Crocky
Posts: 417
Joined: 12/4/2001 From: Christchurch New Zealand Status: offline
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AFTER ACTION REPORTS 10/22-23/42 The Japanese landings around Lunga are the major focus of attention this turn. Recon tells me that Rick has a surface TF in Lunga either to interdict supplies or to bombard the newly landed Japanese troops, Intel also informs us that this TF probably bontains a BB. Two bombardment TFs are dispatched to assist ground forces at Lunga TF 1 contains 1xBB 4xCA 1xCL & 6xDD......TF 2 is made up of a 1xBB & 8xDD. There is an allied carrier floating around off San Cristobel waiting for my transports I suspect so thats not an option it will have to be the Tokyo express to resupply so first thing is to remove his surface ships fron around Lunga.. All aircraft at Rabual and Shortland are set to Naval attack and the TFs steam...Just before nightfall the US surface forces around Lunga are spotted and come under attack from LBA with excellent resultsAir attack on TF, near Lunga at 38,40 Japanese aircraft A6M2 Zero x 5 A6M3 Zero x 18 D3A Val x 12 G3M Nell x 9 G4M1 Betty x 18 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 Japanese aircraft losses D3A Val x 3 destroyed D3A Val x 4 damaged G3M Nell x 9 damaged G4M1 Betty x 2 destroyed G4M1 Betty x 14 damaged Allied aircraft losses F4F-4 Wildcat x 1 destroyed Allied Ships BB South Dakota, Torpedo hits 5, on fire, heavy damage :D CL Helena, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage CL Hobart, Torpedo hits 1 DD Barton DD O'Bannon 5 torpedo hits on the South Dakota is a most excellent result The ground assult at Lunga is inconclusive Ground combat at Lunga Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 12235 troops, 159 guns, 20 vehicles Defending force 18078 troops, 77 guns, 87 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 1 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese Assault reduces fortifications to 0 Japanese ground losses: Men lost 106 Allied ground losses: Men lost 172 Night falls and my surface TFs arrive to cause more havoc amongst the allied ships ight Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 38,40 Japanese Ships BB Kirishima, Shell hits 2 CA Chikuma, Shell hits 2 CA Mogami, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage CA Kumano, Shell hits 3, Torpedo hits 1 CA Aoba, Shell hits 1 CL Yubari, Shell hits 1 DD Takanami DD Onami DD Shiranui DD Michishio, Shell hits 2, heavy damage DD Arare, Shell hits 3, on fire, heavy damage DD Shigure Allied Ships BB South Dakota, Shell hits 11, on fire, heavy damage CL Hobart, Shell hits 7, on fire CL Helena, Shell hits 14, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage DD O'Bannon, Shell hits 1, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage DD Lardner DD Barton DD Welles Mogami suffers heavy damage but so do the 2 US light cruisers The TF continues on disposing of several PT boats on the way unfortunately one of the PT boats manages to slip a torpedo into the Kirishima slowing her considerably.The TF bombards the allied ground forces but on the way out runs into South Dakota and her cohorts again Night Time Surface Combat, near Lunga at 38,40 Japanese Ships BB Kirishima, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage CA Chikuma, Shell hits 3, on fire CA Mogami, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage CA Kumano CA Aoba, Shell hits 3, on fire CL Yubari, Shell hits 1 DD Takanami DD Onami, Shell hits 1, on fire DD Shiranui DD Michishio, heavy damage DD Arare, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage DD Shigure Allied Ships BB South Dakota, Shell hits 8, on fire, heavy damage CL Hobart, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage CL Helena, and is sunk DD O'Bannon, Shell hits 7, and is sunk DD Lardner DD Barton, Shell hits 1 DD Welles, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage Action is hot and heavy Kirishima take several 16inch hits but returns the favor with 14 inch shells on the South Dakota the DD Arare staggers as she takes on board a 16 inch shell. The Helena already badly damaged sinks as well as the DD Welles who sinks CL Hobart is severly damaged and sinking quitely disappearing under the waters the next morning... While all this is happening TF 2 (1xBB & 8xDD) sneaks in sinking a couple of PT boats bombards US ground forces causing 200 casualties and departs for base. As morning dawns the respective task forces are heading for their bases but TF1 comes under attack for LBA from San Cristobal Air attack on TF at 37,38 Allied aircraft F4F-4 Wildcat x 6 SBD Dauntless x 24 TBF Avenger x 8 Allied aircraft losses SBD Dauntless x 3 damaged TBF Avenger x 2 destroyed TBF Avenger x 1 damaged Japanese Ships DD Arare, on fire, heavy damage BB Kirishima, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage CA Mogami, Bomb hits 4, on fire, heavy damage The Kirishima aint looking good with 78% sys damage & 65% flooding, the CA Mogami finally gives up the ghost and capsizes just as a force of Kates passes overhead on its way to attack the South Dakota TF which has been spotted near Tulagi Air attack on TF, near Tulagi at 38,39 Japanese aircraft B5N Kate x 16 Allied Ships DD Barton BB South Dakota, Bomb hits 3, on fire, heavy damage DD Welles, heavy damage Three more hits on the South Dakota will this thing ever sink....... At the end of the day reports come in that the South Dakota founded just south of Tulagi HURRAH!!!! :) Ground forces assault Lunga again Ground combat at Lunga Japanese Deliberate attack Attacking force 12102 troops, 158 guns, 20 vehicles Defending force 17685 troops, 76 guns, 87 vehicles Japanese assault odds: 0 to 1 (fort level 0) Japanese ground losses: Men lost 94 Guns lost 1 Allied ground losses: Men lost 140 Inconclusive results but looking from this turn to the last I would say there will be no quick result in the battle for Lunga. Overall a turn I am reasonably happy with traded the Kirishima for the South Dakota and the Mogami for 2 Allied CLs I wont mention Madang in New Guinea which is getting hammered by US medium and heavy bombers
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Mike Blair CROCKY
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