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Turn Synopsis 17th September 1942
D-Day +3

A rather surreal day without a single Japanese plane over Lunga. One enemy subamrine, however, was reportedly heavily damaged by the escorting destroyers of the Idaho. Actions elsewhere actually took centre stage. An IJN cruiser tried to disrupt landings on Horn Island but was seen off by the heavy cruiser Honolulu.

On Lunga Point US Marines spearheaded the first unsuccessful attack on Japanese positions.

Ground combat at Lunga (114,138)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 8537 troops, 231 guns, 315 vehicles, Assault Value = 479

Defending force 3340 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 126

Allied adjusted assault: 499

Japanese adjusted defense: 299

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
740 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 38 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 49 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 10 disabled


Allied ground losses:
331 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 34 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 27 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
Vehicles lost 16 (1 destroyed, 15 disabled)


Assaulting units:
108th Infantry Regiment
7th Marine Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
8th Marine Regiment
193rd Tank Battalion
2nd USMC Tank Bn /1
627th TD Bn /1
131st Field Artillery Battalion
I US Amphib Corps
18th USN Naval Construction Battalion
115th USAAF Base Force /1

Defending units:
19th Naval Guard Unit
20th Engineer Regiment
14th Naval Guard Unit

Turn Synopsis 18th September 1942
D-Day +4
!!!LUNGA POINT CAPTURED!!!

Indeed, the operation had exceeded all expectations Nimitz and Halsey had. SO far only 3 transports had been lost and light to moderate damage inflicted on the Adelaide. Lunga Point had been secured by the USMC early on the 18th after a two pronged attack with armoured support dislodged the Japanese from their positions on the left flans. A powerful thrust, launched at the same time as the Army's 108th Regiment feinted on the right flank, penetrated the enemy line at various places. Not even the tenacious Japanese soldier could maintain this position and by midday observers on float planes based on capital ships offshore were reporting enemy columns moving along jungle trails towards Tassafaronga. Victory had cost a relatively light bill, however no one was kidding themselves about either the size or ferocity of the Japanese counter. Her Mobile Fleet had already left the Indian Ocean and the carriers based at Truk still hadn't shown their hand. The battle now becomes a race between the fortifying and building up of Lunga and the descent of the Japanese hammer.

Ground combat at Lunga (114,138)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 9636 troops, 248 guns, 470 vehicles, Assault Value = 459

Defending force 2764 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 84

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 1

Allied adjusted assault: 451

Japanese adjusted defense: 55

Allied assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Lunga !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), fatigue(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
1862 casualties reported
Squads: 28 destroyed, 5 disabled
Non Combat: 17 destroyed, 28 disabled
Engineers: 43 destroyed, 4 disabled
Units retreated 3


Allied ground losses:
149 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled


Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
627th Tank Destroyer Battalion
7th Marine Regiment
193rd Tank Battalion
8th Marine Regiment
108th Infantry Regiment
754th Tank Battalion
2nd USMC Tank Battalion
I US Amphib Corps
131st Field Artillery Battalion
18th USN Naval Construction Battalion
115th USAAF Base Force /1

Defending units:
20th Engineer Regiment
19th Naval Guard Unit
14th Naval Guard Unit

Peripheral and secondary operations were already being put into action. Engineer units had left Noumea and Efate for the Rennel Islands and Kirakira in order to build up bases capable of supporting the position at Lunga. 'T' Force, still at Noumea and Suva now had a new role. They would reinforce Lunga as and when needed. The 37th Infantry Division had been given new orders, to prepare for an attack in the Port Morseby region along with the Americal and 1st Australian Division at a later date. Her role of theatre reserve would be taken over by the 1st and 5th Marine Regiments.



Any indication of the Japanese response was so far based on scant intelligence and the sighting of the scout cruiser Chiyoda by submarines two days ago. Today, however Commander Rochefort's unit came up with a solid piece of intelligence. The IJN Battleship Hiei had been given orders to proceed to Horn Island. Whether her role was to bombard the Australians there or to support a counter invasion we still do not know. Aerial assets have been moved into a greatly expanded base at Coen in order to be able to ambush the Japanese.

BB Hiei is moving to Horn Island (91,128)

Some images released to the Media reporting on the Battle of Guadalcanal

'The Guardian Angels of Lunga', picture from LA Times, 17th September 1942


US Marines pursue retreating Japs, picture from San Francisco Herald, 19th September 1942


HMAS Adelaide retires from Lunga having being damaged in the invasion, picture from The Sydney Times, 18th September 1942

Battle Map

[&o][&o][&o]

 Now the marines MUST hold....

