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

[wobbly]

Herb is back from his stint in the navy to command a much bigger one towards my demise. In really does look like invasion PM is entering phase 3 as the whole KB turns up along with most of the rest of the combined fleet.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/06/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 53,91 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese Ships
CL Katori
BB Kirishima
BB Kongo


Allied ground losses:
90 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

His bombardment is a little lacklustre
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 254th Indian Tank Brigade, at 30,28

Japanese aircraft
C5M Babs x 2
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 22
Ki-49 Helen x 18

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

The daily bombing of the tankers continues. I have set up 25 P-40Es to try and LRCAP them. I doubt it will manage much but I am sick of seeing them just attacked with abandon.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ASW attack at 54,94

Japanese Ships
DD Ikazuchi
DD Usugumo
DD Inazuma
DD Suzukaze
DD Mochizuki
DD Yamakaze

Allied Ships
SS S-44, hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

I lose yet another sub to his PM adventure - I have now lost 12 subs! One of his bloosy naval Vals also puts a bomb into another sub. She is 9 hexes form base with 83 float damage.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Surely then this is the coup de grace of the PM defense. I would have put money on the 3 divisions plus others being able to dismantle my defenses. Herb has been just a bit tentative in this regard if you were to ask me (probably wont though).

The Americal Division is still on its way to PM but I will have to hold it off the coast of Brisbane. We shall see how the landings go and whether he retires quickly as to a landing of this next division.

Further south Noumea is now a bastion of power, size 7 port, 5 airfield and 5 forts. She has 300K fuel and 170K supplies. I also have managed to land the reinforcements to Luganville - including an AVD, so PBYs start flying out of there - so this area of the war is becoming self supporting and able to help cover each other.
Fiji and Pago Pago have all increased in capability.
Canton is now quite a fortress and continuing to build.

In China the fighters have all replaced pilots and AC (accept the AVG - I can't get enough P-40Bs). It is quiet here though.

Norther Burma is heating up as Herb notices my attempt to take Akyab via the land. My bombardment effort puts to sea from Columbo behind and advanced guard of singleton transports that are tripwires for sneaky carrier forces.

[wobbly]

More ASW and sub work today around PM and now in the Indian ocean.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/07/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 53,93

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
DD Shiranuhi
DD Isokaze
DD Maikaze
DD Hayashio
DD Yukikaze
DD Hatsukaze

Allied Ships
SS S-45, hits 2

The best of the bunch by a long way is this one. Hiei suffers two torpedos and is apparently on fire. I don't know how bad this really is but I can tell you the S-45 should make it bar more unfortunate luck. He is still paying for this effort against PM. I can now see transport ships in PM harbour. He may actually be resupplying?
Anyway - another sub is hit by his ASW Vals.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 27,36

Japanese Ships
AK Yosida Maru #3, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS KXIV


Just south of Rangoon a Dutch sub guts an unescorted AK - hopefully full of resources or supplies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 106

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21 Sally: 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane II: 2 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
25 casualties reported

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 13

At last I get a bit of luck. I had the majority of my recuperating fighters here but moved them last turn. A couple of Hurricanes that had not repaired are destroyed - no biggie.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 21st Division, at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40

Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 12
B-17E Fortress x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17C Fortress: 2 destroyed, 7 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 12 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
27 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Low level B-17s pay for the temerity of trying to attack. I imagine these are carrier zeros as they are very efficient
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 65th Brigade, at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40

Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 15
B-17E Fortress x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17C Fortress: 1 destroyed, 8 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
72 casualties reported
Guns lost 7

I try again and loose more Forts. A reasaonable strike against the Japs though. Both these groups are now in the dumps morale wise.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Americal Division is closer to Brisbane now than to Noumea. If this is just a resupply effort I may have a couple of turns more grace and may yet be able to deliver these guys. I am still very uncertain whether it is a good idea.

Luganville expands to a size 4 airfield now.

Elsewhere it is quiet as I manouver into position. I am trying to defeat a sub north east of Darwin but only have two DDs to attempt it with.

In the Indian the possible bombardment of Rangoon continues to advance.

[wobbly]

2 days action again today and it turns out Herb has indeed bought more troops to PM - completely understandable.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/08/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 106
TF 106 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91


950 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
MSW Tokuho Maru #5, Shell hits 33

Japanese ground losses:
2261 casualties reported
Guns lost 15
Vehicles lost 1

The much vaunted Imperial Guards splash ashore into the waiting guns of the PM defenders. A question to my learned friends - are these losses actually taken from the unit's makeup. I have seen massive damage upon landing but the number of squads (disrupted and in good order) adds up to be the same as before the invasions or loss. So therefore is the number damaged borne out in any way by losses in the units involved?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 106
TF 106 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91


292 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
MSW Tokuho Maru #5, Shell hits 11
AP Sangetsu Maru

Japanese ground losses:
1210 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 1

More damage to the units.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 48th Chinese Corps, at 42,39

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 169
Ki-46-II Dinah x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 4 damaged


Allied ground losses:
21 casualties reported

herb is trying to train up his fighters. I am going to wait a while before I try another attempt at these guys.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 20393 troops, 192 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 117340 troops, 963 guns, 79 vehicles


Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported

back to automatic bombardment by my troops. I suppose I should be happy they are hitting something. I am muchos outnumeroed now!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/09/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 106
TF 106 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91


211 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
MSW Tokuho Maru #5, Shell hits 11

Japanese ground losses:
988 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

The landings continue with more Jap casualties. I am still along way behind the Japs in points in this area though.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 106
TF 106 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91


272 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Kureha Maru #3, Shell hits 12

Japanese ground losses:
759 casualties reported

The damage continues
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 36,55

Japanese Ships
TK San Ramon Maru, Torpedo hits 1
MSW W.20
MSW W.13
MSW Kyo Maru #5

Allied Ships
SS Grenadier

Up by Brunei one of my subs actually hits a tanker. I think it was unloaded unfortuantely - no secondary explosions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 6
A6M2 Zero x 29
G3M Nell x 15
G4M1 Betty x 84

