilt immediately after the primary unit is destroyed, but not
moving out most if not all of the unit.

I am landing a USMC Regiment at Ontong Java today, recon shows almost no troops there either.

The two units on New Britain were able to move one more hex to the West. It will take time to chase them
down. I am moving Regiments into all the other bases on the island, I doubt he will be able to take a base
that has a supplied regiment and a couple of fort levels.

combatreport.txt

(3.74 KiB) Not downloaded yet

[Nomad]

January 18, 1943

A good day for USN ASW work.

Sub attack near Rabaul at 106,124

Japanese Ships
SS I-6, hits 26, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Paul Jones
BB Washington
BB North Carolina
CA Quincy
CLAA San Juan
DD John D. Edwards
DD Copsy
DD Stewart
DD Chew
DD Parrott

SS I-6 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Paul Jones
DD Copsy fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Stewart attacking submerged sub ....
DD Chew attacking submerged sub ....
DD Parrott attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-6 forced to surface!
DD Parrott firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Copsy firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Stewart firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Chew firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Parrott firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Copsy firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Stewart firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

======================================================
Submarine attack near Kavieng at 105,123

Japanese Ships
SS I-5, hits 16, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Washington
CA Quincy
CLAA San Juan
DD Edsall
DD Copsy
DD Stewart
DD Chew
DD Parrott

SS I-5 is sighted by escort
DD Copsy fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Stewart fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Chew attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-5 forced to surface!
DD Chew firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Parrott firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Copsy firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Stewart firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Chew firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Parrott firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Copsy firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Stewart firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Parrott firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Copsy firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Stewart firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Chew firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Parrott firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Copsy firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Stewart firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Chew firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

Pre-Invasion action at Ontong Java, rendered the defenders impotent

Pre-Invasion action off Ontong Java (115,131)

1 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis
DD Moon
DD Cummings
APA Hugh L. Scott

Japanese ground losses:
333 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

CA Indianapolis firing at 67th Naval Guard Unit
DD Moon firing at 67th Naval Guard Unit
DD Cummings firing at 67th Naval Guard Unit
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards

Setting up the ground action

Ground combat at Ontong Java (115,131)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4948 troops, 94 guns, 45 vehicles, Assault Value = 140

Defending force 477 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 11

Allied adjusted assault: 230

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 230 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Ontong Java !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
491 casualties reported
Squads: 60 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

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

Assaulting units:
23rd Marine Regiment

Defending units:
67th Naval Guard Unit

No forts despite him holding the base for almost a year now.

combatreport.txt

(8 KiB) Not downloaded yet

[Nomad]

January 19, 1943

Not a good day for the British Air Forces in India.
I didn't really expect LRCAP over a raiding TF, one that I did not see coming, it was a surprise.
The Brits lost 16 Avengers and 12 Fulmars in total, but they did manage to shoot down 3 Zeros and 3 Tojos.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 54,45

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 4
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 19

Allied aircraft
Avenger I x 14
Fulmar II x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Avenger I: 7 destroyed
Fulmar II: 4 destroyed
Fulmar II: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Fulmar II bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
253 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 7000.
Raid is overhead
260th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 12000.
Raid is overhead
286 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 8000.
Raid is overhead
999th Ku T-1 with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (19 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
19 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 12000.
Raid is overhead



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

Morning Air attack on TF, near Akyab at 54,45

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 3
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 6

Allied aircraft
Avenger I x 2

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Avenger I: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
260th Sentai with Ki-43-Ic Oscar (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters to 4000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 91 minutes
286 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 103 minutes
999th Ku T-1 with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 448 minutes

The USN fared better on the surface

Day Time Surface Combat, near Aitape at 95,118, Range 23,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 4
DD Makigumo
DD Kikuzuki, Shell hits 1
DD Mikazuki, Shell hits 1
DD Mochizuki
DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
DD Winter, Shell hits 1
DD Smithers

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 29,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 29,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Winter at 19,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Smithers at 19,000 yards
DD Smithers engages DD Makigumo at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Smithers at 17,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Winter at 17,000 yards
DD Winter engages DD Mochizuki at 17,000 yards
DD Mikazuki engages DD Smithers at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Smithers at 15,000 yards
DD Winter engages DD Yuzuki at 15,000 yards
DD Mikazuki engages DD Winter at 15,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Smithers at 15,000 yards
DD Makigumo engages DD Smithers at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Smithers at 12,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Winter at 12,000 yards
DD Smithers engages DD Mochizuki at 12,000 yards
DD Smithers engages DD Mikazuki at 12,000 yards
DD Winter engages DD Makigumo at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Smithers at 10,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Winter at 10,000 yards
DD Winter engages DD Mochizuki at 10,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Smithers at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Smithers at 7,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Winter at 7,000 yards
DD Smithers engages DD Mochizuki at 7,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Winter at 7,000 yards
DD Makigumo engages DD Winter at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Smithers at 10,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Smithers at 10,000 yards
DD Winter engages DD Mikazuki at 10,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Smithers at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 14,000 yards
DD Smithers engages DD Mikazuki at 14,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Winter at 14,000 yards
DD Mikazuki engages DD Winter at 14,000 yards
DD Kikuzuki engages DD Winter at 14,000 yards
DD Smithers engages DD Makigumo at 14,000 yards
Range increases to 18,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Smithers at 18,000 yards
DD Winter engages DD Mikazuki at 18,000 yards
DD Mikazuki engages DD Smithers at 18,000 yards
Range increases to 19,000 yards
DD Makigumo engages DD Smithers at 19,000 yards
Range increases to 23,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Smithers at 23,000 yards
Range increases to 29,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Smithers at 29,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages DD Winter at 29,000 yards
Task forces break off...

