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Feb 23, 1943

Decided to ignore the IJN SAGs in the area and simply push forward with raiding Fletcher squadrons....

Strike the enemy backfield...plenty of targets, and I don't fear any clash with Fletchers...

And again!

American destroyers everywhere...a traditional daytime slugfest!

Some of the bigger merchants pack pretty nice guns...

Radford collides with the Taylor....

Two PT boats manage to fire a spread of torpedoes...but with a daytime encounter they were at a serious disadvantage. Still they did great, dancing and weaving because the IJN destroyers were like a dog with a bone....they kept firing and firing!

Holey Cows! And DDs too! I hope your opponent doesn't have complete morale failure over this series of disasters!
Very well done on your part. Looks like you picked some cracker-jack Captains for all those Fletchers.

And the naval battles are done....

Tulagi falls to our 2nd attack...

Aftermath

Your destroyers earned their pay this day! Well done.

Pretty good bombardment of PM

Night Naval bombardment of Port Moresby at 98,130

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-46-II Dinah: 3 damaged
Ki-46-II Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied Ships
CA Canberra
CA Pensacola

Japanese ground losses:
499 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 9 destroyed, 43 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 20 (2 destroyed, 18 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 43
Port hits 2

CA Canberra firing at Port Moresby
SOC-1 Seagull acting as spotter for CA Pensacola
CA Pensacola firing at Port Moresby

Radford and company gave a pretty mediocre bombardment...but then they were also fighting IJN destroyers.

Night Naval bombardment of Salamaua at 98,127

Allied Ships
DD Taylor
DD Radford
DD DeHaven

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

Port hits 1

DD Taylor firing at Salamaua
DD Radford firing at 56th Field Artillery Regiment
DD DeHaven firing at Salamaua

Fletchers are a serious tactical advantage over the IJN...but they do come with a drawback: the very early ships have terrible (in the 30's) night crew experience which makes them very vulnerable to IJN torpedoes early on. I left them on shake down cruises until very recently to improve and then really unleashed them yesterday.

Still I was worried about the Radford....they were meant to bombard Salamua (which they did) and retire to Australia for upgrades. Not get into a slugfest...but it all worked out okay as it was during the daytime.


I will probably retire all the Fletchers for upgrades..

Intel is reporting this girl as sunk. As a JFB I really love these ships...I believe there are only two LSDs for a long time...

BBfanboy wrote: Fri Aug 26, 2022 1:01 pm I hope your opponent doesn't have complete morale failure over this series of disasters!
Very well done on your part. Looks like you picked some cracker-jack Captains for all those Fletchers.
thumbs up.gif

He isn't happy!

Well done with your raids!

Having all but 3 Fletchers retire...but sending three up the coast of New Guinea hunting the two surviving IJN Destroyers or any enemy shipping visiting the bases along the coast....

I am going to wipe out an IJA Mixed Bde in China...but the Japanese are pushing hard. Will give a big China update next turn.

Feb 24, 1943

I have sunk quite a few minelayers in the recent month...they are all low VP trash pretty much that drop weak mines.