Return to the Valley of the Sun: Condor (USN) vs. Quark (IJN)

[wobbly]

An audacious plan and one that requires stealth [&o] . Is Lae lae still yours? if not then the game will be given away when you take it. I will continue surmising that you do own it. The great problem about building up a 0,0 base is time - man it takes alot of that - even with Seabee units. You will of course have to provide supplies for the construction - more trips with the APDs - more chances to be seen.

But it does have merit! If you manage to get it built without showing your hand 100 bazillion C-47s are going to get troops in quickly. Timing a run with more APDs with their heavy weapons and you have a viable plan! It will take time to move from lae lae to PM and although he has rubbish numbers of Topsys they may be able to up his defensive strength while they move; therefore make sure you keep hammering his airfield - so they crash on landing. he may just think the bombing is business as usual.

I look forward to seeing how this pans out.

[Shadow of the Condor]

Stealth is an understatement. No, Lae is now property of the IJN. I am banking on Quark biting hard on the hook. A bit more on the diversion (after Irau gets to be level 4):

1. Hudsons bomb Lunga from 20000 for a few days forcing Quark's gunners to use up AA ammunition.
2. After a few days of the Hudsons getting mauled, I switch to 2E bombers at 6000. I have over 200 of them at LV, all ready to go. All but 2 squadrons at 99 morale.
3. Show the TF. Let Quark see the BBs with DMS support. Heck, I may even run a DMS into Taivu, etc. as a premise for clearing the way. He should see APs, AKs, CVEs, BBs, and DMS headed north from LV.
4. The hope is that he sees the attack on Lae as a diversion for a move against Lunga, rather than the other way 'round.

That's the plan, anyway.

[;)]

[madflava13]

I like bold moves in UV... My concern is that your APDs will get spotted somewhere near GG - I think that's about where they'll be before their run in to Lae. If so, that gives him a day to move forces into the area. Where are his CVs? If he has them nearby and can move them in, he'll either murder your APDs or your C-47s...

All this hinges on not being spotted before the landing. I fear that even if you achieve surprise, he can still bombard Lae's tiny strip, keeping the C-47s out...

It might be worth the shot, but I think only if you know with some certainty where his major fleet assets are...

[PzB74]

I also like the plan [:)] The concerns Madflava raises are valid though, there are so many external factors beyond your controll that can ruin a plan that has taken quite some time to prepare.

From my experience of playing Crocky in 1943 as Japan, I know that the Japs are capable of moving a substantial force by fast transport. 2 regiments can be brought in in a matter of days.

I'm not sure you'd really want a base on the 'wrong' side of New Guinea. You'll wear out your C47's while his Zeroes at Rabaul and naval air arm LR CAP's it and his surface ships bomb it into the ground. Having a size 1 airport might give you somewhere to fly in troops, but they might end up like the stranded whale at Anzio.....

If you've read my aar, you've seen how I was able to counterattack and smash the bridgehead at Irau. Attempts to recapture them without a massive cv fleet has so far proved difficult.

I got a few suggestions; Firstly, I would have created a backup plan! Why not use destroyers in fast transport tf's to land engineer units at several places. Bothe Lea Lea and Lae are candidates I'd say.

Secondly; Your C47's can fly in your para bat's to provide ground support for them. This would take at least a full IJA regiment to defeat. This way you'd be less dependent on stealth!

Your decoy plan including Lunga is a good one, perhaps you could land units at Taivu next to Lunga and say that you'll build a bridgehead and then march into Lunga? You can provide LR CAP from Irau - this fact alone weighs so heavily that I'd even consider invading Lunga if I were you. 200 fighters stationed at Irau can blunt his air force, and the biggest challenge would be to defeat his surface fleet.

As I think about it, you might even consider this a back up plan for the backup plan [8D]
If the operation on NG doesn't show good promise, you can continue the operations on Lunga and inflict attrition on Quarks forces. What about Rennell isl just SE of Irau - can you grab that one as well?

As soon as you loose some ships, the cv's at Pearl should be released and your hand strengthened substantially.

Well, just a few thoughts - you know the actualy situation much better than me, but perhaps you find something usefull [:)]

[wobbly]

ORIGINAL: Shadow of the Condor

Gentlemen, at present, the enemy has no forces at Lae. We do not anticipate him sending forces there. The question, therefore is if we will be able to build an airstrip before he can march the 30 miles separating Port Moresby from Lae.

it sounds to me like he is talking about taking the dot hex next to PM - this statement gives it away.

So getting APDs into and out of the hex, unspotted, is not impossible. The fact it is japanese makes it a moot point though; he will see you are gunning at it when you capture it.
My step (as the japanese) would be to send a regiment there to crush your forces before you could stengthen the place - I would recon first to see what i was up against - get the feel of what you were up to. Upon finding engineers your plans would be a little more obvious.
The problem is the time the engineers can turn it into an airfield - it will be longer than it takes for him to move a regiment across. I think you will have to make some provision for sending in defending troops.

Then again he could see your Lea action as another diversion and not want to reduce the garrison at PM - your continued bombing of the place has shown you are interested.

you may find that this main effort does in fact become the diversion - you have greater forces arrayed against the Solomons, but is that a bad thing?

[Shadow of the Condor]

20 Feb 43
Wx: Overcast

Bad news from Buna. Tarpon was sunk by a barge. I still can’t believe I left her there for so long. One shot at a tanker. Two barges sunk. What a waste. I’m not very happy with myself for that.

<sigh>

Here’s the report:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/19/43

Weather: Overcast

Sub attack near Buna at 12,38

Japanese Ships
AG 5067, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Tarpon, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)

Not one of my better moves…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 45


no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 161

Port hits 8
Port supply hits 6

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
7 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
8 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
5 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet

Two bombers do not return.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Moving on….

I’ve read the comments about my proposal. Thanks to wobbly, madflava and PzB.

