Scenario 19, Allies strike Truk

[toraq]

Future movements

Allied HQ are planning and planning. PM battle has changed the course of the war. I keep thinking but I don´t see any possibility to the Japs.

1) My AV outnumber enemy AV
2) Enemy supply lines are cut since Buna is so heavily damaged that they can´t send supplies to PM
3) Enemy rgts are being bombed everyday...attrition is high
4) Any attempt to send supplies or reinforces to PM will meet my naval bombers

So, PM is the Jap Stalingrad. Now that the front is stable I´m thinking of sending some rgts to destroy enemy troops. If I don´t do it, they´ll probably retreat to Buna and I will have lost a great opportunity to crush 7 enemy rgts.[X(]. But Jap rgts are so tough that maybe they won´t be enough to overun them!

Therefore, I think I won´t wait to the F4U (80 days until they´re available). I´m quite short of fighters since the last battle left my replacements pool empty, but PM is soooo full of engineers that it is very difficult to close it again.

Let´s take a look to the aircraft availibilty:
(figures taken the 1st of Nov.)

Japanese

Zero M2--- Replacem. received: 582----Planes lost: 398----Received: 90-----TOTAL: 274
Betty-------Replacem. received: 162----Planes lost: 196----Received: 157----TOTAL: 123
A6M3-------Replacem. received: 312----Planes lost: 154----Received: 107----TOTAL: 265
Nell---------Replacem. received: 36-----Planes lost: 71------Received: 92-----TOTAL: 57

The important figure is the last one, the total number. This means that he has 540 Zeroes!!!. God, he could beat my entire airforce. Fortunately, NG airports are closed.
Bombers...180...enough to sink a invasion force, so I guess I have to be very careful if I want to disembark two div at PM.

Allied

I said it before. My fighter sqds are still depleted. My F4F sqds are reforming and need 45 days until they reach full strenght. P40 Warharks are OK but no replacements left. Kittyhawks are 50%. 48 P38 but XP is 60 to 65...they are only useful for escort duties
P39 sqds are complete but they are not rivals for his experienced datais. Maybe I´ll use them to surprise a bomb raid...

[tedhealy]

I've been reading many AARs to prepare for UV (just bought it) and I very much enjoy reading your AARs. Great writing, very direct and I like the insights into your thinking and the maps. I wish you luck in the war.

[toraq]

God!, this forum is almost dead...What happens with the other AARs?. Herbie, Shadow of the Condor, marky...Where are you guys?[:'(]

Anyway, two more turns played. Some air attacks. Good news and bad news. More bombs put into the Zuikaku but I lost 2 DD due to a devastating betty attack in PM[:(]. My commanders keep staying there because they think it is a save port. Far from that, I swear it!.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/22/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

New attack on Kavieng´s port
Zuikaku still there so this won´t be the last attack. My opponent desisted and no CAP was present. I know Zuikaku will sink.

Air attack on Kavieng , at 18,24

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 20***4 lost***
B-25D Mitchell x 18
B-17E Fortress x 21***3 lost***
B-24D Liberator x 12***2 lost, bomber crews tired***

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage ***Someday I´ll count them***
DD Arashi, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage

Enemy betties quite active
Yes, and they sunk two DD and more ships were also damaged. Even Noumea is not a save place since my P39 are patrolling other places.

In PM
PT 142, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Cushing, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Ralph Talbot, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
DD Shaw, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)

Some men of the 17 bde lost...

In Caims ***From Rabaul!!!***
DD Walke, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Noumea ***from Guadalcanal***
AK Eridanus, Torpedo hits 1
AP Leedstown, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Well beautiful attacks. These pilots are crack pilots. But 11 betties were lost and 2 nells also. If you read my last post, you can see that betties are the most scarce aircraft (and nells too). So no so bad news for me.

Fierce combats in PM
Despite my AV superiority, my enemy inflicts severe casualities when he attacks. But for me, it is better. More possibilities to defeat them when my fresh troops arrive.

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 49847 troops, 583 guns, 144 vehicles

Defending force 42983 troops, 393 guns, 42 vehicles

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 313

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 530

2 Bdes are now resting in Cooktown but disabled squads keep disabled...only 3 recovered in the last 10 days or so. [:(]. Tomorrow arrives at PM a 15000 cargo convoy with supplies. And in a week or so 25000 aditional supplies.

[toraq]

ZUIKAKU SUNK!!!!. . After 21 additional bombs, the Zuikaku finally disappeared inside Kavieng´s port waters.
The Zuikaku played a major role in sinking the Yorktown and Lexington and later on, his planes helped to sink the Enterprise, so I´m very happy to have sunk it. Also, this is the first IJN CV sunk, so it is considered a great victory.

Zuikaku sunk
The final chapter of op. Tungsten. My heavies return to Townsville to recover morale.

