Guadalcanal! Scenario 5 PBEM: Grotius v. Maikarant

[Grotius]

Maikarant and I have enjoyed a little R & R after our tangle with Scenario 3, Coral Sea, and now we're undertaking a longer scenario on the same South Pacific map. This is Scenario 5, Guadalcanal, with one-day turns, non-historical first turn, fixed reinforcements (dunno why I didn't choose variable), Allied Sub Doctrine Off, Japanese Sub Doctrine Off, Allied Damage Control On, Fog of War On, Weather On.

In our first turn, Maikarant began where he left off in Coral Sea: bombing Lae.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/04/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 19
B-26B Marauder x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 2 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
133 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 12

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
12 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 10000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 10000 feet
2 x P-39D Airacobra bombing at 2000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged [nah, only 1 destroyed]

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 5 damaged [intel says 1 destroyed]

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 15000 feet
11 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 15000 feet

[marky]

good luck

have fun

looking forward to reading it [:D]

[Grotius]

Thanks!

5 August 1942: A massive armada of Allied ships lies just 120 miles south of Guadalcanal. I have spotted them but not yet done anything to stop them. In the meantime, Maikarant draws first blood.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/05/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 61,84

[snip]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 68,98 [a shallow-water hex near Guadalcanal]

Japanese Ships
SS I-174, hits 6, on fire, heavy damage [sunk] [serves me right for placing the sub in such a hex]

Allied Ships
DD MacDonough
DD Dale

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M2 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 7
B-26B Marauder x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
240 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 20

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 10000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sasebo 6th SNLF, at 54,91

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 29

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
26 x P-39D Airacobra strafing at 100 feet
3 x P-39D Airacobra strafing at 100 feet

[Grotius]

Here's the Allied Armada, approaching Guadalcanal on August 5. I haven't done anything to stop it -- yet.

Have I mentioned that I have a bad feeling about this?

[Grotius]

6 August 1942: Maikarant sailed his entire assault force right into Lunga, thus using his CVs to cover the invasion force by stationing them in a base hex. This presumably reduced his fighter cover, in accordance with rule 7.2.2.23. Ms. Betty and Mr. Zero, who had been resting in Rabaul for todays, responded accordingly. The resulting attack on his invasion force, highlighted in blue below, was heart-stopping for both of us.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/06/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Lunga, at 67,97

Allied Ships
DD Selfridge
DD Jarvis
DD Patterson
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Mugford
CL Hobart
CA Canberra
CA Australia
CA Chicago

Japanese ground losses:
240 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Lunga, at 67,97

Allied Ships
DD Hull
DD Dewey
DD Wilson
DD Ellet
CA Vincennes
CA Quincy
CA Astoria

Japanese ground losses:
88 casualties reported

Port supply hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Tulagi, at 68,96

Allied Ships
DD Buchanan
DD Monssen
CLAA San Juan

Japanese ground losses:
13 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 61,84

Japanese Ships
DD Asanagi
DD Oite
DD Harukaze
DD Asakaze

Allied Ships
SS Greenling

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M2 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 7
B-26B Marauder x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
14 casualties reported

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 10000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M2 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
85 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sasebo 6th SNLF, at 54,91

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 30

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x P-39D Airacobra strafing at 100 feet
3 x P-39D Airacobra strafing at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 67,97

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
G4M1 Betty x 22

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 26 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 28 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 17 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina
CV Enterprise
CLAA Atlanta

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 67,97

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
G4M1 Betty x 3

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 7 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Enterprise

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Lunga, at 67,97

Allied Ships
DD Selfridge
DD Jarvis
DD Patterson
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Mugford
CL Hobart
CA Canberra
CA Australia
CA Chicago

Japanese ground losses:
99 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Lunga, at 67,97

Allied Ships
DD Hull
DD Dewey
DD Wilson
DD Ellet
CA Vincennes
CA Quincy
CA Astoria

Japanese ground losses:
162 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Tulagi, at 68,96

Allied Ships
DD Buchanan
DD Monssen
CLAA San Juan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Lunga, 67,97, firing at TF 1004
TF 1004 troops unloading over beach at Lunga, 67,97

Allied ground losses:
543 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Tulagi, 68,96, firing at TF 1008
TF 1008 troops unloading over beach at Tulagi, 68,96

Allied ground losses:
164 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lunga

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2049 troops, 13 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 6200 troops, 58 guns, 6 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tulagi

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 2960 troops, 17 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1730 troops, 15 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

[Grotius]

7 August 1942 - 12 August 1942: Maikarant, playing the Allies, has taken Tulagi and Lunga, but I still hold Tassafaronga, and my troops on Tulagi have refused to surrender despite long odds. My Betties out of Rabaul have put torpedoes in a couple of American heavy cruisers but have not seriously slowed down the Allied invasion force. Maikarant's carriers lurk a couple hundred miles west of Guadalcanal.

