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-Japanese plan: Two tasks forces were ordered to bombard PM at night. They were scheduled to arrive at the same day. For the first time since the big bombardment with BB´s (two months ago, I think), heavy cruisers were commited to a mission bombadment against PM.
-The situation changes: As the Japanese ships approached undetected from PM, reports arrived about an ASW attack near PM. An Emily also reported a TF with transports and cruisers in PM harbour. Admiral Goto discarded the possibility of heavy naval units in PM (they won´t be fool to get in range of our Betties, right?) and ordered the mission to proceed. In Rabaul, all Betties were loaded with torpedoes for an attack against PM in the following day.

The outcome:


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/24/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 5, on fire
CA Atago, Shell hits 1
CL Kinu, Shell hits 1
CL Abukuma
DD Urakaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Hamakaze
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hagikaze, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Nashville, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Hammann, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
DD Walke, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
DD Gridley
DD Monaghan, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage

-As Goto expected, opposition consisted in light surface units. The battle didn´t have a good start for Japan, as the enemy hit our cruisers with 6in guns before we could hit then, but our Long Lance torpedoes turned the tide

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 53,91


Allied aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft losses
SOC-3 Seagull: 6 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Atago, Shell hits 2
CL Kinu, Shell hits 1
CL Abukuma, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Urakaze, on fire
DD Hamakaze
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CL Nashville, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
DD Walke, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
DD Gridley
DD Monaghan, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage

-The battle continues and the remains of the enemy TF are destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese Ships
CA Takao, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Atago
CL Kinu
CL Abukuma, on fire
DD Urakaze, on fire
DD Hamakaze
DD Nowaki
DD Arashi, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Gridley, Shell hits 31, and is sunk
DD Monaghan, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

-An entire enemy TF is decimated, things are going well
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Kiso, Shell hits 46, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Hatsukaze, Shell hits 16, and is sunk
DD Amatsukaze
DD Tokitsukaze

Allied Ships
CA Chicago
CA Salt Lake City, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Hobart, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Gwin, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Buchanan
DD Morris
DD Bagley
DD Blue
DD Helm
DD Mugford
AP Esperance Bay
AP Largs Bay, Shell hits 2, on fire
AP Moreton Bay
AP Kanimba, heavy damage
AP Manoora
AP Manunda
AP Ormiston
AP Orungal
AP Wanganella
AP Westralia


Allied ground losses:
58 casualties reported

-As the light TF approached what seemed to be a group of transports, a nasty surprise....the transports were being protected by cruisers. Our superior sailors and the formidable Long Lance torpedo again saved us from defeat. One enemy DD is sunk and a CA is heavily damaged (she sank in the following day), but the superior enemy firepower resulted in one DD and one CL sunk.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese Ships
DD Oyashio, Shell hits 28, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 4
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk

Allied Ships
PT PT-66
PT PT-67
PT PT-68
PT PT-74
PT PT-75
PT PT-77
PT PT-78
PT PT-80
PT PT-81

-As the DD´s attempted to disengage, PT´s came from the darkness and sink another 2 DD´s
-Bombardment order is cancelled and ships started to move away from PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87


Allied aircraft
Beaufort V-IX x 9
A-20B Boston x 5
B-25C Mitchell x 9


Allied aircraft losses
A-20B Boston: 3 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
42 casualties reported

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 17

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 9000 feet
4 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 9000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 9000 feet
2 x A-20B Boston bombing at 9000 feet
2 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 9000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Buna , at 55,90


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 33


No Allied losses

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 53,92


Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 16
Beaufort V-IX x 4
P-39D Airacobra x 27
A-20B Boston x 4


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Arashi, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 9000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 9000 feet

-18 Betties failed to find one of the enemy TF´s 60 miles South from PM. A crippled DD was sunk by enemy aircraft. Meanwhile, fires from multiple hits got out of control in the Salt Lake City. A Photo from one of our Emilies shows the ship burning furiously and listing 15 degrees. The loss of the ship was confirmed in the following day.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/25/42


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Day Air attack on TF, near Rangoon at 29,34

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 22
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 23

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 8
B-25C Mitchell x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 4 destroyed
B-25C Mitchell: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
CL Natori
CL Jintsu

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 19000 feet
5 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 19000 feet
9 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 19000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87


Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 14
Beaufort V-IX x 15
A-20B Boston x 12
B-25C Mitchell x 12


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 15

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 9000 feet
4 x A-20B Boston bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 9000 feet
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 9000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 9000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 9000 feet
3 x A-20B Boston bombing at 9000 feet
3 x Beaufort V-IX bombing at 9000 feet
2 x A-20B Boston bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 9000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Buna , at 55,90


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 30


No Allied losses

Runway hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
27 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Finally the Japanese plan works, our Betties attack the enemy ships in a well coordinated attack, but it would have been better if they didn´t locate the target....[:(]

Day Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 53,91

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 59
G3M Nell x 29
G4M1 Betty x 53

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 16
P-39D Airacobra x 55

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 26 destroyed, 7 damaged
G3M Nell: 4 destroyed, 21 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 5 destroyed, 35 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk I: 5 destroyed, 6 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 19 destroyed, 17 damaged

-Tired by the long flight and flying at low speeds and altitude, the Zeroes were bounced by the enemy P-39´s. The air combat ended in a draw and only two bombers were lost to enemy fighters. But such a draw is always a defeat when you lose 30 of your best pilots.

