Crash&Burn: Timtom's view of history: Scn.5, toraq VS timtom

[timtom]

As I see it, the challenge for the Allied player in this scenario is to close the 1400 VP gap in the two months available. It is my job, then, less to defeat my Allied opponent than to extract from him a maximum price in time and blood for the gains he'll make - and he'll make some of those, for sure.

Looking at the forces available for the job is perhaps less discouraging than one might expect. Some of my LBA's are actually half-decent, and I'll get substancial reinforcements. The IJN units in particular are average to good (60-80 xp range). The IJA LBA's are just awful, most pilots being in the 35-55 xp range, - target drones. Naval assets are limited at the moment - got a couple of BB's and plenty of transports though - but more is coming in a fortnight, incl. Zuikaku, Shokaku, Mutso & Nagato, not that I plan to use the first two much. Dobudura is ripe for a BB visit, however. LCU's is the area where I have the closest think to parity. Units in key areas are solid, well-lead, well-entrenched. However, we all know that if you lose the air game, then you lose the sea game, and then the land game. Toraq can keep my LCU at low supply while swiftly concentration superior combat power at points of decision. As reinforcements, I get a ton of naval garrisons and SNLF, but few substancial combat units.

To win, Toraq will need to make substancial gains in the New Georgia area and around Lae. The defense of New Georgia is built around two inf.rgt's and will need to be reinforced to resist a serious effort on Toraq's part. I believe he has 2-3 div's available for offensive action, incl. the elite 2nd Div. USMC. Shortland is at present wide open, and will also need to be strengthened. The 51st div. defending Lae is a bit of a mess, but replacements are coming. It's a bit of a pain to support an offensive around the beak of New Guinea, but Toraq has the option of making an overland push supported by TCG's. New Guinea might be the place to score some VP's. Dobudura is vulnerable to bombardment, and any TF's heading for Lae will be exposed for several turns before arriving. Perhaps a concerted carrier, surface, LBA attack can cause some pain? An Allied invasion of Kiriwani/Woodlark perhaps offers similar opportunities, but could conversaly cause more than a bit of bother, as I intent to supply forward areas with FT & barges only.

Then there's the B-17 conundrum. What to do...humhum. Surrender? I've thought about dispersal, but my only chance of getting a dividend on LBA's attack is through numbers, so I need to concentrate. Otherwise I risk getting a number of penny-packet attacks easily brushed off by Toraq's cap. I thought about withdrawing units to Truk, but I feel I need to at least present a viable threat to keep him from running all over the place. So Im afraid I'll cram as many engineers as possible into Rabaul and try to ride it out.[:(]

Any suggestions?

[timtom]

First turn - quiet...Toraq ran recon flights against Wewak, Gasmata, Rabaul, Buka, Shortland, and Munda. I ran a flight against Wau, - it seems there are 2-3 brigades there.
As seen below, Toraq struck Lae and Munda harbour, so he's quite sensibly going after the supplies for now. I've got no air assets in forward area at all, so they're milkruns. Im wondering whether to smack Dobudura right away...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/15/43 Weather: Rain
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Strikes:

Air attack on Lae port from Port Moresby & Dobodura:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Kittyhawk x 6
P-38G Lightning x 73
A-20G Havoc x 30
Beaufort x 18
B-25D Mitchell x 24
B-25J Mitchell x 62

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25J Mitchell x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 155
Guns lost 2
Port hits 5
Port fuel hits 4
Port supply hits 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Munda port from Lunga:

Allied aircraft:
F4U-1 Corsair x 14
P-38G Lightning x 48
B-25J Mitchell x 52

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25J Mitchell x 1 destroyed, B-25J Mitchell x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 3
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Gasmata airfield from Gili Gili:

Allied aircraft:
B-25J Mitchell x 9

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25J Mitchell x 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Continued strikes against ports around Oro Bay. Damage to Lae port is 40%-odd. Oh well. It'll be interesting to see if Toraq maintains this level of escort for the unopposed strikes. Better this than fighter sweeps against Rabaul. I need to preserve my air forces until it really matters. However if the level of escort drops, I might just have to sacrifice some fighters as encouragement. Notes with interest that Toraq has used his heavies to hit Salamaua. Good for me. There's very little supply there, and Im hardly going to use the port much.

Allied recon missions against Shortland & Rabaul, - managed to shot down a F-5! Japanese recon of Gili Gili, where a surface TF + one with DD's in it is spotted. Also ran one against Townsville, just to remind my esteemed opponent that his NW Oz bases are within Betty range. Might do a spoiling raid in the hope of tying down some LBA assets here.

Lots of enemy ASW aircraft about - I-177 had a sweaty time, although no hits. Even got attacked by a F-5 - never tried that before!

Im moving AAA + Eng. + BF to Rabaul from Truk. Am also going to develop Momote. Val's can hit Lae from there need be, while being beyond B-25 range out of Port Moresby. The Tokyo Express dropped off a couple of K's worth of supply at Munda and Vila, uncovered by a surface TF, which is somewhat irresponsible of me.

Kongo & Haruna + escorts left Truk...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/16/43 Weather: Partly Cloudy
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Allied Air Strikes:

Air attack on Lae port from Port Moresby & Dobodura:

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 90
A-20G Havoc x 17
B-25D Mitchell x 3
B-25J Mitchell x 84

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25J Mitchell x 1 damaged,
A-20G Havoc x 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 30
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Salamaua port from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 10
B-B-25J Mitchell x 3
17E Fortress x 45
B-24D Liberator x 22

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Port hits 5
Port supply hits 9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Munda port from Lunga & Russell Islands:

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 24
F4U-1 Corsair x 37
P-39D Airacobra x 39
B-25J Mitchell x 55

Allied aircraft losses:
P-39D Airacobra x 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 67
Port hits 6
Port supply hits 1
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Gee, you haven't been reading my AAR, have you Tony? [:)]

Nothing like the smell of bunker fuel in the morning! First action of the day is the I-171 slamming a fish into the North Carolina. Damage status unknown, but it should at least make Toraq skip a heartbeat (if he's got one). Needless to say, for its pains, the I-171 was promptly sent to the bottom. My two DD groups in Rabaul harbour, on the other hand, were busy killing fish.

The weather forecast being thunderstorms, I felt I could probably get away with grounding my CAP over Rabaul. Well, somebody forgot to tell Toraq, who dropped the hammer. Given that the heavies were precided by a 100-odd P-38's, Im not sure standing down was actually a bad thing. Anyway, as luck would have it, neither Rabaul, Port Moresby or Lunga were clouded in.

Rabaul is now a smoking hole in the ground. Runway damage 95, service 45. I lost 19 aircraft on the ground: 9 Tony's, 7 Betty's, 2 Zero's, & 1 Oscar. Most of the damage is concentrated in 68th Sentai and G1/702 Daitai. The former literally doesn't have a single flyable plane...oh well, they're crap anyway, the pilots that is.

On the plus side, Toraq lost 20 aircraft operational, incl. 7 heavies, but I might be going dispersal after all. I can live with the loss of planes, Im not so sure about the loss of operational capability through damage to installations and morale.
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/17/43 Weather: Thunderstorms
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Japanese Naval Attacks:

Sub attack SE Irau:

Japanese Ships:
SS I-171, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage *sleepin' wit de fishes*

Allied Ships:
BB North Carolina, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Air attack on TF at Rabaul from Dobudura: *against two DD groups*

Allied aircraft:
Hudson x 3
B-25D Mitchell x 14

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25D Mitchell x 4 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Attacks:

Air attack on Port Moresby airfield from Wewak (night attack): *hoping for a lucky supply hit*

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-21 Sally x 3

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-21 Sally x 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Port Moresby, Dobudura, & Lunga: *whimpers*

Japanese aircraft:

0, Zero, nil [8|]

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 86
B-17E Fortress x 68
B-24D Liberator x 43
PB4Y Liberator x 28
F-5A Lightning x 2

Allied aircraft losses:
PB4Y Liberator x 1 damaged

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 9 destroyed, Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 13 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed, A6M3 Zero x 5 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 9 destroyed, G4M1 Betty x 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 88
Airbase hits 28
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 132
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae port from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 50
A-20G Havoc x 6
B-25J Mitchell x 82

Allied aircraft losses:
A-20G Havoc x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 32
Port hits 4
Port fuel hits 2
Port supply hits 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Dobodura:

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 17
A-20G Havoc x 19

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Munda port from Russell Island & Lunga:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Kittyhawk x 10
P-38G Lightning x 12
P-39D Airacobra x 41
B-25J Mitchell x 62

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 75
Port hits 10
Port supply hits 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Quiet turn - maybe all those air strikes are burning up supplies at bit too fast? Anyway the most interesting thing to happen is that the CD unit at Munda actually bit back against Toraq-san's bombardment TF! Don't know how badly hurt the DD's are, but it must give Mr.T pause to think (yeah, he'll bring BB's next time).

My air strike against Wau served two purposes: 1) An overland invasion from Wau is difficult to supply, hence even limited loss of stockpiles can make a difference. 2) demonstrate that Wewak is a threat of sorts - hopefully he'll send his bombers there rather than somewhere important. 3) Maybe lure him into LR-CAP'ing Wau, thereby dispersing assets.

An AC TF is spotted just south of Rossel Island. It's reported to contain 2xCV, 2xCVE + 6 escorts. Haruna & Kongo are 330 miles NNE of Dobodura, where they're staying until I've got a clearer impression of what's going on. Also I've got 6 submarines within easy range of the carriers, so maybe, just maybe...

DMS Zane went mine-sweeping round Shortlands. Don't know what to make of it. I've 60-odd assault points worth of troops there, so its in no shape to resist an invasion.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/18/43 Weather: Overcast
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Naval bombardment of Munda:

Allied Ships:
CA Portland, Shell hits 2 *glancing blows*
CA Chester, Shell hits 2
CA New Orleans, Shell hits 1
CA Minneapolis, Shell hits 1
DD Waller, Shell hits 1, on fire *this must hurt a little*
DD DeHaven, Shell hits 2
DD Anderson, Shell hits 2

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Strikes:

Air attack on Wau airfield from Wewak:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-21 Sally x 17
Ki-48 Lily x 23 *SIX op-losses in the sqd. in this unopposed mission [&o] - the average xp of this sqd. is now 33!*

no losses

Allied ground losses:
Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Strikes:

Air attack on 229th Regiment (Munda) from Russell Islands:

Allied aircraft
F4U-1 Corsair x 17
P-39D Airacobra x 51

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed, P-39D Airacobra x 6 damaged *kept 'em coming bro*

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Another uneventful turn - good for me! The AC TF turned up in Gili Gili. Recon indicates its composition as CV, CVL, 2xCVE, CL, 3xCLAA, 2xDD (!). If that's true - talk about sub bait! I think perhaps my opponent is showing a certain complacency in exposing such a high-value target...have them there at all doesn't make much sense to me if it's not to escort an invasion TF somewhere.

Another DMS went mine-sweeping round Shortland...he's investing too much in blowing up Munda for me to think that he's got any designs for Shortland other than perhaps disrupting barge traffic (once that gets up and running).

Note that he's now bombing the airfields of Salamaua & Munda, rather than the ports. Any reason why he wouldn't want to wreck the latter?
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/19/43 Weather: Partly Cloudy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Sub attack NW Russell Islands:

Japanese Ships:
SS RO-103, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage *sigh*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Strikes:

Air attack on Salamaua airfield from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
Boomerang x 6
Beaufort x 25
A-20G Havoc x 37

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 27
Airbase hits 7
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Maizuru 2nd Coastal Gun Battalion (Lae) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
Boomerang x 18
B-25J Mitchell x 75

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Munda airfield from Lunga:

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 21
B-17E Fortress x 42
B-24D Liberator x 24

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 60
Guns lost 4
Airbase hits 8
Airbase supply hits 5
Runway hits 64
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 229th Regiment (Munda) from Lunga:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Kittyhawk x 12
B-25J Mitchell x 45

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 36
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Shadow of the Condor]

originally posted by timtom

Note that he's now bombing the airfields of Salamaua & Munda, rather than the ports. Any reason why he wouldn't want to wreck the latter?

Sometimes airfields may be perceived as higher value targets rather than ports - especially early in a long game as that's the best way to kill Zeroes before Sep 42. Probably more of a personal preference - I'd just as soon leave the airfields alone and let everyone on the base starve by port bombing and watching the supplies dwindle day by day by day.

Good AAR - keep it going [:)]

[timtom]

ORIGINAL: Shadow of the Condor


Good AAR - keep it going [:)]

Sniff, finally somebody notices me...thank you, thank you Phil

There isn't the shadow of an aircraft at either base. I'm wondering whether Toraq is realising that he can get at my supplies (which are few) without blowing the ports to bits. He will, after all, need those ports up and running when and if he invades.

[timtom]

Recon indicates that the AC TF has been disbanded in port at Gili Gili!? (rubs eyes, knocks on screen). Considerations:

1) Oversized sitting duck in Gili Gili, however due to turn-sequence, duck might have flown come the execution phase.

2) Major troop convoy due to arrive at Rabaul next turn. Toraq knows its there and will probably dedicate large no. of sqd.'s to attack = CAP needed.

3) CAP at Gili Gili probably 50-75 fighters incl. carrierbased (cut to 50% for being in shallow hex, in reality they wouldn't be able to launch at all).

4) Is it worth wrecking my sqd's over? Lots of VP's to be had, but CV's not very important in this scenario.

Against my better judgement, I've decided to attack with all I've got (5 bomber sqd's + 5 fighter sqd's). I'll probably hit thin air and lose half my planes, but who dares wins and all that . I simply can't let him get away with this, and it at least offers the possibility of dealing a blow before the heavies obliterate me. I've re-routed the troop transport TF east of New Ireland and safety, hopefully.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/20/43 Weather: Partly Cloudy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Sub attack N New Caledonia:

Japanese Ships:
SS I-168

Allied Ships:
AP J. Franklin Bell, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack E Espirito Santo:

Japanese Ships:
SS I-159

Allied Ships:
AP Leonard Wood, Torpedo hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack W Kavieng:

Japanese Ships:
AP Yamakuni Maru, Torpedo hits 2, on fire *carrying 86th Base Force for Rabaul, moderate damage*

Allied Ships:
SS Peto

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 66
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF W Kavieng from Dobodura: *this caught me somewhat by surprise, as it's 14 hex's between Dobodura and the target. Come to think about it, I should've known better *

Allied aircraft:
B-25D Mitchell x 21
B-25J Mitchell x 10

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25D Mitchell x 5 damaged, B-25J Mitchell x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Heiwa Maru, Shell hits 4, Bomb hits 1, on fire *minor damage*
DD Yugure, Bomb hits 1, on fire *minor damage*

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 55
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at Shortland Island from Russell Islands & Gili Gili: *same as above, only from Gili Gili the distance is 16 hex's. But it's my own fault for putting my DD's at risk. I somehow convinced myself that I could catch those pesky DMS with a returning FT TF...*

Allied aircraft:
F4U-1 Corsair x 3
Beaufighter VIC x 36 *both hits by the Beau's, in two separate strikes*
Hudson x 19

Allied aircraft losses:
Beaufighter VIC x 7 damaged,
Hudson x 2 destroyed, Hudson x 8 damaged

Japanese Ships:
DD Nagatsuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire *minor damage*
DD Hatsuyuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire *moderate damage*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Strikes:

Air attack on Port Moresby airfield from Wewak (night attack): *first air-to-air combat in game[:)]*

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-21 Sally x 4

no losses

Allied aircraft:
P-70A Havoc x 3

no losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Strikes:

Air attack on 229th Regiment (Munda) from Lunga:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Kittyhawk x 10
P-38G Lightning x 9
B-25J Mitchell x 48
B-17E Fortress x 36
B-24D Liberator x 27

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25J Mitchell x 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 122
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 115th Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
Boomerang x 15
P-39D Airacobra x 82
Beaufort x 20

no losses:

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 65
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 15th Coastal Gun Battalion (Lae) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
Boomerang x 9
A-20G Havoc x 34
B-25J Mitchell x 81

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25J Mitchell x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 61
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Well, the Gili Gili strike turned out to be something of an anti-climax. One hit scored on a CVE. Losses weren't nearly as bad as I had feared - 42 planes lost (22.5%), mainly Zero's and Oscars, and I've got lots of those. (I'll receive 12 sqd's of Zero's over the next three weeks) In return, they shot down 22 allied fighters as far as I can count.

Intelligence indicates 37 ships moored in Gili Gili harbour, so I'll be back...

Allied forces from Wau have made the trek from Wau to Salamaua. It seems Toraq has shifted the lot out of Wau, leaving no garrison. 51st Div.'s recon. battalion, on anti-paratrooper duty at Nadzab, is moving against Wau. 15th Naval Garrison in Lae is in turn shifting to Nadzab. At the very least, the Oz supply stockpiles at Wau will soon be visited by my bombers.

Toraq seems to be winding down his strike escorts, so maybe there's a few easy points to be had, and a psychological victory of sorts. His latest strike on Lae was headed by 42 P-39...just plain mouthwatering.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/21/43 Weather: Partly Cloudy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Sub attack SE Gili Gili:

Japanese Ships:
SS I-11, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage *this is getting old...*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat near Munda:

Japanese Ships:
DD Amagiri
DD Satsuki

Allied Ships:
PT 146
PT 150
PT 163, Shell hits 9, and is sunk *first blood - an important victory the Empire *
PT 169
PT 170
PT 171
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Air attack on TF W Kavieng from Dobodura:

Allied aircraft:
B-25D Mitchell x 23
B-25J Mitchell x 37

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25D Mitchell x 1 destroyed, B-25D Mitchell x 7 damaged, B-25J Mitchell x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships:
DD Mochizuki, Shell hits 4
DD Minazuki, Shell hits 8, Bomb hits 1, on fire *some people never learn...*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF N Sag Sag: *well, he knows Im there now*

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 17
B-25D Mitchell x 3

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25D Mitchell x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships:
BB Kongo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Strikes:

Air attack on Gili Gili port from Rabaul:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 110
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 25
G4M1 Betty x 40
Ki-49 Helen x 12

Allied aircraft:
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7
F4F-4 Wildcat x 14
F4U-1 Corsair x 22 *about 75% of kills by this sqd. Go figure...*
P-40E Kittyhawk x 7
P-38G Lightning x 17

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 21 destroyed *total losses 25, overwhelmingly the poor pilots*
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 9 destroyed, Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 7 destroyed, G4M1 Betty x 2 damaged
Ki-49 Helen x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 destroyed, F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair x 2 destroyed, F4U-1 Corsair x 2 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 destroyed, P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 damaged
P-38G Lightning x 6 destroyed, P-38G Lightning x 1 damaged
*actual loss 2 Kittyhawks, 7 Wildcats, 4 Corsairs, 9 Lightnings*

