Return to the Valley of the Sun: Condor (USN) vs. Quark (IJN)

[Attack Condor]

Okay - cheesy title; :rolleyes: my opponent being in Phoenix and all, but what the heck?

Scenario #17, IJN sub doctrine off, Allied damage control on, variable weather, 120% commitment for both sides - pretty standard stuff

Back for match number 2, with the opening scenario going to Quark; (losing 60 ships in 70 days is not a ticket to success - no matter how much of an industrial giant one is).
My first game starting with 2.30 (would love to blame the loss on the upgrade, but... ) and my fourth PBEM overall. I'll try to keep the info coming here on a regular basis.

So far, we're at Turn 3, and already something I've hardly seen in the SOPAC: Two days in a row with >gasp< clear weather.
(prolly the last two days like that for about the next four months )

[Attack Condor]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/02/42

Weather: Clear

Ground combat at Woodlark Island

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 362 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Woodlark Island base !!!



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Ground combat at Lunga

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 250 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Lunga base !!!
**************************************************

Barely two turns into the game, and my esteemed opponent isn't wasting any time. IJN troop landings are reported at Buna, Dobadura, and Tulagi. Additionally, ground forces at Gili Gili report visual confirmation of a small IJN ground force that landed there today. The question of where the IJN would strike first has been answered...

everywhere

[Attack Condor]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/03/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Air attack on 86th Naval Garrison Unit, at 17,42


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 12
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4
A-24 Dauntless x 13


no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 44

Attacking Level Bombers:
12 x Hudson at 100 feet

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Ground combat at Buna

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 474 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 17 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Buna base !!!



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Ground combat at Gili Gili

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 187 troops, 2 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 2459 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

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


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 26


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Ground combat at Dobadura

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 224 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Dobadura base !!!



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Ground combat at Tulagi

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 244 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Tulagi base !!!



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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/04/42

Weather: Rain

Air attack on Buna , at 12,38


Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 25


no losses


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Air attack on Buna , at 12,38


Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 25


no losses


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My rain arrived, just as I had hoped . Let's hope for the predictible unsettled weather the region is known and loved for.

The IJN expeditionary forces captured all their targets - but one. Buna, Dobadura, and Tulagi have the Empire's flag flying over them, but the base at Gili Gili was reinforced in the nick of time. The PBYs won the race to GG and have been landing INF troops and supplies there since Turn 1. A combat engineer unit is now also fully off-loaded and improvement of the base facilities and defenses is underway.

My opponent has not launched a single air raid against any target, and has only lost one Claude aircraft while 4 of my Catalinas did not return from their ferry missions. I can only hope they were able to land their troops and were lost on the return leg of their journey.....

Meanwhile, on the 4th, an attempt to bait any LRCAP covering the landings at Buna was unsuccessful.

More to come.........

[Philwd]

Ok. Ok. Just how did he get >2000 troops into GG by turn 3 He obviously used several PBY squadrons. That shouldn't have been enough. Oh well round one of GG battle goes to Attack Condor. Way to go AC!!

As to why I haven't launched any air attacks? Well first I moved some squadrons around on turn 1 and wanted to wait until the fatigue went back down. Last couple turns have had bad weather again. Don't worry they are coming.

So far all preliminary landings have gone to plan except for GG. I did manage to evacuate what was left of my raiding force. I purposefully didn't do the transport blitz to Lgnville or Efate this game. Even tho I did it last game it didn't sit well with me and I decided it was too gamey.

I have noticed HQ and INF units move north from Brisbane. 7th Aus perhaps?

Already this match is going far differently from our last game. Will be very interesting.

Quark out

[Attack Condor]

Originally posted by Quark

Ok. Ok. Just how did he get >2000 troops into GG by turn 3? He obviously used several PBY squadrons. That shouldn't have been enough. Oh well round one of GG battle goes to Attack Condor. Way to go AC!!

