Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Darwin recaptured [closed]

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:33 pm

July 26/27, 1942

Highlights: Ground attack at Bandoeng defeated

Japanese SRA:
Finally a ground attack at Bandoeng, the Dutch managed to hold off 2 DAs.

CBI:
Wellingtons tried to night-bomb oil centers at Magwe under a full moon but no luck against Oscars and Nicks on night-CAP.
2E-bombers have hit the Imperial Guards/A Division near Kalemyo again with next-to-nothing to show for.
The RN task force made an encore show at Cocos Island and bombarded again, this time adding the firepower of the escorts and carrier strikes.

Western Australia:
IJN subs remain active off Perth, CL Adelaide torpedoed by I-5 but survived

SoPac:
Vaitupu bombarded by a trio of Omaha class CLs - they have tried to intercept an enemy convoy spotted by air search, but found nothing and did the second-best thing.

Selected action reports:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32357 troops, 535 guns, 330 vehicles, Assault Value = 892

Defending force 23027 troops, 238 guns, 144 vehicles, Assault Value = 496

Japanese adjusted assault: 528

Allied adjusted defense: 496

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1251 casualties reported
Squads: 13 destroyed, 107 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 28 (2 destroyed, 26 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
535 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 51 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Vehicles lost 9 (6 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Assaulting units:
38th Division
6th Tank Regiment
2nd Division
32nd Nav Gsn Unit
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
2nd Mortar Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
16th Army
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
1st KNIL Regiment
Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
Barisan KNIL Regiment
Makassar Garrison Battalion
1st Regt Cavalerie
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Prajoda Garrison Battalion
Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
4th KNIL Regiment
Dili Detachment
3rd KNIL AA Battalion
Kendari Garrison Battalion
ML-KNIL
NI-MLD
ABDA
KNI Zeemacht
1st KNIL AA Battalion
Andir ML Base Force

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 31151 troops, 535 guns, 328 vehicles, Assault Value = 783

Defending force 22281 troops, 238 guns, 139 vehicles, Assault Value = 435

Japanese adjusted assault: 286

Allied adjusted defense: 700

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

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

Japanese ground losses:
1020 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 30 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 16 (2 destroyed, 14 disabled)
Vehicles lost 41 (6 destroyed, 35 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
966 casualties reported
Squads: 30 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 57 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 18 (2 destroyed, 16 disabled)
Vehicles lost 13 (3 destroyed, 10 disabled)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Cocos Islands at 33,101

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
ACM Himejima Maru, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
BB Resolution
BB Ramillies
BB Revenge
CA Exeter
CA Devonshire
CA Dorsetshire
CL Capetown
CL Newcastle
CL Mauritius
CL Ceres
CL Dauntless
DD Inconstant
DD Hotspur
DD Griffin
DD Foxhound
DD Fortune
DD Decoy
DD Arrow

Japanese ground losses:
207 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 20 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 23
Port hits 23
Port supply hits 3

Walrus II acting as spotter for BB Resolution
BB Resolution firing at Cocos Islands
BB Ramillies firing at Cocos Islands
BB Revenge firing at Cocos Islands
CA Exeter firing at Cocos Islands
CA Devonshire firing at Cocos Islands
CA Dorsetshire firing at Cocos Islands
CL Capetown firing at Cocos Islands
CL Newcastle firing at Cocos Islands
Walrus II acting as spotter for CL Mauritius
CL Mauritius firing at 22nd Air Flotilla
CL Ceres firing at Cocos Islands
CL Dauntless firing at Cocos Islands
DD Inconstant firing at Cocos Islands
DD Hotspur firing at Cocos Islands
DD Griffin firing at Cocos Islands
DD Foxhound firing at Cocos Islands
DD Fortune firing at Cocos Islands
DD Decoy firing at Cocos Islands
DD Arrow firing at Cocos Islands

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Cocos Islands , at 33,101

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 12
Swordfish I x 15

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 1 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Perth at 45,147

Japanese Ships
SS I-5, hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Adelaide, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Clan Mactavish
DD Stuart

SS I-5 launches 4 torpedoes at CL Adelaide
DD Stuart fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Stuart fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Stuart attacking submerged sub ....
DD Stuart cannot establish contact with SS I-5
DD Stuart fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Stuart fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Vaitupu at 138,145

Allied Ships
CL Trenton
CL Raleigh
CL Concord

Japanese ground losses:
23 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Port hits 4
Port supply hits 1

CL Trenton firing at Vaitupu
CL Raleigh firing at Vaitupu
CL Concord firing at Vaitupu

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Wed Mar 02, 2022 9:07 pm

July 28/29, 1942

Highlights: Horn Island invasion assembling, light IJN force savaged

Enemy ships sunk:
CL Kitakami

Japanese SRA:
Bandoeng and Cebu bombed as usual.

CBI:
One night-bombing Wellington lost over Magwe to flak. Burma Corps with two Indian Divisions is approaching Katha, while the right flank with the road and railroad to Mandalay is being covered by three Chinese divisions and the 7th Armoured Bde.

Western Australia:
Engineers are moving overland to Exmouth while supplies are being shuttled by sea. After establishment of a base, operations will continue against Port Hedland.

Northern Australia:
With Tennant Creek built-up and some supplies stockpiled, Australian armor will start probing in the direction of Daly Waters.

SWPac:
The Horn Island invasion force has assembled one hex off the target and promptly been spotted by RO-67, ASW obtained 4 hits on her. An enemy TF of 2 CLs - 5 DDs under LRCAP tried to interfere but got stomped by the combined might of 5 carrier air groups.

SoPac:
The three Omaha class CLs fired remaining ammo against enemy troops at Vaitupu and have beaten a hassty retreat to Suva.
B-17s bombed 89th Naval Guard Unit and 45th Const Co at Tanna.
S-44 torpedoed xAP Baikal Maru near Auki (Solomons), probably sinking the ship.

NoPac:
Canadian Battalions are moving to establish outposts at Amchitka and Attu Islands.

Homefront / Rear areas:
More and more convoys leave CONUS as merchant ships finish their mid-42 upgrades with fuel and supplies for Australia.

Selected action reports:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Vaitupu at 138,145

Allied Ships
CL Trenton
CL Raleigh
CL Concord

Japanese ground losses:
33 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Port hits 8
Port supply hits 3

CL Trenton firing at Vaitupu
CL Raleigh firing at Vaitupu
CL Concord firing at Vaitupu

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submarine attack near Auki at 114,135

Japanese Ships
xAP Baikal Maru, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-44

Japanese ground losses:
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

xAP Baikal Maru is sighted by SS S-44
SS S-44 launches 4 torpedoes at xAP Baikal Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 91,127

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 11
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 20
F4F-3 Wildcat x 44
F4F-4 Wildcat x 39
SBD-3 Dauntless x 72
TBF-1 Avenger x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CL Kuma, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires
DD Hatsukaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Asashio, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Asagumo, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Tokitsukaze, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Minazuki, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
17 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 10000 feet
11 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
14 x F4F-3 Wildcat sweeping at 10000 feet
12 x F4F-3 Wildcat sweeping at 10000 feet
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x F4F-3A Wildcat sweeping at 10000 feet
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 10000 feet
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Genzan Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead
5th Sentai/A with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Asashio
Massive explosion on DD Tokitsukaze
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Tokitsukaze
Massive explosion on CL Kuma
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Kuma
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Minazuki

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 91,127

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 17

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami, on fire
DD Asashio, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Genzan Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 91,127

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 1
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Kitakami, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tokitsukaze, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Hatsukaze, on fire
CL Kuma, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
5th Sentai/A with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 20000.
Raid is overhead
Genzan Ku S-1 with A6M3a Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Kuma
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Kitakami

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 91,127

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 1

Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Asagumo, on fire
DD Hatsukaze, on fire
CL Kitakami, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.

CAP engaged:
5th Sentai/A with Ki-45 KAIa Nick (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Raid is overhead

Magazine explodes on CL Kitakami

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Wed Mar 02, 2022 9:38 pm

July 30/31, 1942

Highlights: Horn Island invasion goes in

Bases liberated:
Horn Island
Funafuti

Enemy ships sunk:
DD Asashio
DD Hatsukaze
DD Asagumo

Japanese SRA:
Bandoeng, Cebu, Sintang bombed as usual.

SWPac:
Under the cover of 3 BBs, 2 CAs and destroyers, the Horn Island invasion force debarks from numerous APD, AP and AK types - almost the entire navalized shipping available has been used. A lion uses all his might to catch a rabbit! Enemy air attacks by escorted Netties beaten off and enemy cripples from the previous turn's air attacks put out of their misery. Target taken without problems and light losses.

SoPac:
B-17s bombed Tanna again. Para-Marines launched a diversion attack and jumped on undefended Funafuti.

