Great Tides that Ebb and Flow: Apbarog (A) vs Walker (J) DBB-B Scen 28

[Walker84]

Jan 11, 1943

A not at all quiet day. Most of the action focused on what will go down in the campaign history books as the Battle of Woodlark Island

First, a quick entree... ASW attack near Jesselton as SS Salmon torpedoes and sinks DMS W-18 which was escorting tankers leaving Brunei. Now the main course...

The Battle of Woodlark Island

I had a cruiser task force deployed at Lae and decided to bombard the Allied troops at Woodlark: an easy round trip allowing the TF to reload at Rabaul later that day. It seems that the Allies had a similar idea, leading to an unequal naval battle during the night...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Woodlark Island at 104,133, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma
CA Suzuya, Shell hits 29, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kagero, Shell hits 1
DD Kuroshio, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
DD Asagumo

Allied Ships
BB Indiana, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1
CA Indianapolis
CA Northampton, Shell hits 1
CA Houston
CA Chester
CL Achilles
CL Nashville, Shell hits 1
DD Duncan
DD Patterson
DD Mahan
DD Smith, Shell hits 1
DD Cummings, Shell hits 1

Reduced sighting due to 25% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 25% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 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
CA Suzuya engages BB Indiana at 11,000 yards
DD Kuroshio engages BB Indiana at 11,000 yards
DD Kagero engages BB Indiana at 11,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Kuroshio at 11,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DD Kuroshio at 11,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Kagero at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages BB Indiana at 5,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages BB Indiana at 5,000 yards
CA Houston engages CA Suzuya at 5,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Kagero at 5,000 yards
CL Nashville engages CA Suzuya at 5,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages CL Achilles at 5,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Cummings at 5,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Mahan at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CA Suzuya at 4,000 yards
CA Chester engages CA Suzuya at 4,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages CA Northampton at 4,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Cummings at 4,000 yards
DD Mahan engages DD Kagero at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages BB Indiana at 2,000 yards
CA Chester engages CA Suzuya at 2,000 yards
DD Kuroshio sunk by CA Houston at 2,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages CA Northampton at 2,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages CA Indianapolis at 2,000 yards
CL Nashville engages CA Suzuya at 2,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Kagero at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages BB Indiana at 3,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages BB Indiana at 3,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages CA Houston at 3,000 yards
CA Northampton engages CA Suzuya at 3,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Asagumo at 3,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Asagumo at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages BB Indiana at 7,000 yards
CA Chester engages CA Suzuya at 7,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Cummings at 7,000 yards
CA Northampton engages DD Kagero at 7,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages CA Indianapolis at 7,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Asagumo at 7,000 yards
Kimura, Susumu orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range increases to 11,000 yards
CA Chester engages CA Suzuya at 11,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Asagumo at 11,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages CA Northampton at 11,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages CL Nashville at 11,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CA Suzuya at 11,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Cummings at 11,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Patterson at 11,000 yards
Task forces break off...

IJN command then receives news that Suzuya, a precious and irreplaceable cruiser, has sunk so at this point is not very happy, although the torpedo hit on BB Indiana might slow the Allied withdrawal. At this stage I have to admire the tenacity of my TF commander, because Mikuma, escorted by a single destroyer, continues to Woodlark island and meets the damaged Allied fleet there...

Day Time Surface Combat, near Woodlark Island at 104,133, Range 29,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Mikuma, Shell hits 14, on fire
DD Kagero, Shell hits 3, on fire

Allied Ships
BB Indiana, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Indianapolis, Shell hits 1, on fire
CA Northampton
CA Houston
CA Chester, Shell hits 2
CL Achilles, Shell hits 1
CL Nashville, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Duncan, Shell hits 1
DD Patterson, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Mahan, Shell hits 1
DD Smith
DD Cummings