The troop move was initiated with PBYs. 4 squadrons, in fact - 3 to moving the soldiers and one for supplies. That move, however was just to give GG the protection needed to prevent your FT blitz. The real goal was to get the combat engineer unit there, which was done with my own FT TF from Brisbane (unabashedly admits Chicago is my flagship for this entire scenario - history be stuffed! ) The PBYs came over from Noumea and Efate on Turn 1 to join the 2 squadrons in the SWPAC. They all took a beating, but planes and pilots can be replaced (cold-hearted to the core ) - a spare level 3 port is another matter. Also factoring into this strategy is the upgrade to 2.30. The fact support troops now participate in a base's defense helped push the total of defenders to >2000.

As to why I haven't launched any air attacks? Well first I moved some squadrons around on turn 1 and wanted to wait until the fatigue went back down. Last couple turns have had bad weather again. Don't worry they are coming.

I pondered posting anything about the lack of air attacks - thinking you had forgotten about them entirely - but I doubted you did.

So far all preliminary landings have gone to plan except for GG. I did manage to evacuate what was left of my raiding force. I purposefully didn't do the transport blitz to Lgnville or Efate this game. Even tho I did it last game it didn't sit well with me and I decided it was too gamey.

Understandable - especially the pounding the troops who took Efate last game. I'm not sure I'd ever try that, a heck of a long supply line.

I have noticed HQ and INF units move north from Brisbane. 7th Aus perhaps?

Thanks, that answers the question of whether land movements could be seen by units on "Naval Search".

Already this match is going far differently from our last game. Will be very interesting.

I do hope so. Having read about the debate between holding and not holding PM (and ascribing to the latter theory last game - but doing so way too late) and tooling around with different concepts for the first few turns, I found this one to be intriguing. If I can hold GG (from what I have read, that's a big "if" - but we'll give it a shot ), that may effectively close the Coral Sea. I may not be able to hold GG - but it won't be cheap to take. And if my opponent has to worry about GG, then PM may be that little bit more secure. Anyway, that's the plan.

More to come....

[Attack Condor]

The end of the first week, and Quark draws first blood:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/05/42

Weather: Thunderstorms
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/06/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Air attack on TF at 19,43

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 35
D3A Val x 39
B5N Kate x 48

no losses

Allied Ships
AK Adelong, Torpedo hits 6, on fire, heavy damage


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I was suprised that the IJN was able to mount such an overwhelming attack against one cargo ship in bad weather (I wonder the price paid by the avaitors in terms of fatigue for that mission). Adelong rests on the bottom, only 120 miles short of GG. Still, at this time last game Yorktown was sunk and Lexington was limping back to Pearl via Noumea for extensive repairs.

After the first week, one cargo ship sunk, 10 aircraft (most are PBYs that were pushed to the limit reinforcing GG) gone compared to only one aircraft lost by my opponent. Phase one of Operation Rose - the reinforcement of GG - is accomplished. In phase two, the engineers report progress is being made on completing the runway - though it's never as fast as I would like.

The operation continues, it's success or failure will ultimately be a question of supply.

More to come...

[Philwd]

Well I'm not so sure I wanted an attack on a AK to tip off where my CVs were. I was actually after what I thought was a SF in the area. After last game I didn't think I would find the USN CVs anywhere near NG.

More on my opening strategy after a few more turns:D

Quark

[Attack Condor]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/07/42

Weather: Overcast

Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 10,40


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 2 destroyed
Hudson x 3 damaged

Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 24


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Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 25
G4M1 Betty x 18

Allied aircraft

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 4

Attacking Level Bombers:
18 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet

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Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 10,40


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Dauntless x 1 destroyed

LT L.Oda of Myoko-1 Chutai bails out and is CAPTURED


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 12

Airbase hits 10
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 16


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A bit of a suprise - I hadn't even given a thought my opponent would try this... but it probably had something to do with the fact a SC TF (Chicago and a destroyer whose name I forget right now) were spotted in PM by aircraft. They both left during the night and slipped quietly past the BB TF on it's way into PM. And for what it's worth, they aren't going back to PM . They had to get supplies to GG. A sub (or better yet, mines) in PM would have been nice to have. Can't have everything, I guess .

