Matrix Games Forums

October 1st.

Good day today, CV Zuikaku was torpedoed twice by USS Triton off of Rabaul while involved in giving a pounding to Port Moresby. [:D] No heavy damage listed but still. I've ordered B26s to raid Rabaul's port in the assumption that thats where she'll slink off to.

In other news the first wave of Japs has arrived at PM. 500 AV of troops. This means its going to be very touch and go indeed as I think thast about half of the total, meaning he's probably got the best part of 1000 AV there. Forts are still level 3, but 80% of the way to 4. Townsville airfield also just upgraded which means the heavies there no longer have reduced bombload.

October 2nd. Forts at PM reduced to 2! PM supply down to 5000. There's more en route but the CVs are out of position, they were replenishing at Noumea.

Recon suggests a lot of transport shipping at Buna - his supplies - so one of Enterprises Dauntless squadrons moves up to PM and the three Marauder squadrons there are set to skip bomb. He knows this is coming, as his CVs launched a second airfield attack on Port Moresby today. Moderate damage was done but the place still has teeth and the two Kittyhawk squadrons - replenished just in time, so almost 30 RAAF in the air - bloodied his precious naval aviators quite badly.

Day by day here as heavy fighting continues. October 3rd sees resupply ships at PM get swept away by Japanese carrier air as his carriers press on despite being torpedoed. I didn't expect that. Transports and Allied aircraft suffer badly. I was expecting him to be gone and my B26s to attack his ground troops so they were bombing from 6000', no effect.

I've ordered them to skip bomb and naval attack only. Allied CVs are now in position and are ordered to move up just in range to attack Jap ships at Buna. Enterprises Wildcat complement is moved to Port Moresby as the Kittyhawks were shredded.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 03, 42
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ASW attack near Emirau Island at 108,115

Japanese Ships
DD Uzuki

Allied Ships
SS Albacore, hits 3



DD Uzuki attacking submerged sub .......
DD Uzuki fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Uzuki fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Uzuki fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Uzuki fails to find sub, continues to search......
Escort abandons search for sub...


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ASW attack near Cooktown at 95,136

Japanese Ships
SS I-1

Allied Ships
AP McCawley
SC-744



I-1 diving deep .......
SC-744 fails to find sub, continues to search......
SC-744 fails to find sub, continues to search......
SC-744 fails to find sub, continues to search......
SC-744 fails to find sub, continues to search......
SC-744 fails to find sub, continues to search......
Escort abandons search for sub...


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ASW attack near Port Moresby at 98,134

Japanese Ships
SS I-121, hits 2

Allied Ships
CA Portland
CL Boise
CL Hobart
DD Mugford
DD Ellet
DD Maury
DD McCall



I-121 diving deep .......
DD Ellet attacking submerged sub .......
DD Maury fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD McCall fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD Ellet fails to find sub and abandons search...
DD Maury fails to find sub and abandons search...
DD McCall fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD McCall attacking submerged sub .......
DD McCall fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD McCall fails to find sub, continues to search......
DD McCall fails to find sub, continues to search......
Escort abandons search for sub...


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 60 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 46
B5N1 Kate x 15
B5N2 Kate x 3
D3A2 Val x 13



Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 10


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 7 damaged
D3A2 Val: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
LSI(L) Manoora, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires
AP Barnett, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
AP McCawley, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP President Adams, Bomb hits 2
AP Cambria


Allied ground losses:
121 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 7 disabled
Vehicles lost 5 (2 destroyed, 3 disabled)


Aircraft Attacking:
13 x D3A2 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
12 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm T91 Mod 3 Torp
3 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm T91 Mod 3 Torp
3 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm T91 Mod 3 Torp
17 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
12 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 10000 feet
6 x A6M2 Zero sweeping at 10000 feet

CAP engaged:
No.75 Sqd RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (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 25000
Raid is overhead
No.76 Sqd RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 59 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring LSI(L) Manoora...


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Morning Air attack on TF, near Buna at 101,128

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18



Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 15
B-26 Marauder x 13


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 3 destroyed
B-26 Marauder: 1 destroyed, 5 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo
BB Mutsu
CVL Zuiho
BB Kirishima



Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 8000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 8000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 8000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes
DI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 5 on standby, 4 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
CII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 7 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 56 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
G4M1 Betty x 12



Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 3


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
AP President Jackson
LSI(L) Manoora, heavy fires



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 15000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.75 Sqd RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Raid is overhead
No.76 Sqd RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 50 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring LSI(L) Manoora...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Buna at 99,129

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12



Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 11


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Akizuki



Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Kanoya Ku S-1 - Det with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
DI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
CII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead



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Afternoon Air attack on 8th Naval Guard Unit, at 98,130 (Port Moresby)

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 13
B-24D Liberator x 3


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
46 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-24D Liberator bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 4th Naval Guard Unit ......
Also attacking 144th Infantry Regiment ......


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Afternoon Air attack on 35th/124th Infantry Regiment, at 113,137 (Tassafaronga)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 11


No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 10000 feet *
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Also attacking 35th/2nd(Kitao) Battalion ......


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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Buna at 99,129

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 11 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9



Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 5
B-26 Marauder x 10


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Kagero
DD Akizuki



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 8000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 8000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-26 Marauder bombing from 8000 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Kanoya Ku S-1 - Det with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
DI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
CII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead



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Afternoon Air attack on 35th/124th Infantry Regiment, at 113,137 (Tassafaronga)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD-3 Dauntless x 33


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged

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



Aircraft Attacking:
18 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 10000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 10000'
Ground Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 27 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 9



Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AP Cambria
AP McCawley, and is sunk


Allied ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 15000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg AP Bomb

McCawley dead in the water ......


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Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15418 troops, 154 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 443

Defending force 20885 troops, 296 guns, 88 vehicles, Assault Value = 601

Japanese adjusted assault: 301

Allied adjusted defense: 1879

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 6 (fort level 2)

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

Japanese ground losses:
1750 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 99 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 146 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
696 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 78 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Assaulting units:...
Yokosuka 5th SNLF...
15th Engineer Regiment...
Sasebo 5th SNLF...
144th Infantry Regiment...
Yokoyama Tai ...
Kure 5th SNLF...
4th Naval Guard Unit...
8th Naval Guard Unit...
Horii Group ...
I/55 Mtn Gun Rgt ...
...
Defending units:...
6th Australian/17th Brigade...
14th Australian Brigade...
6th Australian/19th Brigade...
6th Australian/16th Brigade...
30th Australian Brigade...
43rd USA Construction Regiment...
I Australian Corps...
52nd USAAF Base Force...
112th RAAF Base Force...
40th Australian Lt AA Regiment...


