Matrix Games Forums

Posted: **Thu May 03, 2018 10:59 am**

Intro

I had no intention to write an AAR, until I fought my first grand carrier battle. Wow, it was really something! Now I think it deserves its own little diary I might be wanting to read some day in the future. And I can brag about my great victories, of course! [8|] It's early April 1942, so I have to recap everything that's happened since the beginning.

BTW, I'm not English native, so if anything, cut me some slack, mkay? [:-] Alright...

Setting

Scenario 6, December 8 1941 start, Allied player (me), Japanese AI, historical/realistic difficulty (Fog of War, weather effects, faulty torps etc), PDU on, unit withdrawal ON, reinforcements default ON, upgrades default OFF, fixed arrival times, 1 day turns. Did I miss anything? I guess that's it.

Inspiration

Oh, it's a very important part of gameplay. Being immersed is what keeps me in the game, despite all the difficulties playing it (dealing with huge amount of units/OOB, not the best UI, etc). So what do I do? I read the original Combat Narratives from the HyperWar website (that's on ibiblio dot org). There's lots of REALLY juicy material, separated by military branches. The amount of detail is amazing. I also watch the original Pacific War footage/newsreels on Youtube, of course.

So, let's begin!

Posted: **Thu May 03, 2018 11:06 am**

Good to see you trying your hand at an AAR.
We will expect to see an official-looking combat narrative (per Hyperwar) with some combat report details and pictures of the carnage!

Good Luck!

Posted: **Thu May 03, 2018 12:49 pm**

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Good to see you trying your hand at an AAR.
We will expect to see an official-looking combat narrative (per Hyperwar) with some combat report details and pictures of the carnage!

Good Luck!

Oh, maybe after I'm done recapping past events! Won't be able to replicate the level of detail until I get to present/ongoing events. But I'm nowhere near as good as Naval Intelligence Officers of the USN, tho, so... as I said, expect some slack!

Allied strategy (minus US, that'll have to be a separate writeup)

Let's start with the northwestern part of the map. The British, India, the Dutch and China. I'll start by admitting - I'm not very fond of playing them. Both ideologically and OOB-wise. There's enough US/ANZAC/Canadian units to play with as it is. Also I'm not very familiar with their equipment. Gameplay-wise, their ideological ugliness in my eyes translates into the need to have garrisons to prevent partisan attacks. So I have low morale/willingness to fight for their AO.

But... I admit that simply giving up on them is just letting the enemy have what it wants - the resources. And there's plenty of them to be captured. Mostly oil. At the same time, having good airfields in India and China can enable great bombing opportunities for USAAF. Especially in China, which some day may become a good starting point for raids against Japanese industry in Home Islands.

Aaaaand, at the same time, I think it's okay to let the Japanese have more land in northwestern part of the map. They will commit forces there, which means less of their forces elsewhere. So, bottom line, I'm going to let the British, the Dutch and the Chinese "fight it out" on their own. Defense only. I might consider offensive missions 1) if there's a great opportunity presenting itself, 2) if it will help to get USAAF planes to reach Japanese Home Islands. Oh, and I definitely reserve my right to stealing their sh.. stuff, like combat ships, to help the Allied effort elsewhere. Like Oz East Coast. Ships are always nice, and, uhm, surprisingly easy to relocate [:)].

Oh, did I mention the Soviets? I won't even touch them. They're dead to me. Period.

Australia... is quite big. At first, I did not see much need to defend Oz. But getting closer to April 1942, political pressure (read: Vicotry points) is rising. As much as I'd like to see Japanese units struggle in Northern Territories with 0 supply during the monsoon season, the people demand that I give no Australian land to the enemy. They don't need garrisons to keep partisans at bay, so I can work with that. Darwin, and two more bases inland to the south of it will be good airfields to organize a defensive naval strike missions. I'll even send some troops to the Dutch Koepang, to make it a northern frontier. Perth can become a nice naval base that's relatively easy to defend. The Dutch subs can retreat there and continue fighting the ongoing Japanese onslaught of DEI area, the Malaya barrier.

The southern and eastern parts of Oz have great infrastructure, but I'm simply not sure what's gonna happen in this area yet. I'll improve major bases even further for the time being.

NZ is a quite, little place. I don't think it has any strategical importance. Political, yes. But not military. NZ is harder to defend, it's smaller, separated into unconnected islands. There's no oil/fuel production. Supply production is also not that significant. Eastern Oz is a better staging area for operations in SoWestPac. Except for Fiji Islands, I'll largely ignore NZ, but will defend it for sure. ANZAC forces are something I should look into in the future.

Canada. Will be restricted to homeland defense for now. Just as with ANZAC forces, I'm yet to assess their arriving units/OOB and possibilities.

Posted: **Thu May 03, 2018 2:30 pm**

US Strategy

I briefly read the "United States Army in World War II - The War in the Pacific - Strategy and Command: The First Two Years" by Louis Morton on aforementioned HyperWar. It goes into great detail about the US Pacific strategy and plans before the War. I completely agree with the assessments that Philippines cannot be held with existing forces, and that getting reinforcements there would be a PITA. So, politically, the task there is to defend. Realistically, it all depends on the actual amount of forces the Japanese will commit. But regardless of that, reinforcing relies completely on naval and air superiority, and in December 1941 the Japanese have the upper hand in both. Even considering the fact that aircraft and devices magically teleport when units get reinforcements. New units and supplies still need to be ferried in.

As I've already said in previous section, I find that defending Oz, NZ and the supply lines in between is strategically unsound. Frankly, I'm completely surprised how US managed to do all the things they did historically in the early months of the war. Sending carriers on patrols to SoPac and SoWestPac is much more dangerous than trying to play defensively, closer to PH.

Yet, politically, I'm bound to defend the Oz and NZ, and fight for the Philippines. Victory points are going to be hard to come by if the Japanese manage to capture DEI, Burma and other major points of the northwestern quadrant. And if I lose PHilippines by that point, I'd already be below Japanese VP level, meaning impending political defeat.

I'll go along with the original, historical assignments of the units, mostly. 5th AF to SoWePac and so on. Ground units will have to wait a bit, because I have to organize them at SanFran and PH first. Inventorization of transport assets is in order. Generally, I'd like to have several small, but fast transport convoys that can go at 15 knots cruise speed. At least at first, I won't be able to assign many ships to escort duty, so the speed is key. Slower ships will start hauling units from SanFran to PH. Fast, "C-15" (cruise speed of 15), or "USN Pacific Express" as I call them, convoys will be going PH-Brisbane route, adjusting the route further south in case of danger.

Islands in between PH and Brisbane will get PBYs, but I'm not ready to commit infantry garrisons there yet. Later in the war, I'd have to see how much infantry would be needed to adequately defend the island chains so that it won't become another Philippines case.

Pilot training, I plan on doing in two ways. Arriving units should get trained up to 55-60 in their main skills and at least 50 in secondary (65+ for USN carrier units) before deployment. At the same time, West Coast squadrons will start preparing replacement pilots. I have to try to avoid using untrained personnel in combat. There's not that much men and equipment available already, and won't be for a while.

Alaska? I won't be able to use it to strike the mainland Japan. So it's defense there. Yet to see any strategical significance so far.

USN Carriers. Early in the war I plan on using small, single carrier CTFs. Sending two (first leads and reacts, second follows in the same hex) at the same time for patrols in SoPac/SoWestPac, while the other two carriers defend PH and nearby islands. While not on patrols, carrier pilots should train, train and train. Sending ships with low crew experience for shakedown cruises is a good idea, but if there's not that many to spare, they'll have to gain experience on combat patrols. I'll be avoiding surface action with USN ships everywhere except Far East anyway. For sub threat, they can be anywhere anyway.

Speaking of Far East. USN ships there should cooperate with the Dutch to try and ambush incoming Japanese invasion forces. Night fighting preferred, due to enemy air superiority.

I guess that's it for now.

Posted: **Thu May 03, 2018 2:31 pm**

What ever you do avoid sending Cndn troops to South Pacific! You will find that there is no getting rid of them thereafter, they will drink all the beer and lay on the beach complaining about the heat!

Posted: **Thu May 03, 2018 6:23 pm**

ORIGINAL: pontiouspilot

What ever you do avoid sending Cndn troops to South Pacific! You will find that there is no getting rid of them thereafter, they will drink all the beer and lay on the beach complaining about the heat!

Oh, it so happens that I'm very fond of such activities! It's no sin, oh no, no! And I should tell you a secret. The heat is a good thing! I've seen these videos from Port Moresby. Filmed by the 8th PG IIRC. Them native girls don't wear much of anything. No bras at all! I guess that's a thing around there! At least that's how it was in the 1940s tho... [:'(]

China: Dec 1941 to April 1942

I don't want to sound like I have a plan for China. I kinda do, but I kinda don't. Like I said, low morale. I need a map to describe what's happened there, tho, can't remember those names even for a minute.

Basically, the Japs are coming from all sides. Take what they want. Bomb where they want. But I managed to score some victories there too! I've taken Foochow. Then I gave it back, because.. to hold it, you need damn garrison. Initially I thought I should go west from Foochow and try liberating the coast, cutting Japs off their supply. But if I'd be keeping garrisons all over the place, I won't have men to keep the fighting. I chose to withdraw from Foochow to the north. My unnamed Foochow victors should help the boys take Nanchang. First attempt failed there.

I managed to retake the city of Wuchang. Kind of a big deal for me, liberating a city hex. But I only did that because there's a stalemate in a nearby Hankow. They dug in heavily there. Intel says 100k. And they have like level 4 or 5 forts. I managed to gather 60k of infantry (also around 100k total), but that's enough only to contest the city.

Everything else in China is going bad. I've sent most of the Chinese squadrons for temp withdraw, to gather the planes. 11th Chinese FG of 36 export P-40s (Flying Tigers' leftovers, more on them below) are training in Chungking (that's kind of their capital, right?). 12th Chinese BG of 24 old unarmored bombers is also training there. I am not satisfied with their training tempo, tho, taking rather slow. The rest are either up north, forgotten, or withdrawn.

So, Flying Tigers, right. They...did not fought for China much. I've sent them to Rangoon. They stayed there until the Japs showed up. Later I've withdrawn them to India and disbanded. Their results were: 135 confirmed kills (mostly bombers), while suffering only 3 KIA. Not even close to historical results, unfortunately, but I wasn't really trying to pick up the fight there. Just CAP duty of Rangoon, til around mid February. But hey, the Chinese get to use such fancy AND famous planes. They'll continue the scoring, I hope.