Speaking of GG, one AK sunk trying to resupply the base, but Rhesus has offloaded supplies while the IJN CVs moved north away from my subs who were dispatched to chase them away after the attack on the Adelong. Do I press my luck and continue to let Rhesus unload or get her out of there and live with what has been delivered. Decisions, decisions...

Much to my suprise, the BB TF stayed in PM during the day - baiting my little cruiser force perhaps? Unfortunately, the runway at PM did take a beating, and none of my A24s were able to take off. The engineers assure me the ACME Runway Repair Kit is going to do the job. A few 250lb bombs into a cruiser or even a destroyer's stack would give pause to such audacity again.

(btw, way to go Quark - caught me napping! )

(FYI, the captured pilot will be treated in accordance with the Screen Actors Guild charter and will be allowed 10 minute breaks every 3 hours as he fills the roll of "evil Japanese pilot/soldier/sailor" in various John Wayne WWII propaganda films )

More to come....

[Philwd]

Myabe it wasn't such a good idea after all to run that bombardment of PM. While I may have caught AC napping I have seen some wierd happenings since that has placed the entire TF a hair away from destruction.

I saw that AK sitting in GG and as my ships had only expended an average of 2 shots on the PM bombardment I thought to give them some more target practice on the way home.

Well the TF headed off and was narrowly missed by a sub off Basilaki. Well what did that aggresive IJN admiral do now? Do the logical thing and go home? No no. He broke off the bombardment run and headed BACK TO PM!!! So now my entire TF sits 1 hex off PM, almost out of fuel and sitting ducks for the newly re-opened PM airfield.

I think I have found a bug unless I've badly missed something. When my TF broke off the bombardment instead of returning to home port it returned to the hex it staged out of. Has anyone else ever seen this?

Quark out

[Attack Condor]

The famed interception of the SC TF............

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/08/42

Weather: Rain

Sub attack near Basilaki Island at 18,42

Japanese Ships
CA Kako
CA Kinugasa

Allied Ships
SS S-41


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This is the interception which led to the cruisers heading back to Port Moresby. The TF is running on fumes and riding high in the seas due to nearly empty fuel tanks. Air search from Australia reveals a 9 ship TF made up of 5CAs and 4DDs. With nowhere else to go, and not many options, one could imagine the speech given to the crews from the admirals about the "glory of dying for the Emperor".

The speech which probably led to the next day's action:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/09/42

Weather: Overcast

Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 10,40


Allied aircraft


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

Airbase hits 2
Runway hits 20


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Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 33
D3A Val x 47
B5N Kate x 46

Allied aircraft

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 6 damaged
B5N Kate x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 41

Runway hits 2

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B5N Kate at 5000 feet
18 x B5N Kate at 5000 feet
8 x B5N Kate at 5000 feet
17 x B5N Kate at 5000 feet

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Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
G3M Nell x 27
G4M1 Betty x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged

Attacking Level Bombers:
14 x G3M Nell at 6000 feet
14 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
10 x G3M Nell at 6000 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 6000 feet

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The SC TF returns to continue to keep the airfield at PM closed - staving off its destruction from the air for the moment. To that end, the LBA from the north and the CV TF also participated in the attack to keep PM closed.

A small force of infantry appeared at PM as well. Observers put it's strength at less than 300, and intelligence concludes this is the remnant of the ill-fated GG invasion force "rescued" by the FT TF before its orders were changed to bombard PM (Hi, we're here to rescue you, and we'll head home after this little side trip to PM. You don't mind, do you?). They will be eliminated as a fighting force.

It appears that the IJN has given the TF a "fight to the death" order - use the ammunition or let it rust at the bottom of the ocean.

The scenario is very much like the wounded lion surrounded by the hyenas - the lion is dangerous, but gets weaker as time passes. There is no need to rush in. Sooner or later, the TF will run out of shells.

LBA from Australia will continue to be on Search mode to track the TF.

LBA will attack the TF once it is found. I realize the chance of hitting the TF with is lessened after 2.30, but it still exists.

Three S-boats have been dispatched to the west from GG, but their objective is not to attack the TF (although they'll take the shot if one presents itself). They are to keep it penned up in the waters around PM. Three more S-boats remain on station at GG, blockading the passage between Basilaki and the coral reef to the east.

On a related note, the scout plane pilot who was captured after he bailed out was suprised to hear the second bombardment from the sea. He apparently thought he was going to be rescued.

My opponent has gambled once. Will he gamble again to try and save the stranded TF?

As to my own situation, the FT TF made up of the cruisers and destroyers is on its way home, having performed beautifully. A second combat engineer unit is now ashore at GG, and the improvements to the base are proceeding ahead of schedule .

In the east, a sub has been detected steaming south towards New Caledonia - a minelayer perhaps? Not much else happening there - for the moment. Luganville is improving its facilities, as is Efate. Noumea is now a level 7 port and its improvements continue.

More to come.......

[Philwd]

Radio Tokyo

The entire nation is breathlessly awaiting word of our brave sailors trapped off New Guinea. The force of cruisers and destroyers got into trouble after taking a wrong turn evading an enemy sub. For more on the developing story here is embedded correspondent Geraldoshi Riveraki on board the flagship Maya. Take it away Geraldoshi.

Thank you Rose. We are here transmitting live from the Maya Adm Tanaka's flagship. We will of course not disclose anything that may compromise operational security.

The problem started after we were making an approach to Milne Bay at the tip of New Guinea. An enemy sub fired torpedos at Kako and Kinugasa. It was an overcast night and the force quickly got mixed up evading the torpedos. Believing he was headed north towards Rabaul rather than south off Basilaki Adm " Train Wreck" Tanaka ordered flank speed to clear the area. It was only after daybreak and the coast of New Guinea loomed that the terrible mistake was realized. I will draw it in sand here on deck.

The mood is tense as the sailors mutter "Train Wreck". Word is spreading we are actually only a few km off Port Moresby. Everyone's eyes look to the horizon expecting the inevitable air attack. Wait a minute the Adm is talking over the load speaker. He is saying we are going to attack! We will not submit. Glory to the Emperor! We are going to return and bombard oooff, thud, crash. silence
"Riveraki-san is uh, tied up at the moment." Back to you Rose.

to be cont...

Quark

[Philwd]

I launched large airstrikes against PM to help keep the airfield closed so my ships have some chance of escape. Looking at the AAR AC posted wasn't that just great bombing?? 96 carrier bombers and >40 Army bombers get a total of 2 runway hits!! I'm telling ya just awesome. Come on ye gods of war. Its tough enough to win with IJN.

Quark

[Attack Condor]

originally posted by Quark

I launched large airstrikes against PM to help keep the airfield closed so my ships have some chance of escape. Looking at the AAR AC posted wasn't that just great bombing?? 96 carrier bombers and >40 Army bombers get a total of 2 runway hits!! I'm telling ya just awesome. Come on ye gods of war. Its tough enough to win with IJN.

>sigh< Seems the IJN is having trouble reading the little dial thingies in their equipment.

First, his pilots read the compass wrong and bomb a plot of ground dedicated to the amateur hour shows on PM. (The P39 he blew up was just a stage prop, but don't tell him;) )

Second, he claims his BB TF is "out of fuel" yet managed to ride the current all the way from near PM to 60 miles NW of Darubia.

Mayhaps the fine sailors need new spectacles when reading things like gas gauges or compasses.

btw, esteemed opponent, the force you dropped off at PM had to leave. Suddenly.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/10/42

Weather: Clear

Ground combat at Port Moresby

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 4411 troops, 40 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 250 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 117 to 1 (fort level 0)


Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 83

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 15


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The INF at PM booted the raiders into the jungle.

