June 18 and Score Update

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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> Uncommon Valor - Campaign for the South Pacific >> After Action Reports >> June 18 and Score Update

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June 18 and Score Update - 8/2/2004 4:26:39 AM

Buckeye5

Posts: 77
Joined: 10/21/2003
From: Findlay, Ohio, USA
Status: offline

My carriers appear to have successfully disengaged--they reach Rabaul with no incident, and go into port as storms settle over the region. Akagi and its screen join them in port at Rabaul, and even the Kako manages to make port, though it's sitting awfully low in the water.

The Allied task force that raided Lunga isn't sticking around to follow up on yesterday--a Mavis spots them withdrawing toward Luganville. Two subs that are staking out the Noumea-Efate-Luganville area are vectored toward intercept positions, but I'm not sure they can get there in time.

Port Moresby is still in business--at least a little. A couple of small raids hit an FT task force pulling the naval garrison unit off the base at Buna. Yet another destroyer takes a bomb hit, but she should pull through. Kongo, Kirishima, and a squadron of escorts will be having another run at the base tonight--let's see if they can crater the runway a bit more.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 06/18/42

Weather: Clear

Air attack on TF, near Sag Sag at 12,31

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 7
SBD Dauntless x 9
A-24 Dauntless x 3
A-20B Havoc x 3

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 7 damaged
A-24 Dauntless x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki
DD Mochizuki, Bomb hits 1, on fire
APD 31

Japanese ground losses:
Men lost 19

Air attack on TF, near Sag Sag at 12,31

Allied aircraft
B-17E Fortress x 3

Allied aircraft losses
B-17E Fortress x 3 damaged

Japanese Ships
APD 31

Attacking Level Bombers:
3 x B-17E Fortress at 6000 feet

Air attack on TF, near Sag Sag at 12,31

Allied aircraft
SBD Dauntless x 3
Beaufort x 3
B-26B Marauder x 3
A-20B Havoc x 3

Allied aircraft losses
SBD Dauntless x 1 destroyed
SBD Dauntless x 1 damaged

Japanese Ships
DD Mutsuki
DD Yugumo

O.K., time for a score update. We're on June 18, and the score stands at IJN 5592, Allies 3103. Not a bad lead for this point in the game, but I need at least another 3,000 points if I want the margin to hold up.

Shipping losses thus far have been relatively light for both sides. I've lost only seven ships (2 minesweepers, 2 submarines, and 3 transports) worth 56 points, although I've suffered damage to many others, including Kaga, Tone, Kako, and several destroyers and transports. The Allies have lost 14 ships totaling 150 points (1 heavy cruiser, 1 light cruiser, 1 seaplane tender, 1 minesweeper, 1 submarine, 2 subchasers, 4 transports, and 3 cargo ships), and I've scored a couple of hits on Lexington, though she's likely not badly damaged.

The air losses favor me as well. The Japanese have lost 156 aircraft (4 Claudes, 8 Rufes, 49 A6M2 Zeroes, 1 A6M3 Zero, 25 Vals, 25 Kates, 13 Nells, 19 Bettys, 4 Mavis, 1 Pete, 4 Jakes, and 3 Alfs). The Allies have lost a staggering 383 aircraft in a little over a month and a half of action. Their losses include 39 F4F-3 Wildcats, 2 F4F-4 Wildcats, 65 Dauntlesses, 13 Devastators, 25 Catalinas, 6 Seagulls, 8 Hudsons, 11 Dakotas, 6 Beauforts, 32 Wirraways, 30 P-400s Airacobras, 36 P-39D Airacobras, 40 Kittyhawks, 4 F-5A Lightnings, 11 A-24 Dauntlesses, 16 Mitchells, 14 Marauders, 17 Flying Fortresses, and 8 Havocs.

Aside from the one abortive engagement, the carrier fleets haven't engaged one another. Marc has based all or part of the air wings of Lexington and Yorktown at Port Moresby, and is using them to support hundreds of land-based fighters and bombers. It looks like every aircraft in the Australian theater with the exception of the B-17s has been moved to Port Moresby.

This is going to push back the timetable required to take the place by a considerable margin. However, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. All those planes being based at PM means that if I can close the base for good (as I plan to do as soon as the weather clears), they'll all be stuck there, and easy pickings for bombardment forces, airstrikes...or my troops when I finally seize the base.

The same goes for the large numbers of Allied troops at PM--I'd estimate the base is defended by between one and two full divisions. Again, this is inconvenient inasmuch as it increases the size of the force that will be required to take the base, but if I can pull it off, it'll leave the Australian mainland undermanned, and possibly vulnerable to an autovictory grab.

More to come...

(in reply to Buckeye5)

Post #: 31

June 19-21 - 8/27/2004 4:43:29 AM

Buckeye5

Posts: 77
Joined: 10/21/2003
From: Findlay, Ohio, USA
Status: offline

Haven't updated in a while--work's been a pain. However, I'll try to catch the AAR up over the next couple of days.