Just a small amount of damage to DD Winter and her crew gained 8 day experience
while DD Smithers crew gained 7 day experience. Useful down the line

The only other thing was bombing of the 4th division on New Britain.

combatreport.txt

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[Nomad]

January 20, 1943

I must say, this is not the outcome I expected when it started, but it is what it is.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Akyab at 54,45, Range 1,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Shell hits 4
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 7
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Shigure
DD Murasame
DD Wakaba, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yugure, Shell hits 1
DD Ariake

Allied Ships
BB Valiant, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
CA Hawkins, Shell hits 32, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Dauntless
CL Caradoc, Shell hits 3
DD Vendetta, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Isaac Sweers, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
DD Nepal, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 100% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
Sakiyama, Shakao crosses the 'T'
CA Hawkins engages CA Mikuma at 1,000 yards
CA Hawkins sunk by CA Mikuma at 1,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Dauntless at 1,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Nepal at 1,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Isaac Sweers at 1,000 yards
DD Nepal sunk by DD Shigure at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 2,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages BB Valiant at 2,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Caradoc at 2,000 yards
DD Ariake engages DD Isaac Sweers at 2,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Yugure at 2,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers engages DD Wakaba at 2,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages BB Valiant at 2,000 yards
DD Murasame collides with DD Yugure at 54 , 45
BB Valiant engages CA Mikuma at 2,000 yards
BB Valiant engages CA Mogami at 2,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Dauntless at 2,000 yards
DD Isaac Sweers sunk by DD Wakaba at 2,000 yards
DD Ariake engages BB Valiant at 2,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Caradoc at 2,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CL Dauntless at 2,000 yards
DD Yugure engages DD Vendetta at 2,000 yards
DD Wakaba engages DD Vendetta at 2,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages DD Murasame at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
BB Valiant engages CA Mikuma at 5,000 yards
BB Valiant engages CA Mogami at 5,000 yards
DD Ariake engages DD Vendetta at 5,000 yards
DD Yugure engages DD Vendetta at 5,000 yards
DD Shigure engages CL Dauntless at 5,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DD Vendetta at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
BB Valiant engages DD Wakaba at 6,000 yards
BB Valiant engages CA Mogami at 6,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages DD Ariake at 6,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages DD Yugure at 6,000 yards
DD Murasame engages DD Vendetta at 6,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages DD Shiratsuyu at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Mogami engages BB Valiant at 7,000 yards
BB Valiant sunk by CA Mogami at 7,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CL Dauntless at 7,000 yards
DD Yugure engages DD Vendetta at 7,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages DD Wakaba at 7,000 yards
DD Shigure engages DD Vendetta at 7,000 yards
Task forces break off...


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

Night Time Surface Combat, near Akyab at 54,45, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 1
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Shigure
DD Murasame
DD Wakaba, on fire
DD Yugure, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Ariake

Allied Ships
CL Dauntless, Shell hits 1
CL Caradoc, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Vendetta, Shell hits 6, heavy fires

Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 100% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
CA Mikuma engages CL Caradoc at 1,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CL Dauntless at 1,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages DD Vendetta at 1,000 yards
DD Yugure engages DD Vendetta at 1,000 yards
DD Shigure engages DD Vendetta at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 2,000 yards
CL Caradoc engages CA Mikuma at 2,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages CA Mogami at 2,000 yards
DD Ariake engages DD Vendetta at 2,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages DD Yugure at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CL Caradoc engages CA Mikuma at 4,000 yards
CL Dauntless engages CA Mikuma at 4,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages DD Yugure at 4,000 yards
DD Murasame engages DD Vendetta at 4,000 yards
DD Shiratsuyu engages DD Vendetta at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Caradoc at 7,000 yards
CA Mogami engages CL Dauntless at 7,000 yards
DD Ariake engages DD Vendetta at 7,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages DD Murasame at 7,000 yards
Task forces break off...

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

ASW attack near Ramree Island at 52,49

Japanese Ships
DD Murasame, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shigure
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Ariake

Allied Ships
SS Trusty, hits 2

SS Trusty launches 6 torpedoes at DD Murasame
Trusty diving deep ....
DD Ariake fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ariake attacking submerged sub ....
DD Ariake fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ariake fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Ariake fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

A really bad loss, very unexpected lop sided loss.
I lost BB Valiant, CA Hawkins, DDs Vendetta, Isaac Sweers, and Nepal
I sunk DD Muransame and Dd Yugue.

