A toe in the water - wobbly vs herb (I try again)

[wobbly]

After a very long hiatus from the forums I have decided to return to play my old sparing partner Herb Hampson. Herb and I have had a crack at the Dec 7 scenario a couple of times and have called off continuing due to patch upgrade and recently because he started loosing divisions to the angry OOB monster – OKA patch 1.6.
Since we were sick of going through the initial period of the conquering of the DEI we decided to give the May 42 scenario a crack.
My initial thoughts were “well I wouldn’t have set up the area like this!” but I imagine this is as close to the OOB of the time that Matrix could get. By May in the main scenario I had supply and fuel mountains in most locations in the South Pacific with a very good cordon from Johnson to Palmyra to Canton to Nanomea. Support in depth included large bases at Fiji and Pago Pago. This was all created as a launching pad at the Gilberts.
Anyway enough musing – I don’t have all that lovely hard work. Lets look at what we’ve got and what I am planning – we’ll go by area.

India
Little of interest to report here. I’ve moved one of the tank Brigades in Karachi to Hyderabad as a rapid reaction force. I’ve moved most of the Artillery to Asansol and I’ve moved the two air regiments to Chandpur and Dacca respectively – these two are totally wasted in Karachi.
Most of the fleet is at Columbo and this is where it will stay for the time being. No operations are planned for the moment. I will go into an assessment phase, as I have no intelligence as to Herb OOB in this area. Recon and nuisance air raids the order of the day.

China
Playing Herb I know he is not that aggressive here. Therefore I have given orders to pull all the stragglers back to bases and attempt to build them up. At present I am not looking to retreat from the main rail line yet. We will see how much force he can bring to bear. If I think he is too powerful I will just retreat. The only location I don’t want to relinquish is Sian. The rest I can do without as long as I have adequate reserves to keep him under pressure and make him think twice about moving the units there out and to other locations.

DEI
Well it’s lost. As some of you will know I attempted to take Java as a location to hit PzB with, in my well published screw up game. He of course recognised the potential danger to oil and resource fields and took out his wooden spoon and spanked my botty raw! So, I am now somewhat chastened to have another crack here. I think this will only be a location for anti-shipping subs.

SW PAC
Is very well apportioned with air, land and sea assets, just not where I would have them. The biggest problem though is supplies. Everywhere is running on empty. To this end AK ships at Los Angeles start to load and 50 more are sent to the bigger supply dumps at San Fran to do the same. India will also supply Oz with a large TF at Bombay loading for the trip. I will send more from both locations as we go.

In the North, Darwin looks very lonely. I like to use Darwin to harass the southern DEI with a view to take Timor and further harass. I do know Herb has a liking to take Darwin as well. I have therefore sortied all the subs (17 I think) from Perth to work from out of Darwin. They will be its only protection. I have also ordered an AS ship to Darwin to keep them in torps. It will be touch and go as to whether it makes it…
The Oz Cavalry regiment at Brisbane is tasked to board trains and make its was to Darwin to bolster the ground composition. I am going to guard the hex SE of Darwin as well so that unloading unmolested and marching on Darwin is not a happy alternative if he chooses to do this. All ACs in Darwin are on search.

All other Oz cities and towns continue to build forts.

In the NE Townsville’s compliment ACs is increased with some Catalinas and Beauforts – more on this in a bit.

War Plan Alpha – the Liberation of the Solomons and New Guinea

A strategic plan to take these areas is handed to SWPAC and SOPAC.

Operation Rekindle – Holding Port Moresby
I have decided that I wont roll over in Port Moresby!!! This means we are likely to see some early fireworks! To this end I created:
Fast transport TF, consisting of 3 CA and 7 DD from Brisbane to bring in some much needed supplies.
Transport TF loading the 42nd Division and Aus Corp HQ from Brisbane
An AK in Sydney loading supplies. Both destined for PM
McCain’s Air combat TF of Yorktown and Lex escorted by 2 CA and 8 DD at Noumea
Lee’s Surface Combat TF of 3 CA, 2 CL and 8 DD at Noumea
These last two will move across towards oz in support of the reinforcement of PM. The battle of the Coral Sea may actually happen – gulp.
Little else is planned for War Plan Alpha at the moment. Lunga and Gili are going to be allowed to be lost in favour of the attempt to keep PM.
A construction Eng unit is being moved from Noumea to Luganville to establish a base there and an AV is being sent to Efate as PBYs are operating form there with no air support.

Centpac
Is actually quite well provisioned. There are units at Baker and Fanafoa (or something like that – below Nanomea). Air units are liberally mixed around these locations. Midway, Johnson and Palmyra are short of defensive capacity. To this end the 27th Division at Pearl is split and a regiment is sent to Midway – covered by Spruance with Saratoga, Enterprise, 2 CA and 6 DD
Another regiment is sent to Johnson covered by a surface TF of 2 BB, 2 CA, 3 CL and 7 DD.
The third regiment is earmarked for Canton but requires some serious support for cover.
Fuel and supplies are also sent to Palmyra – the F4F-3 s there return to Pearl (via Johnson) and Palmyra gets some PBYs.
Large numbers of subs have sortied from Pearl to create mayhem. They are on their way to Japan, the Marshals and around Truk.

