The Power of Inexperience / GreyJoy(A)-Rader(J)

[GreyJoy]

Well, everything went perfectly as planned.
During the morning SDBs attacked from 3 hexes the Naval guard unit there, followed by 100 2and4Es between 6k and 100 ft (there is also a strafer unit of B-25s). Then 150 4Es plastered Buna.
In the afternoon more SDBs attacked the garrison at PM and my first amphib TF arrived (being even early) and started to unload the Aus Division... then the paras have been dropped andwe achieved a 6-1 ratio on the following shock attack!!![8D]
Everything went as planned...total surprise...

...while we landed at PM Rader moved his CAs to Munda and recon say he committed a lot of air forces back again in the solomons....talk about the right timing [:D]

Later will post the combat report....however now i can transfer my fighters directly to PM where we already have 350 engeneers ad 350 aviation support....plus an air HQ...not bad!!

[crsutton]

GJ, Now I want to rub you to transfer your good luck to me.. [;)]

[Saros]

As far as I know 250 Air Support is capable of servicing unlimited planes so you don't really need any more than that. Base stacking limits will be the real issue here I would think.
Whats the Port/AF sizes on PM anyway? I didn't see them listed recently.

[GreyJoy]

PM is a level 3 AF and level 1 port....will be an hard task!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 24, 43

So we first swept PM....finding no air defence...
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Morning Air attack on 23rd Nav Gd Unit , at 98,130 (Port Moresby)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 30 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
P-38H Lightning x 15
F6F-3 Hellcat x 14


No Allied losses

Then out CVs attacked the PM garrison...and from now on it was all downhill...

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Morning Air attack on 23rd Nav Gd Unit , at 98,130 (Port Moresby)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 207
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 69
SBD-5 Dauntless x 29


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
110 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 19 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled

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Morning Air attack on Buna , at 99,129

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 123


Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-II Dinah: 2 destroyed on ground

No Allied losses

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



Airbase hits 27
Airbase supply hits 15
Runway hits 84

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Morning Air attack on 23rd Nav Gd Unit , at 98,130 (Port Moresby)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes


Allied aircraft
Beaufighter Ic x 32
Mitchell II x 15
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
B-24J Liberator x 35
F6F-3 Hellcat x 14


No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
132 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


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Morning Air attack on 23rd Nav Gd Unit , at 98,130 (Port Moresby)

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 16 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 12
Mitchell II x 6
B-24D1 Liberator x 6
F6F-3 Hellcat x 14


Allied aircraft losses
B-25C Mitchell: 2 damaged
Mitchell II: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
61 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled






Then in the afternoon....the final destruction....

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Afternoon Air attack on 67th JAAF AF Coy , at 98,130 (Port Moresby)

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes


Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 166
SB2C-1C Helldiver x 61
SBD-5 Dauntless x 58


Allied aircraft losses
SB2C-1C Helldiver: 1 damaged
SBD-5 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
60 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled


Then, at dawn...the first landing TF arrive!

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Pre-Invasion action off Port Moresby (98,130)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

13 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico
APA Fayette
DE Steele
DD King

Japanese ground losses:
40 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


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


BB New Mexico firing at 23rd Nav Gd Unit
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


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Amphibious Assault at Port Moresby (98,130)

TF 389 troops unloading over beach at Port Moresby, 98,130


Allied ground losses:
65 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (0 destroyed, 2 disabled)


10 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 3rd Australian Div /5


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Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 1100 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 33

Defending force 12331 troops, 112 guns, 158 vehicles, Assault Value = 477[8D]

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



Assaulting units:
23rd Nav Gd Unit
67th JAAF AF Coy

Defending units:
3rd USMC Parachute Bn /1
3rd Australian Div /1
1st Australian Para Bn /1
2/151st Combat Engr Bn /1

Paras already arrived...


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Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 1085 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 477

Defending force 1169 troops, 16 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 31

Allied adjusted assault: 30

Japanese adjusted defense: 7
Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Port Moresby !!!

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

Japanese ground losses:
414 casualties reported
Squads: 15 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 13 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 3 (3 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2


Allied ground losses:
12 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
3rd USMC Parachute Bn /1
3rd Australian Div /1
1st Australian Para Bn /1
2/151st Combat Engr Bn /1

Defending units:
23rd Nav Gd Unit
67th JAAF AF Coy


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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 25, 43

On the 25th we lost two DEs near Ndeni, in exchange of an enemy Sub...not a good exchange[:o]


Now we've ordered to my CVs to get back to Cooktown (1 hex south of it) in order to replenish, while our APA/AKAs and our supporting BBs will move back at max speed to Cooktown...at Port Moresby will keep on unloading only the less valuable xAKs and xAPs...under a CAP of 150 fighters (American, Australian and New Zelander)

Tomorrow the 4Es will bomb Lae (Buna should already be out of order), while our subs will try to perform a blockade of Mylne Bay passage

Russell and Thousands appear full of planes again...sweep projected? Our cruisers will naval bomb Panggoe, while his CAs are spotted at Munda...