Based on aerial reconnaissance, the following forces are arrayed at PM:
One infantry unit with 6600 men and 50 guns, a second infantry unit with 1000 men and 3 guns, an engineer unit with 780 men, a second engineer unit with 40 men, and a CD unit with 240 men and 15 guns. If I can keep the pressure on the ports at PM, will Quark move one of his infantry units east?

As to his surface forces, I think they’ve all gone back to port to repair. His carriers are as hard to find as a nun in a … well … a “house of ill repute.” He seems to have land based his Vals and fighters.

As to getting Lae, there is another option I overlooked, and may be even more attractive than before. Argonaut is in Brisbane loading mines. She could move to TV, load 4 squads and take the beach. Then PBYs could send infantry squads (or combat engineers) to defend, while APDs send a few bulldozers. Argonaut can then load the squads and recon PM, with the benefit of dropping off 40 more mines, either at Lae or PM.

PzB, I have no paras to speak of. My first unit was slaughtered during the debacle of the first Lunga invasion, and it’ll be nine weeks until the paratroop regiment is available. As to moving against Taivu, that has definite possibilities. Quark must have a million mines at Taivu, Tulagi, and Lunga. I don’t like the idea of sweeping 90 miles of minefields escorting invasion forces. But landing at Taivu and building there… Of course, Quark has many more infantry units at Lunga, and I would be extremely surprised if he didn’t move south from Lunga with one of them. Still, it would give him something else to think about.

I do so want to time this with the bombing of Lunga (I’m attaching my two engine bomber strength in the pic). Knocking out his airpower at Lunga would be decisive. He slipped away from me at Cairns, when I had all of his fighters trapped on the ground. This has to be decisive, and quick. Could he then afford not to think I’m coming to Lunga with its level 9 airfield?

The 14th SeaBees were delivered to Irau, and the base is now 3 + 13%. I anticipate seven days needed to finish the improvement. The entire 2nd Marine Division awaits at LV. The US Army’s 43rd Infantry division is at Kourouratopo. What’s left of the 1st Marine Division is at Irau. The 25th Infantry is en route to LV as we speak. Taivu is within easy FT range of Irau for supply runs if needed.

200 medium bombers at LV…

4 P-38G squadrons at Wunpuko or Irau…

Corsairs at LV…

The Essex en route…

Interesting...

Always nice to talk things through before committing one way or another…

Or both?

(I’ve attached a map of the proposed operation – the sub moves are in response to Tarpon’s sinking and a concentration on Woodlark)

More to come

[Shadow of the Condor]

21 Feb 43
Wx: Partly Cloudy

Quark must not like my bombers mauling his ports. He threw almost everything he could against Cairns last night. He sent 75 bombers on a night raid and a bombardment task force. It almost saved him.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/20/43

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on Cairns , at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 8
G4M1 Betty x 67

Allied aircraft

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-70A Havoc x 3 destroyed
P-70A Havoc x 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 26

Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 66

Attacking Level Bombers:
6 x G4M1 Betty at 2000 feet
11 x G4M1 Betty at 2000 feet
14 x G4M1 Betty at 2000 feet
8 x G3M Nell at 5000 feet
11 x G4M1 Betty at 2000 feet
11 x G4M1 Betty at 2000 feet
14 x G4M1 Betty at 2000 feet

Shame about the Havocs. I had anticipated Quark would try a raid like this, but I was one turn too late.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Cairns, at 7,56


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
no losses

Airbase hits 8
Runway hits 38

This was a surprise. Where did they come from?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Cairns, at 7,56


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
no losses


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 17

Airbase hits 22
Runway hits 48

The IJN ships lob a few on their way out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40


Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 10
B-24D Liberator x 36


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 159

Port hits 3
Port supply hits 6

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
4 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
9 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
4 x PB4Y Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
5 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
6 x PB4Y Liberator at 6000 feet

Very happy to see PM take more damage. A round of cold ones for the engineers who worked filling in the potholes at the base getting it ready for the morning missions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 19,41

Japanese Ships
ML Saishu

Allied Ships
SS Guardfish

Almost…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First, Cairns is operational – but barely. Damage to the airfield is 46. Quark almost shut it down. The nightfighters were beat to the punch, and destroyed on the ground. Only 4 of them left in the squadron, and morale for them is understandably tanked. They’ve been moved back to Brissy. The Liberator strike damaged the heck out of PM (port damage level now 78), but I’ve pretty much shot the bolt with my four engine bombers at Cairns. The B-17s are at Brissy, and I’ve pulled the Liberators back to CT. Fighters remain at Cairns, but the only bombers there are under repair.

Second, Irau is moving along. The airfield is level 3 + 27%. I’ve earmarked a BF for transfer from LV. The Corsairs (morale 80) are pulled out, replaced with a second squadron of Lightnings (morale 98). Three LCIs carry almost half of the 7th SeaBees to Irau, and I’ve detailed three APDs at LV to being the rest. That would make three SeaBee Battalions on Irau. An LST is already at Irau. Having unloaded, it is bound for Kourouratopo. Time to start getting the 43rd Division moved to Irau. A second LST is due into Noumea tomorrow, with three more LCIs in two days.

Third, Argonaut leaves Brissy tonight bound for TV.

Finally, I have moved my second PB4Y Liberator squadron to Koumac. They are assigned a night raid over Lunga. We begin to work at the defenses erected at Guadalcanal…bit by bit. The operation to invade Taivu has been approved along with the operation to invade Lae.

More to come…

[Shadow of the Condor]

22 Feb 43
Wx: Partly Cloudy

No combat at all – but some very interesting sightings – not the least of which is a carrier at Woodlark. I doubt it’s a carrier, but S-37 sails into the port. 2 tankers were also spotted at Woodlark. An IJN destroyer spotted and destroyed one of the two mines laid by S-38. So much for that hope.

Quark didn’t follow up his raid on Cairns. That is a bit surprising.

The LST at Irau didn’t move. Home port and destination are Kourouratopo, she was empty but didn’t go. Maybe she’ll leave now.

