Noosing the Bull: Scn.9, Toraq vs Timtom

[timtom]

Tony's making a big ASW effort around Rabaul, with several ASW TF's cruising the approaches. ML Hoko sank the Swordfish - don't think I've ever lost a sub to a minelayer before - and the intrepid Growler was hit by three aerial bombs (sys 53, flt 69, f 0). I guess the good news is that he must feel that the subs are hurting him to a degree...

The engineers finished fixing the holed runway at Dobadura, and I pulled some of the sdq's off. We'll hedgehog for now.

I'm unloading troops at Nevea in the Santa Cruz Islands, to act as an outpost should Tony get up to any tricks. There's no combat troops there except that NZ CD bn., so as it stands, a FT landing could wreck havoc. I'm hoping the minefield I've sown there, along with PT's and the coastal guns will buy enough time for a Raider bn. to be flown in - if it ever becomes necessary, of course.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 01 Mar 1943 Weather: Rain
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Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack W Buka:

Japanese Ships:
ML Hoko

Allied Ships:
SS Swordfish, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at SW Rabaul:

Japanese Ships
PC Ch 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
SS Grampus
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Kavieng port from Port Moresby: *pursuing a damaged DD*

Allied aircraft:
B-25D Mitchell x 15

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25D Mitchell x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 4
Port fuel hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
B-25J Mitchell x 30

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 59
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

The airfield at Russell has jumped to lvl 2 and is now housing F4U, SDB'd and TBF's. I'm still devoting a fair bit of effort to repositioning my forces, however the effort is being curtailed by the need to feed the bombers at Port Moresby and Lunga. Furthermore, I'm using my C-47's sparingly after about a third of them were sabotaged on turn 2.

Near max effort against Rabaul next turn...
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 02 Mar 1943 Weather: Overcast
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Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack at SE Gasmata: *two attacks*

Japanese Ships:
AG 101, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
AV Akitsushima, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships:
SS Grampus

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 20
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at Rabaul from Lunga:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 24
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 9

Allied aircraft:
PB4Y Liberator x 9

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 3 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
PB4Y Liberator x 9 damaged *won't trying this again anytime soon*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Attacks:

Air attack on Dobadura airfield from Buka (night attack):

Japanese aircraft:
G4M1 Betty x 21
H8K Emily x 13

Alied aircraft losses:
Beaufort x 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 34
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
A-20G Havoc x 36
B-25J Mitchell x 67

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 131
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Can't complain - the subs had one of their better days and the raid on Rabaul netted a good many Zeros. Tony lost 18 in total against 9 P-38's. As he receives 100 Zeros (?) a month and I get 40 P-38's, this is about the minimum rate of exchange I need to achieve. I tend to be a bit casualty-shy, so on occasions like this I need to remind myself of the strategic goal of these operations - writing down Tony's airforce to east the way for naval operations in the Huon Gulf.

The good news is that I'm now receiveing 40 replacement P-47's a month. The bad news is that no aircraft in my inventory upgrades to the Jug, nor will I receive any such equipped sqd's.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03 Mar 1943 Weather: Clear
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Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack S Rabaul:

Japanese Ships:
AP Sumiyoshi Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships:
SS Grampus
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack SW Rabaul: *two attacks*

Japanese Ships:
PG Keijo Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AP Kashiwa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships:
SS Amberjack
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 18

Allied aircraft:
A-20G Havoc x 32
B-25J Mitchell x 61

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25J Mitchell x 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 92
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Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Port Moresby, Dobodura & Gili Gili:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 28
A6M3 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 51
B-17E Fortress x 22
B-24D Liberator x 23

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 12 destroyed, A6M2 Zero x 4 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 3 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 1 destroyed, Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losse:
P-38G Lightning x 4 destroyed, P-38G Lightning x 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress x 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 220
Airbase hits 19
Runway hits 39
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Weather exceedingly wet even for the South Pacific - virtually every airfield on the map clouded in. Tomorrow: Rain. I've finished moving the Americal to Noumea. The 32nd ID has been unloaded at Townsville and is enroute for the bright lights of Brisbane. I don't have any immediate means of getting the 7th ID out of Buna, so I've rather heartlessly send them slogging back over the Stanleys to PM.

Ironically, my subs seems to be getting the better of Tony's ASW TF's, although he's lost nothing of substance yet.

