August 25 1942
Today sees the tide of war begining to turn... The KB retreats in fear, leaving the transports in Cairns completely undefended! Not a single zero to be seen for miles! Also, a Japanese SC TF consisting of BBs is spotted just 30 miles out off Townsville. Ofcourse as expected (*sigh*) most of my bombers ignore the SC TF and go after the transports – but the result is still good – 2 Japanese transport TFs are blown out of the water, and the SC TFs gets a few licks as well! [:D]
Transports Under attack at Cairns:
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/25/42
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Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56
Allied aircraft
(no escorts, just as well there was no cap!)
SBD Dauntless x 44
TBF Avenger x 22
Beaufort x 8
P-400 Airacobra x 5
P-39D Airacobra x 30
B-25D Mitchell x 14
B-26B Marauder x 22
B-17E Fortress x 9
A-20B Havoc x 3
no losses
Japanese Ships
TF 1:
AP Reiyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Shinnan Maru, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Azumasan Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AP Miike Maru, on fire
AP Tatsuho Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Minekaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Sasago Maru
AP Kyokusei Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Nankai Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Kinryu Maru, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AP Ceylon Maru
AP Canberra Maru
ML Hoko, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Yamagiri Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chihaya Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Tatsuwa Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Kyushu Maru
AP Mogamigawa Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Uyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
TF 2:
AP Kimishima Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tarushima Maru, on fire
AP Unkai Maru #3, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Keisho Maru
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 404 [:D]
Guns lost 4
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SC TF
Air attack on TF at 10,61
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
Allied aircraft
Hudson x 9
Beaufort x 3
Wirraway x 23
P-400 Airacobra x 12
P-39D Airacobra x 32
B-25D Mitchell x 12
B-26B Marauder x 6
B-17E Fortress x 6
A-20B Havoc x 4
Allied aircraft losses
***10 Aircraft lost - mostly wirraways***
Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Bomb hits 2
*** no effect [:(]***
CL Kiso, Bomb hits 1, on fire [8D]
CL Tama
CA Tone, Bomb hits 1
CA Aoba, Bomb hits 1
CL Sendai, Bomb hits 2, on fire [8D]
DD Kagero
CA Chikuma, Bomb hits 1
CA Chokai
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Japanese bombers attempt to flex there muscele by bombing Cooktown airbase – 47 Betties streak in and create 20 holes in the runway. Quite a waste of ordinance, Cooktown is empty.
Meanwhile the Wasp pulls off her raid flawlessly, though all of the Japanese transports at Lunga roads had withdrawn the turn before. AV Kamikawa Maru docked in port catches a 1000lb bomb. [:)] Sensing an opportunity, Aliied HQ orders
BB North Carolina under command of Admiral Lee and escorted by 4 CAs, 1 CL and 7 DDs to leave Brisbane harbour for points north...
Let's see what the morrow brings...
those CVs came at the worst moment!!!.
*insert heavy metal music here*
