IdahoNYer
Posts: 2616
Joined: 9/6/2009
From: NYer living in Boise, ID
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26-27 Jan 43
Highlights – Landing on Gove with the entire IJN fleet 40m away!
Jpn ships sunk:
SS: 2 (RO-33, RO-60)
xAP: 1
SSX: 1
Allied ships sunk:
AG: 1 (small)
Air loss:
Jpn: 72
Allied: 53
Subwar:
Jpn: 4 Attacks, 1 ship hit (AG sunk by SSX)
Allies: 7 Attacks, 2 ship hit (xAP sunk, AK dam)
Jpn Amph Inv: None
Allied Amph Inv:
Gove (SWPAC)
Bases lost: None
Bases Liberated: None
SIGINT/Intel: KB and much of the IJN fleet appears just 40m west of Gove! Did get a SIGINT hit on an IJN warship for the FIRST TIME since early Dec 41: “CA Aoba is moving to 86,130” – smack in the middle of the Gulf of Carpentaria.
West Coast/Admin: NSTR.
In NOPAC, NSTR.
In CENPAC, NSTR.
In SOPAC, majority of the US fleet links up in the Coral Sea and moves to stage just SE of the reef south of Rennel Island prior to the run in to Lunga. At least two IJN subs are hit by a/c – from the half dozen sighted in the area. Fingers crossed that we can keep the subs at bay. TFs will begin run to Lunga next turn, with the CVs remaining south of Rennel to provide distant cover – Kirakira based LRCAP will provide most of the cover for the landings – less the P-38G squadron and the Hornet’s F4Fs, which were just sent to SWPAC. With the IJN fleet now identified off Gove, there “should be” no real threat to the Lunga landings.
In SWPAC, So much for quiet…the CL and 2DDs sighted last turn in the Timor Sea turns out to be the entire IJN Fleet – and it winds up just west of Gove! Luck is with me as the KB puts up just one airstrike against the Amph TF (CL, 6DD, 2APD, 2AM, 2AP, 2xAP, 4AK) and CL TF (2CL, 4DD) – and hits NOTHING (Synch bug showed much, much worse results!!, Boy was I relieved when I opened the turn file!). Amazingly the Amph TF also stays the course and lands the majority of the troops (combat troops anyway) at Gove – troops landed are C/32nd ID, Aussie Tank Reg and Cbt Eng Bn and a US Air Advn BF. The defenders appear to be about 400 men of an SNLF. The usual USAAF airstrikes on these troops are heavily intercepted by KB Zeros and both sides suffer heavy losses: 20Z vs. 4 P-400, 3 P-38G, 3 F4F, 4 B-17F. The LONE US airstrike against the KB was slaughtered – 14 of 18 USMC TBFs shot down by a 80+ Zero CAP. In any case, now it gets dicey. With the entire IJN in the adjacent hex, the Allied ships will scatter, and head for ports – Merauke, Horn, and Normanton for most of the transports, but also Portland Roads and other ports in NE Australia – not just for the invasion shipping, but all shipping in the area (which there are a goodly amount right now). Each transport will largely have a single DD as escort, the CL TF will sail intact for Horn. One xAP along with an AM will stay at Gove to offload some more troops. An xAK and SC will attempt to complete offloading at Groote Eylandt. I realize this is a longshot to get some of these ships out of harm’s way – and the ports aren’t really “safe”. The KB is fully capable of overwhelming CAP at any of these ports – that said, I’ve maxed CAP over Horn Island (100+), but also need to cover Merauke, Normanton, and Portland Roads. Groote Eylandt is left naked of fighters, just AA, as is Coen (B-17 base) – gotta take risk somewhere. Despite the massive looming threat, there are some positives here. First – knowing that the KB is here means the Lunga landings in SOPAC should go smoothly. Also, troops ARE ashore at Gove, and they should be able to take the base in the first assault. Also, that SIGINT hit of the CA Aoba heading to hex 86, 130 could work out well – I’ve focused 4 subs to that hex, and reworked strike a/c to night naval (no way I’m going to be able to penetrate that IJN CAP and cover friendly bases/ships in daylight) to be able to hit that hex. I gotta figure that’s at least part of the KB moving there – it’s a good central position in the gulf to interdict the fleeing Allied ships. Lastly, I’ve sent two squadrons of PTs (6ea) to that hex. Fingers crossed they all can do something productive. Will still likely be a bloody turn!
In WAUS, IJA LBA (Sallys/Oscar IIb) continues to hit the Aussie ground forces with good effect. LRCAP continues to provide ineffective cover. Can’t do much else right now with the threat off Gove. Plan remains to bring HBs and P-38Gs to Meekathera when the dust settles at Gove.
In China, L_S_T brings out all the stops and launches heavy airstrikes to close Chungking AF – and my fighters remain resting at Kweiyang. Numerous Sonia and Lillys, fairly well escorted by Tojos do succeed in closing the airfield. Will attempt a LRCAP intercept next turn as a number of the raids did come in unescorted - hopefully we can get some luck.
In India/Burma, pretty quiet, but the usual nighttime Welly raid on Magwe does REALLY well: 14 Oscar IIB, 9 Tojo, 6 Tony and 2 Nicks destroyed on the ground in exchange for 4 Wellingtons lost – a heavy price, looks like better AA has arrived. Still, a worthwhile raid. Will try a pair of B-25 squadrons next turn, since the Wellys need to rest.
