West Wind, Clear - Rybka (J) vs. Skipjack (A)

[Skipjack_]

Some updates:

10/17/43:  14th Army attacks in Cairns - losses roughly 800 squads each side in the first combat, 562 Japanese / 693 allied for the second.
Saipan:  U.S. CVs move in to conduct a raid - first G4Ms attack and are wiped out, then B5Ns attack at shorter range with the same result.  U.S. strikes sink 6 MCS and a DD.  Some Seiwa Maru APs avoid air attacks but 1 is sunk by a Gato-class sub as it leaves the area.
Wotje - APD sunk by G4Ms from Kwajelein escorting in resupply.

Losses (Jap/Allied)
Squads 204/127
AFVs     28/8
Guns    160/40
AC        320/140

10/24/43:  CV raid on Marcus downs some LBA but no ships - Rybka effectively dodged me this time.   Guadalcanal bombarded and the 6th Army attacks the remaining Jap ground troops.   U.S. CVL suffers light damage from New Georgia LBA.

Losses (Jap/Allied)
Squads   91/40
AFVs     23/2
Guns    118/10
AC        136/54

10/31/43:  Guadalcanal bombarded and the 6th Army attacks again.  Central Pacific fleet (CVs, BBs and their escorts) bombard Kwajelein.

Losses (Jap/Allied)
Squads   122/9
AFVs       50/0
Guns      181/10
AC           65/13

11/7/43:  After bombardment, the 3rd Marine Division lands on Kwajelein and takes the base - eliminating the 2/54th Bde, 2/109 Bde and the Sabeso 5th Bn - odds 2.  General Barbey gets the Kudos. [8D]

Gen. Swift on Guadalcanal reports the island is secure - Japanese 6th Div, 49th Bde, 53rd Bde and the 8th SNLF eliminated.  During the weekly bombardment mission, an Australian CA takes moderate damage from B5Ns operating from Kolombangara.

Losses (Jap/Allied)
Squads   467/65
AFVs       15/5
Guns       125/9
AC          165/97

[Skipjack_]

11/14/43:  U.S. Fleet bombards Ponape, and the manage to capture the island after landing the U.S. 6th, 24th, 33rd and 40th divisions in 2 waves.  Lt. Gen Ando and the Japanese 62nd Division are driven inland, 6th Army begins planning mop-up operations.  Meanwhile 2 engineer units begin preparations to make this base a staging area for continued operations.

Losses (Jap/Allied)
Squads   145/140
AFVs      42/4
Guns     171/11
AC      211/112

[Skipjack_]

11/21/43:

Pacific Fleet commanders confer and agree to pull plans to invade the upper Solomons off the shelf.  SIGINT reports stiff resistance in Bougainville and Rabaul, while the deep jungles of New Georgia and Kolombangara hardly look inviting.  That leaves the 2-factor air bases in Shortlands, Buka and Green Islands.  While the defense of these bases varies from average to nothing, the problems posed by surrounding airfields and the Japanese Fleet need to be addressed.

The good news:  With the arrival of BBs Iowa and New Jersey, 7 fast battleships and 8 slower battleships are available for bombardment and surface combat.

The plan:  Sent the fast battleships organized in 2 TFs to Rabaul to challenge the IJN surface units reported there, 2 CV TFs will provide cover and neutralize surrounding airfields.  Australian troops will head for Green Island covered by an Air TF (2 CVL) and a bombardment TF based on 3 slow BBs, while U.S. troops will hit the Shortlands covered by the South Pacific CVs (Lexington, Saratoga and 2 CVL) and British BBs.

U.S. planners have some misgivings exposing U.S. capital ships to an IJN SCTF reported to be made up mostly of CLs and DDs, the thought of losing a BB or CA to one of their long lances is unsettling.  But the operation is approved and Admirals Lee and Ainsworth depart.

Results:  The IJN SCTF is actually composed of 2 BB (Nagato-type, Kongo-type), 5 CA (2 Tone-types, 2 Mogami-types, 1 Myoko-type), 4 CLs (2-Kuma-types, a Kitakami-type and a Sendai-type) plus DDs.

Surface Combat 1:  Adm Lee's TF finds the range and 16" shells pound the BBs and send two Tone-class CAs to the bottom, long lances claim a Benhan DD and Clemson DD in return.  The Kongo is disabled and detached with 4 Fibuki DDs to escort.