Allied Ships
AP Manoora, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Chicago
DD Helm
CL Hobart, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Manunda
DD Mugford
DD Buchanan
AP Ormiston, Torpedo hits 1
AP Largs Bay, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
1 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
2 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet

-As you can see, the attack results were mediocre, it´s possible that Hobart won´t be able to survive. In the whole action she took no less than three torpedos, but a light cruiser isn´t worth the life of 40 excellent pilots.

-The aftermath:
-I commited a serious mistake by sending relatively weak forces and by questioning the composition of transportation group. The overall results of the naval battle seem to be a Japanese victory. The enemy lost 1 CL, 1 CA and 5 DD, while Japan lost 1 CL and 5 DD. It´s possible that another enemy CL will be lost. The enemy CL´s are also bigger ships then ours, so a CL for a CL is worth more points, however, Japan simply cannot afford to lose 5 DD´s in a single engagement (this is half the losses suffered in Guadalcanal). Furthermore, the loss of 40 planes and her crews is much more valuable than an old CA that can be easily replaced.
I would say it´s a tatical stalemate and a big aliied strategic victory.

SWPac command confirmed today that a major skirmish took place off the waters of Port Morosby on the night of oct 10, 1942. Apparantly the Japanese were attempting another of their trademark bombardments of the Allied bastion when it ran into the advance screen for a reinforcement convoy bringing more specialists to the island. Despite being attacked the next afternoon by the heaviest air assault yet launched from the primary Japanese base at Rabaul, the convoy succeeded in landing it's precious cargo though moderate damage was suffered by several of the escorts, including the Australian light cruiser Hobart.

The Japanese attempt to disrupt the convoy was largely thwarted by the valient struggle of TF 42 led by the light cruiser Nashville, leading a small escort consisting of the destroyers Hammann, Walke, Gridley, and Monaghan. Though the Allied battlegroup was destroyed during the ongoing fight, they succeeded in disrupting the primary Japanese attack force and warning the convoy leader to the danger resulting in the safe landing of the reinforcing troops. The US Army owes a debt of gratitude this day to the combined USN/RAN force.

In the air the valient defense, led by the 8th Fighter group fought a most violent battle in the air, shooting down an estimated 37 enemy fighters and 14 bombers. Flak accounted for a further 12 enemy twin engined bombers. Light damage was sustained, save for the Hobart which took 2 torpedoes and was severely damaged.

-Intel still attempt to get confirmation of Hobart´s demise....[:D]


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/26/42

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Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87


Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 7
B-17E Fortress x 32


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 7 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Runway hits 24

Aircraft Attacking:
20 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
12 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/27/42


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 51,93

Japanese Ships
SS I-27

Allied Ships
AP Manunda
DD Mugford
DD Helm
DD Blue
DD Bagley
DD Morris
DD Buchanan

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pescadores at 47,43


Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
ML Ashizaki

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x IL-4c bombing at 18000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Foochow at 48,41


Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 3


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
ML Kurosaki

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x IL-4c bombing at 18000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Foochow at 48,41


Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 6


No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AP Takunan Maru
AP Otori Maru

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x IL-4c bombing at 18000 feet
3 x IL-4c bombing at 18000 feet

Peaceful turns, intel believes the enemy is thinking about surrendering....[:D]

uh.....no.

[:)]

Did the West Coast fall to the "Evil Empire" sometime during the night?? [X(]
FDR is still alive??? Right???

Not only is the West Coast secure, but we are drving towards Tokyo as we speak. War will be over by Xmas

-Mac HQ

LOL[:D] Gotta start somewhere eh? I guess Seattle is a as good a place as any[;)]

Too bad Starbucks wasn't in business back then...[:D]

No action, execpt for the usual attacks on Lae, which resulted in few damage as Zeroes were evacuated and sake is being kept in hardened depots....

FTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/30/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87


Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 18
B-17E Fortress x 21


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
5 casualties reported

Runway hits 13

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/31/42


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87


Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 20
B-17E Fortress x 12


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged

Runway hits 10

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet

-Look to the absence of hits in our sake depots[:D]. Morale is high in Lae[;)]

-Another USN convoy unloaded his payload, this time in Gilli Gilli, and departed with no losses. Again the Betties failed to strike (for 4 days!!!!) the target, despite absence of air cover over the enemy ships. Yamamoto was infuriated by the incident and wanted to see every Betty Datai commander in Rabaul court martialled. It´s said that Betty pilots are on strike. Here is an unconfirmed report of a meeting between Rabaul base commander and Betty pilots:

Rabaul base commander: You´re coward idiots, thirty of our best Zero pilots gave their lives to protect you and now you refuse to fly attack missions!!! What do you want????
Betty pilot 1: Well, as you asked the question....self sealing tanks
Betty pilot 2: Level two armour wouldn´t be a bad idea....
Betty pilot 3: I don´t mind about dying for the emperor, but I don´t like the idea of being burned alive for the emperor
Betty pilot 4: Well, thinks aren´t so bad, no one is being burned alive, the only trouble is that lots of crewmembers are being seriously wounded due to lack of armor and they agonize for hours before we arrive at Rabaul
Betty pilot 1: Well, this remembers me we want morphine injections in our planes, just in case.....
Betty pilot 3: How do you know that no one was burned alive?
Betty pilot 4: Well, no one complained to me....
Betty pilot 5: Do you guys have an idea on when we will get the Ki-67?
Betty pilot 1: Idiot, the Ki-67 is an Army plane. We will instead receive a new version of the Betty.
Betty pilot 3: With self sealing tanks and armor?
Rabaul commander: NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! I don´t believe on this level of cowardice among Japanese airmen. I wonder you want cruise missiles too...
Betty pilot 2: It would be possible to get them by mid 1943????
Rabaul commander: Of course no, we don´t have this level of technology
Betty pilot 3: Well, we could use a piloted rocket to be launched from our Betties
Rabaul commander: That´s not a bad idea, any volunteers????
Betty pilots:.....silence......


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/01/42

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Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87


Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 18
B-17E Fortress x 13


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 3 damaged

Runway hits 4

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/02/42


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Gili Gili at 56,94

Japanese Ships
CL Tenryu
DD Takanami, Shell hits 3
DD Kagero, Shell hits 1
DD Maikaze, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Hamakaze, Shell hits 8, on fire

Allied Ships
PT PT-151
PT PT-152
PT PT-153
PT PT-154
PT PT-155
PT PT-156
PT PT-157
PT PT-158
PT PT-159
PT PT-160
PT PT-161
PT PT-162, Shell hits 1

-Well, with the ongoing strike of Betty crews, a small surface group was sent to bombard Gilli Gilli, results were not exactly brilliant. No DD was lost, but bombardment missions against targets protected by PT´s were forbidden by Yamamoto
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Mandalay , at 33,30

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 51
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 28

Allied aircraft
Hurricane IIb x 28
Blenheim IV x 12
Wellington III x 26
B-25C Mitchell x 64

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar: 2 destroyed, 16 damaged
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hurricane IIb: 17 destroyed
Blenheim IV: 3 destroyed, 6 damaged
Wellington III: 21 damaged
B-25C Mitchell: 2 destroyed, 20 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 15

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Wellington III bombing at 19000 feet
4 x Blenheim IV bombing at 21000 feet
34 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 21000 feet
4 x Wellington III bombing at 19000 feet
3 x Blenheim IV bombing at 21000 feet
2 x Blenheim IV bombing at 21000 feet
3 x Wellington III bombing at 19000 feet
4 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 21000 feet
2 x Wellington III bombing at 19000 feet

-A great victory for Japan. The enemy lost 25 planes, including 8 bombers, to A2A combat, against only 3 Oscars. Tojos shot down 14 aircraft, the Oscars were able to deal with the Hurricanes while the Tojos decimated the bombers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87


Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 18
B-17E Fortress x 9


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet

Yikes times 2! (Wow....two effective PT actions in a row......Wow...i just got my ass kicked [again] over Burma)

Sounds like the weather was my friend over Gili.....i did notice few (if any?) detection msgs from enemy searchplanes. yippie! Either that or you don't have enough planes on search.

(not that i'm complaining!)

