The USS Saratoga has arrived and as expected bringing me orders regarding the Solomons. Phase one of the campaign there will be to soften the area up. While Im in favor of surprise CinCPac wants to put the airfield on Lunga out of business. So there will be no surprise there. I have sent Saratoga and her task group north to begin harrassment attacks on shipping in the so called "slot." I have also formed a surface action group with RADM Lee and sent them north to Guadalcanal to seek out and engage enemy forces.
Admiral Nimitz has given me the reigns in the duration of phase one, but cautions that ground forces must land prior to 1 August.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
5 July 1942
CINCSoPac/SWPac
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Rob Roberson
- Posts: 386
- Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 8:46 am
6 July 1942
SWPac continues to be the valley of death for my forces. The Japanese took the bait with my surface action group but the cost was heavy. Land based air hammered Australia beneath the waves taking with her Admiral Smith. Carrier air battered San Francisco and two destroyers now struggling to get to PM. The carriers were a surprise. I did not expect them to be operating near PM which furthers my suspcion that an invasion at PM is planned. The pressure was off PM for the day which allowed me to shift air groups around and get fresh legs to PM. We will see how effective it is.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
6 July 1942
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
6 July 1942
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Rob Roberson
- Posts: 386
- Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 8:46 am
7 July 1942
Japanese carriers have slipped south between PM and Australia. THis is a disaster. If they have freedom of movement there they could shut down the entire northern Australian coast line. From what we can tell carrier air finished off both San Francisco and Craven who were making best speed back to port. Carrier air also attacked the Port of Moresby sinking the Destroyer Gridley. I have no assets in the south western Pacific to stop this carrier. I will be moving as much LBA air to Cooktown and Cairns as their airfields can handle. Dark days indeed.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
7 July 1942
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
7 July 1942
By early July, the Japs can muster six heavy carriers and a few light carriers. If you lost your earlier carrier assets (Lexington and Yorktown) it will be difficult to keep PM, and equally difficult to hold northern AUS. Your best bet is to husband what you have in Noumea, and attempt an ambush of the jap carriers with both surface and carrier fleets in one massive action. Ambushing can happen if you have the groups set to react and are just outside of the range of carrier air. Its tricky.
Do everything you can think of to reduce your detection level, deny the enemy the ability to spot you, and go into battle with your best commanders, and have your carrier pilots at the highest morale. What air support you can muster should also be at high morale and hitting them, even at long range, on the day of battle. Since they don't have PM yet, you may be able to plan an ambush where you have the Saratoga group something like 15 hexes SSE of the enemy carriers likely position. Have all of your airgroups on training until 2 or 3 days before you think the action will happen. Keep the LBA on training / 0 as long as you can. Everyone go into battle fresh and all at the same time. Also have a surface fleet that steams directly to the carrier group and attempts to engage with guns. It may not work but it will be a distraction and there is an off chance it will.
Keep in mind that all ships have limited ammo and fuel. If your LBA is hitting the carrier group a day or two in advance of the carrier ambush (even if its just bombers), you might wear down their CAP and also their flak ammunition.
Also have as many subs as possible in the likely area of the carriers. If you have enough sub groups, one of them might score a lucky hit a day or two before you attempt ambush.
Thats the best I can offer you at this point in this grim situation.
Do everything you can think of to reduce your detection level, deny the enemy the ability to spot you, and go into battle with your best commanders, and have your carrier pilots at the highest morale. What air support you can muster should also be at high morale and hitting them, even at long range, on the day of battle. Since they don't have PM yet, you may be able to plan an ambush where you have the Saratoga group something like 15 hexes SSE of the enemy carriers likely position. Have all of your airgroups on training until 2 or 3 days before you think the action will happen. Keep the LBA on training / 0 as long as you can. Everyone go into battle fresh and all at the same time. Also have a surface fleet that steams directly to the carrier group and attempts to engage with guns. It may not work but it will be a distraction and there is an off chance it will.
Keep in mind that all ships have limited ammo and fuel. If your LBA is hitting the carrier group a day or two in advance of the carrier ambush (even if its just bombers), you might wear down their CAP and also their flak ammunition.
