here we go again.....

[borner]

THe KB recently made another two day visit to the waters off Townsville. My land based bombers thought it would be best to fly a few at a time and got slaughtered. about 220 allied planes lost to around 50 for the IJN. No hits on his ships this time around.

[RGIJN]

August 1st 1942.


overall situation calm, not much to report. Lost three subs recently, for zero results in return.
The enemy staged a major resupply operation for Luganville covered by his carriers. Unfortunately, we got wind of this too late to interfere.

The Empire keeps on being busy building up the ultimate perimeter, while also the fleet is still growing in its strength.

[RGIJN]

after several imperial ships struck mines laid all over the Southern Areas (Nanyo-Cho), operation "Wasserschlag" commenced. It´s general outline routes back to the germans, and we improved it significantly.

Three enemy subs hit, others strafed. Obviously they were on the return leg from some minelaying action in the Shortlands vicinity. At least one is reported sunk immediately, leaving only a big oil slick and a few bottles of "Coca Cola" on the surface....

[borner]

clearly a false report. Our sub captins drink Pepsi

[borner]

Nearly the whole of the IJN and been running around the Coral sea for a week. First they were reported off Australia, but failed to find any targets. I sent the US carrier fleet on a run north of Irau to see if anything was out there. Upon reports that Ralf was sending his carriers after me, I retired east for one day, then south. Making very good time, the IJN showed up, but our fleets were 12 hexes apart and no combat took place. I then sailed to points just SE and SW of Luganville. The IJN declined to sail close enough to come into land based strike range, and is now heading back to port. As much as the enemy fleet has sailed so far in the game, thier fuel reserves must be very low.

[RGIJN]

fuel wasn´t a serious problem, rather bad that I wasn´t able to catch the allied CVs in time during their futile foray north of Guadalcanal...

When KB was finally ready for battle off Espiritu Santo, the enemy kept his forces too far back so no slaughter commenced so far.

Overall situation fair with very few losses on both sides yet.

[RGIJN]

again, both fleets missed each other after some minor operations & movements of our own to recapture Gavigamana. The allies had recently settled there and established a forward PBY base... for the cost of one of our ships struck a mine (medium damage) this island is back under Imperial control now.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Gavigamana

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 2712 troops, 18 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 1230 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

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

Japanese forces CAPTURE Gavigamana base !!!



Allied ground losses:
Men lost 1155


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

[borner]

and a good training target it will be for my bombers......
 
 

[borner]

not much to report. I am keeping my carriers in support range of Luganville, and the IJN will not engage me within range of my land based air power. I am still not sure he has fully recovered from his early shock off Townsville. 

[RGIJN]

ORIGINAL: borner

not much to report. I am keeping my carriers in support range of Luganville, and the IJN will not engage me within range of my land based air power. I am still not sure he has fully recovered from his early shock off Townsville. 

In fact, I DID have recover. Fully.

Since the Allies refused to come up farther north and me being positive about the urgent need to neutralize their carrier power, KB set sail few days ago again. Tried to engage them several times but always got spotted on the approach. Not so this time......

Launch point was still under maximum range of Guadalcanal´s Zero squadrons. Obviously the enemy did not expect such a move since he had not a single LRCAP fighter prtecting his flattops from Luganville only two hexes away from his fleet.

Most allied strikes were fend off completely (tough bold ones), and only one Avenger managed to hit CV HIYO with a fish. Not much damage.
Then our own attacks were truly devastating. LEX, YORKTOWN, Big E and HORNET are reported sunk, and I guess SARA & WASP can´t be far from following suit.

A/C losses ~440/120


here is the complete report




AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 10/17/42

Weather: Partly Cloudy

Sub attack near Hunete at 53,64

Japanese Ships
SS I-165

Allied Ships
DD Porter


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 40,41

Allied Ships
SS Drum


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Sub attack at 40,41

Allied Ships
SS Sailfish


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Air attack on TF at 45,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 12
A6M2 Zero x 140
A6M3 Zero x 39

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 22
SBD Dauntless x 18
TBF Avenger x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 4 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 11 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 7 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 6 damaged
TBF Avenger x 10 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 1 damaged

WO N.Imamura of EII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 9

LCDR R. Best of VB-6 bails out and is RESCUED


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 45,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 12
A6M2 Zero x 140
A6M3 Zero x 39

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 12 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 4 damaged

ENS D.Kasai of BII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 45,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 12
A6M2 Zero x 136
A6M3 Zero x 39

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 35
SBD Dauntless x 86
TBF Avenger x 15

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 4 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 3 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 5 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 25 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 5 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 67 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 8 damaged
TBF Avenger x 10 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 2 damaged

PO2 S.Banno of EI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 9

WO N.Imamura of EII-1 Daitai bails out and is CAPTURED


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 45,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 5
A6M2 Zero x 77
A6M3 Zero x 16

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 18

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 20 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 3 damaged

LTJG N.Matsuyama of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 8


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 45,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 5
A6M2 Zero x 133
A6M3 Zero x 34

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
SBD Dauntless x 18

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 9 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 13 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 3 damaged

WO T. Kikuchi of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 5

LT W.Koizumi of FF2/Yokohama Chutai is KILLED


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 45,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 11
A6M2 Zero x 137
A6M3 Zero x 34

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12
SBD Dauntless x 50
TBF Avenger x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2-N Rufe x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 37 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 6 damaged
TBF Avenger x 14 destroyed