I can boast of one modest success. A surface group out of Rabaul made a mess of the airfield at Gili Gili. The night before, though, night bombers from Port Moresby returned the favor at Rabaul.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/09/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Rabaul , at 61,88

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
B-24D Liberator x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
L1N1 Thora: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 9 damaged
H8K Emily: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
D3A Val: 2 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 9

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
16 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Gili Gili, at 56,94

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
PBY Catalina: 9 destroyed, 2 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 destroyed, 13 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Tatsuta
CL Tenryu
CA Kako
CA Furutaka
CA Kinugasa
CA Aoba
CA Chokai

Allied ground losses:
421 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 19

[Grotius]

August 13 through August 18, 1942: Maikarant has returned from a sunny vacation, and he's all rested, relaxed, and confident about his chances in the South Pacific. To bring the reader up to date, Maikrant took Lunga and Tulagi in early August, but I still have a foothold on Tassafaronga. My troops in Tulagi held out until August 13, when we had this combat, which featured a suicidal "BANZAI CHARGE!" by my forces:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tulagi

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4116 troops, 14 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1149 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 106 to 1

Japanese ground losses:
1063 casualties reported
Guns lost 8

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

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

Since then, my Betties and subs have put holes in the occasional transport, but mostly Maikrant's been busy resupplying Gili Gili and preparing to boot me off Guadalcanal altogether. Today's combat was typical: he strafed and sank one of my AGs; my Betties dropped a single bomb on one AK in Cairns; and a sub put a torpedo in one AK southeast of Papua New Guinea.

[Grotius]

Oddly, our combat replays didn't match for this past turn. I vaguely recall "sync" bugs in UV PBEMs; does this sort of thing happen in WITP too? Out of UV habits, I always reboot WITP before loading and running a WITP turn, and indeed that's what I did here. But could it be that the game is confused that I'm running two PBEMs at once? Last night I loaded and ran my latest turn against Cap_and_Gown, and it worked fine.

Guess I'll go snoop around the Support forum and see what I can find.

[Grotius]

August 19 thru 22, 1942: A quiet few days in the South Pacific. I retain a foothold on Guadalcanal, and I ponder how and when I will retake Lunga. Meanwhile Maikarant has been bombing Rabaul every night, and I've been toiling away, supplying bases and planning great plans. Today's action was pretty typical. His B-17s paid a visit at night, and his SBDs paid a visit to my TF resupplying Buna during the day.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/22/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Rabaul , at 61,88

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 19

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 19
B-24D Liberator x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
26 casualties reported

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
4 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 5000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Sasebo 6th SNLF, at 54,91

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
Kittyhawk I x 8
P-400 Airacobra x 39
P-39D Airacobra x 57
A-20B Boston x 9
B-25C Mitchell x 4
B-26B Marauder x 14

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
84 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x P-39D Airacobra strafing at 100 feet
[etc.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 55,89

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 2
A6M3 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 12
Kittyhawk I x 21

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Indus Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Tokitsukaze
AK Genmei Maru

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

[Grotius]

23 August 1942: So much for quiet! The skies cleared today, and with better weather, both of us launched air strikes against the other's naval assets. Maikarant busted up a bunch of my cargo transports trying to resupply Buna, and his CVs launched air strikes on a supply TF parked at Shortlands -- which created the amusing spectacle of a few A6M2a Rufe float fighters trying to fend off carrier aircraft. But at the end of the day's action, my Betties landed a couple of well-placed torpedoes on capital ships bombarding Tassafaronga.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/23/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Rabaul , at 61,88

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 12
B-24D Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
J1N1-R Irving: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
ML Tokiwa, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage [sunk at anchor]

Japanese ground losses:
51 casualties reported

Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 5000 feet
6 x B-24D Liberator bombing at 5000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Tassafaronga, at 66,97

Allied Ships
DD Walke

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

Day Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 63,93

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 4

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17
SBD Dauntless x 99
TBF Avenger x 44