17th Bgd.'s one mile short of Salamaua...
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04 Feb 1943 Weather: Thunderstorms
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Allied Air Attacks:

Sub attack SW Rabaul:

Japanese Ships:
PC Ch 22, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships:
SS Amberjack
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Oh boy (sigh), what a mess...Somehow the 4 sqd's of PBY's and PB4Y's on naval search failed to pick up the sizeable TF slipping round down the lower Solomons. the last couple of days' bad weather is the only excuse I can think of - not that it prevented the enemy from locating my forces. Anyhu, the TF which had just unfinished loading at Nevea got creamed. Had Tony turned up one turn later, it would've been gone.

I've now got about a dozen sinking or severely damaged ships just north of Wunpuko. The worst off will make Wunpuku, while the rest (heavily LRCAP'd) heads for Luganville. I've shifted a good many SBD's and fighters to Wunpuko, fighters and fighter-bombers to Luganville. I'm expecting Tony to pull out while the getting's good, but you never know. Both airfields are open to bombardment and/or Tony slipping a SC TF in to finish the cripples. My single CV is being moved to a position between Noumea and Luganville on react - if he sticks around it should trigger. Enemy forces reported at CVx3, CVLx3.

All very depression stuff. I however doubt that there's ultimately very much I could've done about it, really. I don't have a counter to KB basically, and Tony can do whatever he likes as long as he stays away from my major bases. The idea of having am interlocked set of minor bases to eliminate any "dead zones" is contingent on early warning - otherwise I'd have to tie down a significant portion of my forces jusy watching my eastern flank. And early warning failed miserably. That said, as I was evidently cognisent of the threat posed by KB, then I ought to have followed through on that thought. Most of SBD's were just idling at Luganville anyway, so they might as well be idling at Wunpuko, from were they could've hit KB at it's current position - an obvious position at that, as it puts him within range of the main Noumea-Lunga thouroughfare. Sloppy.

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05 Mar 1943 Weather: Rain
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Japanese Naval Attacks:

Sub attack at NNE Noumea:

Japanese Ships:
SS I-16, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships:
PG Tui
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at Nevea:

Japanese Ships:
CL Sendai, Shell hits 5
DD Kazegumo, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD Makinami, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Onami, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hayanami, Shell hits 1
DD Maikaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships:
DD DeHaven, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Stack, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Sterett, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
DD Pringle
DMS Hovey, Shell hits 1, on fire
PG Kiwi, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
SC 637
SC 641
AP Crescent City
AP John Penn
AP Leonard Wood
AP Calvert
AP Harry Lee
AP Arthur Middleton
AP Harris
AP J. Franklin Bell
AP President Monroe
AP Leedstown
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Air attack on TF NW Wunpuko from AC TF's SE Irau:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 29
D3A Val x 64
B5N Kate x 35

Japanese aircraft losses:
D3A Val x 4 destroyed, D3A Val x 13 damaged
B5N Kate x 2 destroyed. B5N Kate x 22 damaged

Allied Ships:
DD DeHaven, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *sys 85, flt 65, f 49*
DD Sterett, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *sys 63, flt 33, f 32*
DMS Hovey, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *sys 86, flt 93, f 49*
AP President Monroe, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage *sys 42, flt 76, f 32*
AP Leonard Wood, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage *sys 71, flt 60, f 49*
AP J. Franklin Bell, Torpedo hits 1, Bomb hits 3, on fire *sys 44, flt 37, f 35*
AP Calvert, Bomb hits 3, on fire *sys 50, flt 27, f 37*
AP Leedstown, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage *sys 71, flt 20, f 49*
AP Crescent City, Torpedo hits 1, on fire *sys 30, flt 20, f 15*
AP Harry Lee, Bomb hits 7, on fire *sys 28, flt 8, f 17*
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Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack S Rabaul:

Japanese Ships:
AG 107, Shell hits 6, and is sunk

Allied Ships:
SS Greenling
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Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
B-17E Fortress x 18

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 3 destroyed, Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 6 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
B-17E Fortress x 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 103
Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 23
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Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawk x 27
A-20G Havoc x 50
B-25J Mitchell x 64

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 94
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[timtom]

KB pulled back to a position some way north of Santa Cruz. It'd be a real pain in the buttski if he decided to stick around. DMS Hovey sank, but otherwise it looks like a good many of the cripples are actually going to make it.

We lost another sub today - SS Stingray - making it the third sub to go (SS Growler's on it's last legs). I've thus far lost three subs (28VP) lost and one damaged against 1 PG, 2 PC's, 2 MSW's and 4 AP's (34VP) sunk, and 3 DD's, 1 AP, and 1 TK hit, damage unknown.

Todays air-to-air tally's 15 Zero's to 5 P-38's.

