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Thanks, Yakface, that answers my concern that an escort TF wouldn't unload. I also share your views about bombardment force composition.

I think I may be facing 9.2" CD guns. Pretty sure Japanese CA's are not proof against these. Well, if I decide to use a BB it will at least be a conscious decision that I'm prepared to accept its possible loss to torpedo strike.

You probably know this, but if you have any aircraft around, port attacks will knock out (some or all depending upon size of attacks) CD guns.

That's useful. Unfortunately I don't think it's an available option for the target I have in mind [;)]

Yes, those 9.2 CD guns will ruin your day if you bring only CAs and you do not suppress the base-force enough.
Use slow BBs to take those hits, while the fast BBs will bomb and suppress the coastal defences.
Anyway, whithout air support it's quite risky

ORIGINAL: Local Yokel

That's useful. Unfortunately I don't think it's an available option for the target I have in mind [;)]

?? directly Karachi??
In CHS, except for Aden(which has the 16''s i think), every major Indian port has those 9.2 CD monster-guns....

If it's Tricomalea or some such, I found the best way was just to have lots of CL/DD/PG and rely on numbers.  I took a few licks, but only lost 3 or 4 ships IIRC.  Fortunately I took the base quickly, so having a level 9 port probably saved another 5 or so.

Hmm, some good food for thought here. Thanks to both of you!

The old armoured cruisers Izumo and Iwate shall be in the van to soak up some of the hurt! Seriously though, I think the application of Lanchester principles has much merit: give him so big a target surface that even grievious losses have little impact.

I need to do the arithmetic so as to get an optimal combat load of the forces I want to take. I can bring a lot of small and medium AP's to the party. Even so I can't see myself being able to disperse the load amongst the transports to such an extent that I can complete unloading in less than 4 unloading phases. Assuming that is the case then his CD guns would need, in those 4 phases, to sink 30+ small AP's in order to get a VP haul equivalent to say, an Ise class battleship. I think that's a tall order and Yakface's experience seems to bear that out.

A case of 'Take your licks, but spread them thin.'

End-of-month reports for April 1942 beginning with the state of the economy:

Stockpiles graph. Reduction in the pace of operations appears to be reflected by the rising supply and fuel levels. Oil levels are holding up, but there is a small downward trend in resource levels that doesn't really show up in this graph, as it doesn't take account of stocks in transit at sea.

Intelligence summary, with changes highlighted in yellow. The ratio of Japanese-Allied victory points is hovering around the 4.6:1 mark.

<edit - forgot to upload picture, d'oh>

Summary for April 1942

The tempo of operations slackened substantially in April, the SRA haveing been brought substantially under Japanese control. Nonetheless there were minor bursts of activity on both sides.

In Burma, Taung Gyi fell to 2 brigades from 55 Infantry Division on 4 April, whilst Akyab was seized by naval paratroops on 21 April. Lead elements of Burma Area Army entered Myitkina on the last day of the month.

In China, Japanese ground forces continue their efforts to fragment the opposing Chinese forces around Pucheng and one by one to destroy them. So far only one Chinese corps on the Hangchow-Kiukiang road has surrendered, but when the sole remaining corps in that location has been reduced the road will be open for the Japanese to close upon Pucheng and eliminate those pockets of Chinese troops that remain to the east of Kanhsien.

The month saw a failed amphibious attack on Tarawa and Makin, which has cost the Allies some valuable shipping. Residual groups of survivors remained on each atoll. The Japanese shipped in additional forces from Truk and forced their surrender.

On Sulawesi, an NLF sallied from the base at Menado and eliminated the remnants of base's former Dutch defenders.

Japanese ground forces have been at their most active in the Philippines. 4th Mixed Regt, supported by armoured and engineer units, has conducted a series of operations against surviving Allied outposts in the archapelago, systematically bringing them under Japanese control and forcing the surrender of their Philippine defenders. Details of the regt's operations are shown on the attached map. The most noteworthy event has been the fall of Bataan on 27 April, with the loss to the Allies of some 22,000 defenders. The besiegers are now redeploying for the final assault upon Manila.

So, not a spectacular month, and one in which the Japanese have been operating quite passively compared with what has gone before. But the calm is deceptive; Nippon has been planning and preparing for another major operation, and its commencement is now imminent.

