See you in Tokyo Bay - Apbarog(A) vs Walker(J) DBB-B Scen28

[apbarog]

30 Mar 43

Some men and more supply are landed at Terapo. More supply lands at Port Moresby.

Sub Grenadier is patrolling near Koepang, Timor, and is found by a subhunter group but not damaged.

At Lae, sub Grampus spots I-9, fires 2 torpedoes, and hits with one. No "damage" is reported. Most probably not really a hit, but if it did hit, the sub should be sunk. Interesting that there are many contacts at Lae, all (probably) subs. May be mining the base, bringing in supply, taking out men. Hard to say. I say mining.

I did multiple sweeps of Darwin today, and I staggered the altitudes. This may have been a mistake, as my Corsairs didn't perform as well as they could have. 2 Corsair squadrons and 1 P-38 squadron sweep. Then lots of heavies bomb the airfield, taking down more fighters. Total losses for today are 24 Oscars, 16 Corsairs, and 2 B-24s. No P-38s are lost. Damage to the airfield is minimal.

Bettys bomb Timoeka's troops and not the airfield today, which surprised me. Enemy ships show up at the enemy dot base to the north.

Medium bombers hit Port Moresby's airfield and troops. They reposition to Gove to hit Darwin.

The US units at Terapo attack. Odds are 1 to 1, reducing the forts from 2 to 1. The enemy takes almost 400 casualties, while the US takes 49, most engineers disabled. I'm attacking again. This base could fall quickly.

Today I'm approaching Darwin. Invasion shipping and carriers will move to within 3 hexes of Darwin. A single minesweeper will move ahead and look for mines. Others sweepers stay with the task forces.

There's still high detection levels to the north, and subs have been seen by Vals and Kates. A pretty good chance that there's carriers up there. Will be interesting to see if they move south to engage. My guess is no, and they are there to support an invasion of Timoeka, which may or may not happen now that my carriers are in the area.

Back at New Guinea, units that did not get unloaded at Lae and Salamaua are now unloading at the islands near Milne Bay. They will reload on smaller and more expendable ships, and go back to the invasion points.

[apbarog]

No turn today. Walker is having computer issues. He's hoping to be operational again tomorrow.

My invasion task forces approach Darwin. Working on taking Terapo and Salamaua. I need to land more troops at Lae. My troops are fine there defensively.

[apbarog]

31 Mar 43

Happy Last Day of Low Navy Fighter Replacement Numbers!

With all of the activity and threat levels from Milne Bay to Lae, I'd stripped Tulagi and Lunga of all fighters. Risky, but the enemy didn't notice and I needed the fighters to protect so much shipping. Today the enemy noticed. Tulagi was swept and the port was bombed by Sallys and Helens. It wasn't a disaster, but I did lose an ACM, an AGP, and an xAKL. I move some fighters back today.

Navy Liberators bombed Fenton, south of Darwin, doing minimal damage.

B-17s bomb the airfield at Salamaua, doing minimal damage.

My heavy bombers hit Darwin's airfield, flying before the fighter sweep, as usual. Some B-24s are lost, enemy planes are lost, in the air and on the ground. Good damage to the airfield.

B-25s bomb troops at Terapo, where I deliberate attack. I just miss 2-1 odds, and the enemy takes over twice the casualties. We'll take Terapo tomorrow.

I also order an attack at Salamaua today, after a couple of days of rest. The odds were poor last time, but my armor caused far more enemy casualties, so it should go well.

Nothing threatening is seen in the Timor Sea, north of Darwin. There are enemy task forces at Koepang, but I'm not seeing carriers. Ships spotted by Babo and Boela are small and just a handful of ships. I'm hoping that my Cats at Timoeka aren't missing something big.

US carriers will set up north of Darwin with some LR CAP for invasion shipping. Darwin will be bombarded by a slow Brit battleship, and 2 infantry divisions will land. Looking at my forces, I do wish that I had some armor going in, but all was committed to New Guinea. With the clear terrain, I should take Darwin. I estimate one enemy division here. It's within my bomber range, so if the base doesn't fall immediately, it will fall eventually.

I show some Fletchers to the east. Just a display to keep the enemy thinking. I don't see anything worth running the destroyers in right now.

Tomorrow should be an interesting day. I did get confirmation from Walker that the sub versus sub encounter from yesterday did result in a hit on his sub, but it did not sink the sub. Hadn't ever seen that happen before.

