Map of the Marshalls:
And an interesting screenshot of losses from flak:
Notice there isn't a single Allied plane on that list! Goes to show how much better Allied flak is in addition to how carefully I use my bombers.
Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Logistics, Patience, and Firepower
Moderators: wdolson, MOD_War-in-the-Pacific-Admirals-Edition
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
January 4th 1944
Map of the Marshalls:
And an interesting screenshot of losses from flak:
Notice there isn't a single Allied plane on that list! Goes to show how much better Allied flak is in addition to how carefully I use my bombers.
Map of the Marshalls:
And an interesting screenshot of losses from flak:
Notice there isn't a single Allied plane on that list! Goes to show how much better Allied flak is in addition to how carefully I use my bombers.
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
January 9th 1944
The quiet continues. It's been at least two weeks since we've had an air battle. But the inexorable advance continues at Kwajalein:
The Marshalls are almost wrapped up now. That's my third straight atoll invasion without ANY casualties. It is no longer necessary to be at 100 prep to do these invasions anymore. Having only lost 5 APAs or ships that convert to APAs and not a single AKA, I have the capacity for many simultaneous invasions. Things are moving quickly and supply lines to Australia are getting shorter.
The quiet continues. It's been at least two weeks since we've had an air battle. But the inexorable advance continues at Kwajalein:
Ground combat at Kwajalein Island (132,115)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 4251 troops, 200 guns, 159 vehicles, Assault Value = 128
Defending force 1227 troops, 31 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 7
Allied adjusted assault: 67
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 67 to 1 (fort level 4)
Allied forces CAPTURE Kwajalein Island !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
1227 casualties reported
Squads: 33 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 142 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 18 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 31 (31 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 3
Assaulting units:
762nd Tank Battalion
3rd Marine Regiment
168th Field Artillery Regiment
7th USMC Field Artillery Battalion
Defending units:
10th ADU Coastal Gun Regiment
Kwajalein Base Force
7th JNAF AF Unit
The Marshalls are almost wrapped up now. That's my third straight atoll invasion without ANY casualties. It is no longer necessary to be at 100 prep to do these invasions anymore. Having only lost 5 APAs or ships that convert to APAs and not a single AKA, I have the capacity for many simultaneous invasions. Things are moving quickly and supply lines to Australia are getting shorter.
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
January 29th 1943
In case anyone was wondering things are moving along fairly well. Landings continue largely unopposed. Only losses have been a single APA destroyed by Lilly dive bombers in the Solomons and a few xAKs and xAPs from landing on Tulagi which is defended by a rather large number of guns. A few air battles but nothing major. Seems the Japanese are giving me a decent cushion to move forward. That is partially the reason I have not updated this AAR recently: aside from amphibious landings there's not much to report on.
Less than a week ago, subs fired on a few major IJN fleets headed SW from Truk. I don't see them in Rabaul but I suspect they may be in Kaiveng or the Admiralty Islands. Rabaul is heavily defended by fighters so this could be an area the Japanese defend heavily.
I've finally begun moving NW out of Darwin into the eastern DEI. Taberfane will fall soon and I have followup landings to the west coming shortly. With the Japanese fleet most likely to the east, this should go relatively smoothly.
One thing that is becoming apparent at this juncture is that you simply cannot have enough amphibious, transport, and cargo ships. Whereas in 1942 it felt like I had a plethora of ships to get the job done, by 1944 I simply cannot get enough. Each turn I end up scouring the seas to find enough transport ships to sustain my offensives.
Right now the focus is still shortening the communication lines between Hawaii and Australia. Given how constrained my logistics are, having a direct line of communication between Townsville will be of great benefit. Capturing Tulagi and its level 7 port is also of key importance. Tulagi will serve as key naval base between Australia and Kwajalein. Previously Noumea was going to serve as this base but as it turns out Tulagi is both more weakly defended and further north. Tulagi is defended by a mere infantry brigade, two CD regiments, and support units while Noumea is defended by two full divisions. My decision to bypass Noumea and focus on Tulagi was thus vindicated.
I have also finally decided on my summer 44 plans. Due to OPSEC concerns I will not post what that plan is yet. What I will say is that this operation will be enormous in scope I intend to pour just about every resource into it until I win the war. Given how closely the extent of the Japanese empire and my current advances in the Pacific match history, I believe my AAR will serve as a very interesting "What if" scenario. While the Allies took until August 1945 to defeat the Japanese, I believe I can end the war by the start of 1945. I intend to post more often when that operation is underway because it will surely be more interesting than the current events.
In case anyone was wondering things are moving along fairly well. Landings continue largely unopposed. Only losses have been a single APA destroyed by Lilly dive bombers in the Solomons and a few xAKs and xAPs from landing on Tulagi which is defended by a rather large number of guns. A few air battles but nothing major. Seems the Japanese are giving me a decent cushion to move forward. That is partially the reason I have not updated this AAR recently: aside from amphibious landings there's not much to report on.
Less than a week ago, subs fired on a few major IJN fleets headed SW from Truk. I don't see them in Rabaul but I suspect they may be in Kaiveng or the Admiralty Islands. Rabaul is heavily defended by fighters so this could be an area the Japanese defend heavily.
