Toro Toro! Timtom's musings: scn.8, toraq VS timtom

[timtom]

KB spotted 300 miles or so NW Bougainville, as I suspected. Toraq is massing his bombers at Rabaul. There's currently 700 aircraft at PM, as I've moved the C-47's up in anticipation of flying the 41st ID to Nadzab (hopefully). The 7th Cav. will shock attack the one LCU there next turn - and I'm crossing my fingers it's a NG Bn. Otherwise...never mind.


The Weekly Tally:

Allied/Japanese:

Score at start: 1,840/1,724 = 1.07:1.00
Score after 1 week: 1,929/1,798 = 1.07:1.00
Score after 2 weeks: 1,962/1,925 = 1.02:1.00
Score after 3 weeks: 2,024/2,045 = 1.00:1.01
Score after 4 weeks: 2,392/2,231 = 1.07:1.00
Score after 5 weeks: 2,675/3,768 = 1.00:1.41
Score after 6 weeks: 2,795/3,827 = 1.00:1.37
Score ater 7 weeks: 2,964/4,187 = 1.00:1.41
Score after 8 weeks: 3,175/4,267 = 1.00:1.34
Score after 9 weeks: 3,312/4,390 = 1.00:1.33
Score after 10 weeks: 3,329/4,490 = 1.00:1.35
Score after 11 weeks: 3,513/4,615 = 1.00:1.31

Army Losses:

617/129 = 4.78:1.00

Naval Losses:

Allied ships:
Sunk: CVx1, CAx1, CLAAx1, DDx9, DMSx2, DMx1, SSx6, AVx1, AOx1, APx1, PTx5,
Damaged: CVx1, CAx4, CLx1, DDx9, SSx2, AVx1, APx1, AKx3

Japanese ships:
Sunk: BBx1, CLx1, DDx7, APDx6, MLx3, SSx2, AVx2, TKx2, APx6, MSWx5, PGx4, PCx11
Damaged: CVx1, BBx2, CAx2, CLx7, DDx10, APDx4, MLx4, SSx2, AVx4, APx10, PGx2

Air Losses:

Total: 931/651 = 1.43:1.00

Week 1: 73/46 = 1.59:1.00
Week 2: 27/30 = 1.00:1.11
Week 3: 26/28 = 1.00:1.08
Week 4: 153/121 = 1.26:1.00
Week 5: 159/74 = 2.15:1.00
Week 6: 85/62 = 1.37:1.00
Week 7: 170/114 = 1.49:1.00
Week 8: 83/73 = 1.14:1.00
Week 9: 80/61 = 1.31:1.00
Week 10: 39/17 = 2.29:1.00
Week 11: 37/25 = 1.48:1.00

Air-to-Air: 385/240 = 1.61:1.00
Destroyed on Field: 96/70 = 1.37:1.00
Destroyed by AAA: 168/74 = 2.27:1.00
Operational Losses: 282/269 = 1.05:1.00

Sorties Flown:

Total: 46,116/50,554 = 1.00:1.10

Week 1: 3,181/3,487 = 1.00:1.09
Week 2: 4,225/5,128 = 1.00:1.21
Week 3: 3,947/6,296 = 1.00:1.60
Week 4: 4,458/6,454 = 1.00:1.45
Week 5: 4,942/4,183 = 1.18:1.00
Week 6: 4,964/3,504 = 1.42:1.00
Week 7: 4,860/4,146 = 1.17:1.00
Week 8: 3,286/4,129 = 1.00:1.26
Week 9: 4,864/6,000 = 1.00:1.23
Week 10: 3,941/3,498 = 1.13:1.00
Week 11: 3,447/3,729 = 1.08:1.00

Loss pr. sortie (excl. DoF): 0.0181/0.0115 = 1.5739:1.0000
Operational loss pr. sortie: 0.0061/0.0053 = 1.1509:1.0000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/16/42 Weather: Partly Cloudy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Lunga airfield and port from Wunpuko & AC TF SW Irau:

Allied aircraft:
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18
SBD Dauntless x 65
B-17E Fortress x 36

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 306
Airbase hits 8
Runway hits 38
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 41st Regiment (Buna) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:

Wirraway x 36
P-39D Airacobra x 170
Beaufighter VIC x 16
Hudson x 28
B-26B Marauder x 99
B-25D Mitchell x 29

Allied aircraft losses:
Wirraway x 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 2 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 272
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Buna:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30692 troops, 326 guns, 52 vehicles

Defending force 37356 troops, 404 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 9)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 165

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 289
Guns lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Salamaua:

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7537 troops, 69 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 12896 troops, 190 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 3

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 4
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Well, Toraq struck PM in force. I lost 32 air-to-air, - 20 P-40's, 10 P-38, 2 Beaufighters. Toraq lost 21, - 11 Zeros, 7 Oscars, 4 Nells. Lady Luck came down on my side, and the bombers hit but 1 aircraft on the ground. They did, however, destroy 12-13,000 points of supply, leaving me about 45,000 points.