4th May 1942: the fall of Manila:

Ground combat at Manila

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 168634 troops, 880 guns, 94 vehicles, Assault Value = 3407

Defending force 33650 troops, 117 guns, 50 vehicles, Assault Value = 722

Japanese max assault: 3240 - adjusted assault: 3800

Allied max defense: 643 - adjusted defense: 997

Japanese assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Manila base !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

No Allied losses

Japanese ground losses:
2856 casualties reported
Guns lost 50
Vehicles lost 2

Allied ground losses:
57637 casualties reported
Guns lost 141
Vehicles lost 22

"IN" Sakusen - The Japanese strike for Darwin: Prologue

Ever since Japanese forces' seizure of the islands at the eastern end of the Lower Sunda chain in early 1942, Imperial GHQ has been casting covetous eyes upon the north-west coast of Australia. In particular, the Japanese wish to capture Darwin, not least to neutralise the danger its aircraft pose to Nippon's newly acquired island bases on Timor. In the longer term those aircraft may pose a threat to resources newly won in the Netherlands East Indies, but even now, by May 1942, Japanese planners have become all too well aware of the Darwin's capabilities, for its heavy bombers have more than once come close to rendering untenable the Japanese airfields at Koepang.

Aside from these tactical considerations, the Japanese see North Australia as a firm point on which to anchor their left wing in the Indies. Their capture of Port Moresby has rendered passage of the Torres Strait a hazardous prospect for any attacker, whilst any amphibious move into the eastern Sundas will be exposed to attack from a web of bases capable of offering mutual support. An overland attack remains possible, but must be conducted at the end of a tenuous logistical path. IGHQ therefore reckon that, provided Darwin is in Japan's hands, the counter-attack by the colonial powers, when it comes, is likely to be directed at a point elsewhere on the Japanese perimeter west of Australia.

The Japanese are well aware that Darwin will be a tough nut to crack following the limited success of their mid-February bombardment of the base. That nearly cost them cruiser Maya, and had minimal impact upon Darwin's air groups. Their air reconnaissance reveals the presence of 15 units comprising approximately 35,000 men and somewhere in the region of 200 aircraft. Those aircraft include a strong complement of 4-engined heavies, and a number of torpedo and dive bombers liable to inflict serious hurt upon Japan's principal warships.

Aside from the Moresby attack, this will be Japan's first direct amphibious assault upon a respectably defended base. They therefore decide to land a substantial invasion force that includes four first-line infantry divisions, two regiments apiece of engineers, armour and artillery, and an additional infantry brigade for good measure. By late April the forces for this operation are substantially prepared for the attack, and the imminent fall of the last Allied bastions in the Philippines promises to release substantial follow-on forces should initial force ratio calculations prove deficient.

The Japanese assessment is that there is little scope for subtlety in the Darwin invasion. They plan to sail two monster invasion task forces directly to their target from Kendari, covered so far as possible by fighters based at the rapidly expanded airfields in the vicinity of Lautem, the enlargement of which has surprisingly provoked no Allied countermeasure. Although Darwin has apparently been abandoned as a forward base by Allied surface units, the invasion groups will be accompanied by a powerful surface force centred on 1st Fleet battleships Ise and Hyuga. Depending on the degree of resistance encountered this force may switch to a bombardment role following arrival off Darwin.

To neutralise Darwin's air defences, two bombardment groups, each built around a brace of fast battleships, will hit Darwin on X-2, when the invasion force is still two days out. On the same day, 1st Mobile Force, having previously staged to a rendezvous and assembly point between Buri Island and the Moluccas, will dash south and launch a strike aimed at Darwin's airfields. Depending on the results achieved, the Mobile Force will linger briefly to deliver a second strike on X-1. Thereafter land attack kokutai based on Ambon will conduct supplementary raids intended to keep Darwin's air defences suppressed.

As in the February attack on Darwin, the plan calls for a surface group to sweep the approaches to Darwin ahead of the bombardment groups and to flush any surface-borne defenders there may be. Profiting by their February experience, the Japanese will this time include an 8" gunned cruiser in this sweeping force. Recollections of multiple 5" rounds bouncing of the RN 'D' Class light cruisers are uncomfortable, and this time the Japanese aim to take with them a vessel whose guns are assured of penetrating, even though a comparable level of opposition is not expected.

