You are right Fish, I took a risk - but a deliberate one. It came close to
succeeding, but again events out of my controll caused the loss of the 2 cve's
involved!
As planned the enemy carriers reacted towards our cve's at Morotai! I had 500 fighters
on CAP and wanted a heavy strike to hit them there. If the enemy got within 3 hexes
with one of more TF's 200 fighters and 200 bombers were ready to strike back.
I put the most cautious commander I got (aggression 36) in command of the escort carrier
TF and ordered it not to react. Unfortunately it did, something which is completely laughable.
given the present situation. The carriers got mauled and the BB Ise damaged. Can live with these
losses though. Another strike against a lone transport cost the Allies 36 fighters, in all 44
were shot down today.
My plan for the next days is outlined above the situation map at the end of this report.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 04/01/44
Surface Combat
My PT boats meet more heavily armed adversaries and one is lost!
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Kai Island at 39,78
Japanese Ships
PT Gyoraitei #1
PT Gyoraitei #5, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
Allied Ships
PT PT-344
PT PT-346
PT PT-347
PT PT-348
PT PT-352
Air Combat
Day Air attack on 136th IJN Base Force, at 61,86
Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 9
SB2C Helldiver x 3
TBM Avenger x 6
Avenger II x 5
Kittyhawk III x 6
P-40N Warhawk x 11
B-25J Mitchell x 15
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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Kai Island is bombed into submission...
Day Air attack on 2nd/A Division, at 39,78
Allied aircraft
Boomerang II x 8
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 59
P-40N Warhawk x 18
B-25J Mitchell x 27
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
335 casualties reported
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Day Air attack on 16th Division, at 61,86
Allied aircraft
F4U-1D Corsair x 32
SB2C Helldiver x 11
TBF Avenger x 3
TBM Avenger x 22
Avenger II x 11
Kittyhawk III x 19
Beaufighter Mk 21 x 3
P-40N Warhawk x 46
B-25J Mitchell x 41
No Allied losses
Japanese ground losses:
10 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Even a 'leaky CAP' from Morotai is enough to shoot down 36 enemy fighters. We loose
60 + 33 Oscars II. Somewhat better than a 3-1 odds in total and better than 2-1 if you
doesn't count the worthless Oscars (which I don't;)
Day Air attack on TF at 42,69
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 5
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 28
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 8
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 17
Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 41
F6F Hellcat x 127
Corsair IV x 6
TBM Avenger x 13
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 6 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 33 destroyed
Ki-44-IIb Tojo: 10 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony: 44 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 9 destroyed, 9 damaged
F6F Hellcat: 27 destroyed, 16 damaged
Japanese Ships
AP Kyuden Maru, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The unfortunate reaction towards the enemy flaws our plans and the cve's are lost while
the BB Ise takes 2 torpedoes and will return to base.
Day Air attack on TF at 44,70
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 36
Allied aircraft
FM-2 Wildcat x 34
F6F Hellcat x 99
Corsair IV x 5
SB2C Helldiver x 55
TBM Avenger x 63
Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zeke: 36 destroyed
Allied aircraft losses
FM-2 Wildcat: 9 destroyed, 3 damaged
F6F Hellcat: 8 destroyed, 4 damaged
Corsair IV: 1 destroyed
SB2C Helldiver: 6 damaged
TBM Avenger: 1 destroyed, 21 damaged
Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, on fire - sys 38, flood 45, fires 23. RTB!
CVE Taiyo, Bomb hits 12, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
CVE Unyo, Bomb hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *sinks*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We did manage to shoot down some unescorted bombers!
Day Air attack on TF at 44,70
Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zeke x 2
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 6
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 3
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 5
Allied aircraft
TBM Avenger x 29
Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIa Oscar: 2 damaged
Allied aircraft losses
TBM Avenger: 10 destroyed, 9 damaged
Ground Combat
Enemy air strikes reduces defenders and Kai Island changes hands - for the
third time in this war!
Ground combat at Kai Island
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 3416 troops, 26 guns, 1 vehicles, Assault Value = 115
Defending force 2469 troops, 15 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 61
Allied max assault: 156 - adjusted assault: 49
Japanese max defense: 39 - adjusted defense: 19
Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)
Allied forces CAPTURE Kai Island base !!!
Japanese ground losses:
63 casualties reported
Allied ground losses:
82 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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Situation Map: Enemy moves towards Northern New Guinea!?
I withdraw most of my fleet, leave a covering TF at Morotai together with the wounded
BB. Another escort carrier will move in from Davao - land masse will make it impossible
for it to react to severly this time [8|] More fighters and bombers have been ordered to
stand by at Morotai and Davao. There are so many Jap ac available that I can afford to
send at least a thousand of them. Runways is the problem....
I expect Sansapor to be hit, even though Andy hasn't bombed it...which is a bit discomforting.
If he decides to leap even further north the opportunities to hurt him will become much better [:D]
Next turns will be exciting!
This time the enemy will not get away as easily as last time [;)]
