The following AAR is against the AI in Scenario 19.....I'm the Japs.
I'm going for complete dominance in Australia, and I'd thought it'd be fun to write about it...
Yes, I know it's lame to beat up on the poor AI......
Sue me!
Chad
Ozzfest '42
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TAIL GUNNER
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Ozzfest '42
"If you want peace, prepare for war."
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TAIL GUNNER
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RE: Ozzfest '42
September 27, 1942
The largest armada in the history of the Japanese Empire, maybe even the world, leaves Rabaul port today.
Every available small and medium Maru is loaded with the Combined Fleet's 17th Army (2nd ID, 6th ID, 38th ID, 35th Bgde.)
3 Naval Garrisons and 2 Base Forces are also loaded...
Escorting and protecting this gigantic procession of ships, men, and materials is TF 1 - the KB.
TF 1 under Nagumo consists of CV Hiryu, CV Soryu, CV Junyo, CV Akagi, CV Kaga, CV Zuikaku, CVL Ryujo, CVL Zuiho, and CVE Unyo with a full complement of 496 naval strike aircraft.
After several days, Tanaka's surface task force of 4CA, 2CL, and 6DD which is currently based in Gili Gili will join up with the main fleet.
Lagging behind is a replenishment TF consisting of four fully loaded AOs plus escorts.
All in all, 183 ships form up into eight TFs and sail south-east towards Lunga.
The destination......Brisbane!
The largest armada in the history of the Japanese Empire, maybe even the world, leaves Rabaul port today.
Every available small and medium Maru is loaded with the Combined Fleet's 17th Army (2nd ID, 6th ID, 38th ID, 35th Bgde.)
3 Naval Garrisons and 2 Base Forces are also loaded...
Escorting and protecting this gigantic procession of ships, men, and materials is TF 1 - the KB.
TF 1 under Nagumo consists of CV Hiryu, CV Soryu, CV Junyo, CV Akagi, CV Kaga, CV Zuikaku, CVL Ryujo, CVL Zuiho, and CVE Unyo with a full complement of 496 naval strike aircraft.
After several days, Tanaka's surface task force of 4CA, 2CL, and 6DD which is currently based in Gili Gili will join up with the main fleet.
Lagging behind is a replenishment TF consisting of four fully loaded AOs plus escorts.
All in all, 183 ships form up into eight TFs and sail south-east towards Lunga.
The destination......Brisbane!
"If you want peace, prepare for war."
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TAIL GUNNER
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RE: Ozzfest '42
September 28-29, 1942
The task group enjoys a quiet few days while sailing slowly in a south-easterly direction...
Nells and Bettys based in Rabaul flying at 1000 ft. provide sub suppression.
120 miles due west of Lunga, the fleet heads due south and into enemy waters...
The task group enjoys a quiet few days while sailing slowly in a south-easterly direction...
Nells and Bettys based in Rabaul flying at 1000 ft. provide sub suppression.
120 miles due west of Lunga, the fleet heads due south and into enemy waters...
"If you want peace, prepare for war."
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TAIL GUNNER
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RE: Ozzfest '42
September 30, 1942
The invasion fleet is spotted by B-24s on naval search flying from Rockhampton or Brisbane....
6 IJN submarines set up a picket line 180 miles east of Brisbane.
The invasion fleet is spotted by B-24s on naval search flying from Rockhampton or Brisbane....
6 IJN submarines set up a picket line 180 miles east of Brisbane.
"If you want peace, prepare for war."
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TAIL GUNNER
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RE: Ozzfest '42
October 1, 1942
An enemy TF formed around CV Hornet, the last fully functional carrier currently available to the Allies, is intercepted today.
The outcome is a one-way slaughter, with the Hornet and several enemy DDs sinking outright.....all other ships in the Allied TF are damaged in some form or another....
However, the enemy's AA fire and CAP are fiercely impressive....and 46 Vals and Kates are lost...
An enemy TF formed around CV Hornet, the last fully functional carrier currently available to the Allies, is intercepted today.
The outcome is a one-way slaughter, with the Hornet and several enemy DDs sinking outright.....all other ships in the Allied TF are damaged in some form or another....
However, the enemy's AA fire and CAP are fiercely impressive....and 46 Vals and Kates are lost...
"If you want peace, prepare for war."
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TAIL GUNNER
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RE: Ozzfest '42
October 2, 1942
Carrier planes are now in range of Brisbane!
Vals attack the airport, destroying several B-17s on the ground.
Kates bomb the city's port, and damage a SS and several AK, TK, and an AO, which are still in their berths.
Retalitory strikes from Brisbane achieve nothing except destroyed planes and dead pilots...