Cairns damage down to 17, thanks in large part to the 15th Australian Engineer Battalion and the 19th SeaBees. Quark knows they’re at Cairns, but he doesn’t know the large part they are about to play. There is a sighting of a SC TF 360 miles NNE of Cairns. 7 ships called out – 2 cruisers and 4 destroyers, along with a transport. The transport is probably another destroyer. I think they’re leaving, but am not sure. I transferred 48 Marine SBDs from TV to Cairns to help them on their way.

Argonaut 180 miles ESE of RH, en route to TV. Her mission switched from minelaying to transport. She should make TV in 3 days.

APD Sands arrives at Brissy. She fuels and immediately heads for TV. With the modification in strategy, I’m only committing 3 APDs for the SWPAC operation. The rest will support the Solomons move. Stringham and Little are already at TV, although Little is only capable of 18 knotts right now. To give priority to repairs on the APD, all other damaged ships worse than Little are sent to RH.

Irau now level 3 + 41%. 154th BF stationed at LV now loading onto FT TF to begin transfer to Irau.

Things are beginning to come into focus…

[Shadow of the Condor]

23 Feb 43
Wx: Partly Cloudy

Good news from the combat reports:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/22/43

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Sub attack at 21,38

Japanese Ships
AP Neikai Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS Drum

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 10

Ending a long dry spell for the silent service.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 14

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 3 destroyed


1LT E.Edwards of 36th FS is credited with kill number 2

Well, if Quark wants to CAP his base with seaplanes, who am I to argue?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 13

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 2 destroyed


1LT L. Witt of 36th FS is credited with kill number 5

The afternoon sweep nets a couple more targets.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Intelligence also confirmed the sinking of the IJN destroyer Yamagumo. This brings the confirmed number of IJN vessels sunk to 193.

The IJN destroyer Yunagi hits a Mk12 mine at GG. She was escorting MSWs. Very nice indeed. The Mk12 packs quite a punch, and we’ll keep our eyes on the sunk ship list for her…

In addition to the 6 Rufes lost, the IJN lost 2 scout planes as well yesterday to operational losses. The Allies lost 0 planes yesterday.

While the pilots at Irau revel in the one-sided affair, one has to wonder where Quark has moved his veterans. Possibly back to Munda, as an airfield is there. The question still remains - why hold his best pilots back from a fight? Are his carriers back?

Irau airfield now at 3 + 56%. Moving along nicely. I transferred one Hudson squadron directly to Irau. I know it’s not a level 4 yet, but all I want is one or two days bombing Lunga from 20000. The PB4Y Liberators at wunpuko and a second Hudson squadron, at Kourouratopo, also join the raid on the airfields from 20,000 feet. One P-38G squadron at Irau escorts the bombers. APD TF unloading 35 AS of the 154th BF. Also, 24,000 tons of supplies now 90 miles from Irau. LST en route to Kourouratopo, as are 3 LCIs to begin the move of the 43rd Division to Irau in order to release the 1st Division Marines to Taivu.

All C-47s transferred to TV. All B-17s transferred to RH. Liberators resting up at CT. 3 PBY squadrons transferred to Cairns to search a bit deeper into IJN waters north of NG.

Argonaut 60 miles NNE of RH, en route to TV.

More to come…

[Shadow of the Condor]

No turn from Quark yet - he's still planning. Here's the combat report from yesterday:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/23/43

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Sub attack at 22,38

Japanese Ships
AP Neikai Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)

Allied Ships
SS Gato

The blockade claims its first kill, 30 miles NE away from the safety of Woodlark. Men of the 4th Naval Garrison got a quick swimming lesson.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Woodlark Island at 22,39

Allied Ships
SS S-37

PCs and an MSW hunt for the sub, but no luck.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 49

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 20
Hudson x 9
P-40E Warhawk x 21
P-38G Lightning x 41

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 6 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 damaged
Hudson x 1 destroyed
Hudson x 4 damaged
P-40E Warhawk x 6 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk x 6 damaged
P-38G Lightning x 2 damaged

WO O.Ochi of 11th Sentai is credited with kill number 4

Runway hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
8 x Hudson at 20000 feet
0 x Hudson at 20000 feet

Acceptable fighter losses. Nice to see damage from the Hudson at 20,000 feet.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 44

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 destroyed
Hudson x 5 damaged

Runway hits 2

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Hudson at 20000 feet
6 x Hudson at 20000 feet

More damage from altitude...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 44

Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y Liberator x 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 7
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 17

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x PB4Y Liberator at 20000 feet
9 x PB4Y Liberator at 20000 feet

Note to self - PB4Ys work great! (this turn anyway)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The decoy bombing runs over Lunga are actually scoring damage to the base - this is an unexpected bonus...

A barge also sank at Buna - I didn't think I attacked one, but I'll take it. I'm starting to see APs all over the place. Lea Lea, Buna, Woodlark, Shortlands... Quark admitted he's lost over half of his entire AP force. There can only be one reason why he continues to try to run the blockade. And he is moving east. Me thinks he wants Irau back.

I sent a propaganda e-mail to Quark stating that the Geneva Convention states I must warn him to get his planes out of Lunga while he can because I will unleash an attack that will make what I did to his airbase at Cairns look like practice.

[:D]

Nice thing about always telling the truth - sooner or later, the opponent will think what you just told him "has to be a lie...doesn't it?"

[Shadow of the Condor]

24 Feb 43
Wx: Clear

Quark gets a shot in...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/24/43

Weather: Overcast

Sub attack at 20,39

Japanese Ships
ML Ikitsushima

Allied Ships
SS Sturgeon

That ML is running a hot streak.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 42,44

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 42
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 25

no losses

Allied Ships
DM Montgomery, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)

She almost got away...Woodlark now has more mines for Quark to contend with. I made a bad mistake here. See below.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 42,44

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 36
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 24

no losses

Nothing but flotsam left for the second strike to fly over.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 22,38

Allied Ships
SS Drum

Not yet...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 22,38

Allied Ships
SS Drum

Drum stil can't get an atttack off...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Montgomery would still be here if, after running mines to Woodlark, I left her home port at Irau instead of LV. At least she would have been under fighter cover, not 30 miles away from it. Darn it.