Another probe at Salamaua revealed that the combat efficiency of the 102nd Rgt. is indeed low. Tomorrow: Attack.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06 Mar 1943 Weather: Partly Cloudy
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Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack at SSW Truk:

Japanese Ships:
PC Ch 5

Allied Ships:
SS Stingray, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
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Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 15
A6M3 Zero x 13

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawk x 24
A-20G Havoc x 28
B-25J Mitchell x 56

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed, A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
P-40E Warhawk x 2 destroyed
A-20G Havoc x 2 damaged
B-25J Mitchell x 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 129
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Air attack on Rabaul from Port Moresby, Dobodura, Gili Gili & Lunga:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 79
B-17E Fortress x 21
B-24D Liberator x 31

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 3 destroyed, A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 5 destroyed, Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 1 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
P-38G Lightning x 3 destroyed, P-38G Lightning x 2 damaged
B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 143
Airbase hits 15
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 36
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Salamaua:

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 4388 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 7058 troops, 86 guns, 32 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Miserable weather...

The Oz infantry attacked in the rain, without air support, and made little headway, although inflicting 3 casualties for every received. Hard slogging ahead.

KB is reported well to the northeast of Lunga, seemingly retiring. The report but the AC TFs' composion to a somewhat more resonable 2xCV, 1xCVL, which gels better with the number of aircraft observed in operation.

The Weekly Tally:

Allied/Japanese:

Score at start: 2,514/3,709 = 1.00:1.48

Week 1: 2,687/3,482 = 1.00:1.30
Week 2: 2,883/3,639 = 1.00:1.26
Week 3: 3,242/3,730 = 1.00:1.15

Army Losses:

4/8 = 1.00:2.00

Naval Losses:

Allied ships:
Sunk: 1xDD, 1xDMS, 2xSS, 1xPG, 1xAK
Damaged: 2xDD, 2xSS, 7xAP

Japanese ships:
Sunk: 1xCL, 1xPG, 2xPC, 2xMSW, 3xAP
Damaged: 4xDD, 1xAV, 1xAP

Air Losses:

Total: 136/161 = 1.00:1.18

Week 1: 31/32 = 1.00:1.03
Week 2: 62/63 = 1.00:1.02
Week 3: 43/66 = 1.00:1.53

Air-to-Air: 37/51 = 1.00:1.38
Destroyed on Field: 21/26 = 1.00:1.24
Destroyed by AAA: 18/12 = 1.50:1.00
Operational Losses: 60/72 = 1.00:1.20

Sorties Flown:

Total: 15,924/13,653 = 1.17:1.00

Week 1: 4,527/5,021 = 1.00:1.11
Week 2: 5,379/4,800 = 1.12:1.00
Week 3: 6,018/3,832 = 1.57:1.00

Loss pr. sortie (excl. DoF): 0.0072/0.0099 = 1.0000:1.3750
Operational loss pr. sortie: 0.0038/0.0053 = 1.0000:1.3947
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07 Mar 1943 Weather: Thunderstorms
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Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Salamaua:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10515 troops, 80 guns, 0 vehicles *16th Bgd., 17th Bgd., 91st Eng Rgt.*

Defending force 7048 troops, 86 guns, 32 vehicles *102nd Rgt., 51st Recon Rgt.*

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 190
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 64
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[timtom]

More bad weather keeps the planes on the ground at Port Moresby. The Ozzies traded casualties at Salamaua, which could quite possibly be linked to the fact that somebodies pilfered all of 16th Bgd's supply. Further ground attacks are halted until this situation can be rectified.

KB remains in its position from yesterday. Reports puts it to 3xCV, 1xCVL - Zui, the Junyo's and a CVL?

DD Minikaze struck a M10 mine at Munda, while an ML was sighted in the Goodenough Island area, probably mining the sealanes between Gili Gili and Dobadura. The weather prevented a strike on it.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08 Mar 1943 Weather: Rain
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Japanese Naval Attacks:

Naval bombardment of Dobadura:

Allied ground losses: *airfield 29, service 47*
Men lost 191
Vehicles lost 1
Airbase hits 30
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 159
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Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack E Gasmata:

Japanese Ships:
AG 111, Shell hits 5, and is sunk

Allied Ships:
SS Grouper
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Sub attack SSW Rabaul:

Japanese Ships:
AP Nojima Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships:
SS Greenling
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Sub attack SW Rabaul:

Japanese Ships:
APD 35, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships:
SS Seadragon
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Sub attack ENE Rabual:

Japanese Ships:
DD Shigure

Allied Ships:
SS Silversides, Shell hits 1, on fire *sys 23, flt 45*
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Air attack on TF at Gasmata from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
Beaufighter VIC x 24

Japanese Ships:
AG 106, Shell hits 12, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
AG 108, Shell hits 4
AG 109, Shell hits 28, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
AG 112, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
AG 115, Shell hits 8
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Japanese Air Attacks:

Air attack on Port Moresby airfield from Buka (night attack):

Japanese aircraft:
G4M1 Betty x 10
H8K Emily x 5

Allied aircraft losses:
P-70A Havoc x 1 destroyed
B-25J Mitchell x 1 destroyed, B-25J Mitchell x 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 7
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 6
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Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Lunga:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 38

Allied aircraft:
B-17E Fortress x 34

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed, A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
B-17E Fortress x 9 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 84
Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 22
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Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Salamaua:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10440 troops, 80 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 6910 troops, 83 guns, 32 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 141

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 138
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Grounded at again Port Moresby...

Marilinan was taken unopposed and the battalion involved will push straight on for Nadzab to do an armed reconnaissance. Supplies are being flown to Wau in the hope that someone will have the presence of mind to shift them on to Salamaua.

An escorted strike is scheduled for Rabaul next turn (weather improving!) and likewise Buka. P-38's will escort from Russell Islands, finally giving SOPAC a chance to contribute.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09 Mar 1943 Weather: Thunderstorms
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Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack SE Rabaul:

Japanese Ships:
AP Takuei Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships:
SS Greenling
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Sub attack SSW Rabaul:

Japanese Ships:
DD Kiyonami, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships:
SS Seadragon
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Lunga:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 17

Allied aircraft:
B-24D Liberator x 17

Allied aircraft losses:
B-24D Liberator x 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 59
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 4
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Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Marilinan:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 758 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles *AUS 2nd Pioneer Bn.*

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 7 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Marilinan base !!!
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[timtom]

Low clouds over Port Moresby - fourth day wihout flights. The 16th Bgd. at Salamaua seems no more inclined to draw supply. Guess they prefer eating grass. B-17's hit Buka, but, for reasons known only to themselves, the escorts stayed at home. Is it the union?
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10 Mar 1943 Weather: Partly Cloudy
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Japanese Air Attacks:

Air attack on Port Moresby airfield from Buka:

Japanese aircraft:
G4M1 Betty x 17
H8K Emily x 5

Allied aircraft:
P-70A Havoc x 7

Japanese aircraft losses:
H8K Emily x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
P-70A Havoc x 1 damaged
B-25J Mitchell x 2 destroyed, B-25J Mitchell x 5 damaged

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 4

Airbase hits 8
Runway hits 12
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Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Buka airfield from Lunga:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 21

Allied aircraft:
B-17E Fortress x 25

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4 damaged
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
B-17E Fortress x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 60
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 34
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Air-to-Air tally for the day: 18 P-38's to 17 enemy fighters + 3 on the ground. As stated before, I've already written off the P-38 sdq's. Which at this rate will be sooner than later. Still no luck in budging the fighter jocks at Russell. I'v got no idea why they wont fly: AF lvl 3, supply in the white, morale top, fatigue low, no clouds. Next turn I'll if I can get then to do a sweep of Buka.

Operation Mercury kicks off tomorrow...
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11 Mar 1943 Weather: Clear
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Japanese Naval Attacks:

Sub attack at Gili Gili:

Japanese Ships:
SS RO-107

Allied Ships: *Sweeping mines as a precaution after the recent sighting of an ML*
MSW Ipswich, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack NE Noumea:

Japanese Ships:
SS I-16

Allied Ships:
AK Cetus, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *sys 42, flt 63, f 18*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Attacks:

Air attack on Dobadura from Lae & Finschafen (fighter sweep):

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 15
A6M3 Zero x 34

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 45
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Port Moresby, Dobodura and Gili Gili:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 3
A6M2 Zero x 76
A6M3 Zero x 19

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 71
B-17E Fortress x 36

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 11 destroyed, A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 3 destroyed, A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3 destroyed, Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 5 damaged
G3M Nell x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
P-38G Lightning x 10 destroyed, P-38G Lightning x 5 damaged
B-17E Fortress x 13 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 156
Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Buka airfield from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 15

Allied aircraft:
B-17E Fortress x 25

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
B-17E Fortress x 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 124
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby::

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawk x 12
A-20G Havoc x 37
B-25D Mitchell x 28
B-25J Mitchell x 33

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 110
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Two enemy TF's have turned up in the middle of the Solomon Sea. Intelligence is rather sketchy, although the presence of two TF's means it could well be the KB, enroute for the Coral Sea maybe. But I basically don't know what to make of it.

Either way, I'm stripping Dobodura and Gili Gili of most of their aircraft and moving the North Carolina/Washington battlegroup to Russell Islands. The South Dakota/Indiana battlegroup is aways south of Gili Gili. Saratogo is moving to a position near Luganville. I've got a troopladen TF headed for Lambeti - undetected I think - from which I'm detaching the APD's for a fast run-in (carrying the balance of the 169th Rgt.) while returning the LST's and LCI's to Lunga. Under the circumstances, I don't want the added burden of having to support the transports. Otherwise I've only got a single transport TF in harms way, north of New Caledonia. If indeed it is the KB, I intend to throw the Sara at it - a battle that can only have one outcome, but KB on the loose is intolerable and hopefully I can inflict enough damage to blunt its blade for a while.

To get things moving at Salamaua, I'm using most of the B-25's to move the beans to Wau in the hope that it's just a question of throwing enough stuff the place. Without supply, the 16th Bgd. is virtually useless in combat. Attacking will cause it to disrupt quickly, rendering it entirely unfit for combat, with or without supply.

P-38 fighter jocks at Russell finally got off the ground - must be all partied out and ready to begin the serious business of destroying Tony's minions.

S-44 was spotted and hit by a Nell in shallow water off Buka. Another one for the docks.

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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12 Mar 1943 Weather: Thunderstorms
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Sub attack at Gili Gili:

Japanese Ships:
SS RO-107

Allied Ships:
AK Diomed, Torpedo hits 1 *sys 69, flt 10, f 5*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Buka from Russell Islands (fighter sweep):

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 12

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 16

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawk x 11
B-25D Mitchell x 24
B-25J Mitchell x 37

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 119
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft:
B-24D Liberator x 17

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
B-24D Liberator x 1 destroyed, B-24D Liberator x 13 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 89

Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Both Dobadura and Gili Gili hit, the latter now a smoldering hole. Damage slight, otherwise. As a bonus, DD Shirakumo and CA Aoba hit mines at Gili Gili, and SS Triton then torpedoed the Aoba and BB Haruna. I guess some sort of medal is in order, although I'm not counting the Haruna out of the battle. Is this just a spoiling attack or part of something bigger?

17th Bgd. finally drew supply. Bully beef for everybody! 169th Rgt. has landed at Lambeti and will secure the place next turn. Tony appears to be moving stuff to Munda. Fine by me. Somewhat incautiously, I'm FT'ing 169th Rgt. B-Echelon to Lambeti. A pointless risk with so much IJN firepower about.

Most of my runs on Rabaul have been at 15,000 feet - just above the ceiling of most Japanese small- and medium calibre AAA. In todays strike, the B-24's went in at 10,000, the B-17 at 15,000. 7 B-24's were hit to no B-17's. Admittedly there three times the number of B-24's than B-17's, but at that ratio, 2 B-17's should've been hit.

Fighters reported at Lae, Finschafen, and Gasmata will be hit by bombers, strafing and sweeps tomorrow, while the Ozzies get to work at Salamaua supported by A-20's.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 13 Mar 1943 Weather: Partly Cloudy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Naval bombardment of Gili Gili:

Allied aircraft losses:
Beaufort x 3 destroyed, Beaufort x 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 30
Airbase hits 25
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 81
Port hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Dobadura:

Allied ground losses: *airfield 0, service 0*
Men lost 13
Airbase hits 8
Runway hits 26
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack N Woodlark Island: *two attacks*

Japanese Ships:
CA Aoba, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BB Haruna, Torpedo hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships:
SS Triton
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Attacks:

Air attack on Gili Gili from AC TF E Kiriwani:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 11
D3A Val x 61
B5N Kate x 38

Allied aircraft losses:
F-5A Lightning x 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses: *airfield 88, service 58, port 3*
Airbase hits 11
Runway hits 43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Lunga:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 23

Allied aircraft:
B-17E Fortress x 6
B-24D Liberator x 19

Japanese aircraft losses:
G4M1 Betty x 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 5 destroyed, Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
B-24D Liberator x 2 destroyed, B-24D Liberator x 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 19
Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 14
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 13
A-20G Havoc x 44

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 77
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

I first wrote a lenghty and selfpitying rant to Tony, then went for a walk round the block in the mild Spring breeze to cool down. What a disaster. A full third of SWPAC fighter strength wiped out - just like that...

40 P-40's, 11 P-39's and 11 P-38's lost air-to-air over Port Moresby against 16 Zeros. 4:1. What year is this again? Another 6 Zero's were lost operationally, at least, making it 3:1. The average fatigue of my sdq's were about 25, morale about 50, so it's not like I've been pushing them overly. AAA at Port Moresby is 24x90mm, 16x40mm, 16x37mm, 32x20mm. The Betty's came in at 6,000 and my AAA gunners endevoured to hit exactly one of them, which subsequently crashed.

I was expecting - and hoping - that Tony would have a crack at Port Moresby at some point, as it would give me an opportunity to get to grips with his bombers. But not like this...

The whole affair has some rather nasty strategic ramifications. Tony has clearly demonstrated that he can obtain air superiority at will, even in the face of over 100 Allied fighters. How to I supply Port Moresby in a threat environment like that?

The Weekly Tally:

Allied/Japanese:

Score at start: 2,514/3,709 = 1.00:1.48

Week 1: 2,687/3,482 = 1.00:1.30
Week 2: 2,883/3,639 = 1.00:1.26
Week 3: 3,242/3,730 = 1.00:1.15
Week 4: 3,431/4,009 = 1.00:1.17

Army Losses:

7/12 = 1.00:1.71

Naval Losses:

Allied ships:
Sunk: 1xDD, 1xDMS, 1xMSW, 1xPG, 2xSS, 1xAK
Damaged: 2xDD, 4xSS, 7xAP, 2xAK

Japanese ships:
Sunk: 1xCL, 1xPG, 2xPC, 3xMSW, 3xAP
Damaged: 1xCA, 7xDD, 1xAPD, 1xAV, 1xAP

Air Losses:

Total: 271/229 = 1.18:1.00

Week 1: 31/32 = 1.00:1.03
Week 2: 62/63 = 1.00:1.02
Week 3: 43/66 = 1.00:1.53
Week 4: 135/68 = 1.98:1.00

Air-to-Air: 120/86 = 1.40:1.00
Destroyed on Field: 32/40 = 1.00:1.25
Destroyed by AAA: 27/13 = 2.08:1.00
Operational Losses: 92/90 = 1.02:1.00

Sorties Flown:

Total: 22,351/19,008 = 1.18:1.00

Week 1: 4,527/5,021 = 1.00:1.11
Week 2: 5,379/4,800 = 1.12:1.00
Week 3: 6,018/3,832 = 1.57:1.00
Week 4: 6,391/5,355 = 1.19:1.00

Loss pr. sortie (excl. DoF): 0.0107/0.0099 = 1.0808:1.0000
Operational loss pr. sortie: 0.0041/0.0047 = 1.0000:1.1463
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 14 Mar 1943 Weather: Partly Cloudy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Air attack on TF at Torokina from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 17
B-25J Mitchell x 6

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25J Mitchell x 7 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF WNW Munda:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 2

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 12
F4U-1 Corsair x 14
SBD Dauntless x 14

Japanese Ships:
MSW Toshi Maru #2, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Attacks:

Air attack on Port Moresby from Rabaul & Lae:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 75
A6M3 Zero x 93
G3M Nell x 27
G4M1 Betty x 84

Allied aircraft:
P-39D Airacobra x 30
P-40E Warhawk x 69
P-38G Lightning x 19

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 12 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 6 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
P-39D Airacobra x 12 destroyed, P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk x 37 destroyed, P-40E Warhawk x 9 damaged
P-38G Lightning x 12 destroyed, P-38G Lightning x 8 damaged
B-25J Mitchell x 3 destroyed, B-25J Mitchell x 5 damaged

Allied ground losses: *airfield 0, service 15*
Men lost 104
Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 69
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawk x 10
A-20G Havoc x 42

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 71
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae airfield from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:

P-40E Warhawk x 19
B-25J Mitchell x 64

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25J Mitchell x 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 68
Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 49
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Finschhafen (sweep) from Buna:

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 12
P-39D Airacobra x 22

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed, A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Lambeti:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 3996 troops, 58 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 65 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Lambeti base !!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Salamaua:

Allied Deliberate attack:

Attacking force 10371 troops, 80 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 6541 troops, 83 guns, 32 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 4

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 145
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 55
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Weather turned sour again, keeping most aircraft on the ground. It also demonstrates how, at Salamaua, air support makes the difference between a 3:1 casualty rate plus shaving off a fort level and odd 0:1 and equal casualties.