Tomorrow the troops land!
Carrier planes are now in range of Brisbane!
Vals attack the airport, destroying several B-17s on the ground.
Kates bomb the city's port, and damage a SS and several AK, TK, and an AO, which are still in their berths.
Retalitory strikes from Brisbane achieve nothing except destroyed planes and dead pilots...
Tomorrow the troops land!
"If you want peace, prepare for war."
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TAIL GUNNER
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RE: Ozzfest '42
October 3, 1942
S-44, a victim of port naval bombing the day before, sinks during the night in the harbor...
Also during the night, Tanaka's TF deftly bombards the port and airfield causing much damage....Brisbane's aerodrome is closed...
His task force also manages to expertly silence the guns of the enemy's CD unit one by one...
The invasion task forces slip into Brisbane's harbor shortly thereafter, and the Mine Sweepers attached to each TF due an absolutely outstanding job of paving a way for the transports...only one transport, the unlucky Shoan Maru, hits a mine. Damage is moderate...
Escorting DDs also get kudos for blasting many mines, and the entire port is cleansed before day breaks.
The troops begin to unload, and thanks to Tanaka, not a single shot is fired from the enemy's CD defenses....
Daylight comes and exposes a small ragtag collection of enemy transports trying to escape the onslaught.....the Vals and Kates of the KB quickly and mercilessly dispose of them...
Troops continue to unload, fully protected from enemy air interdiction with Zeroes from the KB.
Recon shows the defense of the city consists of two Aus. Brigades, two Armored Regiments, an Aus. Motorised Brigade, two partial Regimental Combat Teams, a Cavalry Regiment, an AA Battalion, two Engineer Battalions, and three Base Forces.
Approximately 50,000 troops defend Brisbane....
Time is of the essence, but our troops will hold onto their beachhead until the transports are fully unloaded in approximately two days.
S-44, a victim of port naval bombing the day before, sinks during the night in the harbor...
Also during the night, Tanaka's TF deftly bombards the port and airfield causing much damage....Brisbane's aerodrome is closed...
His task force also manages to expertly silence the guns of the enemy's CD unit one by one...
The invasion task forces slip into Brisbane's harbor shortly thereafter, and the Mine Sweepers attached to each TF due an absolutely outstanding job of paving a way for the transports...only one transport, the unlucky Shoan Maru, hits a mine. Damage is moderate...
Escorting DDs also get kudos for blasting many mines, and the entire port is cleansed before day breaks.
The troops begin to unload, and thanks to Tanaka, not a single shot is fired from the enemy's CD defenses....
Daylight comes and exposes a small ragtag collection of enemy transports trying to escape the onslaught.....the Vals and Kates of the KB quickly and mercilessly dispose of them...
Troops continue to unload, fully protected from enemy air interdiction with Zeroes from the KB.
Recon shows the defense of the city consists of two Aus. Brigades, two Armored Regiments, an Aus. Motorised Brigade, two partial Regimental Combat Teams, a Cavalry Regiment, an AA Battalion, two Engineer Battalions, and three Base Forces.
Approximately 50,000 troops defend Brisbane....
Time is of the essence, but our troops will hold onto their beachhead until the transports are fully unloaded in approximately two days.
"If you want peace, prepare for war."
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TAIL GUNNER
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RE: Ozzfest '42
October 4, 1942
Troops continue to pour out of their transports and expand the beachhead....
An enemy sub lurks about and takes a pot-shot at a transport...but misses.
KBs bombers blast Brisbane's airfield today...several more B-17s destroyed, and the airport remains closed...
It's imperative to keep this airport closed....recon reports 50 fighters and 100 bombers stationed there..
The defending troops launch an ineffective bombardment attack....they are equipped with a paltry 150 artillery pieces compared to the invaders 1000+...
Tomorrow we attack!
Troops continue to pour out of their transports and expand the beachhead....
An enemy sub lurks about and takes a pot-shot at a transport...but misses.
KBs bombers blast Brisbane's airfield today...several more B-17s destroyed, and the airport remains closed...
It's imperative to keep this airport closed....recon reports 50 fighters and 100 bombers stationed there..
The defending troops launch an ineffective bombardment attack....they are equipped with a paltry 150 artillery pieces compared to the invaders 1000+...
Tomorrow we attack!
"If you want peace, prepare for war."
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TAIL GUNNER
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RE: Ozzfest '42
October 5, 1942
During the night, combat troops finish unloading....and then all transport TFs decide to head back to Rabaul!!!
