Rematch by Proxy: Scn.7, Grunt6971 vs Timtom

[timtom]

The wet kept the aircraft grounded during the morning. Things cleared up a bit during the afternoon, and the USN delivered a half-strength strike against naval shipping off Rossel. Meanwhile, the IJA was driving hard against the Oz perimeter, shaving off a fort level and inflicting about even casualties.

I'm now feeling distinctly nervous. It seems the IJA 4th Rgt. is yet to deploy in full strength, and even without it Scott achieved odds 1:1, albeit in with a shock attack. The engineers at Rossel have put the fort level back to 1, hopefully bying me another turn to rush in reinforcements.

Recon indicates the two greatest concentrations of fighters to be at Rabaul and Shortland. Some of the Zero's encountered over Rossel are from the now defunct 3rd CarDiv, which might or might not be flying off KB, sighted just 120 miles northwest of Rossel.

Rabaul and Shortland will be struck by the heavies, while my CV's will seek battle with KB. My CAG's are of course tired after yesterdays strikes, but there should be enough raw power aboard to assure victory.

Oz 25th Bgd. will airlift to Rossel regardless of CAP. For what it's worth, P-38's out of GG have been assigned to patrol the skies over Rossel. Meanwhile the FT TF bearing the 16th Bgd. will move into position along with its escorts.


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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04 Nov 1942 Weather: Rain
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Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on TF at Rossel Island from AC TF SE Rossel Island:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 17
A6M3 Zero x 7

Allied aircraft:
F4F-4 Wildcat x 60
SBD Dauntless x 73
TBF Avenger x 15

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10 destroyed, F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed, SBD Dauntless x 12 damaged
TBF Avenger x 2 destroyed, TBF Avenger x 5 damaged

Japanese Ships:
CA Ashigara, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
CL Kiso, Bomb hits 4, on fire
DD Harukaze, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
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Japanese Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Rossel Island:

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 14854 troops, 169 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 6711 troops, 74 guns, 10 vehicles

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 224

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 139
Guns lost 1
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[timtom]

Again luck favours me. Covering a distance of 240 miles, American navy aircraft overwhelms KB in a dripplet of strikes, doing serious damage and preventing the Japanese from mounting anything but a token counter-attack. Only the fact that the SBD's were carrying 500lbs bombs saves KB from complete disaster. As it is, CVL Ryujo is sunk and CV Hiyo appears crippled.
It's not all one-sided though. 75 Allied aircraft are lost, including the equivalent of two entire SBD sqd's. Japanese aircraft losses, including those lost aboard the Ryujo, amount to 74. On the face of it, the heavy bomber strikes on Rabaul and Shortland aren't too succesful, although 12 enemy aircraft are thought to have been destroyed at the cost of 9 B-17's. However only 3 C-47's are lost, though many damaged, so maybe the strikes did in fact impact. 25th Bgd's A echelon is airlifted to Rossel, but is unfortunately without supply. Still, its added presence was enough to see off the enemy while inflicting heavy casualties.

On the morrow, the American CV's will draw further north, trying to engage the remaining Japanese carrier or attack the enemy shipping at Rossel. Two sqd's of B-25's have been transferred to Gili Gili with similar orders. Aboard the carriers, the SBD's are being stood down and the burden of attack centered on the TBF's, for which plentiful replacements are available.
However next turn's attack will be lead by the veteran Australian/American cruiser-destroyer force, which will close on Rossel and attempt to engage the enemy more closely...
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05 Nov 1942 Weather: Partly Cloudy
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Japanese Naval Attacks:

Air attack on TF at Townsville from Rabaul:

Japanese aircraft:
G3M Nell x 6

Allied aircraft:
P-39D Airacobra x 20

Japanese aircraft losses:
G3M Nell x 3 damaged
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Air attack on AC TF SSW Rossel Island from AC TF SSW Woodlark Island:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 15
D3A Val x 19
B5N Kate x 12

Allied aircraft:
F4F-4 Wildcat x 58

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed, A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
D3A Val x 9 destroyed, D3A Val x 3 damaged
B5N Kate x 9 destroyed, B5N Kate x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed, F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 damaged
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Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack S Gasmata:

Japanese Ships:
AP Oigawa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
SS Grenadier
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Air attack on AC TF SSW Woodlark Island from Gili Gili & AC TF SSW Rossel Island : *multiple strikes*

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 49

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawk x 15
F4F-4 Wildcat x 83
SBD Dauntless x 111
TBF Avenger x 25
Beaufort x 8

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 8 destroyed, A6M2 Zero x 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
P-40E Warhawk x 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9 destroyed, F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 damaged *13 lost*
SBD Dauntless x 28 destroyed, SBD Dauntless x 48 damaged *36 lost*
TBF Avenger x 6 destroyed, TBF Avenger x 18 damaged *10 lost*
Beaufort x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships:
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Hiyo, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 7,Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CL Jintsu, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Nagara, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Akatsuki, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
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Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Shortland Island airfield from Irau:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M2 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft:
B-17E Fortress x 26

