Mogami v DadMan: The Wonder Years...

[Admiral DadMan]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Translated = "You don't have the foggiest of what you're doing" [;)]

OOOOOH Mr. Smak-talker... A war is a marathon buddy. You're sprinting now, but you wait, you'll get yours...[:D]

I
Have
for
You
a
Pwan...

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]17 AUG 42

Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby

Airbase hits 2 Runway hits 5 Port hits 1 Port supply hits 4[/font]

MOGAMI DIARY-
17 Aug 1942

Operation to follow Moresby will be south of Gilberts toward Canton Island where enemy is build up.
2 div presently preparing to capture Timor will move to Kwajelan after that objective secured.

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]18 AUG 42

Allied Subs Shark and Permit attack the same convoy 240nm SSW of Saigon as it crosses the South China Sea. Their torpedoes miss.

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Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby

Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 5
Port hits 1 Port supply hits 2[/font]


I’m going to raid Nanoumea again with my BBs (Idaho and Maryland). The twist is that I’m sending the Carrier Battle Fleet to cover the operation this time.

Wasp TF is forward cover, with Yorktown and Hornet TFs will stay back in a supporting position, lending cover to the Raider TF. BB North Carolina will stay in Wasp TF screen for AA fire.

MOGAMI DIARY-

18 Aug 1942
Kure 3rd SNLF will move to secure Woodlark Island,Normanby Island and Debonye Island. Minesweeper included in transport TF will then sweep the channels south of Gili Gili
Aircombat TF (Hiyo and Junyo) Departing Truk for Shortlands
2 surface TF guarding Shortlands (Dadman likes to sneak attack) (And I'm thinking about it too. -Ed)

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]19 SEP 42

Japanese aircraft still pummelling Port Moresby, but it's becoming a case of diminshing returns

Runway hits 2[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]20 AUG 42

Allied Sub KX attack TF 180nm W of Kendari. AK Boko Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage[/font]

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Dutch Torpedoes; It's what's for dinner [:D][/font]
[font="Courier New"]
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Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby

Airbase hits 1 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 8

Port supply hits 1

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Wasp TF has found a CA/CL force hanging around Nanoumea Atoll, Dauntlesses and Avengers attacked and dinged it:

CA Furutaka, Bomb hits 1
CL Natori, Bomb hits 1[/font]


I've got a bad feeling about this.

The Raider BB TF is still 240nm ESE of Nanoumea. I'm going to hold it back under the cover of Yorktown and Hornet TFs to see what happens if I drive off the CA/CL force.

Wasp is now discovered, and he must see she's alone. I don't think Yorktown and Hornet have been spotted yet.

The Wasp TF will move a little further NW to maybe see what's behind door number 3.

Meanwhile, the Yorktown , Hornet , and Raider BB TFs will hold a position 120NM to the South.

DadMan begins looking for Lucky Rabbit's Foot again...

MOGAMI DIARY-

20 Aug 1942
The mouse is nibbling at the cheese. Enemy CV 4 hexes east of Nanomea launch strike. Minor damage.
My surface TF heading west Cv moving east (I think it will be 3 IJN versus 2 USN CV)
Hiryu has reached Kwajelein and will move south to join up (IJN will form 2 aircombat TF)
Hopefully LBA from Tarawa will join in. (failed to locate last turn)

[Admiral DadMan]

Mogami has been kind enough to keep a diary since 10 AUG, and has sent these to me as I post each turn.

I am going back to 10 AUG and add his comments to each day. I have not yet decided if I should post the blog to now for further convenience. {I have decided not to blog. -Ed.}

So, go back now to 10 AUG 42. You may have to go to the previous page to do so.

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]21 AUG 42

Allied Sub Porpoise attacks a Tanker convoy in the South China Sea. 2 torps go THUD against the hull of TK Nisshin Maru.

After the attack, Porpoise gets off a scathing signal to ComSubSoWestPac about crappy torps and questions the parentage of the torpedo’s designers…

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Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby

11 Allied casualties reported

Airbase hits 2 Runway hits 13

Port hits 1

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The Battle off Nanoumea Atoll

The morning dawned crisp and clear to the east of USS Wasp. This was the kind of weather you wanted the Gods to spread over the Enemy task force, not yours…

As I was watching the replay, I expected nothing more than just poking some more holes into the cruiser force near Nanoumea. Then, I got reports of E8N “Dave” floatplanes reporting sightings on both of my groupings – Wasp off by herself, and the Yorktown, Hornet, Raider TFs to the South. It struck me as odd, because E8Ns don’t have a very long search radius, but I supposed them to be from the CA/CL group.

Suddenly the scene narrowed in on an area 120nm ESE of Nanoumea, where full strikes from Wasp in the North and Hornet to the South hit in an Hammer and Anvil fashion:



66 SBD Dauntless and 26 TBF Avenger escorted by 20 F4F-4 Wildcat bore in on three of the four remaining veterans of Pearl Harbor: Soryu, Shokaku, and Zuikaku! 36 A6M2 Zero flew CAP. Wildcats kept most of them at bey, losing all but 6 and not getting a single Zero.