The fast battleship bombardment groups will retire on Lautem, there to rendezvous with an ammunition ship from which to replenish their stocks of large calibre shells. Since Lautem is but 2 days distant from the target, these groups are to return and subject Darwin to a further pummelling on or about X+1.

Meanwhile the plan is for the invasion groups and their escorts to round the westernmost point of Bathurst Island and enter Beagle Gulf on X-1. From there they will make their run-in, timed so as to maximise the number of troops and equipment landed on X Day itself.

By a substantial margin this will be the largest amphibious operation mounted by Japan in this conflict, and will require a correspondingly vast number of transports. Since all troops have to be conveyed in AP's, the Japanese have no alternative but to deploy their smallest transports in quantity. These, however, are also their slowest troop carriers, and this dictates a rate of advance for the invasion groups no greater than 120 miles per day. The Japanese therefore decide to make a virtue of necessity and from far and near scrape together the vast majority of small transports in their inventory. More than anything else this decides the size of the initial Japanese landing force, but by placing their forces in so many ships the Japanese hope to offset their disadvantageously slow rate of advance in two ways. First, there will be so many ships in the attacking forces that in sheer numbers they may exceed the enemy's capacity to do them harm. Second, the quantity of ships deployed is so great that many are loaded to less than full capacity. The Japanese therefore reckon that by the end of X+1 at the latest the whole of the invading force will be ashore, and that a large part of their accompanying supplies will also have been discharged. Thus they aim to minimise casualties by remaining under enemy guns for as short a time as possible.

Simultaneous to the descent on Darwin the Japanese have planned a number of subsidiary operations, including the occupation by naval landing parties of Tenimbar and Kai Islands. The extent of these subsidiary operations will, it is hoped, remain largely concealed from the defenders by the measures the Japanese will take to obliterate Darwin's defences, it being hoped that a side effect will be to blind or at least curtail Allied search capabilities.

So it is that on 3rd May 1942 - X Day minus 8 - two massive Japanese transport groups and the screening units of Nishimura's 1st Fleet Main Body stand out of Staring Bay towards their appointment with the defenders of Darwin, some 800 miles to the south...

"IN" Sakusen - The Japanese strike for Darwin: Approach Manoeuvres

On 5th May, two days after departure of the slow transport groups, the fast components of the Japanese armada sortie from Kendari. They include Tanaka's Vanguard Force, Komatsu's 1st Support Force and Hara Kenzaburo's 1st Replenishment Group.

On 6th May storm fronts sweep through the Laut Banda, concealing the advancing Japanese. Yamamoto's 3rd Suport Force sorties from Ambon, heading for its rendezvous with the main body SE of Lautem.

On 7th May 1st Mobile Force departs its assembly point NE of Buri Island, having first met and absorbed radar-equipped CL Kitakami into its complement. This completes Japanese arrangements to provide each of their carrier task groups at sea with a radar capability.

It is not until 8th May, through the overcast that follows the storms' passage, that Allied PBY's first glimpse their enemy's advance. Simultaneously oiler Kuroshio Maru and her escort are observed at Lautem. They have detached from Hara's group to provide a small fuel oil reserve at Lautem in anticpation of the bombardment groups' return. Darwin's aircraft launch strikes but they find only the oiler, as the main body of the Japanese have the good fortune to remain hidden by atrocious weather. Kuroshio Maru takes a hit from a single 1000 pounder and retires, burning, towards repair facilities at Kendari.

Meanwhile the two bombardment groups with their fast battleships have effected their appointed rendezvous SE of Lautem and during the night of 9th May they make their dash to Darwin, preceded by Tanaka's Vanguard Force, which encounters no opposition. Untroubled by surface opponents, Komatsu and Yamamoto do great damage to the target:

Naval bombardment of Darwin, at 36,84

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway: 2 destroyed
Do 24K-2: 2 destroyed
Hawk 75A: 2 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless: 1 destroyed
Hudson I: 6 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 2 destroyed
T.IVa: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 3 destroyed
Swordfish: 4 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Tatsuta
CL Nagara
CA Mikuma
CA Nachi
CA Haguro
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei

Allied Ships
AK Challenger, Shell hits 1
AK Both, Shell hits 1
AVD Sirius, Shell hits 1
AVD Reiger, Shell hits 1, on fire
AD Black Hawk, Shell hits 1, on fire

Allied ground losses:
3319 casualties reported
Guns lost 94
Vehicles lost 3

Airbase hits 34
Airbase supply hits 9
Runway hits 107
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Darwin, at 36,84

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
Hawk 75A: 2 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 3 destroyed
Hudson I: 1 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Natori
CA Ashigara
CA Myoko
BB Haruna
BB Kongo

Allied Ships
AK Challenger, Shell hits 1

Allied ground losses:
1569 casualties reported
Guns lost 18
Vehicles lost 2

Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 71

This same day 1st Mobile Force attains its launch point NW of Tenimbar Island. The air wings of CarDivs 1 and 5 have been dedicated to a morning strike against Darwin's airfields, but for some reason unknown they fail to fly. CarDiv 2's air wing has been held back to provide an anti-shipping punch, but when no such threat materialises they launch against Darwin in the afternoon:

Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
A6M3 Zero x 10
D3A2 Val x 19
B5N2 Kate x 46

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 9 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 3 destroyed
Do 24K-2: 1 destroyed
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed
Hudson I: 1 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless: 3 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 2 destroyed
Wirraway: 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 43

Aircraft Attacking:
19 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
23 x B5N2 Kate bombing at 12000 feet
21 x B5N2 Kate bombing at 12000 feet

The cumulative effect of these attacks upon Darwin is to destroy some 80 aircraft on the ground and so disrupt the base that on this day no Allied aircraft rise to its defence or mount strikes against the oncoming Japanese invasion forces.

On 10th May, somewhat vexed by the performance of CarDivs 1 and 5 on the previous day, 1st Mobile Force advances to a point just west of Tenimbar to attempt a further strike on Darwin. As before, CarDiv 2 is tasked with an anti-ship role, though it is not expected to have much to do in the apparent absence of Allied surface activity.

However, I-164 catches steamer Montanes apparent trying to flee Darwin to the east and catches her with gunfire and torpedo hits. Montanes struggles away into Van Diemen Gulf, but is caught there by 14 Type 99's and 23 Type 97's, which administer to her the coup de grace. Hiryu and Soryu's aircraft also catch 2 patrol craft that have evaded the approaching Japanese main body in Beagle Gulf:

Day Air attack on TF at 35,82

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 54
A6M3 Zero x 7
D3A2 Val x 31

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
PG Warrego, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage
PG Grasshopper, Bomb hits 10, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
1 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
9 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
9 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
9 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet

Today the remaining air wings of 1st Mobile Force redeem themselves, despatching 200+ aircraft against Darwin's airfields:

Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 9
D3A2 Val x 103
B5N2 Kate x 110

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A2 Val: 3 destroyed, 22 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 destroyed
Do 24K-2: 2 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 4 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless: 5 destroyed
B-17D Fortress: 2 destroyed
Hudson I: 3 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 1 destroyed
Wirraway: 3 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
T.IVa: 1 destroyed
Swordfish: 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
37 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 138

Aircraft Attacking:
26 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
27 x B5N2 Kate bombing at 18000 feet
24 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
27 x B5N2 Kate bombing at 18000 feet
25 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
28 x B5N2 Kate bombing at 18000 feet
25 x D3A2 Val bombing at 2000 feet
27 x B5N2 Kate bombing at 18000 feet

They are followed up by a 50+ raid from the 3 kokutai of Ambon-based land attack planes:

Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
G3M Nell x 35
G4M1 Betty x 19

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 8 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 2 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless: 1 destroyed
B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed
Hudson I: 2 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 1 destroyed
Wirraway: 1 destroyed

Allied ground losses:
13 casualties reported

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 35

Aircraft Attacking:
11 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
11 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
13 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
5 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
4 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
2 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
2 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
2 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet

These raids account for some 50+ additional Allied aircraft destroyed on the ground.

Tenimbar Island falls today to the landing party put ashore by R.Adm. Miwa's Tenimbar Occupation Force.

Finally, as the Japanese transport groups form up in Beagle Gulf for their final run-in to the landing beaches, USS Trout meets her match in the shape of a very well-known Japanese opponent:

ASW attack at 35,83

Japanese Ships
DD Kasasagi
DD Ikazuchi
DD Hibiki
DD Akatsuki

Allied Ships
SS Trout, hits 1, on fire

Hibiki, banzai!