Happily, opposition at Nadzab was overwhelmed with easy. It looks like Toraq has pulled a rgt. back to Lae from Salamaua. I've now got exactly a fortnight to fly in the 41st ID, march it to Lae, and then beat down the fort lvl what? 7-8?
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/17/42 Weather: Clear
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Sub attack at Gili Gili:

Japanese Ships:
SS I-1

Allied Ships:
APD McKean, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Attacks:

Air attack on Port Moresby airfield from Buna, Lae & Rabaul:

Japanese aircraft: *multiple strikes*
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 38
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 42
A6M2 Zero x 54
A6M3 Zero x 59
G3M Nell x 36
G4M1 Betty x 35

Allied aircraft:
Beaufighter VIC x 29
P-40E Warhawk x 108
P-38G Lightning x 68

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 4 destroyed, Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 1 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 7 destroyed
G3M Nell x 4 destroyed, G3M Nell x 3 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
Beaufighter VIC x 2 destroyed, Beaufighter VIC x 4 damaged
P-40E Warhawk x 24 destroyed, P-40E Warhawk x 6 damaged
P-38G Lightning x 12 destroyed, P-38G Lightning x 7 damaged
A-20B Boston x 1 destroyed, A-20B Boston x 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 92
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 27
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
B-24D Liberator x 3 *hmpff - 13 available to fly - somebody wants some R&R!*

Allied aircraft losses:
B-24D Liberator x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 24
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 66th Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
Wirraway x 36
P-39D Airacobra x 170

Allied aircraft losses:
Wirraway x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 41
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 15th Naval Garrison Unit (Nadzab) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
A-20B Havoc x 29
Hudson x 27
B-26B Marauder x 101
B-25D Mitchell x 26

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 116
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Buna:

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 22606 troops, 308 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 32981 troops, 323 guns, 52 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 11

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 71
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Nadzab:

Allied Shock attack

Attacking force 3039 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 460 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 54 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Nadzab base !!!

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 16
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Bad weather keeps planes grounded. DD Fanning, which I've been nursing for a while, was torpedoed while trying to sneak out of Tulagi. Otherwise little to report. Weather to improve next turn, and the battle for Buna will recommence. The large LCU reported at Lae isn't one withdrawn from Salamaua...
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/18/42 Weather: Thunderstorms
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Sub attack at SW Lunga:

Japanese Ships:
SS I-21

Allied Ships:
DD Farragut, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Ground combat at Buna:

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 22583 troops, 308 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 32944 troops, 323 guns, 52 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 57
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Salamaua:

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7566 troops, 69 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 13242 troops, 189 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 29

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Bad weather over PM kept the strike planes grounded once more, and allowed Toraq to slip another FT TF into Lae. He should also now that I'm flying troops into Nadzab, so I can expect him to try an interfere next turn. Otherwise precious precious little activity. My subs are snoobing around for KB to the East of Bougainville, with their usual luck.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/19/42 Weather: Overcast
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Buna:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 30337 troops, 323 guns, 52 vehicles

Defending force 37122 troops, 403 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 9)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 352

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 455
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Toraq conducted an air- and naval bombardment of Tulagi of all places. Maybe he's getting bored. The move was supported by KB, and a sqd of P-39 mounted their own little airborne Banzai charge. With predictable results. The P-39 were at Irau as an inexpensive means of interdicting some of the light shipping Toraq's been using round Lunga, so I guess they were just doing as I told them, although this wasn't quite what I had in mind. Funny thing is that I was inches away from transferring the SBD's to Irau on a hunch - well, OK, KB had been slipping South for a turn or two. I've moved the SBD's to Irau now, just on the off chance that KB will still be around. Hell, he's probably setting me up for bombardment.

Toraq ran a LR-CAP over Nadzab as expected, although I got off easily, only losing 4
C-47, and my P-38's bagged 4 Oscar's and 2 Zero's in return. He's now moved several fighter sqd's out of Shortland and Rabaul, to Lae to fly interdiction I suspect. So I'm dropping the hammer on Lae next turn, although I've got no confirmative intelligence.

The weather again allowed Toraq to push a FT TF into Huon Gulf unmolested. I've got some highly experienced B-26 pilots sitting at GG just waiting to skip-bomb those DD's, and the run-in is virtually paved with subs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/20/42 Weather: Overcast
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Japanese Naval Attacks:

Naval bombardment of Tulagi:

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 108
Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 3
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on AC TF NE Lunga:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 71

Allied aircraft:
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10
P-39D Airacobra x 23

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed, A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 16 destroyed, P-39D Airacobra x 7 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Attacks:

Air attack on 2nd Marine Regiment (Tulagi) from Shortland Island:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 9
G3M Nell x 14
G4M1 Betty x 28

Japanese aircraft losses:
G3M Nell x 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on 41st Regiment (Buna) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
A-20B Havoc x 20
Hudson x 26
B-26B Marauder x 66
B-25D Mitchell x 24

Allied aircraft losses:
A-20B Havoc x 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 126
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 66th Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
Beaufighter VIC x 12
Wirraway x 30
P-39D Airacobra x 134

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 16
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Buna:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 29951 troops, 321 guns, 52 vehicles

Defending force 36693 troops, 402 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 8

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 232
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 169
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

After a month of inactivety, the South Pacific positively (literally, in my case) exploded into action. Toraq is actually invading Tulagi, belying his defensive strategy since the fall of Lunga. Surprise: Total, I'm ashamed to admit. However, is this a sign of fading confidence in his ability to deny me New Guinea?

The Marine flyers at Irau reacted promptly to this threat. Unfortunately they also made a complete mess of the attack. The morning strike went in with lots of bombers but few escort, the afternoon strike visa-versa. And of course Toraq had a handsome CAP in place. 36 SBD's shot down, along with 25 Wildcats & 6 P-40's, against a loss of 16 Zero's and a single AP hit. I'm still left, however, with 75 strike planes and 75 fighters at Irau.

Lunga airfield is totally shut down (damage 100), so no threat there.

Now for the counter-measures:

4 PT's will raid shipping at Tulagi tonight. Suicide mission, but every man has been volunteered.

4 sdq's of B-24's and Hudsons will strike Shortland airfield. Objective: Destroy bombers on ground and compel enemy to divert fighters to CAP'ing Shortland.

Two surface TF (one BB/CA, one CA/CL) routed for Tulagi. ETA 2-3 turns. Objective: Destroy surface shipping at Tulagi or compel transports to withdraw.

AC TF making full steam for battle area: Objective: Engage enemy CV's or compel them to withdraw. ETA 3 turns.