Air attack on Kavieng , at 18,24

Japanese aircraft
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 15

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 48
B-25D Mitchell x 30
B-17E Fortress x 66 ***finally a great b17 number***
B-24D Liberator x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 5 destroyed ***P38 probe its value***

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning x 1 destroyed x 1 damaged
B-25D Mitchell x 2 damaged
B-17E Fortress x 1 damaged ***3 lost***

1LT J. Egan of 35th FS is credited with kill number 2

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 21, on fire, heavy damage***Of course I watched every single hit***
DD Yugiri, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage

Allied planes attack PM invasion troops
These attacks are repeated everyday...(the same as my opponent). The attacked Rgt losses some men, reach a disruption level of 100 and in that day the AV is reduced to 0.

Air attack on 45th Regiment, at 10,40

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 20
B-26B Marauder x 28

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 63

Naval attack to a marauding MSW and its escort
Trying to clean GG mines...but was caught by my naval bombers. One more DD to add.
to the sunk list

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 41
Beaufighter VIC x 9

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Murasame, Bomb hits 12, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
MSW W21

PM garrison suffers heavy casualities
These jap., with their banzai charges are causing several casualities. I´m planning to reinforce them with another rgt. while two others will try to flank IJA forces and cut the Kokoda trail. Then, my crack units (2nd marine div and 1 aussie div) should disembark in PM and finish with the Jap. resistance.
PM convoys have arrived. More supplies there.

Ground combat at Port Moresby

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 49186 troops, 577 guns, 144 vehicles

Defending force 39501 troops, 374 guns, 42 vehicles

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 296

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 492

[marky]

heey

congrats on sinking the Zuikaku [:D]

and in KAVIENG!

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

[toraq]

Almost no action in the last 2 days

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 11/27/42

Weather: Overcast

Buna closed after recon planes detected enemy air activity
Complete allied air superiority over NG. GG also attacked.

Air attack on Buna , at 12,38

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 51
B-26B Marauder x 106

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 228

Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 52

GG visited
(From Cooktown)

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 24
P-38G Lightning x 22
B-25D Mitchell x 30

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 230

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 50

Allied HQ worried about the situation of PM
Yes, that´s why a new Rgt will be FT there in the next two days. AV being reduced quickly since we evacuated two Rgts (which are resting in Cooktown).
Anyway, plans to encircle the enemy troops there are almost prepared and the troops that will carry on the op. are at Townsville.
In a couple of turns every LB at PM will pound enemy troops.... This should reduce his AV even more.

Ground combat at Port Moresby

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 48877 troops, 573 guns, 144 vehicles***many guns present***

Defending force 39229 troops, 372 guns, 42 vehicles

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 347

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 358
Guns lost 2

[toraq]

(two turns played) Some air battles. I tried to FT one Rgt to Lea Lea and Jap. opponent tried to avoid it. Fortunately my P40 managed to get through enemy CAP and shoot down some bombers. But still far away to cope with experienced Zero pilots.

Gasmata airfield visited
I wanted to close it and destroy some supplies (barges to supply Buna come from here). B26 are good to resist Zero attacks but 2 of them went down.

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 20

Allied aircraft
B-26B Marauder x 103

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 2 destroyed x 2 damaged ***less than 5%***

LTJG E.Komachi of F2/2nd Daitai is credited with kill number 2

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 124

Airbase hits 17
Airbase supply hits 4 ***I guess the operation was a success***
Runway hits 95

I watched the experience of my bomber crews. They have increased it a lot. Since I use them to bomb enemy troops or airfields almost everyday, my 60 experienced pilot have now 68-72!!!. Good, very good!!!

The Lea Lea air battle
I got one ace!....I think he is the only one (alive!). Well I put 3 P40 sqds to LCAP Lea Lea (the hex near PM) to protect my FT TF (which always consider PM or Lea Lea a save place[:@]). I shot down some bombers, the only plane he is scarce!
(two strikes)
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 6
G4M1 Betty x 15
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3
-----2nd strike----
A6M3 Zero x 12
G4M1 Betty x 3


Allied aircraft
P-40E Warhawk x 48

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 6 destroyed ***7 lost***
G4M1 Betty x 5 destroyed x 8 damaged ***8 lost***
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk x 5 destroyed x 1 damaged ***all shot down by Zeroes***

1LT D. Meuten of 8th FS is credited with kill number 6

DD attacked in PM
Man, no way to avoid these attacks...One DD seriously damaged while FT troops to increase PM garrison.
(two attacks)

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 9
G4M1 Betty x 6
G3M Nell x 3
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 9 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 5 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Smith, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Henley
DD O'Brien

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 32
Guns lost 1

Submarine warfare
My subs are withdrawing to rest and repair sys. damage. I want to preserve them (6 already lost) for upcoming operations.

Japanese Ships
SS I-172

Allied Ships
AP Moreton Bay, Torpedo hits 1, on fire ***3000 cargo ship, severe damage done!!***

[toraq]

(two turns played)
Today, Nevea was pounded by some BB? or CA. Damage was minimal, cos I have two eng. units there. Why he did so?
-Maybe it is just a raid, to frighten me
-Or maybe he is planning to invade it (Or Irau, but this base is still hiden to enemy eyes)

Intelligence reports
It could be whatever, but recently I spotted some APs and DD in Guadalcanal and also a enemy sub was found and sunk in the area close to Nevea. H. Field airforce has been increased recently. And finally, today Wunpuko was recon. Something about to come...
Fortunatelly my forces in the area are enough to cope with a minor invasion.