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AK Glasgow Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AK Florida Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 11, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Boston Maru, Bomb hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Wa 4, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
[etc]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 63,93

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 2

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Boston Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AK Glasgow Maru, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Shortlands at 63,93

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
SBD Dauntless x 29
TBF Avenger x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 2 damaged
TBF Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Oite, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
APD APD-39, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
PC Ch 32, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
[snip]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Buna at 55,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 1
A6M2 Zero x 2

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18
SBD Dauntless x 13
Kittyhawk I x 24
P-400 Airacobra x 34
P-39D Airacobra x 35

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 3 destroyed
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
PG Takunan Maru #10
AK Eisho Maru
AK Shinsoku Maru, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Oyama Maru, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Genmei Maru, Shell hits 4
AK Asahisan Maru, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Tangshan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Sansei Maru, Shell hits 12, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD Dauntless bombing at 2000 feet
[snip]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 61,88

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
MSW Toshi Maru #1
DD Shiokaze

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 10000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 10000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Tassafaronga at 66,97

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Hull

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Tassafaronga at 66,97

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Northampton, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (yay!)
CL Nashville, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Chester

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Buna at 55,90

Japanese Ships
MSW Rokko Maru
PG Takunan Maru #10, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Asahisan Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Sansei Maru, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Oyama Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Eisho Maru
AK Tangshan Maru, on fire
AK Genmei Maru
AK Shinsoku Maru, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships [Maikarant's roving PT TF. Remind me to negotiate a house rule about this next time, Maikarant. ]
PT PT-40
PT PT-42
PT PT-43
PT PT-44, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
PT PT-45, Shell hits 1
PT PT-46
PT PT-47

[Grotius]

24 August 1942: Maikarant shocked me by moving his CVs, and a half-dozen accompanying surface groups, four hexes south of Rabaul. I don't see any transports in this massive armada, except for one worrisome sighting of an APD, but I can't rule out the possibility that he means to invade Rabaul! I suppose another possibility is a bombardment. Man.

Anyway, I had stood down my Betties to rest after their valiant attack on CA Northhampton yesterday, and my sole squadron of Vals was on ASW duty, convinced that no surface ship would come within 240 miles of Rabaul. So the result was that Maikarant's carriers launched air strikes against my Surface Combat TF at Rabaul.

The result was that Maikarant banged up a few of my ships -- though, I suspect, not as many as he'd hoped. In exchange, I shot down a large number of his planes -- more, I suspect, than he feared.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 61,88

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
A6M3 Zero x 22

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 36
SBD Dauntless x 111
TBF Avenger x 43

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 28 destroyed, 2 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 11 destroyed, 19 damaged
TBF Avenger: 10 destroyed, 11 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Nagatsuki
CA Aoba, Bomb hits 4
DD Mikazuki
CA Furutaka, Bomb hits 2
CA Chokai, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Kako, Bomb hits 3
DD Mutsuki
DD Yuzuki
CL Tenryu
CA Kinugasa
CL Yubari
DD Tachikaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Yayoi, Bomb hits 1, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 61,88

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
A6M3 Zero x 15

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 23
SBD Dauntless x 22
TBF Avenger x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless: 5 destroyed, 13 damaged
TBF Avenger: 7 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Nokaze, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Harukaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Mochizuki, Bomb hits 1
DD Asakaze
DD Asanagi

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

Here's a look at Maikarant's armada.

[Grotius]

August 25-26, 1942: Nope, Maikarant was neither invading nor bombarding Rabaul; his carriers and surface ships now seem to be retiring toward Noumea. Minus a few dozen carrier aircraft. [8D]

But Maikarant kept the surprises coming. First, a roving squadron of PT boats disrupted my resupply of Buna. Second, marine paratroopers descended on Munda, which I'd left undefended. Third, I have finally been ejected from Guadalcanal -- for now. Some highlights, and a screenshot:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Buna at 55,90

Japanese Ships
MSW Rokko Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Eisho Maru
AK Genmei Maru, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
PT PT-40
PT PT-42
PT PT-43
PT PT-45
PT PT-46
PT PT-47

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Tassafaronga

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 2920 troops, 39 guns, 11 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Tassafaronga base !!!

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

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/26/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Munda

Allied Shock attack [US Marine paratroopers dropping on the base]

Attacking force 124 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Munda base !!!

Here's a look at the Solomons, along with the probable route of the airdrop: