GC Diary: L0ckAndL0ad (A) vs AI

L0ckAndL0ad · Post by **L0ckAndL0ad** » Fri May 11, 2018 4:48 am

May 15-20, 1942

The events in SWPAC took a grim turn. I was barely able to keep it together, as everything seemed like a bad dream. The more I invest in defending Port Moresby, the more Japan sends there too. The main goal on Allied part was to deliver 7th Australian Division (+) to PM, preferably in one piece.

It all started with Townsville running out of fuel. For several days before the 15th, I was collecting all the available fuel to replenish vital ships of the convoy. But even British CVs had to depart on 50% fuel. The distance between Townsville and PM is rather small anyway, fortunately.

What did the Japanese do? They kept sending numerous SAGs to raid and naval bombard PM area. And they sent carriers. I was able to spot Hiryu and Soryu, and later some other unidentified carriers including CV Zuikaku, that went on air raiding the East Coast of Oz.

With USN carriers still at Pearl, there was not that much I could do. Yes, in the end, I succeeded in delivering and unloading the convoy with 7th AusDiv (+) to PM. But paid a great price for it.

IJN suffered 1 CL and 1 DD sunk, 1 BB and 2 CA heavily damaged.

Allied losses (VP):

BB Ramillies (178)
BC Repulse (202)
CA Exeter (34)
CL Leander (28)
CL Sumatra (27)
DD Evertsen (5)
DD Piet Hein (5)
SS S-36
6x xAP
3x xAK/xAKL
4x AM
1x AMC

With PM reinforced, I ordered a deliberate attack there. I really need to push the enemy out of PM. But they keep resisting. The future prospects of defending PM are hard to foresee. Can't imagine having to evacuate PM. Even more nightmarish logistical and tactical problem.

Still hesitant to send USN carriers out of PH. New pilots have to be trained, and TBDs replaced with TBFs. IJN carriers seem to have retreated to Truk. Might be a good idea to send USN carriers to the Coral Sea and prepare an ambush for their future arrival.

Also, I am 99% confident that you're simply not allowed to recon enemy in friendly hexes. Tried sending B-17s from Cairns, and remaining B-26s at PM (0 distance). No flights.

Notable reports:

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May 15, 1942
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 97,131, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Kiso, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Asanagi, Shell hits 2, heavy fires

Allied Ships
BB Royal Sovereign, Shell hits 4
BB Ramillies, Shell hits 5, on fire
CA Exeter
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Sumatra
CL Perth
DD Stuart
DD Vendetta
DD Banckert
DD Van Nes
DD Witte de With
DD Evertsen
DD Kortenaer
DD Piet Hein
AP Leonard Wood
xAP Santa Inez
xAK Silksworth
xAP Diomed
AMC Monowai
AMC Westralia
xAP Rangitiki
xAP Rangitata
xAP Duntroon
xAP Zealandia
xAP Macdhui
xAP Marella
xAP Maori
xAP Merkur
xAP Malaita
xAP Taroona
xAP Nairana
xAP Limerick
xAP Koolama
xAP Koolinda
xAP Ormiston
xAP Mungana
xAP Murada
xAK Cycle
xAK Chios

Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 6,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
CL Kiso engages BB Ramillies at 6,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages CL Kiso at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CL Kiso engages BB Ramillies at 5,000 yards
BB Ramillies engages DD Asanagi at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
BB Ramillies engages CL Kiso at 6,000 yards
CL Kiso engages BB Royal Sovereign at 6,000 yards
CL Kiso engages CL Perth at 6,000 yards
CL Kiso engages BB Ramillies at 6,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages CL Kiso at 6,000 yards
CL Kiso sunk by CL Leander at 6,000 yards
Ono, Takeji* orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 8,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages BB Ramillies at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
AP Leonard Wood , xAP Murada , xAP Mungana ,
xAP Ormiston , xAP Koolinda , xAP Koolama ,
xAP Limerick , xAP Nairana screened from combat
- escorted by DD Piet Hein , DD Kortenaer , DD Evertsen ,
DD Witte de With , DD Van Nes , DD Banckert ,
DD Vendetta
BB Ramillies engages DD Asanagi at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
xAP Marella collides with xAP Mungana at 97 , 131
AP Leonard Wood , xAP Murada , xAP Mungana ,
xAP Ormiston , xAP Koolinda , xAP Koolama ,
xAP Limerick , xAP Nairana , xAP Taroona ,
xAP Malaita , xAP Merkur , xAP Maori ,
xAP Marella , xAP Macdhui , xAP Zealandia ,
xAP Duntroon , xAP Rangitata , xAP Rangitiki ,
xAP Diomed , xAP Santa Inez , xAK Chios ,
xAK Cycle , xAK Silksworth screened from combat
- escorted by DD Piet Hein , DD Kortenaer , DD Evertsen ,
DD Van Nes , DD Banckert , DD Vendetta
BB Ramillies engages DD Asanagi at 17,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Asanagi at 17,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages DD Stuart at 17,000 yards
DD Asanagi engages AMC Westralia at 17,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,132

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 65 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 24 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
B5N2 Kate x 29
D3A1 Val x 18

Allied aircraft
Sea Hurricane Ib x 20
Martlet II x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 11 destroyed, 3 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed, 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Sea Hurricane Ib: 2 destroyed
Martlet II: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Indomitable
BC Repulse, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CVL Hermes

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
5 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
7 x D3A1 Val bombing from 17000 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
9 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.800 Sqn FAA with Martlet II (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
No.880 Sqn FAA with Sea Hurricane Ib (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 6 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
14 planes vectored on to bombers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,134

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 23 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 15
Sea Hurricane Ib x 5

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
Albacore I: 7 destroyed, 2 damaged
Sea Hurricane Ib: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu
CL Kuma
BB Haruna

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

CAP engaged:
Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 5 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers

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May 16, 1942
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 97,131

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
A-20A Havoc x 6
A-24 Banshee x 12
P-39D Airacobra x 8

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged
A-24 Banshee: 1 destroyed by flak
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu
BB Haruna
CL Isuzu

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x A-20A Havoc bombing from 10000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
1 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x A-24 Banshee releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Soryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 14000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 3 minutes
Hiryu-1 with A6M2 Zero (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
2 planes vectored on to bombers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 97,130

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6
B5N2 Kate x 14
D3A1 Val x 8

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 32

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 3 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 7 destroyed, 2 damaged
D3A1 Val: 4 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
BB Ramillies, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
3 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
35th FG/39th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 8 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
35th FG/40th FS with P-39D Airacobra (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 9 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers

Magazine explodes on BB Ramillies

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Sydney , at 90,167

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 105 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 39 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N2 Kate x 26
D3A1 Val x 22

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 15
Kittyhawk IA x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 8 destroyed, 2 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 14 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Buffalo I: 1 destroyed
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed
DB-7B: 1 destroyed on ground

Runway hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
City Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
4 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 17000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
5 x D3A1 Val releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Port Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
1 x D3A1 Val releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
No.77 Sqn RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 6 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
No.14 Sqn RNZAF with Buffalo I (2 airborne, 6 on standby, 7 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 17, 1942
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Cooktown at 94,135, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu, Shell hits 4
BB Fuso
CA Kako
DD Yamagumo
DD Kasumi
DD Shirakumo
DD Amagiri
DD Sanae

Allied Ships
BC Repulse, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Le Triomphant, Shell hits 1

Reduced sighting due to 7% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 7% moonlight: 1,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 21,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
BB Mutsu engages BC Repulse at 1,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages DD Le Triomphant at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
BC Repulse engages BB Fuso at 3,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 19,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Mutsu, Shell hits 45, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Fuso, Shell hits 5
CA Kako, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Yamagumo, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Kasumi, Shell hits 1
DD Shirakumo
DD Amagiri, Shell hits 1
DD Sanae

Allied Ships
BB Royal Sovereign, Shell hits 18, on fire
CA Exeter, Shell hits 2
CL Leander
CL Achilles, Shell hits 3
CL Sumatra
CL Perth
DD Stuart
DD Vendetta
DD Banckert
DD Van Nes
DD Witte de With
DD Evertsen, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kortenaer, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Piet Hein
AP Leonard Wood
xAP Santa Inez
xAK Silksworth
xAP Diomed, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
AMC Monowai, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AMC Westralia, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAP Rangitiki
xAP Rangitata
xAP Duntroon
xAP Zealandia
xAP Macdhui
xAP Marella
xAP Maori
xAP Merkur
xAP Malaita
xAP Taroona
xAP Nairana
xAP Limerick, Shell hits 1
xAP Koolama
xAP Koolinda
xAP Ormiston
xAP Mungana
xAP Murada
xAK Cycle
xAK Chios

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 32 (19 destroyed, 13 disabled)

Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 19,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 19,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages BB Royal Sovereign at 19,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages CA Kako at 19,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages DD Shirakumo at 19,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages BB Royal Sovereign at 19,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages DD Yamagumo at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages BB Mutsu at 15,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages BB Mutsu at 15,000 yards
CA Kako engages CL Perth at 15,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Sumatra at 15,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Achilles at 15,000 yards
CL Leander engages DD Shirakumo at 15,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages BB Royal Sovereign at 15,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DD Kasumi at 15,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Evertsen at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages BB Royal Sovereign at 12,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages CA Kako at 12,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Sumatra at 12,000 yards
DD Amagiri engages DD Evertsen at 12,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Leander at 12,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Sanae at 12,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Evertsen at 12,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages AMC Monowai at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
BB Fuso engages BB Royal Sovereign at 8,000 yards
CA Exeter engages BB Mutsu at 8,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Sumatra at 8,000 yards
AMC Monowai sunk by DD Amagiri at 8,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Evertsen at 8,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Yamagumo at 8,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages xAP Diomed at 8,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages BB Royal Sovereign at 8,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages CA Kako at 8,000 yards
DD Sanae engages DD Piet Hein at 8,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Achilles at 8,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages DD Shirakumo at 8,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Evertsen at 8,000 yards
BB Fuso engages BB Royal Sovereign at 8,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CA Exeter at 8,000 yards
CA Kako engages BB Royal Sovereign at 8,000 yards
CL Sumatra engages DD Sanae at 8,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Achilles at 8,000 yards
CL Leander engages BB Mutsu at 8,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DD Kasumi at 8,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Kortenaer at 8,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Witte de With at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Fuso engages BB Royal Sovereign at 10,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages BB Royal Sovereign at 10,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Perth at 10,000 yards
DD Sanae engages DD Kortenaer at 10,000 yards
DD Amagiri engages CL Achilles at 10,000 yards
CL Leander engages CA Kako at 10,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Evertsen at 10,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DD Kortenaer at 10,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages xAP Mungana at 10,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages xAP Limerick at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages BB Fuso at 12,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Sumatra at 12,000 yards
DD Amagiri engages CL Achilles at 12,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Shirakumo at 12,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Piet Hein at 12,000 yards
DD Sanae engages DD Van Nes at 12,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages xAP Taroona at 12,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages xAP Merkur at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages BB Fuso at 13,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Sumatra at 13,000 yards
DD Amagiri engages DD Van Nes at 13,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Leander at 13,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DD Yamagumo at 13,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages BB Mutsu at 13,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages BB Royal Sovereign at 13,000 yards
CA Kako engages CL Achilles at 13,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Sumatra at 13,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages DD Amagiri at 13,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages DD Kasumi at 13,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DD Vendetta at 13,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages AP Leonard Wood at 13,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages BB Royal Sovereign at 13,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages BB Royal Sovereign at 13,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Perth at 13,000 yards
DD Sanae engages DD Piet Hein at 13,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Achilles at 13,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Leander at 13,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages DD Kasumi at 13,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages xAP Mungana at 13,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages xAP Rangitata at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
AP Leonard Wood screened from combat
- escorted by DD Piet Hein , DD Kortenaer , DD Evertsen ,
DD Witte de With , DD Van Nes , DD Banckert ,
DD Vendetta , DD Stuart
BB Fuso engages BB Royal Sovereign at 12,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CA Exeter at 12,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages CA Kako at 12,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Achilles at 12,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages DD Shirakumo at 12,000 yards
DD Amagiri engages AMC Westralia at 12,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages xAP Murada at 12,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages xAP Diomed at 12,000 yards
BB Fuso engages BB Royal Sovereign at 12,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CA Exeter at 12,000 yards
DD Sanae engages AMC Westralia at 12,000 yards
DD Amagiri engages AMC Westralia at 12,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Leander at 12,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages AMC Westralia at 12,000 yards
AMC Westralia engages DD Yamagumo at 12,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages xAP Diomed at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
BB Fuso engages BB Royal Sovereign at 13,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Perth at 13,000 yards
CA Kako engages CL Sumatra at 13,000 yards
DD Amagiri engages DD Piet Hein at 13,000 yards
CL Leander engages DD Shirakumo at 13,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Piet Hein at 13,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Kortenaer at 13,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages xAP Rangitiki at 13,000 yards
AP Leonard Wood , xAP Murada , xAP Mungana ,
xAP Ormiston , xAP Koolinda , xAP Koolama ,
xAP Limerick , xAP Nairana , xAP Taroona ,
xAP Malaita , xAP Merkur , xAP Maori ,
xAP Marella , xAP Macdhui , xAP Zealandia ,
xAP Duntroon , xAP Rangitata , xAP Rangitiki ,
xAP Diomed , xAP Santa Inez , xAK Chios ,
xAK Cycle , xAK Silksworth screened from combat
- escorted by DD Piet Hein , DD Kortenaer , DD Evertsen ,
DD Witte de With , DD Van Nes , DD Vendetta
CA Exeter engages CA Kako at 13,000 yards
CA Kako engages CL Leander at 13,000 yards
CL Sumatra engages DD Amagiri at 13,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Amagiri at 13,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages AMC Westralia at 13,000 yards
DD Kasumi engages DD Stuart at 13,000 yards
DD Amagiri engages AMC Westralia at 13,000 yards
Range increases to 14,000 yards
BB Fuso engages BB Royal Sovereign at 14,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CA Exeter at 14,000 yards
DD Sanae engages DD Evertsen at 14,000 yards
CL Achilles engages DD Amagiri at 14,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages DD Kasumi at 14,000 yards
DD Amagiri engages DD Kortenaer at 14,000 yards
AP Leonard Wood , xAP Murada , xAP Mungana ,
xAP Ormiston , xAP Koolinda , xAP Koolama ,
xAP Limerick , xAP Nairana , xAP Taroona ,
xAP Malaita , xAP Merkur , xAP Maori ,
xAP Marella , xAP Macdhui , xAP Zealandia ,
xAP Duntroon , xAP Rangitata , xAP Rangitiki ,
xAP Diomed screened from combat
- escorted by DD Piet Hein , DD Kortenaer , DD Evertsen ,
DD Witte de With , DD Van Nes , DD Vendetta
CL Sumatra engages DD Sanae at 14,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Achilles at 14,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages DD Shirakumo at 14,000 yards
BB Royal Sovereign engages DD Kasumi at 14,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Amagiri at 14,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages xAP Santa Inez at 14,000 yards
Range increases to 15,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Perth at 15,000 yards
CA Kako engages CL Sumatra at 15,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Amagiri at 15,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Leander at 15,000 yards
DD Amagiri engages DD Kortenaer at 15,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages BB Royal Sovereign at 15,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages CL Perth at 15,000 yards
DD Sanae engages DD Van Nes at 15,000 yards
DD Amagiri engages DD Evertsen at 15,000 yards
DD Shirakumo engages DD Van Nes at 15,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Piet Hein at 15,000 yards
DD Yamagumo engages DD Stuart at 15,000 yards
BB Mutsu engages xAP Koolinda at 15,000 yards
Kogure, Gunji* orders Japanese TF to disengage
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BC Repulse sinks....
DD Evertsen sinks....

Wirraway has spotted CV Zuikaku at 97,158
:::::::: CV Zuikaku is reported HIT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 19, 1942
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 5
DD Hatsuyuki, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CA Exeter, Shell hits 2
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Sumatra
CL Perth
DD Stuart
DD Vendetta
DD Banckert
DD Van Nes
DD Witte de With
DD Piet Hein
AP Leonard Wood
xAP Santa Inez
xAK Silksworth
xAP Rangitiki
xAP Rangitata, on fire
xAP Duntroon
xAP Zealandia
xAP Macdhui
xAP Maori
xAP Merkur
xAP Malaita
xAP Taroona
xAP Nairana
xAP Koolama
xAP Koolinda
xAP Ormiston
xAP Mungana
xAP Murada
xAK Cycle
xAK Chios

Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Reduced visibility due to Rain with 17% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 17% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 1,000 yards...
CA Furutaka engages CA Exeter at 1,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Hatsuyuki at 1,000 yards
Range increases to 2,000 yards
CA Exeter engages CA Furutaka at 2,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Perth at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CA Exeter at 4,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CL Perth at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CA Exeter engages CA Furutaka at 3,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Furutaka at 3,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages xAP Malaita at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
CA Exeter engages CA Furutaka at 4,000 yards
DD Hatsuyuki engages CA Exeter at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Furutaka engages CA Exeter at 7,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Furutaka at 7,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 2,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Shell hits 8
CL Tatsuta
DD Yuzuki, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Oite
DD Nokaze
DD Asagao

Allied Ships
CA Exeter, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Leander, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Achilles
CL Sumatra, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Perth, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Stuart
DD Vendetta, Shell hits 1
DD Banckert
DD Van Nes, Shell hits 1
DD Witte de With
DD Piet Hein
AP Leonard Wood
xAP Santa Inez
xAK Silksworth
xAP Rangitiki
xAP Rangitata, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
xAP Duntroon
xAP Zealandia
xAP Macdhui
xAP Maori
xAP Merkur
xAP Malaita
xAP Taroona
xAP Nairana
xAP Koolama
xAP Koolinda
xAP Ormiston
xAP Mungana
xAP Murada
xAK Cycle
xAK Chios

Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Low visibility due to Rain with 17% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 17% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CA Exeter at 2,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CL Perth at 2,000 yards
CL Sumatra engages DD Asagao at 2,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Nokaze at 2,000 yards
CA Exeter engages DD Oite at 2,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages CA Exeter at 2,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Van Nes at 2,000 yards
DD Asagao engages DD Vendetta at 2,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CA Exeter at 2,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages CA Exeter at 2,000 yards
CL Sumatra engages DD Asagao at 2,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages DD Nokaze at 2,000 yards
CL Leander engages BB Hiei at 2,000 yards
DD Asagao engages DD Banckert at 2,000 yards
BB Hiei engages xAP Rangitata at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CA Exeter at 3,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages CA Exeter at 3,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CL Sumatra at 3,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CL Leander at 3,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Piet Hein at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CA Exeter at 4,000 yards
CA Exeter sunk by CL Tatsuta at 4,000 yards
DD Asagao engages DD Vendetta at 4,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CL Leander at 4,000 yards
BB Hiei engages xAP Duntroon at 4,000 yards
CL Perth engages BB Hiei at 4,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CL Sumatra at 4,000 yards
DD Asagao engages DD Banckert at 4,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CL Leander at 4,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages DD Oite at 4,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages DD Yuzuki at 4,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Banckert at 4,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CL Perth at 4,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CL Sumatra at 4,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CL Achilles at 4,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CL Leander at 4,000 yards
DD Banckert engages DD Oite at 4,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Witte de With at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CL Perth at 2,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Milne Bay at 101,135

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Sargo

SS Sargo launches 4 torpedoes at CA Furutaka

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CL Leander sinks....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 20, 1942
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 5,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Shell hits 4
CL Tatsuta, Shell hits 1
DD Yuzuki, Shell hits 1
DD Oite
DD Nokaze
DD Asagao

Allied Ships
CL Achilles, Shell hits 1
DD Stuart
DD Vendetta
DD Banckert
DD Witte de With
DD Piet Hein
AP Leonard Wood
xAP Santa Inez
xAK Silksworth
xAP Rangitiki
xAP Duntroon
xAP Zealandia
xAP Macdhui, Shell hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Maori
xAP Merkur
xAP Malaita
xAP Taroona
xAP Nairana, Shell hits 7
xAP Koolama
xAP Koolinda
xAP Ormiston
xAP Murada, Shell hits 1
xAK Cycle
xAK Chios

Reduced sighting due to 28% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions and 28% moonlight: 5,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 5,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 5,000 yards
CL Achilles engages BB Hiei at 5,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages DD Piet Hein at 5,000 yards
DD Asagao engages DD Piet Hein at 5,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Piet Hein at 5,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Vendetta at 5,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Stuart at 5,000 yards
BB Hiei engages xAP Macdhui at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
xAP Rangitiki collides with xAP Nairana at 98 , 130
CL Achilles engages BB Hiei at 4,000 yards
DD Stuart engages CL Tatsuta at 4,000 yards
DD Asagao engages DD Piet Hein at 4,000 yards
DD Banckert engages DD Nokaze at 4,000 yards
DD Oite engages DD Stuart at 4,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Vendetta at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CL Achilles at 2,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages DD Piet Hein at 2,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Nokaze at 2,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages DD Oite at 2,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Stuart at 2,000 yards
BB Hiei engages xAP Taroona at 2,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages CL Achilles at 2,000 yards
DD Banckert engages DD Asagao at 2,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Oite at 2,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Vendetta at 2,000 yards
BB Hiei engages xAP Murada at 2,000 yards
BB Hiei engages xAP Nairana at 2,000 yards
BB Hiei engages xAK Cycle at 2,000 yards
BB Hiei engages xAK Silksworth at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
BB Hiei engages CL Achilles at 3,000 yards
DD Asagao engages DD Piet Hein at 3,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages DD Yuzuki at 3,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Deboyne Islands at 102,135

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-39

CA Furutaka is sighted by SS S-39
SS S-39 launches 4 torpedoes at CA Furutaka

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 97,131, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
BB Hiei, Shell hits 2
CL Tatsuta
DD Yuzuki
DD Oite
DD Nokaze
DD Asagao

Allied Ships
DD Piet Hein, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
xAP Macdhui, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
xAP Nairana, Shell hits 26, and is sunk

Maximum visibility in Overcast Conditions: 20,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
BB Hiei engages DD Piet Hein at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards
BB Hiei engages DD Piet Hein at 18,000 yards
DD Asagao engages DD Piet Hein at 18,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Piet Hein at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 16,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Asagao at 16,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Piet Hein at 16,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Oite at 16,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Yuzuki at 16,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
BB Hiei engages DD Piet Hein at 12,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages xAP Nairana at 12,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages xAP Macdhui at 12,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Piet Hein at 12,000 yards
DD Oite engages DD Piet Hein at 12,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Piet Hein at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Yuzuki at 8,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages xAP Nairana at 8,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages xAP Macdhui at 8,000 yards
DD Oite engages xAP Macdhui at 8,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Piet Hein at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Hiei engages DD Piet Hein at 10,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages xAP Nairana at 10,000 yards
DD Asagao engages DD Piet Hein at 10,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Nokaze at 10,000 yards
DD Oite engages DD Piet Hein at 10,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages xAP Nairana at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
DD Asagao engages DD Piet Hein at 8,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages DD Piet Hein at 8,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Asagao at 8,000 yards
DD Oite engages DD Piet Hein at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages DD Piet Hein at 7,000 yards
DD Asagao engages DD Piet Hein at 7,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages DD Piet Hein at 7,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Piet Hein at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages xAP Nairana at 5,000 yards
DD Asagao engages DD Piet Hein at 5,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Nokaze at 5,000 yards
DD Oite engages DD Piet Hein at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
BB Hiei engages DD Piet Hein at 4,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Oite at 4,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages DD Piet Hein at 4,000 yards
DD Asagao engages DD Piet Hein at 4,000 yards
DD Oite engages DD Piet Hein at 4,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages DD Yuzuki at 4,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages DD Piet Hein at 4,000 yards
DD Piet Hein sunk by DD Oite at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
BB Hiei engages xAP Nairana at 3,000 yards
DD Asagao engages xAP Nairana at 3,000 yards
DD Nokaze engages xAP Nairana at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
BB Hiei engages xAP Nairana at 2,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages xAP Nairana at 2,000 yards
CL Tatsuta engages xAP Nairana at 2,000 yards
DD Yuzuki engages xAP Nairana at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
BB Hiei engages xAP Nairana at 4,000 yards
xAP Nairana sunk by CL Tatsuta at 4,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 16871 troops, 182 guns, 38 vehicles, Assault Value = 411

Defending force 47490 troops, 687 guns, 1004 vehicles, Assault Value = 1299

Japanese ground losses:
175 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Assaulting units:
40th Brigade
26th Recon Regiment
23rd Division
88th Infantry Regiment
III./90th Infantry Battalion
62nd Naval Guard Unit
Maizuru 1st SNLF

Defending units:
Kanga Force Battalion
7th Australian Division
2/1st Ind Coy
Lark Battalion
3rd Australian Brigade
2/4th Ind Coy
30th Australian Brigade
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
6th Australian Division
Port Moresby Brigade
I Australian Corps
2/9th Field Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment
15th RAAF Base Force
2nd Medium Regiment
Rabaul Det. Base Force
1st Medium Regiment
21/22 Field Regiment

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ground combat at Port Moresby (98,130)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 42225 troops, 659 guns, 971 vehicles, Assault Value = 1299

Defending force 21389 troops, 204 guns, 80 vehicles, Assault Value = 398

Allied adjusted assault: 1597

Japanese adjusted defense: 597

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1187 casualties reported
Squads: 47 destroyed, 71 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled

Allied ground losses:
817 casualties reported
Squads: 31 destroyed, 56 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 12 disabled
Engineers: 3 destroyed, 8 disabled

Assaulting units:
3rd Australian Brigade
Kanga Force Battalion
2/4th Ind Coy
2/1st Ind Coy
7th Australian Division
30th Australian Brigade
6th Australian Division
Lark Battalion
I Aus Corps Engineer Battalion
Port Moresby Brigade
15th RAAF Base Force
2/11th Field Regiment
1st Medium Regiment
Rabaul Det. Base Force
2/9th Field Regiment
I Australian Corps
2nd Medium Regiment
21/22 Field Regiment

Defending units:
III./90th Infantry Battalion
23rd Division
40th Brigade
88th Infantry Regiment
26th Recon Regiment
62nd Naval Guard Unit
Maizuru 1st SNLF

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

traskott · Post by **traskott** » Fri May 11, 2018 6:54 am

If you can keep P.M., all that theater will hold. With 2 full AIF divisions plus support, it's only matter of supply. Feed them with xAKs, xAKLs, DC-3s, whatever.. If they keep the base you can bleed the japanese pretty well...

L0ckAndL0ad · Post by **L0ckAndL0ad** » Fri May 11, 2018 10:02 am

@traskott
Yeah, I guess I have to leverage their constant presence there into favorable ambush conditions. Boys at PM will have to endure.

BTW, during the previous battle, I had that special carrier reaction happen to me for the first time. CTF "BOYD" managed to send in the strike thanks to it (range was 5, max mission range for planes was at 3). The strike failed, but still, this thing is a new one to me.

Carrier TF 9 reacting to enemy carriers (range 5)

USN CarDiv 1 Lexington is 18 days out, Yorktown 100% ready. Pilots are training. USN CarDiv 2 now consists of Enterprise and Hornet, both operational and their TB squadrons 75% full of new TBF-1s.

TF2 is assembled (RADM Spruance), with 2 carrier groups (1 CV 2 CA 5 DD each), 1 scout/surface action group (2 CA 1 CL 5 DD), and 2 support groups (4 DD 2 AO 2 AE 2 TK). They're going to Brisbane, to set up an ambush.

Yorktown will stay at Pearl, in reserve. CVE Long Island, along with two CLAA are en route to PH from Balboa.

L0ckAndL0ad · Post by **L0ckAndL0ad** » Sat May 12, 2018 4:00 am

Things get quiet and slow down as I do the usual monthly inspection of units. But there's been some activity worthy of a tiny report. Fighting in PM goes much better with newly arrived 7th AusDiv (+). But the IJN is back at it again. A small carrier strike on PM happened. Poor 35th FG USAAF barely able to fly 30% of its planes, with most being under constant repairs. Additional fighter group is on its way to Oz, thankfully.

The first ever sighting of the beast, BB Yamato. He sends Yamamoto's regards.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 29, 1942
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Port Moresby at 98,130

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 7 damaged
P-39D Airacobra: 2 destroyed on ground
A-24 Banshee: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
BB Kongo
CA Mikuma

Allied ground losses:
203 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 10 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (2 destroyed, 8 disabled)

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 10
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 2

F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Yamato
BB Yamato firing at Port Moresby
F1M2 Pete acting as spotter for BB Kongo
BB Kongo firing at 6th Australian Division
CA Mikuma firing at 6th Australian Division

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May 31, 1942
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Port Moresby , at 98,130

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
B5N2 Kate x 25

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 3 destroyed, 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra: 1 damaged

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 17000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
10 x B5N2 Kate bombing from 10000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
35th FG/39th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 17000 and 22000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
35th FG/40th FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 4 on standby, 1 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 23000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
35th FG/41st FS with P-39D Airacobra (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

L0ckAndL0ad · Post by **L0ckAndL0ad** » Mon May 14, 2018 5:45 pm

Japs have taken Attu Island. I'm preparing to make Adak my new outpost in the North Pacific. US Army Separate Infantry Regiment (+) is assembling in Seattle. A surface combat force is also needed. For now I'm thinking 2-3 old BBs, 1 newly arrived CA, 3 CL and some DDs. Everything should be in place by approx. July 1, 1942.

Overall, I'm being rather slow to reinforce the frontiers. Giving the AI opponent some slack. Limiting my historical hindsight. Or just being lazy, I dunno.

But the AI wasn't so reluctant. It took New Britain, Solomons, Guadalcanal, Espiritu Santo, and now lands in Tanno (between Noumea, New Caledonia and Suva, Fiji).

Luckily, Americal Division (+) lands in Noumea right this moment also. And TF2 is there to support. TG 2.3 was reinforced with local allied cruisers and destroyers, and is now 5 CA, 1 CL, 9 DD strong.

CV Zuikaku and CV Soryu were spotted near Tokyo. Looked like KB assembled in full. Subs weren't able to track their movement, unfortunately.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 11, 1942
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Yokohama/Yokosuka at 114,63

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
DD Harukaze
DD Oboro
DD Shikinami

Allied Ships
SS Pompano

SS Pompano launches 4 torpedoes at CV Zuikaku
DD Harukaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Oboro fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shikinami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Harukaze attacking submerged sub ....
DD Oboro fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Shikinami fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Harukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Harukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Harukaze fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Harukaze attacking submerged sub ....
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sub attack near Yokohama/Yokosuka at 114,63

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu
DD Kuretake
DD Akebono
DD Shirayuki

Allied Ships
SS Pompano

SS Pompano launches 2 torpedoes at CV Soryu
DD Kuretake fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Akebono fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Shirayuki fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, bottom line, my current priority is to retake Tanna and Espiritu Santo. But with the whole KB intact and probably getting to Truk from Tokyo, this might get a little tricky. I'm setting up dedicated air search patrols from northern Oz (PBY/LB-30) and PM (radar-equipped Hudsons) to get better intel on approaching enemy forces. The subs are patrolling Truk-Solomons routes for the same purpose.

CVE Long Island is at Pearl. Not sure what to do with it.

BBfanboy · Post by **BBfanboy** » Mon May 14, 2018 7:10 pm

Uses for CVE Long Island include:

- transport of short ranged aircraft to forward bases (historical use). The aircraft can fly off when in range of the base and LI can return to get more.
- hunting Japanese AMCs in SOPAC. In stock there are two AMCs stalking around Pago-Pago and north of there at game start. Not sure what the scripts provide for raiders in your game.
- after training the air group in ASW, covering troop transport TFs. Put the CVE in a separate TF. If you can have a few fighters to shoot down Glen and Mavis search planes that would help too.
- sneak attacks on isolated Japanese garrisons to give the air group pilots some experience. Damage to the port or airfield stops fort building until repaired.
- raiding unprotected enemy landings and sinking their transports (only if you know where all the IJN carriers are)
- covering your own landings and bombing enemy opposition from the same hex

Note that if you are short of SBDs, you could take on the Devastators and arm them with bombs for ASW and AMC attacks. There should still be some room left for fighters on board.

L0ckAndL0ad · Post by **L0ckAndL0ad** » Tue May 15, 2018 10:14 am

June 17-18, 1942

The Jap carriers are nowhere to be seen. Tanna invasion was just a small 2 ship force. So TF2 was diverted to PM, where another IJN surface action group with BBs in it was sighted. As it turned out, there was only one BB of Kongo class. The weather was bad. To think of it, I don't remember even a single week with good weather in PM area. The weather is always bad there. So on 17th, TF2 planes were barely able to launch a single small air raid. But the next day was more or less okay. 23 bomb and 5 torpedo hits were reported in total. TF2 retreats to Brisbane for small repairs. No need to show off my carriers in the open for more than a day or two anyway.

Small note. Mission profiles for TF2's CAG were:

Enterprise
VF/F4F-4: 50% Escort @ range 6, 10K ft
VS/SBD-3: 80% NavSearch @ range 7, 6K ft
VB/SBD-3: Nav Attack @ range 6, 10K ft
VT/TBF-1: Nav Attack @ range 6, 10K ft

Hornet
VF/F4F-4: 50% Escort @ range 6, 12K ft
VS/SBD-3: Nav Attack @ range 6, 12K ft
VB/SBD-3: Nav Attack @ range 6, 12K ft
VT/TBF-1: Nav Attack @ range 6, 12K ft

Altitude separation did not work as I expected, resulting in several unescorted strikes against nearby transports. If there were enemy carriers involved, that might have gotten hairy. I checked the logs, there were no coordination problems. Just bad weather... Need to do more combat runs with this.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 17, 1942
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 97,131

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-27b Nate x 7

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
SBD-3 Dauntless x 18
TBF-1 Avenger x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Bomb hits 4, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
15 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
4th Sentai with Ki-27b Nate (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
9th Sentai with Ki-27b Nate (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(5 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 10000.
Raid is overhead
3rd Hikotai IMAF with Ki-27b Nate (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 11000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 11000.
Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 18, 1942
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 99,134

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
SBD-3 Dauntless x 36
TBF-1 Avenger x 15

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna, Bomb hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Asakaze

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 99,134

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 19
SBD-3 Dauntless x 53
TBF-1 Avenger x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Asakaze
BB Haruna, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
DD Minekaze

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
12 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
16 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
15 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
9 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring BB Haruna

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BBfanboy · Post by **BBfanboy** » Tue May 15, 2018 11:16 am

Very NICE! Haruna and the other Kongos are one of the most useful Japanese ships - carrier escort, bombardment threat and raider against cruiser opposition.
Sinking her rates a few accolades, [&o][&o]

L0ckAndL0ad · Post by **L0ckAndL0ad** » Tue May 15, 2018 1:02 pm

Thanks!

Speaking of carrier escorts. USN Pacific Fleet now has 3 Atlanta-class CLAA and 1 (kinda) fast BB North Carolina that arrived with CV Wasp. More ships is always good. Though CLAAs need crew experience, but I can work it out.

In the following days, TG 2.3 (Scout/Surface Action) picked up the BB Haruna's escorts, practically one by one. In total, 2 DD, 2 fleet TB, a Sub Chaser and a couple of transports were sunk, without suffering any casualties or heavy damage.

DD Minekaze, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
DD Asakaze, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
TB Hato, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
TB Kiji, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
xAP Katori Maru, Shell hits 35, and is sunk
xAK Josho Maru, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
SC CHa-13, Shell hits 5, and is sunk

Not a bad sortie. Not bad at all.

tarkalak · Post by **tarkalak** » Wed May 16, 2018 9:27 am

ORIGINAL: L0ckAndL0ad

Thanks!

