Calamity in the Coral Sea

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Calamity in the Coral Sea - a brief AAR - 5/25/2002 6:32:27 PM

GrahamFife

Posts: 36
Joined: 6/3/2001
From: Feltham, West of London, England
Status: offline

CALAMITY IN THE CORAL SEA

A BRIEF AAR

Like everyone except the beta testers, I�m still coming to grips with the game and in particular how everything fits together (with numerous references to the manual).

After a few tries at the tutorial and the training scenario, I thought I would try the first scenario and make some notes as I went along.

SCENARIO 1 - CORAL SEA

All options standard (so FOW is on).

Playing the USA.

PREPARATION

There are reports of Japanese intentions to invade Southern New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Forces available for defence are minimal. In particular, there are no substantial bodies of troops available to move to the unoccupied bases at Buna and Gili Gili, nor into the Solomons.

Decision - to concentrate on New Guinea as the first priority. If the Japanese take Port Moresby, they will have a perfect jumping off point to threaten Australia.

TF201 with the Lexington and the Yorktown - the only available carrier support in the South Pacific - are ordered to sail at flank speed to the ocean south of Gili Gili - out of the range of land based aircraft but hopefully able to intercept any IJN attempt to land troops at Port Moresby or Gili Gili.

TF 202 (replenishment) are ordered to follow.

TF203 - a small surface combat force led by CA Chicage and Astoria - are also ordered to the waters south of Gili Gili.

Two new submarine TF are formed. TF204 with four subs will sail to the ocean due east of Gili Gili. TF205 with three subs will assume station further north, off Buna.

Once these ships are in position, I do not say the enemy cannot come to Port Moresby. I do say they cannot come by sea.

Other submarines are already hunting around the IJN shipping lanes.

[In game terms, TF 201, 202 and 203 are formed at the start of the scenario and the other subs are already at sea. TF204 and TF205 are the only ones I created.].

The 8th PRS are ordered to fly to Gili Gili. In retrospect this was wrong, for Gili Gili has no supplies. They were moved to Port Moresby within a few days.

1 MAY 1942

Thunderstorms.

TF at sea implementing orders. No encounters with the enemy.

2 MAY 1942

Rain.

Reports of IJN ships at Shortland.

S-47 encountered DD Oile north of Keiveng. Torpedos missed, and the sub was not detected.

3 MAY 1942

Thunderstorms.

TF203 (surface combat) now on station south of Gili Gili.

Reports of IJN CV and/or CA seen at Lae and Finschafen. 11 Aircobra from Port Moresby flew to investigate - straight into a CAP of 26 Zeros! Six were destroyed and the other five damaged; the survivors reported sighting the CV Shokaku.

4 MAY 1942

Thunderstorms.

Reports of enemy ships unloading troops at Gili Gili.

IJN carrier fleet sighted off Buna (14,36). Reports of one CV, two CVL, three CA and four DD. 14 Aircobra were scraped together from Port Moresby. Again, they encountered CAP of 28 Zeroes. Three of the Aircobra were destroyed and three were damaged for nothing more than identification of CV Shokaku and CVL Shoho.

While this was going on, land based aircraft from Rabul braved the storms to attack Port Moresby. 24 Zeroes and 38 Nells against a scratch defence of 4 Aircobra and 4 Kittyhawks. Three of the Aircobra and three of the Nells were damaged. Fortunately the bomb aimers had no sense of direction, achieving one hit on the airbase, one on the supply depot and two on the runway.

Post #: 1

- 5/25/2002 6:34:33 PM

GrahamFife

Posts: 36
Joined: 6/3/2001
From: Feltham, West of London, England
Status: offline

5 MAY 2002

Weather forecast part cloudy, part clear.

Surface Combat TF203 ordered to proceed to Gili Gili and engage the enemy troopships. Air Combat TF201 had now arrived off Gili Gili and would move to attack any IJN survivors at daybreak.

Not a bad plan to counter an invasion attempt, but it would lose the battle.

First, there was an overnight attack from LBA.

Air attack on Port Moresby , at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
G4M1 Betty x 20

Allied aircraft

Japanese aircraft losses
G4M1 Betty x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Hudson x 1 destroyed
Hudson x 1 damaged

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 14

Airbase hits 1
Runway hits 4

Attacking Level Bombers:
20 x G4M1 Betty at 6000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TF203�s task proceeded as planned.