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
130 casualties reported

Port hits 1
Port supply hits 2

A massive softening up aerial attack of PM. I have also cut out naval bombardment sbut the kitchen sink is being thrown at PM now. The planes were at 7000 ft but their aim is pretty awful.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 52,92

Japanese Ships
DD Ushio
DD Sazanami
DD Ariake
DD Yugure

Allied Ships
SS Spearfish, hits 3, on fire

Japanese ASW is vicious! Spearfish is very unlikely to survive. She is close to PM so she heads there. However there are so many inhostpitable ships there that any hope is a forlorn one indeed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 38 troops unloading over beach at Thursday Island, 49,90


Japanese ground losses:
119 casualties reported

Herb has also started an offensive against Thursday Island. Obviously this can be used as a stepping stone to PM by the allies so he is closing that particular door. I have no plans to do this at present although I do point a sub at this hex in the hope of a lucky hit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It very much looks like the end of Operation Rekindle will happen in the next turn. He cannot fail with the amount of troops he has now landed. This will be a horrendous loss but a valiant one at the same time. Each unit has had a seed part taken out to Australia where we can start to rebuild them. In the case of the 41st Division this job will take the majority of a year.
I have also lost many subs and the surface forces the KB caught in this vain attempt to hold - however it now appears the BB Hiei is in real trouble (if Herb is to be believed) and may actually seccumb to her wounds. One ship can hardly make up for the plethora I have lost but it does provide a little solace.
3 more A-20s are made airworthy this turn too so they get out of the deathpit.
The Americal Division and the 5 Pacflt fleet carriers are holding about 4 hexes East of Brisbane. It very much looks like they will be heading back to Noumea now.

Two Jap subs are sighted just south east of Efate - an ASW group happened to be close and will investigate. His subs have been very quiet in this game so far.

Things appear to be hotting up around Tarawa. Subs and a PBY scout 4 or so small transport TFs. I have no carrier resources in this area and was severely reprimanded when I tried to get in his way last time around Tarawa. I don't know where all the light carriers he has are so I think I will just let him reinforce. I am not ready to support an invasion there anyway. This is a pity as if my fleet carriers were here they could have fouled things up for him beautifully. I do have a small force of 6 DDs - mainly for ASW missions - in the area. I am loath to use them as I usually would: on a hit and run surface raid as herb knows that is my style and will very likely cover it.

The 32nd Division passes the Phoenix Island group on its way to Noumea. As they keep heading south this destination may change - Luganville may yet get a whole division allocated to its defence.

At Pearl the Long Island refuels and heads for Seattle. There is a marine wildcat sqd arriving in a couple of days. They can regroup while they wait for the small CVE to arrive and ferry them to the action.

China: Interesting move by my Aussie protagonist. He has tried to outmanouver me at Ichang by moving one of his units into the trail hex behind the city. I had a unit sitting there to cover this and it is very well dug in but I move 2 more Divisions up to this one from Ichang and I have another Division moving down the trail towards these interlopers. I turn the Chinese bombers (such as they are) loose on these guys. Hopefully I can move faster than he can and force him back off the trail.

Burma is still an air war with very slow land movements. My tanks have been defended by the P-40Es of the 51st Air group for a couple of days now and their presence has stopped the damage. I am now hoping Herb will try a fighter sweep as I have timed the RN to sprint into postion for a bombardment in the following turn. The Illustrious and the Formidable are here with the Illustrious taughting the seafire. I don't actually want him to even know I am there but at range 4 it is likely he will see me. If his fighters are mainly set up for a sweep then any bombers on anti-naval attack should meet 36 naval fighters and some pretty formidable AAA if they attack. If they do fail to scout me then the BBs go in and hopefully I get a Nuclear bombardment that shatters his air groups for a while. We are allowed to dream... My transports on tripwire duty continue to have nothing to report. This should mean no enemy carriers.

[wobbly]

PM falls but surprisingly my troops retreat - Dobadura has not been taken!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/10/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Port Moresby, 53,91, firing at TF 106
TF 106 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 53,91


313 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
AP Shinkoku Maru, Shell hits 7
AP Sanko Maru
AP Sangetsu Maru

Japanese ground losses:
305 casualties reported

More losses durin ghte landings - I am still being whipped in the points count for losses of

soldiers.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 48,91

Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu
DD Isokaze
DD Maikaze
DD Hayashio
DD Yukikaze
DD Hatsukaze

Allied Ships
SS S-47, hits 2, on fire

I loose yet another sub - at 15 and climbing - alot of his forces march through the Torres

channel. I am unsure if this is another retreat via the West coast of New Guinea or what we

have.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 13th Division, at 46,33


Allied aircraft
SB-2c x 36


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported

Chinese air attacks begin against the Japs trying to cut off Inchong
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 124th IJNAF Base Force, at 30,29


Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 16
Wellington III x 45
B-24D Liberator x 41


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
276 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

This is what allied airpower can do. Not quite up to Jap bombardments but definately hard on

the troops below. Some of the wellingtons will rest while the Liberators are after Rangoon!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day Air attack on 70th Chinese Corps, at 46,33

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 34
Ki-51 Sonia x 134
Ki-21 Sally x 16
Ki-15 Babs x 3

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
83 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

This is one hell of a fleet of sonias. Time to act. I move teh pitiful remnants of the AVG,

1 sqd of spitfires and 2 of hurricanes in to defend these guys. It will most likely backfire

as these are the obvious fellows to defend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese Ships
DD Numakaze

Allied Ships
SS Spearfish, heavy damage

Spearfish crawls into harbour in Port Moresby

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

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 117372 troops, 980 guns, 81 vehicles

Defending force 26321 troops, 208 guns, 4 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Port Moresby base !!!



Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort V-IX: 2 destroyed
A-20B Boston: 4 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
1998 casualties reported
Guns lost 63
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
900 casualties reported
Guns lost 19
Vehicles lost 1

And so it ends. Port Moresby falls along with 6 damaged ACs. The whoel allied army had given

itself a lifeline in the shape of Dobadura though. They will try and head there. I doubt I

will make it without Herb closing the door in front of the men - and even if they get there

this will be a hell of alot of men to try and get out!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Thursday Island

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 566 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 40 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Thursday Island base !!!