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Ground combat at Foochow (86,60)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 26785 troops, 114 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1095

Defending force 5367 troops, 48 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 176

Allied adjusted assault: 1113

Japanese adjusted defense: 25

Allied assault odds: 44 to 1 (fort level 1)

Allied forces CAPTURE Foochow !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: preparation(-), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
2414 casualties reported
Squads: 37 destroyed, 118 disabled
Non Combat: 64 destroyed, 21 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 36 (21 destroyed, 15 disabled)
Units retreated 3

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
86th Chinese Corps
70th Chinese Corps
25th Chinese Corps
88th Chinese Corps
10th Group Army
3rd War Area
32nd Group Army

Defending units:
115th Infantry Regiment
1st RGC Route Brigade
2nd RGC Route Brigade

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Ground combat at Wuchang (84,51)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 24673 troops, 119 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 949

Defending force 15357 troops, 196 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 95

Allied adjusted assault: 1153

Japanese adjusted defense: 231

Allied assault odds: 4 to 1 (fort level 2)

Allied forces CAPTURE Wuchang !!!

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), experience(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
4612 casualties reported
Squads: 129 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 231 destroyed, 36 disabled
Engineers: 66 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 82 (82 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units retreated 2

Allied ground losses:
253 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 29 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 3 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Units pursuing 1

Defeated Japanese Units Retreating!

Assaulting units:
53rd Chinese Corps
58th Chinese Corps
20th Chinese Corps
99th Chinese Corps
6th War Area
20th Group Army

Defending units:
6th Division
40th Division

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Posted: **Thu May 03, 2018 7:04 pm**

Other parts of Asia/Far East/Philippines: December 1941 to April 1942

Rangoon, Malaya, Singapore, most Philippines, Borneo, Celebes - all captured by the Japanese. British/Indian troops, or what's left of them, are trying to retreat to India. I gathered British squadrons in three groups. Calcutta and Colombo have decent fighter protection and medium bombers, and there are some misc training squadrons in Delhi.

Initially, I tried to use Force Z and local USN ships to ambush Japanese invasion forces. I failed with both forces. The British got caught by an airstrike on their way to the landing site on the eastern coast of Malaya, and arrived there already damaged. This was actually an embarrassing fight:

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Kota Bharu at 53,76, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
E7K2 Alf: 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
CL Sendai, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
DD Isonami, Shell hits 2
DD Uranami, Shell hits 1, heavy fires
DD Shikinami, Shell hits 2

Allied Ships
BB Prince of Wales, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BC Repulse
CL Danae, Shell hits 3
CL Mauritius, Shell hits 1
DD Stronghold
DD Tenedos
DD Electra, Shell hits 1
DD Express
DD Jupiter, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Improved night sighting under 78% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 78% moonlight: 12,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
CL Sendai engages BB Prince of Wales at 9,000 yards
CL Sendai engages CL Mauritius at 9,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Isonami at 9,000 yards
CL Sendai engages DD Express at 9,000 yards
CL Sendai engages DD Electra at 9,000 yards
CL Sendai engages DD Tenedos at 9,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages DD Isonami at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Sendai sunk by BB Prince of Wales at 2,000 yards
BC Repulse engages DD Shikinami at 2,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Tenedos at 2,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Jupiter at 2,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Express at 2,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Electra at 2,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages DD Isonami at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Stronghold at 4,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Stronghold at 4,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Tenedos at 4,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Shikinami at 4,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Shikinami at 4,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Stronghold at 4,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Electra at 4,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Jupiter at 4,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Jupiter at 4,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages DD Uranami at 4,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Shikinami at 4,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages DD Uranami at 4,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Express at 4,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Electra at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Shikinami at 5,000 yards
BC Repulse engages DD Shikinami at 5,000 yards
CL Danae engages DD Shikinami at 5,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Express at 5,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Shikinami at 5,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Tenedos at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Tenedos at 7,000 yards
BC Repulse engages DD Shikinami at 7,000 yards
CL Mauritius engages DD Shikinami at 7,000 yards
CL Danae engages DD Shikinami at 7,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Isonami at 7,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Electra at 7,000 yards
DD Tenedos engages DD Uranami at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Tenedos at 9,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Uranami at 9,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Express at 9,000 yards
CL Danae engages DD Shikinami at 9,000 yards
DD Jupiter engages DD Uranami at 9,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Tenedos at 9,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages DD Uranami at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Shikinami at 11,000 yards
BC Repulse engages DD Shikinami at 11,000 yards
CL Mauritius engages DD Shikinami at 11,000 yards
DD Jupiter engages DD Uranami at 11,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Express at 11,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Shikinami at 11,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Tenedos at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
DD Electra engages DD Shikinami at 12,000 yards
DD Express engages DD Uranami at 12,000 yards
DD Stronghold engages DD Isonami at 12,000 yards
CL Danae engages DD Shikinami at 12,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Jupiter at 12,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Stronghold at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
BB Prince of Wales engages DD Shikinami at 13,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Electra at 13,000 yards
CL Mauritius engages DD Shikinami at 13,000 yards
CL Danae engages DD Uranami at 13,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Jupiter at 13,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Electra at 13,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Tenedos at 13,000 yards
Hashimoto, Shintaro orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 11,000 yards
DD Shikinami engages DD Tenedos at 11,000 yards
CL Mauritius engages DD Isonami at 11,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Jupiter at 11,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Express at 11,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Tenedos at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Jupiter at 13,000 yards
CL Mauritius engages DD Shikinami at 13,000 yards
DD Uranami engages DD Jupiter at 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...

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Force Z then managed to get to Colombo. Prince of Wales was the only one requiring serious repairs. Repulse was completely fine. As of current date, April 6 1942, Prince of Wales is mostly repaired, with 7 days left to fix the remaining 3 points of major FLT and ENG damage. Here's what happened to the USN boys:

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Vigan at 80,73, Range 20,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Naka, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Natsugumo, Shell hits 1
DD Minegumo, Shell hits 4, heavy fires
DD Asagumo, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Murasame, Shell hits 1
DD Harusame
DD Yudachi, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Samidare, Shell hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage

Allied Ships
CA Houston, Shell hits 2
CL Boise
DD John D. Ford, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Peary, Shell hits 47, and is sunk
DD Pillsbury, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
DD Pope, Shell hits 8, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 20,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
CL Naka engages CA Houston at 20,000 yards
CL Boise engages CL Naka at 20,000 yards
DD Murasame engages DD Pope at 20,000 yards
DD Minegumo engages DD Pope at 20,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Pope at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
CL Naka engages CA Houston at 13,000 yards
CL Naka engages CL Boise at 13,000 yards
DD Yudachi engages DD Pope at 13,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Pope at 13,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD John D. Ford at 13,000 yards
DD Minegumo engages DD Pope at 13,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Pope at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CL Naka engages CA Houston at 12,000 yards
DD Pope sunk by DD Samidare at 12,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Pillsbury at 12,000 yards
DD Murasame engages DD John D. Ford at 12,000 yards
DD Murasame engages DD John D. Ford at 12,000 yards
DD John D. Ford sunk by DD Minegumo at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
CA Houston engages CL Naka at 10,000 yards
DD Samidare engages DD Pillsbury at 10,000 yards
DD Murasame engages DD Pillsbury at 10,000 yards
DD Murasame engages DD Pillsbury at 10,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Pillsbury at 10,000 yards
DD Pillsbury engages DD Minegumo at 10,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages CL Boise at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CL Naka engages CA Houston at 8,000 yards
CL Naka engages CL Boise at 8,000 yards
DD Yudachi engages DD Pillsbury at 8,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Peary at 8,000 yards
DD Pillsbury sunk by DD Murasame at 8,000 yards
CL Naka engages CA Houston at 8,000 yards
CA Houston engages DD Samidare at 8,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Yudachi at 8,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Peary at 8,000 yards
DD Murasame engages DD Peary at 8,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Asagumo at 8,000 yards
DD Minegumo engages DD Peary at 8,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Natsugumo at 8,000 yards
CL Naka engages CA Houston at 8,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Yudachi at 8,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Peary at 8,000 yards
DD Murasame engages DD Peary at 8,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages DD Peary at 8,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Natsugumo at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CL Naka engages CA Houston at 10,000 yards
DD Yudachi engages DD Peary at 10,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Peary at 10,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Murasame at 10,000 yards
DD Minegumo engages DD Peary at 10,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Peary at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CL Naka engages CA Houston at 9,000 yards
CL Boise engages CL Naka at 9,000 yards
DD Peary engages DD Yudachi at 9,000 yards
DD Harusame engages DD Peary at 9,000 yards
DD Minegumo engages DD Peary at 9,000 yards
DD Peary sunk by DD Natsugumo at 9,000 yards
CL Naka engages CA Houston at 9,000 yards
CL Naka engages CL Boise at 9,000 yards
DD Asagumo engages CA Houston at 9,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages CA Houston at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Houston engages CL Naka at 12,000 yards
CL Naka engages CL Boise at 12,000 yards
CA Houston engages DD Murasame at 12,000 yards
CA Houston engages DD Natsugumo at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
CA Houston engages CL Naka at 13,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Samidare at 13,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Yudachi at 13,000 yards
CA Houston engages DD Harusame at 13,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Asagumo at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 12,000 yards
CL Naka engages CA Houston at 12,000 yards
CA Houston engages DD Samidare at 12,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Harusame at 12,000 yards
CA Houston engages DD Murasame at 12,000 yards
CA Houston engages DD Asagumo at 12,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Minegumo at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CA Houston engages CL Naka at 11,000 yards
CL Naka engages CL Boise at 11,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Yudachi at 11,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Harusame at 11,000 yards
CA Houston engages DD Murasame at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CL Naka engages CA Houston at 8,000 yards
CL Boise engages CL Naka at 8,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Asagumo at 8,000 yards
CA Houston engages DD Minegumo at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 15,000 yards
CL Naka engages CA Houston at 15,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Samidare at 15,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Harusame at 15,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Minegumo at 15,000 yards
Range increases to 21,000 yards
DD Samidare collides with DD Murasame at 80 , 73
CL Naka engages CA Houston at 21,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Samidare at 21,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Harusame at 21,000 yards
CA Houston engages DD Natsugumo at 21,000 yards
Range increases to 26,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Samidare at 26,000 yards
CL Boise engages DD Harusame at 26,000 yards
Range increases to 30,000 yards
CA Houston engages DD Minegumo at 30,000 yards
Task forces break off...

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They managed only that much. All destroyers sunk. Cruisers managed to get to Soerabaja. I can't find the records regarding other USN ships in the Far East during this time, but they also got to Soerabaja, and, then, eventually, to Pearl, through Oz.