(I forgot I set the lead TF to be one that included all small Marus, so when it finished unloading, it headed for home....and all the other troop transport TFs naturally followed...even though many medium Marus still held large amounts of supplies)
The retreating ships still half-loaded with supplies were ordered back to Brisbane....but the order was canceled after it was confirmed that enough supplies had already been landed to support the troops for at least a month...
But now since they were no longer under the protective umbrella of KBs Zeroes, fighter-bombers and medium bombers based in Rockhamptom bomb and strafe the retreating transport TFs...sinking the Ayo Maru, and damaging several others...
Kate bombers hit the 1st Aus. Motorised Brigade...causing few casualties but much disruption....Vals craterize the airport yet again..
Deliberate Attack....2-1 odds....forts reduced from 4 to 3...casualties light..
Barring the arrival of reinforcements, the city should fall in two days...
During the night, combat troops finish unloading....and then all transport TFs decide to head back to Rabaul!!!
(I forgot I set the lead TF to be one that included all small Marus, so when it finished unloading, it headed for home....and all the other troop transport TFs naturally followed...even though many medium Marus still held large amounts of supplies)
The retreating ships still half-loaded with supplies were ordered back to Brisbane....but the order was canceled after it was confirmed that enough supplies had already been landed to support the troops for at least a month...
But now since they were no longer under the protective umbrella of KBs Zeroes, fighter-bombers and medium bombers based in Rockhamptom bomb and strafe the retreating transport TFs...sinking the Ayo Maru, and damaging several others...
Kate bombers hit the 1st Aus. Motorised Brigade...causing few casualties but much disruption....Vals craterize the airport yet again..
Deliberate Attack....2-1 odds....forts reduced from 4 to 3...casualties light..
Barring the arrival of reinforcements, the city should fall in two days...
"If you want peace, prepare for war."
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TAIL GUNNER
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RE: Ozzfest '42
October 6, 1942
Citing a severe shortage of fuel, Nagumo insists on retiring the KB to Rabaul....
The oilers of the replenishment TF are bone-dry, so the KB and Tanaka's TF are ordered home....
The Allies take full advantage of the lack of protective fighters, and pummel the invading troops with multiple sorties of heavy and medium bombers...Brisbane's airfield has reopened.
Allied resistance stiffens....
Deliberate attack....1-1 odds....forts reduced to 2...850 Jap to 950 Allied casualties...
The Emperor's troops face the grim reality that they may be fighting here for awhile....and that every new day brings the possiblilty of Allied reinforcements that could turn the tide against them...
Citing a severe shortage of fuel, Nagumo insists on retiring the KB to Rabaul....
The oilers of the replenishment TF are bone-dry, so the KB and Tanaka's TF are ordered home....
The Allies take full advantage of the lack of protective fighters, and pummel the invading troops with multiple sorties of heavy and medium bombers...Brisbane's airfield has reopened.
Allied resistance stiffens....
Deliberate attack....1-1 odds....forts reduced to 2...850 Jap to 950 Allied casualties...
The Emperor's troops face the grim reality that they may be fighting here for awhile....and that every new day brings the possiblilty of Allied reinforcements that could turn the tide against them...
"If you want peace, prepare for war."
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TAIL GUNNER
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RE: Ozzfest '42
October 7, 1942
The invaders are further pummeled by every available Allied plane in the immediate area....the situation for the Japanese is becoming desperate by the hour...
Gen. Hyakutake, the commander of 17th Army, discusses strategic options with his division commanders....they all come to the conclusion that a massed frontal assault should break the defenses.....there is after all, strength in numbers...
Shock Attack is ordered!
The invaders are further pummeled by every available Allied plane in the immediate area....the situation for the Japanese is becoming desperate by the hour...
Gen. Hyakutake, the commander of 17th Army, discusses strategic options with his division commanders....they all come to the conclusion that a massed frontal assault should break the defenses.....there is after all, strength in numbers...
Shock Attack is ordered!
"If you want peace, prepare for war."
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TAIL GUNNER
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RE: Ozzfest '42
October 8, 1942
The Japanese, borrowing on doctrine from their German allies, open up their new offensive with a one-hour 1150 gun artillery barrage prior to the main assault....
Under withering artillery fire, 92,000 screaming Japanese spring from their positions and storm the shell-shocked Allies along the entire battle line...
The beleagured defenders hold the line for awhile, but soon small cracks in the Allied defensive positions become giant holes full of advancing IJN infantry...the retreat quickly becomes a full-blown rout...
The floodgates now wide-open, the Japanese quickly overrun the city's port facilities.....capturing 50,000 points of supply and 40,000 points of fuel before it can be destroyed by Allied engineers...