[apbarog]

1 Apr 43 - Regional Update - Burma

I'm starting with the least active area. Many months ago this front went static. I then pulled out many units, taking them from India to Australia directly, and they all made it safely. Most notable are 2 British infantry divisions. One is now garrisoning South Pacific islands, the other, the 18th Brit Division, helped take Merauke, and is now invading Darwin. A total of over 20 ground units were sent. I also sent 2 P-38 units and 3 large C-47s units. These are all in use in Australia now.

In Burma, the most notable enemy units remaining are the Imperial Guard Division, in the jungle southeast of Chittagong, and the 1st Tank Division, guarding the road between Cox Bazar and Chittagong. I'm not aware of any other full enemy divisions in Burma.

I have no plans for a frontal assault in Burma. If I activate this front, it will be with an amphibious landing behind the front, but I don't see this happening anytime soon.

[apbarog]

1 Apr 43 - Regional Update - The Aleutians

The Aleutians have been quiet for months also. A couple of months ago, there were a number of enemy subs poking around, but that decreased with my anti-sub activity, and the fact that I had nothing of interest going on here.

That is changing.

I will be trying to take back Attu very soon. Invasion shipping and units are gathering in the eastern Aleutians. A tank unit from Pearl Harbor is on the way. An infantry regiment will be included. Combat shipping support will be very limited, and no carriers will be used. I will be able to bomb Attu from Adak, but I'll wait to not show interest too soon.

This front is a minor area of interest for me. I'd like to build up Attu and surrounding islands for future recon of the Kuriles, and also as a forward submarine base. And who knows, maybe something bigger in the future.

[apbarog]

1 Apr 43 - Regional Update - New Guinea

Today the Allies captured Terapo and Salamaua. Ships carrying support units for Terapo were standing by and will move in and unload today. The enemy troops retreated from Terapo to the southeast, further isolating them, which was unfortunate for the enemy. However, the enemy at Salamaua retreated to the southeast, which threw in wrench in my plans for getting armor to that hex first, from Buna, before the enemy division from Kokoda gets there. Now the enemy will have all of the hexsides to work with. Not the end of the world, as all of the enemy are still truly isolated, but not what I had planned.

I start to move the 2 armor regiments at Salamaua to Lae. This will take some time, but the Lae troops need all the help they can get. The armor will be able to take advantage of the trail to the north of Lae afterwards. Plus, opening the hexside into Lae opens the free flow of supply from Salamaua to Lae.

I'm very happy with how things have worked out here. It has mostly gone as planned. I haven't been able to capture Port Moresby or Lae yet, but that will happen in due time. Isolating the enemy south of the Terapo-Salamaua line was the goal. We'll bag 2 infantry divisions and a bunch of supporting units, eventually.

But there are still concerns here. Hansa Bay and Madang have many fighters. Rabaul has over 200 fighters, and I'm still seeing lots of task forces, more than can show with the mouseover. There's always the threat of an aggressive move with combat ships into Buna or Milne Bay. It just hasn't happened so far. And I was most vulnerable when invading, less so now.

I'm currently loading up fragments of the units already at Lae, mostly lots of support devices. I've reinforce in a piecemeal fashion.

I haven't seen carriers in this area for weeks now.

[apbarog]

1 Apr 43 - Regional Update - Darwin

Plenty of action here now.

North of Darwin, I-123 finds a carrier task force, spots just escorting ships, fired on a destroyer, but misses.

At Darwin, 2 excellent Brit DEs find I-29, getting one solid depth charge hits, and many minor hits, but the sub does not sink.

Then slow Brit battleship Revenge and several US cruisers bombards Darwin, doing good damage, including damaging a bunch of planes, remnants of what has already been withdrawn. Good work on the troops, lots of disablements, and presumably, lots of disruption.

The troops then begin to unload at Darwin.

The 2 Brit DEs were set to run into Darwin with the other ships, then head back to Gove Island. On the way out, DE Electra hits a mine and sinks. This occured 2 hexes northeast of Darwin. I'm fortunate that the minefield was either laid after my inbound ships passed by, or my ships just didn't find the mines on the way in. Regardless, this blocks the route home for my ships. I sent 2 DMSs to Darwin also. They stayed at Darwin, and didn't find any mines. Today they will go to that mined hex and clear the mines.