Allied Ships:
CVE Chenango, Bomb hits 1 *yeah!!! not*

Allied ground losses:
Port hits 1
Port supply hits 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Lae airfield from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 19
SBD Dauntless x 6
A-20G Havoc x 26
B-25J Mitchell x 33

Allied aircraft losses:
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 46
Guns lost 2
Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 229th Regiment (Munda) from Lunga:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Kittyhawk x 11
P-38G Lightning x 9
SBD Dauntless x 84
B-25J Mitchell x 53
B-17E Fortress x 39

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 29
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 115th Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-39D Airacobra x 49
SBD Dauntless x 9
Beaufort x 15
B-24D Liberator x 12

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 81
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

AWFUL turn. Kongo ate two torpedoes on the bombardment run on Dobodura (sys 30, float 60). PT's my a**e, f*****g antz. And just to top it off, I forgot to change the TF mission from surface combat to bombard. What a cock-up...

It seems that Toraq has got it into his head that the time to strike at Rabaul is when the weather is at its worst. Maybe he (rightly) figures that I'll stand my CAP down. Well, attrition works for you, mate...anyway, I won't do that again. Naturally, neither Port Moresby, Lunga, or Rabaul were clouded in (sigh). 20 aircraft lost to 6 B-17 & 1 PBY4

If there's anybody out there (knock, knock?), at this point I'd like a few message of sympathy and understanding, 'cos I'm feeling reeel low [:(]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/22/43 Weather: Thunderstorms
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Night Time Surface Combat near Dobadura:

Japanese Ships:
BB Kongo, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 2, on fire *oh, for the love of...*
BB Haruna, Shell hits 4
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
CL Isuzu
DD Kiyonami
DD Yukikaze
DD Hamakaze
DD Tanikaze

Allied Ships:
PT 120, Shell hits 7, heavy damage *incl. two 14" shells...don't even know how that's possible*
PT 128
PT 142
PT 143

Allied Ships:
PT 149, Shell hits 72, and is sunk *yeah, well, I think his dead now, alright [8|]*
PT 151
PT 152
PT 168
PT 194
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Naval bombardment of Munda:

Allied Ships:
CA Portland, Shell hits 1
CA Chester, Shell hits 2
CL St. Louis, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 28
Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 5
Port hits 4
Port supply hits 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at Rabaul from Dobudura: *on DD group*

Allied aircraft:
B-25J Mitchell x 9

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25J Mitchell x 5 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Strikes:

Air attack on Rabaul airfield & port from Port Moresby & Lunga:

Japanese aircraft:

[>:]

Allied aircraft:
B-17E Fortress x 104
B-24D Liberator x 40
PB4Y Liberator x 22
F-5A Lightning x 1

Japanese aircraft losses:

Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 2 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 10 destroyed, A6M3 Zero x 14 damaged
Ki-49 Helen x 8 destroyed, Ki-49 Helen x 19 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 1 destroyed, G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
B-17E Fortress x 1 damaged
B-24D Liberator x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships:
CL Yubari, Bomb hits 1, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 322
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 39
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 174
Port hits 2
Port fuel hits 1
Port supply hits 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae airfield from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
A-20G Havoc x 36

Allied aircraft losses
A-20G Boston x 3 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 80
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 21
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 229th Regiment (Munda) from Lunga:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Kittyhawk x 9
P-38G Lightning x 9
SBD Dauntless x 82
B-25J Mitchell x 51

Allied aircraft losses:
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 27
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 115th Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-39D Airacobra x 87
P-39D Airacobra x 12
SBD Dauntless x 40
Beaufort x 21

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 56
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

You gotta give it to Toraq...he's, hmm, unconventional. Looks like he's gone chasing after the cripple Kongo with his carriers, placing them just off Gasmata. He's either increadibly stupid or increadibly brilliant [:D]. I for my part have provided him with some extra targets by redirecting my "bombardment" TF to lop a few shells at the Ozzies at Salamaua as a parting shot. However, come morning the TF was still just off Salamaua. You know that sinking (pardon the pun) feeling? The only explanation I can think of is that the DD's maybe didn't have enough fuel to make the race. You live and you learn...

This fella in charge *Nishimaru wazzit* won't even get to command a Yangtze river boat when this is over.

Lunga is teeming with transport TF's, so maybe he's about to move on New Georgia or whereever.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/23/43 Weather: Partly Cloudy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Naval bombardment of Salamaua:

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 20
Sub attack SE Gili Gili:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Ships:
SS I-165 *gee, actually got away with it*

Allied Ships:
DD Mahan, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack ESE Dobodura:

Japanese Ships:
SS I-166

Allied Ships:
AK Almaack, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack E Dobodura:

Japanese Ships:
SS RO-107, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage *am I alone in thinking Allied ASW a bit OTT?*

Allied Ships:
AK Aquarius, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack at Rabaul:

Japanese Ships:
AG 5030, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage *sunk*

Allied Ships:
SS Peto
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack S Rabaul:

Japanese Ships:
AG 5067, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage *sunk*

Allied Ships:
SS Gato
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF E Salamaua from Dobodura, Buna, & AC TF WSW Gasmata: *three strikes on bombardment TF*

Allied aircraft:
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3
F4U-1 Corsair x 9
TBF Avenger x 38
B-25J Mitchell x 13

Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger x 3 destroyed, TBF Avenger x 31 damaged
B-25J Mitchell x 3 damaged

Japanese Ships:
CL Isuzu, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage *sunk afterwards by B-25's on naval search*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at Rabaul from Dobodura: *on DD group & transports*

Allied aircraft:
B-25J Mitchell x 13

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25J Mitchell x 10 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF ESE Gasmata from AC TF WSW Gasmata: *against crippled Kongo*

Allied aircraft:
F4U-1 Corsair x 11 * tsk, tsk, gamey [:-]*
TBF Avenger x 9

Allied aircraft losses:
TBF Avenger x 10 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Strikes:

Air attack on Wau airfield from Wewak:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 22
Ki-21 Sally x 21
Ki-48 Lily x 18

no losses

allied ground losses:

Airbase hits 2
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 23
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Strikes:

Air attack on Rabaul from Dobodura (fighter sweep):

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 32
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 10

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 55

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
P-38G Lightning x 1 destroyed, P-38G Lightning x 2 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 13

Allied aircraft:
F-5A Lightning x 1
B-17E Fortress x 62

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 3 destroyed, G4M1 Betty x 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 63
Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 71
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae airfield from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
A-20G Havoc x 40

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 25
Airbase hits 9
Runway hits 29
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 229th Regiment (Munda) from Lunga:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Kittyhawk x 9
P-38G Lightning x 12
SBD Dauntless x 72
B-25J Mitchell x 55

Allied aircraft losses:
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed, SBD Dauntless x 6 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 54
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 115th Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-39D Airacobra x 89
SBD Dauntless x 54
Beaufort x 22

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 148
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

The carriers are still about...God knows what he's up to. Their presence is causing quite a bit of disruption, paralysing movement in the Solomon Sea and forcing me to redirect convoys down from Truk. I've concentrated 8 fresh sqd.'s from Truk at (unspoilt) Kavieng to strike at the carriers + every flyable plane out of Rabaul. So, the 24th of June dawned a clear, pristine mid-winter's day, not a cloud to be seen...no, wait, correct that, tada!...squells at Kavieng, planes grounded [8|]. Next turn, either a) carriers gone b) Kavieng erased from map c) both ...sorry for sounding bitter.

Anyways, I guess the good news is that reinforcements has now been unloaded at Rabaul. Engineer squads up 500%, 75mm AA tubes up 1000% (4 -> 40).

Tomorrow a sizeable chunk of the Kaigun arrives at Truk: 2xCV, 1xCVL, 2xBB, 6xCA, 15xDD + APD's, ML's and more. Dobodura & Russell Islands are marked for Bombardment, and I'm toying with the idea of some kind of strike against Lunga. The CAP there's about 50 planes, P-38's, P-39's, P-40's, no F4U's. Maybe the surface cover's equally weak.

Incidentally, if Toraq sticks around and I get lucky, which is to say cripple his one CV, perhaps I should repay the compliment by sending KB on a cruise of the Coral Sea. Then let him come chasing after me with his baby carriers (evil cackle: "eexcellent").




Score at start: Evil Incarnate: 3004/Wee Burnsie & Bobo the Bear: 4440 = 1.00/1.48
Score after 10 turns: Evil Incarnate: 3294 (+290)/Wee Burnsie & Bobo the Bear: 4716(+276) = 1.00/1.43
*well, he's gaining on me, if ever so slightly. However my VP score leaves about 120 points unaccounted for. Presuming that the DD & the three tranports I've damaged are all sunk, that still leaved 90-odd VP's. The CVE (94 VP?) hit at Gili Gili is still afloat, and I doubt a single 250-kg bomb could cause massive damage. This raises the possibility that the North Carolina has in fact been damaged severely.*

The air game in numbers:

Allied/Japanese:

Sorties flown: 13,600/2,917 = 4.66/1.00

Air-to-air: 29/64 = 1.00:2.21
Destroyed on field: 0/50 *nuts to this*
Destroyed by flak: 26/6 = 4.33/1.00
Operational Loss: 89/44 = 2.02/1.00

Total: 144/164 = 1.00/1.14

Loss pr. sortie 0.0106/0.0562 = 1.000:5.3019
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/24/43 Weather: Clear
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack at Rabaul:

Japanese Ships:
AG 359, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage *sunk*

Allied Ships:
SS Raton
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at Shortland Island: *five seperate attacks on two barge TF's*

Japanese Ships:
AG 103, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage *sunk*
AG 105, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage *sunk*
AG 115, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage *sunk*
AG 122, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage *sunk*
AG 351, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *sunk...I've lost a sub to a barge once, hihi*

Allied Ships:
SS Silversides
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at Rabaul from Dobodura & Russell Islands:

Allied aircraft:
B-25J Mitchell x 18
Hudson x 7

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25J Mitchell x 4 damaged

Japanese Ships:
AP Akibasan Maru, Bomb hits 1 *moderate damage*
AP Chihaya Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage * <- that's right*
AP Heiwa Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire *moderate damage*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Attacks:

Air attack on Rabaul from Dobodura (fighter sweep):

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 32
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 1

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 63

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 3 destroyed
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
P-38G Lightning x 5 destroyed, P-38G Lightning x 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Lunga:

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 7

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 25
B-24D Liberator x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 2 destroyed, G4M1 Betty x 3 damaged
Ki-49 Helen x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 65
Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 60
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Wewak airfield from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:

Allied aircraft:
PB4Y Liberator x 36
B-24D Liberator x 28

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-21 Sally x 2 destroyed, Ki-21 Sally x 1 damaged
Ki-57-I Topsy x 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 45
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 11
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 60
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Madang airfield from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
Boomerang x 3
B-17E Fortress x 69

Allied aircraft losses:
B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 30
Airbase hits 6
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 29
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Lae airfield from Dobudura:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 15 *LR-CAP from Madang...three days of unescorted strikes against Lae and now this...that Toraq is clairvoyant [:D]*

Allied aircraft:
Boomerang x 3 *not one*
P-47C Thunderbolt x 5 *not two* *<- new arrivals*
Spitfire VIII x 7 *not three*
P-40E Kittyhawk x 8 *not four*
P-38G Lightning x 13 *no, bloody five fgtr. sqd's tasked as escorts *
A-20G Havoc x 47

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 4 destroyed *however, it is notable that these two sqd.'s with useless pilots and less than stellar aircraft can tango with the adults without unacceptable losses*

Allied aircraft losses:
Spitfire VIII x 2 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 destroyed, P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 24
Airbase hits 4
Runway hits 42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 115th Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Kittyhawk x 12
P-39D Airacobra x 12
SBD Dauntless x 46
Beaufort x 22

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 58
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

Lost my fifth sub today - in 11 days. Any meeting between IJN SS's & Allied DD's spells death for the former, it seems. I think I'll have to withdraw the subs from areas frequented by Allied surface TF's (ie Lunga area). Toraq for his part is pushing his subs into shallow water and ports, and is no worse for it. However, I've just received a sixtet of Momi APD's, which are going subhunting around Rabaul.