I've finally begun moving NW out of Darwin into the eastern DEI. Taberfane will fall soon and I have followup landings to the west coming shortly. With the Japanese fleet most likely to the east, this should go relatively smoothly.
One thing that is becoming apparent at this juncture is that you simply cannot have enough amphibious, transport, and cargo ships. Whereas in 1942 it felt like I had a plethora of ships to get the job done, by 1944 I simply cannot get enough. Each turn I end up scouring the seas to find enough transport ships to sustain my offensives.
Right now the focus is still shortening the communication lines between Hawaii and Australia. Given how constrained my logistics are, having a direct line of communication between Townsville will be of great benefit. Capturing Tulagi and its level 7 port is also of key importance. Tulagi will serve as key naval base between Australia and Kwajalein. Previously Noumea was going to serve as this base but as it turns out Tulagi is both more weakly defended and further north. Tulagi is defended by a mere infantry brigade, two CD regiments, and support units while Noumea is defended by two full divisions. My decision to bypass Noumea and focus on Tulagi was thus vindicated.
I have also finally decided on my summer 44 plans. Due to OPSEC concerns I will not post what that plan is yet. What I will say is that this operation will be enormous in scope I intend to pour just about every resource into it until I win the war. Given how closely the extent of the Japanese empire and my current advances in the Pacific match history, I believe my AAR will serve as a very interesting "What if" scenario. While the Allies took until August 1945 to defeat the Japanese, I believe I can end the war by the start of 1945. I intend to post more often when that operation is underway because it will surely be more interesting than the current events.
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
I am reading but have not seen anything to comment on - other than the usual congrats on well organized ops.
Have you run into any SSXs in the Marshalls? I am finding them at almost every base I go to.
Have you run into any SSXs in the Marshalls? I am finding them at almost every base I go to.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
Ya, there's really not much to comment on. After smashing the IJN fleet the Japanese have been essentially avoiding battle. In the past month there are probably only two or three instances where the Japanese sent bombers after my ships or put up fighters against my own bombers. And no surface engagements at all. And I am not the sort of player to aggressively sortie out my CVs to sink ships (the one exception of course was when I smashed the IJN in the Marshalls).ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
I am reading but have not seen anything to comment on - other than the usual congrats on well organized ops.
Have you run into any SSXs in the Marshalls? I am finding them at almost every base I go to.
There was a point where I was running into many SSX in the Marshalls, but since it has stopped. Most of the time I ended up sinking them but I believe in one case they put a torpedo into a ship. The PT were a bigger problem; if you remember awhile back I lost the Prince of Wales to a PT boat ambush that managed to land four torpedo hits.
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
February 2nd 1944
And so Japan finally comes out of hibernation. The last few days I had to deal with a couple of CAP traps and Japanese bombing runs. Lost a number of 4E but with large stockpiles of B-24Js and pilots it wasn't really an issue. But today the Japanese managed to hit me in my weak point: logistics. Kwajalein was quickly becoming a huge logistical hub for operations in the CentPac and I had a large CVE fleet guarding it. But with the Japanese launching air attacks against a newly occupied base (Kusai) I sent my CVEs to over its air space. And as it would happen the Japanese would launch a surprise attack on the base with bombers based off the cut off island of Ailinglaplap. Now that I have come down with victory disease of my own, I did not put CAP on the base. Here was the result:
Ouch! That was brutal. No excuse for that other than laziness. Could have had much more CAP here. But it could have been worse. The AEs are the real important ships here. I have plenty of ADs and AOs are not as critical to OPs as AEs are. Here is what already sunk:
And what's left in port:
Only a single AE lost but fires could take down another. Another is heavily damaged but should survive given the repair ships in Kwajalein. Props to Rev Rico for luring away my carriers and launching this surprise attack.
More CAP traps this turn as well and lost a bunch of 4E:
And now that we're this far I'll show the current war theatres:
CentPac:
SoPac:
SwPac:
And so Japan finally comes out of hibernation. The last few days I had to deal with a couple of CAP traps and Japanese bombing runs. Lost a number of 4E but with large stockpiles of B-24Js and pilots it wasn't really an issue. But today the Japanese managed to hit me in my weak point: logistics. Kwajalein was quickly becoming a huge logistical hub for operations in the CentPac and I had a large CVE fleet guarding it. But with the Japanese launching air attacks against a newly occupied base (Kusai) I sent my CVEs to over its air space. And as it would happen the Japanese would launch a surprise attack on the base with bombers based off the cut off island of Ailinglaplap. Now that I have come down with victory disease of my own, I did not put CAP on the base. Here was the result:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kwajalein Island at 132,115
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 97 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8-J Zero x 35
B6N2 Jill x 43
D4Y1 Judy x 20
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 43
Ki-84a Frank x 36
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 18
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 1 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 3 damaged
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 4 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
AD Sierra
AE Red Jacket, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
AO Cuyama
AO Kanawha, Torpedo hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AM Herald, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
AE Harpoon
AE Shasta
AD Denebola, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AE Mount McKinley
YMS-387, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AS Howard W. Gilmore, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AE Mauna Loa, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AE Fusto Arosemena, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AE Lassen, Bomb hits 1
AE Pyro, Bomb hits 2, on fire
Aircraft Attacking:
12 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
39 x B6N2 Jill bombing from 6000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
4 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
