The Battle Under: Japan looks to the South

[SierraJuliet]

06 May 1942

Burma
Air: East of Myitkyina 29th Chinese Division is bombed by 35 Betty causing 11 casualties.

China
Air: West of Hanoi 29th Chinese Corps is bombed by 14 Sally causing 4 casualties.
East of Homa 58th Chinese Corps is bombed by 22 Ann and 7 Sonia causing 11 casualties and 1 gun lost. The same division is then targeted by 11 Ann with 2 casualties and 1 gun lost being reported.

DEI
Air: At Medan 2nd NS Garrison Battalion is bombed by 11 Sally and 16 Helen causing 17 casualties. Also at Medan 6th Dutch Naval Base Force is bombed by 16 Helen causing 6 casualties.

South East Pacific
Ground: Troops are ashore at Merauke.

Subs
Near Batavia SS Gato take a shot at a supply convoy without success.

Naval Losses for the Day
Nil

Comments
Nothing to add to the above.

[SierraJuliet]

07 May 1942

Burma
Air: East of Myitkyina 18 Betty bomb 93rd Chinese Division causing 6 casualties.

China
Air: At Chungking 64 A6M2 and 24 A6M3 take on 11 P-40E Warhawk, 12 I-153c and 4 I-16c. 7 A6M2 go down in exchange for 8 Warhawk, 12 I-153c and 4 I-16c destroyed.
East of Homan 22 Ann and 6 Sonia bomb 58thChinese Corps causing 17 casualties.

DEI
Air: At Sinkep Island 11 Oscar locate a single Hawk 75A and shoot it down.
At Medan 19 Helen bomb 1st NS Garrison Battalion causing 28 casualties. At the same location 2nd NS Garrison Battalion is bombed by 9 Sally and 16 Helen causing 54 casualties.

South East Pacific
Ground: Troops are ashore at Lunga.
The undefended base at Merauke is captured.
Sea: During the landing at Lunga DD Hayabusa hits a mine causing 57 72 18 damage.

Subs
SS I-7 hits a mine at Midway causing 27 19 00 damage.
A hundred miles off shore of Brisbane SS I-18 locates a juicy convoy on course for Brisbane and scores 1 hit on TK J.A.Moffett. The sub then has to endure depth charge attack from 6 APDs which record 2 hits for 10 04 00 damage.

Naval Losses for the Day
Nil

Comments
LTJG Mikami J. Of F2/Yamada Daitai becomes an ace with his 6th kill credited. LTJG Obayashi V. of F3/3rd Chutai becomes an ace with his 6th kill credited. Both pilots are based at Ichang. The losses to my Zeros on the previous day at Chungking caused me to review the quality of the fighter leaders based at Ichang. A couple of changes has paid handsome dividends.

[SierraJuliet]

08 May 1942

Burma
Air: 2nd Tank Regiment picking it way through dense jungle on its return to Lashio is bombed by 9SB-2c causing 12 casualties and 2 vehicles lost.

China
Air: At Yunan 23 Betty and 45 Helen bomb the airfield causing 2 airbase hits and 13 runway hits.
Ground: Japanese bombardment attack on 3 Chinese units dug in on the roadway north of Homan causes 8 Chinese casualties and 2 guns lost.

DEI
Sea: At Menado 3 Martin 139 bomb AK Dori Maru and score 2 bomb hits and causing the already damaged ship to move up to 60 53 17 damage.
Ground: Japanese shock attack at Sinkep Island achieves assault odds of 180 to 1 (fort level 2) and the base is captured. Riouw Garrision Battalion and 13th DAF Base Force surrender 917 men. 1 Hawk 75A and 4 F.K.51 are destroyed on the ground. Japanese loses amount to 6 casualties and 1 gun lost.
Air: At Medan 1st NS Garrison Battalion is bombed by 4 Sally and 6 Helen causing 9 casualties.

South East Pacific
Ground: Japanese forces at Lunga capture the undefended base.

