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Yes, 11 b-17's lost hurt badly. I got curious from my thread about ship repairs, and thought I would see how effective a raid on Rabaul would be. I also thought I may get lucky and hit a carrier or two if they were there. So many op losses will pretty much talk me out of trying this again unless I can confoim high value tragets are in port.

Borner has been bombing Tulagi with 2E´s using lightnings for escort. On the first day Oscars to the CAP and this day it was Zeros. Keep rotating the fighter groups to keep each rested and combat effective.

10 Allied planes were lost this day to 1 Japanese Mavis on search mission.

12-7-42   We are now at the 1 yr point following Pearl harbor. Things are still farily quiet, but that will not last much longer. Ike appears to he holding back, as the map above somewhat shows. Ike is building many smaller airfields within range of Irau. I assume his plan is to spread out his bombers, so that i cannot effectively hit his airstrips before I attack. With both our fleets intact, this ARR sould get very interesting come early 43

12-7-42 We are now at the 1 yr point following Pearl harbor. Things are still farily quiet, but that will not last much longer. Ike appears to he holding back, as the map above somewhat shows. Ike is building many smaller airfields within range of Irau. I assume his plan is to spread out his bombers, so that i cannot effectively hit his airstrips before I attack. With both our fleets intact, this ARR sould get very interesting come early 43

The air battles over Tulagi continue.

Ike is starting to send ships around and SW of Irau- as can be seen above. One last attempt to get reinforcements forward?

 finally, the nice big CS sitting in Tulagi harbor goes to the bottom

This is where I wish I was more computer literate with photo shop or something.   recon is showing only a detachment of a garrison unit at Irau. Ike apparently has decided to let me have the base, then pound on me once there. Both our fleets will be a full strength, so it should be an inpressive fight.

Sabine

Ike apparently has decided to let me have the base, then pound on me once there.

We welcome you to Irau.

Fox news IKE strikes agian... seeing how his recently losses are unmentioned, and that this hit happened no where near the shipping lanes to Irau.

Do not play single ship invasion with me friend. [;)]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/29/42

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43

Japanese Ships
DD Shigure
DD Wakaba

Allied Ships
DMS Southard, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43

Japanese Ships
DD Shigure
DD Wakaba

Allied Ships
APD Little, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 131


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43

Japanese Ships
DD Yugure
DD Ikazuchi

Allied Ships
APD Gregory, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 327


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43

Japanese Ships
DD Yugure, Shell hits 1
DD Ikazuchi, Shell hits 5, on fire

Allied Ships
APD McKean, Shell hits 4, on fire


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 26


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43

Japanese Ships
DD Isokaze
DD Hatsuyuki

Allied Ships
APD Manley, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 314


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43

Japanese Ships
DD Isokaze, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Helm, Shell hits 1


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 13


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43

Japanese Ships
DD Yugiri
DD Ushio

Allied Ships
DMS Zane, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43

Japanese Ships
DD Yugiri
DD Ushio

Allied Ships
APD McKean, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 189


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43

Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki
DD Oite

Allied Ships
DD Helm, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 110


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43

Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki
DD Oite

Allied Ships
APD McKean, and is sunk


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 98


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43

Japanese Ships
DD Hamakaze
DD Asakaze

Allied Ships
DD Helm, Shell hits 4, and is sunk


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 191
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So much for plan A.  Not sure what went wrong.... those TF's were ordered - or at least I thought - to join up at the same hex as my carriers, and then form up and run in, and out, next turn. not sure exactly where I _____ up things. At least the losses were light. Yes, 2 mroe DMS and those APD's will hurt.
 
At least the para bn took Irau, but i expect IKE to run in a fast transport group, with troops, and wipe them out. Anyway, if I ever figure out what i did wrong I will post it, but salute to IKE for being in position to take advantage of my misfortune.

a small measure of revenge
 
Air attack on TF at 43,40
 
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
SBD Dauntless x 45
TBF Avenger x 29
 
 
no losses
 
Japanese Ships
ML Hirashima, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 

Well, much to my shock, Ike never came down to knock me off of Irau... PBY's were able to fly in seabees. Now, there is a level 1 airstrip, and my C-47's are busy flying in troops and supplies. It still may be a trap, IKE letting me put enough troops there to make an operation worth the effort before he tries anything.

Another action around Irau, with better results... plus a couple of mine hits on IKE's DD's
 
 
 

Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 4
DD Hatsukaze
DD Shigure
 
Allied Ships
PT 46
PT 64
PT 66, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
PT 114
PT 124
 
 
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43
 
Japanese Ships
CL Kuma
DD Shirayuki
DD Asakaze,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
Allied Ships
PT 36
PT 38
PT 39
PT 60, Shell hits 1
 
 
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43
 
Japanese Ships
CL Sendai
DD Tanikaze
DD Mutsuki
 
Allied Ships
PT 111, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
PT 115
PT 121
PT 122
PT 128
PT 149, Shell hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
 
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43
 
Japanese Ships
DD Akitsuki, Shell hits 15,  on fire
DD Yamagumo
 
Allied Ships
PT 120, Shell hits 48, and is sunk
PT 142
PT 143
PT 152
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43
 
Japanese Ships
DD Akitsuki, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Yamagumo, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
Allied Ships
PT 37
PT 48
PT 45
PT 59
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43
 
Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu
DD Hatsukaze
DD Shigure
 
Allied Ships
PT 46
PT 64
PT 114
PT 124
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at 0,0
 
Japanese Ships
PC Ch 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
 
Allied Ships
PT 46
PT 64
PT 114
PT 124
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 41,44
 
Japanese Ships
CL Sendai, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
 
Allied Ships
SS S-41
 

not sure what IKE is trying to do. one DD also hit a mk10 mine
 
 
 
night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43
 
Japanese Ships
CL Kuma, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
CL Tenryu, Shell hits 2
DD Hatsukaze, Shell hits 1
DD Tanikaze
 
Allied Ships
PT 46, Shell hits 7,  on fire,  heavy damage
PT 64
PT 114
PT 124
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Irau at 42,43
 
Japanese Ships
CL Kuma,  on fire
CL Tenryu, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
DD Hatsukaze
DD Tanikaze, Shell hits 4
 
Allied Ships
PT 36
PT 38
PT 39
PT 60

ORIGINAL:

Japanese Ships
CL Kuma,  on fire

Wow IKE, you got the KUMA!? How...?[&:] never got this unit

we are approaching the end of Jan, 43.  Irau now has been upgrated to a level 2 airstrip. Ike is still hitting the base with night attacks, but has not sent his light units in again. (too bad). If Pearl would only release more heavy units, my life would be much easier, but such is life at 100% settings.

2-9-1943
 
the pace of turns has greatly slowed, but thought it time to post an update.  IKE seeme to be following the same blueprint as his current "into the breach" game with BigRed. Irau was open to invasion, and repeated recon flights show PM to have no garrison at all. I can only figure IKE plans to give me what looks like a tempting target, and unleash his airpower to pound the invasion fleets. While not getting the attrittion battle I wanted at Irau, it is nice to have a secure base already to support my future operations. F4u's have finally begun to arrive, which will help to soon balance the air-to-air situation.
 
Both fleets are nearly at full strength, but it would be nice for the desk jockeys at pearl to send more stuff my way.
 
 

Borner testing the frontier.

Fox-news IKE strikes again. showing the 13 that did not make it, not the 250+ that did! two turns of strikes on Lunga and Russell show about 1000 men lost, but no planes on the ground. Lunga also is shown to be lightly garrisoned, and 6 tunrs of recon flights have found no garrison at PM at all! interesting indeed