10 x Ki-44-IIc Tojo sweeping at 22540 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kwajalein Island , at 132,115
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 21
Ki-21-IIb Sally x 20
Ki-84a Frank x 14
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIb Sally: 6 damaged
Ki-21-IIb Sally: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
AR Vestal, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Boston, Bomb hits 2
CL Nashville, Bomb hits 1
CLAA Oakland, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CL Columbia, Bomb hits 1
Allied ground losses:
6 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
20 x Ki-21-IIb Sally bombing from 6000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kwajalein Island at 132,115
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 105 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8-J Zero x 43
D4Y1 Judy x 17
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 33
Ki-84a Frank x 33
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y1 Judy: 8 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 5 destroyed by flak
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
BB New Mexico, Bomb hits 1
AD Denebola, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB Oklahoma
Aircraft Attacking:
9 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 1000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
20 x Ki-44-IIc Tojo sweeping at 22540 feet
8 x D4Y1 Judy releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kwajalein Island at 132,115
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 83 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8-J Zero x 42
B6N2 Jill x 40
Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
AD Whitney, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AD Rigel
AE Peter Kerr, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
AE Fusto Arosemena, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AE Harpoon
AE Santa Isabel
AD Sierra, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AD Prairie, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
Aircraft Attacking:
39 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
Ouch! That was brutal. No excuse for that other than laziness. Could have had much more CAP here. But it could have been worse. The AEs are the real important ships here. I have plenty of ADs and AOs are not as critical to OPs as AEs are. Here is what already sunk:
And what's left in port:
Only a single AE lost but fires could take down another. Another is heavily damaged but should survive given the repair ships in Kwajalein. Props to Rev Rico for luring away my carriers and launching this surprise attack.
More CAP traps this turn as well and lost a bunch of 4E:
And now that we're this far I'll show the current war theatres:
CentPac:
SoPac:
SwPac:
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
Overall the actual amphibious operations are going fine. No interference by the Japanese at all. Getting the SwPac to advance out of Darwin is big. I just landed in Babar and I will soon took the base. Landings in Timor are coming soon as well. By summer 44 I should be threatening oil facilities in Java with 4E.
Right now the biggest obstacle in my operations are the lack of transports of all types. In the SwPac I had units planning for these attacks for nearly a year but once I am done with these first wave invasions the load here should be reduced.
But in the background a giant operation is being planned for summer of 1944. As much as I might like to divulge plans for that operation, OpSec concerns are too important with long term plans. Though if you are curious I will tell you my plans in a private message, however.
Right now the biggest obstacle in my operations are the lack of transports of all types. In the SwPac I had units planning for these attacks for nearly a year but once I am done with these first wave invasions the load here should be reduced.
But in the background a giant operation is being planned for summer of 1944. As much as I might like to divulge plans for that operation, OpSec concerns are too important with long term plans. Though if you are curious I will tell you my plans in a private message, however.
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
I am curious, but I can wait for the reveal in the AAR.
That was a lot of support ships in one place - he chose his spot for a strike well. The AEs are important but you can use AKEs to support most ammo loading (Iowa BBs excepted). The ARs are the real precious ships. Darn few of them and no conversions available AFAIK.
That was a lot of support ships in one place - he chose his spot for a strike well. The AEs are important but you can use AKEs to support most ammo loading (Iowa BBs excepted). The ARs are the real precious ships. Darn few of them and no conversions available AFAIK.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
Well it wasn't just choosing the spot well; it was the timing. Had this occurred just about any other turn he would have met 150+ planes on CAP.ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
That was a lot of support ships in one place - he chose his spot for a strike well. The AEs are important but you can use AKEs to support most ammo loading (Iowa BBs excepted). The ARs are the real precious ships. Darn few of them and no conversions available AFAIK.
It might seem like a lot of support ships in one base but really how I need to do it. Sure, I can use AKE to support ammo and I do. But one AE in a support base isn't enough. Sometimes even 5 isn't enough. Right now I am using a dozen battleships and an equal number of cruisers operating from Kwajalein and the rearmament requirements can be astronomical. When I had them spread out before it really complicated where to send each fleet to rearm in an optimal way. Using a forward centralized logistical hub with a decent sized port has largely solved those issues I faced. It simplifies my logistics and planning a great deal and there is no marginal return in using support ships as they can all work in parallel to the same effect. Of course this only applies if I can defend that base from all possible attacks. I did not do so this past turn but going forward this should not be an issue. With the influx of CVEs I am receiving I will be able to provide dedicated CVE protection for my logistical bases on top of LBA CAP. Such surprise attacks will not work in the future.
On another note, while I upgrades a fair number of xAKs to AKE, I did not do it enough. And after the 9/42 upgrades for xAKs, the upgrade to AKE isn't allowed! Had I known this earlier I would have converted far more. On the other hand, I think having too many AKEs is a little bit of a cheat for the Allies.
ARs are valuable but the US gets a fair number of ARDs as well around this time. They are quite slow but once you get them to the front there are great. Right now I have a CV in the Gilberts being tendered by a 50,000 ton ARD which has allowed me to repair all its damage from a torpedo without even having to go back to Pearl Harbor! So far I have been lucky as to have lost very few ARs or ARDs.
