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Sub Warfare:
I-171 fired two torpedoes at SC-740, one of which hit breaking the ship in half.


South Pacific:
Allied Bombardment TFs continue to hit Kavieng and Milne Bay.

Allied B-25s and B-26s hit Milne Bay airfield.
More troops come ashore at Milne Bay - I US Corps HQ.


Xargun

South Pacific:
More bombardments at Kavieng, Milne Bay and Talasea.
More troops come ashore at Milne Bay.

My fleeing troops on New Britain are attacked by enemy bombers inflicting some losses as they flee westward. A few Emily float planes are landing along the shoreline and hauling away wounded.

My paratroopers that landed at Talasea last turn were attacked by enemy Paratroopers that hold the base.

Allied troops attacked Milne Bay lowering the forts to 4 and threatening to take the base. Looks like Nomad has landed a Tank Destroyer Battalion and the 3rd Australian Brigade to help at Milne.

IJA Paratroopers take Cape Gloucester on the edge of New Britain. Now my fleeing troops have somewhere to flee to


Xargun

South Pacific:
More bombardments at Kavieng - those troops are sure getting beat on bad. Not sure there are any trees or even bushes left near the base now.

Enemy paratroopers destroy the last few troops at Talasea.
Enemy troops storm Milne Bay capturing the base and driving the fleeing troops into the jungles to the west.


Xargun

South Pacific:
Bombardment TF hits Kavieng again during the night.

B-25s and B-26s hit my troops fleeing from Milne Bay - a Brigade and Naval Guard unit.

Allied Paratroopers land and take back Cape Glouster from my paratroopers.


Xargun

Sub Warfare:
I-170 attacks DD Edwards and misses - that DD has some luck. The rest of the TF hammered the sub sending her back to Truk for repairs.


South Pacific:
More of the same down here. Bombardments at Kavieng and bombers hitting troops west of Milne Bay.


Xargun

Sub Warfare:
I-171 attacks is sighted and attacked by an enemy TF. I-171 is now heading back to Truk for repairs.


South Pacific:
More of the same down here. Bombardments at Kavieng and bombers hitting troops west of Milne Bay.


Xargun

Sub Warfare:
I-171, as it heads back to Truk for repairs, is spotted and attacked. Luckily the damaged sub is only damaged a little bit more as it escapes.


South Pacific:
TFs bombard Kavieng and Port Moresby for the first time. The TF hitting Port Moresby is led by the BB Warspite and BC Repulse, along with the West Virgina, nine allied CLs and nine DDs. Minimal casualties were inflicted at Port Moresby.

Allied bombers hit the 4th Division fleeting west on New Britain causing around 50 casualties.
Allied paratroops finish off the IJA paratroopers at Cape Glouster.


The evac from the area is continuing, with six Sentai of float planes airlifting troops out of danger every day. The bulk of this is happening from Aitape - where a steady stream of 1000ton PBs are then hauling troops and equipment to the Marianas.

The number of troops that I have evacuated is staggering - figure at least a full regiment if not closer to a Brigade has been evacuated since the allies took Shortlands and closed Rabaul. My float planes have been caught by enemy fighters several times and I have probably lost 60+ planes but these troops are vital and I won't just leave them in stranded bases to die. Now some of them will need to stay behind and die for the Emperor, but not all.

Truk is mostly evacuated except for fragments being air lifted out of the Solomon Area. Troops have been decided on - who will stay the duration and who will not. Those who are staying have their objectives set to Truk and are near 100% prepared. A few last defenses are being constructed and then the last of the engineering units will be moved out.


I am still increasing the defense of the SRA as new troops arrive in Japan and others are freed up from elsewhere. Engineers are building forts all over the SRA at critical and even a few non-critial bases. An occasional port or airfield is increased but I'm trying to not give away any intel of my defenses here.


Xargun

South Pacific:
Kavieng is bombarded again. Not sure what he is doing here. The base is destroyed and he gets very few casualties from the bombardments - unless he is trying to train up his ship experience ?

Allied bombers hit troops west of Milne Bay and troops on New Britain. Losses from either are low.


I received two new CVLs a couple turns back and they are in the shipyards at Nagasaki getting upgrades. One will fly a 48 plane Sentai of A6M5c zeros and the other will carry A7M2 Sams !!! I can't produce Sams, but both CVLs came with Sams so I have enough to enlarge one air group and fill it.

Last turn I received 10 Base Forces and 1 Air HQ for Hokkaido. These will be spread around the bases there to enlarge facilities and build forts.

In 7 days I will receive 8 new Base Forces and 1 Air HQ at Tokyo. Most of these will head to the SRA as part of my troop buildup there.

In 9 days CV Taiho will arrive - my first new CV of the year. She will most likely join KB at an undisclosed location. Once she arrives, I can accelerate another CV.


Xargun

Sub Warfare:
A pair of Allied subs attack PBs evacuating troops near Aitape but miss with all torpedoes.


South Pacific:
A pair of allied DDs show up at Aitape catching 3 PBs there sinking them. Luckily the PBs just arrived and were not filled with troops.

Kavieng was bombarded again while allied bombers hit the 4th Inf Division on New Britain and the 9th GEACPS Brigade fleeing west of Milne Bay. Few casualties were reported.


Xargun

South Pacific:
Allied ships bombard Kavieng.. again...
Bombers hit the 4th Division on New Britain inflicting minor casualties.


Xargun

Sub Warfare:
Not a good day for IJN Subs...
I-6 attacks DD Paul Jones and misses and is sunk in return.
I-5 is sighted by the same enemy TF a hex to the north and is sunk as well.


South Pacific:
Kavieng is bombarded.. again.. You would think he would stop at some point.

IJA Troops on New Britain are bombed to minimal affect.

Enemy troops land at Ontong Java and the accompanying bombardment hammers my troops there. Must be the fact that its an Atoll and they had 0 forts.

Pre-Invasion action off Ontong Java (115,131)

1 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis
DD Moon
DD Cummings
APA Hugh L. Scott

Japanese ground losses:
333 casualties reported
Squads: 7 destroyed, 40 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)


The shock attack at Ontong Java comes at the end of the turn and the allies wipe out my men there and capture the base. The Naval Guard unit I had there was seriously disabled by the amphib bombardment and didn't put up much of a fight.

Ground combat at Ontong Java (115,131)

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 4948 troops, 94 guns, 45 vehicles, Assault Value = 140

Defending force 477 troops, 10 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 11

Allied adjusted assault: 230

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 230 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Ontong Java !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker: shock(+)

Japanese ground losses:
491 casualties reported
Squads: 60 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 14 (14 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

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

Assaulting units:
23rd Marine Regiment

Defending units:
67th Naval Guard Unit



Xargun

Burma:
I snuck a combat TF (finally) into the Burma theater and raided Akyab with it. Unfortunately I only caught 1 small xAKL and sunk it - probably carrying supplies. The good news on this operations is I ordered the TF to stay there and in the AM phase bombers from farther north (Cox's Bazar or Chittagong) came to hit my TF and ran into my LR CAP. Everything finally worked as it should. Of the thirty-six bombers (Avenger I x16 and Fulmar II x24) only one bomber made it through to attack and it missed with its bombs !! Intel report shows 21 Avengers and 10 Fulmars shot down in A2A, with 2 more Fulmar shot down from flak !! While I only caught a small xAKL I would rate the overall mission as a success.



South Pacific:
I also moved another combat TF to Aitape and those two allied DDs were still there. Unfortunately this attack was not as successful. Overall the two DDs escaped, but only a couple shells hit one enemy DD, while multiple shells hit my ships. The report seems much worse than it is. All the shells bounced off the CA's armor and only 1 DD is actually damaged.

Day Time Surface Combat, near Aitape at 95,118, Range 23,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 4
DD Makigumo
DD Kikuzuki, Shell hits 1
DD Mikazuki, Shell hits 1
DD Mochizuki
DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
DD Winter, Shell hits 1
DD Smithers


Xargun

Sub Warfare:
I-9 is located and attacked by PF Morazan east of Lunga. She suffers minor damage but is ordered to relocate.


Burma:
A good night for the Imperial Japanese Navy... a bad night for the Royal Navy.

So last turn my surface group arrived at Akyab sinking an xAKL and its fighter CAP shooting down 30+ bombers. I ordered the TF to bombard Akyab before returning to Rangoon. But before they could make their bombardment run, a Royal Navy TF sprinted down from the north (probably Chittagong) and there was a knife fight. The enemy TF got within 2,000 yards of the IJN fleet before being spotted and the fighting began... CA Mogami opened the fight and hammered CA Hawkins with some 20cm shells setting her on fire - which outlined her for everyone to see. Then the torpedoes started hitting. In the first 'round' of combat, CA Hawkins and DD Nepal were sunk, while DD Isaac Sweers was crippled by a torpedo hit.

After the first round, what I thought was a CA turned out to be BB Valiant... and I was worried. But these Brits must not have radar yet and the Imperial Navy training prevailed. In all, not a single IJN ship was lost and well... see for yourself below.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Akyab at 54,45, Range 1,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Walrus II: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami, Shell hits 4
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 7
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Shigure
DD Murasame
DD Wakaba, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yugure, Shell hits 1
DD Ariake

Allied Ships
BB Valiant, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
CA Hawkins, Shell hits 32, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Dauntless
CL Caradoc, Shell hits 3
DD Vendetta, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Isaac Sweers, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
DD Nepal, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 100% moonlight: 2,000 yards


After the first attack my TF pressed onto the Akyab and ran into the RN survivors and there was another round of combat. While we dished out some damage, we also took some in return. After this combat I heard sinking noises so while I hope it was CL Caradoc sinking, it was most likely DD Vendetta.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Akyab at 54,45, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mogami
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 1
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Shigure
DD Murasame
DD Wakaba, on fire
DD Yugure, Shell hits 7, on fire
DD Ariake

Allied Ships
CL Dauntless, Shell hits 1
CL Caradoc, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Vendetta, Shell hits 6, heavy fires

Low visibility due to Thunderstorms with 100% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms and 100% moonlight: 2,000 yards


A failed night attack on Chittagong port by Nells and Betties and then a failed night attack on the airfield at Cox's Bazar.

After the weak bombardment of Akyab (most of their ammo was consumed in the ship combats), my ships headed home and ran over SS Trusty, which hit DD Murasame with a torpedo crippling her. In return we inflicted minor damage on the enemy sub. I was not able to scuttle Murasame and she has been ordered to Ramree Island to disband in an attempt to save her - I'm not sure she'll make it.


South Pacific:
During the night two allied TFs bombarded Port Moresby inflicting less than 20 casualties despite multiple BBs in one TF.


Xargun

Sub Warfare:
Dutch sub KIX attacks damaged DD Wakaba but misses with a pair of torpedoes.
Dutch sub KVIII attacks damaged DD Yugure hitting with one, but luckily it was a dud !!


South Pacific:
Allied troops land at Lae.

I moved a Chutai of Vals to Manus last turn and they attack an allied AM at Kavieng, hitting it with two 250kg bombs. A moment later I heard sinking noises.


Xargun

Sub Warfare:
Dutch sub KVII attacks damaged DD Yugure but misses.
Allied sub Searaven attacks xAK Miyatama Maru hitting with one torpedo.


South Pacific:
Enemy BB heavy TF bombards Manus destroying a few Vals and damaging a bunch of Vals and Babs. The bombardment destroys the facilities pegging almost all three to 100% and causing 700 casualties.

Another allied TF bombards Lae.


Central Pacific:
Some PBs escorting cargo ships find and clear a pair of mines at the dot base Anatahan. Some mine sweepers have been dispatched to clear these.



Xargun

Sub Warfare:
US sub Sealion fires four torpedoes at TK Oguru Maru #2, hitting with two of them. The empty tanker breaks in half and sinks. Just glad it was only an 8000 ton ship and not one of the 12000 ton ones.


Central Pacific:
IJN AMc Banshu Maru arrives at Anatahan and clears the minefield there. Enemy sub is still present so the AMc is ordered home.