Night Time Surface Combat, near Gili Gili at 17,42

Japanese Ships
DD Yuzuki, Shell hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kikuzuki
MSW Tama Maru
AP Azumasan Maru, Shell hits 33, and is sunk
AP Koei Maru

Allied Ships
CA Chicago, Shell hits 1
CA Australia, Shell hits 1
CL Hobart
DD Walke
DD Farragut

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 446
Guns lost 2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dawn revealed another two troop transport fleets off Gili Gili. TF 201 launched attacks on these.

Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 17,42

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9
SBD Dauntless x 30
TBD Devastator x 12

Japanese Ships
DD Uzuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PG Nikkai Maru, Bomb hits 1
AP Nichibi Maru
AP China Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire
MSW W20
AP Goyo Maru
AP Akibasan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Mito Maru, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 81

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 17,42

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
SBD Dauntless x 15

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed

Japanese Ships
AP Mito Maru, heavy damage
AP Akibasan Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chowa Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP China Maru, on fire

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 48

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 17,42

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 15
TBD Devastator x 12

Allied aircraft losses
TBD Devastator x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Uzuki, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Chowa Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Akibasan Maru, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Nichibi Maru, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PG Nikkai Maru
AP Mito Maru, heavy damage

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 38

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Search aircraft - and frantic messages from the troop carriers and their escorts - had alerted the IJN carrier commanders. The carrier fleet had moved further south overnight, and TF 201 was overwhelmed by three attacks.

Air attack on TF at 17,44

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 22
D3A Val x 21
B5N Kate x 17

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 22

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 4 destroyed
D3A Val x 5 damaged
B5N Kate x 2 destroyed
B5N Kate x 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA Chester, Torpedo hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 17,44

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 5
B5N Kate x 7

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 4 destroyed
B5N Kate x 3 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 destroyed

LT M. Nakamoto of EIII-3 Daitai bails out and is CAPTURED

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, on fire, heavy damage
CV Yorktown, on fire

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 17,44

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
D3A Val x 20
B5N Kate x 21

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 6 damaged
B5N Kate x 8 destroyed
B5N Kate x 8 damaged

LTJG C.Simmons of VF-42 is credited with kill number 2

Allied Ships
CA Chester
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
CV Yorktown, on fire
DD Morris

After this, the Lexington was unable to launch or recover aircraft. Some flew to the Yorktown, others to Port Moresby. Fired by a desperate longing for revenge, the surviving carrier bombers flew unescorted towards the IJN carrier fleet.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 15,39

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 12
TBD Devastator x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 4 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 7 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 4 damaged
TBD Devastator x 4 destroyed
TBD Devastator x 8 damaged

LT T. Hoashi of EI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CA Kinugasa
CA Haguro

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LBA from Port Moresby attacked the troop transport fleet at Gili Gili

Air attack on TF at 19,42

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6
SBD Dauntless x 11
TBD Devastator x 12

Allied aircraft losses
TBD Devastator x 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Koei Maru, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Kikuzuki, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Tama Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ships were detected landing troops at Buna:

Air attack on TF, near Buna at 12,38

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 9

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Syoka Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Buna at 12,38

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
SBD Dauntless x 16
P-39D Airacobra x 5
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 2 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Asanagi, Bomb hits 1, on fire
PG Keijo Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Refuelled, and inspired by their successes of the morning, the Japanese pilots returned to attack the Yorktown �

Air attack on TF at 17,44

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 10
B5N Kate x 15

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 4 damaged
B5N Kate x 2 destroyed
B5N Kate x 5 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 3, on fire
CA Astoria, Torpedo hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
� and the Lexington.

Air attack on TF at 17,44

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
D3A Val x 14

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CV Lexington, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LBA from Rabul attacked TF203 off Gili Gili

Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 17,42

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
G3M Nell x 20

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 2 destroyed
G3M Nell x 10 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
CA Chicago, Torpedo hits 1

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
1 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet

(in reply to GrahamFife)

Post #: 2

- 5/25/2002 6:35:51 PM

GrahamFife

Posts: 36
Joined: 6/3/2001
From: Feltham, West of London, England
Status: offline

6 MAY 1942

Overnight damage assessment:

Lexington and Yorktown both ablaze. Lexington�s fires and damage were worst (fires 25, system damage 67 floatation damage 77, speed 7 knots; Yorktown fires 16, system damage 34, floatation damage 18). Of the escorts, there were minor fires in CA Chester (system damage 30, floatation damage 38) and CA Astoria (system damage 35, floatation damage 44).