War Plan Beta – Liberation of Gilberts and Marshals

Operation Rainbow – The Capture of Tarawa
This is a longer-range operation. The support for this isn’t in place yet. But already having a base force at Baker and another unit south of Nanomea has titivated the opportunity to mark Tarawa as a target.
To this end an FT mission at Pearl is put together to take the 4th marine CD unit to Baker. I want to try and keep Baker with a view to having it used as a close support jump off location.
The same thinking about Nanomea.
I am a long way from this situation for either of them. I also want to get Canton secure because it is the obvious location for damaged ships to retreat to and a strategic location for extra supply and fuel reserves. I also have an AS and AR earmarked for locating here.

West Coast USA

There are 150 AK at LA. I start loading supplies in a TF here for Oz, but 50 odd are heading to San Fran and its better supply base.
The Hornet and two slow BBs are off down to San Diego along with AP transports in order to pick up the 2nd Marines. They are tasked with moving to Noumea – as a mobile reserve.
3 heavy artillery Battalions are loaded in Seattle with a target of Pearl.

I have to coordinate my transport fleet a little better as I need to get the coffers in SOPAC full of war goodies. The benefit of the current position is that the areas around Canton are earmarked for expansion and this may mean that the route to SOPAC is made more direct.

[cookie monster]

Good luck.

[PzB74]

Will be fun to follow this latest adventure [8D]

I'm pretty sure Herb isn't all to happy about the current dispositions in his game, and this may give you the time you need before
he moves on PM! Pretyy sure he will, it's a bugger to have that thorn in the side.

[John III]

I really enjoyed your last AAR and can only say GOOD LUCK!

[wobbly]

Thanks cookie – glad to have you aboard – I hope to all allied fan boys I provide a better fight this time.

The arch Nemesis! PzB! It is going to be nice to have you on my side – or more important – not firmly rooted to the opposition. Yes he will try for PM – there is almost no doubt. Will he try straight away is the question….? I have size 3 forts there and if the miracle of ‘Operation Rekindle’ actually happens he will be facing the 42nd in PM as well as the forces already there. I imagine he is in the throws of starting the invasion now – makes sense – but he will probably want to bring quite a bit more to beer (Yes – I know it’s spelled wrong but it has a better look to it).

hey thanks John - hopefully I can come up to expectation.

The timing might just fall on my side if he loads 2 divisions to take the place only to get there and face a Division plus regiments behind forts. He will then have to find more or look to retire. The difficulty will obviously be that we will both be funnelling ships, planes and troops into the place and at this time of the war all of these are more capable for him!
A couple of days have passed in the Pacific War since my first post. Imperial and Allied forces are still getting into position.
The only notable inclusions have been a sub getting attacked on the Southern coast of Japan but not found of depth charged and my Fast transport supply mission to Port Moresby; the first moves of ‘Rekindle’.
Things instantly turn against me as the surface ships decide not to retreat but stay in Harbour. Rabaul has been waiting for this and send in 30 odd Betties escorted by 30 more zeros. Oz Kittyhawks get in the air to meet them but loose 5 of their number. Thankfully the Betties have a bad day and only one torp finds it’s mark on the Hobart. It is a poor strike and the Hobart is still in the green on sys damage with a small size 1 fire.
The 42nd Division has almost loaded in Brisbane harbour and the supply ship in Sydney has finished its job and starts on its way.
McCain and Lee are almost at a point East of Townsville where they will hold to wait for the transport ships.
Operation Rainbow is still in its early stages – although the Fast Transport of the 4th marine CD unit is about half way from Pearl to Baker; as is the A regiment of the 27th USA Div to Midway. The B regiment is still loading at Pearl (bound for Johnson).
Back in San Fran a large 55 transport ship TF arrives from LA. It is broken into a mix of smaller TFs tasked with getting supply and fuel to Pago Pago, Auckland, Suva, Canton, Christchurch, Brisbane and of course – Pearl.
In San Diego The 2nd Marines, Paras and raider battalions start to load on AP shipping. They will be guarded by Hornet and no less than 5 slow BBs (plus escorts). They are targeted to mid water below Christmas Island but will have an ultimate target of Noumea.

[PzB74]

It will be interesting to fight on the same side in W@W - that's for sure! [8D]

Remember to move some troops to Cooktown and fill the place up with Dakotas - you can bring in troops and supplies in a steady stream from there.
Will make it very hard to capture PM if Herbs starts loosing his momentum.

Your plan sounds pretty good - don't give up on the idea about Java. If you had landed on Timor and surged towards Borneo I would have found myself in much
more trouble as Oz would have provided you with a lifeline.

So what about a strike against Timor and the northern edge of New Guinea in late 42? Bring your invasion force into Perth, sail it past Broome and land away.
If the enemy is concentrating far away in the Solomons it will be awfully difficult to relocate quickly enough to prevent the initial landings.
By sustaining PM and building the small bases on the west coast of NG you can actually form a cohesive front. Solid land bases will make your LBA more telling...and that's
your biggest sledge hammer by far.

If you sail the Long Island east of Lunga and probe into Gili Gili I'm pretty sure you'll get Herbs attention!-)

[wobbly]

John - I have two sqds of C-49s there now but as yet nothing to transport in. I am short of shipping to get units there too as they are taking part in Rekindle. I think the 7th Oz Div may have to be split and become ready reaction force for such requirements.

Another couple of days go by in the Pacific war. Herb is coordinating in the rear and since he has the initiative I have to wait on what he will do. So I haven't written anything because there is little to add.

Today - 8th of May 42

In India another transport TF begins loading supplies and fuel for Australia. Little else to add expect Herbie-san is busy reconning Eastern india. There is little for him to see here as I have most of my larger units in Asansol (he hasn't reconned here as yet) acting as mobile reserve. There is still no plans to advance in this arena, although I might attempt retaking Andaman island - this is in the future.