Surface Combat 2:  Adm Ainsworth's TF hits next and finishes the Nagato plus 2 Mogamis, a Fletcher DD is sunk and the CL Phoenix is damaged by a long lance.

Surface Combat 3:  After the Kongo founders, Lee's BBs find the 4 Fibukis and pound them beneath the waves with 16" salvos from Iowa, New Jersey, Indiana and North Carolina. [:D]

[Skipjack_]

Air Combats:  U.S. CVs find the IJN survivors and deliver airstrikes finishing the last CA, all the CLs and all but 2 of the DDs. [8D].  Adm Nimitz couldn't be more pleased.

Dispatches are send to the invasion fleets - their operations may proceed.

Green Island:  Taken by the 9th AUS Div (undefended).

Shortlands:  1st Cav, 27th, 32nd and 37th U.S. Divisions land in 2 waves, and after heavy losses manage to take the base during end-of-turn combat.

Japanese LBA strike back at the transports now scattered around the South and Central Pacific - only a few bombers get though in each strike, but their veteran pilots go in and get hits - 8 MCS sunk. [X(]

Losses (Jap/Allied):

Squads  162/316
AFVs      52/23
Guns     207/38
AC        355/112
Ships      23/8

[Capt. Harlock]

Surface Combat 1: Adm Lee's TF finds the range and 16" shells pound the BBs and send two Tone-class CAs to the bottom, long lances claim a Benhan DD and Clemson DD in return. The Kongo is disabled and detached with 4 Fibuki DDs to escort.

Surface Combat 2: Adm Ainsworth's TF hits next and finishes the Nagato plus 2 Mogamis, a Fletcher DD is sunk and the CL Phoenix is damaged by a long lance.

Surface Combat 3: After the Kongo founders, Lee's BBs find the 4 Fibukis and pound them beneath the waves with 16" salvos from Iowa, New Jersey, Indiana and North Carolina.

Bravo to Messrs. Lee and Ainsworth! Sounds like a fun turn to watch.[;)]

[Skipjack_]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Bravo to Messrs. Lee and Ainsworth! Sounds like a fun turn to watch.[;)]

It was indeed fun. Not often does one get the chance to see the Iowas mix it up in surface combat. And this time DOSBOX was able to show it accurately [:)]

Especially fun if you are a member of the "gun club" [;)]

[Skipjack_]

11/28/43:   Allies continue to assault Jap units outside Cloncurry, attempting to open the road to Darwin, the fresh IJA 48th Div has been added to bolster the 7th, 43rd and 56th Divs, which appear well below TOE strength ... 5 A6Ms and 42 G4Ms break through CAP over Guadalcanal and claim a U.S. CVE ... Dauntlesses from Green Island sink a Fibuki DD at Rabaul ... Ponape secured.

Losses (Jap/Allied):

Squads  386/245
AFVs      24/32
Guns     102/38
AC        558/323

12/5/43:  Weekly assaults continue at Cloncurry, where the units on both sides are wearing down, it will be a question of whether the Allies can break the Japanese lines before their units must rest and refit ... Airstrikes are ordered on Truk, but the planning left something to be desired - unescorted B24s from Wotjie and Kwajelien suffer losses, P38s and Hudsons strike from Eniwetok - the Hudson can make the trip thanks to it's extended range but 42 are lost due to it's weak armament [:(][:@]  They are withdrawn at the end of the week ... supplies arrive at Green Island and Shortlands, Buka Island is taken (undefended).

Losses (Jap/Allied):

Squads  170/204
AFVs      35/14
Guns      78/29
AC        620/307

[Skipjack_]

12/12/43: Attacks continue in Cloncurry, the IJA has been reinforced with the 14th Div ... U.S. Army divisions attack in Shortlands but the 3 Jap Bdes continue to hold ... Jacks and Ki-61s defend Rabaul well, the small airfields on Green & Buka Islands cannot yet operate sufficient U.S. squadrons to control the skies in the upper solomons ... better coordinated air raids on Truk make headway - B24s escorted by P38Js strike from Eniwetok, 71 Jap aircraft destroyed in the air and on the ground, 24 attacking aircraft lost ... unfortunately B24s from Kwajelein attack without escorts, 20 lost.

Movement Phase:  5th Fleet heads for Emirau Island ... a CVL takes a torpedo from an I-boat en route but continues ... 2 SCTFs w/ BBs bombard, then the 2 Marine, 3 U.S. Army Divs and an Armored Bde land and take the base after heavy combat ... 2 APs sunk by subs and air strikes ... the Allies capture a base that HAS an AIRFIELD - 4 factors, woo hoo!

Losses (Jap/Allied):

Squads  431/668
AFVs      63/63
Guns     186/86
AC        593/232

[Capt. Harlock]

unfortunately B24s from Kwajelein attack without escorts, 20 lost.

You might want to consider night operations . . .

[Skipjack_]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

You might want to consider night operations . . .

Good idea, I should look at bases with 4E bombers and verify they have base orders or the squadrons are on NI or Night Missions. I left the base without orders and the B24s has daylight mission, so they picked a 'target of opportunity'.

[Skipjack_]

12/19/43:

SW Pacific command continues mop-up operations in Shortlands ... 14th Army assaults in Cloncurry continue ... air attacks on Truk do fairly well,  Japanese aircraft in New Britain still holding off allied squadrons well ... 5th Fleet sends a CV raid to Saipan but this time Japanese aircraft are well prepared, Essex takes a crippling torpedo blow.  In return U.S. only gets 1 AP - carrying supplies [:@].  Meanwhile 2 Independence CVLs (1 with torpedo damage from an I-boat) are sent to cover an invasion of D'entraneaux, the plan being to proceed south for repairs after but D3As from Rabaul have other ideas; they strike and send the damaged CVL to the bottom [:(]   D'entraneaux taken (undefended) ... Allied APs hit leaving Ponape, 1 AMC sunk, 1 damaged.

Losses (Jap/Allied):

Squads  321/270
AFVs      65/29
Guns     161/55
AC        611/338

[Capt. Harlock]

12/19/43:

SW Pacific command continues mop-up operations in Shortlands ... 14th Army assaults in Cloncurry continue ... air attacks on Truk do fairly well, Japanese aircraft in New Britain still holding off allied squadrons well ... 5th Fleet sends a CV raid to Saipan but this time Japanese aircraft are well prepared, Essex takes a crippling torpedo blow.

Looks like you were still suffering from the USN CV coordination problems that reduce aircraft available for CAP. It gets better when 1944 begins.

[Skipjack_]

12/26/43: 

Assaults in Shortlands and Emirau Island find the Japanese holding well, they refuse to be mopped up this turn ... Air forces at Rabaul still quite strong, 83 fighters (Shokis, Tonys) and 24 bombers strike Green Island, where 30 & 15 are lost, but they shoot down 21 Corsairs.  U.S. strikes from Green and Buka islands do manage to grind the jap air units down by the end of the first air phase.

U.S. Fleet operations are limited, Shortlands are bombarded by BBs, supplies are escorted to Buka and Emirau Islands.

Cloncurry:  The assaults continue - with 6 Inf Divs, 2 Inf Bdes and 3 Armored Bdes, the force being applied is massive, but the IJA continues to bring in reinforcements, 2 Ind Bdes and an SBF have been added to the divsions here.  But the top units on both sides (1st Marine Division, 48th Inf Divsion) are the focus.  The marines are exhorted by "Chesty" Puller - "Keep pressing! Keep pressing!  They are going to break!" ... and finally they do.  The 48th IJA Inf Div shatters and is eliminated, shortly afterwords the allies find the remaining jap units withdrawing.  The road to Darwin is open!

Squads  317/371
AFVs      38/33
Guns     140/58
AC        425/155

[Capt. Harlock]

The 48th IJA Inf Div shatters and is eliminated, shortly afterwords the allies find the remaining jap units withdrawing. The road to Darwin is open!

Unless. of course, the IJA does a "bounce back" and moves an LCU back down the road before the Allied LCU's can advance . . .[;)]

[Skipjack_]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Looks like you were still suffering from the USN CV coordination problems that reduce aircraft available for CAP. It gets better when 1944 begins.

That is true - increasing the quantity of Hellcats to 42+ instead of 36 is a big help [:)]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Unless. of course, the IJA does a "bounce back" and moves an LCU back down the road before the Allied LCU's can advance . . .[;)]

That is what I thought would happen, but surprisingly the Jap Army decided to stay in Darwin - I guess Rybka decided to fight there instead - farther from my airfields and supply bases.