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
February 5th 1944
Things are slowing down a bit for me now (or at least I am not moving as fast as I would like). The Japanese are putting CAP over their bases and I've spotted two sets of carrier groups. One near Ambon with about 75 fighters and 75 bombers and another one SE of Truk with 175 fighters and no bombers. It seems the Japanese have had planes set to naval attack in the DEI near my landings but I've managed to disrupt those plans by hitting bombers on the ground and pulling back naval assets when I sensed a trap. Other than that one surprise attack at Kwajalein, I haven't had to deal with Japanese LBA hitting my ships.
I did have a big oops moment in the Pacific:
A medium sized supply convoy smashed by Japanese cruisers. Haven't watched the replay yet but the Feni Islands are safely in Japanese held seas. Could be that this fleet was accidentally routed through enemy waters.
My guys also took Eniwetok this turn:
Heavy bombardment really did the trick here. Without it, the Japanese would have had about as much AV here as I do and could have potentially smashed me on the beaches. Operations in the CentPac are close to winding down. I have plans to land at Ponape soon which is heavily defended but I believe is not an atoll which should make things a lot easier. Even so, I am waiting until all my invasion forces are ready to land in order to minimize the impact of CD guns. And after Ponape the next target is Wake Island. Wake undoubtedly will be a very difficult target to take because of how isolated it is, how low the stacking limits are, and how heavy the CD guns are there (IIRC they are some of the largest ones in the entire Pacific). Does anyone know when I can rearm ships with AEs outside of bases? Assuming I can do that now, my plan is to basically stack all my slow BBs and a bunch of AE ships at Wake and relentlessly pound the base until my AE ships are out of supply then force a landing. These CentPac atolls could be bypassed (and in fact both Ponape and Wake were bypassed historically) but taking them are necessary prerequisites for my summer 1944 offensive.
In the SoPac things are a little bit tricky with my invasions getting closer to Rabaul and having my main CV forces elsewhere. I have some units getting ready to invade Woodlark but that's well within range of Rabaul's LBA. Still, with Japanese attention focused in the SwPac (which in my game is really everything on the western side of New Guinea rather than the historical boundary of Guadalcanal) and CentPac, I may be able to pull it off with just LBA LRCAP from Rossel Island and a CVE TF.
Things are slowing down a bit for me now (or at least I am not moving as fast as I would like). The Japanese are putting CAP over their bases and I've spotted two sets of carrier groups. One near Ambon with about 75 fighters and 75 bombers and another one SE of Truk with 175 fighters and no bombers. It seems the Japanese have had planes set to naval attack in the DEI near my landings but I've managed to disrupt those plans by hitting bombers on the ground and pulling back naval assets when I sensed a trap. Other than that one surprise attack at Kwajalein, I haven't had to deal with Japanese LBA hitting my ships.
I did have a big oops moment in the Pacific:
Day Time Surface Combat, near Feni Islands at 109,126, Range 23,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Ashigara
CL Sakawa
DD Kasumi
DD Shigure
DD Murasame, Shell hits 1
DD Kawakaze
DD Ayanami
DD Asagiri
Allied Ships
SC-1063, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
xAK James M. Clements, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK John C. Fremont, Shell hits 33, and is sunk
xAK John Carroll, Shell hits 28, and is sunk
xAK Nathaniel Crosby, Shell hits 28, and is sunk
xAK Philip Doddridge, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
xAK Samuel K. Barlow, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK William Dunbar, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
A medium sized supply convoy smashed by Japanese cruisers. Haven't watched the replay yet but the Feni Islands are safely in Japanese held seas. Could be that this fleet was accidentally routed through enemy waters.
My guys also took Eniwetok this turn:
Ground combat at Eniwetok (127,108)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 5465 troops, 105 guns, 136 vehicles, Assault Value = 210
Defending force 1915 troops, 29 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 9
Allied adjusted assault: 113
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 113 to 1 (fort level 5)
Allied forces CAPTURE Eniwetok !!!
Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
Japanese ground losses:
1724 casualties reported
Squads: 148 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 166 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 12 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 37 (37 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2
Allied ground losses:
137 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Assaulting units:
1st USMC Corps Tank Battalion
111th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st/102nd Infantry Battalion
14th Marine Defense Battalion
Defending units:
303rd Ind.Infantry Battalion
1st Ind.Mixed Regiment
Heavy bombardment really did the trick here. Without it, the Japanese would have had about as much AV here as I do and could have potentially smashed me on the beaches. Operations in the CentPac are close to winding down. I have plans to land at Ponape soon which is heavily defended but I believe is not an atoll which should make things a lot easier. Even so, I am waiting until all my invasion forces are ready to land in order to minimize the impact of CD guns. And after Ponape the next target is Wake Island. Wake undoubtedly will be a very difficult target to take because of how isolated it is, how low the stacking limits are, and how heavy the CD guns are there (IIRC they are some of the largest ones in the entire Pacific). Does anyone know when I can rearm ships with AEs outside of bases? Assuming I can do that now, my plan is to basically stack all my slow BBs and a bunch of AE ships at Wake and relentlessly pound the base until my AE ships are out of supply then force a landing. These CentPac atolls could be bypassed (and in fact both Ponape and Wake were bypassed historically) but taking them are necessary prerequisites for my summer 1944 offensive.
