| PzB74 
 
 Posts:  5076
 Joined:  10/3/2000
 From:  No(r)way
 Status: offline
   | Could be so Witpqs! I put the Tony's on naval attack training now...perhaps that triggered the bomb orndance. 
 Got a nice snack for you
   When I first spotted activity in the Coral Sea around a week ago the Combined Fleet was just SSW of the Marianas enroute to Manila to replenish.
 Parts of the fleet had already split of to undergo upgrades in Manila, this included 5 heavy cruisers and the carrier Junyu.
 
 The rest of the fleet was running low on fuel and I had to make a difficult decision; RTB or move towards the Coral Sea.
 Sine the Fleet was restless for combat after the abortive mission to the Line Islands it was decided to act.
 
 So we moved west of Truk, replenished from our supply train that raced down from the Marianas, continued east of Rabaul and yesterday a last leg
 of 8-9 hexes was lined up to bring the fleet within range. I was afraid we just would miss the train; I had to split off 40% of the fleet that was running low on fuel, so this half
 travelled 1 hex shorted than the main fleet.
 
 I was also correct in my estimate; Andy just "lept in" - dumped another division and lept out again.
 A surface combat TF just missed the last ships leaving after an MTP had succeeded in sinling an LST.
 
 At extreme range, 7-8 hexes the enemy fleets were spotted and the airborne Samurais' immediately went to work!
   The enemy main fleets was spotted at 8 hexes so the Judy nerf immediately cost us and only our Jills could attack them, we still got in 2 nice strikes with over 200 bombers.
 A smaller fleet was spotted 1 hex closer so our Judy's also got something to work on.
 
 Results could have been even greater with Judy's but we could also have missed the train completely - another close call, take a look for yourself!
 
 AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR May 06, 44
 
 Surface Combat
 
 Night Time Surface Combat, near Milne Bay at 101,133, Range 1,000 Yards
 
 Japanese Ships
 MTB G-221
 MTB G-232
 MTB G-234, Shell hits 1, and is sunk
 MTB G-10, Shell hits 15, and is sunk
 
 Allied Ships
 CL Dauntless
 DD Sims
 DE Hotspur
 DE Crouter, Shell hits 1
 AM Arnidale
 AK Ascella
 AK Livingston
 AK Indus
 AK Amador
 AK Antrim
 LST-39
 LST-40
 LST-41
 LST-122
 LST-335, Shell hits 1
 LST-350
 LST-446
 LST-479, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
 LST-484
 LCI-435
 PC Jackson
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Day Time Surface Combat, near Milne Bay at 101,134, Range 28,000 Yards
 
 Japanese Ships
 CA Suzuya
 CL Isuzu
 CL Kitakami
 DD Shikinami
 DD Oboro
 DD Mutsuki
 DD Asakaze
 DD Hayate
 
 Allied Ships
 CL Adelaide
 DE Austin
 AK Cheleb
 AK Pavo
 AK Alamosa
 AK Beaverhead
 
 Poor visibility due to Thunderstorms
 Maximum visibility in Thunderstorms: 7,000 yards
 Range closes to 26,000 yards...
 Range closes to 24,000 yards...
 Range closes to 22,000 yards...
 Range closes to 20,000 yards...
 Range closes to 18,000 yards...
 Range closes to 16,000 yards...
 Range closes to 14,000 yards...
 Range closes to 12,000 yards...
 Range closes to 11,000 yards...
 Range closes to 10,000 yards...
 Range closes to 9,000 yards...
 Range closes to 8,000 yards...
 Range closes to 7,000 yards...
 CONTACT: Allies radar detects Japanese task force at 7,000 yards
 Allied TF attempts to evade combat
 Range increases to 8,000 yards...
 Range increases to 9,000 yards...
 Range increases to 10,000 yards...
 Range increases to 11,000 yards...
 Range increases to 12,000 yards...
 Range increases to 13,000 yards...
 Range increases to 14,000 yards...
 Range increases to 15,000 yards...
 Range increases to 16,000 yards...
 Range increases to 17,000 yards...
 Range increases to 18,000 yards...
 Range increases to 19,000 yards...
 Range increases to 20,000 yards...
 Range increases to 21,000 yards...
 Range increases to 22,000 yards...
 Range increases to 23,000 yards...
 Range increases to 24,000 yards...
 Range increases to 25,000 yards...
 Range increases to 26,000 yards...
 Range increases to 27,000 yards...
 Range increases to 28,000 yards...
 Range increases to 29,000 yards...
 Range increases to 30,000 yards...
 Range increases to 30,000 yards...
 Allied Escort TF evades combat
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 Air Combat
 
 Morning Air attack on Merauke , at 89,124
 Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
 Raid detected at 44 NM, estimated altitude 33,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 13 minutes
 