Subs
Within sight of Brisbane SSI-10 scores 1 torpedo hit on TK J.A. Moffett. The target is on fire and appears to have suffered heavy damage.

Naval Losses for the Day
Nil

Comments
The sighting of a convoy moving towards Brisbane plants the seed of an idea to intercept the convoy on the return journey. KB which has been at sea in the northern area of the Coral Sea is well placed. Plans are underway to detach the faster elements and send them south to sit astride the anticipated route. The replenishment fleet is at Rabaul and will sortie in support while protection for the replenishment fleet will be provided by the slower ships in KB.

[SierraJuliet]

09 May 1942

Burma
Air: 22 Betty and 20 Helen bomb the airfield at Imphal causing 20 casualties, 1 gun lost, 4 airbase hits, 2 airbase supply hits and 23 runway hits. 2 Helen are lost.

China
Air: 15 Helen bomb the airfield at Yunan causing 8casualties, 2 airbase hits and 3 runway hits.
At Chungking 69 A6M2 and 26 A6M3 take on 21 P-40E Warhawk, 7 I-153c and 13 I-16c. 7 Zero are destroyed in exchange for 19 Warhawk, 7 I-153c and 1 I-16c destroyed.
West of Hanoi 7 Sally bomb 29th Chinese Corps causing 5 casualties.
East of Homan 22 Ann and 6 Sonia bomb 58th Chinese Corps causing 39 casualties and 2 guns lost. A second attack on the same unit by 11 Ann causes 18 casualties.
Ground: Outside of Homan Japanese bombardment causes 2 Japanese casualties and 1 gun lost to 14 Chinese casualties and 1 gun lost.

DEI
Air: At Medan 6th Dutch Naval Base Force is bombed by 8 Sally and 15 Helen causing 12 casualties.

Australia
Air: At Cooktown 45 Betty bomb the airfield causing 1 runway hit. Also at Cooktown 17 Betty bomb 4th Dutch Naval Base Force causing 44 casualties and 2 vehicles lost.

Subs
East of Gili Gili a combined DD/PG ASW task force locates SS Pompano and claims 1 hit. The ASW task force stick with the submarine and record another hit and the sub is reported as fighting a fire.
West of Kendari a DD ASW task force locate SS Seadragon but are unable to register a hit.

Naval Losses for the Day
Nil

Comments
PO1 Muto T. Of F2/Yamada Daitai based at Ichang makes his 5th kill to become ace.
PO2 Nomura V. of F1/Omura Daitai based at Ichang makes his 5th kill to become ace.
Ens Takatsuka T. of F2/Tainan Daitai based at Ichang makes his 5th kill to become ace.
Nomura is also wounded. The good results continue in the skies over Chungking.

[SierraJuliet]

10 May 1942

China
Air: West of Hanoi 14 Sally bomb 67th Chinese Division causing 13 casualties.
East of Homan 22 Ann and 7 Sonia bomb 58th Chinese Corps causing 33 casualties and 1 gun lost.
Ground: North east of Homan Japanese bombardment causes 18 Chinese casualties and 1 gun lost.

DEI
Air: South of Palembang 10 Sally bomb So.Sumatra Garrision Battalion causing 21 casualties.

Australia
Air: 43 Betty bomb Cooktown and cause 1 airbase and 1 runway hit. Also at Cooktown 16 Betty bomb 4th Dutch Naval Base Force causing 13 casualties.

Subs
South of Gili Gili a mixed DD/PG ASW task force locates SS Pompano but score no hits.
East of Gili Gili a PG ASW task force locates SS KXV and claims 1 hit.

Naval Losses for the Day
Nil

Comments
Little action to report on today. Good to see ASW task forces at least locating Allied submarines.

[SierraJuliet]

11 May 1942

China
Air: East of Homan 22 Ann and 6 Sonia bomb 58th Chinese Corps causing 7 casualties and 1 gun lost. A second attack by 9 Ann causes 19 casualties.
Ground: Northeast of Homan Japanese bombardment causes 2 Japanese casualties and 170 Chinese casualties and 7 guns lost.

DEI
Air: At Medan 22 Helen bomb 2nd NS Garrison Battalion causing 50 casualties.
South of Palembang 14 Sally bomb So.Sumatra Garrison causing 5 casualties.

Australia
Air: At Cooktown 21 A6M2 take on 18 P-40E Warhawk with nasty results. 8 Zeros are cut from the sky for only 1 Warhawk downed.
A further raid on Cooktown by 43 Betty escorted by 46 A6M2 meets 17 Warhawk. This time 2 Zero are lost in exchange for 12 Warhawk. The airbase is bombed causing 7 casualties, 1 vehicle lost, 1 airbase hit, 1 airbase supply hit and 2 runway hits.

Subs
North east of Kendari SS Seadragon makes an attempt on a cargo convoy without success.

Naval Losses for the Day
Nil

Comments
Reports are received that 1LT Browning H. of 21st FS has been credited with kill # 5 achieving ace status. This would be from the Zeros that did poorly in the sweep over Cooktown. From memory they only had an average experience rating in the 60s which was reflected in the result. The results in the following bombing raid addressed the situation nicely though.

[SierraJuliet]

12 May 1942

China
Air: 73 Betty bomb the airfield at Yunan causing 4 airbase supply hits and 2 runway hits.
West of Hanoi 19 Sally bomb 67th Chinese Division causing 26 casualties.
Ground: Northeast of Homan Japanese bombardment causes 2 Japanese casualties and 1 gun lost to 108 Chinese casualties and 2 guns lost.

DEI
Ground: Troops are ashore at Muntok.
Air: South of Palembang 14 Sally bomb So.Sumatra Garrison Battalion causing 2 casualties and 1 gun lost.

South East Pacific
Ground: Japanese forces capture the undefended base at Tulagi.

Australia
Air: At Cooktown 40 Betty bomb the airfield causing 1 airbase and 1 runway hit.

Subs
No action reported.

Naval Losses for the Day
Nil

Comments Minefields detected at Port Moresby and Rabaul.

[SierraJuliet]

13 May 1942

China
Air: At Chungking 36 A6M2 and 27 A6M3 take on 9 I-153 and 13 I-16c. 2 A6M2 are lost in exchange for 8 I-153 and 10 I-16c destroyed.
West of Hanoi 19 Sally bomb 67th Chinese Division causing 23 casualties.
East of Homan 11 Ann bomb 58th Chinese Corps causing 5 casualties.
Ground: Northeast of Homan Japanese bombardment attack causes 51 Chinese casualties and 2 guns lost.

DEI
Ground: Troops are ashore at Raba.
The undefended base at Muntok is captured by Japanese forces.

Australia
Air: At Cooktown 37Betty bomb 4th Dutch Naval Base Force causing 16 casualties.

Subs
West of Guam SS Sturgeon locates a cargo convoy but scores no hits.
North of Guadalcanal SS Tambor locates a troop convoy but scores no hits.

Naval Losses for the Day
Nil

Comments
ENS Oyama H. of F1/Omura Daitai based at Ichang achieves ace status.
WO Matsuyama B. and LTJG Fujiwara W. of F3/3rd Chutai based at Ichang both achieves ace status.

[SierraJuliet]

14 May 1942

Burma
Air: East of Myitkyina 46 Betty bomb 38th Chinese Division causing 81 casualties and 1 gun lost.

China
Air: West of Hanoi 20 Sally bomb 21st Chinese Corps causing 55 casualties.
Northeast of Homan 9 Kate, 8 Ann and 18 Sonia bomb 74th Chinese Corps causing 43 casualties.
Northeast of Homan 22 Ann and 7 Sonia bomb 58th Chinese Corps causing 31 casualties.
Ground: Japanese bombardment northeast of Homan causes 82 Chinese casualties and 3 guns lost.
East of Homan Japanese bombardment attack causes 8 Chinese casualties.

DEI
Ground: The undefended base at Raba is captured.
Air: At Medan 11 Sally and 19 Helen bomb 1st NS Garrison Battalion causing 37 casualties. A further attack on the same unit by 19 Helen causes 55 casualties.