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Ground combat at Tassafaronga (113,137)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9473 troops, 182 guns, 129 vehicles, Assault Value = 411

Defending force 4878 troops, 36 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 105

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied adjusted assault: 117

Japanese adjusted defense: 301

Allied assault odds: 1 to 2 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
453 casualties reported
Squads: 4 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 14 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 6 destroyed, 2 disabled


Allied ground losses:
120 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 15 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


Assaulting units:...
1st USMC/1st Regiment...
1st USMC Amphb Tank Battalion...
1st USMC/5th Regiment...
...
Defending units:...
35th/124th Infantry Regiment...
81st Naval Guard Unit...
35th/2nd(Kitao) Battalion...
13th Naval Construction Battalion...
11th Naval Construction Battalion...


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Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7918 troops, 110 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 571

Defending force 14706 troops, 153 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 330

Japanese ground losses:
93 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)



Assaulting units:...
6th Australian/17th Brigade...
6th Australian/16th Brigade...
14th Australian Brigade...
6th Australian/19th Brigade...
30th Australian Brigade...
112th RAAF Base Force...
52nd USAAF Base Force...
I Australian Corps...
43rd USA Construction Regiment...
40th Australian Lt AA Regiment...
...
Defending units:...
Sasebo 5th SNLF...
15th Engineer Regiment...
Yokosuka 5th SNLF...
144th Infantry Regiment...
Kure 5th SNLF...
Yokoyama Tai ...
4th Naval Guard Unit...
8th Naval Guard Unit...
Horii Group ...
I/55 Mtn Gun Rgt ...

10th October. Been fairly quiet in terms of maneuver, battles of attrition grind on at Port Moresby though.

I got in another convoy, this time it was not attacked. PM was up to 10k supply at one point, its back down to 6.5k again though... the beast is insatiable. So much supply has been lost on sunk transports that I've actually got a global supply shortage again, I can't ship any more to PM as there is no more to send.

That said PM is holding nicely. It must suck to be a Jap soldier there - I got much more arty than him and punish him daily, while heavy bombers from Australia drop a good 30-40 bombs a day. Today he made an attack - it was bloody.

Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14220 troops, 151 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 393

Defending force 21159 troops, 330 guns, 104 vehicles, Assault Value = 602

Japanese adjusted assault: 330

Allied adjusted defense: 1363

Japanese assault odds: 1 to 4 (fort level 3)

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

Japanese ground losses:
2954 casualties reported
Squads: 35 destroyed, 103 disabled
Non Combat: 37 destroyed, 134 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Guns lost 5 (0 destroyed, 5 disabled)


Allied ground losses:
321 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 17 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 53 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 4 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


Assaulting units:
Yokosuka 5th SNLF
Kure 5th SNLF
Yokoyama Tai
Sasebo 5th SNLF
144th Infantry Regiment
15th Engineer Regiment
4th Naval Guard Unit
8th Naval Guard Unit
Horii Group
I/55 Mtn Gun Rgt

Defending units:
14th Australian Brigade
6th Australian/17th Brigade
6th Australian/19th Brigade
6th Australian/16th Brigade
30th Australian Brigade
I Australian Corps
43rd USN Naval Construction Battalion
43rd USA Construction Regiment
72nd USA Field Artillery Regiment
52nd USAAF Base Force
112th RAAF Base Force
40th Australian Lt AA Regiment

He still has 4 more units coming down the trail. If they are airfield construction battalions I'm not bothered. If they are Regiments - he still might be in the game here.

He needs to starve PM out. He's inflicted grievous loss on the Allied transport fleet but they aren't starving just yet.

14th October.

Looking grave for the Japs at PM, -supply now appears in the combat reports. The Aussies have made a few attacks, 2:1 kill ratios were obtained, the pressure mounts. It's not like they are awash with supply either mind, they are down to 5000.

An AK supplied Milne Bay but was bombed and sunk by Betties en route. A dozen Betties died so doing though as there was CAP and a couple of unescorted raids, so if anything the exchange was in my favour.

Just about every Allied submarine is between Buna/Rabaul. [:D]

Anyway today stuff happened! Recon detected a massive Japanese fleet five hexes NE of Milne Bay. No transports detected, only warships, though that doesn't mean they aren't there. The Jap CVs made an attack on Milne Bay, blowing away the 18 P40Es there without loss. (damn those overpowered P40s! [8|]).

No idea what their plan is. Supplying PM? Attacking Milne Bay? Evacuation? Looks like they are coming around the coast of New Guinea anyway. The welcome wagon is being rolled out - 3 x CVs and a SAG based around BB South Dakota.

Second Battle of the Coral Sea is shaping up.

Single 500lb hit on CV Zuikaku, BB SoDak sunk, CL Boise damaged.

However a very costly day in the air for the Japanese, >50 carrier planes shot down, mostly Kates. Allied carrier losses are light, indeed they were barely engaged. The Allied CVs didn't launch strikes, too far distant.

I've ordered the Allied CVs to press on towards Port Moresby, as I deem his air strength to be quite badly weakened. The 3 Allied CVs are packed to the limits, so thats ~300 a/c there. The addition of Enterprise's Wildcat squadron made up for unreplaced losses.

Good day for the Allies! but not without loss.

Do you have any operational carriers left there to smash the cripples?

ORIGINAL: witpqs

Do you have any operational carriers left there to smash the cripples?

Yup!

Next day is punishing for the Japs, though they do give me a spanking at Port Moresby in a surface battle. He's landing troops amphibiously at PM, and brought the entire IJN by the look of it!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 16, 42
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Pre-Invasion action off Port Moresby

61 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CA Suzuya
CL Sendai
CL Kashii
APD-1


Allied ground losses:
44 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


CA Kumano firing at 6th Australian/16th Brigade
CA Suzuya firing at 6th Australian/19th Brigade
CL Sendai firing at 6th Australian/19th Brigade
CL Kashii firing at 6th Australian/19th Brigade
6th Australian/17th Brigade firing at APD-1
APD-1 firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Port Moresby

TF 69 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 98,130

Japanese ground losses:
314 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 37 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 22 (0 destroyed, 22 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)



18 troops of a IJA Engineer Squad accidentally lost during unload of 2nd/2nd Engr Rgt


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Cooktown at 95,135

Japanese Ships
SS I-1, hits 8

Allied Ships
AM Skylark



I-1 diving deep ....
AM Skylark fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Skylark attacking submerged sub ....
AM Skylark attacking submerged sub ....
AM Skylark is out of ASW ammo
AM Skylark fails to find sub, continues to search...
AM Skylark fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 97,131, Range 12,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
CS Chitose, Shell hits 4
BB Haruna
BB Hiei, Shell hits 4
CA Tone, Shell hits 1
CA Chikuma
CA Takao, Shell hits 1
CA Maya, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Ashigara
CL Kinu, Shell hits 1, on fire
CL Kitakami, Shell hits 2
DD Teruzuki, Shell hits 1
DD Yugumo, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Kazegumo, Shell hits 1
DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 1
DD Ayanami, Shell hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Astoria, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CA San Francisco, Shell hits 25, and is sunk
DD Swanson
DD Aaron Ward, Shell hits 3
DD Laffey, Shell hits 2
DD Farenholt, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Fanning, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Cummings, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Conyngham, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Cushing, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
DD Perkins, Shell hits 18, and is sunk



