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Borners invasion fleet of Port Moresby approaches...but not without incident.
6-19-42

all the way to the doorstep of PM, and no AP's sunk from the invasion force. Sounds like a minor incident at best!

As Borner conducts his invasion of Port Moresby I am conducting my owm....Irau.

Yes, Ike took back Irau. That's good. He should throw himslef a party!

It's just more POW's for me in a few weeks. Also, he had about a dozen ships hit mines, and my planes put 10 torps into assorted targets. The next turn, my Nells flew unescorted not once, but twice, and got slaughtered! 18 shot down. Still, IKE took a lot of damage to take a base he cannot hold.

PM fell this turn, so the KB will now be available to move over, cut off this little force, and kill it. Thanks for the extra points IKE!

Fight for Irau...

Fight for Irau

Fight for Irau.....

Still, IKE took a lot of damage to take a base he cannot hold.

My men have a message for Borner....[:D][:D][:D]

oh! you want the POW camp built on site? Sure, we can do that for you! Apparently IKE brought the bulk of the Americal Div forward in this operation. I will have to make a more serious effort to re-take the island, but it will be well worth it.
 
 

My plan at game start was for when Borner went for Port Moresby I would go for Irau and get a toe hold in the Solomons.

He went for PM a little sooner than I expected so my standing by invasion force wasn´t totally standing by.

My plan was when I saw him commit to PM, launch a massive carrier air strike to close Lunga airfield, then send in the transports covered by my carrier air to deal with his bombers coming down from Rabaul.

But as I wasn´t totally prepared yet before he attacked PM, the transports went in first. Then came the carrier strike on Lunga and LRCAP protecting the invasion fleet that shot up his bombers.

So the wagon got in front of the horse, but it had to be done as time was limited knowing PM was going to fall and his superior carrier force, then uncommited to protecting his own invasion fleet would rush over.

This caused extra transport shipping losses but nothing massive. Men and supplies got offloaded and the Allies are in the Solomons in force.

The rapid working Allied engineers have brought up the airfield to 1 and a fighter squadron now operates on Irau. However it must end there at ¨1¨ as the soldiers need to keep bringing up the fortification level as fast as possible.

The shovel can be as potent as the rifle now.

All this is well and good and McArthur makes the cover of ¨TIME¨ magazine once again.

"The damage has been done"??????  [&:]    I am glad Ike thinks this is such a disaster for Japan. Personally, I think him moving that many men forward where I can get at them, or force his navy out to keep them in supply, is a great thing. What he plans to do next will be very interesting.

I am glad Ike thinks this is such a disaster for Japan.

A disaster no, but a beginning. The disasters will come later.

What he plans to do next will be very interesting.

Gili-Gili

Good move by Ike99 to make use of his carriers while positioned a safe distance from borner's. A great strategy as long as he can keep track of them.

yes, it is good to get some use out of them while the KB is busy.

Right now it is very quite. Reason I believe is because Borner has no size 3 port below Shortlands yet.

Any carrier battle taking place now in the sea around Irau will certainly doom any damaged Japanese carriers as they have so far to go north to stop the flooding and fires.

Any Allied carrier damaged, even heavily damaged, with Allied damage control has a good chance to skip right into Luganville for fire and flooding control.

A very short distance.

So I don´t see any offensive action by the Japanese this far South until I see Tulagi and Lunga attain at least a size 3 port for docking purposes.

Soon, Very Soon, I will have Saratoga & Wasp giving me 6 Allied fleet carriers and the 1st Marine Division.

Enough to contest Borners plans to retake Irau.

Ahhh yes. MacArthurs time cover...

Sounds like a promise to bring your CV's up when the fun begins!  [8D]   

Borner rushing to Irau allowed me to evacuate the vast majority of troops from Lae Lae. The Kanga force had been guarding Lae Lae to keep Borner from dropping a sub ground force or something behind me and cutting off my retreat path. As it turns out it wasn´t needed but misson was successful and all very much according to plan.

yes, your troops gave up too quickly!

WHAT A TURN!  US CV fleet moved up off Irau, and found the KB.
 
report says it all
 
 
 
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/14/42
Weather: Thunderstorms
Sub attack at 42,39
 
Japanese Ships
AP Arimasan Maru
 
Allied Ships
SS S-39
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Irau, at 42,43
 
Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 47
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 43,42
 
Japanese Ships
AP Goyo Maru
 
Allied Ships
SS S-44
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Irau at 42,43
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
 
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 3 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
AP Heito Maru, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
AP Hokuhi Maru, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
AP Unkai Maru #6
 
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 33
 
Attacking Level Bombers:
 3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
 3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
 3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 43,41
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 87
A6M3 Zero x 21
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 29
SBD Dauntless x 35
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 13 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 16 damaged
 
ENS G.Doigawa of EII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
 
Japanese Ships
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 3,  on fire
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 43,41
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 76
A6M3 Zero x 15
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 32
SBD Dauntless x 72
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 3 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 3 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 23 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 18 damaged
 
LT M. Sato of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4
 
Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu, Bomb hits 4,  on fire,  heavy damage
BB Kongo, Bomb hits 1
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 4,  on fire
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
CA Suzuya, Bomb hits 1
CA Ashigara
CA Tone
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 43,41
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
A6M3 Zero x 9
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 26
SBD Dauntless x 18
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 3 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 3 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 5 damaged
 
CPO E.Nishiura of EI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3
 
Japanese Ships
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
CV Kaga, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 43,41
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 70
A6M3 Zero x 19
 
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 15
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 3 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 9 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 6 damaged
 