Enemy carriers withdrew south to a position just off Buna. The weather precluded any strikes, except for one sdq. of Betty's, which went on an abortive strike against shipping near Gili Gili. As Toraq is now aware that I'm basing bombers out of Kavieng, I've chosen the better part of valour by pulling them back to Truk.

I've formed a AC TF of my own with newly arrived Shokaku, Zuikaku, Ryujo & Zuiho. Air sqd. quality isn't as bad as I had feared. TF will linger NW of Momote...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/25/43 Weather: Thunderstorms
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Sub attack SE Lunga:

Japanese Ships:
SS I-162, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack NW Rabaul

Japanese Ships:
AP Asahisan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at Rabaul from Port Moresby & Dobodura: *on DD group*

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 36
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 4

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 45
B-25J Mitchell x 9
PB4Y Liberator x 3

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
P-38G Lightning x 7 destroyed, P-38G Lightning x 2 damaged *mostly by the seriously elite F1/251 Daitai *
B-25J Mitchell x 5 damaged
PB4Y Liberator x 2 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Strikes:

Air attack on Lae airfield from Dobodura:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Kittyhawk x 8
P-38G Lightning x 16
P-47C Thunderbolt x 3
A-20G Havoc x 47

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Airbase hits 7
Runway hits 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 115th Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Kittyhawk x 3
P-47C Thunderbolt x 12
P-39D Airacobra x 21
SBD Dauntless x 46
Beaufort x 32

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 81
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

This turn witnessed the first ground combat in the game. The Ozzies probed my defenses at Salamaua with a 0:1 attack...hopefully this was something of a disappointment to Toraq - and hopefully it won't galvanize him into action.

Recon last turn indicated 10 ships in Gili Gili harbour and only 37 fighters to defend them, so I ordered an attack. Come morning, however, Toraq's carriers had shifted back to Gili Gili as well. I lost 25 planes against one F4F + one F4U. Two Betty's pressed through to bomb the harbour. Had the morale of my Sqd's not been so low as to cause many of my planes to break off, losses would have been much worse.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/26/43 Weather: Partly Cloudy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Sub attack WNW Lunga:

Japanese Ships:
SS I-177, Shell hits 3, on fire *flotation damage 81*
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack at Rabaul :

Japanese Ships:
AP Asahisan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat at Vila: *four attacks by four PT TF's*

Japanese Ships: *down from Shortland*
AG 114, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
AG 116, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
AG 117, Shell hits 3, and is sunk
AG 118
AG 121
AG 352
AG 353
AG 355
AG 356
AG 357

Allied Ships:
PT 66
PT 67
PT 68
PT 110
PT 107
PT 115

Allied Ships:
PT 109 *get some, Johnny boy*
PT 157
PT 159
PT 169
PT 170
PT 171

Allied Ships:
PT 123
PT 124
PT 121
PT 122
PT 162
PT 167

Allied Ships:
PT 111
PT 112
PT 114
PT 146
PT 150
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Strikes:

Air attack on Gili Gili port from Rabaul:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 37
G4M1 Betty x 34
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 10

Allied aircraft:
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
F4F-4 Wildcat x 25
F4U-1 Corsair x 48 [:(]

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 12 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 7 destroyed, G4M1 Betty x 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses;
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed, F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
F4U-1 Corsair x 1 destroyed, F4U-1 Corsair x 1 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Strikes:

Air attack on 115th Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 141
P-47C Thunderbolt x 15
A-20G Havoc x 31
Beaufort x 30

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 115
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Salamaua:

Allied Deliberate attack:

Attacking force 13229 troops, 120 guns, 0 vehicles *10th, 15th, & 17th Oz. Bgd's + HQ*

Defending force 7181 troops, 81 guns, 0 vehicles *66th, 102nd, 115th Rgt's + Eng + HQ*

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

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 119

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 83
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[USSMaine]

Nice AAR - keep it coming - its getting read even if not commented on!

[timtom]

Invasion of Munda underway! However, so far, Toraq is only landing elements of one regiment (!?) Does he realise that I'm entrenched to level 7?

Across the Solomon Sea, in a move more unexpected than surprising, Toraq dropped the 503rd PIR at Nadzab, taking the base from the 51.Div Recon Bn. I'll leave it to you to decide who's got who surrounded. Salamaua won't fall in the immediate future, so he'll be entirely dependent on TCG's for supply, but I haven't really anything available for a counterattack.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/27/43 Weather: Partly Cloudy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Sub attack E Gili Gili:

Japanese Ships:
SS I-24

Allied Ships:
DM Gamble, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at Vila:

Japanese Ships:
DD Amagiri, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *pesky little buggers, ain't they!*
DD Mikazuki
DD Mochizuki
DD Yunagi

Allied Ships:
PT 66
PT 67
PT 68
PT 110
PT 107
PT 115

Allied Ships: *it was this attack in which the Amagiri was 'it. PT's actually crossed the DD's T. How that would benefit a force reliant on torpedo attack is a mystery*
PT 109
PT 157
PT 159
PT 169
PT 170
PT 171, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack NW Shortland: [8|]

Japanese Ships:
DD Amagiri, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Time Surface Combat at Munda: *LOL*

Japanese Ships:
AG 118, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AG 121, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AG 352, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AG 353, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
AG 355, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AG 356, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
AG 357, Shell hits 4, and is sunk

Allied Ships: *North Carolina not present...*
BB Washington
BB South Dakota
BB Indiana
CA Portland
CA New Orleans
CA Minneapolis
DD Gwin
DD Anderson
DD Russell
DD Morris
DD Dewey
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naval bombardment of Munda:

Allied Ships
BB South Dakota, Shell hits 1

Japanese ground losses::
Men lost 160
Guns lost 4
Airbase hits 5
Airbase supply hits 1
Runway hits 17
Port hits 3
Port supply hits 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at Buka from Russell Islands & Port Moresby: *unloading two base force*

Allied aircraft:
Hudson x 3
PB4Y Liberator x 9 *one of these scored the hit from 7000 feet. Kudos to the crew*

no losses

Japanese Ships:
MSW Tama Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage *scuttled*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at Rabaul from Dobodura, Port Moresby, & Russell Islands: *unloading AAA, Eng's & Air HQ + more*

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 23
B-25J Mitchell x 21
PB4Y Liberator x 9
Hudson x 3

no losses

Japanese Ships:
AP Kisaragi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Kashi Maru, Bomb hits 1

