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

[wobbly]

It is official! First I have overwritten the combat summary, and second, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to know Herb is gunning for PM. I am either lucky I got in in time or I have just signed the death or POW warrants on all the extra men that landed. If the misplaced landings on the dot island are anything to go by then the invasion force consists of the 65th Brigade, the 21st Mixed and the South Seas Detachment; along with this were two engineering units. This is a pretty capable force. The main problems are: is it all there is? How much damage will he take upon landing – he did lose about 2300 man landing on the dot island?
This turn he bombarded PM again and it killed about 300 men and some guns – at last mine fired back!!! 2 hits on one of the BBs [L] so almost not worth writing about.
The ASW war goes back my direction this time when an S boat catches up to a singleton AK heading for PM and heavily damages it.
The Jap Carriers have appeared to move off the coast. I think he is trying to ‘hide’ them as if they are no longer there. It is a viable ploy, as I want to see if I can get some more supplies into PM via Fast transport. With the Carriers about this is obviously VERY dangerous. Speaking of supplies nothing unloaded from my docked AK this turn. The Dakota’s continued to do their work – although loosing 5 of their number to operations – but the vital AK is no longer doing it’s job.
It very much looks like Herb will be making landfall in the next turn or so. He hasn’t had time to go all the way back to Rabaul to reload the big bombardment guns and return but that will occur in the next few days. I have to find a way to get more supplies to the combatants to give them half a chance. At present the best way to accomplish this is C-47s and fast transport – Only fast transport from Darwin could do this though due to the KB – and I only have one DD in Darwin to do the job. He will have surface combatant defenders and they will eat my singleton DD alive. I have to make a decision as to whether I continue to try and resupply in dribs and drabs or try to resupply in a big effort. The big effort can only mean risking my carriers – everyone on these boards and myself inclusive – would not sanction that at mid 42. It may just be fend for themselves and hope the subs can make the bombardment runs dangerous. There will also be opportunities – like I am thinking I may try to move a surface force north of the KB and try a mid ocean intercept of transport ships – a very long shot and very dangerous so unlikely. Plenty more to muse about

China is still an area of Japanese air attack as he molests my retreating Nanning attackers. He was also attacking Homan with Oscars on training missions – I moved two squads of I-16s there and killed 4 of his fighters for no loss – just a little warning shot – you haven’t beaten me there yet to start using it as your training play ground!
Elsewhere things are quiet: Rainbow continues to load at Pearl. The two marine Divisions are making slow progress across the ocean and I am umming and aarrring as to whether this is not an opportunity to take Tarawa as he is obviously very much engaged with Port Moresby.

[wobbly]

Holy Mother! Action everywhere. Port Moresby invaded. Attacks in India from the air. Clashes at Baker Island. It is all happening!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/19/42

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ASW attack at 56,95

Japanese Ships
DD Arashio
DD Michishio
DD Oshio
DD Asashio
DD Tanikaze
DD Hagikaze

Allied Ships
SS Greenling, hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

A very sour note as Herb takes the honous in the sub hunt - another falls in teh shallows trying to get to the deeper water S of PM.
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Baker Island at 94,92

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Haguro
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
CA Furutaka
CA Kako
DD Uranami
DD Shikinami
DD Ayanami, Torpedo hits 1
DD Asagiri, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Akebono

Allied Ships
PT PT-25
PT PT-27
PT PT-28
PT PT-45

I didn't note before that I had moved the PTs at Pearl to Johnson-Palmyra-Canton and then sent 4 up to Baker. Well it pays of handsomely as to shot provide two hits!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Baker Island at 94,92

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Haguro, Shell hits 1
CA Aoba, Shell hits 3
CA Kinugasa
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA Kako, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Uranami, Shell hits 1
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ayanami, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Asagiri, on fire
DD Akebono

Allied Ships
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Vincennes
CL Nashville, Shell hits 2
CL Boise, Shell hits 1
CL Honolulu, Shell hits 3
DD Jarvis
DD Craven, Shell hits 1
DD Fanning
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
DD Case, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Conyngham
DD Perkins
DD Smith, Shell hits 1
DD Preston, Shell hits 1

However, the PTs aren't the only show in town and my fst transport mission that landed the 4th Marine CD unit are back with shells and chow. Instead they are greeted by burning DDs and a whole lot more to boot! The action is furious but I think this is an allied minor victory. It is the CLs Nashville and Honolulu that do the damage with good penetrating hits on Furutaka and Kako - follow up explosions mark fires. In return San Francisco and Case are sporting small to medium fires, light flooding and 40 Sys damage. They head for Palmyra.
I move the 4 Dutch O class subs on screen to locations I think the wounded ships should head and hope for the best.
I think that will wake Herb up to the fact he has a fight on his hand at Baker as well as Port Moresby!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 40
TF 40 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91


875 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Yuzuki
DD Kikuzuki
AP Teiyo Maru
AP Seattle Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
AP Ryoyo Maru
MSW Toshi Maru #1, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
2942 casualties reported
Guns lost 14

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 40
TF 40 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91


588 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
MSW Toshi Maru #1, Shell hits 3
DD Yuzuki
DD Kikuzuki
DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 4
DD Oite
AP Kaika Maru, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
2510 casualties reported
Guns lost 22

These two landings - costing 5000 casualties - along with the aborted landing at De longre Island (another 2500) have meant that his force must be hurting!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29


Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 13
Blenheim IV x 26
Wellington III x 11
LB-30 Liberator x 41


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 27

At last the bombers from Calcutta take to the air - good training but little else.

