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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faciat_Georgius

Right, first things first, I have to say I'm really looking forward to this game as my erstwhile opponents are people I've actually met in real life, we'll probably go for a round of beers when this game wraps up which is kinda nifty. I've not actually played this scenario past the 10th turn on AE or WitP so it's pretty much unknown territory for me.

Now Mike and Michael have been playing against each other with this very scenario at least once so they have the benefit of seeing things from both sides so they'll be familiar with what's coming up in terms of on map strength and follow on forces. As for me, I've assiduously tried not to have anything to do with the Japanese side so as to maintain true FOW but mainly cos I'm too chicken to tackle the production system. I have a general idea of the naval forces arrayed against me but absolutely no idea what the ground pounder situation is like on the IJA side.

SITUATION
This scenario focuses on Operation Watchtower and the advance up PNG from PM. PM itself is in a precarious position with just enough strength to garrison the hex but not enough for major offensive operations. Guadalcanal is the objective of the 1st Marine Division, currently embarked on transports about to leave the safety of Luganville and sail into the first truly offensive operation of the Pacific War.

Major naval combat units on map at the start of this scenario include 3 CVs, with 1 more CV on the way in about 20 odd days and half a dozen jeep carriers by the end of '42. I have 3 modern BBs on the roster backed up by 3 older BBs, more than 2 dozen CAs/CLs and a very good number of DDs.

As for LCUs, in Australia, 2 US Inf Divs, 4 Australian Divs (2 veteran outfits, 2 militia) and a handful of independent Bdes make up the bulk of land forces there. In SOPAC, apart from the 1st Marine Div, I have the Americal in Noumea together with an assortment of base forces scattered about.

INTENTIONS
Well, obviously Guadalcanal will be a target seeing that it's the most significant base hex next up the Solomons ladder, I'm a little hesitant about what to expect on the next couple of turns, it's not like they don't know where I'm going to hit next. I know I'm a little out of reach of the IJAAF but there's no telling what the IJN will do and I'm most afraid of a night surface action where my ships lack of experience would be most telling. Assuming I take Guadalcanal and Tulagi, it would take a fair bit of time before I can fly in enough air assets to dominate the airspace in around the island so the CVs will defintely be busy, apart from the air threat I believe there's a significant sub presence as well so I'll need to keep the flattops near enough to respond to any threats but far enough to keep my opponents guessing as to where exactly they are.

As for Australia and it's environs, the forces I start out with are substantial (esp. the Aus 6th and 7th Divs) although they are all restricted and it will take some time for me to unleash the full potential of the LCUs currently in Australia. The most immediate objectives would be to secure Milne Bay and PM by sending further reinforcements, after which we'll take a look at Buna. I have relatively secure SLOCs, the major threat to my reinforcement of PNG positions would be LBA.

So broadly, SWPAC (USAAF, US Army and Australian forces) will focus on holding PM and Milne Bay and attempt to take Buna, SOPAC (USN, USMC, US Army) will in the meantime, invade, secure and build up Guadalcanal and Tulagi to prepare for the next hop up the chain, most likely the Shortlands.

Of course no plan survives first contact, we'll see what the M&Ms come up with.

And away we go! Michael is back from his trip and I've just got the turn back. Hope we can crank out a few turns over the afternoon.

I HATE SUBS
First turn and my SBDs get a whiff of 3 sub sightings, I hate IJN subs, especially the I boats, dealing with a handful spread out over the campaign map made 'em bearable but in this scenario it feels like I'm locked in a dark room holding a torchlight trying to find the 10 vipers locked in the room with me. I don't have much in the way of airborne ASW assets so any killing will have to done the old fashioned way.

SWPAC
Fighers in Milne Bay (MB) and Port Moresby (PM) have been set to 50% CAP at altitudes which match their best maneuver rating which in this case means the P-39s are hugging the deck at 9k and Aussie P-40s are up at 15k, transferred a squadron of Cats up to PM to give me more eyes upfront. Hope to catch ships in the morning search phase for the bombers to go after in the afternoon. As a general rule, all the heavies are training for airfield attack and the mediums naval strike. We're playing the game with PDU off which kinda cramps my style cos I've never played with it off before but beggars cannot be choosers, what affects me affects M&M so we'll see how that plays out. Base fortifications are being built up as well.