The IJN BB TF is out of the box (northeast of GG) and may in fact be able to be refuled. Seems "Train Wreck" Tanaka may have pulled off a miracle.

And in case no one told you, GG airfield is open for business. Let's see you keep both of them shut down

More to come.....

[Philwd]

Well I did run out of fuel the next turn. Somehow my TF moved 4 hexes without any fuel:D and met up with a tanker.

I really don't know how I did it. Stuck a hex off PM with enough fuel for 1 turn. Maybe Tanaka needs a new nickname like Lucky.

And kind of interesting my night attacks seem to be more effective than daylight. So much for needing a dial thingy.

and BTW GG will get its due very soon now;) .

Quark out.

[Attack Condor]

The reason for the continued suppression of PM is about to become clear:

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/11/42

Weather: Clear

Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 10
G4M1 Betty x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 1 damaged

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 3

Attacking Level Bombers:
10 x G3M Nell at 4000 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 4000 feet

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Ground combat at Taivu

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 238 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Taivu base !!!



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Another strip of beach falls into the hands of the IJN.

On the 12th, a FT TF landed an invasion force at PM. Reports indicate two infantry units, two engineer units, and two headquarter units.

Earlier on in the dark of the night, my P40s anticipated correctly a night time bombing raid from the north. Fifteen of the fighters intercepted the unescorted bombers. Unfortunately, the fighters must not have been accustomed to night fighting, as the only casuality of the engagement was a P40. The B17s were looking for the "out of gas" TF when they got the radio call that transport ships were in PM harbour. They diverted to attack, but no hits were recorded.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/12/42

Weather: Clear

Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 16
G4M1 Betty x 10

Allied aircraft
P-40E Kittyhawk x 15

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 damaged


Allied ground losses:
Men lost 7

Airbase hits 3
Runway hits 5

Attacking Level Bombers:
10 x G4M1 Betty at 4000 feet
6 x G3M Nell at 4000 feet
10 x G3M Nell at 4000 feet

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Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40


Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9


no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Daifuku Maru
PC Toshi Maru #3
AP Oigawa Maru

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 20000 feet

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Anticipated actions by the IJN would be to continue the air pressure to keep PM closed while trying to bring more troops to the area.

Intelligence continues to debate if this is a major effort by the IJN. One would not be suprised if the troops were landed to give the appearance of a full scale raid, only to have the troops scramble back on board and the TF depart - all with the mind to draw my CVs into the fray.

Going after PM with GG operational is something I didn't think the IJN would try. GG now has its own fighter cover and the ability to provide CAP to escort supply ships into harbour. And just because the airfield is operational doesn't mean anyone told the engineers to stop working.

As to PM itself, I am confident the defenders there will be able to withstand the invaders. I think the IJN moved too quickly with this invasion of PM. But I'm not making the decisions at the IJN staff level.

If they want to run an invasion in my home waters, with my air cover in place, with my subs in the area, risking naval troops I doubt they could afford to lose, then good luck to them.

They'll need it.

[Philwd]

The un-anticipated invasion of PM has begun.

My TF got to within 1 turn of landing before I was discovered. My esteemed opponent will be surprised to hear I am landing 4 crack IJN regiments, combat eng, support troops and HQ vs his one green Aussie brigade.

The raid you easily repulsed 2 turns ago told me all I needed to know. Only one inf brigade present.

Now if I can only keep the airfield closed:D .

I was not worried about GG. If my earlier bombardment had worked it would still be shut down. Oh well. Having some Iron Dog fighters for CAP won't help when I come for you.

A risk yes. A calculated one though. If AC couldn't catch a near stranded TF off PM I don't think he can stop a full fledged invasion TF. Last game I made a mistake and waited too long. AC was able to gather all his subs and build up his squadrons. I took PM but it was bloody. This time I'm going in before he's had time to prepare the ground.

to be continued...

Quark

[Attack Condor]

Yes, that does suprise me....it also tells me the IJN is almost in a must-win situation at PM...if the invasion fails, a lot of troops gone.