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
G3M Nell x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
B-17E Fortress x 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 27
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 16
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Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 7
A6M3 Zero x 16

Allied aircraft:
B-17E Fortress x 70
B-24D Liberator x 22

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 3 destroyed, A6M2 Zero x 3 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed, A6M3 Zero x 3 damaged
D3A Val x 1 destroyed, D3A Val x 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 3 destroyed, G4M1 Betty x 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
B-17E Fortress x 7 damaged
B-24D Liberator x 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 372
Guns lost 2
Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 110
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Japanese Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Rossel Island:

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 14606 troops, 169 guns, 0 vehicles *4th, 16th & 29th Rgt's, 2nd Recon Rgt.*

Defending force 7831 troops, 107 guns, 10 vehicles *17th Bgd, 18th Bgd (-), 25th Bgd. (-)15th Eng. Bn.*

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 664
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 57
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[timtom]

The SC TF found only a couple of PC's, which were duely dispatched. The remaining IJN CV retreats northwards out of range, but Beauforts and B-25's out of Gili Gili finds and sinks cripple Hiyo. Meanwhile, carrier-based TBF's strike at the transports retiring from Rossel, and mounts a generally ineffective attack in the face of surprisingly heavy AAA.

At Rossel Island the Japanese attack has now clearly stalled.

At this junction Scott's felt compelled to concede the game, and devote his time to his other games. It's been steeply uphill for him since the August carrier disaster - so kudos for sticking it through 70-odd turns of torture.




The Weekly Tally:

Allied/Japanese:

Score at start: 2,246/3,715 = 1.00:1.65
Week 1: 2,394/3,731 = 1.00:1.56
Week 2: 2,739/3,868 = 1.00:1.41
Week 3: 2,889/3,889 = 1.00:1.35
Week 4: 3,861/3,979 = 1.00:1.03
Week 5: 4,190/4,214 = 1.00:1.01
Week 6: 4,362/4,262 = 1.02:1.00
Week 7: 4,515/4,487 = 1.01:1.00
Week 8: 4,757/4,602 = 1.03:1.00
Week 9: 4,976/4,699 = 1.06:1.00
Week 10: 5,157/4,829 = 1.07:1.00
Week 11: 5,296/4,824 = 1.10:1.00
Week 12: 5,875/4,797 = 1.23:1.00
Week 13: 5,953/4,847 = 1.23:1.00
Week 14 & Endgame: 6,563/4,993 = 1.31:1.00

Army Losses:

30/151 = 1.00:5.03

Naval Losses:

Allied ships:
Sunk: 1xBB, 1xCA, 2XDD, 1xDM, 2xMSW, 2xSC, 1xSS, 1xAV, 2xAO, 1xAP, 8xAK
Damaged: 4xCA, 2xCL, 10xDD, 2xAPD, 1xPG, 4xSS, 1xAO, 6xAP, 1xAK

Japanese ships:
Sunk: 3xCV, 2xCVL, 1xCVE, 3xCA, 1xCL, 11xDD, 4xAPD, 6xML, 5xMSW, 3xPG, 11xPC, 5xSS, 3xAO, 3xTK, 29xAP
Damaged: 4xCA, 2xCL, 7xDD, 2xAPD, 1xML, 1xMSW, 1xPG, 6xSS, 1xTK, 19xAP

Air Losses:

Total: 676/711 = 1.00:1.05

Week 1: 8/22 = 1.00:2.75
Week 2: 25/29 = 1.00:1.16
Week 3: 3/5 = 1.00:1.67
Week 4: 90/141 = 1.00:1.57
Week 5: 165/75 = 2.20:1.00
Week 6: 23/46 = 1.00:2.00
Week 7: 16/21 = 1.00:1.31
Week 8: 31/28 = 1.11:1.00
Week 9: 59/56 = 1.05:1.00
Week 10: 67/48 = 1.40:1.00
Week 11: 22/27 = 1.00:1.23
Week 12: 28/53 = 1.00:1.89
Week 13: 4/17 = 1.00:4.25
Week 14: 135/143 = 1.06:1.00

Air-to-Air: 451/252 = 1.79:1.00
Destroyed on Field: 8/107 = 1.00:13.38
Destroyed by AAA: 125/78 = 1.60:1.00
Operational Losses: 92/274 = 1.00:2.98

Sorties Flown:

Total: 50,750/53,898 = 1.00:1.06

Week 1: 2,329/1,123 = 2.07:1.00
Week 2: 3,630/2,381 = 1.52:1.00
Week 3: 2,673/3,581 = 1.00:1.34
Week 4: 4,374/3,512 = 1.25:1.00
Week 5: 4,806/4,385 = 1.10:1.00
Week 6: 2,558/3,764 = 1.00:1.47
Week 7: 3,272/4,714 = 1.00:1.44
Week 8: 4,910/4,135 = 1.18:1.00
Week 9: 3,962/3,464 = 1.14:1.00
Week 10: 2,670/4,228 = 1.00:1.58
Week 11: 3,913/5,035 = 1.00:1.29
Week 12: 4,092/4,222 = 1.00:1.03
Week 13: 2,538/4,602 = 1.00:1.81
Week 14: 5,024/4,748 = 1.00:1.06