WO W.Imamura of BII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3
 
Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo
DD Yugure
CVL Zuiho
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 43,41
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 69
A6M3 Zero x 19
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 35
SBD Dauntless x 36
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 10 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 7 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 37 damaged
 
CPO A.Abe of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3
 
LT T. Hoashi of EI-1 Daitai bails out and is CAPTURED
 
Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 1
CA Chokai
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 3,  on fire
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Irau at 42,43
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
 
Allied aircraft
Hudson x 12
B-25D Mitchell x 10
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 destroyed
B-25D Mitchell x 2 damaged
 
PO2 S. Yamashita of F1/Tainan Daitai is credited with kill number 2
 
Japanese Ships
DD Kagero
CL Yubari
DD Hayashio
CL Tenryu
DD Yugumo
CL Tatsuta
 
Attacking Level Bombers:
 2 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
 1 x Hudson at 6000 feet
 4 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
 4 x Hudson at 6000 feet
 2 x Hudson at 6000 feet
 4 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
 4 x Hudson at 6000 feet
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Irau at 42,43
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
 
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3
 
no losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 3 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
DD Yugumo
 
Attacking Level Bombers:
 3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,48
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26
A6M3 Zero x 4
D3A Val x 63
B5N Kate x 30
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 10
F4F-4 Wildcat x 33
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 7 destroyed
D3A Val x 10 destroyed
D3A Val x 13 damaged
B5N Kate x 4 destroyed
B5N Kate x 13 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
 
LTJG D. Rehm of VF-8 is credited with kill number 3
 
Allied Ships
CV Saratoga, Bomb hits 22, Torpedo hits 4,  on fire,  heavy damage
CLAA San Diego
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,48
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
A6M3 Zero x 5
D3A Val x 44
B5N Kate x 45
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 20
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 5 destroyed
D3A Val x 6 damaged
B5N Kate x 7 destroyed
B5N Kate x 15 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
 
LTJG R. Hoyle of VF-6 is credited with kill number 4
 
Allied Ships
CV Saratoga, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 3,  on fire,  heavy damage
CA Salt Lake City
CLAA San Diego, Bomb hits 4,  on fire
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,48
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
D3A Val x 21
B5N Kate x 16
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 5 destroyed
D3A Val x 16 damaged
B5N Kate x 4 destroyed
B5N Kate x 15 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
 
LT G. Formanek of VF-8 is credited with kill number 4
 
Allied Ships
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 8, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,48
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
B5N Kate x 12
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 17
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 8 destroyed
B5N Kate x 5 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
 
LTJG G. Kirk of VF-8 is credited with kill number 2
 
Allied Ships
CV Enterprise, Torpedo hits 1
DD Dewey
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,48
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
B5N Kate x 12
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
 
Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 7 destroyed
B5N Kate x 6 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
 
LTJG L. Heinzen of VF-8 is credited with kill number 3
 
Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 2
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Irau at 42,43
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
 
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
 
no losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 1 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
AP Kanayamasan Maru, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
AP Hakuyo Maru, Bomb hits 1
 
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 36
 
Attacking Level Bombers:
 3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
 3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 43,41
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 34
A6M3 Zero x 14
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12
SBD Dauntless x 7
 
no losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 7 damaged
 
PO1 U.Katsuma of DI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3
 
Japanese Ships
CV Kaga,  on fire
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 43,41
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 34
A6M3 Zero x 14
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
TBD Devastator x 13
 
no losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
TBD Devastator x 3 destroyed
TBD Devastator x 7 damaged
 
LT M. Sato of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 5
 
Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho
BB Kirishima
CV Shokaku,  on fire
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 43,41
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
A6M3 Zero x 10
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8
SBD Dauntless x 20
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 6 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 18 damaged
 
LTJG T. Provost of VF-6 is credited with kill number 2
 
Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 1,  on fire
CV Shokaku,  on fire
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 43,41
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17
A6M3 Zero x 12
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
SBD Dauntless x 4
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 3 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
 
ENS D. Barnes of VF-3 is credited with kill number 4
 
Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Irau at 42,43
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
 
Allied aircraft
Hudson x 8
B-25D Mitchell x 7
 
no losses
 
no losses
 
Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
CL Sendai
CL Naka
DD Isokaze
CL Tatsuta
DD Kagero
 
Attacking Level Bombers:
 1 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
 3 x Hudson at 6000 feet
 1 x Hudson at 6000 feet
 4 x Hudson at 6000 feet
 2 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
 4 x B-25D Mitchell at 6000 feet
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Irau at 42,43
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
 
Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 6
 
no losses
 
Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 3 damaged
 
Japanese Ships
CL Jintsu
DD Akigumo
 
Attacking Level Bombers:
 3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
 3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,48
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 2
D3A Val x 14
B5N Kate x 17
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12
 
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged
 
 
LTJG R. Dibb of VF-3 is credited with kill number 3
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 47,48
 
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
D3A Val x 22
B5N Kate x 18
 
Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
 
Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 6 damaged
B5N Kate x 3 destroyed
B5N Kate x 16 damaged
 
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
 
LTJG R.Chono of AII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
 
LTJG R. Hoyle of VF-6 is KILLED
 
Allied Ships
CV Enterprise, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 4,  on fire,  heavy damage
CA Portland, Bomb hits 3,  on fire
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Irau, at 42,43
 
 
Allied aircraft
 
 
Allied aircraft losses
P-400 Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 5 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged
 
PO2 B.Fujita of F2/1st Daitai is credited with kill number 2
 
Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 47
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

That's a real oucher, a classic slugfest!