Nagumo's fuel-starved KB is ordered back to Brisbane to claim the spoils of war...
Allied aircrews are also caught with their pants down....the Japanese overrun the airfield and capture 41 B-17s, 16 B-26s, 24 P-40s, and 16 C-47 transports...
The rapidly advancing IJN troops try to achieve a total victory by encircling the retreating Allied units on the city's west side....but are repulsed by M-3 Grants of the 2/6 Armored Regiment that were hastily positioned to keep the road to Rockhampton open....many non-military units flee to the west via the coastal highway...
95% of the once beautiful city is in Japanese hands by nightfall...
The lifeline of Northern Australia has been severed!
The Japanese, borrowing on doctrine from their German allies, open up their new offensive with a one-hour 1150 gun artillery barrage prior to the main assault....
Under withering artillery fire, 92,000 screaming Japanese spring from their positions and storm the shell-shocked Allies along the entire battle line...
The beleagured defenders hold the line for awhile, but soon small cracks in the Allied defensive positions become giant holes full of advancing IJN infantry...the retreat quickly becomes a full-blown rout...
The floodgates now wide-open, the Japanese quickly overrun the city's port facilities.....capturing 50,000 points of supply and 40,000 points of fuel before it can be destroyed by Allied engineers...
Nagumo's fuel-starved KB is ordered back to Brisbane to claim the spoils of war...
Allied aircrews are also caught with their pants down....the Japanese overrun the airfield and capture 41 B-17s, 16 B-26s, 24 P-40s, and 16 C-47 transports...
The rapidly advancing IJN troops try to achieve a total victory by encircling the retreating Allied units on the city's west side....but are repulsed by M-3 Grants of the 2/6 Armored Regiment that were hastily positioned to keep the road to Rockhampton open....many non-military units flee to the west via the coastal highway...
95% of the once beautiful city is in Japanese hands by nightfall...
The lifeline of Northern Australia has been severed!
"If you want peace, prepare for war."
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TAIL GUNNER
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RE: Ozzfest '42
October 9, 1942
The last of the Allied troops flee Brisbane....and are helped along by ferocious attacks of the jubilant IJN infantry...
Gen. Hyakutake deliberates a chase....but decides his victorious troops need a rest first...
KB docks at Brisbane's port, and consumes every drop of fuel left by the Allies.....but yet is still hungry for more...
(that's the last time I max-out the entire 25-ship limit on an AC task force...fuel hogs!)
KB will head back to Rabaul tomorrow, but first her weary planes will attack Rockhampton's airport...
Two Daitai's of A6M3, and a Chutai of Irvings transfer to Brisbane's airport...Allied warplanes mass at Rockhampton...
12,377 supplies a month to supply Brisbane!
The last of the Allied troops flee Brisbane....and are helped along by ferocious attacks of the jubilant IJN infantry...
Gen. Hyakutake deliberates a chase....but decides his victorious troops need a rest first...
KB docks at Brisbane's port, and consumes every drop of fuel left by the Allies.....but yet is still hungry for more...
(that's the last time I max-out the entire 25-ship limit on an AC task force...fuel hogs!)
KB will head back to Rabaul tomorrow, but first her weary planes will attack Rockhampton's airport...
Two Daitai's of A6M3, and a Chutai of Irvings transfer to Brisbane's airport...Allied warplanes mass at Rockhampton...
12,377 supplies a month to supply Brisbane!
"If you want peace, prepare for war."
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TAIL GUNNER
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- Joined: Wed Apr 27, 2005 5:10 am
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RE: Ozzfest '42
October 10, 1942
The Allies show today that they still have some teeth in Australia...
60 medium bombers escorted by 64 Kittyhawks and Warharks attack the recently captured airbase at Brisbane.....12 intercepting Zeroes make only two kills...
Damage is light, but with the supply situation the way it is, the Japanese simply cannot allow the Allies to bomb them into starvation......
Gen. Hyakutake would like to rest his troops for a few more days, but recent recon reports of the Rockhampton garrison convince him that Rockhampton must fall into the hands of the Empire as quickly as possible...he also realizes that if the defeated Brisbane defenders are allowed to escape to Rockhampton unmolested, the task of neutralizing the city will be much more difficult...
Rockhampton is currently defended by an infantry brigade, a base force unit, and an engineer battalion....
2nd ID, 38th ID, and 6th ID will move out for Rockhampton tomorrow....35th Brigade will remain in Brisbane on defense (and looting)...
Meanwhile, KB finally makes her way back to Rabaul....and intends to bomb Rockhampton airfield on the way back...
However, an unlucky Allied transport TF of 2 AK and 1 AP stumbles right into the path of Nagumo....