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Day Air attack on 21st Chinese Corps, at 42,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
Ki-21 Sally x 27

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
62 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Here is a sample of the 4 attacks going in against the Chinese - I move the AVG back to China to try and persuade Herb to think twice about tis kind of attack

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 24740 troops, 282 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 22137 troops, 219 guns, 0 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
168 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

It is offcial. I am up against the 21st Mixed, 65th Brigaes, south seas detachments - a nalval guards unit and an Naval HQ. I don't think this is all of it - I would expect some engineers - however to me this is not enough. He has to look to get more in.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Rennell Island

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1704 troops, 14 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 33 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Rennell Island base !!!

What I didn't report is that he also took Rennel Island - the Solomons should be rename the swallowmans.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have hit upon a bit of a plan.

It all surrounds the carriers. I am going to try and get some surface ships up through the straits of Torres and load supplies in Darwin for delivery to Port Moresby. They will come in after I show the Carriers to Herb - maybe around Lunga. I have tried another throw of the dice this turn by moving some Mitchells into PM for a low level attack - just to keep him honest. More planes - maybe 8 - are repaired this turn and so far I have 20 of the dauntlesses out of PM. The carriers are slowly getting their teeth back.

For whatever reason the AK in PM starts unloading again - 450 odd supplies added. With bombardment requirements though thi will become a problem before long. The bombardments will lack verocity without supplies of shells to fire. It is fighting on a shoe string.

The surface combat TFs - currently South of Brisbane tentatively return to Brisbane. At the first sign of a chance they will move up to townsville to sneak through.

As to Baker - what is the story here? No men wee lost so it wasn't a fast transport. I imagine it was a bombardment run that obviously thought better of the situation and bugged out.

[wobbly]

The pendulum of power that was twisted in Herb's favour - that may have swung back towards me a bit swings heaftily back in his direction. The KB moves on Townsville wit two giant anti port raids - I don't have any ships out as bait to stop this - doh. And more CV action as another bunch of them turns up by Baker and I take an obvious retreat course with my fast transport mission - they pay.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/20/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 40
TF 40 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91


1646 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Yuzuki, Shell hits 1
MSW Toshi Maru #1, Shell hits 26, on fire
DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 5, on fire
AP Tsunushima Maru
DD Kikuzuki

Japanese ground losses:
796 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported

At last the artillery at PM start to make themselves felt. It is negligible but better than nothing - damaged ships are going to have to run the sub gauntlet.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 90,91

Japanese Ships
DD Shikinami, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS O19

My dutch subs screen Baker find a mark.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Townsville , at 46,103

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
D3A Val x 40
B5N Kate x 60

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 1 damaged
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 13 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK Idomeneus, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Asphalion, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Illinoian, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Empire Liberty, Bomb hits 1
AK West Planter, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Mobile City, Bomb hits 1
AK Mildura, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Admiral Wood, Bomb hits 1
AK Lewis Luckenbach, Bomb hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 1

THe first of the port attacks. There was little I could do here. He was sitting off the coast so any transports trying to run as a TF would be found and despatched. Just figured I was better off being able to hit the planes that attacked with port based Flak.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 49,103

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 102

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 11
Beaufort V-IX x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 11 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 12 destroyed

This is also my fault. There is no use going up against the KB without adequate escort fighters - wirraways most certainly don't count.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 7

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
MSW Tama Maru
AP Midori Maru

This is the third of the completely pointless attacks against the shipping at PM. The level bombers just aren't of the calibre to pull it off - no hits and two Mitchells lost.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 98,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
B5N Kate x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 3 destroyed, 20 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Boise, Torpedo hits 3, heavy damage
CL Honolulu, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Vincennes, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CL Nashville

And then... Crap - he has carriers about Baker Island and my wish to get the supplies into Baker means the carriers arrive right next door to where the retreat path goes. The Boise sinks and Vincennes is in a very bad way.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 98,90

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
B5N Kate x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 16 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Vincennes, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Boise, heavy damage
DD Conyngham

Adding to Vincennes' pain.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 98,90

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 3 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Nashville, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Vincennes, on fire, heavy damage

Now Nashville is on the receiving end. She is still afloat at the end of the day but he has to taste blood in the water. Undamaged ships put on full steam and head for Pearl. Damaged ships head South and South East. The problem about both these directions is they aren't really close to repair yards and may mean I loose the ships anyway...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Townsville , at 46,103

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
D3A Val x 78
B5N Kate x 87

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 3 destroyed, 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
AK West Planter, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Idomeneus, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Steel Voyager, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Empire Liberty, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Alabaman, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AK Lewis Luckenbach, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Echuca, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Lycaon, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
AK Murada, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AK Pacific, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK Illinoian, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Cairns, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Admiral Wood, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Mobile City, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Neleus, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Demodocus, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Empire Selwyn, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AK Asphalion, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Pennsylvanian, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AK Kahuku, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AK San Gabriel, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AK Nightingale, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW Latrobe, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Diomed, Bomb hits 1, on fire


Allied ground losses:
52 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Port hits 8
Port supply hits 3

Then the real kicker - he just hammers the shipping in townsville plus depletes my already meagre supplies. Of the 24 ships in harbour only 2 escape damage and 2 sink immediately - as you will see by the attached ship's roster many more are likely to sink as well. A

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Day Air attack on TF at 97,89

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 43
B5N Kate x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied Ships
CA San Francisco, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Another attack by Baker Carriers and San Francisco seccumbs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The large strike on Townsville was regretable and will give Herb unnecessary points but it doesn't change tactical flxibility much. I still can't use them to move supplies as I don't have enough and their reason for being here - to move the 7th Oz Division to Cooktown for Dakota transport to PM - has fallen on its face with the KB around.

