Been a while since I updated this AAR--we were deadlined for about a week with hardware issues, but everything's been sorted out. So on to May 22 & 23....
I think we're both avoiding one another's forces to a degree. Marc has reinforced Port Moresby and keeps sending out minor harassing raids, but likely doesn't feel like pushing any further north. I've occupied all of my intended first-wave targets, but need to wait for reinforcements before tackling PM, given that it's now absolutely crawling with aircraft (how is he keeping them all supplied?).
The upshot of this is that there's no substantive action to report on the 22nd and 23rd. His subs miss a couple of shots at vessels returning from convoy duty here and there, and my Betties and Nells manage to suffer an unfortunate number of ops casualties in an attempt to bag some B-17s on the ground at Cooktown (I scored 1 TBD Devastator destroyed and a couple damaged--pah!). Four suicidal Hudsons also mount a low-level bombing attack on my cruiser-destroyer squadron as it pulls back into Rabaul to refuel. Mind you, when I try this as the Allies, there's not enough left of my Hudsons to build an aluminum doghouse. Marc's flyers, however, manage to plink the Kinugasa with a 250-pound bomb and escape with minor flak damage. Kinugasa's fine--the bomb bounced off the deck armor--but this is still annoying.
My carriers are now a day out of Rabaul. They'll refuel there, then head north to Truk to meet up with the Hiryu and her destroyer squadron (now 7 days out). The cruisers and destroyers will also move to Truk. They've racked up enough system damage that I want to let them sit for a couple of weeks. Besides, I've got plenty of heavy metal headed my way. The battleships Kongo and Kirishima, CA Mogami, and CS Chitose are headed for Truk with a strong destroyer flotilla. Kaga is sitting in Japan awaiting escorts, and many other fleet and light carriers and battleships will be joining her within the next two weeks. If released, they'll probably reach Truk about the same time as the leading elements of the 2nd and 38th Divisions. Then I can start getting more aggressive in dealing with the Port Moresby problem.
The 25th Independent Mixed Brigade has nearly finished unloading at Wewak. My engineers at Lae have finally repaired the base enough for aircraft to fly, and the two Rufe squadrons are both sent up to Wewak to train and rebuild. The Mavis squadron will stay put and continue to fly Naval Search/Recon missions. Finally, all units of the 65th Brigade are boarding transports at Truk before heading for Lunga. They should arrive in about a week.
The Second Battle of Ohio--Buckeye5 (IJN) vs. marcgto (Allies)
May 24-26.
O.K. We've finally got the hardware problems licked, it looks like--just in time for Marc to leave for vacation. So after this week, I probably won't have any updates for at least a week.
Actually, I've got precious little to report now. I'm just fiddling away, waiting for troops, planes, and ships to show up in theatre. The 24th and 25th were thunderstorm days--we must have had at least eight days of thunderstorms this month--so nothing at all happens on those days, aside from logistics convoys sailing here, there, and everywhere.
The weather clears on the 26th, and the Allies take advantage of it to launch heavy airstrikes from Port Moresby at both Lae and Gili Gili. Lae's airfield takes another pounding and is closed down again--which doesn't matter, since the Mavis squadron transferred to Wewak a couple of days ago, and so there are no planes there. Gili Gili also takes some port damage, but the garrison unit there escapes damage.
My huge tanker convoy pulls into Rabaul...and one of my oilers promptly eats a torpedo from a lurking S-boat. When a torpedo hits an oiler full of fuel, the resulting fires are BIG!!! I split the oiler off from the convoy and put it into port at Rabaul in an effort to save it. SYS and FLT damage don't look that bad, but the fires could change that in a hurry if they're not put out. My pathetic PGs and PCs, predicably, whiff completely on the sub--they can't even find it. Some B-17s and Hudsons from Port Moresby (or perhaps Australia?) try to add to the carnage, but can't hit anything.
My Nells and Betties were set to naval strike, with the Zeroes covering them, but either targets aren't found, or they are and the pilots decided to sit today out. Pffft.
My Claude squadron at Truk finally filled out from the replacement pool, so they're ordered back to Rabaul to provide additional CAP. They can't stand up to allied fighters, but no fighters can make it as far as Rabaul, so they'll only have to deal with unescorted bombers. I don't expect wonders against the B-17s, but nailing some Hudsons would be nice.
Hiryu and escorts are four days from Truk. 2 BBs and more escorts are about nine days out, and I've got more transports in the pipeline than I can shake a stick at. Kaga and Junyo are in Japan awaiting release, and Akagi, Soryu, and Ryujo will join them within the next ten days. Soon....
Actually, I've got precious little to report now. I'm just fiddling away, waiting for troops, planes, and ships to show up in theatre. The 24th and 25th were thunderstorm days--we must have had at least eight days of thunderstorms this month--so nothing at all happens on those days, aside from logistics convoys sailing here, there, and everywhere.
The weather clears on the 26th, and the Allies take advantage of it to launch heavy airstrikes from Port Moresby at both Lae and Gili Gili. Lae's airfield takes another pounding and is closed down again--which doesn't matter, since the Mavis squadron transferred to Wewak a couple of days ago, and so there are no planes there. Gili Gili also takes some port damage, but the garrison unit there escapes damage.
My huge tanker convoy pulls into Rabaul...and one of my oilers promptly eats a torpedo from a lurking S-boat. When a torpedo hits an oiler full of fuel, the resulting fires are BIG!!! I split the oiler off from the convoy and put it into port at Rabaul in an effort to save it. SYS and FLT damage don't look that bad, but the fires could change that in a hurry if they're not put out. My pathetic PGs and PCs, predicably, whiff completely on the sub--they can't even find it. Some B-17s and Hudsons from Port Moresby (or perhaps Australia?) try to add to the carnage, but can't hit anything.
My Nells and Betties were set to naval strike, with the Zeroes covering them, but either targets aren't found, or they are and the pilots decided to sit today out. Pffft.
My Claude squadron at Truk finally filled out from the replacement pool, so they're ordered back to Rabaul to provide additional CAP. They can't stand up to allied fighters, but no fighters can make it as far as Rabaul, so they'll only have to deal with unescorted bombers. I don't expect wonders against the B-17s, but nailing some Hudsons would be nice.
Hiryu and escorts are four days from Truk. 2 BBs and more escorts are about nine days out, and I've got more transports in the pipeline than I can shake a stick at. Kaga and Junyo are in Japan awaiting release, and Akagi, Soryu, and Ryujo will join them within the next ten days. Soon....
May 27
Thunderstorms. Again. I'm shocked, shocked I tell you!
The t-storms put a damper on air actions today. For the first time in a while, my subs try to get involved. I-21, staking out the gap in the barrier reef outside of Cairns, attempts two attacks, but is spotted by escorts both times and forced to dive. One of the RAAN minesweepers actually fired depth charges at I-21, but she missed. Curious...I wonder where those ships are going? I-21 is ordered to reposition inside the barrier reef just south of Cooktown. Maybe those ships are a supply convoy heading north?
There are at least two Allied subs parked in the Rabaul port hex. This is irritating, particularly with all the tankers currently unloading at the base, so I do what I can to deal with them. The tankers are disbanded into port (bless the UV programming that allows you to unload fuel while in port!), and their escorts are formed into a surface combat hunter-killer group. All available float planes except for the Mavis squadron are put on low-level ASW patrol, as is one squadron of Nells. A lot of effort for a couple of S-boats, but I don't need my tankers getting perforated this early in the game. Fortunately, Sata (the oiler torpedoed yesterday) looks like it'll survive. The fires are nearly out, and the floatation damage should be fixed in a couple of days. Unfortunately, her system damage is bad enough that she'll either need an extended stay at Truk or a trip back to Japan.
The entire 65th Brigade is now en route to Lunga to take over from the exhausted and rapidly-deteriorating naval garrison units that originally seized Guadalcanal. Those guys are going to need a long rest, so they'll ride the same transport fleet back to Truk. A base force and more AA support will be a couple of days behind the 65th Brigade, and a big tanker convoy is hauling fuel to Lunga as well.
Lastly, heavy naval reinforcements are now in the pipeline. The carriers Kaga and Junyo, escorted by the light carrier Ryujo, 2 CAs, 2 CLs, and 8 DDs, are now steaming at full speed for Truk. When they arrive, I'll have 5 CVs and 2 CVLs, with Akagi and Soryu likely not far behind them.
The t-storms put a damper on air actions today. For the first time in a while, my subs try to get involved. I-21, staking out the gap in the barrier reef outside of Cairns, attempts two attacks, but is spotted by escorts both times and forced to dive. One of the RAAN minesweepers actually fired depth charges at I-21, but she missed. Curious...I wonder where those ships are going? I-21 is ordered to reposition inside the barrier reef just south of Cooktown. Maybe those ships are a supply convoy heading north?