Australia
Air: At Cooktown 34 Betty attack 4th Dutch Naval Base Force without success and loose 1 of their number in the raid.

Subs
No action reported.

Naval Losses for the Day
Nil

Comments
KB is steadily moving itself into a hoped for intercept position on the convoy seen approaching Brisbane a week or so ago.

[SierraJuliet]

15 May 1942

Burma
Air: East of Myitkyina 56 Betty bomb 49th Chinese Division causing 18 casualties.

China
Air: West of Hanoi 20 Sally bomb 21st Chinese Corps causing 21 casualties.
Northeast of Homan 9 Kate, 9 Ann and 17 Sonia bomb 3rd New Chinese Corps causing 38 casualties and 1 gun lost.
East of Homan 22 Ann and 6 Sonia are jumped by 12 I-153c and 2 Ann and 1 Sonia are destroyed. The pilots press on with their attack upon 58th Chinese Corps with 69 casualties recorded.
Ground: Northeast of Homan Japanese bombardment attack causes 281 Chinese casualties and 8 guns lost.
East of Homan Japanese bombardment attack causes 14 Chinese casualties and 1 gun lost.

DEI
Air: At Medan 26 Helen bomb 6th Dutch Naval Base Force causing 40 casualties.

Subs
No action reported.

Naval Losses for the Day
Nil

Comments
Lunga airfield expands to size 1. My bomber pilots in China have become complacent to the point of flying bombing missions without fighter escort. Fortunately the loses were not too grievous. Tocaff seems to have sent the Warhawks away which is a good otherwise the carnage would have been much worse.

[SierraJuliet]

16 May 1942

Burma
Air: East of Myitkyina 22nd Chinese Division is attacked by 45 Betty and 17 casualties are reported.

China
Air: West of Hanoi 20 Sally bomb 29th Chinese Corps causing 17 casualties.
North east of Homan 19 Ann and 5 Sonia bomb 74th Chinese Corps causing 22 casualties and 1 gun lost. A second attack on the same unit, this time by 9 Kate, 12 Ann and 18 Sonia causes 29 casualties and 1 gun lost.
Ground: Northeast of Homan Japanese bombardment causes 224 Chinese casualties and 7 guns lost.

DEI
Ground: Troops are ashore at Padang.
Air: At Medan 7 Helen bomb 1st NS Garrison Battalion causing 8 casualties. A second raid by 4 Sally and 6 Helen causes 14 casualties to 6th Dutch Naval Base Force.
South of Palembang 15 Sally bomb So.Sumatra Garrison Battalion causing 14 casualties.

South East Pacific
Ground: Sura’iro is occupied by Japan.

Subs
North of the Philippines SS Sturgeon makes contact with a cargo convoy but is unable to score any hits.
Near Balikpapan an ASW Task Force of destroyers locates SS Gudgeon and report 2 hits. Gudgeon then targets the destroyers without result.
In the Makassar Strait SS Gato locates a tanker convoy but secures no hits.

Naval Losses for the Day
Nil

Comments
The voyage south for KB is over. Nagumo has the fleet positioned mid way between Norfolk Island and Brisbane. Reports from the submarine screen strung out across the approach to Brisbane indicate that the convoy previously seen sailing to Brisbane is making the return journey to the east. KB has been operating in quiet mode and so far all indications are that the enemy has no idea of the presence of the strike force sitting astride the shipping lane.

[SierraJuliet]

17 May 1942

Burma
Air: East of Lashio 2nd Tank Regiment is bombed by 9 SB-2c causing 13 casualties.
East of Myitkyina 38th Chinese Division is attacked by 58 Betty and 64 casualties are reported.

China
Air: East of Yunan 67th Chinese Division is bombed by 15 Sally causing 21 casualties.
North east of Homan 20 Sonia, 10 Ann and 8 Kate escorted by 5 Oscar meets 13 I-153c. 1 Kate is destroyed and those bombers that make their bomb runs cause 2 casualties on the Chinese ground unit.
Ground: North east of Homan Japanese bombardment causes 2 Japanese casualties and 1 gun lost against 227 Chinese casualties and 11 guns lost.