Moving on, Irau now is 3 +87%. Air support troops at 170, and more unloading. B-25Js and A-20s on the ground there. I even sent a P-39D for good measure. Next turn, Irau becomes the level 4 airbase I wanted. Port development is next.

The 43rd division begins to move into Irau tomorrow. The process will take a while, but 2 APs and 4 AKs have been detached to help the process along.

Irau supplies at 53K, and an AK convoy is there now, unloading another 14000 tons. Quark missed that one while he was blowing my DM apart.

2 Hudson squadrons from Kourouratopo fly against Lunga tomorrow from 20,000 ft.

2 PB4Y Liberator squadrons fly from Wunpuko at 20,000 against Lunga.

The P-39D squadron at Irau flies at 100 ft. against the port at Irau and the barges there.

After this raid tomorrow, my 2E bombers take over from Irau.

Meanwhile, Argonaut arrives at TV tomorrow. Recon planned for NG beginning in two days. 3 PBY squadrons are at Cairns, ready to fly in troops once the beach at Lae is in Allied hands.

All C-47s at TV ready to fly infantry in once the runway is carved out. Things are beginning to move. Indeed, they are beginning to move quickly.

I sent my esteemed opponent one word in the e-mail dispatch:

"Showtime".

More to come...

[Shadow of the Condor]

26 Feb 43
Wx: Clear

Showtime begins today. It opens with another sub success in the west at Basilaki, and moves to the east as the now level 4 base at Irau begins to pay its own way...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/25/43

Weather: Clear

Sub attack near Basilaki Island at 18,42

Japanese Ships
MSW Fumi Maru #2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)

Allied Ships
SS Guardfish

The MSWs tend to go up pretty quickly.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40

Japanese aircraft

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12
P-39D Airacobra x 20
P-40E Warhawk x 10
P-38G Lightning x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 3 destroyed
D3A Val x 17 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 3 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 4 damaged

Quark was really discouraged at this result - especially after his earlier raids on Cairns didn't produce similar results.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40

Japanese aircraft

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 1 damaged


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 5

Runway hits 2

Attacking Level Bombers:
8 x Hudson at 20000 feet
3 x Hudson at 20000 feet
9 x Hudson at 20000 feet
3 x Hudson at 20000 feet
3 x Hudson at 20000 feet
3 x Hudson at 20000 feet

Where is the CAP???
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40


Allied aircraft
PB4Y Liberator x 19


no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 15

Airbase hits 15
Runway hits 22

Attacking Level Bombers:
9 x PB4Y Liberator at 20000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator at 20000 feet
3 x PB4Y Liberator at 20000 feet
4 x PB4Y Liberator at 20000 feet

Another CAP free raid.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
P-38G Lightning x 9


no losses

The afternoon sweep gets no takers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lunga now has an airbase damage of 31 (according to our intel reports). That number is about to get bigger. Next up: 80 B-25J Mitchell bombers. Then, 48 A-20s, followed by another 80 B-26 Marauders.

Lunga is about to become a crater.

More to come...
More to come...

[Shadow of the Condor]

27 Feb 43
Wx: Partly Cloudy

Quark’s carriers come out of hiding, and launch an air attack that sinks 8 ships. Unfortunately, when his pilots return to their carriers, they learn they hit the wrong target…

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/26/43

Weather: Clear

Sub attack at 19,39

Japanese Ships
DD Maikaze

Allied Ships
SS Seadragon, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Spotted before she could attack, Seadragon has a flotation damage of 70 as a result of this attack. Time to nursemaid her home.
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Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 17

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 13
B-25J Mitchell x 66

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell x 1 destroyed
B-25J Mitchell x 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 157
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 78

Attacking Level Bombers:
9 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
1 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
1 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
10 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
4 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
3 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
16 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
9 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
3 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
9 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet

Only 66 bombers fly, but they score big as Quark’s AA is ineffectual. One bomber lost to AA, two damaged by AA, and one damaged by CAP. The lone IJN air causality fell to the escorts. Reports of the weak AA lift the spirits of the next group to add to the reduction of Lunga.
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Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 16

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 12

no losses

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 13

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 3

Attacking Level Bombers:
6 x Hudson at 20000 feet
6 x Hudson at 20000 feet

Even the Hudsons score today – a proverbial milk run.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Irau at 42,43

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 29
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 82

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21
P-38G Lightning x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 1 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 damaged
P-38G Lightning x 5 damaged

CPT J. Mitchell of 67th FS is credited with kill number 3

Allied Ships
AK Sculptor
AK Rotanin, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Gainsar
DD Worden
AK Idomeneus
AK Grumium
AK Electra, Bomb hits 2

Quark’s LBA from Lunga gets one last mission (hopefully) off against the cargo ships. Nothing sunk, but Rotanin has seen better days.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Irau at 42,43

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 59
A6M3 Zero x 18
D3A Val x 71
B5N Kate x 49

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
P-38G Lightning x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 10 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 3 destroyed
B5N Kate x 2 damaged
J1N1-R Irving x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 damaged
P-38G Lightning x 2 destroyed
P-38G Lightning x 1 damaged

CPT J. Mitchell of 67th FS is credited with kill number 7

LTJG I.Hirata of BII-1 Daitai is KILLED

Allied Ships
SC 705, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
SC 644, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
SC 642, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
SC 646, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
SC 638
SC 640
SC 708, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
SC 643, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
SC 709, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)

Quark’s elation at seeing his carriers launch an anti-ship strike must have turned to dust in his hands as the pride of IJN naval aviation unleashes their massive strike against seven sub-chasers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Kourouratopo at 52,48

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 15 damaged

Allied Ships
SC 700
SC 740, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet

Unfortunately, I had to move the P-39Ds to make room for a second Hudson squadron on Kourouratopo. Still, one SC for one Nell. A fair trade.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------[\i]

Lunga airbase damage reported at 38 – given the inflated combat report BDA totals, that’s probably accurate. Will Quark risk keeping his planes at Lunga for another day? Showtime rolls on as the tired B-25Js are rotated out, the effective ones join 48 A-20’s for day two of bombing raids, and as many B-26s as I can get to the field at Irau transfer in.