Selected action reports:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Horn Island (91,128)

31 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico
BB Nevada
BB Maryland
CA Chicago
CA Louisville
DD MacDonough
DD Dale
DD Monaghan
DD Farragut
DD Cushing
DD Aaron Ward
APD Rathburne

Japanese ground losses:
1025 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 53 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

BB New Mexico firing at Maizuru 1st SNLF
BB Nevada firing at Maizuru 1st SNLF
BB Maryland firing at Maizuru 1st SNLF
CA Chicago firing at Maizuru 1st SNLF
CA Louisville firing at Maizuru 1st SNLF
DD MacDonough firing at Maizuru 1st SNLF
DD Dale firing at Maizuru 1st SNLF
DD Monaghan firing at III/19th Naval Guard Unit
DD Farragut firing at Maizuru 1st SNLF
DD Cushing firing at Maizuru 1st SNLF
DD Aaron Ward firing at 37th JAAF AF Bn
DD Dale fired at enemy troops
DD Monaghan fired at enemy troops
DD Farragut fired at enemy troops
DD Cushing fired at enemy troops
DD Aaron Ward fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Horn Island (91,128)

TF 484 troops unloading over beach at Horn Island, 91,128

Allied ground losses:
274 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 11 (0 destroyed, 11 disabled)
Vehicles lost 80 (0 destroyed, 80 disabled)

16 troops of a Aus Cdo Sect 41 lost overboard during unload of 2/4th Ind Coy
13 troops of a USA 41 Rifle Squad lost in surf during unload of 34th Infantry Rgt /7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Horn Island (91,128)

13 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico
BB Nevada
BB Maryland
CA Chicago
CA Louisville
DD Dale
DD Benham
DD McCalla
DD Aaron Ward
APD Rathburne
DD MacDonough

Japanese ground losses:
126 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
17 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

BB New Mexico firing at Maizuru 1st SNLF
BB Nevada firing at Maizuru 1st SNLF
BB Maryland firing at Maizuru 1st SNLF
CA Louisville firing at Maizuru 1st SNLF
DD Benham firing at Maizuru 1st SNLF
DD McCalla firing at 37th JAAF AF Bn
DD Aaron Ward firing at Maizuru 1st SNLF
DD Dale fired at enemy troops
DD Benham fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 91,128

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 24,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 4
A6M3a Zero x 12
G4M1 Betty x 21
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 13
F4F-3 Wildcat x 27
F4F-4 Wildcat x 35
SOC-1 Seagull x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed
A6M3a Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 10 destroyed, 4 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 5 destroyed
SOC-1 Seagull: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Nevada

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 91,128

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30
A6M2-N Rufe x 2
A6M3a Zero x 8
G4M1 Betty x 21
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 10
F4F-3 Wildcat x 21
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 9 destroyed, 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DMS Long
AK Alchiba
DMS Dorsey
BB Maryland

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 91,128

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 69 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
G3M2 Nell x 18
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 4

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 5
F4F-3 Wildcat x 16
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 8 destroyed, 5 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
BB Nevada
BB New Mexico

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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 91,128

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 57 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M3a Zero x 8
G3M2 Nell x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 4
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 3 destroyed
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
BB Nevada

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Merauke at 88,124

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 19
F4F-3 Wildcat x 42
SBD-3 Dauntless x 36
TBF-1 Avenger x 11

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsukaze, Bomb hits 9, and is sunk
DD Asagumo, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Asagumo
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Hatsukaze

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

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Asashio, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 91,128

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 57 NM, estimated altitude 26,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 5

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 7
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
SOC-1 Seagull x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SOC-1 Seagull: 1 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 91,128

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 75 NM, estimated altitude 25,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
G4M1 Betty x 7

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 11
F4F-3 Wildcat x 22
F4F-4 Wildcat x 29
SOC-1 Seagull x 1

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed

No Allied losses

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 37th JAAF AF Bn , at 91,128 (Horn Island)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 37 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M3a Zero x 6
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 3

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 18
F4F-3 Wildcat x 45
F4F-4 Wildcat x 26
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 16
SBD-3 Dauntless x 31
SOC-1 Seagull x 1
TBD-1 Devastator x 9

No Japanese losses

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
106 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

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

Ground combat at Horn Island (91,128)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 6482 troops, 109 guns, 187 vehicles, Assault Value = 223

Defending force 1877 troops, 28 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 43

Allied adjusted assault: 175

Japanese adjusted defense: 3

Allied assault odds: 58 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Horn Island !!!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe: 1 destroyed

Combat modifiers
Defender: disruption(-), preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker: shock(+), disruption(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1066 casualties reported
Squads: 42 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 19 (11 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (5 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Allied ground losses:
326 casualties reported
Squads: 14 destroyed, 13 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
2/8th Ind Coy
2/4th Armoured Regiment
34th Infantry Regiment
2/4th Ind Coy
2/7th Ind Coy
2/1st Ind Coy
Papuan Inf Battalion
1st Medium Regiment
2nd Medium Regiment

Defending units:
Maizuru 1st SNLF
III/19th Nav Gd /1
37th JAAF AF Bn

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

Maizuru 1st SNLF Wiped Out at Horn Island by attrition!!!

37th JAAF AF Bn Wiped Out at Horn Island by attrition!!!

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

Ground combat at Funafuti (138,147)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 288 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 20

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Allied adjusted assault: 18

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 18 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Funafuti !!!

Combat modifiers
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)

Assaulting units:
2nd USMC Parachute Bn /1

BBfanboy · Post by **BBfanboy** » Wed Mar 02, 2022 10:42 pm

Congrats on concentrating your forces to show the Allies are not helpless in mid-1942! I would bet that CL Kuma has also sunk (unseen) and check the FP losses. Kuma (I think) should have had one FP while Kitikami likely did not.
Very impressed that your bombardment force at Horn Island managed to hit only troops and leave the base alone!

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Wed Mar 16, 2022 10:24 pm

August 01/02, 1942

Japanese SRA:
Bandoeng heavily bombed, as usual. The brave Dutch defenders in their trenches are eating their belts and boots.

SWPac:
Assault troops reboard ships at Horn Island, unmolested by the enemy.

SoPac:
Four Omaha class CLs plus DDs and DMs paid another visit to Noumea, causing light damage. Not enough to prevent a dozen Nicks from intercepting bombing raids by B-17s. Between CAP and AA, 3 B-17s lost over Noumea and 2 more on the way home.
Newly acquired Funafuti has promptly been bombed by Nells, causing 46 casualties among the Paramarines - which aren't going to stay but are being evacuated by PBYs.

NoPac:
SS Porpoise torpedoed xAK Taibun Maru near Shikuka.

Selected action reports:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Noumea at 115,160

Allied Ships
CL Trenton
CL Detroit
CL Raleigh
CL Concord
DD Morris
DD Caldwell
DD Woodworth
DD Laffey
DMS Southard
DMS Litchfield

Japanese ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 12
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 1

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Wed Mar 16, 2022 10:46 pm

August 03/04, 1942

Highlights: Bandoeng falls, enemy cruisers bombard Wallis Island.

Bases lost:
Bandoeng

Japanese SRA:
Bandoeng, Cebu and Sintang bombed, as usual. After many months under siege, the hungry and weakened defenders of Bandoeng finally crumbled under a deliberate attack by two reinforced IJA divisions.

CBI:
Allied sweeps tangled with Oscars - the well-known Ic and the new IIb variants - near Shwebo. 11 Oscars downed for 2 Hurricane IIb lost. With the air cleared, bombers have hit the 4th/B Division at 60,44 near Shwebo, causing about 400 casualties.

SWPac:
Pesky IJN subs are defying our ASW efforts off Sydney.

SoPac:
Funafuti bombed again, causing 230 casualties among the troops of the 2nd USMC Parachute Battalion.

NoPac:
SS Porpoise torpedoed xAK Meisho Maru near Toyohara.

Selected action reports:

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

Ground combat at Bandoeng (50,100)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 34576 troops, 555 guns, 357 vehicles, Assault Value = 974

Defending force 20701 troops, 216 guns, 123 vehicles, Assault Value = 359

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 0

Japanese adjusted assault: 1224

Allied adjusted defense: 301

Japanese assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Bandoeng !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
1052 casualties reported
Squads: 21 destroyed, 102 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 18 disabled
Engineers: 5 destroyed, 12 disabled
Guns lost 20 (2 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Vehicles lost 18 (5 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
25764 casualties reported
Squads: 503 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1167 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 16 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 158 (158 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 122 (122 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 18

Assaulting units:
2nd Division
5th Division
6th Tank Regiment
32nd Nav Gsn Unit
10th Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
3rd Medium Field Artillery Regiment
5th Mortar Battalion
1st Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
4th Ind.Hvy.Art. Battalion
14th Ind.Art.Mortar Battalion
16th Army
3rd Ind. Mountain Gun Regiment
2nd Mortar Battalion
18th Medium Field Artillery Regiment
1st Hvy.Artillery Regiment
20th Ind. Mtn Gun Battalion
17th Medium Field Artillery Regiment

Defending units:
4th KNIL Regiment
1st KNIL Regiment
Tjilatjap KNIL Battalion
Makassar Garrison Battalion
1st Regt Cavalerie
Barisan KNIL Regiment
3rd KNIL Landstorm Battalion
Mobiele Eenheid Battalion
Dili Detachment
1st KNIL AA Battalion
NI-MLD
ML-KNIL
3rd KNIL AA Battalion
KNI Zeemacht
ABDA
Kendari Garrison Battalion
Prajoda Garrison Battalion
Andir ML Base Force

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Wallis Island at 142,156 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
PBY-5 Catalina: 4 damaged
R4D-1 Skytrain: 6 damaged
C-47 Skytrain: 1 damaged
Hudson III (LR): 1 damaged
Hudson III (LR): 1 destroyed on ground

11 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Suzuya
CA Mogami
CL Yura

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

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 11
Port hits 10

E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CA Suzuya
8th Marine Defense Battalion firing at CA Suzuya
CA Suzuya firing at 8th Marine Defense Battalion
E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CA Mogami
CA Mogami firing at Wallis Island
CL Yura firing at Wallis Island

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 5:35 pm

August 05/06, 1942

Highlights: IJN light forces and subs score successes

Allied ships lost:
AM Poole, xAP Kepong, xAP Sin Kheng Seng all sunk by DD Hibiki at Akyab
CA Vincennes sunk by SS I-8 near Cooktown

Enemy ships sunk:
xAK Glasgow Maru sunk by SS Wahoo near Saishu To

CBI:
Cebu and Sintang bombed as usual.