To round out the day Thursday Island is also taken.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was to be expected that PM would fall. The numbers were just too great. I don't know if

their retreat is a blessing or a trial. I may be able to start using my subs for something

other than being sunk if I can get the men to Dobadura. Even if he takes it in front of me

Iit will take a fair commitment to beat them. If I utilise about 20 subs on a ferry system I

may be able to get them out in about 3 months or so. This of course takes out my sub arm but

then their torps are useless and they are hardly making a difference.

The reinforcement of Pm is obviously called off and the Americal heads back to Noumea.

The carriers however move closer to PM up the coast of Oz with the BBs in tow. Herb cleared

out with the carriers last time and managed to leave all sorts of little ships and

transports around. I think he may be moving through the Torres strait. However, I don't want

to meet the KB (although just in case the naval bombers are put on very high altitude and

all the fighter sqds are put to 80% CAP). The B-17Es at COoktown are put to search and the

B-17Cs are going to try a high altitude airfield strike. PM is still well damaged and it

would be good to keep it struggling to get fully operational. If his carriers truely do bug

out I may even be able to bombard it - and with the number of troops he has there without

forts - I may do some damage.

Other than defending the troops in China - now on the defensive - with fighters, I am also

making good headway with the extra troops I want to try and oust them with.

In the Indian my bombardment and carrier groups are scouted and I scout ships in Rangoon as

well. Herb has not retreated from the threat. I create a surface combat group around two

fast CLs and 2 DDs. They are to engage the shipping if it is still there - hopefully to stop

the bombardment from being stopped. The Carriers move north on the likely retreat course of

the surface units and the seafires stay above the carriers while the Fulmars LRCAP the BBs.

This is obviously very danagerous but if the Bombardment is brutal then the anit-shipping

attacks should be uncoordianted and may be seen off by the defending fighters. That is the

plan anyway - here's to its success.

BB Valiant and Carrier Wasp now 4 days out of their respective harbours - along with

escorts.

[WhoCares]

Yeah, those dot-bases are a real pain, Tassafaronga is another one of those that have to be captured before you capture the main base. It's no fun to fight the same units twice when you could very well have crushed them in the first round. In my game vs. the AI Tassafaronga was at one time flooded with about 15-20k allied troops which were driven out of Lunga.... [8|]

Probably the best thing for you is that your stragglers now continue to bind a significant amount of the force of your antagonist, forces which won't recover from fatigue and can't be used for operations/defense somewhere else. Even better, he might have to follow you on the trail, which can easily take 15-30days in a Malaria zone => a lot of worn-out troops for a long time. If you get to D. (or why not Buna?! Probably he left some supplies for you [:'(]) this would take him maybe another month or even another contested landing...

From the landing the Imperial Guard alone has about 20% disabled (or destroyed) troops now. A lot of units he will have to replace and rotate to some non-Malaria bases - might very well take him till years end before they can return to service after he cleared up your stragglers. If you are lucky, too late for your first serious offensive operations [;)]

[PzB74]

That's a lucky escape Al! [8D]

Herb only got 'ammo' left for one more serious attempt at your life before the balance shifts!
Sounds like you got Noumea covered and he has attempted Northern Oz before, right?
If he already holds the Gilberts and the Solomons there are very few suitable targets left...
A wild guess - he will hit Midway just to do something [;)]

[String]

Baker> Canton > Wallis > Pago Pago?

[witpqs]

A great break for you Wobbly! It'll be real tough to get to Dobudura overland, though. I once tried the PM to Buna route and it took me forever to get nowhere. You might be better off keeping the troops on the soutern side of NG so they are easier to pick up, resupply(!!!), etc. With fragments outstanding, I wonder if you can divide the division into three pieces and move them to different hexes? Like WhoCares said, you've got a bunch of his troops tied down. Make yourself a hard target. At the least he'll have to leave a division in PM to defend it, unless he just bugs out altogether. Of course if he wants to eliminate the threat or get the points for your troops, he'll need more and they'll have to chase you!

[wobbly]

Hi guys

Great to see some responses on the boards.

OK - so my stragglers. They have no supplies so as such will start melting in the jungles. I can't get supplies to them in Dobadura very easily but as Whocares rightly puts forward - just the getting there will be very difficult. So, to the suggestions of trying to stay on the southern coast. At present the troops are on the trail over the Owen Stanleys but I don't know if I can tell them to move to a hex that is not owned by me that isn't a base IF I am not coming from a base I own myself? I have had awful trouble with units that head in the direction of a hex only to get to 59 miles and never get any further. Aren't I better to aim at dobadura and hope for the best? However, using my previous logic, if he now takes Dobadura it is likely I will just have movement reset again. I am in a quandary as to which way to hop!

Where will he attack next? He has been reconning the Espirito Santo group north of Luganville. He may try for here and then on down to Luganville. He will know that Noumea is starting to be a tough nut - it has publicly increased 2 airbase and 1 port levels since we started - that points to the presence of engineers and I am likely to have infantry to defend them - just maybe more than he expects.

Fiji and Pago Pago have not been reinforced since the beginning of the game - but truly if he takes either of these out he really has to look to Canton as well - and Canton is starting to get more and more fortress like: airbase 4 - port 3 - fort 4.5 with 1 regiment of the 25th Division, 1 CD, 1 Seabea unit and 1 base unit.

I imagine a short term area will be Baker Island - it is such an obvious location for the allies to mount a campaign against the Gilberts from that he may attempt to neutralise it. Now that the KB is free there is little I can do to stop this except hitting him very hard elsewhere while he tries to pull this off - Baker has a base unit and a marine CD unit located there. It is still a 1 - 1 base with forts size 2.

Midway - well yes - this would throw a spanner in the works. Betties from there could make movement in and out of Hawaii a bit of a problem but it would still not cause me to throw down the gauntlet and defend with everything I had.