On Oz itself, subunits of LCUs are massing at individual base hexes for housekeeping, air assets are being pushed up the coast, most of SWPAC air will be operating out of Charters Towers and some LCUs will mass at Townsville until I can get the dot bases at Coen and Portland Roads ready to accept mediums and fighters and later on heavies.

PEEKTURE
Cats flying out of PM will have a good picture of anything that moves around Rabaul and Kavieng, int he bottom half of the picture are the search arcs of the SBDs flying off the CVs and that of a Cat squadron flying out of Luganville covering Lunga and Tulagi.

INCEPTION
I've heard about it, haven't seen it yet, last movie I caught was Toy Story 3 on account of the kids and before that, well, I can't remember honestly so I guess I'll be waiting for the DVD to come out. And enough of the fluff, back to the action

SOPAC
CVs will be massing just south of Stewart Island to cover the approach of the invasion fleet, calm before the storm.

TRANSPORT
Most of my AKs and APs are tied up transporting invasion forces and I'm left with a dozen AKs and a couple of APs to do a dozen things that need doing yesterday, a situation I find most amusing as the Allies don't usually have a problem with lack of transports.

Skipped a quiet turn

LAND THE LANDING FORCE
Marines of The Old Breed go over the side of their transports and climb into their landing craft and amphibians for the ride to the beaches of Guadalcanal, I did not tamper with the original setup of the transports so it's the 1st and 5th Marine Regiments on Lunga and the 2nd Marine Regiment on Tulagi.  All units have landed safely and have been ordered to go on the attack the next turn, I'm in no mood to wait.

USN in SOPAC
Once the initial wave of transports has unloaded, they'll be pulled back to Noumea to reconfigure for the 2nd wave of follow on forces, most critically the base forces which would allow the Cactus AF to open for business. The existing STFs will also be reorganised, with a standing STF at Tulagi and Lunga to intercept any attempts at night bombardment or interdiction once I can bring in VMFs to patrol the skys over Guadalcanal. A light STF comprising 1 CL and 4 DDs will be formed and make a speed run at the Shortland Islands to see if I can catch anything in port, everything else not otherwise occupied will strengthen the 3 CV TFs. AOs are being repositioned to keep the ships at sea for as long as possible.

But not before some TF commanders are rotated out ASAP, starting with the CV TFs, I start with Fletcher, Lee and Noyes, not exactly the A team here. I also want "Ching" Lee in a STF prefably centred around North Carolina and later, Washington so I can hurt someone with it when the opportunity arises.

SWPAC
Units are still in transition to their marshalling points or bases that need to be built up, at the rate PPs are being accumulated, I'll only be able to free up 1 Bde/Reg every 12 days or so, not exactly rolling along here. Charters Towers and Townsville are badly in need of more base force type troops before I can start running my heavies and mediums with any sort of regularity, I should have this done in about 3 turns.

SOPAC
Guadalcanal falls this turn, the remnants of the Japanese garrison fades away into the jungle leaving a lightly damaged Henderson Field in their wake. Troops are low on supplies but in high spirits as they start to dig in around the perimeter of the airfield. Follow on forces are already embarking on APs that came in from Brisbane.

Tulagi however still manages to hold out, shock attack has been order in the next round.

STFs and Ampih TFs are pulling out the next turn after having completed their primary objectives. STFs will concentrate around the CV TFs which have moved a couple of hexes due south of Lunga where I'll sort out who goes where the next turn.

SWPAC
Again, nothing much to report, can't wait till everything reaches where they're supposed to be and I can get on with pounding targets in PNG and reinforcing Milne and PM

Brain's a little fried from doing reserves duty, here in Singapore all male citizens are conscripted into the Armed Forces at around age 18-20 and have to serve 2 years (used to be 2.5 years). After active service, we get on with our lives but are posted to reserve units, we have to serve an average of 10 years (between 7-14 days per yer on average) up till a maximum age 40/50 depending on your rank. Most guys look forward to our time in the reserves, not so much because we miss the life or anything but it's a break from the monotony of work and we get to sit around and shoot the breeze in between shooting at and/or blowing up stuff, great fun.

Am trying to get into civilian mode again so excuse me if the next post or two is a little garbled.

SOPAC
Lunga and Tulagi fall in rapid sucession, nothing the Japanese can really do to prevent this I reckon, not unless they're willing to risk significant assets. The CVTFs, STFs and Amphib TFs are back in Noumea and reorganizing to take the next wave of reinforicements in to Lunga. Efate and Luganville have been resupplied by single AKs so they're okay running on their own till I can spare more supplies. An STF centred around North Carolina and commanded by Willis Lee is making it's way north to take up station well west of Lunga, haven't decided what I'll do when I get there but waiting for something to happen would be the last thing on my mind.

