Back and Better Than Ever Vettim 89(A) vs Greasylake(J)

[BBfanboy]

vettim89: AMPH units were seen unloading at Moulmein but when I opened the turn - no Japanese units - odd.

Only time I have seen that sort of thing is when my amphib landing aborted (enemy strength or damage to amphibs) and reloaded the troops still alive during the same turn.

[vettim89]

Big Turn

What I will call KB drifted west and sank a TK at Addu atoll. No a lot of other ships at sea in that area. Hate losing the TK but it could have been worse.

I-9 puts multiple torpedoes into CV Indomitable NW of Bombay. Float is at 75 as she makes for Bombay. This one will be close. No matter what I do his subs keep terrorizing my ships at sea.

Troops actually land at Moulmein this turn

Tjepoe falls on Java

I thought I would send the RAN to see what was up at PM. Multiple rounds of battle occurred. Was hoping for better results that this

Cruisers at PM.jpg (289.07 KiB) Viewed 409 times

Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Yura, Shell hits 2
CL Tama, Shell hits 9, heavy fires
CL Kiso, Shell hits 2
CL Oi, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
DD Kuroshio, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Urakaze, Shell hits 1
DD Shigure
DD Yamakaze

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Canberra, Shell hits 4
CL Perth, Shell hits 2
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Isis
DD Hatfield, Shell hits 3

then

Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 2
DD Nenohi
DD Sazanami, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Isis, Shell hits 4, on fire

Then

Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 97,131, Range 23,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Yura, Shell hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Kiso, Shell hits 1
DD Kuroshio, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Urakaze

Allied Ships
CA Canberra, Shell hits 1
CL Perth, Shell hits 2
DD Hatfield, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Then Nells form Rabaul descended on the remnants

Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 25

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DD Isis, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CL Adelaide, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CA Australia, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

S-42 applies the final blow in this day long running battle

Submarine attack near Port Moresby at 97,131

Japanese Ships
CL Yura, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-42

IT was a risk but I just couldn't give up PM without some sort of a fight. Canberra and Perth are retiring towards Syndney

[RangerJoe]

Fly night naval search, fly day naval search, fly ASW at 100 feet or 1000 feet, and have multiple highly skilled good ASW vessels with good captains along with a good TF leader. Hope for good weather!

[vettim89]

A rather slow turn after a pretty exciting day

Moulmein falls. Only a placeholder unit was holding it so no biggin. The retreat towards Prome continues.

Flooding holds on Indomitable. Still creeping towards Bombay. Unfortunately her 22k displacement means she will eventually have to go to Cape Town for repairs

An ASW TF engaged an I-boat near Cochin and manage one hit.

B-17s hit PM and rip up some stragglers. B-26s try but fail to hit some merchies at PM. Once Cooktown reaches a level 2 AB, A-24s there can reach PM. Maybe they can do some more damage.

Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 6
B-17E Fortress x 7

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PB Chitose Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Kuroshio, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Nichiryo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

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

Runway hits 1

[vettim89]

And the invasion bonus has officially ended.

Not much going on this turn.

Larry continues to push towards Sian. I have another 500+ AV that will arrive in this hex next turn. The presence of the tanks is a concern because I have read in other AARs that Chinese tend to melt when assaulted by AFVs

Ground combat at 87,41 (near Tsiaotso)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36949 troops, 378 guns, 393 vehicles, Assault Value = 1233

Defending force 13535 troops, 96 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 489

Japanese adjusted assault: 864

Allied adjusted defense: 637

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
525 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 56 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 23 (2 destroyed, 21 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1485 casualties reported
Squads: 24 destroyed, 139 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 10 disabled
Guns lost 13 (2 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Assaulting units:
5th Armored Car Co
15th Tank Regiment
37th Division
41st Division
12th Tank Regiment
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
7th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Army
12th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion

Defending units:
34th Regional Army Corps
33rd Regional Army Corps
43rd Regional Army Corps
8th Group Army

And in the area of absurdity, KB drifts further west only to bag a single TK south of Diego Garcia. We have a house rule about not camping off map exit areas and this is coming close to that. I will raise the issue if he doesn't pull back soon. Somewhere out there there has to be a juicy RPL TF. Beyond my NavSearch range

[BBfanboy]

Re: Indomitable - doesn't it withdraw? If so, maybe you can withdraw it at Bombay and pick up some VPs for early withdrawal. Of course you have to repair it to under 50 points of damage if possible.