With no reports of damage to any of the IJN carriers, priorities have to change to protecting the USN�s damaged ships

New Task Forces were formed:

Lexington escorted by DD Phelps and DD Russell ordered to Cairns.

Yorktown, Astoria and Chester escorted by DD Hammann and Morris ordered to Cookstown.

Both at the best speed available.

Remaining undamaged ships (CA Minneapolis, New Orleans and Portland, DD Alwin, Anderson, Dewey and Monaghan) ordered to withdraw to Port Moresby.

In the roads off Gili Gili, the damaged CA Australia (fires 18, system damage 31 floatation damage 76 best speed 7 knots) detatched and ordered to Cairns. Remaining ships (CA Chicago, CL Hobart, DD Farragut and Walke) remain on station, hoping to turn back the troop landings.

With rain forecast, all depended on the damaged ships slipping away undetected.

But it was not to be.

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

Dawn confirmed the IJN carriers still in position. Everything the could fly launched from Port Moresby.

Air attack on TF at 16,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 26

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 3
SBD Dauntless x 32
P-39D Airacobra x 8

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 13 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 21 damaged
P-39D Airacobra x 2 destroyed

CPT P. Brown of 36th FS is KILLED

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CV Shokaku
CVL Shoho, Bomb hits 2, on fire
DD Sazanami

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carrier aircraft first attacked the two ships of the replenishment fleet TF202:

Air attack on TF at 17,44

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 5
B5N Kate x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Sims, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage
AO Neosho

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LBA from Rabul returned to the attack off Gili Gili

Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 17,42

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 23
G3M Nell x 25
G4M1 Betty x 14

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 1 destroyed
G3M Nell x 6 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Chicago, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
CL Hobart, Torpedo hits 4, on fire, heavy damage
DD Farragut, Torpedo hits 1, heavy damage

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
2 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
4 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G3M Nell at 200 feet
3 x G4M1 Betty at 200 feet

CL Hobart sank after this attack.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Then the carrier aircraft joined the attack

Air attack on TF at 17,44

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 27
D3A Val x 16
B5N Kate x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 1 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

CA Australia sank after this attack.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Then the Yorktown and its escorts were detected.

Air attack on TF at 14,46

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 9
D3A Val x 24
B5N Kate x 8

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
DD Morris
CA Chester, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 14,46

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 4
B5N Kate x 16

Allied Ships
CV Yorktown, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

CV Yorktown sank after this attack.
-----------------

_____________________________

(in reply to GrahamFife)

Post #: 3

- 5/25/2002 6:37:33 PM

GrahamFife

Posts: 36
Joined: 6/3/2001
From: Feltham, West of London, England
Status: offline

7 MAY 1942

CV Lexington had continued to burn all day and all night. Systems damage had increased to 75 and floatation damage to 87.

The IJN carrier fleet north of Gili Gili (16,40) dominates the sky�

� but spotter planes saw by dawn�s early light that the main carrier fleet was pulling back towards New Britain, leaving the heavily damaged CVL Shoho to follow.

It might have been best to finish the Shoho. But the displaced pilots from the Lexington wanted revenge and led an attack on the main fleet off Morobe. It was magnificent, heroic even, but futile.

Air attack on TF at 13,35

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 8
SBD Dauntless x 16
P-39D Airacobra x 7
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4
A-24 Dauntless x 11

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 5 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged
A-24 Dauntless x 5 destroyed
A-24 Dauntless x 6 damaged

PO1 D.Kasai of EII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3

CPT D. Mcgee of 36th FS is KILLED

Japanese Ships
CV Zuikaku
CV Shokaku

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 15,38

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 3

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
CVL Shoho, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With the attack beaten off, the carrier aircraft returned to destroy TR202.

Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 10
D3A Val x 18
B5N Kate x 16

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 7
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 2 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 destroyed

Allied aircraft losses
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged

2LT C. Troxell of 35th FS is credited with kill number 3

Allied Ships
DD Sims, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 10,41

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 5
B5N Kate x 10

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 1 damaged

Allied Ships
AO Neosho, Bomb hits 2, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LBA from Port Moresby split their efforts between Gili Gili and Buna

Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 17,42

Allied aircraft
A-24 Dauntless x 3

Japanese Ships
PG Nikkai Maru

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Gili Gili at 17,42

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 5

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 4 damaged

Japanese Ships
CA Kako

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF, near Buna at 12,38

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 8
P-39D Airacobra x 3

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
AP Mogamigawa Maru
AP Syoka Maru, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Air attack on TF at 15,38

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 5
P-39D Airacobra x 5
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Then the carrier aircraft came for TF210.

Air attack on TF, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 20
D3A Val x 22
B5N Kate x 8

Allied aircraft
P-39D Airacobra x 5
P-40E Kittyhawk x 4

Japanese aircraft losses
D3A Val x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 3 damaged
B5N Kate x 1 destroyed

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

PO1 D.Kasai of EII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 4

Allied Ships
CA Minneapolis
DD Dewey
CA New Orleans, Bomb hits 1, Torpedo hits 1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attackat 9,54

Japanese Ships
SS I-28

Allied Ships
CA Chicago

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Gili Gili

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 7166 troops, 61 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 220 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Gili Gili base !!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Buna

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 818 troops, 6 guns, 0 vehicles

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles

Japanese assault odds: 44 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE Buna base !!!

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

(in reply to GrahamFife)

Post #: 4

- 5/25/2002 6:38:51 PM

GrahamFife

Posts: 36
Joined: 6/3/2001
From: Feltham, West of London, England
Status: offline

CONCLUSION

CV Lexington sank on the night of 7/8 May.

At this point I abandoned the scenario (to write this AAR), as there was no prospect of achieving victory:

Japanese points 2119
Allied points 1505.

Japanese ships reported sunk: AP Akibasan Maru and Chowa Maru; severe damage to many other AP and to CV Shoho.

Allied ships known sunk: CV Yorktown, CV Lexington, CA Australia, CL Hobart, DD Sims and AO Neosho. Severe damage to CA Astoria and CA Chicago.

SPECULATION

What are the possible consequences of this alternative history?

For one thing, the Zuikaka and the Shokaku would have been available at full strength for Midway and the Yorktown would not.

But would the Midway campaign have happened at all?

Will no allied carriers left in the South Pacific and at least two IJN carriers available, an alternative would have been to send the other IJN carriers to the region. Based off Buna with sufficient CAP to block any attack from LBA from Port Moresby and out of range of LBA from Australia, they could have picked off any attempt to reinforce Port Moresby by air or sea at will, and covered the landing of more troops at Buna, with a view to a land attack on Port Moresby.

Another alternative would have been to leave LBA from New Britain to suppress Port Moresby, and use the carrier fleet to support landings in the Solomons. The change in the balance of carrier forces would have made it much more difficult for the Allies to respond at Guadalcanal or elsewhere.

(in reply to GrahamFife)

Post #: 5

- 5/25/2002 6:40:30 PM

dgaad

Posts: 864
Joined: 7/25/2001
From: Hockeytown
Status: offline

Owwww. OOOwwwwwww. Ouch. Stop. It hurts.

_____________________________

Last time I checked, the forums were messed up. ;)

(in reply to GrahamFife)

Post #: 6

- 5/25/2002 9:05:11 PM

Drex

Posts: 2524
Joined: 9/13/2000
From: Chico,california
Status: offline

Great AAR. i gotta buy this game. I never was able to change the result of Coral Sea in PacWar or in other games. the Japanese are too strong. Historically the US was lucky only to lose one carrier.

(in reply to GrahamFife)

Post #: 7

- 5/25/2002 10:34:27 PM

GrahamFife

Posts: 36
Joined: 6/3/2001
From: Feltham, West of London, England
Status: offline

dgaad and Drex - for you, I played through to the end of the scenario, to see what would happen :)

(in reply to GrahamFife)

Post #: 8

- 5/25/2002 10:36:57 PM

GrahamFife

Posts: 36
Joined: 6/3/2001
From: Feltham, West of London, England
Status: offline

8 MAY 1942

Thunderstorms.

CA Astoria and DD Hammann and Morris have reached Cooktown.

DD Walke and Phelps have reached Cairns.

There are reports of ships at Gili Gili and Buna.