Enemy carrier strenght
Zuikaku sunk [:)]
Hiryu, on fire heavy damaged, PM invasion----not a threat
Akagi, on fire, PM invasion -----not a threat

Junyo on fire by 1 bomb, Surprise over Rabaul (three months ago) ----a possible threat
Soryu on fire by 1 bomb, Surprise over Rabaul (three months ago) ----a possible threat
Kaga on fire by 3 bombs, Surprise over Rabaul (three months ago)---not a threat

A threat
Shokaku (72 planes)
Hiyo (53 planes) --don´t know if it is now available
Zuiho (30 planes)
Ryujo (30 planes)
Shoho (30 planes)

So it is possible that he has managed to rebuild his carrier force recently. And he is ready for another invasion. So, I won´t force a carrier battle if I have the opportunity. Instead, I use my naval bombers from land bases.
But, I´m expecting too much!. Don´t think he will try something around here. Too risk for too little to archive. But I´ll be aware of...

My forces in the area
The map shows the situation over there. Got enough forces to show fight or resist until reinforces arrive from Australia. EVen foward bases are more or less well defended/fortified.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/04/42

Weather: Clear

Night bombardment of Nevea
Don´t know where they came from...don´t know the attacking ships, don´t know where they are now. Fortunately they didn´t surprise my FT to Nevea. Nevea was quite full of supplies and troops so there were no more FT there.
But now I´ll have to send supplies and try to mine the place.

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 12

Airbase hits 3
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 13
Port hits 1´

Submarine warfare
Usually you don´t spot them during weeks and suddenly they appear in the worst place (they´ve put torp. in CV Hornet and BB Noth Carolina). I-2 was spotted two turns ago. Sent my SC and they sunk it.

Japanese Ships
SS I-2, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SC 699
SC 738
SC 742

Buna, GG airfields visited
PM has enough supplies to support the 300 planes based there. They just pound every enemy unit that is close to the base: airfileds, enemy troops, barges, ships. They´re preparing Op. Circle, the destruction of jap. forces in PM.
I put some examples:

Over Gasmata
Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 9
B-26B Marauder x 107

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 124
Guns lost 1

Airbase hits 14
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 109

Attacking jap. troops in PM
Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 68
Beaufort x 9
P-38G Lightning x 13

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 67

Attacking FT TF
(Not very common)

Allied aircraft
Beaufighter VIC x 10

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIC x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Asagiri, Bomb hits 1, on fire
APD 36, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

PM combats are finishing enemy offensive capacity
Don´t know why is he trying this again and again. His rgts are only a shadow of his normal power

Ground combat at Port Moresby

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 42061 troops, 499 guns, 144 vehicles

Defending force 42753 troops, 424 guns, 42 vehicles

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 334

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 246

[toraq]

Grrr...still suspicious or do I have a suspicious mind??. Elvis![:'(]

Yes another bombardment party ready to strike Nevea (I think). But I had time to mine the place, so maybe I can hurt him a little because my CD unit there suffers from blindness!!!.[8D]

More fighters detected in Lunga. Maybe 80 or so

Still APs, CAs or whatever ships at Lunga

So, I send some reinforcements to the area:

-2 B25 sqds, 3 Hudson sqds, 2 B24 sqds, 2 P38 sqds. These units are not good for naval attacks (exp level below 70) but I can use them to hit enemy troops.
-C-47 start to ferry supplies to Nevea. Every sqd moved to Luganville.
-Heavies are about to be transferred but, for the moment, three heavies sqds moved = 3 op. losses, so I have to wait until weather is clear or so.
-CVs retired from Lunganville until I get a clear confirmation of what´s going on
-12 PBY and 8 F5 are searching the area

Meanwhile in NG I got 3 Rgts at Lea Lea. First they will defeat enemy units there (recently arrived). Second, they will march to cut Kokoda trail as my 2 div. get there.

[toraq]

Yes, what the hell is going on?????????
A lot of enemy ships in the area (see map). At first I was quite nervous, but after looking at the map, my forces and so on , I calmed myself. My defences are ready!. I should have no fear!!. However I´m quite eager to see enemy´s next movements.

This is what I see (the maps shows everything):
1) 2 APs TF in Lunga. They have been there for some time so I guess there are loading troops.
2) Enemy CVs (1 CV, 2 CVL already spotted) 8 hexes from Nevea. APs also spotted there
3) 2 surface TF discovered, one on its way to Luganville, the other one close to Lunga.

Possible objectives
- Nevea: don´t think so...Why does he appoach so much to Lunganville?, Why is he loading troops at Lunga?. Nevea´port is size 0!. Nooo, this has no logic!![:-]
- Wunpunko: hey, what a stupid way to risk your entire fleet for somthing worthless. [:-]
- Nevea plus Lunga evacuation: my planes have not visited Lunga in the entire game. He could evacuate them without any problem. No sense. Also why is he sending a TF for Luganville?. Nevea is far enough for my fighters! (10 hexes)[:-]
-Luganville: yes, he still has time to try an auto-victory (22 days left). If he wants to get it, he has to send every single Rgt there: that´s why he is loading troops at Lunga. This could be the plan:
1) Invade Wunpuko to get a foward base
2) Send your BB to close Luganville and isolate Nevea
3) Send APs, escorted with CVs to unload crack units there

Yes, it could be....It is a foolish plan, my air power is very strong and could beat anything but think about this: if he sends enough troops, even if I sink some APs he can unload enough troops to archive the objective. This could be his last attempt...