Most of the DEI are almost gone. The Dutch managed to damage some Japanese transports, but nothing else. They tried attacking some CVLs, but no hits were scored. I should have spent at least a month to train the Dutch. They could've done so much better. Oh well...

Posted: **Thu May 03, 2018 7:55 pm**

Dang, these forum newbie restrictions don't let me post most of my combat reports. Furious, but gotta endure I guess. Anyway...

Defense of the Philippines. I tried to organize a tight circle of defense around Manila, but the Japanese were too quick in their advance. USAAF and local air forces were mauled pretty quickly, so I had to evac/disband them, along with most non-combat shipping. Eventually, Clark Field fell in late February 1942. Forces from CF retreated to Bataan. I decided to keep holding Manila and not declaring it an open city and not joining others in Bataan. Bataan, with 4th Marines in it, fell on March 11, 1942. Four days later fell the last defenders of Manila. The Japanese had 3 to 1 advantage, with more than a 1000 in assault value. No idea how much trouble would it be to liberate the Philippines in coming years.

Posted: **Fri May 04, 2018 3:42 am**

So we're slowly getting to more interesting things... like...

The Frontiers of Oz: December 1941 to April 1942

As promised, parts of the 8th Australian Division were sent to Koepang, Timor, that's north of Darwin. Reinforcing the Dutch forces there, their combined strength as of late is 2100 infantry with 180 assault value. You haven't heard it from me, but *cough* the rumor is, some special Aussie commandos are also there. By early March, 1942, Japanese were able to land some troops on both ends of Timor. Only defensive action was expected on my part, but the Japs never really attacked. On March 20, 1942, I ordered all Koepang Allied forces to attack the Japanese positions. The results were... rather unexpected. Unlike everywhere else, the Japs sent only a token force to western Timor. We have completely wiped out their landing force, identified as the 4th SNLF. Our folks on the eastern part of the island weren't so fortunate and are currently retreating west from Dili, to join everyone else at Koepang.

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Ground combat at Koepang (68,116)

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4687 troops, 57 guns, 29 vehicles, Assault Value = 175

Defending force 694 troops, 15 guns, 2 vehicles, Assault Value = 3

Allied adjusted assault: 92

Japanese adjusted defense: 1

Allied assault odds: 92 to 1

Combat modifiers
Defender: terrain(+), disruption(-), supply(-)
Attacker:

Japanese ground losses:
583 casualties reported
Squads: 59 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 37 destroyed, 0 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 19 (19 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Vehicles lost 2 (2 destroyed, 0 disabled)
Units destroyed 1

Assaulting units:
Timor Garrison Battalion
Sparrow Battalion
2/4 MG Battalion
2/2nd Ind Coy
Dili Detachment
Gull Battalion
Koepang Base Force

Defending units:
Yokosuka 4th SNLF

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USAAF Transport Squadron under ABDA with a few C-47s gave a hand transporting some troops and supplies. The amount of planes is not enough for proper supply deliveries. On that note you should also know that Darwin received 55 tons of supply via convoy, and local commander there bluntly refuses to share any of it with surrounding bases. The Japs are yet to land a single bomb in Darwin, yet the locals are preparing for the worse, building fortifications and improving airfields as much as they can.

The situation around New Guinea, and Port Moresby in particular, is not as bright. Even though some rare USN carrier patrols managed to repel a couple of naval invasions, as of April 1942, the Japs have landed several TENS of thousands troops in Moresby. Latest intel says there are 36k troops, 250 guns and 42 AFVs. Now that the USN carriers are busy fighting KB closer to Pearl, local forces, comprised of combined Dutch, British and ANZAC cruisers and destroyers are barely able to survive frequent surface and air raids of the Japanese, that by now fully control everything except for Port Moresby itself. Two Australian Buffalo squadrons that were, ahem, evacuated from Singapore, are holding CAP duty at PM. Another two surviving ABDA Hudson squadrons also tried operating at PM, but were not able to deal any damage to enemy forces that's already landed. They sunk some transports, but eventually had to be evacuated due to low morale, possibly due to malaria and bad local base conditions. Though PM still has plenty of support personnel and some modest 20 tons of supply.

By April 1942, most of the British and Dutch naval forces arrived to Oz. Two old battleships, plus a cruiser and few destroyers were left at Perth. Some will have to be returned soon. On the east coast of Oz, another two old battleships, three heavy cruisers, BC Repulse, CV Indomitable and CVL Hermes, supported by 8 CLs and 14 DDs are taksed with two missions. One - repel continuous naval invasions. Two - deliver recently arrived 6th and 7th Aussie Divisions to Port Moresby.

British CV squadrons were adjusted accordingly: one fighter sqn was transferred to Hermes and received the new, longer ranged Martlets. It's 9 Martlets and 12 Albacores on Hermes now, and 18 Albacores and 18 Sea Hurricanes (with a plan of having 27 Hurricanes in the future) on CV Indomitable. The problem is, Indomitable is not staying here for long. But a lot can happen in the next hundred days that remain.

The Japs managed to land a small force on Horn Island, despite my best attempts to not lot them do so. They used some fancy LSD ship there. Newly arrived Albacores torpedoed it, though I'm still getting reports from Catalinas that it's still there. Time will tell.

CA Canberra is under repairs at Sydney. CL Adelaide was sunk, along with 5 transport and 3 cargo ships that were delivering reinforcements to PM. It's not as grim, though, as I managed to sink quite a few of enemy transports over the months there as well, and I'm sure I'm scoring way better. Will present total tally later.

That'll be all for now.

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 8,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Maya
CL Jintsu
DD Yukikaze
DD Shiranui

Allied Ships
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 9, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Vampire
AM Bunbury
AM Mildura
xAP Malaita
xAP Ormiston, Shell hits 1
xAP Murada, Shell hits 1
xAP Montoro, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 0% moonlight: 8,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 8,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 8,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages CA Maya at 8,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages CL Jintsu at 8,000 yards
CA Maya engages xAP Murada at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CA Maya engages CL Adelaide at 7,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL Adelaide at 7,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages DD Shiranui at 7,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages DD Yukikaze at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 3,000 yards
CL Adelaide engages CA Maya at 3,000 yards
DD Vampire engages DD Yukikaze at 3,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages CL Adelaide at 3,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Vampire at 3,000 yards
CA Maya engages CL Adelaide at 3,000 yards
CL Adelaide sunk by CL Jintsu at 3,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages AM Mildura at 3,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages AM Bunbury at 3,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages xAP Montoro at 3,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages xAP Ormiston at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CA Maya engages xAP Montoro at 2,000 yards
Allied Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

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Posted: **Fri May 04, 2018 4:01 am**

It turns out I lied about the Hudsons. They did some damage. So did the 5th B-17s that I actually managed to train for a few months before deploying for combat operations. Here are some notable reports:

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Horn Island at 92,128

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Allied aircraft
Albacore I x 16
Sea Hurricane Ib x 8
Martlet II x 4

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Yamagiri Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
LSD Shinshu Maru, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo
13 x Albacore I launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Mk XII Torpedo

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 8
B-17E Fortress x 3

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAKL Shoyu Maru, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 7000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Shoyu Maru

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 9,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
TB Hayabusa, Shell hits 7, heavy fires, heavy damage
AK Amagisan Maru, Shell hits 10, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Shinanogawa Maru, Shell hits 18, and is sunk
xAP Buenos Aires Maru, Shell hits 8, heavy fires

Allied Ships
CA Australia
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Java
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp
DD Stuart
DD Vampire
DD Vendetta
DD Banckert
DD Van Nes
DD Witte de With
DD Kortenaer
DD Le Triomphant

Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 60% moonlight: 12,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
Elster P. crosses the 'T'
CA Australia engages TB Hayabusa at 9,000 yards
CL Tromp engages TB Hayabusa at 9,000 yards
CA Australia engages xAK Shinanogawa Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages TB Hayabusa at 9,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Shinanogawa Maru at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Australia engages TB Hayabusa at 10,000 yards
CL Tromp engages TB Hayabusa at 10,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages TB Hayabusa at 10,000 yards
CL Java engages TB Hayabusa at 10,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages TB Hayabusa at 10,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages xAK Shinanogawa Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
TB Hayabusa engages CA Australia at 8,000 yards
TB Hayabusa engages CL Tromp at 8,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages TB Hayabusa at 8,000 yards
CL Java engages TB Hayabusa at 8,000 yards
CL Leander engages TB Hayabusa at 8,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Shinanogawa Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Shinanogawa Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Vampire engages xAK Shinanogawa Maru at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAP Buenos Aires Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Shinanogawa Maru at 6,000 yards
CA Australia engages TB Hayabusa at 6,000 yards
CL Java engages AK Amagisan Maru at 6,000 yards
CL Leander engages TB Hayabusa at 6,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAP Buenos Aires Maru at 6,000 yards
CA Australia engages TB Hayabusa at 6,000 yards
CL Tromp engages AK Amagisan Maru at 6,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages TB Hayabusa at 6,000 yards
CL Java engages TB Hayabusa at 6,000 yards
CL Leander engages TB Hayabusa at 6,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAP Buenos Aires Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Shinanogawa Maru at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 5,000 yards
CA Australia engages TB Hayabusa at 5,000 yards
CL Tromp engages TB Hayabusa at 5,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAP Buenos Aires Maru at 5,000 yards
CL Java engages TB Hayabusa at 5,000 yards
DD Vampire engages xAP Buenos Aires Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Shinanogawa Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages AK Amagisan Maru at 5,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages TB Hayabusa at 5,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Shinanogawa Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Vampire engages AK Amagisan Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAP Buenos Aires Maru at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages AK Amagisan Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAP Buenos Aires Maru at 4,000 yards
CL Java engages TB Hayabusa at 4,000 yards
CL Achilles engages AK Amagisan Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Vampire engages xAP Buenos Aires Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Stuart engages AK Amagisan Maru at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
CA Australia engages TB Hayabusa at 5,000 yards
DD Stuart engages AK Amagisan Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAP Buenos Aires Maru at 5,000 yards
CL Java engages TB Hayabusa at 5,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages xAP Buenos Aires Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Vampire engages xAK Shinanogawa Maru at 5,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CA Australia engages TB Hayabusa at 4,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAP Buenos Aires Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages AK Amagisan Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Shinanogawa Maru at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 5,000 yards
CA Australia engages TB Hayabusa at 5,000 yards
DD Vampire engages xAP Buenos Aires Maru at 5,000 yards
CL Leander engages TB Hayabusa at 5,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAP Buenos Aires Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Banckert engages AK Amagisan Maru at 5,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAP Buenos Aires Maru at 5,000 yards
Range increases to 6,000 yards
CL Tromp engages TB Hayabusa at 6,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages TB Hayabusa at 6,000 yards
CL Achilles engages TB Hayabusa at 6,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Australia engages TB Hayabusa at 12,000 yards
CL Tromp engages TB Hayabusa at 12,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages TB Hayabusa at 12,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAP Buenos Aires Maru at 12,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 6
B-17E Fortress x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
AK Amagisan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAP Buenos Aires Maru

Japanese ground losses:
41 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 2 (1 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 7000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 7000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 25,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Choun Maru #18, Shell hits 5, and is sunk
xAK Kotoku Maru, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Keisho Maru, Shell hits 11, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Hokuan Maru, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Maya Maru, Shell hits 19, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Takaoka Maru, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
xAK Kamoi Maru, Shell hits 41, and is sunk
xAK Shinyubari Maru, Shell hits 13, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Shirogane Maru, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Tenzan Maru, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
xAK Yamadori Maru, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
xAK Karachi Maru, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
xAK Pacific Maru, Shell hits 22, and is sunk
xAK Kuwayama Maru, Shell hits 25, and is sunk
xAK Siraha Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Chuko Maru, Shell hits 5, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Australia
CL Leander
CL Achilles
CL Java
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp
DD Stuart
DD Vampire
DD Vendetta
DD Banckert
DD Van Nes
DD Witte de With
DD Kortenaer
DD Le Triomphant

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 25,000 yards
Japanese ships attempt to get underway
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 25,000 yards
CA Australia engages xAK Chuko Maru at 25,000 yards
CA Australia engages xAK Kuwayama Maru at 25,000 yards
CL Leander engages xAK Chuko Maru at 25,000 yards
CL Achilles engages xAK Shinyubari Maru at 25,000 yards
CA Australia engages xAK Takaoka Maru at 25,000 yards
CL Achilles engages xAK Keisho Maru at 25,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards
CA Australia engages xAK Shinyubari Maru at 22,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Keisho Maru at 21,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Tenzan Maru at 21,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Shirogane Maru at 21,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Shinyubari Maru at 21,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages xAK Shinyubari Maru at 21,000 yards
CL Achilles engages xAK Kotoku Maru at 21,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards
CA Australia engages PB Choun Maru #18 at 18,000 yards
xAK Chuko Maru sunk by CL Tromp at 18,000 yards
CL Achilles engages xAK Karachi Maru at 18,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Pacific Maru at 18,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Tenzan Maru at 18,000 yards
CL Leander engages xAK Shirogane Maru at 18,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Karachi Maru at 18,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Tenzan Maru at 18,000 yards
DD Vampire engages xAK Siraha Maru at 18,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Keisho Maru at 18,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
CL Tromp engages PB Choun Maru #18 at 15,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Kuwayama Maru at 15,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Pacific Maru at 15,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Siraha Maru at 15,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages xAK Shirogane Maru at 15,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Kotoku Maru at 15,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Shinyubari Maru at 15,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Maya Maru at 15,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Hokuan Maru at 15,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Keisho Maru at 15,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Kotoku Maru at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
CA Australia engages xAK Tenzan Maru at 13,000 yards
CL Tromp engages xAK Kotoku Maru at 13,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Keisho Maru at 13,000 yards
CL Java engages xAK Takaoka Maru at 13,000 yards
CL Achilles engages xAK Maya Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Tenzan Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Shirogane Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Takaoka Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages xAK Takaoka Maru at 13,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Keisho Maru at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA Australia engages xAK Hokuan Maru at 9,000 yards
xAK Siraha Maru sunk by DD Le Triomphant at 9,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Kuwayama Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages xAK Pacific Maru at 9,000 yards
CL Achilles engages xAK Maya Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Tenzan Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Shirogane Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Takaoka Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Maya Maru at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages PB Choun Maru #18 at 7,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Pacific Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Karachi Maru at 7,000 yards
CL Achilles engages xAK Karachi Maru at 7,000 yards
CL Leander engages xAK Maya Maru at 7,000 yards
CL Leander engages xAK Shirogane Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Shinyubari Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Maya Maru at 7,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Hokuan Maru at 7,000 yards
xAK Keisho Maru sunk by DD Vendetta at 7,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Pacific Maru at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
PB Choun Maru #18 sunk by CL Achilles at 8,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Pacific Maru at 8,000 yards
CL Java engages xAK Karachi Maru at 8,000 yards
xAK Shirogane Maru sunk by DD Kortenaer at 8,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages xAK Shinyubari Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Takaoka Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Takaoka Maru at 8,000 yards
CL Tromp engages xAK Yamadori Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Karachi Maru at 8,000 yards
CL Java engages xAK Shinyubari Maru at 8,000 yards
xAK Shinyubari Maru sunk by DD Banckert at 8,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Takaoka Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Maya Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Kotoku Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Pacific Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Maya Maru at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CA Australia engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 9,000 yards
CL Tromp engages xAK Pacific Maru at 9,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 9,000 yards
CL Leander engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Kuwayama Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Hokuan Maru at 9,000 yards
xAK Kotoku Maru sunk by DD Witte de With at 9,000 yards
xAK Maya Maru sunk by DD Van Nes at 9,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 9,000 yards
CA Australia engages xAK Kuwayama Maru at 9,000 yards
CL Tromp engages xAK Takaoka Maru at 9,000 yards
CL Leander engages xAK Karachi Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Kuwayama Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Yamadori Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Takaoka Maru at 9,000 yards
xAK Hokuan Maru sunk by DD Vampire at 9,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Kuwayama Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Vampire engages xAK Pacific Maru at 9,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Pacific Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages xAK Yamadori Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Vampire engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 9,000 yards
CL Leander engages xAK Karachi Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Kuwayama Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Karachi Maru at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Kuwayama Maru at 10,000 yards
CL Tromp engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 10,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Yamadori Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Takaoka Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Vendetta engages xAK Yamadori Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Vampire engages xAK Kuwayama Maru at 10,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Yamadori Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CA Australia engages xAK Kuwayama Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Karachi Maru at 8,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 8,000 yards
CL Leander engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CA Australia engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 9,000 yards
CL Tromp engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 9,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Kamoi Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Vampire engages xAK Karachi Maru at 9,000 yards
DD Stuart engages xAK Yamadori Maru at 9,000 yards
xAK Karachi Maru sunk by DD Le Triomphant at 9,000 yards
DD Banckert engages xAK Yamadori Maru at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Yamadori Maru at 10,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Yamadori Maru at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
DD Le Triomphant engages xAK Yamadori Maru at 7,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 98,130

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 6,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
Buffalo I x 7
Hudson I x 14

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Kamoi Maru
xAK Shinyubari Maru
xAK Tenzan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Yamadori Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
7 x Hudson I bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb
3 x Hudson I bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 lb GP Bomb
4 x Hudson I bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 4 x 250 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Tenzan Maru

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Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 25,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CA Maya, Shell hits 4, on fire
CL Jintsu, Shell hits 7, heavy fires
DD Yukikaze
DD Shiranui, Shell hits 1

Allied Ships
CL Perth, Shell hits 6, on fire
DD Voyager, Shell hits 5, heavy fires
AM Townsville, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
xAP Sarpedonia, Shell hits 32, and is sunk
xAP Idomeneus, Shell hits 27, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAP Lycaon, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
xAP Mildura, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk

Allied ground losses:
Vehicles lost 40 (18 destroyed, 22 disabled)

Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions: 30,000 yards
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 25,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 25,000 yards
Allied ships attempt to get underway
CL Perth engages CA Maya at 25,000 yards
CA Maya engages AM Townsville at 25,000 yards
CA Maya engages xAP Lycaon at 25,000 yards
Range closes to 21,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Maya at 21,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL Perth at 21,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Shiranui at 21,000 yards
CA Maya engages xAP Mildura at 21,000 yards
CA Maya engages xAP Lycaon at 21,000 yards
CA Maya engages xAP Sarpedonia at 21,000 yards
Range closes to 19,000 yards
CA Maya engages CL Perth at 19,000 yards
CA Maya engages DD Voyager at 19,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages xAP Lycaon at 19,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages xAP Idomeneus at 19,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages xAP Sarpedonia at 19,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL Perth at 15,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL Perth at 15,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Voyager at 15,000 yards
CA Maya engages xAP Mildura at 15,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages xAP Lycaon at 15,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages xAP Idomeneus at 15,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages xAP Sarpedonia at 15,000 yards
Range closes to 13,000 yards
CA Maya engages CL Perth at 13,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL Perth at 13,000 yards
CA Maya engages AM Townsville at 13,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Voyager at 13,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages xAP Idomeneus at 13,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages xAP Sarpedonia at 13,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
CA Maya engages CL Perth at 11,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages DD Voyager at 11,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Voyager at 11,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Voyager at 11,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages xAP Idomeneus at 11,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages xAP Sarpedonia at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
CA Maya engages CL Perth at 9,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages DD Voyager at 9,000 yards
DD Voyager engages DD Shiranui at 9,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages xAP Lycaon at 9,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages xAP Idomeneus at 9,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages xAP Sarpedonia at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL Perth at 8,000 yards
CL Perth engages CL Jintsu at 8,000 yards
AM Townsville sunk by CA Maya at 8,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages xAP Lycaon at 8,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages xAP Sarpedonia at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Maya engages CL Perth at 10,000 yards
CL Perth engages CL Jintsu at 10,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages xAP Lycaon at 10,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages xAP Idomeneus at 10,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages xAP Sarpedonia at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Maya at 8,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages DD Voyager at 8,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages xAP Lycaon at 8,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages xAP Idomeneus at 8,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages xAP Sarpedonia at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
CA Maya engages CL Perth at 10,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL Perth at 10,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages xAP Lycaon at 10,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages xAP Idomeneus at 10,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages xAP Sarpedonia at 10,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
CL Perth engages CL Jintsu at 8,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages DD Voyager at 8,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages xAP Lycaon at 8,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages xAP Idomeneus at 8,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages xAP Sarpedonia at 8,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Maya at 7,000 yards
CL Perth engages CL Jintsu at 7,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages xAP Idomeneus at 7,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages xAP Sarpedonia at 7,000 yards
Range closes to 6,000 yards
CA Maya engages CL Perth at 6,000 yards
CL Perth engages CL Jintsu at 6,000 yards
DD Voyager engages DD Shiranui at 6,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages xAP Sarpedonia at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Maya at 4,000 yards
CL Perth engages CL Jintsu at 4,000 yards
DD Shiranui engages xAP Idomeneus at 4,000 yards
Nabeshima, Shunsaku orders Japanese TF to disengage
CL Jintsu engages CL Perth at 4,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages CL Perth at 4,000 yards
CA Maya engages xAP Lycaon at 4,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages DD Voyager at 4,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages xAP Sarpedonia at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CL Perth engages CA Maya at 9,000 yards
CL Perth engages CL Jintsu at 9,000 yards
DD Voyager engages DD Shiranui at 9,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages xAP Sarpedonia at 9,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages xAP Sarpedonia at 9,000 yards
Range increases to 14,000 yards
CA Maya engages CL Perth at 14,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages DD Voyager at 14,000 yards
DD Voyager engages DD Shiranui at 14,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages xAP Sarpedonia at 14,000 yards
Range increases to 18,000 yards
CL Jintsu engages DD Voyager at 18,000 yards
DD Yukikaze engages xAP Lycaon at 18,000 yards
Range increases to 22,000 yards
Range increases to 25,000 yards
Range increases to 29,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 6,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
TB Sagi, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
xAK Arima Maru, Shell hits 11, and is sunk
AMC Asaka Maru, Shell hits 30, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAK Kogyo Maru, Shell hits 19, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Eizan Maru, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
xAK Soyo Maru, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
xAP Naminoue Maru, Shell hits 6, heavy fires

Allied Ships
CL Java
CL De Ruyter
CL Tromp
DD Banckert
DD Van Nes
DD Witte de With
DD Evertsen
DD Kortenaer
DD Piet Hein

Allied Ships Reported to be Approaching!
Japanese TF suspends unloading operations and begins to get underway
Reduced sighting due to 0% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 0% moonlight: 6,000 yards
Range closes to 10,000 yards...
Range closes to 8,000 yards...
Range closes to 6,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 6,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 6,000 yards
Doorman, Karel WFM crosses the 'T'
TB Sagi engages CL Tromp at 6,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages AMC Asaka Maru at 6,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Arima Maru at 6,000 yards
Range closes to 4,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages TB Sagi at 4,000 yards
CL Java engages xAP Naminoue Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages xAK Kogyo Maru at 4,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Arima Maru at 4,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Tromp engages AMC Asaka Maru at 2,000 yards
AMC Asaka Maru engages DD Kortenaer at 2,000 yards
CL Java engages AMC Asaka Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAK Soyo Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Kogyo Maru at 2,000 yards
AMC Asaka Maru engages DD Witte de With at 2,000 yards
xAK Soyo Maru sunk by DD Van Nes at 2,000 yards
CL Java engages TB Sagi at 2,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Kogyo Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Kogyo Maru at 2,000 yards
AMC Asaka Maru engages DD Evertsen at 2,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages AMC Asaka Maru at 2,000 yards
CL Tromp engages xAP Naminoue Maru at 2,000 yards
xAK Arima Maru sunk by CL De Ruyter at 2,000 yards
CL Java engages xAK Kogyo Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages AMC Asaka Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages AMC Asaka Maru at 2,000 yards
AMC Asaka Maru sunk by DD Van Nes at 2,000 yards
CL Java engages TB Sagi at 2,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAP Naminoue Maru at 2,000 yards
CL Java engages TB Sagi at 2,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAP Naminoue Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages TB Sagi at 3,000 yards
CL Java engages xAK Eizan Maru at 3,000 yards
xAK Eizan Maru sunk by DD Piet Hein at 3,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Kogyo Maru at 3,000 yards
CL Tromp engages TB Sagi at 3,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Kogyo Maru at 3,000 yards
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Tromp engages TB Sagi at 2,000 yards
DD Piet Hein engages xAP Naminoue Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAK Kogyo Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Evertsen collides with DD Piet Hein at 98 , 130
DD Evertsen engages xAP Naminoue Maru at 2,000 yards
DD Kortenaer engages xAK Kogyo Maru at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 4,000 yards
TB Sagi sunk by CL Tromp at 4,000 yards
DD Evertsen engages xAP Naminoue Maru at 4,000 yards
Range increases to 8,000 yards
CL Tromp engages xAK Kogyo Maru at 8,000 yards
CL De Ruyter engages xAK Kogyo Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Witte de With engages xAP Naminoue Maru at 8,000 yards
DD Van Nes engages xAK Kogyo Maru at 8,000 yards
Japanese Task Force Manages to Escape
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 98,130, Range 7,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
CL Nagara, Shell hits 9, heavy fires, heavy damage
CL Yura, Shell hits 1
DD Yayoi, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Yakaze

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Shell hits 1
CA Canberra, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
CL Perth
CL Adelaide, Shell hits 1
DD Stuart
DD Voyager
DD Vampire
DD Vendetta

Reduced sighting due to 3% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Clear Conditions and 3% moonlight: 7,000 yards
Range closes to 7,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 7,000 yards
Japanese open fire on surprised Allied ships at 7,000 yards
CL Yura launches Long Lance Torpedoes at CA Canberra at 7,000 yards
CL Nagara launches Long Lance Torpedoes at CA Australia at 7,000 yards
DD Yakaze launches Torpedoes at CL Adelaide at 7,000 yards
CL Nagara launches Long Lance Torpedoes at CL Perth at 7,000 yards
Oda K. orders Japanese TF to disengage
Range closes to 2,000 yards
CL Yura engages CA Canberra at 2,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CA Canberra at 2,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CL Adelaide at 2,000 yards
DD Voyager engages DD Yayoi at 2,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Voyager at 2,000 yards
Range increases to 3,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Yura at 3,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CA Australia at 3,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Voyager at 3,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Yayoi at 3,000 yards
DD Yayoi engages DD Vendetta at 3,000 yards
DD Yayoi engages DD Stuart at 3,000 yards
Range increases to 7,000 yards
CA Canberra engages CL Yura at 7,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CA Australia at 7,000 yards
CL Nagara engages CL Adelaide at 7,000 yards
CL Perth engages DD Yayoi at 7,000 yards
DD Yayoi engages DD Vampire at 7,000 yards
Range increases to 9,000 yards
CL Yura engages CA Canberra at 9,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Voyager at 9,000 yards
DD Stuart engages DD Yayoi at 9,000 yards
DD Yayoi engages DD Voyager at 9,000 yards
DD Yakaze engages DD Stuart at 9,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted: **Fri May 04, 2018 6:06 am**

Action near Midway, January 20-21, 1942

PBYs from Midway spotted small enemy surface combat task force with at least one CA and a DD, coming from southwest. 13 local Marine SB2Us were launched that same morning. They managed to find only a single DD, but failed to score any hits. One Vindicator got damaged. Subsequent air raid was launched in the afternoon, with 12 planes making contact with the same DD, identified as DD Yugumo. One hit with heavy fire reported. There was no sign of other enemy ships. A single USN carrier task force was dispatched from Pearl. Can't tell which carrier, no records left, unfortunately. It dashed at full speed and managed to reach Midway next afternoon. As per rather poor performance by the divebombers, and complete lack of anything but a single enemy DD present, in addition to all the usual carrier SBDs and Midway Marine DBs, USN Wildcats were launched from the carrier and were the only ones that managed to locate and bomb the ship out of poor, already damaged Japanese DD. Thirteen dash three Wildcats were launched, delivering five bomb hits and a strafing run at 100 feet, which was kind of an overkill for Yugumo.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Midway Island at 158,92

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 9 minutes

Allied aircraft
SB2U-3 Vindicator x 12

Allied aircraft losses
SB2U-3 Vindicator: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
DD Yugumo, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SB2U-3 Vindicator releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Hatsuharu class DD

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Kure Island at 153,95

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 4 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Yugumo, Shell hits 1, Bomb hits 5, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x F4F-3 Wildcat bombing from 100 feet
Naval Attack: 2 x 100 lb GP Bomb

Magazine explodes on DD Yugumo

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted: **Fri May 04, 2018 7:40 am**

Now onto the most juicy stuff. There are two combat actions left for me to transcribe before we delve into current game events. The first major battle that involved capital ships (battleships and carriers) on both sides took place in Central Pacific in early March of 1942.

Situation on March 1, 1942

USN carriers were divided into two divisions, with two separate CTFs each. That's total of 4 carriers. One division was usually tasked with paroling PH-Brisbane route, with the intent on guarding the aforementioned USN Pacific Express convoys. The other division was given time to rest, train, recover loses/reinforce, do some repairs, and guard PH and the surroundings. But in reality, after the Japanese took the Marshals and the Gilberts, they came very close to the convoy route and even captured Baker Island. Several counter strikes were launched by USN carriers, but they kept pushing. At the same time, the situation in Port Moresby became really dire. For a while now, there's constant threat of PM being completely overrun. After the Japs took Rabaul, the northern Coral Sea became a dangerous place for local Allied surface action only forces. They needed help of USN carriers there as well.

On March 1, 1942, Pearl Harbor had 10 old BBs, with 6 of them being 100% combat ready. Aaaaaand, all of them already had new, shiny radar sets! Other 4 BBs were under repairs. There was also 3 light cruisers and 26 destroyers present. Hawaiian USAAF group had six full B-17E and two LB-30 Liberator squadrons, 8 planes each. Other PH units did not take part in the following events. Except for omnipresent Catalinas, of course!

USN CTF 1.1, under Fletcher, was formed around Lexington, accompanied by two CAs and one modern CL that's almost as good. Six Gridley and Sims DDs were the only escorts with newly installed radar sets. CAG: 27 F4F-3A, 18 SBD-2, 18 SBD-3, 15 TBD-1.
USN CTF 1.2, under Sherman, was formed around Yorktown. Escorts were similar to 1.1: two CA, one CL, six DD with radars. CAG: 27 F4F-3 (Oh, that 7 range, I will miss you for a while!), 36 SBD-3, 15 TBD-1.

CTF 1.2 closely followed 1.1, both moving at cruise speed westward from Pago Pago to Fiji. Two USN Oilers were up ahead near Fiji, accompanied by two DMS. They were about to meet at Fiji, refuel and go pay the Japs a visit in the Coral Sea.

A provisional CTF of two other carriers was formed, under Halsey. Enterprise and Saratoga, plus four CA, two modern CL and nine radar equipped DD. CAG: 54 F4F-3, 72 SBD-3, 30 TBD-1. Halsey was chasing some bogus surface contacts west of Pearl Harbor. On March 1, his provisional CTF was to the southwest of Johnston Island, heading westward towards the Marshalls. The search was to be abandoned, and CTF be diverted to Baker Island, where new Jap transports showed up, unloading. There's an opportunity to strike, and Halsey will definitely take it!