Reduced sighting due to 53% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 53% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
McMorris, C. crosses the 'T'
BB Hiei engages CA Astoria at 12,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA Astoria at 12,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Astoria at 12,000 yards
CA Astoria engages CA Maya at 12,000 yards
BB Hiei engages DD Perkins at 12,000 yards
BB Hiei engages DD Cushing at 12,000 yards
CA Tone engages DD Cushing at 12,000 yards
CL Kitakami engages DD Cummings at 12,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Astoria at 12,000 yards
DD Cushing engages CS Chitose at 12,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Cummings at 12,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Kazegumo at 12,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Perkins at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CA Maya engages CA San Francisco at 6,000 yards
CA Maya engages CA Minneapolis at 6,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA New Orleans at 6,000 yards
CA Takao engages DD Perkins at 6,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA San Francisco at 6,000 yards
CA Tone engages DD Conyngham at 6,000 yards
CL Kitakami engages CA San Francisco at 6,000 yards
CL Kinu engages DD Fanning at 6,000 yards
DD Farenholt engages DD Ayanami at 6,000 yards
DD Kazegumo engages DD Laffey at 6,000 yards
DD Kazegumo engages DD Laffey at 6,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Perkins at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CA San Francisco at 3,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Minneapolis at 3,000 yards
CA Astoria engages CA Ashigara at 3,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Maya at 3,000 yards
DD Perkins engages DD Ayanami at 3,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages DD Cushing at 3,000 yards
DD Conyngham engages DD Ayanami at 3,000 yards
CL Kitakami engages CA Astoria at 3,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Kinu at 3,000 yards
DD Cushing engages CS Chitose at 3,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Laffey at 3,000 yards
DD Shirayuki engages DD Aaron Ward at 3,000 yards
DD Swanson engages DD Teruzuki at 3,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Perkins at 3,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Cushing at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CA Astoria at 4,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA Astoria at 4,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Astoria at 4,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA New Orleans at 4,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages CA Takao at 4,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chikuma at 4,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Conyngham at 4,000 yards
DD Cummings sunk by DD Ayanami at 4,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Fanning at 4,000 yards
DD Farenholt engages DD Ayanami at 4,000 yards
DD Cushing engages DD Ayanami at 4,000 yards
DD Shirayuki engages DD Cushing at 4,000 yards
DD Perkins engages DD Kazegumo at 4,000 yards
DD Perkins engages DD Teruzuki at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CL Kinu at 6,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA Minneapolis at 6,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA Minneapolis at 6,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages CA Chikuma at 6,000 yards
CA Takao engages CA New Orleans at 6,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chikuma at 6,000 yards
DD Kazegumo engages DD Conyngham at 6,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Fanning at 6,000 yards
CL Kinu engages DD Farenholt at 6,000 yards
DD Laffey engages CS Chitose at 6,000 yards
DD Shirayuki engages DD Cushing at 6,000 yards
DD Kazegumo engages DD Perkins at 6,000 yards
DD Conyngham engages DD Yugumo at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CA Minneapolis at 10,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA San Francisco at 10,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Astoria at 10,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages CA Maya at 10,000 yards
CA Takao engages CA Minneapolis at 10,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA San Francisco at 10,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA New Orleans at 10,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Fanning at 10,000 yards
DD Farenholt engages DD Kazegumo at 10,000 yards
DD Laffey engages DD Yugumo at 10,000 yards
DD Perkins engages DD Ayanami at 10,000 yards
DD Shirayuki engages DD Cushing at 10,000 yards
DD Conyngham sunk by DD Kazegumo at 10,000 yards
DD Cushing engages DD Yugumo at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CA Minneapolis at 12,000 yards
CA Maya engages CA Minneapolis at 12,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Ashigara at 12,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA New Orleans at 12,000 yards
CA Takao engages CA San Francisco at 12,000 yards
CA Astoria engages CA Chikuma at 12,000 yards
DD Fanning engages DD Teruzuki at 12,000 yards
DD Farenholt engages DD Kazegumo at 12,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Astoria at 12,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Aaron Ward at 12,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Swanson at 12,000 yards
DD Kazegumo engages DD Swanson at 12,000 yards
DD Aaron Ward engages DD Yugumo at 12,000 yards
DD Cushing engages DD Teruzuki at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA San Francisco at 10,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA Minneapolis at 10,000 yards
CA Astoria sunk by CA Maya at 10,000 yards
CA Maya engages CA New Orleans at 10,000 yards
CA Takao engages CA New Orleans at 10,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages DD Cushing at 10,000 yards
CA Tone engages DD Fanning at 10,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Farenholt at 10,000 yards
DD Shirayuki engages DD Laffey at 10,000 yards
DD Swanson engages DD Ayanami at 10,000 yards
DD Shirayuki engages DD Perkins at 10,000 yards
DD Swanson engages DD Kazegumo at 10,000 yards
DD Farenholt engages DD Teruzuki at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CA Minneapolis at 9,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA Minneapolis at 9,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages CA Maya at 9,000 yards
CA Maya engages CA New Orleans at 9,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages CA Tone at 9,000 yards
CL Kitakami engages CA Minneapolis at 9,000 yards
DD Swanson engages DD Yugumo at 9,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Cushing at 9,000 yards
DD Kazegumo engages DD Perkins at 9,000 yards
DD Perkins engages DD Teruzuki at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CA New Orleans at 12,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA Minneapolis at 12,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA New Orleans at 12,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Perkins at 12,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Cushing at 12,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Chikuma at 12,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Minneapolis at 12,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Laffey at 12,000 yards
CL Kinu engages CA New Orleans at 12,000 yards
DD Laffey engages CS Chitose at 12,000 yards
DD Cushing engages DD Shirayuki at 12,000 yards
DD Farenholt engages DD Kazegumo at 12,000 yards
DD Fanning engages DD Teruzuki at 12,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CA New Orleans at 12,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA Minneapolis at 12,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA Minneapolis at 12,000 yards
DD Perkins engages DD Kazegumo at 12,000 yards
DD Cushing engages DD Teruzuki at 12,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA Minneapolis at 12,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Farenholt at 12,000 yards
CL Kitakami engages CA New Orleans at 12,000 yards
DD Aaron Ward engages DD Yugumo at 12,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Swanson at 12,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Cushing at 12,000 yards
DD Cushing engages DD Teruzuki at 12,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CA Minneapolis at 12,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA San Francisco at 12,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA San Francisco at 12,000 yards
CA Maya engages DD Perkins at 12,000 yards
CA Takao engages CA San Francisco at 12,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA New Orleans at 12,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Farenholt at 12,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CL Kitakami at 12,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Aaron Ward at 12,000 yards
DD Shirayuki engages DD Perkins at 12,000 yards
DD Cushing engages DD Kazegumo at 12,000 yards
DD Fanning engages DD Yugumo at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CL Kitakami at 9,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA San Francisco at 9,000 yards
CA Tone engages CA New Orleans at 9,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Perkins at 9,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Cushing at 9,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA San Francisco at 9,000 yards
DD Shirayuki engages DD Farenholt at 9,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CL Kitakami at 9,000 yards
DD Swanson engages CS Chitose at 9,000 yards
DD Perkins engages DD Ayanami at 9,000 yards
DD Perkins sunk by DD Shirayuki at 9,000 yards
DD Farenholt engages DD Teruzuki at 9,000 yards
McMorris, C. orders Allied TF to disengage
Range closes to 8,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CA Minneapolis at 8,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CA New Orleans at 8,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Cushing at 8,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Fanning at 8,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages CA San Francisco at 8,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CA Tone at 8,000 yards
DD Aaron Ward engages DD Kazegumo at 8,000 yards
DD Swanson engages DD Ayanami at 8,000 yards
DD Fanning engages DD Ayanami at 8,000 yards
DD Cushing engages DD Shirayuki at 8,000 yards
DD Kazegumo engages DD Cushing at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CA San Francisco sunk by BB Hiei at 7,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages CA New Orleans at 7,000 yards
DD Shirayuki engages DD Laffey at 7,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Aaron Ward at 7,000 yards
DD Farenholt engages DD Ayanami at 7,000 yards
DD Kazegumo engages DD Cushing at 7,000 yards
DD Farenholt engages DD Yugumo at 7,000 yards
DD Teruzuki engages DD Farenholt at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CA Minneapolis at 8,000 yards
BB Haruna engages CA New Orleans at 8,000 yards
CA Ashigara engages DD Cushing at 8,000 yards
CA Maya engages CA Minneapolis at 8,000 yards
DD Farenholt engages DD Kazegumo at 8,000 yards
DD Laffey engages DD Ayanami at 8,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Aaron Ward at 8,000 yards
CL Kitakami engages CA Minneapolis at 8,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CS Chitose at 8,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Cushing at 8,000 yards
DD Cushing engages DD Shirayuki at 8,000 yards
DD Fanning engages DD Teruzuki at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CA Minneapolis sunk by BB Haruna at 11,000 yards
DD Cushing engages DD Teruzuki at 11,000 yards
DD Fanning engages DD Ayanami at 11,000 yards
DD Farenholt engages DD Teruzuki at 11,000 yards
DD Laffey engages DD Yugumo at 11,000 yards
CL Kitakami engages DD Swanson at 11,000 yards
DD Cushing engages DD Teruzuki at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CA New Orleans at 10,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages DD Cushing at 10,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Fanning at 10,000 yards
CA Maya engages DD Farenholt at 10,000 yards
CA Takao engages CA New Orleans at 10,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages CA Chikuma at 10,000 yards
CA Tone engages DD Swanson at 10,000 yards
CL Kitakami engages CA New Orleans at 10,000 yards
DD Shirayuki engages DD Cushing at 10,000 yards
DD Farenholt engages DD Kazegumo at 10,000 yards
DD Cushing engages DD Yugumo at 10,000 yards
DD Cushing sunk by DD Teruzuki at 10,000 yards
Nishida, M. orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 8,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CA New Orleans at 8,000 yards
DD Yugumo engages DD Fanning at 8,000 yards
DD Farenholt engages DD Ayanami at 8,000 yards
CA Maya engages CA New Orleans at 8,000 yards
CA Takao engages DD Aaron Ward at 8,000 yards
CA Chikuma engages DD Swanson at 8,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages CA Tone at 8,000 yards
CL Kitakami engages CA New Orleans at 8,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages CS Chitose at 8,000 yards
DD Shirayuki engages DD Aaron Ward at 8,000 yards
DD Swanson engages DD Kazegumo at 8,000 yards
Task forces break off...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Port Moresby

