Two weeks in the Coral Sea

[GrahamFife]

Friends.

To celebrate the successful installation of a fully patched (up to 2.30) UV onto my new home computer, I played through the first scenario; the Battle of the Coral Sea, the first two weeks of May 2002.

To celebrate the return of the boards, I thought I'd share some of the high points with you.

Playing as USN against the AI all options operative.

[GrahamFife]

Following reports that the IJN was planning attacks on Port Moresby and the Solomon Islands, the USN carrier fleet in the South Pacific (namely Lexington, Saratoga, the few cruisers Noumea could patch together and five destroyers) set out for the Solomons at the beginning of May 1942, trusting to native luck and land based aircraft to protect Port Moresby.

This proved to be a wrong call within four days, when an IJN carrier fleet was reported off the north coast of New Guinea and Port Moresby suffered an attack from carrier based aircraft.

The USN carrier fleet headed west at flank speed ...

[GrahamFife]

The two carrier fleets engage north-west of Gili Gili.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/05/42

Weather: Rain

Air attack on TF at 16,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 28

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 16
SBD Dauntless x 58
TBD Devastator x 24

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 5 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 26 damaged
TBD Devastator x 9 destroyed
TBD Devastator x 22 damaged

LCDR J. Brett of VT-2 is KILLED

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CV Shokaku, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Shiratsuyu, Bomb hits 1, on fire


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 16,38

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 14
D3A Val x 21
B5N Kate x 28

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 3 destroyed
D3A Val x 6 destroyed
D3A Val x 12 damaged
B5N Kate x 14 destroyed
B5N Kate x 23 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2 damaged

LT T. Ichihara of EI-3 Daitai bails out and is CAPTURED

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
DD Dewey, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CV Lexington
CA Astoria, Bomb hits 1
CA New Orleans


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Air attack on TF at 16,38

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 8
D3A Val x 21
B5N Kate x 17

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 3 destroyed
D3A Val x 14 damaged
B5N Kate x 8 destroyed
B5N Kate x 15 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2 destroyed

ENS W. Haas of VF-42 is credited with kill number 2

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 1
DD Monaghan
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Aylwin


After this exchange, the Yorktown's flight deak was inoperable. The surviving aircraft flew to Port Moresby.

It quickly became apparent that the Shoho, at least, was also too damaged to launch aircraft.

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Air attack on TF at 16,40


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 5


no losses

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Hudson at 6000 feet
1 x Hudson at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 16,40


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5
SBD Dauntless x 18
P-39D Airacobra x 18


no losses

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage


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

[GrahamFife]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/06/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

IJN subs are sniffing around:

Sub attack at 19,41

Japanese Ships
SS I-29

Allied Ships
DD Aylwin

Yesterday's attack had obviously left all three IJN carriers too damaged to launch aircraft, or to sail out of range. But the Lexington was relatively undamaged, and the Yorktown's aircraft flying from Port Moresby, together with the bombers based there, were all too eager to get revenge.


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Air attack on TF at 13,35


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 3
A-24 Dauntless x 9


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 damaged
A-24 Dauntless x 1 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless x 6 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Shokaku, on fire

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 13,35


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5
SBD Dauntless x 20
Hudson x 5
P-39D Airacobra x 24


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Kinugasa
DD Ushio

Attacking Level Bombers:
1 x Hudson at 6000 feet
4 x Hudson at 6000 feet

The IJN invasion fleet offloading at Gili Gili was a good target of opportunity.

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


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
SBD Dauntless x 23
TBD Devastator x 7


no losses

Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Asakasan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Daifuku Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Nichibi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Goyo Maru
PG Nikkai Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 53

Time for a second attack on the carriers.


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Air attack on TF at 13,35


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5
SBD Dauntless x 18
Hudson x 7
P-39D Airacobra x 14
A-24 Dauntless x 3


no losses

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, Bomb hits 2, on fire
CA Kinugasa, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Aoba, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CA Haguro
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Hudson at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet

And a second attack on the transports.

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


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 24
TBD Devastator x 7


no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Mito Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP China Maru
AP Marsue Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Akibasan Maru
AP Asakasan Maru, on fire
DD Mutsuki, on fire, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 159

There's a small fleet landing troops at Buna, too.


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Air attack on TF, near Buna at 12,38


Allied aircraft
TBD Devastator x 3


Allied aircraft losses
TBD Devastator x 1 destroyed

LCDR J. Taylor of VT-5 is KILLED

Japanese Ships
PG Seikai Maru


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Ground combat at Gili Gili

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 1218 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 20 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Gili Gili base !!!