Then bad luck at Darwin. An enemy sub, reported to be I-27, then spotted my bombardment task force, which remained at Darwin. The sub fired 6 torpedoes at Revenge, and got 3 hits. Damage is heavy (12 SYS/80-67 FLOT/0 ENG/0 FIRE). I certainly know how to lose slow battleships! Better than carriers, I guess. Considering the high flotation damage, the mines in the area, and the many enemy subs spotted, I decided to leave Revenge at Darwin, where I hope to capture the base and "hide" the battleship for awhile. I think it's a longshot, but it's a chance.

I'm attacking at Darwin today.

[apbarog]

1 Apr 43 - Allied Ships Lost

I've lost 5 slow battleships, and may lose Revenge also. Just one was at Pearl Harbor. I also lost the newer battleship Indiana. My only carrier loss was CVE Altamaha, lost to a sub while trying to provide ASW to help the also lost battleship Idaho. I've lost 3 good cruisers, and a total of 11 destroyers. Le Triomphant was the best. The rest were old ships.

[apbarog]

1 Apr 43 - Japanese Ships Lost

A big carrier, probably Akagi, was definitely sunk by 4 sub torpedoes in February. Soryu is listed as sunk, but it just showed up on the list, and sunk near Daito Shoto, which is near the southern Home Islands. It is most certainly not sunk, and almost back home for repairs. CVL Ryujo may or may not be sunk. I see 4 heavy cruisers on the list, and 2 light cruisers. A total of 14 enemy destroyers are listed sunk. Most probably are.

[apbarog]

2 Apr 43

More Allied troops unload at Darwin. No interference.

At Darwin, AM Finch spots I-157, attacks, but gets no hits. Finch has stayed to try to help battleships Revenge.

Northeast of Darwin, 2 DMSs sweep all enemy mines blocking the exit home.

Near Dili, in the shallows on the northern coast of Timor, Dutch sub KXIV is attacked by 4 destroyers. One depth charge hits. The damage is survivable. I'm guessing that this task force is spotted further to the east during daylight, but I can't be sure. A followup depth charge attack by a different task force, with a couple of cruisers, destroyers, and E boats, makes me think that these ships started at Koepang and are headed east. They could turn south or continue east.

At Nabire, on the north coast of New Guinea, across from Timoeka, enemy troops arrive on 2 destroyers. Nabire was a potential target for some of my paras, which have been fully prepped. With the loss of Taberfane and Dobo, and the tenuous hold at Timoeka, I decided that it wasn't worth dropping on an even more isolated base.

At Darwin, P-70 Havocs sweep but find no CAP.

Navy Liberators bomb Darwin's port, finding no ships and doing just 1 damage.

Army medium bombers hit the enemy troops at Darwin. Good results.

The Allies attack at Darwin, getting 1 to 1 odds (625 to 336), and drop the forts from 4 to 3. 621 Japanese casaulties, 472 Allied. Looks like the enemy armor was trashed.

I decided to attack again. Bombers will hit the troops again. Battleship Revenge added 1 SYS damage and 1 FLOT damage. It's in real danger of sinking. It's only hope is that I take Darwin and it disbands into the port.

As for today...


I am making an aggessive move with the US carriers today. My move north, as depicted on the map, will be to hit enemy combat ships, either at sea, at Boela, or in Boela's port. My carriers first moved north of Darwin, then to the east of Darwin. They certainly won't be expected to abandon the invasion shipping and strike north.

My troops carrying ships will leave Darwin and head to Gove Island. Some cargo ships remain to unload. Battleship Revenge and one escorting destroyer remain at Darwin. There will be no CAP at Darwin today.

A large task force of Fletcher destroyers will move north with the carriers. A subchaser group will also go. Subs are a real risk here, but that is certainly true with a move straight back to Gove also. I doubt there will be subs all the way up by Saumlauki today though.

I haven't seen carriers in this area. I have seen a large and continuing area of high detection levels on my subs. Could be carriers lurking, or just lots of land based aircraft.

Boela is a size 4 airfield. I'm seeing 56 fighters and 25 bombers, with 13 ships disbanded in port, showing 3 AKs, 2 DDs, and 5 CSs, but who knows what's really there. There are 2 task forces there now. One has a PB. The other has an AK. Not much to go on.

So I move north for one turn and see what I can hit. I had some Darwin followup shipping with my carriers. They will now return to Gove and await the fall of Darwin. With the high fort level at Darwin, the fall of the town probably won't be today.