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 29,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 29,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CA Mikuma at 29,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages DD Patterson at 29,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CA Mikuma at 24,000 yards
CL Nashville engages CA Mikuma at 24,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Achilles at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CA Mikuma at 20,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CA Indianapolis at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CA Mikuma at 18,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Patterson at 18,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CA Houston at 18,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Duncan at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages BB Indiana at 15,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Patterson at 15,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Nashville at 15,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Patterson at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CA Mikuma at 12,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DD Kagero at 12,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CA Indianapolis at 12,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Achilles at 12,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Cummings at 12,000 yards
DD Mahan engages DD Kagero at 12,000 yards
Sakiyama, Shakao orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CL Achilles engages CA Mikuma at 10,000 yards
CA Chester engages CA Mikuma at 10,000 yards
CA Indianapolis engages CA Mikuma at 10,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Nashville at 10,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Kagero at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 14,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CA Mikuma at 14,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Kagero at 14,000 yards
CA Northampton engages CA Mikuma at 14,000 yards
CL Nashville engages CA Mikuma at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CA Mikuma at 13,000 yards
CA Chester engages CA Mikuma at 13,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Nashville at 13,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CL Achilles at 13,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Patterson at 13,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Kagero at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CA Mikuma at 10,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Patterson at 10,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Kagero at 10,000 yards
DD Duncan engages DD Kagero at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CA Mikuma at 8,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CA Chester at 8,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Kagero at 8,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Duncan at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CA Mikuma at 9,000 yards
CA Chester engages CA Mikuma at 9,000 yards
CA Mikuma engages CA Northampton at 9,000 yards
CL Nashville engages CA Mikuma at 9,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Cummings at 9,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Mahan at 9,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Patterson at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CA Mikuma at 10,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Patterson at 10,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Mahan at 10,000 yards
DD Patterson engages DD Kagero at 10,000 yards
Sakiyama, Shakao orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 7,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CA Mikuma at 7,000 yards
DD Kagero engages DD Mahan at 7,000 yards
CA Houston engages CA Mikuma at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Chester engages CA Mikuma at 12,000 yards
CA Houston engages CA Mikuma at 12,000 yards
CL Nashville engages CA Mikuma at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 17,000 yards
BB Indiana engages CA Mikuma at 17,000 yards
DD Mahan engages DD Kagero at 17,000 yards
CA Houston engages CA Mikuma at 17,000 yards
Range increases to 23,000 yards
BB Indiana engages DD Kagero at 23,000 yards
Range increases to 29,000 yards
CA Chester engages CA Mikuma at 29,000 yards
Task forces break off...

Both Japanese ships remained afloat after this David and Goliath contest and even returned to Rabaul safely with only moderate damage...

[Walker84]

The Battle of Woodlark Island, Part 2


I had ordered sweeps of Rossel Island and Vangunu followed by a ground attack on the Allied forces on Munda. The Rossel Island sweep bagged 16 Airacobras and 3 P-40s for the loss of 6 Zeroes.

Now comes the bit I had started hoping might come to pass as I watched my cruisers being pounded during the night by the superior Allied surface forces. Overnight, I had moved KB slightly south of Rabaul to within 7 hexes of Woodlark Island, partly to avoid the base penalty on air combat TFs but also to support the Woodlark operation. Normally, the Allied TF would have withdrawn from Woodlark by daylight but I guess it was out of operational points by now, and a sitting duck for the KB.

Morning Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 104,133

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid detected at 73 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 27 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 72
B5N2 Kate x 20
D3A1 Val x 56

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 1 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak
D3A1 Val: 7 damaged

Allied Ships
CL Nashville, Bomb hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Indianapolis, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires
BB Indiana, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Smith
DD Cummings

So, not the knockout blow, but with the Allied ships still dead in the water KB had a second chance during the afternoon...

Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Woodlark Island at 104,133

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid detected at 77 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 32 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 74
B5N2 Kate x 70
D3A1 Val x 23

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N2 Kate: 7 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 2 destroyed
SOC-1 Seagull: 3 destroyed

Allied Ships
CA Indianapolis, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
DD Cummings, Bomb hits 1, on fire
BB Indiana, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Nashville, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Smith, Bomb hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage

Then, to round off a good day's work, 102nd Cmbt Engr Rgt surrendered at Woodlark Island.

