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Bombardment results were 33 runway hits, 112 allied casualties. A dozen planes damaged. Frankly i think the real result was probably 33% of that. All the support ships listed above were sunk. My opponent said he was trying to send them out of the harbor but i guess my cruisers got there first.

Now of course, the enemy gets a vote, so i wonder how he will fight back to protect the harbor. Subs, mines, the last of his carriers? His nearby BB's and CA's are either sunk or damaged. We'll see soon enough...

Good job, Lee. [&o]

Now's a good time to use the Allied defensive buildup to effect your next stage plans. Clearly you've convinced him that you're heading to Noumea in force. He'll spend the next while beefing his naval and air forces there. Might this be a good time to depart surreptitiously?

5 excellent IJN CA's and 7 DD's with Long Lance is a brutal killing force in August 42

Too bad there werent any Allied escorts. They would have been sunk too.


What is the learning that one can draw from the AE's and AD's trying to vacate Noumea? [;)]

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake

5 excellent IJN CA's and 7 DD's with Long Lance is a brutal killing force in August 42

Too bad there werent any Allied escorts. They would have been sunk too.


What is the learning that one can draw from the AE's and AD's trying to vacate Noumea? [;)]

Don't put them there in the first place? I think Lee's opponent made a mistake here, and a big one with the AR.

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake
What is the learning that one can draw from the AE's and AD's trying to vacate Noumea? [;)]

You think they were vacating? I think they were just entering the hex, about to disband in port. Lee-which was it?

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Cap Mandrake
What is the learning that one can draw from the AE's and AD's trying to vacate Noumea? [;)]

You think they were vacating? I think they were just entering the hex, about to disband in port. Lee-which was it?

I believe they were vacating:

ORIGINAL: leehunt27@bloomberg.net

Bombardment results were 33 runway hits, 112 allied casualties. A dozen planes damaged. Frankly i think the real result was probably 33% of that. All the support ships listed above were sunk. My opponent said he was trying to send them out of the harbor but i guess my cruisers got there first.

Now of course, the enemy gets a vote, so i wonder how he will fight back to protect the harbor. Subs, mines, the last of his carriers? His nearby BB's and CA's are either sunk or damaged. We'll see soon enough...

My opponent said he was trying to send them out of the harbor but i guess my cruisers got there first.

I do not think it matters which way they were going. Bad move by the arries either way. You shouldn't put all that support so far forward in such a vulnerable location. Suva or Oz are better places.

If he was leaving, he never should have had them there. If they were just arriving, he is insane for entering such a known hostile area.

Never should have had them there in the first place. Lee rightly spanked him. If Lee's opponent is going to continue to offer lambs for the slaughter, maybe it is worth staying around a bit longer and taking some more gifts before starting the strategic withdrawal. I realize there is a fine line on Lee staying too long and overplaying this hand, but with blunders like this and the pounding the opponent has taken, Lee may have some extra time to stay and play. I am not sure his opponent is able to mount an effective offense, he certainly hasn't conserved his forces on defense. I don't think Lee needs to put anything more in, but maybe can wait a little longer before pulling back.

hey guys, sorry about the delay on responding to these posts, was away and out of the game a few days. I don't know if Emmor is right that the Allied support ships that were sunk recently at Noumea were entering, or if Chickenboy & Captain Mandrake are right that they were vacating. Either way, 2 US BB's and some CA's arrived recently to guard the Noumea harbor again (see screenshot below). I'm waiting for some bad weather and 2 BB's of my own to reinforce the surface taffy at Luganville for another harbor raid.

I am still trying to maintain the balance between sticking around New Caledonia to throw punches, and pulling out my troops to fight another day. Here is the update, which has some punches from both sides but I think I got a good one in at the end [:)] :

September 10th, 1942

1. A nighttime resupply TF of DD's attacked by 8 US DD's at Koumac on NW end of New Caledonia-- TF survived ok, but damaged DD's sunk by Noumea Dauntlesses during the day. I'm not desparate for supply on the island, but the continued Allied bombardments and air attacks at La Foa are starting to soak up the tonnage.

2. Allies now have 3 divisions, several regiments, numerous support and tank units at La Foa, where my 2 divisions and many Naval Guard units are fortified at level 3 just outside Noumea. My allied opponent launched a deliberate attack strangely last round, after 2 weeks of bombardment, which I would have thought displayed even AV odds. Anyway, he attacked with 1700 AV against 1350 AV dug in.... with 1-7 odds. 5,000 Allied casualties, 1,000 IJ. That certainly had to be a psychological blow for my opponent if he thought he was going to push me off the island anytime soon. The troop levels seem to indicate he has thrown the weight of his whole Pacific force into the Caledonia campaign (as have I)-- however I think this may be a mistake for the Allies. If he loses Noumea, could he not focus on the Solomons and cut me off completely? Also, the buildup of Luganville has created a 800 VP base, worth almost as much as my original target of Noumea!

