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I found it useless to try naval bombardments on Jungle hexes with anything smaller than BBs. If you add forts to that not even BBs make a big impact.

ORIGINAL: JocMeister

I found it useless to try naval bombardments on Jungle hexes with anything smaller than BBs. If you add forts to that not even BBs make a big impact.

One thing .. disruption is not reported in the Combat Report. I can say that my opponents BB attacks against fortified jungle hexes did mot produce casulties but did produce disruption. So if the IJ decided to execute attacks either air or ground those disurptied squads would have been disabled/destroyed. Because how the game works it does take a 1-2 punch .. get squads disrupted and then follow up exposing these squads to disablement die rolls .. plus the whole Malaria die roll thing ....

I find disruption to be a critical factor for making an atoll attack or crossing a river. It is much easier to disrupt a squad than to disable but when ground attacking it seems to me that disruption is like temporary disablement in that the squads do not contribute to AV or firepower but have different algorithums for recovery. A nuance for sure but an algorithum that must be understood in my book ...

Malaria die roll ... an apt double-entendre, Crackaces!

May 1, 2, 3:
Japanese warships are approaching Port Moresby.
Allied invasion force approaching Esperance. Detection levels go up on multiple TFs, so Nick knows for sure something is up on 5th.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons)

Subs:
S-47 sinks a PB on the way from Marhsalls to Solomons area.
S-44 is used as a minesweeper with consequences at Port Moresby. [:D]

ASW attack near Milne Bay at 101,134

Japanese Ships
DD Natsushio
CA Kinugasa
CA Aoba
DD Usugumo
DD Oboro
DD Amagiri

Allied Ships
SS Grayling

On 6th, my sub is overrun just to SW of this base.

Grenadier sinks an xAK with a TT hit and shell hits off Exmouth. Nick seems to have too many small transports moving around the map without any escorts.
Sailfish gets an xAKL at Exmouth on the surface at night.
Balao short reign of terror off northern Hokkaido ends when she gets hit with a DC. She will limp back to West Coast (WC) for repairs.

CVs:
Mine have left Melbourne headed for operations off Esperance.
On 4th, CVs are spotted at Manus (101,119) with 44 F, 90 B, 25 Aux.
On 5th, CVs and SC TF end up 3 NE of Milne Bay (103,131).
On 6th, the CVs disappear.

India/Burma:
Shwebo - We are back up to two groups of 42 Tojo sweeping the empty skies. They are followed by 36 Oscars with up to over 120 Helens on 4th. The number of Helens decrease on the 5th by half to about 60.

1 West Shwebo - A sweep of 42 Tojo over the troops here begin on the 5th. This is followed by 36 Oscars and 63 Helens to attack the troops.

Lashio - Up to 9 Helens from China now bomb the AF sporadically.

China:
Sian - AF is attacked by up to 14 Sonia daily.

Lanchow - Up to 25 Oscars with around 110 Sally/Helen attack AF along with the troops daily. The Oscars are now assigned strafing missions.

Australia:
Horn Island -
4th - 44 B-25s, 32 B-17s, & 12 B-24s hit the AF without any opposition.
5th - 6 PT Boats from Portland Roads tangle with 4 SCs to the NE of the base without success. Only 42 B-25s attack the AF today.
6th - 43 B-25s visit AF. I lose 6 to flak and op losses, so they are stood down afterwards.

South Pacific, Solomons, & New Guinea:

ASW attack near Gasmata at 105,128

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
BB Mutsu
CL Oi
CL Kitakami
DD Satsukaze
DD Ishikaze
DD Susukaze
DD Hikokaze

Allied Ships
SS Perch

This combat on the 4th causes the Allies to move some ships around in the NE part of Australia.

Central Pacific: [>:]

North Pacific: [>:]

Engineering: Kwajalein F3; Coen AF6; Majuro P2; Portland Roads P1 & AF1;

Recon/Intel:


Notes:
Western Australia - Invasion TFs continue to move further west. Invasion is about 4 to 5 days.

NE Australia - When CVs and SC TF were spotted to the NE of Milne Bay on 5th, I was expecting BB Yamato and company to bombarded someplace like Cooktown with the CV staying back to offer LRCAP. I was already moving the damaged warships back to Townsville at least with those that needed yard time headed for Brisbane. DB & TBs were moved up even if not fully trained. Plans will go forth to bring up the third R Class BB with another 2 modern American CLs and 8 DDs from Melbourne. I want 3 SC TF with 2 CLs and 6 to 8 DDs to counter surface threats and the 3 R Class BBs to start bombardment runs on Horn Island.

The multiple invasion TFs with CVs and other TFs are strung out as they head in a NW direction. They will start to head west next turn.

Air Reinforcements for next few days.

The 348th FG with 75 P-47D2s arrive at Eastern USA will be replaced with P-40Es. I'm still playing 'tennis' with where will they go. [:D] SoPac and Australia OR to India/Burma?? Two 25 plane squadrons of the 18th FG are at Townsville to get these planes (very elite pilots in these two groups). The extra 25 will be added to the pool.

The 475th FG comes in at Charters Towers (next to Townsville) with 6 P-38Gs. These 3x Fighters Squadrons will get 75 P-40Ks with quality pilots (I have over 950 US Army fighter pilots).

In 12 days, the first of many Essex CVs arrives. She will go to Pearl to join up with CV Victorious who is finishing her upgrade. Both will be available for SoPac operations in June.

May 7, 8:
Allied invasion force approaching Esperance. The 9th is so busy, it will get its own posting. [:)]

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons)

Subs:

ASW attack near Exmouth at 51,125
Japanese Ships
AO Notoro
AO Naruto
AO Hayamoto
PB Yodozo Maru

Allied Ships
SS Spearfish

So close, yet so far....

Tautog overstayed her welcome at Merauke and is hit by 1 DC. Back to Brisbane for repairs.

ASW attack near Albany at 49,152

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
CA Takao
CL Yura
CL Isuzu
DD Shiratsuyu
DD Uranami
DD Shirakumo
DD Murasame

Allied Ships
SS Tarpon

Leaving before my fleet arrives. Damn!!

ASW attack near Esperance at 59,157

Japanese Ships
SS I-164, hits 6 (one actual DC hit)

Allied Ships
DD Meade
BC Repulse
CA Vincennes
CA Astoria
CA Chicago
CLAA San Diego
DD Hobby
DD Reid
DD Conyngham
DD Case
DD Cummings

Sub vs Sub: SS Whale attacking SS I-175 at 115,135 - near Auki

Japanese Ships
SS I-175, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage SUNK!!

Allied Ships
SS Whale

SS Whale launches 4 torpedoes at 2,000 yards

One of the small things in this that I love!

Sub attack near Esperance at 60,156

Japanese Ships
SS I-158, hits 3

Allied Ships
CVE Suwannee, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage 10-51(44)-0-0
BB Colorado
CA Indianapolis
CA Portland
DD Lang
DD Wilson
DD Sterett
DD Ellet
DD Witte de With
DD Vendetta
DD Vampire
DD Voyager

Another invasion, another hit for his subs on a big juicy target. I have 8 DDs in the TF and they cannot hit anything. Lots of Kingfisher FPs are set to 50% ASW search with range of 2 to increase DL.

CVs:
Mine have are off Esperance.
Japan's are unknown.

India/Burma:
Shwebo - We are back up to two groups of 42 Tojo sweeping the empty skies. They are followed by 36 Oscars with up to over 60 Helens on 4th. The number of Helens decrease on the 5th by half to about 60.

1 West Shwebo - A sweep of 42 Tojo over the troops here continues. This is followed by 36 Oscars and about 75 Helens to attack the troops.

China:
Sian - AF is attacked by up to 14 Sonia daily.

Lanchow - Up to 25 Oscars with around 110 Sally/Helen attack AF along with the troops daily. The Oscars are now assigned strafing missions.

Australia:
Horn Island - Coen now has SBD and Beaufort VIIIs!!

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 91,128

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 50
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 4 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40K Warhawk: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
xAK Monji Maru, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Ikushima Maru, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 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

CAP engaged:
582 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (14 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
14 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 14000
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Ikushima Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Monji Maru

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 91,128

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Ikushima Maru, and is sunk
xAK Monji Maru, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
PB Kenkon Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Ikushima Maru dead in the water ...
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Ikushima Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Monji Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring PB Kenkon Maru

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 89,127

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 15

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 5, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
SC Ch 4
SC Ch 6, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
7 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
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring SC Ch 5
Massive explosion on SC Ch 6
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring SC Ch 6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 89,127

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 36 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Allied aircraft
Beaufort VIII x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
SC Ch 40
SC Ch 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Beaufort VIII launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.

South Pacific, Solomons, & New Guinea:
His transports and warships are unloading at Port Moresby.

Central Pacific: [>:]

North Pacific: [>:]

Engineering: Colombo AF9; Cooktown AF8; Bowen AF5; Warazup AF4; Townsville AF9 & F2

Recon/Intel:

13/54th/A Division is loaded on a Std-A Cargo class xAK moving to Port Moresby.
2/54th/A Division is loaded on APD Numakaze moving to Port Moresby.
Why is he sending another division here?? This is why he had the warships off Milne Bay a few turns ago. I'm going to be MacArthur and avoid as many of these type bases that I can.

Notes:
Esperance will be invaded tomorrow.

May 9th - The invasion of western Australia begins!!
I try to stay away from full Combat Reports, but today's action makes it easier to do so. I will edit and comment on it soon.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 09, 43
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ASW attack near Esperance at 59,155

Japanese Ships
SS I-166

Allied Ships
DMS Perry
CL Concord
APA George F. Elliot
APA Henry T. Allen
APA Zeilin
APA Harris
APA Wharton
xAP Rangitiki
xAP Largs Bay
DD Hull

SS I-166 launches 2 torpedoes at DMS Perry
DD Hull fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Submarine attack near Esperance at 58,154

Japanese Ships
SS I-156, hits 26, and is sunk

Allied Ships
DD Benham
BB Colorado
CA Indianapolis
CA Portland
DD Voyager
DD Sterett
DD Stack
DD Vendetta
DD Vampire
DD Lang
DD Wilson

SS I-156 launches 2 torpedoes at DD Benham
I-156 bottoming out ....
DD Vendetta fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Vampire fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Lang fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Wilson attacking submerged sub ....
DD Vendetta fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Wilson fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Vendetta fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Wilson fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Vendetta attacking submerged sub ....
DD Wilson fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Vendetta attacking submerged sub ....
DD Vendetta is out of ASW ammo
SS I-156 forced to surface!
DD Vampire firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Lang firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Vampire firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Lang firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Vampire firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Lang firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Wilson firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Vendetta firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Vampire firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Lang firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Vampire firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Lang firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Wilson firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Vendetta firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Vampire firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Lang firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Wilson firing on surfaced sub ....
DD Vendetta firing on surfaced sub ....
Sub slips beneath the waves

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Sub attack near Chichi-jima at 119,74

Japanese Ships
PC Sumire, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Pogy

SS Pogy launches 2 torpedoes
Pogy diving deep ....
Sub escapes detection

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Sub attack near Esperance at 56,153

Japanese Ships
SS I-155, hits 4

Allied Ships
DMS Hopkins

SS I-155 launches 2 torpedoes at DMS Hopkins
I-155 bottoming out ....
DMS Hopkins fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Hopkins fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Hopkins fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Hopkins attacking submerged sub ....
DMS Hopkins attacking submerged sub ....
DMS Hopkins is out of ASW ammo
DMS Hopkins is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Esperance at 56,153, Range 3,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Tokitsukaze, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
DD Akatsuki
DD Mochizuki

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 1
CA Minneapolis
CA Quincy, Shell hits 1
CL Honolulu
CL Phoenix
DD Meredith
DD Gwin
DD Monssen
DD Duncan
DD Hughes
DD Anderson
DD Hammann
DD Russell, Shell hits 1, on fire

Poor visibility due to Rain with 25% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Rain and 25% moonlight: 4,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
Range closes to 5,000 yards...
Range closes to 3,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 3,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 3,000 yards
DD Gwin engages DD Mochizuki at 3,000 yards
DD Akatsuki engages DD Gwin at 3,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages DD Gwin at 3,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages CL Phoenix at 3,000 yards
DD Russell engages DD Mochizuki at 3,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Duncan at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages CA Quincy at 2,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages CA Minneapolis at 2,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages DD Tokitsukaze at 2,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages DD Tokitsukaze at 2,000 yards
DD Akatsuki engages DD Russell at 2,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Hammann at 2,000 yards
DD Hughes engages DD Tokitsukaze at 2,000 yards
DD Meredith engages DD Tokitsukaze at 2,000 yards
Tachibana, Masao orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 9,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Russell at 9,000 yards
DD Akatsuki engages DD Russell at 9,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Tokitsukaze at 9,000 yards
DD Meredith engages DD Amatsukaze at 9,000 yards
DD Gwin engages DD Tokitsukaze at 9,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages DD Meredith at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CA Quincy engages DD Tokitsukaze at 11,000 yards
DD Akatsuki engages DD Hughes at 11,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages DD Russell at 11,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages DD Tokitsukaze at 11,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages DD Tokitsukaze at 11,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Hughes at 11,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages DD Monssen at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Russell at 10,000 yards
DD Russell engages DD Akatsuki at 10,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages DD Amatsukaze at 10,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages DD Tokitsukaze at 10,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze engages DD Hammann at 10,000 yards
DD Monssen engages DD Amatsukaze at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Quincy engages DD Tokitsukaze at 8,000 yards
DD Tokitsukaze sunk by CA Minneapolis at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
DD Gwin engages DD Mochizuki at 10,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages DD Amatsukaze at 10,000 yards
DD Amatsukaze engages CA New Orleans at 10,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Hughes at 10,000 yards
DD Meredith engages DD Amatsukaze at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Meredith at 11,000 yards
DD Amatsukaze engages CA Minneapolis at 11,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages DD Amatsukaze at 11,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Russell at 11,000 yards
DD Amatsukaze engages DD Meredith at 11,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Hammann at 11,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages DD Amatsukaze at 11,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages DD Amatsukaze at 11,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages DD Mochizuki at 11,000 yards
DD Amatsukaze engages DD Hughes at 11,000 yards
DD Akatsuki engages DD Duncan at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
DD Russell engages DD Mochizuki at 10,000 yards
DD Meredith engages DD Akatsuki at 10,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages DD Amatsukaze at 10,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Duncan at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Russell at 9,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Akatsuki at 9,000 yards
DD Amatsukaze engages DD Duncan at 9,000 yards
DD Amatsukaze engages DD Duncan at 9,000 yards
DD Mochizuki engages DD Meredith at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
DD Meredith engages DD Mochizuki at 11,000 yards
DD Akatsuki engages DD Hughes at 11,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages DD Amatsukaze at 11,000 yards
Task forces break off...

The Japanese TF commander kept trying to break off, but he couldn't get away quick enough. I should have sunk them all.
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Sub attack near Manokwari at 85,107

Japanese Ships
AO Teibo
AO Erimo
PB Okiyu Maru

Allied Ships
SS Greenling

SS Greenling launches 4 torpedoes at AO Teibo
Greenling diving deep ....
PB Okiyu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Okiyu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Okiyu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Okiyu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
PB Okiyu Maru fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

[:@]
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ASW attack near Esperance at 56,153

Japanese Ships
SS I-155, hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
DMS Hovey

SS I-155 is sighted by escort
DMS Hovey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Hovey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Hovey fails to find sub, continues to search...
DMS Hovey attacking submerged sub ....
DMS Hovey fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Esperance at 56,153, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
E Yaeyama, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
E Natsushima, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
E Naryu, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
E Kyosai, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
E Ishizaki, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
E Saishu, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
E Hatsutaka, Shell hits 17, and is sunk
E Wakataka, Shell hits 11, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans
CA Minneapolis
CA Quincy, Shell hits 1
CL Honolulu
CL Phoenix
DD Meredith
DD Gwin
DD Monssen
DD Duncan
DD Hughes
DD Anderson
DD Hammann
DD Russell

Poor visibility due to Rain
Maximum visibility in Rain: 15,000 yards
Range closes to 23,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 23,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
Moore, S. crosses the 'T'
DD Hammann engages E Saishu at 11,000 yards
CA Quincy engages E Yaeyama at 11,000 yards
DD Monssen engages E Yaeyama at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CA Quincy engages E Wakataka at 5,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages E Wakataka at 5,000 yards
CA Quincy engages E Naryu at 5,000 yards
CA Quincy engages E Natsushima at 5,000 yards
CA Quincy engages E Yaeyama at 5,000 yards
DD Hughes engages E Hatsutaka at 5,000 yards
DD Duncan engages E Natsushima at 5,000 yards
DD Meredith engages E Wakataka at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Quincy engages E Wakataka at 7,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages E Wakataka at 7,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages E Ishizaki at 7,000 yards
E Natsushima sunk by CL Honolulu at 7,000 yards
E Naryu sunk by CA Quincy at 7,000 yards
DD Hammann engages E Ishizaki at 7,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages E Yaeyama at 7,000 yards
DD Hughes engages E Saishu at 7,000 yards
DD Gwin engages E Saishu at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages E Wakataka at 7,000 yards
Tomonari, A. orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CA Quincy engages E Wakataka at 8,000 yards
E Wakataka sunk by CA New Orleans at 8,000 yards
CA Quincy engages E Ishizaki at 8,000 yards
DD Russell engages E Ishizaki at 8,000 yards
DD Duncan engages E Saishu at 8,000 yards
DD Meredith engages E Saishu at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CA Quincy engages E Saishu at 7,000 yards
CA Quincy engages E Yaeyama at 7,000 yards
DD Anderson engages E Ishizaki at 7,000 yards
DD Hughes engages E Ishizaki at 7,000 yards
DD Duncan engages E Saishu at 7,000 yards
DD Monssen engages E Saishu at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages E Ishizaki at 7,000 yards
Tomonari, A. orders Japanese TF to disengage
CA Quincy engages E Hatsutaka at 7,000 yards
CA Quincy engages E Saishu at 7,000 yards
Massive explosion on E Ishizaki
CA Quincy engages E Ishizaki at 7,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages E Hatsutaka at 7,000 yards
DD Russell engages E Yaeyama at 7,000 yards
DD Hughes engages E Ishizaki at 7,000 yards
DD Gwin engages E Saishu at 7,000 yards
DD Meredith engages E Ishizaki at 7,000 yards
CA Quincy engages E Hatsutaka at 7,000 yards
CA Quincy engages E Saishu at 7,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages E Hatsutaka at 7,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages E Hatsutaka at 7,000 yards
DD Russell engages E Yaeyama at 7,000 yards
E Ishizaki sunk by DD Duncan at 7,000 yards
DD Monssen engages E Saishu at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
E Hatsutaka sunk by CA Minneapolis at 6,000 yards
DD Monssen engages E Yaeyama at 6,000 yards
E Yaeyama sunk by CA Minneapolis at 6,000 yards
DD Hammann engages E Saishu at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages E Saishu at 7,000 yards
DD Hammann engages E Kyosai at 7,000 yards
DD Duncan engages E Saishu at 7,000 yards
DD Monssen engages E Saishu at 7,000 yards
E Kyosai sunk by CL Phoenix at 7,000 yards
DD Hammann engages E Saishu at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
E Saishu sunk by DD Hughes at 5,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

I hope he was trying to get past the SC TF into the Amphib TF, because I don't understand this decision. My SC TF stood tall and didn't let anybody through.
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Sub attack near Biak at 87,109

Japanese Ships
CV Soryu
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei
CLAA Tatsuta
CLAA Tenryu
CS Chiyoda
CS Chitose
DD Niizuki
DD Naganami
DD Makinami
DD Makigumo
DD Kazegumo

Allied Ships
SS Growler, hits 1

SS Growler launches 6 torpedoes at CV Soryu
Growler diving deep ....
DD Naganami fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Makinami fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Makigumo attacking submerged sub ....
DD Kazegumo fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Makinami fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Makigumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Makigumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Makigumo attacking submerged sub ....
DD Makigumo is out of ASW ammo
DD Makigumo is out of ASW ammo
DD Makigumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Makigumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Makigumo fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Makigumo attacking submerged sub ....
DD Makigumo is out of ASW ammo
DD Makigumo is out of ASW ammo
Escort abandons search for sub

If this is KB, then she is 9 days from Perth (9 hexes per day). [:)][:)]
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Esperance at 56,153, Range 15,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
xAK Matsue Maru, Shell hits 32, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
PB Kogane Maru, Shell hits 24, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA New Orleans
CA Minneapolis
CA Quincy
CL Honolulu
CL Phoenix
DD Meredith
DD Gwin
DD Monssen
DD Duncan
DD Hughes
DD Anderson
DD Hammann
DD Russell

Low visibility due to Rain
Maximum visibility in Rain: 15,000 yards
Range closes to 27,000 yards...
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 23,000 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...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
CA New Orleans engages PB Kogane Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Hammann engages PB Kogane Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Anderson engages PB Kogane Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Gwin engages PB Kogane Maru at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CA Quincy engages PB Kogane Maru at 12,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages xAK Matsue Maru at 12,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages PB Kogane Maru at 12,000 yards
DD Monssen engages xAK Matsue Maru at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CA Quincy engages PB Kogane Maru at 11,000 yards
DD Hammann engages xAK Matsue Maru at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Quincy engages PB Kogane Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Gwin engages xAK Matsue Maru at 8,000 yards
CL Phoenix engages PB Kogane Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Anderson engages xAK Matsue Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Duncan engages xAK Matsue Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Monssen engages xAK Matsue Maru at 8,000 yards
CA Quincy engages PB Kogane Maru at 8,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages PB Kogane Maru at 8,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages PB Kogane Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Russell engages xAK Matsue Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Anderson engages xAK Matsue Maru at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Duncan engages xAK Matsue Maru at 7,000 yards
CL Honolulu engages PB Kogane Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Hughes engages xAK Matsue Maru at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages PB Kogane Maru at 6,000 yards
PB Kogane Maru sunk by CL Honolulu at 6,000 yards
DD Duncan engages xAK Matsue Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Gwin engages xAK Matsue Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Meredith engages xAK Matsue Maru at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
DD Hammann engages xAK Matsue Maru at 4,000 yards
CA Minneapolis engages xAK Matsue Maru at 4,000 yards
xAK Matsue Maru sunk by DD Monssen at 4,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Carnarvon at 45,135

Japanese Ships
BB Haruna
BB Kongo
CA Kumano
CS Nisshin
DD Hagikaze
DD Maikaze
DD Kuroshio
DD Ushio
DD Akebono
DD Yugiri
DD Asagiri

Allied Ships
SS Gar

SS Gar is sighted by escort
Gar diving deep ....
DD Ushio fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Akebono fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Yugiri fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Asagiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Asagiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Asagiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Asagiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Asagiri fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

Where is she headed?? Towards Esperance would not be good with most of the Allied fleet there.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Shwebo , at 59,45

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 30 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 42

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
42 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 30000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on III Indian Corps, at 58,45 , near Mandalay

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 34,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 42

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
42 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 30000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Shwebo , at 59,45

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 37 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 42

No Japanese losses

Aircraft Attacking:
42 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 30000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 21 NM, estimated altitude 31,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 19

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 6 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 30000 feet *

CAP engaged:
582 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 9 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 35000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes

Zeros vs P38s on sweep is nothing but a turkey shoot for my Lightning pilots.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Esperance at 56,153

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 27
D4Y1 Judy x 32
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 45

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 66
F6F-3 Hellcat x 57

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 7 destroyed
D4Y1 Judy: 23 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F6F-3 Hellcat (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(15 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-3 with F6F-3 Hellcat (14 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
14 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (10 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (14 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(15 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
14 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (14 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(14 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
14 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
14 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(7 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 4 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VRF-2F with F4F-4 Wildcat (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
2 planes vectored on to bombers
VRF-5F with F4F-4 Wildcat (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-122 with F4F-4 Wildcat (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead

The Tojo can hold its own, the Zero and later the Oscars cannot. This group of Judys was almost wiped out.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Esperance at 56,153

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 76 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes

Japanese aircraft
B5N2 Kate x 34
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 31

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 47
F6F-3 Hellcat x 38

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 18 destroyed, 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Idaho, Torpedo hits 2 (No damage of any kind!!) [X(][&:]

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F6F-3 Hellcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(1 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 112 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 10 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
VRF-5F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(3 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 5 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 72 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 6 minutes
VF-3 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 2 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 14000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
VRF-2F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (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 15000 , scrambling fighters to 16270.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-122 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 63 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Esperance at 56,153

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 36
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 36
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 8
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 53
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 22

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 35
F6F-3 Hellcat x 23

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 5 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 4 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 7 destroyed, 27 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 destroyed by flak
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 3 destroyed, 8 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
DD Monaghan
BB New Mexico
BB Pennsylvania, Bomb hits 1
CA Quincy
DMS Boggs
BB Idaho
BB Arizona, Bomb hits 4
CA New Orleans
DD Duncan, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Am. Builder, Bomb hits 2

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
17 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
14 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
6 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 18 minutes
VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 18000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 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 16000 and 34000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 53 minutes
VRF-2F with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 34000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 62 minutes
VRF-5F with F4F-4 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 9000 and 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
VF-2 with F6F-3 Hellcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
VF-3 with F6F-3 Hellcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
VMF-122 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes

Nice use of Helens at 1000' so they can use LowN, but my fighters still get down there to shoot them down.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Lanchow , at 81,34

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 8
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 9
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 28
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 2 damaged
Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed by flak

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

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
8 x Ki-43-Ic Oscar bombing from 100 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 15 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
5 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
3 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 3rd Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 9th Separate Brigade ...
Also attacking Lanchow ...
Also attacking 71st Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 3rd Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 71st Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 3rd Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking Lanchow ...
Also attacking 3rd Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 19th Chinese Base Force ...
Also attacking 3rd Chinese Corps ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 3rd Chinese Corps, at 81,34 (Lanchow)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 15

No Japanese losses

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

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Esperance at 56,153

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 12
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 9

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 23
F6F-3 Hellcat x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 3 destroyed, 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
8 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 2000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 42 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 80 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 2000 and 34000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VRF-2F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 2000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 47 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-2 with F6F-3 Hellcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-3 with F6F-3 Hellcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-122 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 10000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
VRF-5F with F4F-4 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 71st Chinese Corps, at 81,34 (Lanchow)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 34 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 19
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-21-IIa Sally: 1 damaged

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

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
14 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet *
Ground Attack: 2 x 250 kg GP Bomb
5 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 34th Separate Brigade ...
Also attacking 1st War Area ...
Also attacking 34th Separate Brigade ...
Also attacking 71st Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 34th Separate Brigade ...
Also attacking 1st War Area ...
Also attacking 34th Separate Brigade ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 71st Chinese Corps, at 81,34 (Lanchow)

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid spotted at 33 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-21-IIa Sally x 11
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 21

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 damaged

Allied ground losses:
87 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
21 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
11 x Ki-21-IIa Sally bombing from 6000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 100th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 71st Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 100th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 71st Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 100th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 71st Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 100th Chinese Corps ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Esperance at 56,153

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 25
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 9

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 19
F6F-3 Hellcat x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 7 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed

CAP engaged:
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (5 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 39 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 30 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 34000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
VRF-2F with F4F-4 Wildcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 25810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-2 with F6F-3 Hellcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 19 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-3 with F6F-3 Hellcat (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 15000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-122 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
2 planes vectored on to bombers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 255th Armoured Brigade, at 58,45 , near Mandalay

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 5 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 10 damaged

Allied ground losses:
24 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
22 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on 5th Chinese Corps, at 58,45 , near Mandalay

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 36
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 12
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 42

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 28 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied ground losses:
81 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb
22 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 9000 feet
Ground Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

Also attacking 254th Armoured Brigade ...
Also attacking 5th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 254th Armoured Brigade ...
Also attacking 5th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 254th Armoured Brigade ...
Also attacking 5th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 254th Armoured Brigade ...
Also attacking 5th Chinese Corps ...
Also attacking 254th Armoured Brigade ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Sian , at 83,41

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 21 NM, estimated altitude 8,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-51 Sonia x 14

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 24

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 6000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 50 kg GP Bomb
2 x Ki-51 Sonia bombing from 6000 feet *
Airfield Attack: 2 x 50 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Esperance , at 56,153

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 27

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
F6F-3 Hellcat x 6
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 damaged
A6M2-N Rufe: 2 destroyed on ground

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 4 damaged

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 19

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
12 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 12 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
11th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 11 on standby, 2 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 27810.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes

My bombers are coming from Ceduna.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Esperance , at 56,153

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 16 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 23

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
F6F-3 Hellcat x 3
PB4Y-1 Liberator x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
PB4Y-1 Liberator: 5 damaged

Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 5

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x PB4Y-1 Liberator bombing from 11000 feet
Airfield Attack: 10 x 500 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
12 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 11000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes
11th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 30000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 68 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 38 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 30000 feet *

CAP engaged:
582 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 3 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 16000 and 27000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 6

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 30000 feet *

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Esperance at 56,153

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 13
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 17

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
F6F-3 Hellcat x 5

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
xAK Elihu Thomson
APD Talbot
DMS Dorsey

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 11000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (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 15000 , scrambling fighters to 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
VRF-2F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 6000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes
VF-2 with F6F-3 Hellcat (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 13000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (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 15000 , scrambling fighters to 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 16 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-122 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Esperance at 56,153

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 29 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M3 Nell x 13
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 12

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6
F6F-3 Hellcat x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M3 Nell: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
DMS Hovey

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M3 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

CAP engaged:
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 44 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VRF-2F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 2000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 21 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-2 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 8 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (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 15000 , scrambling fighters to 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
VMF-122 with F4F-4 Wildcat (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 15000 , scrambling fighters to 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
1 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (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 15000 , scrambling fighters to 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Shwebo , at 59,45

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid detected at 69 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 21 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 36

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 12 damaged

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

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 24

Aircraft Attacking:
36 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 9000 feet
Airfield Attack: 4 x 250 kg GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid detected at 20 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 15

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
15 x P-38G Lightning sweeping at 30000 feet *

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Esperance at 56,153

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 2,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 12 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 11
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 29
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 4
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 5
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 17

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 58
F6F-3 Hellcat x 46

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 5 destroyed
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 15 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 7 destroyed, 1 damaged
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 1 destroyed by flak

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

Allied Ships
xAP Nightingale
CA New Orleans
BB Mississippi
BB Idaho

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-49-IIb Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
2 x Ki-49-IIa Helen bombing from 1000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 250 kg SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F6F-3 Hellcat (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-3 with F6F-3 Hellcat (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (11 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(11 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
11 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (13 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
13 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (12 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(12 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
12 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (6 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(6 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
6 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (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 15000
Raid is overhead
VRF-2F with F4F-4 Wildcat (8 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(8 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
8 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
VRF-5F with F4F-4 Wildcat (9 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(9 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
9 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Raid is overhead
VMF-122 with F4F-4 Wildcat (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 15000
Raid is overhead

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Esperance at 56,153

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 5,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 25 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 11
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 7
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 11

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 42
F6F-3 Hellcat x 35

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 3 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 4 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 7 destroyed

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

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
10 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 32000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-3 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 50 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 5700.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 38 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
10 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 95 minutes
10 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
6 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 35 minutes
7 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 51 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 4000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
VRF-2F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 4620.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 28 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
VRF-5F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 49 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-122 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 1 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 10 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 15
SBD-3 Dauntless x 22

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 11 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

CAP engaged:
582 Ku S-1 with A6M5 Zero (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 1 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 34 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Horn Island , at 91,128

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 36 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes

Allied aircraft
P-40K Warhawk x 15
SBD-3 Dauntless x 11

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Airfield Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Esperance at 56,153

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 34 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 7
B5N2 Kate x 4
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 1

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 35
F6F-3 Hellcat x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 1 destroyed

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 31000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 68 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-3 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 9 minutes
VF-42 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 15000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F6F-3 Hellcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 36 minutes
6 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-8 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 12 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-71 with F4F-4 Wildcat (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 3 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 1000 and 5000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 13 minutes
4 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-35 with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 15 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-37 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 1 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 25 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
VRF-2F with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 17 minutes
2 planes vectored on to bombers
VRF-5F with F4F-4 Wildcat (2 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
2 plane(s) intercepting now.
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 1000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
VMF-122 with F4F-4 Wildcat (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
3 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 9000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes
3 planes vectored on to bombers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Albany at 51,153

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 70 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 20
F6F-3 Hellcat x 21
SBD-3 Dauntless x 26
TBF-1 Avenger x 18

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Amatsukaze, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Mochizuki
DD Akatsuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
18 x TBF-1 Avenger launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22.4in Mk 13 Torp.
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
20 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Akatsuki

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on Esperance , at 56,153

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 16 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 3

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 62
F6F-3 Hellcat x 31
TBF-1 Avenger x 97

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese ground losses:
85 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Runway hits 6

Aircraft Attacking:
17 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
3 x F6F-3 Hellcat sweeping at 15000 feet
17 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
16 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
15 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
16 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 12000 feet
Ground Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x TBF-1 Avenger bombing from 12000 feet
Airfield Attack: 2 x 500 lb GP Bomb
8 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 15000 feet
4 x F4F-4 Wildcat sweeping at 15000 feet

CAP engaged:
24th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 2 scrambling)
Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters to 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 40 minutes
11th Sentai with Ki-44-IIa Tojo (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 30000
Raid is overhead

Also attacking 9th Base Force ...
Also attacking Sasebo 3rd SNLF ...
Also attacking 9th Base Force ...
Also attacking 25th JNAF AF Unit ...
Also attacking 9th Base Force ...
Also attacking Esperance ...
Also attacking 9th Base Force ...
Also attacking Sasebo 3rd SNLF ...
Also attacking 9th Base Force ...
Also attacking 25th JNAF AF Unit ...
Also attacking 9th Base Force ...
Also attacking Sasebo 3rd SNLF ...
Also attacking 9th Base Force ...
Also attacking Sasebo 3rd SNLF ...
Also attacking 9th Base Force ...
Also attacking 25th JNAF AF Unit ...
Also attacking 9th Base Force ...
Also attacking Esperance ...
Also attacking 25th JNAF AF Unit ...
Also attacking 9th Base Force ...
Also attacking Sasebo 3rd SNLF ...
Also attacking 9th Base Force ...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Esperance (56,153) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

190 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Pennsylvania, Shell hits 1
BB Arizona
DD MacDonough
DD Worden
AMC Hector
DD Dewey

Japanese ground losses:
721 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 6 destroyed, 67 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 11 (1 destroyed, 10 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
108 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled

9th Base Force firing at BB Pennsylvania
BB Pennsylvania firing at 9th Base Force
BB Arizona firing at 9th Base Force
9th Base Force firing at BB Arizona
DD MacDonough firing at Sasebo 3rd SNLF
DD Worden firing at 9th Base Force
9th Base Force firing at DD Worden
DD MacDonough fired at enemy troops
DD Worden fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Esperance (56,153)

TF 163 troops unloading over beach at Esperance, 56,153

Allied ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 14 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 4 (1 destroyed, 3 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)

40mm M1 Bofors accidentally lost during unload of 30th Base Group /1
13 troops of a USA 43 Rifle Squad accidentally lost during unload of 147th(Sep) Infantry Rgt /2
Engineer Vehicle lost from landing craft during unload of 49th Base Group
15 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 43rd Base Group /4


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Esperance (56,153) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

154 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB Mississippi
CL Trenton
CL Concord
DD Dale
APA William P. Biddle
DD Hull

Japanese ground losses:
397 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 32 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 5 (1 destroyed, 4 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
59 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 10 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

BB Mississippi firing at 25th JNAF AF Unit
CL Trenton firing at 9th Base Force
9th Base Force firing at CL Trenton
CL Concord firing at Sasebo 3rd SNLF
DD Dale firing at 25th JNAF AF Unit
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Esperance (56,153)

TF 262 troops unloading over beach at Esperance, 56,153

Allied ground losses:
279 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 47 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 30 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 23 (0 destroyed, 23 disabled)
Vehicles lost 5 (0 destroyed, 5 disabled)

15 Support troops lost overboard during unload of 1st Marine Div
15 Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of 1st Marine Div /5


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Esperance (56,153)
Defensive Guns engage approaching landing force

33 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DMS Dorsey
APD Talbot
APD Gregory

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

DMS Dorsey fired at enemy troops
APD Talbot fired at enemy troops
APD Gregory fired at enemy troops
75mm Infantry Gun battery firing at APD Talbot
8cm/40 T88 DP Gun battery firing at APD Talbot


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Esperance (56,153)

TF 384 troops unloading over beach at Esperance, 56,153



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Esperance (56,153)

163 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
DE Express
DMS Boggs
APD Crosby
APD Waters

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

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

DE Express fired at enemy troops
DMS Boggs fired at enemy troops
APD Crosby fired at enemy troops
APD Waters fired at enemy troops
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 5,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Esperance (56,153)

TF 388 troops unloading over beach at Esperance, 56,153

Allied ground losses:
Guns lost 15 (0 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Vehicles lost 10 (0 destroyed, 10 disabled)



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Esperance (56,153) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

133 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
CL Detroit
CL Raleigh
DD Farragut
APA George Clymer
BB Idaho
DD Aylwin

Japanese ground losses:
441 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 45 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 25 (1 destroyed, 24 disabled)

Allied ground losses:
88 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

CL Detroit firing at 9th Base Force
9th Base Force firing at CL Detroit
CL Raleigh firing at Sasebo 3rd SNLF
DD Farragut firing at 9th Base Force
9th Base Force firing at DD Farragut
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 4,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 2,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Esperance (56,153)

TF 394 troops unloading over beach at Esperance, 56,153

Allied ground losses:
365 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 62 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 31 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 9 (0 destroyed, 9 disabled)
Vehicles lost 18 (0 destroyed, 18 disabled)

13 troops of a USA 43 Rifle Squad lost in surf during unload of Americal Infantry Div /3
12 troops of a USN Const Eng Sq lost in surf during unload of 7th USN Naval Const Rgt


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Invasion action off Esperance (56,153) - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

73 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Allied Ships
BB New Mexico
CA Pensacola
CA Chester
APA U.S. Grant
DD Monaghan
DD Allen

Japanese ground losses:
399 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 14 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 37 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

BB New Mexico firing at Sasebo 3rd SNLF
CA Pensacola firing at 48th Field AA Battalion
CA Chester firing at 9th Base Force
9th Base Force firing at CA Chester
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 6,000 yards
Defensive Guns fire at approaching troops in landing craft at 1,000 yards


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amphibious Assault at Esperance (56,153)

TF 399 troops unloading over beach at Esperance, 56,153

Allied ground losses:
100 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 18 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 48 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 43 (0 destroyed, 43 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (0 destroyed, 12 disabled)

15 Naval Support troops lost overboard during unload of Southwest Pacific
15 Naval Support troops lost from landing craft during unload of Southwest Pacific /3


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

Ground combat at Esperance (56,153)

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 556 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 80

Defending force 24719 troops, 590 guns, 394 vehicles, Assault Value = 781

Japanese ground losses:
45 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Assaulting units:
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy
48th Field AA Battalion
47th Field AA Battalion
40th Field AA Battalion
9th Base Force
25th JNAF AF Unit

Defending units:
50th Cmbt Engineer Regiment
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
1st Marine Div /3
102nd Cmbt Engineer Regiment
Americal Infantry Div /4
3/542nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
II Australian Corps
Southwest Pacific /2
181st Field Artillery Battalion
134th Field Artillery Battalion
2/542nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
1/542nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
2nd AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
2nd Medium Regiment
49th Base Group /2
43rd Base Group /2
1st Medium Regiment
70th Coast AA Regiment
30th Base Group /2
7th USN Naval Const Rgt /4

A deliberate attack will be ordered tomorrow. He has less combat power than I thought.

A2A losses for the day were - Japan 226 vs Allies 39 (22 F4F & 9 F6F)

I might suggest that drawing the IJ down here in the sticks helps out with your planned Horn Island invasion. The loss of platforms in this corner of the world means that mobile naval platforms are required to resist. I doubt all the bases have the required supply constraints to fill out the aircraft in a timely manner, and flying platforms in takes a couple of turns and hops .... so its the KB, or this corner of the workd becomes a huge IJ POW camp. Very nice ...

This is the downside for the IJ to occupy Perth .. although it is easily isolated ... you are demosntrating what it takes to support a defense so far away from home ....many a good IJ unit will meet their fate here .. and when rebuilt will never be the same ....

Perth & western Australia - A perk I will get once I take this base is Nick was nice enough to expand the Repair Shipyard to a size 41. [:)] Big enough for anything. I wanted to come back here to add another theater that he has to defend. Once Kalgoorlie is taken then I can move everything that is at Port Augusta over by rail. I'm strongly considering to change over some of the units at Esperance to prep for Port Hedland and beyond. So far, not too many places he is standing and fighting to the bitter end.

Nick was nice enough to expand the Repair Shipyard to a size 41

Hory Crap!!! The "Capetown" of Oz! That is a problem I think of the Western Oz campaign is where the damaged ships go. I guess eventually they make it to Capetown but now . you have a viable repair station .. Way to go!!

Brisbane is up to Repair Shipyard 25. That will help too. [;)] Sydney is size 30 in DBB.

ORIGINAL: ny59giants

Brisbane is up to Repair Shipyard 25. That will help too. [;)] Sydney is size 30 in DBB.

yes this will help the Eastern operations .. but I have found my Western operations severly hampered having to escort my damaged platform either underneath Oz for the 3000 mile trip to Sydney or the trip to Capetown from Perth ... now with Perth ready to repair big stuff ... it will really help maintain the fleet on the Western shores ..

May 10, 11, 12:
Battle of Esperance area continues.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons)

Subs:
I-27 gets a TT hit on an xAP near Esperance. She later sinks.
I-8 is hit twice just two hexes south of Melbourne by escorts with the transport carrying the 2nd Marine Division.
I-165 is hit once by escorts with empty transports 6 hexes east of Esperance.
S-33 is hit twice by DC at Horn Island by a single PB.

ASW attack near Exmouth at 52,125

Japanese Ships
CL Kashima
CL Katori
DD Karii
E W-12
E W-11
E W-6
E W-5
E Hato
E Yomogi
E Tsuga
E Hasu
AMC Saigon Maru
CM Tsugaru
APD Tawakaze
APD Kyukaze
APD Urukaze
LSD Nigitsu Maru
LSD Akitsu Maru
LSD Shinshu Maru
AK Shizuoka Maru
AK Joyo Maru
AK Tenshinsan Maru
AK Atutasan Maru
AK Aobasan Maru
AK Tokyo Maru
AK Hokkai Maru
AK Kagu Maru
AK Melbourne Maru
AK Kyushu Maru
AK Kaga Maru
AK Sakura Maru
AK Sado Maru
E Ishinui
E Uruyame
E W-20
E W-19

Allied Ships
SS Spearfish

I didn't hit anything, but prior Intel Reports have shown that the Guards Tank Division had been moved back to Soerabaja. Could she be aboard these transports bound for western Australia??

CVs:
Mine have are off Esperance.
Japan now has some at Perth.

India/Burma:
Shwebo -
10th - Just sweeps by two groups of 42 Tojos.
11th - The two groups of Tojo sweep before 39 Helens hit the AF.
12th - Only 42 Tojo sweep.

1 West Shwebo -
10th - 18 Oscars with 36 Helens attack
11th - 42 Tojo sweep to be followed by a total of 70 Oscars and 60 Helens that go after my two Armoured Brigades.
12th - two groups of 42 Tojo sweep. Then, 36 Oscars with 54 helens follow.

China:
Sian - AF is attacked by up to 14 Sonia daily.

Lanchow - Up to 25 Oscars with around 110 Sally/Helen attack AF along with the troops daily. The Oscars are now assigned strafing missions.

Australia:
Horn Island -
10th - 20 P-38s sweep past the 3 Nicks easily. A second group of 23 P-38s find only a lone Nick in the air. Slightly NE of due north are the TF from Port Moresby headed west. I find 5 Tojo on LRCAP vs 20 P-40s with 30 SBDs. They sink an AMC and get one hit on an APD, but whiff on BB Yamato & Matsu. This was a brave move on Nick's part.
11th - 12 B-26s hit the AF.

Esperance -
10th - Unloading continues from 6 TFs. 126 Fighters, 117 TBFs, 178 SBDs attack his troops prior to the deliberate attack.

Ground combat at Esperance (56,153)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 32453 troops, 559 guns, 444 vehicles, Assault Value = 1178

Defending force 5726 troops, 125 guns, 16 vehicles, Assault Value = 54

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 3

Allied adjusted assault: 1330

Japanese adjusted defense: 10

Allied assault odds: 133 to 1 (fort level 3)

Allied forces CAPTURE Esperance !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: forts(+), disruption(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2773 casualties reported
Squads: 83 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 174 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 22 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 84 (83 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (6 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 7

Allied ground losses:
97 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 7 disabled

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
1st Marine Division
102nd Cmbt Engineer Regiment
762nd Tank Battalion
50th Cmbt Engineer Regiment
Americal Infantry Division
763rd Tank Battalion
147th(Sep) Infantry Regiment
2/6th Armoured Rgt /3
II Australian Corps
1/542nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
49th Base Group
70th Coast AA Regiment
1st Medium Regiment
181st Field Artillery Battalion
2nd AmphTrac Engineer Battalion
2/542nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
13th Australian Hvy AA Regiment
3/542nd Boat&Shore Engineer Battalion
32nd Australian Lt AA Regiment
30th Base Group
134th Field Artillery Battalion
2nd Medium Regiment
43rd Base Group
Southwest Pacific
7th USN Naval Construction Regiment

Defending units:
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy
47th Field AA Battalion
9th Base Force
48th Field AA Battalion
40th Field AA Battalion
25th JNAF AF Unit

11th - I had formed a SC TF to place between my transports at Esperance and his forces over to the west around Albany. They were ordered to be one hex due west of the newly captured Esperance along with PT Boats. Japanese CAs still rule the night. [:(]

Night Time Surface Combat, near Esperance at 55,153, Range 11,000 Yards

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Seagull V: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Takao
CA Atago
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 3
CL Yura
DD Shiratsuyu, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Murasame, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Shirakumo
DD Uranami, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Shell hits 28, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CA Canberra, Shell hits 3
DD Preston, Shell hits 1
DD Downes, Shell hits 1
DD Cassin
DD Tucker, Shell hits 23, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

2 of 12 PT Boats are sunk in the same hex, but his SC TF doesn't go any further towards the actual base itself and the vulnerable transports. Daylight finds some CV based Kates headed for the fleet. 12 poor Kates find no escorts and try to avoid 230 fighters. YIKES!! The second strike is better as 71 Zeros, 55 Kates, & 16 Judys target CV Enterprise. He losses 53 planes vs 225 CAP fighters. Only 3 Kates get a chance to even launch. 27 more Kates approach on another kamikaze mission. Finally, the Allies strike back. Well, not quite! [;)]

Morning Air attack on TF, near Albany at 52,153

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 9
A6M5 Zero x 17
A6M5b Zero x 11
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 31

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 38
SBD-3 Dauntless x 27
TBF-1 Avenger x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5b Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 4 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 3 damaged
TBF-1 Avenger: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Uranami, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Murasame, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Shiratsuyu, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage

Morning Air attack on TF, near Albany at 51,153

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 72 NM, estimated altitude 16,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 8

Allied aircraft
F6F-3 Hellcat x 12
SBD-3 Dauntless x 31
TBF-1 Avenger x 18

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F6F-3 Hellcat: 3 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Mochizuki, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
DD Akatsuki, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage

10 more Kates and then another 17 again come in without escorts. [&:] He keeps coming as 42 Zeros with 6 Judy & 5 Kates find a mix on CAP/LRCAP of 95 P-39s, P40s, Corsairs, F4Fs, & F6Fs. I shoot down 12 for losses of only 2. Up until this point in time I'm generally happy with the results, but the final strike of the day changes my mood. [X(] 14 Zeros with 10 Kates target the SC TF just one hex west of my CVs and one hex away from Esperance. I have NO leaky CAP to intervene!! 4 TT hits on BB Prince of Wales follows. [:@] Damage is 18-68(41)-5(1)-0

12th - I send my transports to east away from Esperance just in case he sends in another SC TF or two. I find my PT Boats 5 hexes away ordered to return to Adelaide. I had moved my CVs to be about 4 hexes south of Albany just in case he hangs around (see screenshot). They sink 2 AMc at Albany for their efforts. They are ordered back for the 13th along with the transports back to Esperance along with the follow up forces prepped for Kalgoorlie.

South Pacific, Solomons, & New Guinea:
Yes, I'm training my B-25s on LowN skills. [:D]

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Merauke at 86,123 (11th)

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 22 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-25D1 Mitchell x 4

Allied aircraft losses
B-25D1 Mitchell: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato, Bomb hits 2
DD Takakaze
BB Nagato, Bomb hits 1
DD Ishikaze

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B-25D1 Mitchell bombing and strafing from low level
Naval Attack: 6 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Another strike of 12 B-25s don't hit anything.

4 B-25D1s sink an xAK in the same area later in the PM Phase.

Central Pacific: [>:]

North Pacific: [>:]

Engineering: Townsville F3; Kalemyo AF7 (max); Karachi AF8; Ceduna AF8; Normanton AF5; Cristobal AF9; Portland Roads AF3 & P2; Esperance AF3;

Recon/Intel:
Albany - 8 LCUs 8000/57/8 - 1 F, 28 B
Kalgoorlie - 5 LCUs 10620/40/6 - 24 F, 12 Aux
Perth - 11 LCUs 10300/94/33 - 133 F, 146 B, 35 Aux - 23 ships - 5 TF - CVs with 115 F, 40 B, 25 Aux

Notes:
Esperance - I'm firmly ashore with troops and supplies. I am moving my CV/CVEs back to cover the transports that will return and are coming from Adelaide. I will need a few days (3 to 5) to get them there and unload, maybe more. The furthest Transport TF is 4 days away. My SC TF that did so well is refueled and reloaded and headed back.

Lesson - I need to do better in forming multiple SC TF to be available to intervene. I had to form one in the moment from what I had available.

Bad luck with the dice roll on the Australia TF. The Aussies usually do fairly well at night battle in any game I have played.

His air strike force must be decimated. What does the Intel screen say about the final butcher's bill?

I wrote it down, but forgot to include it in my posting. Air Losses were 171 Japan vs 53 Allies. He's lost 400 planes to my slightly less than 100 for the last few days since the invasion. Thankfully, most of mine are naval air fighter pilots and airframes which I have extras in.

May 13, 14, 15:
KB is now off the coast of western Australia.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons)

Subs:
I-157 is hit by at least one DC off Esperance.
Shark get a TT hit on a PB off Carnarvon.

Sub attack near Esperance at 56,154

Japanese Ships
SS I-162, hits 5, on fire

Allied Ships
CV Saratoga, Torpedo hits 2
BC Repulse
CA Vincennes
CA Astoria
CLAA San Diego
DD Kalk
DD Reid
DD Conyngham
DD Case

SS I-162 launches 4 torpedoes at CV Saratoga
DD Reid fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Conyngham attacking submerged sub ....
DD Case fails to find sub and abandons search
Escort abandons search for sub

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Esperance at 56,154

Japanese Ships
SS I-166, hits 1

Allied Ships
CV Saratoga, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BC Repulse
CA Vincennes
CA Astoria
CA Chicago
CLAA San Diego
DD Meade
DD Reid
DD Conyngham
DD Case

Ammo storage explosion on CV Saratoga
SS I-166 launches 4 torpedoes at CV Saratoga
DD Reid fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Conyngham fails to find sub and abandons search
DD Case fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Case attacking submerged sub ....
DD Case fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Case attacking submerged sub ....
DD Case fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Case fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub

A need for an alcoholic drink was strong at 11am this morning. [:D] Thankfully, an old Battle Cruiser converted over to a CV is made of quality steel. Damage is not as bad as I thought 21-43(15)-3-0

Grayback gets both TT to hit and sink a SC off Port Moresby.
S-45 is hit by 1 DC south of Rabaul.
I-2 is hit twice SW of Melbourne.

CVs:
Mine have are off Esperance
KB ends up being 11 hexes north of Perth (275 F, 266 B, 63 aux)
Other CV/CVL/CVEs are at Geraldton (135 F, 64 B, 25 Aux)

India/Burma:
Shwebo -
13th - Two groups of 42 Tojos sweep. Then, 30 Oscars with 52 Helens hit the troops.
14th - Two groups of Tojo sweep. Then, 30 Oscars and 47 Helens hit the troops.
15th - The usual Tojo and then the 30 Oscars with 44 Helens.

1 West Shwebo -
13th - 42 Tojos sweep and then 18 Oscars with 30 Helens attack the troops.
14th - The Tojo sweep after the 36 Oscars with 30 Helens.
15th - The Tojo sweep after agin with the 18 Oscars and 32 Helens.

China:
Sian - AF is attacked by up to 14 Sonia daily.

Lanchow - Up to 25 Oscars with around 110 Sally/Helen attack AF along with the troops daily. The Oscars are now assigned strafing missions.

Australia:
Horn Island -
13th -

Night Time Surface Combat, near Horn Island at 91,128, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Minegumo, Shell hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kasumi

Allied Ships
DD Fletcher
DD Chevalier, Shell hits 1
DD Cony
DD Saufley, Shell hits 2

8 PT Boast are able to sink two small TKs with TT hits. 2 of those PT Boats are sunk by 2 SC and an "E" ship. A single DD sinks a PT Boat.
15th - 2 PT Boats are sunk when they try to act like minesweepers. Three groups of P-38s followed by two groups of P-40s sweep the empty skies even though recon flights show 91 fighters based here.

Esperance - 18 Beaufighters fly at 1000' to bomb and straf the retreating troops daily.

Ground combat at 57,152 (near Esperance) 1 hex NE on 14th

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 1686 troops, 9 guns, 320 vehicles, Assault Value = 165

Defending force 3783 troops, 71 guns, 6 vehicles, Assault Value = 35

Allied adjusted assault: 85

Japanese adjusted defense: 24

Allied assault odds: 3 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender:
Attacker: fatigue(-)

Japanese ground losses:
1375 casualties reported
Squads: 12 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 116 destroyed, 2 disabled
Engineers: 2 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 19 (13 destroyed, 6 disabled)
Vehicles lost 3 (2 destroyed, 1 disabled)
Units retreated 6
Units destroyed 1

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
762nd Tank Battalion
763rd Tank Battalion
2/6th Armoured Regiment

Defending units:
Sasebo 3rd SNLF
2nd Sasebo SNLF Coy
48th Field AA Battalion
40th Field AA Battalion
9th Base Force
47th Field AA Battalion
25th JNAF AF Unit

South Pacific, Solomons, & New Guinea:

Central Pacific: [>:]

North Pacific: [>:]

Engineering: Diamond Harbor AF9; Lord Howe Island F4; Esperance AF4; Katha AF8; Cairns AF8

Recon/Intel:
Kalgoorlie - 5 LCUs 10620/40/6 - 24 F, 12 Aux (three days ago).
Now, 10 LCUs 34160/266/189 - 54 F

Notes:
Naval Support & Shore Party - Having a high number of both (213 & 135) at Esperance is allowing Transport TFs (even more than one) to come in and completely unload in one day without having to dock.

With KB and the rest of his CV/CVL/CVE (don't know exactly who is here) around the Perth/Geraldton area, I order my CV/CVEs back towards the relative safety of Melbourne.

May 16, 17, 18:
KB remains off the coast of western Australia.
George makes first appearance.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons); group = 25 fighter planes if American

Subs:
Pike hits an xAK with a single TT off Geraldton.
Drum hits an xAK with TT between Truk and Kavieng.
Shark sinks a PB off Perth.
S-47 hits an xAK south of Rabaul.
I-10 sees CVE Sangamon in her periscope on 18th. The captain hears the TT hit the hull. He then curses in Japanese as the hit was a dud.
Swordfish sinks TK south of Lunga with 2 TT hits.

CVs:
Mine have are returning to Melbourne to take on replacement aircraft, some pilots, and conduct some minor repairs, except Saratoga.
KB ends up being 8 hexes west of Perth (42,148)
Other CV/CVL/CVEs are 2 hexes due south of KB

India/Burma:
Shwebo - 84 Tojos sweep followed by 30 Oscars & 48 Helens
1 West Shwebo - 42 Tojo sweep with 36 Oscars and 22 Helens following

China:
Sian - AF is attacked by up to 14 Sonia daily.

Lanchow - Up to 25 Oscars with around 110 Sally/Helen attack AF along with the troops daily. The Oscars are now assigned strafing missions.

Australia:
Horn Island -
16th -

Night Time Surface Combat, near Horn Island at 91,128, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Isshin Maru, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
PB Nigitsu Maru, Shell hits 1
PB Nanei Maru, Shell hits 11, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
PT-116
PT-117
PT-118
PT-120
PT-121, Shell hits 1

Night Time Surface Combat, near Horn Island at 91,128, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Isshin Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
PB Nigitsu Maru, Shell hits 21, and is sunk
PB Nanei Maru, Shell hits 38, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Denver
CL Montpelier, Shell hits 1
DD Aulick
DD Conway
DD DeHaven
DD Jenkins
DD LaVallette
DD O'Bannon

Night Time Surface Combat, near Horn Island at 91,128, Range 1,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
MTB G-7, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
MTB G-2, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
MTB G-3, Shell hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CL Denver
CL Montpelier, Torpedo hits 1 Crap!! Since I was born in Vermont, I'm kind of partial to this CL 13-34(30)-2(1)-0
DD Aulick
DD Conway
DD DeHaven, Shell hits 1
DD Jenkins
DD LaVallette
DD O'Bannon

Night Naval bombardment of Horn Island at 91,128

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 83 damaged
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 2 destroyed on ground
Ki-45 KAIc Nick: 21 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Denver
DD O'Bannon
DD LaVallette
DD Jenkins
DD DeHaven
DD Conway
DD Aulick

Japanese ground losses:
235 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 35 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 8 (1 destroyed, 7 disabled)
Vehicles lost 6 (1 destroyed, 5 disabled)

Airbase hits 29
Airbase supply hits 8
Runway hits 70

The planes leave the next turn.

17th - 3 Aussie Minesweepers come up to start to clear some mines after my warship have cleared the area the day before. The BF fires them, but they get some work done. The three groups of P-38s and two of P-40s sweep the empty skies again. 7 Helens are able to come in at 1000' and sink an AM. After 24 B-17s hit the AF, a midget subs sinks an AM with TT hit. The lone AM continues to sweep mines. [:)]

Esperance -
17th - 37 Tojo sweep in from Kalgoorlie to find 16 Spitfire & 25 P-40Es on CAP. Losses 4 to 6 Allies. 2 hexes due north sees a shock attack get 140:20 odds and push back his troops towards Kalgoorlie.

18th - 8 of 42 Tojo are shot down vs a CAP of 9 Spits, 54 Corsairs, & 8 P-40Es. Second strike comes in...