PO2 O.Matsumoto of BII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 6


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 45,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 5
A6M2 Zero x 81
A6M3 Zero x 24

Allied aircraft
TBF Avenger x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
TBF Avenger x 9 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 3 damaged

CPO V.Matsuo of DIII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 5

LCDR H. Romberg of VT-7 bails out and is RESCUED

Japanese Ships
CV Hiyo, Torpedo hits 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 45,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 8
A6M2 Zero x 133
A6M3 Zero x 33

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 21
SBD Dauntless x 18
TBF Avenger x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 5 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 10 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 damaged
SBD Dauntless x 15 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged
TBF Avenger x 13 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 1 damaged

PO2 P.Takagi of EI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 9

PO2 V.Kawabata of EII-1 Daitai bails out and is CAPTURED

Japanese Ships
CV Hiyo
CVE Unyo


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 52,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 39
A6M3 Zero x 6
D3A Val x 150
B5N Kate x 79
E13A1 Jake x 6

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 73

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 8 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 8 destroyed
D3A Val x 21 damaged
B5N Kate x 6 destroyed
B5N Kate x 12 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 damaged

LTJG R.Jeffries of VF-42 is credited with kill number 3

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 27, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 10, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage
CA Portland, Bomb hits 17, on fire, heavy damage
DD Anderson
CA Australia, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Indianapolis, Bomb hits 7, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CA Chicago, Bomb hits 16, on fire, heavy damage
DD Aylwin, Bomb hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
CA Astoria
DD Tucker, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Northampton
CL Hobart, Torpedo hits 2, on fire


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 52,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
B5N Kate x 23

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 4 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 damaged

LTJG A.Handa of EIII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Walke, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 52,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 6
D3A Val x 17

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed

LTJG A.Jensen of VF-42 is credited with kill number 3

Allied Ships
CA Chester, Bomb hits 4, on fire


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 52,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
D3A Val x 27
B5N Kate x 18

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 3 destroyed
D3A Val x 9 damaged
B5N Kate x 13 destroyed
B5N Kate x 5 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed

LTJG A.Jensen of VF-42 is credited with kill number 4

Allied Ships
CV Saratoga, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CL Nashville
CL Leander
CV Wasp, Bomb hits 13, on fire, heavy damage


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on Wau , at 8,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M3 Zero x 24
D3A Val x 35
F1M2 Pete x 10
E13A1 Jake x 16
E7K2 Alf x 4

no losses


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 45,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 10
A6M2 Zero x 113
A6M3 Zero x 31

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 13
SBD Dauntless x 3
TBF Avenger x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 2 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 3 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 6 destroyed
TBF Avenger x 1 damaged

ENS D.Kasai of BII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 5


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 45,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 10
A6M2 Zero x 126
A6M3 Zero x 31

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 3

no losses

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed

CPO T. Yokoyama of BI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 7


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 52,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
A6M3 Zero x 13
D3A Val x 96
B5N Kate x 71
E13A1 Jake x 7

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 5 destroyed
D3A Val x 8 damaged
B5N Kate x 15 destroyed
B5N Kate x 43 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 2 destroyed

PO1 B.Hirano of AI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 2

Allied Ships
BB North Carolina, Bomb hits 9
CV Hornet, Bomb hits 4, Torpedo hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
CA Quincy, Torpedo hits 1
CV Enterprise, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD McCall, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CA Canberra, Bomb hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL St. Louis, Bomb hits 5, on fire
CA Louisville, Bomb hits 4, on fire
CL Phoenix


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 52,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
B5N Kate x 8

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 8 damaged

Allied Ships
CA San Francisco, Torpedo hits 1


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 52,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2-N Rufe x 3
A6M2 Zero x 11
A6M3 Zero x 7
D3A Val x 25
B5N Kate x 7

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 5 damaged
B5N Kate x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 6 damaged

Allied Ships
CL St. Louis, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CL Phoenix, Bomb hits 5, on fire
CA Louisville, on fire
BB North Carolina


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 52,54

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
D3A Val x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 7 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Saratoga, Bomb hits 13, on fire, heavy damage
CV Wasp, on fire, heavy damage


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

[borner]

Amazing. combat took place at range 5, and no real damage on the KB even though my carriers got off full strikes

[RGIJN]

here is some map

[RGIJN]

one of our subs managed to get into Espiritu Santo and hit one of the big boys with two torpedoes... The battlewagon should be out of the war now, she was hit by nine bombs already before during the CV battle.

Unfortunately this submarine was chased down after its successful attack. So we´ll have to drink all the sake award by ourselves...[;)]

[RGIJN]

..during a Betty raid over Luganville. Alot of enemy CAP could not prevent the kill and many of them were shot down.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Luganville at 53,53

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 44
G4M1 Betty x 22

Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 56
P-39D Airacobra x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 5 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 1 destroyed
G4M1 Betty x 12 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat x 18 destroyed
F4F-4 Wildcat x 7 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed

LTJG N.Kawakubo of F2/252nd Daitai is credited with kill number 5

Allied Ships
CV Wasp, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

[RGIJN]

after some negotiations, we decided to resume this game and play on a bit. Just for one pupose: I am trying an AutoVictory move. Otherwise it would be quite boring the next months for Brian.

It´s mid December 1943 now, and the fleet(s) will sail very soon. Never had so much strentgh on map before.