Zuikaku was attacked by both Wasp and Hornet air groups, taking five 1000lb Bomb hits , and 1 Torpedo hit from VT-71, leaving her on fire, with heavy damage

CA Tone was also hit by five 1000lb Bombs, and was also on fire, with heavy damage

CV Soryu and CV Shokaku both received numerous near misses.

Yorktown AVG then approached. 11 F4F-4 Wildcat escorted 36 SBD Dauntless and 15 TBF Avenger through a CAP of 22 A6M2 Zero. Wildcats claimed 7 Zero destroyed while only losing 4 of their own.

CV Shokaku was the center of attention in ths attack. VS-5 and VB-5 planted nine 1000lb Bombs squarely on her, setting her on fire, with heavy damage

CV Soryu also took a Bomb hit that started a small fire.

CV Zuikaku was not touched, but reported still on fire, with heavy damage.

The IJN Counterstrike could have gone either direction and been no less devastating. I don’ t know what the criterion was based upon. It could have been which was sighted first (Wasp), or where the lower CAP was (Wasp), or something completely random. Their strike went North and struck the Wasp TF.

Hard.

77 D3A Val and 57 B5N Kate escorted by 39 A6M2 Zero pounced on the Wasp TF like a pride of lions cornering a young zebra. The 19 Wildcats on CAP did their best, but theirs was a hopeless cause. More than half of them were shot down at a cost of 5 Zeros.

CV Wasp was quickly the center of attention, and she dodged several bombs and a few torpedoes before 4 bombs started tearing nasty holes into her thinly armored deck plates. The 5 torpedoes were the worst, as Wasp had no belt armor to speak of. She did not last long.

Attention then shifted to BB North Carolina . She took 8 Bomb hits and seemed to be simply shrugging them off, until Kates showed up and slammed 3 Torpedoes into her belt armor. She caught fire, and with heavy damage took on a 10 degree starboard list.

Hornet AVG wasted no time striking again that afternoon, hitting CV Soryu with a torpedo that caused a huge explosion and started big fires, followed by 7 Bomb hits setting her on fire, with heavy damage

SBD Dauntless from Yorktown added misery to misfortune for CV Zuikaku with 5 Bomb hits, adding to fires and heavy damage.

By that time, gallant Wasp was no more…[/font]

MOGAMI DIARY-

Holy Cow the mouse turned out to be a RAT the size of a Grizzy Bear.
At least 3 USN CV in 2 or more TF. USN CV Wasp sunk BB North Carolina damaged but all 3 IJN CV seriously (I mean they won't make it back to port) damaged.

Soryu survived the am strike but when Zuikaku and Shokaku's airgroups transfered she was overloaded and had no CAP up for PM strike. (She has 110ac onboard)

Port Moresby operation in jepardy. CV Hiryu will try to cover withdraw (as well as fighters on Baker) But I'm fairly certain the USN will finish me off. (Sometimes you get the bear (mouse) and sometimes the bear (Giant Rat of Sumatra) gets you)

I guess Dadman has learned after all (taught me a lesson) (One day I will learn to put every CV into it's own TF)

It was about time to assume the position (defense)

[Speedysteve]

Nice stuff Dadman.

Out of interest. Mog's diaries. Is he sending them to you AFTER each turn has been done? Would strike me as odd telling you where he is going regarding current operations.

Regards,

Steven

[Admiral DadMan]

ORIGINAL: Speedy

Nice stuff Dadman.

Out of interest. Mog's diaries. Is he sending them to you AFTER each turn has been done? Would strike me as odd telling you where he is going regarding current operations.

Regards,

Steven

I'm getting these about 20+ turns after the fact.

Gawd, if I'd known what was coming at me before-hand, I might not have engaged the same way. I got real lucky that he didn't wait up for Hiryu. That might have turned the tide of battle.

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]22 AUG 42

Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby

13 Allied casualties reported

Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 18
Port hits 1

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Day two is a matter of sinking cripples and providing aircover for my own wounded. I have designated Hornet TF as Lead TF of the Carrier Battle Fleet, and directed her to provide cover for the wounded North Carolina TF.

AVG 5 from Yorktown gets off a strike at crippled CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 10, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage



This strike finishes her off. Shokaku sinks

[Speedysteve]

Muhahahaha[:D]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]4 TBF Avenger from CV Hornet CV Soryu, 1 Torpedo hits, on fire, heavy damage:




Next strike 12 SBD Dauntless from Hornet hit Soryu, 3 Bomb hits, on fire, heavy damage[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

Enter B-17E Fortress from Canton. They bracket Soryu with six 500lb Bomb hits.



That does it for her. Soryu Sinks

[Admiral DadMan]

Somehow, the Raider TF got separated from the lead CV TF (Hornet) and is 60nm to the SW of it, covered by Yorktown .

[font="Courier New"]Japanese G3M Nell from Tarawa stirike Hornet TF

Wildcats splash 3 Zeros and 2 Nells, but the remaining 4 bore in on Hornet .