And now to wait to get the turn back. An anxious wait.

[jwolf]

Anxious wait for your readers, too -- good luck with the results! I hope Darwin will fall quickly.

[apbarog]

3 Apr 43

An exciting day, as much for what didn't happen as what did. I don't usually list combat report details, but today it's worth adding. I'll stay chronological for today.

First, the AK task force that I left at Darwin unloaded more supply. The task force didn't have a lot still left to unload, so they may or may not leave the port during the turn. All troops ships left the port as ordered. An AM stayed at Darwin, as did BB Revenge and a destroyer.

At Darwin, I-176 spotted the AK task force, but AM Finch spotted the sub, but got no hits.

Northeast of Darwin, a subchaser group spotted I-168 and got some minor hits.

The AKs then had another phase of unloading supply.

My P-70 Havocs swept Darwin, finding no CAP.

Then several groups of B-24s bombed Boela's airfield, flying from Merauke. Airfield damage is minor. There was no CAP. One Helen was destroyed on the ground, with a number of others damaged.

Back at Darwin, B-25s and B-26s bomb the Japanese troops, doing minor damage.

P-38s from Merauke then swept Boela at extreme range. There was no CAP.

Now for the surprise.

Enemy carriers appear 6 hexes northwest of Darwin. I can assume that the task forces spotted yesterday near the eastern tip of New Guinea had carriers, and the task forces turned south toward Darwin. My carriers moved as planned to one hex northwest of Saumlaki.

The range between the carrier forces is 8 hexes.

First, what I'll call "KB" launches, targeting my task forces at Darwin. There is no CAP.

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 64
A6M3a Zero x 37
B5N2 Kate x 67
D3A1 Val x 46

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Revenge, heavy damage
AK Carina, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Deimos, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Arided, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Crater, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Aludra, Bomb hits 3, on fire
AM Finch, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AK Cassiopeia, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Amazingly, almost all bombers target the AKs. The few that targeted Revenge missed! Can it be so lucky?

Then another KB strike.

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 11
B5N2 Kate x 13
D4Y1 Judy x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AK Carina, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AK Deimos, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AK Crater, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Arided, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AM Finch, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AK Aludra, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

BB Revenge was not targeted!

Then comes the afternoon air phase.

KB sends just one strike to Darwin in the afternoon, and far fewer bombers.

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 53
B5N2 Kate x 9
D3A1 Val x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 4 damaged

Allied Ships
BB Revenge, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
AK Crater, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
DD Woodworth

The last fragment of Kates gets a single torpedo hit on Revenge, sinking the ship. So close to survival! But no, it's gone, and I've lost another slow battleship.

But what about the US carriers?

The only task forces in range is a 2 ship group southeast of Boela, and it is not targeted. 4 carriers launch against Boela's port, then the 2 other carriers attack.

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 54
SBD-3 Dauntless x 126
TBF-1 Avenger x 90

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
TK Kuremente Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Ryuei Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Tennan Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Matsumoto Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Teiryu Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Keihuku Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Terukawa Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Fujisan Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Yamazuru Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AMc Yatsushiro Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
TK Shoyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage

Port hits 3
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 18
SBD-3 Dauntless x 54
TBF-1 Avenger x 18

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Misaki Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
xAK Keihuku Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Ryuei Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMc Mogami Maru #7, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
TK Matsumoto Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
TK Terukawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Port hits 3

Tankers! I still need to research how big these tankers are. All were unloaded. Interesting that there were unloaded tankers here. None are confirmed sunk, but Boela is just a size 2 port.

Finally, the Allies attack at Darwin.

Ground combat at Darwin (76,124)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13774 troops, 351 guns, 166 vehicles, Assault Value = 657

Defending force 15024 troops, 175 guns, 167 vehicles, Assault Value = 274

Allied adjusted assault: 537

Japanese adjusted defense: 99

Allied assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Darwin !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-II Dinah: 5 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 8 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 3 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
5020 casualties reported
Squads: 79 destroyed, 46 disabled
Non Combat: 241 destroyed, 33 disabled
Engineers: 45 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 111 (87 destroyed, 24 disabled)
Vehicles lost 156 (156 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 12

Allied ground losses:
922 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 114 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
41st Infantry Division
18th British Division
XIV US Corps
98th Field Artillery Battalion
5th RAAF Construction Battalion

