RE: Mutual Assured Destruction
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 4:31 am
by Cap Mandrake
Here are the crucial days of the mirror game so far.
Admiral Faber-san has grouped the transports, the CV's, Shoho and probably the bombardment group into an Imperial Death Star. They appear to have shed the 10Kt AK's as they make good progress.
They appear on track to clear the Jomard Passage on the 7th. There is no hope of LBA from PM hitting anything with the carrier CAP, so I move in only one B-25 Sqdrn and set them to search. The USN carriers move near Cairns, declining battle in the hope of poor weather on the 8th. Meanwhile, the aviation support troops at PM are augmented with troops from Townsville brought in by PBY. A sqadron of P-40's moves to PM and is set on 100% CAP. They chew up a Zero squadron from Rabaul very well but dont down any bombers when Betties and Nells come down from Rabaul. The runway stands at 25% damage.
The weather will be good for the 8th. It has to be the day. The carrier duel has to be before the troopships start unloading. I toyed with the idea of leaving the TBD's behind for possible use at PM later and trying to get a fight at about 6 hexes from the likely Deathstar position. This would reduce the risk of Nells and Betties as it would be beyond Zero escort range from Rabaul. It would also reduce the risk of surface combat between the Jap cruisers and the Air Combat TF's. In the end, I decided to leave the TBD's aboard and place the carriers 3 hexes SW of PM. Although the risk of Netties was higher, I could be assured the TBD's would be in the fight. And, in the likely event of the loss of one or both USN carriers, the homeless planes could recover to PM. I sent a second P-40 squadron to PM and set them to LRCAP over the carriers. I sent some A-20's to PM and set them and the B-25's to naval attack with no P-40 escort.
It was a wild fight.[;)]

RE: Mutual Assured Destruction
Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:53 pm
by Cap Mandrake
The is still the me as Allies mirror game. Very good turn for the Allies. The Netties score no hits and the cruisers which are tasked to patrol East toward Milne Bay before dawn and then return toward PM get in among the transports.
No CV's are attacked. They may be all sunk.
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 09, 42
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 97,133, Range 6,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CM Tsugaru, Shell hits 14, heavy fires, heavy damage
DMS W.20, Shell hits 3, on fire
AMc Fumi Maru #2
xAKL Hagoromo Maru
xAKL Noshiro Maru #2
xAK Canberra Maru
xAK Kansai Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
xAK Kagu Maru
xAK Asakaze Maru, Shell hits 2
xAK Tatumiya Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire
xAK Kamikaze Maru
xAK Sinsei Maru
xAK Chicago Maru
xAK Ikushima Maru, Shell hits 3, on fire
xAK Kasuga Maru #2, Shell hits 2, on fire
xAK Aso Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
Allied Ships
CA Portland
CA Chester
CA New Orleans
CA Astoria
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 1
CA Australia
CL Hobart
DD Morris
DD Phelps
DD Whipple
Japanese ground losses:
410 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 16 disabled
Non Combat: 4 destroyed, 17 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,133, Range 8,000 Yards
Japanese Ships
CL Yubari, Shell hits 13, and is sunk
DD Mutsuki, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
DD Yayoi, Shell hits 1
E Oite, Shell hits 1
E Asanagi, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
Allied Ships
CA Portland, Shell hits 2
CA Chester, Shell hits 1
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 2
CA Astoria
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 1
CA Australia
CL Hobart
DD Morris
DD Phelps, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Whipple
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Submarine attack near Milne Bay at 99,133
Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS S-38
CA Aoba is sighted by SS S-38
SS S-38 launches 4 torpedoes at CA Aoba
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Sub attack near Milne Bay at 101,134
Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, heavy damage
Allied Ships
SS Greenling
CA Aoba is sighted by SS Greenling
SS Greenling launches 4 torpedoes at CA Aoba
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Sub attack near Port Moresby at 98,133
Japanese Ships
SS I-28
Allied Ships
DD Whipple, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CA Chester
CA Portland
CL Hobart
DD Morris
SS I-28 launches 6 torpedoes at DD Whipple
DD Morris fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Morris fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Morris attacking submerged sub ....