Well these are my decision to face this new threaten:
1) Heavies moved to Koumac: from here they will perform the Timtom Strategy [:'(]: attack Lunga´s port and delay any transport duties.
2) Naval bombers sent to Wunpunko: if he bombs Lunganville, his surface TF will be close enough to my SBDs (extended range). 72 SBDs plus 12 TBFs ready.
3) CVs retreat to Noumea...if necessary they will get some SBDs from Australia
4) 2 elite B26 sqds (more than 70 XP) are ready to fly to Lunganville. 3 TBFs sqds will follow them.
5) 1 Rgt (Americal division) transfered to Wunpunko. This is a important base!
6) Luganville defenses: forts 9, AS 9, Porst Size 9. 525 assault points, 1st marine division, 2 RCT, 2 ARM units, plus ENG and BF (no CD unit present).
7) Noumea defenses: 1 entire div. plus 1 ARM and 2 CD unit, BF...450 Assault points.
8) Reinforces: in a week 8 DD or so, 1 CL and 1 BB are coming from PH. Also 1 SBD sqd. is about to come. 1 P39 will receive P38 in 5 to 8 days.

Weak points:
-Supplies in Luganville and near bases are low. This is my fault!!![:-]
-Brisbane garrison poor. But he is far away from this place. I can send reinforces using C47 from Townsville

The game is in a very interesting moment!

[toraq]

Here I am again!. My opponent has bombed Nevea and Wunpuko, just surprising me a little. And it seems that is heading for Nevea instead of Lungaville. Maybe Irau is also a target, since his naval bombers dropped some pills over there. A very interesting moment, indeed.
On the other side of the front, I started to load 2 division to PM. Operation Circle underway!

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/08/42

Weather: Rain

Nevea
Bombed two times, still operational with supplies in "orange". I´ve sent two P39 sqds on naval attack. Since Wunpuko is closed (damned!), I don´t have much to send up there. Many TF of 1 ship are approaching...

Japanese Ships
DD Hamakaze, Shell hits 1, on fire ***1 shot of 155 mm***

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 37

Airbase supply hits 5
Airbase hits 8
Runway hits 86

CD unit again scored poor results and enemy TF didn´t hit a single mine!. Later on it was attacked by LB from Lunga and thus, revealing where he wants to disembark afterwards

Air attack on 112th Cavalry Regiment ***my main defense unit in Nevea***
Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 13
G4M1 Betty x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 1 destroyed x 1 damaged ***AA fire from CD unit***


Wunpuko
A little disaster here as the base is closed, my naval bombers were unable to take off and supplies are in "orange". But, his ships are 10 hexes away so only the TBF had attacked anyway. So the important thing is to repair the damage soon, to pound the enemy while he attempt to disembark at Nevea (8 hexes away).
8 hexes mean SBD will attack at extended range but TBF can launch torpedoes!. So Wunpunko is a very important base.

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk x 2 destroyed x 7 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed x 14 damaged ***history repeating!!***

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 63

So no air or naval response for now!. Tomorrow thunderstoms so maybe he will be able to unload his troops unopposed.

Next movements
Moved my two elite B26 sqds to Luganville, just to be prepared. My B17 are at Koumac but they are grounded since I can´t send them with poor weather!.
Only the naval bombers at Wunpuko stands for the attack!. Tò help to repair the damage there one Sea bees unit is being tranported by air.
My surface power is weak: 1 CL, 1 CA, 5 or 6 DD and 3 CLAA...I´m using them as a FT TFs to ferry supplies to Luganville. I can´t risk more CA or CL[:(]
My CVs will move to a place between Noumea and Brisbane since I want to receive TBF from Brisbane which can jump to New Caledonia
Fighters: 2 P39 sqds to Nevea to put up some fight, F4F are based at Luganville, P38 ready at Wunpuko, I expect much from these guys.

Well if he is heading to Nevea and Irau so it is, for me it is a way of sinking ships and CVs, while I only risk aircraft. We´ll see if I should hold these two places or evacuate them if possible.

The other side of the front
Australian 6th division, 2nd marine division started to load troops, guns, etc to a vast amount of ships in Townsville. I still don´t undestand it. The computer has changed my AP TF adding some more APs...even APDs!!![&:]. And he surely will left some troops behing!

I decided to form two big TF escorted by CA, CL and DD. They will put AA fire when the enemy comes. I will probably send them in group with P40 and F4F aircover, and not using 1 ship TF.

Allied intelligence believes that Jap. player has started to withdraw his Rgts from PM. I don´t want that!!!!. Thus an allied attack has been ordered for tomorrow, to see what happens...I´m not very convinced since tomorrow is thunderstorms....

Lea Lea
Meanwhile Lea Lea is cleaned of enemy troops and two rgts are now marching to cut the enemy retrating path.

Air attack on 15th Naval Garrison Unit, at 9,39

Allied aircraft
P-40E Kittyhawk x 11
A-20B Havoc x 18

Japanese ground losses
Men lost 25

Ground combat at Lea Lea

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 10646 troops, 116 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 241 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 155 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 83

Just some thoughts
One year after Pearl Harbour and US power is big enough to avoid any jap. invasion...What a powerful country! Here are some figures (I found them in the web) which show the warmaking potential in 1937. If this is truth, we can understand why US is so powerful!

United States 41.7%
Germany 14.4%
USSR 14.0%
UK 10.2%
France 4.2%
Japan 3.5%
Italy 2.5%

[toraq]

Enemy troops on the beaches of Nevea!!. My P39 are the only ones to take off and attack enemy ships. Succesful counter-attack in PM


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/09/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Nevea front
Two APs hit mines at Nevea, but weather covered invasion forces. Instead of APs my P39 attacked surface TF which is very close to Wunpuko. He has been lucky cos I could have launched my SBD at pound them miserably!!. I guess he wants to hit Luganville
Anyway...these are the orders
1) Two DD, commanded by my most aggresive leader, Callaghan, will try to hit invasion forces. (only DD and CL spotted there)
2) Naval bombers ready in Wunpuko, sent one SBD sqd to Nevea (in case Wunpuko is closed)
3) Heavies will bomb Lunga from Koumac...I fear the op. losses
4) TBFs have landed in my CVs...tomorrow they´ll join the fight

Here is the P39 attack, half of them at 100 feet, since they have a lot of exp.

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 44

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Chikuma, Shell hits 8, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Furutaka, Shell hits 20
DD Yukikaze, Shell hits 8
CA Haguro, Bomb hits 1
BB Hiei

I´m alittle worried about a TF which seems to have APs but is not heading to Nevea...

NG front
Here is the allied deliberate attack. Tomorrow my ships will sail to PM, with the two crack divisions

Ground combat at Port Moresby

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 26693 troops, 364 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 49124 troops, 562 guns, 143 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 719
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 134

[toraq]

He sent another transport TF to Nevea, this time all together, without splitting them. This avoided the attack of my DD but they became a beautiful target for my naval bombers. He again made the same mistake than before, no CAP over invasion forces...so damage was severe. But he managed to unload most of the troops at Nevea, AGAIN!

Callaghan fails to get to the transports
A new TF arrived at Nevea, so my DDs made contact...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Nevea at 50,43

Japanese Ships
CA Kako, Shell hits 1
DD Akigumo, Shell hits 3, on fire
DD Makinami
AP Atlantic Maru
AP Heiwa Maru
AP Iwaki Maru
AP Koei Maru
AP Oigawa Maru
AP Tosei Maru

Allied Ships
DD Lardner, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
DD Gridley

Enemy bombardments

Naval bombardment of Wunpuko, at 51,51
Due to their lack of ammu. they were unable to put the airfield out of action

Allied aircraft losses
B-26B Marauder x 2 destroyed x 2 damaged
P-40E Warhawk x 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Irau, at 42,43
Some DDs from Lunga

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 82

Heavies visit Lunga for the first time
And maybe for the last time. I lost 5 B17 and 1 B24. Since there is no a huge amount of betties there, I won´t sacrifice my B17...

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6 ***that this little amount of CAP could damage 6 heavies says.....[:@][:@]***
A6M3 Zero x 2

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 33 ***50% only took off***
B-24D Liberator x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
no losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 12 damaged***half due to CAP, half to AA***
B-24D Liberator x 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 407

Airbase hits 19
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 47

And finally my naval bombers...
They took off from Nevea and Wunpuko

AP Iwaki Maru, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
AP Oigawa Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA Kako, Shell hits 24, Bomb hits 17, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
DD Makinami, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Tokyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Hakonesan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 12

Kako sunk, and thus becoming the 1st enemy CA to be sunk. [:)]. Very little troops lost however...[:(]. Two full enemy rgts disembarked at Nevea

[toraq]

(two turns played)
Nevea defences tested. Surely I´ll have to reinforce it if I don´t want to lose it. CVE Unyo damaged by naval bombers from Nevea. Good job!. The AP TF previously attacked retreated (computer movement) due to the damage and now is under the CVs umbrella. Surely he will return to Nevea to unload the ship´s cargo.
On the other side of the world (NG), my ships star to unload the two divisions tomorrow, and in 3 days my 2 RCT should cut communications between Buna and PM, and thus isolation 7 enemy Rgts. [;)]

Unyo damaged
My bombers from Nevea attack enemy CVs. Don´t know why but at least 2 bombs on the Unyo, but without fires.