Re: Chinese units and tanks - because it was so hopeless for the Chinese, the last update of .1126a/B gave the Chinese units a few anti-tank guns. If they have a good leader, decent morale and some experience they can inflict casualties on the tanks if there aren't too many of them. Many players play a house rule that Tank Death Stars are forbidden.

[vettim89]

May arrives and with it TBFs and actually production of C-47s

No sign of the IJN CVs in the IO. At some point there have to return to port. He has been pretty active with his carrier fleet in the last month and those ships have got to be tired, right? With hopes that I might get a reprieve for a while I decided to send PoW to Cape Town to free up the shipyard at Colombo for Indomitable. It will take a few days to get escorts in place and for PoW to become active so I have some time to be sure the KB has vacated the area. Larry did tell me that his NavSearch results suggested he was chasing the RN not just a lone TK.

I thought there might be an unprotected AMPH TF at Moulmein. I thought wrong <oops>

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
CA Chokai, Shell hits 1
CA Nachi
DD Shiranui
DD Nowaki
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi
DD Umikaze
DD Akatsuki

Allied Ships
CL Dauntless, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

The IJA has arrived at Pegu with three units; so the units retreating from Moulmein are now blocked. They will take the long way around past Toungoo. At least they will keep my opponent occupied with rear security

CLAA Atlanta has arrived at Not-Bora Bora. She will try to catch up with the US CVTF just west of Auckland. I plan to stand down all my CV air for a few turns to lower fatigue before heading north so Atlanta should be able to catch up.

I made a choice to convert all my Wickes class DDs to DEs. I know some of you will be unhappy with this as the standard practice is to change them to APD. I have just lost so many DDs to this point that by switching to DE I can free up effective DDs from convoy escort.

My concerns about Japanese armor in China seem unfounded

Ground combat at 87,41 (near Tsiaotso)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 36510 troops, 378 guns, 393 vehicles, Assault Value = 1176

Defending force 25793 troops, 199 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 928

Japanese adjusted assault: 633

Allied adjusted defense: 1327

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
1192 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 123 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 39 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Vehicles lost 113 (9 destroyed, 104 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
1113 casualties reported
Squads: 18 destroyed, 120 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled

Assaulting units:
12th Tank Regiment
37th Division
8th Ind.Mixed Brigade
15th Tank Regiment
41st Division
5th Armored Car Co
2nd Ind.Mixed Brigade
1st Army
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
7th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
20th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
12th Ind.Hvy.Art Battalion

Defending units:
34th Regional Army Corps
3rd Central Army Corps
33rd Regional Army Corps
43rd Regional Army Corps
8th Group Army

B-17s hit PM again

Afternoon Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17D Fortress x 6
B-17E Fortress x 9

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CL Yura, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

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

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4

[BBfanboy]

Did you check the ASW rating of APDs? They are pretty good for the early phase of the war. And they are useful throughout the war (as fast transports) whereas the 4-stacker DEs are soon obsolescent when newer ASW vessels arrive.

[vettim89]

Did you check the ASW rating of APDs? They are pretty good for the early phase of the war. And they are useful throughout the war (as fast transports) whereas the 4-stacker DEs are soon obsolescent when newer ASW vessels arrive.

The rub is the DEs get 1000 nm more range so that's the rub isn't it?

[vettim89]

Pegu falls. Then the IJA shock attacks across the river against the retreating Moulmein force. Because Larry has not taken Tavoy, the units retreat south not NE.

IJN Bombards Ambon and tangles with PTs

Night Time Surface Combat, near Ambon at 76,109, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Suzuya
CA Furutaka
CA Kako
DD Asashio
DD Arashio
DD Yugure
DD Shirakumo
DD Isonami

Allied Ships
PT TM-10
PT TM-11
PT TM-12
PT TM-13
PT TM-14

Night Naval bombardment of Ambon at 76,109 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

5 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Kako
CA Furutaka
CA Suzuya
CA Mogami

Allied ground losses:
155 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 19
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 1

Daylight dawns and well you know...