Nagumo's prime directive is the destruction of Allied shipping, so he orders a naval strike that basically evaporates the hapless ships.....further strikes vaporize any floating debris bigger than a shoebox....
Nagumo's motto...."Overkill rules."
The Allies show today that they still have some teeth in Australia...
60 medium bombers escorted by 64 Kittyhawks and Warharks attack the recently captured airbase at Brisbane.....12 intercepting Zeroes make only two kills...
Damage is light, but with the supply situation the way it is, the Japanese simply cannot allow the Allies to bomb them into starvation......
Gen. Hyakutake would like to rest his troops for a few more days, but recent recon reports of the Rockhampton garrison convince him that Rockhampton must fall into the hands of the Empire as quickly as possible...he also realizes that if the defeated Brisbane defenders are allowed to escape to Rockhampton unmolested, the task of neutralizing the city will be much more difficult...
Rockhampton is currently defended by an infantry brigade, a base force unit, and an engineer battalion....
2nd ID, 38th ID, and 6th ID will move out for Rockhampton tomorrow....35th Brigade will remain in Brisbane on defense (and looting)...
Meanwhile, KB finally makes her way back to Rabaul....and intends to bomb Rockhampton airfield on the way back...
However, an unlucky Allied transport TF of 2 AK and 1 AP stumbles right into the path of Nagumo....
Nagumo's prime directive is the destruction of Allied shipping, so he orders a naval strike that basically evaporates the hapless ships.....further strikes vaporize any floating debris bigger than a shoebox....
Nagumo's motto...."Overkill rules."
"If you want peace, prepare for war."
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TAIL GUNNER
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RE: Ozzfest '42
October 11-12, 1942
Japanese troops head out northwest along the coastal highway towards Rockhampton....and run right into the previous occupants of Brisbane...
The fight is short and fierce, with the victorious Japanese taking over 1000 Allied prisoners....it would appear the Allies are bent on holding up the Japanese advance towards Rockhampton for as long as possible...
Meanwhile, further north, nearly 300 medium bombers take off from Rabaul and strike the isolated garrison at Port Moresby...causing further supply problems for the beleagured troops stationed there...
And in the New Caledonia area, eight Japanes submarines take up positions in the shipping lanes between Noumea and Luganville...
The noose around the Allies in the SW Pacific is slowly being tightened...
Japanese troops head out northwest along the coastal highway towards Rockhampton....and run right into the previous occupants of Brisbane...
The fight is short and fierce, with the victorious Japanese taking over 1000 Allied prisoners....it would appear the Allies are bent on holding up the Japanese advance towards Rockhampton for as long as possible...
Meanwhile, further north, nearly 300 medium bombers take off from Rabaul and strike the isolated garrison at Port Moresby...causing further supply problems for the beleagured troops stationed there...
And in the New Caledonia area, eight Japanes submarines take up positions in the shipping lanes between Noumea and Luganville...
The noose around the Allies in the SW Pacific is slowly being tightened...
"If you want peace, prepare for war."
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TAIL GUNNER
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RE: Ozzfest '42
October 13-15, 1942
The tempo of the war has greatly slowed down in the SouthWest Pacific since the fall of Brisbane...but the siege of Rockhampton approaches.....
The bulk of IJN 17th Army meets another hastily assembled Allied roadblock half-way to Rockhampton....and promptly smashes through it.
The Allies lose another thousand dead, wounded, and missing.....versus only 33 Japanese troops lost....
The Allies launch one minor air-raid against Brisbane's airfield, losing 9 planes for slight damage...
KB finally reaches Rabaul, and proceeds to drain half the fuel on hand.....but a large tanker task force just arrived from Truk to replenish the base....
The task force is disbanded for some well-earned rest and relaxation.....
Plans are in the preliminary stages for another amphibious operation in Northern Australia around the first of November...
The tempo of the war has greatly slowed down in the SouthWest Pacific since the fall of Brisbane...but the siege of Rockhampton approaches.....
The bulk of IJN 17th Army meets another hastily assembled Allied roadblock half-way to Rockhampton....and promptly smashes through it.
The Allies lose another thousand dead, wounded, and missing.....versus only 33 Japanese troops lost....
The Allies launch one minor air-raid against Brisbane's airfield, losing 9 planes for slight damage...
KB finally reaches Rabaul, and proceeds to drain half the fuel on hand.....but a large tanker task force just arrived from Truk to replenish the base....
The task force is disbanded for some well-earned rest and relaxation.....
Plans are in the preliminary stages for another amphibious operation in Northern Australia around the first of November...
"If you want peace, prepare for war."