Analysis

Until KB became involved, I was looking at a net loss for the day. I was lucky therefore that the Allied TF couldn't move any further than Woodlark, which was right at the limit of my Val's range (60 lb bombs raining down on battleships - yuk!). I was also lucky that my opponent had not thought it necessary to LRCAP his ships. This is precisely the kind of counter-punch action that I have been hoping to achieve while having to sit and watch the gradual erosion of my SW Pacific bases.

It will be interesting to see what difference this makes to Apbarog's play. A bloody nose clearly, but hardly a disaster given the continually growing Allied materiel superiority. I expect to see a bit more caution, but the steady methodical advance will still continue. In our emails, Apbarog has made it abundantly clear that it would be boring to wait until the Allies have an overwhelming advantage in '43 before attacking. Hats off to him for helping to make this the most thrilling PBEM I have played to date.

[jwolf]

Kudos to the Mikuma commander as he is the one who really won that battle. That was a great result, about as good as I could imagine in view of the forces on both sides. The Allies have made some good gains in territory but they have paid a high price for it, especially in battleships. I think you still have naval superiority in the Solomon area, though maybe by a small margin.

[Walker84]

Thanks jwolf,

I agree that without the Mikuma commander's reckless action the result could have been very different. If the Allied TF had been just one hex further south the KB would not have been in range. I probably do have local naval superiority now, although my opponent has a lot of LBA in theatre so will need to exercise caution. I'm hoping to use the opportunity to shore up my perimeter by building up more potential target bases, now that Woodlark Island has been secured.

Kudos to Apbarog as well for his laconic and measured response, after the usual pleasantries, in today's email:
"As for the turn, I can say that certainly didn't go as planned. Chalk up another bombardment mission gone astray."

Jan 12, 1942

I decided not to chase after the remnants of the Allied TF with the KB - no point in risking a torpedoed carrier when I have just opened up a tactical advantage.

Sub attack near Sansapor: I have been running more fuel convoys to Rabaul and Truk to supply my naval forces but fortunately no tankers are hit on this occasion. Time to plot some different convoy routes methinks.

B-25s try to skip bomb a sub chaser near Buin. A useful warning as I need to run more supplies to Shortlands and Munda and will need to coordinate some better CAP to get the convoys through.

I have detached significant naval forces from Rabaul and they are spotted north of Ontong Java. My opponent will now have to determine whether they are bound there, or possibly Nauru Island further to the south east. No sign of the Allied carriers, last seen several days ago steaming in the direction of Luganville.

[Lowpe]

I am a big proponent of small task forces like the Mikuma and escort destroyer. Or even just 2-3 destroyers. I always felt they fight well above their weight especially at night.

Nicely done, and better yet you didn't get greedy and doing something rash.

I can't tell you how much the game changes, for the worse, if you get into a heavy attritional CV struggle.

With 1943 here, you start thinking about Sam r&d...your Zeroes will be badly outclassed by June of 43 until you get Sam.

Bombardment missions.[:D]

[Walker84]

Thanks Lowpe,

I agree about small TFs sometimes being able to punch above their weight. There's also less at stake if things go awry and suddenly you run out of movement points[8|].

I'm doing all I can to expedite late fighter production but I only once got this far in the campaign before, plus haven't played PDU off so may have made some schoolboy errors in production. We'll have to see.

Jan 13, 1943

And its unlucky number 13 for the carrier Ryujo, which bears the brunt of the Allies newly-proven torpedo technology today.

Marshalls / Gilberts

As my punitive expedition force continues steaming towards Nauru, SS Sawfish launches 2 torpedoes at DD Yukikaze and misses, then strikes gold with a single torpedo hit on Ryujo immediately afterwards. That would have probably been wearable except that SS Runner then picks up the baton [;)] and manages to evade 28 ASW points to pump a further torpedo into the unlucky Ryujo. The carrier is still afloat with 58 float damage and will now need to limp to a nearby base under constant sub attack.

