two Germans in the Pacific - Sc17

[RGIJN]

Yeah, Frank always keeps track on KB - whatever I try to disguise their remaining. After Shortlands harbour was bombed already some times in the past and Rabaul was found to be too obvious I sent a small part of KB meant as "first aid kit" into Tulagi. I was well aware of the perils such a deployment would have, and it was not a dead dread... However, the NewHebrides B17 crews seem to be quite green ones since only CVL ZUIHO received considerable damage, forcing her back to Japan. [:@] Now I have to face the search for a new port to my poor & homeless carriers... [:(]

Meanwhile 11th AirFleet got over Port Moresby. And what a surprise - no CAP was on! So all my bombers enjoyed a pleasnat flight and stay over the target.
See here for the details...

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Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 50
G3M Nell x 10
G4M1 Betty x 103
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 32
Ki-46 Dinah x 2

Allied aircraft

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 1 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 2 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 11 damaged


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 124

Airbase hits 18
Runway hits 54

Attacking Level Bombers:
23 x G4M1 Betty at 8000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 8000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 8000 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 6000 feet
8 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
16 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
7 x G3M Nell at 6000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 8000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 8000 feet
9 x G4M1 Betty at 8000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 8000 feet
8 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
16 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[fuelli]

May I suggest Truk? It is still out of reach for my bombers and you can send all your CVs immediately to Tokoyo in any case of emergency.[;)]

[fuelli]

Now that 42 is coming to an end I have to start to think about what 43 will be all about. Looking at schedules of reinforcements I can say that I soon will have a reasonable force to play with. A new type of fighter will be available soon and the flight engineers are already convinced that it will change a lot. Soon I will have recovered from the devestating air strike on Brisbane and also a new type of carrier will start its duty soon. Therefore I have assambled my staff to work on the future strategic objects.

[RGIJN]

Most recently the growing allied base of Port Moresby was subject to some heavy raids of the Imperial forces. First, I welded together several parts of my Fleet and sailed under the cover of KB thru the Solomon Sea towards PNG. Then two bold battlegropups shelled the base with tremendous success. One of my TFs contained 18 pieces of the eighteen-inchers of IJN BBs YAMATO & MUSASHI. These behemoths are indeed well suitable for a bombardment task. [8D] Though my recon stated the airstrip 100% out of order, several allied A/C came out to attack. Damage was ludicrous - just two sys points, no fl or fires. Besides another US submarine hit the bottom when it came under fire of my returning fleets. [;)]

Later on, my bombers visited PM once again, and repeatedly the base was not screened by any CAP. Oh what a delight!



AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/17/42

Weather: Rain

Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 10,40


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 6 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 23 damaged
B-25D Mitchell x 1 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 4 damaged


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 193

Airbase hits 22
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 158


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 10,40


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed
Beaufort x 1 destroyed
Beaufort x 4 damaged
B-25D Mitchell x 2 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 8 damaged
P-40E Warhawk x 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk x 2 damaged


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 78
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 121


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 16,44

Japanese Ships
DD Shirayuki
DD Asanagi

Allied Ships
SS S-43, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 17,44

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 11
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 5

Allied aircraft
B-25D Mitchell x 3

no losses

no losses

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 9000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 17,44

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 8
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 56
B-25D Mitchell x 3
B-26B Marauder x 6
B-17E Fortress x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 6 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 4 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning x 3 destroyed
P-38G Lightning x 2 damaged
B-25D Mitchell x 3 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 3 damaged
B-17E Fortress x 1 destroyed
B-17E Fortress x 1 damaged

LCDR R.Minowa of F1/Tainan Daitai is credited with kill number 7

LCDR R.Minowa of F1/Tainan Daitai is KILLED

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
CA Furutaka
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 3
DD Nowaki

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 9000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 9000 feet
3 x B-25D Mitchell at 9000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress at 15000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 15000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[RGIJN]

see here a painting made from one of the pilots that flew over PM last time. They were roaming freely over the base, collecting such memories of their allied opponents, which are hiding in the jungle and waiting for the japanese pummling to be gone...