 Japanese aircraft
 A6M5 Zero x 39
 N1K1-J George x 24
 
 Allied aircraft
 P-39N1 Airacobra x 7
 
 Japanese aircraft losses
 A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
 
 Allied aircraft losses
 P-39N1 Airacobra: 1 destroyed
 
 Aircraft Attacking:
 24 x N1K1-J George sweeping at 30000 feet
 17 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Morning Air attack on Port Blair , at 46,58
 Weather in hex: Clear sky
 
 Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 27 minutes
 
 Japanese aircraft
 no flights
 
 Allied aircraft
 PB4Y-1 Liberator x 66
 
 Japanese aircraft losses
 H8K2 Emily: 1 destroyed on ground
 
 Allied aircraft losses
 PB4Y-1 Liberator: 2 damaged
 
 Japanese ground losses:
 16 casualties reported
 Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
 Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 Airbase hits 14
 Airbase supply hits 3
 Runway hits 48
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Morning Air attack on 2nd JNAF AF Unit , at 101,133 (Milne Bay)
 Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
 Raid detected at 79 NM, estimated altitude 7,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
 
 Allied aircraft
 Kittyhawk III x 8
 Kittyhawk IV x 6
 Mitchell II x 11
 Spitfire VIII x 18
 PV-1 Ventura x 14
 B-25D1 Mitchell x 32
 B-25G Mitchell x 9
 B-25H Mitchell x 6
 P-38H Lightning x 12
 P-40K Warhawk x 13
 P-40N5 Warhawk x 7
 P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 11
 P-51B Mustang x 10
 
 Allied aircraft losses
 B-25D1 Mitchell: 10 damaged
 B-25G Mitchell: 1 damaged
 B-25H Mitchell: 1 damaged
 
 Japanese ground losses:
 12 casualties reported
 Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 2 disabled
 Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Morning Air attack on Port Blair , at 46,58
 Weather in hex: Clear sky
 
 Raid detected at 78 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 26 minutes
 
 Japanese aircraft
 no flights
 
 Allied aircraft
 Liberator GR.VI x 7
 B-24D1 Liberator x 35
 B-24J Liberator x 26
 
 Japanese aircraft losses
 Ki-46-III Dinah: 1 destroyed on ground
 Ki-43-Ic Oscar: 1 destroyed on ground
 
 Allied aircraft losses
 Liberator GR.VI: 2 damaged
 B-24D1 Liberator: 2 damaged
 B-24J Liberator: 2 damaged
 
 Airbase hits 7
 Airbase supply hits 5
 Runway hits 36
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Morning Air attack on Woodlark Island , at 104,133
 Weather in hex: Light rain
 
 Raid spotted at 20 NM, estimated altitude 13,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 6 minutes
 
 Japanese aircraft
 A6M5 Zero x 13
 
 Allied aircraft
 B-24J Liberator x 39
 
 No Japanese losses
 
 Allied aircraft losses
 B-24J Liberator: 2 damaged
 
 Airbase hits 12
 Airbase supply hits 2
 Runway hits 36
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Morning Air attack on Woodlark Island , at 104,133
 Weather in hex: Light rain
 
 Raid spotted at 18 NM, estimated altitude 9,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 4 minutes
 
 Japanese aircraft
 A6M5 Zero x 26
 A6M5b Zero x 1
 
 Allied aircraft
 B-17D Fortress x 2
 
 No Japanese losses
 
 Allied aircraft losses
 B-17D Fortress: 1 destroyed
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Morning Air attack on TF, near Merauke at 89,124
 Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
 Raid detected at 112 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 33 minutes
 
 Japanese aircraft
 A6M5 Zero x 36
 P1Y1 Frances x 9
 
 No Japanese losses
 
 Allied Ships
 xAK Coquina, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
 AM Shepparton
 xAK Sagadahoc, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
 Aircraft Attacking:
 9 x P1Y1 Frances launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
 27 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
 
 Coquina dead in the water ...
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,136
 Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
 Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 20,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 40 minutes
 
 Japanese aircraft
 A6M5 Zero x 127
 A6M5b Zero x 17
 B6N1 Jill x 11
 B6N2 Jill x 65
 
 Allied aircraft
 Kittyhawk III x 1
 P-38J Lightning x 2
 P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 1
 F6F-3 Hellcat x 7
 
 Japanese aircraft losses
 A6M5 Zero: 2 destroyed
 B6N1 Jill: 2 damaged
 B6N2 Jill: 11 damaged
 B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed by flak
 