Not much to add really. Shipping around Pearl that was heading West turns to the South to put distance between them and likely interception by the Jap Carriers. Enterprise and Saratoga go to full steam and head West - this may be foolhardy but I know this is the small er of the two carrier forces and it is not impossible to imagine I can put some real hurt on him here.
I loose 40 ACs to his 16 - mainly the wirraways and Beauforts that sacrificed themselves against the zeros aboard KB. However - a small silver lining is that 10 kates and 3 vals (with their priceless pilots) are lost.
Essentially it is retreat everywhere again. However I do put 60 P-40 Es and Bs over Townsville. I don't think he will attack there again there and he certainly doesn't need to - but he is heavily defending KB and I may just be able to cull some of the priceless carrier pilots if he attacks again. The P-40Es especially have a good leader and 67 average expereince after training out of Darwin.

In China I move the AVG back and cover the retreating Nanning units. He has zeros here but he is using them as ground strafing so they may actually not manage to take part.

The Illustrious makes it to Columbo and I may take the RN on a foray to try and stretch him. I am looking at Andaman Island as a bombardment target.

[wobbly]

Here is the sorry state of the shipping in townsville after his hit on the shipping there

[wobbly]

I have overwritten the combat replay again - doh. I went to a ball last night so my brain is not where it should be at the moment - it feels more like it is more floating in alcoholic dregs for preservation than winding up to do battle with Herbie-san.

Anyway; the meat and drink of the turn revolved around Herb bombarding Port Moresby from Sea and air. This time he is far more successful at destroying aircraft and I loose 43 in the day - not good. However come end of the day and the engineers have fixed the damage ancd actually managed to make headway in cleaning up the place. Supplies continue to go up but Herb LRCAPed PM today and bought down 5 C-47s. I rest them for a day. My miracle AK wears a bombardment shell but still unloads about 500 supplies. PM needs 4800 and is currently at 4100. However the infantry are at half rations - I need to up this to give them a chance.

KB has moved back out into the middle of the Coral Sea. He has given my quite a bit of manouever room if I can find the Cajones to take him up on the offer. Possibly when my fighter numbers on the mainland increase I may be able to adequately LRCAP a fast transport mission to PM.

The wounded from the battle around Baker Island are all still afloat as it appears Herb retreated his carriers. I still think I will loose a few to floatation damage.

In china Herb does attack the retreating Chinese - oscars escorting sonias and it is carnage. The AVG kills 16 of the Sonias and 3 oscars for no loss.

More oscars and Helens attack Dacca and meet Hurricanes. The losses are about even.

Operation Audacity starts in COlumbo with 2 Brit Carriers escorting a bombardment force bound for Andaman Island.

[Raverdave]

Looks like you are not going to be able to support PM with more troops for awhile. Will the current garrison be able to hold out? Where the hell are the US CVs???????

[wobbly]

Dave - currently Herb has the 21st Mixed, the 65th Brigade and the South Seas Detachment there. He also has elements of 3 Naval guards units and an HQ. No engineers. They took some fearsome casualties landing as much as 8000! During the attacks so far conducted all the naval guards units have had assault values of 0 - they ar hurting. I am also moving the B-17Es and Cs that I have in Oz up to bomb his troops. This will obviously mean I loose some but I need to keep him surpressed.

I have the 41st Division, an Aussie brigade, the Port Moresby defense Brigade/base force, two base engieering units (with infantry squads attached) and the Aus 1 corps HQ. A total (although it is falling due to action) of 586 assult points and about 37,000 troops. He has about 27,000 men - that isn't enough - especially with 3 forts and no engineers. He wants to be bringing up at least another Division and they will have the same trouble landing.

US Carriers: Yortown and Lexington are East of Brisbane - they have been nuetered somewhat by their dauntlesses and F4Fs being damaged in the bombardments of Port Moresby. I am getting about 5 ACs of this 120 odd component out of PM a day - currently 35 ACs are out.

The Enterprise and the Saratoga are just north of Palmyra Island and are tasked with covering the Canton Island reinforcements.

Hornet is SE of Pearl escorting the 1st and 2nd Marines on their way to Noumea.

They are all coming together to the South Pacific but wont be there for some time yet. That god awful lump of Jap CVs off the coast of Townsville has some 250 odd ACs on it. That would probably ruin my day. I am toying with an attack but I want him to stooge around and get lower on fuel for a bit.

[Raverdave]

Don't forget that the jap CVs only have about 3 good raids' worth of munitions before thay have to resupply (from Rabal nodoubt). Sounds like you two have gotten into a good old fashioned UV fight.[:D]

[String]

ORIGINAL: Raverdave

Don't forget that the jap CVs only have about 3 good raids' worth of munitions before thay have to resupply (from Rabal nodoubt). Sounds like you two have gotten into a good old fashioned UV fight.[:D]

I think you are talking about jap CVE's. Jap CV's have plenty of mission points

[wobbly]

Hi dave - yeah this is so like a UV bash. there are of course a few important differences: The Torres strait rather than the end of the map, all the other areas you have to look after. herb seriously looks like he is putting most of his power into the South Pacific. I ahve to make him pay elsewhere for this singularity of purpose.