CVL Shoho is attacked off Lae by 16 Dauntless and escorts from Port Moresby. Too badly damaged to put up CAP, she is hit by five bombs and seen to be on fire and listing heavily.

9 MAY 1942

DD Farragut and CA Chicago have reached Cairns. CA Chester has reached Cooktown.

There is a report from Gili Gili of the sinking of AP China Maru.

There are reports of ships at Gili Gili and Buna.

CVL Shoho is still afloat! - but surely not for long, after S-42 puts three torpedoes into her off Lae.

10 MAY 1942

Raining

DD Russell has reached Cairns.

There are reports of ships at Gili Gili and Buna.

LBA from Rabul attack Port Moresby: 27 Zeros and 25 Bettys, opposed by 5 Aircobra and 5 Kittyhawk. Reports of two Bettys destroyed and hits on three more. One Kittyhawk is destroyed and two damaged. The runway is hit (only) twice (must be the rain).

A squadron of B26 Marauders, sent to Port Moresby from Australia, attack the 144th Regiment at Gili Gili.

S-42 is active again, hitting MSW Wa 2 with three torpedoes off Lae.

11 MAY 1942

Overcast

There are reports of ships at Gili Gili and Buna.

LBA from Rabul and Lae attack Port Moresby: 36 Zeros (one reported destroyed) and 16 Nells (one reported destroyed, three damaged) opposed by 5 Kittyhawk and four Aircobra. One Aircobra is lost in the air, two Hudson and three Marauders destroyed on the ground where eleven bombs hit the runway. Nevertheless, seven Marauders are able to fly another raid on the 144th at Gili Gili.

12 MAY 1942

Overcast.

With persistent reports of ships at Gili Gili and Buna, and no sign of any carriers for days, a new task force is formed of the undamaged ships at Port Moresby. CA Minneapolis and CA Portland with DD Alwin, Anderson, Dewey and Monaghan under Real Admiral Lee are ordered to Gili Gili. No sooner have they left than a report is received that two battleships are at Gili Gili - which rather casts doubt on the previous reports (not to mention the condition of the spotter).

LBA attack again from Rabul: 25 Zeros (one claimed damaged) 9 Nell and 22 Bettys (one claimed destroyed, three damaged) opposed by 6 Wildcats (one destroyed, one damaged), 6 Aircobra (one destroyed, four damaged) and 8 Kittyhawk (one destroyed). Another twelve bombs hit the runway, destroying two more Hudsons.

Six Marauders attack the 144th at Gili Gili.

13 MAY 1942

Raining

Rear Admiral Lee finds no ships at Gili Gili. Battleships, indeed!

There is a report that AP Soyoka Maru was sunk in Buna Roads. S-45 puts a torpedo into AP Mogamigawa Maru there.

There is only a token LBA raid on Port Moresby today. Nine Zeros (one claimed destroyed) and eleven Nell (four claimed damaged) opposed by five Wildcats, five Aircobra (one destroyed) and seven Kittyhawk. No damage on the ground.

14 MAY 1942

Thunderstorm.

The only activity is a raid by nine escorted Marauders on the 10th Engineering Regiment at Gili Gili.

Vice Admiral Lee is ordered to bombard Gili Gili.

15 MAY 1942

Thunderstorm.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 05/15/42

Naval bombardment of Gili Gili, at 17,42

Port hits 2

Air attack on 144th Regiment, at 17,42

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 3
A-24 Dauntless x 8
B-26B Marauder x 10

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 83

Attacking Level Bombers:
4 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet
6 x B-26B Marauder at 6000 feet

SCENARIO ENDS

As expected a Decisive Japanese Victory - by 2189 points to 1706.

Reports show CVL Shoho did finally sink, along with DD Uzuki and Kikuzuki, MSW Wa 2 and seven Maru AP. Two more destroyers were seriously damaged. There has been a considerable impact on IJN amphibious capability - perhaps that explains why no offensive operations were conducted in the Solomons.

We also see the IJN carrier fleet is on its way to Truk (for Midway?).

USN casualties: Lexington, Yorktown, CA Australia, CL Hobart, DD Sims and AO Neosho, with CA Chicago, Chester and Astoria seriously damaged.

