An Aussie Affair: Luskan vs Raverdave

[Crocky]

Only 3000 views children grow up you dont even registar until you have over 10000 check Kids and mine close to 20000 by the end of the battle

[DoomedMantis]

Originally posted by Raverdave
So did you rate this thread or not........Pay-per-view is gonna cost you $1 per download..... but then being the man that you are, I guess you are used to paying for it:D

Now how much did I charge you last time? I dont go cheap you know;)

[Luskan]

Sorry Raver, I meant bdes not divs

No I don't have 15 divisions. I do have 21 bdes in australia however . . .

[Luskan]

That is the sound of Raver berating his intel officers. Obviously they were wrong.

The Irau story to date: I landed, kicked his butt out of Irau. He lands at kirawhatever (now he has 3 biggish inf units - I think he evacuated the eng unit I swore was there?) marched them back overland to Irau - where I smacked them again and now, he has marched them back AGAIN where he thought I only had one RCT to defend the place. They lost 600 men in their deliberate attack and my shock attack, I lost about 50 all up. Now he'll probably just let the 1500 reported survivors march back to Irau until they're dead.

Actually I have two rcts there, an armour unit, two eng groups, a coastal defence unit (nice big guns) some aa (I don't think they count head to head) and within three days I'll add some paratroops, combat engineers, another base force and a partridge in a pear tree that shoots poisonous darts at enemy spies.

With Irau secured, it is either a small jump to Lunga (which at the moment doesn't seem to be a big leap of imagination) or a long jump to PM or GG, which seem to be extremely lightly defended according to my numerous bombing/recon flights. However a long jump like that would need to be fast and nasty to get out before Raver's CV cavalry arrive.

Speaking of Raver's untouched heavies, they were reported at Buin last turn, lots of DDs, BBs, and Cas at Shortlands . . . Might be time for my CVs to join the fray.

[Raverdave]

Originally posted by Luskan


. . . Might be time for my CVs to join the fray.

Crap! Your Cvs have been tied-up at port so long that they now have palm trees growing on the flight deck!

[Luskan]

Of course they have palm trees - they just completed a camoflage refit to look like pacific islands so your spotter planes don't find them.

Doomed was thinking along the same lines as you when I midwayed him big time (he lost 3 cvs confirmed sunk + with half a dozen 1000lbs holes in her, and I lost . . . none of my 3 remaining cvs. Not even a single hit.).

My coast watchers and subs reported Raver "Cannon Fodder" Dave's big fleet with bbs etc moving south from shortlands. If they're out for some aussie bombardments I expect to be adding them to the barrier reef sometime soon.

[DoomedMantis]

Luskan has the devils luck, managed to sneak a 3CV 6 CA and some CL's under my nose, and my extensive search aircraft never once spotted them. If those guys aren't already dead then they soon will be.

[Raverdave]

Luskan is too much of a smug barstard........and we all know what happens to those types of blokes! I will defeat Luskan-the-coward.....it is simply a matter of deciding where and when I will hit him. I out number him in CVs by 2 to 1, and I also out number him in @ss AND class !

[Luskan]

A previously uncontested area of the map gets its first action as the small ship war continues!

For a week now, Raver has had 3 MSW's sitting at GG. Since he doesn't have any ac at PM or GG worth noting (less than ten all up) he couldn't leave them in port due to my in form b17s out of Cairns (which may be why he has been sending 50+ betties to cairns every night for a week. Every night 24 airacobras go head to head and shoot down . . . 0, or maybe get a damage. At least he only ever gets 3 or 4 hits on the base or port - nothing more than nuisance value, although his pilots must be pretty experienced by now.) Anyway - those MSWs were just sitting there, unprotect, unescorted, and my regular recons spotted them every turn. Why is he surprised when two CLs and 6 dds show up and sink them one night?

Of course, Raver has nothing to worry about. The 20 odd pcs, pgs, msws and mls I have sunk in the last week or so are not only small game - he has plenty left to play with. I had been meaning to hit GG with something much heavier (now I have another BB) but I needed to get in and out before the heavies reported heading south from Shortlands arrive and denied me the chance at an easy target.