CBI:
IJA 4th/A Division and 4th/B Division repeatedly bombed at 60,44 near Shwebo, no CAP encountered. Over 300 casualties inflicted.
A IJN destroyer sweep in the waters off Akyab wiped out a small convoy shuttling supplies to the front.

SWPac:
The US Fleet moving from Horn Island to Brisbane bumped into I-8, more precisely I-8's torpedoes bumped into CA Vincennes. Abandoned and left behind alone, the sub finished her off in a second attack.

SoPac:
IJA SAG bombarded an empty Funafuti.
B-17s bombed ground forces at Tanna with little effect.
A small enemy convoy spotted at Koumac by naval search attracted the attention of a small USN SAG, one AV left burning.

Selected action reports:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Akyab at 54,45, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Michishio
DD Suzukaze
DD Hibiki

Allied Ships
AM Poole, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
xAP Kepong, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Sin Kheng Seng, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 39% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
DD Hibiki engages xAP Sin Kheng Seng at 8,000 yards
xAP Kepong sunk by DD Hibiki at 8,000 yards
xAP Sin Kheng Seng sunk by DD Hibiki at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Hibiki engages AM Poole at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DD Hibiki engages AM Poole at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
AM Poole sunk by DD Hibiki at 2,000 yards
AM Poole sunk by DD Hibiki at 2,000 yards - twice, just to make sure
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Koumac at 113,156, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Hayate
DD Asanagi
AV Kunikawa Maru, Shell hits 4, heavy fires

Allied Ships
CL Detroit, Shell hits 1
DD Morris, Shell hits 1
DMS Southard

Reduced sighting due to 28% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 28% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
CL Detroit engages DD Hayate at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CL Detroit engages AV Kunikawa Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD Morris at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages CL Detroit at 5,000 yards
DD Morris engages DD Hayate at 5,000 yards
DMS Southard engages AV Kunikawa Maru at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CL Detroit engages DD Asanagi at 4,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages DD Morris at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
CL Detroit engages DD Asanagi at 5,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD Morris at 5,000 yards
DMS Southard engages AV Kunikawa Maru at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
DD Morris engages DD Asanagi at 7,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD Morris at 7,000 yards
DMS Southard engages AV Kunikawa Maru at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CL Detroit engages DD Asanagi at 9,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages DD Morris at 9,000 yards
DMS Southard engages AV Kunikawa Maru at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CL Detroit engages DD Hayate at 11,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD Morris at 11,000 yards
DMS Southard engages AV Kunikawa Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Morris engages DD Asanagi at 11,000 yards
DD Morris engages DD Hayate at 11,000 yards
DD Morris engages AV Kunikawa Maru at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
DD Morris engages DD Asanagi at 10,000 yards
DD Hayate engages DD Morris at 10,000 yards
DMS Southard engages AV Kunikawa Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CL Detroit engages DD Asanagi at 8,000 yards
DD Morris engages DD Hayate at 8,000 yards
CL Detroit engages AV Kunikawa Maru at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages DD Morris at 9,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Cooktown at 92,135

Japanese Ships
SS I-8

Allied Ships
CA Vincennes, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
BB North Carolina
CA San Francisco
CA New Orleans
CL Nashville
CL Helena
CL St. Louis
DD McCall
DD Flusser
DD Perkins

SS I-8 launches 6 torpedoes at CA Vincennes
I-8 diving deep ....
DD Flusser fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Perkins attacking submerged sub ....
DD Perkins fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Perkins attacking submerged sub ....
DD Perkins fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Perkins attacking submerged sub ....
DD Perkins is out of ASW ammo
DD Perkins is out of ASW ammo
DD Perkins is out of ASW ammo
DD Perkins is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Cooktown at 92,135

Japanese Ships
SS I-8

Allied Ships
CA Vincennes, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

SS I-8 launches 6 torpedoes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Funafuti at 138,147

Japanese Ships
CA Suzuya
CA Mogami
CL Yura
DD Akebono
DD Ayanami
DD Inazuma
DD Hamakaze
DD Urakaze
DD Naganami

Port hits 33
Port supply hits 10

E13A1 Jake acting as spotter for CA Suzuya
CA Suzuya firing at Funafuti
CA Mogami firing at Funafuti
CL Yura firing at Funafuti
DD Akebono firing at Funafuti
DD Ayanami firing at Funafuti
DD Inazuma firing at Funafuti
DD Hamakaze firing at Funafuti
DD Urakaze firing at Funafuti
DD Naganami firing at Funafuti

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 10:29 pm

August 07/08, 1942

Highlights: Allied forces landing on Guadalcanal - in the real war. I'm far from that in this game.

Bases lost:
Funafuti

Allied ships lost:
xAK Trevilley sunk by I-5 off Perth

Japanese Home Islands:
SS Grayling finally finds a fat convoy approaching the HI, including a big Tonan Maru tanker, but attacks a DD, misses, and get punished with seven DC hits. It's a long way from home with 50+ flt damage - dicey.

CBI:
Enemy forces have made contact with the Indian-Chinese troops on the Katha - Shwebo railroad, identified by recon bombardment as the 4th/A Division.

Western Australia:
IJN subs active once more on the CT - Perth route, taking advantage of the fact that I'm too lazy to set waypoints to avoid the direct track. ASW protection of convoys remains limited to one or two ASW platforms at most due to shortage of long-range escorts. The hunter-killer group build around CVL Hermes has just finished repairing voyage damage and will sortie from Perth to scare-away the intruders.

SWPac:
Half a dozen Betties started night-bombing Horn Island, in severe storm and low moon and uncanny precision - several Wildcats damaged and one destroyed on the ground.

SoPac:
Enemy troops have recaptured Funafuti, the last Paramarines have been pulled out in time.
Suva is slowly sinking into the sea with all those troops which have been piled-on. I'm pulling off the Marine divisions and assorted support troops and will send them to Australia to prepare for landings on New Caledonia.

Strategic outlook:

The historic Guadalcanal invasion on August 07 seems to be a good date for some musings on strategy. I'm behind history, with Darwin, PM, Guadalcanal and even Luganville and Noumea in Japanese hands, plus KB intact. Fortunately, it looks like Japan has no further offensive plans and has yielded the initiative. I think Ed will sit back, fortify, create a mobile reserve and wait for the Allies to expose themselves in an amphibious operation against a well-defended but vital target which sooner or later must come, then counter-attack with KB and the mobile reserve. He has reads the same AARs than I have and knows that a static defense won't work, plus he's an ex US Army tank officer and surely won't remain passive. With KB intact and it's location unknown, I surely won't venture far from my own LBA. This rules-out ops in the Cent Pac, instead I'll focus on PNG for the time being, with some diversionary operations on the periphery of the Empire.

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Fri Mar 18, 2022 10:53 pm

August 09/10, 1942

Highlights: Midget subs attack at Sydney

Enemy ships sunk:
SSX Ha-3 is reported to have been sunk near Sydney on Aug 09, 1942
CM Tsugaru is reported to have been sunk near Funafuti on Aug 10, 1942
DD Mochizuki is reported to have been sunk near Funafuti on Aug 10, 1942

Japanese SRA:
Enemy reinforcements land on Cebu, the next to last base under Allied control inside the Japanese perimeter. Also got the usual share of bombs.

CBI:
SS O19 lays minefield near Rangoon ( 54 , 54) and sets course for Colombo

SWPac:
Pure coincidence or excellent intel / spies - the very day the old USN BBs which have been torpedoed by Netties some time ago off Horn Island left the shipyards at Sydney after having been patched-up enough for the trip to US repair yards, that very day Sydney is being attacked by midget subs. Luckily the harbor defenses proved effective.

SoPac:
SS Dolphin lays minefield at Thousand Ships Bay ( 114 , 136) and sets course for Brisbane.
B-17s from Suva bombed Funafuti and were met by Rufes on CAP, one Rufe and a handful of squads and guns destroyed.
Captain Connolly has led a DD squadron on a high-speed run from Suva to Funafuti in a bid to catch the Japanese invasion force. The USN force managed to sink one DD and one CM, and the hit-and-run rush earned its leader the nickname "31-knot-Conolly".

Selected action reports:

BB Pennsylvania available for service in damaged state at Sydney
BB Idaho available for service in damaged state at Sydney
BB Mississippi available for service in damaged state at Sydney

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Sydney at 90,167

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-3, hits 2, heavy damage

Allied Ships
ML No. 432

SSX Ha-3 is sighted by escort
ML No. 432 attacking submerged sub ....
Large oil slick appears over area of attack!
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 128 encounters mine field at Sydney (90,167)

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-11, Mine hits 1, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 152 encounters mine field at Sydney (90,167)

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-10, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 128 encounters mine field at Sydney (90,167)

Japanese Ships
SSX Ha-11, Mine hits 1, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Funafuti at 138,147, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CM Tsugaru, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
APD Hagi, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
DD Sims, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hammann
DD Mustin
DD Russell
DD O'Brien
DD Walke

Reduced sighting due to 3% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 3% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
DD O'Brien engages DD Mochizuki at 1,000 yards
Magazine explodes on DD Mochizuki
DD Mochizuki sunk by DD Sims at 1,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Funafuti at 138,147, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CM Tsugaru, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
APD Hagi, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Sims, on fire
DD Hammann
DD Mustin
DD Russell
DD O'Brien
DD Walke

Reduced sighting due to 3% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 3% moonlight: 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
CM Tsugaru sunk by DD Walke at 3,000 yards

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Tue Mar 22, 2022 7:00 am

August 11/12, 1942

Highlights: Noumea hit hard again

Japanese Home Islands:
SS Silversides has run into a large convoy off Fukue-jima - 8 fat tankers plus CS Nisshin and more escorts and xAKs - but selected to fire 2 torps at a PB and missed. Not much luck with my subs lately.