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 28
A6M3 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft ***two attacks***
SBD Dauntless x 12
P-39D Airacobra x 54 ***naval attack***

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 2 destroyed x 2 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 5 destroyed x 2 damaged

LTJG C.Handa of CII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3

Japanese Ships
CVE Unyo, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 2
DD Nenohi, Shell hits 8, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Later on, Nevea bombed my strong surface TFs

Naval bombardment of Nevea, at 50,43

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 3 destroyed x 4 damaged

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 47

Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 125***argggggg***
Port fuel hits 1

Air attack on Nevea , at 50,43
Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
D3A Val x 36
B5N Kate x 46

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 1 damaged

They did nothing, and my opponent has told me that he is quite tired: his LB or naval bombers are unable to destroy my runaways. Maybe it is a engineers problem. I got several of them in Nevea, but not enough to avoid any damage inmediately![:'(]

Ground combat at Nevea
This doesn´t look good...Maybe I´ll send another RCT there...., and I´ll keep bombing them until the end!!!. Two full rgts there, and two Engineer units, attack values 127 vs. 169 gulps!

Air attack on 78th Regiment, at 50,43

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 19
P-38G Lightning x 23
B-25D Mitchell x 18

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 45

Submarine warfare

Sub attack near Nevea at 50,43

Japanese Ships
AP Hakusan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Amberjack

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 24

Sub attack near Nevea at 50,43
Japanese Ships
AP Kyushu Maru, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Grayling, Shell hits 1***a great battle...4 times he launched torp., only 1 struck the AP***

[toraq]

Yes, today proved to be a very bloody day in the air...but for the japanese player[:)]. His Betties and Nells attacked WITHOUT ESCORTS my fleet at PM and met my CAP. Those brave pilots refised to flee and thus were devastated. Nells will never recover from theis losses.
Nevea garrison still holding but unless they receive reinforces and air support, they will surrender in two days. Help needed!!

NEVEA FRONT

Naval engamement
Again my DDs are mauled. Fortunately I didn´t send my whole SOPAC fleet (1 BB 1 CA 2 CL 10 DD) which is now waiting for the moment.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Nevea at 50,43

Japanese Ships
BB Nagato
BB Mutsu
CA Tone
CA Kumano
CL Kuma
DD Onami
DD Hayanami
DD Kiyonami
DD Michishio

Allied Ships
DD Meredith, Shell hits 23, and is sunk
DD Maury, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Naval bombardment of Nevea, at 50,43

Allied aircraft

Allied aircraft losses
no losses

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 4

Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 27

Tomorrow I´ll send PTs and will send two DD to Wunpuko to attack retreating APs.

Air attacks
Only aircrafts from NEvea attack!. I don´t know what the is going on with the ones based at Wunpuko!!!. Could you please take off??

Japanese aircraft ***various strikes***
A6M2 Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 5
P-39D Airacobra x 4
P-39D Airacobra x 3
P-39D Airacobra x 3

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed

LTJG S.Akashiba of F2/1st Daitai is credited with kill number 2

Japanese Ships ***P39 scored the bomb hits***
AP Hakusan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Toa Maru, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kyushu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Ground combat at Nevea

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13838 troops, 149 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 9581 troops, 79 guns, 40 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 6

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 5

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 271
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 101

Nevea needs help and I´m going to save her!. I decided to send another RCT from the Americal Division). Heavies ordered to strike the enemy troops there...also the LB from Luganville (yet again didn´t attack) and naval bombers from Wunpuko (secondary mission). With enough bombs i think we can stop those yellow .

NG FRONT
Finally we got it. A massive bomber destruction The IJA lost 50 bombers or so while attacking my 2 big TF at PM without escort.

1st attack
Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 29
G4M1 Betty x 29

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18
P-40E Warhawk x 41

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 27 destroyed x 8 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 12 destroyed x 17 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 damaged

1LT D. Meuten of 8th FS is credited with kill number 8

Allied Ships
AP Harry Lee
AP Harris
AP Orungal
DD Henley
CA San Francisco
CL Helena, Torpedo hits 1

2nd attack

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
A6M3 Zero x 60
G3M Nell x 3

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21
P-40E Warhawk x 33

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 8 destroyed
G3M Nell x 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 destroyed x 1 damaged
P-40E Warhawk x 12 destroyed x 1 damaged

WO G. Miyazaki of F2/Tainan Daitai is credited with kill number 6
1LT D. Meuten of 8th FS is KILLED ***my top ace, with 8 victories[:(]***

Allied Ships
DD Wilkes

PM garrison threatened any more

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 44646 troops, 513 guns, 142 vehicles

Defending force 73048 troops, 653 guns, 60 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 2)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 1152
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 12

In three days we will attack...and clean PM of jap. troops

[toraq]

Nevea landings have finished. All enemy APs are now retreating to a safe base. Nevea is empty. Some APs have been sunk, including 1 with almost 1000 troops on it. LB finally took off and pounded enemy troops there. In NG, almost every troop/supply has been unloaded. Three days until the final encirclement

NEVEA FRONT
No more ships in Nevea, all of them are retreating. Send my recently arrived subs to chase them, together with two DDs at Wunpuko.