String - i side with you on this. I have had the KB mount more than 3 successful attacks. He will be starting to run low though.

PM is really starting to feel the hammer. There are (or hopefully were) 6 BBs in PM harbour last night and they have destroyed all the good work the engineers have done in repairing the place.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/22/42
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Sub attack at 99,86

Japanese Ships
SS I-122

Allied Ships
DD Case, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

The Case is found mid-ocean by a Jap sub and sent to Davy Jones' locker.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 42,49

Japanese Ships
AK Natisan Maru, Shell hits 6, on fire

Allied Ships
SS Saury

Above the Philipines the Saury finds a lone AK and surfaces to engage her. Despite two spreads of torps she cannot hit with them.
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Day Air attack on Dacca , at 31,24

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 69
Ki-49 Helen x 20
Ki-15 Babs x 2

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 11 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-15 Babs: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 14 destroyed, 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 2

Herb is still gunning for Dacca with some purpose. He losses 9 oscars and 1 helen while I loose 14 hurricanes. These losses are high but much better than the 2 or 3 to 1 I would be suffering if the escorts were zeros. I have bolstered the defense here still further with 2 more hurricane squads and 20 warhawks.
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Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 5
Ki-21 Sally x 19
Ki-49 Helen x 17

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged

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

Runway hits 21

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 75
G4M1 Betty x 105

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort I: 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 6 destroyed
Beaufort V-IX: 3 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 6 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
31 casualties reported

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 51

Two vicious aerial attacks from Lae and Rabaul destroy many of the damaged ACs that are still stuck in PM. With the deliberate damage Herb is doing to PM I am unable to get them in the air again. The damage to facilities is also causing problems. I need to point his direction elsewhere and in a hurry. There are still 74 ACs stuck on the ground in PM though. I am gathering fighters together and may try to suddenly create an air umbrella there. It will have to have good timing as the Bombardments are likely to catch the fighters on the ground.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 53,91


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 2 destroyed

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

Allied Ships
AK West Portal, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
531 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 37
Port hits 6
Port fuel hits 3
Port supply hits 7

There were many bombardments today but this was the one that really did the damage. The good ship West Portal at last runs out of luck and wears many heavy calibre shells. The supplies in her hold burn along with everything else flammable on board. Many men are lost and the cache of supplies on the ground takes sharp dip downwards. Supplies now at 3,300. Only Dakotas can bring them in now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 129 troops unloading over beach at Irau, 69,98


Japanese ground losses:
136 casualties reported

Herb continue to take out the rest of the Solomons.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I still have more troops at PM than Herb. He knows this now and will be bringing up more. He also has so much of the combined fleet that it is almost impossible for me to get in and support my own troops without suffering massive damage. The problem with this -as always - is the KB. While it hangs around I can't intervene too directly. With all the heavy metal at PM I have to bring at least 2 surface combat TFs of reasonable size to the party. I don't want them hit on the way by naval ACs!!! many of my subs are now in position. However there is only really a small corridor down which the enemy travel and since most of my subs are the larger fleet types, I have half a sozne now going to ferry supplies into PM. This is a dribble but I have to accomplish more of this.
If I don't intervene though, I am going to loose PM and the troops in it - not good! The one small silver lining is the time this will have taken that he didn't expect. He is also having to attribute massive effort to this. I think the Brits and operations Rainbow may be bought forward to stretch him. I have to be very careful I don't try this too-ahead of schedule though as I paid badly for that against PzB attacking Java.

I have sent a TF of of surface ships up towards Townsville - in other words I have caved to my own pressure. The KB only needs to move back into Oz and I will wear this one badly. I am going to try and load them with supplies and then find an opportune moment to sneak them in. they have a sqd of tomahawks slated to cover them - this is a little like pissing into the breeze considering my opponent is the KB, but I couldn't provide no cover and keep faith with myslef.

In Burma I have kept Inchon empty of defensive ACs for some time now. He has continued to recon it. This turn I moved the AVG back in hoping to catch him trying to bomb it. The Tomahawks of the AVG should do better agasint his oscars than the hurricanes are managing.

[wobbly]

A quite day mmissed and then a day of sub activity. PM gets a reprieve for a couple of days - so it must be about time he hammered me again. He is complaining about the amount of supplies required to reload BBs!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/24/42
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Sub attack at 50,48

Japanese Ships
PC Showa Maru #3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PC Takuna Maru #7
PC Takuna Maru #6
PC Showa Maru #5
PC Shonan Maru #17

Allied Ships
SS Flying Fish

There were 3 unsuccessful ASW attacks before this one - and still my subs bore in. This time the hunter is the hunted - the Showa Maru #3 sinks.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese Ships
AP Marsue Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kikuzuki
DD Mochizuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Oite
MSW W.14
MSW Fumi Maru #2
MSW Rokko Maru
MSW Seki Maru #3
MSW Tama Maru
MSW Toshi Maru #1
AP Waura Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-47

Despite massive ASW defense this AP is also found and heavily hurt in PM harbour.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pagan , at 31,31


Allied aircraft
Blenheim IV x 24
Wellington III x 11
LB-30 Liberator x 18


No Allied losses

Resources hits 7

In this scenario Pagan has resources - too unintercepted raids raids have reduced its capacity markedly.
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Sub attack at 83,87

Japanese Ships
AP Chinko Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Ataka Maru

Allied Ships
SS Nautilus

Nautilus is between Tarawa and Kweijalein. It looks like this AP was empty but I'll take some affirmative action.
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Ground combat at Changsha

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1228 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 38 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Changsha base !!!