Posted: **Fri May 04, 2018 10:12 am**

The Battle of Central Pacific, March 2 to March 7, 1942

On March 2, Halsey's provisional CTF arrived to Baker Island area, 5 hexes northeast off the island itself (coordinates 153,135). The CTF was going at full speed for two days after leaving Pearl, and had to refuel some ships within the task force, so they stayed the whole day at the same coordinates. Morning scouts gave great amount of reports. Two SBDs and one TBD on patrol, EACH, reported "a Zuiho class CVL", "a Japanese CVL", and "a Japanese CV", just southeast of Baker (coordinates 150,137), only 4 hexes away from CTF. One SBD and the TBD also reported hitting them. Everyone else, including PBYs from Canton Island, reported only various transports and DDs, all moving southeast. Allied CTF, while refueling, was also spotted by the enemy. Bad situation. But go try and tell Halsey that!

Here's the thing. No attacks took place in the morning. Absolutely none. Afternoon searches gave no reports on enemy CVs, but seen some ships at the old coordinates. Enemy carrier tf stayed in the same hex as well, as it later turned out.

Both our and enemy task forces sent strike planes almost simultaneously. But the Japanese managed to arrive and strike first. 13 Zeroes and 26 Kates were spotted 79 nm out at ~15.000 feet, ETA 33 minutes. 28 Wildcats intercepted most of the enemy planes, but 5 Kates still got through. Two out of five torpedoes hit the Enterprise, causing medium fire, making the ship unsuitable for carrier operations. Results of the strike, beside the burning Enterprise: 2 A6M2 Zero and 16 B5N1 Kates destroyed, while no allied planes or other ships were damaged or lost.

USN strike on the enemy comprised of 26 F4F-3 Wildcats, 43 SBD-3 Dauntlesses (sporting 1000 lb SAP bombs) and 24 TBD-1 Devastators (with 22in Mk 13 Torpedoes). All planes were launched at 10.000 feet. Both TBD squadrons failed to link up. One turned back, the other proceeded alone. So the strike happened in two separate phases. SBDs and F4Fs were met by 33 Zeroes. But absolutely all SBDs got to their targets and dropped their bombs. Raid spotted one CVL (Ryujo) and two heavy cruisers. Most attention was given to the CVL, with 5 hits, heavy fire and ammo storage explosion reported. 4 hits in total were reported on Heavy Cruisers, with heavy damage and fires on one of them.

In the second wave the 12 TBDs arrived, met by 25 zeroes. They've spotted a lone CA. Only 3 Devastators managed to drop their torpedoes, and no hits were reported.

All Enterprise planes diverted either to Canton Island or Saratoga.

Results of March 2 strikes. Jap losses: 2 Zeroes and 16 Kates destroyed, one CVL and CA severely damaged. USN: Enterprise on fire, 4 Wildcats, 1 SBD, 4 TBDs destroyed. Ops losses were not tracked.

The day did not go as expected. But the Enterprise held strong. Fires were put out and not all the damage done turned out to be that major.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Baker Island at 153,135

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 33 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 13
B5N1 Kate x 26

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 28

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 2 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 16 destroyed, 3 damaged

No Allied losses

Allied Ships
CV Saratoga
CV Enterprise, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
DD Jarvis

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
1 x B5N1 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-3 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 7000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
5 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-6 with F4F-3 Wildcat (0 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 4 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 13000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 23 minutes
9 planes vectored on to bombers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Baker Island at 150,137

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 39 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 26
SBD-3 Dauntless x 43

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 4 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
CVL Ryujo, Bomb hits 5, heavy fires, heavy damage
CA Aoba, Bomb hits 1
CA Kinugasa, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (4 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(13 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 9 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 14 on standby, 0 scrambling)
14 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 6 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 6000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 5 minutes

Ammo storage explosion on CVL Ryujo
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CVL Ryujo
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Kinugasa

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Baker Island at 150,137

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid detected at 17 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 8 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25

Allied aircraft
TBD-1 Devastator x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
TBD-1 Devastator: 4 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
Ryujo-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
15 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 6000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 19000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 46 minutes
Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (1 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) intercepting now.
9 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 12000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 17000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 88 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted: **Fri May 04, 2018 11:10 am**

The events of March 3 are hard to describe.

What's happening? The Japs had at least two light carriers, and sent an invasion force to Canton Island.

Halsey had minimal fuel, one nonoperational & moderately damaged and one overcrowded carrier. He had to fall back to Pearl. What happened on 3rd, was mostly a fight between Enterprise planes from Canton and... I'm not exactly sure. Most of the attacks targeted enemy invasion force, covered by Zeroes. Either from a nearby CVL, or from the Baker Island. A day before I was almost certain the Japs had no planes on Baker Island (PBY recon-ed it), but with enemy CVL damaged, now there might have been a Japanese CAG stranded there.

So on 3rd, three small raids caught five transport ships of the invasion force, with 8 bomb hits reported in total. The last strike of the day managed to find CVL Shoho. 11 SBDs escorted by 6 Wildcats run into 14 Zeroes. 7 SBDs managed to drop their bombs, but no hits were reported.

During the whole day, 3 Wildcats and 6 SBDs were destroyed, with minimal damage to the enemy.

What's interesting is that I received a message I've never seen before: "Carrier support unable to supply air cover..". Apparently, all these Zeroes were LRCAPing the invasion fleet. And failed to do so at some point.

Fletcher and Sherman were diverted back, rushing to Canton at full speed to try and catch what's left of enemy force there, and hopefully, prevent the invasion.

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Morning Air attack on TF, near Canton Island at 151,140

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 14
SBD-3 Dauntless x 13

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AMC Awata Maru, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Uji Maru
xAK Teiryu Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
xAK Yamabuki Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires

Japanese ground losses:
128 casualties reported
Squads: 2 destroyed, 6 disabled
Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 11 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
(10 plane(s) diverted to support CAP in hex.)
3 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 7 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 27 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Yamabuki Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Canton Island at 151,140

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 10

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 4 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AMC Nosiro Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Squads: 1 destroyed, 2 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 8000 and 12000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 94 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Canton Island at 151,139

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 3 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 1 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 2

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Konan Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires

Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported
Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 8 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Carrier support unable to supply air cover..

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Canton Island at 152,140

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
SBD-3 Dauntless x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (3 airborne, 7 on standby, 4 scrambling)
10 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 8000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 22 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted: **Fri May 04, 2018 1:19 pm**

In the next two days, March 4-5, the fighting was mostly one sided. CTFs 1.1 and 1.2 came back in full strength from Fiji. Fletcher was leading both forces from Lexington in the first TF. Japanese CAG was severely depleted by that point, so there was little opposition. The first USN air raid on the 4th made contact with enemy CTF with two bomb hits reported on CVL Shoho and few more on escorting cruisers. But Shoho was still pretty much operational, launching 8 planes against our combined carrier group (successfully repelled). On the same day Fletcher and the boys started devastating air raids against the invasion force and got it almost wiped out by the next day. I have no idea how to treat these reports and how accurate they are, but the enemy casualty number in just two days was 13364 men, from the sunken transports.

CVL Shoho was nowhere to be found after the first strike. Japanese tried to retreat back to Gilberts/Marshalls area, but Fletcher had nothing to protect to, and the name of the game was "ATTACK! ATTACK! ATTACK!".

But... On the evening of the 5th, I received a report from PBYs on Johnston Island. Enemy surface combat group, with at least one battleship and one heavy cruiser was headed directly to Pearl Harbor. To remind you, damaged Enterprise without planes and depleted Saratoga at that moment were slowly limping back to Pearl, low on fuel and unable to do anything. Other carriers were occupied chasing CVL Shoho and other survivors of this ongoing carnage. So... remember those old battleships I mentioned I just upgraded with radar sets? It's showtime!

Notable reports of these days:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Canton Island at 153,142

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 34 NM, estimated altitude 14,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 13 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 13
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
SBD-2 Dauntless x 13
SBD-3 Dauntless x 26

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat: 3 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 2
DD Nagatsuki
CL Yubari, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Kikuzuki
DD Uzuki
CA Aoba, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x F4F-3A Wildcat sweeping at 10000 feet *
7 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x F4F-3 Wildcat sweeping at 10000 feet
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 7 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 3 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 29 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Yubari

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Gardner Island at 148,144

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid detected at 43 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 18 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N1 Kate x 4

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 14
F4F-3 Wildcat x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N1 Kate: 2 destroyed

No Allied losses

CAP engaged:
VF-2 with F4F-3A Wildcat (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 15000 and 21000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 11 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers
VF-42 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 0 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 10000 and 20000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 26 minutes
8 planes vectored on to bombers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Canton Island at 152,141

Weather in hex: Light rain

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 8
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
SBD-2 Dauntless x 13
SBD-3 Dauntless x 37
TBD-1 Devastator x 10

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Terushima Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Kotohira Maru, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk
xAK Konan Maru, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk
xAK Muroran Maru, Bomb hits 3, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAK Hukusei Maru, Bomb hits 4, heavy fires, heavy damage
xAKL Katsura Maru, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk
xAK Kohoku Maru, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk
PB Shonon Maru #11, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Japanese ground losses:
3929 casualties reported
Squads: 83 destroyed, 134 disabled
Non Combat: 65 destroyed, 155 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 26 (19 destroyed, 7 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
5 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
10 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo
6 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Terushima Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Kotohira Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Konan Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Muroran Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAKL Katsura Maru
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Hukusei Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Canton Island at 152,141

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 7 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 6

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Hukusei Maru, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk

Japanese ground losses:
4456 casualties reported
Squads: 49 destroyed, 226 disabled
Non Combat: 49 destroyed, 233 disabled
Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
Guns lost 17 (16 destroyed, 1 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Hukusei Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Canton Island at 152,141

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 4 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 9
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
SBD-3 Dauntless x 12

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
xAK Muroran Maru, Bomb hits 3, and is sunk

Japanese ground losses:
3531 casualties reported
Squads: 27 destroyed, 145 disabled
Non Combat: 48 destroyed, 209 disabled
Engineers: 7 destroyed, 26 disabled
Guns lost 23 (20 destroyed, 3 disabled)

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring xAK Muroran Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted: **Fri May 04, 2018 1:39 pm**

Comment on your Post 13, beginning of the carrier battles:

1. It is normal for there to be no carrier strikes in the AM phase. Unless there is a really good DL on a TF, maintained through the night, there will be no attack in the AM. The AM phase normally sees search aircraft finding the enemy, raising the DL enough for an afternoon strike.

2. When both sides are attacking, the Japanese attack is normally dealt with first, but damage is not applied until after the corresponding Allied attack. So in effect the CVTFs are conducting simultaneous attacks.