[RGIJN]

As commonly known, Japanese medium bombers cannot make much an impact on Allied airstrips and enemy engineers are quick tools to fix any damage done but this attack was some nice though.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
G3M Nell x 6
J1N1-R Irving x 1
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 31
Ki-46 Dinah x 2

Allied aircraft

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D Mitchell x 1 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 17

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 5

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x G3M Nell at 6000 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Gavigamana , at 51,47


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
P-39D Airacobra x 18


no losses

Runway hits 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 40
A6M3 Zero x 25
G4M1 Betty x 100
J1N1-R Irving x 1
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 30
Ki-46 Dinah x 2

Allied aircraft

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 2 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 3 damaged
B-25D Mitchell x 5 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 156
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase hits 22
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 74

[fuelli]

These were rough days for the people at PM. Some of the holes made by the 18inchers have been large enuogh to hide a complete bulldozer in it. After it has been very quiet for a long time I now have to take more care of this area of the map. This means espacially that the lazy times for the fighter pilots there are over now. Cap duty is no longer reduced to unloading activities of TFs in the port. Fortunately my fighter strength is increasing on a weekly basis and I can afford this effort in the future. How to deal with Yamato and Musashi is another question. They are immune to the 500er dropped by my level bombers. Maybe a decisive surface battle is about to commence...

[fuelli]

We now have the 31st of December 1942. The christmas days have been far from beeing peaceful. PM saw the most heavy fighting since the outbreak of the conflict. On three consecutive days two bombardmentgroups pounded the base. It seems to be that no BBs were involved but the constancy of the attacks had an erosive effect on airgroups and supplies. Fortunately mostly 2e bombers were destroyed on the ground. 3 Enemy destroyers were picked up and sunk by the remaining bombers. Nevertheless, the operational capability of PM is now reduced as I had to pull out a mayor part of my airforce. They now get a long deserved rest at Australia. Meanwhile the plannings for operation "Soup" are going more and more in detail. Even this is just a preperational operation it could become a decisive battle.

[RGIJN]

Truly not meant as fireworks[;)], the powerful imperial naval forces opened up 1943 with several heavy bangs for Franks guys in Port Moresby. Strong battleship groups unleashed their wrath out of 24 fourteen and 8 sixteen inchers plus numerous "smaller" calibers, two days recurring due to good effect... Same night, washing machine Charly came up overhead and fell in ther roundel. My Naval commander Cpt. YANO excitedly wired: "What a sound! Its music in my ears!!" I am not sure about the Aussies running for shelter at PM, but I figure they hardly recognize these violent concussions as any kind of art let alone music... [;)]


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/04/43

Weather: Overcast

Sub attack at 18,43

Allied Ships
SS S-39


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 10,40


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk x 4 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk x 3 damaged
Beaufort x 5 destroyed
Beaufort x 4 damaged


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 320
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 51
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 204

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


and the next day...




AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/05/43

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 20

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12

Attacking Level Bombers:
13 x G4M1 Betty at 8000 feet
13 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 10,40


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort x 2 destroyed
Beaufort x 7 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 12

Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 94


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[fuelli]

Everything that works for one side can be sufficient for the other as well. My well paid strategists came up with a cunning plan: Howe about bombarding the enemy ports just the way he is doing? Sounds pretty amazing....
But the results were encouraging:

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Naval bombardment of Irau, at 42,43

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 10 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 14 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 187

Airbase hits 34
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 166
Port supply hits 1

And this were just 9x16inchers and a little bit support.

Apart from that my bombers have ended their resting and came up with valuable results as well

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Rossel Island , at 25,44

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 3
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 34

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 16

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 13

Attacking Level Bombers:
5 x B-17E Fortress at 15000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 15000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 15000 feet
5 x B-17E Fortress at 15000 feet
7 x B-17E Fortress at 15000 feet
5 x B-17E Fortress at 15000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 15000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 15000 feet

While operation Soup is still under preparation, a certain part of my forces got completely new orders to counter the massive movement of battleships by the enemy.

[RGIJN]

Indeed the allied forces are poaching in enemy territory by now, and Frank don´t hesitate to come with his heavy men-of-war. However, this time not only his shelling was just half that destructive as the previous one. He brought up BB WASHINGTON with a bunch of warships and auxilaries but the accompanying DMS crafts weren´t able to cope with the thousands of mines infesting the vicinity of Irau...[:D] Thus his battleship and at least two of the destroyers of his escort violently shook when they ran into these nice Type 93 mines. Search planes reported an unidentified vessel limping home and trailing oil. Further, one of his light cruisers lent from the Aussies took several hits of my ancient Vickers guns hidden in the jungle... BANZAI!
So I´d say Fuelli got some bloody nose at his trip this time.



AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01/14/43

Weather: Clear

Naval bombardment of Irau, at 42,43

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 6 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 5 damaged
J1N1-R Irving x 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CL Leander, Shell hits 4

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 43

Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 83
Port hits 1

[fuelli]

The ship trailing the mainbody is one of the two destroyers that hit a mine. It will need some repairs back home. The report is very precise according the hits on CL Leander. No fires and no serious damage to the hull. BB Washington never realized that it ran over a mine...maybe they forgot to put the charge into it. The recon flights during the day were not encountered by CAP as usual. Seems to be the bombardment was successful.
The much more devastating fact of this day were the seven 80+ Exp, fully rested, highly motivated B17 pilots that were not able to land their bombers in perfect weather on a size 9 airstrip at Townsville.....A lot of workers back home will have all hands full of work to replace these heavies. At least they accomplished their bombing run.

Air attack on Rossel Island , at 25,44

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 9
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 46

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 3 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 3

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 25

[fuelli]

The last couple of weeks saw a lot of sub action. Everything started off the coast of Australia as one of the enemy I-boats successfully torpedoed the CV Wasp on a holiday tour. Ouch. One hit that did significant damage. Just a few days later I got my revenge. After I lost contact with the KB long time ago it seems that the mighty Japanese carrier fleet is now on its way back to the action. SS Grenadier hit the CV Hiyo off Truk with one fish. During the following days these area proved to be a good fishing ground. A CA and several APs got hit and at least one AP is reported sunk. Of course they’re quite easy preys without escorts. Also in the Solomons my subs struck but only one DD got sunk and in return I lost one sub that got depth charged two different times.

Meanwhile the planning for operation “Soup” is finished and the first activities are on their way. Right now the following up operations are on the sketchpad and taking shape. As usual the first step will be the most important. The target was already looked long time ago but the scope to achieve it grows bigger and bigger with every detailing step I take.
It is like delivering the 3-2 pitch in a tie game with a runner on third and less than two out and the top hitter due up...you only hope he will go down looking.

[bigbaba]

glad to see you two guys back in action...after fuellis "greatest victory in his life".[;)]

[fuelli]

I can assure you that this victory was the result of a long term strategy even more complicated than Yamamotos force allocation for Operation MI. And taking into account that I had NO flightdeck to operate with I did fairly well[:D]

[fuelli]

Just to remind you that we are still out there. We are reaching the end of Feb 43 and nothing earthshaking had happened during the last weeks in the game. I´m sure my opponent is digging in as I am observing lots of transport activities. From time to time my 4e damaged a couple of transports and my scoutng planes sink barges on a regular basis.
Yesterday my B17s out of PM (which became a stronghold again after beeing heavy bombarded by Japaneese battleships) made a successful raid against ships docked in shortland. Several BBs, CAs, CLs, and DDs got hit and maybe one or two of them will be out of action for a while (Not the BBs I know). After I haven´t seen much of the enemy sub forces lately, one was spotted in the Wunpoku area most likely packed full of mines. It did not survive the second contact with my scouting bombers.
One intersting sidenote is that BB Musashi was spotted beween Irau and Nevea. Maybe this is the "4e trap". My Bombers are advised to ignore this target.
Operaion "Soup" is now in its second stage and soon I hope to harvest the fruits of all the effort that has been made for two month now.

[Ike99]

...made a successful raid against ships docked in shortland.

Any mine hits? Feb 43 he should have several thousand mines around Shortland.

[fuelli]

Yesterday my B17s out of PM (which became a stronghold again after beeing heavy bombarded by Japaneese battleships) made a successful raid against ships docked in shortland.

I hope B17s will never get hit by mi[:D]nes

[Ike99]

Yesterday my B17s out of PM (which became a stronghold again after beeing heavy bombarded by Japaneese battleships) made a successful raid against ships docked in shortland.

I hope B17s will never get hit by mines

Ahh, yes I reread that. I understood a Battleship group had bombarded the port, my mistake.

[:D]

[fuelli]

Battleships? I do not have any battleships....[;)]