China is about the only area with action. 4 Chinese Corps manage to oust the Jap 11th Indian Division. They retreat with the Chinese to follow. At present these units are low on supplies so I don't know how effective they can be - especially since another jap unit is in residence. Chinese air hit the troops before the attack and Herb will have noticed they were heavily escorted by the AVG.

Darwin air continues to train by bombing and strafing the island to the north. The susb out of Perth should reach Darwin in about 3 days and will probably be beaten by the AS out of Brisbane which has managed to thread the needle between Northern Oz and New Guinea.

Operation 'Rekindle' goes ahead well with the reinforcement group at the same latitude as about mid Rockhampton - Townsville. Air out of Port Moresby has sighted about 4 subs and it seems he may be trying to cordon PM with them. This poses more than the immediate problem of subs attacking my reinforcement effort - it also promises to give away the fact I have bought carriers as the dauntlesses I must use for seaching are likely to find the subs. For this reason I may take the carriers out to the East rather than keep them in close to PM and GG - still unsure about this.

Operation Rainbow's first phase is completed successfully with the 4th marine CD unit being dropped off at Baker. The island now requires supplies in order to be effective so I rustle up a transport in Pearl to deliver some.

Pearl is also short of supplies and the replenishment TFs at SF are so numerous that they are draining the supplies faster than they can be replenished!

Midway and Johnson Island continue to unload their various regiments of the 25th Division. A couple more days should see this completed then the escort assets can move over to operation Rainbow.

In San Diego the 2nd Marines has finished loading. I add to newly aquired PBY sqds to the TF and let it continue
to load to capacity in supplies.

[Raverdave]

Good to see you two back at it again !

[wobbly]

Hey thanks Dave - it's good to be back on the horse. Hoefully this one isn't quite as unruly!

THings get a little more interesting in India and China today.

Herb attacks my airbase in China with unescorted Sallies. They meet the AVG and loose 6 of their number to no fighters lost, however the bombers do manage to damage a few of the defending fighters and do make it to bomb the airfield - however their aim is off and no damage is done.

A very large force of 30 oscars, 27 zeros and 24 sallies hit Chandpur from Mandalay. I have the 41st fighter group here with P-40Es. They take a hammering lossing 12 ACs and only managing to bring down two zeros. Not very good rewards.

I pull the P-40s back to calcutta. Since numbers of fighters have a very large effect on combat I am going to try and lay a trap for this kind of attack. If I can figure out which airfield he will attack I can try and get parity in AC numbers. Since he is fighting at range he should suffer more from operational losses.

Little else to add. Rekindle is getting close to PM - next turn I will post a screen shot of the progress it is making. I also move kittyhawks and warhawks up to Cooktown in rediness to fly to PM for defense above these convoys.

In SF the large replenishment forces put to sea. SF is in teh pink for supplies! I have never seen that before. The 2nd Marines continue to load.

[wobbly]

Only action in Northern India today. Herb gives me a slap on the wrist with oscars escorting a bombing riad on the small airbase of Kohima. I loose 12 Hurricanes (not 7 as this says - I think we may be suffering combat summary inequalities again..)

I am not running away though as I put more Hurricanes in there are set them to fly at 15K feet.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/09/42

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Day Air attack on Kohima , at 34,25

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 27
Ki-21 Sally x 54
Ki-15 Babs x 6

Allied aircraft
Lysander I x 3
Hurricane II x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 5 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Lysander I: 3 destroyed
Hurricane II: 7 destroyed
Hudson I: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
26 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 6

Rekindle starts to warm up. The attached image shows you the subs herb has placed in the way of PM. I will try and skirt them with a change of direction but his subs do have search AC on board and have managed to find both Task forces. This is not good as I wanted to get as close as I could without being seen. I don't know what information his scouting acheived but hopefully it does not display as aircraft carriers. He will jump at the chance of engaging me and I would rather he didn't - although I am pretty certain the whole of the KB is not in position to attack. If memory serves just Shokaku, Zuikaku and Shoho are in the area.

In Darwin my AS makes base successfully - the susb are still a fair way away though. They'll refuel at their new base and then go and cause some problems in Herbs resource locations.

[wobbly]

A very interesting turn indeed. Not alot occured in combat but manouvering aplenty.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/10/42
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Sub attack at 64,89

Japanese Ships
AK Atlas Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS S-38

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Sub attack at 49,48

Japanese Ships
AK Heimei Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PC Ch 16

Allied Ships
SS Triton

Two nice little sub actions both ships will probably survive though and neither carrying troops.
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There was some air action in China and nothern Burma but the weather was bad so any operations Herb was mounting were grounded.

Some very intersting occurances in the sigint front:

32nd Special Base Force is loaded on AK,Tetsuwa Maru moving to Biak.

Biak is an island on the north tip of New Guinea. A strange place to put a base unit. This tells me Herb is already thinking of defence in depth. This is well away from the front lines.

128th IJA Base Force is loaded on AP,Nekka Maru moving to Taytay.

Another base unit is off to the phillipines. This I imagine is to try and cover the likely routes of his resource Transport TFs from my subs.

South Seas Det. is loaded on AP,Mogamigawa Maru at Rabaul.

But this is the really interesting one! He has the South Seas Detachment loaded in Rabaul! The most likely place he is heading with these guys is Port Moresby! If the 42nd Division manages to unload then the South Seas Detachment will definately not suffice!