In the SoPac things are a little bit tricky with my invasions getting closer to Rabaul and having my main CV forces elsewhere. I have some units getting ready to invade Woodlark but that's well within range of Rabaul's LBA. Still, with Japanese attention focused in the SwPac (which in my game is really everything on the western side of New Guinea rather than the historical boundary of Guadalcanal) and CentPac, I may be able to pull it off with just LBA LRCAP from Rossel Island and a CVE TF.
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
Don't know for sure the date for at-sea replenishment of ammo, but I vaguely recall a year or more ago that someone said late 1944, while a recent forum thread had one poster state it was sometime in 1945.
I am pretty sure the invasion of the Philippines included underway replenishment IRL, so I suspect the fall of 1944 is the time period.
I am pretty sure the invasion of the Philippines included underway replenishment IRL, so I suspect the fall of 1944 is the time period.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
Does anyone know when I can rearm ships with AEs outside of bases?
1945.
Also, I believe, they don't reload BB guns. 5" and below. Great for AA, not so helpful for bombardment.
If you decide you need wake, consider taking Taongi if it is lightly defended - especially if Paras can get it. Use that to rearm for bombardment.
Of course don't ever be afraid to ask the question, "why bother"? What does Wake give you? (I'm not saying Wake isn't worth taking... it depends on what your overall plan is for taking down the Empire)
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
tiemanj, where did you find the 1945 date and the limitation on size of ammo transfer? I have seen pictures of AEs transferring clusters of 500 lb bombs to a CV, so weight should not be an issue with ammo handling.
As for a reload base, he just took Eniwetok which is something like 14 hexes from Wake. Taongi is a bit closer but needs to be built up too (to handle supply unloading so it can replenish the AE/AKEs).
As for a reload base, he just took Eniwetok which is something like 14 hexes from Wake. Taongi is a bit closer but needs to be built up too (to handle supply unloading so it can replenish the AE/AKEs).
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
tiemanj, where did you find the 1945 date and the limitation on size of ammo transfer? I have seen pictures of AEs transferring clusters of 500 lb bombs to a CV, so weight should not be an issue with ammo handling.
As for a reload base, he just took Eniwetok which is something like 14 hexes from Wake. Taongi is a bit closer but needs to be built up too (to handle supply unloading so it can replenish the AE/AKEs).
tm.asp?m=3491611&mpage=1&key=rearming�
see post 16. It appears I was wrong about the size... it is limited only by the capacity of the ship (just as if in a port), but the date is correct. Not sure where I read the 5" thing, but thanks for making me check.
Taongi is 9 hexes, Eniwetok is a few more (don't remember exactly). This means a single ship can hit approx. every 3 days as opposed to 4. A game breaker, no, but some advantage. You don't need to worry about developing the port if you send the AKEs (and TKs / AOs) back to Kwajalein to pick up new supply.
A pain in the neck, yes, but it puts more steal on target in a shorter time.
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
Thanks for that information about rearmament. I guess I will have to adjust my plans for Wake.ORIGINAL: tiemanj
Does anyone know when I can rearm ships with AEs outside of bases?
1945.
Also, I believe, they don't reload BB guns. 5" and below. Great for AA, not so helpful for bombardment.
If you decide you need wake, consider taking Taongi if it is lightly defended - especially if Paras can get it. Use that to rearm for bombardment.
Of course don't ever be afraid to ask the question, "why bother"? What does Wake give you? (I'm not saying Wake isn't worth taking... it depends on what your overall plan is for taking down the Empire)
I don't think I have even heard of Taongi. It must be an ungarrisoned dot hex if it escaped my attention. I will look to grab it ASAP. Even if I don't end up using it for taking Wake I really need all the real estate I can get in the CentPac. Some of my atolls are stacked two or three times their normal limit. AFter invasions I do not pull units back to larger but far away bases when they are done since prep will not increase when they are on ship. So if I move them around, it has to be to somewhere close.
Oh I definitely have thought about "why bother" with Wake. I have a very good reason for it...but due to Op Sec I do not want to spoil it. By summer 44 it will be clear why I have chosen the path I have taken. Right now all my operations in the Pacific are being conducted with the summer 44 offensive in mind.
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
ORIGINAL: Sangeli
Thanks for that information about rearmament. I guess I will have to adjust my plans for Wake.ORIGINAL: tiemanj
Does anyone know when I can rearm ships with AEs outside of bases?
1945.
Also, I believe, they don't reload BB guns. 5" and below. Great for AA, not so helpful for bombardment.
If you decide you need wake, consider taking Taongi if it is lightly defended - especially if Paras can get it. Use that to rearm for bombardment.
Of course don't ever be afraid to ask the question, "why bother"? What does Wake give you? (I'm not saying Wake isn't worth taking... it depends on what your overall plan is for taking down the Empire)
I don't think I have even heard of Taongi. It must be an ungarrisoned dot hex if it escaped my attention. I will look to grab it ASAP. Even if I don't end up using it for taking Wake I really need all the real estate I can get in the CentPac. Some of my atolls are stacked two or three times their normal limit. AFter invasions I do not pull units back to larger but far away bases when they are done since prep will not increase when they are on ship. So if I move them around, it has to be to somewhere close.
Oh I definitely have thought about "why bother" with Wake. I have a very good reason for it...but due to Op Sec I do not want to spoil it. By summer 44 it will be clear why I have chosen the path I have taken. Right now all my operations in the Pacific are being conducted with the summer 44 offensive in mind.