SWPAC
Nothing much to report, units slated for deployment to PNG are in place at the bigger ports and I've got units on the move to dot bases north of Cairns, PP are low and I'm just sitting here twaddling my thumbs while waiting for PPs to free up restricted units.

The 2 B-17 groups I have on map are flying out of Charters Towers and will pay Buna's port and defenders a visit on the next turn.

SUPPLY SITUATION
I'm facing a supply shortage everywhere on the map except for Oz. Noumea, Efate, Luganville and Guad/Tulagi are all short of supplies, a convoy inbound to Noumea from Sydney with 50k odd supplies ought to ease the situation a little but I'm also desperately short of fuel and will have scrounge any way I can to top up the bunkers of my CVs, STFs and returning amphib TFs.

INTEL
I've been getting reports since just after the start of the scenario of units prepping for an attack on PM, among them an Inf Reg and an Engineer Reg, don't know what to make of this, on the one hand, I've yet to see any offensive activity in reaction to my landings on Guadalcanal but I can't just leave the place unreinforced. So basically I have to keep reinforcing Guadalcanal while having to deal with a possible move on Allied positions in PNG. I'll probably know more in a couple of turns.

SHIP MOVEMENTS
Single AKs escorted by a pair of DDs have left Noumea for a resupply run into Tulagi and Lunga. A covering STF consisting of 2 CAs and 6 DDs has scouted forward and will cover the TFs while they unload.

North Carolina has reached Milne Bay but the 5 CAs that bombarded MB 2 turns before are nowhere to be seen, NC has been directed to make a speed run into Lae from MB to see what she finds there, hopefully I can sink a couple of transports caught in the open unawares, the STF should be back in MB on the morning turn.

The CVTFs have been reorganised and commanders replaced, just waiting on bunkers to be topped out before moving out. I'll be swinging well east of the Solomons and skirting the eastern edge of the map in an attempt to hide from the IJN while getting into position to smack their CVs if the opportunity presents itself.

On the reinforcement front, CVE Long Island has come in along with a gaggle of DDs and SSs, the DDs are a much needed reinforcement as I've used up the quite a lot of my existing stock screening my CVs. I intend to run DESRONs deep into enemy waters to keep my opponents off balance and honest.

I have 5 AOs to keep everything going at sea, scraping the bottom of the barrel as far as fuel supplies go, the situation should sort itself out over time but these first few turns have been an exercise in frustration as I try to balance TF tasking with available fuel.

SOPAC
Noumea now has 60k supplies and should be well positioned to take care of it's own needs as well as those of the rest of the bases in Vanuatu and the solomons from here on.

The first base force elements have loaded onto transports on Noumea and will land on Lunga in a couple of turns, I'm in a hurry to get Henderson Field up and running so I can get some air cover over the Marines and eyes on Rabaul and in the direction of Truk.

SWPAC
A small supply convoy has left Sydney for MB, I haven't had any sweeps or bombings of PM or MB apart from the shelling of MB by that IJN STF 2 turns back so I thought I'd better get some supplies in while I can, if my opponents intend to make a play for MB and/or PM I'll start seeing increased air activity soon enough.

Don't forget you can pby troops from Noumea to Lunga.

ORIGINAL: anarchyintheuk

Don't forget you can pby troops from Noumea to Lunga.

Oh hey anarchy thanks for dropping by, was getting the feeling I was talking to myself again. I kinda forgot about that, mainly cos I don't usually air transport LCUs around the map, I'm a little anal about keeping units together instead of seeing fragments all over the place, I just might have to start doing that in this scenario though, them PPs are coming in too slow.

THE ALLIES GET ON THE SCOREBOARD
RADM Willis Lee and North Carolina score big as they sweep into Lae and proceed to dismantle a fast transport group they find there. I should mention here that I forgot to say that it was a calculated move running into Lae as the previous turn had Cats flying out of PM had revealed ships at anchor there. The STF does not seem to have been detected and will linger at MB for another turn or two to see if the IJN CA force comes back to work MB over again.

In the meantime, I've probably significantly hurt the IJN's fast transport capabilities, hopefully this will force them to rely on the usual AKs and APs and thus increase the vulnerability of their transport groups while in transit. On the flip side, what I can do to them can be done to me so I'll be looking for beef up my foothold at Lunga and Tulagi.