Would be interesting to try the same tactics at the start of a full campaign, if only to see what would happen next. Would the IJN carriers leave for Midway - and would they come back? Could the Allies rustle up enough troops to attack Buna and/or Gili Gili before the Japanese could ship in reinforcements? And at what stage - if at all - would the Japanese AI try to land in the Solomons?

(in reply to GrahamFife)

Post #: 9

- 5/25/2002 10:52:21 PM

dgaad

Posts: 864
Joined: 7/25/2001
From: Hockeytown
Status: offline

Good job done with bad luck I say.

Try again, but with more attention to preserving carriers.

Never forget "The Dgaad Principle" : It is much better to lose unescorted bomber groups to enemy cap, than it is to lose carriers to enemy bombers which hit your task force."

Also, there is "The Dgaad Corrolary" : No matter how severely damaged your carriers are, and no matter how depleted and understrength the airgroups on those carriers are, they remain a threat and a force in being if they are afloat.

Set cap to 80 percent or higher.

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Last time I checked, the forums were messed up. ;)

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Post #: 10

- 5/25/2002 11:08:31 PM

Drex

Posts: 2524
Joined: 9/13/2000
From: Chico,california
Status: offline

I just ordered the game. I was suprised you ordered Lee to Gilli Gilli when battleships were reported. You got balls. However you did prevent invasion of Port Moresby but for how long I wonder.

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Post #: 11

TF Leaders - 5/26/2002 1:00:41 AM

mogami

Posts: 12789
Joined: 8/23/2000
From: You can't get here from there
Status: offline

Greetings, Has anyone else noticed that the CV TF starts with Capt F Sherman iin command? While he is and good officer and went on to command carrier Tf's he is also captain of Lexington. In order to put Spruance or an admiral of your choice in command you need to disband the TF and remake it. Then it offers other leaders (with Sherman staying on command of his ship) The same is true for the Crusier force disband and then remake and put another leader in command (I usally go with one of may favorite guys Chin Lee) Itcould be that F Sherman fights the TF as well as Spruance does I don't know. I just prefer to have the extra leadership that a Admiral has and leave Sherman to fighting the Lexington. I am pretty sure Lee does a better job then the Capt that starts in command of the CA TF. I have not loaded the Coral Sea scenario so this may not apply. The May 1st scen 17 starts with these limits.

_____________________________

I'm not retreating, I'm attacking in a different direction!

(in reply to GrahamFife)

Post #: 12

- 5/26/2002 2:53:39 AM

GrahamFife

Posts: 36
Joined: 6/3/2001
From: Feltham, West of London, England
Status: offline

Drex

You slightly misread me (or I miswrote). I ordered Lee to Gili Gili when unknown ships were reported (assuming they would be more troop carriers). Then, when he was under way (part way through the turn), came a report they were two battleships ...

When he got there, the cupboard was bare. No ships at all.

The report was written with hindsight!

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Post #: 13

- 5/26/2002 3:08:05 AM

Drex

Posts: 2524
Joined: 9/13/2000
From: Chico,california
Status: offline

In any event soon I will experience the Battle of the Coral Sea, hopefully by next week or thereafter. Keep the AArs coming.

(in reply to GrahamFife)

Post #: 14

Re: TF Leaders - 5/27/2002 12:40:56 AM

Mike Wood

Posts: 2095
Joined: 3/29/2000
From: Oakland, California
Status: offline

Hello...

You don't need to disband the task force. All you need to do is dock it. You will then be able to change to task force commander.

For TF 201, if you are afraid of the 'React to enemy' option I would recommend Fletcher, if not I would recommend Spruance.

Hope this helps...

Michael Wood
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Mogami
[B]Greetings, Has anyone else noticed that the CV TF starts with Capt F Sherman iin command? While he is and good officer and went on to command carrier Tf's he is also captain of Lexington. In order to put Spruance or an admiral of your choice in command you need to disband the TF and remake it...[/B][/QUOTE]

(in reply to GrahamFife)

Post #: 15

nice aar - 6/4/2002 8:32:17 AM

cmissionplyr

Posts: 16
Joined: 12/15/2001
From: Midland Tx
Status: offline

Thanks for the aar. It does make the game sound very interesting.

(in reply to GrahamFife)

Post #: 16

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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> Uncommon Valor - Campaign for the South Pacific >> After Action Reports >> Calamity in the Coral Sea - a brief AAR

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