48 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
CA Kumano
CA Suzuya
CL Sendai
CL Kashii
DD Isonami
DD Inazuma
APD-1

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


Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 1 (0 destroyed, 1 disabled)


CA Kumano firing at 6th Australian/17th Brigade
CA Suzuya firing at 6th Australian/17th Brigade
CL Sendai firing at 6th Australian/16th Brigade
CL Kashii firing at 14th Australian Brigade
DD Isonami firing at 6th Australian/17th Brigade
DD Inazuma firing at 6th Australian/16th Brigade
6th Australian/19th Brigade firing at APD-1
DD Isonami firing at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,132

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
SBD-3 Dauntless x 11


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Junyo, heavy damage
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk



Aircraft Attacking:
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
DII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Shokaku


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kiriwina Island at 103,131

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 47 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2



Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 11
TBF-1 Avenger x 7


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 10 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko
CV Zuikaku
CA Kako
CA Aoba



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 95,131

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 42 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 11
G4M1 Betty x 17



Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 1
F4F-4 Wildcat x 19


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina



Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 15000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
No.76 Sqd RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Rabaul , at 106,125

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 4
B-17F Fortress x 4


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 15000 feet *
Port Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 15000 feet *
Port Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Kiriwina Island at 103,131

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2



Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 18


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 2 destroyed, 16 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 5
CA Myoko



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-26 Marauder attacking from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
5 x B-26 Marauder attacking from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
6 x B-26 Marauder attacking from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 19
D3A2 Val x 16



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed, 7 damaged


Allied Ships
DD Aaron Ward
DD Fanning



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x D3A2 Val diving from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 23 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 9 damaged

Japanese Ships
AMC Nosiro Maru
APD-1, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
xAK Yamagiri Maru



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
751 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Lae at 99,126

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3
A6M3 Zero x 5



Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 14
TBF-1 Avenger x 10


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 7 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Tanikaze
DD Yuzuki
xAKL Chohakusan Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage



Aircraft Attacking:
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
6th Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
DI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Chohakusan Maru


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,132

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
SBD-3 Dauntless x 26
TBF-1 Avenger x 12


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 11 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Atago, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Junyo, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CA Chokai, Bomb hits 2, on fire



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
CII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
DII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Junyo
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Atago


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kiriwina Island at 103,131

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 10


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage



Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 95,131

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 42 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 10
G4M1 Betty x 13



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Saratoga



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 15000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 1
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1
TBF-1 Avenger x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Canberra Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires

Japanese ground losses:
84 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 13 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (1 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (7 destroyed, 5 disabled)



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
751 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Canberra Maru


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Normanby Island at 103,133

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 46 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 3


Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Maya



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-26 Marauder attacking from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 104,132

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 3


Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-26 Marauder attacking from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 104,132

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 25 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-26 Marauder x 3


Allied aircraft losses
B-26 Marauder: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Umikaze



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-26 Marauder attacking from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,132

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 2


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Atago



Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
CII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lae at 99,126

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
A6M3 Zero x 4



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 23


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 16 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Yuzuki
PB Kenkon Maru, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
DD Tanikaze
DD Hagikaze



Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
DI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
DII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
6th Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (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 15000
Raid is overhead
4 planes vectored on to bombers

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring PB Kenkon Maru


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 41 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
SBD-3 Dauntless x 26
TBF-1 Avenger x 10


Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 11 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 7 damaged

Japanese Ships
xAK Tatumiya Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AMC Nosiro Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Sendai, Bomb hits 1
CL Kashii, Bomb hits 2, on fire
APD-1, heavy fires
xAK Nitisan Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Sakura Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
149 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 11 (2 destroyed, 9 disabled)



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring APD-1
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AMC Nosiro Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Nitisan Maru


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kiriwina Island at 103,131

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-24D Liberator x 2


Allied aircraft losses
B-24D Liberator: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AO Iro



Aircraft Attacking:
2 x B-24D Liberator attacking from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 10 x 500 lb SAP Bomb



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

Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 15420 troops, 262 guns, 25 vehicles, Assault Value = 559

Defending force 14906 troops, 219 guns, 43 vehicles, Assault Value = 319

Japanese ground losses:
776 casualties reported
Squads: 9 destroyed, 24 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 22 disabled
Engineers: 4 destroyed, 9 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)



Assaulting units:
6th Australian/19th Brigade
14th Australian Brigade
6th Australian/16th Brigade
6th Australian/17th Brigade
30th Australian Brigade
43rd USA Construction Regiment
I Australian Corps
112th RAAF Base Force
43rd USN Naval Construction Battalion
72nd USA Field Artillery Regiment
52nd USAAF Base Force
40th Australian Lt AA Regiment

Defending units:
15th Engineer Regiment
2nd/29th Inf Rgt /3
Yokoyama Tai
144th Infantry Regiment
Kure 5th SNLF
4th Naval Guard Unit
Sasebo 5th SNLF
8th Naval Guard Unit
Yokosuka 5th SNLF
2nd/2nd Engr Rgt /1
3rd Mortar Bn /1
I/55 Mtn Gun Rgt
Horii Group
38th/38th Mtn Gun Rgt /1

We're down to 2 CVs, Saratoga and Lexington, with under 100 ready to go aircraft between them. However the Japs are many CVs down, though I'm sure most of them are going to make it to port.

I've reorganised the Allied CV force. The BBs have been peeled off to hit Port Moresby in case he continues unloading troops there - that means two fast battleships plus CA + DDs, though the Allied navy has done very poorly in surface engagements so far.

The CVs have been amalgamated into a single TF and will continue to hit PM. Really though this is the last day as their air crews are completely fatigued and well over 50% of their remaining aircraft are damaged. They are out or almost out of torps, as well.

21st October

We're in a lull. No further CV fighting happened, we all went home. Suits me - I got so many damaged fighters in the CVs that well over 50% of them are still not ready even after all this time.

The Japs at Port Moresby are in a sorry state indeed. They've been pared down to 200 AV after a number of assaults, and continuous bombardment by the Allies. The place has forts at level 4 and is not in danger of falling. 5th Airforce HQ has been moved over there. Supply is down to 3500 though so the beast needs feeding, again.

Japs have been sighted at Buna attempting resupply, presumably. CV Wasp's air complement ended up at PM while Wasp sleeps with the fishes, and the Dauntlesses have been hard on those resuppliers.

I did attempt to dispatch a SAG to Buna during one of these resupply ops, but CA Quincy was torpedoed and sunk by a Jap sub one day out of Townsville. [:@][:@][:@] On the plus side S-39 torpedoed CA Suzuya as she was limping back to Rabaul after the big clash so its not all bad for him. ASW efforts between Townsville and Port Moresby are intense and despite the odd loss, like Quincy, there are results - two subs have been sunk there since the last message. I have ASW a/c at Cairns, Cooktown and Townsville so the coast is well covered, and three ASW TFs prowl around in the danger area.

Saving up PPs to release 7th Division for that Buna attack, won't be long now. I'm getting everything in order, moving up extra APs to Townsville, sending the CVs to Sydney to rearm their torps, etc. I think it'll be 7th Division and a single USN baseforce going over in the first wave. Looks like the place is essentially undefended so the ground combat doesn't bother me, a division is probably massive overkill. However naval and air superiority over the landings is definitely 'contested' so this will be risky. On the other hand I'll be packing off a lot of Japs to the POW camps if this succeeds.

27th October

All the Japs in his assault have reached Port Moresby finally - it's not enough. They are getting their ass kicked, though they still seem to be in supply. We're in a fairly quiet period, though I have sent single AKs to PM and Milne Bay - he's bombing the one at PM but the air defence is solid, he hasn't hit it yet.

I'd be considering an invasion of Buna about now except - an IJN submarine torpedoed Hornet outside Sydney! [:@] Minor damage really but she's looking at 30 days yard time. On top of that I foolishly did not tell my ships to not upgrade, so soon as Saratoga arrived she took a bunch of system damage and needs 20 days yard time. Oops. An invasion of Buna without the CVs seems to be impossible, so it'll have to wait. I'm organising transport and such on the assumption that when the CVs come online Buna is my next move. 20 days isn't all that long given we're talking about the slow pace of ground combat here.

2nd November.

Bit of action amidst the lull. A big convoy (~10 Jap transports, a couple of DDs) is sighted headed for Buna a few days back. A SAG based around the CAs Vincennes and Chicago are sortied from Townsville, some bombers sent to beef up PM and ordered to skip bomb.

Two days of air attacks from Port Moresby with B26s, Dauntlesses and Airacobras do severe damage, sinking, I would guess, 2 AKLs and 1 AK, damaging several more. However the cost is grievous, especially among the Dauntlesses - the Allies lose 40 a/c in two days to minor cap. Mostly CV Wasps' old airgroups, they are basiclaly out of the scenario.

Then on the 1st the SAG hits Buna, perfect interception. There are 6 AKs and APs there - not sure where the rest went, either to the bottom thanks to the air force, or scattered. All six are sunk without loss, they were unescorted. During the day Vals hit the exposed Allies, but despite about 40 bombing sorties only a single hit is scored, on Vincennes, doing 35 sys and 8 major flot. She's out but not for long.

Seems to have been a reinforcement not an evac. The number of troops in Buna has gone up to a reported 10k and 4 units. The Japs at Port Moresby have not moved and do not appear to be moving. Allied AV is about 420 now, Jap AV about 300. Forts are at 4.

Four squadrons of Allied fighters and fighter bombers have been loaded on AKs and sent to Noumea, theo ne base that seems able to ever upgrade anything. There are over 40 unused P38s in the pool, unused due to the Never Upgrade rule. [8|] Fairly soon I should have two squadrons of P38s and two Beaufighter squadrons ready to roll, then I think it's time to totally clear out PM and reorganise the air complement there. Heavy on fighters, two P38 squadrons probably, with Beaufighters and Mitchells.

16th November.

All this time since the last update has been spent on uncrating aircraft. It literally takes two weeks to uncreate a P38 squadron. I read some stuff elsewhere about people complaining on the repair times of Allied aircraft - these people must be having a laugh.