DD Morris fails to find sub, continues to search...
DD Morris fails to find sub, continues to search...
Escort abandons search for sub
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 42 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 22 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 4
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
TBD-1 Devastator x 2
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Shiratsuyu
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 99,135
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
TBD-1 Devastator x 7
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
TBD-1 Devastator: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Canberra Maru
Japanese ground losses:
62 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
3 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet *
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,135
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 27 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes
Japanese aircraft
no flights
Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 23
Japanese aircraft losses
No Japanese losses
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
CA Kako, Bomb hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Aoba, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Kako
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Aoba
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 95,135
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes
Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 2
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Ushio, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 98,135
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 2
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAK Kansai Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
270 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 5 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 99,134
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 16
G3M2 Nell x 26
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 26 damaged
Allied Ships
CA Portland
CA Chester
CA Minneapolis
CA Astoria
CA New Orleans
CL Hobart
Aircraft Attacking:
26 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 4
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 2
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
CA Haguro
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 95,135
Weather in hex: Light rain
Raid spotted at 48 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 19 minutes
Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 9
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Akebono, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires
DD Ushio, Bomb hits 4, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
5 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
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Akebono
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Ushio
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Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 102,132
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 28 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 9
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Yayoi
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 19 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 3
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
TBD-1 Devastator x 2
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Bomb hits 1
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x TBD-1 Devastator bombing from 5000 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 99,135
Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7
Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 13
No Japanese losses
Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 destroyed, 2 damaged
Japanese Ships
xAK Ikushima Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Canberra Maru, Bomb hits 1
xAK Kamikaze Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
544 casualties reported
Squads: 16 destroyed, 8 disabled
Non Combat: 12 destroyed, 7 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Guns lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
7 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
CAP engaged:
Tainan Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 20000
Raid is overhead
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Ikushima Maru
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 102,132
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 38 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 9
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Yayoi
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Cooktown at 95,135
Weather in hex: Severe storms
Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes
Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 9
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
DD Akebono, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Akebono
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 98,135
Weather in hex: Partial cloud
Raid spotted at 24 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 9
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
xAK Kasuga Maru #2, Bomb hits 9, and is sunk
Japanese ground losses:
1166 casualties reported
Squads: 22 destroyed, 43 disabled
Non Combat: 2 destroyed, 24 disabled
Engineers: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Guns lost 52 (22 destroyed, 30 disabled)
Aircraft Attacking:
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Kasuga Maru #2
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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes
Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 8
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2
SBD-3 Dauntless x 8
No Allied losses
Japanese Ships
CA Haguro, Bomb hits 4, on fire
DD Yugure
DD Shiratsuyu
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 99,134
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
Raid detected at 29 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 15
G3M2 Nell x 2
Japanese aircraft losses
G3M2 Nell: 1 damaged
Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis
Aircraft Attacking:
2 x G3M2 Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
RE: Mutual Assured Destruction
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:58 pm
by Cap Mandrake
**************End Game, me as Japan************
144th and friends bombarded on the 12th, shock attacked on the 13th (achieving a 2:1 attack and redicing forts to 0), but on the 14th, with a second shock attack, the odds were only 1:2 and PM held.
There were no other shipping losses escpet USN Perkins which was sunk by Betties as she pursued the Jap transports toward Shortlands.
Embarked aboard an undamaged APD and the CM and with Kinugasa and a 2nd CA in escort, the SNLF subunit from Tulagi landed at Efate on the 13th and captured the base ont he 14th. The damaged APD and a fast AK embarked a part of the engineer unit from Shortlands (with her security infantry), landed at Luganville ont he 13th and captured the base on the 14th.
The final score was a marginal Allied victory with a 400 pt margin.
In retrospect, I should have pursued my orginal plan for Noumea...but...there in no do-over. [:D]
Also of interest is the fact that Lexington survived the intitial carrier battle in both games. I am thinking the separate carrier TF model is superior.