Turn Synopsis 19th September 1942
The Battle of Guadalcanal Day 5

Today Allied shipping off Guadalcanal was subjected to various disjointed enemy attacks from the air. Wave after wave of A6M's and G4M2 bombers crashed into a wall of Navy Wildcats that assured many splashed enemy planes and no hits on any of our ships!

The first indication of how busy the day was going to be came early in the morning when CAP being flown by VF-71 was called in to cover the airspace over Lunga Point as radar had detected an incoming sweep of enemy fighters. Marines and soldiers on the ground looked skywards and traced the vapour trails left by the dog fighting fighters. The days highlight was the inspection of a Japanese Zero that had crash landed just off the landing beaches.



More and more raids came in, some escorted, some seeing unescorted enemy bombers skimming the waves carrying sleek torpedoes under their bellies. These proved to be easy targets for the Grumann's. Despite an all out effort by the Japanese, no hits were recorded on any Allied ship. The HAMS Canberrsa and the USS New Mexico and Idaho being the main targets.



Enemy bombers also discovered the position of the USN carriers that had moved to a location between Renell Island and the Stuart Islands. Admiral Halsey has ordered a position change for tomorrow moving all three carriers and the fleet train to a position 40 miles SW of Kirakira. 17 unescorted Betty bombers charged into the CAP all three Navy squadrons were providing. The result inevitable, only one enemy plane made its approach run and its torpedo missed and it was blown up by the AA batteries on the Wasp.



All in all nearly 60 enemy planes had been shot done or destroyed and one enemy torpedo bomber unit had been all but destroyed. ENS E.Rice (VF-42) was the toast of the Yorktown having shot down 2 enemy planes today, adding to the three he had got on the first day of the landings, making him VF-42's first 'Ace'.

Several things however were starting to make Halsey worry. VRF-3F on the CVE Copahee had signalled that she only had 5 Wildcat replacements left and was making a course south to Luganville to reload some more. Any losses incurred during her absence would not be immediately made up. Enemy reaction on the 5th day still did not include any carrier strikes or any major surface craft. Furthermore Commander Rochefort's intell network had also decoded a message ordering the Japanese 9th Infantry Division to prepare for action on Lunga. Though the operation had so far been an outstanding success, even Halsey admitted his fighter pilots had performed far better than he expected, the Americans were still awaiting the best the Japanese had to be thrown into battle!

G4M2's on their attack run against the CV Wasp

Turn Synopsis 20th September 1942
The Battle of Guadalcanal Day 6

[font="Times New Roman"]War Diary I US Amphibious Corps, Lunga Point, Guadalcanl
20th September 1942

CL Marblehead reported being hit by one submarine launched torpedo. DD Craven reports heavy depth charge attack on enemy submarine. Fuel oil rising to surface. Craven, out of ASW ammo and Marblehead ordered back to Noumea.

Unloading of troops and supplies continues, as of this afternoon over 12,000 tons of war supplies, medicines and food ashore. 8th Marines and 2nd Marine Tank Battalion report slow and heavy going amid dense jungle towards Tassafaronga Point.

AP's Bloom and Rosebud emptied all holds and ordered back to Noumea.

Many enemy air raids today on shipping offshore. Wildcats of VF-6, VF-42 and VF-71 report over 50 enemy planes shot down. No ships hit, 7 own losses. 4 over Lunga, 3 over carriers to the south.

Request for defensive minefield to be laid at Lunga Point submitted to higher HQ.[/font]

Turn Synopsis 21st September 1942
The Battle of Guadalcanal Day 7

[font="Times New Roman"]War Diary I US Amphibious Corps, Lunga Point, Guadalcanal
21st September 1942

Am.Packer reports being hit by a torpedo in the early hours of this morning. Moderate damage incurred but Captain has agreed to continue unloading vital supplies. If damage increases he has agreed to ground ship.

US Navy Construction Unit reports landing on Kirakira successful and surveying for location of fighter strip has started. 144th USAAF Base Force also reports from Noumea that boarding transports for Kirakira has started.

Once again enemy air attacks have been sporadic over Lunga Point, once again USN Grummans provide cover for unloading ships. 12 enemy aircraft reported shot down though Admiral Halsey reports 7 Wildcats written off, 5 air-air losses and 2 damaged beyond repair. Warning also given by Navy pilots of presence of new enemy fighter, possibly new Army Model, handling well at about 20,000 feet and certainly hardier than A6M models encountered so far.

CL St.Louis reports that her consorts have all finished unloading. She and her attendant destroyer have been ordered back to Noumea for further orders.