Submarine warfare

Japanese Ships
AP Akibasan Maru, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Amberjack

Air raids
A sweep mission at 20.000 feet becomes a strafing mission!!. Bugs [:@]

Air attack on 78th Regiment, at 50,43

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10 ***CAP flees***

Allied aircraft
P-38G Lightning x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed

Air attacks on TF, near Nevea at 50,43
Several of them, from Nevea, which is fully operational. P39 performed brilliantly: XP 75 and 73 in both squadrons. My naval bombers at Wunpunko didn´t fly [:@][:@]

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 22
SBD Dauntless x 3
P-39D Airacobra x 8
P-39D Airacobra x 3
SBD Dauntless x 3

Japanese Ships
AP Atlantic Maru, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kyushu Maru, Shell hits 16, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
AP Akibasan Maru, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
AP Hakusan Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 200 ***troops from Atlantic Maru, first time I sunk one AP packed with troops***
Guns lost 1

Air raids against ground troops
Three attacks, two went for the 78th Rgt, one for the 237 Rgt. Since they are the crack rgt. at Nevea, we have managed to stop his offensive (for a while).

Air attack on 78th Regiment, at 50,43

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 52
B-24D Liberator x 16
Hudson x 29
P-38G Lightning x 24
B-25D Mitchell x 21

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 200

Air attack on 237th Regiment, at 50,43

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 15
SBD Dauntless x 30
TBF Avenger x 41
P-40E Warhawk x 11
P-38G Lightning x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 82

Ground combat
The air attacks and the reinforces transported by C47 reduce the attack odds. But the fight has only begun.

Ground combat at Nevea

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 14212 troops, 160 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 11595 troops, 106 guns, 40 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 5) ***forts remain [;)]***

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 466
Guns lost 1
Allied ground losses:
Men lost 56

A little victory for my PTs
They attacked in daylight and found their prey...one torpedoe is enough to sink the 200 cargo ship and its troops!!![8D]

AP Atlantic Maru, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
PT 152
PT 157
PT 159
PT 162
PT 163

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 535
Guns lost 4


NG FRONT
I think my enemy has realized of my intentions. Last day, during his deliberate attack he saw my reinforces, so I guess he has ordered to retreat. But I have some time advantage. In three days we will launch a shock attack!

SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT THE NEVEA BATTLE
I´m a little disappointed with the results. My air forces were superior and based in close range bases. Despite this fact, they did little damage...[:(]
These are the ship losses (so far):

Japanese
Sunk
5 AP
1 CA
1 DD
1 TK

Damaged
1 CVE
3 DD
6 AP

Allied
Sunk
3 DD

Considering that I had 70 SBDs, 25 B26, 70 TBFs, 90 P39 plus escorts...I think I could have done better.
My enemy undervalued my air power and did the same mistakes than in the PM invasion: not providing strong CAP and strong DD escort (with high AA values). I was not able to make good use of this because:

1) Weather avoided some air raids
2) My enemy closed Wunpuko and Irau in the most important turn
3) I did not have enough supplies in front bases[:-]
4) Subs were far away from the battle (mainly in Australia)

On the other hand my P39 with high XP values proved to be quite accurate against enemy APs. My best move was to base 2 sqds in Nevea, the attacked base. YOU ALWAYS base some bombers in the attacked base even if the supplies are scarce or the damaged ones are not repaired.

Bomber losses
Yes this has been the most important event in the last month. My intelligence says that:

Betties: he has lost 256 ----he still has 103 (he had 123, 45 days ago)
Nells: he has lost 117 ----he still has 20 (he had 57, 45 days ago, Nells will never recover its strength)

So his bomber fleet is severely damaged. But he receives 27 Betties/month so in 40 days or so he will have his sqds at full strength)

[toraq]

(two turns played)

Mmmmm. PM enemy troops encircled!!. And Nevea invasion has been stopped. But enemy has FT troops to Irau and it is quite probable that I lose it!. Tomorrow I´ll clean the kokoda trail and afterwards a deliberate or a shock attack to force a surrender in PM.

SOPAC front

Irau
Enemy has landed like 2000 men there using destroyers. 2 have hit type 93 mines, so this prove that he has mined the place. The situation of Irau is as follows:

1 Marine Raider Btll (1200 soldiers)
2 Sea Bees units
1/2 BF
Forts: 5
Port/Airport: 0
Supplies: 300 (need more!)
This base is quite close to Lunga so it is very difficult to protect/supply. Lunga has now 80 bombers and 100 fighters which have started to bomb the place:

Air attack on 6th Naval Construction Battalion, at 42,43

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 5
D3A Val x 24

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 10

I have many doubts about saving Irau. I need to build an airport soon to send supplies and troops. To send FTs is quite dangerous because it is mined and japanese DD are very dangerous using their Long Lance.
I´ll send LB to disrupt the enemy troops there but he can LCAP Irau with superior forces and cause me several losses.
My position here is quite weak: tomorrow I expect a Bombardment party to hit Nevea, and a big air raid over Wunpuko. My P38 will fly CAP over here to surprise enemy bombers and a DM is ordered to mine Nevea again.
I need my CVE!!! That is the force needed to balance the situation. Irau might be the key to hold Nevea so it is quite important to keep that place in Allied hands.