Herb taunted me with his thinking. He is leaning in the direction of me reinforcing PM. He is of course, bang on the money. His bloody glen toting subs are furnishing him with very good intelligence - this turn they manage to scout my tanker ships following the carriers. I imagine every AC in Rabaul and any in Lae will be warming up their engines and readying for anti-naval work. To meet this I have the kitchen sink at PM. 2 sqds of Kittyhawks flying at 15K, 1 sqd of Warhawks at 17K, a whole group of P-39s at 6K and a sqd of Wirriways at 4K. That is a mighty amount of fighters - I hope he doesn't have too many zeros as they will have a field day. If hs is light on escort though it could be my pilots in clover.

I am having kittens about leaving my Carriers out there under Gili-Gili. I still think he hasn't had time to get an overwhelming Carrier force to the South Pacific and I should therefore have a reasonable chance at giving as good as I get. My dauntlesses are all primed to fly at 20K while the fighters stay down at 12K. I am hoping and defensive zeros will be much lower than my bombers.

More on Carriers - here is an exert from the operational summary:

B5N Kate sighting report: 1 Allied ship at 79,74 , Speed 7 , Moving West

This is 3 hexes to the east of Eniwetok. It could be out of Kwajalein but that is some distance. It is also strange that it would be searching if land based - better to use his other scout ACs for that than waste a Kate. I expect it is one of the smaller carriers. Is he looking to move South of the Gilberts too? He has many subs stationed around Baker Island. I am moving 6 Destroyers to Noumea from Pearl. They may have a crack at one of these on the way.

In other areas things are moving too. I receive the 1st marines and they begin loading at SF. I will wait on the 2nd marines and they can both go under the protective umbrella of the Hornet's ACs.

[Arstavidios]

Hi, I'm playing the same scenario against Toast as the allies. We've reached October now.
I've had a slow start with the need to bring a lot of things fronm the West Coast especially engineers and the fact that that all the DEI, Malaya and PI units have been destroyed. A lot of units especially HQs also do not appear.

I'm having plenty of action in the air and in China for the moment and my first offensives in the Pacific should start rolling soon.

[wobbly]

Arstavidios: Alot of the game is about getting th units you want to the locations you want. I have to agree. Sometimes, like today your opponent does not want you to accomplish this though

A day of quiet followed by the 12th of May. The day this scenario really burst into life.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/12/42
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Sub attack at 49,46

Japanese Ships
PG Kogyoku Maru
PG Kure Maru #5
PG Kozan Maru
PG Kongosan Maru
PG Kiso Maru
PG Keiko Maru

Allied Ships
SS Triton

Triton meets and ASW TF up by the gap between Taiwan and the Phillipines (in fact she meets twice - I've cut one). She is a feisty bird even if she can't hit anything and fires her torps before being missed by the hunters.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Kunming , at 39,33

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 61
Ki-49 Helen x 27

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SB-2c: 1 destroyed
IL-4c: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 7

A massive high altitude bombing mission - with no escort - goes against the base of most of my Chinese bombers. A few are hit on the ground and unfortunately the AVG, who are ususally based here as well, are not in place to make this sort of thing painful.
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Day Air attack on Kiungahan , at 39,41


Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 6


Allied aircraft losses
IL-4c: 4 damaged

The Chinese try to retaliate but their planes are very wayward.
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Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 70
G3M Nell x 25

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 15
Kittyhawk I x 26
P-39D Airacobra x 23
P-40E Warhawk x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 16 destroyed, 1 damaged
G3M Nell: 7 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 13 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 16 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 16 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 12 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis
CA New Orleans
CA Astoria
DD O'Brien
DD Selfridge

Herb does as I hoped he wouldn't and sends a massive escort with his bombing raid. The way the game sorts this out seems a little unrealistic as in real life, despite the escort, interceptors did get amongst the bombers. In WitPs case fighters duel first, before they can get to the bombers. When one side has a large numerical and capability bonus they will devastate the defending fighters before they get a chance at the bombers.
So in this case I lost screeds of fighters and never even contacted the bombers - bomber losses were caused by AAA from the surface fleet.
The surface fleet do very well at dodging the incoming bombers.
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Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 60
D3A Val x 41

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 3
Kittyhawk I x 9
P-39D Airacobra x 21
P-40E Warhawk x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 destroyed, 1 damaged
D3A Val: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 3 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 8 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 20 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 4 destroyed

Allied Ships
AP Esperance Bay, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage

What I had not written was that I split the transport fleet into individual ships. The surface fleets stayed together and were to absorb as many attacks as possible while the transports unloaded.
It is obvious, form this report, that Herb has indeed bought up the carriers. He is very very unlucky with his attacks though. Some Kates fail to find targets but otherwise nothing but this large strike of Vals. You can see my heavily debilitated defence force just can't take on another 60 crack zero pilots.
Another strange thing to note is that the Esperence Bay appears empty??? No men are lost and the ship lists as having 1 supply left in its hold.

Strange

She is a colander though - 99 sys damage and 70 float. She is in PMs port so I try to save her by disbanding but I don't hold out much hope.
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Sub attack at 56,102

Japanese Ships
SS I-17

Allied Ships
AO Neosho, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Sims

The Neosho - holding fuel for the Carrier group - is hit by a lurking sub. There are many of these little buggers south of PM and GG. the Neosho splits from Sims but I make an escort group and point them to Townsville. I imagine the subs will be circling.
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So a new day dawns

The counting of costs comes to 75 allied ACs destroyed to 45 Japs - 20 of these are zeros. This is in all theatres. Operation Rekindle has suffered damage to the Neosho and the very likely loss of the Esperance Bay. Defending fighter numbers have been gutted while Jap fighter and especially bomber numbers are relatively unhurt.
Despite these painful losses they have done stirling work. If the combat report is to be believed the Esperance Bay unloaded any troops onboard during the night, so lost none in the bombing. 3 5ths of the 41st Division and most of the Aus 3rd Corps HQ have been unloaded. I expect the bulk of these guys to be ashore by the morning although the AP Kanimbla appears to not have obtained a berth at the port and still has 3700 cargo space worth of the 41st Division aboard. If Herb gets her he will hurt me.