Sweating...for sure his KB will come in...now the second front is finally created...we need to keep it open at all costs!!!

My hope is that i have caught him right at the beginning of a new offensive in the Solomons....at least that's what recon is telling me...

[JohnDillworth]

Congratulations on your successful operation! Transports can be helpful in keeping you supplied up there. Your opponent can't isolate you but he can make expensive to move troops in.
Whats up with the old Helldivers? It's 1943 no?

[Miller]

Zero forts at PM? Very sloppy by Rader..........

[SoliInvictus202]

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

Congratulations on your successful operation! Transports can be helpful in keeping you supplied up there. Your opponent can't isolate you but he can make expensive to move troops in.
Whats up with the old Helldivers? It's 1943 no?

umm.... aren't they the NEW Helldivers already?

[ny59giants]

GJ - Any plans to build up Portland Roads and/or capture Horn Island?? Both of these would help your situation at PM.

[princep01]

1. NY Giants. I think GJ holds Horn Is.

2. John Dill The Helldivers replaced the Dauntless.

[JohnDillworth]

1. NY Giants. I think GJ holds Horn Is.

2. John Dill The Helldivers replaced the Dauntless.

My mistake. I thought they were the crappy Helldivers that show up on one of the CV's in 42. These are indeed the new ones

[Cribtop]

Hmm. GJ, is it possible that your amphib landing troops also participated in the attack? In other words, did the air landing trigger a general engagement where the infantry off the boats helped finish PM (with the para induced AV halving to boot)? If so, this raises numerous tactical possibilities - I've always wondered about the answer to this question.

Either way - damn fine work. Now secure PM and then start to widen the breach. [&o]

Nope. Scratch that. I didn't read far enough along in the Combat report. I saw your AV listed as 477 in the bombardment (which DID include the amphibs), but the actual shock attack had an Allied adjusted AV of 30. So, there you go.

[ny59giants]

Just looked at map on previous page....Can you build up Horn Island and Portland Roads to allow you to base more 2e bombers to help out at PM?? If needed you can LRCAP from those bases if he attempts to hit PM hard.

Use some subs to mine the approaches from Milne Bay.

[GreyJoy]

Oct 26, 27 1943

Rader is playing this one completeley on the defence...the KB didn't move and stayed at Bouganville, where Rader has massed all his bombers...
Not a single combat A/C in the whole NG! [X(]...so my TFs managed to unload and got safely back to NZ...now PM has already reached AF level 4 and can support 200 a/c and 9 groups (thanks to the 5th Air force HQ and the attachment made of the PM base to the SWPAC (it was attached at NOPAC in default [:-])

But the news is that Rader is evacuating Thousands...in force...he placed 300 fighters at Thousands to cover his operations and sent endless numbers on barges, covered by a strong CA TF and and helped by an APD TF...in only one day he already picked up 10,000 men!!!![:o]
My PTs did their best, sinking something like 40 barges...but it's not enough...
Luckly my cruiser TF sent to bomb Paggoe (which it didn't for some reasons) intercepted the APD TF, sinking 2 DDs and 6 APDs...empty[:@]

Tomorrow we'll send out our entire PTs fleet, helped by 2 cruiser TFs (Omaha Class and DDs)

our 4Es plastered Lae, destroying 40 juicy Mavis-Ls....lots of engines[:D]

I lost 3 DDs due to the KB cause i moved 2 DD division to cover the Mylne Bay strait...they were found and attacked and 3 DDs got sunk...

My Beauforts took off from Karaikira and, escorted by 50 fighters, tried to attack his CAs at Thousands...but his CAP was too strong and we lost 12 bombers, exchanging 30 fighters for 29 of his own...

Tomorrow we'll start to ferry more troops to PM and to organize the Mylne Bay operation, along with the conquest of Merauke

Sorry guys...too tired to be more precise...it was a hell of a turn the last one and i really need to sleep...tomorrow i'll update with pics and combat report...

Thx

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Just looked at map on previous page....Can you build up Horn Island and Portland Roads to allow you to base more 2e bombers to help out at PM?? If needed you can LRCAP from those bases if he attempts to hit PM hard.

Use some subs to mine the approaches from Milne Bay.

Horn Island is developing while i chose not to build up Portland Roads...no time...i think Rader won't contest PM...he's too involved in evacuating the Southern Solomons right now...

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Miller

Zero forts at PM? Very sloppy by Rader..........