Japanese SRA:
More troops and more bombs landing on Cebu.

CBI:
Supported by LBA, the Indian and Chinese troops as well as the 7th Armoured Bde sent the 4th/A Division packing in the direction of Shwebo. Note that the Chinese troops have been bought-out with PPs in order to cross the border.
SS I-166 has been detected off Colombo, but the RN is not at her home base - it is at sea to take another stab at Cocos Is.

Western Australia:
Slow build-up of Carnarvon and Exmouth continues, molested only by the presence of a IJN sub.

Northern Australia:
Australian tanks are churning up dust in the desert north of Tennant Creek.

SWPac:
Horn Island night-bombed again, one Betty claimed by AA.
I-20 and I-22 active off Brisbane, but Australian corvettes on ASW obtained 6 hits on I-20.
B-17s from Coen bombed the port of Buna, since convoy activities have been spotted in that area. No CAP, little damage to port facilities, AV Kiyokawa Maru set on fire by one bomb hit.

SoPac:
Enemw DMS promptly detected and cleared the minefield left by SS Dolphin at Thousand Ships Bay.
Left-right punch at Noumea, first BB North Carolina and friends bombard, followed by the operational old BBs and friends. In the meantime, shuffling of troops from Suva to Oz continues. US CVs provide distant cover just in case.
B-17s hity Tanna again, more for training than anything else.

Selected action reports:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Noumea at 115,160

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 16 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 15 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina
CA Quincy
CA San Francisco
CA Minneapolis
CA Astoria
CA New Orleans
CL Nashville
CL Phoenix
CL Honolulu
CL Helena
CL St. Louis
CL Trenton
CL Raleigh
CL Concord
DD Flusser
DD Perkins
DD Shaw
DD Sterett
DD McCall
DMS Elliot
DMS Hovey
DMS Long
DMS Litchfield

Japanese ground losses:
1187 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Non Combat: 11 destroyed, 85 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 19 (5 destroyed, 14 disabled)

Airbase hits 26
Airbase supply hits 20
Runway hits 86
Port hits 81
Port supply hits 14

BB North Carolina firing at 14th/C Division
CA Quincy firing at Noumea
CA San Francisco firing at Noumea
CA Minneapolis firing at 14th/C Division
CA Astoria firing at Noumea
CA New Orleans firing at Noumea
CL Nashville firing at Noumea
CL Phoenix firing at Noumea
CL Honolulu firing at 14th/C Division
CL Helena firing at Noumea
CL St. Louis firing at 14th/C Division
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CL Trenton
CL Trenton firing at Noumea
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CL Raleigh
CL Raleigh firing at 14th/C Division
CL Concord firing at Noumea
DD Flusser firing at Noumea
DD Perkins firing at Noumea
DD Shaw firing at Noumea
DD Sterett firing at Noumea
DD McCall firing at Noumea
DMS Elliot firing at Noumea
DMS Hovey firing at 14th/C Division
DMS Long firing at Noumea
DMS Litchfield firing at Noumea

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Noumea at 115,160

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 damaged
Ki-45 KAIa Nick: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico
BB Tennessee
BB Nevada
BB Maryland
CA Chicago
CA Louisville
DD MacDonough
DD Dale
DD Monaghan
DD Aylwin
DD Farragut
DD Cushing
DD Smith
DD Ellet
DD Benham
DD Craven
DD Jarvis
DD Mugford
DD Bagley
DD McCalla
DD Duncan
DD Aaron Ward
DMS Dorsey
DMS Lamberton
DMS Boggs

Japanese ground losses:
285 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 23 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (6 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 16
Port hits 13
Port supply hits 5

BB New Mexico firing at 14th/C Division
BB Tennessee firing at Noumea
BB Nevada firing at 14th/C Division
BB Maryland firing at 14th/C Division
CA Chicago firing at 14th/C Division
CA Louisville firing at 14th/C Division
DD MacDonough firing at Noumea
DD Dale firing at Noumea
DD Monaghan firing at Noumea
DD Aylwin firing at Noumea
DD Farragut firing at Noumea
DD Cushing firing at 14th/C Division
DD Smith firing at 14th/C Division
DD Ellet firing at 14th/C Division
DD Benham firing at Noumea
DD Craven firing at Noumea
DD Jarvis firing at Noumea
DD Mugford firing at 14th/C Division
DD Bagley firing at 14th/C Division
DD McCalla firing at Noumea
DD Duncan firing at Noumea
DD Aaron Ward firing at Noumea
DMS Dorsey firing at 14th/C Division
DMS Lamberton firing at Noumea
DMS Boggs firing at Noumea

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

Ground combat at 60,43 (near Katha)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 41742 troops, 364 guns, 365 vehicles, Assault Value = 1725

Defending force 4287 troops, 36 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 128

Allied adjusted assault: 1003

Japanese adjusted defense: 17

Allied assault odds: 59 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
2224 casualties reported
Squads: 57 destroyed, 109 disabled
Non Combat: 33 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 17 (5 destroyed, 12 disabled)
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 1

Allied ground losses:
461 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 63 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
17th Indian/A Division
6th Chinese/C Corps
39th Indian Division
7th New Chinese Corps
6th Chinese/A Corps
7th Armoured Brigade
6th Chinese/B Corps
17th Indian/B Division
NCAC
85th British AT Gun Regiment

Defending units:
4th/A Division

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Mon Mar 28, 2022 10:02 am

August 13/14, 1942

Highlights: Cocos Is. bombarded

Japanese SRA:
Cocos Is. is again bombarded by the entire might of the RN Eastern Fleet, with 2 CVs tagging along providing CAP. There are Nells based on Cocos Is. but somehow they missed picking-up the approaching Allied fleet.
More troops landing at Cebu and a recon bombardment shows that the days of the next-to-last Allied base behind enemy lines are numbered.

CBI:
Two squadrons of B-25s bombed IJA tanks which have retreated from Warazup to Myitkyina.
Hurricanes and Warhawks swept the skies over the 4th/C Division north of Shwebo - 12 Ki-43-IIb Oscars downed for no Allied losses.

Western Australia:
While the Exmouth dot base is slowly being expanded to establish a port and airbase, Australian infantry, arty and tanks are advancing along the cost for a recon-in-force of Port Hedland. Supplies are being landed on the coast by small patrol boats pressed into service as fast transports.

Northern Australia:
Australian troops are slowly advancing from Tennant Creek to conduct another recon-in-force operation against Daly Waters.

SWPac:
Horn Island airbase has reaches size 3 and three USN fighter groups provide local air defense, while small xAKLs shuttle supplies in and return to Cairns loaded with elements of the assault troops in order to prepare for the next mission.
The heavy bomber groups in Australia are reorganising. The tired remnants of the 19th Bombardment group have been disbanded, the handed-down airframes will help filling-out other units. A squadron of the 7th BG on loan from the 10th Airforce has been ordered to Perth for transshipping to the CBI to join the other squadrons of the unit (the B-25s mentionned above) The newcomers of the 307th BG are at Coen and enjoying R&R after their taxing mission against the flak hell of Buna, one of the BGs four squadrons is undergoing transition from B-17E to B-24s. At Coen as well, two B-17E squadrons of the 43rd BG have arrived, they will take-over the recon/search role from the departed 19th BG. The other two squadrons of the 43rd BG are still state-side, awaiting deliveries of the new B-17F model.

SoPac:
The heavy bomber units assigned to the SoPac have been reorganised as well. Two squadrons of B-17Es from the 11th BG have been disbanded for reorganisation state-side in 60 days, their pilots and airframes have been pulled to fill-out the 5th BG whose four squadrons at Suva are conducting recon, search and occasional ground bombing missions. This turn Tanna has been bombed again to make life miserable for the 89th Naval Guard Unit.

CentPac:
One of the subs has reported unusual activities at Nauru - see screenshot. The ship types and numbers are heavily FOWed, but the fact something is there at all points to a forward base of the Japanese fleet and probably the source of the recent cruiser TFs seen at Funafuti and Wallis.

NoPac:
An enemy TF has been spotted by naval search NW of Attu for two turns in a row, apparently a single ship. Will send the NoPac CruDes-TF to investigate.

Sub War:
A word on my sub operations. I have squeezed-in the losses in the screenshot above. Four Dutch subs and one US sub have been lost during the Japanese offensive in the SRA, two sunk by DCs and three in sub-vs-sub actions.
The surviving subs are now based at Adak, PH, Townville, Brisbane, Perth and Colombo.
At Adak I have an AS, with an ARD further back at Kodiak in case major floaty damage needs to be fixed. Adak houses the P class boats with only 6 torpedo tubes, they are patroling around Sakhalin and Hokkaido, with little success so far and fierce counter-measures by surface and air ASW - two boats lost so far to air attacks.
The PH boats are mostly of the Tambor class and Gato class. They use Midway as a forward base with an AS and fuel depot, they return to PH only if repairs at Midaway would take too long. The PH boats are convoy-hunting in Empire waters, esp. the approaches in the East China Sea and the Tokyo-Truk track. ASW is heavy as well, two boats lost to air attacks and a constant stream of cripples mission-killed and hobbling back to PH.
Townsville base has all the short-legged S-Boats and a few older fleet boats which patrol around Rabaul and the PNG and Solomons area to protect the approaches to Australia. Same as above - two subs lost to air ASW so far.
More of the older fleet boats are based at Brisbane to patrol around Noumea, Luganville and a few ventures up into the Marshalls and Gilberts to scout for enemy activities. One sub lost near Noumea.
Perth has been home of five surviving short-legged Dutch subs which are engaged in defensive and scouting patrols off Carnarvon, Exmouth and Port Hedland. The will be joined by the boats of the Salmon and Sargo classes which will transit from Brisbane to Perth via patrols in the SRA - more for trying to disperse the enemy ASW assets than for real hope of success - still a couple of months to wait for better torps.
Finally, Colombo has a small submarine compelement of six long-ranged Dutch subs and two British subs -they are tasked to keep watch over the approaches to Rangoon, Cocos Is. and the exit of Sunda Strait, with the occasional minelaying in coastal waters on the Singers-Rangoon track. One sub lost at Cocos.

