4 May 42 Pt. II: Wolves Amongst the Flock
The wincing Australia and her consorts plunge headlong into the main Troop convoy. IJ lookouts spot the Yanks and "Attempt to get underway"...
Several large APs were already aflame from hits suffered from Lex and Yorktown, so the target was as juicy as it gets. Fortunately for the Japanese the Screen step up and lay into their aggressors with a very effective Long Lance attack. At short range the results are devastating to what should be a rout for the ABDA. RANS Australia did her fair share of damage before succumbing to another pair of torpedoes, and several of her consorts took damage.
Tactically the day goes to the IJN screen, but the Allies are the victors here. Several APs full of invasion troops went down despite the valiant efforts of the Screen, both during and immediately following this combat. The invasion of PM looks to be a foregone conclusion.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/04/42
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Milne Bay at 100,134
Allied aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 1 destroyed
Japanese Ships
CM Tsugaru
CL Tatsuta
CL Yubari, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
DD Uzuki, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 3
APD Asanagi
APD-2
AMc Seki Maru #3
PB Keijo Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAKL Koei Maru
xAK Sakito Maru, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Asama Maru
xAP Tatsuta Maru
xAP Hakone Maru
xAP Miike Maru, on fire
xAP Rakuyo Maru, heavy damage
xAP Rio de Janiero Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Huzi Maru, on fire
Allied Ships
CA Chicago, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Australia, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CL Hobart, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Walke, Shell hits 1
DD Farragut
Japanese ground losses:
225 casualties reported
Guns lost 4
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Weather improves across the area, though spotty clouds at sea play a role in the brewing Carrier Showdown...
Only one attack from the IJN at Rabaul. The 4th Ku fails to launch when the RANS Australia-led SFC TF is not detected IVO PM. Likely due to their retreat toward Oz following the nights violent action. Not a single ship in the group is undamaged.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/04/42
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Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130
Both sides acquit themselves well. The reinforced PM defenders manage an initial CAP of 8 Cobras and 10 Kittys. The Combined strength of the IJN Escort manages to completely safeguard the Genzan Ku's passage to PM, though not without some sacrifice.
Several messages of P-39 or Kitty Diving on Zeroes flash by and in an instant 2 Meatballs are down in flames. Radar seems to be working well today. But just as soon as I begin to worry the pros recover and whip up and into the Westerners. A slugfest ensues brought on by several reinforcements ending in a total CAP of 16 Cobras (total available) and 10 Kittys.
Final tally is 4 Zekes lost (half in the first pass) to 5 fighters from PM going down. Break out below...
Japanese aircraft
A6M2-21 Zero x 33
G3M2 Nell x 19
Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 10
P-39D Airacobra x 16
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-21 Zero: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged
Runway hits 1
LTJG Ogawa manages to find the target...
Aircraft Attacking:
7 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 16000 feet (Genzan Ku K-1 / 25th Air Flotilla)
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg AP Bomb
3 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 16000 feet (Genzan Ku K-1 / 25th Air Flotilla)
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg AP Bomb
9 x G3M2 Nell bombing from 16000 feet (Genzan Ku K-1 / 25th Air Flotilla)
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg AP Bomb
IJNAF
Tainan Ku K-1
LCDR Kawai LDR: 59 Insp: 83 Air: 65 Aggr:80
Unit EXP: 89 MOR: 97->99 FAT: 8->12 Kills: 13->14 (One kill for the group, S-2 must have had better luck, MOR is up 2)
30% CAP 70% SWEEP @ 5k’
2 A/c lost -- 1 KIA, 1 MIA
READINESS:
A/c -- 24
->21s/0m/0
->1d/0r -- 1 Damaged Zeke
Pilots -- 22 for tomorrow (no additions)
Tainan Ku K-2 (A6M2-21 @ Rabaul)
LCDR Nakajima LDR: 73 INSP: 80 AIR: 74* AGG: 75* I expected greatness from this guy. He nearly double the units Kills in one mission! BANZAI!!!!