3 elite sqds of B-25's & B-26's transferred to Irau: Objective: Enemy CV's lingering just beyond Irau SBD range. Expecting light defensive CAP and with luck the LB's can push through to skip-bomb CV's. If they target transports at Tulagi instead, at least they have a better survival chance that the SBD's (which are stood down for now). Their presence could also compel enemy to increase range between AC TF and Tulagi, thus cutting down on CAP there, while increasing fatigue and op losses. If CV battle is in the offering, wittling down enemy carrier-borne fighters an obvious advantage.

Over on New Guinea, my strike on Lae netted no fighters on the ground, but made quite a mess of the airfield.

For some reason, the 41st ID reset its march distance to a big fat zero, losing me two precious days *expletive! expletive! expletive!*
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/21/42 Weather: Partly Cloudy
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Japanese Naval Attacks:

Naval bombardment of Tulagi:

Japanese Ships:
BB Haruna, Shell hits 1
CA Kumano, Shell hits 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 11
Airbase hits 2
Port hits 2
Port supply hits 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Air attack on TF N Buna from Port Moresby: *DD Yunagi hit a mine a Buna, and hence was within range come morning*

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawk x 47
Wirraway x 32
Beaufighter VIC x 15
A-20B Havoc x 7

Allied aircraft losses:
A-20B Havoc x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships:
DD Yunagi, Shell hits 20, Bomb hits 10, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at Tulagi from Irau:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 93
A6M3 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft: *multiple strikes*
P-40E Warhawk x 14
F4F-4 Wildcat x 74
SBD Dauntless x 72
TBF Avenger x 9

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 12 destroyed, A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
P-40E Warhawk x 6 destroyed, P-40E Warhawk x 2 damaged
F4F-4 Wildcat x 28 destroyed, F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 37 destroyed, SBD Dauntless x 29 damaged
TBF Avenger x 8 damaged

Japanese Ships:
AP Aiyo Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 49
Vehicles lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Attacks:

Air attack on 2nd Marine Regiment (Tulagi) from Shortland Island:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 20
G3M Nell x 23
G4M1 Betty x 36

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 24
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Lae airfield from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawks x 41
A-20B Havoc x 29
B-26B Marauder x 97
B-25D Mitchell x 30

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed, A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
P-40E Warhawks x 1 damaged
A-20B Havoc x 5 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed, B-26B Marauder x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 410
Guns lost 2
Airbase hits 21
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 205
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 41st Regiment (Buna) from Port Moresby & AC TF SSW Gili Gili:

Allied aircraft:
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
Wirraway x 30:
P-39D Airacobra x 139
SBD Dauntless x 71

Allied aircraft losses:
Wirraway x 2 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 15 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 2 destroyed, SBD Dauntless x 21 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 164
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Buna:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 29775 troops, 320 guns, 52 vehicles

Defending force 36351 troops, 401 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 7 [&:]

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 7) [&:]

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 235

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 275
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Salamaua:

Allied Bombardment attack:

Attacking force 7571 troops, 69 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 13716 troops, 185 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 8

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Toraq is landing a whole division at Tulagi. The place is defended by the 2nd Marine Rgt. behind a lvl 4 fort. Supply is adequate. I'm loading the 35th RCT onto a FT TF to reinforce, although I won't push through until everything is ready - ie until the CV's have arrived. The IJN BB's are also about, and I have to take that into consideration.

It was a no-go on the LB strike on KB - the bombers went for the transports instead. Losses manageable both ways.

Over on New Guinea, I've pulled off another of my patented cock-ups: The 162th RCT, last of the 41st ID RCT's, was meant to by lifted to Nadzab, only I forgot to designate the target base. Another day lost, which I can ill effort.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/22/42 Weather: Partly Cloudy
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Allied Naval Attacks:

Day Time Surface Combat at Tulagi:

Japanese Ships:
DD Uzuki
DD Fumizuki
DD Mochizuki
DD Yuzuki
DD Asakaze
PC Ch 23
AP Aki Maru,
AP Arimasan Maru
AP Arizona Maru
AP Asahisan Maru
AP Azuma Maru
AP Heiyo Maru,
AP Miike Maru
AP Shozan Maru
AP Yamakuni Maru

Allied Ships:
PT 37, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT 38
PT 39, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
PT 46, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at Rabaul from Gili Gili:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 25

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 9
Beaufighter VIC x 9

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships:
CL Isuzu, Shell hits 16, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at Tulagi from Irau:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 71
A6M3 Zero x 7

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
P-40E Warhawk x 6
TBF Avenger x 11
B-26B Marauder x 8
B-25D Mitchell x 12

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 5 destroyed, A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8 destroyed, F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
TBF Avenger x 3 destroyed, TBF Avenger x 4 damaged
P-40E Warhawk x 2 destroyed, P-40E Warhawk x 1 damaged
B-25D Mitchell x 1 destroyed, B-25D Mitchell x 6 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 5 damaged

Japanese Ships:
AP Aki Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Aiyo Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 116
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Attacks:

Air attack on 2nd Marine Regiment (Tulagi) from Shortland Island:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 21
G3M Nell x 22
G4M1 Betty x 41

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Lae airfield from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 16
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 15

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawk x 32
A-20B Havoc x 32
B-26B Marauder x 90

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed, A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 3 destroyed, Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 destroyed
P-40E Warhawk x 2 destroyed
A-20B Havoc x 2 destroyed, A-20B Havoc x 2 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 8 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 182
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 12
Runway hits 83
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 41st Regiment (Buna) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-39D Airacobra x 131
Wirraway x 28

Allied aircraft losses:
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed, P-39D Airacobra x 14 damaged
Wirraway x 3 destroyed, Wirraway x 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 52
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Shortland Island airfield from Gili Gili:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 6

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 14
Hudson x 26
B-24D Liberator x 15

Allied aircraft losses:
B-24D Liberator x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 28
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 36
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Tulagi:

Japanese Bombardment attack:

Attacking force 8020 troops, 104 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 5294 troops, 86 guns, 6 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 38

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Buna:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 29407 troops, 318 guns, 52 vehicles

Defending force 36018 troops, 399 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 6

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 6)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 215

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 193
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Salamaua:

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 7572 troops, 69 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 13739 troops, 185 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 5

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

The weather allowed Toraq to land the rest of his troops at Tulagi unmolested, and the first combat result there isn't too uplifted - not helped by the scheduled B-17 strike being cancelled. He also slipped more troops into Lae under cover of the weather, although my flyboys was offered a nice fat target - a DD TF just E of Finschafen - without launching.

My CV's are positively crawling across the Coral Sea, or so it seems to me. I've got a surface TF (BB/CA) within striking range of Tulagi. I believe it is as yet undetected, and, after taking a deep breath, have decided to send it in.


The Weekly Tally:

Allied/Japanese:

Score at start: 1,840/1,724 = 1.07:1.00
Score after 1 week: 1,929/1,798 = 1.07:1.00
Score after 2 weeks: 1,962/1,925 = 1.02:1.00
Score after 3 weeks: 2,024/2,045 = 1.00:1.01
Score after 4 weeks: 2,392/2,231 = 1.07:1.00
Score after 5 weeks: 2,675/3,768 = 1.00:1.41
Score after 6 weeks: 2,795/3,827 = 1.00:1.37
Score ater 7 weeks: 2,964/4,187 = 1.00:1.41
Score after 8 weeks: 3,175/4,267 = 1.00:1.34
Score after 9 weeks: 3,312/4,390 = 1.00:1.33
Score after 10 weeks: 3,329/4,490 = 1.00:1.35
Score after 11 weeks: 3,513/4,615 = 1.00:1.31
Score after 12 weeks: 3,636/4,744 = 1.00:1.30

Army Losses:

627/154 = 4.07:1.00

Naval Losses:

Allied ships:
Sunk: CVx1, CAx1, CLAAx1, DDx10, DMSx2, DMx1, APDx1, SSx6, AVx1, AOx1, APx1, PTx8,
Damaged: CVx1, CAx4, CLx1, DDx9, SSx3, AVx1, APx1, AKx3

Japanese ships:
Sunk: BBx1, CLx1, DDx9, APDx6, MLx3, SSx2, AVx2, TKx2, APx7, MSWx5, PGx4, PCx11
Damaged: CVx1, BBx2, CAx2, CLx7, DDx10, APDx4, MLx4, SSx2, AVx4, APx11, PGx2

Air Losses:

Total: 1,114/741 = 1.50:1.00

Week 1: 73/46 = 1.59:1.00
Week 2: 27/30 = 1.00:1.11
Week 3: 26/28 = 1.00:1.08
Week 4: 153/121 = 1.26:1.00
Week 5: 159/74 = 2.15:1.00
Week 6: 85/62 = 1.37:1.00
Week 7: 170/114 = 1.49:1.00
Week 8: 83/73 = 1.14:1.00
Week 9: 80/61 = 1.31:1.00
Week 10: 39/17 = 2.29:1.00
Week 11: 37/25 = 1.48:1.00
Week 12: 183/90 = 2.03:1.00

Air-to-Air: 524/296 = 1.77:1.00
Destroyed on Field: 97/72 = 1.35:1.00
Destroyed by AAA: 190/76 = 2.50:1.00
Operational Losses: 303/297 = 1.02:1.00

Sorties Flown:

Total: 52,270/57,930 = 1.00:1.11

Week 1: 3,181/3,487 = 1.00:1.09
Week 2: 4,225/5,128 = 1.00:1.21
Week 3: 3,947/6,296 = 1.00:1.60
Week 4: 4,458/6,454 = 1.00:1.45
Week 5: 4,942/4,183 = 1.18:1.00
Week 6: 4,964/3,504 = 1.42:1.00
Week 7: 4,860/4,146 = 1.17:1.00
Week 8: 3,286/4,129 = 1.00:1.26
Week 9: 4,864/6,000 = 1.00:1.23
Week 10: 3,941/3,498 = 1.13:1.00
Week 11: 3,447/3,729 = 1.08:1.00
Week 12: 6,154/7,376 = 1.00:1.10

Loss pr. sortie (excl. DoF): 0.0195/0.0115 = 1.6959:1.000
Operational loss pr. sortie: 0.0058/0.0051 = 1.1373:1.000
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/23/42 Weather: Thunderstorms
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Lae airfield from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 14
A6M3 Zero x 7

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawk x 14
A-20B Havoc x 27
B-26B Marauder x 68

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
P-40E Warhawk x 1 destroyed
A-20B Havoc x 3 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 104
Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 70
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 41st Regiment (Buna) from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 15

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Kittyhawk x 17
Wirraway x 26

Allied aircraft losses:
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 damaged
Wirraway x 2 destroyed, Wirraway x 15 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Tulagi:

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15261 troops, 186 guns, 18 vehicles

Defending force 7565 troops, 86 guns, 6 vehicles

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 125

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 256
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Buna:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 29234 troops, 317 guns, 52 vehicles

Defending force 35757 troops, 398 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 6)

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 151
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 293
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

The naval sortie against Tulagi drew a blank and of course BB Washington got torpedoed on the way back (long, pained moan...). So the BB ratio is back to 5:1. Happy days.

KB is off the radar, and the BB's are sighted way up at Buka. The 35th RCT will arrive either next turn or turn after that, depending on how the FT business pans out. Arrival inr two turns might well be too late. The weather has kept my planes grounded again, and without air support the 2nd Marines are crumpling fast. Next turn is "overcast", so it could go either way.

I started to work the Lae defenses over this turn, and it appears that my bombers have locked onto a CD Bn. there. This might be a reminiscence from way back when, I don't remember. If this means I can't target the Lae defenders prober (the strongest LCU), well, I can kiss any chance of making an impression there goodbye. Over at Buna, my strike planes continue to target the 41st Rgt, leaving the three other - much stronger - Rgt's untouched. Toraq didn't seem to have this problem at Lunga, however, so things might yet chance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/24/42 Weather: Rain
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Sub attack SE Lunga:

Japanese Ships:
SS I-26

Allied Ships: *hit while returning from Tulagi*
BB Washington, Torpedo hits 1 *sys 49, flt 7, f 1*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack at Tulagi:

Japanese Ships:
AP Heiyo Maru, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
AP Aki Maru, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk

Allied Ships:
SS S-41

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 28
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at Tulagi: *first Allied naval victory!*

Japanese Ships:
AP Arimasan Maru, Shell hits 32, and is sunk

Allied Ships:
BB Washington
BB South Dakota
CA Portland
CL Leander
CL St. Louis
DD O'Bannon
DD Helm
DD Gridley
DD Porter
DD Selfridge

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 324
Guns lost 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on 41st Regiment (Buna) from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 12

Allied aircraft: *two P-40 sdq's assigned as escorts [:@]*
P-39D Airacobra x 138

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed, A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
P-39D Airacobra x 6 destroyed, P-39D Airacobra x 16 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 89
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 15th Coastal Gun Battalion (Lae) from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 17
A6M3 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawk x 34
A-20B Havoc x 32
B-26B Marauder x 53

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Warhawk x 2 destroyed
A-20B Havoc x 1 destroyed, A-20B Havoc x 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 8 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 23
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Tulagi:

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 16273 troops, 195 guns, 18 vehicles

Defending force 7330 troops, 86 guns, 6 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 3)

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 187

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 300
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Buna:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28935 troops, 315 guns, 52 vehicles

Defending force 35485 troops, 396 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 159

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 384
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Toraq's naval forces are keeping well clear of the lower Solomons. My CV's have finally arrived in the battle area, and will add to the pommeling of the IJA troops on Tulagi. The heavies out of Wunpuko were grounded again, but Tulagi held, and next turn the 35th RCT should be in place.

The mess over Buna continues as the P-40's again didn't get off the ground. Fatigue is low and morale moderate, so they should be OK to fly - yes? The P-38's are rested and ready after their stint LR-CAP'ing Nadzab, and we'll try a two sqd. sweep over Buna prior to bombing.

The 7th Cav arrived at Lae, dead beat.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/25/42 Weather: Overcast
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on 41st Regiment (Buna) from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft:
Wirraway x 27
P-39D Airacobra x 163
A-20B Havoc x 33
B-26B Marauder x 68

Allied aircraft losses
Wirraway x 1 destroyed, Wirraway x 4 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 4 destroyed, P-39D Airacobra x 5 damaged
A-20B Havoc x 2 destroyed
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed, B-26B Marauder x 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 123
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 170th Regiment (Tulagi) from Irau:

Allied aircraft:
F4F-4 Wildcat x 34
SBD Dauntless x 67
TBF Avenger x 10
B-25D Mitchell x 16

Allied aircraft losses:
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 151
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Tulagi:

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15865 troops, 193 guns, 18 vehicles

Defending force 7094 troops, 85 guns, 6 vehicles

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 89

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 207
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Buna:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28681 troops, 314 guns, 52 vehicles

Defending force 35118 troops, 394 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 248

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 143
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

The reinforcement of Tulagi went down without a hitch, although the I-21 took a shot at DM Gamble, so he'll know that I've dropped mines off - 240 to be exact.

The P-38's did pretty well over Buna, bagging 4 Zero's at the cost of 2 P-38. The P-40's stayed at home again - someone's going to get lined up against a wall any time soon. The good news is that the bombers finally switched target, although I fear it is too little too late. The P-38's also shot down 6 A6M2-N over Shortland. I guess those big floats aint the thing to bring to a dogfight.

It looks like Toraq is concentration fighters at Vella Lavella, presumably to interfere with me bombing Tulagi. I don't particularly fancy tangoing with that 90 Zero CAP again, so I'm sending the B-17's in alone for now, while my B-24's & B-25's will take a pop at Vella Lavella, maybe followed up with a carrier strike later. I've also routed a bombardment TF for Tulagi, which isn't really a very good idea, as shelling a few of Toraq's support troops there hardly justify the very real risk of having a CA torpedoed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/26/42 Weather: Partly Cloudy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Air attack on TF at Kavieng from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
Beaufighter VIC x 22

Allied aircraft losses:
Beaufighter VIC x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships:
DD Onami, Shell hits 16
DD Arashio, Shell hits 4
DD Yamagumo, Shell hits 20, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shirakumo, Shell hits 12, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Kavieng port from Port Moresby: *looking for some damaged shipping - no dice*

Allied aircraft:
Hudson x 30

Allied aircraft losses:
Hudson x 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 18
Port hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 144th Regiment (Buna) from Port Moresby: [&o]

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 11

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 37
Wirraway x 28
P-39D Airacobra x 157
A-20B Havoc x 33
B-26B Marauder x 63

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 4 destroyed, A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
P-38G Lightning x 2 destroyed, P-38G Lightning x 3 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed, P-39D Airacobra x 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 180
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Shortland Island airfield from Gili Gili:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2-N Rufe x 18
A6M2 Zero x 25

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 20
B-24D Liberator x 14

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2-N Rufe x 6 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed, A6M2 Zero x 7 damaged
G3M Nell x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
P-38G Lightning x 3 destroyed, P-38G Lightning x 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator x 1 destroyed, B-24D Liberator x 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 43
Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 170th Regiment (Tulagi) from Wunpuku, Irau & AC TF SW Irau:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawk x 8
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18
SBD Dauntless x 136
TBF Avenger x 37
B-25D Mitchell x 16
B-17E Fortress x 36

Allied aircraft losses:
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 216
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Tulagi:

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15465 troops, 193 guns, 18 vehicles

Defending force 10937 troops, 143 guns, 6 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 1) *ft lvl +1*

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 293

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 72
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Buna:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28535 troops, 314 guns, 52 vehicles

Defending force 34701 troops, 393 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 298

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 139
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

This turn was one long, glorified panic attack. Before the invasion of Tulagi, the TF I had bombard the island had been operation out of Townsville, providing cover for TF FT to GG. I forgot to chance the home base, so after bombarding Tulagi, it withdrew North round Tassafaronga and ended its movement somewhere ENE of Rossel Island. Ohhh no...So throughout the execution, I was just waiting to be beset by a swarm of Betty's. Luckily that didn't happen - maybe Toraq is holding back from fear of trickering an unescorted strike on my carriers? Or may I was just lucky...

The strike on Vella Lavella certainly went beyond my expectations. 9 aircraft destroyed on the ground, and hopefully he'll keep some fighters back for CAP now. The troops at Tulagi gave the IJA a bloody nose this turn, so I'm hoping I can get away with providing no air support next turn. Let Toraq built up a little fatigue first.

Lae is defended by the 4th NG, down from Truk. I thought he might do something like this, and I kinda wish I had loaded a sub's worth of infantry and sent it there, just to make a point. I doubt my troops will be able to take Lae in 4 days though.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/27/42 Weather: Clear
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Naval bombardment of Tulagi:

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 88
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Shortland Island (fighter sweep):

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 24

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 18

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
P-38G Lightning x 1 destroyed, P-38G Lightning x 2 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Vella Lavella airfield from Irau & Gili Gili:

Allied aircraft:
B-25D Mitchell x 23
B-24D Liberator x 13

Japanese aircraft losses:
D3A Val x 3 destroyed, D3A Val x 1 damaged
A6M2 Zero x 4 destroyed, A6M2 Zero x 3 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed, A6M3 Zero x 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 185
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 78th Regiment (Tulagi) from Wupuko & AC TF W Rennell Island: [&o]

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 39

Allied aircraft:
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9
B-17E Fortress x 40
TBF Avenger x 28 *ups - forgot to chance the mission over*

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
TBF Avenger x 1 damaged
B-17E Fortress x 10 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 123
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga airfield from AC TF W Rennell Island:

Allied aircraft:
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16
SBD Dauntless x 66

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 389
Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 29
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 45th Regiment (Buna) from Port Moresby: [&o]

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft:
Wirraway x 27
P-39D Airacobra x 171
A-20B Havoc x 35
B-26B Marauder x 65

Allied aircraft losses:
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed, P-39D Airacobra x 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 111
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Tulagi:

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 15118 troops, 193 guns, 18 vehicles

Defending force 10876 troops, 143 guns, 6 vehicles

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 529
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 140
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Buna:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28360 troops, 314 guns, 52 vehicles

Defending force 34357 troops, 392 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 183
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 129
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lae:

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 3346 troops, 41 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 14778 troops, 150 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Well, that's it. I'm scubber'd. Any chance - if there ever was one - of a coup de main at Lae is out the window. There's no way my troops wil be able to beat down that lvl 8 fort.

Toraq's hiked up the no. of bombers at Rabaul. My CAP over PM has been minimal lately, and Toraq's got a weakness for doing this kind of thing when the weather's bad (next turn: Thunderstorms) but it might equally be to hit my troops at Lae or some such. In any case, I'll increase the CAP over PM - if I can get the P-40's to cooperate.

Situation at Tulagi stabilised, and Toraq seems to acknowlege that he's not likely to get anywhere before the end of December.

He put 100 fighters on CAP over Vella Lavella. LOL.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/28/42 Weather: Clear
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Air attack on TF at Rabaul:

Allied aircraft:
Hudson x 32

Allied aircraft losses:
Hudson x 2 destroyed, Hudson x 4 damaged *this sillyness cost me 5 Hudson's*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Lae (fighter sweep):

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 23
A6M3 Zero x 20

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 18

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 3 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning x 1 destroyed, P-38G Lightning x 2 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga airfield from AC TF SW Irau:

Allied aircraft:
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11
SBD Dauntless x 50

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 284
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 45th Regiment (Buna) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 13 *this sqd to escort to Lae [:@] *
Wirraway x 24
P-39D Airacobra x 139

Allied aircraft losses:
Wirraway x 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed, P-39D Airacobra x 12 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 46
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 80th Regiment (Lae) from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 20

Allied aircraft:
Hudson x 13
A-20B Havoc x 33
B-26B Marauder x 61

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
Hudson x 1 destroyed
A-20B Havoc x 1 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 1 destroyed, B-26B Marauder x 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 52
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Tulagi:

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 14083 troops, 190 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 10807 troops, 143 guns, 6 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 29
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Buna:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28271 troops, 312 guns, 52 vehicles

Defending force 34191 troops, 388 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 246

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 159
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lae:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 6901 troops, 41 guns, 0 vehicles *7th Cav., 186 RCT*

Defending force 15308 troops, 150 guns, 0 vehicles *80th Rgt., 4th NG*

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 52

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 303
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Nought to report. Weather keeps many aircraft grounded. Next turn offers more bad weather, and both parties seems resigned to the inevitable (me in particular).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/29/42 Weather: Thunderstorms
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Gili Gili:

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 15
B-24D Liberator x 16

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-57-I Topsy x 2 destroyed
Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 1 destroyed, Ki-43-Ib Oscar x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
B-24D Liberator x 2 destroyed, B-24D Liberator x 6 damaged *4 lost*