Posted: **Fri May 04, 2018 1:54 pm**

Re: the transports sunk at Canton Island, there is some double counting of casualties going on. Note the second attack where a single ship sunk had over 4K casualties. This ship likely picked up survivors (disabled squads) from the first attack. The third attack likely included casualties from among the first and second attack sinkings.

But if you add up the destroyed Infantry Squads, it comes to just over 150 for the three attacks - the equivalent of a brigade/ or 1/3 of a division. That's really nice, but unless you have reinforced Canton Is. the troops already ashore will likely take it.

Looking forward to your report of the BB clash!

Posted: **Fri May 04, 2018 3:00 pm**

@BBfanboy
Oh, good to know, thanks! Yeah, you're just in time for some old school BB vs BB surface action.

March 6, 1942

The night from 5th to 6th started with something rather.. cool. If I was playing against a human, I'd say this is some insistent delay action attempt, trying to prevent my carrier forces from catching the retreating CVL Shoho. Great to be playing against an AI that can sometimes do stuff like that, even if it just looks good, and does no real damage. But still.. Very cool.

Anyway. Here's a little story from that night. There was that one little Japanese destroyer that could. One sole destroyer made SIX attack attempts on Fletcher's combined carrier group. Conditions were rather good, 82% moonlight, partly cloudy, 11,000 yards visibility.

Remember the name of this brave little destroyer and its crew: DD Uzuki.

On the first attack, DD Uzuki closed with CV Yorktown to 11,000 yards and fired twice, one salvo at CV and one at DD Sims. Then fired at Yorktown some more from 12k. Then it did a salvo against another nearby DD Hughes, while dodging shots from escort CL St. Louis.

On the second, third and fourth attack attempts, I figure the conditions weren't that good, so the mighty DD Uzuki retreated @ 24-26 KYD.

On the fifth attack, DD Uzuki managed to close with our forces to 9000 yards! Then fired at CV Lexington once, and twice at DD Gridley.

The sixth attempt was different. It was already daylight. The conditions changed. Visibility increased to perfect 30 KYD. I know very well that Uzuki thought about attacking. But the crew and the captain weren't stupid or suicidal. They simply retreated, to fight another day. All hail the brave DD Uzuki!

With that out of the way, lets go back to the big game. On the first morning air attack of the 6th Fletcher's forces reacquired CVL Shoho and its escorts, reporting 6 bomb hits on CVL. Some of them were 500 lb bombs, but hey, I ain't complaining! Following attacks landed one more hit on Shoho and a couple on its escorting DDs and CA Aoba.

You think we were done with DD Uzuki? No no! The lone, but brave Japanese destroyer came under attack of 13 SBD-2s, armed with thousand pounders, and dodged all the bombs!

But what about that surface action group heading for Pearl Harbor? USAAF at Pearl were given only one order in all these months. Train. Naval Attack. It so happened that I completely re-equipped the whole fleet of 4E heavies on Pearl just few days before this battle. And all those shiny new B-17Es and LB-30s, decently trained at naval attack, were trying to locate and sink incoming enemy vessels. All B-17s were ordered to go at 2000 feet altitude. Liberators were ordered to attack at 3000 feet.

Morning strikes found enemy ships at coordinates 172,107. That's just eight hexes directly west from Pearl! The Japs were seriously trying to attack Pearl again! A group of 11 B-17s were the first ones to attack. They've spotted BB Ise and reported two bomb hits. The next flight of 2 B-17s found single enemy CA, Chokai. Just as the guys before them, they've made a pass with 8x 500 lb GP bombs each, all missed. Then came 5 Liberators, spotting BB Ise again and a destroyer. No hits.

Afternoon attacks focused solely on BB Ise, but also landed no hits.

Notable reports of that day:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Canton Island at 151,140, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Uzuki

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown
CA New Orleans
CA Astoria
CL St. Louis
DD Sims
DD Hughes
DD Anderson
DD Blue
DD Helm
DD Mugford

Improved night sighting under 82% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 82% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 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...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages CV Yorktown at 11,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Sims at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages CV Yorktown at 12,000 yards
CL St. Louis engages DD Uzuki at 12,000 yards
Nishimura, Masao orders Japanese TF to disengage
CL St. Louis engages DD Uzuki at 12,000 yards
CL St. Louis engages DD Uzuki at 12,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Hughes at 12,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Hughes at 12,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Baker Island at 148,136, Range 15,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
DD Uzuki

Allied Ships
CV Lexington
CA Minneapolis
CA San Francisco
CL Helena
DD Russell
DD O'Brien
DD Walke
DD Gridley
DD McCall
DD Maury

Improved night sighting under 82% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 82% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range increases to 25,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 21,000 yards...
Range closes to 19,000 yards...
Range closes to 17,000 yards...
Range closes to 15,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 13,000 yards...
Range closes to 9,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 9,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 9,000 yards
Both TF attempt to withdraw!
Range increases to 15,000 yards...
DD Uzuki engages CV Lexington at 15,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Gridley at 15,000 yards
DD Uzuki engages DD Gridley at 15,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Howland Island at 146,128

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid detected at 19 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 2

Allied aircraft
SBD-2 Dauntless x 13
SBD-3 Dauntless x 11

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 6, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Tanikaze
DD Akikaze
DD Arare

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
9 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 3000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000' *
Naval Attack: 1 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 2 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 8000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Japanese CVL
Fuel storage explosion on CVL Shoho

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Niihau at 172,107

Weather in hex: Partial cloud

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 4,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 6 minutes

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 11

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress: 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Bomb hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb
8 x B-17E Fortress bombing from 2000 feet
Naval Attack: 8 x 500 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Howland Island at 146,128

Weather in hex: Overcast

Raid spotted at 26 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 10 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 1

Allied aircraft
SBD-3 Dauntless x 12

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 1, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Arare, Bomb hits 2, heavy fires, heavy damage
DD Akikaze

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
8 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Shoho-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
1 plane(s) not yet engaged, 0 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 8000
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 2 minutes

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Howland Island at 145,131

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 13 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
SBD-2 Dauntless x 13

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Uzuki

Aircraft Attacking:
6 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb
7 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb GP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted: **Fri May 04, 2018 5:25 pm**

March 7, 1942

The fleet that was sent from Pearl Harbor to intercept enemy SAG consisted of 6 old, but upgraded and fully repaired battleships, one modern light cruiser and twelve destroyers. I failed to record the name of the commanding officer, though, unfortunately. Two of these BBs were the survivors of the Pearl Harbor attack - Maryland and Pennsylvania. The combat took place at night of 6-7th, at the same coordinates as before (172,107).

Allied radar detected the enemy beyond visual range, at 20 KYD (vs 11 KYD visual @ 75% moonlight). Japanese had only 4 destroyers, heavy cruiser Chokai and BB Ise. They had no chance, but held very admirably. Yes, they failed to concentrate their fire. Yes, none of their torpedoes hit anything. But most of them survived a battle against the force 3 times larger than theirs, even though the combat distance decreased to just 8 KYD twice during the battle. USN ships focused mostly on the enemy battleship, and, subsequently, sunk it. Here's the original report:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat, near Niihau at 172,107, Range 11,000 Yards

Japanese aircraft
no flights

Japanese aircraft losses
F1M2 Pete: 2 destroyed

Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Shell hits 39, and is sunk
CA Chokai, Shell hits 1
DD Natsugumo
DD Ikazuchi
DD Fubuki, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Isonami

Allied Ships
BB Maryland, Shell hits 1
BB Colorado, Shell hits 3
BB Pennsylvania, Shell hits 2
BB Idaho
BB New Mexico, Shell hits 1
BB Mississippi, Shell hits 3
CL Honolulu
DD Dunlap
DD Mahan, Shell hits 2
DD Cummings
DD Drayton
DD Lamson
DD Case
DD Conyngham, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Shaw
DD Cushing, Shell hits 1
DD Perkins
DD Smith, Shell hits 1
DD Preston