There are at least two Allied subs parked in the Rabaul port hex. This is irritating, particularly with all the tankers currently unloading at the base, so I do what I can to deal with them. The tankers are disbanded into port (bless the UV programming that allows you to unload fuel while in port!), and their escorts are formed into a surface combat hunter-killer group. All available float planes except for the Mavis squadron are put on low-level ASW patrol, as is one squadron of Nells. A lot of effort for a couple of S-boats, but I don't need my tankers getting perforated this early in the game. Fortunately, Sata (the oiler torpedoed yesterday) looks like it'll survive. The fires are nearly out, and the floatation damage should be fixed in a couple of days. Unfortunately, her system damage is bad enough that she'll either need an extended stay at Truk or a trip back to Japan.
The entire 65th Brigade is now en route to Lunga to take over from the exhausted and rapidly-deteriorating naval garrison units that originally seized Guadalcanal. Those guys are going to need a long rest, so they'll ride the same transport fleet back to Truk. A base force and more AA support will be a couple of days behind the 65th Brigade, and a big tanker convoy is hauling fuel to Lunga as well.
Lastly, heavy naval reinforcements are now in the pipeline. The carriers Kaga and Junyo, escorted by the light carrier Ryujo, 2 CAs, 2 CLs, and 8 DDs, are now steaming at full speed for Truk. When they arrive, I'll have 5 CVs and 2 CVLs, with Akagi and Soryu likely not far behind them.
May 28-30
Sub ops are the main event during this three-day period. The 28th is another action-free day, but on the 29th one of the subs at Rabaul takes a pop at my ASW task force. The torpedo spread narrowly misses PC Ch 10, and the PC and her consorts are unable to locate the sub. The attacker is identified as the Greenling, which is a bit surprising--odd to have a fleet boat staking out a major shallow-water port like Rabaul. My ASW aircraft take a couple of shots at Greenling later in the day, but come up empty.
On the 30th, two of the transport convoys returning from Wewak pull into Truk harbor to discover an S-boat waiting for them--ballsy move taking an S-boat that far north, given how little endurance they have. Marc must be basing them from Port Moresby, which gives me one more reason to get that base reduced. Fortunately, her aim is no better than Greenling's, although my escorts again miss.
My own subs finally put in an appearance, as I-21 puts a single Long Lance into the transport Esperance Bay outside the barrier reef about 300 miles north of Brisbane. Unfortunately, this won't be much of an inconvenience, as Esperance Bay is one of the big APs...the hit probably just slowed her down a bit. A patrolling subchaser fires on I-21, but hits the wrong patch of ocean. Torpedoes expended, I-21's skipper sets course for Rabaul to re-arm.
Hiryu and her escorts have arrived at Truk, as have Shokaku, Zuikaku, and their screening vessels. I'm tempted to form a 3 CV/1CVL task force and head south to hit Port Moresby, but I resist the temptation. I have two more carriers, another CVL, and 2 seaplane cruisers en route from Japan, and I'll likely have an additional 2 CVs, seaplane cruiser, and CVL within three weeks...not to mention numerous cruisers, battleships, and destroyers. When I do hit PM, I want to hit it HARD, so I'll wait for overwhelming numbers before I start to move south.
In the meantime, I'm digging in and reinforcing my positions. Lunga is now a level 2 airfield, so it'll get some fighters as soon as I have them to spare. The 65th Brigade will begin unloading there tomorrow, and the exhausted and depleted naval garrison units that have now completed the trek back from Tassafaronga and Taivu will be lifted out. The Yazawa Detatchment is headed for Shortland (I really need an HQ unit there), and the lead elements of the 2nd Division have arrived at Truk--the entire 2nd Division and the 38th Division will be on hand about the same time as the last major elements of Kido Butai arrive, so that works out nicely.
I thicken the aerial ASW patrols over Truk and Rabaul, put my important ships into port to avoid sub attack, and continue to bide my time.
On the 30th, two of the transport convoys returning from Wewak pull into Truk harbor to discover an S-boat waiting for them--ballsy move taking an S-boat that far north, given how little endurance they have. Marc must be basing them from Port Moresby, which gives me one more reason to get that base reduced. Fortunately, her aim is no better than Greenling's, although my escorts again miss.
My own subs finally put in an appearance, as I-21 puts a single Long Lance into the transport Esperance Bay outside the barrier reef about 300 miles north of Brisbane. Unfortunately, this won't be much of an inconvenience, as Esperance Bay is one of the big APs...the hit probably just slowed her down a bit. A patrolling subchaser fires on I-21, but hits the wrong patch of ocean. Torpedoes expended, I-21's skipper sets course for Rabaul to re-arm.
Hiryu and her escorts have arrived at Truk, as have Shokaku, Zuikaku, and their screening vessels. I'm tempted to form a 3 CV/1CVL task force and head south to hit Port Moresby, but I resist the temptation. I have two more carriers, another CVL, and 2 seaplane cruisers en route from Japan, and I'll likely have an additional 2 CVs, seaplane cruiser, and CVL within three weeks...not to mention numerous cruisers, battleships, and destroyers. When I do hit PM, I want to hit it HARD, so I'll wait for overwhelming numbers before I start to move south.
In the meantime, I'm digging in and reinforcing my positions. Lunga is now a level 2 airfield, so it'll get some fighters as soon as I have them to spare. The 65th Brigade will begin unloading there tomorrow, and the exhausted and depleted naval garrison units that have now completed the trek back from Tassafaronga and Taivu will be lifted out. The Yazawa Detatchment is headed for Shortland (I really need an HQ unit there), and the lead elements of the 2nd Division have arrived at Truk--the entire 2nd Division and the 38th Division will be on hand about the same time as the last major elements of Kido Butai arrive, so that works out nicely.
I thicken the aerial ASW patrols over Truk and Rabaul, put my important ships into port to avoid sub attack, and continue to bide my time.
Back in the saddle again (May 31-June 2)
Marc's back from vacation, so we're at it again. These 3 days are relatively boring--I'm still waiting for reinforcements. However, the Allied LBA at Port Moresby is really starting to p**s me off. A supply convoy offloading at Kavieng was targeted by a pair of Mitchell/Hudson strikes, which put bombs into 3 or 4 transports--none of them will sink, but a couple of them are banged up badly enough that they'll be sitting at Truk for a LOOONNNG time. Even worse, S-39 is STILL parked in Truk harbor, and it launches another attack on a troop convoy loading engineer reinforcements for Rabaul. Fortunately, it misses, but my ASW escorts can't hit it, and my spotter planes can't find it. To add injury to insult, one of my own subs is spotted about four hexes south of Port Moresby by a patrolling B-17, attacked, and HIT! By a B-17! Who was flying that thing, Jimmy frickin' Doolittle?! Again, the damage isn't that bad, but that's two fleet subs that have been hit by air attack, and this one was in deep water. If this keeps up, it's going to be a real long war for my subs.
I get a little payback on June 1 and 2. First, an Allied AP crippled by aerial torpedoes several days ago sinks as her captain tries to get her back south to Brisbane. Second, the AV Tangier runs afoul of an I-boat during what I believe was an FT supply run to Efate. Two Long Lance hits later and the big seaplane tender goes down by the stern and sinks.
I've got two battleships in theater now, with another on the way. Kaga, Junyo, and Ryujo are six days from Truk, Akagi is two days out of Japan. My first land-based A6M2 reinforcement squadron arrives at Truk on the 2nd. This is the first reinforcement squadron I've received in the entire game, and I won't get anything else for another month, so I'm going to have to be careful not to waste them (particularly the pilots). However, once I get them down to Rabaul, it will allow me to provide a strong escort for Betty and Nell raids without completely depriving Rabaul of CAP.
I get a little payback on June 1 and 2. First, an Allied AP crippled by aerial torpedoes several days ago sinks as her captain tries to get her back south to Brisbane. Second, the AV Tangier runs afoul of an I-boat during what I believe was an FT supply run to Efate. Two Long Lance hits later and the big seaplane tender goes down by the stern and sinks.
I've got two battleships in theater now, with another on the way. Kaga, Junyo, and Ryujo are six days from Truk, Akagi is two days out of Japan. My first land-based A6M2 reinforcement squadron arrives at Truk on the 2nd. This is the first reinforcement squadron I've received in the entire game, and I won't get anything else for another month, so I'm going to have to be careful not to waste them (particularly the pilots). However, once I get them down to Rabaul, it will allow me to provide a strong escort for Betty and Nell raids without completely depriving Rabaul of CAP.
June 3-June 11, 1942
It's been quite a while since I updated this report, but it hasn't been because we haven't been playing--it's just that nothing's been happening....literally. Here are the Combat Reports from June 3-9:
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/03/42
Weather: Thunderstorms
Sub attack near Truk at 20,2
Japanese Ships
PG Choan Maru #2
Allied Ships
SS S-41
Sub attack near Noumea at 52,67
Japanese Ships
SS I-27
Allied Ships
AV Thornton
Missed a second shot at the FT Task Force that the Curtiss had been a part of....
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/04/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/05/42
Weather: Clear
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/06/42
Weather: Thunderstorms
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/07/42
Weather: Thunderstorms
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/08/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/09/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
On the 10th, I-22 puts a pair of torpedoes into the AP Esperance Bay a few hexes north of Brisbane, but no sinking is reported. But my air forces finally strike on the 11th, catching an unCAPed task force at Cairns and making them pay....