Day Time Surface Combat, near Namlea at 76,108, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Suzuya
CA Furutaka
CA Kako
DD Asashio
DD Arashio
DD Yugure
DD Shirakumo
DD Isonami

Allied Ships
PT TM-10
PT TM-11, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT TM-12, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT TM-13, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT TM-14

[vettim89]

LR Cap out of Akyab over Prome hurts the Japanese. The morning attack took out three more bombers. I suspect the Oscars will be back soon.

Afternoon Air attack on 101st RAF Base Force, at 55,50 (Prome)

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 84 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 9
Ki-30 Ann x 4

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-30 Ann: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

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

It was sub day.

Sub attack near Phuket at 47,68

Japanese Ships
AMC Awata Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DMS W-12
xAK Ryoyo Maru
DD Yukaze
DD Hayate

Allied Ships
SS Trusty

and

Sub attack near Truk at 113,100

Japanese Ships
xAK Somedono Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Uji Maru
xAK Surabaya Maru
xAK Nasusan Maru
xAK Seikai Maru
xAK Panama Maru
PB Ronsan Maru
PB Tama Maru #8

Allied Ships
SS Salmon

Heard sinking sounds after both of these attacks. And just to rub salt into the wound

Submarine attack near Goa at 29,29

Japanese Ships
SS I-21

Allied Ships
TK British Trader

[RangerJoe]

Did you check the ASW rating of APDs? They are pretty good for the early phase of the war. And they are useful throughout the war (as fast transports) whereas the 4-stacker DEs are soon obsolescent when newer ASW vessels arrive.

The rub is the DEs get 1000 nm more range so that's the rub isn't it?

If the convoys travel from base to base that has aerial naval search and/or ASW, then those escorts can fuel at those bases. If not, they can refuel from the ships that they are escorting.

[RangerJoe]

Re: Indomitable - doesn't it withdraw? If so, maybe you can withdraw it at Bombay and pick up some VPs for early withdrawal. Of course you have to repair it to under 50 points of damage if possible.

Re: Chinese units and tanks - because it was so hopeless for the Chinese, the last update of .1126a/B gave the Chinese units a few anti-tank guns. If they have a good leader, decent morale and some experience they can inflict casualties on the tanks if there aren't too many of them. Many players play a house rule that Tank Death Stars are forbidden.

I don't think that there are PPs (not VPs!) for early withdrawl. The air units withdrawn early get PPs.

[vettim89]

Probably the biggest day for ai battles since December 7th.

KB Shows up off Colombo again. I lost PoW but am not too terribly saddened by that. Its kind of been a weight on my planning since she made it out of Singapore. Ironic though that it was just as I was thinking of moving her to Cape Town that she sinks. Fortunes of war old man. BTW Indomitable is not a CV that withdraws so her preservation is important. I think I can move her to Colombo now. You'll see why below

Morning Air attack on TF, near Colombo at 29,48

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 58
D3A1 Val x 9

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane IIc x 12
Hurricane IIb Trop x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 4 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Sea Hurricane IIc: 1 destroyed
Hurricane IIb Trop: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
AMc Rampur, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
AMc Madura, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMc Poona

Afternoon Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 59 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 56
B5N2 Kate x 78
D3A1 Val x 17

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane IIc x 3
Hurricane IIb Trop x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 13 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 10 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Bomb hits 12, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Romney, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AS Colombia, Bomb hits 1
DD Decoy, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Port hits 7
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

Once is not enough

Afternoon Air attack on Colombo , at 29,48

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
B5N2 Kate x 27
D3A1 Val x 45

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 5 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 10 damaged
D3A1 Val: 15 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb Trop: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
SS O19, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AS Colombia, Bomb hits 1
xAK Steaua Romania, Bomb hits 1, on fire
SS O20, Bomb hits 1
SS KXV, Bomb hits 1
BB Prince of Wales, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Decoy, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Repair Shipyard hits 3
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1

I swept Samarang and did better than I thought I would. Losses were two Oscars and One zero against one P-40 and one Buffalo

Larry did not send the Oscars to Burma so RAF took a piece out of the bombers

Morning Air attack on 108th RAF Base Force, at 55,51 , near Prome

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 21

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb Trop x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 11 destroyed, 1 damaged

No Allied losses

Overall air losses were decidedly on the Allies side this turn. He got PoW but that ship was almost useless to me at this point. I wonder how many pilots were lost from KB

AL 5 5 42.jpg (91.02 KiB) Viewed 288 times

One unit arrived at Prome. I decided to do a deliberate attack here as I think I have a significant AV advantage. IJA also arrives at Rangoon.