So to tomorrow then. Rekindle can almost be counted a success. The point was to get the troops ashore. This has been mostly achieved and will be mainly achieved by the time ACs can intervene tomorrow. Only a surface attack will stop this and I have no scouting information that one is on the way.

The decision is made to retire the surface combat TFs to Townsville - this is a really big leap of faith that I have not seen a surface combat TF heading to PM. I have the willies just thinking about it! With carriers right next door though - I cannot get as lucky as I did today with aerial attacks. He would likely damage a majority of Lee's surface TF. If no enemy surface combat TF arrives then the carriers and LBA will have individual targets to hit. Hopefully this continues to lessen my damages and either way - it should be after the bulk of the men get ashore.

McCain unloads all his fighters and dauntlesses from his carriers to PM. I want to persuade Herb that sitting where he is with Carriers is a dangerous prospect. Especially if he continues to use such a large force for escort rather than defence of his flat tops. The dauntlesses are slated to fly in at 21K while two sqds of beauforts are charged with a wavetop mission. Escorting them will be the remains of the Warhawks - 8 of - and the 20 F4F -4s off the carriers.

PM air defence is also bolstered by 21 F4F-3s and 5 Kittyhawks. If this battle continues for much longer though I will be down to the dregs. Herb can just continue to fly sweep missions and he will gut the South Pacific fighter force. I therefore want to get as much supply off the boats as possible.

Subs around PM are also off after the carriers or at least to make him worry about steaming around the area so brazenly.

Oh and one more thing about PM - she just upgraded to level 5. So if I can hang on the heavies will be able to use it.

Other than this massive conflagration the Pacific is warming up as well. Recon is now taking place over Baker. I will need to get some more supplies to the defenders here and this is a task for the same group that got the Marine CD unit ashore earlier. Operation Rainbow is obviously moving more slowly than Rekindle but most of the transport ships with fuel and supplies are now away from the West Coast. This does not include the 1st Marines who are loading in SF or the 2nd Marines who are waiting for them under Hornets aircover.

[wobbly]

Well the outcome of the day is good - such as that is.

Herb moves his carriers forward to put pressure on Port Moresby and probably to put pressure on my reinforcements. He has managed this but in the meantime also tried a fast transport to Buna. It is found by the combined might of the airpower at PM and thumped.

I have included the combat report - and I know I hit him as a CL is listed as sunk. But in my turn I sunk 3 CLs and the attack he has on PM hits nothing - while in fact I have a sunk PG and another very sick.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/13/42

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ASW attack at 96,94

Japanese Ships
SS I-4, hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
DD Chew
DD Litchfield
DD John D. Ford
DD Barker
DD Allen

Be nice if it happened - Destroyers on their way to Noumea find a sub mid ocean.
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Sub attack at 18,24

Japanese Ships
SS I-10

Allied Ships
DD Fortune, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Foxhound
DD Express
DD Decoy
DD Arrow
DD Tjerk Hiddes

He pays me back by attacking a Brit DD off Ceylon. It is listed as sunk - yet again I got no listing of this.
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Day Air attack on Dacca , at 31,24

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 72
Ki-21 Sally x 63
Ki-49 Helen x 26
Ki-15 Babs x 5

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 25
P-40E Warhawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 13 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 2 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged
Ki-15 Babs: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 15 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged

Oil hits 2

I think this one did take place. I loose 12 Hurricanes and 2 Warhawks while he looses 12 oscars and some Helens.
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Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 17
Ki-21 Sally x 24
Ki-49 Helen x 18

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 15
Kittyhawk I x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 2 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 damaged
Kittyhawk I: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported

Runway hits 1

Now this one doesn't appear to have happened either as I destroy no Rufes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 50th Chinese Corps, at 40,38

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 34
Ki-21 Sally x 20
Ki-15 Babs x 1

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
22 casualties reported

THis is the last of 3 attacks in China as Herb repulses a ground attack I tried at Nanning with pretty awful results.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 56,90


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD Dauntless x 66
Kittyhawk I x 4
Beaufort I x 9
Beaufort V-IX x 11
P-39D Airacobra x 30
P-40E Warhawk x 3


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 4 damaged
Beaufort I: 2 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Minazuki
AV Kamikawa Maru, Shell hits 12
DD Mikazuki, Shell hits 8
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Tatsuta, Shell hits 12, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Yubari, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Nagatsuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD APD-38, Shell hits 8
APD APD-39, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Fumizuki, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
124 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

Somethign to make a grown allied fanboy smile like an idiot. I just do not know how well this actually went.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 74
G4M1 Betty x 7

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 15
Kittyhawk I x 3
P-40E Warhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 12 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 9 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
PG Swan

This is the attack I get against the Swan only I find it sunk after the fact.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 56,90


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD Dauntless x 53
Kittyhawk I x 4
Beaufort I x 9
Beaufort V-IX x 8
P-39D Airacobra x 30


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort I: 3 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AV Kamikawa Maru, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1
CL Tenryu, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Mikazuki, Shell hits 4
CL Yubari, Shell hits 20, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Satsuki
CL Tatsuta, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
DD Fumizuki, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Nagatsuki, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

More attacks in the afternoon but the bombers seem to have lost their aim.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well I know I attacked him but I really don't know how things went. This turn I set up all my planes to naval attack with full fighter escort. He is likely to move against PM with his carriers - which are now just above Giligili.