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

[GrahamFife]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/07/42

Weather: Overcast

Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
G3M Nell x 3

no losses

Runway hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x G3M Nell at 8000 feet

Hey, Tojo, is that the best you can do?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 12,32

Japanese Ships
DD Sazanami

Allied Ships
SS S-44


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Sub attack at 19,41

Japanese Ships
SS I-28

Allied Ships
DD Dewey, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

The Dewey, one of two destroyers escorting the heavily damaged Yorktown towards Port Moresby, took a bullet, and quickly sank.

Meanwhile, the IJN fleet was still unloading supplies at Gili Gili.


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


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
SBD Dauntless x 19
Hudson x 4
A-24 Dauntless x 5


no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Asakasan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP China Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Chowa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Marsue Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Daifuku Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
AP Nichibi Maru

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Hudson at 6000 feet

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


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 3


Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Yuzuki

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet

Second attack from Port Moresby was on the fleet at Buna.

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Air attack on TF, near Buna at 12,38


Allied aircraft
TBD Devastator x 3
P-39D Airacobra x 27


Allied aircraft losses
TBD Devastator x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
PG Seikai Maru
AP Mogamigawa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Syoka Maru

The IJN carriers were still within range of Port Moresby, though now split into two groups.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Sag Sag at 12,31


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD Dauntless x 10
Hudson x 6
A-24 Dauntless x 3


Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Dauntless x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Myoko, Bomb hits 1
CA Kinugasa, on fire
CV Shokaku, on fire

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 12,33


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 9
P-39D Airacobra x 13


Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
DD Yugure


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 19,41

Japanese Ships
SS I-28


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Buna

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 818 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 12 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Buna base !!!



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

[GrahamFife]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/08/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Sub attack at 12,32

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS S-44

Under cover of darkness, the USN carrier fleet - now "only" the fully operational Lexington - doubled back to a position south of Gili Gili. Out of range of IJN land based aircaft from Rabul, but well within range of the docks.


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


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
SBD Dauntless x 29
TBD Devastator x 7


Allied aircraft losses
TBD Devastator x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Akibasan Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nichibi Maru
AP Daifuku Maru, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Goyo Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chowa Maru


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


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 20
A-24 Dauntless x 3


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP China Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW W20
AP Mito Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Asakasan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Daifuku Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Aircraft from Port Moresby located the Zuikaku, now barely afloat.


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Air attack on TF, near Sag Sag at 12,31


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 6


no losses

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet

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


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5
SBD Dauntless x 25


no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Asakasan Maru, Bomb hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
AP Mito Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP China Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PG Nikkai Maru, heavy damage


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


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 9
A-24 Dauntless x 4


no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Mito Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chowa Maru
AP China Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Daifuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Buna at 12,38


Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 28


no losses

Japanese Ships
PG Keijo Maru
PG Seikai Maru
AP Syoka Maru


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Sag Sag at 12,31


Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 10
Hudson x 3


no losses

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet

Hey? What does it take to sink this thing?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack near Buna at 12,38

Japanese Ships
PG Seikai Maru

Allied Ships
SS Greenling


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

[GrahamFife]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/09/42

Weather: Overcast

There was a reliable report that the IJN carrier Zuikaku had finally sunk.

But there are still some ships half afloat at Gili Gili.

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


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
SBD Dauntless x 29
TBD Devastator x 7


no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Daifuku Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nichibi Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
MSW W20, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Akibasan Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP China Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chowa Maru


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


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
SBD Dauntless x 19
Hudson x 7
A-24 Dauntless x 3


Allied aircraft losses
A-24 Dauntless x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Goyo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Daifuku Maru, on fire, heavy damage
PG Nikkai Maru, heavy damage
AP China Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chowa Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Akibasan Maru, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Hudson at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet

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


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
SBD Dauntless x 27


no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Daifuku Maru, on fire, heavy damage
PG Nikkai Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP China Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Goyo Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chowa Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


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


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
SBD Dauntless x 19
Hudson x 6
A-24 Dauntless x 3


no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Daifuku Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nichibi Maru, Bomb hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
AP Goyo Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP China Maru, on fire, heavy damage
AP Akibasan Maru, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Hudson at 6000 feet
2 x Hudson at 6000 feet

The IJN ships at Buna are making the same mistake.

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Air attack on TF, near Buna at 12,38


Allied aircraft
TBD Devastator x 3
P-39D Airacobra x 28


Allied aircraft losses
TBD Devastator x 1 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
PG Seikai Maru
DD Yayoi, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Syoka Maru, Bomb hits 2

LBA from Rabul must have detected the Australian task force unloading anti-aircraft guns and supplies at Port Moresby.