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/11/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 31
G4M1 Betty x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 4 destroyed
G3M Nell x 13 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 9 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Farragut
AK Idomeneus, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
CA Australia, Torpedo hits 2
CL Hobart, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
CA Chicago, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
MSW Ipswich, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
PG Warrego
That's more like it!
The actions should only pick up from this point on. Kido Butai, now up to five fleet and two light carriers and a pair of seaplane cruisers, has sailed south from Rabaul for a classified destination, with a heavy surface group in support. Additional supplies and fuel are being funneled to the front to support the fleet's voracious logistical appetites.
More to come....
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/03/42
Weather: Thunderstorms
Sub attack near Truk at 20,2
Japanese Ships
PG Choan Maru #2
Allied Ships
SS S-41
Sub attack near Noumea at 52,67
Japanese Ships
SS I-27
Allied Ships
AV Thornton
Missed a second shot at the FT Task Force that the Curtiss had been a part of....
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/04/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/05/42
Weather: Clear
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/06/42
Weather: Thunderstorms
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/07/42
Weather: Thunderstorms
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/08/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/09/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
On the 10th, I-22 puts a pair of torpedoes into the AP Esperance Bay a few hexes north of Brisbane, but no sinking is reported. But my air forces finally strike on the 11th, catching an unCAPed task force at Cairns and making them pay....
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/11/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 31
G4M1 Betty x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 4 destroyed
G3M Nell x 13 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 9 damaged
Allied Ships
DD Farragut
AK Idomeneus, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
CA Australia, Torpedo hits 2
CL Hobart, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
CA Chicago, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
MSW Ipswich, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
PG Warrego
That's more like it!
The actions should only pick up from this point on. Kido Butai, now up to five fleet and two light carriers and a pair of seaplane cruisers, has sailed south from Rabaul for a classified destination, with a heavy surface group in support. Additional supplies and fuel are being funneled to the front to support the fleet's voracious logistical appetites.
More to come....
-
andytimtim
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Thu Jul 15, 2004 6:06 pm
- Location: Livingston, Scotland
RE: June 3-June 11, 1942
Bravo!!!
im really enjoying this[:D] keep it up!
im really enjoying this[:D] keep it up!
Coordination nightmares
June 12-13, 1942
Wow, do I really need to work on operational coordination, because I screwed up BAD yesterday. Both a bombardment group and two carrier groups had maneuvered to the eastern tip of New Guinea without being spotted, and I was setting them up to nail Port Moresby--a night bombardment run, followed by a massed airstrike from both carrier groups the following day, supported by a fighter sweep from the Zero squadrons at Rabaul.
The evening of the 12th starts well, with the I-27 blasting the cargo ship Rhesus out of the water with a pair of torpedoes as it approaches Noumea from Australia. Then daylight breaks, and things start to go south....
My fighter sweeps from Rabaul go off -- and were probably the one thing that saved my bacon, as they encountered a very strong Kittyhawk/Wirraway/P-400/P-39 CAP over Port Moresby and thinned them out very well, before losing several Zeroes to ground fire as they strafe the base (idiots! I want you to kill fighters, not strafe entrenched ground-pounders!).
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 54
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 7
P-400 Airacobra x 8
P-39D Airacobra x 23
P-40E Kittyhawk x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 8 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 10 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 2 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 6 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 2 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 3 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 damaged
LTJG D.Banno of F1/Tainan Daitai is credited with kill number 7
CPT W. Bennett of 36th FS bails out WOUNDED and is RESCUED
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40 (Later in the day)
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 37
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 6
P-400 Airacobra x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 19
P-40E Kittyhawk x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 5 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 damaged
LTJG O.Ibusuki of F2/1st Daitai is credited with kill number 3
Now I really start to notice problems. My bombardment group hasn't made it in--they're stuck one hex out of Port Moresby, an untouched airfield crawling with LBA and, as it turns out, what looks like most of the air wings from Lexington and Yorktown.
To make matters worse, only ONE of my carrier groups follows the surface ships in--the other task force is merrily steaming in circles 150 miles east of Gili Gili. So instead of having the full might of the Kido Butai to fend off airstrikes from PM, I only have 2 CVs (Kaga, Junyo) and 2 CVLs (Shoho, Ryujo). Mercifully, I had their Zero squadrons set to 60% CAP, and boy! do they get a workout.
Air attack on TF at 14,43
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 38
A6M3 Zero x 10
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 27
SBD Dauntless x 47
Beaufort x 4
P-400 Airacobra x 11
P-39D Airacobra x 9
P-40E Kittyhawk x 6
B-26B Marauder x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 11 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 29 damaged
Beaufort x 2 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 3 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 3 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 9 damaged
LT Y. Shiga of DII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CV Junyo
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 4
CA Myoko, Shell hits 4
CVL Ryujo
CVL Shoho
CA Mogami
CA Kinugasa
Air attack on TF at 14,43
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
A6M3 Zero x 5
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 6
P-400 Airacobra x 5
P-39D Airacobra x 3
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4
A-24 Dauntless x 8
A-20B Havoc x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 3 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 3 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 damaged
A-24 Dauntless x 2 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless x 6 damaged
A-20B Havoc x 2 damaged
WO D.Fujita of EIII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
CL Abukuma
CV Junyo
CV Kaga, on fire
Air attack on TF at 10,41
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 15
SBD Dauntless x 23
TBD Devastator x 24
Beaufort x 6
Wirraway x 6
P-400 Airacobra x 9
P-39D Airacobra x 6
P-40E Kittyhawk x 12
A-24 Dauntless x 3
B-26B Marauder x 18
A-20B Havoc x 7
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 3 damaged
TBD Devastator x 2 destroyed
TBD Devastator x 5 damaged
Beaufort x 4 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 6 damaged
A-20B Havoc x 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 1
BB Kirishima
DD Asanagi
DD Matsukaze, Shell hits 8, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Kongo
DD Mochizuki
CA Kako, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Yukaze
DD Yayoi
DD Uzuki
Air attack on TF at 14,43
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
A6M3 Zero x 10
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
Wirraway x 5
P-400 Airacobra x 5
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
Wirraway x 3 destroyed
Wirraway x 2 damaged
PO1 I.Nagano of EIII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3
Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
Air attack on TF at 10,41
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 34
TBD Devastator x 17
Beaufort x 6
Wirraway x 11
P-400 Airacobra x 3
A-24 Dauntless x 8
B-26B Marauder x 18
A-20B Havoc x 9
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
TBD Devastator x 1 destroyed
Japanese Ships
DD Asanagi
CA Kako, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Tone, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
BB Kongo
DD Oite
DD Uzuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Ushio, Bomb hits 1
DD Yukaze
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Yayoi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
All things considered, I got off relatively lucky. Kaga is hurt, but probably not fatally. I don't see Allied carriers anywhere nearby, and Kaga can still make 17 knots, so she should be able to withdraw to Rabaul. Two of the cruisers from the bombardment squadron are torn up, the Kako quite badly--she may not make it home. Four destroyers have also taken moderate damage, and I may lose a couple before they get home; I'll lose them for sure if they're hit again. My other carriers miraculously escaped damage, and my wayward second carrier task force will be on site to provide additional fighter cover tomorrow. My battleships are barely scratched, so they're going to push on with the bombardment of Port Moresby--there should be plenty of damaged planes on the ground to hit.
At least my fighters and flak did make the Allies pay for their success against my ships. Seventy-three allied aircraft were confirmed destroyed today, with many others damaged. Most of the planes lost were from the land-based fighter squadrons--the Wirraways, in particular, took it on the chin from the Zeroes, which they're completely incapable of dealing with. With a little luck, the bombardment will score some more kills, and my carrier strikes will be able to put paid to the airfield later in the day. There are still a lot of Allied aircraft parked there, but I'll have even more Zeroes available tomorrow than I had today, so if more strikes come in tomorrow (with a greatly-reduced fighter escort, thanks to today's action), my flyboys should take another big chunk out of them. Here goes nothing....
Wow, do I really need to work on operational coordination, because I screwed up BAD yesterday. Both a bombardment group and two carrier groups had maneuvered to the eastern tip of New Guinea without being spotted, and I was setting them up to nail Port Moresby--a night bombardment run, followed by a massed airstrike from both carrier groups the following day, supported by a fighter sweep from the Zero squadrons at Rabaul.
The evening of the 12th starts well, with the I-27 blasting the cargo ship Rhesus out of the water with a pair of torpedoes as it approaches Noumea from Australia. Then daylight breaks, and things start to go south....
My fighter sweeps from Rabaul go off -- and were probably the one thing that saved my bacon, as they encountered a very strong Kittyhawk/Wirraway/P-400/P-39 CAP over Port Moresby and thinned them out very well, before losing several Zeroes to ground fire as they strafe the base (idiots! I want you to kill fighters, not strafe entrenched ground-pounders!).