The 19th is quiet--thunderstorms (again) throughout the region put a blanket on most of the action, and my carriers are busy resting and rearming at Rabaul. The 20th is quite a bit busier, though, and sees the first major surface action of the campaign. Another of my bombardment task forces, built around Kongo and Kirishima, steams into Port Moresby...and finds an Allied destroyer squadron waiting for them...

Night Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese Ships
BB Kongo, Shell hits 1
BB Kirishima, Shell hits 1
CA Takao, Shell hits 2
DD Satsuki, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Oite, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Asanagi
DD Yukaze, Shell hits 5, on fire, heavy damage

Allied Ships
DD Sims, Shell hits 35, and is sunk
DD Anderson, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
DD Russell, Shell hits 20, and is sunk
DD Morris
DD Perkins, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Dewey, Shell hits 10, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
DD Worden, Shell hits 1
DD Monaghan, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Aylwin, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Arunta, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Arunta also hit one of my sub-laid mines prior to the surface engagement (which is why she's heavily damaged despite only taking one shell hit), but no sinking is reported. The Satsuki was badly crippled in the engagement, and never would have had a chance of making Rabaul, so I scuttled her the next morning. Yukaze is nearly as badly hit, but I decided to try to get her home to Rabaul. None of the other vessels in my squadron was even moderately damaged, but the intervention of the destroyer squadron prevented them from carrying out the bombardment of the airfield. Fortunately, rain kept PM's planes grounded the following day, allowing my ships to retire out of airstrike range without further damage.

Spotter planes sight an Allied task force, including at least one carrier, steaming across the Coral Sea toward Gili Gili from Noumea. I'd intented to leave Kido Butai parked at Rabaul for another few days, but I can't pass up the chance to nail a carrier. My carriers and their escorts form up and head south.

The 21st sees a mix of air and sea combat. The S-40 slips a torpedo into the battleship Haruna, leading another bombardment run down from Rabaul, and it's a dandy hit--SYS damage of 23! Rats! Haruna splits off from her escorts and heads for Rabaul.

As dawn breaks, my land-based air gets a measure of revenge. Bettys and Nells, with a Zero escort, target one of the numerous supply convoys running into Port Moresby.

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 11
G3M Nell x 18
G4M1 Betty x 27

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell x 1 destroyed
G3M Nell x 10 damaged
G4M1 Betty x 15 damaged

Allied Ships
MSW Launceton, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
CA Australia, Torpedo hits 2, on fire
AK Demodocus, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
MSW Cairns, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)
DD Farragut
DD Walke, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage (sunk)

Not a bad day at the office for the flyboys. Kido Butai manages to get within extreme range of the Allied carrier group, but the results are disappointing. My Vals don't fly, and the 21 Kates in the day's only strike launch with bombs, not torpedoes. Wildcats aplenty cover the Allied task force, which is determined to contain the carrier Enterprise. The Zeroes down several Wildcats, but the Kates take a pounding, losing six of their number to fighters and flak without scoring a single hit. Several other Kates succumb to flak damage on the flight home.

Not my finest moment, but at least Enterprise knows we're here. I expect she'll run for Australia tomorrow. I could chase her, but won't. There are several juicy transport task forces in and around Port Moresby, and I plan to return to the task of whittling down the base's air garrison.

More to come....

(in reply to Buckeye5)

Post #: 32

June 22 - 8/27/2004 5:38:43 AM

Buckeye5

Posts: 77
Joined: 10/21/2003
From: Findlay, Ohio, USA
Status: offline

We're clearly entering another surge in hostilities. The 22nd starts badly for the IJN. I-71, staking out Port Moresby harbor, is spotted by patrolling destroyers and attacked. The boat survives, but is going to be limping back to Truk for repairs.

As dawn breaks, a succession of airstrikes from Port Moresby finds the luckless Yukaze trying to make it home--she didn't get far, and is bombed, strafed, and torpedoed to bits by a succession of massive raids.

On the plus side, the strikes on Yukaze draw all hostile air activity away from my carriers, which have now steamed around the eastern tip of New Guinea and are heading west...the Enterprise, as expected, is retiring to the south, leaving the seas clear--except for the allied ships clustered at Port Moresby....

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 47
A6M3 Zero x 12
D3A Val x 102
B5N Kate x 27

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 17
P-400 Airacobra x 13
P-39D Airacobra x 32
P-40E Kittyhawk x 16

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 3 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 6 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 2 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 6 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 9 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 5 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 2 damaged

WO V.Minegishi of DII-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 5

LCDR W. Leonard of VF-42 bails out WOUNDED and is RESCUED

Allied Ships
AP George Clymer, Bomb hits 2, on fire
SC 522
AP Wanganella, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kanimbla, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AP President Jackson, Bomb hits 3, on fire
SC 520, Bomb hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
AK Mildura, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage
AP Monrovia
AP President Adams, Bomb hits 1
AP Ormiston, Bomb hits 1
MSW Whyalla, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Moreton Bay, Bomb hits 1, on fire
MSW Lismore, Bomb hits 1, on fire
AP Leedstown, Bomb hits 1, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 102

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

Japanese aircraft
B5N Kate x 18

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 11
P-40E Kittyhawk x 12

Japanese aircraft losses
B5N Kate x 4 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged

LTJG R. Crommelin of VF-42 is credited with kill number 3

Allied Ships
AK Mungana
CA Australia
PG Warrego
AK Murada

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 24
A6M3 Zero x 4
D3A Val x 23

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 10
P-400 Airacobra x 8
P-39D Airacobra x 22
P-40E Kittyhawk x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M3 Zero x 1 destroyed
D3A Val x 2 destroyed
D3A Val x 14 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
P-400 Airacobra x 2 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 3 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 3 destroyed
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 damaged

WO D.Bando of EI-1 Daitai is credited with kill number 3

Allied Ships
DD Aylwin, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Morris, Bomb hits 1, on fire
DD Perkins, Bomb hits 1, on fire

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

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 18
D3A Val x 23
B5N Kate x 22

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 9
P-400 Airacobra x 1
P-39D Airacobra x 3
P-40E Kittyhawk x 6

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M2 Zero x 1 destroyed
A6M2 Zero x 1 damaged
D3A Val x 1 destroyed
B5N Kate x 2 destroyed
B5N Kate x 1 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 destroyed
F4F-3 Wildcat x 1 damaged
P-400 Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 destroyed
P-39D Airacobra x 1 damaged
P-40E Kittyhawk x 1 destroyed

LTJG M.Gardner of VF-3 is credited with kill number 2

Allied Ships
SC 522, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Lismore, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Ormiston, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
AP President Adams, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 3, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kanimbla, on fire, heavy damage
AP Westralia, Bomb hits 3, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
SC 519, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 55

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

Japanese aircraft
D3A Val x 56
B5N Kate x 40

Allied aircraft
F4F-3 Wildcat x 4
P-40E Kittyhawk x 3

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

FO K. Truscott of No. 76 Sqn RAAF is credited with kill number 3

Allied Ships
AP Moreton Bay, on fire
SC 519, on fire, heavy damage
AP President Adams, on fire, heavy damage
AP Heywood
AK Mildura, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Kanimbla, on fire, heavy damage
SC 522, on fire, heavy damage
MSW Wollongong, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Wanganella, on fire, heavy damage
AP George Clymer, on fire
AP Monrovia
AP Ormiston, on fire
MSW Lismore, on fire, heavy damage
AP Westralia, Bomb hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Leedstown, heavy damage

Allied ground losses:
Men lost 29

Several transports and smaller escorts are confirmed sunk, and I suspect there will be a steady chain of cripples working their way south.

(in reply to Buckeye5)

Post #: 33

May 23-25 - 8/30/2004 4:45:14 AM

Buckeye5

Posts: 77
Joined: 10/21/2003
From: Findlay, Ohio, USA
Status: offline

Sub operations open up May 23. The I-6 and I-1, operating between New Guinea and Australia, pick off a pair of crippled cargo ships trying to head south. S-38 gains a measure of revenge for the Allies by slamming two torpedoes into the heavy cruiser Mikuma as she nears Port Moresby for a bombardment run, but the task force's destroyers also manage to locate and destroy the S-boat. Mikuma is forced to turn about and set course for Rabaul.

My next bombardment run into Port Moresby miscalculates, and its final approach to Port Moresby is made during daylight. As a result, the task force suffers a long day of repeated air attacks that leaves several cruisers and destroyers damaged, the CL Abukuma being by far the worst hit. Only the low skill level of the Allied level bomber pilots this earlier in the game keeps the final tally from being far worse.

My carrier groups respond with massed strikes against the transport task forces clustered south of Port Moresby. The Zeroes sweep the skies clear of Allied fighters before the strikes go in, and again several Allied merchant ships and escort vessels are sent to the bottom.

The day concludes with the belated arrival of my bombardment group at Port Moresby, where they encounter a trio of Allied destroyers (probably stragglers from the group engaged in the surface action a couple of days ago), already damaged by earlier air attacks. Two of the American tin cans are quickly sunk, but the third escapes....

Day Time Surface Combat, near Port Moresby at 10,40

Japanese Ships
CA Atago
CA Mogami
CL Tenryu, on fire, heavy damage
DD Oyashio
DD Maikaze
DD Isokaze
DD Arashi
DD Tanikaze
DD Arashio
DD Yudachi
DD Hatsuharu
DD Hatsushimo
DD Shikinami

Allied Ships
DD Morris, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Worden, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Monaghan, Shell hits 29, and is sunk

The 24th sees a bit less action, as thunderstorms keep most aircraft on the ground for the day. Kido Butai manages a single strike that finishes off a pair of crippled destroyers near Port Moresby, but the only other action of the day is taken by I-6, which bags another crippled AK trying to get out of the kill zone.

I-6's luck continues the following day, as she finishes off a perfect patrol by catching up with the damaged Australia about four hexes out of Cairns. Three Long Lances strike the already-damaged cruiser, which heels over and sinks later in the day. That makes three attacks and three kills for I-6 on this patrol, and her skipper gleefully sets course for Rabaul to load more torpedoes.

(in reply to Buckeye5)

Post #: 34

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