Loss pr. sortie (excl. DoF): 0.0132/0.0112 = 1.1786:1.0000
Operational loss pr. sortie: 0.0018/0.0051 = 1.0000:2.8333
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06 Nov 1942 Weather: Partly Cloudy
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Allied Naval Attacks:

Night Time Surface Combat at Rossel Island:

Japanese Ships:
PC Ch 24, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
PC Ch 29, Shell hits 7, and is sunk

Allied Ships:
CA Canberra
CL Leander
CL Achillies
CL Hobart
DD Ralph Talbot
DD Henley
DD Mahan
DD Smith
DD Dunlap
DD Arunta
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Air attack on TF E Woodlark Island from AC TF WSW Rossel Island:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 9
A6M3 Zero x 7

Allied aircraft: *multiple strikes*
F4F-4 Wildcat x 69
TBF Avenger x 45

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 3 destroyed, A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 1 destroyed, TBF Avenger x 19 damaged

Japanese Ships:
AP Hikade Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP Tama Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Keizan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
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Air attack on TF W Woodlark Island from Gili Gili:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawk x 13
Beaufort x 11
B-25D Mitchell x 29

Allied aircraft losses:
Beaufort x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships:
CV Hiyo, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
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Air attack on TF at Finschhafen from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 19

Allied aircraft: *multiple strikes*
P-39D Airacobra x 69
P-40E Warhawk x 60
Beaufighter VIC x 21
A-20B Havoc x 33

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
P-39D Airacobra x 3 damaged
P-40E Warhawk x 6 destroyed, P-40E Warhawk x 2 damaged
Beaufighter VIC x 4 damaged
A-20B Havoc x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships:
AP Teia Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Nichibi Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kumagawa Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Kirishima Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Kinryu Maru, Shell hits 48, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kinugasa Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kenyo Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Kenryu Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
TK Hoyo Maru, Shell hits 4

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 116
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Japanese Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Rossel Island:

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13722 troops, 168 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 7731 troops, 107 guns, 10 vehicles

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 187
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 56
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[6971grunt]

Just wanted to post some thoughts on my defeat at the capable hands of Tom.

My initial strategy was to hold a defensive position in the area of the Canal since I felt that I could not seriously contest the Marine units on Lunga. History seems to teach that lesson, so I thought I could profit from such a teaching. With the initial loss of my three big carriers in August, such a strategy became a necessity.

The loss of my three large carriers in August '42 was a result of an assumption that the USN would not commit its carriers [all of them] aall at once and at such an early time in the game. So I made the fatal error of "hanging-around" one day too long.[:@] Additionally, the failure of the carriers to even launch aircraft at the USN was of no assistance. The early results were rather dishearting, but I mustered on like a good Jap.

The fortification of the New Georgia area was now even more vital since I had no defensive line in front of Shortland. This build-up was rather slow but it did start to provide a buffer. The problem was the limitations of air squadrons being placed on those islands. Engineers and supply were badly needed to keep these operational and growing - the Japs just don't get the forces fast enough.

My initial strategy in New G. was to seize Gili Gili and slowly drive the Ozzies to Port Morsby - essentially have the garrison crowed on three sides. The Ozzies were just too mobile and could get to these areas faster than I could and with three carriers visiting Davey Jones's locker I had difficulty contesting landings or conducting landings.

With the arrival of 2-CVs and a CVL, I now had some offensive options. The Canal was still not a serious option [too much time had passed]. So the invasion of Roussell Island and other smaller islands was intended to secure the middle of my theater and to attempt to reinforce and take Gili Gili. I was beginning to land the 51st Infantry Division in Finschafen [sp[&:]] to commence an offensive to take Wau [and possibly Port Morsby was discussed in some circles of the IGF - yes I know supply, but it might have been interesting]. The 21st Division, just beginning to arrive, was slated to retake Buna. The 65th Brigade was also pencilled in to reinforce the South Seas Detachment presently sitting outside Gili Gili. The 2nd Division was selected to retake Roussell Island from the Ozzies. Several aborted attempts to get the division organized into invasion status resulted in a delay that would prove costly. The American carriers were now rested and at sea. I would only hope for a quick seizure of the island - unfortunately the Ozzies had different ideas.

In short, Allied naval and air power were too much and clearly frustrated the attempts of the Japanese to build offensive momentum and movement. After losing two of my three remaining carriers [they didn't want to launch again], any chance the Japanese had to undertake a serious and impactive offensive was lost. So I fell on the knife and conceded the game to Tom.[&o]

I hope to see him again.