 Allied aircraft losses
 F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed
 
 Allied Ships
 AK Antrim, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
 CA Canberra, Torpedo hits 1,  heavy damage
 APA Harry Lee, Torpedo hits 2,  heavy damage
 CA Frobisher, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 CA Devonshire
 DD Renshaw
 DD Philip
 AK Indus
 xAK Mahukona, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
 AK Bullock
 APA Joseph T. Dickman, Torpedo hits 1
 LST-39, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
 xAK Cape May, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
 xAP Le Maire
 DD Schroeder
 CL Dauntless, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 
 Allied ground losses:
 509 casualties reported
 Squads: 24 destroyed, 13 disabled
 Non Combat: 24 destroyed, 16 disabled
 Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 Vehicles lost 31 (31 destroyed, 0 disabled)
 
 
 Aircraft Attacking:
 15 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
 11 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
 13 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
 10 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
 9 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
 9 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
 8 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
 11 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
 8 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
 17 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
 11 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
 14 x A6M5b Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
 13 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
 8 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
 9 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
 11 x A6M5 Zero sweeping at 15000 feet
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Morning Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,136
 Weather in hex: Partial cloud
 
 Raid detected at 93 NM, estimated altitude 17,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 31 minutes
 
 Japanese aircraft
 B6N2 Jill x 9
 
 Allied aircraft
 P-38J Lightning x 1
 P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 1
 F6F-3 Hellcat x 1
 
 Japanese aircraft losses
 B6N2 Jill: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged
 
 No Allied losses
 
 Allied Ships
 xAK Mariso, Torpedo hits 1,  heavy fires
 CA Devonshire
 
 Allied ground losses:
 20 casualties reported
 Squads: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 1 disabled
 Engineers: 0 destroyed, 0 disabled
 
 Aircraft Attacking:
 8 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,136
 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
 
 Raid detected at 120 NM, estimated altitude 19,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 40 minutes
 
 Japanese aircraft
 A6M5 Zero x 126
 A6M5b Zero x 17
 B6N2 Jill x 127
 
 Allied aircraft
 Kittyhawk III x 1
 P-38J Lightning x 2
 P-47D25 Thunderbolt x 1
 F6F-3 Hellcat x 3
 
 Japanese aircraft losses
 A6M5 Zero: 1 destroyed
 B6N2 Jill: 15 damaged
 B6N2 Jill: 2 destroyed by flak
 
 Allied aircraft losses
 F6F-3 Hellcat: 2 destroyed
 
 Allied Ships
 CVE Corregidor, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
 LST-41, Bomb hits 4,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
 xAP Rochussen, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
 CA Frobisher, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
 CL Mauritius
 CA Devonshire, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
 CA Sussex
 AK Amador
 AK Beltrami, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
 AK Blount
 DD Stanly
 DD Humphreys
 CL Sumatra, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
 CL Birmingham, Torpedo hits 1,  heavy damage
 DD Philip
 xAP Republic, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 CL Glasgow
 LSI(L) Empire Pride, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire
 AK Brevard
 DD Monssen
 CL Mobile
 xAP Van Rees, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
 AK Bullock
 AK Cabell, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
 
 Allied ground losses:
 1127 casualties reported
 Squads: 68 destroyed, 29 disabled
 Non Combat: 32 destroyed, 10 disabled
 Engineers: 26 destroyed, 2 disabled
 Guns lost 13 (13 destroyed, 0 disabled)
 Vehicles lost 10 (10 destroyed, 0 disabled)
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,136
 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
 
 Raid detected at 40 NM, estimated altitude 3,100 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 11 minutes
 
 Japanese aircraft
 Ki-67-Ia Peggy x 4
 
 Allied aircraft
 P-38J Lightning x 1
 
 Japanese aircraft losses
 Ki-67-Ia Peggy: 1 damaged
 
 No Allied losses
 
 Allied Ships
 xAK Corinda, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
 
 Allied ground losses:
 Vehicles lost 15 (2 destroyed, 13 disabled)
 
 Aircraft Attacking:
 4 x Ki-67-Ia Peggy bombing from 100 feet
 Naval Attack:  3 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,134
 Weather in hex: Overcast
 
 Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
 
 Japanese aircraft
 D4Y1 Judy x 27
 D4Y3 Judy x 9
 
 Japanese aircraft losses
 D4Y1 Judy: 4 damaged
 
 Allied Ships
 CL Adelaide, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires
 AK Pavo, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
 AK Cheleb, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 AK Alamosa, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
 
 Aircraft Attacking:
 27 x D4Y1 Judy bombing from 15000 feet *
 Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
 9 x D4Y3 Judy bombing from 15000 feet
 Naval Attack:  1 x 500 kg SAP Bomb
 
 Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
 Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Adelaide
 Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AK Alamosa
 Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AK Pavo
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,136
 Weather in hex: Heavy cloud
 
 Raid detected at 118 NM, estimated altitude 21,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 39 minutes
 