1 Torpedo hits , starting a fire.[/font]

F-ing Nells from Tarawa.

Bastards.

She'll have to limp to Canton for temorary repairs, then back to SF for overhaul

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]23 AUG 42

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Japanese TF unloading troops over beach at Madang

96 Japanese casualties reported

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Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby

Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 8

Port supply hits 1

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Hornet and Yorktown AVG now turn their attention to stragglers, like CA Tone she takes 9 Bomb and 1 Torpedo hits, leaving her on fire, heavy damage

Wave 2 adds another bomb.

CV Zuikaku and CA Tone both are reported sunk.

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Japanese G4M1 Betty from Tarawa Day Air attack on Hornet TF
22 Wildcat meet the attackers and shoot down most of the Bettys. Only 3 achieve a launch, but score no hits.[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

So ends the Battle off Nanoumea Atoll.

Decidedly a US victory, both tactically and strategically.

A word of caution to those who would throw in the Japanese towel, however. Japan can still match the USN in operational carrier strength.

The loss of Wasp and the damage to Hornet leave Yorktown as the only truly undamaged carrier, while Lexington can be pulled out of dock in a pinch. Hornet will need about 2 months’ yard time, and Saratoga is lucky to repair 5 points a month. I believe that Lexington may have to forego her planned overhaul and put to sea as-is. BB North Carolina took substantial damage from the torpedo hits, and will require extensive yard time. She will likely be out of action for better than 6 months.

Some have questioned the wisdom of putting Wasp out on the wing where she was sure to get pummeled, and including a high value ship such as North Carolina in with her. Let me first say that North Carolina was with Wasp for her AA fire and her same relative speed. Also in the TF were 3 CLAAs. I was more expecting attacks from Tarawa based Nells and Bettys, and felt that CAP and AA would be the major concerns. Let me further say that Wasp was not out there to be sacrificed. I fully expected to be able to detect any threat in time to recombine my carriers.

On the other side of the ledger, Japan lost 3 more front-line carriers making the total 5 of her 6 pre-war fleet carriers. Only Hiryu, Junyo, and Hiyo are fully operational totaling at most about 160 aircraft, which equals about 2 US carriers. This now dictates a policy that my carriers will operate in pairs only.

I’m supposing that the next push is against Port Moresby, and there’s not much I can do to stop him. I believe that he will use heavy forces covered by his remaining CVs to push forward. I have to figure out how to stop him or at least harass him enough to slow him down.

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]24 AUG 42

B-17E Fortress Day Air attack on Tavoy

Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 2

[font="Trebuchet MS"]Flying in the rain is, according to Jar Jar Binks, “Baaad Bombin!”[/font]

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Allied aircraft Day Air attack on Moulmein
Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 1

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Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby
10 Allied casualties reported
Runway hits 10
Port hits 2 Port supply hits 1

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Japanese forces CAPTURE Madang!!![/font]



CV Lexington sorties from Pearl Harbor headed for the Canton area…

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]25 AUG 42

Allied Sub Sailfish attack 2 TK convoys 120nm SE of Camranh Bay

Torps go thud in the night…

On the third attack, she gets an ash can for her trouble… returning to base.

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Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby
Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 8

Port hits 1 Port supply hits 2

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Allied B-17E Fortress Day Air attack on Baker Island
No targets hit. These guys suck.

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Japanese TF unloading troops over beach at Hansa
53 Japanese casualties reported

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Japanese TF unloading troops over beach at Woodlark Island
217 Japanese casualties reported[/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]26 AUG 42

Japanese TF 6 troops unloading over beach at Hansa
16 Japanese casualties reported

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TF 15 Japanese troops unloading over beach at Woodlark Island

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Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby

Airbase hits 1 Runway hits 11
Port hits 1

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Allied B-17E Fortress Day Air attack on Tavoy

33rd Division 6 Japanese casualties reported Guns lost 2
Allied aircraft losses

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Allied B-17E Fortress Day Air attack on Baker Island
They still suck

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Japanese forces CAPTURE Hansa!!!

Japanese forces CAPTURE Woodlark Island!!![/font]

[Admiral DadMan]

[font="Courier New"]27 AUG 42

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Japanese Strong Naval bombardment force slams Port Moresby
BB Ise BB Hyuga
BB Fuso BB Yamashiro

599 Allied casualties reported

Airbase hits 8 Airbase supply hits 1 Runway hits 72
Port hits 7 Port supply hits 8[/font]

“Guess who’s coming to deeener”[font="Courier New"]

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Japanese aircraft Day Air attack on Port Moresby
Airbase hits 4 Airbase supply hits 2 Runway hits 16
Port hits 1

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Japanese TF unloading troops over beach at Normanby Island off Gili Gili
142 Japanese casualties reported[/font]

No sooner does Lexington arrive Canton than she is spotted. I will now detach her and Yorktown, and send them to the Coral Sea to see if I can catch BBs at Port Moresby or transports if he stays too long. Hornet is already on her way to Pearl for repairs.

I have an Aussie CA/CL force headed up that way that might divert if the BBs leave soon.