Also have as many subs as possible in the likely area of the carriers. If you have enough sub groups, one of them might score a lucky hit a day or two before you attempt ambush.
Thats the best I can offer you at this point in this grim situation.
Last time I checked, the forums were messed up. 
Absolutely....go order the game, I bet you won't be disappointed.Originally posted by Admiral DadMan
I'm slobbering. Maybe I devote some beer funds to a UV purchase...
BTW, history shows that subs are no use against an alert invasion force with plenty of Aircraft and DD's patrolling. Better to use them to interdict along known shipping routes...
Reiryc
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Rob Roberson
- Posts: 386
- Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 8:46 am
10 July 1942
Desperate Measures
I have decided to take a bold action in the SWPacific. I have always believed that only the bold succeed and in one week we will see how that plays out.
Rather then marshalling my forces and playing a defensive game in and around Australia I intend to close the Gili-Gili gate. To this end I have gathered all my transports and warships in Brisbane. I will divide warships in two surface action groups and 1 carrier group. The carrier group will operate just south of Gili Gili. The surface action groups will operate under friendly air cap north of them. Ever available transport I could gather has been and will bring the 3rd Australian division and elements of the 7th Australian division (25th and 21st) to Gili-Gili. Starting today I will begin to pound Gili Gili with what air I have that can reach the area, including my new B25 squadron. PM is still a mess the airfield is all but out of commission. Operation Bold Eagle is set to launch in 5 days. Time is of importance here I must complete this operation prior to 28 July which is the timeline Admiral Nimitz has set for Operation Shoestring (watchtower). I hope to take Gili Gili or at least give the Japanese something else to worry about and in doing so give the airfields at PM time to recover. I will also be lifting the 46th Engineers to PM.
I have also stack whatever available landbased air in Cooktown and Cairns. If the Japanese decide to invade the Australian coastline, it is my hope that the army pilots will at least make life difficult for them.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding.
10 July 1942
I have decided to take a bold action in the SWPacific. I have always believed that only the bold succeed and in one week we will see how that plays out.
Rather then marshalling my forces and playing a defensive game in and around Australia I intend to close the Gili-Gili gate. To this end I have gathered all my transports and warships in Brisbane. I will divide warships in two surface action groups and 1 carrier group. The carrier group will operate just south of Gili Gili. The surface action groups will operate under friendly air cap north of them. Ever available transport I could gather has been and will bring the 3rd Australian division and elements of the 7th Australian division (25th and 21st) to Gili-Gili. Starting today I will begin to pound Gili Gili with what air I have that can reach the area, including my new B25 squadron. PM is still a mess the airfield is all but out of commission. Operation Bold Eagle is set to launch in 5 days. Time is of importance here I must complete this operation prior to 28 July which is the timeline Admiral Nimitz has set for Operation Shoestring (watchtower). I hope to take Gili Gili or at least give the Japanese something else to worry about and in doing so give the airfields at PM time to recover. I will also be lifting the 46th Engineers to PM.
I have also stack whatever available landbased air in Cooktown and Cairns. If the Japanese decide to invade the Australian coastline, it is my hope that the army pilots will at least make life difficult for them.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding.
10 July 1942
Rob :
I just had a similar experience with Gili, with the difference that I was very very luck not to have as yet lost a carrier.
If you are able to get transports into Gili, set the troops immediately to shock attack and try to wipe out the japs on the first go. If you have all this time been holding on to your base by your fingernails, its quite likely the japs are starving there, and could succumb to fresh troops.