3. After finally prepping to above 50 prep points for Ndeni, I embarked 1 division, 1 inf. regiment and 1 engineer at Luganville for a rare northward invasion of Ndeni. Though Ndeni's airfield and port had long been blasted to bits my Betty's at Luganville from the south, I bombarded the enemy ground forces on Ndeni for only 1 day, to keep the amphibious assault a surprise from his naval forces at Noumea (and his missing carriers, where are they?). KB stood guard as my troops landed and took the island with minimal losses-- 1 US infantry regiment & 2 Base forces caught in the bag [:D]. This may have been my last amphibious assault of the war! Hopefully not though, it was kind of fun to take an island this late.

4. 50 transport planes at Luganville have evacuated several support units and about 100 AV from Koumac. I have enough strength there still to prevent an "Inchon" style landing behind my La Foa troops. Koumac has also built up to port level 3, and Luganville is fast becoming a mini-Truk. I think if I can get air cover over Koumac eventually I can evacuate the rest of the troops. Of course, with 1700 AV fast on my tail I will have to make some tough decisions on who to save and who to leave behind. That will be an exciting finale for this Caledonia AAR.

excuse the typos at the end there. I hit submit and then internet connection went out.

So we can get a better idea of how close "withdrawal time" is or isn't right now, can you tell us the status of:

1) Your fleet - I know you had some assets damaged in those surface scuffles.

2) His fleet, as best you can guess. Beware, his OOB begins to expand in late '42. Assuming you don't have reinforcement variability, he received Washington and South Dakota in the last couple of weeks as well as a VRF CVE. I don't know how many APs and AKs you've sunk, but he can have APAs and AKAs in action soon... If I were him, I would begin trying to use Noumea to hold your attention while he moves elsewhere.

Good question Lokasenna:

1. The Japanese fleet around New Caledonia is: The KB, 2 BB's, 6 CA's, 25 DD's, and a host of support, AK & AP ships. I have 3 more CA's and a few more DD's on the way as well. About 4 subs in the area (most are in the midst of a punishing campaign east of Pearl Harbor, they sunk about 12 AK's this last month)

2. Allied naval forces near Noumea: He has 2 BB's for sure, a few cruisers and probably 12-15 destroyers at Noumea. So the surface fleet odds are close to even-- I'm debating launching another night surface raid on Noumea harbor if the weather gets bad. He's still got a solid air force at Noumea that was bombing the troops at La Foa, but now turned its attention toward the facilties on Koumac (bad news, I need that supply intact!).
Incidentally, I beat up his british ships in the area. Recently he launched a raid on Port Blair with a large number of British ships as well, so at least I know I can assume mostly American threats in the Caledonia area and not much else.

What I don't know: where his 2 surviving carriers are, and where that new CV you mentioned is. Its possible one of the carriers my intel reported sunk was only damaged and back in action by now too. But I don't think anything the KB couldn't handle, at least for now.

Thanks to your posts and tactical advice on surface raids and what not, the Japanese navy managed another textbook blasting of US ships at Noumea harbor...

At least 2 US battleships sunk at the loss of 2 IJ CA's and a few destroyers on both sides. 20 US planes shot down by the KB's CAP over the IJ surface combat fleets as they approached Noumea the day before.
The bad news is 3 American divisions and other units, a total of 2,000 AV, are at La Foa now facing 1400 Japanese AV (2 divisions) behind Fort level 2. He took 5,000 casualties vs. 1,000 of mine launching an attack recently, i'm not sure how eager he is to try again at these odds. But its only a matter of time before the Allies build up, or I can shut down Noumea harbor finally and stall them as I evacuate...

September 17, 1942

Felt like I had to post this screenshot-- it could be very ominous for either side. But knowing I've sunk 3-4 of his carriers already gives me hope the KB may have the edge if it comes to a fight next round.

Meanwhile on New Caledonia, four American divisions, a few regiments, tanks and support units launch yet another failed deliberate attack on La Foa. The Japanese army continues to dig in and wait for the navy to pummel Noumea's harbor and airfields so we can escape. At this point, taking Noumea isn't really an option considering his considerable ground forces. But a series of rearguard punches and delaying actions could really be a game changer.

I wonder if maybe you could do an experimental withdrawal of a small unit from Koumac? Is the Koumac airfield closed? If so or if not, can it + KB provide enough CAP to cover a fast transport or amphibious TF loading up and leaving?

My best guess on that enemy CVE TF is that it's his VRF CVE and possibly his regular CVs along with it. Would love to see the results of the carrier battle, if it occurs. Does he know where KB is?

hi Lokasenna, yes I've evacuated about half a dozen units from Koumac already by air. Several SNLF's and construction units-- though the American bombers at Noumea have shut down the airfield intermittently. However my opponent has constantly shifted his air bombing from Koumac to the ground troops at La Foa to the sea. The problem I think will be during the final evacuation-- when I've got 50-100,000 American troops fast on the heels of the retreating Japanese. I may have to sacrifice at least a division as rearguard. But that will be a question for the forums another day...

I think my opponent does know where the KB is-- he probably has squadrons of Catalinas around, and I used A6M2 Zeroes for CAP over the surface raiders. At this point, I would say my opponent is very aggressive and willing to risk his forces. For him to throw his new VRF CVE and remaining CV's into the fray seems possible. Though he's kept his CV's near Pearl Harbor so far.