I think with a service rating of 3 the P38 is likely to be almost useless given the 4-5 day repair times they so often need, but we're about to find out.

Anyway, I successfully upgraded, uncrated and deployed some more advanced aircraft finally. 24 Spitfires are now based at Port Moresby, and 18 Mitchells and 18 Beaufighter VICs (reasonably trained in low level naval attack) have replaced the old B26s. Yesterday he probed at Port Moresby and discovered the Spits, who promptly achieved a 3 to 1 kill ratio in their favour. Today he tried bombing the airfield and met a truly impressive defence, 20 Spits + 20 P40Es. End of the day showed 19 to 1 kills in my favour, mostly Lily bombers, and hardly any bombers got to drop. PM is down to 2000 supply and needs resupply, I also cannot afford to lose any supply laden ships due to a global supply shortage, hence the much improved fighter defences - an AK is en route and will be heavily covered.

He's pulled back into the Owen Stanleys and it looks like he's reinforced Buna, which has 5 units and 10k reported men. I decided to go ahead with my Buna invasion anyway, so an elite Aussie division of 450 odd AV is loaded up and en route along with most of the Allied navy, including my two remaining CVs. Their air complements are down to about 2/3rds normal, so this is quite a risk. I'm hoping to use LRCAP from Port Moresby quite a bit, the P38s, who should arrive there tomorrow, will hopefully do a good job there.

Heavy bombers are ordered to attack Buna and Kavieng, which appear to be Japanese air power concentrations. Wewak is too, but is out of range.

Well, the Buna invasion is in full swing, and its looking like a debacle. Ouch.

The Allied ships that got greased were my escorting SAG. They succeeded in their mission of keeping the Jap SAG away from the beachheads at least.




AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Nov 21, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Invasion Support action off Buna
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft

4 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Washington
CA Pensacola
CA Chicago
DD Laffey
DD Gwin
DD Swanson
AK Draco
SC-740
SC-738
SC-708
SC-707



BB Washington firing at 2nd/4th Inf Regiment...
CA Pensacola firing at 10th Special Base Force...
CA Chicago firing at 10th Special Base Force...
DD Laffey firing at 10th Special Base Force...
DD Gwin firing at 2nd/16th Inf Regiment...
DD Swanson firing at 2nd/16th Inf Regiment...
BB Washington fires to suppress enemy troops at 12,000 yards...
SC-740 firing at enemy troops...
SC-738 firing at enemy troops...
SC-708 firing at enemy troops...
SC-707 firing at enemy troops...
DD Laffey firing at enemy troops...
DD Gwin firing at enemy troops...
DD Swanson firing at enemy troops...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Buna at 99,129, Range 1,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 3
BB Haruna
BB Hiei, Shell hits 3
BB Yamato, Shell hits 46, Torpedo hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Takao
CA Myoko
CA Ashigara
CA Furutaka
CL Jintsu
CL Isuzu
DD Minegumo
DD Ushio
DD Mutsuki
DD Yayoi
DD Uzuki

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina, Shell hits 20, Torpedo hits 5, and is sunk
CL Hobart, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Selfridge, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Phelps
DD Balch
DD Warramunga, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
DMS Hovey
DMS Zane



Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 100% moonlight...
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 100% moonlight: 1,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards......
Range closes to 4,000 yards......
Range closes to 1,000 yards......
BB North Carolina engages BB Yamato at 1,000 yards...
BB North Carolina engages BB Hiei at 1,000 yards...
BB Yamato engages DD Warramunga at 1,000 yards...
BB North Carolina engages BB Kongo at 1,000 yards...
CA Furutaka engages CL Hobart at 1,000 yards...
BB Yamato engages DD Selfridge at 1,000 yards...
CA Myoko engages BB North Carolina at 1,000 yards...
CL Isuzu engages BB North Carolina at 1,000 yards...
BB North Carolina sunk by CL Jintsu at 1,000 yards...
DD Selfridge sunk by DD Yayoi at 1,000 yards...
Fort, G. orders Allied TF to disengage...
Range increases to 2,000 yards...
BB Yamato engages DD Warramunga at 2,000 yards...
DD Yayoi engages DD Warramunga at 2,000 yards...
DD Warramunga sunk by BB Haruna at 2,000 yards...
BB Kongo engages CL Hobart at 2,000 yards...
BB Yamato engages DMS Zane at 2,000 yards...
CL Hobart engages CA Ashigara at 2,000 yards...
CL Hobart sunk by CA Takao at 2,000 yards...
Task forces break off......


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Buna at 100,128

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Takao

Allied Ships
SS Amberjack



SS Amberjack launches 6 torpedoes at BB Yamato...
Amberjack diving deep .......
CA Takao fails to find sub, continues to search......
CA Takao fails to find sub, continues to search......
CA Takao fails to find sub, continues to search......
CA Takao fails to find sub, continues to search......
CA Takao fails to find sub, continues to search......
Escort abandons search for sub...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2nd/4th Inf Regiment, at 99,129 (Buna)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed




Aircraft Attacking:
8 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 15000 feet

CAP engaged:
751 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
CII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
DII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 23,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 29



Allied aircraft
F4F-3P Wildcat x 3
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed



Aircraft Attacking:
23 x A6M3 Zero sweeping at 20000 feet

CAP engaged:
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-3P Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 97,131

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
D3A2 Val x 4



Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 2 damaged


Allied Ships
xAK San Vincente, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x D3A2 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
35th FG/40th FS with P-38G Lightning (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 25000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 2nd/4th Inf Regiment, at 99,129 (Buna)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
A6M3 Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
Mitchell II x 12
B-17E Fortress x 8
B-17F Fortress x 6
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged
B-17F Fortress: 3 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

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



Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Mitchell II bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17F Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 4 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
751 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead
EI-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
EII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
DII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
3 planes vectored on to bombers
DII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead
204 Ku S-1 with A6M3 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead

Also attacking 38th/228th Inf Regiment ......
Also attacking Maizuru 4th SNLF ......
Also attacking 17th Army ......
Also attacking 15th Naval Construction Battalion ......
Also attacking 2nd/4th Inf Regiment ......