Here is the glorious combat report from June 26, 1942 in my game. This was the day elements of the 3rd Division landed and came to the relief of the New Guinea forces 7th and 14th Bdes, who were barely holding on.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/25/42
Air attack on 170th Regiment, at 17,42
Allied aircraft
Hudson x 9
B-17E Fortress x 7
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 39
Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-17E Fortress at 7000 feet
9 x Hudson at 7000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 7000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Gili Gili , at 17,42
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
G3M Nell x 19
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 92
Attacking Level Bombers:
19 x G3M Nell at 8000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Gili Gili
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 2665 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 18356 troops, 135 guns, 20 vehicles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Gili Gili
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 14673 troops, 135 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 5878 troops, 47 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 7641
Guns lost 51
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 21
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd had a spell of bad weather, and had detached all of my cruisers and half of my low-AA destroyers from the carrier groups to cover the landing. So, with the detached surface group covering under heavy weather, the transports went in, landed 3rd Div, and wiped the Japs. This battle had been going on for a month, and it was rare when they Japs were able to get supplies into Gili.
I was not able to do this because I had eliminated the Jap carriers. I damaged a couple of them, but as recently as a week or so ago, they raided Gili with what appeared to be a 3 or 4 carrier force. The big threat, however, was their Battleship-laden surface group that periodically came down from Shortland to bomb Gili. This is why I detached the Cruisers and destroyers.
Normally a 2 Battleship group with lots of destroyers can mess up a cruiser group real bad. This happened to the last cruiser group I sent in with the Chicago, Australia, and the Hobart (with some destroyers). All the cruisers were lost, but the Jap battleships expended their heavy ammunition, and some were damaged quite nicely, and so they retreated before dawn (my carriers were within torpedo bomber range of Gili - 5 hexes). This allowed the transports to get in and start unloading. The next day was when I detached the cruisers from my carrier groups, forming a new TF.
The transports got in, unloaded under cover of heavy weather, and the results are as you see above. I'll be hanging around with the carrier groups set on REACT status until the last transports (the ones with massive supply loaded) are away. Then its back to Noumea where the new Saratoga awaits.
I just had a similar experience with Gili, with the difference that I was very very luck not to have as yet lost a carrier.
If you are able to get transports into Gili, set the troops immediately to shock attack and try to wipe out the japs on the first go. If you have all this time been holding on to your base by your fingernails, its quite likely the japs are starving there, and could succumb to fresh troops.
Here is the glorious combat report from June 26, 1942 in my game. This was the day elements of the 3rd Division landed and came to the relief of the New Guinea forces 7th and 14th Bdes, who were barely holding on.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/25/42
Air attack on 170th Regiment, at 17,42
Allied aircraft
Hudson x 9
B-17E Fortress x 7
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 39
Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-17E Fortress at 7000 feet
9 x Hudson at 7000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 7000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Gili Gili , at 17,42
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
G3M Nell x 19
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 92
Attacking Level Bombers:
19 x G3M Nell at 8000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Gili Gili
Japanese Bombardment attack
Attacking force 2665 troops, 19 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 18356 troops, 135 guns, 20 vehicles
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Gili Gili
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 14673 troops, 135 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 5878 troops, 47 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 14 to 1 (fort level 0)
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 7641
Guns lost 51
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 21
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'd had a spell of bad weather, and had detached all of my cruisers and half of my low-AA destroyers from the carrier groups to cover the landing. So, with the detached surface group covering under heavy weather, the transports went in, landed 3rd Div, and wiped the Japs. This battle had been going on for a month, and it was rare when they Japs were able to get supplies into Gili.
I was not able to do this because I had eliminated the Jap carriers. I damaged a couple of them, but as recently as a week or so ago, they raided Gili with what appeared to be a 3 or 4 carrier force. The big threat, however, was their Battleship-laden surface group that periodically came down from Shortland to bomb Gili. This is why I detached the Cruisers and destroyers.
Normally a 2 Battleship group with lots of destroyers can mess up a cruiser group real bad. This happened to the last cruiser group I sent in with the Chicago, Australia, and the Hobart (with some destroyers). All the cruisers were lost, but the Jap battleships expended their heavy ammunition, and some were damaged quite nicely, and so they retreated before dawn (my carriers were within torpedo bomber range of Gili - 5 hexes). This allowed the transports to get in and start unloading. The next day was when I detached the cruisers from my carrier groups, forming a new TF.