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR Aug 18, 42
Night Time Surface Combat, near Lae at 99,126, Range 12,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
     E Oite, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
     E Asanagi
     E Yunagi, Shell hits 1
     APD-31, Shell hits 4,  heavy fires
     APD-36, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
     APD-38, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
     APD-39, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
     APD-46, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied Ships
     BB North Carolina, Shell hits 1
     CA Chicago
     CA Astoria, Shell hits 1
     DD Mugford
     DD Ralph Talbot
     DD Patterson
     DD Jarvis

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 53% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 22,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 14,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 12,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 12,000 yards
BB North Carolina fires at APD-46 at 12,000 yards
E Oite sunk by BB North Carolina at 12,000 yards
DD Jarvis fires at APD-46 at 12,000 yards
DD Patterson fires at APD-46 at 12,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot fires at APD-38 at 12,000 yards
APD-36 sunk by BB North Carolina at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages E Yunagi at 10,000 yards
CA Chicago engages APD-46 at 10,000 yards
CA Chicago engages APD-39 at 10,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages APD-38 at 10,000 yards
DD Mugford engages APD-46 at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages APD-39 at 6,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages E Asanagi at 6,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages APD-46 at 6,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages APD-39 at 6,000 yards
DD Ralph Talbot engages APD-38 at 6,000 yards
APD-46 sunk by DD Mugford at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
APD-39 sunk by BB North Carolina at 4,000 yards
CA Astoria engages APD-31 at 4,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages APD-38 at 4,000 yards
CA Astoria engages APD-31 at 4,000 yards
DD Mugford engages APD-38 at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
APD-38 sunk by BB North Carolina at 6,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages APD-31 at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
BB North Carolina engages E Yunagi at 9,000 yards
CA Astoria engages APD-31 at 9,000 yards
CA Chicago engages APD-31 at 9,000 yards
DD Jarvis engages APD-31 at 9,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

Taking the opportunity to get a couple of screengrabs just so folks know who's where doing what.

NORTH

CENTRE

SOUTH

ORIGINAL: Arnhem

ORIGINAL: anarchyintheuk

Don't forget you can pby troops from Noumea to Lunga.

Oh hey anarchy thanks for dropping by, was getting the feeling I was talking to myself again. I kinda forgot about that, mainly cos I don't usually air transport LCUs around the map, I'm a little anal about keeping units together instead of seeing fragments all over the place, I just might have to start doing that in this scenario though, them PPs are coming in too slow.

It's a great scenario, the only pbem I've played for AE.

Generally, I'm the same as you about splitting up lcus but like you said the pps take a while to accumulate. 2 full pby squadrons can transfer the 90 support wings in 2 days or so, iirc. You'll still need radar there from a real base force but it's dangerous unloading at Lunda/Tulagi. Can't remember offhand if it has to have a level one af in order to transfer via pby.

Best of luck.

Certainly we have no edge on the japs in experience, skill, training, or performance of personnel.
 - RADM Willis Augustus Lee

THE IJN MAKES ITS APPEARANCE
The IJN carriers make their long waited appearance, coming in from the north of Guadalcanal, they catch my supply TFs and the covering STF out in the open and I'm made to pay for my lack of air cover. I've lost CA Canberra, DD Selfridge and Balch and an AK. It would have been worse if the Bettys had connected with their torpedo strikes. More on that later. The surviving ships are pulling out of the area till I can exert some sort of presence in the air over Guadalcanal and it's environs.

Wasp, Enterprise and Saratoga have pulled out of Noumea and are making their way to the NE of Guadalcanal in an attempt to get behind the main strength of the IJN. They're probably wondering where in the world my CVs are and I intend to keep them guessing for as long as I can. The base forces originally enroute to Lunga will be landed at Luganville and then airlifted in to Lunga. The VMFs on map will take up CAP duties on Henderson Field once the aviation support is setup.

In addition to the KB's attacks, the TFs around Guadalcanal and the North Carolina STF at MB were also subject to Betty attacks, not a single torp dropped from a Betty hit anything. The Bettys were all unescorted and roughed up pretty badly, between the Aussie Kittyhawks based at MB and the flak from the targetted ships, at least 20 Bettys were brought down so that's at least 2 squadrons that have been properly gutted.