 Japanese aircraft
 B6N1 Jill x 10
 B6N2 Jill x 18
 
 Allied aircraft
 P-38J Lightning x 1
 
 Japanese aircraft losses
 B6N1 Jill: 1 destroyed, 1 damaged
 B6N2 Jill: 1 destroyed, 4 damaged
 
 No Allied losses
 
 Allied Ships
 APA Doyen, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 DD Renshaw
 DD Nicholas
 APD Herbert, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
 LSI(L) Empire Pride, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
 DD Philip
 
 Aircraft Attacking:
 16 x B6N2 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
 9 x B6N1 Jill launching torpedoes at 200 feet
 Naval Attack:  1 x 18in Type 91 Torpedo
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Afternoon Air attack on TF, near Milne Bay at 100,134
 Weather in hex: Overcast
 
 Raid detected at 35 NM, estimated altitude 18,000 feet.
 Estimated time to target is 9 minutes
 
 Japanese aircraft
 D4Y1 Judy x 25
 
 No Japanese losses
 
 Allied Ships
 CL Adelaide, Bomb hits 1,  heavy fires
 DE Austin, Bomb hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 AK Cheleb,  on fire,  heavy damage
 AK Pavo,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
 
 Aircraft Attacking:
 25 x D4Y1 Judy bombing from 15000 feet *
 Naval Attack:  1 x 250 kg SAP Bomb
 
 Carrier support unable to supply air cover..
 Heavy smoke from fires obscuring CL Adelaide
 Heavy smoke from fires obscuring DE Austin
 Heavy smoke from fires obscuring AK Pavo
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 Ground Combat
 
 Enemy shock attack just fails to capture Milne Bay. Parts of one Australian division has not been completely unloaded.
 Much of these troops now rest on the bottom of the Coral Sea.
 
 Ground combat at Milne Bay (101,133)
 Allied Shock attack
 
 Attacking force 10531 troops, 295 guns, 57 vehicles, Assault Value = 652
 Defending force 3732 troops, 31 guns, 15 vehicles, Assault Value = 102
 
 Allied engineers reduce fortifications to 4
 Allied adjusted assault: 453
 
 Japanese adjusted defense: 139
 Allied assault odds: 3 to 1 (fort level 4)
 
 Allied Assault reduces fortifications to 2
 
 Combat modifiers
 Defender: terrain(+), forts(+), disruption(-), experience(-)
 Attacker: shock(+)
 
 Japanese ground losses:
 587 casualties reported
 Squads: 2 destroyed, 48 disabled
 Non Combat: 0 destroyed, 5 disabled
 Engineers: 0 destroyed, 1 disabled
 Guns lost 7 (3 destroyed, 4 disabled)
 
 Allied ground losses:
 252 casualties reported
 Squads: 1 destroyed, 94 disabled
 Non Combat: 1 destroyed, 3 disabled
 Engineers: 2 destroyed, 21 disabled
 Guns lost 9 (1 destroyed, 8 disabled)
 
 Assaulting units:
 7th Australian Division
 8th Australian Div /10
 
 Defending units:
 148th Infantry Regiment
 10th RF Gun Battalion
 2nd JNAF AF Unit
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 Kido Butai strikes
 
 It was a brutal strike that met little opposition!
 Here is a compilation of the ships that were hit: 32 ships including 1 CVE, 3 CA, 3 CL, 2 destroyer types, 3 LSTs, 4 assault ships and 16 troops and cargo ships.
 Some of these were hit by LBA in nearby waters.
 
 CVE Corregidor, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
 
 CA Frobisher, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
 CA Devonshire, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
 CA Canberra, Torpedo hits 1,  heavy damage
 CL Adelaide, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires
 CL Sumatra, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
 CL Birmingham, Torpedo hits 1,  heavy damage
 
 DE Austin, Bomb hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 APD Herbert, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
 
 LST-479, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
 LST-41, Bomb hits 4,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
 LST-39, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
 
 xAK Coquina, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
 xAK Sagadahoc, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 AK Antrim, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
 xAK Mahukona, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
 xAK Cape May, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
 xAK Mariso, Torpedo hits 1,  heavy fires
 xAP Rochussen, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
 AK Beltrami, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
 xAP Republic, Torpedo hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 xAP Van Rees, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
 AK Cabell, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
 xAK Corinda, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
 AK Pavo, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
 AK Cheleb, Bomb hits 2,  on fire,  heavy damage
 AK Alamosa, Bomb hits 2,  heavy fires,  heavy damage
 
 APA Harry Lee, Torpedo hits 2,  heavy damage
 APA Joseph T. Dickman, Torpedo hits 1
 APA Doyen, Torpedo hits 1,  on fire,  heavy damage
 LSI(L) Empire Pride, Torpedo hits 3, and is sunk
 
 
 
   
 
  Attachment (1) 
 _____________________________
 
 
   "The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without"  - Dwight D. Eisenhower |