Tony's keeping his Sakai-clones at Lae, so 6 sdq. B-25 strike was scheduled. They're still there, though. 80% of the execution carried out on Black Sunday was by 50-odd A6M3's on a sweep down from Lae, so there might be a point in denying Tony the use of that airfield - and others in the area. He's basically conceded this airspace up till now, but maybe that's changing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 15 Mar 1943 Weather: Thunderstorms
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Sub attack NNW Russell Islands:

Japanese Ships:
SS I-2

Allied Ships:
DM Preble, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage ¨*sys 65, flt 66, f 38*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack at W Torokina:

Japanese Ships:
DD Wakazuki

Allied Ships:
SS S-45, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack S Rabaul:

Japanese Ships:
DD Shirakumo, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships:
SS Triton
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Rabaul from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 25

Allied aircraft:
B-17E Fortress x 25

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 3 damaged
Ki-57-I Topsy x 1 destroyed, Ki-57-I Topsy x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
B-17E Fortress x 13 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 39
Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 36
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Salamaua:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10356 troops, 80 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 6420 troops, 82 guns, 32 vehicles

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 110
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 72
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Drip, drip, drip. No flights, except the weather cleared sufficiantly over Port Moresby for for the afternoon strikes to go out.

I'm busying myself with supplying several minor rear-area bases, stocking then with bombs just in case Tony's gets any ideas. More AK's has arrived and I finally have some surplus cargo space. The 3rd ID is about to arrive at Cooktown, to be lifted to Wau if the 6th can't handle things there.

Any ideas of a SWPAC "forward" defence is out the window, of course. Keeping Port Moresby in bread is now priority no.1. I've got three small sqd's of Navy F4U's I can strip off my CVE's and send to PM, but other than Wirraways and Saratoga's VF-3, they constitute the only reinforcements available - and there's nothing in the pipeline - to send to New Guinea.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 16 Mar 1943 Weather: Thunderstorms
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack W Torokina:

Japanese Ships:
ML Hoko, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships:
SS Triton
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawk x 17
A-20G Havoc x 10

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae airfield from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawk x 32
B-25J Mitchell x 80

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
P-40E Warhawk x 1 destroyed
B-25J Mitchell x 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 29
Airbase hits 13
Runway hits 45
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

We're getting a bit more traction on Salamaua if todays 44:1 casualty rate is anything to go by. 2nd Pioneer Bn. has just made the trek to Nadzab, which appears undefended. In fact, intelligence suggests that there are no major combat units at Lae, which I find hard to credit. I'm in two minds whether to send the 3rd ID to Lae via Nadzab and let the 6th handle Salamaua, or whether to reinforce Salamaua, kick out the Japanese and march on Lae from there. If indeed there's little combat power at Lae, option one is obviously it.

Lambeti sprang to AF lvl 1 and the last of the Mercury Task Force troops are about unloaded. I want to jump ahead and get Slipknot going ASAP. Anything to involve SOPAC in the fighting.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 17 Mar 1943 Weather: Overcast
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Sub attack N Townsville:

Japanese Ships:
SS I-24

Allied Ships:
AK Mercury, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Air attack on TF at Buin from Lunga:

Allied aircraft:
B-25J Mitchell x 15

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25J Mitchell x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships:
AG 116, Shell hits 8, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
AG 117, Shell hits 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 24
A-20G Havoc x 42

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 61
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae airfield from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 18

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawk x 35
B-25J Mitchell x 69

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed, A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
P-40E Warhawk x 1 destroyed, P-40E Warhawk x 1 damaged
B-25J Mitchell x 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 111
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Lunga:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 32
A6M3 Zero x 12

Allied aircraft:
B-17E Fortress x 38
B-24D Liberator x 6

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 4 destroyed, A6M2 Zero x 7 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
B-17E Fortress x 24 damaged
B-24D Liberator x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 61
Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Salamaua:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10301 troops, 80 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 6286 troops, 81 guns, 32 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 4)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 351
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Tony's subs have started to make a nuisance of themselves, particularly in the Noumea area. I''ve got about 60 aircraft looking for them, plus two ASW groups, all to little avail.

Recon suggests that there's now seven IJN BB's at Rabaul. Russell Islands AF has jumped to lvl 4 and B-25's are now to operate out of there, from which they can reach the area just south of Rabaul. Hopefully a nice little present for Tony's ASW TF in the area.