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 21
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Strikes:

Air attack on 17th Aus Brigade (Salamaua) from Madang & Wewak:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 35
Ki-21 Sally x 13

no losses

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 46
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Air Strikes:

Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Port Moresby & Dobodura:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 19
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 1

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 26
B-17E Fortress x 69
B-24D Liberator x 28
F-5A Lightning x 1

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed, A6M3 Zero x 4 damaged
Ki-61 KAIc Tony x 3 destroyed
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1 destroyed
Ki-49 Helen x 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 1 destroyed, G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses: *only one heavy baby lost in spite of increased AAA. Damn*
B-17E Fortress x 1 destroyed, B-17E Fortress x 4 damaged
B-24D Liberator x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 195

Airbase hits 23
Airbase supply hits 2 *so far, stockpiles have gone down by about 35,000 points*
Runway hits 133
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-39D Airacobra x 105
P-40E Kittyhawk x 12
A-20G Havoc x 30

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 21
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 51st Recon Regiment (Nadzab) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-47C Thunderbolt x 11
P-39D Airacobra x 18
Beaufort x 31

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 73
Vehicles lost 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 229th Regiment (Munda) from Lunga:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Kittyhawk x 11
P-38G Lightning x 12
B-25J Mitchell x 44

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25J Mitchell x 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 32
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-47C Thunderbolt x 9
B-25J Mitchell x 9

no losses
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Nadzab:

Allied Shock attack:

Attacking force 2148 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 973 troops, 4 guns, 30 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 2 to 1 (fort level 0)

Allied forces CAPTURE Nadzab base !!! *[&:] and me thinking that opposed airdrops were supposed to end in disaster*

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 38
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

My CD's at Munda are blazing away, but as you know, without bothering to give the inform the high command as to the results. However, there was so much shooting that they can't but have hit something. Toraq has now landed elements of four infantry units and an engineer unit at Munda.

Over on Papau New Guinea, I've pulled the 115th Rgt. back to Lae, partly to rest, partly because I needed to beef up Lae in case of an amphibious assault. Hence the Ozzies got odds 1:1 and peeled a level of the fort at Salamaua. I've finished unloading replacements for the 51st Div. at Kavieng (about ½ a div.!) and is staring to shuttle them down to the Lae area.

Toraq prudently LR-CAP'd Nadzab, but my KI-45's out of Madang still got a few C-47's.

I'm moving a surface combat TF into position west of Bougainville. The idea is to strike at Toraq's carriers at Gili Gili turn after next...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/28/43 Weather: Partly Cloudy
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Night Time Surface Combat at Shortland Island:

Japanese Ships:
DD Amagiri, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk *very clever, if on purpose*

Allied Ships:
PT 123
PT 124
PT 121
PT 122
PT 162
PT 167
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at Rabaul from Port Moresby & Buna:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 60 *never more than 30 Zero's intercepting each of the three strikes*

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 25
B-25J Mitchell x 6
PB4Y Liberator x 9

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
P-38G Lightning x 1 destroyed, P-38G Lightning x 1 damaged
B-25J Mitchell x 1 damaged
PB4Y Liberator x 3 damaged

Japanese Ships:
AP Takunan Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Attacks:

Air attack on Nadzab airfield from Wewak:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-21 Sally x 16

Allied aircraft:
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5
P-38G Lightning x 7

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-21 Sally x 2 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Buka airfield from Lunga:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 3
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 13

Allied aircraft:
B-17E Fortress x 29
B-24D Liberator x 22

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses:
B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 7
Airbase hits 12
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 38
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 229th Regiment (Munda) from Lunga & Russell Islands:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Kittyhawk x 10
P-38G Lightning x 21
SBD Dauntless x 80
B-25J Mitchell x 52

Allied aircraft losses:
SBD Dauntless x 12 damaged
B-25J Mitchell x 1 destroyed, B-25J Mitchell x 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 39
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Salamaua:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13112 troops, 120 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 5954 troops, 61 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 5)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 4 *no so good, but reinforcements are coming*

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 102
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 51
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

The game has settled into its stride now: Ground attacks supported by large airstrikes, only punctuated by the heavies re-cratering Rabaul every second or third day. I'll have to push nore engineers into Rabaul. My kingdom for bulldozer, I say. And a few F4U's. And a some Fletcher class DD's, please...sigh. This is the point were I was supposed to strike at the Munda invasion in strength, but Rabaul is such a mess. It's not the destruction of aircraft that's the problem, - it's the effect on morale and the damage to service facilities which keeps damaged aircraft, well, damaged.

I could move 150 aircraft down from Truk for a strike on Munda, but with three BB's sitting there, I'm afraid they'll expend themselves against these rather than the transports. That's my excuse anyway...

For future reference, the CD unit of the 6th Kure SNLF which is (maybe)
shooting up Toraq's invasion TF's has the following stats:
6x4.7/45, 15x3/40, ldrshp. 46 insp. 40, exp. 60 mrl. 68, dsrp. 47 ftg. 88
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/29/43 Weather: Clear
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Sub attack SSE Gili Gili:

Japanese Ships:
SS I-24 *survived attacking a TF holding 7-8 DD's!*

Allied Ships:
DD Selfridge, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage *sunk, along with RAdm. J. Crace*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Night Time Surface Combat at Shortland Island:

Japanese Ships:
AG 101, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
AG 102, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
AG 104
AG 106
AG 108, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
AG 109
AG 110
AG 111
AG 112
AG 113, Shell hits 2, and is sunk
AG 119
AG 120
AG 123
AG 354

Allied Ships:
DD Woodworth
DD Gridley
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack S Rabaul:

Japanese Ships:
AG 363, Shell hits 12, on fire, heavy damage, and is sunk

Allied Ships:
SS Gato
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at Rabaul from Port Moresby, Dobodura, & Gili Gili: *a gruelling wave of airstrikes which were coming to nought until the PB4Y's showed up*

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 12
Beaufighter VIC x 18
B-25D Mitchell x 12
B-25J Mitchell x 28
PB4Y Liberator x 9

Allied aircraft losses
Beaufighter VIC x 1 damaged
B-25D Mitchell x 2 damaged
B-25J Mitchell x 1 destroyed, B-25J Mitchell x 9 damaged
PB4Y Liberator x 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Kiyonami, Bomb hits 1, on fire *these attacks usually cause about 20-25 sys dmg, not serious but enough to but the boat in the dock*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF W Bougainville from Gili Gili: *surface TF headed for Gili Gili*