Defending units:
9th Infantry Regiment
4th Tank Regiment
16th Recon Regiment
14th Garrison Unit
15th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
45th Field AA Battalion
17th JNAF AF Unit
21st Port Unit
9th RF Gun Battalion
3rd Construction Battalion
40th Field AA Battalion
3rd Naval Construction Battalion
30th JNAF AF Unit

Success! The enemy retreats south, with the only hope of escape being flown out from an inland airfield, or making the long slow walk to another coastal base. (or retaking Darwin, which isn't going to happen)

This was a near thing. If the base hadn't fallen, I would have expected KB to pound my troops at Darwin, in the clear terrain. Unless our carriers had moved within range of each other. I did lose 6 AKs. These were AKs, not xAKs, but these AKs never upgrade to AKAs, so it wasn't a terrible loss. And I can't be sure that the extra supply unloaded wasn't absolutely necessary for the successful attack. I left the ships there because the Brit division was right at the level for being supplied fully, with no excess. If this attack had failed, I would probably have been short on supply, and with KB there, things could have gotten dicey. I may have decided to risk the carriers to save the troops.

As it is, however, Darwin is now Allied. To the north, west of Saumlaki, I took an unoccupied Babar Island with a part of a fully prepped Indian para unit. Babar will probably be retaken, but with my carriers right there, this makes things look like I have even bigger immediate plans to the north. But my plans are not in the near future.

I decided to have the US carriers race to safety, to run full speed to the southeast, past Wessel Island. I'll accept some SYS damage. Darwin may get bombed and isolated for awhile, but I doubt that it will be counter-invaded. I captured over 10,000 fuel and supply there.

My followup task forces, which were headed past Gove Island, are turning back to the southeast until KB isn't a threat.

It was going to be unlikely that Revenge was going to be saved, as it wouldn't have been a secret that it was in port at Darwin, but it was a bit disheartening to be so close to taking the base and stashing the ship in port. Not to be though. But I've very happy to have reconquered Darwin, and gotten the bonus of hitting some valuable tankers. Losing the AKs is just a small cost of doing business for today. If I hadn't run the troop ships out, however, I could have had major AP losses. Things worked out pretty well.

In other news, my armor unit has moved inland to Dobadura, and 2 of the enemy units have moved out of Dobadura. Today my armor will attack, combined with a para drop of the 1st USMC Para Bn. Other enemy at Kokoda have moved northeast to the coast, where I have 2 armor units. Not being sure that I can win here, I'll just sit tight for now.

[apbarog]

4 Apr 43

I got a surprise at Lae today. Cruisers Tone, Atago, and Agano with 6 destroyers appear at Lae, just as loaded shipping arrives to reinforce the landing. First, they engage 6 APDs loaded with US Marines. 2 APDs are sunk, the others retreat to Buna. 300 casualties. Could have been worse.

Then the cruisers tear into a 6 xAKL task force, escorted by just a KV. All ships are sunk. Lots of Marine motorised support is lost. Unfortunate.

I didn't expect this aggressive move and got complacent. Not only did the enemy attack at Lae, for whatever reason, they stayed! Some divebombers in the area really could have hurt these ships, but no, I had just lots of fighters in the area. This will be remedied, but not today. There's no way that these ships will stay in range today.

South of Darwin, one group of B-25s hit the fleeing enemy troops.

On the coast between Buna and Salamaua, the enemy attacks. The enemy troops are ones previously kicked out of Buna and forced back to Kokoda. I have 2 armor units there. The attack is 1 to 2, with about equal losses. I'll be defeated if the enemy attacks repeatedly. But the enemy is still trapped with nowhere to go. I start to move a Marine division from Buna to this hex. They won't save the armor, probably, but will pin and clean up the enemy here. Enemy supply will run out at some point.

At Dobadura, my armored regiment attacks, supported by 1 USMC Paras. All the enemy had left here was 2 construction companys. The rest had moved to Kokoda. Both enemy units are eliminated. My armor will now continue west to Port Moresby, opening up a hexside and allowing supply to flow from Buna to Port Moresby.

As for KB, it moved southwest. There's really nothing for it to accomplish near the coast west of Darwin, other than to move directly away from where my carriers were. US carriers moved full speed to the southeast, and were not spotted, probably a worrisome development for KB. US carriers will leave the area, going to ports in Australia for minor repairs, some ship upgrades, and loading of the first F6Fs that are arriving. 130 F6Fs per month, awesome.