Selected combat reports.
Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 80 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 28 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      G4M1 Betty x 30
 
Allied aircraft
      Kittyhawk IA x 8
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      G4M1 Betty: 7 destroyed, 11 damaged
 
Allied Ships
      BB North Carolina
      CA Astoria
 
Aircraft Attacking:
      18 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm T91 Mod 3 Torp
 
CAP engaged:
No.75 Sqd RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (0 airborne, 6 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (2 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 3000 and 16000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 24 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137
Weather in hex: Clear sky
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 19
      D3A2 Val x 13
 
Allied Ships
      DD Balch, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires
      DD Selfridge, Bomb hits 1,  heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
       2 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000' *
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
      11 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' *
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
 
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Balch

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 101,133
 
Weather in hex: Moderate rain
 
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 14 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      G4M1 Betty x 9
 
 
 
Allied aircraft
      Kittyhawk IA x 5
 
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      G4M1 Betty: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged
 
Allied Ships
      BB North Carolina
 
Aircraft Attacking:
       2 x G4M1 Betty launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm T91 Mod 3 Torp
 
CAP engaged:
No.75 Sqd RAAF with Kittyhawk IA (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
      (4 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
      5 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
      Group patrol altitude is 15000 , scrambling fighters between 22000 and 23000.
      Time for all group planes to reach interception is 20 minutes
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 114,137
Weather in hex: Thunderstorms
Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 36
      D3A2 Val x 25
 
Allied Ships
      DD Balch, Bomb hits 6, and is sunk
      AK Carina, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
      DD Selfridge, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
       9 x D3A2 Val releasing from 1000' *
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
       8 x D3A2 Val releasing from 3000' *
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
       4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 2000' *
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
       4 x D3A2 Val releasing from 10000' *
               Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg AP Bomb
 
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Balch
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AK Carina
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Selfridge
 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Lunga at 114,138
Weather in hex: Light cloud
Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 52 minutes
 
Japanese aircraft
      A6M2 Zero x 18
      B5N1 Kate x 33
 
Japanese aircraft losses
      B5N1 Kate: 2 destroyed, 9 damaged
 
Allied Ships
      CA Australia, Torpedo hits 2
      CA Canberra, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
      CL Hobart
      DD Farenholt
 
 Aircraft Attacking:
      17 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm T91 Mod 3 Torp
      15 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
               Naval Attack:  1 x 45cm T91 Mod 3 Torp

Just got the combat replay for Aug 21, 1942 and some interesting events in this turn. First off....

SNAPSHOT OF ENEMY ORBAT
Day Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 114,138, Range 26,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
     BB Hiei
     BB Kirishima
     CA Takao
     CA Atago
     CA Maya
     CA Myoko
     CA Haguro
     CA Suzuya
     CA Kumano
     DD Akigumo
     DD Kazegumo
     DD Asagumo
     DD Uranami
     DD Shikinami
     DD Ayanami

Allied Ships
     DD Grayson, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
     DD Monssen, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
     xAK Empire Hawk, Shell hits 16, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Japanese Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Allied TF begins to get underway
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 26,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 26,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages DD Monssen at 26,000 yards
CA Kumano engages DD Monssen at 26,000 yards
CA Maya engages DD Monssen at 26,000 yards
CA Atago engages DD Monssen at 26,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards
DD Monssen sunk by CA Haguro at 24,000 yards
BB Hiei engages DD Grayson at 24,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards
BB Hiei engages DD Grayson at 22,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages DD Grayson at 19,000 yards
BB Hiei engages DD Grayson at 19,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages DD Grayson at 19,000 yards
CA Maya engages DD Grayson at 19,000 yards
CA Atago engages DD Grayson at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages DD Grayson at 17,000 yards
BB Hiei engages DD Grayson at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages DD Grayson at 13,000 yards
CA Kumano engages DD Grayson at 13,000 yards
CA Suzuya engages DD Grayson at 13,000 yards
DD Akigumo engages DD Grayson at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
DD Grayson sunk by BB Kirishima at 12,000 yards
CA Haguro engages xAK Empire Hawk at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
BB Kirishima engages xAK Empire Hawk at 10,000 yards
CA Atago engages xAK Empire Hawk at 10,000 yards
DD Ayanami engages xAK Empire Hawk at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CA Haguro engages xAK Empire Hawk at 7,000 yards
CA Myoko engages xAK Empire Hawk at 7,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages xAK Empire Hawk at 7,000 yards
Combat ends with last Allied ship sunk...