To escape the envelopment of Chinese forces I have attempted to withdraw from Changsha and the city further south on the rail line - herb takes up my offer of an empty city.
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PM is still in trouble without any attention from the evil powers of the empire. The engineers, without adequate supplies, are finding it very hard to repair the damage of previous bombardment and air visits. I only manage to get 3 planes out in the two days this report covers! The BBs have been visiting on a 3 day cycle so I imagine I will be hit again tonight. The C-49s have continued to deliver supplies but I am loosing a number to the potholes on the runways there! Two other efforts are underway to get the supplies in: the first sub has loaded in Cairns and heads to PM, 6 more to follow; and a fast transport TF under RADM Darby (a capable but very conservative commander – I don’t want these ships battling the BBs at PM of I can help it) load with supplies and head for Thursday Island with the intention to swing West and try to get their load into PM (retreat option: Darwin). This is obviously spoiling for trouble in the extreme as he has 2 BBs permanently stationed at PM that I have seen and the escorts for some of the transport TFs are nothing to be sniffed at either. The trouble with choosing a cautious commander is he may get to PM only to bug out when he meets the opposition. It appears the only way to get supplies in is to confront him head on though and that is tantamount to suicide.
Another very worrying development is the loss of the KB! It was about mid-ocean at the level of Rockhampton and has since disappeared. I have therefore evacuated both Brisbane and Noumea of shipping.
In Operation Rainbow the C Regiment of the 25th Division continues on it’s way to Canton Island. I don’t know where his smaller TF of Carriers has gone but he is reconning Canton with regularity.
In the bay of Bengal operation is about to be launched. I have seen no evidence of inhabitants of Andaman but if there are any they are about to get the attention of 5 RN BBs plus Cruisers. It should be bruising.
I am watching the supplies from the US slowly make there way across the Pacific. All the bases in the South are in the pink for supplies and even though I think I have curtailed Herbie’s plans for bases further south of the Solomons by defending PM, he may have eyes for these locations after PM is decided (either way it turns out). So I really want some of these troops planes and supplies to hurry up and get to their destinations.
The carriers Yorktown and Lexington pull into Sydney Harbour. Without their airwings there is little reason to stay at sea and incur damage. The dauntlesses are coming off PM and replacing their numbers nicely but the fighters are not, so downtime still ahead.

[PzB74]

Seems like you've stirred the hornets nest Al [;)]

I think you're doing the right thing by defending PM...if you hadn't it would be as you say - Herb would probably invade New Caledonia and other bases between
Fiji and PH! The bad thing is that I'm afraid the brave defenders of PM are toast unless someone scr€ws up.... Anyway, you've started picking at the Combined Fleet [8D]

Saving your carriers for a showdown further down the road is probably a good idea. Wear down the KB and catch it of guard. I usually let subs and LBA do the dirty work
for me. Well, you know the drill - will be fun to watch!

Evacuating Changsa was most likely a good idea, I've managed to get an army trapped in there...(

[wobbly]

hey John - Yeah a definate Hornets nest although I think I have thrown his timing by quite a margin. the fact he has not even tried a deliberate attack must mean he is bringining in more troops. You wish is also my command - picking at the combined fleet takes place in earnest today!

The day is again dominated by subs - this time I don't survive the attacks but the targets I hit are almost worth the pain!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/25/42

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Sub attack at 53,93

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Torpedo hits 1
DD Kamikaze
DD Oboro
DD Amagiri
DD Yugiri
DD Murakumo
DD Shirakumo
CL Nagara

Allied Ships
SS S-39, hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

It's final act in the war is a good one. Unfortuantely no fires and little to write home about. I imagine the Fuso may even be fine...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Kamikaze
DD Oboro
DD Amagiri
DD Yugiri
DD Murakumo
DD Shirakumo

Allied Ships
SS Sculpin

The Hyuga on the other hand has fires to contend with as well! Well done indeed Sculpin - perfect time for her to find her detonators.
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Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 7
Ki-21 Sally x 21
Ki-49 Helen x 18

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
20 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Runway hits 8
Port hits 1

Port Moresby gets more attention and I loose more ACs on the ground.
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Day Air attack on Andaman Island , at 23,34


Allied aircraft
Fulmar x 9
Swordfish x 30


Allied aircraft losses
Swordfish: 3 damaged

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 2

Woops - the swordfish attack Andaman before the BBs giving away my intent - the BBs should have been in and out last turn but no, they wait and give me away. I am pretty certain there is nothing to attack me out here so the bombardment will still go in.

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

The BBs are hit moving away from PM as far as my airborne scouts inform me. Is he retreating as cover for his transports - a number appear to be with him?

More trouble this turn though is my resupply effort is scouted by jakes from the enemy surface combat fleet. I therefore tell my ships to run through the Torres strait - can't have them lashed from returning BBs! These two torp hits are a good deterrent though - he will think twice about sending them through obviously infested waters.

I am getting very anxious about the KB. No sign again this turn. I know he was heading deep into the Coral Sea but have no idea where. I have done everything to cope with an attack in Noumea but now troops ships have arrived at Canton Island. They have very good cover for anything other than the KB. 2 Carriers cannot hope to take on the 4 or so he has with the main KB group. I think he should be about 2 days steaming away still, these days will be anxious. Operation Rainbow may have to take more punishment.