The transports got in, unloaded under cover of heavy weather, and the results are as you see above. I'll be hanging around with the carrier groups set on REACT status until the last transports (the ones with massive supply loaded) are away. Then its back to Noumea where the new Saratoga awaits.
Last time I checked, the forums were messed up.
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Rob Roberson
- Posts: 386
- Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 8:46 am
Oh believe me
I'm praying for rain. Otherwise my transports are going to pay a heavy price from LBA out of Rabaul.
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Rob Roberson
- Posts: 386
- Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 8:46 am
13 July 1942
Well I know where at least two of the Japanese carriers are. They are pounding the hell out of my airstrip at San Cristobal. Perfect. Bold Eagle has been given a boost. I hope the Japanese admiral is content to drop his bombs on that dirt strip while my troops move up the Australian coast.
Another submarine failed to report to PM today. We have reached point where we celebrate thier arrival. Truly submariners are the bravest of the brave.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
13 July 1942
Another submarine failed to report to PM today. We have reached point where we celebrate thier arrival. Truly submariners are the bravest of the brave.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
13 July 1942
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Rob Roberson
- Posts: 386
- Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 8:46 am
15 July 1942
Bold Eagle is a day behind schedule due to weather. Not a good start. I know that there is at least one Japanese surface action group south of Gili Gili. PM continues to get hammered by both sea and air forces. The good news is the USS Wasp and her escorts are on the scene. I have added them to the operation and they should arrive in the PM area about the same time as the troop transports. I have one carrier task force already operating off of Cooktown, two will help a great deal. My surface groups were scheduled to leave today I have delayed one of them to sail with the transports. Baring weather that should be tomorrow.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
15 July 1942
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
15 July 1942
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Rob Roberson
- Posts: 386
- Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 8:46 am
18 July 1942
The tension is very high here on New Caledonia. Our land base air has detected not one but three Japanese carriers south of Gili Gili. I fear that they are reading our message traffic and are waiting for my task forces. One of my surface action groups has blundered to far north but escaped detection due to weather. I'm sure I won't be that lucky again. The stage is set. I now believe that this battle may decide the fate of Australia.
The USS Wasp and her escorts are now just a day away from North Australia.
PM is up and fully functional as an airstrip again despite its constant pounding. The 46th Engineering battalion has done marvelous work and will receive a unit citation from Admiral Nimitz.
The Solomons remains very quiet now. All the focus is west.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
18 July 1942
The USS Wasp and her escorts are now just a day away from North Australia.
PM is up and fully functional as an airstrip again despite its constant pounding. The 46th Engineering battalion has done marvelous work and will receive a unit citation from Admiral Nimitz.
The Solomons remains very quiet now. All the focus is west.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
18 July 1942
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Rob Roberson
- Posts: 386
- Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 8:46 am
19 July 1942
Opening Blows
Dive bombers from the USS Saratoga found but failed to do any damaged to two of the Japanese carriers now southeast of PM. The Japanese naval air was more accurate putting a torpedo and a 250 lb bomb into Saratoga. She is making steam east towards USS Wasp who could not launch a strike due to heavy weather. I have ordered my Surface action groups and my troops transports to stand away from the battle area until the issue is decided. I will not waste my valuable transports, to say nothing of the men aboard them, in a rash attempt to force my way past the ring of steel the Japanese navy now has blocking my road to Gili Gili.
It is my hope that Wasp and Saratoga can draw the Japanese carriers to the Australian coastline where my LBA can aid in their destruction.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
Dive bombers from the USS Saratoga found but failed to do any damaged to two of the Japanese carriers now southeast of PM. The Japanese naval air was more accurate putting a torpedo and a 250 lb bomb into Saratoga. She is making steam east towards USS Wasp who could not launch a strike due to heavy weather. I have ordered my Surface action groups and my troops transports to stand away from the battle area until the issue is decided. I will not waste my valuable transports, to say nothing of the men aboard them, in a rash attempt to force my way past the ring of steel the Japanese navy now has blocking my road to Gili Gili.