Yet if he wins, he'll have to do almost the same thing to take GG. A major base along his supply line to PM can't be ignored... does the IJN have enough troops to do both this early?

This will indeed be very interesting

More to come....

[Attack Condor]

A full scale invasion is underway. LBA tries to help, but is ineffectual, at best. Chicago leads a small SC TF into PM and pounds a destroyer. Meanwhile, S-40 scores a torpedo hit on a IJN cruiser running the gauntlet near GG.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/13/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 6

Allied aircraft
P-40E Kittyhawk x 11

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged



Allied ground losses:
Men lost 10

Attacking Level Bombers:
6 x G4M1 Betty at 4000 feet

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Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki, Shell hits 23, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yayoi
AP Shinkoku Maru
AP Tarushima Maru
AP Unkai Maru #3

Allied Ships
CA Chicago, Shell hits 1
DD Farragut


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Air attack on Buna , at 12,38


Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 8


no losses


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Air attack on 170th Regiment, at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 4
A-20B Havoc x 10

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 27

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Hudson at 6000 feet
6 x A-20B Havoc at 6000 feet
4 x A-20B Havoc at 6000 feet

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Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 6

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 9

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Tarushima Maru
AP Unkai Maru #3

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet

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Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

no losses

no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Tarushima Maru

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet

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Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Marsue Maru

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet

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Sub attack at 19,42

Japanese Ships
CA Furutaka, Torpedo hits 1, on fire

Allied Ships
SS S-40


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On the next night, Chicago and Farrragut are suprised as they try one too many forays into dangerous waters. The IJN BB TF then tries to close PM, but the recently arrived bulldozers work throughout the night to get the runway operational by daybreak. A shame the planes couldn't score better (the 30 Zeroes flying LRCAP may have had something to do with it).

S-37 takes a toll on one of the APs in PM harbour, unfortunately it appears it was already empty.

Finally, the IJN INF units begin their attack, revealing a 3-2 advantage of troops.

I think they're serious about this.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/14/42

Weather: Thunderstorms

Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
CA Kako, Shell hits 1
CL Tatsuta
CL Yubari
DD Sazanami
DD Uzuki
DD Mochizuki

Allied Ships
CA Chicago, Shell hits 32, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
DD Farragut, Shell hits 65, and is sunk


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Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese Ships
CA Aoba
CA Kinugasa
CA Kako
CL Tatsuta
CL Yubari
DD Sazanami
DD Uzuki
DD Mochizuki

Allied Ships
CA Chicago, Shell hits 3, and is sunk


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Naval bombardment of Port Moresby, at 10,40


Allied aircraft


Allied aircraft losses
A-20B Havoc x 1 destroyed
A-20B Havoc x 2 damaged
A-24 Dauntless x 1 destroyed

Airbase hits 9
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 18


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Sub attack near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese Ships
AP Shinkoku Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire

Allied Ships
SS S-37


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Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 9
A-20B Havoc x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 4 destroyed
A-20B Havoc x 1 destroyed
A-20B Havoc x 2 damaged

WCDR D. Kingwell of No. 32 Sqn RAAF is KILLED

Japanese Ships
AP Tarushima Maru
DD Yayoi
AP Unkai Maru #3
AP Shinkoku Maru, on fire

Attacking Level Bombers:
0 x Hudson at 6000 feet
4 x Hudson at 6000 feet
1 x A-20B Havoc at 6000 feet
4 x A-20B Havoc at 6000 feet
4 x A-20B Havoc at 6000 feet
1 x Hudson at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 17,42

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
B5N Kate x 37

Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 10 destroyed
B5N Kate x 2 damaged


1LT W. Thayer of 40th FS is credited with kill number 4

LT T. Ichihara of EI-3 Daitai is KILLED

Allied Ships
AK Mungana, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 30

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 3
A-20B Havoc x 6

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 damaged
A-20B Havoc x 1 destroyed
A-20B Havoc x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Yayoi
AP Shinkoku Maru, on fire

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x A-20B Havoc at 6000 feet
2 x A-20B Havoc at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 17,42

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
B5N Kate x 39

Allied aircraft
P-400 Airacobra x 4

no losses

no losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18834 troops, 192 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 12166 troops, 108 guns, 20 vehicles

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

Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 1



LT K. Notomi of EIII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 272

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 130


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Lea Lea

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 249 troops, 3 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 5 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Lea Lea base !!!