Unit EXP: 85 MOR: 99 FAT: 10 Kills: 5
->9 (EXP went up one point!)
0% CAP 100% SWEEP @ 16k’ (Max effort today no danger at Rabaul and I am running low on servicable A/C)
READINESS:
A/c -- 19
->13s/0m/5
->6d/0r -- 2 A/C lost to A2A for sure, 3 to Ops loss. Unfortunate...
Pilots -- 22 ready (2 KIA, 1 WIA, 1 MIA)
Morale remains high...
Genzan Ku K-1 (G3M2 Nell at Rabaul)
LDR is LTJG Ogawa ---- LDR: 85 INSP: 82 AIR: 28^ AGG: 23 (He's going to have to go...)
Unit EXP: 79 MOR: 94->99 FAT: 6 (MOR is up 5! Ogawa Does it again!)
AF Attack @ PM 16k’ ( Finally a hit 1% Bomb Acc...)
READINESS:
A/c -- 26s/0m/0d/0r -- No change
Pilots -- 26 ready (no additions)
4th Ku K-1 (G4M2 Betty at Truk) on duty today.
LDR is LCDR Nagaishi ---- LDR: 43 INSP: 37 AIR: 55 AGG: 28 (Neither of these guys is any good, time for a change…)
Unit EXP: 77 MOR: 79->81 FAT: 1 (uneventful day, all torpedoed up and nowhere to go!)
NAV Attack @ PM 5k’ ()
READINESS:
A/c -- 27s/0m/0d/0r --
Pilots -- 27 ready (no additions)
RAAF at Port Moresby[/b]
No 75 Sqdn (Kittyhawk IA)
FLT Jackson ---- LDR: 66 Insp: 78 AIR: 66 AGG: 58 (Promising/Careful)
Unit EXP: 68 MOR: 69->73 FAT: 1 Kills: 4->5 (1 more Zeke in the bag. FAT is low owing to most pilots not having a machine to fly.)
CAP 100% ESCORT 0% @ 24k’ Max effort with so few A/C.
Losses DAY 4 = 1 to A2A
READINESS:
A/C -- 3s/0m/15
->14d/0r
Pilots -- 20 ready (1 WIA)
No 76 Sqdn (Kittyhawk IA)
EXP: 37 MOR: 47->58 FAT: 3 Kills: 4 (MOR is trending up. Change of Command seems to have helped...SLDR Hampshire is a good choice. If I can stabilize thing with the 2nd P-39 Sqdn I'll send 76 Sqdn back Oz side to rest and TRAIN! Hampshire should do the job!)
New CO: SLDR Hampshire L62-I79-A75-Ag70
CAP 100% ESCORT 0% @ 22k’[/b] Same Max Effort
Losses: NONE
READINESS:
A/c -- 7->5s/0->2m/9d/0r (2 Aircraft go in for regular maintenance. A/C levels remian at 16, not sure why,replacements?)
Pilots -- 20 ready (1 WIA)
Here is the 36th PS following their first action in relief of the Aussies.
36th Pursuit Sqdn(P-39D)
EXP: 65 MOR: 83 FAT: 13 Kills: 2 (Scoring right off the bat a 2 for 2 trade with the Japs)
CO: MAJ Tomkins L60-I71-A72-Ag87 Skilled and VERY aggressive!
CAP 50% ESCORT 0% @ 15k’[/b] Don't want to over exert if Weather plays a factor. Radar should give us plenty of warning
Losses: 2 A2A
READINESS:
A/c -- 16->5s/02m/2->11d/0r (Lots of nicks in these Dogs...fortunately armor and self sealing tanks are on our side.)
Pilots -- 17 ready (1 WIA)
Losses total - No change
21 Kittyhawks
10 Zekes
2 P-39
I am going to have to bring in the 35th PS now if I am going to maintain any semblence of a CAP. Attrition is hurting us, though we aren't yet dying at an unsustainable rate.