Well crap, I thought I gave orders for all TFs around Guadalcanal to pull back south. At least I have an accurate picture of the enemy ORBAT. So that's 2 BBs and about a dozen CAs that I have to contend with, the IJN has the edge in quality especially when it comes to night fighting experience and probably parity in terms of number of hulls. After having blasted the supply TF to bits, the BBs and CAs work over the defenders of Henderson Field.

KB VISITS MILNE BAY

Here's the interesting bit for this turn. KB appears NE of Milne Bay.

Afternoon Air attack on Milne Bay , at 101,133
Weather in hex: Heavy rain
Raid spotted at 47 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 17 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 32
B5N1 Kate x 35
D3A1 Val x 15
D3A2 Val x 54

Allied aircraft
Kittyhawk IA x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N1 Kate: 5 damaged
D3A1 Val: 1 damaged
D3A2 Val: 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
Kittyhawk IA: 1 destroyed on ground

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 4
Runway hits 11

So, are the forces of Imperial Japan really making a push for PM and MB then? The smart move would be to land on Buna and try and take PM by land, trying to loop transports around MB would be suicidal even if MB were to fall into Japanese hands.

More importantly, KB detached itself from covering the IJN heavies while they were bombarding Henderson, if my CVs had been covering Guadalcanal the hulks of a couple of the IJN's finest would be littering Ironbottom Sound now. An opportunity lost then but one which I hope will present itself again as long as I prevent M&M from getting a fix on my CVs.

In the aftermath of Allied first contact with KB and friends, CA Australia eats 3 fish and sinks while limping home towards Noumea. That's 4 DDs and 2 CAs in favour of the IJN, I'd say they've more than extracted their measure of revenge for NC's smackdown of the fast transport TF.

HENDERSON FIELD OPEN FOR BUSINESS
Marine units are the first to touch down on Henderson, it's only a VMF and VMB at the moment, I can bring in 1 more of each but will be spotting them on Luganville and Noumea where they can train up in peace a little more without undergoing the hazards of night bombardment while still being in range for rapid reinforcement should the need arise.

RAID ON SHORTLANDS
A DESRON has been ordered into Shortlands on a night attack to see if they can find anything worth sinking

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM
The CVs are in place holding east of Guadalcanal, I'm pondering the risks of a deep strike on Truk itself, the trick would be the approach run, I doubt they'd be expecting a hit on something as far back from the "front lines" as Truk. Of course getting to Truk and hitting it is one thing, making my exit would be quite another. I'll wait for the only AO I have that has full bunkers to top up the CVTFs and then decide if I should put my money where my mouth is.

Other STFs besides the DESRON striking Shortlands include the NC TF now weighing anchor at Townsville and a large CA/DD TF that's sitting in Noumea while I figure out what to do with it.

Small tip. Unescorted Betties from Rabaul can reach all the ports in Australia north of Brisbane (can't rememeber if Brisbane can be hit as well. Whirraways on cap are generally enough to keep them away. I think they can reach Luganville as well.

PORT MORESBY RAIDED BY STF
The supply convoys to PM were trounced by a light STF centred around 2 CLs as they unloaded in port, I've lost half a dozen AMs and 3 AKLs, doesn't mean much in the scheme of things but I hate giving away freebies.

BETTYS MESS UP DESRON AND I DON'T KNOW WHY
When it comes to night raids on port hexes, I've got it down pat (or so I thought), the raiding STF in question usually ends the previous turn at a predetermined number of hexes away from the target and on the next turn I set it to run at full speed into the target hex with "retirement allowed" and home port set as something directly away from the target hex, usually something in the direction I ingressed from, it worked for the NC STF as it has the past couple of times I've tried it so it was a rather unpleasant surprise to see the DESRON I dispatched into the Shortlands end up in the middle of the open sea during the morning turn. Bettys came in and sank 2 of the 5 DDs, so that's another freebie.

Well, no more. Hornet is due in 3 days and I've just got the Washington in addition to more DDs, there are also now a total of 5 Marine squadrons operating out of Henderson, I'm feeling a ilttle better about the air situation over Guadalcanal so now it's a matter of protecting the transports from surface threats as they unload. The 2 BBs will join up and form the close in covering force for the transports while the CVs provide stand off CAP. Once I stabilise the supply situation there I'll be repositioning to cover PM and MB which will be covered by CAs and LBA in the meantime.