South Pacific:
My Nells attempt to hit Rabaul port during the night, but enemy Corsairs disrupt their aim and nothing is hit. A good dozen Nells are lost in the attempt.

Allied troops attack and capture Lae.


Xargun

SRA:
Amphib convoy leaving Baledoab for Japan spotted S-28 and attacked, but unfortunately did not damage her.


South Pacific:
Allied bombers hit the 4th Division on its trek through the jungles of New Britain inflicting minor casualties.



Xargun

Another good day for the Imperial Japanese Navy !!!!

Sub Warfare:
The turn starts off with the overnight phase as usual and it starts with I-4 attacking the British CV Formidable. She fires four torpedoes, of which I have little hope of any hitting, but one does hit !!!! That in itself is a great start. Not only does I-4 hit the target, she escapes any damage in return - it seems the enemy CVs were in a hurry to get somewhere else.


South Pacific:
So last turn some enemy recon spotted the KB near Aitape (Northern coast of New Guinea) - they had 4/4 detection so I figured he spotted at least 1 CV -- time to move. So move we did, we moved NE six hexes (along with our surface combat escort TF). I figured he may move his CVs - which were last spotted near Rennell Island last turn - within range to strike, so we moved out of range. I only have 5 CVs (and 3 CVLs) and am not a match for his DeathStar of CVs.

During the turn execution dawn comes and storms in the area - clouds over KB and clouds over the allied CVs - which moved into the hex 1 west of the 'Admiralty Island' nametage. Patrol planes were zipping all over and the map was bouncing around but I was able to count hexes between us - seven. Just outside my range. I was hoping it was only a couple CVs but I was a bit worried... even more worried when Admiral Tijuro reacted towards the enemy CVs !!! Not only did he react once, but twice... We were now 5 hexes (approx 225 miles) apart - perfect striking range for both sides...

At this point I was worried - I can stand up to the full allied DeathStar - last time I tried I lost 3 CVs to his one... I was getting worried - even more so when I saw some blurbs about my bombers not able to find the target... Then his alpha strike appeared over the KB - 77 F6F-3 Hellcats escorting 87 SBD-3 Dauntless Dive Bombers. My Zeros engaged -- 66 A6M2 and 124 A6M5c zeroes.

The air combat started slow but them more and more of my fighters arrived - we picked them up 30 minutes out.. Then the SBDs started dying... and dying they did in droves. Then the enemy bombes broke through the cap and made their bombing runs - 14 SBDs made it through the cap and attacked four different carriers - luckily none of the 1000lb bombs hit !! I was breathing a sigh of relief at this point.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Manus at 100,114

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 30 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 66
A6M5c Zero x 124

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 77
SBD-3 Dauntless x 87

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
A6M5c Zero: 10 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 43 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CV Junyo
CVL Shoho
CV Hiyo
CV Akagi


Then it jumped to my alpha strike. 99 A6M2 Zeroes escorting 58 B5N2 Kates and 51 D3A1 Vals - not an overly impressive amount of bombers, but its what the computer decided to send. We ran into a wall of enemy fighters - over 400 fighters on CAP - but somehow 34 Kates and 20 Vals made it through. They attacked a wide range of targets but only hit with three torpedoes - with another two hits on BBs, but reported as duds As the planes headed back to their CVs CV Formidable was on fire.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Hansa Bay at 99,120

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 117 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 43 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 99
B5N2 Kate x 58
D3A1 Val x 51

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 156
F4F-3A Wildcat x 93
F4F-4 Wildcat x 90
F4U-1 Corsair x 2
F6F-3 Hellcat x 109

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 7 destroyed, 18 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 18 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 17 destroyed, 12 damaged
D3A1 Val: 5 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 2 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Formidable, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Hornet
CV Lexington
CV Yorktown
CLAA San Juan
BB Indiana
BB South Dakota
BB North Carolina, Torpedo hits 1
CV Illustrious
CV Saratoga
BB Washington
DD Hammann
CA Pensacola
CA New Orleans


Another allied strike attacked a combat TF at Aitape and landed a pair of bombs on CA Furutake - one of which bounced off the armor.

