John 3rd
Posts: 17178
Joined: 9/8/2005 From: La Salle, Colorado Status: offline
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June 7, 1943 Coral Sea Battles The battle rages throughout the Coral Sea: Horn Island The Japanese send three groups of 4 DD towards Portland Roads to intercept the HORDES (and I DO mean INSANE hordes) of PT-Boats. The Japs lose a DD in exchange for sinking five PTs and keeping the 48 or 60 PTs (literally--4-5 groups of 12 PTs) from bothering the TFs at Horn. Japanese CAP blasts a P-400 and P-38 Squadron that flies up to challenge the 150 Fighters on CAP. Port Moresby A Bombardment TF of 2 CA, 3 CL, and 2 DD runs smack dab into a Landing Force and in a solid performance sinks THREE big LCI(L) AP conversions. Three more APs are solidly hit before the TF conducts its mission and hits the PM airfield destroying 4 planes, damaging 63, and smacking the AF and Port. Lae A small STF of CL Yahagi and 2 DD intercept a CTF of CV Enterprise, Hornet, and CVL Charlotte. The Japs hits all three carriers with 1-2 hits and then high-tail it towards Hollandia. An Aussie Brigade is landed to see what the Japanese have at Lae. Am certain that much more is about to unload. During the day, Rabaul's air attacks the DAMNED WRONG TARGET at Lae instead of the TFs at Torokina. Stupid. A large Daitai of Judy and Jills are each destroyed by a CAP of 397 Fighters. Lose 100+ planes due to stupidity. Torokina The Japanese, as hoped, find the enemy landing at Torokina on Bougainville. Weather holds off morning attacks but the Japanese Carriers--so long denied an opportunity in the Pacific--swing into action in the afternoon and launch a massed strike of 155 Zero and 130 TB. The enemy has CVE's for defense and their 57 F4F are swept aside by the Japanese Sea Eagles. No Kate or Jill are shot down in ATA. They attack. The Jills carry TTs and the Kates have bombs. Range was 8 for the strike. Results are pretty fair: CVE Chenango is sunk with 1 B and 6 TT hits Suwanee might be sunk with 6 Bombs and 2 TTs Long Island is crushed under 1 Bomb and 3 TT CA Salt Lake City and Astoria each take a TT Merchants 3 APA and 3 AK are hit inflicting casualties with their troops on board. Air losses are high due to absolute stupidity of the Rabaul forces striking at Lae instead of Torokina. Total losses are 170 Japanese Planes to 120 Allied. Tomorrow you ask? The Japanese CVs will continue to use the Solomons as a barrier and move slightly SE at a range of 7 for Strikes and, hopefully, staying out of Allied attack range. The Weight of Japanese DB will be added as well as 60+ Fighters and DB at Buin. Another CV joins the Japanese CTF adding 72 more aircraft as well. Horn will continue to unload supplies and be an annoyance to the enemy.
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< Message edited by John 3rd -- 8/20/2019 4:53:39 AM >
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