Nevea
Almost 3 Rgts here. Enough to stop him. In the future, I will use the 1st Marine Div. to clean this place!. SBDs and TBF have managed to disrupt one enemy rgt. totally. [:)]

Air attack on 237th Regiment, at 50,43

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 30
SBD Dauntless x 27
TBF Avenger x 43

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 60

Ground combat at Nevea
This is the last deliberate attack from the japanese. Now he has 2 Rgts and 2 Eng. units isolated here.

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13718 troops, 159 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 13885 troops, 136 guns, 40 vehicles

Japanese engineers reduce fortifications to 4

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 378

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 55
Guns lost 1

NG FRONT

Yes, the Green force, the two US RCT sent to cut the Kokoda trail, has arrived just to find 1 or 2 enemy units there (possibly 2 NG). Tomorrow, they will shock attack them. Before that, my bombers from PM will drop their bombs over those poor guys. And then, it will be a matter of time until the final defeat of the enemy forces at PM (7 Rgts!!!)

[toraq]

Yes, the destruction of the jap. forces at PM was a vain attempt. They managed to withdraw through my forces, 60 miles long!![&:][&:][&:]. Sometimes this game...
Anyway, in the map you can see where are those 7 rgts now. In the SOPAC front, Irau is still threatened. APs (maybe 2) have just arrived, possibly to unload a big infantry unit. My recon indicates a CVL (CVE?) present but I don´t believe them. We won´t let him to do that without a visit.

NEW GUINEA
This was the ground combat at PM, the siege has finished![:)]. But, nothing else to be happy...

Ground combat at Port Moresby

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 60040 troops, 672 guns, 18 vehicles

Defending force 46284 troops, 512 guns, 141 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 8 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 802 ***very poor results***
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 118
Guns lost 1

One of my Rgts is heading for the trap units besides PM. Only units from the Kokoda trail can. The garrison of PM is not allowed to do so.
The 2nd Marines div. is being evacuated from PM for future operations.
Allied HQ are planning an airborne assault on Wau to block the retreting path of 3 rgts. Wonder if they could destroy them finally or do they slide away again?

SOPAC FRONT
Irau is in really danger. One 1000 USMC are holding there. Airport 1 will be ready in 4 days. Until then, I can only try to avoid the landinds and bomb the forces there.

Avoid the landings
Finally my CVs will try to surprise my enemy. Enemy CVs are not present so I´ll take the risk. If I´m lucky, I will bomb his transports there. Hope so!. To complete my attack, my recently arrived PTs will raid Irau coast from Nevea.

Bomb the forces there
My LB refuse to fly from Wunpuko. What are they waiting for?. They have escorts, morale, fatigue is low and supplies...[:o]. Nop. they need supplies. Fortunately I got 8000 supplies ready to unload. That´s enough now.

[toraq]

Another map from the SOPAC area

[toraq]

(two turns played)
No surprise!. Lately, I can´t surprise him. But Irau still holds and that´s enough for me.

PTs sunk
Another disaster for my little PTs armada. I can´t use them offensively. They were attacked by air and did not engage enemy ships.

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 12
A6M3 Zero x 3
D3A Val x 27
G4M1 Betty x 9
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 10
Ki-48 Lily x 17 ***new in the front***

Allied Ships
PT 159
PT 163
PT 157, on fire, heavy damage (sunk) ***previously damaged by mine***
PT 162, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
PT 152

Naval bombers from Nevea venge the PTs massacre
Yes Nevea and Irau need each other to stand in Allied hands

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 13
TBF Avenger x 23
P-40E Warhawk x 15

Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger x 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Samidare, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
PC Toshi Maru #3
AP Teizui Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 28

This attack caused his ships to retire ("TF can´t unload here and now") and this proved to be its salvation...they escaped from my CV!

CVs unable to lauch a their bombers
They were at 7 hexes from enemy ships but weather did a good job hiding my ships and avoiding any air opperations. Finally, my enemy retreated and at 9 hexes my naval bombers decided to hit the ground troops instead[:@].

Air attack on 144th Regiment, at 42,43 ***In Irau***

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
SBD Dauntless x 50
TBF Avenger x 42

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 58

But this raid, together with a big one from Wunpuko, helped the marines to hold their position at Irau (at least for 1 more day)

Ground combat at Irau

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4430 troops, 113 guns, 0 vehicles ***elements of two Rgts***

Defending force 7405 troops, 0 guns, 60 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 4)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 75

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 175

Next movements and annoying things
My Cvs will be around to avoid further enemy reinforces to Irau. In 3 days Irau´s airport will be finished and things will change a little. And the very good news...in 19 days 4 CVE arrive!!!. Yes, finally I´ll get a considerable carrier force[:)]

Annoying things
-The enemy annabasis at PM: retreating 60 miles through enemy forces...This is almost unbelievable. Jenofonte would be very proud of these guys!
-Supposely, my B25J replacements should have started to come, but there is no sign of them [:(]. Replacements rate = 0
-B17 replacements: by now I should have received 25 or so B17 but only 19 have come [:(].
- A SBD sqd has dissapeared??. They were reinforcements but they never came in and now there is no sign of them at all [:(]. Not to mention the F4F, SBD etc... sqds disbanded when my CV were sunk. They appeared in the reinforcement pool but they never returned [:(]
I hope I can find a answer...or you can give me an answer???