Irau port level 0 +7%. Supplies are at 64000+ tons. The AK TF that delivered them is ordered home ASAP (Quark says his CV TF is retiring, but I don’t buy that for a moment). I’ve also ordered the 67th FS to provide LRCAP for the cargo ships as they sail away. Nothing but PT boats and SCs left at Irau (other than a tanker – read on). I’m also sending the bombers in unescorted. They should be fine, unless Quark pulls the old trick of using his CV fighters to LRCAP Lunga. Even if he does, the 2E bombers can take care of themselves better than 17 floating targets in the middle of the ocean. Only 200 tons left on board – not enough to risk losing one of the ships. Rotanin has a SYS of 55 and FLT of 20. She should be alright. Three LCIs are unloading a third AA unit at Irau. The tanker Kurumba returns to Irau with 2900 fuel points for the base there.

11 SCs are transferred from Kourouratopo to Irau to help confuse the IJN pilots should they appear again.

Later……

Showtime indeed does roll on. I only had to send back one B-25J squadron to LV. Three B-26 squadrons transfer in to Irau. 194 aircraft now at the base. The B-25Js and A-20s total 114 aircraft. They fly the next raid.

I’m also sending the 2nd Marine Division to Irau. The 25th US Army ID is almost completely at LV, so they can garrison the base there.

Meanwhile, at TV, 4 ANZAC squads load aboard Argonaut and the sub slips away from the Australian coast.

More to come...

[Shadow of the Condor]

28 Feb 43
Wx: Clear

Showtime rolls on, this time with the A-20s joining the raids. Quark has tumbled onto how serious this is going to be, as he sends the vaunted “Zero wall” against the bombers. His e-mail said he ordered 110 fighters to CAP Lunga, but only 35 showed. The bombers took their lumps, but Lunga now has problems of its own…


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/27/43

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Sub attack at 24,40

Japanese Ships
ML Tsugaru

Allied Ships
SS Sculpin

Talk about a charmed ship… that’s three attacks missed on the minelayer.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
A6M3 Zero x 7
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 17

Allied aircraft
A-20B Boston x 16
A-20G Havoc x 25
B-25J Mitchell x 64

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3 damaged
D3A Val x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
A-20B Boston x 1 destroyed
A-20B Boston x 2 damaged
A-20G Havoc x 3 destroyed
A-20G Havoc x 1 damaged
B-25J Mitchell x 3 destroyed
B-25J Mitchell x 12 damaged

PO2 C.Matsuki of F1/253rd Daitai is credited with kill number 2

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 436
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 21
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 123

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x A-20G Havoc at 6000 feet
5 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
12 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
2 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
4 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
10 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
10 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
3 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
3 x A-20B Boston at 6000 feet
9 x A-20G Havoc at 6000 feet
5 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
2 x A-20B Boston at 6000 feet
9 x A-20B Boston at 6000 feet
3 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
7 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
10 x A-20G Havoc at 6000 feet

Nothing like airpower to get your point across…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The B-26s move in today, as another round of bombs is planned for Lunga. Hudsons still will hit from 20000.

The 2nd Marine Division begins the move to Irau. The 43rd ID is already en route. The tanker Kurumba is off-loading fuel for the base. The port at Irau went from level 0 + 7% to level 1 in one day! Love those SeaBees!

The Irau/Lunga relationship is almost like the Efate/Luganville. It’s hard to hold only one of the two.

More to come…

[Shadow of the Condor]

1 Mar 43
Wx: Clear

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02/28/43

Weather: Clear

Sub attack at 20,39

Japanese Ships
ML Ikitsushima, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS Sturgeon

Sturgeon finally puts an end to the minelayer’s luck.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 46


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 16

Port hits 4

Attacking Level Bombers:
9 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
6 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
4 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
6 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
9 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet

Not very effective, but it does draw the IJN commander’s attention away from Lunga – or appears to.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40

Japanese aircraft

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 23
A-20G Havoc x 10
B-26B Marauder x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
A-20G Havoc x 4 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 79

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 66

Attacking Level Bombers:
0 x A-20G Havoc at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
0 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
0 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
9 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
0 x A-20G Havoc at 6000 feet
1 x A-20G Havoc at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
0 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
4 x A-20G Havoc at 6000 feet
12 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
0 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
5 x A-20G Havoc at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet

Lunga airbase damage now at 76
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 3


no losses

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 20000 feet

At least the Hudsons all came back.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 28th Regiment, at 38,40


Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 23


Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 10

Learned a lesson here – see below.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No fighters were over Lunga last turn. AA was again minimal at best. Quark’s 6 AA units at Lunga must have high disruption values or a deep desire to switch sides. The P-39D raid on ground forces was less than anticipated. As the base seems closed (can’t ever really tell), I’m switching the fighter bombers to hit the airfield at 100 feet. The medium bombers will still pound the airfield for another day or so, then work over the port facilities. Have to remember to keep an eye on the airbase damage each turn, and hope bad weather doesn’t give the IJN time to extricate their aircraft from the base. At last count, estimates place 84 fighters, 35 bombers, and 100 auxiliary aircraft at the base.

Argonaut sails on as ships pull into Cairns harbor. One DMS, two destroyers, and two APDs (I contemplated stripping my SC TF of their destroyers to assist, but decided against it). They were spotted by a recon flight over the base, but hopefully Quark will see them as simply transporting troops to Cairns. The little task force has been disbanded, and will load their cargo in two days.