Below screenshot depicts the events in and around Gove from 26-29 Jan 43:
28-29 Jan 1943
Highlights – Gove taken but the cost isn’t light at sea; Marines land on Lunga
Jpn ships sunk:
DD: 1 (Yamagumo)
SS: 1 (I-30)
xAK: 1
Jpn ships un-sunk:
DD: 1 (Hagikaze)
Allied ships sunk:
DD: 3 (Mahan, Shaw, Stuart)
PT: 3
SC: 1
AM: 2
AP: 1
AK: 1
xAP: 3
xAK: 1
Air loss:
Jpn: 31
Allied: 53
Subwar:
Jpn: 2 Attacks, 1 ship hit (xAP sunk)
Allies: 6 Attacks, 3 ship hit (DD Yamagumo sunk, SS RO-60 dam, xAKL dam)
Jpn Amph Inv: None
Allied Amph Inv:
Lunga (SOPAC)
Bases lost: None
Bases Liberated:
Gove (SWPAC)
SIGINT/Intel: KB departs Arafura Sea to points unknown.
West Coast/Admin: NSTR.
In NOPAC, NSTR.
In CENPAC, NSTR.
In SOPAC, Lunga invasion goes like clockwork! At least 4 subs are reported hit by patrolling ASW a/c, and another 2—3 are roughly handled by ships d/c attacks – and one reported as sunk. Subs were the only threat – no mines or a/c. CA TF (3CA, 2CL, 5DD, DMS) bombards with good effect (425 casualties) and then heads to Ndeni to replenish – CA Chester getting missed by a sub in the process. Land based bombers from Ndeni and Luganville also soften up defenders. Amph TF (2CA, 3DD, DE, 2AM, AVP, 13AP, 2APD, 5AK, 4xAP) carrying the 1st USMC Div(+) lands the troops without incident. By the end of two days, all but one Marine Regiment (reinforcing from 2nd Mar Div) is offloaded completely, and about 1/3 of the APs are fully offloaded and will head back to Luganville to load more troops. Remaining ships will remain to offload supplies for another turn at least. CV TFs will move to a position near Kirakira, hoping to avoid subs reportedly converging on their current position near Rennell Is. Naval air will continue to provide ASW support, some TBFs will conduct some ground support, and the majority of the SBDs will continue to be held back for a potential naval strike – although this isn’t likely right now. Kira based LRCAP will have the priority of providing the CAP over the landings. IJA defenses look to consist of 1/3 of the Imperial Guards Div, SNLF and Naval Guard unit plus support. Marines will conduct a deliberate attack next turn, to at least reduced defenses. So far so good here.
In SWPAC, it could have been worse. Much worse. As it is, it isn’t good, but it won’t stop operations. Surprisingly, the IJN Navy sticks to the limited objective of bombarding Groote Eylandt – and sinking any Allied ships that didn’t get out the way fast enough. One substantial naval engagement, Allied CL TF (2CL, 4DD) engaged the fastest IJN TF (3CL, 4DD) was inconclusive, not a single 6” shell found a target – despite Arleigh Burke commanding. Numerous other small engagements between the IJN Fleet in two other TFs (4CA, 5DD and 2BB, CL, 5DD) and the scattering Gove Amphib TF. DDs valiantly attempted to protect their charges, and some did – others didn’t and some gave up themselves to do so. All in all, some 14 separate engagements at night in the Gove hex or the adjacent one to the east resulted in the loss of 3DD, AM, AP, 2xAP and an AK). Damage to the IJN was less than negligible. Another xAP was lost to a sub at Gove, and an SC and xAK lost to the IJN when they closed on Groote to bombard – which they did with good effect, closing the AF and reducing the 4k of supply stocked to zero. PTs were singularly ineffective, losing 3 boats for no hits. Only the SS Pollack managed to score, reporting the DD Yamagumo sunk with a single torp hit. Fortunately, (and surprisingly) the KB itself didn’t head east, and conducted no naval strikes at all. Merauke AF was subjected to a heavy fighter sweep – 117 Zeros which the limited CAP (13 P-38G, 11 Kittyhawk, and 6 Beaufighters) shot down 18. US strike a/c did send 33 night time naval strike sorties (low naval and torp) against the KB over the two days, none of which scored a single hit. Lastly, Gove fell on the first assault, with the 400 odd defenders being wiped out. Overall, as I’ve said a number of times in this AAR, it could have been worse. Gove landings were more expensive than I intended, but the base was taken, and nothing irreplaceable was lost – although the xAP/APs lost did have a number of support squads on board when they went down – that will invariably slow expansion of Gove. Will begin re-routing the dispersed shipping, and attempt to resume resupply operations to Groote as priority, and bring more troops (eng and support) to Gove. Intent is to establish Gove as a major base as its well within range to shut Darwin down (8 hexes).
In WAUS, IJA LBA was limited to Oscar sweeps over Allied troops in the desert, no Sallys flew. A few P-38Fs flew out of Meekatharra, and 6 Oscars were lost in exchange for 2 P-38s and a P-39. P-38s now at Exmouth, reducing the range to target. Now that Gove landing complete, will look to move the P-38Gs to Meekatharra, as well as bring back the B-24s now in SOPAC and work to shut Broome down. WAUS goal remains pushing towards Port Hedland to close the vice on the Japanese in NW Aus.
In China, US and Chinese LRCAP over Chungking doesn’t fair well against IJA Oscar sweeps, losing 6 P-40s and 3 Lancers for no IJA loss. Only one pilot lost though. Engineers repaired damage to get Chungking AF back in operation.
In India/Burma, NSTR.
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< Message edited by IdahoNYer -- 7/26/2016 9:58:03 PM >
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RE: 14-15 Jan 43 - 
So don't risk what you cannot replace. 
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