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Your gutting his pilot pools which is great - but.... you're sending your CVs west through the Torrez straits, same path the KB sailed into your meatgrinder.

So he know's you're heading west and can mass additional LBA and subs to great you near Darwin. Recommend you watch out for over-fatigue on your fighters and get some LBA ASW a/c to assist if you can.

This could be an interesting fight coming up - I'd expect a very warm reception waiting for ya! Carriers in restricted waters is a tough go. Good luck!

Yes it will be a warm welcome; it will be dangerous and I expect losses, hopefully not on carriers, but in the very abundant xAPs/ xAKs. Moreover his pilot losses will keep mounting and this is good for the long term.

There is going to be hell for another turn or two, until they cross Horns strait. Then some calm at Carpentaria, then hell again at Arafura. He is likely getting a welcome committee at Saumlaki (level 5) as it is in perfect striking position for Val/ Judy/ Kate and at Koepang (level 6) or Dili (level 5) for Netties.
Then at least 3 light/ escort carriers ready to strike at the most advantageous moment. Moreover, with KB gone, he might be willing to take wild risks with his remaining forces.
Finally, I guess all submarines in the vicinity will be sent to patrol the very easy to guess path to Darwin

As much as I hate the meatgrinder, I think this needs to be done, Darwin is important, and if I manage to unload supply and construction, then a potential airfield level 9/ port level 6 + 4E bombers will mean the end of the Japanese DEI, as it is pretty much impossible to defend: too many bases and most of them very capable of being built to maximum.

Yeah, I think your spot on Jorge. Completely agree with your assessment.

Of course, I'm sure Prester John can read the same tea leaves......

Go get 'em!!

Ed, as you know, I'm reading this AAR as well. Your assessment of the importance of Darwin has been noted. Makes up for the really useless Japanese SIGINT! [:'(]

As for Darwin: certainly better to have it than not, but the key difference is that in Jorge's game the KB has been crushed with a Midwayesque defeat, whereas in the IdahoNY-LST game the KB is still in good shape as far as I know.

Jorge: as movement through the Torres strait is still rather dangerous, would it be worthwhile to mount an air offensive to shut down some of the Japanese airfields that threaten this passage?

I agree. Darwin with an intact KB is a nightmare scenario. You will need to run a gauntlet with P Moresby which I just did barely. Then against Saumlaki and Timor and then against KB at the time of its choosing. All these at restricted waters with only two routes of escape.

Last turn I sent the battleships to bomb Port Moresby and that certainly helped the crossing. Just a few strikes and none hit home.

I have AKEs in the TF therefore I will likely repeat on Saumlaki. Timor is too far away and it will be a lot less dangerous

This is today:

All still quiet:

News:

- CA Kako confirmed as sunk
- Darwin unloading starts tomorrow
- Some losses on stragglers trying to catch with the main fleet



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 91,126

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
A6M5 Zero x 7
G4M1 Betty x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
xAP E Sang
xAP President Taylor
xAP Anhui, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

Massive explosion on xAP Anhui


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 91,126

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 18
G3M3 Nell x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
xAP Ekma, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP President Taylor

Allied ground losses:
503 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 20 destroyed, 2 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,134

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 5
G3M2 Nell x 3
G3M3 Nell x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 12 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Porter
DD Morris
DD Cassin

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
3 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,134

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 11
G4M1 Betty x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 6 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Cassin
DD Downes
DD Preston

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,134

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Cassin
DD Downes
DD Smith

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,134

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
A6M3a Zero x 11
G4M1 Betty x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
DD Smith
DD Porter

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 91,126

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 17
G3M3 Nell x 6

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAP Idomeneus
xAP Rajput, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
977 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 35 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,134

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 74 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
A6M5 Zero x 10
G3M2 Nell x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Smith
DD Preston

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 8000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

One thing I wonder for this game. Was Junyo all the difference? Was that torpedo strike against her that knocked her out for the foreseeable future the fatal weakening of the KB that allowed such a decisive blow later? For some reason, I get vibes of Car Div 5 at Coral Sea prior to Midway. [:)] Jorge, just letting you know that I aspire to do what you did in my own game. I have no interest in waiting till late '43 or '44 to initiate carrier battles.