Speaking of carrier escorts. USN Pacific Fleet now has 3 Atlanta-class CLAA and 1 (kinda) fast BB North Carolina that arrived with CV Wasp. More ships is always good. Though CLAAs need crew experience, but I can work it out.

In the following days, TG 2.3 (Scout/Surface Action) picked up the BB Haruna's escorts, practically one by one. In total, 2 DD, 2 fleet TB, a Sub Chaser and a couple of transports were sunk, without suffering any casualties or heavy damage.

DD Minekaze, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
DD Asakaze, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
TB Hato, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
TB Kiji, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
xAP Katori Maru, Shell hits 35, and is sunk
xAK Josho Maru, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
SC CHa-13, Shell hits 5, and is sunk

Not a bad sortie. Not bad at all.

"What!? Not bad? That was an excellent battle!!! Not bad, my ass!"
Unknown American Admiral

L0ckAndL0ad · Post by **L0ckAndL0ad** » Wed May 16, 2018 1:17 pm

@tarkalak
Or as Lance Henriksen's Bishop would say decades later, "Not bad for a human".[8|]

June 28-30, 1942

Alright. I have to stop pulling my hair out in order to be able to write. I've done something I shouldn't have done. But even against the AI, I don't cheat, reload nor sneak-peak into his units/status. So what's done is done.

Let's start from the begging. As TF2 went for repairs to Brisbane, I realized that I really need some offensive action done. I wanted to raid some CenPac islands months ago, but that battle with KB messed up all my plans. So, Carrier Division 1 formed TF1 with two groups. One was 3 CV, 3 CLAA, 9 DD. Second, surface bombardment group consisted of 1 fast BB North Carolina, 5 CA, 3 CL, 6 DD.

But Jap AI also loves raiding. He sent yet another raiding force directly to Pearl Harbor. PBYs spotted two CA and one CL, just ~10 hexes away from Pearl, but also seen only DDs a day before. I restructured TG 1.2 into surface action group, making it 1 fast BB, 5 CA, 9 DD. And formed a second, provisional surface action group, with old BBs - 5 old BB, 3 CL, 7 DD. Both were sent directly west, to meet the enemy. Carrier TG 1.1 was on hold at Pearl. I still wanted to raid Wake, after I've dealt with this group, so I needed my carrier group fresh.

28th
I thought such force should be enough to deal with yet another small group of raiding cruisers. Oh well.. I started pulling my hair out the moment I saw my faster TG 1.2 approach enemy 2 BB, 1 CA, 1 CL, 4 DD. The word "YAMATO" on one of the BBs strengthened my effort.

The following battle was brutal. It was literally a night knife fight with Yamato, with minimal distance being just 3KYD. Something I should never repeat.

USN force had the radar advantage. BB North Carolina opened up nicely, surprising the enemy, landing hits after hits on Yamato. Several penetrations were achieved early, with multiple internal explosions and fire reported on Yamato and later at least one on Fuso. Allied cruisers also made hits, but little damage.

CA Northampton took severe damage from both enemy battleships, but kept fighting. And kept hitting.

BB North Carolina took 29 hits in total, with many penetrations. I was hoping there's a chance for it to survive, cuz the distance between two forces slowly kept increasing. But it sank before the battle ended.

As following days would show, BB North Carolina managed to sink BB Yamato. I suspect Yamato sunk the same night. And it done decent damage to Fuso, which was also sunk later.

So.. There's no official report yet, but I'm 99% sure that BB Yamato is sunk. All thanks to BB North Carolina.

Slower surface TG also fought. It caught 1 CA and 2 DD from the same IJN raider force at daylight. Five old battleships made a colander out of the enemy CA.

B-17s from Pearl engaged and possibly hit BB Fuso and CL Kuma.

On 29th, slow BB force hunted for stragglers, and sunk BB Fuso, CL Kuma and DD Hokaze. Carrier TG 1.1 rushed to the scene, and searched for BB Yamato or any other IJN survivors until July 1. But not a single asset was able to find anything out there. The sea was empty by July 1.

So.. I call BB Yamato sunk.

Combat reports:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 28, 1942
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Niihau at 173,107, Range 8,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Shell hits 22, heavy fires, heavy damage
BB Fuso, Shell hits 6, on fire
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 1
CL Kuma, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Mutsuki, Shell hits 1
DD Hokaze, Shell hits 3
DD Sanae, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Asagao, Shell hits 8, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina, Shell hits 29, and is sunk
CA Northampton, Shell hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Louisville, Shell hits 1
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 1
CA San Francisco
CA Vincennes
DD Mustin
DD Walke
DD Morris
DD Case, Shell hits 1
DD Conyngham
DD Shaw
DD Perkins
DD Smith
DD Preston

Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 100% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 8,000 yards
BB North Carolina fires at BB Yamato at 8,000 yards
BB North Carolina fires at BB Yamato at 8,000 yards
CA San Francisco fires at BB Yamato at 8,000 yards
CA Minneapolis fires at CL Kuma at 8,000 yards
BB North Carolina fires at DD Asagao at 8,000 yards
DD Smith launches Torpedoes at DD Sanae at 8,000 yards
DD Perkins launches Torpedoes at DD Sanae at 8,000 yards
DD Morris launches Torpedoes at DD Sanae at 8,000 yards
DD Walke launches Torpedoes at DD Asagao at 8,000 yards
DD Mustin launches Torpedoes at DD Asagao at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
BB Fuso engages BB North Carolina at 3,000 yards
BB Yamato engages BB North Carolina at 3,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CL Kuma at 3,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Louisville at 3,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Northampton at 3,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages DD Mustin at 3,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Mutsuki at 3,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD Perkins at 3,000 yards
DD Shaw engages DD Mutsuki at 3,000 yards
DD Case engages DD Asagao at 3,000 yards
DD Walke engages DD Mutsuki at 3,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Asagao at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
BB Fuso engages BB North Carolina at 6,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages BB Yamato at 6,000 yards
CL Kuma engages CA Minneapolis at 6,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Louisville at 6,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Northampton at 6,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD Case at 6,000 yards
DD Sanae engages DD Perkins at 6,000 yards
DD Shaw engages DD Mutsuki at 6,000 yards
DD Sanae engages DD Conyngham at 6,000 yards
DD Case engages DD Mutsuki at 6,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD Morris at 6,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages DD Mustin at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
BB Fuso engages BB North Carolina at 7,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages BB Yamato at 7,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA San Francisco at 7,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages CL Kuma at 7,000 yards
DD Perkins engages DD Asagao at 7,000 yards
CA Northampton engages DD Sanae at 7,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages DD Walke at 7,000 yards
DD Case engages DD Mutsuki at 7,000 yards
DD Conyngham engages DD Asagao at 7,000 yards
DD Mustin engages DD Sanae at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Yamato engages BB North Carolina at 10,000 yards
BB Yamato engages BB North Carolina at 10,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA San Francisco at 10,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Minneapolis at 10,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Louisville at 10,000 yards
DD Sanae engages DD Conyngham at 10,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Hokaze at 10,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD Mustin at 10,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages DD Morris at 10,000 yards
DD Walke engages DD Hokaze at 10,000 yards
BB Yamato engages BB North Carolina at 10,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages BB Yamato at 10,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages CA Kinugasa at 10,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Minneapolis at 10,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Louisville at 10,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Northampton at 10,000 yards
DD Case engages DD Hokaze at 10,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD Walke at 10,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages DD Shaw at 10,000 yards
DD Conyngham engages DD Sanae at 10,000 yards
DD Asagao engages DD Morris at 10,000 yards
DD Walke engages DD Asagao at 10,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages BB Yamato at 10,000 yards
BB Yamato engages BB North Carolina at 10,000 yards
DD Walke engages DD Asagao at 10,000 yards
DD Sanae engages DD Shaw at 10,000 yards
DD Shaw engages DD Hokaze at 10,000 yards
DD Preston engages DD Mutsuki at 10,000 yards
DD Perkins engages DD Asagao at 10,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages DD Conyngham at 10,000 yards
DD Morris engages DD Sanae at 10,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD Mustin at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
BB Fuso engages BB North Carolina at 9,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA San Francisco at 9,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Asagao at 9,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Sanae at 9,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages DD Walke at 9,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Mutsuki at 9,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD Perkins at 9,000 yards
DD Asagao engages DD Shaw at 9,000 yards
DD Conyngham engages DD Asagao at 9,000 yards
DD Morris engages DD Mutsuki at 9,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages DD Mustin at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Fuso engages CA San Francisco at 10,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA San Francisco at 10,000 yards
CA Vincennes engages CA Kinugasa at 10,000 yards
DD Conyngham engages DD Asagao at 10,000 yards
DD Shaw engages DD Sanae at 10,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages DD Case at 10,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD Perkins at 10,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages DD Shaw at 10,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages DD Case at 10,000 yards
DD Morris engages DD Asagao at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Vincennes at 11,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Vincennes at 11,000 yards
CA Vincennes engages CA Kinugasa at 11,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA Louisville at 11,000 yards
DD Morris engages DD Asagao at 11,000 yards
DD Preston engages DD Hokaze at 11,000 yards
DD Shaw engages DD Mutsuki at 11,000 yards
DD Conyngham engages DD Asagao at 11,000 yards
DD Case engages DD Asagao at 11,000 yards
DD Morris engages DD Sanae at 11,000 yards
DD Asagao engages DD Walke at 11,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages DD Mustin at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
BB Fuso engages CA Vincennes at 12,000 yards
BB Yamato engages CA San Francisco at 12,000 yards
CA Vincennes engages CA Kinugasa at 12,000 yards
CA Vincennes engages CL Kuma at 12,000 yards
DD Asagao engages DD Shaw at 12,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD Preston at 12,000 yards
DD Hokaze engages DD Case at 12,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD Morris at 12,000 yards
DD Mutsuki engages DD Case at 12,000 yards
DD Morris engages DD Hokaze at 12,000 yards
BB Fuso engages DD Walke at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Niihau at 173,106, Range 26,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
DD Mutsuki, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
DD Sanae, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
BB Maryland
BB Colorado
BB Nevada
BB Pennsylvania
BB Tennessee, Shell hits 5, on fire
CL Phoenix
CL Nashville
CL Boise
DD Aaron Ward
DD Laffey
DD Buchanan
DD Woodworth
DD Caldwell
DD Hammann
DD Cummings