I will try to get support units into Darwin. It will require knowing that KB is not waiting for them, and will require some minesweepers for the run in. I will fly in what I can, once the airfield damage is reduced more.

Heavy bombers will hit the airfields south of Darwin today, hoping to make it more difficult for enemy troops to fly out, and to kill off enemy supply.

With enemy cruisers still at Lae, and probably surprised to still be there and not be attacked by air, I can't rule out another aggressive move by them. I have shipping next door at Salamaua. It will flee south. I am moving a big cruiser force to Buna, just in case.

I will get reinforcements into Lae. They just may have to land at Salamaua and walk though. About a 12 day walk for infantry. I'm not in a hurry here. The goal here is to isolate the enemy troops south of Salamaua, and that's been done. At some point, I'll take Port Moresby. Then I can start retasking divisions.

[apbarog]

5 Apr 43

Enemy cruiser task force at Lae retires to Rabaul through Umboi Island. Sub Pogy spots a couple of destroyers but doesn't get a shot.

B-25s do minor damage to Daly Waters airfield. Some B-24s hit Katherine, very minor damage.

In the contested jungle hex between Buna and Salamaua, a dozen B-25s bomb enemy troops, but find 5 Tojos on very long range CAP from somewhere. But the Tojos aren't able to engage. Bombs do minor damage to the enemy troops.

The enemy then attacks, get a 1 to 1 attack, but takes far more casualties against the Allied armor units. A US Marine Division is moving this direction, but slowly through the jungle from Buna.

Ground combat at 99,128 (near Buna)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12764 troops, 90 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 319

Defending force 2224 troops, 0 guns, 146 vehicles, Assault Value = 64

Japanese adjusted assault: 189

Allied adjusted defense: 97

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
317 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 23 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
69 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Assaulting units:
Sasebo 6th SNLF
Kure 5th SNLF
9th Division
87th Naval Guard Unit
58th Construction Battalion
19th Army
2nd Area Army /1

Defending units:
1st Tank Battalion
2/8th Armoured Regiment


KB stays in a position west northwest of Darwin, staying in range of Darwin. With all my ships at Gove Island, it may look like reinforcements were on the way to Darwin. They were. But with KB sticking around, I can't move that direction. All of my ships there do look like a very tempting target, and the enemy did spot one of my carrier task forces moving south along eastern Australia. I decided to send most of my loaded ships to the southeast, and I load up Gove with fighters. I do still have ships here, mostly cargo ships unloading.

I will still get reinforcements to Darwin, but the first ones will be flown in. I'm moving a huge naval support unit from Normanton to Groote Eylandt, where most of it will be flown into Darwin. I will use the 3 big C-47 units (75 planes total) that are currently flying paras from Merauke to Timoeka.

With at least some of my carriers spotted out of the area, the next turn will tell me what KB's intentions really are.

In New Guinea, I have a strong cruiser force at Buna. I'll continue reinforcing bases here, with more naval protection. I am withdrawing my 3 slow battleships that have been protecting Milne Bay. Cruisers and destroyers stay. I'm more likely to lose them than have them contribute significantly to the current situation. I'll save them for safer bombardment missions in the future. I can't lose ALL of my slow battleships!

[apbarog]

6 Apr 43

At the exit from Eniwetok, sub Scamp finds large AO Toei Maru, and gets one torpedo hit on it. The AO is empty, and the task force is heading north now. I suspect more AOs were here, based on recent heavy activity here on SigInt.

West of Truk, destroyer Samidare, reporting heavy damage, is spotted by sub Herring, but 2 torpedoes miss. The destroyer is headed home, bypassing Truk to the west, headed toward Guam at the moment.

Just west of Darwin, a big combat task force runs over S-40. The sub cannot attack, and ASW makes no hits. Then another task force is spotted by S-40. S-40 fires 4 torpedoes at battleship Hyuga, gets one hit, but its a dud. These 2 task forces, and others, continue on to Darwin.

Near Babar, sub Lapon sights I-155, fires 2 torpedoes, but both miss.

At Shortlands, I sent a P-40K fighter sweep. The Warhawks find an equal number of A6M3 Zeros on CAP. More Zeros than Warhawks are lost.

Some B-25s bomb Katherine again, doing minor damage to the airfield.