It certainly helped to see one less carrier. That said I don't know if I would like to mix Junyo with the fleet carriers: its speed is 14 knots cruise, 25 full. One or two hexes sometimes means fighting at a disadvantageous range. And also the more carrier you put together, the less coordinated the strike goes.

Some lessons I think I learnt:

Don't put a lot of trust in naval search
There was poor naval search the turn before, this for both Allies and Japan, and we both had significant patrol assets. I was lucky a submarine spotted KB, otherwise I might have thought he went back to Timor. I saw nothing, but I knew he was there.... In the other hand he saw CVEs and he had confidence he could go for the kill as the Allied carriers would not possibly be there.
So at the end he faced the combined power of 6 fleet carriers and 5 CVEs against 6

1943 KB is not 1942 KB
- In January 1942, you can move KB without any concern, maybe submarines, but it will maul anything else found in it's path. In January 1943, you can't. KB is still super powerful, but you need to be a lot more careful. You have to keep FOW and moving through straits and then coming back the same way kind of makes it very easy to figure out potential paths for setting an ambush.
- Using KB for secondary objectives is somehow OK in 1942, it is not in 1943. By 1943 its only objective is to avoid invasions or counter punch after a carefully thought operation. By running the KB against a supply convoy, it not only put it out of position against a strong USN he knew was at Suva, but it also meant significant losses in pilots and airplanes by pitting it against a secondary, but effective Darwin CAP (Spitfires and P-40Ks). Kirakira invasion was then launched against a vulnerable Japanese force.

Today Chungking, the center of resistance to the Reorganized National Government of the Republic of China, that Japanese puppet regime also known as the Wang Jingwei regime, has fallen. The Generalissimo led his starving troops up until the end, then he blew himself on a Chungking cave to avoid capture. All surrendered troops were afterwards slaughtered, most by bayonets or katana strikes.

The communists, still in control of Yenan, had vowed to continue the people's war from the country side until the inevitable victory of the proletariat.
The nationalists, still in control of Wenchow, Changsa, Kunming, Kweijang and Tuyun, had vowed to follow the Generalissimo's example and fight until the end.

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Ground combat at Chungking (76,45)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 212577 troops, 2289 guns, 1762 vehicles, Assault Value = 6302

Defending force 155496 troops, 238 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 973

Japanese adjusted assault: 4563

Allied adjusted defense: 945

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Chungking !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
9054 casualties reported
Squads: 173 destroyed, 626 disabled
Non Combat: 16 destroyed, 108 disabled
Engineers: 23 destroyed, 54 disabled
Guns lost 104 (11 destroyed, 93 disabled)
Vehicles lost 48 (7 destroyed, 41 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
155496 casualties reported
Squads: 3682 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 12648 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 158 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 345 (345 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 94

Assaulting units:
36th Division
32nd Division
34th Division
41st Division
104th Division
110th Division
59th Division
69th Division
1st Tank Division
15th Division
3rd Tank Division
40th Division
63rd Division
8th Ind Engineer Regiment
17th Division
6th Division
26th Division
3rd Division
37th Division
2nd Tank Division
3rd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
6th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
23rd Army
11th Army
Botanko Hvy Gun Regiment
1st Mortar Battalion
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
China Expeditionary Army
51st Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
14th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
2nd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
7th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Army
21st Mortar Battalion
52nd Ind.Mtn.Gun Battalion
2nd Hvy.Artillery Regiment
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
15th Ind.Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
6th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
12th Army
21st AA Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion

Defending units:
15th Chinese Corps
89th Chinese Corps
88th Chinese Corps
2nd Chinese Corps
92nd Chinese Corps
39th Chinese Corps
59th Chinese Corps
50th Chinese Corps
30th Chinese Corps
68th Chinese Corps
31st Chinese Corps
41st Chinese Corps
71st Chinese Corps
95th Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Corps
24th Chinese Corps
55th Chinese Corps
14th Chinese Corps
83rd Chinese Corps
33rd Chinese Corps
1st New Chinese Corps
32nd Chinese Corps
7th Artillery Regiment
20th Artillery Regiment
NCAC
23rd Group Army
56th Chinese Corps
38th Group Army
16th Group Army
49th AA Regiment
14th Group Army
77th Chinese Corps
Central Reserve
4th Group Army
4th War Area
3rd Prov Chinese Corps
3rd Chinese Cavalry Corps
7th Group Army
51st Chinese Corps
4th Heavy Mortar Regiment
3rd Construction Regiment
CAF HQ
7th Chinese Base Force
57th AT Gun Regiment
22nd Artillery Regiment
1st Chinese Cavalry Corps
33rd Group Army
31st Group Army
17th Group Army
47th Chinese Corps
18th Artillery Regiment
75th Chinese Corps
2nd Prov Chinese Corps
1st Chinese Base Force
85th Chinese Corps
41st AA Regiment
China Command
35th Chinese Corps
24th Group Army
37th Group Army
48th Chinese Corps
10th Construction Regiment
67th Chinese Corps
62nd Chinese Corps
56th AT Gun Regiment
90th Chinese Corps
86th Chinese Corps
5th Chinese Base Force
21st Chinese Corps
34th Chinese Corps
32nd Group Army
39th Group Army
26th Group Army
3rd Heavy Mortar Regiment
10th Group Army
81st Chinese Corps
12th Chinese Corps
63rd Chinese Corps
3rd Group Army
12th Group Army
10th Chinese Base Force
45th Chinese Corps
12th Construction Regiment
1st Artillery Regiment
8th Group Army
Jingcha War Area
3rd War Area
36th Group Army
8th Chinese Base Force
61st Chinese Corps
15th Group Army
Red Chinese Army
91st Chinese Corps
11th Chinese Base Force

The game goes on, if quietly, as there was not a lot happening lately

What is new?
a super big mistake, after several days unloading at Darwin, the relief fleet moved out. In one of the worst plays on the history of WITPAE, I decided to save time by moving them through Torres strait, I was fixed on the fact that Pt Moresby was damaged, that I ignored the significant risks that a network of Papuan airfields can mean

Results:
- 3 big tankers: Shell Type-A went down
- 2 big oilers: Cimarron and Kankakee severely damaged, and at 6 knots speed, will not leave danger area... Gone
- CV Lexington torpedoed: will be out of action for several months.
- CA Wichita bombed: will be out of action for some months.
- 2 DMs sunk

The only silver lining is that Darwin is now at 91K supplies, while airfield is at 6.96 and port at 3.85
heavy bombers will arrive in a few more weeks, and then the fun will start


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Feb 08, 43
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Sub attack near Horn Island at 93,130

Japanese Ships
SS I-7, hits 7, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CV Lexington
BB South Dakota
BB Washington
CLAA San Juan
CLAA San Diego
CLAA Juneau
DD Buchanan
DD Aaron Ward
DD Aylwin
DD Farragut
DD Lang
DD Stack

SS I-7 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Lexington
DD Aylwin fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Farragut fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Lang fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Stack fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Lang fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Lang fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Lang fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Lang attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Port Moresby at 98,130

Allied Ships
CA Wichita
CL Phoenix
DD Tucker
DD Conyngham
DD Drayton
DD Mahan
DD Sterett
DD Fanning
DD Dunlap
DD Gridley

Japanese ground losses:
218 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 80
Port hits 15
Port supply hits 1

OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for CA Wichita
CA Wichita firing at Port Moresby
CL Phoenix firing at Port Moresby
DD Tucker firing at Port Moresby
DD Conyngham firing at Port Moresby
DD Drayton firing at Port Moresby
DD Mahan firing at Port Moresby
DD Sterett firing at Port Moresby
DD Fanning firing at Port Moresby
DD Dunlap firing at Port Moresby
DD Gridley firing at Port Moresby


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Horn Island at 93,130

Japanese Ships
SS RO-64, hits 5

Allied Ships
DMS Dorsey
AO Kankakee
AO Cimarron
TK Athelmonarch
SC-706
SC-704
SC-643