[Skipjack_]

1/2/44:

Assault continues in Shortlands helped with bombardment, IJA continues to hold on ... U.S. airstrike on Truk from Kwajelein scores a big success, japs lose 45 fighers in the air plus 55 A/C destroyed on the ground, U.S. lose 15 P38s and 2 B24s ... U.S Marines and Army troops find a surprise - the Admiralties are undefended. Escorted by CVs and a SCTF they are taken.

Losses (Jap/Allied)
Squads 53/55
AFVs 18/5
Guns 17/10
AC 478/145

1/9/44: Shortlands secured after reinforcements arrive to add their weight to the attack.

Losses  (Jap/Allied)
Squads  152/12
AFVs      73/0
Guns     121/16
AC       280/79

1/16/44:

U.S. moves supplies and reinforcements into the Admiralties ... Japanese have deployed large number of aircraft to the New Britain area and the reasons are discovered by allied search aircraft - transports arrive off Cape Glouchester ... Allied intelligence believes this is an evacuation effort, Beaufighters are unable to deter the operation.

On the outskirts of Darwin, the 14th Army has completed preparations and launches its assault.  Air support flies in from Cloncurry and massive armour supports the advance, however grevious losses are suffered by the attackers.  One regimental commander from the 1st Marine Division informs headquarters he has very few men left to press on - Chesty Puller replies "Dammit, you've got you, don't you?  Attack."  The base is finally taken and the Japanese losses are heavy as well - the 14th infantry division is eliminated and 57 aircraft are destroyed on the ground.  Darwin has been taken, but the cost for this overland assault was very high indeed.

Losses  (Jap/Allied)
Squads  409/599
AFVs      90/52
Guns     209/147
Aircraft  734/237

[Capt. Harlock]

Darwin has been taken, but the cost for this overland assault was very high indeed.

Wow -- that's about the biggest ground slugging match I've ever seen. If you'll pardon my saying so, the 11th ID could have used more training. But given that you even threw in a Phillipine division, I suppose you couldn't have them wait on the sidelines. How far down in experience do you think the 1st Marines will go as they draw recruits?

[Skipjack_]

ORIGINAL: Capt. Harlock

Wow -- that's about the biggest ground slugging match I've ever seen. If you'll pardon my saying so, the 11th ID could have used more training. But given that you even threw in a Phillipine division, I suppose you couldn't have them wait on the sidelines. How far down in experience do you think the 1st Marines will go as they draw recruits?

I'm guessing their experience will drop to around 60 - unfortunately. I will have to wait and see, right now there are many divisions well below TOE strength.[:(]

[Skipjack_]

1/23/44:

Allied planners take stock of the South & Central Pacific - the counter-attack has made progress but continues to find well-prepared defenses, leading Churchill to describe it as "munching a porcipine one quill at a time".  A strategy is sought to threaten Japanese rear areas and spread their defense.  Forces available are organized into two task forces - the first is made up of 1 Marine Div, 1 Cav Div, 1 Armoured Bde and 4 other divisions.  It is to attack Truk to allow strikes towards the Marianas, Woleai or the north coast of New Guinea.  The second force of primarily Australian troops will have 3 divisions and an armoured brigade, and will attack Tenimbar Island.  From there Ambon, Timor, or Broome can be threatened.

Task force Truk moves first and with massive fleet cover invades and takes the island - the IJA 18th Div, 53rd Div and the 2nd Amp Bde put up a tough fight, but U.S. troops land in waves of 2 divisions each, and the third wave commanded by Adm Oldendorf is the one to break through. 

The Japs appear to be extracting troops from New Britain, to cover operations airpower is in Wewak and it strikes U.S. CVEs escorting troops & supplies to the Admiralties - one U.S. CVE lost.

[Skipjack_]

1/23/44 continued ...

As U.S. troops invade Truk, KB appears nearby (roughly between Woleai and Admiralties) - probably providing cover for the troop evacuation at Cape Glouchester ... no duel precipitates with U.S. CVs - instead a strike from Emirau hits a IJN CVE.

Losses (Jap/Allied):

Squads  224/234
AFVs      67/14
Guns     167/18
Aircraft  472/154