The other locations are Palmyra or Johnson. Johnson I would throw down the gauntlet - that is too close to home. However Johnson does have a regiment of the 25th Division located there so would be no push over.

He hasn't tried for Darwin in this game and I have moved a Cavalry unit up there. This wont be enough to hold but again I would rather he tried to take Darwin than didn't - I think it is a hiding to nothing with only the loss of the troops you commit as the ultimate outcome. It would certainly illicite a response but it would be one I am pretty well endowered to take part in now.

So the long and the short of this is I don't really KNOW where he will attack next, but I do agree with 'Whocares' that he has managed to damage most of his mobile divisions in the attempt on PM. China is in no way a secure location yet. He has not marched hard on any of the cities off the rail line. While this is the case he will not be able to add to his mobile reserve (from China HQ divisions). So this attack on PM will have reduced his ability to hit me, well hit me hard anyway, for a month or so.

Therefore, other than harrassment raids and anti-naval stuff I will use this time to reinforce the locations we have already identified. Any others are either at the end of too long a tether - like his abortive attack on Nome, or would require the neutralisation of these locations anyway, or will be a surprise to me!

[String]

1/3 of a division will only be a speedbump when he brings in sizeable forces. What i mean is 3 divisions, carried by 60-70 transports each, enabling them to unload in 1 phase and shock attack immedieatly.

What you need to do is bring in more coastal artillery and AA units, he can't keep canton under direct bombardment and bombing from the air with KB will then cost him. the CD units will disrupt the landings enough (hopefully) for him to not capture canton on turn 1.

This gives time for reinforcements.. preferrably by air.

In addition, more ground troops are needed + preferrably a command HQ with designated target as canton island. If you can, upgrade the dots around it, so you have two other airfields to support Canton, making it hard for him to close down your air at that base.

As long as your five carriers are intact he will loathe to take on real forts, with good AA and fighter cover. If he does he will attrit his carrier air arm and then you will strike with your carriers.

oh.. and keep the oglala in business... she isn't much but you can still keep a 1000+ mines at a few more important bases around hawaii with here and the DM's. Mines are good .. if in numbers.. vs invasions.. ask Andy Mac

I'll give you an example here

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1001 encounters mine field at Canton Island (98,99)

TF 1001 troops unloading over beach at Canton Island, 98,99


Allied Ships
MSW Sheldrake
MSW Herald
DD Saufley
AK Elihu Thomson, Mine hits 1, on fire
AK Empire Selwyn, Mine hits 3, on fire
DD Cassin
AK Mahukona, Mine hits 1
AK Virginian, Mine hits 1
DD Downes
AK Joseph Holt, Mine hits 1, on fire
AK William Vanderbilt, Mine hits 1
AK Empire Lionel, Mine hits 1, on fire
AK Moses Rogers, Mine hits 1, on fire
AK Dona Nati, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Radford
AK Smith Thompson, Mine hits 1
AK William L. Garrison, Mine hits 1, on fire
AK Kailua, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
205 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Coastal Guns at Canton Island, 98,99, firing at TF 1001
1254 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
DD Radford, Shell hits 4
CL Cleveland, Shell hits 2
AK Empire Selwyn, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Cassin
AK Thomas A. Edison, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Saufley
AK Andrew Furuseth, Shell hits 1
AK Steel Engineer, Shell hits 2
AK Steel Age, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Crux, Shell hits 1
SC SC-750, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (sank later that day)
SC SC-648

Japanese ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
2855 casualties reported
Guns lost 10
Vehicles lost 3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 1001 encounters mine field at Canton Island (98,99)

TF 1001 troops unloading over beach at Canton Island, 98,99


Allied Ships
MSW Sheldrake
MSW Herald
DD Saufley
AK Smith Thompson, Mine hits 1
DD Cassin
DD Radford
AK Alderamin, Mine hits 1, on fire
DD Downes
AK James B. McPherson, Mine hits 1
AK John B. Floyd, Mine hits 1, on fire
AK Alkaid, Mine hits 1, on fire
AK William Vanderbilt, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Steel Age, Mine hits 1, on fire
AK Sterope, Mine hits 1, on fire
AK Joseph Holt, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
100 casualties reported

Coastal Guns at Canton Island, 98,99, firing at TF 1001
915 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL Cleveland, Shell hits 2
AK Maliko, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Downes
DD Saufley, Shell hits 1
AK Waimea, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Radford
DD Cassin, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Makawao, Shell hits 14
AK Mintaka, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
56 casualties reported
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
2039 casualties reported
Guns lost 6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I had 6000+ mines at Canton at that time..

[wobbly]

Hi Andy - I have been mining like a mad thing and Canton and Baker have been the greatest recipients although I have also tried a few offensive mines in the Gilberts as well.
I don't have the troops to allow more than a regiment per location as yet - I figured buildig up Canton was with an eye to support of an invasion to the Gilberts. However, if push came to shove he could have the place! The other point though is that the 3 divisions you speak of probable (at least in part) include the divisions that took place in taking PM. I wouldn't want to use them in an invasion on an atoll at this moment!
The C-49 airlift ideas are very very valid though. They kept PM open as long as it was. I don't have the lift capacity for really good tactical fluidity yet either - but this will be part of a more in depth defnce. Again thanks for your thouhts mate!