DEI
Ground: Troops are ashore at Amboina.
At Padang Japanese deliberate attack on the undefended base achieves assault odds of 7 to 1 (fort level 2) and the base is captured. 2 T.Iva are reported destroyed on the ground.
West of Kendari Japanese bombardment causes 8 Allied casualties.
Air: At Medan 13 Sally and 18 Helen bomb 6th Dutch Naval Base Force causing 68 casualties.

Australia
Air: At Cooktown 17 Betty bomb 4th Dutch Naval Base Force causing 13 casualties.

Subs
Near Balikpapan SS Gudgeon is located for the second day running. An ASW task force made up of destroyers Yugiri, Murakumo, Shirayuki, Kawakaze and Yudachi report 2 hits.
During daylight hours Gudgeon is located by another ASW task force [Ikazuchi, Ushio and Akebono] with 1 further hit being reported.
Some 300 miles east of Brisbane an allied tanker convoy trips my submarine screen. SS I-10 reports 2 torpedo hits on TK Papoose. Other ships identified in the convoy are tankers Connecticut, R.J. Hanna and Tulsagas escorted by destroyers Crosby, Talbot and Waters.

Naval Losses for the Day
Nil

Comments
The prospect of some air action originating from KB on 18 May is at hand. The submarine screen has done its job and picked up the convoy moving in the direction of KB. The big question is what is travelling with the convoy.... will there be any large warships. Recon suggests there are a couple of battleships with the convoy.... could it be POW and Repulse being redeployed?

The attached screen shot shows the relative positions of the fleets on the day before. It seems that the convoy is going to sail unwarily into the waiting arms of KB.

[n01487477]

Hey SJ,
good to see the game is ongoing and that you might be about to have another nice moment where planning has paid dividends.

Amazing to also see 5:1 A2A ... well done!

Have a good N.Y

[Local Yokel]

Your 5 May mention of recce a/c targetting Wake might be indicative of an Allied move against the island - alternatively, Wake could be nothing more than a convenient target for such aircraft. If specialist recconnaissance planes were being used then this might indicate a higher level of Allied 'interest'.

An atoll invasion at this date can be very chancy for an Allied player, particularly if it is within reach of escorted land attack planes carrying torpedoes. But Japan still needs to have fortified infantry in place to repel such an attack, so I hope Wake isn't wide open!

A fat tanker convoy could be a cheap and juicy prize for the KB, but clearly announces its whereabouts a long way distant from Wake if the Allies do have designs on the place.

[SierraJuliet]

Winter in the southern reaches of the Coral Sea is a peaceful time of the year. The threat of tropical storms this far south had long receded. For Nagumo and the fleet, though, with dawn fast approaching peacefulness had been left behind ages ago. Preparations proceeded efficiently towards getting the first strike of the day up and away. Scout planes were already aloft and an air of anticipation pervaded the fleet. The composition of KB had altered slightly since the action against Enterprise. Kaga had been left behind and was currently some hundreds of miles to the north. Hiryu was still completing her repairs in the Home Islands. For this action Akagi, Soryu, Zuikaku and Shokaku would fight in company with Shoho.

Not far away and a little to the northwest a large convoy of allied ships sailed serenely on through the quiet waters of the pacific. Their mission complete with the delivery of war goods to Australia the sailors onboard were looking forward to completing their journey back to the west coast of America. They had made it past the submarine picket and the war zone was far to the north and the prospect of a pleasant journey back home was a pleasant diversion from the daily grind of ship board life. The talk of what to do on shore leave was the topic on many a ship. On board the escorts the mood was more disciplined and watchful. The submarine attack after leaving Brisbane had been an unpleasant reminder that the enemy could strike at the most unexpected time and place. Not until they had made their final port would the tension onboard the escorts ease.