It is my hope that Wasp and Saratoga can draw the Japanese carriers to the Australian coastline where my LBA can aid in their destruction.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
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Ron Saueracker
- Posts: 10967
- Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2002 10:00 am
- Location: Ottawa, Canada OR Zakynthos Island, Greece
Tell Nimitz to screw off!!! Respectfully, of course.
Got your hands full Down Under. San Cristobal is indefensible. Just concentrate your efforts in New Guinea and slowly build up LBA and LCU in Noumea region, making your own "Ring of Steel."
Tell Nimitz to go play with his submarines or something.
Your making history, not following it out of context.
Tell Nimitz to go play with his submarines or something.
Your making history, not following it out of context.
Yammas from The Apo-Tiki Lounge. Future site of WITP AE benders! And then the s--t hit the fan
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Rob Roberson
- Posts: 386
- Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 8:46 am
20 July 1942
Battle of North Coral Sea Day two
Devastor Torpedo Bombers opened the day by striking a Japanese surface action group and planting a torpedo in the Battleship Hiei. At about 10 am Avenger Torpedo bombers found and planted two torpedos in the Carrier Ryujo. Escorting fighter pilots reported seeing secondary explosions. 20 minutes later Dive Bombers from the Wasp attacked but only managed one hit on the Yura. A counterstrike from the Japanese carries succeeded in planting two bombs and a torpedo in the Wasp. Unable to recover her aircraft they were for the most part diverted to PM. I must send out absolute praise to the Army support people at PM. They received and turned around my navy bombers from the Wasp and sent them back into battle. This strike from PM left the carrier Junyo burning.
I have been forced to retire the Wasp from the battle.
My orders to all remaining Allied naval forces.
Attack Attack Attack
Operation Bold Eagle is now moving forward.
It is my hope that two of the three Japanese flattops will have to withdraw leaving one for Saratoga to deal with. This combined with my naval air currently sitting at PM should be able to hammer her beneath the waves.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
20 July 1942
Devastor Torpedo Bombers opened the day by striking a Japanese surface action group and planting a torpedo in the Battleship Hiei. At about 10 am Avenger Torpedo bombers found and planted two torpedos in the Carrier Ryujo. Escorting fighter pilots reported seeing secondary explosions. 20 minutes later Dive Bombers from the Wasp attacked but only managed one hit on the Yura. A counterstrike from the Japanese carries succeeded in planting two bombs and a torpedo in the Wasp. Unable to recover her aircraft they were for the most part diverted to PM. I must send out absolute praise to the Army support people at PM. They received and turned around my navy bombers from the Wasp and sent them back into battle. This strike from PM left the carrier Junyo burning.
I have been forced to retire the Wasp from the battle.
My orders to all remaining Allied naval forces.
Attack Attack Attack
Operation Bold Eagle is now moving forward.
It is my hope that two of the three Japanese flattops will have to withdraw leaving one for Saratoga to deal with. This combined with my naval air currently sitting at PM should be able to hammer her beneath the waves.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
20 July 1942
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Rob Roberson
- Posts: 386
- Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 8:46 am
21 July 1942
Battle of North Coral Sea day three
A second attack on the battle group by torpedo bombers. No hits, but returning pilots reported a huge battleship that can only be Yamato. Carrier strikes against the Japanese carrier group proved to be ineffectual, but a combined Army/Navy LBA strike hammer the Ryujo and leaving her burning.
Japanese counterstrikes slam the Saratoga putting her flight decks out of operation. Both my carriers are now limping away from the battle.
It is now up to my surface forces.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
21 July 1942
A second attack on the battle group by torpedo bombers. No hits, but returning pilots reported a huge battleship that can only be Yamato. Carrier strikes against the Japanese carrier group proved to be ineffectual, but a combined Army/Navy LBA strike hammer the Ryujo and leaving her burning.
Japanese counterstrikes slam the Saratoga putting her flight decks out of operation. Both my carriers are now limping away from the battle.