Improved night sighting under 75% moonlight
Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions and 75% moonlight: 11,000 yards
Range closes to 24,000 yards...
Range closes to 22,000 yards...
Range closes to 20,000 yards...
CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 18,000 yards...
Range closes to 16,000 yards...
Range closes to 14,000 yards...
Range closes to 12,000 yards...
Range closes to 11,000 yards...
CONTACT: Japanese lookouts spot Allied task force at 11,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 11,000 yards
BB Ise engages BB Mississippi at 11,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Chokai at 11,000 yards
DD Isonami engages BB Mississippi at 11,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages BB Mississippi at 11,000 yards
BB Ise engages BB Colorado at 11,000 yards
BB Maryland engages BB Ise at 11,000 yards
DD Preston engages DD Isonami at 11,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Smith at 11,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages DD Cushing at 11,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages DD Cummings at 11,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages DD Mahan at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 9,000 yards
BB Ise engages BB Maryland at 9,000 yards
CA Chokai engages BB Mississippi at 9,000 yards
DD Preston engages DD Isonami at 9,000 yards
BB Ise engages BB Pennsylvania at 9,000 yards
DD Conyngham engages DD Ikazuchi at 9,000 yards
BB Maryland engages BB Ise at 9,000 yards
DD Preston engages DD Fubuki at 9,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Cushing at 9,000 yards
DD Shaw engages DD Ikazuchi at 9,000 yards
DD Mahan engages DD Fubuki at 9,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages BB Ise at 8,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages BB Ise at 8,000 yards
BB Ise engages BB Idaho at 8,000 yards
BB Ise engages BB Pennsylvania at 8,000 yards
BB Colorado engages DD Ikazuchi at 8,000 yards
BB Maryland engages BB Ise at 8,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Isonami at 8,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Lamson at 8,000 yards
DD Cummings engages BB Ise at 8,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages DD Mahan at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 10,000 yards
BB Ise engages BB Mississippi at 10,000 yards
BB Ise engages BB New Mexico at 10,000 yards
BB Ise engages BB Colorado at 10,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Cushing at 10,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Preston at 10,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Cushing at 10,000 yards
DD Shaw engages DD Isonami at 10,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages DD Conyngham at 10,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Lamson at 10,000 yards
DD Drayton engages DD Fubuki at 10,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
BB Ise engages BB Mississippi at 12,000 yards
CA Chokai engages BB Mississippi at 12,000 yards
BB Idaho engages BB Ise at 12,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages DD Conyngham at 12,000 yards
BB Colorado engages DD Ikazuchi at 12,000 yards
BB Maryland engages BB Ise at 12,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Preston at 12,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Case at 12,000 yards
Range closes to 11,000 yards
BB Ise engages BB Mississippi at 11,000 yards
CA Chokai engages BB Mississippi at 11,000 yards
BB Ise engages BB Idaho at 11,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages BB Ise at 11,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Cummings at 11,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Cummings at 11,000 yards
BB Ise engages CL Honolulu at 11,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Fubuki at 11,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Perkins at 11,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Cushing at 11,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Conyngham at 11,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Drayton at 11,000 yards
Range closes to 8,000 yards
BB Ise engages BB Mississippi at 8,000 yards
BB New Mexico engages BB Ise at 8,000 yards
BB Ise engages BB Idaho at 8,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Conyngham at 8,000 yards
BB Maryland engages BB Ise at 8,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Cushing at 8,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Conyngham at 8,000 yards
DD Lamson engages DD Natsugumo at 8,000 yards
DD Dunlap engages DD Fubuki at 8,000 yards
Range increases to 11,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Chokai at 11,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Conyngham at 11,000 yards
BB Ise engages BB Pennsylvania at 11,000 yards
BB Ise sunk by BB Colorado at 11,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages DD Preston at 11,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Fubuki at 11,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages DD Case at 11,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Lamson at 11,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages DD Cummings at 11,000 yards
CA Chokai engages BB Mississippi at 11,000 yards
DD Case engages DD Isonami at 11,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages DD Cummings at 11,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages CA Chokai at 11,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Conyngham at 11,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Preston at 11,000 yards
DD Conyngham engages DD Fubuki at 11,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages DD Case at 11,000 yards
DD Isonami engages DD Mahan at 11,000 yards
DD Dunlap engages DD Ikazuchi at 11,000 yards
Range increases to 12,000 yards
CA Chokai engages BB Mississippi at 12,000 yards
CA Chokai engages BB New Mexico at 12,000 yards
BB Idaho engages CA Chokai at 12,000 yards
BB Pennsylvania engages DD Ikazuchi at 12,000 yards
CA Chokai engages BB Colorado at 12,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Fubuki at 12,000 yards
DD Case engages DD Fubuki at 12,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Dunlap at 12,000 yards
Range increases to 13,000 yards
BB Mississippi engages CA Chokai at 13,000 yards
CA Chokai engages BB New Mexico at 13,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages DD Conyngham at 13,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Mahan at 13,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Preston at 13,000 yards
DD Smith engages DD Fubuki at 13,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Cushing at 13,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages DD Shaw at 13,000 yards
DD Fubuki engages DD Case at 13,000 yards
DD Natsugumo engages DD Drayton at 13,000 yards
DD Cummings engages DD Ikazuchi at 13,000 yards
DD Ikazuchi engages DD Dunlap at 13,000 yards
Task forces break off...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I turned them away. But these were my last reserves. So I refused to pursue retreating ships further.

The air raids from Fletcher's carrier force were still trying to find CVL Shoho, but only found its escorts. Previous report said "Fuel storage explosion on CVL Shoho", so that was also the last day of pursuit. Of the remaining escorts, CA Aoba and a destroyer were sunk, plus two more DDs heavily damaged.

And.. wait for it.. we met DD Uzuki again. This lucky bastard survived another aerial attack. This time it dodged 4 torpedoes launched by TBDs. Strange how there were any torpedoes available by that point of battle, btw! But yeah.. Major props to DD Uzuki!

So.. what are the results of this battle? I successfully repelled the invasion of Canton Island. A month later, the official report from March 2 to March 7 lists the following combat ships sunk:

CVL Ryujo (181 points)
CVL Shoho (129 points)
BB Ise (204 points)
CA Atago (58 points)
DD Oyashio (10 points)

Plus ~20 various transport ships (xAK mostly), a Sub Chaser and a Patrol Boat. I'm pretty sure there should be more destroyers sunk, but after seeing DD Uzuki, I'll settle on this official score for now.

Allied losses are mostly in planes and pilots, but I did not count those. Better look at complete tally on April 6th.

CV Enterprise made it back to Pearl and should be completely repaired around April 22 (of 1942 [8|]).

Thats was the first major battle. There's one more to transcribe. And it involves KB, so stay tuned!

PS: I looked up Uzuki. A pre-war destroyer of Mutsuki-class. Here's the in-game reference on this lucky & daring bastard's class.

Other notable reports from the 7th:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Howland Island at 144,127

Weather in hex: Moderate rain

Raid spotted at 6 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 6
SBD-3 Dauntless x 32

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Tanikaze
DD Akikaze, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Arare, Bomb hits 2, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
7 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
2 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring a Hatsuharu class DD
Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DD Akikaze

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 143,128

Weather in hex: Heavy rain

Raid spotted at 12 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
SBD-2 Dauntless x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-2 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft Attacking:
13 x SBD-2 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (0 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
0 plane(s) not yet engaged, 7 being recalled, 0 out of immediate contact.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 7000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 1 minutes

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Aoba

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Howland Island at 144,129

Weather in hex: Heavy cloud

Raid spotted at 5 NM, estimated altitude 15,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 2 minutes

Allied aircraft
TBD-1 Devastator x 4

No Allied losses

Japanese Ships
DD Uzuki

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x TBD-1 Devastator launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 22in Mk 13 Torpedo

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Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Tarawa at 143,128

Weather in hex: Light cloud

Raid spotted at 10 NM, estimated altitude 12,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 3 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 7

Allied aircraft
F4F-3A Wildcat x 7
SBD-3 Dauntless x 21

No Japanese losses

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3A Wildcat: 1 destroyed
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba, Bomb hits 7, and is sunk

Aircraft Attacking:
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
4 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 10000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

CAP engaged:
Chitose Ku S-1 with A6M2 Zero (7 airborne, 0 on standby, 0 scrambling)
7 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 7000 , scrambling fighters between 0 and 7000.
Raid is overhead

Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CA Aoba

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted: **Sat May 05, 2018 10:55 am**

Late March, 1942, Prelude to the next major battle

To recap. I designated Lexington and Yorktown as Carrier Division 1, while Saratoga and Enterprise as Carrier Division 2. Their according TFs are usually designated CTF 1.1/1.2 and 2.1/2.2, with tougher Lexington-class ships being number ones, in the lead.

As CV Enterprise was still under repairs at Pearl, and CarDiv 1 being responsible for the most part of the fighting in previous battle and being the last one to return from it, CV Saratoga took replacement planes and pilots, joined by 3 CA and 7 DD as escorts and sailed under Fletcher as CTF 2.1 back to Baker Island area, because the activities there still continued, and combat ships were sighted again.

Speaking of allied CA. By that point I managed to upgrade 5 heavy cruisers of Northampton class with radar sets and additional AAA. All the destroyers that were put on CV escort duty were also upgraded with newest ASW weapons and radars. Well, most of them. One upgraded Northampton cruiser was assigned to Saratoga, while other 4 waited for CarDiv 1 in Pearl for the next patrol. Other CAs were still radar-less.

By March 25, Fletcher's CTF 2.1 spotted enemy BB escorting transports to Baker. Several attacks were made, with battleship being identified as BB Yamashiro (Fuso-class). 3 bomb hits reported, but nothing major happened. Accompanied transports were attacked as well.

As it turned out, getting close to Baker Island wasn't such a good idea. Either CVL's stranded or newly arrived Zeroes and Kates were there. On March 26, CA Pensacola of CTF 2.1 was hit by a torpedo. The attack consisted of 5 A6M2 Zeroes and 15 B5N2 Kates, with 14 of them launching torpedoes @ 200 feet. All 27 Wildcats that were on CAP duty (I expected an attack, but no fighter opposition on targets, so no fighter escorts were assigned) were unable to do much. The damage wasn't too deadly, but CA Pensacola had to be sent home for repairs immediately, and that is what was done.

Pensacola had mild flooding, but the crew and systems held. DD Ellet was assigned to escort damaged CA to Pearl. But just as they separated from the task force, enemy PB tried to attack them. Gladly, the crew of Pensacola managed to fight both the flooding and the enemy PB, and sunk it with 4 shell hits reported.

On March 29, a lone DD Mutsuki snuck up on Midway and hit a mine. Garrison reported heavy damage and fire. Why are all these Mutsuki-class ships are so insane/brave loners?

Notable reports:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Baker Island at 149,135

Weather in hex: Severe storms

Raid spotted at 15 NM, estimated altitude 10,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 5 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
SBD-3 Dauntless x 13

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 1 destroyed by flak

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 1

Aircraft Attacking:
10 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
3 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 2000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Baker Island at 149,135

Weather in hex: Clear sky

Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 11,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 7 minutes

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 13
SBD-3 Dauntless x 12

Allied aircraft losses
SBD-3 Dauntless: 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
BB Yamashiro, Bomb hits 2

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 4000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb
11 x SBD-3 Dauntless releasing from 3000'
Naval Attack: 1 x 1000 lb SAP Bomb

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning Air attack on TF, near Baker Island at 151,137

Weather in hex: Thunderstorms

Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
Estimated time to target is 15 minutes

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
B5N2 Kate x 15

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero: 1 destroyed
B5N2 Kate: 2 damaged
B5N2 Kate: 1 destroyed by flak

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat: 1 destroyed

Allied Ships
CV Saratoga
CA Pensacola, Torpedo hits 1
CA Houston

Aircraft Attacking:
14 x B5N2 Kate launching torpedoes at 200 feet
Naval Attack: 1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo

CAP engaged:
VF-3 with F4F-3 Wildcat (4 airborne, 10 on standby, 13 scrambling)
4 plane(s) intercepting now.
Group patrol altitude is 10000 , scrambling fighters between 5000 and 16000.
Time for all group planes to reach interception is 32 minutes
17 planes vectored on to bombers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat, near Canton Island at 155,137, Range 26,000 Yards

Japanese Ships
PB Uruboko Maru, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

Allied Ships
CA Pensacola
DD Ellet

Maximum visibility in Partly Cloudy Conditions: 28,000 yards
CONTACT: Allied lookouts spot Japanese task force at 26,000 yards
Allies open fire on surprised Japanese ships at 26,000 yards
CA Pensacola fires at PB Uruboko Maru at 26,000 yards
Range closes to 22,000 yards
Range closes to 20,000 yards
CA Pensacola engages PB Uruboko Maru at 20,000 yards
Range closes to 17,000 yards
CA Pensacola engages PB Uruboko Maru at 17,000 yards
DD Ellet engages PB Uruboko Maru at 17,000 yards
Range closes to 15,000 yards
PB Uruboko Maru sunk by CA Pensacola at 15,000 yards
Combat ends with last Japanese ship sunk...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF 269 encounters mine field at Midway Island (158,91)

Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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