Has anyone received a combat report like this below? With such information on troop losses aboard transports?

The KB did in fact run into what appears to be a US troop convoy, escorted by CVE Copahee and CVE Long Island. I haven't seen enemy ground losses detailed in an air-sea battle before. If these results are close to accurate, this turn will be a huge morale and material blow to my opponent. His last email to me, before I processed this combat replay, was: "Back to you. Damn, my guys are getting chewed up at La Foa and it does not seem like I am doing much to your forces." I don't think he will like what the KB did to his reinforcements (see below).



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Anatom at 123,165

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 61
B5N2 Kate x 49
D3A1 Val x 70



Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 15
F4F-4 Wildcat x 26


Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 11 destroyed, 1 damaged
D3A1 Val: 8 destroyed, 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 2 destroyed

Allied Ships
CVE Long Island, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires
CVE Copahee, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AK Alhena, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Dale
DD Hatfield, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires
AP Fuller, Bomb hits 2, on fire
AP American Legion, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
AP Hunter Liggett, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Worden
AP Heywood, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
DD MacDonough, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Lawrence
AK Alchiba
AK Libra, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD King
AP J. Franklin Bell, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
AP McCawley, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP George F. Elliot, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage


Allied ground losses:
6139 casualties reported
Squads: 133 destroyed, 45 disabled
Non Combat: 288 destroyed, 262 disabled
Engineers: 59 destroyed, 17 disabled
Guns lost 105 (103 destroyed, 2 disabled)
Vehicles lost 203 (194 destroyed, 9 disabled)

To answer your question about enemy land force losses detailed like that in a an AIR vs SEA battle... it is always displayed that way. Nice intercept.

There is some FOW involved, of course.

But it still looks like you drowned the better part of a full division, and sunk ships he'll want later as they can turn into APAs and so forth... Nice job!

Fast Transport TF have special function. If you leave them at Mission Speed, and Retirement Allowed, they should spring into port at full speed, unload during night, and be gone before dawn - so no enemy planes will catch them, if you manage to send quick enough ships. I admit this tend to not work as intended, but if you practice some, you should be able to do it with quick transport ships. No need to risk DDs.
Also, you can use SS for transport. Check if you have any SST, or for possible conversion. Some Japanese subs tends to have large capacities, and at this range operation should be completely safe.

ORIGINAL: leehunt27@bloomberg.net

The bad news is 3 American divisions and other units, a total of 2,000 AV, are at La Foa now facing 1400 Japanese AV (2 divisions) behind Fort level 2. He took 5,000 casualties vs. 1,000 of mine launching an attack recently, i'm not sure how eager he is to try again at these odds. But its only a matter of time before the Allies build up, or I can shut down Noumea harbor finally and stall them as I evacuate...

Or you can bombard from sea those enemy troops at La Foa (although bombarding at friendly base tends to bring poor results). Remember that every squad is generating 1 AV point, so if you killed 100 squads, enemy is weaker by 100 points permanently (the same for disabled squads, although they can recover slowly). Allies have very poor replacement rate. Especially this early. 100 killed squads is more, than they produce per MONTH. So you can recover quickly. They will be only weaker by combat - same applies for airframes. Allies make currently around 250 fighters per month.

I do not see you building up another bases at New Hebrides. Check those dot bases, some of them can be easy to upgrade into airfields. You have to use already ready bases to provide cover for building bases nearer to Noumea, until you will be close enough to make successful sweeps with TOJOs.

You can also use something called "leaky CAP". CAP tends to also cover nearby hexes. The further from source, the less planes, but if you keep CAP over base, most planes should be available to defend forces at next hex. It is better to use that for short ranges, rather than LRCAP. You can use this ability for ambushing his DBs. When your transports deliver supply, and retreat, they should end nearby KB with lots of ZEROs on CAP.

Thanks gentlemen.

I am using the Fast Transport for some destroyer supply runs now, and that should keep the troops on New Caledonia fed for now. The KB cleaned up the rest of that American troop convoy and another CVE. The KB is literally out of torpedoes (yeh that's right, in a good way lol!) but I see a US CLAA & CVE fleet near Noumea that may be trying to make a suicide rush at the KB on the way home. So KB is gonna sit tight one more round rather than blunder into American cruisers in the middle of the night.

Next I'm going to try and finally shut down Noumea harbor and airfield. We are almost there! Its been a massive combined arms and services effort for over a month now and still going. But all the fun punches back at the Allies aside- in the back of mind lingers the thought of trying to evacuate over 50,000 Japanese troops from Koumac...

ORIGINAL: leehunt27@bloomberg.net
The KB is literally out of torpedoes (yeh that's right, in a good way lol!) but I see a US CLAA & CVE fleet near Noumea that may be trying to make a suicide rush at the KB on the way home. So KB is gonna sit tight one more round rather than blunder into American cruisers in the middle of the night.

I bet you have DBs on KB. They very dangerous for ships like CVE/CL. Even TBs can score hits without torpedoes. Gather pilots with high NavB (flights 9-10k alt) and high LowN (flights below 5k).