It is now up to my surface forces.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
21 July 1942
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Rob Roberson
- Posts: 386
- Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 8:46 am
22 July 1942
The Battle of the North Coral Sea day four
The struggle has truly become more epic then I would of imagined. Very limited action today however. The Japanese carrier groups have withdrawn from the Moresby area. This gives me the advantage of LBA which I am putting to good use. There is still a surface action group south of Gili Gili, if it is in fact Yamato, then life will continue to be unpleasant. I have moved both of my surface action groups towards it. The North Carolina has arrived in theatre and is steaming at maximum speed towards the battle. I only hope the battle will continue long enough for her guns to be brought to the bear. My submarines have suddenly developed a hot hand sinking several transports off Gili Gili and claiming one destroyer.
My troops remain on the outside of the battle waiting to go in. I now believe Gili Gili is the main hub of Japanese activity in the region and that hub must be broken.
Attack Attack Attack.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
22 July 1942
The struggle has truly become more epic then I would of imagined. Very limited action today however. The Japanese carrier groups have withdrawn from the Moresby area. This gives me the advantage of LBA which I am putting to good use. There is still a surface action group south of Gili Gili, if it is in fact Yamato, then life will continue to be unpleasant. I have moved both of my surface action groups towards it. The North Carolina has arrived in theatre and is steaming at maximum speed towards the battle. I only hope the battle will continue long enough for her guns to be brought to the bear. My submarines have suddenly developed a hot hand sinking several transports off Gili Gili and claiming one destroyer.
My troops remain on the outside of the battle waiting to go in. I now believe Gili Gili is the main hub of Japanese activity in the region and that hub must be broken.
Attack Attack Attack.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
22 July 1942
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Rob Roberson
- Posts: 386
- Joined: Wed May 01, 2002 8:46 am
23 July 1942
Battle of the North Coral Sea day five
I believe the naval portion of this battle is at an end from the Capital ship standpoint. My air searches have found no ships larger then destroyers around Gili Gili. I have ordered all three (including the North Carolina) surface groups to make for Gili Gili. My troop transports are now also headed there at best speed. If I cannot make a landing in the next 48 hours. It will have to be canceled. The Aussies have been at sea too long and will not be effective soon.
Both Wasp and Saratoga are heavily damaged. They are now at Cooktown and once their lists are righted will be sent on to New Caledonia and Pearl Harbor.
I am generally pleased with the conduct of my naval units. I have not lost a single ship. Given the amount of enemy forces in the area that is amazing. Of course the battle is not over yet, just the opening phase, but I could not be more pleased. I have decided on the advice of my staff to and to cancel the Solomon's operation at least for 4 weeks. The heart of the Japanese navy came to play off PM and I believe I can attract their attention again there soon. I am now completely focused on breaking the Japanese back at Gili-Gili all my forces will be concentrated there for the immediate future. I am considering moving the 1st Marine Division to Brisbane for possible future operations in the Southwest Pacific. I have sent a dispatch to CinCPac regarding these moves I am awaiting an answer.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
23 July 1942
I believe the naval portion of this battle is at an end from the Capital ship standpoint. My air searches have found no ships larger then destroyers around Gili Gili. I have ordered all three (including the North Carolina) surface groups to make for Gili Gili. My troop transports are now also headed there at best speed. If I cannot make a landing in the next 48 hours. It will have to be canceled. The Aussies have been at sea too long and will not be effective soon.
Both Wasp and Saratoga are heavily damaged. They are now at Cooktown and once their lists are righted will be sent on to New Caledonia and Pearl Harbor.
I am generally pleased with the conduct of my naval units. I have not lost a single ship. Given the amount of enemy forces in the area that is amazing. Of course the battle is not over yet, just the opening phase, but I could not be more pleased. I have decided on the advice of my staff to and to cancel the Solomon's operation at least for 4 weeks. The heart of the Japanese navy came to play off PM and I believe I can attract their attention again there soon. I am now completely focused on breaking the Japanese back at Gili-Gili all my forces will be concentrated there for the immediate future. I am considering moving the 1st Marine Division to Brisbane for possible future operations in the Southwest Pacific. I have sent a dispatch to CinCPac regarding these moves I am awaiting an answer.
Admiral Robert Roberson commanding
23 July 1942