SS RO-64 launches 2 torpedoes at DMS Dorsey
RO-64 diving deep ....
SC-706 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-704 fails to find sub and abandons search
SC-643 fails to find sub and abandons search
SC-706 attacking submerged sub ....
SC-706 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-706 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-706 attacking submerged sub ....
SC-706 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-706 fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Kirakira at 116,140

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 20
G3M3 Nell x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 5 damaged
G3M3 Nell: 3 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis
CA Vincennes
CA Astoria
CL Detroit

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 93,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 12
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
TK Athelmonarch
DM Montgomery, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DM Breese
DM Pruitt

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 93,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 24 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5M1 Mabel x 29

Japanese aircraft losses
B5M1 Mabel: 2 damaged
B5M1 Mabel: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
TK India, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
DMS Dorsey
DM Pruitt
SC-706
TK Erling Brovig
AO Cimarron, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
AO Kankakee, Torpedo hits 1
SC-704

Aircraft Attacking:
28 x B5M1 Mabel launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp



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Morning Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 93,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 46 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 33

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
TK India, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
DMS Dorsey, Bomb hits 1
DM Pruitt, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DM Breese
AO Kankakee
SC-704
TK Erling Brovig, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
33 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 9000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring TK India
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DM Pruitt
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring TK Erling Brovig


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 93,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
TK Athelmonarch, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires
AO Kankakee, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
DMS Dorsey, on fire
DM Breese

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 93,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N1 Kate x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AO Cimarron, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
SC-643
DMS Dorsey, on fire
AO Kankakee, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
DM Breese

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x B5N1 Kate bombing from 4000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 93,138

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 41
G3M3 Nell x 13

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 5 destroyed
G3M3 Nell: 5 damaged
G3M3 Nell: 4 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Hornet
BB South Dakota
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-4 Wildcat (10 airborne, 22 on standby, 0 scrambling)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 98,140

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 63 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 66
D4Y1 Judy x 37

Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Wichita, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
DD Fanning
DD Mahan
CL Phoenix
DD Sterett
DD Gridley

Aircraft Attacking:
37 x D4Y1 Judy bombing from 9000 feet *
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Wichita


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kirakira at 116,140

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 3 damaged
G3M3 Nell: 2 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
CA Vincennes
CA San Francisco

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Horn Island at 93,130

Japanese Ships
SS RO-64, hits 5

Allied Ships
TK Athelmonarch, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SC-706
SC-704

SS RO-64 launches 2 torpedoes at TK Athelmonarch
SC-706 fails to find sub and abandons search
SC-704 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-704 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-704 attacking submerged sub ....
SC-704 fails to find sub, continues to search...
SC-704 attacking submerged sub ....
SS RO-64 eludes ASW attack from SC-704
SC-704 loses contact with SS RO-64
Escort abandons search for sub

Actually looks like you got a tad lucky with the Judy's bombing from 9000ft....if I'm reading that right. Mabels?????? Surprised to see Mabels in '43...

You might consider building up both Portland Roads and Coen to secure LBA coverage through the Torrez Straits - you'd need the air cover unless you want to go the long way down under....

Yes I am also surprised, maybe he have had severe losses of standard Kates?
maybe he just threw everything available?

I think it is too late for Portland Roads or Coen, I will just avoid it for the time being, I am actually planning to invade Rossel island instead, I have a division at 100% prep and I don't want to waste it

I think he just made a mistake setting the altitude. At 10000 feet they would have dive bombed. It is easy to mis-set the altitude when clicking the increments up by one because the game can't keep up to rapid clicks. You may click five times but the game only catches four of them and stops short of the objective. If you don't notice, it's on you! [:(]

just to update that the game remains on hold since May

I just wrote to PresterJohn to query if he wishes to continue or keep it on hold a little longer

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

just to update that the game remains on hold since May

I just wrote to PresterJohn to query if he wishes to continue or keep it on hold a little longer

Got my hopes up when i saw you posting here Jorge!

Fingers crossed PresterJohn and you resume. Miss having this wonderful AAR out in front of mine by a couple of months! Was a great prep to what lies ahead for the Allied Cause.

Thank you very much Ed!! really appreciated

Got Steve's email; he will be sending a turn back sometime this week; so we will soon get back to a routine

Best news I've heard all day Jorge!

Looking forward to it!