Slowly but surely my airpower recovers from the disaster of Port Moresby. I still have a whole airforce on the ground there but I think I may manage to retrieve about half of those damaged.

In San Fran another TF of ground troops, consisting of the 5th Airforce, 2nd Seabees and the 101st Base unit, finish boarding their ships. Just the full alotment of supplies and they will set sail for Luganville.

[wobbly]

Another missed turn - sorry folks. Mainly Sub and anit sub action in it where I put toprs into 3 ships but lost another sub. The Jap CVs are found again off the coast of Townsville. My Fast transport TF gets through the Torres strait and disappears from Herbs scouting capability - but is very much still there (more on that later and in attached map)

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/27/42

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Day Air attack on 66th Chinese Corps, at 42,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 30
Ki-15 Babs x 1

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 5 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Herb meets the AVG over Wuhan again - they are doing very well in this game - I think the main reason is that they can act from secure bases. The hardest thing I found about using them in the main scenario is that they are at bases with only RAF base forces to defend. PzB killed them with a paradrop. The locations they are defending and attacking from are never going to be taken in this fashion in this game.
As you can see the AVG do very well and for the first time in three turns I kill more Jap ACs than he kills allies.
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Not a very good turn for cripples. Herb losses two APs and I loose an AK damaged in the Townsvilee attack, probably one more will fall into this category, and also the heavy Cruiser Vincennes: she made it Palmyra Island only to sink at her moorings, 15 sailors are lost attempting to stem the flow of water when the hulk rolls over...

I have now lost 2 CAs, 1Cls, 8DDs and 5 Subs - very painful but not entirely unexpected considering the course I have chosen.

OK - so to the revisitation of Operation Rekindle, a beast that eats men and machines from both sides at an alarming speed. Looking at the map added you can see that PM has managed to repair quite a quantity of the damage done by all the attention from the Japs. The runway is fully functional and the repair of facilities meant that 9 planes were airworthy and able to be moved back to the mainland this turn.

So the one item still on the agenda is trying to get the 4000 or so supplies on Darby's fast transport TF into PM. That will more than double the current number there. With these supplies I will start to bombard the Jap troops - I am not doing that at present.

The obvious hurdle in this enterprise is the KB, which I know is still hanging around. Herb has made comment on Darby's command (especially since he lost it this turn). I am still moving further to the west this turn with the intention of return in subsequent turns. He may think the surface units are heading to the DEI if I am lucky.

Elsewhere the bombardment of Andaman refuses to happen. Each turn the TF just reverts to a surface combat group and stays where it is - frustrating. I completely remake the TF as a bombardment group from scratch. I hope the headsup I gave Herb by bombing with swordfish doesn't mean I am likely to meet serious opposition.

Two chinese Divisions at the crossroads between Myitkina and Lashio move towards Lashio.

The AVG are given orders to sweep Canton.

Further south operation Rainbow's next phase is almost complete with the unloading of the C regiment of the 25th. I know the smaller KB is around but I am not as worried about this one meeting my two fleet carriers. A TF with 25K supplies is also about 3 days out of Canton. I will keep the surface unit and carriers here to defend these ships as well.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: wobbly

Herb meets the AVG over Wuhan again - they are doing very well in this game - I think the main reason is that they can act from secure bases. The hardest thing I found about using them in the main scenario is that they are at bases with only RAF base forces to defend. PzB killed them with a paradrop. The locations they are defending and attacking from are never going to be taken in this fashion in this game.

Hey Wobbly,

How much force does it take to prevent that? Does having a brigade along with the base force suffice, or can the IJ paras overwhelm a force that size also? I've never faced para tactics, so I'm kinda wondering how much strength is required to stop the one-turn base siezure that you're talking about.

[wobbly]

Hi WitPQS - welcome to the thread. Usually someone will only use 1 regement of paras or a special unit to airdrop you. I have had cases where I loose on the shock attack and others where I maange to defend but loose the next turn as there has been enough of an odds disadvantage to bring down the forts. My advice to you is in India to split one of the heavily depleted Indian divisions and get these to the isolated locations like Kohima and may Akyab (it is a judgement call as to whether you mind too much about getting them cut off once more serious forces come to knock on the door). This is usually enough to make the 1st turn para shock attack a failure. It is this turn that really hurts as the air units and their valuable pilots are also lost. You CANNOT afford to loose the AVG! No piss poor base is worth their loss. If you think you are going to have this attempted, instead try to LRCAP the base in dire straits from a more secure location - this is again why you can't afford to loose the AVG - they are the only allied fighters with the legs to pull this off.

2nd of two turns again as the 1st had little to offer other than my bombardment mission to Andaman at last doing as it's told. Andaman suffers about 350 casualties but more importantly about 12 supply hits! I move Brit and dutch subs around the island to pick on resupply missions!