The slam on Rangoon happens but is not Nuclear - therefore Rangoon air tries to get a measure of revenge from the RN.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/11/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 47,89

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu
DD Amagiri
DD Shirayuki
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Isonami
DD Fubuki
DD Hatsuharu

Allied Ships
SS Permit, hits 3

Permit finds some of the Jap carriers - fires on Soryu but does not make a mark - it in turn is hit by near misses from the escorts. 27 flooding but not much Sys damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rangoon at 29,34

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 19, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
AP Keisyo Maru, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kogyo Maru, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
AP Konan Maru, Shell hits 13, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Warspite
BB Revenge
BB Royal Sovereign
BB Ramilles
BB Resolution
CA Devonshire
CL Emerald
CL Danae
CL Dragon
CL Durban
DD Nestor
DD Nizam, Shell hits 1
DD Norman
DD Pakenham
DD Paladin

Then the express moves into town in Rangoon. My attempt to move a small surface combat Tf in first comes to naught as the main show finds the ships instead. Too many 15" shells are fired at wimpy transports.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Tarawa at 85,91

Japanese Ships
AP Chihaya Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Grunion

Japanese ground losses:
75 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Back at Tarawa the Gato class sub: Grunion hammers the transport of a Jap Naval guards unit.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Rangoon, at 29,34 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

3 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CL Durban
CL Dragon, Shell hits 1
CL Danae
CL Emerald
BB Warspite
CA Devonshire
BB Resolution
BB Ramilles
BB Royal Sovereign
BB Revenge

Japanese ground losses:
191 casualties reported
Guns lost 13

So this is the pathetic attempt 5 BBs make on their target - not very helpful at all.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Tarawa at 85,91

Japanese Ships
AP Chihaya Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Grunion

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported

Grunion finds the same ship again and puts her under this time.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Wuchow , at 42,39

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 153

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

Resources hits 33

Herb is back at Wuchow smashing the place up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ichang , at 47,33

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 30
Ki-51 Sonia x 31
Ki-15 Babs x 5

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-51 Sonia: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40B Tomahawk: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 21

Nice feint by Herb as he hits the troops last turn then the covering airfield this turn. I continue to defend the troops.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Rangoon , at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 25

Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 6 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 13 damaged

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 15

The Liberators do fly against Rangoon and do more damage to the aircraft than 5 BBs!

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M2 Zero x 8

Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17C Fortress: 8 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
270 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 4

A very damaging attack on the forces at PM. They are suffering from lack of room to hide I think! 1 B-17C is lost

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 28,35


Allied aircraft
Swordfish x 15


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Keisyo Maru, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kogyo Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

I forgot I left the swordfish on naval attack. Thankfully the target had moved away from its harbour and therefore its aircover
. Both ships sink

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 37,82

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Dale
DD Mahan, Bomb hits 1, on fire

This was a surprise as kates at very long range hit my ASW units (just two DDs) NE of Darwin. Both ships should survive. The Dale is heading for Derby at high speed. The Mahan is off to Darwin where it has 100 fighters for air cover!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 26,32

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 14
Ki-49 Helen x 33

Allied aircraft
Seafire x 18
Fulmar x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 5 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen: 9 destroyed, 15 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Seafire: 6 damaged
Fulmar: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Formidable
CV Illustrious

The RN fighters do wonders - 14 downed aircraft for the loss of 1 fulmar and a seafire. The helens give me a bit of a scare though - I didn't know they could carry torps!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese Ships
DD Yunagi
DD Mikazuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Satsuki

Allied Ships
SS Spearfish, hits 2, heavy damage

At last the poor Spearfish - trying to rest in PM is hit - there were 4 earlier attempts at her!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Tarawa at 85,91

Japanese Ships
AP Ceylon Maru, Torpedo hits 1

Allied Ships
SS Grunion

Japanese ground losses:
24 casualties reported

Grunion finds ANOTHER AP at Tarawa. She has expended all her ammo and heads for Johnson island.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lashio

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 7547 troops, 12 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 37 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Lashio base !!!


Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-15 Babs: 4 destroyed

My Chinese make it to Lashio where they take the undefended town. 4 hulk Babs recon planes are torched. There are no supplies here to speak of so some Dakotas are moved up to Imphal to start getting supplies across.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

All in all a very successful turn.

The RN retires at full speed for one turn towards Ceylon and then will slow down. The mission is a success, only a single DD suffering a destroyed radar and 2 lost fighters.

The tank regiment to Akyab continues on its way but it is horribly slow - 19 miles covered!

It is back around PM that the next saga will be played out. As you will see from the attached picture I am moving the carrier up to a sprint distance. He has a sizable search component at GG and now PM so I will likely be seen. I will have to assess what move to make if that is the case next turn. I know many of the enemy Carriers are now through the Torres strait (destination unknown) they could easily turn around. If they don't though - they will not be able to make a difference even if I am sighted next turn. Should be really interesting.

It looks like herb is reinforcing all the Gilberts. This is a shame but hardly surprising.

At Noumea I set most of the assault value units locations in the Guadalcanal area for their next targets - this includes the 2 Marine Divisions. No hard facts that this will be the next target but if it is the organisational difference can really save the disruption upon landing.

41 Jap planes destroyed to 12 Allied. The first time I have had a positive day like this!

[castor troy]

You don´t have to fear Helens for carrying torps as they shouldn´t (only if you´re caught by a bug I and some others had). But with good experience on normal range and at 6000 feet they can put some bombs quite precisely into your flattops.

[tabpub]

Wobs:

Those transports that you hit were the ones that you engaged in the night combat; they then displaced out of the hex.

In the future, instead of sending in one big group, maybe you should try breaking off a small surface combat unit to precede your bombardment group. They should hit any enemy force first and might save the bombardment groups ops for shooting the landlubbers.

Go get the evil Herb![8D]

[wobbly]

I didn't think Helens could carry torps - they appeared to drop them (I cut that bit out of the replay but here it is for clarity:

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
4 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
2 x Ki-49 Helen launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 11000 feet
4 x Ki-49 Helen launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x Ki-49 Helen launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x Ki-49 Helen launching torpedoes at 200 feet

The Helen's bombing the RN carriers was not to much of a problem with their armoured decks - torps are a whole different story!

Tadpub - yeah mate - tried exactly that - i'll quote from the turn before:

"I create a surface combat group around two

fast CLs and 2 DDs. They are to engage the shipping if it is still there - hopefully to stop

the bombardment from being stopped."

Unfortunately they never encountered the APs in harbour - the main effort did that [:(]
Yes - the APs that were struck by the swordfish had tried to get out of harbour and were therefore not under any fighter cover. Good thing as they flimsy biplanes had no escort!