And my heavies return to Fenton, but find Zeros on LR CAP from KB, which has moved to the hex just west of Darwin. The first big raid does good damage, finding just 3 Zeros flying, but the following fragments find many more fighters, and bombers are lost. And Zeros are downed.

At Darwin during the day, a cruiser task force bombards. Then another, I think with Hyuga. Here's the casualties in the clear terrain:

Allied ground losses:
212 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 5
Port hits 1

Allied ground losses:
553 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 54 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 29 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 10 (1 destroyed, 9 disabled)

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 5

The Brit division is over 70 disruption now. Good thing I took the base quickly.

Near Buna, the enemy, led by the 9th Infantry Division, again attacks my 2 armor units, getting 1 to 2 odds, and taking 5 times the casualties. The tanks are being worn down, but at tremendous cost to the enemy. And it doesn't change the fact that the enemy troops are hopelessly isolated. The enemy must figure that the troops will be lost anyway, might as well use them.

US carriers are nearing Townsville. There are enough F6Fs for just one squadron to upgrade. Just one carrier has SYS damage over 10. 2 fast battleships are due upgrades, as well as a handful of cruisers and destroyers.

The question is what is the enemy's intent at Darwin?

Right now, it looks like KB will isolate Darwin, keeping any reinforcements from shipping in, or flying in, for that matter. AKEs at Koepang make for easy replenishment of bombarding ships. But does the enemy plan to counterinvade? If all they want to do is isolate the base and damage it and the troops, I'm not worried. I can bring the carriers back at my convenience. But if there are intentions to counter-invade, then I am worried. The base is badly damaged, and no forts have been built.

Today, my carriers will go to Townsville. With the next turn, I'll decide whether to return to the Darwin area. I do think that this could be an opportunity for me. The enemy is choosing to place KB distant from friendly airfields. I have decent bases not far away. I may decided to have a carrier battle and risk a fairly even exchange. I'll have to think about it.

And I may have awhile to think. Walker is headed out of town for a week. Although he's taking his laptop, turns will be very limited, if there are any at all. Regular scheduling will resume on April 2.

[apbarog]

7 Apr 43

North of Koepang, sub Grenadier fires on a patrol boat in a large task force that contains some AKs. All torpedoes miss.

12 B-17s bomb Port Moresby's airfield.

Medium bombers hit Katherine's airfield.

B-25s bomb troops on the coast north of Buna. These troops then did an artillery attack on my armor units, doing almost no damage. My depleted armor units may hold out long enough for the Marine division to arrive.

No activity at Darwin today, so the airfield repaired a little.

Today KB and bombardment task forces moved 8 hexes west, now 9 hexes west of Darwin, near the coast. Hard to say why KB went this direction. Avoid my subs south of Timor? Afraid that the US carriers were going to appear suddenly by Darwin? I don't know. It certainly isn't the fastest path to Koepang to replenish the bombardment task forces. Maybe they aren't coming back soon?

I spent some time deciding what to do with my carriers. They are at Townsville now, refueling. My choice was between splitting up my task forces to send ships to refit. Wasp and 2 fast battleships are due for refit. Several light cruisers and some destroyers are due also. Battleship Massachusetts did just arrive at Townsville from Panama, and could join the task forces.

I could take offensive actions with just 5 carriers, but that doesn't seem wise. The battleships are very useful for flak and as bomb magnets.

I decided to be more aggressive and upgrade ships after this operation.

I am going to send my Darwin reinforcements in, escorted by the carriers. If possible, I will send a task force up to Babar to reinforce my forward base there. I could also force some supply into Timoeka.

So the US carriers start refueling. Tomorrow I'll have enough new F6Fs to replace a big squardron on a carrier. All battleships remain with the carriers, and Massachusetts joins. A light cruiser and a few destroyers leave for refit. They were replaced. An extra CLAA has joined the ships too.

I will invite a carrier battle in the right circumstances. Getting Darwin operational and full of support units will go a long way to starting to control the north coast of Australia. And then, on to Timor.

Walker is still on vacation. I was lucky to get a turn today. I can hope for another before the weekend, but that may or may not happen.

[apbarog]

8 Apr 43

KB and accompanying task forces, starting 9 hexes west of Darwin, begin to move north, not directly toward Koepang, but showing a projected course a few hexes to the west of Koepang.