It is, perhaps, the most insignificant piece of dirt on the entire AE map. A dot base whose only redeeming quality is that it is the closest place to Wake. I doubt it will be of much use beyond a FARP for a Wake assault. It is a 0 AF / 0 port dot, 6k stacking limit. That is why you have never heard of it.
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
Thanks for finding that tiemanj! I trust Alfred's knowledge more than most anyone else, but he gets a little iffy about AKE capabilities and then says 12" guns is about the largest they can replenish. I have 4200 ton capacity AKEs (converted from the 5250 capacity xAKs) and they will load BB shells up to 16"/45 caliber. Only the Iowas and (on the Japanese side) the Yamatos need a larger capacity than this.ORIGINAL: tiemanj
ORIGINAL: BBfanboy
tiemanj, where did you find the 1945 date and the limitation on size of ammo transfer? I have seen pictures of AEs transferring clusters of 500 lb bombs to a CV, so weight should not be an issue with ammo handling.
As for a reload base, he just took Eniwetok which is something like 14 hexes from Wake. Taongi is a bit closer but needs to be built up too (to handle supply unloading so it can replenish the AE/AKEs).
tm.asp?m=3491611&mpage=1&key=rearming�
see post 16. It appears I was wrong about the size... it is limited only by the capacity of the ship (just as if in a port), but the date is correct. Not sure where I read the 5" thing, but thanks for making me check.
Taongi is 9 hexes, Eniwetok is a few more (don't remember exactly). This means a single ship can hit approx. every 3 days as opposed to 4. A game breaker, no, but some advantage. You don't need to worry about developing the port if you send the AKEs (and TKs / AOs) back to Kwajalein to pick up new supply.
A pain in the neck, yes, but it puts more steal on target in a shorter time.
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
February 6th 1944
Upon Tiemanj's advice, I took Taongi:
Upon Tiemanj's advice, I took Taongi:
Ground combat at Taongi (136,107)
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 218 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 18
Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0
Allied adjusted assault: 10
Japanese adjusted defense: 1
Allied assault odds: 10 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Taongi !!!
Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)
Assaulting units:
2nd USMC Parachute Bn /1
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
February 7th 1944
Another Japanese cruiser fleet smashes more transports. This time they slipped through past an invasion convoy towards Taberfane where two transport fleets were unloading support troops and supply:
Ouch! That's 10 transports ships sunk by a mere 3 IJN ships. I guess I need to change my tactics a bit by spreading out my cruiser and Fletcher fleets to guard these convoys. I had one a few turns earlier but it was sent to guard the next invasion fleet. It seems my invasion fleet which was headed NE towards Kai-eilanden from Babar didn't get a chance to intercept them. I really need all the transports I can get my hands on so losing 15 like this in just a few turns to Japanese cruisers is gonna hurt. Still, both these transports and support troops can be replaced in time.
Another Japanese cruiser fleet smashes more transports. This time they slipped through past an invasion convoy towards Taberfane where two transport fleets were unloading support troops and supply:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Taberfane at 82,117, Range 10,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Tama
DD Samidare
DD Umikaze
Allied Ships
SC PC-1081, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
xAK Kauri, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Limerick, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Minnesotan, Shell hits 55, and is sunk
xAK Puerto Rican, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Benjamin Franklin, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
Allied ground losses:
494 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 85 destroyed, 42 disabled
Engineers: 46 destroyed, 36 disabled
Guns lost 6 (3 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 184 (139 destroyed, 45 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Taberfane at 82,117, Range 10,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Tama
DD Samidare
DD Umikaze
Allied Ships
AM Kalgoorlie, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
xAP Candesa, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
xAP Merkur, Shell hits 24, and is sunk
xAP Dilga, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Utahan, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
xAK Santa Rita, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Shooting Star, Shell hits 3
Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 16 (9 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 56 (28 destroyed, 28 disabled)
Ouch! That's 10 transports ships sunk by a mere 3 IJN ships. I guess I need to change my tactics a bit by spreading out my cruiser and Fletcher fleets to guard these convoys. I had one a few turns earlier but it was sent to guard the next invasion fleet. It seems my invasion fleet which was headed NE towards Kai-eilanden from Babar didn't get a chance to intercept them. I really need all the transports I can get my hands on so losing 15 like this in just a few turns to Japanese cruisers is gonna hurt. Still, both these transports and support troops can be replaced in time.