Meanwhile, the air attack on Nauru goes ahead. Zeroes flying from Kusaie Island sweep the base first and are unopposed. Then Betties based at Tarawa bomb the port, finding the previously damaged DD O'Brien there and hitting it with another bomb. Port damage is minor. Lastly, 50 Kates bomb the airfield but the damage is disappointingly light again. The navy planes were set to naval attack first but no Allied ships within range are moving.

Summary

The Allies will be able to claim some revenge today for yesterday's reverses, especially if Apbarog manages to hunt Ryujo down before I can get her to safety. There will always be a risk using capital ships in sub-infested waters, however if I let the Allies build up Nauru and Ocean Island that puts them in bombing range of all of the Gilbert and Marshalls bases. They will get there no doubt, but I need to delay this while I can. Unfortunately, my bombers can do little to damage bases in rough terrain it seems. So, tomorrow we bombard. There may well be mines but I have found in the past that bombardment TFs can often evade these. We will see.

[Walker84]

Jan 14, 1943

An Allied TF spotted yesterday apparently heading towards Horn Island turns out only to be a TF of sub chasers. SS I-165 is located by SC-521 near Portland Roads but no hits are scored. I am keeping 4 or 5 picket subs in the vicinity in the hope of impeding any further Allied moves toward Port Moresby or Horn Island.

My bombardment TF encounters mine field at Nauru Island and DD Yamagumo takes a mine hit, catches fire and sinks. So now we know: too dangerous to naval bombard and terrain too rough for peely-wally Japanese medium bombers to hit effectively from the air [:(].

Anyway, the results for the record...

Night Naval bombardment of Nauru Island at 127,128 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

10 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.

Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga
BB Ise
CA Furutaka
CA Chikuma

Allied Ships
DD O'Brien, Shell hits 1, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
400 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 4 disabled
Non Combat: 3 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Guns lost 53 (11 destroyed, 42 disabled)
Vehicles lost 12 (1 destroyed, 11 disabled)

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 21
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 3

BB Hyuga firing at G/H Hy Cst Arty
G/H Hy Cst Arty firing at BB Hyuga
BB Ise firing at 4th Marine Defense Battalion
4th Marine Defense Battalion firing at BB Ise
CA Furutaka firing at 4th Marine Defense Battalion
4th Marine Defense Battalion firing at CA Furutaka
CA Chikuma firing at Nauru Island

Apart from that a quiet day in the Pacific. I have a few movements going on around the map to achieve certain objectives but more about that anon.

[Walker84]

Jan 15, 1943

Solomons Islands

Allied amphibious assault at Choiseul Bay, right next to Shortlands - cheeky! [:-]

Allied ground losses: 41 casualties reported, 13 squads disabled. It appears that APDs have been used. KB later finds and sinks one of them: APD Edsall, Bomb hits 20, and is sunk. Clearly this is not a big invasion, but it's right next to my Shortlands base complex. I think its designed to give me yet another headache to think about while still digesting the loss of Nauru.

Speaking of Nauru, Betties hit the port again but the Allies have flown in VRF-2F with 24 F4Fs in the meantime and about 18 planes are shot down, half of them Zero escorts. My own fighter sweep arrives late and takes out 9 Wildcats in retaliation.

The only other combat event is a heavy bombing raid on Port Moresby, still closed down.

Map to show how busy the contested Solomons are right now...

[Walker84]

Jan 16, 1943

Quite a fun day today with a variety of actions going on:


- Sub vs Sub: SS I-30 attacking SS Swordfish near Rossel Island. Shame that 4 torpedoes miss.

- Night Time Surface Combat, near Woodlark Island. I was trying to insert a unit fragment, plus supplies but Apbarog has screened the island with PT boats so after an inconclusive stand-off my flotilla heads back to Rabaul without unloading.

- Allied Night Naval bombardment of Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean. Painful, but not desperate as I have engineers, plenty supply and 200+ AV on the atoll. I need to do a better job of spotting next time and then maybe I can get some Netties into play if Apbarog tries this again. I want to keep Cocos and Christmas IO under lock and key as they can be useful stepping stones for the Allies back into the DEI.

Allied Ships
BB Resolution
BB Valiant
CL Mauritius
CL Ceres
CL Dauntless
DD Van Galen

Japanese ground losses:
67 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 1 (1 destroyed, 0 disabled)

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 17
Port hits 8
Port supply hits 2

During the daytime, Allied F4Fs sweep Woodlark island. Must have been anticipating LRCAP but there were no landings there today, thanks to the PT boat intervention.

Allied carriers have turned up south of Rossel Island today, so we go to Defcon 5 again (seems we are rarely below 4 these days). There are 90-odd Allied fighters at Milne Bay so I expect some operation is in the offing. Either towards Horn Island or perhaps pushing closer to Buna on Papua.


Solomons Islands

The Allied unit at Munda bombards my forces but finds out it is outnumbered, although more Allied units appear to be pushing north from Vangunu.

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3173 troops, 45 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 93
Defending force 2948 troops, 45 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 101

Assaulting units:
102nd(Sep) Infantry Regiment

Defending units:
89th Naval Guard Unit
21st/A Division
15th Naval Construction Battalion

The Battle of Choiseul Bay

It turns out that the Allied force landed here yesterday was 1st Fiji Commando and the empty base reverts to Allied control overnight. However, Japanese Army bombers hit the commandos in the morning, then I paradrop 1st Raiding Rgt to contest the base. I mean, really! the hex is adjacent to Shortlands. Two back-to-back ground actions take place...

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 160 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Defending force 702 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 31

Allied adjusted assault: 0

Japanese adjusted defense: 40

Allied assault odds: 1 to 99

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), preparation(-)
Attacker: leaders(-)

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

Assaulting units:
1st Fiji Commando

Defending units:
1st Raiding Rgt /1

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 702 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 31

Defending force 50 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1

Japanese assault odds: 21 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Choiseul Bay !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), leaders(-)
Attacker: shock(+), leaders(-)

Allied ground losses:
53 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 7 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Units destroyed 1 - the commandos are reported to have surrendered.

Assaulting units:
1st Raiding Rgt /1

Defending units:
1st Fiji Commando

Analysis
I'm not altogether sure why my opponent bothered with this weak and exposed landing, unless it was a diversionary tactic that I will find out about in the next day or two. It has certainly drawn out one of my para units, but I have others in reserve at Rabaul. I guess it continues the approach of forcing me to react continually along the very broad front that is now in contention from Horn Island in the west to Tabiteuea in the east.

[jwolf]

... we go to Defcon 5 again (seems we are rarely below 4 these days).

Seems like that is the sad state of affairs in the Solomon Sea area for the foreseeable future. The Allied strategy strikes me as a quasi-Soviet style of operations, putting pressure across the board on as many fronts as possible on the assumption that something will give somewhere -- but possibly at high cost.

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

Seems like that is the sad state of affairs in the Solomon Sea area for the foreseeable future. The Allied strategy strikes me as a quasi-Soviet style of operations, putting pressure across the board on as many fronts as possible on the assumption that something will give somewhere -- but possibly at high cost.

Yes, I have to say that its a pretty effective Allied strategy and Apbarog is handling it rather deftly. He can afford the higher attrition rate, for example the heavy cruisers I have lost won't be replaced whereas he gets plenty more ships as the war progresses. I was surprised by the Allies ability to gear up with this many ground forces in SW Pacific at this stage of the war. In my only previous PBEM that got far into 1943 the Allied player had a much slower development and seemed to skulk around Noumea and Fiji for an interminable time, reducing my bases with his four engined bombers.

[Lowpe]

I was surprised by the Allies ability to gear up with this many ground forces ... at this stage of the war.