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 9
Airbase hits 6
Runway hits 22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lunga airfield from Irau:

Allied aircraft:
B-25D Mitchell x 19
B-26B Marauder x 14

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 129
Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 24
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Tulagi:

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 14083 troops, 189 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 10824 troops, 143 guns, 6 vehicles

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 9

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 27
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lae:

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 11857 troops, 137 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 11016 troops, 82 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 17
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Buna:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28170 troops, 312 guns, 52 vehicles

Defending force 33991 troops, 388 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 220

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 316
Guns lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

More bad weather, and another day of inactivety for most of the flyboys. Toraq tried a last ditch effort at Tulagi, while I for my part ain't having any. He's collected 131 fighters at Vella Lavella, so I'm keeping mine on the ground - except the B-17's. Hudson's will visit Kavieng again, while the B-24 will have a go at Shortland.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/30/42 Weather: Thunderstorms
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Lae from Port Moresby (fighter sweep):

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 19
A6M3 Zero x 12

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 14

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed, A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-38G Lightning x 1 destroyed, P-38G Lightning x 2 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 144th Regiment (Buna) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
Hudson x 23 *huh? that's all?*

Allied aircraft losses:
Hudson x 1 destroyed, Hudson x 7 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 13
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Buna:

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 19942 troops, 294 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 30509 troops, 308 guns, 52 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 16
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lae:

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12408 troops, 137 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 10985 troops, 82 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 37
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Tulagi:

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 14694 troops, 190 guns, 18 vehicles

Defending force 10834 troops, 143 guns, 6 vehicles

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 759
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 275
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Not much chance of me getting 1,000 VP in the last turn...

The Weekly (and final) Tally :

Allied/Japanese:

Score at start: 1,840/1,724 = 1.07:1.00
Score after 1 week: 1,929/1,798 = 1.07:1.00
Score after 2 weeks: 1,962/1,925 = 1.02:1.00
Score after 3 weeks: 2,024/2,045 = 1.00:1.01
Score after 4 weeks: 2,392/2,231 = 1.07:1.00
Score after 5 weeks: 2,675/3,768 = 1.00:1.41
Score after 6 weeks: 2,795/3,827 = 1.00:1.37
Score ater 7 weeks: 2,964/4,187 = 1.00:1.41
Score after 8 weeks: 3,175/4,267 = 1.00:1.34
Score after 9 weeks: 3,312/4,390 = 1.00:1.33
Score after 10 weeks: 3,329/4,490 = 1.00:1.35
Score after 11 weeks: 3,513/4,615 = 1.00:1.31
Score after 12 weeks: 3,636/4,744 = 1.00:1.30
Score after 13 weeks +1 day (endgame): 3,786/4,845 = 1.00:1.28

Army Losses:

636/183 = 3.48:1.00

Naval Losses:

Allied ships:
Sunk: CVx1, CAx1, CLAAx1, DDx10, DMSx2, DMx1, APDx1, SSx6, AVx1, AOx1, APx1, PTx8,
Damaged: CVx1, BBx1, CAx4, CLx1, DDx8, SSx4, AVx1, APx1, AKx3

Japanese ships:
Sunk: BBx1, CLx1, DDx9, APDx5, MLx3, SSx2, AVx2, TKx2, APx10, MSWx5, PGx5, PCx11
Damaged: CVx1, BBx2, CAx2, CLx7, DDx11, APDx3, MLx1, AVx2, APx11

Air Losses:

Total: 1,193/803 = 1.49:1.00

Week 1: 73/46 = 1.59:1.00
Week 2: 27/30 = 1.00:1.11
Week 3: 26/28 = 1.00:1.08
Week 4: 153/121 = 1.26:1.00
Week 5: 159/74 = 2.15:1.00
Week 6: 85/62 = 1.37:1.00
Week 7: 170/114 = 1.49:1.00
Week 8: 83/73 = 1.14:1.00
Week 9: 80/61 = 1.31:1.00
Week 10: 39/17 = 2.29:1.00
Week 11: 37/25 = 1.48:1.00
Week 12: 183/90 = 2.03:1.00
Week 13+1 day: 79/62 = 1.27:1.00

Air-to-Air: 552/320 = 1.73:1.00
Destroyed on Field: 97/85 = 1.14:1.00
Destroyed by AAA: 218/77 = 2.83:1.00
Operational Losses: 326/321 = 1.02:1.00

Sorties Flown:

Total: 58,028/62,493 = 1.00:1.08

Week 1: 3,181/3,487 = 1.00:1.09
Week 2: 4,225/5,128 = 1.00:1.21
Week 3: 3,947/6,296 = 1.00:1.60
Week 4: 4,458/6,454 = 1.00:1.45
Week 5: 4,942/4,183 = 1.18:1.00
Week 6: 4,964/3,504 = 1.42:1.00
Week 7: 4,860/4,146 = 1.17:1.00
Week 8: 3,286/4,129 = 1.00:1.26
Week 9: 4,864/6,000 = 1.00:1.23
Week 10: 3,941/3,498 = 1.13:1.00
Week 11: 3,447/3,729 = 1.08:1.00
Week 12: 6,154/7,376 = 1.00:1.10
Week 13+1 day: 5,751/4,563 = 1.26:1.00

Loss pr. sortie (excl. DoF): 0.0189/0.0115 = 1.6435:1.0000
Operational loss pr. sortie: 0.0056/0.0051 = 1.0980:1.0000
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 12/31/42 Weather: Partly Cloudy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack N Buna:

Japanese Ships:
DD Hatsukaze

Allied Ships:
SS Swordfish, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Attacks:

Air attack on 35th Regimental Combat Team (Tulagi) from Shortland Island & Buka:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 26
A6M3 Zero x 25
G3M Nell x 11
G4M1 Betty x 28