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near French Frigate Shoal at 169,106, Range 26,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Sanae, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Louisville
CA Minneapolis
CA San Francisco
CA Vincennes
DD Mustin
DD Walke
DD Morris
DD Case
DD Conyngham
DD Shaw
DD Perkins
DD Smith

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Morning Air attack on TF, near French Frigate Shoal at 170,107

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 29 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 5

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
5 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 7000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
June 29, 1942
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near French Frigate Shoal at 170,107, Range 10,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E13A1 Jake: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
CL Kuma, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
DD Hokaze

Allied Ships
BB Maryland, Shell hits 1
BB Colorado
BB Nevada
BB Pennsylvania, Shell hits 4
CL Phoenix
CL Nashville
CL Boise
DD Aaron Ward
DD Laffey
DD Buchanan
DD Woodworth
DD Caldwell
DD Cummings

Improved night sighting under 100% moonlight

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near French Frigate Shoal at 170,107, Range 26,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
F1M2 Pete: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Fuso, Shell hits 52, and is sunk
DD Hokaze, Shell hits 8, and is sunk

Allied Ships
BB Maryland
BB Colorado
BB Nevada
BB Pennsylvania
CL Phoenix
CL Nashville
CL Boise
DD Aaron Ward
DD Laffey
DD Buchanan
DD Woodworth
DD Caldwell
DD Cummings

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PS: trimmed the reports for brevity

L0ckAndL0ad · Post by **L0ckAndL0ad** » Wed May 16, 2018 1:21 pm

So... what I think I should have done and what should I do in the future?

If possible, I should always attack with air first. And only later with surface units. Surface combat is brutal and costly. Losing fast USN battleships is bad. Even trading it for Yamato and Fuso. Still bad. Fast BBs are more valuable as carrier escorts.

BBfanboy · Post by **BBfanboy** » Wed May 16, 2018 3:35 pm

You did exactly the right thing. You get 10 fast BBs, + Prince of Wales at start and more British BBs in the late war.
Unless they enemy has lots of BBs prowling, you do not really need BBs to protect the carriers, and a couple of Cleveland CLs have an AA equal to North Carolina.

If you had sortied with your lone carrier it could have been caught at night by the enemy SCTF. Even if it didn't, a strike from a single carrier is unlikely to sink or heavily damage two BBs and two CAs - IME many of the aircraft will go after the DDs because the flak is too heavy around the big ships.
So I think the likely outcome would be some damage to the enemy which then withdraws and your carrier would need to replenish aircraft and sorties again before your planned raid.

The only thing I can think of that you might have tried is sending out the slow BB TF first (and form it with a lower TF # than the North Carolina one), then set the NC TF to follow it. That would tend to make the slow BBs engage first, but you might have lost 3-4 of them because they are easier to hit than NC.

L0ckAndL0ad · Post by **L0ckAndL0ad** » Thu May 17, 2018 12:21 pm

July 1, 1942

Monthly inspection of all units.

USN fighter squadrons start converting to 36 plane TO&E, so I'm little short on F4F-4s again. I was thinking USMC could get some of them, but they'll make do. Transition to TBF-1s is complete. SBD-3s are plenty, but still not enough to start supplying USMC with them. PBY-5 keep crashing down due to ops loses (59 lost!). Ugh...

USAAF has ~60 unused B-17Es, and about the same amount of P-39D and P-40E in reserve, which is good. B-24D enters production, which is awesome. Two USAAF fighter groups and one bomber group is training in India, will later be sent to China.

British will take care of bombing Burma in the following months - 2 squadrons of Wellingtons are already in training. By now Brits have 2.5 full operational groups in India and Ceylon, mainly with Hurricane II and Blenheim IV.

Reported combat ship loses (not exactly accurate):

IJN

2 CVL
5 BB (excluding Yamato, still no report)
10 CA
10 CL
15 DD
6 fleet TB

Allied

1 CV
5 BB
1 BC
4 CA
4 CL
9 DD

L0ckAndL0ad · Post by **L0ckAndL0ad** » Thu May 17, 2018 3:21 pm

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

You did exactly the right thing. You get 10 fast BBs, + Prince of Wales at start and more British BBs in the late war.
Unless they enemy has lots of BBs prowling, you do not really need BBs to protect the carriers, and a couple of Cleveland CLs have an AA equal to North Carolina.

If you had sortied with your lone carrier it could have been caught at night by the enemy SCTF. Even if it didn't, a strike from a single carrier is unlikely to sink or heavily damage two BBs and two CAs - IME many of the aircraft will go after the DDs because the flak is too heavy around the big ships.
So I think the likely outcome would be some damage to the enemy which then withdraws and your carrier would need to replenish aircraft and sorties again before your planned raid.

The only thing I can think of that you might have tried is sending out the slow BB TF first (and form it with a lower TF # than the North Carolina one), then set the NC TF to follow it. That would tend to make the slow BBs engage first, but you might have lost 3-4 of them because they are easier to hit than NC.

I had 3 carriers on standby at Pearl. Lexington, Yorktown and Wasp. And pilots of the first two were constantly training since the clash with KB. But that's not the point. Engaging unknown, fresh enemy forces is a bad idea under most circumstances. Generally, I'm all pro recon/intel. But sometimes I get sloppy and careless. I also have lousy memory (hence this Diary), so I will probably continue to make the same mistakes.

But. This was a naval invasion force that could have reached Pearl in 1 turn, if I hadn't done what I did. So.. Yeah, I guess you're right.

Why I care about fast BB for carrier escorts is not AA nor even surface capabilities. Being a bomb/torpedo magnet for enemy planes is what gives more chances for my carriers to live through CV duels.

Anyway, I'm fine with the situation as it is. Sinking Yamato in a night alley knife fight, in a freaking battleship duel, is one of those things that make this playthrough memorable.

Also. I like all my ships get experience. Great officers and the crucible of combat will make me a good fleet. As long as I'm careful enough not to waste more units than I should.

OFFTOP

Speaking of memorable things. I've been sitting on this combat report for a while now. I don't think it deserves a separate thread, but still, I'd like to share it.

This was like.. my second campaign attempt as Allies, back in 2016-ish or maybe early 2017. Anyway. Early 1942. I was defensive more or less like I am now. Sent one carrier tf to SoPac, through Christmas Island. And got ambushed in broad daylight by out-of-nowhere surface raid. Lexington got hit two times, was set on fire and had to return back to Pearl. But it got me thinking. 1) Radars aren't going to save your CTF from fast surface action groups. 2) You can actually catch carriers on surface.

FROM THE OLD PLAYTHROUGH!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Christmas Island at 172,140, Range 26,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Atago, Shell hits 7, on fire
CL Isuzu
DD Okikaze, Shell hits 2
DD Hakaze, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Shell hits 2, on fire
CA Minneapolis
CA San Francisco
CL St. Louis, Shell hits 2
DD Sims
DD Hughes
DD Anderson
DD Hammann
DD O'Brien