Happens to every JFB.[:D]

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: Lowpe

I was surprised by the Allies ability to gear up with this many ground forces ... at this stage of the war.

Happens to every JFB.[:D]

Indeed! I must confess that I was still hoping to gain some ground in one or two places but my failed attempt to capture Calcutta cost me a month or two in terms of the initiative. Playing Scen 28 means that Japan gets little in the way of extra goodies to help prolong the offensive either [:(]


Jan 17 - 20, 1943

A slight lull in the action for a few days while the players celebrate the festive season!

Coral Sea

Allied escorts take chunks out of my subs for a few days in succession requiring some to return to port for repairs. Apbarog is ranging closer to Horn Island with his sub chasers, perhaps clearing the way for a new invasion attempt. SigInt also indicates heavy Allied activity at Townsville and Brisbane.

I take the opportunity to insert some additional troops and supply at Woodlark Island using fast transport mode and the operation is unhindered.

Buna is bombed heavily by 60 or so B-17Es. One bomber is shot down by CAP from Lae. The Allied airfields in NE Oz are now built up sufficiently to accommodate heavy bombers. Ominous.


Solomons

Allied bombardment attack at Munda. Forces are about equal but more Allied units are approaching from the south through the jungle. I don't intend to give the base up without a fight and have more troops prepped to arrive by fast transport.

Gilberts and Marshalls

I sweep Nauru island with Zeroes, losing a few but shooting down some Airacobras. Allied transports are still landing units or supplies here and I'd still like to shut the airfield down if I can.

[Walker84]

Jan 21, 1943

Today's action is mostly confined to the northeast corner of Australia and the waters around.

Amphibious assault at Wessel Islands as I land a small unit to shore up my positions at Merauke and Horn Island a tiny bit.

Then two more subs get hit by sub chasers south of Horn Island and will have to return to base.

And a big allied air attack on Horn Island itself: 8 successive waves comprising scores of Liberators, B-17s, Mitchells and Marauders pound the airfield into dust. The air base has long been abandoned and it won't open again for Japan now, I guess.

I expect Apbarog to launch a second Horn Island invasion pretty soon now that he has a lot of the NW Oz bases built up to provide air support, especially as he is managing to keep Port Moresby and Buna shut down. We can still make it expensive for him to capture though...[:D]

[Walker84]

Jan 22, 1943

Continued focus on NE Oz:

Heavy Volume of Radio transmissions detected at Townsville

seems to confirm my suspicion that something wicked this way comes.

B-25C Mitchells bomb my newly debarked unit at Wessel Islands just to show that they can. I will need to bring a bigger boat if I want to protect the islands from air assault, but its a start at least.

Meanwhile, I deploy the crack fighter group from the damaged Ryujo, now in residence at Kusaie Island, to sweep Nauru, netting a decent tally of P-39s for the loss of one.

[Walker84]

Jan 23, 1943

NE Oz

Trying to interdict the Allied sub chasers using Nells; unfortunately they are a bitch to hit with torpedoes - and my Vals aren't in range...

Morning Air attack on TF, near Portland Roads at 93,130

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
G3M2 Nell x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied Ships
SC-521
SC-519

Aircraft Attacking:
8 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

We have better luck against a supply convoy near Milne Bay in the afternoon; lucky that there wasn't any CAP as there are 75+ fighters on the base...

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

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
G3M2 Nell x 9

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
xAK Makena, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Manulani
PC Nemaha, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
9 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 45cm Type 91 Torp

[Walker84]

Jan 24, 1943

Air attack on Tagula Island

One unit apiece of Tojos and Zeroes are ordered to sweep the base and obtain a good result: fifteen P-40K Warhawks reported shot down for no Japanese losses.

Now that the Allies have more (re-)captured bases to defend, with fighter cover spread more thinly, I see opportunities to inflict more attritional losses. Of course I run the same sort of risk, especially as Allied 4es can inflict CAP losses at the same time as degrading my bases...