This will obviously mean he now has his fighters heavily on defence and I may just be throwing these planes away - hope not.
The main part of the Division is now ashore with just 2000 stubborn troops pissing about on the ships. The vital size 6000 APs - still with supplies aboard are melded with some other APs and head for the Torres staight. Hopefully Herb goes away at some time and they can come back - but if not they will have to travel the whole way around Oz.
The rest of the transports here stay to continue offloading the vital supplies and the few remaining troops. I am very likely to loose most of these ships including 3 type 4000 APs and 5 4500 AKs. Crews are given life Jackets and told to unload as best as their bodies will let them - this will be their 3rd straight night.
The Surface units that ran away are now at Cairns. Unless he parks the CVs by PM these guys will always be a thorn. Trouble is I now really do not have many fighters to defend them. The Carrier continue down towards Brisbane. Now that the KB is here they really don't want to be in the neighbourhood. All things going well they can get their airwings back later.
So Operation Rekindle continues, and really in the face of some stubborn resistance. Many brave pilots have fallen and now a number of naval ships and some of their crews as well, but the troops have yet to take a bomb on board a ship with troops - truely it is going well. Things WILL change this turn I think.

IN Darwin the subs make their new home base and then refuel and head out to the DEI. Hoefully they can cause some mayhem.

In India I think I am taking reasonable toll of his attack formations so I rest a couple of Hurricane sqds and move two others up to Dacca. The Warhawks are not getting reinforcements as they are needed for the South Pacific.

At San Fran the 1st Marines leave in their transports bound for Noumea.

Again the air scores were 45 allied planes lost 75 Jap ones - so this is a turn around from the day before.

[wobbly]

The vicious battles about Operation Rekindle continue. At last herb uses a surface combat force and it wrecks teh remnants of rekindle that have stayed behind - thank god I moved out the other APs!! They escape to the West through Torres Strait.
PM air takes revenge during the day by attacking their friends the FastTransport TF which has limped to Lae.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/14/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese Ships
DD Okikaze
DD Yukaze
DD Numakaze
DD Wakatake
DD Kuretake

Allied Ships
AP Manoora, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

AP Manunda, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

AK Barwon, Shell hits 20, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

AK Adelong, Shell hits 21, on fire, heavy damage

AK Rhesus, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

AP Kanimba, Shell hits 34, and is sunk

AK Mungana, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
164 casualties reported

185 casualties reported

185 casualties reported

All of these were individual comabts and they were all VERY one sided. the 3 priceless APs are the real loss, then the loss of the supplies on board the AKs. However, this was not exactly unexpected and really it could be considered bolting the door after the horse has left - or more aplty got bak into it's stall (if that makes any sense?). The most important point is that the APs that had unloaded (other than supplies) had run away and escaped this fate.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 31

Allied aircraft
LB-30 Liberator x 31

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
LB-30 Liberator: 8 damaged

The first tentative air raid by my heavies is an unmitigated failure. The escorts don't go with it and despite battling through the oscars my Liberators don't do a thing to the airstrip or the planes on it...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Lae at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 7

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12
SBD Dauntless x 52
Kittyhawk I x 6
Beaufort I x 10
Beaufort V-IX x 9
P-39D Airacobra x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort I: 3 damaged
Beaufort V-IX: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Satsuki
CL Tenryu, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
APD APD-31, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Minazuki, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
AV Kamikawa Maru, Shell hits 32, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
APD APD-46, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Fumizuki, Shell hits 8
DD Yunagi, Shell hits 16

Another good attack on the dregs at Lae. APD-31 and Minazuki are reported sunk during the day.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Lae at 54,87

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 1

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 9
Kittyhawk I x 5
Beaufort V-IX x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Sunten Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Sasago Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

There also appears to be APs at Lae and I hit 2 of them - Sunten Maru can't be feeling well.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 18,24

Japanese Ships
SS I-10, hits 9, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Arrow
DD Foxhound
DD Express
DD Decoy

In the tit for tat battle of ASW and Sub by Ceylon - my ASW ships manage to get one back on the lost DD yesterday. There is another sub in the vacinity and it is the next target.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The focus of the war is still down in the SW Pacific. A better turn there for Herbie–san as he manages to upset Rekindle and really up the cost of this OP. Not unexpected and still a better result than if I hadn’t moved the priceless AP shipping away.
I have the single main problem now – supplies. The newly unloaded Division has no supplies and PM is still at amber stage 5500 of a wanted 6200. My air Ops are of course putting a strain on here too. Herb will know this. There is only one relief on the horizon for this and it is in the shape of a singular 7000 type AK now sitting 4 hexes to the West of PM (see map). He has cleaned PM harbour out now and will probably think that he doesn’t need to repeat this – especially since these DDs were only saved by weather from PM’s wrath today. So this AK is heading for PM with orders to disband. Hopefully a single AK does not invoke the interest of all the Jap AC and can negotiate the subs. In a way she is like the Ohio was to the Pedestal Operation in WW2 to Malta. I have started loading another 4500 type AK in Townsville to attempt another run – this is starting to push the boundaries of my supply capacity in Australia though – relief is still weeks away!
It has definitely not escaped my notice that it is one thing to move a large force to an isolated location; it is another thing entirely to keep them in chow and shells. We shall see how I manage I suppose.
The most important and impactful opposition is obviously the enemy carrier force – now caught in the island archipelago East of GG. What will herb do with it? I would have thought he would have thrust through last turn if that were his intention. I must give them breathing room. If he moves on PM then I still have plans to hit him as best I can – the object to put a few holes in the deck of a carrier or two. He will be wary of this of course. I have been flying my Dauntlesses in at 20K. He will know they are above 15K as they are diving in groups of 9. I have done this for two turns. Time to change and they go down to 8K. This could badly backfire as he already knows my Beauforts and airacobras have been on the deck. I suppose if I just manage to make him put his fighters up above 15K then it might make a difference.