Yes...in fact,actually, i'm not so sure this isn't a trap...[8|]

[jmalter]

what w/ the 2 successful ops & reaching page 99 in the AAR, this rap from last weekend's rally is appropriate:

We're gonna occupy [Auki & Port Moresby], we the 99!

now that the secret's been revealed, it's a comfort to know that GJ's situation wrt assault shipping inventory ain't quite as gloomy as he was painting it awhile back.

woot!

[ny59giants]

Darwin or Bust!![;)]

[CaptBeefheart]

Well done, GreyJoy. I bow in your general direction (Europe). [&o] Just when I thought this AAR couldn't be more entertaining you have raised the bar.

I think a couple of the veteran commenters would be impressed by the tight OPSEC and foreshortened OOGALOOGA loop of your PM operation.

Cheers,
CC

[GreyJoy]

Heavy fightings in the Solomons...Rader is determined to save his LCUs from the threat of isolation...




AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Oct 26, 43
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Lots of naval engagements on the 26th night between my PTs and his barges (his LBs are always leaded by a PB). His barges are moving in waves towards Thousands and Russell in order to pick up his troops...



Night Time Surface Combat, near Rekata Bay at 112,135, Range 4,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Ikuta Maru, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LB-5002, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LB-5003, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
LB-203
LB-210, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-211
LB-212, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-213, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LB-214
LB-215, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-216, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
LB-217, Shell hits 2, heavy fires
LB-218
LB-219, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
LB-220
LB-221, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LB-222, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
LB-223
LB-224
LB-225
LB-226, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-551, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
LB-553, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
LB-556, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LB-557, Shell hits 12, and is sunk

Allied Ships
PT-250
PT-257
PT-322
PT-328
PT-551, Shell hits 1, and is sunk



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TF 174 encounters mine field at Thousand Ships Bay (114,136)[8D]

Japanese Ships
APD Susuki, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
APD Kamikaze, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage



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Night Time Surface Combat, near Munda at 111,135, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Taiko Maru, Shell hits 10
LB-101
LB-106, Shell hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
LB-113, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-114, Shell hits 2
LB-115
LB-116
LB-117
LB-118
LB-120, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-137
LB-138, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-139
LB-140, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-141, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
LB-150, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
LB-151
LB-152, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
LB-153
LB-154
LB-155
LB-156
LB-157, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
LB-158
LB-159, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
PT-242
PT-243
PT-348



I could go on...but it will become boring...just know that 40 LBs were sunk tonight before they reached Thousands...



Then my Hawkins TF (poor Hawkins....) that was supposed to bomb Paggoe and didn't for some reasons, encounter one of his fast transport TFs...a massacre!
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Rekata Bay at 114,134, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Shiranui, Shell hits 54, and is sunk
APD Mikazuki, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Asakaze, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APD Harukaze, Shell hits 12, and is sunk
APD Yugao, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Hasu, Shell hits 13, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Hishu, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage
APD Kiku, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
APD Tade, Shell hits 7, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Hawkins, Shell hits 1
CL Leander, Shell hits 1
CL Richmond, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Converse
DD Dashiell
DD DeHaven, Shell hits 2
DD Dyson
DD Foote
DD Case
DD Conyngham
DD Cushing
DD Perkins, Shell hits 1


As said my DDs that were closing the way at Mylne Bay got spotted and attacked by the KB near boungaville.... we lost 2 DDs and a third is in bad conditions...

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Deboyne Islands at 103,134

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 26 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 14
A6M5 Zero x 44
D4Y3 Judy x 57



Japanese aircraft losses
D4Y3 Judy: 11 damaged
D4Y3 Judy: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
DD Brownson, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
DD Braine, Bomb hits 1
DD Bradford
DD Stevens, Bomb hits 2, on fire



My 4Es plastered Lae cathing more than 4 float transports on the ground...


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Morning Air attack on Lae , at 99,126

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights


Allied aircraft
B-24D1 Liberator x 105
B-24J Liberator x 28


Japanese aircraft losses
H6K4-L Mavis: 1 destroyed on ground
H8K2 Emily: 2 destroyed on ground
H8K2-L Emily: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged

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



Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 34


Then we tried to attack his CAs covering the evacuation at Thousands...but found a stiff CAP!

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Thousand Ships Bay at 114,136

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 35
N1K1-J George x 22
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 34
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 48
Ki-44-IIc Tojo x 12



Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 17
Kittyhawk III x 13
Kittyhawk IV x 8
P-40K Warhawk x 12
P-40N5 Warhawk x 11
P-47D2 Thunderbolt x 52
F4U-1 Corsair x 23
F6F-3 Hellcat x 15


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero: 5 destroyed
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 2 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIc Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufort VIII: 5 destroyed, 6 damaged
Beaufort VIII: 1 destroyed by flak
P-40K Warhawk: 2 destroyed
P-40N5 Warhawk: 2 destroyed
P-47D2 Thunderbolt: 2 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka

[GreyJoy]

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