Here is the latest combat report - a spectacular one as well [8D]
Seems like you were right Pauk! Andy decided to invade Rabaul instead of reinforcing Kavieng....
A large force of landing ships escorted by a light cruiser, destroyers, PT boats, sub chasers and minesweepers
entered Rabaul and took a he11uva beeting [:D]
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/04/43
Invasion
I counted some 9 msw's sunk as well as dozens of smaller crafts like LCTs, LST, PT boats and sub chasers.
Several destroyers are heavily damaged and the light cruiser Nashville hit 4 mines and is heavily damaged.
The 5th NZ Bde, 47th SeaBees and parts of the 1st USMC /B div went ashore but almost 4000 casualties
were reported! [&o] [8D]
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TF 1058 encounters mine field at Rabaul (61,88) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
TF 1058 troops unloading over beach at Rabaul, 61,88
824 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
MSW Cowra, Shell hits 56, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Bowen, Shell hits 67, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Caraquet, Shell hits 26, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Ipswitch, Shell hits 77, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Wasaga, Shell hits 53, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Deloraine, Shell hits 36, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Wollongong, Shell hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Goulburn, Shell hits 21, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Skylark, Shell hits 60, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Hamilton, Shell hits 30, on fire, heavy damage
DD Fox
DD DeHaven
DD Fletcher
CL Nashville, Mine hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Waller
DD Sims
LCVP 542F, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Empire Pibroch, Mine hits 1, on fire
Allied ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Coastal Guns at Rabaul, 61,88, firing at TF 1058
5005 Coastal gun shots fired in defense! Mohahaha
Have you EVER seen a worse casualty list!??
Allied Ships
LCT LCT-60, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
SC SC-704, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
DD Sims, Shell hits 24, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-63, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
CL Santa Fe, Shell hits 71, on fire
LCT LCT-64, Shell hits 19, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-66
LCT LCT-135, Shell hits 16, on fire, heavy damage
DD Fox, Shell hits 19, on fire, heavy damage
DD DeHaven, Shell hits 9, on fire
AK Samuel Adams, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
DD Fletcher, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Waller, Shell hits 5, on fire
LCVP 592G, Shell hits 17, on fire, heavy damage
LCM 592A, Shell hits 17, on fire, heavy damage
SC SC-981, Shell hits 25, on fire, heavy damage
LCVP 542F, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-333, Shell hits 20, on fire, heavy damage
SC SC-643, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LCM 532E, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
LCM 532B, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-30, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-230, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-461, Shell hits 25, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-227, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-332, Shell hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-373, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-22, Shell hits 15, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-364, Shell hits 16, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-360, Shell hits 25, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-358, Shell hits 21, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-282, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-357, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-27, Shell hits 23, on fire, heavy damage
PT PT-281, Shell hits 28, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-354, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-353, Shell hits 2, on fire
LCT LCT-352, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
SC SC-701, Shell hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
SC SC-642, Shell hits 23, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-325, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-179, Shell hits 14, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-178, Shell hits 25, on fire, heavy damage
LCT LCT-175, Shell hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
LCI LCI-335, Shell hits 15, on fire, heavy damage
LCI LCI-334, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
LCI LCI-333, Shell hits 1
LCI LCI-221, Shell hits 36, on fire, heavy damage
LCI LCI-216, Shell hits 16, on fire, heavy damage
LST LST-32, Shell hits 17, on fire, heavy damage
LST LST-29, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Allied ground losses:
3602 casualties reported
Guns lost 33
Vehicles lost 12
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TF 1058 encounters mine field at Rabaul (61,88) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!
TF 1058 troops unloading over beach at Rabaul, 61,88
176 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
MSW Cowra, Shell hits 26, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Bowen, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Caraquet, Shell hits 21, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Ipswitch, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Wasaga, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Deloraine, Shell hits 28, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Wollongong, Shell hits 14, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Goulburn, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Skylark, on fire, heavy damage
DMS Hamilton, Shell hits 10, on fire, heavy damage
DD Waller
DD Fox, on fire, heavy damage
DD Sims, on fire, heavy damage
DD DeHaven
LCVP 592P, Mine hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
Coastal Guns at Rabaul, 61,88, firing at TF 1058
13 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Allied Ships
LCM 592B, Shell hits 4
Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Air Combat
Day Air attack on Emirau Island , at 60,84
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 29
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 9
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 22
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 6 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
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As you see I did order the Army bombers back to Kavieng despite of heavy losses Honda!
Day Air attack on 3rd USMC Division, at 61,86
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 31
Ki-21 Sally x 71
Ki-46-III Dinah x 2
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 17 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 5 destroyed, 7 damaged
Allied ground losses:
102 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
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Day Air attack on Americal USA/B Division, at 61,86
Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 10
Ki-21 Sally x 35
Ki-46-III Dinah x 2
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 4 destroyed
Ki-21 Sally: 7 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning: 1 damaged
Allied ground losses:
28 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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Ground Combat
A 3-1 odds today: losses are still heavy but perhaps we can crack this nut after all?
A couple of days rest, Andy got even more targets now.
Ground combat at Kavieng
Japanese Deliberate attack
Attacking force 72936 troops, 731 guns, 6 vehicles
Defending force 21135 troops, 113 guns, 119 vehicles
Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
1645 casualties reported
Guns lost 36
Vehicles lost 3
Allied ground losses:
342 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
Vehicles lost 6
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5000 troops isn't enought to capture Rabaul - but I doubt more will arrive from the sea <G>
Ground combat at Rabaul
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 7794 troops, 68 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 4950 troops, 50 guns, 2 vehicles
Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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