Soerobaja falls

Ground combat at Soerabaja (56,104)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 57059 troops, 703 guns, 534 vehicles, Assault Value = 1998

Defending force 9685 troops, 49 guns, 4 vehicles, Assault Value = 208

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 2

Japanese adjusted assault: 1348

Allied adjusted defense: 150

Japanese assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Soerabaja !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
B-339D: 1 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
394 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 78 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled

Allied ground losses:
5632 casualties reported
Squads: 157 destroyed, 42 disabled
Non Combat: 248 destroyed, 134 disabled
Engineers: 63 destroyed, 17 disabled
Guns lost 45 (43 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 6
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
48th Recon Regiment
Imperial Guards Division
4th Tank Regiment
14th Tank Regiment
56th Engineer Regiment
20th Division
5th Division
18th Division
7th Tank Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
56th Field Artillery Regiment
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
5th Mortar Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st RF Gun Battalion
2nd Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
2nd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Artilleriecommando Coastal Gun Battalion
Marinier Battalion
2 ML-KNIL Aviation
MLD
Commandement Marine
Soerabaja Base Force

Just waiting for the recent replacements to repair before I send the US CVs north. Atlanta may make it to Auckland in time but I won't wait for her

[vettim89]

Game slows down. Rangoon fell on the 6th. Prome is holding firm. Larry is continuing the hard push north of Loyang

Biggest development is a sub sank a TK off the Cook Islands. I have not been escorting a lot of the merchies through this area. This is going to require a massive reorientation

Oh and CV Illustrious arrives and silly me didn't check the refit schedule and she goes into a 58 day refit they day after she arrives.

[vettim89]

Game is in a slow period as Larry repositions his forces.

Dutch subs redeployed after Soerabaja's fall. Heard sinking sounds so I think the AV is kaput. Suspect he was tryin to set up a patrol base on Sumatra.

Submarine attack near Phuket at 47,69

Japanese Ships
AV Sagara Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXVII

Japanese forces arrive at Tarakan (finally). CD guns give them a rude welcome

Pre-Invasion action off Tarakan (67,91) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

106 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CL Katori, Shell hits 2
DD Yakaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAP Manzyu Maru, Shell hits 12, heavy fires
xAP Kasado Maru, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
xAP Palau Maru

Japanese ground losses:
144 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

North of Loyang the Chinese hold

Ground combat at 87,41 (near Tsiaotso)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 59694 troops, 644 guns, 333 vehicles, Assault Value = 1885

Defending force 24921 troops, 197 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 820

Japanese adjusted assault: 818

Allied adjusted defense: 2299

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
5620 casualties reported
Squads: 119 destroyed, 318 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 11 destroyed, 27 disabled
Guns lost 37 (5 destroyed, 32 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
856 casualties reported
Squads: 28 destroyed, 88 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)

The CDs may have bought Tarakan some time

Ground combat at Tarakan (67,91)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1176 troops, 28 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 52

Defending force 565 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 34

Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
VII KNIL Battalion
Tarakan Coastal Gun Battalion
Tarakan Base Force

Defending units:
1st Indpt SNLF Coy /1
42nd Nav Gd /1
46th Nav Gd /1

US CVs are east of Townsville and will move to just south of Milne Bay to allow a fast transport TF and a small supply convoy to reach the base. Also have some minelayers trying to make it up there but there are sooooo slow

[vettim89]

Things do not improve for the IJN at Tarakan. At least one ship sunk

Invasion Support action off Tarakan (67,91) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

65 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CL Katori, Shell hits 6, on fire
xAP Manzyu Maru, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Palau Maru
DD Yakaze, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
9 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

more

Invasion Support action off Tarakan (67,91)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