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Mortar Battalion, at 99,130

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 29


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
38 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 19 (1 destroyed, 18 disabled)



Aircraft Attacking:
7 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
DII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Mortar Battalion, at 99,130

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 40 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 4


No Allied losses



Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 8 x 500 lb GP Bomb



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Goodenough Island at 101,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 21
D3A2 Val x 13



Allied aircraft
F4F-3P Wildcat x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
D3A2 Val: 13 damaged


Allied Ships
CV Hornet



Aircraft Attacking:
6 x D3A2 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
7 x D3A2 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-3P Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Goodenough Island at 101,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 6



Allied aircraft
F4F-3P Wildcat x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7


Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 3 destroyed


Allied Ships
CV Hornet



Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A2 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-3P Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Goodenough Island at 101,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 42 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 3
G4M1 Betty x 5



Allied aircraft
F4F-3P Wildcat x 1
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 3 destroyed




CAP engaged:
VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-3P Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Goodenough Island at 101,130

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
B5N1 Kate x 9
D3A2 Val x 18



Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
D3A2 Val: 7 damaged


Allied Ships
CV Hornet, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CLAA Atlanta
DD Stack



Aircraft Attacking:
18 x D3A2 Val diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
9 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm T91 Mod 3 Torp

CAP engaged:
VF-3 with F4F-4 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
VF-6 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hornet...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Gasmata at 105,130

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 3



Allied aircraft
F4F-3P Wildcat x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7
SBD-3 Dauntless x 58
TBF-1 Avenger x 15


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 20 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Tone
CA Kako, Bomb hits 1
CV Hiyo, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CA Chikuma
DD Yugumo



Aircraft Attacking:
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 15000 feet
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
14 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 15000 feet
14 x SBD-3 Dauntless diving from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x F4F-3P Wildcat sweeping at 15000 feet

CAP engaged:
DIII-1 Daitai with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 2 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CV Hiyo...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Buna at 100,128

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1



Allied aircraft
TBF-1 Avenger x 13


Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 destroyed, 10 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
CA Takao



Aircraft Attacking:
9 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
751 Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead



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

Ground combat at Buna (99,129)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 16625 troops, 21 guns, 305 vehicles, Assault Value = 462

Defending force 10449 troops, 136 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 393


Allied ground losses:
68 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Assaulting units:...
2nd/16th Inf Regiment...
38th/228th Inf Regiment...
Maizuru 4th SNLF...
Sasebo 5th SNLF...
Kure 5th SNLF...
8th Naval Guard Unit...
2nd/4th Inf Regiment...
4th Naval Guard Unit...
2nd/29th Inf Regiment...
10th Special Base Force...
15th Naval Construction Battalion...
Horii Group ...
17th Army...
101st JNAF AF Unit ...
...
Defending units:...
7th Australian Division...


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

Ground combat at Buna (99,129)

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 10372 troops, 136 guns, 3 vehicles, Assault Value = 388

Defending force 24025 troops, 83 guns, 308 vehicles, Assault Value = 462

Japanese ground losses:
89 casualties reported
Squads: 8 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)



Assaulting units:...
7th Australian Division...
...
Defending units:...
Sasebo 5th SNLF...
Kure 5th SNLF...
8th Naval Guard Unit...
2nd/4th Inf Regiment...
4th Naval Guard Unit...
2nd/16th Inf Regiment...
Maizuru 4th SNLF...
38th/228th Inf Regiment...
2nd/29th Inf Regiment...
15th Naval Construction Battalion...
Horii Group ...
10th Special Base Force...
17th Army...
101st JNAF AF Unit ...

We're a few days shy of December now. The Buna thing has concluded, and not to the Allies benefit. [:(]

His troops got back to Buna the day after the Aussies arrived - that torpedo hit he scored on Hornet ages ago proved more decisive than he could ever imagine. If this invasion happened a week earlier it would have been an amazing coup - I would've had 15 Jap units trapped between Port Moresby and Buna - but the delay proved fatal. As it stands I have 400 AV of Aussies at Buna but he has 600 AV of Japs. Supply isn't an issue yet for either side it seems.

Losses to the fleet were significant. Hornet is on 33 major flot - I think she might be fixed before scenario's end, but clearly she's out for a long time and that is a serious loss. One of my two fast BBs was sunk, though that was in exchange for Yamato at least. The Aussies are trapped at Buna, though they can hold their own for a while.

As a side effect Port Moresby was heavily resupplied during the op as the fur was flying, it's on 9k supply now which is good, it had gone bright red and the aircraft were starting to shut down... I'm currently shipping yet another baseforce there, as it has ~180 points of av support required but only ~100 av support present with my fighter reinforcements.

Plans are now to extricate the Aussies via a march over the Owen Stanleys - I think that is well within my means so I'm not too worried about losing that division yet. I may yet be able to take Buna with a long siege as it's right next to a major nexus of Allied airpower but this is going to be a grinding attritional struggle I fear. For now, I have three brigades marching for the Owen Stanleys, and I need a few days for the airforce at PM to recover from the intensive fighting over the last week.

The Spitfire seems to be more than the equal of the Zero, around 2 to 1 in my favour I think, but with it's service rating of 2 it spends as much time on the ground as in the air it seems... really, service rating is the stat in my experience. Unfortunately the Jap planes seem to be easy to maintain compared to Allied ones (not sure if that has any historical basis!) so his Zeroes, even if they are inferior aircraft, can keep up the pressure day in day out, while Spitfires accumulate in a damaged state on the ground.

And the P38 is frankly useless with a service rating of 3. I remember in WITP the P38 was the wunderweapon that revitalises the beaten and bleeding Allies in late 42. Well, in AE it ain't gonna work that way I think!

December 10th.

Buna has turned into Gallipoli as the Aussie division that landed is still stuck. However help is on the way, as another division from Port Moresby is making their way over the Kokoda Trail to relieve them. Looks like the Japs have no supply problems as yet there.

Several different tactics have been tried by the Allies in the air war this last two weeks. Firstly I was bombing Buna around the clock but damage was minor and the Zeroes were handling the escorts roughly. Then I started sweeping with P38s and Spits and there were better results.

The real problem was finding the target. I did use a lot of recon to try and ascertain where he was, I know Wewak is the Vikings fave spot for bombers, but it turned out that Lae was his main concentration. Soon as I found out 50 heavy bombers came knocking. Result : 20 Zeroes and 20 Betties taken out on the ground. OUCH. I've been feeling that I've been on the losign end of attritional battles in the air over PNG but that just changed my mind.

The Solomons is quietish. I saw Jap DDs loitering near Shortlands so I scrambled my Lunga cruiser force (2 CLs + DDs) and they found some fast transport DDs. There was an inconclusive engagement, one Jap DD left well ablaze but no sinkings.

My plans more and more lean towards a ground campaign in Papua New Guinea as I don't have the naval force for any more daring amphibious operations. We'll have to see if I can take Buna first, I would abort but as it looks like he's evacuating I may as well press on. Buna is not a very worthy prize though, the only reason I wanted it at all is because I hoped to trap his 15 unit stack there.

Mission creep has sucked me in to conquering a nigh worthless and hard to supply base now. It's Passchendaele all over again. There's even daily thunderstorms.

December 15th.

The Allied air force is getting very worn and dog-eared, so we had a few days off, literally 2 days of blank combat reports. Peace on Earth.

Then we resumed. High level P38 and Spitfire sweeps get kills at around a 2 or 3 to 1 kill ratio in my favour, but the Beaufighter VIC is proving to be extremely vulnerable in the face of enemy fighters, so the total kill ratio is actually about even. Two 18 Beau squadrons (my trained pilots, too [:(]) have been cut to ribbons and forced to retire. I've also had to pull a Spit squadron out as it was down from 16 Spits to 4, it is now in Townsville being replenished. Replacement aircraft are not a problem at least.