Elsewhere the Chinese army I have at Nanning suffered bombing again today but I didn’t add it to the combat report. They have been stuck as I am not able to make a target of another base without the AI preferring to march me towards Canton. To me this is a trap so I am trying to march on Hanoi with a view to changing it later.

[wobbly]

Not a red letter day at all for the allies.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/15/42

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ASW attack at 50,100

Japanese Ships
SS I-7

Allied Ships
DD Meredith
DD Cummings
DD MacDonough
DD Dewey
DD Phelps
DD Selfridge

I try to clear some of the umpteen subs he has between Townsville carins and PM.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 53,91


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 5 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 8 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 4 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
Beaufort I: 1 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 3 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Shiranuhi
DD Isokaze
DD Maikaze
DD Hayashio
DD Yukikaze
DD Hatsukaze
CL Jintsu
CL Sendai
BB Hiei
BB Haruna


Allied ground losses:
569 casualties reported
Guns lost 9
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 93
Port supply hits 1

Oh crap - ouch and double ouch
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 53,91


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 7 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed
Beaufort I: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk I: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
DD Kasumi
DD Arare
DD Asagumo
DD Minegumo
DD Yamagumo
DD Natsugumo
CA Kumano
CA Suzuya
CA Mikuma
CA Mogami


Allied ground losses:
442 casualties reported
Guns lost 6
Vehicles lost 3

Airbase hits 24
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 121

THe double whammy - what a horrible mess.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 135 encounters mine field at Tarawa (85,91)

Japanese Ships
AP Akashisan Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Well the target of operation rainbow is getting reinforced - at least I make him pay to do so.

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Day Air attack on Kohima , at 34,25

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 29
Ki-21 Sally x 43
Ki-49 Helen x 17

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 1 destroyed
Hudson I: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported

Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 32

Now he is also hitting in the North. I move the AVG here to welcome him this turn.
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Day Air attack on 50th Chinese Corps, at 40,38

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
Ki-21 Sally x 18

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

No matter what I try I cannot get these guys to move back. Ok AI you win - I'll go south - but if you cut me off I'll be very grumpy!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 50,100

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
D3A Val x 101
B5N Kate x 102

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 1 damaged
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied Ships
DD MacDonough, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Meredith, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Phelps, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Dewey, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Selfridge, Bomb hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
DD Cummings, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

The whole bloody carrier force the Japs have decide to pop up in the South and they are just in range of the ASW group I had. I am a bloody plonka and this day proves it. What the hell was I thinking trying to mount ASW operations with all his carriers about - it is not as if he hasn't warned me!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 131 troops unloading over beach at Goodenough island, 56,93


Japanese ground losses:
146 casualties reported

Hello - landings on GOodenough Island...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An awful day at the office. It is not as if I had buggered things up enough but I also left "allow replacements" on my ACs at PM. They off course follow my orders and now I have 64 unservicable dauntlesses plus countless other aircraft that can't fly out.

The only silver lining is: it does not appear he is bringing invasion TFs - although I never saw yesterday's surface force or todays bombardment forces so why should this change? So I may be able to repair and fly these planes out - who knows! Another benefit is none of the pilots die and they are the priceless cammodity.

All planes abandon PM (that can fly) and it is up to the engineers to get the place working again. I do have a serious engineering contingent now - and the 5000 supplies arrived after teh bombardment forces. The AK is put into port and will slowly unload - I may try sneaking it out if I can get the chance. Time to hunker down and take my medicine.

Every surface force in teh norht of Oz either puts into port or heads south at best speed.

Another bitter pill was the Neosho - damaged by sub torpedo has burnt to the waterline and seccumbed - she wasn't the first and she wont be the last. Two hexees from port.

If there is no invasion force, what is he going to do? Hopefully he will stooge around looking for targets while I try and dry those up, and then bugger off north. If he makes a play for PM it is all up to the defenders and the amount of supplies I can get in. Witht he damage he has done I am not going to be building forts for a while. I was at level 3 half way to 4. The damage at PM could take as long as a week to repair even if he leaves me alone. I don't imagine I'll get that respite - he is more likely to hit me with level bombers now. It is all up to the engineers - of course they will consume vital supplies trying to get teh place back and running. I think I may have to look at a few fast transport missions! KB has to leave for that though - hmmm my fortunes are not in my own hands.

I loose 84 ACs to his 10 - talk about turn the tables!

Today the Illustrious arrived doubling my POM carrier capacity.

[Raverdave]

Just keep pouring fighters into PM, it is quantity not quality that is important.

[EUBanana]

Subs as the sole defence for Darwin...

well, your gonna lose that then. [:'(]

[wobbly]

Dave - yeah - got ta get some replacements and get the buggers airworthy first. he keeps using those bloody BBs to flatten my airfields! Very un-neighbourly!