Dutch sub O19 spots one of the carrier task forces, seeing 2 battleships, 2 cruisers, many destroyers but not spotting a carrier. It doesn't get a shot, but determined destroyers pummel the Dutch sub, getting 2 solid depth charge hits, and many minor hits. The sub sinks.

But to the north, 4 hexes north and 1 hex west, sub Grenadier spots a different carrier task force, fires 6 torpedoes at Zuikakau, and gets one hit! Let's hope it is for real.

The task forces don't appear to be going to Koepang, at least not directly. They have moved to the west of Timor, as if intending to continue north.

There was a minor air engagement over Vangunu in the Solomons, where 6 Helens escorted by 18 Nicks attacked PT boats. 7 P-40Ks flew CAP, downing a couple of Nicks.

And another artillery attack by the enemy in the contested hex between Buna and Salamaua.

With Walker still out of town, and some real life engagements for me tomorrow and Saturday, I will take my time with this turn and finish sometime in the next few days.

Time to ponder what KB is doing. I have decided that the US carriers will move to Darwin and escort in a large number of reinforcements for the base, including many support units.

[apbarog]

8 Apr 43 (continued)

Having damaged another enemy carrier, I've modified my plan slightly. Wasp and battleships North Carolina and Washington will go to Sydney for refit. The 5 remaining carriers will continue with the plan to reinforce Darwin, and possibly move some troops into Babar. They all will leave Townsville tomorrow. One squadron flew to Rockhampton to upgrade to F6Fs. I was loading supply at Townsville and that didn't leave enough for the upgrade, so the planes will catch up to the carriers after upgrade.

Today I did get SigInt of an artillery unit moving to Dili, so Timor is being reinforced, as expected. Right now my small force at Babar probably has the focus of the enemy. It's the current thorn in the side, exposed, and far from help. But that takes some heat off of Darwin, and once my support units arrive, and supply, Darwin will be secure. As for Timor, I'm coming, in due time. With Koepang being huge on the western tip, I'd probably land on the eastern side. One thing about this area: there are plenty of good places to invade, and they all can't be defended. Great area to land, project power, and isolate strongpoints.

[apbarog]

9 Apr 43

Sub Steelhead spots an xAK task force south of Iwo-Jima, gets a torpedo hit on one cargo ship, but it's a dud.

20 B-17s attack Lae's airfield, find 4 Zeros on CAP from a distant base, sweep them aside, and do good damage to the field.

B-25s again bomb the 9th Infantry Division between Buna and Salamaua. The enemy attacks with artillery; no losses on either side.

Navy Liberators bomb Fenton's airfield.

US carriers leave Townsville headed north. I will probably escort a task force into Timoeka, then come southwest and escort more shipping into Darwin. If the area stays quiet, then I'll force reinforcements into Babar.

In the Aleutians, all units prepped to invade Attu are now at Dutch Harbor and will start loading tomorrow.

As for the invasion of Tabiteuea, ships are still a few days to the south, heading north.

My first big batch of APs have upgraded to APAs at Sydney.

[apbarog]

10 Apr 43

East of Rabaul, along the coast of the island that Kavieng is on, sub Sailfish fires on a CM. It's part of an odd task force: 2 CMs, 3 AOs, 2 DDs, 1 E, 1 SC. Torpedoes miss.

Timoeka is bombed by Nells and Helens, escorted by Zeros and Oscars. I move fighters to the base today, for the first time.

Most of my heavies bombed Fenton's airfield.

Near Carnavon, I-20 spots a Dutch surface group heading north. The first attack on CL Sumatra results in all misses, but another attack gets one hit on CLAA Van Heemskerck. The Dutch task force, and an accompanying troop convoy are spotted. They were headed to Port Headland to invade. I decide to hold them back for a bit at Carnavon, and invade in about a week. In case the enemy sends something down from Koepang, which is very possible.

At the contested hex between Buna and Salamaua, the enemy deliberately attacks, and it goes like earlier attacks went. 1 to 2 odds, 460 Japanese casualties, 108 Allied losses. With supply flowing from Buna, I'm recovering quickly. And a Marine Division is about halfway to the hex from Buna.

I did spot a big carrier task force just outside of Soerbaja.

Loading begins at Dutch Harbor for an invasion of Attu.

A big naval support unit is starting to be flown into Darwin from Groote Eylandt. Fighters are now at Darwin. US carriers will pass by Horn Island today, so far unseen.