Japanese aircraft losses:
G3M Nell x 1 destroyed, G3M Nell x 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 26
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Kavieng port from Port Moresby: *looking for that AP again*

Allied aircraft:
Hudson x 23

Allied aircraft losses:
Hudson x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Shortland Island port from Gili Gili:

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 17
B-24D Liberator x 14

Allied aircraft losses:
B-24D Liberator x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships:
DD Akitsuki, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 120
Port hits 7
Port supply hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 78th Regiment (Tulagi) from Wunpuko:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M2 Zero x 54

Allied aircraft:
B-17E Fortress x 34

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed, A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
B-17E Fortress x 15 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 54
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 45th Regiment (Buna) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Warhawk x 37 *P-40's finally make an apperance!*
P-38G Lightning x 27
Wirraway x 30
P-39D Airacobra x 150
A-20B Havoc x 27
B-26B Marauder x 74

Allied aircraft losses:
Wirraway x 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 5 damaged
B-26B Marauder x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 88
Guns lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Tulagi:

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 14160 troops, 188 guns, 18 vehicles

Defending force 10667 troops, 143 guns, 6 vehicles

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 457

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 111
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lae:

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 12806 troops, 137 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 10970 troops, 82 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 26
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Buna:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 28014 troops, 306 guns, 52 vehicles

Defending force 33708 troops, 384 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 205
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 192
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

VP breakdown:

Allied/Japanese (points scored):

Army losses: 183/636 = +453
Aircraft losses: 803/1,193 = +390
Ships sunk: 491/594 = +103
Ships damaged: 342/197 = -145

Casualty VP = +801

Bases at start: 1,840/1,724
Bases captured: 30/210 = +180
Bases lost: 210/14 = +196
Bases built: 397/690 = +293
Bases at endgame: 2,057/2,610
Supply shortage VP reductions: -87/-385 = -298

Effective base VP at endgame: 1,970/2,225 = +255

Total VP score differencial 1,056 [&:]

Allied base expansion:
Port Moresby: +120
Gili Gili +90
Irau +50
Efate +35
Luganville + 30
Koumac +20
Cooktown +15
Townsville +15
Noumea +10
Cairns +5
Rockhampton +5
Wunpuko + 2

Japanese base expansion:
Wewak +210
Buna +120
Vella Lavella +100
Shortland Island +90
Buka +60
Rabaul +45
Lunga +30
Buin +20
Lae +15

[timtom]

Naval war breakdown:

Allied losses (34) (VP, pct./total):

CVx1 (350, 58.9)
DDx10 (78, 13.1)
SSx6 (48, 8.1)
CAx1 (35, 5.9)
CLAAx1 (28, 4.7)
DMSx2 (12, 2.0)
APx1 (10, 1.7)
PTx8 (8, 1.3)
AOx1 (7, 1.2)
DMx1 (6, 1.0)
APDx1 (6, 1.0)
AVx1 (6, 1.0)

Allied vessels sunk by (no., pct/total):

21"/T95 Torp.: (9, 26.5) CVx1, DDx3, DMx1, APDx1, AVx1, AOx1, APx1
24"/T93 Torp.: (6, 17.7) CLAAx1, DDx4, DMSx1
5"/50 3YT Gun: (4, 11.8), PTx3, SSx1
16.1"/45 3YT Gun: (3, 8.8) CAx1, DDx2
4.7"/45 10YT Gun: (3, 8.8) PTx3
250kg Bomb: (2, 5.9) SSx2
T95 Depth Charge: (2, 5.9) SSx2
14"/45 41YT Gun: (1, 2.9) DMSx1
T93 Mine: (1, 2.9) DDx1
60kg Bomb: (1, 2.9) SSx1
6.1"/60 3YT Gun: (1, 2.9) PTx1
5"/40 89YT Gun: (1, 2.9) PTx1

Japanese losses (56) (VP, pct./total):

BBx1 (135, 27.5)
APx10 (87, 17.7)
DDx9 (81, 6.1)
AVx2 (28, 5.7)
APDx5 (27, 5.7)
TKx2 (24, 4.9)
PGx5 (24, 4.9)
PCx11 (24, 4.9)
SSx2 (19, 3.9)
CLx1 (15, 3.1)
MLx3 (10, 2.0)

Japanese vessels sunk by (no., pct/total):

1,000lbs Bomb: (25, 44.6) DDx2, APDx3, PGx4, MLx2, MSWx2, AVx1, PCx6, APx5
21" Mk10 Torp.: (7, 12.5) DDx1, MLx1, MSWx2, PCx2, TKx1, APx1
21" Mk14 Torp.: (5, 8.9) CLx1, PGx1, MSWx1, TKx1, APx1
500lbs Bomb: (4, 7.1) DDx2, AVx1, APx1
22" Mk15 Torp.: (3, 5.4) APDx1, PCx1, APx1
18" Mk XII Torp.: (2, 3.6) BBx1, DDx1
21" Mk VIIc Torp.: (1, 1.8) DDx1
21" Mk 15 Torp.: (1, 1.8) DDx1
Mk 16 Mine: (1, 1.8) DDx1
Mk 6 Depth Charge: (1, 1.8) SSx1
Mk 7/ml Depth charge: (1, 1.8) SSx1
250lbs Bomb: (1, 1.8) APDx1
8"/55 Mk 9 Gun: (1, 1.8) PCx1
6"/47 Mk 16 Gun: (1, 1.8) PCx1
100lbs Bomb: (1, 1.8) PCx1
16"/45 Mk 6 Gun: (1, 1.8) APx1

[anarchyintheuk]

Thanks for putting all those stats together. I love that kinda stuff.

[marky]

same here[:D]

and its nopt easy

i know lolz

i was once doing combat reports by hand

but never this detailed[&o]