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 54
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 7
P-400 Airacobra x 8
P-39D Airacobra x 23
P-40E Kittyhawk x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 8 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 10 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 2 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 6 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 2 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 3 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 damaged
LTJG D.Banno of F1/Tainan Daitai is credited with kill number 7
CPT W. Bennett of 36th FS bails out WOUNDED and is RESCUED
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40 (Later in the day)
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 37
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 6
P-400 Airacobra x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 19
P-40E Kittyhawk x 15
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 5 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 damaged
LTJG O.Ibusuki of F2/1st Daitai is credited with kill number 3
Now I really start to notice problems. My bombardment group hasn't made it in--they're stuck one hex out of Port Moresby, an untouched airfield crawling with LBA and, as it turns out, what looks like most of the air wings from Lexington and Yorktown.
To make matters worse, only ONE of my carrier groups follows the surface ships in--the other task force is merrily steaming in circles 150 miles east of Gili Gili. So instead of having the full might of the Kido Butai to fend off airstrikes from PM, I only have 2 CVs (Kaga, Junyo) and 2 CVLs (Shoho, Ryujo). Mercifully, I had their Zero squadrons set to 60% CAP, and boy! do they get a workout.
Air attack on TF at 14,43
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 38
A6M3 Zero x 10
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 27
SBD Dauntless x 47
Beaufort x 4
P-400 Airacobra x 11
P-39D Airacobra x 9
P-40E Kittyhawk x 6
B-26B Marauder x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 11 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 29 damaged
Beaufort x 2 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 3 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 3 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 9 damaged
LT Y. Shiga of DII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CV Junyo
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 4
CA Myoko, Shell hits 4
CVL Ryujo
CVL Shoho
CA Mogami
CA Kinugasa
Air attack on TF at 14,43
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
A6M3 Zero x 5
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 6
P-400 Airacobra x 5
P-39D Airacobra x 3
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4
A-24 Dauntless x 8
A-20B Havoc x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 3 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 3 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 damaged
A-24 Dauntless x 2 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless x 6 damaged
A-20B Havoc x 2 damaged
WO D.Fujita of EIII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
CL Abukuma
CV Junyo
CV Kaga, on fire
Air attack on TF at 10,41
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 15
SBD Dauntless x 23
TBD Devastator x 24
Beaufort x 6
Wirraway x 6
P-400 Airacobra x 9
P-39D Airacobra x 6
P-40E Kittyhawk x 12
A-24 Dauntless x 3
B-26B Marauder x 18
A-20B Havoc x 7
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 3 damaged
TBD Devastator x 2 destroyed
TBD Devastator x 5 damaged
Beaufort x 4 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 6 damaged
A-20B Havoc x 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
CA Tone, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 1
BB Kirishima
DD Asanagi
DD Matsukaze, Shell hits 8, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Kongo
DD Mochizuki
CA Kako, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Yukaze
DD Yayoi
DD Uzuki
Air attack on TF at 14,43
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
A6M3 Zero x 10
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
Wirraway x 5
P-400 Airacobra x 5
no losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
Wirraway x 3 destroyed
Wirraway x 2 damaged
PO1 I.Nagano of EIII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3
Japanese Ships
CA Ashigara
Air attack on TF at 10,41
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 34
TBD Devastator x 17
Beaufort x 6
Wirraway x 11
P-400 Airacobra x 3
A-24 Dauntless x 8
B-26B Marauder x 18
A-20B Havoc x 9
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
TBD Devastator x 1 destroyed
Japanese Ships
DD Asanagi
CA Kako, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Tone, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
BB Kongo
DD Oite
DD Uzuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Ushio, Bomb hits 1
DD Yukaze
BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Yayoi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
All things considered, I got off relatively lucky. Kaga is hurt, but probably not fatally. I don't see Allied carriers anywhere nearby, and Kaga can still make 17 knots, so she should be able to withdraw to Rabaul. Two of the cruisers from the bombardment squadron are torn up, the Kako quite badly--she may not make it home. Four destroyers have also taken moderate damage, and I may lose a couple before they get home; I'll lose them for sure if they're hit again. My other carriers miraculously escaped damage, and my wayward second carrier task force will be on site to provide additional fighter cover tomorrow. My battleships are barely scratched, so they're going to push on with the bombardment of Port Moresby--there should be plenty of damaged planes on the ground to hit.
At least my fighters and flak did make the Allies pay for their success against my ships. Seventy-three allied aircraft were confirmed destroyed today, with many others damaged. Most of the planes lost were from the land-based fighter squadrons--the Wirraways, in particular, took it on the chin from the Zeroes, which they're completely incapable of dealing with. With a little luck, the bombardment will score some more kills, and my carrier strikes will be able to put paid to the airfield later in the day. There are still a lot of Allied aircraft parked there, but I'll have even more Zeroes available tomorrow than I had today, so if more strikes come in tomorrow (with a greatly-reduced fighter escort, thanks to today's action), my flyboys should take another big chunk out of them. Here goes nothing....
Thinning the herds.... (June 14-16)
The 14th and 15th of June see some truly massive aerial engagements, as my now-reunited carrier groups lay into Port Moresby in an effort to close down the airfield. Massive counterstrikes from PM target my carriers, but I'm ready for them now. My four carriers and two CVLs can put up a very strong Zero CAP and still have enough fighters to cover strikes on the base.
That, coupled with mounting fatigue, inferior aircraft, and the generally-lower skill levels of the Allied land-based air wings, results in a one-sided massacre in the air, in exchange for only minor damage to my fleet (one 500-lb. bomb hit on Zuikaku and minor shell damage to several escort vessels). Forty-six Allied aircraft are destroyed on the 14th, seventy more the following day. That brings the three-day kill total to 189 aircraft of all types--my losses total less than fifty, although I'm hurt more proportionally by every loss, as these are the best pilots I'll have all game.
An Allied S-boat torpedoes the lone destroyer escorting the damaged Kaga back to Rabaul, but one of her sisters misses a shot at the crippled carrier. That's good, I may be able to save her yet. A procession of damaged cruisers and destroyers begins straggling back into Rabaul harbor. They're immediately disbanded into port in an effort to repair floatation damage and patch their hulls as a prelude to being sent back to Truk. I need to decide whether or not I want to risk sending them back to Japan, as I'm not sure I'll ever see them again if I do.
On the 14th, the Akagi and her escorts reach Truk. She's immediately dispatched toward Rabaul, to serve as a much-needed reinforcement for my carrier force. Better news arrives on the 15th--after several days spent parked in Japan, Soryu and Zuiho have been released. Yamato, unfortunately, has not been, but you can't have everything, can you?
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/14/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 10,40
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 2
Sub attack at 19,42
Japanese Ships
DD Nowaki, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS S-38
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 52
A6M3 Zero x 9
D3A Val x 83
B5N Kate x 96
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 7
P-400 Airacobra x 13
P-39D Airacobra x 17
P-40E Kittyhawk x 20
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged
D3A Val x 9 destroyed
D3A Val x 10 damaged
B5N Kate x 4 destroyed
B5N Kate x 5 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 11 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 4 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 6 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 2 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 13 damaged
A-24 Dauntless x 1 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless x 2 damaged
WO O.Takagi of DI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3
SLDR L. Jackson of No. 75 Sqn RAAF bails out and is RESCUED
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 143
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 39
Air attack on TF at 17,44
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 46
A6M3 Zero x 8
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 17
SBD Dauntless x 18
A-20B Havoc x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 16 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 6 damaged
A-20B Havoc x 1 destroyed
A-20B Havoc x 2 damaged
ENS H.Kanda of EII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Kagero
Sub attack at 19,42
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS S-41
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/15/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
D3A Val x 74
B5N Kate x 80
Allied aircraft
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 5 damaged
B5N Kate x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
PBY Catalina x 2 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 4 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 3 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 3 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 4 damaged
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 176
Airbase hits 34
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 94
Air attack on TF at 14,44
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 49
A6M3 Zero x 8
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
P-400 Airacobra x 10
P-40E Kittyhawk x 8
B-25D Mitchell x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 2 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4 damaged
B-25D Mitchell x 2 damaged
LTJG R.Kawasaki of DII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4
Japanese Ships
CL Nagara, Shell hits 4
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 4
Air attack on TF at 14,44
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 47
A6M3 Zero x 7
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 23
SBD Dauntless x 27
Beaufort x 6
Wirraway x 7
P-400 Airacobra x 8
P-39D Airacobra x 30
P-40E Kittyhawk x 20
A-24 Dauntless x 7
B-25D Mitchell x 3
B-26B Marauder x 9
A-20B Havoc x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 7 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 7 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 13 damaged
Beaufort x 2 destroyed
Beaufort x 1 damaged
Wirraway x 1 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 5 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 5 damaged
A-24 Dauntless x 2 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless x 5 damaged
B-25D Mitchell x 1 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 2 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 5 damaged
A-20B Havoc x 3 damaged
LTJG R.Kawasaki of DII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 5
SLDR K. Truscott of No. 76 Sqn RAAF is KILLED
Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CV Shokaku
CA Haguro
CS Chitose
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 4
CL Tatsuta
CS Nisshin
CV Hiryu
CA Furutaka
That, coupled with mounting fatigue, inferior aircraft, and the generally-lower skill levels of the Allied land-based air wings, results in a one-sided massacre in the air, in exchange for only minor damage to my fleet (one 500-lb. bomb hit on Zuikaku and minor shell damage to several escort vessels). Forty-six Allied aircraft are destroyed on the 14th, seventy more the following day. That brings the three-day kill total to 189 aircraft of all types--my losses total less than fifty, although I'm hurt more proportionally by every loss, as these are the best pilots I'll have all game.