18th Naval Construction Battalion reports that tree clearing has been completed and crushed coral has started to be laid down to form the basis for initial fighter strip.[/font]

Just a little break from the narrative for any Readaars out there.

Chinese Infantry suck big balls!!!! I have an immense suepriority at Kweiyang, Ramon has moved his armoured and the one infantry division he had there south to rekick me out of Tuyun. How 1000+ Av vs 250 AV gets readjusted to 200-300 beats me!!!!

Chinese troops have no AT equipment to speak of, so, even the patetic japanese tanks are like konigstiger to them. There are some AT regiments at Chine, use them carefully because they can give you a very importante AT capability which the basis troops didn't have. And, which is worse, it didn't improve over the war...[:(]

ORIGINAL: traskott

Chinese troops have no AT equipment to speak of, so, even the patetic japanese tanks are like konigstiger to them. There are some AT regiments at Chine, use them carefully because they can give you a very importante AT capability which the basis troops didn't have. And, which is worse, it didn't improve over the war...[:(]

Yep - don't forget artillery and particularly AA guns have significant AT capability too - obviously using them in that role is not ideal (not least because you don't get many replacements), but it's not nothing...

I don't know if Ramon has mentioned it in his AAR but we had a long exchange of emails detailing our concerns about recent events in the game. His were the lack of coordinated attacks over Gudalacanal. He was also flabbergasted at the almost 100% dud rate in torpedo hits, including S-Boats and Dutch subs. Likewise he shared my concerns about the Chinese. One tank regiment attacked a Chinese Cavalry Corps in a forested hex. Odds on 1-9 against, 200 chinese casualties!!!! One thing is the chinese lacking any AT armaments, another thing is one regiment taking the piss out of a whole corps!!!! Whatsmore Chinese troops are made of paper and marshmallow, this last attack 2,400+ AV (some units even at 70+ exp), lost more then 50% AV. Ridiculous casualty levels. One division of Japanese infantry bests several Chinese armies etc, etc. Next game will ceraintly be quiet China as the Japanese player can steam roll his way through. Make a huge stack and romp away!

These concerns go back to the beginning of the game, not just now. His strategy in China is excellent but we both agreed that we cocked up our Monsoon HR allowing the Japanese much more strategic fluidity in the movement of troops from Burma to China, so thats our fault. Ramon went as far as saying that this was his last AE game as he felt burnt out due to the game machine issues. This game will continue but the fun is slowly going out of it for both of us. This post is not a rant but a rather honest assessment of the game engine by two genuine and hard working players.

Yes, the chinese AT results are pitiful. After all, they HAVE anti armour value on their squads...

one reason mate our china front is static-, and once Burma falls it will be too - you play best, Fletcher plays best, me too -when we are "Realistic"

ORIGINAL: 1275psi

one reason mate our china front is static-, and once Burma falls it will be too - you play best, Fletcher plays best, me too -when we are "Realistic"

Yep we try our best. Anyhow China is lost due to paper soldiers armed with swords and bows and arrows

Turn Synopsis 26th September 1942

All landings completed on Lunga Point. Carriers have withdrawn to resupply and restock on planes. BB Idaho took two torps, only 17 flt damage though, and is making its way back to WC. BB Colorado will take its place in the cover force after ops in Horn Island were successfully completed. Plans for an attack on Merauke by 1st Australian Division have begun. Strip on Lunga at 57%

About China: I disagree that Allies are doomed there. Even if your opponent is too good to be outmaneuvered in the field, you just have to recognize that certain positions are impossible to hold and concentrate on defending those that aren't. Of course, on their own Chinese eventually will be attrited and routed, like it happened IRL by 1944, so Allies have to either provide help directly or ensure that IJA is busy elsewhere, but holding the line for 1942 is not that hard.

Cantona2 - are you planning on keeping up with your AAR? I really miss reading it!

ORIGINAL: jeffk3510

Cantona2 - are you planning on keeping up with your AAR? I really miss reading it!

hi Jeff

As i am sure you are all aware US CV fleet suffered massive defeat in Solomons, that however was not the main reason for ceasation (for the time being) of this AAR. I am in the process of moving house and I have had very little time to dedicate to AARing.

I am very disillusioned with the game as well and both games with Herb and Ramon will continue as I respect both guys too much to stop playing. Primarily the issues with Chinese AT values is the main thing. Unrealistic one regiment vs 1 fully supplied corps in wooded terrain and still no joy. My mistakes and poor gameplay are my fault, foibles of the engine are not and it removes the fun element from a game i loved