Morning Air attack on Esperance , at 56,153

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 119 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 37 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M5 Zero x 36
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 87
Ki-49-IIb Helen x 26

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 8
P-40E Warhawk x 3
F4U-1 Corsair x 43

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M5 Zero: 9 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 12 destroyed, 21 damaged
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 2 destroyed by flak
Ki-49-IIb Helen: 3 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 4 damaged
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 destroyed on ground
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed on ground
P-39D Airacobra: 4 destroyed on ground
Beaufighter Ic: 1 destroyed on ground

Allied ground losses:
91 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 9 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 6
Runway hits 58

Morning Air attack on Esperance , at 56,153

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 175 NM, estimated altitude 36,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 48 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-44-IIa Tojo x 29

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 4
P-40E Warhawk x 1
F4U-1 Corsair x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-44-IIa Tojo: 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
F4U-1 Corsair: 4 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x Ki-44-IIa Tojo sweeping at 30000 feet

Morning Air attack on Esperance , at 56,153

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 105 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-IIb Oscar x 36
Ki-49-IIa Helen x 27

Allied aircraft
Spitfire Vc Trop x 1
F4U-1 Corsair x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-IIb Oscar: 1 destroyed
Ki-49-IIa Helen: 11 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Spitfire Vc Trop: 1 damaged
Beaufighter Ic: 1 destroyed on ground

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

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 13

My CAP is wearing down by the time this strike arrives.

Morning Air attack on Esperance , at 56,153

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid detected at 192 NM, estimated altitude 32,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 57 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
N1K1-J George x 26

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
N1K1-J George: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4U-1 Corsair: 3 destroyed

Aircraft Attacking:
25 x N1K1-J George sweeping at 30000 feet

Very little CAP left by the time Mr George makes his first appearance.

Kalgoorlie - On 17th, the desire of every player happens...a coordinated sweep comes in. [&o] However, there is no opposition!! [X(]

Morning Air attack on Kalgoorlie , at 56,147

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 55 NM, estimated altitude 30,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 20 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 54

No Allied losses

Aircraft Attacking:
18 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 30000 feet
18 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 30000 feet
18 x F4U-1 Corsair sweeping at 30000 feet

South Pacific, Solomons, & New Guinea:
Merauke - night time attack on port on 17th by 21 B-25s & 18 B-24s result in an AV and DD each hit once with 500lb bombs. Moonlight was near 100%.

Central Pacific: [>:]

North Pacific: [>:]

Engineering: Roi-Namur F5; Coen AF7; Portland Roads AF4; Esperance AF5; Warazup AF5; Mili F2; Mornington Island P1;

Recon/Intel:

Notes:
Esperance - With KB and other carriers off to west of Perth and less than one days sail from being able to launch on this base along with the multiple fighters encountered today, I pull out all but my one group of P-39s that will be here on night CAP to offer some protection of Prince of Wales. The base has 241 Engineers and 72 Engineer Vehicles so it will be hard for Nick to close it down. I will rely on my 3 AA units plus the AA in BFs to offer resistance. Meanwhile, I have the two P-47 groups resting over at Ceduna. Three P-40Es groups with highly trained pilots just arrived at Adelaide. They will need time (about one week) to repair and get morale up as they are a new unit. I will also need that week to rebuild my three corsairs. I have other air units in the area. Plans are to hope the base's AF can be kept open and allow a surge of fighters at a later date.

Air losses for 18th were 92 for Japan to 35 Allies.

CV Essex arrived at Panama today!!

Warazup AF5

That is an indicator that supplies are moving ... one thing just to remind you .. I think that stockpile and release thing is needed to move supplies from the far western reaches of India to the esatern parts. I could be wrong and it might move despite my best efforts [8D]. But there has to be a plethroa of supplies out in the Eastern parts to propogate like waves on a pond throughout Burma ..

May 19, 20, 21:
Fleet back at Melbourne.
Esperance continues to expand.

Key: TT = Torpedo; bb = ground bombardment; c = casualties; b = base hits; s = supply hits; r = runway hits; p = port hits; f = fuel hits; AV = Assault Value; DC = Depth Charged; (*) = destroyed aircraft; If odds are underlined, they are the Allies; BG = Bomber Group of 48 planes (4 x 12 bomber squadrons); group = 25 fighter planes if American

Subs:
I-9 gets to sink Sunfish off Kusaie Island with single TT hit.

Sub attack near Carnarvon at 47,135

Japanese Ships
E Hayabusa, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Kashima
CL Katori
DD Karii
E W-12
E W-11
E W-6
E W-5
E Yomogi
E Fuyo
CM Tsugaru
APD Tawakaze
APD Kyukaze
APD Urukaze
AK Shizuoka Maru
AK Joyo Maru
AK Kyushu Maru
AK Hirokawa Maru
E Ishinui
E Uruyame
E W-20
E W-19

Allied Ships
SS Sculpin

Nick still has large number of shipping moving in and out of Perth/Geraldton area. I can attest to the slow death of his merchant fleet by 1000 paper cuts. In my other PBEM game as Japan in late March '44, the Allied sub fleet is sinking a merchant ship almost daily. We all want our subs to hit and sink large warships, but this hurts just as much in the long run, IMO.

Pike is hit by another heavily escort transport TF north of Gerladton.
Spearfish is sunk by 4 SC in a shallow ocean hex on the SW corner of Australia. After being hit by 2 DCs, she is forced to surface and gets into a gun duel. She survives and escapes, but sinks later in the day.

CVs:
Mine are at Melbourne repairing. The air groups from Saratoga are taken off and headed for Port Augusta.
It looks like all of Japan's CVs are at Perth on 19th. Then, some disappear by 22nd. Looks like KB has left.

India/Burma:
Shwebo - 84 Tojos sweep followed by 30 Oscars & 49 Helens.
1 West Shwebo - 42 Tojo sweep with 36 Oscars and 53 Helens follow.
Colombo - 13 Emily and 27 Nells attack the port at night on 19th. Of course they don't hit anything.[:D] My only dedicated NF group is at Pearl. She is headed for Australia, now!

China:
Sian - AF is attacked by up to 14 Sonia daily.

Lanchow - Up to 25 Oscars with around 110 Sally/Helen attack AF along with the troops daily. The Oscars are now assigned strafing missions.

Australia:
Horn Island -
19th - A single DD sinks my last remaining Aussie minesweeper. 22 B-17s hit the AF.
20th - 25 P-40s sweep and then 21 B-17s hit AF.
21st - same as 20th

Esperance -
19th - Nighttime action one hex to west in 100% moonlight. 6 DDs vs my 8 PT Boats have NO hits scored by either side. Strange. [&:] Only 26 George sweep during day.
20th - Nick increases the tempo. the 26 George sweep first to be followed by 35 Oscars with 21 Helens. Another three planes are destroyed on the ground.
21st - I hear the sound of something hitting a mine. I think one of his subs finds the minefield (308 mines present). It turns out to be 5 midgets subs sinking there. [:)] No air attacks.

Kalgoorlie -
My lead armor units are half way to this base after another successful shock attack on his retreating troops on 20th. I am able to do these attacks every third day. Nick has failed to attack these units with his LBA. IMO, this is a big mistake. [:-] While taking Esperance was important, the Allied capture of this base is critical to the reconquest of western Australia. The trains are at Port Augusta ready to RR huge number of troops (most of them still restricted to Australia) to the west.

South Pacific, Solomons, & New Guinea:

Night Time Surface Combat, near Merauke at 89,124, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Maya
CA Chokai
CA Aoba, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Kinugasa, Shell hits 2
DD Natsushio
DD Yukikaze
DD Usugumo
DD Amagiri
DD Oboro

Allied Ships
CL St. Louis, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
CL Helena, Shell hits 1
DD Blue, Shell hits 1
DD Craven
DD Dunlap
DD Perkins
DD Nestor, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Norman
DD Isaac Sweers, Shell hits 1

Lesson is to bring more. After repairs, I'll bring 4 CLs and 8 Fletcher DDs to the party. [:D]

Merauke - 22 P-38s sweep empty skies on 21st.
Off Terapo - 22 B-25s on LowN attack miss the escaping CAs from Merauke on21st.

Central Pacific: [>:]

North Pacific: [>:]

Engineering: Esperance F2 & AF6; Amchitka AF7; Portland Roads AF5; Christchurch AF8;

Recon/Intel:

Notes:
Prince of Wales - I had sent her to Esperance expecting Nick to hit the port to finish her off. Now, Yamaot and at least two other BB are two days away from hitting the base. It will take three days to get her ready to escape, but I may not have the time. I think I had written her off already and not made the effort to save her. She can still make 15 knots and could have escaped. Insert me kicking myself here!! [:@]

Melbourne - I now have over 400 ships in port. All but Saratoga (less than a month pier side before she can head to Pearl) will be repaired within 10 days (damaged CVE is headed for larger repair shipyard at Sydney). I'm waiting for the movement of troops that remained prepped for SoPac bases to arrive. I have two tank rgt at Cooktown that need to be moved to Cairns and then RR down here. Sometime in the later half of June '43 will the invasion of the greater Luganville area take place.