Not long after sun rise the message Nagumo was waiting for arrived. ‘Many merchant ships bearing east’. Fuchida was in the air with the first strike. He too had received the message of the first sighting. It was not long before he too was able to look upon the enemy fleet. And a great many ships it was. Somewhat disappointed he noted no large enemy warships but not to worry there was a job to be completed here and he had been granted an opportunity to oversee the destruction of as many of the enemy’s ships as was possible on this day!

[SierraJuliet]

18 May 1942
Destruction of east bound convoy; Southern Coral Sea

In the first aerial assault of the day 20 Val and 20 Kate escorted by 10 A6M2 fall upon the unsuspecting merchant fleet. Of the cargo ships present San Felipe stops 1 torpedo and Mormacwren is struck by 5 bombs. The tanker Frank G Drum is smashed by 3 torpedoes and the transport Tasker H. Bliss stops 1 torpedo. 1 Val and 6 Kate are reported damaged as the jubilant airmen return to their carriers.

The next wave is made up of 17 Val and 17 Kate escorted by 7 A6M2. Cargo ships are hunted down and this time Susan Luckenbach stops 1 torpedo and 2 bombs and Lancaster is hit by 2 torpedoes whilst Mormacwren is demolished by no less than 4 torpedo hits. Tanker K.R.Kingsbury is struck by 6 bomb hits and fellow tanker F Humphrey stops 1 torpedo. 2 Val and 6 Kate are damaged.

The next strike sees 20 Val and 20 Kate escorted by 8 A6M2 bear in on the tanker Gulfcoast 3 torpedo hits, cargo ship San Felipe 1 bomb and the destroyer Talbot 2 bombs. 1 Val and 5 Kate are damaged and 1 Kate is shot down.

The next strike comprising 18 Val and 20 Kate escorted by 3 A6M2 deals with a group of escorts. John D. Edwards is smashed by 5 bombs and Peary is hit by 2 torpedoes. 1 Kate and 1 Val are damaged.

KB now gets the co-ordination issues rectified and launches a wave of 53 Val and 39 Kate. The fighter boys finding no opposition have taken a break this time. In this raid the following cargo ships are struck; Santa Rita 3 bomb hits, Empire Summer 2 torpedoes, Modjekerto 2 torpedoes, Utahan 5 bombs, Andrea Luckenbach 5 bombs, whilst the following tankers are struck; Brandywine 4 bombs, Connecticut 1 torpedo, Mexicos H Whittier 2 bombs, Tulsagas 1 torpedo and H.D.Collier 2 bombs. The transport Royal T. Frank is struck by 2 torpedoes. 1 Kate is destroyed and 4 damaged in this strike.

In the next strike 17 Val escorted by 28 A6M2 find Susan Luckenbach and drop a further 7 bombs on this luckless ship. The convoy has broken up and hunting down ships is going to become more difficult to the point that in the final strike of the day 17 Kates fly a fruitless sortie.

So ends the first day of hunting. Nagumo is reasonably satisfied with the results but knows better can be achieved yet. There are numerous damaged and undamaged ships to locate and deal with.

[SierraJuliet]

ORIGINAL: n01487477

Hey SJ,
good to see the game is ongoing and that you might be about to have another nice moment where planning has paid dividends.

Amazing to also see 5:1 A2A ... well done!

Have a good N.Y

Hope you N.Y. was a good one too. Todd and I have been keeping up a steady pace of usually a turn a day. My AAR has slipped to a couple of months behind so plenty to catch up on when I get time to string a few words together. As you can see I did have a very nice moment and the next couple of AAR days will see yet more Allied shipping lost. A pin scratch I know but a very satisfying result non the less.

The A2A results have been very good too although it is mainly made up of the south east asia conquests and lots of fairly good pickings over China.

Opps had to do a small edit after forgetting that some words have a double meaning. [8|]

[SierraJuliet]

ORIGINAL: Local Yokel

Your 5 May mention of recce a/c targetting Wake might be indicative of an Allied move against the island - alternatively, Wake could be nothing more than a convenient target for such aircraft. If specialist recconnaissance planes were being used then this might indicate a higher level of Allied 'interest'.