This turn - well what to say about this turn. The air war erupts as we loose 77 ACs to the Japs 61. I'll let the combat report speak for itself:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/29/42

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Day Air attack on Dacca , at 31,24

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 98
Ki-21 Sally x 68
Ki-49 Helen x 24
Ki-15 Babs x 6

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 50
P-40E Warhawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 25 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 22 destroyed, 6 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Oil hits 5

A wee bit of subterfuge works perfectly... (well I suppose as far as bringing Herb to battle against a reasonable number of fighters can be considered perfect) I had moved all fighters at Dacca to Kohima. Herb reconned both and must have noticed there were now no fighters at Dacca. For some reason he is hell bent on hurting my oil production here. Anyway I moved all the Hurricanes and Warhawks back and have them on 15K CAP. He sends the kitchen sink and a huge dogfight erupts. I loose alot of aircraft but so does he - and more importantly it appears my pilots are hitting the silk and surviving the conflict above the aerodromes. One sqd had 16 hurricanes - looses 9 but only 3 pilots! I will take that any day!
Once again though the defending fighters - despute being at perfect altitude do not manage to do much to the bombers.
I don't understand his targeting here. Dacca has oil capacity of 25 - he has reduced it to 12. India has almost unlimited supply to repair this damage???
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Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 101
G3M Nell x 22
G4M1 Betty x 96
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 13

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 46

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 8 destroyed, 1 damaged
G3M Nell: 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 30 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
Beaufort I: 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless: 2 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
34 casualties reported

Airbase hits 11
Runway hits 93

Herb then very much gets his own back by mounting an enourmous effort against PM. I had moved some P-40Es back in to try and pick on a little raid - I get thumped! I loose about 25 P-40Es while he does appear to loose the 8 zeros listed here. PM is once again in a bad way - but this massive attack seems to have allowed the C-47s in reasonably unmolested. PM supplies now at 3500.
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Day Air attack on Canton , at 43,41

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 60

Allied aircraft
P-40B Tomahawk x 37

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 18 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 3 destroyed, 6 damaged

So, to the afternoon and the AVG sweeps into the skies above Canton where herb's oscars rise to defend and are hammered out of the sky, one enemy Daitai actually fails morale. He looses 42 of these ACs today and complains that the cupboard is bare. AVG moves back to Chunking to rest and recuperate. I want to leave the AVG in China during this game as I really don't want to allow him a place that is easy to train his pilots. Since we have started with the DEI conquered he hasn't had the opportunity to leave a few locations for this purpose.
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Ground combat at 46,36

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 25883 troops, 267 guns, 144 vehicles

Defending force 3580 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 142 to 1



Allied ground losses:
149 casualties reported


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

Herb is clearing the rail line above Hencheng and this HQ unit tried to move the wrong direction - it is running for Wuchow.
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At PM this turn I am taking an awful risk. The KB is within a full speed sprint of the Torres strait. I am going to try and get my fast transport mission in and out!!! This has so got to work. I need those supplies in PM. However, if the KB does do this sprint it will sink the better part of my Southern surface navy. Alot riding on this. I do move a full sqd of P-40Bs to PM on LRCAP over the fleet but they will be swept aside by zeros.
The reasoning behind going ahead is he has been in this position before and has not moved in. He has also seen me run away. I imagine he is staying close to his oilers and has possibly got a few ships with lack of op points. He has been stooging around down here - after a trip all the way from Truk - can he have enough in the bunkers for a full speed sprint with the likelihood I will back off again?

If he does move - Oh man - it isn't worth thinking about. It will be down to a handful of obsolete fighters and the AAA on the ships against he most fearsome naval strike force on the planet!

In other news operation Rainbow goes ahead very nicely with the whole C regiment of the 25th Division unloaded at Canton. Supplies are also flowing ashore as my 2nd supply TF arrives. At San Fran the 5th Seabees board ship with the target to be Canton.

The 1st and 2nd Marines plus extras, guarded by the Hornet, are now about 6 hexes North of Pago Pago. They are making good progress and upon arrival will really put Noumea into the too hard basket I would imagine.

Fuel and supply starts to get close to the South Pacific. A large TF arrives at Suva and a number are about a week or less out of NZ and Noumea. Oz still has a while to wait.

The two Brooklyn class CLs: Honolulu and Nashville, damaged in the raid off Baker, leave Palmyra with their holes patched and bilges dry. They will need time in the drydocks of Pearl.

[PzB74]

ORIGINAL: wobbly
You CANNOT afford to loose the AVG! No piss poor base is worth their loss.

It sux when it happends, doesn't it Al [;)]

Seems like you're giving Herb a rough handlin' in the air!
You must be low on P-40's though?

[wobbly]

John – yes it sux big time [:D] that was a very painful lesson. This turn does not benefit my tomahawk numbers at all. The AVG will have to go an minimal rations. I only get 10 of these planes a month!

Disasters seen on the horizon should really be navigated around – not aimed at with full speed! I hypothesised about how Herb might not come towards my fast transport TF because of fuel and all that crap – well he does it and as predicted the results aren’t pretty.

First the FT mission did make it to PM and was greeted with open arms by the troops there. Each unit stocks up and moves to full rations where they were starting to loose puppy fat due to ahlf rations they’ve been enduring over the last few days.

During the night a Jap ASW unit finds a sub in the DEI and sinks her – that’s number 6. I suffer aerial bomb damage to another in PM harbour but at least manage to return the favour to a jap one off Baker.

Then a gawd awful aerial armada turns up over PM and smashes everything within site –including 21 of the Tomahawks I have just moved in. They don’t appear above my TFs as they are too far away – more on that later – but I had left the replacements on for these Tomahawks and despite the lack of supplies here the sqd gets full replacements – all damaged again – bugger bugger bugger. I have to get more vigilant with this setting, I may be playing the allies but in these tight months I cannot afford to just chuck aircraft away like this.