Score for this turn 3 MSWs to zero hits on my little task force (which sailed all the way from Luganville for this op!).

Sooner or later Raver is going to need to reinforce/resupply Port Moresby - the heavy bomber damage done to the place, the supply hits and upkeep of his relatively small force there should have exhausted the stockpile there by now. I don't think overland really counts to PM, so I'm wondering if he isn't planning to reinforce the place with one big fat convoy, rather than regular runs.

My subs are ready to deploy, b17s relatively rested (they keep getting bombed while they should be sleeping - they haven't lost any planes to the betties yet, just sleep) and now I've got some surface units close enough to wreak havoc upon his shipping.

Those ijn convoys are really extremely slow, especially if escorted by PCs (he'd have a lot more to worry about nighttime mid-ocean-intercept-surface-commerce-raider wise if he was playing Adm. Arctic, who just managed his SECOND in TWO TURNS against me in another PBEM). I'll wait until they're in port before I try to sink them.

[Raverdave]

PM is fine and needs little or no re-supply....the loss of a few small ships means nothing in the big picture of things.

Banzi!

[Raverdave]

Stay turned folks! I have just ramped-up the war......and Luskan is in for a major bitch-slapping ! There is some HARD RAIN about to fall.

[SoulBlazer]

I thought a English and a French guy could get into a major battle.....I've been proven wrong.

[Luskan]

Raver's timing was perfect. I had a few transport groups all on their way somewhere, and all retreated at the detection of enemy carriers in the coral sea - that op has been cancelled and I'll have to restart the whole carefully planned thing some other time.

It seems there are 2 cvs, a bunch of cruisers, light cruisers etc, in clumps off the Aussie coast outside bomber range, waiting to have a go at my coastline. I have unprecedented numbers of level bombers there, but last time Raver's CVs came to play my bombers were the ones that suffered.

I also don't know if Raver has sent all his cvs, or just a couple to cover the raids (he can afford to split his cvs up a bit since he has much more flight deck space then I do atm.).

[Raverdave]

A few days ago I landed a small party of troops who's mission was to see what was at Brisbane. They were landed undetected south of Rockhampton and have just completed their Recon of Brissy. Needless to say they all performed their mission as one would expect....and died as befitting soldiers of the empire of the rising sun

[Luskan]

Again the level bombers are under performing. Raver must have wet his pants laughing when he saw the last turn. I've got lots of level bombers - he's provided them with a plethora of targets - maybe fifty ships spread in various little tfs from range 0 (yes, actually in townesville harbour), range 1 (next to townsville), out to about range 6 and 7 where there are CVs loitering in a bunch of tfs, also a BB group prowling around closer inshore. We're talking the most target rich environmen ever imagined, and 99% of my level bombers did not launch. Sure, the in form squadrons are all further north, and those marauders I rushed in are still fatigued, but when Cairns doensn't launch, rockhampton doesn't launch, and townsville launches 2 raids of 10 beauforts each - the first raid got one torpedo hit on a destroyer, the second took off, and FAILED TO FIND the ships in THE HARBOUR at the end of the runway. 10 (out of 60) b17s launched from cooktown, got lost and went home.

The IJN is so worried about my air power that they are snorkelling the barrier reef, sunning themselves, getting in a bit of fly fishing. It is probably called operation Summer Holiday.

At least Raver hasn't bombed/bombarded anything of note yet (he did put 8 bombs through the damaged transport Adelong, which is still afloat for some reason, but that is it so far).

It could be that Raver has a CAP over most of his tfs and my bombers don't want to take it on, but still, a little bit of effort would win me the war here!

In addition to which, my heavy units carried out a very unsatisfactory bombardment of Irau (I thought Raver was still focussed on the solomons, I thought I saw a recon of Nevea etc.), where 2 BBs, 6 cas, 3cls and the rest dds did land a lot of shells at Lunga - sure. But they barely killed fifty of raver's troops, and copped about 15 or 16 shell hits from the CD units he has there in return.

The only consolation is that I haven't sighted any transports - I think Raver is just haunting my coast in order to pick a fight and try to nail down my elusive CV fleet. I don't seriously think he means to invade.

