May 1942 Japanese AI verus Mogami

[mogami]

Hi, Situation on 1 May 1942 is well known. The major problem facing the Allies is a lack of supply at all the forward bases. I'm setting up the pipeline to Austraila/Noumea and moving supply from Karachi to Chandpur (the most forward port in CBI)
Chinese are digging in.
Since we know the Japanese Coral Sea Operation is in progress I am sending all available USN and Commonwealth ships to oppose.
Japanese landed on Gili and Tulagi/Lunga during first week. 2 More USN CV arrived Noumea on May 15th.
On 16 May (current date) I formed 2 aircombat TF at Noumea. Lex and Yorktown under Halsey and Enterprise and Hornet under Spruance. Along with a surface TF of 3 CA they are heading first towards Tulagi but will swing over towards Gili to cover Australian surface TF moving there in support of a landing on Gili by the 41st USA divison. (as soon as transports return from moving USA 32nd Div to Port Morseby.)

[GBirkn]

Thanks, Mogami -- I've been looking forward to seeing how this part of the war would play out in WitP.

[mogami]

I lost my first ship. CL Leander took two torpedos from I-4 120 miles from Cairns the TF escort dropped DC on I-4 and then found another submarine and DC'd it as well (I-28) no report of their status other then they were hit.
The USN CV have made a port attack on Tulagi (TBD, the SBD remained on Naval attack)
First supply convoys have arrived at Pearl from San Francisco. Limited supply being forwarded to Noumea. (I need to get over 20k there so I can replace aircraft)

[byron13]

Uh, guys, Guadalcanal is misspelled on the map.

[freeboy]

It is a test to see if anyone actually looks at the details, first hundred to post all the mispellings win an all expense trip to origins.. not

[byron13]

How about just an advanced copy of the game?

[freeboy]

we are in those painfully acute days where the taste is in out mouths but the dining room is reserved for the party ahead of us..
Hope it is out this summer, northern hemisphere...[:D]

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: Mogami

I lost my first ship. CL Leander took two torpedos from I-4 120 miles from Cairns the TF escort dropped DC on I-4 and then found another submarine and DC'd it as well (I-28) no report of their status other then they were hit.

Hmmm...Allied ASW batting 1000.[;)](inside joke, sort of)

[byron13]

So what level of AI are you playing? One day turns?

By the way, thanks for sparing us with the blow-by-blow description of moving cargo ships hither and yon.

[GBirkn]

ORIGINAL: byron13

Uh, guys, Guadalcanal is misspelled on the map.

I think I speak for all of us when I say that spelling fixes can wait for a patch! [:D]

[mogami]

ORIGINAL: Ron Saueracker

ORIGINAL: Mogami

I lost my first ship. CL Leander took two torpedos from I-4 120 miles from Cairns the TF escort dropped DC on I-4 and then found another submarine and DC'd it as well (I-28) no report of their status other then they were hit.

Hmmm...Allied ASW batting 1000.[;)](inside joke, sort of)

No, I've missed quite a few enemy submarines.

Historical level 1 day turns.

[mogami]

(or what goes in must come out)


Japanese bombard Port Moresby with TF composed of two BB and escorts. However the 4 USN CV are near Shortlands and will move to intercept.

[tsimmonds]

Salamaua is also misspelled.[;)]

[dwesolick]

ORIGINAL: byron13

Uh, guys, Guadalcanal is misspelled on the map.

[mogami]

Allied pilots. (Not every mission a pilot flies counts as a mission. So all these pilots have flown more missions then shown)

[mogami]

Hi, I've began a new one to test new air to air changes. Because the Marines held out against the first attack I've commited the USN to relief of Wake Island. The Japanese will pay for it.
The 2 USN CV at sea on Dec 7 join up under Halsey and move towards Wake. After detaching several CA and DD for surface combat the CV stand by to attack the next day.
2 IJN CL and 1 DD reported as sunk.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/12/41

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Wake Island at 82,63

Japanese Ships
AK Kongo Maru
DD Hayate
DD Mochizuki
DD Yayoi
DD Kisaragi
DD Mutsuki
CL Tenryu

Allied Ships
SS Triton

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Wake Island at 82,63

Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 1
CL Tatsuta, Shell hits 4
CL Yubari, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Mutsuki, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Kisaragi, Shell hits 1
DD Yayoi
DD Mochizuki
DD Oite, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hayate
AP Kinryu Maru
AK Kongo Maru

Allied Ships
CA Chester
CA Chicago, Shell hits 1
CA Salt Lake City
CA Astoria
DD Gridley
DD Maury
DD Dunlap, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Fanning
DD Mahan
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
DD Flusser
DD Balch


Day Air attack on TF at 83,62


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 12
SBD Dauntless x 36
TBD Devastator x 15


no losses

Japanese Ships
DD Oite, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kinryu Maru, Bomb hits 10, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
3 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet

Day Air attack on TF at 83,62


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 49
TBD Devastator x 24


Allied aircraft losses
TBD Devastator: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Yubari, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kisaragi, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hayate, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Mochizuki
DD Mutsuki, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
2 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x TBD Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 83,62


Allied aircraft
F2A Buffalo x 11
F4F-3 Wildcat x 12
SBD Dauntless x 15


no losses

Japanese Ships
CL Tatsuta, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet

[elmo3]

Two questions:

The Japanese were superior to the US in night engagements early in the war. Were they surprised in the battle you listed above?

Only 1 US a/c damaged out of 73 attacking the Japanese fleet. Is that a fluke from your experience or is Japanese anti aircraft fire buggy?

Thanks.