An Allied S-boat torpedoes the lone destroyer escorting the damaged Kaga back to Rabaul, but one of her sisters misses a shot at the crippled carrier. That's good, I may be able to save her yet. A procession of damaged cruisers and destroyers begins straggling back into Rabaul harbor. They're immediately disbanded into port in an effort to repair floatation damage and patch their hulls as a prelude to being sent back to Truk. I need to decide whether or not I want to risk sending them back to Japan, as I'm not sure I'll ever see them again if I do.
On the 14th, the Akagi and her escorts reach Truk. She's immediately dispatched toward Rabaul, to serve as a much-needed reinforcement for my carrier force. Better news arrives on the 15th--after several days spent parked in Japan, Soryu and Zuiho have been released. Yamato, unfortunately, has not been, but you can't have everything, can you?
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/14/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 10,40
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 2
Sub attack at 19,42
Japanese Ships
DD Nowaki, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS S-38
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 52
A6M3 Zero x 9
D3A Val x 83
B5N Kate x 96
Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 7
P-400 Airacobra x 13
P-39D Airacobra x 17
P-40E Kittyhawk x 20
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged
D3A Val x 9 destroyed
D3A Val x 10 damaged
B5N Kate x 4 destroyed
B5N Kate x 5 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 11 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 4 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 6 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 2 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 13 damaged
A-24 Dauntless x 1 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless x 2 damaged
WO O.Takagi of DI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3
SLDR L. Jackson of No. 75 Sqn RAAF bails out and is RESCUED
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 143
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 39
Air attack on TF at 17,44
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 46
A6M3 Zero x 8
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 17
SBD Dauntless x 18
A-20B Havoc x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 16 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 6 damaged
A-20B Havoc x 1 destroyed
A-20B Havoc x 2 damaged
ENS H.Kanda of EII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Kagero
Sub attack at 19,42
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS S-41
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/15/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
D3A Val x 74
B5N Kate x 80
Allied aircraft
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 5 damaged
B5N Kate x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
PBY Catalina x 2 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 4 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 3 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 3 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 4 damaged
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 176
Airbase hits 34
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 94
Air attack on TF at 14,44
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 49
A6M3 Zero x 8
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
P-400 Airacobra x 10
P-40E Kittyhawk x 8
B-25D Mitchell x 4
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 2 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4 damaged
B-25D Mitchell x 2 damaged
LTJG R.Kawasaki of DII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4
Japanese Ships
CL Nagara, Shell hits 4
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 4
Air attack on TF at 14,44
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 47
A6M3 Zero x 7
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 23
SBD Dauntless x 27
Beaufort x 6
Wirraway x 7
P-400 Airacobra x 8
P-39D Airacobra x 30
P-40E Kittyhawk x 20
A-24 Dauntless x 7
B-25D Mitchell x 3
B-26B Marauder x 9
A-20B Havoc x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 7 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 7 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 13 damaged
Beaufort x 2 destroyed
Beaufort x 1 damaged
Wirraway x 1 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 5 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 5 damaged
A-24 Dauntless x 2 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless x 5 damaged
B-25D Mitchell x 1 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 2 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 5 damaged
A-20B Havoc x 3 damaged
LTJG R.Kawasaki of DII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 5
SLDR K. Truscott of No. 76 Sqn RAAF is KILLED
Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CV Shokaku
CA Haguro
CS Chitose
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 4
CL Tatsuta
CS Nisshin
CV Hiryu
CA Furutaka
Diminishing returns....
The 16th sees one last flurry of action near Port Moresby, as my carriers launch a parting strike, and my overworked CAP fends off yet another massive Allied riposte. My gut is telling me, however, that it's probably time to withdraw. Only 26 Allied planes are destroyed today, as my CAP is noticeably less effective today--I think my pilots are beginning to get worn out. Most of my ships are also running dangerously low on anti-aircraft ammunition, a problem the defenders at PM won't be having. Taking this into consideration, the carriers are ordered to withdraw to Rabaul to refuel, rearm, and rendezvous with the Akagi and her screen, which should arrive on the same day.
The damage inflicted on Port Moresby, while probably not sufficient to close it down for more than a day or two, will keep the enemy's engineers busy for a while. I arrange for a going-away present in the form of a bombardment task force built around the Hiei, which blasts the base in the early morning of the 16th, then retreats out of retaliation range.
Further south, I-21 is lost to what is either an allied surface group or carrier fleet (I didn't see a carrier, but there sure were a lot of destroyers....).
To the east, the Allies are at long last making some noise--a fleet containing at least one carrier (most likely either Enterprise, Hornet, or Saratoga) launches a quick raid on Lunga. A week earlier this could've been really, really bad, as I had multiple transport convoys and a replenishment task force unloading there, but those ships are long gone. I spotted the raid a day out, and moved the Mavis squadron to Shortland as a precaution, so the base escapes with minor damage, and the AA gunners give the attacking Dauntlesses a bit more than they wanted.
A B-17 strike from Australia targets Rabaul, and I was absolutely giddy after seeing the results. The combat report shows one B-17 destroyed, but SIX others were lost on the flight home. In exchange for the loss on seven Fortresses, I lost one Zero destroyed on the ground. That's a good exchange rate for me.
Most of my cripples have now made Rabaul, including the Kaga. This is a huge relief, as her arrival allows me to offload her planes, so even if she's subsequently destroyed, I won't lose them. She's very badly damaged (SYS 65--ouch!), so she's pretty much out of the war, but the crews at Rabaul should be able to patch the flooding damage and send her back to Truk to await repairs. The Tone and five destroyers are also patching flooding damage. The only vessel I'm still waiting on is the heavy cruiser Kako, which should make port tomorrow, although that may not be enough to save her. She's been fighting (and losing) a battle with floatation damage for several days. I'd at least like to get her into Rabaul and offload her spotter planes to thicken my ASW patrols, then decide whether or not to scuttle her.
Finally, the 2nd and 38th divisions have now arrived at Truk, and both are being loaded on transports and sent south. Their destination...ultimately...is Port Moresby. I've issued the withdrawal order to re-arm my forces, but I'll be back, and soon.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/16/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Sub attack at 11,60
Japanese Ships
SS I-21
Allied Ships
AP Leedstown, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Sub attack at 11,60
Japanese Ships
SS I-21, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
DD Morris
DD Perkins
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
D3A Val x 72
B5N Kate x 85
Allied aircraft
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 1 damaged
B5N Kate x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
TBD Devastator x 4 destroyed
TBD Devastator x 4 damaged
B-25D Mitchell x 1 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 2 damaged
F-5A Lightning x 1 destroyed
Beaufort x 2 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 228
Airbase hits 15
Runway hits 105
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
G3M Nell x 24
G4M1 Betty x 24
Allied aircraft
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 146
Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 23
Air attack on TF at 15,43
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 44
A6M3 Zero x 6
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 14
SBD Dauntless x 16
Beaufort x 2
Wirraway x 6
P-400 Airacobra x 10
P-39D Airacobra x 16
P-40E Kittyhawk x 9
A-24 Dauntless x 3
B-25D Mitchell x 3
B-26B Marauder x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 10 damaged
Beaufort x 1 damaged
Wirraway x 1 destroyed
Wirraway x 2 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 4 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 2 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 damaged
A-24 Dauntless x 1 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 3 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 3 damaged
ENS M.Muto of DI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4
Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CS Nisshin
CV Hiryu
CA Furutaka
CS Chitose, Shell hits 4
CA Haguro
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/17/42
Weather: Clear
Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 10,40
Allied aircraft
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 1 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 2 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 4 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 2 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 186
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 154
Port hits 1
Air attack on Rabaul , at 21,28
Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 8
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 1 destroyed
B-17E Fortress x 12 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 13
Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 5
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 30
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 27 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 19
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1
The damage inflicted on Port Moresby, while probably not sufficient to close it down for more than a day or two, will keep the enemy's engineers busy for a while. I arrange for a going-away present in the form of a bombardment task force built around the Hiei, which blasts the base in the early morning of the 16th, then retreats out of retaliation range.
Further south, I-21 is lost to what is either an allied surface group or carrier fleet (I didn't see a carrier, but there sure were a lot of destroyers....).