[Walker84]

Jan 25 - 28, 1943

Still quiet in all theatres as January draws to a close. The Allies have plenty of small task forces active in the Coral Sea and the Solomons but few enticing targets. The Allied capital ships have gone to ground somewhere, although I am betting something is going on close to Brisbane due to the frequency of SigInt transmissions from around there. A heavy volume of radio transmissions also detected at Pago Pago on the 27th. So, in the meantime I keep reinforcing by fast transport and laying sub mines in various exposed locations.

I'm looking forward to taking the first deliveries of Oscar IIbs next month - the armoured version will be my standard army fighter for some time, although I have 150+ Tojos in the pool for those units that are able to accept them.

Andaman Islands

Liberator IIs raid little Andaman on Jan 25, losing two bombers to Nicks flying CAP from Port Blair. A probing attack I guess, and the only unit present is 8th JNAF Coy, building forts currently. I need to reinforce the Andamans PDQ as if I was the Allied player I would view the islands as a neat location for flanking my strong defensive position in Burma.

Papua, Solomons and the Coral Sea

On the 26th I try to repeat the success of my previous Tojo sweep but find that the Allied fighters at Rossel Island are stood down. Next day they are gone and Milne Bay now stacks 100+ Allied fighters.

On the 28th, Apbarog sweeps Buna, no doubt the plan being to draw out my leaking CAP from Lae. It is a fairly successful strategy for the Allies as losses are approximately even at eleven apiece plus ops losses. Lucky for me that the B-17s didn't fly in their air superiority role as well [:D]

Sub attack near Cairns on the 27th as SS I-30 puts a torpedo into APD Kilty, causing some troop losses. More APDs show up later at Normanby Island, adjacent to Milne Bay so I guess that was where Kilty was heading.

[jwolf]

B-17s didn't fly in their air superiority role as well

Heh. [:)] Good luck as you play on -- your game is very interesting and I am enjoying both AARs.

[Walker84]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

B-17s didn't fly in their air superiority role as well

Heh. [:)] Good luck as you play on -- your game is very interesting and I am enjoying both AARs.

Thanks, I'm glad that you are enjoying both AARs, I guess its interesting for those outside the conflict to be able to compare notes on what the players are thinking.

It's been a quiet end to January. I would like to be pushing the envelope more but my fighter pools aren't large enough to cope with a sustained period of air conflict right now, so I am concentrating on building up my reserves for the next month or two when the action will likely heat up. I suspect Apbarog will be in a similar position, although he will see some exciting new fighter models arriving pretty soon.

The good news is that the Oscar IIb is now in production and I will be producing 100+ a month. Its already outclassed by the new US fighters but will have to hold the line until the Frank comes on stream. I have a good enough Tojo reserve but, with PDU off, too few units can convert. I am also producing the Tony as a point defence fighter and they have already been deployed to Truk, Singapore and Palembang. Incidentally, the Allies have the new long range recon Liberator PB4Y-1P, which I have seen overflying Truk and Koepang so I am starting to look at putting CAP over rear bases that I regularly use for shipping as a precaution.

The navy is producing the A6M3a alongside the A6M2 and I will start producing A6M5s in April, by which time they will already be outclassed by US Navy Hellcats.


Jan 29 - Feb 1, 1943

Coral Sea, Papua, NE Australia

Apbarog waits until my airfields at Buna and Port Moresby are almost repaired then hits them hard again with massed B-17 raids to keep them shut. I have concentrated my fighters at Lae as I can't defend all three bases satisfactorily.

I am still seeing a lot of sub chaser activity near Cooktown and Cairns, picket subs are getting DC'd frequently and having to return to base damaged. Owing to the persistent strength of sig int from Townsville I deployed the new longer range Dinah IIIs to recon the base and found there was a fairly sizeable ground force there, larger than required to defend the base, plus a lot of transport shipping, possible indication of plans to reinforce a move on Papua or else return to Horn Island again, which is weakly defended as I can't get enough air support over there to defend the atoll.