So the Tomahawks cannot reach the retreating FT fleet and Herb’s naval bombers scream out to plunder. First the Kates find the CL Adelaide. She is slower than the rest of the ships and had been separated and in truth this probably saves many of my ships (well for today it does). 102 Kates go after the Adelaide. The first wave of 2 hit the ship with both their torpedoes and she sinks. The other 100 Kates must have played tag or something…

In the morning the more Northerly majority of my surface group are under bad weather. In the afternoon the weather clears and the Vals decide to hit these groups while the Kates again wish to hit the Adelaide. All told the CA Canberra and the CL Achilles are in dire straits. The CA Australia and DD Voyager are in a bad way but depending on Herb’s moves may get away. The rest of the ships are damaged in some way but should all get away baring a blocking force between them and Darwin.

Not a very good outcome for 1500 supplies to PM! (to add insult to injury delivered about 4 supply hits to PM as well).

I think I have to pull my head in a bit and I probably have to give up on Port Moresby. I can’t continue to face the 150 zeroes he continues to throw against the place (along with the 120 bombers of course). The question is do I try to evacuate or do I use the units there as a very able time consumer?

All of the US naval bombers and fighters are now out of PM and have been moved to Brisbane. They will load back up onto their carriers and the carriers will head off to rendezvous with the rest of my carrier forces. A B-17C from Cooktown scouted more enemy flat tops at Rabaul!! Could these be the ones he hit my Baker squadron with?

This pain I am suffering about PM is giving me breathing room in resupplying the rest of the South Pacific – yep Al – keep telling yourself that.

[wobbly]

Two combat reports for you - the first is horrible to behold (as an allied fan) as the KB goes to town on my retreating surface forces. The second revolves around a further heavy attack against Dacca with both sides loosing many aircraft.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/31/42

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Day Air attack on Akyab , at 30,29


Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 3
Blenheim IV x 17
Wellington III x 10
LB-30 Liberator x 46


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 89

I continue to hit Akyab which I don't think has much in the way there. repeated bombing has not shown any occupants. Good training though and I will look to take the place in the future.
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Day Air attack on TF at 43,85

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 68
D3A Val x 18
E13A1 Jake x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val: 3 destroyed, 8 damaged
E13A1 Jake: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 1, on fire (is the only heavy cruiser to escape)

Allied Ships
CL Achilles, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage (sinks)

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage (sinks)

Allied Ships
CA Canberra, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage (sinks)

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (sinks)

Allied Ships
DD Voyager, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sinks)

Allied Ships
DD Sims, Bomb hits 1, on fire (escapes)

Allied Ships
CA Chicago, Bomb hits 27, on fire, heavy damage (scuttled the following day)

Obviously I have doctored the results here - many more ACs attacks and in most cases they pick out the cruisers to take out. The Chicago is targeted by about 90 Vals - ugly very ugly.
A very poor decision leads to many deaths and the loss of 4 CAs and 2 CLs. 10 vals and 2 kates are shot down but it is hardly compensation is it. To consol myself I looked at the ship reinforcements and there will be a very prosperous few days in about 500 days time.

So to day two - which dawns with the KB retiring back through the Torres strait - staying execution of the New Orleans.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/01/42

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Dili at 31,77

Japanese Ships
AK Thames Maru, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
AK Toa Maru
AK Tokai Maru, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Stuart

I noticed herb was resupplying Timor. Just thought I would send the only ship in the north to investigate - the Stuart finds this TF and puts a few holes in the Thames Maru.
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Day Air attack on Dacca , at 31,24

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 77
Ki-21 Sally x 82
Ki-49 Helen x 23
Ki-15 Babs x 5

Allied aircraft
Hurricane II x 39
P-40E Warhawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 18 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-21 Sally: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 1 damaged
Ki-15 Babs: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 21 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Oil hits 1

Another viciously heavy attack on Dacca. Both sides loose 20 ACs. I decide to let him bomb Dacca and have the AAA do their best as I don't really need the oil produciton there and as I said - what is 25K supplies to the Indians??
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It has not been a very good few turns as the allies. I have been involved with 3 disastrously expensive naval attacks now which have cost 5 CA, 3 CL and 7 DD while only managing to kill a DD and damage another - while shooting down about 25 naval bombers. Not very good returns on the losses incurred. The problem is also that I am destroying my fast Cruisers. I have plenty of BBs but none of them with the pace to get in and out of a location rapidly - the North Carolina is about 15 days away but she is the first of the truly useful BBs.

All of the naval planes from the Lex and Yorktown rejoin their Carriers and the TF departs for Noumea. The Enterprise and the Saratoga conclude their defence of the Canton resupply and now head off to join the Hornet in defending the 2 Marine divisions on their way to Noumea. Soon all allied carrier capability (bar the long island which has been moving dive bombers and fighters to the central pacific islands - it delivered 12 F4F-3s to Canton today) will be at Noumea and I can start to position myself to take on a reinforcement effort of PM - by either side. PM will continue to be a black hole that eats ships planes and men.

[wobbly]

A quiet day unless you were a submariner or those trying to chase them. One of his subs puts a well aimed torp into an ASW hunter killer group off Brisbane and gets away. Thankfully it is close to Brisy harbour and the DD should survive. A Jap ASW group attacks the SS Seal beside Woodlark Island - Seal takes displeasure in the attention and sinks one of the PCs doing the attacking.
Another ASW group I had just South of Irau puts a depth charge into a sub there. It wont sink unless I can find it again today.
Herb hits dacca agains today with only 27 oscars attending. I have nothing there on defense so he has free reign an does 7 oil damage. Upon looking though the oil facilities are still as damaged as they were the turn before.
Little else occured - my 3 carriers have joined south of Canton. The DDs and New Orleans continue to leave the area from whence they got their thumping. Not much to add really.