To give an idea of ongoing ops this turn :
SS Sculpin missed xAK Hukuzyu Maru near Subic Bay
SS Grampus missed xAKL Aiyo Maru near Amami Oshima
SS Finback misssed DD Umikaze near Saipan
SS Silversides missed DD Kuretake near Shanghai and received 4 DC hits

Selected action reports:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Cocos Islands at 33,101

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 16 damaged
G3M3 Nell: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
BB Resolution
BB Ramillies
BB Revenge
CA Exeter
CA Devonshire
CA Dorsetshire
CL Capetown
CL Newcastle
CL Mauritius
CL Ceres
CL Dauntless
DD Inconstant
DD Hotspur
DD Griffin
DD Foxhound
DD Fortune
DD Decoy
DD Arrow
DD Napier
DD Nestor
DD Arunta

Japanese ground losses:
252 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 22
Airbase supply hits 7
Runway hits 34
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 1

Walrus II acting as spotter for BB Resolution
BB Resolution firing at Cocos Islands
BB Ramillies firing at Cocos Islands
BB Revenge firing at Cocos Islands
CA Exeter firing at Cocos Islands
CA Devonshire firing at Cocos Islands
CA Dorsetshire firing at Cocos Islands
CL Capetown firing at Cocos Islands
CL Newcastle firing at Cocos Islands
CL Mauritius firing at Cocos Islands
CL Ceres firing at Cocos Islands
CL Dauntless firing at Cocos Islands
DD Inconstant firing at 14th Naval Guard Unit
DD Hotspur firing at Cocos Islands
DD Griffin firing at Cocos Islands
DD Foxhound firing at Cocos Islands
DD Fortune firing at Cocos Islands
DD Decoy firing at Cocos Islands
DD Arrow firing at Cocos Islands
DD Napier firing at Cocos Islands
DD Nestor firing at Cocos Islands
DD Arunta firing at Cocos Islands

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Mon Mar 28, 2022 11:33 am

August 15/16, 1942

Highlights: Rare action in the North Pacific, Chinese troops repulse IJA shock attacks

Bases lost:
Cebu

Enemy ships sunk:
PB Kosin Maru by surface action in the Bering Sea.

Japanese SRA:
Cebu has been naval bombarded - causing damage to light industries, resources and manpower - and then ground attacked and captured by the enemy. Not too bright to destroy assets just before you capture them.
The last remaing base under Allied control deep inside the SRA is Sintang on Borneo, but the remnants of two Dutch Infantry battalions and two Dutch bases forces which have taken refuge there have suffered sporadic air attacks for weeks and patrols have now discovered a Japanese ground force approaching.

CBI:
Blenheims bombed the 21st/B Division in the open north of Shwebo, 440 casualties inflicted.
Japanese troops shock-attacked twice the Chinese troops SE of Kalemyo, with tank support the Chinese troops repulsed the attacks.

SWPac:
Four wounded USN battlewaggons have left Sydney under DD escort for CONUS and repairs / upgrades, they won't be available for a long time.

SoPac:
A squadron of B-17s bombed Noumea - slight damage. Small convoys of regular xAKs and xAPs keep arriving, loading and leaving Suva to shuttle two Marine divisions and assorted combat support and logistics troops to Brisbane, which is the closest base to La Foa on New Caledonia (hint, hint), they take wide detours to the south of Noumea to keep out of Netty range from Noumea, just in case.

NoPac:
The NoPac CruDes-TF has dispatched a picket ship NW of Attu.

Homefront / Rear areas:
Following the recent reorganisation of heavy bomber assets, local commanders have complained about the lack of airframes and about the fact that too many pilots have been trained for special tasks and not enough for the main business. It is true - there are a about 300 Army pilots trained to 70+ skill for recon, naval search, naval and low-naval attacks etc. in the pools, while trained pilots for ordinary ground attacks on airfields, ports and troops are lacking. Only the reduction of active squadrons due to the reorganisation has allowed to assemble enough 70+ skill pilots for the ground attack role to fill-out the six heavy bomber squadrons earmarked for bombing attacks. Changes have been made in the stateside training program, but results will take months to arrive in the pools.
Supply and fuel convoys finally start to arrive from CONUS at SoPac and Australian bases again after the interuption of the pipeline due to the mass merchant shipping upgrades of 06/42.

Selected action reports:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Cebu at 80,86

Japanese Ships
DD Mikazuki
DMS W-18

Allied ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled

Light Industry hits 1
Manpower hits 1
Resources hits 1
Fires 63
Runway hits 9
Port hits 1

DD Mikazuki firing at Cebu
DMS W-18 firing at Cebu

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

Ground combat at Cebu (80,86)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16573 troops, 141 guns, 40 vehicles, Assault Value = 511

Defending force 3382 troops, 35 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 84

Japanese adjusted assault: 230

Allied adjusted defense: 13

Japanese assault odds: 17 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Cebu !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), leaders(-), disruption(-), fatigue(-)
morale(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
94 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Allied ground losses:
4227 casualties reported
Squads: 103 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 214 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 10 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 50 (50 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 2

Assaulting units:
16th Division
41st Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
81st PA Infantry Division
1st Port Maint Engineer Battalion

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

Ground combat at 59,43 (near Kalemyo)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 8577 troops, 66 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 274

Defending force 7628 troops, 8 guns, 84 vehicles, Assault Value = 396

Japanese adjusted assault: 164

Allied adjusted defense: 161

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1

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

Japanese ground losses:
1161 casualties reported
Squads: 3 destroyed, 49 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Guns lost 20 (3 destroyed, 17 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
555 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 60 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Assaulting units:
4th/B Division
4th/C Division

Defending units:
7th New Chinese Corps
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
8th New Chinese Corps

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

Ground combat at 59,43 (near Kalemyo)

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 7702 troops, 62 guns, 8 vehicles, Assault Value = 184

Defending force 7268 troops, 8 guns, 84 vehicles, Assault Value = 347

Japanese adjusted assault: 156

Allied adjusted defense: 443

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 2

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

Japanese ground losses:
873 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 87 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
328 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
4th/B Division
4th/C Division

Defending units:
7th New Chinese Corps
3rd Carabiniers Regiment
8th New Chinese Corps

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Bering Island at 147,47, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Kosin Maru #3, Shell hits 18, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Pensacola
CA Salt Lake City
DD Porter
DD Selfridge
DD Phelps
DD Balch
DD Clark

Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms with 21% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 21% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 2,000 yards
CA Salt Lake City fires at PB Kosin Maru #3 at 2,000 yards
Morioka W. orders Japanese TF to disengage
CA Salt Lake City engages PB Kosin Maru #3 at 2,000 yards
DD Selfridge engages PB Kosin Maru #3 at 2,000 yards
PB Kosin Maru #3 sunk by CA Salt Lake City at 2,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

BBfanboy · Post by **BBfanboy** » Mon Mar 28, 2022 5:43 pm

A bit surprised that your TF in the Aleutians has all Porter class DDs - which have 5" gun mounts with no AA capability. Do the Japanese not have any bombers in the area? Could they?

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Thu Mar 31, 2022 9:28 pm

Hey BBfanboy - well yes, Paramushiro shows up as a size 3 airbase and my SAG was well within Nettie's torpedo-toting range. In my blood-thirst I haven't paid attention to this and the picket might well have been a bait for a trap! I have sent the Porters and lightest-armored CAs up North hoping that the almost constant lousy weather would limit their exposure to airstrikes - looks like I have been lucky that the trap failed.

August 17/18, 1942

Highlights: Tanna invaded

Home Islands:
SS Drum missed a chance to score against a fat tanker convoy in the "Western Approaches".

CBI:
B-25s bombed Myitkyina from 10k without effect.
SS I-10 was sighted near Bombay.
Chinese troops attacked Thai troops between Paoshan and Lashio in an attempt to increase the pressure in Burma.

Western Australia:
Northwestern Australia more precisely. Exmouth has reached port size 1 and is no longer a dot, efforts now concentrate on the airbase which is at 88% - gotta hurry because the Japanese have found the Aussie griund troops advancing along the coast halfway between Exmouth and Port Hedland and started bombing them.

Northern Australia:
Recon reveals weak garrisons at Daly Waters and Katharina. The four Aussie Armoured Cars Regiments and one US TD Bn have almost completed the encirclement of Daly Waters - keeping a hex between that base and their flanking marches - and apparently the Japanese remain unaware. An Aussie Cav Bde is moving up the road and the plan is to coordinate the arrival of all units from six different directions at the same time.

SWPac:
The first convoy shifting troops from Suva has arrived at Brisbane and the 2nd Marine Division is debarking.