An atoll invasion at this date can be very chancy for an Allied player, particularly if it is within reach of escorted land attack planes carrying torpedoes. But Japan still needs to have fortified infantry in place to repel such an attack, so I hope Wake isn't wide open!

A fat tanker convoy could be a cheap and juicy prize for the KB, but clearly announces its whereabouts a long way distant from Wake if the Allies do have designs on the place.

Yes you are quiet right regarding Wake Island. Since the Enterprise foray in Febraury I have been working at getting the airfield up to a level 4 so I can launch torpedoes when the attack does come. Hard to know what Todd will do with this island though as he keeps hinting a leaving some nice Japanese POW camps scattered throughout the Pacific. With the game currently up to the early days of July no attack has eventuated yet although the pesky reconn planes make a daily visit and my Zero CAP just can't seem to bring any of them down.

And yes the attack on the convoy certainly announced the presnece of KB a long way south but with almost 2 months of game play now gone it seems that Todd chose not to take advantage of this knowledge. I think it fits in with his overal strategy of pulling back to a line he is happy to defend then build up overwhelming firepower and strike at a time and place of his choosing. I think he has a dash of Montgomery about him. [:)] In any event I reckon the strike on this convoy so far south would have come as an awful shock and I'm quite pleased I managed to sneak KB into position without him becoming aware of it.

[SierraJuliet]

18 May 1942

Burma
Air: East of Myitkyina 28th Chinese Division is bombed by 21 Betty causing 22 casualties and 1 gun lost. Later in the day 40 Betty follow up and bomb 38th Chinese Division causing 24 casualties.

China
Air: East of Yunan 21st Chinese Corps is bombed by 15 Sally causing 17 causalities.
Ground: Northeast of Homan Japanese bombardment causes 170 Chinese casualties and 11 guns lost.

DEI
Ground: Troops are ashore at Kuala.
South of Palembang Japanese bombardment causes 11 casualties.
Air: South of Palembang So.Sumatra Garrison Battalion is bombed by 14 Sally causing 13 casualties and 1 gun lost.

Subs
North of Tulagi SS Tambor puts 6 shells and 1 torpedo into AK Akibasan Maru causing 15 31 49 damage.

Naval Losses for the Day
DD Peary, AK Susan Luckenbach, AK Mormacwren, TK Frank G Drum

Comments
Well not much more to say apart from the ongoing action in the Coral Sea. Nagumo faces a difficult decision on where to place his task force for the next day of operations. He expects that all the undamaged ships will hightail back to Brisbane and the cover of all the land based air power that the Allies can muster. On the other hand the damaged ships, he expects will be well dispersed by dawn of the next morning.

Remembering that the object of this sortie is to destroy as much shipping as possible without endangering KB Nagumo opts not to pursue and place his ships within range of land based air operating out of Brisbane. In order to maximise his changes against the dispersed convoy Nagumo orders KB to head to the location of the convoy when attacked. This should provide the best opportunity to locate plenty of fleeing ships no matter which heading they are on.

[SierraJuliet]

19 May 1942
The destruction continues. KB is busy hunting down and despatching wounded ships.

20 Val and 20 Kate locate AK Empire Summer and score 1 bomb hit and 2 torpedoes.
20 Val and 19 Kate locate AK Utahan and score 10 bomb hits and 1 torpedo.
17 Val and 20 Kate escorted by 28 A6M2 locate DD Talbot and drop 8 bombs and 1 torpedo into her.
17 Val and 10 Kate locate AP Royal T. Frank and score 6 bomb hits.
16 Val escorted by 28 Zero locate TK Mexicos H Whittier and drop 10 bombs onboard.
20 Kate locates TK Connecticut and hit her with 2 torpedoes.
16 Val locates TK Brandywine and drop 7 bombs on her.
10 Kate locates TK Torres and hit her with 3 torpedoes.
19 Val locates TK William F Humphrey and drop 5 bombs on this ship.