On the ground I now have 2 divisions at Buna having marched over the Owen Stanleys. However they lack engineering support and the Japs are well dug in, an attack proved disastrous and the Aussies took about 20% casualties! [X(] Now it's my turn to bleed. Artillery is being marched over, and far away in Noumea some USMC engineers are scrounged up and begin loading onto ships.

I can see this is going to take a very long time, but hey, my bases seem secure, i have to attack somewhere, and Buna is my sole choice. It's up to the Aussie army with US air support!

December 22nd

Tick tock, subs are going to wake up soon!

My convoy loaded up with USMC engineers unloaded at Port Moresby today. It was fairly large, and all AP rather than xAP, so they did it in a single turn.

For that day, I reinforced PM with two Airacobra squadrons and put all my fighters there on high alert. I was not disappointed, a huge air battle raged all day as the Japs tried to bomb my ships. It was bloody in the air (15 Allied for 14 Japanese) but no bombs hit, so I think thats a win for me.

I'm keepign the convoy there one more day to unload another 3k supply which is badly needed, but the engineers are all ashore with their bits intact and thats the main thing.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Dec 21, 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Air attack on Lae , at 99,126

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 4


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged



Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 6 x 500 lb GP Bomb

Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet....
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 3



Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 3
Spitfire VC Trop x 3
P-39D Airacobra x 24
P-40E Warhawk x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged


Allied Ships
xAP Maori



Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMO-251 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000 , scrambling fighters to 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
No.5 Sqd RAAF with Beaufighter VIC (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
No.75 Sqd RAAF with Spitfire VC Trop (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
49th FG/9th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
8th FG/36th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 9 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
8th FG/80th FS with P-39D Airacobra (3 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
D3A2 Val x 2



Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 2
Spitfire VC Trop x 2
P-39D Airacobra x 22
P-40E Warhawk x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7


Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 1 destroyed




CAP engaged:
VMO-251 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
No.5 Sqd RAAF with Beaufighter VIC (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
No.75 Sqd RAAF with Spitfire VC Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
49th FG/9th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 37 minutes
8th FG/36th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 8 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 5 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
8th FG/80th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 42 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 12
G4M1 Betty x 5



Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 2
Spitfire VC Trop x 2
P-39D Airacobra x 21
P-40E Warhawk x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAP Largs Bay



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 12000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMO-251 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
No.5 Sqd RAAF with Beaufighter VIC (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes
No.75 Sqd RAAF with Spitfire VC Trop (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes
49th FG/9th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
8th FG/36th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 11 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 41 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
8th FG/80th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 8 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 42 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 1
G4M1 Betty x 5



Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 1
P-39D Airacobra x 6
P-40E Warhawk x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3


Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty: 2 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
SC-749
SC-704



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 15000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb
1 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 15000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMO-251 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
No.5 Sqd RAAF with Beaufighter VIC (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
49th FG/9th FS with P-40E Warhawk (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
8th FG/36th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
8th FG/80th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 43 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 5



Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 2
Spitfire VC Trop x 2
P-39D Airacobra x 18
P-40E Warhawk x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9


No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed



CAP engaged:
VMO-251 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes
No.5 Sqd RAAF with Beaufighter VIC (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 43 minutes
No.75 Sqd RAAF with Spitfire VC Trop (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
49th FG/9th FS with P-40E Warhawk (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
8th FG/36th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 33 minutes
8th FG/80th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 160 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 56 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 6
G4M1 Betty x 4



Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 2
Spitfire VC Trop x 2
P-39D Airacobra x 15
P-40E Warhawk x 4
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIC: 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
xAP Maori



Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing from 12000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg AP Bomb, 4 x 60 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMO-251 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 6 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 56 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
No.5 Sqd RAAF with Beaufighter VIC (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
No.75 Sqd RAAF with Spitfire VC Trop (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
2 planes vectored on to bombers
49th FG/9th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 52 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
8th FG/36th FS with P-39D Airacobra (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 48 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
8th FG/80th FS with P-39D Airacobra (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 54 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-48-IIa Lily x 31



Allied aircraft
Spitfire VC Trop x 1
P-39D Airacobra x 5
P-40E Warhawk x 2
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-48-IIa Lily: 3 damaged


Allied Ships
xAP Esperance Bay
SC-749
SC-750
xAP Moreton Bay
xAP Maori
xAP Manunda



Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg AP Bomb
13 x Ki-48-IIa Lily bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 kg AP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VMO-251 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
No.75 Sqd RAAF with Spitfire VC Trop (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
49th FG/9th FS with P-40E Warhawk (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
8th FG/80th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
8th FG/36th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 4 minutes



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

Ground combat at Buna (99,129)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1431 troops, 18 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 478

Defending force 20980 troops, 314 guns, 29 vehicles, Assault Value = 772

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



Assaulting units:...
144th Infantry Regiment...
4th Naval Guard Unit...
2nd/4th Inf Regiment...
Maizuru 4th SNLF...
2nd/16th Inf Regiment...
38th/228th Inf Regiment...
2nd/29th Inf Regiment...
15th Engineer Regiment...
15th Naval Construction Battalion...
3rd Naval Construction Battalion...
10th Special Base Force...
17th Army...
Horii Group ...
101st JNAF AF Unit ...
...
Defending units:...
6th Australian Division...
7th Australian Division...

4th January 1942

Things are slow as its just an attritional grind!

I sent in two slow BBs + plenty of support to hit a convoy at Shortlands. I've been basing serious surface assets at Lunga since a bombardment by him messed up every B17 on the runway, Lunga is in fact still recovering despite it happening a month ago as B17s take so long to fix. Results were extremely poor, 2 DDs escorting some unloaded AKs were all sent to the bottom but BB Colorado managed to get torpedoed, so is out.

P40Ks have not acquitted themselves nobly but the combat is mostly going on at low altitude as I'm bombing his ground forces.

Lae and Wewak, his fave two airfields, have been solidly suppressed by B17s from Townsville and Mitchells from Port Moresby. The Mitchell is a badass machine in AE, much better than it was in WITP!

Sub captains have found the torpedo on switch as its 1943, and the results have been noticeable, there have been two sinkings already since January 1st. The Viking states, "Time to empty the seas". I have a lot of subs in this scenario, too, any ship that leaves port is a target. I think it's going to suck be the Japanese in 1943 on...

I post because another big op is in the making. The boys at Buna are low on supply and my hand is forced, yet again. This really is like Gallipoli. [:D] The job - to get 8000 supply to Buna. I think he still has one Jap CV, there are also the LBA of course but thats why I've been hitting his airfields hard, in preparation. 1 CV, 3 CVE, and a lot of surface ships (including a 10 DD SAG, I got too many DDs [:)]) are en route to Buna. AKs and AKAs only, I want a quick unload.