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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 57
G3M Nell x 9
G4M1 Betty x 15

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 10
P-40E Kittyhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
G3M Nell x 1 destroyed
G3M Nell x 9 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 damaged

LT K. Okajima of EII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2

Allied Ships
AP Manoora, Torpedo hits 1
CA Australia, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Farragut
CA Chicago
CL Hobart

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
1 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet

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

[GrahamFife]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/10/42

Weather: Clear

On a clear day, you can see forever. But the IJN spotter planes did not see the Lexington, which set course for Nouema overnight, nor the Port Moresby supply fleet which sailed for Brisbaine at flank speed, still with half its supplies on board.

Intel report from north of Admiralty Island.

Sub attack at 12,21

Japanese Ships
CV Shokaku, heavy damage

Allied Ships
SS Greenling


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Sub attack at 26,26

Japanese Ships
DD Shigure
DD Sazanami

Allied Ships
SS S-41, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

USN submarine sunk quickly.



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


Allied aircraft
Hudson x 3


no losses

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

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet

The Yorktown's flyers are getting quite used to operating from dry land.

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Air attack on TF, near Buna at 12,38


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
SBD Dauntless x 19
TBD Devastator x 3
Hudson x 4
P-39D Airacobra x 24
A-24 Dauntless x 4


no losses

Japanese Ships
PG Seikai Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Syoka Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Mogamigawa Maru, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
PG Keijo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x Hudson at 6000 feet

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


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
SBD Dauntless x 19
Hudson x 7
A-24 Dauntless x 3


no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Nichibi Maru, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chowa Maru, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
PG Nikkai Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet
4 x Hudson at 6000 feet

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

[GrahamFife]

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/11/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Air attack on TF, near Rabaul at 21,28

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9

Allied aircraft
Hudson x 6

no losses

no losses

Japanese Ships
AP Asahisan Maru, Bomb hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet
3 x Hudson at 6000 feet

(The IJN air controllers must have been too astonished at the audacity of an attack so close to Rabul to order a full CAP).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Buna at 12,38


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
SBD Dauntless x 19
TBD Devastator x 3
P-39D Airacobra x 22
A-24 Dauntless x 3


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
TBD Devastator x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
PG Keijo Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
PG Seikai Maru
AP Syoka Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 45
G4M1 Betty x 14

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 8
P-40E Kittyhawk x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 destroyed

SLDR P. Turnbull of No. 75 Sqn RAAF is KILLED

Runway hits 7

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet
11 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet

(Oh, so that's where the IJN fighters from Rabul were! Still, they will have to do a lot better than that to close down Port Moresby.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Buna at 12,38


Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
SBD Dauntless x 18
P-39D Airacobra x 25
A-24 Dauntless x 3


Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
PG Seikai Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Syoka Maru, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
PG Keijo Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


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

[GrahamFife]

As the sun sank below the waves, so did the Yorktown. Her damage was too severe for her to reach Port Moresby. Her escort sailed for Noumea.

Which was pretty much the end of the battle. IJN aircraft began to attack Port Moresby day and night, though with precious little effect on the runway, while the aircraft there rested for lack of naval targets.

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

The end game report showed just how successful the battle had been.

Despite the IJN having forces in Buna and Gili Gili, the score showed a Decisive Allied Victory by 2155 points to 1628.

CV Zuikaku and CVL Shoho were confirmed sunk, along with two IJN destroyers, one MSW, three PG and eleven AP. The USN had lost CV Yorktown, DD Dewey and one submarine.

But it's even better than that for the USN. CV Shokaku is just outside Truk, with 57 systems damage and 97 floatation damage. She may go the way of the Yorktown before reaching port. If she does reach port, she'll be out of action for a long time, alongside CA Adoba with 34 systems damage and CA Kinugasa with 30 system damage. By contrast, no USN ship has systems damage greater than ten, and the Lexington only has three!

Effectivly, scratch three IJN flattops (and surely all aircrew) for one USN.

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

What effect would this have in game terms, and what might it have had in real life?

In game terms, the IJN have two isolated garrisons as Buna and Gili Gili. Any resupply convoy will face the skilled and determined pilots at Port Moresby who wrecked the landing convoys.

With all three carriers unavailable, and eleven transposts lost already, the IJN can surely wave goodbye to any plans to land forces beyone the range of LBA.

However, the Lexington would be very vunerable to the same LBA. More carriers would be needed before an invasion fleet could sail for Gili Gili.

Might the loss of three IJN carriers for one USN have caused the IJN to rethink the Midway operation? Probably not - the planning was too far advanced. But with only one other carrier capable of being repaired - at most - defeat there would have ben even more devastating.

Perhaps the need for forward airfields would have led the IJN to start constructing them in the Solomons ...

[marky]

this was ur first game?


wow

from wat ive heard this is quite an accomplishment

quite a victory

3 jap flattops for the Yorktown

[&o]