Then my 'lost little puppies' showed up over the allied DeathStar and 9 Vals and 10 Kates were annihilated by enemy fighters.


At this point I was thinking - good deal. We damaged a CV (possible 3 total torpedo hits if you count the sub) and put 1 into a BB. We lost a lot of bombers but we took no ship damage in return. Then I started wondering (and worrying) if there would be an afternoon strike for one or both of us... and after a bunch of bombing attacks on my troops as before they afternoon strikes came.

The afternoon strikes started off the with allied strike - another large alpha strike consisting of 128 Hellcats and 92 Dauntless DBs. Once more my CAP came up and with the 31 minutes of warning we had, the cap bounced them. We didn't kill many Hellcats, but of the 92 SBDs only 7 made it past the cap to attack. They choose their carriers but luckily missed.

Then it was my turn. 88 Zeros escorted 48 Kates and 40 Vals - not very impressive, but it was all I had left. They flew into the allied wall of fighters and by some miracle 27 Kates and 16 Vals made it through !! This time they concentrated on carriers for the most part. The Vals scored 2 bombs hits one each on CVs Lexington and Illustrious. Unfortunately those Brits like their armored flight decks and my dinky lil 250kg bomb bounced off its armor, but the other penetrated and did some damage to the Lex. The Kates did better... much better.. In all they scored a report seven torpedo hits - all on CVs, including two more on CV Formidable which sunk her !! Lady Lex took two torpedo hits, so did CV Indomitable and the Yorktown took one.

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Hansa Bay at 99,120

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 45 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 88
B5N2 Kate x 48
D3A1 Val x 40

Allied aircraft
Martlet II x 103
F4F-3A Wildcat x 92
F4F-4 Wildcat x 90
F4U-1 Corsair x 2
F6F-3 Hellcat x 109

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 7 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 5 destroyed, 15 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 12 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 11 destroyed, 7 damaged
D3A1 Val: 3 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
Martlet II: 4 destroyed
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Saratoga
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CV Illustrious, Bomb hits 1
CV Hornet
CV Indomitable, Torpedo hits 2, heavy damage
CV Formidable, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 1
DD Rathburne

While my bomber force has been reduced from approx 200 bombers to 40 now I think it is worth it. We sunk 1 enemy CV and damaged 3 others. Total air losses for the turn was near 500 between both sides with the SBDs taking the brunt of that beating. Very few allied fighters were destroyed while I lost around 25. With little to no offensive power left, KB has been ordered out of the area and perhaps my LR Bombers can get a lucky hit or two - I have set them to attack and provided what escorts I can.

The question is where were his Torpedo Bombers ?? And with 170 SBDs lost does he have any offense left ? How badly damaged are the Lex, Indomitable and Yorktown ? I think he will retire to Rabaul or further south for emergency repairs and replenish of bombers. But if KB gets away I will put this down as a big victory - especially if my subs or Nells can pick off any damaged ships.


Xargun

Sub Warfare:
SS Searaven attacks my asw patrol near Babeldaob, sinking a PB and escaping without damage.
S-30 is spotted near Babeldaob and avoids my depth charges.
S-35 is spotted in the shallows at Yap and avoids damage.


South Pacific:
Enemy B-25s hit the 9th GEACPS Brigade as it fleeds towards Port Moresby inflicting minimal casualties.



KB has fled the area and the allied DS moves south stopping 1 hex east of Long Island - it only moved 4 hexes this past turn. My guess it is moving together to protect the damaged ships. But if they are moving that slow then the damage must be decent. Unfortunately my subs missed them as they fled through them.


Xargun

Sub Warfare:
My ASW TF near Babeldaob locates S-30 and attacks, but fails to damage her.
A few moments later SS Searaven attacks the ASW TF sinking one of the PBs.
RO-67 is sighted north of Rabaul and attacked. She is heavily damaged and ordered to return to Truk for repairs.
SS Gar is located near Anatahan and attacked. Reports indicate one depth charge hit the sub while another damaged some torpedo tubes. In all multiple hits are reported - odds are the sub is heading home for repairs.


Xargun