I will have to free up some British ships to bolster my defense in the Indian Ocean Area.
He also tried night bombing both the port at Chittagong and the airfield at Cox's Bazar.
No real damage done to either base.

combatreport.txt

(18.46 KiB) Not downloaded yet

[Nomad]

January 21, 1943

Not much. I landed a small Australian commando unit at Lae, I thought it had showed
empty earlier, but there is a small piece of a Naval Guard unit there. I will do a Naval Bombardment
and wait for my unit to recover a squad or two and then attack.

Xargun put some Vals at Manus and they sortied and sank an AM at Kavieng. I have sent a large
Naval Bombardment TF to close the airfield at Manus.

combatreport.txt

(2.46 KiB) Not downloaded yet

[Nomad]

January 22, 1943

SS Searaven found a working Mk-14 and used in on a xAK

Sub attack near Babeldaob at 92,93

Japanese Ships
xAK Miyatama Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAK Seattle Maru
xAK Manila Maru
xAK Melbourne Maru
xAK Canberra Maru
SC Ch 9

Allied Ships
SS Searaven

SS Searaven launches 2 torpedoes at xAK Miyatama Maru
Searaven diving deep ....
SC Ch 9 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 9 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 9 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 9 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC Ch 9 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

A Naval Bombardment of Manus

Night Naval bombardment of Manus at 101,119

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 19 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed on ground
C5M2 Babs: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Indiana
BB South Dakota
BB Washington
BB North Carolina
CA Vincennes
CA Minneapolis
CA New Orleans
CLAA San Juan
DD Wyrick
DD Morris
DD Mustin
DD Hammann
DD Buchanan
DD Laffey
DD Aaron Ward

Japanese ground losses:
698 casualties reported
Squads: 5 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 52 destroyed, 25 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 7 disabled
Guns lost 22 (14 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Airbase hits 53
Airbase supply hits 27
Runway hits 94
Port hits 17
Port fuel hits 15
Port supply hits 7

BB Indiana firing at Manus
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB South Dakota
BB South Dakota firing at Manus
BB Washington firing at Manus
BB North Carolina firing at Manus
CA Vincennes firing at Manus
CA Minneapolis firing at Manus
CA New Orleans firing at Manus
CLAA San Juan firing at Manus
DD Wyrick firing at Manus
DD Morris firing at Manus
DD Mustin firing at 42nd Naval Guard Unit
DD Hammann firing at Manus
DD Buchanan firing at Manus
DD Laffey firing at Manus
DD Aaron Ward firing at Manus

combatreport.txt

(5.76 KiB) Not downloaded yet

[Nomad]

January 23, 1943

Six groups of Nells tried night bombing the port at Rabaul. A squadron of Corsairs downed some and disrupted the bombing of the others.
Flak took a big toll also. No ships were hit and there were no port hits of any kind. But 26 Nells were lost by Xargun, 7 air-2-air and 19 flak.

The Naval Guard fragment at Lae was retreated.

At sea, the SS Sealion found 2 working Mk-14s.

Sub attack near Babeldaob at 91,95

Japanese Ships
TK Ogura Maru #2, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
PB Showa Maru #5

Allied Ships
SS Sealion

SS Sealion launches 4 torpedoes at TK Ogura Maru #2
PB Showa Maru #5 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Showa Maru #5 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Showa Maru #5 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Showa Maru #5 fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Showa Maru #5 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Hopefully the TK was full of fuel, but probably it was not since no fires were reported.

combatreport.txt

(8.61 KiB) Downloaded 1 time

[Nomad]

January 24, 1943

Nothing really happened.

I have spotted what appears to be KB or something with aircraft aboard at Wewak. I am considering sending the DS
to try to intercept.

combatreport.txt

(1.69 KiB) Downloaded 2 times

[CaptBeefheart]

Good to see you back. You probably thought of this, but one way to get Kavieng is do a para-drop on the base just east of Rabaul (Namatanai?), take it, land your ground troops and base force(s) and then march up New Ireland. That base would of course have to be lightly defended since you don't have a lot of paras at this stage. That might be quicker than waiting until your troops fully prepped and loaded onto APAs.

Cheers,
CB

[Nomad]

Good to see you back. You probably thought of this, but one way to get Kavieng is do a para-drop on the base just east of Rabaul (Namatanai?), take it, land your ground troops and base force(s) and then march up New Ireland. That base would of course have to be lightly defended since you don't have a lot of paras at this stage. That might be quicker than waiting until your troops fully prepped and loaded onto APAs.

Cheers,
CB

That is certainly a consideration and one I have thought about. Namatanai is lightly held, it seems to be another one of those he took and then removed most of the troops. I might do that operation, I am waiting to see what happens this next turn.

I ended up sending the DS, my CV Escort fleet and a very strong modern BB/DD TF to a hex just 4 away from Wewak. There might be a very large CV-CV battle this turn.

[BBfanboy]

Just what the peanut gallery looks for!