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 26,000 yards
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 26,000 yards
CA Atago fires at CL St. Louis at 26,000 yards
CA Atago fires at DD Hughes at 26,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards
CA Atago engages CV Lexington at 23,000 yards
CA Atago engages CA San Francisco at 23,000 yards
CL St. Louis engages CL Isuzu at 23,000 yards
CA Atago engages DD O'Brien at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards
CA Atago engages CV Lexington at 22,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CA Atago at 22,000 yards
CA Atago engages DD Hammann at 22,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards
CA Atago engages CV Lexington at 19,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CV Lexington at 19,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages CA Atago at 19,000 yards
CL St. Louis engages CA Atago at 19,000 yards
CA Atago engages DD O'Brien at 19,000 yards
CA Atago engages DD Anderson at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
CV Lexington screened from combat
- escorted by DD O'Brien , DD Hammann , DD Anderson ,
DD Hughes , DD Sims
CA Atago engages CA San Francisco at 15,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CL St. Louis at 15,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages DD Hakaze at 15,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages DD Okikaze at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CA Atago engages CV Lexington at 12,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CV Lexington at 12,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages DD Hughes at 12,000 yards
CL St. Louis engages DD Okikaze at 12,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages DD O'Brien at 12,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages DD Hammann at 12,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages DD Hughes at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CA Atago engages CV Lexington at 10,000 yards
CA San Francisco engages CA Atago at 10,000 yards
CA Atago engages CA Minneapolis at 10,000 yards
CL St. Louis engages CA Atago at 10,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages DD O'Brien at 10,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages DD Hammann at 10,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages DD Hughes at 10,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages DD Sims at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Atago engages CV Lexington at 8,000 yards
CL Isuzu engages CV Lexington at 8,000 yards
DD Hakaze engages DD O'Brien at 8,000 yards
CA Atago engages CL St. Louis at 8,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages DD O'Brien at 8,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages DD Hammann at 8,000 yards
DD Hughes engages DD Okikaze at 8,000 yards
DD Okikaze engages DD Sims at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CA Atago engages CV Lexington at 13,000 yards
CA Atago engages CA San Francisco at 13,000 yards
CA Atago engages CA Minneapolis at 13,000 yards
CL St. Louis engages CA Atago at 13,000 yards
DD O'Brien engages DD Hakaze at 13,000 yards
DD Hammann engages DD Okikaze at 13,000 yards
DD Anderson engages DD Hakaze at 13,000 yards
DD Hughes engages DD Hakaze at 13,000 yards
DD Sims engages DD Okikaze at 13,000 yards
Ijuin, Matsuji orders Japanese TF to disengage
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some time passed. I was angry about this whole thing. Even thought that the game is broken - radars failed to help me. But I wasn't using beta patch at that time, so I dunno..

Japs raided Eastern Oz, like two times. For the third time I gathered a surface action group and tried to ambush them. Sunk 2 CVs, 1 BB and multiple smaller ships. This was my revenge. And the luckiest sortie I've ever managed.

FROM THE OLD PLAYTHROUGH!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Coffs Harbour at 96,164, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 9 destroyed
D3A1 Val: 19 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 16 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CV Hiryu, Shell hits 23, heavy fires, heavy damage
CV Zuikaku, Shell hits 15, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
BB Kongo, Shell hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 1
CA Kako
CL Abukuma
CL Kiso, Shell hits 1
DD Kagero, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Oyashio
DD Isokaze, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Matsukaze
DD Hakaze, Shell hits 2
DD Numakaze
DD Wakatake

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 2
BC Repulse
CA Australia
CA Canberra
CA Cornwall
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Java
CL Sumatra
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp
CL Perth
CL Enterprise
CL Danae
CL Dragon
DD Stuart
DD Scout
DD Stronghold, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Express
DD Isis
DD Jupiter
DD Le Triomphant

Reduced visibility due to Thunderstorms with 7% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 7% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 3,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 3,000 yards
Fuel storage explosion on CV Zuikaku
Fuel storage explosion on CV Zuikaku
BB Prince of Wales fires at CV Zuikaku at 3,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales fires at CV Hiryu at 3,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales fires at BB Kongo at 3,000 yards
Fuel storage explosion on CV Zuikaku
CA Canberra launches Torpedoes at CV Zuikaku at 3,000 yards
CV Zuikaku sunk by CA Australia at 3,000 yards
CL Perth launches Torpedoes at DD Numakaze at 3,000 yards
CL Sumatra fires at DD Isokaze at 3,000 yards
CA Australia launches Torpedoes at DD Kagero at 3,000 yards
DD Isis launches Torpedoes at DD Isokaze at 3,000 yards
DD Express launches Torpedoes at DD Matsukaze at 3,000 yards
DD Stronghold launches Torpedoes at DD Hakaze at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages CV Hiryu at 2,000 yards
BB Kongo engages BB Prince of Wales at 2,000 yards
CA Cornwall engages CV Hiryu at 2,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages BB Prince of Wales at 2,000 yards
Massive explosion on CL Kiso
CL Kiso engages BB Prince of Wales at 2,000 yards
CL Abukuma engages CL Dragon at 2,000 yards
CL Danae engages DD Wakatake at 2,000 yards
DD Numakaze engages DD Express at 2,000 yards
CL Perth engages CV Hiryu at 2,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Matsukaze at 2,000 yards
DD Isokaze engages DD Isis at 2,000 yards
CL Java engages CV Hiryu at 2,000 yards
DD Isokaze sunk by DD Jupiter at 2,000 yards
DD Isis engages DD Kagero at 2,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Kagero at 2,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages DD Wakatake at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
Fuel storage explosion on CV Hiryu
BB Prince of Wales engages CV Hiryu at 5,000 yards
BC Repulse engages CV Hiryu at 5,000 yards
CA Kinugasa engages BB Prince of Wales at 5,000 yards
CA Australia engages CV Hiryu at 5,000 yards
CL Dragon engages CV Hiryu at 5,000 yards
CL Danae engages CV Hiryu at 5,000 yards
DD Numakaze engages DD Isis at 5,000 yards
CL Tromp engages CV Hiryu at 5,000 yards
DD Oyashio engages DD Express at 5,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages DD Kagero at 5,000 yards
CL Leander engages CV Hiryu at 5,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Isis at 5,000 yards
DD Jupiter engages CV Hiryu at 5,000 yards
BC Repulse engages CV Hiryu at 5,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CV Hiryu at 5,000 yards
CL Abukuma engages CL Dragon at 5,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages DD Wakatake at 5,000 yards
DD Numakaze engages DD Express at 5,000 yards
CL Perth engages CV Hiryu at 5,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Jupiter at 5,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages DD Hakaze at 5,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Jupiter at 5,000 yards
DD Wakatake engages DD Isis at 5,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages DD Matsukaze at 5,000 yards
DD Scout engages DD Kagero at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages CV Hiryu at 7,000 yards
BC Repulse engages CV Hiryu at 7,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Brisbane at 97,163, Range 2,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
F1M2 Pete: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
DD Kagero, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
DD Numakaze
DD Wakatake, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 5
BC Repulse
CA Australia
CA Canberra
CA Cornwall
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Java
CL Sumatra
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp
CL Perth
CL Enterprise
CL Danae
CL Dragon
DD Stuart
DD Scout
DD Stronghold
DD Express
DD Isis
DD Jupiter
DD Le Triomphant

Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms with 10% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 10% moonlight: 2,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 4,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
Range closes to 2,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 2,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 2,000 yards
BB Kongo engages BB Prince of Wales at 2,000 yards
BC Repulse engages BB Kongo at 2,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Numakaze at 2,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Kagero at 2,000 yards
BB Kongo engages CL De Ruyter at 2,000 yards
BB Kongo engages BB Prince of Wales at 2,000 yards
BB Kongo engages BC Repulse at 2,000 yards
BB Kongo sunk by CA Cornwall at 2,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Kagero at 2,000 yards
DD Jupiter engages DD Numakaze at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Wakatake at 3,000 yards
DD Numakaze engages DD Jupiter at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Wakatake at 2,000 yards
DD Kagero sunk by BC Repulse at 2,000 yards
DD Numakaze engages DD Le Triomphant at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Wakatake at 4,000 yards
BC Repulse engages DD Numakaze at 4,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

L0ckAndL0ad · Post by **L0ckAndL0ad** » Thu May 17, 2018 5:10 pm

CA Northampton almost made it to Pearl. It's currently 2 hexes away. But flooding increased, and there's 90 FLT damage now. SYS damage @ 52. Max speed is 1 knot, and I'm pretty sure it won't make it. Still have hope. Won't scuttle. Sent BB Idaho with more competent captain on board. Maybe he can save the cruiser. Northampton survived bomb hits in the clash with KB. But 46cm guns of Yamato are more deadly than any divebomber.

HansBolter · Post by **HansBolter** » Thu May 17, 2018 5:20 pm

Well done. POW & Repulse hammered Kongo.

Is Northampton alone in the TF or does it have a DD escort?

Is it moving at cruise speed?

These are the essentials for shepherding a stricken ship back to port.

BBfanboy · Post by **BBfanboy** » Fri May 18, 2018 1:00 am

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Well done. POW & Repulse hammered Kongo.

Is Northampton alone in the TF or does it have a DD escort?

Is it moving at cruise speed?

These are the essentials for shepherding a stricken ship back to port.

Alfred made it clear that other ships in a TF with a heavily damaged ship do not directly help with damage, other than fire suppression. What they can do is fight off the enemy and rescue the captain if the stricken ship sinks. Hans suggests the DD for the ASW help while your BB should stop most raiders and help with AA.

L0ckAndL0ad · Post by **L0ckAndL0ad** » Fri May 18, 2018 5:13 am

ORIGINAL: HansBolter

Well done. POW & Repulse hammered Kongo.

Is Northampton alone in the TF or does it have a DD escort?

Is it moving at cruise speed?

These are the essentials for shepherding a stricken ship back to port.

Do note that those three reports are from an older game. Repulse is sunk in this one. But yeah, I still take a great pride in how it went down.

Northampton survives!