The evil Herb indeed - but I hope - if the luck of the gods and all that goes my way to repay a bit of that in the next turn or so! This was a nice start

[PzB74]

I've never seen Helen's dropping torps either.... Me thinks Herb will suffer from your carriers.
I think you will make him suffer so much that he will cancell any ambitious plan involving the invasion of Luganville and Espiritu Santo.
Same with the drive towards Pago Pago. So Johnston and Midway are 'seemingly' a more attractive approach as they are usually more
lightly defended. But another couple of regiments in those places if you can [;)]

[wobbly]

Operation revenge comes off well if not perfectly, subs around the dial make good their pervious poor performance - all in all 3rd in 3 good days for the allies (I haven't posted the 2nd day - too tired)

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/13/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 33,64

Japanese Ships
AP Kiyoshima Maru, Torpedo hits 1
PC Ch 29

Allied Ships
SS Skipjack

First Skipjack, up in the straits between Borneo and Celebes finds a large type AP and hits it with a functional torp!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Ichang , at 47,33

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 146
Ki-15 Babs x 1

No Japanese losses

Herb again hits Ichang and I have no-one home. I retire the airgrups; it looks like Ichange may have to be relinquished.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17C Fortress: 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
330 casualties reported
Guns lost 10

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 22

Another fantastic bombing raid on PM - last turn's attack netted 520 casualties as well and from very high altitude.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 52,90


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 36
SBD Dauntless x 51


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Ujigawa Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Eguchi Maru
AP Minowa Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Ueizuru Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Sumiyoshi Maru
AP Minryo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Mikage Maru #20
AP Mikage Maru #2
AP Kyuden Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW Choun Maru #7
AP Shinkoku Maru, Bomb hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
231 casualties reported
Guns lost 3

Oh rapture oh joy! The Pacific carriers arrive 3 hexes off PM and there are a plethora of targets! PM and Lae are socked in but Herb is trying to move the 4th Division out of town - how do I know? - well it is them that start to go swimming at the end of the day. The one major problem is that this is at range 4 so the dauntlesses are flying with 500 pound bombs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 52,90


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12
SBD Dauntless x 34


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Minowa Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Mikage Maru #2
AP Ujigawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Sumiyoshi Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Minryo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Shinkoku Maru
AP Kikuryu Maru
AP Kaimyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
174 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

The same Tf gets more attention. Many of these pilots are off the Yorktown or Saratoga and have already been through the gauntlet of PM so they are not up to the same capabilities of the lost pilots.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 52,90


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 34


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Kyuden Maru, on fire
AP Mikage Maru #2, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Mikage Maru #20, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Shinai Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kaisho Maru
AP Shinkoku Maru
AP Minryo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Minowa Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
192 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

It is not a good day to be part of this TF - with no other targets available due to the weather - it gets all the attention - lucky them.
Two more attacks with SBDs take place against this TF - very gratifying.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 52,92


Allied aircraft
TBD Devastator x 30


Allied aircraft losses
TBD Devastator: 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
PG Keijo Maru, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
PG Seikai Maru
PG Daido Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
PG Nikkai Maru
PG Fukui Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

I had also positioned the carriers to be able to hit an ASW Tf, that has sunk about 3 of my subs, with the short legged Devastators. Many many hits with no torpedo detonation. Another 45 devastators go after these ships with many hits but no more detonations.
Very fortunately for Herb the weather then socks in the carriers and there are no afternoon strikes - such are the vagaries of war.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Apamama at 86,92

Japanese Ships
AP Eiko Maru, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Triton

Japanese ground losses:
70 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

At Apamama the Triton gets a great on the surface attack against this reinforcement of the lower of the Gilbert Islands.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 46,33

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 22139 troops, 269 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 10142 troops, 59 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 7 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
43 casualties reported

Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

It couldn't all be good - just isn't my way - Ichang is now cut off. Any units trying to retreat have to hold against this monkey or else they will be forced to retreat to Ichang - not good! I attempt to move the units at Ichang to the location of this unit but unless I manage to get some coordination he will keep forcing me to retreat - bugger.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So PM was a good success if not great - the weather being the main contributer to lack of targets hit. However - as herb quite rightly says: 130 LBA do not take part in the attack either, and this can mainly be put down to weather.

So with my trap sprung it is time to back off with the Carriers as it is them that have to survive. Instead I increase the power of the Bombardment TF (which I lessened the turn before by takign out 3 of the slower BBs) and send it to PM on a bombardment run! They will retire towards Cairns where the Carriers should be able to LRCAP them as well as some Tomahawks from cooktown.

There are alot of warships in PM harbour and I am suffering from the same angst I get in UV about sending in the BBs with DDs about. But if Herb hides in Port I want the big boys to meet out some hurt on the port. If he does not hide there should be one hell of a battle! I will take some losses here but hopefully I have tactical superiority and these opportunities don't come along often for the early allies.

Elsewhere I take the boards advice and load up another RCT for Midway - it is the most vulnerable of all the islands so a bit more defence would not be amiss here.

I also load up the MAW base unit for Noumea. It will likely be moved to Luganville if I can secure this location a bit more.

The Americal has nearly made it back to Noumea so maybe the slowly advancing 37th Division can move to Luganville.

An amendment to my previous statements about the Division that has been regimentalised - I have been quoting it as the 25th but in fact it is the 27th - the least experienced division that starts in Pearl. This means the 24th and 25th are still guarding Pearl.

10 dauntlesses were lost today but I can only see one lost pilot - planes ditching for lack of fuel and such.

1 more day until Wasp and Valiant!