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

Excellent, both in terms of game play, and more important, of good reading.

We eagrely await news of the fall..err...liberation of Darwin. [:)]

Thanks, BBW; good to see another reader of this thread. More to come shortly.

I'll take the opportunity of this post to include a shot indicating the results of Japanese aerial reconnaissance on 10th May:

"IN" Sakusen - The Japanese strike for Darwin: Getting Ashore

For R.Adm. Ishikawa Shingo, graduate of the 42nd Class at Etajima Naval Academy and commander of the Imperial Navy's 1st Darwin Attack Force, the night of 10th/11th May 1942 represents the accomplishment of a long-cherished ambition. Widely travelled before the war, Ishikawa prides himself as being better informed about world affairs than any specialist in the Foreign Ministry, and it is thanks in part to his ardent advocacy that the Navy has swung behind the doctrine of nanshinron: Japan's advance to the south. In Ishikawa's eyes tonight will go far towards the fulfilment of Japan's destiny in the south by means of a direct attack and landing upon the Australian mainland.

Lt Tominaga Ruitaro, commander of the old armoured cruiser Izumo, is similarly conscious that he is a participant in what may prove to be momentous events. Anticipating that the 1st Attack Force may be met by formidable firepower from the Australian battery at Emery Point, Ishikawa has placed Izumo in the van of the invading ships, trusting that the old cruiser's armour can absorb harmlessly much of whatever fire the defenders can bring to bear. Tominaga reminds his crew of Izumo's distinguished role as flagship, at Tsushima, of Admiral Kamimura Hikonojo's 2nd Fleet. The shade of Kamimura, Tominaga tells them, is with them in the ship tonight, and he exhorts them by their conduct to be worthy successors of the Admiral's spirit.

As things turn out, the 1st Attack Force is little troubled by the defending guns, which are largely suppressed by the attentions of yet another Japanese bombardment group: Kobayashi's 2nd Support force, which comprises the battleships Fuso and Yamashiro with cruisers Mogami and Suzuya. However, the defenders have recovered some of their composure by the time Hosogaya's 2nd Darwin Attack Force comes within range, and they are able to secure some hits on his ships - fortunately for the Japanese, with little effect.

Naval bombardment of Darwin, at 36,84

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
PBY Catalina: 1 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 2 destroyed
Hudson I: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CA Suzuya
CA Mogami
BB Yamashiro
BB Fuso

Allied Ships
TK Longwood, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Ben Nevis, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AS Holland, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AD Black Hawk, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Both, Shell hits 1, on fire
PG Dragonfly, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Patras, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Challenger, Shell hits 2, on fire
AK Carolinian, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AVD Reiger, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AK Malaita, Shell hits 1
AVD Sirius, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AK Tarakan, Shell hits 1, on fire
AK Koolinda, Shell hits 1
AK Valentijn, Shell hits 1


Allied ground losses:
622 casualties reported
Guns lost 16
Vehicles lost 1

Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 34
Port hits 10
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 6

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Darwin, 36,84, firing at TF 44
TF 44 troops unloading over beach at Darwin, 36,84

189 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Fumizuki
DD Shinonome
CL Katori, Shell hits 4
AP Kiko Maru, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
1455 casualties reported
Guns lost 7
Vehicles lost 3

Allied ground losses:
58 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Darwin, 36,84, firing at TF 44
TF 44 troops unloading over beach at Darwin, 36,84

164 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Fumizuki
CL Katori
PG Idzumo
AP Rozan Maru, Shell hits 6
DD Shinonome

Japanese ground losses:
534 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
7 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Darwin, 36,84, firing at TF 111
TF 111 troops unloading over beach at Darwin, 36,84

241 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Kuretake
DD Wakatake, Shell hits 1
CL Kashii, Shell hits 8
DD Kari
DD Mikazuki, Shell hits 1
DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
2012 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 3

By the evening of X-Day - 11th May - it is clear that the Japanese tactic of distributing their forces throughout a huge armada of ships has paid handsome dividends. More than 81,000 men are ashore, with some of the smaller units landed in their entirety. Only one small coaster, the Amakasu Maru, has taken significant damage, and she seems to be continuing to draw fire from the defenders, to the advantage of all other ships in the invading force.