CentPac:
I remain intrigued by Nauru. The mass of shipping detected by sub (which was looking for some easy kills of merchant ships hauling resources from Nauru) a few days ago is unusual enough. Also note that this base with a port potential of 0 has been expanded to 3(0), plus an airbase. This appears to be an awful lot of effort, supplies and scare engineering assets employed and I cannot believe this has been done merely in order to protect and exploit the resource centers on that island - which would be unnecessary since the SRA has more resources than the Japanese merchant fleet can possibly ship home. It looks more like an effort to create a forward base to keep tenders and fleet units safe from submarines (submarines cannot attack ships in size 3 ports and above) and with a useful level of fuel and supplies limits. Given the location, it makes a lot of sense! Nauru is out of reach from Allied LBA, and several potential Allied targets are within reach of two of hard steaming - and we are playing two-day turns. Distance from Nauru to Port Moresby is 30 hexes, to Noumea 32 hexes, to Funafuti a mere 21 hexes, to Canton Is. 34 hexes and to Wake Is. 30 hexes. I am pretty sure that KB which has not been seen or heard of for a long time is sitting at Nauru like a spider in the middle of the web, ready to move in any direction a threat may come from. At least I will base my operations on this assumption.
Some old CLs bombarded Funafuti again as a diversion for operations in the SoPac.

SoPac:
Norfolk Is. has been expanded to a size 4 airbase and a handful of US B-26s and Kiwi Hudsons are now adding their weight to the bombing campaign against New Caledonia to keep the airfield at Noumea out of business and to start prepping La Foa for a landing - and to gain intel about the Japanese garrison. Looks like the three bases on New Caledonia each have a brigade from the IJA 14th Division, plus some AA, construction units and the HQ of the 5th Air Division at Noumea. I have two Marine and two Army divisions (Americal and 32nd) available, plus the Australian I Corps (6th and 7th Divisions AIF) and elements of the 27th and 37th Divisions earmarked for other ops but available if necessary - that should be more than enough.

The B-17s at Suva concentrated on supporting the invasion of Tanna. As explained, I have reason to believe that Combined Fleet has been pre-positioned at Nauru within reach of several potential Allied targets in order to be at hand for a swift counter-attack. Therefore the Tanna invasion went light and fast - the modern USN CLs arrived first, bombarded and quickly left to return to Suva again. Then a gaggle of 22 APDs with a few DMS added for protections against mines sprinted from Suva to Tanna and landed the three Marine Raider Battalions. There are a few units of supplies left to be unloaded, the APDs should unload it in the night phase of the next turn and then return at full speed to Suva. The CVs and a SAG built around BB North Carolina and the CAs provided CAP - eight brave unescorted Betties from Luganville lost 5 splashed - as well as CAS from one hex off. The SAG will bombard next turn and return to Suva at full speed, with the CVs ordered to follow. If all goes to plan, all naval forces will be under LBA cover from the Fijis by the end of the first day next turn, hopefully before any Japanese intervention can arrive at Tanna.
In the best case, the Marines will take Tanna and the combat engineers of the Marines Raider units will start expanding the airfield. In the worst case, the Japanese will stage a counter-landing with the dreaded KB in support. By now, both Hiyo and Junyo and a few CVL will have become available. I have only 5 CVs so won't risk an engagment unless under LBA cover. So this Tanna invasion is a hit-and-run-except-the-Marines-which-stay operation to test the Japanese reaction. In the worst case the three Raider units will have to be sacrificed - well, the Raiders volunteered for hazardous duty...

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Shanghai  at 95,58
 
Japanese Ships
[b]      CS Nisshin[/b]
      PB Manyo Maru
      PB Hakakisan Maru
      PB Saiko Maru
[b]      AO Kokuyo Maru
      AO Ken'yo Maru
      TK Tonan Maru #2
      TK Tatekawa Maru
      TK San Ramon Maru
      TK Nissyo Maru
      TK Goyo Maru[/b]
      xAK Bordeaux Maru
      xAK Tarayasu Maru
      xAK Taketoyo Maru
      xAK Koei Maru
      xAK Noto Maru
      xAK Hakkai Maru
      xAK Anyo Maru
      xAK Melbourne Maru
      DD Kuretake
      DD Fumizuki
      PB Kensyo Maru
 
Allied Ships
      SS Drum
 
SS Drum is sighted by escort
Drum bottoming out ....
DD Kuretake fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Fumizuki fails to find sub and abandons search
PB Kensyo Maru fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Kuretake fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kuretake fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kuretake fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Kuretake fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2/10th Armoured Regiment, at 53,129 , near Exmouth
 
Weather in hex: Overcast
 
Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-21-IIa Sally x 21
 
No Japanese losses
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      21 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 8000 feet * 
               Ground Attack:  2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
 
Also attacking 2/5th Armoured Regiment ...
Also attacking 2/10th Armoured Regiment ...
Also attacking 2/5th Armoured Regiment ...
Also attacking 2/10th Armoured Regiment ... 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2/10th Armoured Regiment, at 53,129 , near Exmouth
 
Weather in hex: Overcast
 
Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      G4M1 Betty x 7
 
No Japanese losses
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       7 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 8000 feet
               Ground Attack:  2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb,  4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 14th/C Division, at 115,160 (Noumea)
 
Weather in hex: Light cloud
 
Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
 
Allied aircraft
      Hudson III (LR) x 15
      B-26 Marauder x 16
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Hudson III (LR): 1 damaged
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      12 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
       3 x Hudson III (LR) bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
       3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 10000 feet * 
               Ground Attack:  3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       4 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 10000 feet * 
               Ground Attack:  3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       6 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 10000 feet * 
               Ground Attack:  3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 10000 feet * 
               Ground Attack:  3 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
Also attacking [b]50th Field AA Battalion[/b] ...
Also attacking [b]I/66th Naval Guard Unit[/b] ...
Also attacking [b]5th Air Division[/b] ...
Also attacking [b]17th Naval Construction Battalion[/b] ...
Also attacking [b]14th/C Division[/b] ...
Also attacking [b]II/66th Naval Guard Unit[/b] ...
Also attacking 14th/C Division ...
Also attacking 17th Naval Construction Battalion ...
Also attacking 14th/C Division ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 14th/B Division, at 114,159 (La Foa)
 
Weather in hex: Light cloud
 
Raid spotted at 5 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes
 
Allied aircraft
      B-25C Mitchell x 15
 
No Allied losses
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      15 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
Also attacking [b]12th Naval Construction Battalion[/b] ...
Also attacking [b]14th/B Division[/b] ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 89th Naval Guard Unit, at 120,157 (Tanna)
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid spotted at 17 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
 
Allied aircraft
      B-17E Fortress x 20
 
No Allied losses
 
Japanese ground losses:
      21 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      11 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       9 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 89th Naval Guard Unit, at 120,157 (Tanna)
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
 
Allied aircraft
      F4F-3A Wildcat x 16
      F4F-3 Wildcat x 40
      F4F-4 Wildcat x 20
      SBD-3 Dauntless x 126
      TBF-1 Avenger x 33
 
Allied aircraft losses
      SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
      18 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Tanna at 120,157
 
Allied Ships
      CL Nashville
      CL Phoenix
      CL Honolulu
      CL Helena
      CL St. Louis
 
Japanese ground losses:
      19 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Port hits 99
Port supply hits 17
 
CL Nashville firing at Tanna 
CL Phoenix firing at Tanna 
CL Honolulu firing at Tanna 
CL Helena firing at Tanna 
CL St. Louis firing at Tanna 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tanna at 121,158
 
Weather in hex: Light rain
 
Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 29,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      G4M1 Betty x 8
 
Allied aircraft
      F4F-3A Wildcat x 11
      F4F-3 Wildcat x 26
      F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Tanna (120,157)
 
Allied Ships
      DMS Long
      DMS Dorsey
      APD Rathburne
      APD Lawrence
      APD King
      APD Kilty
      APD Crane
      APD Kennison
      APD Crosby
      APD Dent
      APD Waters
      APD Talbot
      APD McKean
      APD Little
      APD Gregory
      APD Colhoun
      APD Manley
      APD Schley
      APD Chew
      APD Pope
      APD Paul Jones
      APD John D. Edwards
      APD Edsall
      APD Bulmer
 
DMS Long fired at enemy troops
DMS Dorsey fired at enemy troops
APD Rathburne fired at enemy troops
APD Lawrence fired at enemy troops
APD King fired at enemy troops
APD Kilty fired at enemy troops
APD Crane fired at enemy troops
APD Kennison fired at enemy troops
APD Crosby fired at enemy troops
APD Dent fired at enemy troops
APD Waters fired at enemy troops
APD Talbot fired at enemy troops
APD McKean fired at enemy troops
APD Little fired at enemy troops
APD Gregory fired at enemy troops
APD Colhoun fired at enemy troops
APD Manley fired at enemy troops
APD Schley fired at enemy troops
APD Chew fired at enemy troops
APD Pope fired at enemy troops
APD Paul Jones fired at enemy troops
APD John D. Edwards fired at enemy troops
APD Edsall fired at enemy troops
APD Bulmer fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Tanna (120,157)
 
TF 534 troops unloading over beach at Tanna, 120,157
 
Allied ground losses:
      78 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Funafuti at 138,147
 
Allied Ships
      CL Trenton
      CL Raleigh
      CL Concord
 
Japanese ground losses:
      44 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
 
CL Trenton firing at 5th Naval Construction Battalion
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CL Raleigh
CL Raleigh firing at 5th Naval Construction Battalion
CL Concord firing at 5th Naval Construction Battalion 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Funafuti  at 138,148
 
Japanese Ships
      SS I-168, hits 1
 
Allied Ships
      DMS Litchfield
      DD Conyngham
      DD Case
 
SS I-168 launches 2 torpedoes at DMS Litchfield
DD Conyngham fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Case attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-168 eludes ASW attack from DD Case 
DD Conyngham attacking submerged sub ....
DD Case fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Conyngham attacking submerged sub ....
SS I-168 eludes DD Conyngham by diving deep
DD Conyngham fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Conyngham attacking submerged sub ....
DD Conyngham is out of ASW ammo
DD Conyngham is out of ASW ammo
DD Conyngham is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at 63,45 (near Bhamo)
 
Allied Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 9439 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 408
 
Defending force 2859 troops, 28 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 124
 
Allied adjusted assault: 179 
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 280 
 
Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), fatigue(-), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(+), leaders(-)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      177 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 25 disabled
         Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Allied ground losses:
      243 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 40 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
 
Assaulting units:
    5th Chinese Corps
 
Defending units:
    6th RTA/B Division
    7th RTA/A Division

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Sat Apr 02, 2022 8:36 pm

August 19/20, 1942

Highlights: Tanna recaptured - and KB doesn't like it!