Last turn's lopsided result must have startled Tony, 'cos he offered up a ground support mission for the embattled boys at Salamaua. I kinda saw this coming, so I could've bagged some Betty's had I trusted my instinct.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 18 Mar 1943 Weather: Partly Cloudy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Sub attack NE Noumea:

Japanese Ships:
SS I-27

Allied Ships:
AK Titania, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage *sys 69, flt 58, f 30*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack NNE Buin:

Japanese Ships:
AG 356, Shell hits 5, and is sunk

Allied Ships:
SS S-46
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Attacks:

Air attack on 17th Aus Brigade (Salamaua) from Rabaul:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 9
G4M1 Betty x 48

Allied ground losses: *disruption -> 100*
Men lost 63
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
B-25D Mitchell x 28
B-25J Mitchell x 9

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 110
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae airfield from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 21

Allied aircraft:
P-40E warhawk x 26
A-20G Havoc x 42
B-25J Mitchell x 43

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 3 destroyed, A6M3 Zero x 3 damaged
D3A Val x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
P-40E Warhawk x 1 destroyed, P-40E Warhawk x 2 damaged
A-20G Havoc x 1 destroyed, A-20G Havoc x 7 damaged
B-25J Mitchell x 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 123
Airbase hits 16
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 71
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Salamaua:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10154 troops, 80 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 6157 troops, 80 guns, 32 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 4) *up 1 lvl*

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 14

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 49
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Nadzab:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 712 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles *AUS 2nd Pioneer Bn.*

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 6 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Nadzab base !!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Airfield at Lambeti jumped to lvl 2, putting Torokina within SBD range. Preparations for Slipknot are proceeding at pace, but first I want to stock Lambeti to a decent level of supply should Tony intervene. If intelligence is correct, he's sitting on a lot of firepower, and I'm sure his planning some sort of nastiness.

Albacore got hit from the air. She'll live, but will need about a month in the dock. Being within a 150 miles radius of Rabaul is a dangerous business these days. There haven't been many targets lately, so I'm thinking about withdrawing the subs to the central Solomon Sea. I've got about 40% of my sub forces on station.

Attack at Salamaua starts up again tomorrow. HQ 6th ID has arrived there to direct the battle. AUS I Corps too, at Wau.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 19 Mar 1943 Weather: Overcast
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Sub attack NNE Noumea:

Japanese Ships:
SS I-27, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships:
SC 637
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
A-20G Havoc x 24
B-25D Mitchell x 18

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 101
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae airfield from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawk x 43
B-25J Mitchell x 73

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25J Mitchell x 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 161
Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 95
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 50

Allied aircraft:
Hudson x 11
B-17E Fortress x 12
B-24D Liberator x 12

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed, A6M2 Zero x 3 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 2 destroyed, Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 2 damaged
Ki-57-I Topsy x 4 destroyed, Ki-57-I Topsy x 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
Hudson x 8 destroyed, Hudson x 3 damaged *Ooops - these guys sent by mistake*
B-17E Fortress x 3 damaged
B-24D Liberator x 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 44
Airbase hits 9
Runway hits 29
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Tony hit Gili Gili airfield with a powerful attack, knocking it out. I wonder whether his recent efforts to the base suppressed is a precursor for some sort of operation?

The first resupply TF since Black Sunday is due at Port Moresby. I'm feeling acutely vulnerable. The FT is accompanied by the South Dakota/Indiana battlegroup. They're on hold 120 miles southwest of PM as the weather is worsening. I'm peremptorily hitting Lae, Madang, Finschafen and Gasmata while resting most of my fighters this turn. Tony knows the TF's there, so it's possible he's setting up a sweep/escort/naval attack combo to hit me this turn, hence I'm standing my CAP down.

Intel on Lae still suggests that the place is wide open. 4th Bgd. is being flown to Nadzab to test this possibility...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 20 Mar 1943 Weather: Partly Cloudy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Attacks:

Air attack on Gili Gili airfield from Rabaul:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 6
A6M3 Zero x 34
G4M1 Betty x 81

Allied ground losses: *airfield 88, service 24*
Airbase hits 15
Runway hits 45
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Air attack on TF N Vila from Lambeti & Russell Islands:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft:
F4U-1 Corsair x 34
P-38G Lightning x 25
SBD Dauntless x 15
TBF Avenger x 14
B-25J Mitchell x 22

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed, A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
P-38G Lightning x 2 destroyed, P-38G Lightning x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships:
ML Nuwashima, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawk x 43
B-25D Mitchell x 23
B-25J Mitchell x 40

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 70
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Salamaua

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10115 troops, 80 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 6030 troops, 79 guns, 32 vehicles

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 107

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 35
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------