[Raverdave]

Gentlemen........the battle for Australia has begun !

It is now the 23rd of October and a successful invasion of Townsville will leave only two months for Luskan to get it back....not a large time table at all. I have sighted 2 of his CVs closing in to the eastern coast of Australia. This is just what I want....a commander who panics and commits his forces piece-meal !

I have not enclosed the AAR as Luskan has yet to see it, but I think that he can take some heart from the good efforts that his MRB and LRBs have done. They have scored some good hits.

Australia has always been my target, with a view for an Auto-victory. The question has been where to land? My original plans called for Brisbane, but as the scout unit found there were just too many infantry units there for me to pull-off a quick victory. Townsville is the ideal second choice, if it falls so too will Carins and Cooktown in very short order, regardless of what he has stationed there.

The Solomons are not far from my mind, with a major task force head there now. Ol' Luskie is going to be real busy over the next few weeks!

BANZI ! BANZI ! BANZI !

[Luskan]

The question is: did I panic soon enough????

I've got assets scrambling from all over the theatre to try and counter this massive force (now I've also spotted invasion fleet transports) off the aussie coast.

Perhaps 7-10 tfs, each full of BBs, CAs, CVs etc.

Now this turn my level bombers did launch, and now 80% of them are damaged and 20% of them destroyed. The count shows Raver downed almost 35 level bombers, and damaged about 80. The b17 squadrons that are my only experienced level bombers in the theatre started the turn with 9-12 bombers each, now they all have 6-8, 5-7 of which are damaged.

They were just too low and Raver's flak and fighters mauled them.
In response the bombers scored a lot of single hits on various DDs and CLs (nothing will sink but enough to set them afire and send them home). However the focus of the bombing was around one of Raver's BB battlefleets, containing Musu, Yamato and Musashi (parked at Townsville lobbing shells onto the airfield). The bombers here did quite well, nailing Mutsu 10 or 11 times, she's on fire and has heavy damage. However they also hit Yamato and Musashi about 8 times each too - and not a single 500lbs or 250lbs bomb penetrated their armour. Those two beasts barely need a paint job.

As for my CVs, well I shouldn't have moved them in as I did, when I did. I think Raver has got me, to be honest. I've given orders to try and out-smart/evade his 7 or 8 CVs, but I'm not holding my breath. If there is a CV battle, due to a number of factors, I will be very unlikely to win, or even escape intact.

If my CVs survive without combat or serious damage this turn, and probably next turn, the cavalry will arrive (and I may have avoided Raver enough to close the aussie coast and get some p39, p40 and p38 coverage to give me a big advantage in the nastiness to follow.

Troops at Townsville are digging in, while troops from Brisbane are racing north along the road to try and get there before the japs do (2 turns before Raver's transports land? My planes didn't spot them until really late).

Stay tuned for the next episode, which will happen as soon as Raver sends it (suspense is killing me).

[Raverdave]

Here is the AAR for the 23rd of October:-

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/23/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Naval bombardment of Townsville, at 10,62


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 1 damaged

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 29


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Townsville, at 10,62


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
no losses

Airbase hits 11
Runway hits 39
Port fuel hits 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Townsville, at 10,62


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
no losses

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 25


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Townsville , at 10,62

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 1

Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 5

no losses

no losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Cooktown , at 6,53

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
A6M3 Zero x 27
G4M1 Betty x 75

Allied aircraft
P-40E Kittyhawk x 18
P-40E Warhawk x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 4 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 7 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 23 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Kittyhawk x 7 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk x 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk x 6 damaged

LCDR K. Sakakibara of F1/3rd Daitai is credited with kill number 7

SLDR P. Turnbull of No. 75 Sqn RAAF is KILLED


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 35

Airbase hits 21
Runway hits 23

Attacking Level Bombers:
1 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
9 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
1 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
7 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
5 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
A6M3 Zero x 13

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 1 destroyed
B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato

Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
A6M3 Zero x 13

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 9 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Natori
CA Furutaka, Bomb hits 1
CL Isuzu, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
A6M3 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 16
B-17E Fortress x 52
B-24D Liberator x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 5 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 7 damaged
B-17E Fortress x 1 destroyed
B-17E Fortress x 12 damaged
B-24D Liberator x 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Musashi, Bomb hits 5
BB Yamato, Bomb hits 2
DD Kagero
CA Furutaka
BB Mutsu, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
CL Kinu, Bomb hits 1
CL Natori
BB Nagato, Bomb hits 1
CL Isuzu, on fire

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Hudson at 1000 feet
4 x Hudson at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x Hudson at 1000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x B-24D Liberator at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x Hudson at 1000 feet
4 x B-24D Liberator at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x B-24D Liberator at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
A6M3 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Mutsu, on fire, heavy damage
CL Natori, Bomb hits 1
BB Musashi
BB Yamato, Bomb hits 3
CL Isuzu, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Takanami

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
A6M3 Zero x 13

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 22

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Abukuma
CL Yura
CL Yubari, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Cairns at 7,56


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 4


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Mochizuki, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Townsville , at 10,62

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 1

Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 1 damaged



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 13,60

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 39
A6M3 Zero x 13

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Nagatsuki
AP Akibasan Maru, Bomb hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 13

Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 13,60

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 39
A6M3 Zero x 13

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 1 damaged


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
A6M3 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 2 damaged


Japanese Ships
CL Abukuma
DD Yamakaze, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Yubari, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hatsuharu, Bomb hits 1
CL Yura

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Cairns, at 7,56

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 18


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

[Luskan]

October the 24th was a very good day for me. The allied level bombers I have been screaming at for the last two turns either stopped ignoring me, or more likely, realised what Raver-san is going to do to them when he invades.

In addition, as a desperate measure I sent in the wirraways from Brisbane and I will never, ever, criticise those wonderful planes again (just about every bomb hit on his cvs is from a wirraway).

My CVs avoided action (although raver did get one strike off) and were close enough to make half of raver's transports abort their approach to Cooktown. Raver hasn't had a crippling blow yet (or lost a ship yet I think) but there is a stream of damaged ships heading north that I'd love to catch up with sooner rather than later.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/24/42

Weather: Clear

Naval bombardment of Cairns, at 7,56

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 10


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Cairns , at 7,56

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
D3A Val x 37
B5N Kate x 63

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 2 damaged
B5N Kate x 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk x 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk x 1 damaged

PO2 N.Minowa of F1/253rd Daitai is credited with kill number 4


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 13

Airbase hits 18
Runway hits 71

Attacking Level Bombers:
17 x B5N Kate at 5000 feet
8 x B5N Kate at 5000 feet
13 x B5N Kate at 5000 feet
11 x B5N Kate at 5000 feet
12 x B5N Kate at 5000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 25


Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Kaito Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP China Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Brazil Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP Myoko Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP Ceylon Maru
AP Chowa Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Hokusho Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 285
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
2 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 15


Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
TK Toei Maru
TK Toho Maru
TK Nichei Maru
AO Tsurumi

Attacking Level Bombers:
2 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
2 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 12,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 31

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 45
P-40E Warhawk x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 9 damaged
P-40E Warhawk x 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk x 4 damaged

LTJG J.Doikawa of EI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku
CA Takao
CVL Zuiho, Bomb hits 1
CV Hiryu
CA Nachi


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 12,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30

Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 4
B-26B Marauder x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-400 Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 5 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 10 damaged

1LT E. Jackson of 41st FS is credited with kill number 2

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CVL Shoho
CV Akagi

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
2 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 12,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25

Allied aircraft
Beaufort x 6
Wirraway x 47
P-400 Airacobra x 3
B-26B Marauder x 25

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort x 2 destroyed
Wirraway x 10 destroyed
Wirraway x 12 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 2 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 2 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 8 damaged

LTJG T.Ogawa of EI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage, out of action?
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 1
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 3, on fire

Wirraways rule

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
1 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x Beaufort at 200 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Cooktown , at 6,53

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25

Allied aircraft
P-40E Kittyhawk x 19
P-40E Warhawk x 19

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 6 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Kittyhawk x 6 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 3 damaged
P-40E Warhawk x 7 destroyed