Bases liberated:
Tanna

CBI:
The two brigades of the 4th IJA division who have impaled themselves against the Chinese units SE of Kalemyo are retreating under a hail of bombs. The Chinese between Paoshan and Lashio made no headway against the Thai troops.

Northwestern Australia:
Aussie tanks on their way to Port Hedland got bombed again, not sure a level-1 airbase can support LRCAP ops but Exmouth reached that size today and I'll give it a try next turn.

Northern Australia:
Daly Waters has been surrounded and all units will now head for the base from all six directions in order to trap the garrison. A bombing run by B17s from Coen has been met a trio of Zeros on CAP over Daly Waters, probably tipped-off by prior recon. One Zero downed and more intel gained on the enemy ground forces - a Mixed Rgt, an AA Bn and a Tank Regiment. More than I expected, prior recon has shown just a few hundtred troops and six guns - but I hope three Armoured Rgt, an Armoured Car Rgt, a TD Bn and a Cav Bde - still with mounted troops - will be enough. If not it could get ugly, Daly Waters is too far away from Tennant Creek for effective LRCAP.

SWPac:
SST Narwhal has landed Australian commando troops on Rossel Is in a diversion / recon operation, but she has hit underwater rocks while attempting to unload. She has 98(86) float damage. I would say the issue is in serious doubt. And the handful of Commandos are stranded on an island that was thought to be unoccupied - but there is an unknown number of Japanese present.

SoPac:
A small USN SAG transiting from Brisbane to Suva has bombarded La Foa on the way.
Medium bombers have hit Noumea again, no CAP but some Zeros destroyed on the ground.
The Raiders easily took Tanna from the fraction a Naval Guard unit on the 19th. The B-17s scheduled to provide ground support promptly switched to commander decision targeting for the 20th and attacked Luganville - running into heavy CAP and losing one plane - the downside of 2-day-turns. All US task forces returned under LBA cover at Suva on the 19th.
The Japanese reaction to the fall of Tanna was swift and massive - on the 20th, a horde of IJN carriers divided in two TFs appeared off Tanna - so my precaution to not hang around an invasion site was fell founded! The IJN carriers and my carriers ended up a mere 10 hexes apart!

And the enemy carriers were not alone - on the way back to Suva, an I-Boat managed to put a fish into Wasp. Not in danger of sinking or burning-up, but she is down to 19 knots so cannot flee and will have to disband into port at Suva. The amphib TF at Suva loaded with base units for Tanna is too slow to run and will unload and disband as well. The remaining US carriers, BB North Carolina, the cruisers and DDs will head away at full speed from Suva in the direction of Tahiti, keeping Suva between them and the Japanese fleet. Even if we want the big ones - four healthy US fleet carriers are just not enough to engage a reinforced KB in 1942! I hope my opponent will shy away from pursuing my fleeing fleet so close to Suva, and from attacking the port of Suva as well. There is some air protection at Nadi and Suva, but the Army fighters are just P-39s and some of the Marine fighters units still have to make do with Buffaloes. The air group of Wasp has been ordered ashore to join the LBA.
With luck, the Japanese will take the Detroit TF south of Anatom for the US main fleet - this TF will head south at flank speed.

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2/6th Armoured Regiment, at 54,128 , near Port Hedland
 
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
 
Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-21-IIa Sally x 18
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied ground losses:
      Vehicles lost 14 (1 destroyed, 13 disabled)
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      18 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 7000 feet * 
               Ground Attack:  2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 4th Ind.Mixed Regiment, at 76,131 (Daly Waters)
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 3
 
Allied aircraft
      B-17E Fortress x 20
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
 
Japanese ground losses:
      50 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
       7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
 
CAP engaged:
3rd Ku S-1/B with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      3 plane(s) intercepting now.
      Group patrol altitude is 16000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 16000.
      Raid is overhead
 
Also attacking 32nd Field AA Battalion ...
Also attacking 8th Tank Regiment ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Noumea , at 115,160 
 
Weather in hex: Severe storms
 
Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      no flights
 
Allied aircraft
      B-26 Marauder x 27
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
 
No Allied losses
 
Japanese ground losses:
      8 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 15

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of La Foa at 114,159
 
Allied Ships
      CL Detroit
      DD Morris
      DD Anderson
      DD Hughes
      DMS Southard
 
Japanese ground losses:
      26 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Port hits 11
Port supply hits 2
 
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CL Detroit
CL Detroit firing at La Foa 
DD Morris firing at 14th/B Division
DD Anderson firing at La Foa 
DD Hughes firing at 14th/B Division
DMS Southard firing at 14th/B Division

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Tanna at 120,157
 
Allied Ships
      BB North Carolina
      CA Quincy
      CA San Francisco
      CA Minneapolis
      CA Astoria
      CA New Orleans
      CA Indianapolis
      CA Portland
      DD Drayton
      DD Cummings
      DD Smith
      DD Mahan
      DD Fanning
      DD Dunlap
      DD McCall
      DD Craven
 
Japanese ground losses:
      60 casualties reported
         Squads: 2 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
 
Port hits 43
Port supply hits 4
 
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for BB North Carolina

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at Tanna (120,157)
 
Allied Shock attack
 
Attacking force 2979 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 119
 
Defending force 226 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3
 
Allied adjusted assault: 148 
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 1 
 
Allied assault odds: 148 to 1 (fort level 1) 
 
Allied forces CAPTURE Tanna !!!
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker: shock(+)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      241 casualties reported
         Squads: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
      Guns lost 4 (4 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Units destroyed 1
 
Allied ground losses:
      39 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
 
Assaulting units:
    1st Marine Raider Battalion
    2nd Marine Raider Battalion
    3rd Marine Raider Battalion
 
Defending units:
    89th Nav Gd /1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 14th/A Division, at 120,150 (Luganville)
 
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
 
Raid detected at 15 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 16
      Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 11
 
Allied aircraft
      B-17E Fortress x 6
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
      B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Anatom  at 123,160
 
Japanese Ships
      SS I-154
 
Allied Ships
      CV Wasp, Torpedo hits 1
      CA Chester
      DD Aaron Ward
      DD Dale
      DD Monaghan
      DD Aylwin
 
SS I-154 launches 6 torpedoes at CV Wasp
I-154 diving deep ....
DD Dale fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Monaghan attacking submerged sub ....
DD Aylwin fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Dale fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Monaghan fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Dale fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Dale fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Dale fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Dale fails to find sub, cont

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on 4th/B Division, at 59,43 , near Kalemyo
 
Weather in hex: Clear sky
 
Raid spotted at 43 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
 
Allied aircraft
      Blenheim IV x 43
      Hurricane IIb Trop x 48
 
No Allied losses
 
Japanese ground losses:
      9 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      12 x Blenheim IV bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
      15 x Blenheim IV bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
      16 x Blenheim IV bombing from 10000 feet
               Ground Attack:  4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
 
Also attacking 4th/C Division ...
Also attacking 4th/B Division ...
Also attacking 4th/C Division ...
Also attacking 4th/B Division ...
Also attacking 4th/C Division ...
Also attacking 4th/B Division ...
Also attacking 4th/C Division ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at 63,45 (near Bhamo)
 
Allied Deliberate attack
 
Attacking force 9163 troops, 38 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 373
 
Defending force 2745 troops, 28 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 108
 
Allied adjusted assault: 138 
 
Japanese adjusted defense: 103 
 
Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-), experience(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)
 
Japanese ground losses:
      219 casualties reported
         Squads: 2 destroyed, 30 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Allied ground losses:
      354 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 53 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
 
Assaulting units:
    5th Chinese Corps
 
Defending units:
    6th RTA/B Division
    7th RTA/A Division

BBfanboy · Post by **BBfanboy** » Sun Apr 03, 2022 3:04 am

Your B-17s can provide the LRCAP at Daly Waters!

Why not unload all of the aircraft from Wasp? Are they not more likely to be lost if Wasp is attacked in port than if they are on the airfield (and perhaps tasked to attack any enemy ships that come too close? And is there a less obvious port for Wasp than Suva? If it can disband in time it will escape search sightings, and recon is usually limited from carriers.

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Tue Apr 05, 2022 8:59 pm

@BBfanboy - I did fly-off Wasp's air group to Suva. The port and airfield of Suva are maxed-out, defended by CAP and several AA units, including the huge Kiwi AA brigades, lots of AV and naval support - IMO the best place to "hide" and protect Wasp and to help fix the torpedo damage. In fact all carrier air groups have been sent to Suva, but this info was kept secret for opsec. There have been 75 US P-39s, 12 Kiwi P-40s, 180 Navy Wildcats, 72 Marine Wildcats and 18 Marine Buffalos at Suva - with all pilots trained to air skill 70+ (but lacking def skill and exp). I was HOPING that KB would attack Wasp in port in order to decimate the elite IJN pilots...

August 21/22, 1942

Highlights: KB appears to be retiring

Allied ships lost:
xAKL Patras
xAKL Carlisle
xAKL Matthew Flinders

Enemy ships sunk:
xAK Kinjosan Maru

CBI:
Sweeps and leaking CAP duel in the skies near Shwebo over the 7th Armoured Brigade which has left the jungles and ventured into the Shwebo plain for a recon in force. 3 Oscar IIb exchanged for 3 P-40E and a handful of casualties from bombing runs by Lilies. It appears that Shwebo is well defended, the brigade will retreat back into the cover of the jungles.