In supporting operations, 11th May sees a small party of naval troops landing on Kai Island, which they occupy on the following day. Meanwhile, at sea to the NW of Darwin, Yamamoto's 3rd Support Force, having drawn fresh ammunition at Lautem, is positioning itself for a bombardment run on Wyndham when it is attacked by 7 Vought Kingfishers originating from that base. Unfortunately for the American fliers, Yamamoto's ships are under the protection of fighters from nearby carrier Ryujo, for Yamada's 2nd Mobile Force has also been assigned a role in the operation. The Zeroes go to work with a will, with 3 confirmed kills and at least 2 probables. Yamamoto's force is untouched.

During the night of 11th/12th May Yamamoto's bombardment group works over Wyndham:

Naval bombardment of Wyndham, at 30,85

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 6 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 1 destroyed
Martin 139: 4 destroyed
Do 24K-2: 1 destroyed
OS2U-3 Kingfisher: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Tatsuta
CA Nachi
CA Haguro
BB Kirishima
BB Hiei

Allied ground losses:
1337 casualties reported
Guns lost 14
Vehicles lost 3

Airbase hits 13
Airbase supply hits 25
Runway hits 112

This same night was also intended to see a landing by fast transport of an exploratory force at Wyndham, but this plan miscarries and has to be deferred to a later date.

12th May sees the Japanese continuing to unload. On this day all remaining troops in the two Darwin Attack Forces disembark, but somewhat less then two-thirds of their stores, an amount in excess of 20,000 units, remains undischarged by the evening of 12th May. The majority of units are showing stores returns less than their establishment requires, with the exception of the Imperial Guards Division, which is suspected of helping itself to supplies properly belonging to its neighbours!

Darwin's defending gunners continue their efforts to interfere with the landings, but their attempts are largely ineffectual, as is Dutch submarine O16's foray into the mass of Japanese shipping.

Coastal Guns at Darwin, 36,84, firing at TF 44
TF 44 troops unloading over beach at Darwin, 36,84

2 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Darwin, 36,84, firing at TF 111
TF 111 troops unloading over beach at Darwin, 36,84

134 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Shirayuki, Shell hits 3
AP Nihonkai Maru
DD Mikazuki
CL Kashii, Shell hits 3

Japanese ground losses:
1632 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
38 casualties reported

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Darwin at 36,84

Japanese Ships
AK Hokusui Maru
AP Chinko Maru
MSW W.10
MSW Wa 19
DD Mikazuki
DD Shirayuki

Allied Ships
SS O16

ASW attack near Darwin at 36,84

Japanese Ships
PG Tamo Maru #6
PG Sozan Maru
PG Nanpo Maru
PG Myoken Maru
PG Ikunta Maru
DD Ayanami

Allied Ships
SS O16, hits 1

Skirmishes between Japanese forces and Darwin's defenders also confirm reconnaissance reports first received from the Lautem-based 8th and 81st Reconnaissance chutai as early as 10th May: substantial contingents of the defenders are pulling out for what they presumably hope will be more defensible positions in the Australian interior.

"IN" Sakusen - The Japanese strike for Darwin: 16th Army attacks

Throughout 13th and 14th May the Japanese continue to unload stores onto their Darwin beachhead, and Allied submarines continue in their fruitless efforts to attack the transports. At various times submarines O16, Haddock and Gar are encountered by the defending Japanese ASW groups in the landings' vicinity, and submarines attempting to close with the transports are forced to go deep and abort their attacks.

(14th May):
ASW attack near Darwin at 36,84

Japanese Ships
PG Tamo Maru #6
PG Sozan Maru
PG Nanpo Maru
PG Myoken Maru
PG Ikunta Maru
DD Ayanami

Allied Ships
SS Haddock

To avoid needless exposure of their shipping to undersea attackers the Japanese engage in some dispersion measures. Ishikawa and Hosogaya juggle the composition of their task forces such that Hosogaya receives all the fully discharged ships whilst Ishikawa accepts into his formation those of Hosgaya's ships that still have cargo to unload. Hosogaya then heads east through Clarence Strait into Van Diemen Gulf, hoping to escape the attentions of Allied submarines there. Meanwhile Nishimura's Main Body marks time off Point Blaze, to the west of Darwin, in a similar attempt to stay out of harm's way. The Japanese are able to get away with such dispersal tactics because the Imperial Navy's bombardment groups have effectively written Allied air power out of the script.