I’ve also sent two squadrons of B-17s from RH to Cairns. I’m getting a bit tired of the recon from Lae. Perhaps I can nail a few of the bombers on the ground.

More to come…

[Shadow of the Condor]

2 Mar 43
Wx: Clear

Good bombing weather continues, as so does Showtime. More bombs fall, as the Allies lose one plane this day, as opposed to the seven lost by the IJN (6 of which were on the ground):

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/01/43

Weather: Clear

Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40

Japanese aircraft

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 24
P-38G Lightning x 15
B-25J Mitchell x 10
B-26B Marauder x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4 damaged
D3A Val x 3 destroyed
D3A Val x 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 2 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 233
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 32

Attacking Level Bombers:
9 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
0 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
0 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
9 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
6 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
1 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
7 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet

Airbase damage showing 68 after the attacks...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 6


no losses

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 20000 feet
3 x Hudson at 20000 feet

Every little bit helps ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40


Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 15


no losses

No LRCAP takers...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More fighter-bombers at Irau (24 Beaufighters) set to strafe the airbase. I also have sent two Marine SBD squadrons to Irau with a Naval Attack primary mission, and a Port attack mission against Lunga as secondary. All medium bombers will now concentrate on Lunga's ports.

Argonaut was spotted as an AK one day south of PM. Quark immediately emailed "what's that sub doing there?" I told him that it was Argo, and that he should now run his MSWs to PM. It isn't technically a lie - I will drop mines at PM, just not next turn [:)].

His spotting of the Argonaut may also have an hidden advantage - if I can load a single AK and run it north...will he think it's another sub...? I wonder...

Meanwhile, five ships load at Cairns and put to sea tonight. Destination: Lea Lea (which I had been calling Lae for the longest time - duh).

And in the "Taivu trench" (deep water hex just east of Taivu), Tarpon was ready to unload two Raider squads to claim the beach there. I held her up one day to time the landing after the landing at Lea Lea. This way, the IJN commander may see the Lea Lea landing as diversionary.

All barges carrying troops from Kourouratopo to Irau now are home basing at Irau, in preparation for carrying the Marines the short distance from irau to Taivu.

Things are really breaking loose now...

More to come...

[Shadow of the Condor]

3 Mar 43
Wx: Thunderstorms

The weather does not stop Showtime, as I order the B-25J Mitchells to join the fighter-bombers already raking the airfield with their bombs and machineguns. The B-26B Marauders and A-20 Boston and Havocs continue to work the port over. Quark did LRCAP Lunga last turn, and that was a bit of a surprise, although the effects against my planes were negligible. The first attacks on the ports at Lunga yield a surprise…

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/02/43

Weather: Clear

Sub attack near Shortland Island at 29,34

Allied Ships
SS S-46

Thought his CV TF may port here…but neve got a chance to find out.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae , at 9,33

Japanese aircraft

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
no losses

no losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

Attacking Level Bombers:
6 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet

The first night raid against Lae. No planes hit, but some damage for him to repair. We’ll keep at it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Buna , at 12,38


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 1 damaged

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet

I think this squadron will join the others hitting Lae and leaving Buna alone. Less AA at Lae.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Shortland Island at 29,34

Japanese Ships
AG 362, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)

Allied Ships
SS S-46

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 14

I guess a barge carrying troops is a “carrier” – isn’t it?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 10,34

Allied Ships
SS Amberjack

Sailing into Lae, and getting chased under immediately.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Lae at 9,33

Japanese Ships
AG 357, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)

Allied Ships
SS Amberjack

Another barge in the wrong place and wrong time.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
A6M3 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 24
P-39D Airacobra x 23
A-20G Havoc x 10
B-25J Mitchell x 10
B-26B Marauder x 58

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged
D3A Val x 3 destroyed
D3A Val x 8 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIC x 1 destroyed
Beaufighter VIC x 4 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 2 damaged
A-20G Havoc x 2 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 10 damaged

WO K.Mikami of F1/253rd Daitai is credited with kill number 6

Japanese Ships
AP Kensho Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
SS I-24, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 235
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 39
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 4

Attacking Level Bombers:
9 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
10 x A-20G Havoc at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
6 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
6 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet
11 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
12 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
4 x B-25J Mitchell at 6000 feet

Finding and sinking two ships in port was a nice surprise, even if they are derelicts the IJN likes to leave around as targets.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I did move an F5A Lightning recon squadron to Kourouratopo to get a (hopefully) better bomb damage assessment. The damage at Lunga now shows 82 to the airbase, and 31 to the port (enemy e-mail intercepts seemed to be taunting the switch to port attacks – maybe the two ships there weren’t derelicts after all). With the air threat from Lunga neutralized, the plan is to use FBs to keep it closed while switching the medium bombers to port attacks until it too has massive damage. This way his supply situation should start to get worse and disruption/fatigue levels among his troops there should begin to climb faster.

Meanwhile, next turn the IJN commander will find the Allies have returned to New Guinea. Argonaut is at Lea Lea and unloading her passengers. The beach should be in Allied hands the day after that. Also coming ashore tonight will be 9 engineer squads, 9 bulldozers, and 18 support squads from the Australian 15th Engineer Battalion, currently aboard the FT TF comprised of APDs Stringham and Sands, along with the DMS Southard. Once the beach is in Allied hands, the PBYs can begin to transport troops/supplies there. Once the runway gets built the C47s can begin their airlift in earnest. As to Argonaut’s mines, I’ve decided to mine the waters at Lea Lea instead of Port Moresby. (Okay, I lied – sue me.) Quark will no doubt send a cruiser TF to park it at Lea Lea to block any more FT arrivals. Mines there should make him rethink that option.

Also on the next turn the IJN commander will have neighbors on Taivu, as Trout is ordered to make the 30 mile run and unload the Raider squads on the beach there. Barges are assembling at Irau to begin moving troops to there (with MSW support).