60 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAP Tango Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAP Palau Maru
CL Katori
DD Yakaze

Japanese ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

More please

Invasion Support action off Tarakan (67,91)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

63 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAP Tango Maru, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Katori
xAP Palau Maru
DD Yakaze

Japanese ground losses:
29 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

IJNAF attack Batavia> Dutch AF still in the fight

Afternoon Air attack on Batavia , at 49,98

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 8 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
D3A1 Val x 12

Allied aircraft
B-339D x 4
Hurricane IIb Trop x 11
P-40E Warhawk x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

The 132nd Inf RGT arrives at Noumea. The entire Americal is now there. With Noumea in good shape I will now worry about Efate and eventually Lugainville.

US CVs will be off Milne bay next turn. See if we get a fight

[vettim89]

Carnage continues at Tarakan

Invasion Support action off Tarakan (67,91)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

39 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAP Tango Maru, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Palau Maru
DD Yakaze

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Invasion Support action off Tarakan (67,91)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

62 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAP Palau Maru, Shell hits 15, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Katori
DD Yakaze

Japanese ground losses:
51 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Invasion Support action off Tarakan (67,91)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

35
Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
xAP Palau Maru, Shell hits 20, heavy fires, heavy damage

Dutch AF didn't want to get left out

Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarakan at 67,91

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 9

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Katori
xAP Palau Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Dutch Navy was feeling neglected

Sub attack near Tavoy at 53,57

Japanese Ships
xAP Tatsuta Maru, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
xAP Keihuku Maru
xAP Miike Maru
xAP Asama Maru
xAK Hokuroku Maru
DD Matsukaze

Allied Ships
SS KIX

Supplies are being landed at Milne Bay. US CVs are not harassed. Unfortunately an I-boat nabbed an APD between Townsville and Milne Bay. Of course none of the dozens of patrol A/C spotted this sub before she took her prey. Rest of TF continues to move toward the delivery point.

[vettim89]

Not much going on elsewhere on the map. Japanese invade Manus. Larry likely reinforcing at Tarakan

So we had us a CV battle. I am both happy and displeased. I got off fairly light but didn't do much damage either. A lot of the Japanese attention was distracted to the AMPH TF at Milne Bay itself which probably played into my favor. So here it goes

Milne Bay.jpg (390.23 KiB) Viewed 114 times

Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 86 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
G3M2 Nell x 28

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 11
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
F4F-4 Wildcat x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 11 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Canberra, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Perth
DD Evertsen

Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 104 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 38 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
B5N2 Kate x 22
D3A1 Val x 22

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 3
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Perth, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Voyager
CA Canberra, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

So my CV air made no AM attacks. Why???

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,134

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 31
B5N2 Kate x 46

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 8
F4F-3 Wildcat x 10
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 11 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 4 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CV Lexington
CV Enterprise, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CV Hornet

So my guys finally decide to go after the IJN in the PM. Wow, 51 SBDs = 3 hits

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 105,129

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9
SBD-3 Dauntless x 51

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 6 destroyed, 10 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 1
CS Mizuho
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 2, on fire

IJN still going after the Aussies

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A1 Val x 36

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed, 6 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CL Perth, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Van Nes
CA Canberra, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Evertsen

TBDs lacked the range to get to the IJN CVs. Some success

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 104,132

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 19
TBD-1 Devastator x 24

Allied aircraft losses
TBD-1 Devastator: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Isuzu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Uzuki

SBDs failed to coordinate.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 105,129

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 11 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho

This attack was the most successful of the day but only 500 lb bomb hits

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 105,129

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 23 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
SBD-2 Dauntless x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 1
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 1
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Enterprise is fine with 20 Flotation Damage. I suspect Kaga is at least out of the war for a while. Shoho is not very sturdy, so perhaps two bomb hits will be enough. Air loss were decidedly in my favor. I check my groups and I lost very few pilots so that good. Everybody is withdrawing south now

al 5 14 42.jpg (89.55 KiB) Viewed 114 times

[vettim89]

Just want to show the status of the RAN ships now disbanded at Milne Bay. Suspect the Nells will come on Port Attack next turn. Canberra is at 53 major Flotation Damage and Perth is at 19 major. Canberra is likely a loss but maybe Perth can get out