Northern Australia:
An image will say more than a thousand words:

Northwestern Australia:
While the Kittyhawks flew LRCAP over the Aussie ground units churning the desert and killed 3 Sallies, Betties have hit a supply convoy at Exmouth, sinking three xAKL. Well, Allied fighters are still in short supply and cannot be everywhere.

SWPac:
The stranded Aussie commandos on Rossel Island found themselves on the receiving end of a naval bombardment by three CAs and got wiped out. SST Narwhal is still afloat, amazing. But I doubt she will make port. Another recon party transported by sister SST Nautilus has landed on neighboring Tagula Is. which turned out to be garrisoned as well - a Naval Guard unit and a Construction company. Nautilus will reembark the landing party.

SoPac:
Medium bombers have hit Noumea again, destroying a Zero on the ground.
The Detroit TF fleeing south has encountered I-19 which wasted four torps on a DD and got hit twice to add injury to insult.
Kongo and Haruna have bombarded Tanna, causing 300 casualties among the Marine Raiders.
KB appears to be retreating back north but is still within naval search. I will use transport planes to drop supplies to the Marines raiders in a bid to build a size 1 airbase and start flying-in reinforcements. A bunch of APDs will remain at Suva for fast transport duty. The fleet and the amphib shipping will once again migrate to Sydney for repairs and some ships also have upgrades pending.

NoPac:
SS Cuttlefish has sunk xAK Kinjosan Maru near Toyohara

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2/10th Armoured Regiment, at 54,128 , near Exmouth
 
Weather in hex: Light rain
 
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-21-IIa Sally x 21
 
Allied aircraft
      Kittyhawk IA x 2
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-21-IIa Sally: 3 destroyed
 
No Allied losses
 
Allied ground losses:
      Vehicles lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      21 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 7000 feet * 
               Ground Attack:  2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

BBfanboy · Post by **BBfanboy** » Tue Apr 05, 2022 9:07 pm

Thanks for the explanation about your plans for Wasp. You did not have to publish it and break your Op Sec plans - a PM would have done the trick, or a delay of enough time that the info is no longer a surprise.

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Wed Apr 13, 2022 2:05 pm

August 23/24, 1942

Highlights: Pretty calm

Allied ships lost:
APD John D. Edwards

CBI:
Full moon - night-bombing time. Wellingtons destroy a Tojo fighter on the ground. Bombing the airfield this time instead of the oil to prepare the first sweeping missions against Magwe.

Northwestern Australia:
I have two fast transport TFs stuck on the coast NE of Exmouth. They were feeding supplies to the Port Hedland overland invasion force and were unloading ok, until the ground forces left the hex. Since then, unloading has virtually stopped, but I cannot abort the unloading in order to RTB because the "stop unloading" button is greyed-out. Strange.

Northern Australia:
Sallies and Betties bomb the Aussie units around Daly Waters, some squads disabled, a number of vehicles damaged, a few destroyed. Too far away for LRCAP with available fighter planes, this kind of attrition will be costly in the long run.

SoPac:
The enemy TFs have vanished, but left a present at Tanna. APD John D. Edwards on a supply run to Tanna has suffered heavy damage from a mine hit and went down next day.
La Foa has been bombarded by a trio of DDs based at Brisbane.
Noumea bombed by 2Es from Norfolk Is.

LargeSlowTarget · Post by **LargeSlowTarget** » Wed Apr 13, 2022 2:39 pm

August 25/26, 1942

Highlights: Disasters at Daly Waters, Magwe and Tanna.

Allied ships lost:
APD Pope
APD Paul Jones

CBI:
Hurricanes from Cox and Akyab repeatedly swept Magwe and found more opposition than they could handle.
Hurricanes: 18 destroyed
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 4 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed

Northwestern Australia:
CL Birmingham bombarded Port Hedland, inflicting some damage.

Northern Australia:
Kittyhawk sweeps tangle with Zeros over Daly Waters, losing 2 and killing 2. More bombing of Aussie ground units. On the ground, catastrophy north of Daly Waters - the 2/8th Armoured Regiment has been wiped-out by combined air and ground attack. I can live with the losses by air attacks, but that those IJA tincan tanks can overrun a battalion of M3 tanks without suffering even a scratch in the paint is hard to believe!

SoPac:
Combined Fleet returned in force.
B-26s from Norfolk bombed Noumea again, a lone Zero on CAP promptly downed a bomber.
B-25s from Norfolk attacked cruisers and DDs at Tanna and escorted xAKs at Noumea - no hits.
Tanna bombarded by IJN cruisers which also intercepted another pair of APDs, sinking one.
The other APD was sunk by carrier air.
4 Betties bombed Tanna, disabling a Marine squad.
I was hesitating between reinforcing and evacuating Tanna. The continued presence of Combined Fleet has triggered the evacuation of the Marine Raiders by air - thanks to those trusty PBYs at Nadi. B-17s swap pilots to take over naval search duties from Suva.

Selected action reports:

Code: Select all

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Magwe , at 57,47 
 
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
Raid detected at 18 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 8
      Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 38
      Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 2
 
Allied aircraft
      Hurricane IIc Trop x 16
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
      Hurricane IIc Trop: 3 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Noumea at 115,160
 
Weather in hex: Light rain
 
Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes
 
Allied aircraft
      B-25C Mitchell x 8
 
No Allied losses
 
Japanese Ships
      DD Natsushio
      xAK Cheribon Maru
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 2000 feet
               Naval Attack:  6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
       4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 2000 feet
               Naval Attack:  6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tanna at 120,157
 
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
 
Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
 
Allied aircraft
      B-25C Mitchell x 6
 
Allied aircraft losses
      B-25C Mitchell: 3 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
      CA Kinugasa
      DD Yugiri
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 2000 feet * 
               Naval Attack:  3 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Tanna at 120,157
 
Japanese Ships
      CA Kinugasa
      CA Aoba
      CA Chokai
      CA Atago
      CL Kiso
      CL Tama
 
Allied ground losses:
      124 casualties reported
         Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 12 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
Port hits 13
Port supply hits 13
 
CA Kinugasa firing at Tanna 
CA Aoba firing at 3rd Marine Raider Battalion
CA Chokai firing at 1st Marine Raider Battalion
CA Atago firing at Tanna 
CL Kiso firing at 3rd Marine Raider Battalion
CL Tama firing at Tanna
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Tanna at 120,157, Range 8,000 Yards
 
Japanese Ships
      CA Atago
      CA Chokai, Shell hits 1
      CA Aoba
      CA Kinugasa
      CL Tama
      CL Kiso
      DD Shiratsuyu
      DD Ikazuchi
      DD Uranami, Shell hits 1
      DD Shikinami
      DD Yugiri
      DD Sazanami
 
Allied Ships
      APD Paul Jones
      APD Pope, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Anatom at 124,159
 
Weather in hex: Overcast
 
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 45
      D3A1 Val x 24
 
No Japanese losses
 
Allied Ships
      APD Paul Jones, Bomb hits 12, and is sunk
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       6 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
      10 x D3A1 Val releasing from 1000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
       4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
       4 x D3A1 Val releasing from 10000'
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
 
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring APD Paul Jones
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Port Hedland at 57,129
 
Allied Ships
      CL Birmingham
 
Japanese ground losses:
      140 casualties reported
         Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
         Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
         Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
 
Port hits 25
Port supply hits 3
 
CL Birmingham firing at Port Hedland 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2/8th Armoured Regiment, at 76,130 , near Daly Waters
 
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
 
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      Ki-21-IIa Sally x 20
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged
 
Allied ground losses:
      Vehicles lost 9 (8 destroyed, 1 disabled)
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      20 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet * 
               Ground Attack:  2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at 76,130 (near Daly Waters)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 384 troops, 0 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 39
 
Defending force 396 troops, 0 guns, 101 vehicles, Assault Value = 43
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 68 
 
Allied adjusted defense: 1 
 
Japanese assault odds: 68 to 1 
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: leaders(+), disruption(-), experience(-), supply(-)
Attacker: shock(+)
 
Allied ground losses:
      Vehicles lost 47 (27 destroyed, 20 disabled)
 
Assaulting units:
    8th Tank Regiment
 
Defending units:
    2/8th Armoured Regiment
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Ground combat at 76,130 (near Daly Waters)
 
Japanese Shock attack
 
Attacking force 384 troops, 0 guns, 70 vehicles, Assault Value = 37
 
Defending force 204 troops, 0 guns, 41 vehicles, Assault Value = 1
 
Japanese adjusted assault: 68 
 
Allied adjusted defense: 1 
 
Japanese assault odds: 68 to 1 
 
Combat modifiers
Defender: 
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(+)
 
Allied ground losses:
      Vehicles lost 50 (50 destroyed, 0 disabled)
      Units destroyed 1
 
Assaulting units:
    8th Tank Regiment
 
Defending units:
    2/8th Armoured Regiment

Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Darwin recaptured [closed]

Re:

Re:

"We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Horn Island falls

Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Horn Island falls

Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Horn Island falls

Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Bandoeng falls

Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Horn Island falls

Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Horn Island falls

Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Horn Island falls

Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Horn Island falls

Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Horn Island falls

Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Horn Island falls

Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Horn Island falls

Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Tanna invaded

Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Tanna recaptured

Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Tanna falls and KB doesn't like it

Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Tanna falls and KB doesn't like it

Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Tanna falls and KB doesn't like it

Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Tanna falls and KB doesn't like it

Re: "We want the big ones!" DBB-C vs IdahoNYer (J): Tanna falls and KB doesn't like it