After six days quiet the South Pacific positively exploded into activity. I had the good fortune of catching out one of Tony's troop-laden FT's. Tricky business these FT's - I should imagine Tony's not too happy about it landing in position 150 miles from Dobodura.
The attack on Rabaul went resonably well, although I would've done well to have provided an escort. Two sdq's of B-24's will have a go next turn, along with 3 sqd's of P-38's. I'm also hitting Buka (50 aircraft reported), so things are obviously shaping out a bit different from what I initially intended.
17th Bgd. marched into Salamaua and I'll probe the defences next turn. I'm not sure what to make of the Woodlark business. 'Guess I garther up a few battalions of infantry somewhere and kick the Nips off before their boss gets any ideas.
The Weekly Tally:
Allied/Japanese:
Score at start: 2,514/3,709 = 1.00:1.48
Week 1: 2,687/3,482 = 1.00:1.30
Army Losses:
0/3 = -
Naval Losses:
Allied ships:
Sunk: -
Damaged: -
Japanese ships:
Sunk: 1xAP
Damaged: 1xCL, 1xDD, 1xAP
Air Losses:
Total: 31/32 = 1.00:1.03
Week 1: 31/32 = 1.00:1.03
Air-to-Air: 5/5 = 1.00:1.00
Destroyed on Field: 6/3 = 2.00:1.00
Destroyed by AAA: 10/1 = 10.00:1.00
Operational Losses: 10/23 = 1.00:2.30
Sorties Flown:
Total: 4,527/5,021 = 1.00:1.11
Week 1: 4,527/5,021 = 1.00:1.11
Loss pr. sortie (excl. DoF): 0.0055/0.0058 = 1.00:1.0545
Operational loss pr. sortie: 0.0022/0.0046 = 1.0000:2.0909
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 21 Feb 1943 Weather: Partly Cloudy
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Japanese Naval Attacks:
Naval bombardment of Dobadura
Allied aircraft losses:
Beaufort x 1 destroyed, Beaufort x 1 damaged
A-20G Havoc x 1 destroyed
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 8
Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 27
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Allied Naval Attacks:
Sub attack at SE Rabaul:
Japanese Ships:
AP Hakutetsu Maru #13, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships:
SS Growler
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Air attack on TF SW Gasmata from Buna & Dobodura:
Allied aircraft:
P-39D Airacobra x 41
A-20G Havoc x 20
Beaufort x 8
Allied aircraft losses:
P-39D Airacobra x 3 damaged
A-20G Havoc x 1 destroyed, A-20G Havoc x 11 damaged
Beaufort x 3 destroyed, Beaufort x 6 damaged
Japanese Ships:
DD Asagumo, Shell hits 8
DD Asashio, Shell hits 12, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Yubari, Shell hits 20, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 220
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Japanese Air Attacks:
Air attack on Lunga airfield from Rabaul (night attack):
Japanese aircraft:
G4M1 Betty x 9
H8K Emily x 16
Allied aircraft:
P-70A Havoc x 6
Japanese aircraft losses:
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged
H8K Emily x 1 destroyed. H8K Emily x 1 damaged *
first successful night-intercept I've ever seen*
Allied ground losses:
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2
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Allied Air Attacks:
Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:
Allied aircraft:
B-25J Mitchell x 35
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 48
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Air attack on Lae airfield from Port Moresby:
Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 15
P-40E Warhawk x 76
B-25J Mitchell x 44
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 44
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 29
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Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Port Moresby:
Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 8
A6M3 Zero x 50
Allied aircraft:
B-17E Fortress x 38
Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed, A6M3 Zero x 10 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 1 destroyed, G4M1 Betty x 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses:
B-17E Fortress x 16 damaged *
4 lost*
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 53
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 12
Runway hits 32
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Japanese Ground Attacks:
Ground combat at Woodlark Island:
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 485 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles *
85th NG Bn., 21st BF*
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 9 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Woodlark Island base !!!
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