The submarine Flying Fish arrived three days ago and was en route to the blockade area. I’ve decided to send it to help defend at Lea Lea instead. As a matter of fact, The entire blockade is going to split tomorrow, freeing Woodlark from its clutches. GG will be blockaded, and subs will also set up around PM, to help guard the TV/Lea Lea lane from a SC TF response.

If the operation at Lea Lea works and I can get fighters to the field covering supply runs and daily airlifts of ground forces, the enemy will be in serious trouble at PM. If it doesn’t, I will have lost an engineer battalion and possibly a few ships. It seems a good risk/reward ratio.

The Essex battle group is nine days away…

More to come…

[Shadow of the Condor]

Quark e-mailed the CR, but said he needed to rethink the turn having spotted Allied engineers at Lea Lea [X(]. Heck, I may just pull them out now to get him reacting to me all over the place. <weg>

Tomorrow, he's going to find Allied engineers at Taivu. [8D]

Meanwhile, the reduction of Lunga continues...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/03/43

Weather: Thunderstorms

Sub attack at 10,34

Allied Ships
SS Amberjack

False sighting...?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 10,34

Allied Ships
SS Amberjack

I've got a jumpy skipper. I can live with that, though...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 36


no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 22

Port hits 3
Port supply hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
5 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet

I'm not under illusions about closing the port again, but every bit I can delay off-loading helps...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40

Japanese aircraft

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 13
Beaufighter VIC x 21
P-38G Lightning x 24
A-20G Havoc x 10
B-25J Mitchell x 10
B-26B Marauder x 47

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 10 damaged
D3A Val x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell x 7 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 382
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 34
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 3

Attacking Level Bombers:
9 x A-20G Havoc at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
1 x A-20G Havoc at 6000 feet
10 x B-25J Mitchell at 100 feet
7 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
14 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
11 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet

Very, very nice indeed. I can picture the devastation as the planes tear up the base. Something else not to be overlooked is for the past four or five turns, the base has lost on average 250 personnel a day...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Shadow of the Condor]

5 Mar 43
Wx: Partly Cloudy

Well – where to begin? The plans are in motion, and the next few days are going to be critical ones.

As always, let’s look at the combat from yesterday. Some good news to report:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/04/43

Weather: Rain

Sub attack at 10,34

Japanese Ships
TK Shinkoku Maru

Allied Ships
SS Amberjack

That’s twice the tanker has beaten the sub. I remember a minelayer that pressed it’s luck as well…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 33


no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 40

Port hits 4

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
6 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
3 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
9 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
4 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet
8 x B-24D Liberator at 6000 feet

This brings Moresby’s port damage to a reported level of 41.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40

Japanese aircraft

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 6
Beaufighter VIC x 18
P-40E Warhawk x 14
P-38G Lightning x 33
A-20G Havoc x 10
B-26B Marauder x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 5 destroyed
D3A Val x 1 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 201

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 51

Attacking Level Bombers:
1 x A-20G Havoc at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
9 x A-20G Havoc at 6000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet

Another 200 troops gone, another six planes destroyed, and more holes in the runway for the engineers to fill in with their shovels. The forecast is for more of the same. The damaged allied bomber has already been repaired.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Sepi at 38,38


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 30


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Takunan Maru
AP Tenryu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Jusan Maru
AP Hokuhi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Taganoura Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kamoi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 52
Guns lost 1

Lookee what my dive bomber pilots found headed to Lunga…and with no fighter cover?? [:-]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lea Lea

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 96 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Allied forces CAPTURE Lea Lea base !!!

And here it is. Possibly a pivot point in the whole campaign if I can pull my plan off.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lots of good news, as you heard in the briefing. The attack on the transports with no fighter protection, more carnage at Lunga, and the recapture of Lea Lea. With the report that the beach is back in Allied hands, the operations officer at Townsvile gives the go ahead to the squadron leaders of 60 PBY Catalinas to transport the 2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion to Lea Lea immediately.

Meanwhile, work begins at Lea Lea on the runway. Currently, the little beach has 44 infantry squads, one 105mm howitzer, 31 engineer squads, and nine bulldozers. The assault value of the infantry is 3.

Not quite the force designed to strike fear into the heart of the IJN, but they aren’t there to fight. APDs continue to make the run between Cairns and Lea Lea. I can already tell this is going to be maddeningly slow. But all I need is a lousy level 1 runway scratched out of the dirt. Just one runway…

Meanwhile, I have tried to calculate the enemy’s reaction to the intrusion on his NG empire. He has a reported 3 infantry units at PM. I have been hitting the ports with some regularity, so it should take longer for him to load/unload, fuel, etc. One option he has at his disposal is to simply march one of the infantry units the thirty miles and wipe out the invaders. To counter that, his vaunted search aircraft will report a taskforce due south of PM which has 4 APs, 2 MSWs, and 2 DDs. If he moves an infantry unit from PM and then sees an AP TF with minesweeper support headed for PM, will he re-think his action and keep the defenders there? What is working to my advantage is the fact that ground forces would need 7 to 8 days on the march to go from PM to Lea Lea (4 miles a day, IIRC).

Another option the enemy commander may try is to use his own FT and bring troops ashore that way. This does scare me, but Argonaut has dropped her mines in the waters surrounding the beach and has headed south. I am moving the entire submarine blockade from Woodlark to GG, and finally to PM. But my best counter here may be the ability of the PBYs to get more troops on the ground than my opponent can. Way back in the first two weeks of the game, I did the same trick with Operation Rose. Once his FT TF arrived, he needed two days to attack – one day to unload and the second to attack.

Another TF should be reported to the IJN commander tomorrow. Tennessee and her escorts are about halfway to GG from Brisbane. Colorado and her escorts left today and also sail north, but they bring along with them the minelayer Sicard. I will try to get mines into GG with this force.

As for enemy airstrikes…will he reveal where his planes are to bomb 4 engineer squads? Or will he bite down hard on the APs headed north to PM?