To the east, the Allies are at long last making some noise--a fleet containing at least one carrier (most likely either Enterprise, Hornet, or Saratoga) launches a quick raid on Lunga. A week earlier this could've been really, really bad, as I had multiple transport convoys and a replenishment task force unloading there, but those ships are long gone. I spotted the raid a day out, and moved the Mavis squadron to Shortland as a precaution, so the base escapes with minor damage, and the AA gunners give the attacking Dauntlesses a bit more than they wanted.
A B-17 strike from Australia targets Rabaul, and I was absolutely giddy after seeing the results. The combat report shows one B-17 destroyed, but SIX others were lost on the flight home. In exchange for the loss on seven Fortresses, I lost one Zero destroyed on the ground. That's a good exchange rate for me.
Most of my cripples have now made Rabaul, including the Kaga. This is a huge relief, as her arrival allows me to offload her planes, so even if she's subsequently destroyed, I won't lose them. She's very badly damaged (SYS 65--ouch!), so she's pretty much out of the war, but the crews at Rabaul should be able to patch the flooding damage and send her back to Truk to await repairs. The Tone and five destroyers are also patching flooding damage. The only vessel I'm still waiting on is the heavy cruiser Kako, which should make port tomorrow, although that may not be enough to save her. She's been fighting (and losing) a battle with floatation damage for several days. I'd at least like to get her into Rabaul and offload her spotter planes to thicken my ASW patrols, then decide whether or not to scuttle her.
Finally, the 2nd and 38th divisions have now arrived at Truk, and both are being loaded on transports and sent south. Their destination...ultimately...is Port Moresby. I've issued the withdrawal order to re-arm my forces, but I'll be back, and soon.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/16/42
Weather: Partly Cloudy
Sub attack at 11,60
Japanese Ships
SS I-21
Allied Ships
AP Leedstown, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
Sub attack at 11,60
Japanese Ships
SS I-21, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
DD Morris
DD Perkins
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
D3A Val x 72
B5N Kate x 85
Allied aircraft
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 1 damaged
B5N Kate x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
TBD Devastator x 4 destroyed
TBD Devastator x 4 damaged
B-25D Mitchell x 1 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 2 damaged
F-5A Lightning x 1 destroyed
Beaufort x 2 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 228
Airbase hits 15
Runway hits 105
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 36
G3M Nell x 24
G4M1 Betty x 24
Allied aircraft
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 146
Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 23
Air attack on TF at 15,43
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 44
A6M3 Zero x 6
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 14
SBD Dauntless x 16
Beaufort x 2
Wirraway x 6
P-400 Airacobra x 10
P-39D Airacobra x 16
P-40E Kittyhawk x 9
A-24 Dauntless x 3
B-25D Mitchell x 3
B-26B Marauder x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 10 damaged
Beaufort x 1 damaged
Wirraway x 1 destroyed
Wirraway x 2 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 4 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 2 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 damaged
A-24 Dauntless x 1 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 3 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 3 damaged
ENS M.Muto of DI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4
Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CS Nisshin
CV Hiryu
CA Furutaka
CS Chitose, Shell hits 4
CA Haguro
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/17/42
Weather: Clear
Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 10,40
Allied aircraft
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 1 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 2 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 4 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 2 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 186
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 154
Port hits 1
Air attack on Rabaul , at 21,28
Japanese aircraft
A5M4 Claude x 8
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 10
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 1 destroyed
B-17E Fortress x 12 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 13
Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 5
Air attack on Lunga , at 38,40
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 30
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 27 damaged
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 19
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1
June 18 and Score Update
My carriers appear to have successfully disengaged--they reach Rabaul with no incident, and go into port as storms settle over the region. Akagi and its screen join them in port at Rabaul, and even the Kako manages to make port, though it's sitting awfully low in the water.
The Allied task force that raided Lunga isn't sticking around to follow up on yesterday--a Mavis spots them withdrawing toward Luganville. Two subs that are staking out the Noumea-Efate-Luganville area are vectored toward intercept positions, but I'm not sure they can get there in time.
Port Moresby is still in business--at least a little. A couple of small raids hit an FT task force pulling the naval garrison unit off the base at Buna. Yet another destroyer takes a bomb hit, but she should pull through. Kongo, Kirishima, and a squadron of escorts will be having another run at the base tonight--let's see if they can crater the runway a bit more.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/18/42
Weather: Clear
Air attack on TF, near Sag Sag at 12,31
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7
SBD Dauntless x 9
A-24 Dauntless x 3
A-20B Havoc x 3
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 7 damaged
A-24 Dauntless x 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki
DD Mochizuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
APD 31
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 19
Air attack on TF, near Sag Sag at 12,31
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
APD 31
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
Air attack on TF, near Sag Sag at 12,31
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 3
Beaufort x 3
B-26B Marauder x 3
A-20B Havoc x 3
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki
DD Yugumo
O.K., time for a score update. We're on June 18, and the score stands at IJN 5592, Allies 3103. Not a bad lead for this point in the game, but I need at least another 3,000 points if I want the margin to hold up.
Shipping losses thus far have been relatively light for both sides. I've lost only seven ships (2 minesweepers, 2 submarines, and 3 transports) worth 56 points, although I've suffered damage to many others, including Kaga, Tone, Kako, and several destroyers and transports. The Allies have lost 14 ships totaling 150 points (1 heavy cruiser, 1 light cruiser, 1 seaplane tender, 1 minesweeper, 1 submarine, 2 subchasers, 4 transports, and 3 cargo ships), and I've scored a couple of hits on Lexington, though she's likely not badly damaged.
The air losses favor me as well. The Japanese have lost 156 aircraft (4 Claudes, 8 Rufes, 49 A6M2 Zeroes, 1 A6M3 Zero, 25 Vals, 25 Kates, 13 Nells, 19 Bettys, 4 Mavis, 1 Pete, 4 Jakes, and 3 Alfs). The Allies have lost a staggering 383 aircraft in a little over a month and a half of action. Their losses include 39 F4F-3 Wildcats, 2 F4F-4 Wildcats, 65 Dauntlesses, 13 Devastators, 25 Catalinas, 6 Seagulls, 8 Hudsons, 11 Dakotas, 6 Beauforts, 32 Wirraways, 30 P-400s Airacobras, 36 P-39D Airacobras, 40 Kittyhawks, 4 F-5A Lightnings, 11 A-24 Dauntlesses, 16 Mitchells, 14 Marauders, 17 Flying Fortresses, and 8 Havocs.
Aside from the one abortive engagement, the carrier fleets haven't engaged one another. Marc has based all or part of the air wings of Lexington and Yorktown at Port Moresby, and is using them to support hundreds of land-based fighters and bombers. It looks like every aircraft in the Australian theater with the exception of the B-17s has been moved to Port Moresby.
This is going to push back the timetable required to take the place by a considerable margin. However, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. All those planes being based at PM means that if I can close the base for good (as I plan to do as soon as the weather clears), they'll all be stuck there, and easy pickings for bombardment forces, airstrikes...or my troops when I finally seize the base.
The same goes for the large numbers of Allied troops at PM--I'd estimate the base is defended by between one and two full divisions. Again, this is inconvenient inasmuch as it increases the size of the force that will be required to take the base, but if I can pull it off, it'll leave the Australian mainland undermanned, and possibly vulnerable to an autovictory grab.
More to come...
The Allied task force that raided Lunga isn't sticking around to follow up on yesterday--a Mavis spots them withdrawing toward Luganville. Two subs that are staking out the Noumea-Efate-Luganville area are vectored toward intercept positions, but I'm not sure they can get there in time.
Port Moresby is still in business--at least a little. A couple of small raids hit an FT task force pulling the naval garrison unit off the base at Buna. Yet another destroyer takes a bomb hit, but she should pull through. Kongo, Kirishima, and a squadron of escorts will be having another run at the base tonight--let's see if they can crater the runway a bit more.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/18/42
Weather: Clear
Air attack on TF, near Sag Sag at 12,31
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7
SBD Dauntless x 9
A-24 Dauntless x 3
A-20B Havoc x 3
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 7 damaged
A-24 Dauntless x 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki
DD Mochizuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
APD 31
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 19
Air attack on TF, near Sag Sag at 12,31
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 3 damaged
Japanese Ships
APD 31
Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
Air attack on TF, near Sag Sag at 12,31
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 3
Beaufort x 3
B-26B Marauder x 3
A-20B Havoc x 3
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki
DD Yugumo
O.K., time for a score update. We're on June 18, and the score stands at IJN 5592, Allies 3103. Not a bad lead for this point in the game, but I need at least another 3,000 points if I want the margin to hold up.
Shipping losses thus far have been relatively light for both sides. I've lost only seven ships (2 minesweepers, 2 submarines, and 3 transports) worth 56 points, although I've suffered damage to many others, including Kaga, Tone, Kako, and several destroyers and transports. The Allies have lost 14 ships totaling 150 points (1 heavy cruiser, 1 light cruiser, 1 seaplane tender, 1 minesweeper, 1 submarine, 2 subchasers, 4 transports, and 3 cargo ships), and I've scored a couple of hits on Lexington, though she's likely not badly damaged.
