July 10 – 11 - 12 1942
The Sydney express takes on a new mission – all surface forces have been reorganized into several FT TFs for maximum efficiency (this leaves much to be desired though, I can't seem to get the number of ships in a TF right). Thunderstorms keep most air activity down, though I’ve begun airlifting troops out of Nadzab and Gilli Gilli (using PBYs). All SBD squads are placed on ASW search. Maybe we can hit something…
The Kido Butai has arisen from it’s slumber at shortlands and is once again on it’s way South. A TF consisting of 6-7 MLs ([X(]) is spotted just N of Gilli.
Meanwhile a third enemy sub is sunk! 3 in 3 days, that must hurt! [:)]
Weather: Partly Cloudy
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/12/42
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Sub attack at 9,40
Japanese Ships
SS I-31, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
***sunk***
Allied Ships
DD Morris
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Run Morris Run!
July 13 – 14 1942
Some news now… The Kido Butai is a few miles north of Gilli, and the entire 38 Div (4 Rgts) + 3 Eng units have landed there. Elements of the 25 Bde (7th Aus) is all that remains of the proud force that captured the base almost 2 months ago. Most combat troops have been withdrawn from Gilli, as have all recon squads. Brig. Gen. Pots chooses to remain with the rearguard however, and shares in the captivity of his men.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/14/42
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Ground combat at
Gili Gilip
Japanese Shock attack
Attacking force 22479 troops, 244 guns, 0 vehicles
***Overkill***
Defending force 1507 troops, 41 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 67 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese forces CAPTURE Gili Gili base !!! [:(]
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 109
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 1869
*** mostly base force units and support squads***
Guns lost 36
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But there is some
good news…
A small Jap SC TF attempts to interrupt t he Sydney express and promptly pays the price.
The Japanese gain the initial advantage by crossing the ‘T’, though this helps them not. At a range of 7000 yards, R Admiral Lees ships pump the Japanese full of 8” shells. CA Kinugasa is left burning, as are several DDs. The allied ships are pretty much untouched until the end of combat, whereupon DD Ushio gets a luckily torpedo strike on the Swanson. Swanson falls out of formation and falls prey to the Roving I-5, which sends her to the bottom with 3 torpedoes.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Lea Lea at 9,39
Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage [8D]
DD Yugumo, Shell hits 18, on fire, heavy damage
***sunk*** [8D]
DD Kazegumo, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asagiri, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ushio
DD Yayoi, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Akikaze
Allied Ships
CA Northampton, Shell hits 1
CA Salt Lake City
CA Vincennes
CL St. Louis, Shell hits 1
DD Meredith, Shell hits 2
DD Swanson, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
*** subsequently sunk buy sub***
DD Wilkes
DD Hughes, Shell hits 2, on fire
***pfft!***[:'(]
DD Hammann
DD Mustin
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Trust the subs to ruin a perfectly good day! As I suspected, the surface force was to provide cover for the MLs (now spotted at PM). The Sydney express has been given new orders for the time being, pending the arrival of 2 DMSs form SOPAC. Meanwhile some allied subs are dispatched to PM to extract retribution for the Swanson.