The Japanese had planned to put troops ashore at Wyndham on the night of 12th/13th May, the landing to be coordinated with Yamamoto's bombardment of the base that night. That scheme went awry, so the Japanese have to improvise, using Tanaka's Vanguard Force as a make-do bombardment group composed of Kumano, Jintsu, Nagara and screen. Whilst Tanaka distracts the defenders' attention, R.Adm Takeda's Wyndham Surprise Attack Force, built around tenders Chitose and Chiyoda, slip close inshore to land elements of 1st Naval Landing Force:

Naval bombardment of Wyndham, at 30,85

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara
CL Jintsu
CA Kumano

Allied ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 43
Port supply hits 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coastal Guns at Wyndham, 30,85, firing at TF 15
TF 15 troops unloading over beach at Wyndham, 30,85

49 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD Hato

Japanese ground losses:
173 casualties reported

The landing party's subsequent skirmishings with Wyndham's defenders reveals that these consist of two base force units and elements of the US 4th Marines Regt.

There are no further naval bombardments of Darwin on 13th-14th May, but on the 13th Ambon's land attack planes pay a return visit to bring a little more misery to the defenders:

Day Air attack on Darwin , at 36,84

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
G3M Nell x 40
G4M1 Betty x 24

Allied aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 8 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 10 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Do 24K-2: 1 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
Hudson I: 2 destroyed

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 26

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
11 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
13 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
7 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
3 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet
2 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
3 x G3M Nell bombing at 11000 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty bombing at 11000 feet

On 14th May Yamada's 2nd Mobile Force heads into the northern reaches of Joseph Bonaparte Gulf (north of Wyndham) for the primary purpose of screening Tanaka's withdrawal. However, Tanaka's appearance off Wyndham has apparently panicked a small freighter into making a run from the harbour there. For this she pays the full penalty at the hands of Type 97's from Yamada's carriers:

Day Air attack on TF, near Wyndham at 30,85

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 34
B5N2 Kate x 15

No Japanese losses

Allied Ships
AK Compagnia Filipinas, Bomb hits 8, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x B5N2 Kate bombing at 18000 feet
9 x B5N2 Kate bombing at 18000 feet

Yamada's airmen are, frankly, somewhat taken aback by their own success in this strike: a hit rate of better than 50% for weapons released at 18000 feet is exceptionally fortunate.

At midday on 14th May the order for attack goes out from the headquarters of 16th Army, now located just inland of the shore close to the east of Darwin. The Japanese are brim full of confidence, for they know from the Australians' feeble bombardments of the previous day that Darwin is now held by little more than a rearguard. In the five months since the war began the enemy have strongly fortified the base, but the Allied commander's decision to pull out the bulk of his combat units now means that there are insufficient infantry to man these fortifications effectively. The Japanese see nothing to be gained by recklessness and go in with a deliberate assault against the defences. They are not to be denied:

Ground combat at Darwin

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 97923 troops, 453 guns, 149 vehicles, Assault Value = 2064

Defending force 10221 troops, 101 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 134

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 6

Japanese max assault: 1906 - adjusted assault: 2995

Allied max defense: 133 - adjusted defense: 107

Japanese assault odds: 27 to 1 (fort level 6)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Darwin base !!!

Allied aircraft
no flights

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk: 1 destroyed
B-17E Fortress: 3 destroyed
Hudson I: 3 destroyed
Hawk 75A: 2 destroyed
Brewster 339D: 2 destroyed
Do 24K-2: 2 destroyed
T.IVa: 1 destroyed
PBY Catalina: 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
787 casualties reported
Guns lost 5

Allied ground losses:
2876 casualties reported
Guns lost 40

Whilst those Allied units that are able fall back down the highway leading to Katherine, the battery at Emery Point surrenders. The last act of the defenders is to torch such aircraft as remain at Darwin's airfields, and to open the sea cocks on a number of damaged ships lying within the harbour. These include such valuable units as depot ship Holland and destroyer tender Black Hawk.

Hello...*knock, knock*

Is this thing on?

[:)]

End-of-month reports for May 1942, starting with a summary of the economy plus aircraft production stats.