SLDR L.Wright of No. 75 Sqn RAAF is credited with kill number 5

LCDR S.Kawakubo of F2/Tainan Daitai bails out and is CAPTURED


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 11,58


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 16


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 11 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Shozan Maru
APD 2
APD 1
DD Asagumo
APD 39

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
2 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 11,58


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Hirokawa Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 51

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 11,58


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Hokko Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 17

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62


Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 21


Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Kaito Maru, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chowa Maru, Bomb hits 11, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kembu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Myoko Maru, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 321
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
1 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
4 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
2 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet
3 x B-26B Marauder at 1000 feet

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Air attack on TF at 12,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 8

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Junyo
DD Oite

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 12,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 19
P-40E Warhawk x 12

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk x 1 damaged


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Air attack on TF at 14,58


Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 12


no losses

Japanese Ships
DD Oyashio, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage


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Air attack on TF at 12,59

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 29

Allied aircraft
Wirraway x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 5 destroyed
Wirraway x 3 damaged

CPO R.Kumagaya of CII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4

Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki
CV Akagi, Bomb hits 1, on fire, really on fire!! Probably flight decks are out of action!! WOOT!
CVL Shoho


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Air attack on TF at 11,57


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 10


no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Hakusan Maru
AP Hikade Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Goyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 33

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Hudson at 1000 feet
2 x Hudson at 1000 feet
4 x Hudson at 1000 feet

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Air attack on TF, near Townsville at 10,62

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 18
B5N Kate x 15

Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 3 damaged
B5N Kate x 1 damaged


Allied Ships
DD Stockton
CL Hobart, Bomb hits 3, on fire (Hobart is actually pretty badly mauled).
DD Aaron Ward
DD Gwin


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Air attack on TF at 13,59 (retreating little ships)

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 1 damaged

Allied Ships
SC 517, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage


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Air attack on TF at 24,66 Raver's one cv group in range launched a long range hit - thankfully I had lots of planes there to beat it off.

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
D3A Val x 18
B5N Kate x 14

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 106
P-38G Lightning x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 7 destroyed
D3A Val x 18 destroyed
B5N Kate x 14 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 damaged
P-38G Lightning x 2 destroyed

ENS E. Bassett of VF-42 is credited with kill number 4


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Naval bombardment of Cairns, at 7,56

Allied Ships
AK Lycaon, Shell hits 1
AK Idomeneus, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Demodocus, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Asphalion, Shell hits 1
CL Leander, Shell hits 1
AK Mildura, Shell hits 1

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 13
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 1


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


From the looks of things, Raver still has more than enough undrowned troops to get ashore and do his number on Townsville. He also has enough air power to not miss the missing cvs too much -that is, as long as he keeps capping for the transports and battleships spread all over the ocean.

Strictly speaking, air loss totals show Raver is ahead this turn as well, shooting down more planes than I did, although he lost some flight deck space.

This next turn will probably be the decider.

a: Raver realises it was a dumb idea and hauls *** with my troops in pursuit a turn later.
b: Raver slugs it out, takes townsville, but probably can't hold it because of the damage he's copped in taking it.
c: Raver lets the transports run home and stays to try and duke it out with my still inferior cv force. Of course, now I've closed with the aussie mainland and have got a p38 squadron, a few other fighters to fly CAP for me I'm a little more confident of survival (don't think I can wipe the slate clean - Raver has so many damned targets floating around the place my cvs won't concentrate enough force on his cvs etc.).

Time will tell.

[Raverdave]

The plan was perfect....swoop in, nab Townsville and setup shop and wait till 1943 ! Well as with any plan, it is good until you make contact with the enemy. My transport TFs (of which there are about 70 ships) wet their collective pants when they knew of the enemy CVs, and did a sharp about-turn heading for Truk! My perfectly formed fornations scattered to the four winds, and to make that worse, weakened the CAP that was supposed to be covering them. So I have wasted a day rounding them all up and pointing them in the right direction...in the meantime, the fleet is sitting out at sea getting it's @ss shot off by LRB, MRB....even the frigging P-39s have landed hits on my CVs!!!

I cannot back down, as I have every IJN unit committed to this as well as every major ground unit. Do or die !
Banzi!:D