Al is not quiet in the Solomons, either. The 1st Marine Division Raider Battalion has 4 squads at Taivu. They attack today and we should have that beach in our hands tomorrow. 25 barges have already loaded and left Irau for Taivu. On board is the remnant of the original Parachute Brigade (12 artillery pieces), as well as the remainder of the Raider Battalion.

How will he react to the incursion near Lunga? He has already had one reinforcing AP TF been attacked and hurt, will he use his carrier fighters to LRCAP others?

Speaking of which, I have moved my own CVEs into the area. They escort the battleship Indianapolis. They are now SSE of Irau, and may be able to get a strike off if the enemy CVs appear. They aren’t hanging around long, but we have a replenishment TF with 7000 fuel points being unloaded at Irau. I doubt the IJN will be able to resist such a target. He keeps referring to his “dream team” of fighter pilots (a whole squadron of aces) that will run amok among my rookie pilots.

At Irau, the port level is now 2 + 3%. Supplies at 59,000+ tons. Assault strength of ground troops now at 431. All combat troops have left Kourouratopo and are unloading at Irau. Will the IJN contest me for the base there?

Now we wait. Both Quark and I have relatively a free weekend (lots of rain here in Chicago the whole past week put a damper on much outside work), so maybe we can get a few more turns on the forum.

Stay tuned, more to surely come…

[Shadow of the Condor]

6 Mar 43
Wx: Partly Cloudy

Lots of air-to-air action as Quark LRCAPs Lunga from his carriers now seen west of Lunga by about 180 miles. (A sub is headed there now…) According to the tally, the Allies lose 43 planes, while the IJN loses 44 – with 42 of them Zeroes! I hope they are all from his carriers…

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/05/43

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 79


no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 85
Guns lost 1

Port hits 12
Port supply hits 2

Attacking Level Bombers:
6 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
5 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
12 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
8 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
8 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
6 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet

That should keep the ports clogged a turn or two.
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Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 87

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 18
P-40E Warhawk x 20
P-38G Lightning x 50
A-20G Havoc x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 15 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair x 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk x 8 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk x 5 damaged
P-38G Lightning x 10 destroyed
P-38G Lightning x 4 damaged
A-20G Havoc x 10 damaged

PO1 O.Banno of BII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 10

CPT W.Leach of 35th FS bails out and is CAPTURED

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 10

Attacking Level Bombers:
8 x A-20G Havoc at 6000 feet
1 x A-20G Havoc at 6000 feet

Quark LRCAPs (finally) Lunga. I was about to give up on him. The fighters do their thing…
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Air attack on 15th Aus Engineer Battalion, at 9,39

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 32

no losses


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 29

Attacking Level Bombers:
14 x B5N Kate at 5000 feet
18 x B5N Kate at 5000 feet

From Buna…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 15th Aus Engineer Battalion, at 9,39

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 10
G4M1 Betty x 22

no losses


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 29
Vehicles lost 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
10 x G3M Nell at 8000 feet
11 x G4M1 Betty at 8000 feet
11 x G4M1 Betty at 8000 feet

From Lae – the loss of the bulldozer hurts.
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Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 38,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 68

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 14
SBD Dauntless x 29
P-40E Warhawk x 8
P-38G Lightning x 37
B-25J Mitchell x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 16 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair x 1 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair x 2 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 18 damaged
P-40E Warhawk x 1 destroyed
P-38G Lightning x 10 destroyed
P-38G Lightning x 5 damaged
B-25J Mitchell x 8 damaged

ENS A.Kaneko of EIII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 9

CPO B.Muto of BII-1 Daitai is KILLED

Japanese Ships
DD Hatakaze
DD Tanikaze, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kagero
AP Teiyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Harukaze

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-25J Mitchell at 100 feet
1 x B-25J Mitchell at 100 feet
4 x B-25J Mitchell at 100 feet

Wow…talk about carnage…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 38,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 50

Allied aircraft
B-25J Mitchell x 4

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25J Mitchell x 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Hokuhi Maru, Shell hits 4

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-25J Mitchell at 100 feet

A bit late, but gets a few hits in.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Taivu

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 60 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Taivu base !!!



LTJG R.Matsumoto of EI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3

Barge traffic is already en route to reinforce the newest acquisition.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My fears came true. Quark landed an infantry force at Lea Lea (he didn’t waste any time, did he?). According to recon, there are about 800 troops in the lone enemy formation. Thanks to the PBYs, the entire 2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion is on the ground now at Lea Lea. I now have 253 infantry squads, and a total of 1700+ ground troops at the beach. I wonder how many of Quark’s troops are combat squads. Today, the PBYs will haul as many US Army troops of the 158th Infantry Battalion as they can to beef up the defense of the beach and allow the engineers to finish their job.

And in the lucky find of the day…The fortification level of Lea Lea has been upgraded to 1. I’m not sure if this automatically happens (and didn’t pay attention to it when I took the base yesterday), but it will help buy me time…

The B-17s will shift their target from PM to the IJN troops who landed at Lea Lea. They will also be joined by the Liberators from CT. There should be close to 100 four-engine bombers above the 800 ground troops tomorrow. Let’s see how they attack after that.

Fatigued bombers and fighters rotated out of Irau, a fresh batch of planes with 90+ morale rotated in. They immediately get assigned to port bombing, naval attack, and/or airfield attack duties. Irau is back up to 190 operational aircraft. More troops landing…assault strength now 461. Two supply convoys en route to Irau with almost 40,000 tons of supplies. 10,000 fuel points already unloaded at Irau…the oilers have about 3000 more to off-load and they’re out of there.

I decide to nose my CVEs in closer towards Lunga now that I know the IJN CV TF is on the wrong side of the base, and just had it’s fighters halved. Maybe they can get a few APs themselves. 12 ships observed in the port at Lunga…

The sub net is moving almost as a single entity around the horn at GG to begin the blockade of PM.

This is getting interesting…