RE: Straight Into the Teeth: A Story of Blood, Patience, and Firepower
February 9th 1944
The bad streak for bombers and transport ships continues. I had planned an invasion of Woodlark Island but held back because of the large numbers of planes in Rabaul and a CV fleet carrying 180 fighters and no bombers lurking in the Admiralty Islands. However, I had a large Fletcher fleet and some transports in Rossel that got attacked. First the Japanese came charging in with a cruiser fleet:
Fletchers do their magic and sink an IJN destroyer with loss. Meanwhile to the west, I had a scary moment when another IJN cruiser fleet engaged my CVEs covering a landing:
Looks like I got off easy here but those CVEs might need some repair. But back in Rossel the Japanese sent wave after wave of planes at me. First come the sweeps:
My limited CAP is brushed away but managed to shoot down a number of antiquated Oscars. Then a wave of bombers comes to hit my Fletchers:
Those Fletchers are nearly impossible to hit with bombers...but there are more waves to come. Then they hit the AF for some small damage:
And on the other side, my bombers got smacked by Japanese fighters:
Ouch! That's a lot of bombers to lose in one turn. And in the afternoon the strikes on Rossel became deadly:
Wow. I knew the Japanese could harness LBA but that was far more than I expected. All things considering, it could have been much worse. My Fletchers did an amazing job in the morning fending off attacks in the thunderstorms but once the storms cleared the Japanese hit their mark on the transports while the Fletchers were almost certainly out of 5 inch AA ammo. Had I sent in my smallish CVE fleet and invasion force to their destination, it would have been a bloodbath with most of me CVEs sunk and nearly a full division sunk aboard ship. Instead, I lose a handful of transport ships and maybe a Fletcher or two and some motorized support loaded on ships while taking down a few dozen planes. On the whole my biggest VP losses this turn were likely from the bombers that got shot down rather than the naval strikes near Rossel. But if one thing is clear, the Japanese intend to fight hard for the area around Rabaul. So I will back down from my invasion and unload them in Townsville for the time being, send the CVEs and undamaged Fletchers to support the other areas, and stand down my bombers. And the one good thing about this Japanese counterattack is that it leaves my CentPac and SwPac invasion forces to continue their invasions without much resistance. In the SwPac this is especially important as I continue to consolidate my holdings in the eastern DEI. Looking forward it seems I will need my CentPac fleet will need to support my SoPac forces to continue their advance.
The bad streak for bombers and transport ships continues. I had planned an invasion of Woodlark Island but held back because of the large numbers of planes in Rabaul and a CV fleet carrying 180 fighters and no bombers lurking in the Admiralty Islands. However, I had a large Fletcher fleet and some transports in Rossel that got attacked. First the Japanese came charging in with a cruiser fleet:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Rossel Island at 105,137, Range 12,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CA Ashigara
CL Sakawa
DD Kasumi, Shell hits 2
DD Shigure, Shell hits 2
DD Murasame, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Kawakaze
Allied Ships
DD Abbot
DD Aulick, Shell hits 1
DD Charles Ausburne
DD Bache, Shell hits 1
DD Boyd, Shell hits 3, heavy fires
DD Braine
DD Brownson
DD Chevalier
DD Dyson
DD Foote
DD Fullam, Shell hits 1
DD Hazelwood
DD Isherwood
DD Luce
DD Saufley, Shell hits 1
DD Schroeder, Shell hits 1
Fletchers do their magic and sink an IJN destroyer with loss. Meanwhile to the west, I had a scary moment when another IJN cruiser fleet engaged my CVEs covering a landing:
Night Time Surface Combat, near Kai-eilanden at 81,115, Range 11,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CA Atago, Shell hits 1
DD Kishinami
DD Arare, Shell hits 1
Allied Ships
CVE Suwannee
CVE Breton
CVE Prince William
CVE Barnes
CVE Corregidor, Shell hits 3
CVE Kaskaskia, Shell hits 4
CVE Natoma Bay
DD Burns
DD Chauncey
DD Heermann
DD Wadsworth
DD Gillespie
DD Hobby, Shell hits 1
DD Kalk
DE Austin
DE Duffy
Looks like I got off easy here but those CVEs might need some repair. But back in Rossel the Japanese sent wave after wave of planes at me. First come the sweeps:
Morning Air attack on Rossel Island , at 105,137
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 11
A6M8-J Zero x 19
N1K1-J George x 39
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 34
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 23
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 17
Ki-84a Frank x 28
Allied aircraft
P-39N1 Airacobra x 25
P-40K Warhawk x 25
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 14 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 3 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-39N1 Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 3 destroyed
My limited CAP is brushed away but managed to shoot down a number of antiquated Oscars. Then a wave of bombers comes to hit my Fletchers:
Morning Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 105,137
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 74
A6M8-J Zero x 19
N1K1-J George x 31
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 16
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 23
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 23
Ki-84a Frank x 28
Allied aircraft
P-39N1 Airacobra x 12
P-40K Warhawk x 11
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 3 destroyed, 8 damaged
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 4 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
DD Aulick
DD Hazelwood
DD Chevalier
DD Bache
DD Luce
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 105,137
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 28,100 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 50
A6M8-J Zero x 18
G4M1 Betty x 24
N1K1-J George x 60
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 14
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 6
Ki-84a Frank x 40
Allied aircraft
P-39N1 Airacobra x 1
P-40K Warhawk x 1
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 10 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed by flak
Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
DD Schroeder
DD Chevalier
DD Isherwood
DD Foote
DD Braine
DD Fullam
DD Brownson
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 105,137
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes
Japanese aircraft
B6N1 Jill x 29
D4Y1 Judy x 32
N1K2-J George x 79
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 2
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 6
Ki-84a Frank x 67
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 3 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 4 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 5 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 6 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
DD Braine
DD Fullam
DD Saufley
DD Hazelwood
DD Dyson
DD Charles Ausburne
DD Isherwood
DD Aulick
DD Bache
DD Brownson
DD Abbot
DD Luce
DD Foote
DD Chevalier
Those Fletchers are nearly impossible to hit with bombers...but there are more waves to come. Then they hit the AF for some small damage:
Morning Air attack on Rossel Island , at 105,137
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 50
A6M8-J Zero x 19
Ki-21-IIb Sally x 30
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 2
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 8
Ki-84a Frank x 28
Allied aircraft
P-39N1 Airacobra x 5
P-40K Warhawk x 5
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8-J Zero: 1 destroyed
Ki-21-IIb Sally: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