Allied aircraft:
B-25J Mitchell x 9

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25J Mitchell x 9 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Attacks:

Air attack on 17th Aus Brigade (Salamaua) from Madang:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 16
Ki-21 Sally x 12

no losses

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

Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Port Moresby:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 35

Allied aircraft:
B-17E Fortress x 66
B-24D Liberator x 27
F-5A Lightning x 1

Japanese aircraft losses:
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed, A6M3 Zero x 2 damaged
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 2 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 2 destroyed, G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged
E13A1 Jake x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
B-17E Fortress x 5 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 470 *wonder whether they line the airfield and wave when the bombers come over*
Guns lost 1
Airbase hits 18
Airbase supply hits 3
Runway hits 109
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 229th Regiment (Munda) from Lunga:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Kittyhawk x 11
P-38G Lightning x 9
SBD Dauntless x 78
Hudson x 17
B-25J Mitchell x 31

Allied aircraft losses:
SBD Dauntless x 5 damaged
B-25J Mitchell x 1 destroyed

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby & Dobodura:

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 12
P-47C Thunderbolt x 20
P-39D Airacobra x 118
SBD Dauntless x 52
A-20G Havoc x 33
Beaufort x 32
B-25J Mitchell x 19

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 152
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Salamaua:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 13032 troops, 119 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 5735 troops, 59 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 3

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 193
Guns lost 2

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[timtom]

I have to admit to feeling fairly depressed. This turn saw the first round of ground combat at Munda, and the Americans immediatly shaved a level off the fort. The problem is the the 229th Rgt. has 100% disruption from two weeks of air attacks. Actual physical damage is slight. I've always thought that ground attack was waaay overpowered in UV, but that's a discussion for somewhere else (I wuz robbed, I tells ye [:'(]). Clearly, I've made a major mistake by not pushing another rgt. into Munda to present an alternative target for air attacks.

Salamaua is about to go, not least helped by some screw-up delaying the FT carrying reinforcements. I need to hold on at Munda for what...two weeks (?) which seems unlikely. There's still time to push in reinforcements from Rabaul, but first I'll need to compel the three USN BB's off Munda to move...

Air raids on Rabaul is turning into a farce. Toraq isn't even bothered to escort the strikes anymore, having realised, I presume, that his B-17 & B-24 are more of a threat to my Zero's than visa-versa.

My surface raid on Gili Gili didn't come off. I won't bore you with the gore details, but suffice to say that I failed to order the TF to make the run. The carriers seems to have gone, so probably Toraq realised his vulnerability. I'm amazed at my own ability to make silly mistakes when it matters. Anyway, the TF is no worse for wear, and I'll make the run anyway. There's a bit of shipping at Gili Gili to mob up (or intel might be wrong!). The TF needs to cover 330 miles, attack, then retreat. Having played UV on and off for two years, I still don't fully grasp the fast movement rules. It never seems to pan out the way I thought it would/should...

I'm also wondering about all those shipping strikes. According to intel, the B-25's return full of holes, yet none of them crash, and they just seem to keep coming (without doing much damage).

If anyone knows of a war-winning strategy at this point, I'm all ears [:)]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/30/43 Weather: Clear
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Naval Attacks:

Air attack on TF at Dobadura from Madang:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 5

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 3
P-47C Thunderbolt x 16

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 1 destroyed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at Buna from Madang:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-45 KAIb Nick x 12

no losses

Allied Ships:
PT 151, Shell hits 4 *burn, baby, burn!!! *
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Naval Attacks:

Sub attack at Madang:

Japanese Ships:
AG 2058, Shell hits 4, heavy damage *survived, what have you*

Allied Ships:
SS S-31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at Buka from Russell Islands:

Allied aircraft:
B-25J Mitchell x 6

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25J Mitchell x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships:
AG 109, Shell hits 8, Bomb hits 1, and is sunk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at Rabaul from Dobodura & Gili Gili:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 3

Allied aircraft:
P-38G Lightning x 35
B-25J Mitchell x 27

no losses

Allied aircraft losses:
B-25J Mitchell x 13 damaged

Japanese Ships:
DD Niizuki, Shell hits 4
DD Satsuki, Shell hits 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF W Bougainville: *surface TF for Gili Gili*

Allied aircraft:
Beaufort x 9

Allied aircraft losses:
Beaufort x 3 destroyed, Beaufort x 4 damaged
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japanese Air Attacks:

Air attack on 17th Aus Brigade (Salamaua) from Wewak:

Japanese aircraft:
Ki-21 Sally x 15
Ki-48 Lily x 16

Allied aircraft:
Boomerang x 13

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-48 Lily x 2 destroyed, Ki-48 Lily x 2 damaged *total loss six Lily's*

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

Air attack on Rabaul airfield from Lunga:

Japanese aircraft:
A6M3 Zero x 40

Allied aircraft:
B-17E Fortress x 28
B-24D Liberator x 20

Japanese aircraft losses:
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed, A6M3 Zero x 2 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses:
B-17E Fortress x 2 damaged
B-24D Liberator x 1 destroyed, B-24D Liberator x 2 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 149
Airbase hits 5
Runway hits 53
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 229th Regiment (Munda) from Lunga:

Allied aircraft:
P-40E Kittyhawk x 11
SBD Dauntless x 66
Hudson x 18
B-25J Mitchell x 29

Allied aircraft losses:
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed, SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged
B-25J Mitchell x 1 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 39
Guns lost 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on 102nd Regiment (Salamaua) from Port Moresby:

Allied aircraft:
P-47C Thunderbolt x 12
P-39D Airacobra x 124
SBD Dauntless x 52
A-20G Havoc x 31

no losses

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 114
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Allied Ground Attacks:

Ground combat at Munda:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 17351 troops, 252 guns, 0 vehicles *5 RCT's +; intel estimates all of 37th ID, one from 43rd and 25th ID's*

Defending force 12698 troops, 170 guns, 0 vehicles

Allied assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 7)

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 6

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 245
Guns lost 1

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 121
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Salamaua:

Allied Deliberate attack

Attacking force 12968 troops, 119 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 5482 troops, 57 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 1

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 114

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 54
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------