Oh, what a lucky ship! CA-26 Northampton was the only cruiser that came under KB attack and survived, back in April, withstanding four 250kg bomb hits. Now it survived at least two hits from Yamato's main battery, and another two from its secondary batteries. Despite heavy systems damage and 90% flooding, it successfully limped back to Pearl, escorted by BB Idaho and a dozen destroyers (some of which were sent separately on ASW duty).

The idea behind sending BB Idaho was that the captain of a bigger ship should take over command of the TF. But CPT Marshall refused abandoning ship and directed all the rescue effort right until the arrival to Pearl. The delay of movement was probably caused by uncontrolled/increasing damage, cuz the manual says ships should still move 1 hex, even if badly damaged.

The Adventures near Jomard Passage

TF2 finished small repairs at Brisbane and went to intercept BB Huyga that came for Port Moresby from the Solomon Sea. A patrol was set up, guarding Jomard Passage from the south. On July 5th, two air raids were launched, with 13 bomb hits reported on enemy battleship, and one destroyer being sunk. BB Huyga (Ise-class) turned out to be a tough nut to crack, as, reportedly, none of the 1000 lb SAP bombs managed to penetrate the deck, though still caused heavy damage and fire.

Subsequent attempts at locating the damaged battleship failed. Several transport ships in the area were successfully attacked and sunk instead. On July 8th, TF2 came under attack twice. Morning air attack comprised of four B5N2 Kate torpedo bombers, two of which were destroyed by CAP, while others retreated. Second attack came in the afternoon. 17 Ki-27b Nate and 2 Ki-44 Tojo escorted 6 Ki-51 Sonia. Combined CAP of 36 Wildcats failed to intercept the bombers and CV Enterprise was bombed from an altitude of 14000 feet. None of the 50 kg bombs hit the carrier.

TF2 ordered to return to Brisbane.

L0ckAndL0ad · Post by **L0ckAndL0ad** » Fri May 18, 2018 6:11 am

The Raid on Wake Island, July 9-10, 1942

After the Yamato encounter, TF1's surface element went back to Pearl to replenish ammo and fuel supplies. Three carriers of TG 1.1 sailed for Midway. It took several days to gather all the ships of TF1 near Midway, and refuel them. Then they came directly west, stopping 8 hexes NE from Wake on the evening of July 7th.

Weather forecast said OVERCAST. Not the best conditions, but still within acceptable parameters. But the forecast was wrong. Thunderstorms and Severe storms followed, for the next two days. Which is bad, because you can't change orders mid day.

On June 9th, under cover of darkness, TG 1.2 bombarded Wake Island with 5 heavy cruisers, 3 light cruisers and 7 destroyers, from 15 to 12 KYD. Coastal Guns were firing back, but failed to hit anything. Good hits were observed on target, with four hundred casualties (exaggerated?) and many damaged aircraft on the airstrip (see detailed reports below).

SS Tautog sneakily arrived to Wake at dawn to help with possible Search & Rescue efforts.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 9, 1942
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Wake Island at 136,98 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A1 Val: 7 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-27b Nate: 2 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 18 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-II Dinah: 7 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 2 damaged

31 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CA Vincennes
CA Quincy
CA San Francisco
CA Minneapolis
CA Louisville
CL Boise
CL Nashville
CL Phoenix
DD Smith
DD Perkins
DD Shaw
DD Conyngham
DD Morris
DD Walke
DD Mustin

Japanese ground losses:
429 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 19 destroyed, 42 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 25 (7 destroyed, 18 disabled)

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 22
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 5

OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for CA Vincennes
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion firing at CA Vincennes
CA Vincennes firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion firing at CA Quincy
CA Quincy firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
CA San Francisco firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion firing at CA San Francisco
CA Minneapolis firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion firing at CA Minneapolis
OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for CA Louisville
CA Louisville firing at Wake Island
CL Boise firing at Wake Coastal Gun Battalion
Wake Coastal Gun Battalion firing at CL Boise
CL Nashville firing at Wake Island
CL Phoenix firing at Wake Island
DD Smith firing at Wake Island
DD Perkins firing at Wake Island
DD Shaw firing at Wake Island
DD Conyngham firing at Wake Island
DD Morris firing at Wake Island
DD Walke firing at Wake Island
DD Mustin firing at Wake Island

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So there were quite a lot of planes on Wake. Damaging and destroying few of them should have helped the following air strike that was scheduled for the morning. But the weather.... the weather turned really bad and not a single plane was launched from all three carriers. Only on the afternoon, when TG 1.1 had fallen back to its original position 8 hexes away from Wake, we were able to launch planes. But despite my orders to limit strikes to the range of 6, selection of Wake as a target made commanders disregard the range, and they flew an 8 hex alpha strike, with reduced bomb load and no escorts.

90 SBD-3 and 37 TBF-1 were intercepted by 12 A6M2 Zero and 22 Ki-27b Nate. Lack of escorts resulted in destruction of four SBDs and one TBF. Reduced bomb load, fighter opposition, bad weather and high fatigue from such a difficult flight resulted in very minor damage on target.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Wake Island , at 136,98

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 33 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
Ki-27b Nate x 22

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 90
TBF-1 Avenger x 37

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 3 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed, 3 damaged

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

Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 4
Port supply hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' *
Airfield Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' *
Airfield Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' *
Airfield Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' *
Ground Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb
14 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' *
Port Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb
6 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 10000 feet *
Port Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' *
Airfield Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' *
Airfield Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' *
Airfield Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' *
Airfield Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000' *
Ground Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' *
Port Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000' *
Airfield Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000' *
Ground Attack: 1 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-1 Det A with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters to 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
3rd Ku S-1 Det A with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 3 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 13000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 15000.
Raid is overhead
3rd Ku S-1 Det B with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters to 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 14 minutes
4th Sentai Det A with Ki-27b Nate (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 9 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 9000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
4th Sentai Det B with Ki-27b Nate (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 11 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes

Also attacking Maizuru 2nd SNLF ...
Also attacking Wake Island ...
Also attacking Maizuru 2nd SNLF ...
Also attacking Wake Island ...
Also attacking Maizuru 2nd SNLF ...
Also attacking Wake Island ...
Also attacking 52nd Naval Guard Unit ...
Also attacking Wake Island ...
Also attacking Maizuru 2nd SNLF ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was dissatisfied with such an outcome. While the shore bombardment mission was executed superbly, the air strike did almost nothing of what was expected. So I checked the damage, fuel and ammo on all ships and ordered another go. 1 CL and 1 DD had to be detached and sent back to Pearl due to mild operational damage. The weather forecast said OVERCAST again.

This time, I did not give any specific targets to the aircraft. Just limited the radius of all missions to 6. Carrier TG 1.1 was ordered to patrol 5-6 hexes away from Wake, for the whole duration of the day.

Bombardment TG 1.2 yet again showed excellent gunnery skills. But the weather turned to severe storms and precluded all flights for the whole day. No air strikes were launched on July 10th.

After two days, TF1 was ordered back to Pearl. We'll get them next time.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 10, 1942
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Naval bombardment of Wake Island at 136,98

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 8 damaged
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-46-II Dinah: 5 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground
Ki-27b Nate: 10 damaged
Ki-27b Nate: 1 destroyed on ground
D3A1 Val: 2 damaged
B5N1 Kate: 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Vincennes
CA Quincy
CA San Francisco
CA Louisville
CL Nashville
CL Phoenix
DD Smith
DD Perkins
DD Shaw
DD Conyngham
DD Morris
DD Mustin

Japanese ground losses:
148 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 10 (3 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 9
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 3

OS2U-3 Kingfisher acting as spotter for CA Vincennes
CA Vincennes firing at Wake Island
CA Quincy firing at Wake Island
CA San Francisco firing at Wake Island
CA Louisville firing at Wake Island
CL Nashville firing at Wake Island
CL Phoenix firing at Wake Island
DD Smith firing at Wake Island
DD Perkins firing at Wake Island
DD Shaw firing at Wake Island
DD Conyngham firing at Wake Island
DD Morris firing at 52nd Naval Guard Unit
DD Mustin firing at Wake Island

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GC Diary: L0ckAndL0ad (A) vs AI

RE: GC Diary: L0ckAndL0ad (A) vs AI

RE: GC Diary: L0ckAndL0ad (A) vs AI

RE: GC Diary: L0ckAndL0ad (A) vs AI

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RE: GC Diary: L0ckAndL0ad (A) vs AI

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RE: GC Diary: L0ckAndL0ad (A) vs AI

RE: GC Diary: L0ckAndL0ad (A) vs AI

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RE: GC Diary: L0ckAndL0ad (A) vs AI

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RE: GC Diary: L0ckAndL0ad (A) vs AI

RE: GC Diary: L0ckAndL0ad (A) vs AI

RE: GC Diary: L0ckAndL0ad (A) vs AI

RE: GC Diary: L0ckAndL0ad (A) vs AI

RE: GC Diary: L0ckAndL0ad (A) vs AI

RE: GC Diary: L0ckAndL0ad (A) vs AI

RE: GC Diary: L0ckAndL0ad (A) vs AI

RE: GC Diary: L0ckAndL0ad (A) vs AI