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

At GG a force of 37 Kates escorted by 8 Zeroes sunk Mungana, but the "Iron Dogs" of the 40FS shot down 10 of them before they could hit the target. GG is starting to show its worth.

Up to now, the USN response has been to try and weather the storm - content to let the ground troops be the main players. And Quark is right...My CVs did not go anywhere near NZ at the start of the game.

But since my opponent seems to feel the need for CV support, I'll oblige him with a few carrier launched aircraft of my own .

More to come.........

[Attack Condor]

In today's fighting, I was able to maintain my combat force (actually a +12 troop increase) while the IJN strength is 98.6% of the original landing force. The airfield reamins open and strike missions continue to be launched. Aircrew fatigue and attrition is horrendous, and a replacement P39 squadron has been cycled in to continue the air phase of the defense.

Airlift operations were dealt their first losses on the 15th, but managed to get elements of another INF Bde into the area to assist in the defense. The Zeroes on LRCAP over PM are getting to be more than a nuisance.

Luck remains with me, however, as the A24 Dauntless squadron (or more appropiately, what's left of them) was able to suprise the IJN CV TF while their fighters were harassing my transports into PM. The Dauntless' scored a pair of 1000 bomb hits on Shokaku - with one hit causing an Ammunition Storage Explosion result (that can't be good for the carrier). My opponent e-mailed me to go and buy a lottery ticked immediately!

I don't know if the damage to Shokaku is sufficient enough to rethink his strategy of using the CVs to cover the invasion. Will he risk more damage by LBA? (the CV TF moved NW towards Lae - presumably to get out of range of GG - when it was attacked from PM)

But with one IJN CV damaged by LBA, it's time to unleash my carriers to take advantage of the improved odds before his other CVs arrive in theater.

Almost forgotten with all the action occurring above the surface of the water - the troop transport Goyo Maru becomes the second victim of submarine S-37 during this invasion.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/15/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Sub attack near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese Ships
AP Goyo Maru, Torpedo hits 1
CL Tenryu
DD Oite
AP Oigawa Maru

Allied Ships
SS S-37


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 13,36


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 5
A-24 Dauntless x 10
A-20B Havoc x 12


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 3 destroyed
Hudson x 2 damaged
A-24 Dauntless x 2 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless x 4 damaged
A-20B Havoc x 4 destroyed
A-20B Havoc x 10 damaged

SLDR N.Ingersoll of No. 32 Sqn RAAF is KILLED

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CVL Shoho
CV Zuikaku

Attacking Level Bombers:
1 x Hudson at 1000 feet
2 x A-20B Havoc at 1000 feet
4 x A-20B Havoc at 1000 feet
2 x A-20B Havoc at 1000 feet
1 x Hudson at 1000 feet
1 x A-20B Havoc at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 13,36


Allied aircraft
P-40E Kittyhawk x 9
A-24 Dauntless x 5
A-20B Havoc x 3


Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Dauntless x 2 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless x 3 damaged
A-20B Havoc x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, on fire
CV Zuikaku

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x A-20B Havoc at 1000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Port Moresby

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 18580 troops, 192 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 12178 troops, 108 guns, 20 vehicles

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



PO2 K. Nishiura of F1/Tainan Daitai is credited with kill number 2

SLDR K. Truscott of No. 76 Sqn RAAF bails out and is RESCUED
Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 146

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 108


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

Wow.



More to come...........

[wobbly]

Ehh gads, he had no cap up over his air combat tf -what was he thinking????