The air losses favor me as well. The Japanese have lost 156 aircraft (4 Claudes, 8 Rufes, 49 A6M2 Zeroes, 1 A6M3 Zero, 25 Vals, 25 Kates, 13 Nells, 19 Bettys, 4 Mavis, 1 Pete, 4 Jakes, and 3 Alfs). The Allies have lost a staggering 383 aircraft in a little over a month and a half of action. Their losses include 39 F4F-3 Wildcats, 2 F4F-4 Wildcats, 65 Dauntlesses, 13 Devastators, 25 Catalinas, 6 Seagulls, 8 Hudsons, 11 Dakotas, 6 Beauforts, 32 Wirraways, 30 P-400s Airacobras, 36 P-39D Airacobras, 40 Kittyhawks, 4 F-5A Lightnings, 11 A-24 Dauntlesses, 16 Mitchells, 14 Marauders, 17 Flying Fortresses, and 8 Havocs.
Aside from the one abortive engagement, the carrier fleets haven't engaged one another. Marc has based all or part of the air wings of Lexington and Yorktown at Port Moresby, and is using them to support hundreds of land-based fighters and bombers. It looks like every aircraft in the Australian theater with the exception of the B-17s has been moved to Port Moresby.
This is going to push back the timetable required to take the place by a considerable margin. However, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. All those planes being based at PM means that if I can close the base for good (as I plan to do as soon as the weather clears), they'll all be stuck there, and easy pickings for bombardment forces, airstrikes...or my troops when I finally seize the base.
The same goes for the large numbers of Allied troops at PM--I'd estimate the base is defended by between one and two full divisions. Again, this is inconvenient inasmuch as it increases the size of the force that will be required to take the base, but if I can pull it off, it'll leave the Australian mainland undermanned, and possibly vulnerable to an autovictory grab.
More to come...
June 19-21
Haven't updated in a while--work's been a pain. However, I'll try to catch the AAR up over the next couple of days.
The 19th is quiet--thunderstorms (again) throughout the region put a blanket on most of the action, and my carriers are busy resting and rearming at Rabaul. The 20th is quite a bit busier, though, and sees the first major surface action of the campaign. Another of my bombardment task forces, built around Kongo and Kirishima, steams into Port Moresby...and finds an Allied destroyer squadron waiting for them...
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 1
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 1
CA Takao, Shell hits 2
DD Satsuki, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Oite, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Asanagi
DD Yukaze, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
DD Sims, Shell hits 35, and is sunk
DD Anderson, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
DD Russell, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
DD Morris
DD Perkins, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Dewey, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
DD Worden, Shell hits 1
DD Monaghan, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Aylwin, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Arunta, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Arunta also hit one of my sub-laid mines prior to the surface engagement (which is why she's heavily damaged despite only taking one shell hit), but no sinking is reported. The Satsuki was badly crippled in the engagement, and never would have had a chance of making Rabaul, so I scuttled her the next morning. Yukaze is nearly as badly hit, but I decided to try to get her home to Rabaul. None of the other vessels in my squadron was even moderately damaged, but the intervention of the destroyer squadron prevented them from carrying out the bombardment of the airfield. Fortunately, rain kept PM's planes grounded the following day, allowing my ships to retire out of airstrike range without further damage.
Spotter planes sight an Allied task force, including at least one carrier, steaming across the Coral Sea toward Gili Gili from Noumea. I'd intented to leave Kido Butai parked at Rabaul for another few days, but I can't pass up the chance to nail a carrier. My carriers and their escorts form up and head south.
The 21st sees a mix of air and sea combat. The S-40 slips a torpedo into the battleship Haruna, leading another bombardment run down from Rabaul, and it's a dandy hit--SYS damage of 23! Rats! Haruna splits off from her escorts and heads for Rabaul.
As dawn breaks, my land-based air gets a measure of revenge. Bettys and Nells, with a Zero escort, target one of the numerous supply convoys running into Port Moresby.
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
G3M Nell x 18
G4M1 Betty x 27
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 1 destroyed
G3M Nell x 10 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 15 damaged
Allied Ships
MSW Launceton, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
CA Australia, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
AK Demodocus, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
MSW Cairns, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
DD Farragut
DD Walke, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
Not a bad day at the office for the flyboys. Kido Butai manages to get within extreme range of the Allied carrier group, but the results are disappointing. My Vals don't fly, and the 21 Kates in the day's only strike launch with bombs, not torpedoes. Wildcats aplenty cover the Allied task force, which is determined to contain the carrier Enterprise. The Zeroes down several Wildcats, but the Kates take a pounding, losing six of their number to fighters and flak without scoring a single hit. Several other Kates succumb to flak damage on the flight home.
Not my finest moment, but at least Enterprise knows we're here. I expect she'll run for Australia tomorrow. I could chase her, but won't. There are several juicy transport task forces in and around Port Moresby, and I plan to return to the task of whittling down the base's air garrison.
More to come....
The 19th is quiet--thunderstorms (again) throughout the region put a blanket on most of the action, and my carriers are busy resting and rearming at Rabaul. The 20th is quite a bit busier, though, and sees the first major surface action of the campaign. Another of my bombardment task forces, built around Kongo and Kirishima, steams into Port Moresby...and finds an Allied destroyer squadron waiting for them...
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 1
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 1
CA Takao, Shell hits 2
DD Satsuki, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Oite, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Asanagi
DD Yukaze, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
DD Sims, Shell hits 35, and is sunk
DD Anderson, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
DD Russell, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
DD Morris
DD Perkins, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Dewey, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
DD Worden, Shell hits 1
DD Monaghan, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Aylwin, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Arunta, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Arunta also hit one of my sub-laid mines prior to the surface engagement (which is why she's heavily damaged despite only taking one shell hit), but no sinking is reported. The Satsuki was badly crippled in the engagement, and never would have had a chance of making Rabaul, so I scuttled her the next morning. Yukaze is nearly as badly hit, but I decided to try to get her home to Rabaul. None of the other vessels in my squadron was even moderately damaged, but the intervention of the destroyer squadron prevented them from carrying out the bombardment of the airfield. Fortunately, rain kept PM's planes grounded the following day, allowing my ships to retire out of airstrike range without further damage.
Spotter planes sight an Allied task force, including at least one carrier, steaming across the Coral Sea toward Gili Gili from Noumea. I'd intented to leave Kido Butai parked at Rabaul for another few days, but I can't pass up the chance to nail a carrier. My carriers and their escorts form up and head south.
The 21st sees a mix of air and sea combat. The S-40 slips a torpedo into the battleship Haruna, leading another bombardment run down from Rabaul, and it's a dandy hit--SYS damage of 23! Rats! Haruna splits off from her escorts and heads for Rabaul.
As dawn breaks, my land-based air gets a measure of revenge. Bettys and Nells, with a Zero escort, target one of the numerous supply convoys running into Port Moresby.
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
G3M Nell x 18
G4M1 Betty x 27
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 1 destroyed
G3M Nell x 10 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 15 damaged
Allied Ships
MSW Launceton, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
CA Australia, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
AK Demodocus, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
MSW Cairns, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
DD Farragut
DD Walke, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
Not a bad day at the office for the flyboys. Kido Butai manages to get within extreme range of the Allied carrier group, but the results are disappointing. My Vals don't fly, and the 21 Kates in the day's only strike launch with bombs, not torpedoes. Wildcats aplenty cover the Allied task force, which is determined to contain the carrier Enterprise. The Zeroes down several Wildcats, but the Kates take a pounding, losing six of their number to fighters and flak without scoring a single hit. Several other Kates succumb to flak damage on the flight home.
Not my finest moment, but at least Enterprise knows we're here. I expect she'll run for Australia tomorrow. I could chase her, but won't. There are several juicy transport task forces in and around Port Moresby, and I plan to return to the task of whittling down the base's air garrison.
More to come....
June 22
We're clearly entering another surge in hostilities. The 22nd starts badly for the IJN. I-71, staking out Port Moresby harbor, is spotted by patrolling destroyers and attacked. The boat survives, but is going to be limping back to Truk for repairs.
As dawn breaks, a succession of airstrikes from Port Moresby finds the luckless Yukaze trying to make it home--she didn't get far, and is bombed, strafed, and torpedoed to bits by a succession of massive raids.
On the plus side, the strikes on Yukaze draw all hostile air activity away from my carriers, which have now steamed around the eastern tip of New Guinea and are heading west...the Enterprise, as expected, is retiring to the south, leaving the seas clear--except for the allied ships clustered at Port Moresby....