[wobbly]

THe surface attack at Port Moresby is massive, destructive and ultimately a setback.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/14/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 76,70

Japanese Ships
AP Kaihei Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
MSW Ataka Maru

Allied Ships
SS Guardfish

It all starts very well with the Guardfish finding a retreating AP North of Eniwetok
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese Ships
DD Yamakaze
DD Suzukaze, Shell hits 3
DD Ikazuchi, Shell hits 32, and is sunk
DD Inazuma, Shell hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
DD Usugumo, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 2
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1
CA Chester
CA Louisville, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Astoria
CL Hobart
DD Hughes
DD Anderson, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Cushing
DD Porter
DD Le Triomphant
DD Crane

An incredibly audacious defense by these DDs sees them score a major blow against the Mississipi - I can only imagine it was a cracker as I never get to see it but the result show themselves later. The French ship: Le Triomphant does very well hitting the opposition with plenty of its hard hitting 5.5 inch shells.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese Ships
DD Okikaze, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
DD Yukaze
DD Numakaze, Shell hits 19, and is sunk
DD Wakatake
DD Kuretake, Shell hits 4

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 6
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 1
CA Chester, Shell hits 1
CA Louisville, on fire
CA Astoria, Shell hits 1
CL Hobart
DD Hughes
DD Anderson, on fire
DD Cushing
DD Porter
DD Le Triomphant
DD Crane

This is a better attack, these DDs may not even have torps as none are fired, consequently 2 go to the bottom. The Okikaze had the ignomy of wearing three 14 inch shells!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese Ships
MSW Asahi Maru
MSW Banshu Maru #8, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
MSW Mejima Maru
MSW Tamaura Maru
MSW Takasago Maru, Shell hits 5, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico
BB Mississippi
CA Chester
CA Louisville, on fire
CA Astoria
CL Hobart
DD Hughes
DD Anderson, on fire
DD Cushing
DD Porter
DD Le Triomphant
DD Crane

Almost a non event in the scheme of things - any calibre could have dealt to them and the ships pass on.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese Ships
DD Satsuki, Shell hits 29, and is sunk
DD Fumizuki, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
DD Mikazuki, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
DD Yunagi, Shell hits 11, on fire

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 3
CA Chester, Shell hits 4
CA Louisville, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Astoria
CL Hobart, Shell hits 1
DD Hughes
DD Anderson, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Cushing
DD Porter
DD Le Triomphant
DD Crane

Louisville is really starting to feel it's torp hit as it registers as "heavily damaged" The allies pour all kinds of hurt on this unhappy band. I am surprised the Yunagi isn't listed as heavily damaged - another 14" shell hit her.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 53,91 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

43 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
CA Astoria
CA Chester, Shell hits 5
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 10
CL Hobart

Japanese ground losses:
159 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

As I stated in the previous post this was a bombardment - after all the surface combat it is pretty pathetic - but understandably so.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 70th Division, at 45,35


Allied aircraft
SB-2c x 36


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Guns lost 4

Not bad form the Chinese air force out of Chungking.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 124th IJNAF Base Force, at 30,29


Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 16
Wellington III x 43
B-24D Liberator x 28


Allied aircraft losses
Wellington III: 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
146 casualties reported

Not bad from the British contingent either at Akyab.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 53,95


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 16


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PG Nikkai Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire
PG Seikai Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Some of Herbie-san's ASW ships have tried to scatter to get away from the area. Despite moving the Carriers a good distance away these guysa re still in range.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 53,95


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 33


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PG Seikai Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
PG Nikkai Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

And a few more for the ocean floor.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 51,93


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 21


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
MSW Choun Maru #6, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PG Koei Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PC Toshi Maru #3, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PC Tama Maru #8, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Then out to the West of the previous targets another ASW group is foudn and dispatched
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 51,93


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4
SBD Dauntless x 32


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
MSW Banshu Maru #56, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PG Koei Maru, on fire
PC Toshi Maru #3, on fire
MSW Bisan Maru
MSW Choun Maru #6, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF at 51,93


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
SBD Dauntless x 29


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PC Tama Maru #8, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PG Koei Maru, on fire
PC Toshi Maru #3, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Choun Maru #6, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Banshu Maru #56, on fire, heavy damage

Day Air attack on TF at 51,93


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4
SBD Dauntless x 16


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
MSW Choun Maru #6, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Bisan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

By the end of the day there is only match wood
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 52,93

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 49
G3M Nell x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 3 destroyed, 11 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA Louisville, on fire, heavy damage

The final say of the day though is herbie-sans. Nells out of Lae get airborne and the Missippi and the Louisville are lagging behind the rest of the retreating surface forces. They therefore have no air cover from the fleet and the Mississippi pays heavily. She has not sunk but is at 85 float damage and very likely to.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Herb has the benefit of fighting on home territory now and so the damaged ships will all go into PM harbour - or I figure they will.

The Mississippi tries to limp towards Noumea with a single DD escort. Louisville is damaged but able to make capable speed - she will head straght for Cairns harbour.

The carriers come across to provide air-support - I can still see the Jap Carriers way up the New Guinea coast so they will not be able to hit me this turn.

Since his ships will be going into harbour I set the Heavies at Cooktown to bomb the port. May as well try and hit some while I can - he has 70 or so at last count and this should mean that plenty of bombs find targets.

Received the Wasp today and she and 8 DDs are headed for Pearl. She loads up an extra 24 wildcats of a new marine sqd for delivery there as well. She is the first carrier to get the new Avengers.


Oh hullo - while writing the above a new turn comes in:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/15/42


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 124th IJNAF Base Force, at 30,29


Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 16
Wellington III x 30
B-24D Liberator x 34


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
133 casualties reported

Another very large raid over Akyab. This base force myst be loosing its contingency.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on 41st USA Division, at 54,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
Ki-21 Sally x 24

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
35 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Herb starts doing the same to the troops in the Owen Stanleys.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 53,94


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 17
TBD Devastator x 15


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PG Koei Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

While I provide cover for the Mississippi a few more patrol boats waudner into the sights.

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 16


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
PG Daido Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 15


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
PG Daido Maru, on fire, heavy damage


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 30
SBD Dauntless x 21


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Inazuma, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

All are sunk with the loss of one dauntless.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Mississipi is at float damage 95 - the destroyers move in grabbing the skeleton crew and a spread of torps is put into her. So ends the first allied BB in this war but without doubt not the last and adds to my deficit in warships I have lost to the japs.

With nothing else to cover the carriers start their journey back to Noumea. From there I plan to split them into a group of 2 and a group of 3 and take the duo group around to the Timor Sea where they can take part in an invasion with Help from the British. The other 3 will move to the Central Pacific where they will be joined by the Wasp to interdict shipping here.