PB4Y-1P Liberator: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied ground losses:
8 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 5
Aircraft Attacking:
27 x Ki-21-IIb Sally bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
And on the other side, my bombers got smacked by Japanese fighters:
Morning Air attack on Woodlark Island , at 104,133
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 14
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10
Ki-84a Frank x 12
Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 12
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 4 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129
Weather in hex: Overcast
Raid detected at 55 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 30
Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 12
B-25C Mitchell x 12
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 6 destroyed, 2 damaged
Runway hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Fergusson Island , at 102,132
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 18
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 18
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 9
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Torokina , at 109,130
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K2-J George x 12
Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 9
Japanese aircraft losses
N1K2-J George: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
Runway hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Kiriwina Island , at 102,131
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid detected at 31 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 7
A6M8-J Zero x 12
Allied aircraft
B-25G Mitchell x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M8 Zero: 1 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
B-25G Mitchell: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
Runway hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Fergusson Island , at 102,132
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 71 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 9
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 13
Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 8
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 1 destroyed on ground
Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Woodlark Island , at 104,133
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid detected at 65 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes
Japanese aircraft
N1K1-J George x 14
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 10
Ki-84a Frank x 12
Allied aircraft
B-24J Liberator x 9
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
B-24J Liberator: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
B-24J Liberator: 1 destroyed by flak
Ouch! That's a lot of bombers to lose in one turn. And in the afternoon the strikes on Rossel became deadly:
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 105,137
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 27,100 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 11
G4M1 Betty x 23
N1K1-J George x 48
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 17
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 19
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 3
Ki-84a Frank x 57
Allied aircraft
P-39N1 Airacobra x 8
P-40K Warhawk x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 7 damaged
Ki-84a Frank: 1 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
P-39N1 Airacobra: 1 destroyed
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
DD Brownson
DD Bache, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
DD Schroeder
DD Aulick
DD Fullam
DD Foote
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 105,137
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 17
A6M8-J Zero x 13
N1K1-J George x 19
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 17
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 4
Ki-84a Frank x 38
Allied aircraft
P-39N1 Airacobra x 2
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
P-39N1 Airacobra: 1 destroyed
Allied Ships
xAP John Page, Bomb hits 3, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 105,137
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 46
A6M8-J Zero x 13
N1K1-J George x 19
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 14
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 26
Ki-84a Frank x 38
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
DD Saufley
xAP James B. McPherson, Bomb hits 2
DD Boyd
DD Bache, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Charles Ausburne
DD Fullam
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 106,138
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 21
Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 3
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIb Lily: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged
No Allied losses
Allied Ships
xAP William Dawes
xAK Peter H. Burnett, Bomb hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 105,137
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 39
N1K1-J George x 20
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 3
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 18
Ki-48-IIb Lily x 29
Ki-84a Frank x 56
No Japanese losses
Allied Ships
AK Grumium, Bomb hits 37, and is sunk
xAP Tjisadane, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 143 (58 destroyed, 85 disabled)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Rossel Island at 105,137
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M8 Zero x 46
A6M8-J Zero x 13
B6N1 Jill x 73
D4Y1 Judy x 75
N1K2-J George x 66
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 3
Ki-84a Frank x 38
Japanese aircraft losses
B6N1 Jill: 4 damaged
B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
D4Y1 Judy: 6 damaged
D4Y1 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak
Allied Ships
DD Dyson
DD Boyd, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Charles Ausburne
xAP John Page, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Sagadahoc, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Tjisadane, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Saufley
DD Fullam
DD Foote
DD Isherwood
DD Brownson
SC-633, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
xAP James B. McPherson, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD Chevalier
DD Braine
DD Abbot
DD Aulick
Wow. I knew the Japanese could harness LBA but that was far more than I expected. All things considering, it could have been much worse. My Fletchers did an amazing job in the morning fending off attacks in the thunderstorms but once the storms cleared the Japanese hit their mark on the transports while the Fletchers were almost certainly out of 5 inch AA ammo. Had I sent in my smallish CVE fleet and invasion force to their destination, it would have been a bloodbath with most of me CVEs sunk and nearly a full division sunk aboard ship. Instead, I lose a handful of transport ships and maybe a Fletcher or two and some motorized support loaded on ships while taking down a few dozen planes. On the whole my biggest VP losses this turn were likely from the bombers that got shot down rather than the naval strikes near Rossel. But if one thing is clear, the Japanese intend to fight hard for the area around Rabaul. So I will back down from my invasion and unload them in Townsville for the time being, send the CVEs and undamaged Fletchers to support the other areas, and stand down my bombers. And the one good thing about this Japanese counterattack is that it leaves my CentPac and SwPac invasion forces to continue their invasions without much resistance. In the SwPac this is especially important as I continue to consolidate my holdings in the eastern DEI. Looking forward it seems I will need my CentPac fleet will need to support my SoPac forces to continue their advance.