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 47
A6M3 Zero x 12
D3A Val x 102
B5N Kate x 27
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 17
P-400 Airacobra x 13
P-39D Airacobra x 32
P-40E Kittyhawk x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 3 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 6 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 9 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 5 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 damaged
WO V.Minegishi of DII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 5
LCDR W. Leonard of VF-42 bails out WOUNDED and is RESCUED
Allied Ships
AP George Clymer, Bomb hits 2, on fire
SC 522
AP Wanganella, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kanimbla, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP President Jackson, Bomb hits 3, on fire
SC 520, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Mildura, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
AP Monrovia
AP President Adams, Bomb hits 1
AP Ormiston, Bomb hits 1
MSW Whyalla, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Moreton Bay, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW Lismore, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Leedstown, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 102
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 18
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11
P-40E Kittyhawk x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 4 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged
LTJG R. Crommelin of VF-42 is credited with kill number 3
Allied Ships
AK Mungana
CA Australia
PG Warrego
AK Murada
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
A6M3 Zero x 4
D3A Val x 23
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 10
P-400 Airacobra x 8
P-39D Airacobra x 22
P-40E Kittyhawk x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 14 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 3 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 3 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 damaged
WO D.Bando of EI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3
Allied Ships
DD Aylwin, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Morris, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Perkins, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
D3A Val x 23
B5N Kate x 22
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9
P-400 Airacobra x 1
P-39D Airacobra x 3
P-40E Kittyhawk x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
D3A Val x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 2 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 destroyed
LTJG M.Gardner of VF-3 is credited with kill number 2
Allied Ships
SC 522, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Lismore, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Ormiston, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP President Adams, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kanimbla, on fire, heavy damage
AP Westralia, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SC 519, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 55
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 56
B5N Kate x 40
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
P-40E Kittyhawk x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 3 destroyed
B5N Kate x 2 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged
FO K. Truscott of No. 76 Sqn RAAF is credited with kill number 3
Allied Ships
AP Moreton Bay, on fire
SC 519, on fire, heavy damage
AP President Adams, on fire, heavy damage
AP Heywood
AK Mildura, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kanimbla, on fire, heavy damage
SC 522, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Wollongong, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Wanganella, on fire, heavy damage
AP George Clymer, on fire
AP Monrovia
AP Ormiston, on fire
MSW Lismore, on fire, heavy damage
AP Westralia, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Leedstown, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 29
Several transports and smaller escorts are confirmed sunk, and I suspect there will be a steady chain of cripples working their way south.
As dawn breaks, a succession of airstrikes from Port Moresby finds the luckless Yukaze trying to make it home--she didn't get far, and is bombed, strafed, and torpedoed to bits by a succession of massive raids.
On the plus side, the strikes on Yukaze draw all hostile air activity away from my carriers, which have now steamed around the eastern tip of New Guinea and are heading west...the Enterprise, as expected, is retiring to the south, leaving the seas clear--except for the allied ships clustered at Port Moresby....
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 47
A6M3 Zero x 12
D3A Val x 102
B5N Kate x 27
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 17
P-400 Airacobra x 13
P-39D Airacobra x 32
P-40E Kittyhawk x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 3 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 6 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 9 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 5 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 damaged
WO V.Minegishi of DII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 5
LCDR W. Leonard of VF-42 bails out WOUNDED and is RESCUED
Allied Ships
AP George Clymer, Bomb hits 2, on fire
SC 522
AP Wanganella, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kanimbla, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP President Jackson, Bomb hits 3, on fire
SC 520, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Mildura, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
AP Monrovia
AP President Adams, Bomb hits 1
AP Ormiston, Bomb hits 1
MSW Whyalla, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Moreton Bay, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW Lismore, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Leedstown, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 102
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 18
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11
P-40E Kittyhawk x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 4 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged
LTJG R. Crommelin of VF-42 is credited with kill number 3
Allied Ships
AK Mungana
CA Australia
PG Warrego
AK Murada
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
A6M3 Zero x 4
D3A Val x 23
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 10
P-400 Airacobra x 8
P-39D Airacobra x 22
P-40E Kittyhawk x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 14 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 3 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 3 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 damaged
WO D.Bando of EI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3
Allied Ships
DD Aylwin, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Morris, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Perkins, Bomb hits 1, on fire
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
D3A Val x 23
B5N Kate x 22
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9
P-400 Airacobra x 1
P-39D Airacobra x 3
P-40E Kittyhawk x 6
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
D3A Val x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 2 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 destroyed
LTJG M.Gardner of VF-3 is credited with kill number 2
Allied Ships
SC 522, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Lismore, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Ormiston, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP President Adams, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kanimbla, on fire, heavy damage
AP Westralia, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SC 519, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 55
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 56
B5N Kate x 40
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
P-40E Kittyhawk x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 3 destroyed
B5N Kate x 2 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged
FO K. Truscott of No. 76 Sqn RAAF is credited with kill number 3
Allied Ships
AP Moreton Bay, on fire
SC 519, on fire, heavy damage
AP President Adams, on fire, heavy damage
AP Heywood
AK Mildura, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kanimbla, on fire, heavy damage
SC 522, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Wollongong, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Wanganella, on fire, heavy damage
AP George Clymer, on fire
AP Monrovia
AP Ormiston, on fire
MSW Lismore, on fire, heavy damage
AP Westralia, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Leedstown, heavy damage
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 29
Several transports and smaller escorts are confirmed sunk, and I suspect there will be a steady chain of cripples working their way south.
May 23-25
Sub operations open up May 23. The I-6 and I-1, operating between New Guinea and Australia, pick off a pair of crippled cargo ships trying to head south. S-38 gains a measure of revenge for the Allies by slamming two torpedoes into the heavy cruiser Mikuma as she nears Port Moresby for a bombardment run, but the task force's destroyers also manage to locate and destroy the S-boat. Mikuma is forced to turn about and set course for Rabaul.
My next bombardment run into Port Moresby miscalculates, and its final approach to Port Moresby is made during daylight. As a result, the task force suffers a long day of repeated air attacks that leaves several cruisers and destroyers damaged, the CL Abukuma being by far the worst hit. Only the low skill level of the Allied level bomber pilots this earlier in the game keeps the final tally from being far worse.
My carrier groups respond with massed strikes against the transport task forces clustered south of Port Moresby. The Zeroes sweep the skies clear of Allied fighters before the strikes go in, and again several Allied merchant ships and escort vessels are sent to the bottom.
The day concludes with the belated arrival of my bombardment group at Port Moresby, where they encounter a trio of Allied destroyers (probably stragglers from the group engaged in the surface action a couple of days ago), already damaged by earlier air attacks. Two of the American tin cans are quickly sunk, but the third escapes....
Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese Ships
CA Atago
CA Mogami
CL Tenryu, on fire, heavy damage
DD Oyashio
DD Maikaze
DD Isokaze
DD Arashi
DD Tanikaze
DD Arashio
DD Yudachi
DD Hatsuharu
DD Hatsushimo
DD Shikinami
Allied Ships
DD Morris, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Worden, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Monaghan, Shell hits 29, and is sunk
The 24th sees a bit less action, as thunderstorms keep most aircraft on the ground for the day. Kido Butai manages a single strike that finishes off a pair of crippled destroyers near Port Moresby, but the only other action of the day is taken by I-6, which bags another crippled AK trying to get out of the kill zone.
I-6's luck continues the following day, as she finishes off a perfect patrol by catching up with the damaged Australia about four hexes out of Cairns. Three Long Lances strike the already-damaged cruiser, which heels over and sinks later in the day. That makes three attacks and three kills for I-6 on this patrol, and her skipper gleefully sets course for Rabaul to load more torpedoes.
My next bombardment run into Port Moresby miscalculates, and its final approach to Port Moresby is made during daylight. As a result, the task force suffers a long day of repeated air attacks that leaves several cruisers and destroyers damaged, the CL Abukuma being by far the worst hit. Only the low skill level of the Allied level bomber pilots this earlier in the game keeps the final tally from being far worse.
My carrier groups respond with massed strikes against the transport task forces clustered south of Port Moresby. The Zeroes sweep the skies clear of Allied fighters before the strikes go in, and again several Allied merchant ships and escort vessels are sent to the bottom.
The day concludes with the belated arrival of my bombardment group at Port Moresby, where they encounter a trio of Allied destroyers (probably stragglers from the group engaged in the surface action a couple of days ago), already damaged by earlier air attacks. Two of the American tin cans are quickly sunk, but the third escapes....
Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 10,40
Japanese Ships
CA Atago
CA Mogami
CL Tenryu, on fire, heavy damage
DD Oyashio
DD Maikaze
DD Isokaze
DD Arashi
DD Tanikaze
DD Arashio
DD Yudachi
DD Hatsuharu
DD Hatsushimo
DD Shikinami
Allied Ships
DD Morris, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Worden, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Monaghan, Shell hits 29, and is sunk
The 24th sees a bit less action, as thunderstorms keep most aircraft on the ground for the day. Kido Butai manages a single strike that finishes off a pair of crippled destroyers near Port Moresby, but the only other action of the day is taken by I-6, which bags another crippled AK trying to get out of the kill zone.
I-6's luck continues the following day, as she finishes off a perfect patrol by catching up with the damaged Australia about four hexes out of Cairns. Three Long Lances strike the already-damaged cruiser, which heels over and sinks later in the day. That makes three attacks and three kills for I-6 on this patrol, and her skipper gleefully sets course for Rabaul to load more torpedoes.