At Noumea the Americal starts unloading again and with that the 37th Division aboard ships North of Fiji changes course to land at Luganville instead of Noumea.

A sub in the straits above the very Northern tip of New Guinea notes a large Tf of warships traversing the waters. No Carriers sighted but it does look like a marked amount of the Combined fleet is moving back towards Truk most likely.

Up in China I have been covering Wuchow with fighters. They get scouted today and I think Herb will try another sweep there so I move them on.

2 Chinese units have escaped from Ichang. For how long I don't know as he is likely to attack them again. He got 7 to 1 last time so I imagine he can do this again. I do try the Chinese SB2s against these forces to see if I can't disrupt any attacks and this time the 15 tomahawks of the AVG will escort.

Back in the US the CVE long Island picks up a 24 plane wildcat squad and heads back to Pearl.

[wobbly]

A day of Japanese subs - with one very important target.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/16/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 23,25

Japanese Ships
SS I-16

Allied Ships
PG Hollyhock, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
MSW Cromarty
MSW Cromer
PG Aster
PG Nigella
MSW Cuttack

I've noticed a sub outin the INdian ocean and it is targeted by and ASW team that turns out to be the hunted rather than the other way around. Hollyhock is in trouble but may make Diamond Harbour
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Sub attack at 41,72

Japanese Ships
CS Nisshin
DD Amagiri
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Shirayuki
DD Isonami
DD Fubuki
DD Hatsuharu

Allied Ships
SS Saury

Saury, Just East of Amboina, has a shot at the herd as it thunders past - no hits and no damage to the sub either. It really does look like most of the combined fleet is heading back to Truk - or at least that side of PNG.
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Day Air attack on Port Moresby , at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M2 Zero x 44

Allied aircraft
B-17C Fortress x 27
B-17E Fortress x 39

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17C Fortress: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged
B-17E Fortress: 2 destroyed, 20 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Somedono Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Meiyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Sanura Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kaisho Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Shinai Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Port hits 4

At last the heavies move against the shipping in PM. Herb has heavily increased the defenses though and I loose 4 B-17Es and 1 B-17C. The bomb hits will hopefully persuade him to move some of his shipping as the subs are again moving into position.

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Day Air attack on 96th Chinese Division, at 35,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21 Sally x 87

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
55 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49 Helen x 69

No Japanese losses


Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Lashio, now held by hte chinese without any supplies (I have been flying in supplies for about 4 days now from Imphal) is hit by most of the Jap airforce in Rangoon.

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Day Air attack on 13th/A Division, at 46,33


Allied aircraft
SB-2c x 23


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Day Air attack on 13th/C Division, at 46,33


Allied aircraft
SB-2c x 14


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
15 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

The Chinese airforce continues to bomb the Jap division trying to block in Ichang (this isn't it's name but I can't remember the real one). Notice Herb has split the division into 3 parts so that U can't disrupt the whole too greatly.
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Sub attack at 53,101

Japanese Ships
SS I-5, hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Kennison
DD Crosby
DD Dent
DD Morris
CLAA Atlanta

Bugger bugger bugger. I-5, well out in the deep water, finds my carriers and puts a well place torp into Yorktown. The flooding and sys damage is extensive and she will be out of the war for a good few months. She makes for Townsville at 17 knots and hopefully will be able to get rid of the float damage before taking a long trip back Stateside to be repaired. I-5 pays for its tenacity by being sunk.
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Sub attack at 23,25

Japanese Ships
SS I-16, hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
MSW Cromarty, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Cromer
PG Aster
PG Nigella
MSW Cuttack

The Pom ASW force grapples with the same sub in the indian and again comes off second best. This time the Cromarty sinks from its wounds although the Cuttack manages to hit the perpertrator with a couple of DCs. I am moving the remaining 3 ships further SOuth in the hope of catching up with the wounded sub but obviously chances are against me.
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With the wounding of the Yorktown my plans for Timor come into question. I wanted to keep 4 carriers in the central and southern Pacific while sending the other two across to the Timor invasion. It is not as if I have planned to go head to head against the KB even with 6 CVs but the loss of the this one for some time does mean I will defiantely die if manages to catch me with reduced numbers.

In India I get a P-38 recon unit and a whole group of P-40B fighters - 72 planes miraculously appear in the right place at the right time! They have very good pilts - average 73 - and they are moved forward to continue LRCAPing the tanks advancing on Akyab. This turn supplies were delivered to these tank via fast transport. Full suppleis definately makes the units move quicker.

IN China I move all my fghter forces to Ichang hoping to catch herb on the hop. He hasn't hit anywhere for a while so this is as good as anywhere.

The cities in the south of China are not getting very many supplies. The North is well supplies now but I am unable to influence where the supplies should move. Plenty of Headquarters units in the Southern cities...

IN Pearl my P-40E group converts to MOhawks in order to allow the P-40Es to be used elsewhere. At present this is most needed in India where the 51st fighter group has only 31 P-40Es. I truely hope Pearl does not need these in the future - I doubt it but who knows for sure.

[ADavidB]

Sub attack at 53,101

Japanese Ships
SS I-5, hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Kennison
DD Crosby
DD Dent
DD Morris
CLAA Atlanta

Wobbly - what was the combined ASW strength of those 4 DDs? Also, did you have any of your Dauntlesses or Avengers on patrol?

I find it essential to keep a cruiser that has float planes with my carriers in order to have a chance at spotting subs. And I like to keep more than 4 DDs if I have them available - US carriers are such torpedo magnets...[:(]

Good luck -

Dave Baranyi

[wobbly]

Very good point David

I had cut off a number of DDs in the surface attack that went into PM so I was always playing a bt with fire. I could have (and really should have) combined the CVs and destroyers I had into one task force. All a little too late. As you can see the number of DDs actually killed hte sub. What I should have had was a ASW TF - they seem to be very capable at picking up the subs first. The problem is that I have lost a few too many DDs in the South Pacific to the KB. I was forced to be frugal on sub defense and I paid the price. I don't think I will loose Yorktown but it will be out for a while.

Thanks for the comment