EUBanana - Yeah no loss though. It's too humid the beaches are either closed for bottle jellyfish one season or crocs the next - better without it!

A strange but still very eventful turn. I think it is herbie's turn to stuff up and all my troops, in all their guises hunker up under what appears to be the whole combined fleet!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/16/42

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Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 53,91

Japanese Ships
DD Oyashio
DD Kuroshio
DD Kagero
DD Makigumo
DD Akigumo
DD Yugumo
CL Katori
BB Kirishima
BB Kongo


Allied ground losses:
106 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Runway hits 1
Port supply hits 1

Port Moresby endures 3 more nightly bombardments. From 3 more Bombardment groups!!! they could be fogiven for thinking that someone doesn't like them. Two points of note are that the DDs bombarded yet all the field guns of the 41st Division don't take any part in repelling them AND that despite there still being 174 planes on PM (all damaged) he doesn't hit a single one!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on Cairns , at 47,100

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
D3A Val x 115
B5N Kate x 100

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged


Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port hits 15
Port fuel hits 7
Port supply hits 7

I think he may have left Port attack on for his naval bombers as they scream down on Cairns. The problem for him is there are no ships in Cairns harbour and he only ends up loosing more Naval bombers than he did against my ASW group (yesterday). The port takes a pounding and I loose a tonne of vital supplies, but otherwise it is not a big deal. He will be better served strike the port in Townsville. There is a heap of shipping there I could not get out. Hopefully he has naval attack and port attack secondary orders as I have given him a target to hit instead of the port.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 56,96

Japanese Ships
DD Shiranuhi
DD Isokaze
DD Maikaze
DD Hayashio
DD Yukikaze
DD Hatsukaze
CL Sendai

Allied Ships
SS S-41, hits 2, on fire

One of the 22 subs in or on it's way to the area is caught by the Jap DDs of a retiring Bombardment force.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 40 troops unloading over beach at Deboyne Island, 58,96


Japanese ground losses:
2442 casualties reported

The big Faux Pas for Admiral herbie-san. I count 5 units unloading on this Island. I can imagine he had Patrol orders and aimed at this little dot in the ocean. Now his troops have started unloading here. He will have to wait to load them up again and he has lost 2442 casualties into the bargain:

A momentary reprieve for PM?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A lack of supplies and the quadruplicate bombardments during the night mean only 6 ACs have been repaired and that the facilities are still pretty beaten up. The AK that made it to PM harbour will be a life saviour though. Despite not being part of a TF it still manages to unload about 800 supplies and has another 4500 to deliver. If all of these get ashore then the supply situation will be abated for the meantime. C-49s out of Cooktown continue to add to the stockpile though. Either way I will have to be very frugal with flight operations.
I imagine Herb has blown his bolt in the Bombardment stakes for the meantime and I may get a little rest. The KB will of course continue to harass, but every sortie will eat into his ammo stocks and he has a reasonable distance to get back to a replenishment location.
This unintended unloading at Deboyne Island will surely through a spanner in the timing of his invasion. He has also commented that he doesn’t know how I got so many troops to PM so fast. He should he killed half of the transports! I have sown a bit of discord here by saying there was quite a number there originally. Either way I am pretty sure he will have underdone the amount required. The vital thing is the supplies.
The other things is the couple of dozen subs I have heading to the area. Some are as much as 5 days away but I think this thing is going to go on as long as this if not more.
I am lining myself up for a few risks – mainly in fast transport of supplies to the beleaguered defenders but also in bolstering the garrison further if this is required. Another little titbit to add is that the strain on my AC numbers has required me to downgrade a 24-plane P50E sqd to Tomahawks (in Townsville). It will take a while to get them airworthy but their numbers will be useful.
In India I plan large bombing raids on Akyab.
The Chinese units stuck at Nanning at last move – had to let the AI have its way. Herb may see this as an opportunity to cut them off so I much Chinese troops out from Wuchow to try and stop such a move.
Elsewhere reinforcements in the shape of the C regiment of the 25th Division board ships in Pearl. They are bound for Canton Island on the continued preparations for Rainbow. They are being escorted by Saratoga and Enterprise (with escorts) and 4 BBs plus escorts. With his Carriers attacking PM any other attempt to stop this reinforcement should meet a sticky end!
In San Fran a group of Mitchells load for the South Pacific along with more supplies. The ocean to the SE of Hawaii is green with Task forces. It is reasonably comforting to know where the KB currently sits!

[wobbly]

Another strange turn. Herb's Carriers take off down the coast of Oz but I am not hanging around again and have headed further south. It comes down to ASW and Sub action which i loose hands down.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/17/42

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ASW attack at 56,95

Japanese Ships
DD Kasumi
DD Arare
DD Asagumo
DD Minegumo
DD Yamagumo
DD Natsugumo

Allied Ships
SS S-38, hits 2, heavy damage

Ouch

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 55,95

Japanese Ships
DD Oyashio
DD Kuroshio
DD Kagero
DD Makigumo
DD Akigumo
DD Yugumo

Allied Ships
SS S-41, hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 56,96

Japanese Ships
DD Numakaze

Allied Ships
SS S-38, hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

And that is the end of two S class subs.

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

Very little to add in this turn. It appears I am not making much headway with repairs at PM due to lack of supplies. The Ak there is unloading but it isn't going very quickly. I think Herb will start to bomb PM now that he knows there are no fighters there - he swept it this turn.

He wrote in an email that he was retiring now but I can see AKs heading west. If he turns these around - fine - but it is still code red until the boshiedo boogey man is obviously retreating.