ORIGINAL: Bombur

-Another USN convoy unloaded his payload, this time in Gilli Gilli, and departed with no losses. Again the Betties failed to strike (for 4 days!!!!) the target, despite absence of air cover over the enemy ships. Yamamoto was infuriated by the incident and wanted to see every Betty Datai commander in Rabaul court martialled. It´s said that Betty pilots are on strike. Here is an unconfirmed report of a meeting between Rabaul base commander and Betty pilots:

Rabaul base commander: You´re coward idiots, thirty of our best Zero pilots gave their lives to protect you and now you refuse to fly attack missions!!! What do you want????
Betty pilot 1: Well, as you asked the question....self sealing tanks
Betty pilot 2: Level two armour wouldn´t be a bad idea....
Betty pilot 3: I don´t mind about dying for the emperor, but I don´t like the idea of being burned alive for the emperor
Betty pilot 4: Well, thinks aren´t so bad, no one is being burned alive, the only trouble is that lots of crewmembers are being seriously wounded due to lack of armor and they agonize for hours before we arrive at Rabaul
Betty pilot 1: Well, this remembers me we want morphine injections in our planes, just in case.....
Betty pilot 3: How do you know that no one was burned alive?
Betty pilot 4: Well, no one complained to me....
Betty pilot 5: Do you guys have an idea on when we will get the Ki-67?
Betty pilot 1: Idiot, the Ki-67 is an Army plane. We will instead receive a new version of the Betty.
Betty pilot 3: With self sealing tanks and armor?
Rabaul commander: NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! I don´t believe on this level of cowardice among Japanese airmen. I wonder you want cruise missiles too...
Betty pilot 2: It would be possible to get them by mid 1943????
Rabaul commander: Of course no, we don´t have this level of technology
Betty pilot 3: Well, we could use a piloted rocket to be launched from our Betties
Rabaul commander: That´s not a bad idea, any volunteers????
Betty pilots:.....silence......

Betty Pilot 4 (On loan from Luftwaffe) A squadron of B-29's Herr Rabaul Commander!

Gee...next thing you know those Betty pilots will want stealth technology added so they cannot be seen at night.[:D][:D]

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

Yikes times 2! (Wow....two effective PT actions in a row......Wow...i just got my ass kicked [again] over Burma)

Sounds like the weather was my friend over Gili.....i did notice few (if any?) detection msgs from enemy searchplanes. yippie! Either that or you don't have enough planes on search.

(not that i'm complaining!)

-My planes located your ships, I´ve got the messages for 4 days. I have two Chutais of 4 engine flying boats in the area.....

Do you have any of the bombers on search?

Hi Nik , any plans on taking PM ? I know you probably cant answer that but lae is a ruin , shame as you really need a forward fighter base , Zeros should eat up P39's for breakfast ( well mine always die in droves [;)]).. they must have been asleep in the cockpit. can you do fighter sweeps from rabaul ? i'm thinking the range is too far , what about from that place on the west tip of the island. might be buildable without him noticing.

I just noticed the date .. eek .. lightnings soon. kill the p39's while you can. else PM will be darn dangerous as im sure you realise.

Good luck anyhoo

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

Do you have any of the bombers on search?

-No, only the flying boats

I think thats part of the issue. (and weather)

I used to be in the habit myself of relying solely on patrol squadrons in order to horde and maximize my strikes...(CV's included) but now i realized that i was hobbling myself especially at longer ranges. (Had a few Rroberson moments where at range 4 and with seemingly decent weather....my CV's would decline to launch strikes....after experimenting and increasing search % for DB squadrons in addition to search planes....lo'.....my CV's began attacking more consistantly at long range)

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

I think thats part of the issue. (and weather)

I used to be in the habit myself of relying solely on patrol squadrons in order to horde and maximize my strikes...(CV's included) but now i realized that i was hobbling myself especially at longer ranges. (Had a few Rroberson moments where at range 4 and with seemingly decent weather....my CV's would decline to launch strikes....after experimenting and increasing search % for DB squadrons in addition to search planes....lo'.....my CV's began attacking more consistantly at long range)

It makes sense, I think....it seems my Betties are only attacking when they see massive formations. Thank for another hint, Nik.

Zeroes has some success attacking PT boats, while Tojos shot down one unescorted Il-4. Lae attacked again..the enemy lost one B-17 and two B-25´s in the operation...

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/03/42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87


Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 13
B-17E Fortress x 9


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 damaged

Runway hits 3

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Pescadores at 47,43

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 9

Allied aircraft
IL-4c x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
IL-4c: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
ML Ashizaki

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x IL-4c bombing at 18000 feet
3 x IL-4c bombing at 18000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 56,94

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
PT PT-160, Shell hits 4, on fire
PT PT-156, Shell hits 12
PT PT-162, Shell hits 8, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x A6M2 Zero attacking at 100 feet
4 x A6M2 Zero attacking at 100 feet
4 x A6M2 Zero attacking at 100 feet
3 x A6M2 Zero attacking at 100 feet
4 x A6M2 Zero attacking at 100 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/04/42


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Day Air attack on Lae , at 54,87


Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk I x 12
B-17E Fortress x 9


Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 4 damaged

Runway hits 7

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet
4 x B-17E Fortress bombing at 9000 feet